Episode 58: The Stage and the Actors
“—Oh, my apologies.”
Having reined in his laughter, Siegfried turned his gaze once more toward Ruberus and the others—no, toward the ‘Randolph Four Heavenly Kings.’
“I was just so delighted that I couldn’t help but… get a bit carried away.”
For a moment, the four were overwhelmed by the aura Siegfried exuded… but eventually, Ruberus reacted.
“Hmph…! Trying to throw us off with some nonsense, huh? That’s your game…!”
As if spurred by his words, the other three chimed in.
“Heh… w-well, anyone can talk big if it’s just words!”
“But no matter what you say, the situation ain’t gonna change…!”
“Y-yeah, exactly! In the end, you’ve got no choice but to compete in the dorm battle…!”
To their words, Siegfried responded with calm composure.
“Indeed—I will participate.”
His tone was quiet, almost refined. Yet, the indescribable pressure lurking beneath it made the four instinctively step back.
“Hah…! W-well then, I’ll be looking forward to seeing you get utterly crushed in the real deal…!”
Stumbling over his words but managing a parting shot, Ruberus stormed out of the indoor training grounds.
The remaining members of the ‘Four Heavenly Kings’ hurriedly followed suit, scurrying after him.
Watching them go, Siegfried smiled.
“Heh, all four Heavenly Kings showing up to declare war before the battle—how entertaining.”
Siegfried’s smile was as if he were delighting in the opening curtain of an amusing play.
Seeing this, Leon called out to him, his voice tinged with hesitation.
“…Hey, you sure about this!?”
At Leon’s question, Siegfried slowly turned his gaze toward him.
“—I know what you’re trying to say, Leon.”
“…”
“You’re saying our characters overlap, aren’t you?”
“Huh…?”
“Prosper, the ‘brute strength type,’ Hugo, the ‘sorcerer type,’ Ruberus, the ‘scheming type,’ and Moses, also the ‘scheming type’—yes, within those four, Ruberus and Moses have overlapping scheming personas.”
Siegfried let out a small sigh, his expression tinged with concern.
“Character overlap within the Four Heavenly Kings is, frankly, a bit disappointing. However, if you look at it another way, Moses, who mixed sand into food, could be classified as a ‘sand type’…”
“No, that’s not what I’m talking about!”
Leon leaned forward, unable to hold back.
“What I’m saying is, with no other participants besides us, how the hell are we supposed to fight in the dorm battle!?”
“—Hm? You just said ‘us,’ didn’t you? Are you planning to join in, Leon?”
“…Yeah, I guess. Whether it’s 100 against 1 or 100 against 2, it probably won’t change the outcome much. But I’m not about to let you fight alone—at least I’ll take down as many as I can!”
“Oh? Quite the rebellious princess you are, aren’t you?”
“I told you, I’m not a princess! …Anyway, if we’re fighting, I want to do everything we can. Let’s come up with a strategy for taking on 100 with just the two of us.”
“Ah… it’s not 100 against 2, but 100 against 3.”
The one who spoke up was Dominik, who had been quietly observing until now.
“I’m joining too, just so you know. Not that I’ll be much help, honestly.”
“…You sure about that?”
When Leon asked, Dominik shrugged and gave a small smile.
“Hey… do you know why I started hanging out with you?”
“Why? …Just how things turned out, right? We just happened to click or something…”
“…No, that’s not it. Back when I’d just enrolled, I was being bullied by some noble students. They ganged up on me, beat me up over and over. And… it was you who stepped in, shielded me, and took their abuse in my place.”
“…Seriously? I don’t remember that.”
“Haha… I figured you wouldn’t. You were always helping someone, everywhere you went. But for me… that moment saved me.”
Dominik’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if gazing into the past.
“So, if you’ve decided to fight, I’m fighting too. …Not that I’ll be much use, probably.”
“…Got it.”
Leon gave a faint, wry smile but nodded, clearly pleased.
“—Alright, then… our side’s got three fighters. 100 against 3—by any normal logic, there’s no way we’d win.”
As he spoke, Leon turned his gaze to Siegfried.
“…Hey, Siegfried. I’m starting to get a sense of what you’re always going on about.”
Putting strength into his words, Leon continued.
“This ‘path of villainy’ you talk about—it’s about standing tall and facing your enemies head-on, no matter if defeat is certain, no matter if the world brands you a villain. It’s that kind of conviction, right?”
At Leon’s words, Siegfried let out a quiet breath—and then declared.
“—Completely wrong. You don’t get it at all.”
“Huh, it’s not…?”
“True, defeat can elevate a villain’s presence. I’ve brought out the charm of the villains I’ve faced by defeating them. But I walk the path of villainy. Losing to the likes of them would disqualify me from claiming that path.”
“So, what… you’re seriously planning to win?”
“Obviously.”
“No way… you’re not thinking of charging in alone and wiping them all out, are you? I mean, if it’s you… you might actually pull it off…”
“Charging into the enemy’s ranks alone and crushing the villains—sure, that’s one way to make a spectacle. I don’t deny the appeal of raw, overwhelming force as a method of victory. But for these particular villains, that approach isn’t suitable. It wouldn’t do justice to their charm.”
“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Unfazed by Leon’s confusion, Siegfried continued calmly.
“The stage is set. All that’s left is for the actors to take their places. You two, as participants on this stage, will play your parts. Let’s give those fools a crushing defeat and an indelible humiliation.”
