A massive handicap........at least Ozma-san can't move at a speed that I can't see, and his area of action is only within a circle four meters in diameter. So, to be honest, somewhere in the back of my mind I thought that it would be pretty easy to get there.
　However, 20 minutes after we started, I realized how unsatisfactory my outlook was.

'.........hah.......it's so hard.......'
Hmmm. Miyama-kun can move around quite well~. Do you exercise?

　As I exhale loudly on my shoulder, Ozma is standing in front of me with an aloof smile.
　Oh, I can't hit it.......not at all. Or rather, I don't feel like I'm going to hit it.

　Ozma-san's movements are leisurely, but his movements are exquisite and curious. Ozma-san is certainly only moving at a speed that I can react to, as declared.
　However, his movements are exquisite... even if I could react, my body couldn't keep up with him, or he would hit me at an angle that would make it difficult to see his movements in my blind spot.

　They are loosely evaded, as if the leaves of a falling tree were slipping through their hands.
　So I spread my arms out to block the escape route and try to smash him with my body, but he just leaps over me with one foot.
　Well, I guess my movements actually look like slow motion to Ozma-san, and it may be easy to avoid.

　However, even I am not without a hand. It's time to hang up your trump card.

It's not a good idea to have a good time with them.　Uncle, you must be anxious.

　Although she says she's scared with her mouth, Ozma's expression remains a gentle smile.

　It's not suitable for combat, and it's the only trump card that can be called a trump card for me, but it's a passive spell, and it's not suitable for you to set it up yourself.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get a good deal more than you think.

　After setting up the magic circle for a few minutes, I activate that magic.

''........Autopilot!
Oops!

　With the utterance of the key magic name, the control of my body leaves me.
　

　Since the distance was close to begin with, I quickly reach Ozma-san and swing my fist at him, but Ozma-san avoids it with a flutter and a half.
　But this is where the auto-pilot really comes into its own, and my body reacts super-responsively to Ozma's movements, moving my swinging fist to the side.
　But that, too, is evaded by a posture that makes me bend my upper body.

　Even before I'm aware that my fist attack has been evaded, my body immediately sinks down and I give it a flowing foot sweep.
　The autopilot is a super-reflex, so to speak, and executes a pre-set target at the level of a spinal reflex, omitting the process of thinking and then moving.

　If this is the case, I should be able to demonstrate the maximum performance my body is capable of, but........

　It's a good idea to avoid the fist of Kore, which was released in the air, and then spun around again with one hand on the ground to avoid my pursuit.

It's a good thing you're fast. It's hard to avoid this, too.
....

　Even though he says such things with his mouth, Ozma-san evades all of my attacks with room to spare, as if he knows in advance where my attacks will come.
　Hey, I didn't expect it to be this great................................bad. The autopilot is certainly easier to use than the auto-counter, but I don't know how bad the fuel efficiency is.
　








　The effect of the autopilot wears off and I get down on one knee on the ground.

''Guh, haha........''
Master!

　When the autopilot is on, you can ignore the fatigue and move your body, but once the effect wears off, the fatigue comes flooding in all at once, which is one of the drawbacks.
　To be honest, it's so exhausting that I want to lie down right now.

　While looking at me, Ozuma-san spoke to me while holding a cigarette in his mouth and not lighting it, looking at me from a place of exhaustion.

"....Miyama-kun, can I give you a piece of advice?
...Huh ... what?
The magic is not very good against your uncle. It's probably the most efficient way to attack me, right?　In that case, with an opponent as uselessly old as my uncle, I can see where and how he's going to attack me, and I can control his movements by creating an opening.
.........

　If you ask me, I see........The auto pilot uses the most efficient movement to launch the attack. For someone as good as Ozma-san, I guess that means telephone-punching is a good place to start..................Uggh, it's tough.

Well, you did your best. Everyone is not good at something........isn't that enough?
...What?
Megiddo's husband said that, but he didn't have to be a good sport about it. It's important to give up reasonably well in this world. There is no harm in losing. You don't have to force yourself to do anything hard, just retire here and have fun at the festival with the girls.
Well, yes.

　

''Oh?　And you're still standing?　There's no need to work that hard, is there?　Do you really want to live up to Megiddo's husband's expectations so badly?
There's that too but, well, it's more than that...

　Really, why am I working so hard?　For ... many reasons, I'm sure. I don't want to waste the thoughts of the people who have helped me to this point, and I want to live up to Megiddo-san's expectations.
　Those are definitely also reasons not to give up. But I'm not that good, so I can't use that as an excuse to keep working hard.

　Yes, the reason for me to work hard now is a simple one.

".........I'm also.......a man......so once in a while, I just want to 'show a good part of myself in front of a pretty girl'.... ...
"...hahaha, I see. I'll have to work on that one. Your uncle was wrong. Sure, come from anywhere.
I'm coming!

　Honestly, I have very little energy and magic left in me anymore. That's the only chance I have..........................one time.

　Running towards Ozma, I swing my fist at him. But of course, that blow is avoided.
　But my aim is after this ...........the transmission of emotions through sensory magic. That magic that stopped Kuronoa-san and Ain-san's fight before.

　
　This strategy is effective because it is a surprise attack. Not a second time............Deliver it!

　He desperately reaches out his hand to Ozma-san, who takes evasive action even though his reaction is a bit delayed.
　


Oh, you okay?

　As it was, Ozma-san quickly caught my body, which was about to fall to the ground.

''Master!　Are you okay?　Are you hurt in any way?
'Anima?　No, I'm fine ... I'm just a little tired.

　Anima let out a relieved breath as she smiled at Anima as she ran up to her, supported by Ozma.

''Oh no, brilliant. You've been beaten~''
Oh, thank you ... thank you.
'I know you're tired and you should get some rest. I'll give you a stamp afterwards.
Yes.
Okay, I'll go make a cup of coffee. Hey, girl over there, can you help me carry the cup?
Okay.

　I made sure that Anima nodded at Ozma's request for help, and I sat down, leaning against the wall of the arena.

　Dear Mom and Dad - somehow, I managed to clear it just in time. I'm feeling exhaustion all over my body right now, but I also feel a sense of accomplishment that I've done it... it wasn't - not a bad feeling.







　On her way to make coffee away from Kaito, Anima spoke to Ozma.

'........why did you finally........'hit it on purpose'?
'Huh?　What are you talking about?
'Don't blurt it out, you were laughing at your master's movements at that moment...'
Hmm. Good eye.

　Hearing Anima's words, Ozma murmured in a leisurely tone and then smiled kindly.

''See, I told you.　They say that you are the weakest of the five generals in the Warring States period but you can't do it. Uncle, I have a weakness for that kind of girl who is trying her best. I can't help but cheer them on.
So you put that on purpose?
If Miyama hadn't tried so hard, I wouldn't have given him the win. But the uncle doesn't like to see his desperately trying to get ahead of himself only to be thwarted by the difference in ability. At the end of the day, it's all about the uncle's convenience.
Well, thank you.
I don't need it. More importantly, you should praise Miyama-kun. You've done a great job...
Yeah.
It's really nice to be young, I'm so jealous. But it's the privilege of older people to smile at the efforts of a straightforward child like that.

　As he told her this, Ozma lit a cigarette in her mouth and smiled serenely.