Episode 62: The Loser’s Curtain Call
“Guh… ugh…!”
Even as he was overwhelmed by Siegfried’s intimidating presence, Ludendorf racked his brain.
Siegfried’s subordinates numbered 500 soldiers. On his side, he could mobilize… 20 guard knights, 100 security guards. Plus the military academy’s students.
That said, the main students from Grantzile Dorm had been thoroughly beaten in the dorm battle, and many from Karadis Dorm were injured from the preliminaries two days ago.
It was hard to imagine Slade Dorm seriously fighting against Siegfried… So, the ones he could reliably use were probably the students from Equites Dorm.
Even if he mobilized them, they’d be outnumbered. And it would be a ragtag group centered on students. Could they win?
(…It’s impossible.)
Ludendorf had no choice but to conclude that.
Victory was impossible in this situation.
“So… what will it be, Headmaster Ludendorf?”
Siegfried asked in a flat tone devoid of emotion.
“If you want to fight, let’s get started right away. Or has the battle already begun? In that case, I’ll go ahead and…”
“W-Wait!”
Ludendorf clenched his teeth in frustration as he squeezed out the words.
“…I retract my earlier statement. I… won’t fight you.”
“Is that so? That’s for the best.”
Siegfried smiled brightly and added more.
“In that case—why don’t you kneel before me?”
“…Wh-What!?”
“‘What starts now is the real fight.’ ‘Your life ends right here.’ —That’s what you said, right? In other words, you’ve already declared war. And retracting that… means you’re surrendering to me, doesn’t it?”
“Wh-Why would it mean that…!?”
“If this were a real war, retracting a declaration of war wouldn’t fly. No one would accept something like ‘I declared war, but I’ll take it back.’ The only time that might work… is when you’re surrendering. ‘I won’t fight anymore, so please forgive me.’ —Am I wrong?”
With that, Siegfried shook his head lightly, as if apologetic.
“…I don’t really want to do this either. But this is a military academy—and a public stage with many spectators watching. I can’t distort the reality of what happens to the defeated in war. After all, it’s the ‘Royal’ Military Academy—…For the sake of the country, you should set an example.”
“Y-You…”
“I’ll accept your surrender. In exchange—kneel before me.”
“Guh…!”
“…If you don’t like that, shall we do it? A fight to the death. I’m a villain, but I’m not a murderous fiend who enjoys killing. However… if you refuse to surrender, then I have no choice.”
Siegfried’s eyes pierced through Ludendorf.
Dwelling in that gaze was an unfathomable darkness. His words were no mere threat.
If it came to it, he would kill him right here without a moment’s hesitation.
That certainty alone weighed down on Ludendorf like a cold, heavy burden.
“U-Uh…”
It was only now that Ludendorf truly realized.
He never should have gotten involved with a man like Siegfried.
He wasn’t someone who could be handled with logic or ethics.
This man was like a raging storm, lava scorching the earth, or lightning tearing the sky… in other words, an uncontrollable—calamity beyond human power.
“Come on, decide quickly, Headmaster Ludendorf. …If you can’t decide, shall I decide for you?”
Siegfried took one step forward.
In that instant, it flashed back into Ludendorf’s mind.
The pain from earlier—when his bones throughout his body were shattered.
“Uh… Ahh…”
Shaking off the knights supporting him, Ludendorf dragged his broken leg forward and stepped in front of Siegfried.
Then, he dropped to one knee—and begged in a trembling voice.
“P-Please… forgive me…”
“That’s not low enough.”
Siegfried’s voice was ice-cold.
“Get down on the ground, Headmaster.”
“Guh… Uh…”
With a groan, Ludendorf prostrated himself on the earth.
Siegfried approached quietly… and without any hesitation, stepped on his head with his boot.
“…Now, your declaration of surrender?”
“I… surrender.”
“You’re the defeated general, aren’t you? Is that the way to speak?”
“I… surrender. Please… forgive me.”
“Very well.”
Siegfried declared coldly, and for the final touch—he stomped down hard on Ludendorf’s head, slamming it into the ground as if branding the mark of defeat.
And finally, he lifted his foot.
“Thank you for putting your own body on the line, Headmaster. Now—the miserable fate that befalls the losers of war has been etched into the eyes of many.”
With that, as he turned to leave—Siegfried suddenly stopped and looked back.
“Ah, one last thing.”
“Eek…!”
Ludendorf let out an involuntary scream.
Bracing for further punishment, what Siegfried said next was unexpectedly mild.
“As we agreed beforehand, please graduate the students I specify.”
“Ah, yes…”
Lifting his face slightly, smeared with sand and mud, Ludendorf recalled.
So many shocking things had happened that he’d forgotten, but… indeed, they had made a promise the day before the match.
If Slade Dorm won, he would graduate the individuals Siegfried designated.
The moment that memory resurfaced, a faint sense of relief spread through Ludendorf’s chest.
(Finally… with this, I’ll be completely free from this demon…)
Siegfried probably wanted to graduate himself. Or perhaps including Leon and Dominik, the three of them.
But either way—if this calamity of a man would leave the military academy, that was fine.
“Th-The promise… I’ll keep it. Tell me… the names of those you want to graduate.”
“You’ll… really keep it?”
“Of course.”
“It’s fine if it’s more than one person, right?”
“Y-Yes… That’s fine! As many as you want!”
(Hurry… Hurry and name them…! Siegfried, Leon, Dominik. Graduate those three and let’s end this…)
And free me from this nightmare-like time—his impatience made his words come out in a rush, but Ludendorf managed to respond.
Siegfried returned a smile. Gracefully, quietly—like an actor gracing the stage’s final curtain.
And then, he declared.
“Then… everyone.”
For a moment, Ludendorf didn’t understand and stared with his mouth agape.
Finally, he squeezed out a voice.
“Wh-What did you… just say?”
“Everyone. Graduate every single student enrolled in this military academy—without leaving a single one behind.”
