Episode 61: Crimson Fang
After glancing at the fallen students from Grantzile Dorm, Siegfried turned toward the flag. And without hesitation, he pulled it out.
However, the grand training grounds echoed only with the groans of the Grantzile Dorm students.
“The horn signaling the end of the match hasn’t sounded yet. Does that mean the match is still ongoing? If so, should I keep Headmaster Ludendorf restrained like this?”
Those words finally snapped the referees back to their senses. In the next instant, the horn’s sound rang out loud and clear.
“――The winner is Slade Dorm.”
The announcer’s voice echoed across the venue through the amplification device.
At that moment, applause erupted from somewhere. It started faintly, but soon echoed from other spots in response. Before long, it spread further――and by the time anyone noticed, the entire venue was enveloped in thunderous applause.
“That was incredible… To actually win from a situation like that…!”
“Taking the headmaster hostage… Is that even allowed?”
“I don’t know. But…”
Siegfried had dragged Ludendorf, who had been content to watch from on high, right into the fray, then forced the Grantzile Dorm students to crawl on the ground one after another. His methods might not exactly be what you’d call ‘just.’
But at the same time――they couldn’t deny it. The fact that their own hearts had been stirred by it all.
“He’s so cool…”
One of the women in the audience murmured that without thinking.
Yes… Siegfried’s actions, which couldn’t be called righteous and might even be deemed cruel――had captivated everyone present in the venue.
Siegfried urged his horse toward Leon and Dominik, then said curtly.
“You can let him go now.”
Next, he addressed the entire venue through the amplification device.
“――The match is over. We’ll release Headmaster Ludendorf.”
The moment those words reached them, Ludendorf’s guard knights sprang into action as if propelled. They rushed down from the stands all at once, lifted the headmaster’s body, and carefully shielded him.
His face twisted from the intense pain wracking his entire body, and Ludendorf looked utterly exhausted. His clothes were smeared with dirt and dust. No trace of the dignity befitting the head of one of the Five Great Noble Families could be seen in his appearance anymore.
“Lord Ludendorf…”
Arriving a bit later was a young man clad in a pure white cassock. His robe was embroidered with golden threads forming a wing pattern. ――He was a priest from the ‘Holy Church’ personally employed by Ludendorf.
“This is terrible…”
Muttering that, the priest immediately began casting healing magic. A soft light emanated from his palms, enveloping Ludendorf’s body.
It didn’t fully heal all the fractures right away, but the pain seemed to ease somewhat. Then, Ludendorf lifted his face and glared at Siegfried.
“How dare you…! You think you can do this to me, one of the Five Great Nobles, and get away with it…!”
“No need to get so worked up. This was all just part of the dorm battle game.”
“That’s right! The dorm battle… the game is over…! And your life ends here too! What starts now is the real fight!”
As if responding to that shout, the guard knights surrounding Ludendorf all turned their glares toward Siegfried at once.
There were about twenty of them. Some positioned themselves in front of Ludendorf like shields to prevent him from being taken hostage again, blocking Siegfried’s path.
Through the gaps between the knights, Ludendorf continued to glare at Siegfried and went on.
“This military academy has over a hundred security guards stationed here at all times…! And they all follow my orders. You’re just one man against them… Your life ends right here!”
As if answering that intimidating declaration, Leon and Dominik silently flanked Siegfried on both sides.
“Hah… What’s this? Planning to fight alongside Siegfried? The three of you against over a hundred soldiers? ――Trying to recreate the dorm battle finals or something?”
“Well, that could be one option.”
Siegfried replied in a calm voice.
“Don’t be ridiculous! You think the same trick will work again…?”
“――It will work. In this situation right now, killing the twenty knights protecting you and taking you hostage again――would be child’s play.”
That cold, ruthless voice pierced sharply into Ludendorf’s chest.
An indescribable terror, like having his heart seized in a vise, surged through Ludendorf’s entire body.
But Siegfried continued, a faint smile playing on his lips――.
“However, repeating the same thing over and over would lack flair for a villain.”
Cutting off his words there, Siegfried turned his gaze toward the audience seats.
“――Beatrice!”
His voice calling out that name echoed loudly across the grand training grounds.
At the same time, a single figure stood up from one corner of the audience seats.
Flaming red hair, a sharp horizontal scar across her face. ――Beatrice Nightray.
She shrugged off her cloak. What appeared underneath was a surcoat exuding a noble aura.
She lightly jumped down from the audience seats, then ran to a horse tied at the edge of the venue and leaped onto its back.
It was a spare horse prepared for the dorm battle. And Beatrice charged across the battlefield like a gale.
Thinking she was launching an attack, Ludendorf’s guard knights instantly braced themselves.
But――the knight with her crimson hair fluttering in the wind headed straight for Siegfried and stopped her horse beside him.
“――Beatrice Nightray. I’ve come to escort you.”
“Well done, my knight commander. So… how’s the troop deployment?”
“Yes, sir! We’ve infiltrated five hundred soldiers from the Kreving Earl House among the audience.”
At those words, Ludendorf hurriedly turned his eyes toward the audience seats.
The massive stands packed with thousands of spectators――.
(His subordinates… hidden among them…!?)
“Now then――Headmaster Ludendorf.”
Siegfried slowly shifted his gaze back and stated quietly.
“The forces you can command are your twenty guard knights and a hundred security guards… Plus, perhaps you can mobilize the academy’s students as well. ――Shall we begin? This ‘real fight’ you speak of.”
