Love is blind.
　Those who have learned to love someone tend to dream one-sided and convenient dreams without even trying to know what is going on in the other person's mind.
　Especially in the case of first love, we feel happy and sad when someone calls out to us, and even if we only talk to them a few times a day, we feel that we are getting closer to them. You are so blindly in love that you don't even realize it's a mistake.
　There are rare people who, even though they have not confirmed their feelings for each other, make extreme interpretations such as "I know her better than she knows herself" or "I love her more than anyone in the world.
　Many of those with this disposition become stalkers, and the trouble is that Yui and Uru fall into this category.
　Fortunately - and I don't know if I should say this - Yui and Ad are very much in love with each other.
　Although she is a bit jealous, she is devoted to Ad, and they have a child together, so they are in the middle of happiness.

　However, this changes when it comes to Ur.
　He has been a serious student at Istor Academy of Magic, studying magic and alchemy with all his heart.
　Of course, as a young man of his age, he was interested in women, but he suppressed his interest and strived to reach a higher level. Of course, he had never even had a relationship with a female student.
　He is now on his own, and has made small but steady progress in his career as an alchemist.
　Although he occasionally returns to his parents' home, he mostly lives at lodgings in towns and villages, selling magic potions and herbal medicines and steadily increasing his customer base.
　When he returns to his home village of Hasam after a long absence, he is greeted by a strange woman. She is pregnant.
　According to his grandfather, she had collapsed in front of the village, and he could not abandon her because of her weight.
　Her husband was also missing, and she wanted to go and look for him, but she lamented that she could not do anything rash because she had a child in her belly.
　Her husband's friend, who had calmed down the fairy, said he would contact her if he could find her, but Ullu had already made a one-sided judgment that a man who would leave his ailing wife behind must be a worthless person, and she was angry.
　He was making a big mistake at this point, but he couldn't help but notice. Well, that's not surprising, since he doesn't know the facts.

　For the past month or so, his life has been full of excitement.
　When he first met Yui, he was confused, but as he talked to her day by day, he began to be attracted to her.
　He felt a sense of motherhood when he saw her occasionally calling out to the child in her belly.
　She was a true holy mother. As she rubbed her belly lovingly in the sun and talked to her child in a gentle voice, Ulu began to think that she was beautiful.
　Before he knew it, he was in love with her. It was only recently that he became aware of it.

　But even such small happiness comes to an end.
　When his grandfather, the chief of Hasam village, decided to go for a hot spring cure for his chronic back pain, he was happy inside.
　In his room, he did a spin from a twist, a back somersault from a moonwalk, a cool and fragrant pose, and then a "Phow! He was so excited that he shouted, "Phow!
　He was so mad that I could only think he was possessed by something.
　The more he thought he might be able to cross the line, the more he forgot about reality and was in a dream. At this point, he had forgotten that Ad was his husband.

　Finally, Yui is reunited with Ad. To be honest, she hated Xellos for bringing Ad to her, but she managed to hold back with her merchant's face.
　However, the moment he saw Ad, he tried his best not to show his fury.
　After all, he was traveling with two women. Although the direction was different, Yui's anger was painfully understandable.
　From his point of view, Ad's existence has been added to that of 'a bastard who left his pregnant wife behind' and 'a shameless bastard who came to see his wife with impunity, even though he had a woman outside.
As for the story of being separated by the four gods, he inwardly scoffed at it, saying, "What a stupid thing to say," but then he realized that the five of them, including Yui, had a common understanding.
　For the first time, Yui's presence felt distant. At the same time, a sense of alienation, loneliness, and frustration surged through me. The intense jealousy that arises. In the midst of all of this, the conversation progresses to the point of taking Yui with him.
If he doesn't, Yui will be taken away from him. It's a very extreme and one-sided feeling, but Ur waits without thinking. It was a fine play to keep her in the village because she was pregnant.
　However, Yui's expression showed that she was ready to go with Ad, and he became angry, "Why don't you notice my feelings? He became angry. And then he started to lose control.
　Yes, he challenged Ad to a duel.

I'll say it again. I want you to fight me!　If I win, I'll leave Yui in this village. If I lose, you can do whatever you want.
"No, why should I do that?　There's no benefit to me. ......
"I don't think it's worth it to fight a duel. You'll never win.

　But despite their enthusiasm, there's no point in Ad or Xellos accepting the duel.
　What's more, if Ad fought Ur, it would be a one-sided overrun. There was no need for them to accept this condition when the outcome was so obvious.

"Ad, Xellos, ...... let's be considerate of your feelings.
...... That's right. It doesn't matter how long it takes to fall in love with someone, you know?　Shouldn't you fight for them to give you some closure?
"What?　I'm not sure what to say.　No way. ...... We're both men. ......
「「「「「 Why the hell not? 」」」」」

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
　And he felt sorry for Uru, who was suspected of being a manizer. Perhaps it was his imagination, but he looked like he was about to cry.

He looked like he was about to cry.　Why doesn't he realize it?
"What?　You said it doesn't take long to fall in love with someone, right?
I'm not sure why you're directing it at Ad-san, though.　I'm sure you're not the only one.
I can assure you about that. I'm all about you, Shun.

　These are heavy words.



"First of all, dueling me isn't going to change reality. You're just going to get hurt, aren't you?
I'm sure you're not the only one.　Overkill is a good thing. Do you guys really want to kill him?
Maybe you should take it easy on him, .......
It's rude to take it easy when you're dueling. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.
I've never thought of it that way. I didn't realize there was that much of a difference in ability .......

　It's easy to accept a duel.
　But if you're going up against an ordinary mage, even if you go easy on him, you're going to fracture every bone in his body.
　At best, you will be seriously injured, and at worst, you will die instantly. You can heal him with recovery spells, but if he dies instantly, you can't even heal him, which is a reckless challenge.

Hmm, I can't say my promised line, "Don't fight for me, you two! "Well, I can't say the promised line, 'Don't fight for me, you two! Shun-kun is too strong.
I'm not sure if you wanted to say that line, but you did.　That would be disrespectful to him.
But it's every girl's dream, you know?　It's a line I'd like to say at least once in my life!
It's just a shouting match. ....... I'm not sure what to do with it. I'm sure you'll die in a duel. It's reckless to take on you, Ado.

　Reality is merciless to a fault.
　No matter how much you think about Yui, she's not even aware of your feelings, and even if she knew, she wouldn't accept them.
　In fact, he did. But for those who are completely driven by passion, the words of others are just noise.
　These people will act. They're more likely to think in dangerous ways.
　Many of these people have repressed emotions that explode at the drop of a hat.
　Like Yui, Uru was the same way.
　No, she is not at that stage yet. It's just a step in the right direction.

Are you afraid?　Are you afraid of losing to me? ......
Hey, hey, ......, did you hear what I said?
It looks like the four of you are conspiring to escape a duel. I've never heard of such a ridiculous mage.
I've never heard of such a foolish mage." "Oh, ...... this is not good. Ad you ...... have to accept the duel. These types of people will not back down unless you show them the difference in your abilities. They won't listen to you. ......

　I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm sorry. Uru, like Xelloss's sister, only sees what is convenient for her.
　He may be confident that he can never be defeated, but for once he can't recognize that this is a complete suicide mission. He must be so madly in love with her, but because he was so sincere, he fell in the wrong direction. Furthermore, he is the type of person who, once attached to something, sticks to it for a long time, and once he gets going, he cannot stop. He will eventually turn into a stubborn and persistent person.
　Intuitively, the old man sensed the same thing as his sister, who is obsessed with money and is a parasite against the bourgeois class. It is a disgusting special ability acquired through continuous damage.

Seriously?　It's a pain in the ass. ......
This is a problem for you guys, but it's not safe to get too attached to him. He's probably trying to get NT (cuckold). He's a stalker.
I'm not sure what to make of that.　Seriously, ...... give me a break.
I'm sure you'll be able to understand why. You have to overwhelm him with your power to get him to back off. Seriously, .......
...... That's a bit subjective, Xelloss.
There's no such thing as .......
Look at me!

　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm not sure what to do.
　They are still engaged to each other, but in effect they are married. As long as he sticks to such a partner, there is a high possibility that this will not end.
　In the worst case scenario, he might say something like, "Let's die and be together in heaven. Since Yui, who is a stalker, actually did the same thing, it would not be surprising if Uru, who is a stalker, did the same thing.
　I can't help but curse myself for having the misfortune to be involved with such a troublesome person.
　It's Ad who's in trouble, though.

The only thing you can do is to crush him with all your might. You can't do that.　If you don't strike fear into him, he won't stop, I'm sure. ......
You're a demon, aren't you?　I'm sure you'll agree.　I'm not sure what to make of it.　It's like setting a dragon against an ant. I don't want to go that far. ......
I don't want to go that far. ...... How can you reason with a stalker? Will you be able to convince the jealous and passionate Yui?


You're so convincing!　Impossible, impossible. I'm not going to listen to what Yui has to say if he's like this. ......
Here's to you, Ad, for getting caught by her!

　I'm not going to go into the marital problems.
　There is no doubt that they are childhood friends, they know each other well, and they care for each other.
　The addition of a third party, especially a woman, would only make the situation worse. As long as they keep that in mind, there won't be any problems.
　But this time, a man approached Yui's side. Yui's position, who had been relentlessly chasing after Ad who brought Lisa and the others, has been turned upside down.
　Fortunately, Ado is not a stalker and has a sticky personality. If Ad were the same kind of person, the chaos would be unmanageable.

"Am I that obsessive?　"Am I that obsessive or that hard of a listener?
"Have you forgotten that you went on a rampage yesterday?　He's just like you, Yu. ....... You should be aware of that. You've got to learn to live with yourself, right?
"No, Mr. Xelloss?　You turned Yui against me, didn't you?　Didn't you incite her and then try to get rid of her?
"Hahahaha, I was overcome with emotion. Well, I'm still young.
In your case, I'd say you're not very popular!
Tell me you're young at heart, Mr. Ad. It's true that I'm forty this year, but my neighbors think I look young too. There are a lot of people my age who look young these days, aren't there?
I don't know!

　The old man and Ad are going at their own pace. Lisa and the other two were keeping their distance and trying not to cause any damage. Their relaxed attitude was very annoying to Uru.
　Uru is one of the top students at Istor Academy of Magic. He's proud of it, and he works hard.
　He has a fair amount of experience in actual combat, and is in a position where it is impossible for him to not be taken seriously like this. In fact, he has been called upon by the academy to teach.
　He was proud to say that he was more skilled than the court mages. However, Ad and Xellos have an attitude of not looking at him at all.
　At least, that's not the way to treat graduates of a world-renowned magic academy. It could be that they don't know, but a mage can perceive the strength of an opponent by the hint of magic they give off.
　However, the people present here are convinced that Uru is absolutely unbeatable. This attitude stimulated his pride and made him more and more emotional.
　Yes, the advice of Ad and the old men had been replaced by provocation.

...... So, are you going to accept the duel?
It's a pain in the ass, but it's the only way you're going to get your way, right?　I'll take it because I have no choice.
That's a lot of leeway. Do you think I'm stupid?
No, I don't think you're even my enemy. Are you sure you want to do this?
Of course not. You're not worthy of Yu.
It's up to us to decide, not you, the outsider. I'm sorry to be the one who took care of you, but I'm going to be serious when I deal with ...... you, okay?
That's what I want!

　I've said it. At this point, his fate was sealed.
　The old man took out an amulet from his inventory, expecting this to happen. It was a prototype of the amulet he had given to Zveit and the others before they left for the Rahmah Forest.

"Yui-san, please equip this just in case.
What is this ...... thing?
I want you to put it on now, just to be safe. I have a bad feeling about this. ......
Huh, ......?

　I was reluctant to take anything from a man other than Ad, but at least I knew I could trust Xellos. After all, he had really found Ad and brought him here.
　In addition, he and Ad seemed to be good friends, and despite the age difference, they were definitely very close. I can't be too careful with Lisa and Shakti, but Xellos has kept his word, so I can't ignore his words and decide to equip the amulet.
　In front of her, Uru, who was glaring at her in a way she had never seen before, and Ad, who had a really unwilling attitude, were sighing.

"Let's get ready and go. ...... Where are we going?
I'm sure you'll be able to find a good place for this.　It's a big place, and even if the surrounding area blows up a bit, there won't be much damage. ......
You know a lot. ....... Mr. Xelloss, what have you done to this village?
I stopped a vicious fairy attack. You know, genocide.
That makes sense. ......

　The village was surrounded by grasslands, so even if a multitude of battles occurred, the damage would not spread.
　This is why the location was chosen and the Zeros headed to the dueling site early. In the case of Uru, there was time to put on his equipment, and he would head there as soon as he was ready.
　Thus began a duel that seemed to be settled in an instant, yet was extremely troublesome.

　...



　Uru can't give up on Yui.
　However, the one-way love that developed from his first love has become complicated, and the obsession that is in his nature has transformed him into a runaway express.
　Even without logic, Ad and Yui are a loving couple. They act normal in public, but when they are alone together, they create a sweet space that could produce millions of gallons of sugar.
　It's a good thing that they are moderate, but he overheard the sweet secret conversation between the couple in the next room.
　He was not listening through the wall. It was a house in the countryside, so the walls themselves were not soundproof.
　He was forced to listen to the lewd voice of the first woman he ever loved, "Oh-yes♡ Come On, Come On! Of course, he wanted to go crazy with jealousy.
　Her hatred for Ado and her possessiveness of Yui triggered her to run wild.
　Although Ado tried to control himself, he was unable to stop Yui from going out of control, and in the end he was forced into doing what he did.
　Yui was not only a stranger, but she had come to a world where she did not know how far her own common sense would take her. Even though the village was relatively safe despite the damage caused by the fairies, she was still a gentile living among strangers. Nothing could have been more unsettling.
　When she was reunited with Ad, her feelings exploded. You can't blame her for that.
　It's not anyone's fault. If I had to pick one, I would say that Yui and Uru, both of whom have somewhat difficult personalities, met at the wrong time. And the timing was bad.
　There were many people in the gallery at the duel.

"Why are there so many people at ......?
"I'm sorry. I've solved fairy fights before, so a lot of people knew my face. So they were curious to see what we were up to. ......
And that's .......

　Some of the people that Ulu knew well were gathered around, spreading out their lunch.
　There is no entertainment in this small village. If you're making so much noise so early in the morning, of course your neighbors will hear about it. Such rumors spread very fast.
　This is even more so in a sparsely populated rural village.

"Hey, Ur-boy!　I heard you're going to duel. Good luck!
"Ur-chan, don't go for loot love. ....... I know you're young and you can't control your thoughts, but I think it's wrong for a human being.
"Yui's daughter is beautiful, I can see why Uru would fall in love with her!　I wish I was ten years younger...hahahahaha!
You ......, come over here for a minute!
It's good to be young.
It's youthful.

　People, that's what you call an exposed person.
　I was motivated by a desire to fight, but before I knew it, I was a spectacle.
　That's what it turned out to be.

It's not fair!　You're not fair! You're trying to upset me like this!
It's not my fault!　It's not my fault! You're the one who's been making loud noises all morning, don't blame others!
I'd like to start the duel at ....... I will be the referee. Any objections?
No, why is Mr. Xelloss in charge?　Well, that's okay. ......
I have a lot on my mind, but I have no objections. ......

　I'm not sure why, but the old man in the black annihilator is holding a microphone loudspeaker in his hand, but he's smiling.
　He is clearly enjoying the situation. He then raises his voice in a high-pitched voice and proceeds to preside over the event at will.

OK, baby, I see the enthusiasm of these two bastards, now let's go over the preparations and get them in their assigned positions. It's a mage's duel!
「「「「「Ya-------- ---」」」」」
There's something I don't understand about this. ......
I'm not sure if I can trust this person to be my judge.　Shouldn't they be replaced now?

　The old man was in a groove. The villagers were getting excited.
　The villagers were getting excited, but they were exposed to an uncomfortable atmosphere that would cause a storm of boos if the game was decided in one blow. 　
　The pressure from the eyes that were expecting a heated match was great.

"Mr. Xelloss, ...... looks like fun, doesn't it?
"Maybe, but he likes to stir things up. He loves frolics and festivals.
I wonder if Shun is the same way?　Maybe we're just alike.

　Before they knew it, Yui and Lisa had become a commodity, and they were dumbfounded.
　Like attracts like. I guess stalkers make friends with stalkers and jokers make friends with jokers.

Okay, I'll explain the rules!
Wait, wait!　Rules don't just mean fighting!
Why do you get to decide how we fight?　I don't approve of that!


Oh-...... are you sure you want to say that?　Rules are necessary for all things.　Dueling?　Just fighting?　What are you talking about?　What are you talking about? There's no way Ur-boy can beat Ad-chin in a normal fight. What's the fun in watching a one-sided fight?
Who's Ad-chin?
What fun is ...... we're not a spectacle!　And why are you treating us like little boys?
And why are you treating us like little boys?" "Because ...... you don't get it, we're little boys.

　It seems that both of you are dissatisfied. But it is also true that dueling has its own rules.
　In a duel between knights and noblemen, it is common knowledge that only swords are used in battles where the prestige of both parties is at stake.
　The use of magic or magical tools is not permitted, and exceptions to the use of such tools are made only when the difference in strength is clear.

Let's be clear. Let's face it, Ur, you will never be able to beat Ad. There is a difference in skill between the two of you, and a single [Fire] shot will probably turn you into charcoal. There is such a decisive difference in skill level.
　At your level, strategy is meaningless in front of you, and even in a head-to-head battle, you will be easily kicked to the curb. In the face of his overwhelming firepower, you will be defeated helplessly. I'll take it easy on you, and you'll be in bed for a while. That's a definite.
You're being ridiculous. ......
"I'm sorry, but it's an indisputable fact. You can see that you will recklessly take the fight to the higher levels and be cruelly defeated in front of the masses. That's ...... boring!
"What a viciously good smile .......
I've never heard the phrase 'you'll never know until you try'.　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea. There's no way you can win a magic match from the start.

　It's true.
　Ado had intended to settle the matter with a single blow from the start. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　Naturally, he was also quite capable in actual combat, and was confident that he could kick the crap out of most opponents.
　However, this time, he had the wrong opponent. The difference in ability between a [wise man] and a [high level mage] is too overwhelming, even if you include the correction effects of their professions.
　It's not fair from the start.

"A wise man?　Please don't be silly!　If there were such a mage, he would be famous, stop trying to deceive me!
How can you be so sure that there are no wise men?　How can you be so sure that wise men don't exist? You haven't studied all the races that live in this world, have you?　Wise men live in hiding. If you were famous, you wouldn't be free to study magic. Serving your country is a hassle and a waste of time.
"Even if I were to agree with you, there's no way such a being would show himself in public. Besides, he is too young.
How can you be so sure that he is too young to be wise?　What do you think you know about us?　You don't know anything, do you?　You don't even know where Mr. Yu was born. ......
"............

　Yes, Ur doesn't know who Yui, or anyone else for that matter, including Ad, is.
　He was frustrated, jealous, and resentful because he didn't know, and without thinking he initiated the duel.
　The old man, not caring about such things, continued his story without hesitation. 　

He said, "In the style of dueling, you are allowed to use magic tools and potions that enhance magical effects. In contrast, Ad, you are prohibited from using magic, and will only be able to use physical attacks with the Iron Sword.
　Oh, I won't accept any objections. This is a rule set by the magical kingdom of Solistea, and since I am in close contact with the dukes, it would be a crime to allow an unfair duel.

　It's a lie. There are laws against dueling, but the old man will not be charged with a crime.
　The purpose is to prevent the worst behavior by binding it with rules.
　There is a certain amount of judgment that if you are going to do something, you might as well do it in a way that is mutually satisfying, but about 60% of the time, I don't want to see a boring fight.

...... So, if you're going to use a magic tool, please be prepared. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
But it still doesn't seem to be enough. ...... That's right, the Rock Pillar!

In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.
　It's a great way to make sure you don't end up in a situation where you're not the only one.

The only way to win is to defend the pillars and destroy the other side's pillars. The time limit is the time it takes for the magic to wear off and disappear. You may attack and interfere with each other.　You may not kill your opponent.
　You may set traps, but only after you have both reached the pillar and are ready to fight. Okay?
"So it's stick-fighting with interference and attacks. That's right.
I'm not convinced, but I get it. I don't believe in power differentials, but if it's fair, I'll accept it. ............
You may use magic only to set traps in your camp. However, the use of evil magic is strictly forbidden. In the meantime, we'll build a wall so that we can't see each other.


"Isn't ...... one of those places where the rules just grow and grow as the mood strikes?

　Ad didn't care much about it, but Ur grudgingly agreed to it.
　The old man let out a sigh of disgust at his stubbornness to the point of not listening to others, though he did not set these rules out of kindness.
　What you don't know is stupid, but it's happy. But with this duel, Uru would learn the reality.
　The Xellos used Gaia Control to create a wall so that they could not see each other's positions, and laughed with great enjoyment.