If either of them relaxed for a moment, the bout would immediately be over. At this point, it was a contest of willpower rather than strength or endurance. A contest of their love for each other.
“You can do it, Clifton!”
“Bring her back to Aryagard!”
“Don’t let up now!”
The power of our cheers got converted into a boost for Clifton’s sumo spirit, making it rotate too fast for the eye to see.
“Kukuri! Bring your new groom back home!” shouted Uta.
“Show him...what you’ve got...!” continued Arima.
“We’re gonna hold your wedding, so don’t lose!” added the Demon Lord.
The cheering from the opponent’s side boosted Kukuri’s sumo spirit as well. Talk about a marital contest... And the elves were loving it.
“Hang in there, spider lady! Bring down that handsome guy!”
“Don’t lose, handsome guy! Follow your love!”
The audience was really charged up, cheering for the two wrestlers.
Kukuri pulled her left hand away, causing Clifton to lose balance. She then quickly stuck it under his right armpit and entered a deep double underarm grip—the more advantageous grip for hoisting one’s opponent.
“I win!”
“Not yet!”
Despite being left at a disadvantage, Clifton pulled Kukuri’s head with his right hand, triggering a forceful wind. Was it a tornado? But there was rain too.
“Cyclone Headlock Throw!!!”
A new skill! The cyclone enveloped Kukuri, making her spin horizontally. She tried to resist it by planting her six legs in the ground, but her large frame meant a large surface area for the cyclone to affect. The powerful wind beating against her swept her up in the air. Clifton forcefully twisted himself to throw Kukuri away, causing her enormous body to smash into the ground and roll onto the ringside seats.
“This is my love!”
“I understand now,” replied Kukuri in a quiet, bashful voice.
“Winner, Clifton!”
Agitation spread through the audience. Cushions came flying through the air as the elves all congratulated the winner.
Um, Clifton... Kubinage—a headlock throw—is sumo slang for lovemaking, though you probably didn’t know that. Oh well. Have a happy marriage.
Kukuri stood in front of the Demon Lord.
“I must leave your army today, sir.”
The Demon Lord folded his arms and creased up his pretty face.
“Am I due for an execution?” continued Kukuri.
“Nah...”
“I lost to Clifton in sumo, in a bout with our vows at stake. I will marry him. If that outcome doesn’t satisfy you, you’re welcome to execute me.”
“Nah...”
“Please pardon my leave, I beg you.”
“I won’t. You’re needed in my army. How long do you think you’ve been a brilliant secretary of mine? I have new orders for you.”
Unable to keep looking on in silence, Uta stepped in.
“Oh, come on, this is a happy development. Can’t you just wish her happiness and let her go? You’re so petty for a Demon Lord.”
“Nah...”
“Hey, Arima, Slilene, you tell him too!”
“It’s okay, Uta,” spoke Slilene.
“No it’s not! This is a labor dispute! A maiden has been showered with love and is going to marry! It’s her happy ending!”
Arima and Slilene both lowered their heads to the Demon Lord.
“Please...let Kukuri...leave...”
“She lost, but she fought well-lene! Can’t avoid a magic-imbued skill-lene seen for the first time-lene! It wasn’t Kukuri being weak-lene, it was Clifton being great-lene!”
“Nah...” The Demon Lord’s frown grew even deeper. “Kukuri, I’m transferring you to Aryagard. You don’t have parents, right? I’ll be your witness, so invite me to your wedding.”
“Sir...”
“Don’t go looking all grateful now. It’s standard practice to send capable diplomats to enemy states. I’m sure we’re gonna end up doing sumo with Aryakans on a regular basis, so you do your best to gather intel on them.”
“I will, sir!” replied Kukuri, blushing and crying.
“Sheesh, you scared the crap out of me, sir! Why’d you have to act like that?!” complained Uta.
“Never said I’m against their marriage. Sure, it would be best if that lover boy came to the demonic realm instead, but he won in sumo, so what can you do?”
Arima and Slilene ran up to Kukuri.
“Congratulations...”
“I hear-lene humans and monsters have married a few times in the past-lene, but it’s almost unheard of nowadays! Congratulations-lene!”
“Thank you, Arima, Slilene. And Uta, thank you too, for getting angry for my sake.”
“Oh, that’s fine, we’re sumo buddies and all! Heh heh... I’ll come to Aryagard for your wedding! Man, I can’t wait to see the Aryakan Sumo Hall!”
It appeared we would be receiving a lot of demons and monsters for Clifton and Kukuri’s wedding. We’d best be good hosts.
The fairy king leapt out of his VIP seat onto the dohyō.
“That was a splendid bout, Clifton! Congratulations on your engagement! In that regard, I would like to be your witness!”
“Is that okay, Your Majesty?”
“Yours is a bond of love that bloomed here in this Martial Arts Hall! On behalf of Yggdrasil watching over us, I wish to unite you in your eternal happiness!”
Clifton deeply lowered his head.
“Thank you so much. This honor is more than I deserve.”
I looked over to Prince Richie, and he nodded with a smile. The royal family would, of course, assist with Clifton and Kukuri’s wedding. Would it be best to hold it in the Aryakan Sumo Hall, after all? It was a love that had bloomed on the dohyō, so a dohyō wedding seemed appropriate.
“Floortje. If I win against Arima, I’ll propose to you,” spoke the prince, gazing straight at me.
“Oh? What if you lose? Will you give up on marrying me?”
“Th-That’s, well...” The prince averted his eyes.
“You should propose regardless of whether you win or lose. I’m still waiting, you know?”
“It would look better if I did it after winning.”
“You’re going against Arima. His rank is far higher than yours. Just think of it as practice with someone of higher skill.”
“Okay, you’re right. That was arrogant of me. Arima isn’t such an easy opponent.” The prince’s expression grew tense.
“Watch out for his Blinding Head Chop Down, and fight your way.”
“I’ll do my best. And once this bout is over, I’ll propose to you.”
“It’s a promise.”
“It is.”
Adela stood in the ring.
“On the east, Richie, Richie... On the west, Arima, Arima...” she announced with a peculiar intonation.
“I’ll be going!”
“Good luck!”