I look over at everyone.

'I need to talk to you all. This is a theory I've been thinking about for a while now, and I need your input. It's a story that has relevance to this duel.

What's that?　Tact's hypothesis is a little scary, but...

They all nodded. Isn't it awful to be scared?

It's all about the mechanics of the game.

You mean the scenario?

Mel says so, but I don't know if I can say so. Anyway, we decided to talk.

'First we met Garbella Glow in the forest of the young trees. I don't know what the seal Garberagrow was guarding, but let's assume that Dorginus was sealed.

'Well, I don't think it's very likely. So?

The culprit of Princess Sylphi is Durginus, so it's certainly unlikely. But we still don't know the relationship between the demons, so I made a hypothetical for the sake of clarity.

Next, me and Luin-san met with Nebiros. After that, we fought Astaroth in an event, and among the rewards was a weapon that made it easier to defeat Garbella Glow.

'After that, Garbella Glow was defeated, and then the zombies showed up and we fought them off.

Mel told me. That's when Recca realized what I was getting at.

'I see... so you're saying that tact means that all of the management events and world events are created in the flow of the game's scenarios.

Yes.

Then Rikyu-san and Raiden-san speak.

"Wait a minute. Isn't that a bit much to ask?

'That's certainly the way the flow is going, but Garbella Glow was defeated by the players, right?

That's for sure. But Recca says.

'Isn't there any number of scenarios?　In any case, as long as the defeat of Garbella Glow is set as a world event, I'm pretty sure it was an event we were meant to do at some point.

That's right. Well, I guess it was just a trend that Nevillos was up to something.

''Let's get back to it. I told everyone beforehand that I used the magic sword and Ix at the event, and various countries are putting pressure on Fretia. Among them was the Reich Empire.

Mr. Lewin panicked.

''Wait a minute!　Don't tell me, Tact-kun... this duel.

'Yes. I believe it's something that the Reich Empire has caused for the magical sword, Ix.

That's a bit of a stretch.

Mr. Lewin is appalled. I know...I think it's a ridiculous theory too. But I'm not just saying it on a hunch either.

"Mr. Ruin... why do you think a dark-skinned position was able to participate in the event that took place in the Reich Empire?

'What?　It's a management event, so of course we're going to make it open to everyone, right?

Yeah. It may be a given that we all participate equally. But there's a problem.

"On the wanted list?　And the Dark Summoner was proudly making a scene outside the Colosseum, right?

''Ah. Then it looks like they've lifted the wanted list for the blackout jobs during the management event.

Arleigh will tell you. I also made sure that they are not wanted by the Adventurer's Guild. That's why they were able to operate within the Reich Empire during the event. Then a funny thing will happen.

''Don't you think the content of the Dark Summoner's Duel is obviously strange?''

Huh?

They don't seem to know where they all are.

'For one thing, the location is the Reich Empire. It's weird to think that the Colosseum in the Reich Empire can be used after the operational event is over.

'Sure you do. Normally, you're wanted, so you'd be caught...

Chiffon is right, it would be strange not to get caught. But designating the Colosseum means that even now, the wanted list has been lifted. That's usually not possible.

'And what's more, their demands are strange. Lily's demands aren't weird, but the magic sword is obviously weird.

It's not weird, is it?　Every player wants one.

Some nodded at Arleigh's words. Naturally, there are those who don't nod. Yoichi and the others and Mirai won't raise it. It's because they're useless.

'The Dark Summoner is fighting with his bare hands. The Aroma duel confirmed it, but it probably involves the ability to nullify the summoner's abilities.

The dark summoner held up his hands when the Heavenly Strike was released, thinking he was targeted. That would definitely be the condition for the skill to be activated.

'Probably, you have to touch the skill or summoner with your bare hands to nullify it. On the other hand, it's conceivable that if you don't have bare hands, you won't be able to activate a suicide attack or something else on the summoned beast. This is just a guess, but if this is true, then fighting with a weapon would be the worst match for them.

'That's my guess, but it's been pointed out to me on the forums. It seems to me that all dark summoners are definitely fighting with their bare hands.

He gave me some information about the forum information on the fierce sky. I'm still guessing, but if they all don't use weapons, it would still be suspicious.

''Even if that's the case, it wouldn't be strange if they chose it as a reward. If you sell them or something, they'll make great money, right?''

Who are you selling it to?　To a normal player?　I have an idea who has more money than the average player.

Several people, including Ruin-san, noticed.

''Don't tell me you're planning to sell the magic sword to the Reich Empire!

'I think it's more like the Reich Empire asked the Dark Summoner to do a request for a dark summoner, to be precise. I think it's more like they wanted you to fight against me and get a magic sword and Ix.

Arley says.

'Wait a minute. They're after the magic sword and Lily-chan, right?'

'I'm not sure I can beat Ix. The rules of the duel prohibit changing weapons, but not those already equipped. Iks is an enemy that you don't know what kind of equipment he's going to come with. But there are beings that have a chance of beating that Ix.

'So that's Lily-chan... after taking Lily-chan away, Tact-kun will fight again to free Lily-chan. So you're going to fight Lily-chan and Iksu-chan, who were out of control there, and you're going to put a stop to it?

I nod at Mel's reasoning. Then Full Moon speaks.

'That's assuming we win, okay?

'Yes. So I'm sure they'll find a way to win.

Is there a way to do that?

Yoichi asks. That's what it is, isn't it? The worst kind of evil hand.

'There is. The worst way to win a sporting match... is to cheat the referees.

What?

All of us are exclaiming at this. It's only natural.

'This explains why I've bothered to specify the Colosseum in the Reich Empire instead of PKs, because PKs carry the risk of getting a counterattack from me, but if the referees are unfair, then victory is assured. If I had to choose between the two, it would be the latter.

In hindsight, I guess that Durginus's appearance and comments were staged to give me a clue. Predicting the story from this trend, it was more likely that Durginus was the one who saved the people who were captured after defeating Garbella Glow.

More importantly, it's now more likely that Durginus is behind the Dark Fallen jobs.

If there was a question, in this case, Ix could win even if he was the opponent. This makes it seem like the dark summoner simply wants Lily.

Then Luke says.

''Huh?　If that's true, you really can't win!　What are you going to do?!

Luke is right, if we don't, we don't stand a chance. So what we have to do is obvious.

Isn't it only fair to counter a scheme with a scheme?

What are you going to do?

Mr. Lewin is really afraid to ask me. I say matter-of-factly.

'I'm going to make a deal with the Reichswehr.

"What?

We were all surprised by my statement. Perhaps this is the only way for me to win. We have the best trump card in the world in Ix. We have the advantage in this deal. The only thing left to do is to see what we can offer.

The Dark Summoner's only condition for releasing the summoner is that we defeat him in a duel or penalty shootout. If I defeat the dark summoner, the summons will be released. But that's not the end of it for me.

They are the ones who fought me. And then they went after Lily and the others. There's no excuse for that. So if they don't know, then I'm going to tell them again. I'm a man who will do whatever it takes to protect what's important to him.

I told everyone my plan, and although they would be disappointed, I couldn't leave the dark-skinned job unattended, so I asked each of them to help me out.