The trump card of Kingdom of Dragon King."
"... Trump card? Why would he be involved in the political dispute of another country?"
"I don't know, but assuming Hitogami's involved, that's typical of him."
Ah, of course if I think about it.
I asked something pointless again.
"Why Kingdom of Dragon King would rent out the Death God is hard to imagine, but someone else can worry about that... Right now we don't have any information about any other pawns involved who would be capable of assassinating you or I. For now, I want to discuss how to deal with the Death God with you."
Perhaps that skull-faced man isn't the Death God.
But better safe than sorry, and be prepared for the worst.
"That Death God Randolph does not belong to any school in particular, he's a self-styled warrior."
"Self-styled?"
"Indeed, no set style. He would do anything for victory."
In other words, like Ruijerd?
I'm no good against someone like that.
"But his best skill is [Sword of Bewitching]."
Sword of Bewitching.
I can imagine from the name alone.
A skill like Engetsu Sappou. [1]
"[Sword of Bewitching] is a meld of [Sword of Luring] and [Sword of Hesitation]."
"What do they each do?"
"[Sword of Luring] entices an enemy to attack when he should retreat. [Sword of Hesitation] forces an enemy to retreat when he should attack."
Eh?
I don't get it.
"In battle, he manipulates the opponent, making him attack when he shouldn't, defend when he shouldn't. It messes with your timing, so be prepared."
"But I don't really know what I'm supposed to do then, hearing that."
"Attack when you thought to guard, guard when you thought to attack. But there are also times to defend, and times to attack."
How rhetorical.
Confusing.
"Don't let his theatrics get to you, just overpower him."
In that case, then Orsted can go take care of him.
I briefly entertained that precocious thought, before shooing it away.
Orsted is heading to Kingdom of Dragon King.
"Can I overpower him..."
"He's fifth on the Seven Great World Powers, so he's master class, and has plenty of counters against magic. A difficult opponent indeed... but a man long absent from the battlefield. Right now, he's probably a distant second to any of the heads of three great sword styles. Once you figure out [Sword of Bewitching], understand how it works, and steady your resolve, even you should suffice against him."
Really?
Honestly, I don't have any confidence against someone of God Rank.
But I did beat North Emperor Auber that time, so maybe I can. Probably?
"Sounds like that Death God uses tactics similar to North God Style."
"Indeed, that man was the original candidate for North God."
Ah, really?
So he was a candidate, but he's not the North God, so he failed?
Yet he's ranked above even the current North God?
I think North God is ranked seventh, and Death God fifth.
"Then how did he become the Death God?"
Orsted gave me the details about Death God when I asked.
Randolph Marianne.
Grandson of the second North God.[2]
For a while since birth, he trained alongside the third generation and current North God, under the second generation's tutelage.
But when he came of age, he had a fall out with the second generation.
Leaving the second generation North God, he went on to develop his own techniques.
Afterwards, he managed to defeat one of the Seven Great World Powers in the Magic Continent.
Randolph ended up gaining the title of Death God after beating the original.
But from that day forth, endless hoards would challenge him, vying for a place among the Seven Great World Powers.
One fight after another.
Endless battles against those that care for nothing but the battlefield.
After spending ten years fighting those fights, Randolph was fed up.
He decided to retire.
He returned to his hometown at Kingdom of Dragon King and studied to become a chef.
Then he took over a relative's troubled restaurant.
Thus a new chapter of the Legend of the Death God began.
But that legend had a rather inglorious end.
The restaurant folded due to financial difficulties.
He had talent has a warrior, but none as a chef.
Buried in debt and wandering the street, he was picked up by a general of Kingdom of Dragon King, and became a knight of the kingdom.
No one knows how old he is, but that's the story of Death God Randolph.
What an interesting tale.
"As long as your tactics are sound, he isn't a hard counter against you. If Death God Randolph does appear, use guerilla tactics. Attack from a distance, just like you did with me."
"Got it."
Death God Randolph.
Carving the name of my new enemy deep into my memory, towards Orsted I took a bow.
"Then... come back alive."
"Okay. Thank you."