Wiping off another trickle of blood from his lips, Izayoi laughed in merriment now.
"If you envy it, then learn from it! Unless you want to tell me that you plan to bring this kind of face to see [Great Sage Equalling Heavens]?!"
Kouryuu was momentarily stumped for words. Seizing the chance of such an obvious opening, Izayoi swung at fist to strike his waist.
Kouryuu almost fell to the bottom of the cliff if not for his quick recovery of his wits that allowed him to stand on the cliff wall some miles down from the fall.
However, his eye continued to stare blankly due to his shock.
"Could…Could it be that you've heard it from Shiroyasha…"
"Stop talking rot. It's just that I can't think up of any other reason that would cause you to recover your domineering spirit for this event……But wow! You really are going to meet [Great Sage Equalling Heavens]? That's so unfair! I would want to tag along too! If not for that guy who got injured……"
Izayoi seemed to be trembling in anger for some unknown reason.
But he soon sorted out his feelings and looked at Saurian Demon King with contempt.
"I will say this in advance. If I had such a useless brother who is thick skinned enough to show up before me, I will be sure to send him flying. And if he happen to be a person who becomes a recluse who hides from the world, I would double the punishment!"
"……"
"So before that, you better start washing your face clean! Right here, Right now before you leave! Let this fight be so heated that it burns all the way to your brains and fry it till most of the synapses are dead. For that is the only way you can explain to your onee-san the reason for being unable to say much about your life before this!"
*Pak!* Izayoi punched his fist into his open palm to urge Kouryuu to resume the fight.
His eyes burned with the impatient desire of a lad wanting to test the limits of his power.
"……Nn. Lad. You are quite an interesting one."
And his words couldn't ring truer.
It's been a long time since he parted with his sworn [elder] sister and during that period of time, [Great Sage Equalling Heavens] had also fought for the human realm, raising achievements, making her name known as word spread about her great cause of helping others.
Kouryuu also had his dreams and ambitions in the past.
Raising the flag that had the same name as his title, he had took on the ambition of becoming the great sage who overturns the seas.[2]
But, if he allowed her to see his dejected self who had nothing much to talk about for the many years between……he wouldn't put it pass her to throw him into the Sanzu River……No, that was still quite interesting in a way as well.[3]
It's just that the strong opponent before him would not give up so easily.
"----Let's fight to our hearts content! Saurian Demon King! And it about time for you to get serious."
"Cut the crap. Aren't you holding back your trump card as well? Why aren't you using it?"
Having the similar question shot back in his direction caused Izayoi to feel awkward for a moment and he scratched his head.
"…I'm not trying to hide it on purpose. It's just that if I ever use that move, I won't be able to control it enough to let you survive the hit. Hence in a game that does not place our lives as the bet, it would be very unfair to use that trump card."
"After all, the rules did say to forbid killing." Izayoi added after a pause.
His words and actions made him seem so honest and pure that it seemed quite funny.
(Not abhorring the act of killing each other but not engaging in it when the situation does not call for it?)
To respect a fight and at the same time to respect life. Even Izayoi's soul shone with the same nostalgic radiance as a certain someone. However, by his current level of strength alone…...he would be crushed under foot by a stronger Demon Lord sooner or later.
Just like his sworn [younger][4] brothers that have long turned to ash.
Assessing and sorting out his thoughts, Kouryuu seemed to come to a decision as he raised his head.
"…Let's just stop here."
"What?"
"Judge! I forfeit my participation! [Great sage who Devastate Seas] hereby request to withdraw from the game!"
His voice travelled to Kuro Usagi's ears and the Participating contract that was signed by Kouryuu soundlessly burnt up.
Having won by default, Izayoi's lips were twitching and he stared angrily at Saurian Demon King.
"Hey, you crappy snake… what the hell did you mean by that?"
"Let's put aside this battle for now. Our fight has already deviated from the focus of this game anyways. It wouldn't matter who won, nor would it be interesting. So I would like to postpone this battle to another time we meet in a game."
Kouryuu gave his suspicious smile before turning his back on Izayoi.
But Izayoi's questions had not ended.
"…Then the matter about going to see [Great Sage Equalling Heavens] is also to be left like that?"
"Hey wait now…. Wasn't it you who said it? If I had gone to meet her with this look now……I would be a disappointment for her right?"
To meet the person he respected with his head held high.
Having found the answer to his own road, Kouryuu stood at the top of the waterfall ledge.
"Bye lad. Let's meet next time…. With me using the [Authority of the Host Master] to be your opponent."
Kouryuu gave a smile as he leapt from the waterfall's ledge.
The domineering spirit fully restored, it was the first time that Kouryuu looked this alive and refreshed in many hundred years.