No Game No Life - Volume 10 - Chapter Ep

Crash/END 

And so the sun rose on the capital of Hardenfell. In a corner of that underground city, still buzzing in the wake of the epic battle that had broken the limits of the race, a group surrounded a table at a little tavern and raised their glasses high. It consisted of those who had dominated that battle. Specifically— 

“ Conference: First ‘What Does Master Like Anyway?’ Thorough analysis imminent. Yaaay.” 

““““Yaaay.”””” 

“Hey, you’re not really saying yay , are you?! Huh? Isn’t this supposed to be a party, a celebration ?!” 

—it consisted of four women surrounding a screeching Sora. 

…Fiel and Chlammy had left promptly, or perhaps simply evacuated to be more precise. In any case, those who remained were Jibril, Emir-Eins, Steph…and Shiro, too. Sora had been trapped in a tribunal under the guise of a celebration. 

“And what do you mean, ‘anyway’?! Didn’t I say to love all boobs equally?!” 

He quickly raised his objections, but their rejections came swiftly one after the other. 

“ Negative acknowledgment: Declaration pertains to freedom of thought, toleration of fetishes. Awaiting answer pertaining to Master’s fetishes. ” 

“Also, Master, you mentioned that your soul was too proud to speak to his…” 

“…So we conclude…you just, haven’t…said what…you like… obviously .” 

Then, as if lining up the exhibits to interrogate the defendant: 

“ Playback: ‘You can grow big boobs, or get old and wrinkly, or even turn into a man!! Nothing could make your big brother not like you!’ ‘Your brother loves you no matter how you look.’” 

“Who said you could record that?!” 

“…Emir-Eins, I want, a copy…of that audio…!” 

The brother and sister squealed for different reasons at Sora’s statements from the prior game, played back at high volume. Still, Emir-Eins and Jibril calmly continued their questioning: 

“ Review: Master previously deduced to be a lolicon. Scope expanded to all ages and sexes. Requires reanalysis.” 

“That said, on one hand, the only ones my master has responded favorably to are those of tender age… But at the same time—” 

“ Revelation: Master enjoyed breasts of woman of unknown name. Action voluntary. Synthesizing above data—” 

And so they laid out their deductive conclusion…thus! 

“ Conclusion: Fetish of Master is animal-eared, dark-skinned, big-boobed, cross-dressing male Loli hag…!” 

“D00d, how effed up do you think I am?! What kind of trope monster is that?!” 

Sora howled at the accusation, which made him wish they’d just say he’d take anything female. Regardless, Steph asked him bashfully, blushing fiercely: 

“I-in that case, Sora… Why is it that you only touched…er…my chest?” 

Silence fell. They looked at him. Putting words aside, he looked up to the heavens and thought thus: 

Why…? “The guy all the girls go for” is fiction—an entity whose sole purpose in reality would be to get stabbed and retire from life. 

So why am I being treated like such a man? 

Ungifted with the protagonist privilege of falling on girls, yet breathing the air of a harem smackdown, Sora answered…silently: 

Why had he touched Steph’s boobs? 

Because his sister— because Shiro had let him . End of story!! 

Sora had never done anything “Eh-heh-heh-heh” of his own will, with his own hands, not even once! Therefore, there was no commonality between Sora, virgin, eighteen, and the guy all the girls go for. Those surrounding him now failed to understand that. But even so, his superhuman ability to read people, his natural gift as a lying puppet, made him certain: 

If he told them that now, somehow he’d be trapped …!! 

“…… ? ” 

Ah… That look on Shiro’s face— Come on, just say it —proved it more than anything. After all, your brother knows that face. It’s the face you make when you’re waiting for him to screw up. But why? Just how was it he’d be trapped? What would make it Shiro’s victory—?! 

Sora panted under the stress of all the various gazes pressing on him. And in the end, out of the blue: 

“Heh, heh-heh-heh, yes, heh!! I-I’m free, I am… I have escaped, I ha aaaaah?! ” 

“Tiiil!! Ohhh, I’ve been waiting for you! I was about to dieee! What took you so looong?!” 

He leaped to the savior who had appeared in the bloodthirsty court of the tavern. Tsk , the females could be heard to click. Til had no way of knowing its meaning of remorse for their force-quit trial with the arrival of the guest of honor. She struggled to catch her breath and bowed deeply. 

“I do apologize for my late arrival, I do. I was a bit held up by a pursuit …I was.” Til saluted and restlessly justified her tardiness. “Wh-when I awoke…for some reason a horde of Dwarves was coming…I almost got kidnapped , I did; I was so scared, I was! But I happen to be a pro at fleeing, I do; they won’t catch me, they won’t!!” Now full of confidence, she declared it boldly—yes! “Th-they want to rub out this grubby mole who defeated the chieftain, they do!! Heh-heh, but I won’t let them, I won’t!! Y-you won’t let them, will you? H-help me…” 

…Save me… 

Seeing Til look up with frightened eyes and plead to them, Sora and Shiro exchanged grins. 

“Of course we won’t let them rub you out. Because no one can anyway.” 

“…Everything…in this country…belongs to, you…you know? ? ” 

 . 

Til looked back blankly. 

“…Uh… Um? I beg your pardon, I do?” 

“Huh? D00d, the wager. Think back and remember the wording.” 

The one who would collect the payment …that is, everything Veig owned, i.e., the country…was the victor. In other words: 

“See, all Veig’s shit belongs to the winner—so it belongs to you , right?” 

“…Yes. Everything… Including, of course, the position, of agent plenipotentiary… In other words—” 

In any case, Sora and Shiro had to sell the medicine to Veig. All that was left was whether he would pay—and here, he’d paid. Indeed: 

“—the spirit-arms artisan who surpassed Veig— you—are the new chieftain . ? ” 

““Excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me?!”” 

The above cry arose from both Til and Steph. 

“What? In—in that case, you two haven’t gained anything at all , have you?!” 

Then why had they played this game? Steph shrieked to know. However— 

“Hunh? They have, haven’t they? Everything they wanted. ” 

—the answer came from the other guest of honor, his feet languidly tapping toward them. 

A man in his wedding attire, a sword in his right hand and a bouquet in his left. A man of rusted mithril, who had known peerless talent, limits, and reaching for heights. A Dwarf combining arrogance and humility, pride and reverence—now, having put himself together, displaying himself as such a faultlessly fine man as to make Steph gasp unwittingly and Sora cluck reflexively. 

He went on to clarify… 

“I’d already lost by the time they trapped me. All that was left was whether we could become friends …” 

That’s right—from the start, Sora and Shiro’s objective was not domination, but unity . They’d never had to accept this game. For that matter… 

…they’d never had to win it… It was just— 

“And now we are bosom buddies . I swear on my soul. I’ll support ya.” 

—a matter of whether they could answer Veig’s question … That was all. He’d figured that Sora and Shiro would step down if they couldn’t answer. So if they did answer his provocation, he just wanted to hear the answer of the one of whom he truly wished to inquire, that being Veig’s “promised girl.” He wanted to fulfill the promise he made with her… 

“Huh?! Uh. Me, the chieftain—the agent plenipotentiary of Dwarf? What? I can’t possibly, I can’t!” 

“Yeah, ya probably can’t alone. But you can do it with me, can’t ya?” 

True—having paid his wager, Veig had lost everything. Everyone except for the gaping girl to whom he now proffered a ring on bended knee. As he’d promised…he’d work with her as husband and wife —as friends … 

“…All right, time for Cupid to leave for now. The celebration —” 

“—comes after the ending … We’re…gonna go home.” 

Sora and Shiro stood. Jibril and Emir-Eins followed their lead, whereupon even Steph got the picture: “Ah.” She smiled congratulatorily, and she turned. Then, leaving behind a brief flash while the man’s voice continued, Sora and Shiro walked away. Hand in hand, they pondered… 

“…Let my place be inside you.” 

“……!” 

Yes… Just as Sora needed Shiro and Shiro needed Sora, Til needed a bird …and Veig needed a sky… A bird danced in the unimaginable sky but could not create the sky. So— 

“Show me what I can’t see. Then each time ya do, I’ll show ya something greater .” 

As Til would surpass Veig, Veig would surpass Til in return… That’s how it should be. Sora looked at his bird with whom he held hands, and they exchanged smiles. 

He exchanged fierce grins with the bird. The bird that you’d devise all manner of tricks to finally lay your hands on only to slip from your fingers and disappear into the distance the next moment. 

“So, uhhh… Yeah, how do ya say this? Now it’s time to pour the booze…and say the real damn words.” 

Excellent. I’ll catch you as many times as it takes , the sky said with a smile. 

Yeah. And I’ll slip from your fingers every time. The bird smiled as well. 

 Because each time, it reminds us…that there are no limits … 

“Won’cha let me deliciously enjoy ya? Let’s blast off together.” 

 Was it really necessary…to call that back…? N-no. He must’ve meant it like “lift each other up.” Definitely. I think. Sora and Shiro went on their way, doing their best not to think that they’d just heard the true intent of the virgin who’d waited and waited for Til. 

“Sir. Not on your life , I won’t. I hate you very much, I do.” 

……? 

“And these . There are limits to harassment!! Pft!! ” 

……What’s this…? 

Sora and Shiro stopped in their tracks and turned in confusion. They saw that Til looked even more confused and was holding back big tears. She’d been given humongous boobs. His proposal struck down peremptorily, Veig knelt frozen into stone. 

…Hmm. I see. 

So that was what that flash they’d sensed behind them had been about. In one mere day, Veig had caught up with Til and constructed megaboob essence. Bwoong , heaved Til’s boobs under Veig’s conceptual rewrite, as she looked into Sora’s eyes. 

“What? So, after they all called me rubbish all that time, now they’re calling me their chieftain? They’re chasing me enthusiastically as if none of that ever happened, are they? Huhhh? Do they take me for a fool?!” 

She looked back to Veig, who was still frozen in his cool pose. Tears streamed down her cheeks. 

“And, I mean… Eegh—you look at what I’ve accomplished in the last sixty years…and then you do it overnight and then sexually harass me some more… Do you enjoy teasing me that much?! Turn me back, Chieftain. I hate you, I do!! Sir, Ma’am, help meee, waaaaah!!” 

The binding force of the Covenants restored Til’s flat, smooth form. And at last Til flew at Sora and Shiro to wail to them. All present were lost for words… 

“H-he’s talking about going inside me and telling me to show him what he can’t see … H-he’s going to rape me, he is!” 

 Hmm… I see. 

So she interpreted it not as a proposal, but as sexual harassment—or indeed an announcement of criminal intent. It didn’t sound as if it should be taken at face value, that much could be said. But Veig, still in his matrimonial getup, held out the ring— 

“Wha…? Hey, but, Til? Remember the promise? About how you’d surpass me and…” 

After all that lead-up, she doesn’t recognize this as a proposal…? Sora spoke for everyone who was there staring dumbly. Yet Til was nonplussed. 

“ My promise to build a spirit arm that would surpass you…? What…about it?” 

Having murmured this, Til seemed to faintly recall. Her face grew gradually whiter and whiter, her eyes wider and wider, as she shrieked: 

“Wha? I promised…just to build a better spirit arm , I did…you know? Marriage… If that’s what you had in mind, I don’t just hate you; I’m terrified of you, I am!! I—I mean—” 

—Hmm. Now that you mention it… A little late, Sora suddenly realized two things that were odd… 

Til hadn’t once been overcome by Veig’s soul… And also: Til had never said she wanted to marry Veig once she surpassed him… Sora and Shiro thought together as the shaky voice continued. 

“Are you saying you’ve been putting your big boobs on me since I was five not just to torture me, but to prepare me for this?! You gave me nightmares. You made me hate big boobs , you did! You’ve been waiting with blue balls for seventy-nine years as you tried to break me so I’d be the kind of convenient ‘fine woman’ you fantasized about and then you’d bang me?!” 

…Hmm… I wonder why… 

The man had been steadfast in waiting, always thinking of his niece, who had declared that she would surpass him. But when she put it like that, it was hard to dispute that he sounded like a pervert… 

Everyone was speechless. Til sat with a thup on the lap of Shiro, who was seated on Sora’s lap. 

“I have a place to go back to now, I do!” 

Then, with her next words, it wasn’t just Veig, but this time Sora and Shiro who turned to stone. 

“It’s here, it is. I’m the big sister of these two , I am!!” 

 Huh? 

“My victory is our victory, it is. And! I’ve absolutely no use for this country—not to speak of you, Uncle! I’m handing it over to them, and they can do whatever they bloody well want with it for all I care, they can!! Pft! ” 

Til snorted as she delivered Veig the coup de grâce. Sora fearfully interposed: 

“Uh… Excuse me. Can I say something?” 

“Sir! Please say as much as you like! Tell this country how it’s—” 

“No, first—since when are you our big sister?” 

“Wha…? Queen Shiro said she was ‘N?i’s little sister’…so that makes me her big sister, correct? And necessarily that would make me your big sister, it would…wouldn’t it…? Huh?” 

…Am I wrong? Are you going to abandon me? Til turned all teary-eyed like a puppy. Shiro still hadn’t recovered from petrification. 

“……Uh… Look, Til…” 

Looking at this rescued puppy recalled a matter that the two of them had previously shelved: what to do about Til’s position after the Welcome back , and… 

“Can you tell us your name again, in full?” 

Shiro seemed to recall it, too, after Sora mumbled this question. She gaped and blanched… Yes… 

— Tilvilg by clan, N?i ? …… Oh. 

Shiro had cut her off back then, so Sora was asking the rest of her name, but there wasn’t any rest of it . 

“Sir. Tilvilg by clan, N?i by birth, it is…” 

N?i Tilvilg looked at him questioningly. 

…More precisely, Shiro’s “final warning” had been: “I am, the little sister here! Me!!” Me… N?i . 

In short, Til had nodded vigorously and agreed unconditionally to— 

Oh, that was how it was… So Shiro’s little sister role was considered to pertain to N?i . 

Wait… But that wasn’t enforced by the Covenants, was it? 

Before Sora could ask, Til demonstrated her will, which surpassed the Covenants. She sat next to Shiro, who sat on Sora’s lap, and looked up in Sora’s eyes— Or rather… 

“I like it here, I do. From here— I can see the sky , I can.” 

…she looked up at Sora and Shiro: the black-haired young man and the white-skinned girl. 

“I can see a dark, distant sky…carrying a bird to infinity.” 

It was as if she knew Sora and Shiro’s promise… The promise they hadn’t been able to fulfill. 

As if that promise was about to be fulfilled. A promise even they didn’t know. No… 

“I want to go with them to confirm that sky continues forever, I do.” 

…as if she would fulfill that promise which Sora and Shiro still didn’t see. 

“Just as you showed me the sky… Just as you showed me that all my past happened so that I could meet you… I now will do what I can, as your big sister, to show you that sky , I will!” 

And she narrowed her eyes with a smile that made even Sora, even Shiro woozy. 

“That sky continues even into another world—I’ll prove it, I will!!” 

Til’s voice was resolute, but Sora and Shiro knew they heard the subtext. Yes…it was true, Til needed her bird —that is, Veig—but here …there existed a bird that flew through the unimaginable heavens and a sky that constructed the uncreatable heavens. 

…The chieftain? Who’s he? I didn’t call for him, I didn’t… 

“Veig. Is this like one of those scenarios where…you try to create drama and you end up getting NTRed?” 

…That shit happens. You set the flags for the true ending, but they turn out to lead to a creepy, depressing ending… Looking sincerely troubled, Sora gazed at the ossified Veig, still with his cool expression, and asked in earnest what to do now. But, standing at the top of the race that never erred…and therefore never was right, either, Veig answered with a question. He begged for instruction in that which he could not understand for the life of him, could not even imagine: 

“…Hey, bosom buddy… What the hell is with chicks?” 

“Ah… Dear friend. That is the one of the few problems that has been fully solved in our old world.” 

“…Really? Damn, other worlds are some shit… Come on, can ya tell me the answer?” 

Ah, humanity—those who flew into the stars, destined to one day reach the farthest extremes of space. Someday, they would overturn every impossibility… Except for that one… 

“—That is the one mystery that will remain when every other riddle of the universe has been solved…so they say…” 

Sora informed him as much, convinced that this alone would stand to eternity. And there seemed to be an agreement: 

“…I’m so, stupid! Why, didn’t I see… Too many flags…!” 

“ Analysis: Cannot detect big sister attribute in entity claiming big sister status. Identified as camouflage. But target of love detected from object is Master and sister of Master—indivisible. Query: Do you swing both ways?” 

“Wha?! Emir-Eins, can you analyze love?!” Steph asked. 

“Well now? Then can you not identify the target of my master’s love, as well as his sexual preferences?” Jibril followed. 

 Gasp!! 

Sora recognized a gasp that accompanied the tension running through the sudden silence. He also recognized that countless gazes were upon him, peering into his innards. But he didn’t know why those sharp, piercing gazes were upon him. What had he done? He didn’t feel he would ever understand. So Sora did as he’d always done. Without knowing where or why or what for, without understanding anything, he found just Shiro’s hand, turned tail on the unwinnable game, and got lost… 

After each went on after him in her own way, the only one left was Veig, still in his wedding outfit, stacking up empty bottles on the table all by himself. 

…Til had given him commands between spurning his heartfelt proposal and chasing after Sora and Shiro. First, Til had implanted him with a lifelong feeling of guilt, according to the deal with Chlammy and Fiel. Then, Til had given him back everything, including the status of agent plenipotentiary, telling him she didn’t want him or his country, with a clever parting line: 

Go to the planet of big boobs before you talk to me. Pft! 

Indirectly, she’d commanded him never to talk to her again, with special spite and rancor. 

“…Ya got turned down hard, eh, boy? Ain’t every day one gets to drink to your sorrow.” 

Suddenly, a derisory voice came from someone sitting beside him. Since when? Since the beginning? Its owner gulped down spirit oil with gusto. Veig responded only with a groan. 

“…Sorry, I’m busy… Wouldja leave me alone, Big Papa?” 

An aging man who was everywhere, yet nowhere—was the appearance of this concept that cackled at Veig with eyes and ripples like the Holy Flame. Veig heaved one good sigh and glared back. He told him to be sure. 

“Those there are my friends. I’ve made up my mind about that. If you’re here to bitch at me about it, piss off.” 

He reported his solidarity in a tone that brooked no argument from anyone. 

“When have I ever told you kids what to do…? As ya like.” 

But Veig’s force found as much purchase as it might on fire. 

“But who woulda thought those woodland rascals would call on my protection ? Those’re some interesting folks.” 

The Old Deus guffawed all the more loudly, as lively as raging fire. The Holy Forge erupted grandly as if to manifest his concept. 

Ocain, god of the forge… His laugh was as uninhibited as the creator of the Dwarves’ should be. 

“Arright, then leave me alone already. I’m as busy as I’ll ever be in my life.” 

“Huh. Sure keeps ya busy bawlin’ like a heartbroken little girl, does it? Keep at it, ya workaholic.” 

But Veig’s retort to this snark silenced even the god of the forge. 

“I gotta go to the planet of big boobs !!” 

 . 

“Ngaaah! Ya hear me?! I ain’t even been rejected !! Anyone can see that. And in the first place, she didn’t realize I was proposing, ya see?! And second!!” 

Veig made as if to shake off the droplets that had formed in his blazing eyes, as if discussing it was making him sad. 

“She said, ‘Go to the planet of big boobs before you talk to me.’ So I can talk to her after I do it , right?! She told me to go. She didn’t tell me not to come back, ya seee?! That’s why I’m so fockin’ busy.” 

Veig’s breathless spiel suddenly changed pace, his gaze keen. 

“—I gotta plot with my friends. That’s nonnegotiable. I can’t toss aside my work.” 

He’d vowed that. He was looking forward to it. He grinned audaciously and continued: 

“But right now I got to defend myself to my fockin’ fine niece!! I got to seduce her all over again! I’m drinkin’ hard so I can imagine some ideas for a spirit arm that’ll get me to the planet of big boobs and back double quick—you think I’m not busyyy?!” 

“…Ah. Sorry then. You got a big job ahead of ya, don’cha?” 

The god of the forge gave in to Veig’s desperate yell. Indeed, after all… 

“To go to a planet that don’t exist—to push through a paradox even a god like me couldn’t, I gotta give you credit.” 

“Ha! Lemme tell you something my bosom buddies taught me, Big Papa.” 

Unless you had the guts to go past the damn moon and all that… 

“If it don’t exist, you just got to build it—that’s all there is to it, ain’t it?” 

 . 

“All I got to do is go to a planet no one ain’t gone to before—and that’s the planet of big boobs !! I’ll plant my flag there and name it that! It’s my planet—who can tell me what to name it?!” 

 . 

“Ah, Big Papa, I can see what you’re thinkin’. ‘There ain’t no spirit corridors in space,’ right? But! I’m gonna take a lesson from my friend: Once ya blast off, the rest is inertia !! Then when I come back, I’ll use the concept of false essence ? Ah!! ” 

What was it he thought of? 

“I got it, I got it! I can see it now. Damn, I’m such a genius!! Arright, see ya later, Big Papa!!” 

The god’s child who ran off in a rush…didn’t seem after all to have realized: 

Go to the planet of big boobs before you talk to me. That command to go to a planet that didn’t exist… That impossible demand was not enforced by the Covenants . He didn’t seem to realize how meaninglessly he meant to embark on the Ixseeds’ first spaceflight . And as for his means—the god of the forge just laughed heartily. 

“Ho, children of another world. It seems there are some real fools among my sons, too. You got somethin’ to look forward to.” 

What was essence? Veig still didn’t know. It was only natural… Ocain, an Old Deus himself, didn’t know. 

Yes—Lóni Drauvnir, Veig Drauvnir. And N?i Tilvilg. That falsely ethereal thing only they three had found was not a “divine realm.” 

It was actually an artificial creation of gods… 

Even the god could neither create nor imagine such a realm, yet not one of them realized this. He thought back to that Great War—to that Suniaster he’d sought in order to rebuild the world—and he chuckled. 

“…I’m just the god of the forge, after all… A clown who doesn’t know anything but effort, I guess.” 

Yes…at last he understood those who’d declared they’d destroy space, and he understood his children. Snickering, he thought: 

“…To build a Suniaster your own damn self… That ain’t occurred to me, I gotta say.” 

To build an omniscient, omnipotent concept… Interesting folks, all right. Wouldn’t be bad to give it a try, huh? The god of the forge grinned. It was, after all, the duty of children to surpass their parents. And he hadn’t even realized they’d already done that six thousand years before. Looks like I’m quite the fool myself, huh…? 

As they then went on their ways, suddenly— 

“…By the way, Sora? Did you actually deliver Mr. Veig his…medicine?” 

“Sure. Jibril shipped it. Hey, I wouldn’t try to screw over my friend…” 

—Steph realized she’d never seen Sora and Shiro give Veig the goods. She sarcastically suggested they might have taken the money and run, but Sora answered no less sarcastically. 

He’d want to give his friend a little extra if anything. He’d never felt such a bond of friendship as he did today with his fellow virgin. 

Steph went on: 

“Then don’t you think it’s time you gave me my medicine…?” 

“Why should we? The price is your whole damn country. You’re just a figurehead. How can you afford it?” 

But it wasn’t Steph who answered Sora’s puzzled question. 

“ Detection: Price of ‘whole damn country’—all assets—includes debtor’s person. Therefore, excuse .” 

“I see… So returning the country to my masters is an excuse for little Dora to sell herself?” 

“…Steph’s…getting clever…now. We gotta, watch out…” 

“That is not what I meant! If you’ve forgotten, I’ll have you recall!” 

The two servants and one sister looked at Steph distrustfully, but Steph raised her voice in protest. 

“Elkia is still on the brink of death, thanks to your poison!” 

There they were, acting as if everything was all neat and tidy now, while the biggest problem remained unsolved, its details yet unrevealed: Steph demanded the medicine to resolve the crisis of Immanity’s impending doom. However… 

“Yeah, don’t worry. Elkia doesn’t need any medicine.” 

“…………Beg pardon?” 

“ Report: Approaching appointed time. Remaining time until sequence start : ninety-eight seconds. Heeere weee gooo.” 

…the answer came from the grins of Sora and Shiro, the calm, emotionless report of Emir-Eins, and the ripping of a hole in space of Jibril. 

On the other side of the hole was Elkia’s parliament, various nobles in the assembly hall with the Commercial Confederation behind them. 

“Hey, Steph? What are the other countries trying to find using these guys…?” 

“They’re trying to find the truth about you two—Blank—and your ‘unbeatable trump card’ that can take down gods, aren’t they?” 

Sora asked as the representative of those looking at the scene with icy smiles, and Steph answered. 

“Sure. But, look. If we really had an unbeatable trump card…” 

“… We could have beat their impossible game …beat the Commercial Confederation’s coup…right? ? ” 

“ ? !!” 

Sora and Shiro’s grins only widened further. Their words shocked Steph. 

“We, Blank, abandoned Immanity, declined the game, and left the throne empty…” 

“…Then where’s …the unbeatable trump card? Whose , is it…and who, got it?” 

Yes—once Sora and Shiro disappeared, lost even to Fiel and Chlammy, a fierce espionage battle would begin in Elkia, now espionage heaven. 

…A battle to figure out who was hiding “ ”…who held the unbeatable trump card. 

“Then they’ll start betting info they normally wouldn’t dare. It’ll be a real mess of an espionage battle.” 

The trump cards of each race, the rigged games, the races who didn’t need them—if all this sensitive information got out, it wouldn’t be long before someone found themselves backed into a corner, facing certain defeat. Therefore, to Chlammy and Fiel’s question one week earlier, Sora had answered thus: 

What was going on with Elkia? He didn’t have a clue. 

However…he did know how that mess would play out . 

“ Countdown: Eight. Seven. Six. Five—” 

Sora smiled giddily as Emir-Eins began to count down. 

“Hey, Steph. You know what the name of the poison we used is?” 

Once she reached Zero , suddenly, at the back of the hole in space, the majority of the assembly together stood up and spoke, and Sora explained with a sneer. 

“…Truth serum.” 

“I have been secretly communicating with Demonia. I shall now reveal everything I know step-by-step.” 

“I have been secretly communicating with Elf. I shall now reveal everything I know step-by-step.” 

…Yes. Their faces showed confusion, panic, and terror as their mouths moved against their will. As if in chorus, they made the same confession simultaneously, word for word except for the parties with whom they’d been communicating: Fairy, Lunamana, Dhampir, Dragonia… Steph inwardly howled. 

…Why—how did I not realize?! Sora and Shiro caused the insurrection and made the Commercial Confederation issue convertible notes… I saw that much, but how didn’t I notice the method by which they provoked them?! The oppression they applied just before closing the castle and announcing they were resting for a turn!! 

That’s right…the commercial associations. The current Commercial Confederation—the traders and the nobles. 

Sora and Shiro had challenged them to a game. A nonnegotiable one… So… 

… they’d been forced to sign documents by the Covenants. 

That was where they’d put the poison: in the documents!! 

“…They don’t do their research on potential spies… We’re surrounded by n00bs, aren’t we?” 

Sora could see what the gasping Steph was thinking. He piled on the sarcasm with a smile. 

“Well, I guess we can’t blame them, though, since we erased their memories, destroyed the documents, and had them make new ones. ? ” 

So those spies engaged in that fierce espionage battle were actually double agents… 

“They didn’t realize it. They didn’t remember it. But they were very loyal in reporting the intel they gathered to us through the currency in a code they themselves didn’t understand. True patriots, amirite? Even though they didn’t realize it. ? ” 

Indeed—they didn’t remember it, or realize it, or even recognize it . It had been their decision and their desire to issue convertible currency. The covenant had foreseen that. There was no way they would doubt their behavior, nor could they see through it with magic. Only Shiro held the encryption key, so even if they got wise, they still wouldn’t be able to crack the code. Most of the information flying around made its way to Sora and Shiro, and: 

“This allowed us to locate every one of the spies who infiltrated Elkia in the guise of the Commercial Confederation, and then?” 

“…Almost all…of the races…involved—were in checkmate. ? ” 

Sora and Shiro carried on while Steph could only gape. Jibril followed up: 

“To stop the confessions, medicine is required—a word in Japanese . ? ” 

Precisely—That was why the name of Dwarf did not surface in the confessions. Thus, Jibril revealed the true nature of the medicine she’d shipped, conveyed to all the spies. 

“ Result: Purchase of medicine before step-by-step confession . Devastating information leak. Inevitable. Brisk business.” 

“Yeah, we got some brisk business from those goons who realized they’d been played. ? ” 

Leaving Steph speechless, Sora and Shiro thought: 

—In other words, Veig had received the national missive they’d sent to all the races involved. And he’d just had a hunch about all this… He’d sensed there were just two choices: pay up with your whole damn country, or charge into an ugly battle of attrition among states and races and before long go under. He’d even had a hunch about where to find Sora and Shiro—and even got the irony. 

Sora and Shiro shivered. That Veig was a monster. Still— 

“But ‘your whole damn country’… It’s not a price anyone’s gonna cough up so easily, huh?” 

—even as such a monster…Veig Drauvnir’s imagination had made clear to him that if he did charge into an ugly battle among states and races, he would go under . The two siblings, together, thought of the opponent that had made him so sure, and they savagely, confrontationally thought with twisted grins: 

—Yes, it was the common knowledge of the weak: Generally speaking, things in the world don’t go the way you imagine . For better or for worse. 

Excited and drenched in a cold sweat, Sora declared: 

“Come—let the games begin…suckas.” 

This day occurred exactly one month after the domestic insurgence. A few days later, the country that had disappeared from the map —as it changed its name from the Kingdom of Elkia to the Republican Dukedom of Elkia—this time disappeared from the ground as a voice answered the two’s hopes. An echo against the spatial phase boundary, which everyone inhabiting that land heard, namely: 

 a Sprite Tune……