#809 A Sumo Tournament of Love

You can’t just slap the word ‘love’ on everything and think it’ll fix stuff!

At least, that’s what I thought.

Well, considering they’re newlyweds and probably in the most exciting phase of their lives, I tried to cut them some slack. Nevertheless, there’s a limit to things.

The way she explained it, I was almost ready to jump in using my farm owner privileges.

“This sumo tournament’s theme... is Love!!!”

“Again with the clichés?”

Why bring love into it?

Don’t think you can just vaguely throw around ‘love’ and have things go smoothly!

The word itself is so overused!!!

“The way I see it, sumo is a man’s sport. No room for a woman like me to intervene. But then, I thought, shouldn’t I be able to do something for the man I love?”

Can’t you cheer him on the normal way?

Isn’t that enough?

“I thought hard about it! How can I make my feelings and love useful for Orkubo? I brainstormed so much that even my Prime Minister duties piled up.”

“Do your job, please...!”

To be so consumed by Orkubo...

That’s some heavy affection.

“And because I’m a genius, I came up with an answer. If I do this, it’ll surely boost Orkubo’s power! Thus, I created a special loincloth imbued with my originally concocted potion. I name it The Loincloth of Love!!!”

What a straightforward name.

Yet, its simplicity reveals a strong, undiluted emotion.

So, what can this Loincloth of Love do?

“When someone wears the Loincloth of Love, they get stronger based on the amount of love directed towards them.”

Whaaaaat?!

For instance, the person who loves Orkubo is obviously Zoth Syra, right?

So, the loincloth detects her love and converts it into power to strengthen Orkubo?

But I don’t see any changes yet.

“It’s currently in management mode, with all features off. Switching it on...Now!”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Wh-What just happened?!

Suddenly, all the sumo participants started writhing!

This scene is nothing short of bizarre.

It’s like they’re under a mass hypnosis!

What exactly is happening to them...?

“Uooooooh! I feel the power surgeeeeeeeee!!!”

“My energy’s at its peak! My strength’s ten times more powerfuuuuuuul!!!”

“I’m at FULL POWER! 100% of 100% of 100%!!!”

The power radiating from them is stifling... err, I mean, intense.

So, this is the power of Zoth Syra’s Loincloth of Love?! 

Taking a closer look...

“YEEEEEAAAH!”

It’s the Mermaid King Arowana, and he seems pretty exhilarated!

“I get it! I feel the power, the energyyyyyyy! It must be from my beloved queen Puffer!!!”

Huh.

Arowana and his wife, Puffer, now the Mermaid Queen, had quite a tumultuous romantic journey.

If Arowana is getting “love” power, it has to be from Puffer. That power is roaring!

“S-So, this is the Loincloth of Love’s power...!”

Zoth Syra’s invention is a marvel.

Every time a witch in the mermaid realm does something, it’s astonishing!

Of course, Arowana isn’t the only one powered up by love.

“Ahem! Aheeeeeeeeeeem!!!”

“Lord Nagas, too?!”

Former Mermaid King and father-in-law Nagus?!

If someone could fuel him with love, it’s undoubtedly his wife, Lady Mahi.

Given their passionate history, the effects are monumental!

“Ahemahemahem! Aheeeeeeeeeeeeeeem!!!”

“My, my. Isn’t my darling all excited from my affection? Zossy sure has created something amusing.”

Wait, is that mother-in-law Mahi watching from the audience? 

Well, yeah. Of course she’d come to support her husband in a serious match...

By the way, what’s the range of this loincloth?

Does it malfunction if the distance is too great?

“That’s not an issue. My invention has no flaws. If there’s someone who deeply cares for the wearer, love will reach them, even if they’re at the bottom of the sea or in the heavens! Because love knows no boundaries!!!”

All right, all right.

Geniuses become really scary when love gets involved. Noted.

“Those words... they seem truthful.”

Huh? Whose comment is that?

Hendra?!

Why is the atmosphere so quiet around him...?

But I can sense a bubbling force emanating from within...!

“My wife Lampeye did not join me today; she’s safeguarding our home. But even from the distant Mermaid Kingdom, I can strongly feel her waiting for my return!”

Oh, Lampeye didn’t come today?

Hendra’s wife, Lampeye, used to work with us on the farm. After they got married, I hardly saw her.

Even with the responsibilities of motherhood and housework, shouldn’t they at least see each other on special occasions?

“She’s very sincere. As the daughter-in-law of the illustrious Betta family, she’s working hard to fit in. She wants to give birth to the next heir... Her effort is so touching...!”

A teary-eyed Hendra.

Well, they’re not as straightforward as the royal mermaid couple, but I get that they deeply care for each other.

Their love is definitely a powerful force.

And then...

“SHAAAAAHAHAHA! SHAAAAAAHAHAHA!!!”

Whose laughter is that?!

General Shark?! Did the famed general of the Mermaid Kingdom also receive some love and power up?!

“SHAAAAHAHAHA! I’m always single and have no girlfriend! I don’t feel any power-up because no one cares for me! But admitting it is too painful, so I just laugh it off! SHAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!”

Oh.

S-Sorry about that.

Right, not everyone has someone who cares for them.

So, only those with spouses or girlfriends have an advantage in this event?

Singles not allowed?

What a harsh event this has become!

Only the normies win! No rights for the introverts! Isn’t it discriminatory?!

I must intervene using my farm owner’s authority and scrap this biased event!

I mean, look!

Look at that couple right there!

Well, are they a couple, or should I say a married pair?!

They’re quite an elderly duo, seasoned by the years! This is my first time seeing them, so they must be part of the general participants, unfamiliar to me!

Now, the husband seems to be participating in the sumo wrestling contest, a lively old man he appears to be... or does he?!

“Um...Love...?”

“...”

He’s exchanging awkward glances with the person who appears to be his wife in the spectator seats.

Why, you might ask? It’s because the enhancement level of the old gentleman wrapped in the Loincloth of Love is somewhat underwhelming.

If we consider the enhancement levels of Arowana and Lord Nagus to be blazingly intense, then this old gentleman’s is comparable to a flickering light, barely noticeable.

According to Zoth Syra, the Loincloth of Love doesn’t guarantee a fixed enhancement level just because you have a partner. Its intensity varies in proportion to the love your partner pours into you.

So, if you are dearly loved, you can expect a generous, exponentially increasing power-up. However, this is not always the case...

As a result, the old gentleman, receiving only a trickle of enhancement, is utterly baffled. 

After all, the meager boost directly implies that the love he receives from his wife is, sadly, just as minimal...

“What’s this about? Haven’t we been together for so long? We were blessed with children, had a fulfilling marriage...”

“Don’t dwell on the past. Do you realize how many years ago our wedding was? Such passion can’t last forever...!”

The wife seems cold and distant. 

Is this the rut that long-time couples fall into? A potential divorce at this age?!

“Looking back, we really were… utterly inseparable in our younger days, weren’t we?... When I think about it now, it’s quite embarrassing. We’d always be arm in arm when we went out, and we didn’t hesitate to kiss in front of others...!”

“Ah yes, we certainly did do that...!”

“And, love, you were so energetic... I did say ‘a lively household would be nice,’ but I never imagined we’d end up having six children together. But you, you worked so hard, economic hardships be damned, and you made sure all of them grew up well.”

“It was only possible with your help!”

“That’s right, you’ve always given your all when it comes to loving me... Now that I think about it, all those old feelings are coming back... Love! I still love you, even now!!”

“Loveeeeeeeee?!”

The old gentleman’s vigor suddenly exploded exponentially.

He even managed to recall the heart-fluttering excitement of his forgotten youth. Ah, the Okubo Castle Grand Sumo Tournament truly is a marvelous event.