MaruMA:Volume07:Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“Did you say Big Shimaron’s 'Use running, fighting, and defense to win! The World's Best Fighter Tournament?'”

Flynn Gilbit, in a plain sleeping gown, stumbled out from her room.

“... I don't think that's the real name, though.”

“Ah, maybe I got the name wrong. Anyway they kept repeating ‘Shimaron, Shimaron’ and the ambassadors had long and shiny flowing hair. I think there’re further details on the letter.”

After getting past all the obstacles to return to Caloria, Flynn immediately fell sick and had to rest in bed. Maybe due to witnessing the destruction of her homeland by that uncontrolled power or maybe just because the taxing journey back had exhausted her. But this was hardly surprising, she hadn’t planned on jumping into a river without being able to swim or being experimented on by Small Shimaron. Although her own land was a colony of another kingdom, Flynn, as the wife of regent of the land, was surprisingly strong in the face of so many difficulties.

“Now that I think about it this year is the fourth… I didn’t notice…”

“Do they hold this event every four years?”

“Yes. Every kingdom will choose representatives and have them participate in Big Shimaron’s tournament.”

“Then it’s similar to the Olympics?”

Flynn placed the letter onto the table, keeping its four corners down with animal-shaped paperweights. She looked awful, even her beautiful light golden hair had lost its original luster.

“Flynn, I still think you had better lie down and rest…”

“Don’t worry, I should move round a bit. And we’re not married or lovers, it seems rather inappropriate that you should march into my bedroom, doesn’t it?”

Wolfram’s mood seemed to improve greatly after hearing that. The first time he met her, he had interrogated me, “Who’s that woman? Who is she to you?” He had questioned the relationship between Flynn and me.

“... 'Use your knowledge, speed and skill to win! The World’s Best Fighter Tournament' is about to begin... Anticipating Caloria to send their best warriors to participate...' They already know that we don’t have any time to seek out participants in this time of emergency, and yet they send their ambassador with this news.”

“What kind of competition is this? Is it like the Japan Series, or the World Series or the wildcard competitions?”

“All you’re talking about is baseball! Can’t you at least mention the World Cup or the Toyota Cup?”

And aren’t you talking only about soccer?

I was thinking about Murata’s own shortcomings, while trying to imagine what the World’s Best fighter tournament would look like. A turtle sage, a Saiyan, a Super Saiyan, A Superdreadnought Ultra Super Megaton... Kamehameha.

“I’ve never seen a World's Best either.”

“World's Best!?”

“Yes, World's Best, is there anything wrong?”

I was only surprised at that abbreviation. It sounded like the remains of noodles or the name of a strange exotic dish.

“Caloria has never entered before. Not only because of lack of talent, but also because we don’t have any suitable young people to participate in a challenge they can never win.”

“So you mean that you don’t know what the competition is about?”

“Yes. But I think that the winner of all three events of knowledge, speed and skill will be awarded a special honor.”

“What do you think it is?”

If it was just the awarding of a medal, I think the winner would definitely lose his cool on the podium.

Flynn sighed and said. "It’s an honor that everyone desires, but no one will ever get it."

"Your wish will be granted."

“What wish? Family safety? Pass your exams?”

"Shibuya, they're not angels."

“It doesn’t matter. You could wish for a land of your own, or to regain the power and wealth of your family, or even gold and diamonds…. Anything you wish will come true! On the surface, anyway.”

“Ah, I know! The winner gets to marry the princess of Shimaron? I see, that’s so romantic. Going beyond nationalities for love, burning passion, wild wayward youth!”

I see, let’s not imagine it like Dragonball, it could be more like ancient Roman gladiators.

“No, it’s impossible, Shimaron doesn’t have a princess. And no one has ever thought about such a romantic notion, nor has anyone ever had a wish come true.”

“Then what does it mean? Are they just playing around with us? Enticing us with rewards, then letting us down?”

She pointed at the lower half of the thick and rough letter. But maybe because of the overly cursive writing, I couldn’t understand even a single word.

“Look here, the winners of the first tournament: Big Shimaron. Winners of the second tournament: Big Shimaron... All the winners from the first to the latest tournaments have been Big Shimaron. Just looking at this, it’s impossible that anyone else can win!”

She rolled the paper up again, smiling self-deprecatingly.

“However with our present condition, there won’t be many participants. Most of the kingdoms in the mid-west region of the mainland are busy rebuilding and the last day for entering is six days from now. Getting from here to East Nilzon would take at least twenty days even if we went at full speed.”

“Then you're going to forfeit?”

“That’s right, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“It’s such a pity… it’s not easy to get a chance to make a wish….”

However my brain started working furiously. New baseball shoes, baseball gloves, or lighter equipment than the ones I used now. Or maybe shin-guards in Lion's Blue and protective goggles like those worn by Komiyama. However there shouldn’t be baseball equipment in this world, where would they find the ash wood to create baseball bats anyway? Wait, wait, wait, if we thought about the whole team, first we must have a clean locker room...

“... locker... is it?”

With a look so know-it-all that I wanted to click my tongue, Murata voiced my thoughts. Without thinking, I just said what was in my head.

“What about asking for the box?”

“Box?”

Flynn tilted her head like an innocent girl. It seems like she hadn’t quite understood what I meant.

“Yes, the box. If we win and ask for the box as a prize, will they just hand it over?”

So excited that he looked like he would slap his knees, Wolfram exclaimed, “Big Shimaron has ‘The End of the Wind!'”

“That’s right! It’s because they have that box that you wanted to bring a descendant of the Wincott family, right? You want to use the Wincott poison to control the person that’s the key to 'The End of the Wind' or whatever it's called?”

According to my faithful G-shock, that had happened about five hundred and four hours ago.

Concealing the death of her husband Norman Gilbit, Flynn Gilbit had protected Caloria in the role of ‘the man in the iron mask’. She had had dealings with Big Shimaron behind the back if the true suzerain of Small Shimaron.

She had stated, “Those who had ruled this land in the past concealed the Wincott poison, which can control anyone, in the depths of this estate. I’m willing to hand it over, but on several conditions. You must reduce the number of Calorians that are recruited as soldiers for your kingdom, and also let our youths return to our country (as I can no longer stand losing our own citizens in the wars your own kingdom engage in).” In the end Flynn had succeeded in closing the deal, handing over the poison to Big Shimaron.

At that time, we had also wandered our way in here and had concealed our identities by claiming to be Wincott descendants since I had the Wincott insignia. Of course the magic stone I wore had the same fittings as the insignia. It belonged to Susanna Julia who was a member of the Wincott family that had escaped to the west and became demons.

It was then that Flynn had had an idea.

Only those with the blood of the Wincotts can control those who had been poisoned. If she could hand over this man to Big Shimaron, they would find it easier to control the person who was the key. If the deal had gone through, more Calorian youths would have been able to come back to their country.

Not considering the ethics of that action, her plan had been quite brilliant. The one who messed up was the Big Shimaron military.

Out of their two targets, one was in a semi-death-like state and the other's whereabouts was now unknown. While it would have been enough just to hit him with a poisoned arrow, Conrad had his left arm cut off and then he was caught in an explosion...

“Damn!”

I slammed my fist against the beautiful, wood-carved table.

That arm definitely is definitely yours. I don't know why Small Shimaron had that left arm that was cut off in The Great Demon Kingdom. And on top of that, if it was the 'wrong key,' why were you targeted in the first place?

But...

Conrad…. You’re still alive aren’t you?

You're going to come back to my side alive, right?

I had covered both my eyes with my palm without noticing it. I removed my fingers one by one, moving my right hand slowly from my face.

As I exhaled the air slowly from my lungs, I could see Wolfram’s shoulders relax. Really, he needn’t have worried. I wouldn’t have cried in front of everyone.

“That’s right.”

The ruler of Caloria had gripped her own throat with her right hand, looking as if she felt like strangling herself.

“... I was going to use you. For my own wishes, I was trying to sell you off.”

Lord von Bielefelt’s sword clanged as he drew his sword out from its sheath a few centimeters. With one nod from you, I'll kill this woman immediately. He had said this many times and he was likely serious, but...

“Stop, Wolf. I don’t want you to do that. And you too, Flynn... let’s settle that later.”

“But-!”

“It’s all because of that box!”

I cut off her pained voice with the name of that cursed object.

“If it hadn’t been for ‘The End of the Wind,’ all this wouldn’t have happened. If the humans... If Big Shimaron hadn’t gotten that weapon, they wouldn’t have gone after Conrad and Gunter and we wouldn’t have lost our way in this strange place. There’s more, eve more.”

This world had four objects that should never be touched. Humans hadn’t known what a terrible experience that their ancestors had gone through in sealing that horrifying power, how they were made, nor did they know that tragic history.

They simply dreamed of the great power within and were confident in their ability to control it.

They didn't find the proper key and released an evil presence.

“If those Small Shimaron idiots hadn’t experimented with the wrong key, this kingdom wouldn’t have been destroyed. What’s the name of that box they have again? ‘The End of the Wind’ and….”

“The End of the Land.”

Murata answered in a cold voice.

“That’s right, 'The End of the Land.' They still have it, they still have that one."

As if I had licked a too-strong mint, I felt a shudder vibrate through along my temple. An unbelievably calm voice passes through my throat.

“... We can not let the foolish humans hold on to them... They are meant for us.”

“Whoa!”

My friend responded in a very unnatural yet dramatic way.

“Why’re you breathing so heavily, are you drunk?”

“Huh? Wh... what? What did I just say?!”

I had changed back to the weak, new king, flipping my bangs embarrassedly.

“I’m not drunk! You know very well that I’m against drinking and smoking.”

“Not on alcohol, on yourself.”

“Don’t think about saying I’m on a ‘natural high,’ I don’t even feel sick when I’m boarding public transport! It’s Wolf who gets seasick!”

“Really? Then you don’t have to worry about our school trip.”

“That’s right! Anyhow our school’s graduation trip involves a full-day bus trip on the first day, unlike your private school that involves a plane trip, so….. huh? It’s not the time for discussing transport is it? Back to what’s important, we should be talking about the boxes! The boxes…..”

“That's a strange opinion from a wimp like you.”

Seeing that Wolfram had withdrawn his right hand from his sword, I heaved a sigh of relief. I understood his hatred of Flynn, but I couldn’t let him, who hadn’t been here at that time, inflict punishment because of how he felt.

“We can't let the humans keep the boxes. That’s exactly right. But what do we do? Do we attack Big Shimaron before they discover how to use them? Anyway the naval forces will gather tomorrow. Although they aren’t fully armed, the emergency task force is made up of highly trained soldiers. If you’re willing, I can teach you how to direct an army from the beginning.”

“You? Oh, I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to say that you're unreliable! Really, I didn’t mean that! Haven’t I said so before!? I don’t want to start a war, not under any circumstances.”

Don't click you tongue at me so loudly!

“I…. well, that elimination contest about running, attacking, defending! The world’s fighting pageant?”

“It’s 'Use your knowledge, speed and skill to win! The World’s Best Fighter Tournament!'”

“Right, if we win the title of World’s Best Fighter, I think Big Shimaron will have to give us the box.”

Everyone responded with “Huh?” and “Eh!?”, the combination was the hilarious ‘Hae!?’

“They’ll give the box to the champion….!?”

“Thanks, everyone for being so simultaneous in your disbelief, thanks a lot.”

“Are you serious, Yuuri!? Why do we have to go through all that trouble? We can just launch a sudden attack, can’t we?”

“Wait a minute, Caloria doesn’t have any potential participants now! Also, didn’t I tell you what had happened before? It’s impossible to win the championship!”

“Don’t talk at the same time, you two!”

Only Murata was beaming without saying a word.

I breathed in deeply before saying, “Calm down, you two. First, Wolf, we're not starting a war. When I say we're not going to, we're absolutely not going to. Then, Flynn, participating in these kind of tournaments is meaningful. Even if you don’t win you won’t lose anything, right? Even if you can’t find any skilled participants, you can’t just give up your responsibility.”

“Participating in tournaments is meaningful... That’s the first time I heard of such a thing.”

Flynn put a hand to her forehead, bowing her head and trying to calm down.

“But didn’t I tell you before, even if we went at full speed it’ll take at least twenty days to get there. Even if we start off now, we won’t make it for the registration day!”

“When you said full speed you meant traveling by land, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

I said a bit proudly, “Then what if we travel by sea? Don’t we have that Dugald ship?”

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