Episode 125: The Logic of the Strong
“S-Siegfried… Commander…!”
The men all gasped in unison.
As soldiers of the Eastern Army, they knew all too well the terrifying presence of Siegfried.
He was the man who had defeated Mauricio, the “Laughing Mad Dog,” and even executed Volfirio with his own hands.
A living legend, unmatched not only in strategy but also in close combat.
Yet, they never dreamed that the person they were chasing could be Siegfried himself.
“N-No way…!”
One of the men muttered as if in a daze.
“Tch, no way it’s the Commander! This guy… he’s a fake!”
His shout was laced with agitation and confusion. But that wasn’t all.
The man before them certainly resembled Siegfried. Yet—something was subtly different.
Siegfried was supposed to be taller than the average man. But the figure standing in front of them was shorter. His build was slightly slimmer, and his hair appeared longer than they remembered.
“Y-Yeah… he’s gotta be a fake! He’s not the Commander!”
“Could he be… Siegfried’s brother or something!?”
“Either way, he’s seen our faces… we’ve got no choice but to take him out!”
The men drew their swords in unison. They glanced at Leon to gauge his reaction, but he remained utterly still.
In that case—they’d focus on eliminating the “man who looked like Siegfried” first. With that resolve, they all charged forward.
“Die!”
A blade swung down with a furious roar.
But in that instant, pale blue magical energy flared in the hands of the “man who looked like Siegfried.” Lightning crackled with a sharp snap, flashing brilliantly.
And then—his body darted through the group of men at a speed that left even the night breeze behind.
A trail of light streaked through the air, slicing the darkness like a bolt of lightning.
Screams echoed in its wake.
“Gyaah!”
“Guaaaaah!”
His hand struck, tearing through flesh and sending blood spraying.
The splatter traced a dark red arc in the night.
“H-Hiii…!”
The men clutched their wounded shoulders or arms, collapsing to the ground one after another.
It seemed he had deliberately avoided vital points, as none were killed instantly.
“You called me a fake earlier. Sharp observation.”
Muttering this, Siegfried released the magical energy gathered in his hands, letting it flow through his entire body.
His physique gradually shifted, slowly morphing to resemble the true Siegfried.
“I can manipulate blood through magic. Blood vessels are woven through muscles and bones. By controlling the blood, I can compress or expand muscles and bones—meaning I can alter the very shape of my body. Hair doesn’t have blood vessels, but blood plays a role in its growth. As you can see, I can freely lengthen it as well. A true villain must master at least a disguise or two.”
His silver hair, now reaching his shoulders, swayed in the night breeze.
“That said, whether I’m Siegfried or not… it doesn’t change the fact that you’ve violated military law. The moment you attacked me with clear intent to kill, that is.”
Siegfried’s eyes gleamed coldly as he looked down at the men.
Exposed to his piercing, murderous aura, one of the men managed to choke out a hoarse retort.
“Guh… Military law violation!? T-That’s… that’s rich coming from you, Commander!”
“Oh?”
Siegfried smiled, his expression almost amused.
“Interesting. Tell me, what’s so rich about it?”
“F-Fine, I’ll say it…! Y-You’re the one who killed Commander Bertram, aren’t you!? I overheard Vice-Commander Almants talking with his aides! You… you killed Commander Bertram!”
The truth behind Bertram’s death was a closely guarded secret known only to Siegfried’s inner circle.
But it seemed the late Almants had carelessly let it slip, and this man had happened to be nearby.
“Sure, maybe Commander Bertram was involved in illegal trade. But the authority to judge one of the Five Great Nobles lies solely with the King! Which means you overstepped your authority and passed judgment on your own! That’s a violation of military law!”
The man’s lips trembled as he rattled off his accusations in a rush.
“N-No, it’s worse than that… Killing one of the Five Great Nobles is outright treason against the nation! And you, of all people, are accusing us of violating military law? That’s absurd! Where’s the justice in that!?”
His face contorted in agony, sweat beading on his brow, yet he glared defiantly at Siegfried.
But Siegfried merely gazed down at him with calm, unyielding eyes and spoke evenly.
“It seems you’re laboring under a slight misunderstanding.”
“What…?”
“Concepts like justice or righteousness are nothing more than arbitrary standards set by society. I have no reason to abide by them. The only thing I follow is my own sense of values.”
“T-Then… we’re no different from you! If you can do whatever you want, then we should be free to do the same!”
“Exactly. Do as you please. If you want to kill me—try it. Of course, you’ll never succeed.”
Siegfried leaned in, his icy expression fixed on the man’s face.
“The reason you can’t kill me isn’t because I’m right or because you’re wrong. It’s because you’re weak.”
Siegfried grabbed the man’s head, lifted him—and in the next moment, slammed him into the ground.
“Ggyaaah!”
A dull crunch of breaking nasal bones mingled with a blood-choked scream.
“I grant soldiers leave or rewards not because it’s just. Nor do I punish you for violating military law because it’s right. I do these things because they suit my path as the king of villainy. As the weak, you have no choice but to obey. Defy that natural order, and you’ll be killed by the strong—by me. Can you not grasp such a simple truth?”
