Episode 56: Declaration of Victory

The second day of the Martial Tournament, evening.

All individual competitions scheduled for today have concluded. The announcer reads out the results, which are as follows:

Swordsmanship Match… Champion, Siegfried von Kreving.

Equestrian Race… Champion, Siegfried von Kreving.

Jousting Match… Champion, Siegfried von Kreving.

Archery Match… Champion, Siegfried von Kreving.

Public Tactical Debate… Champion, Siegfried von Kreving.

Simulated Magic Battle… Champion, Siegfried von Kreving.

In every event he participated in, Siegfried claimed the top spot.

Sweeping all six events single-handedly was an unprecedented feat, one that would be etched into the history of the Military Academy.

A commendation ceremony is held at the Grand Training Grounds, where Siegfried receives unrelenting cheers from the audience.

“Count Kreving!”

“Lord Siegfried!”

Yet, amidst the whirlwind of cheers, Siegfried’s expression seems almost… bored.

After the commendation ceremony, the climax of the Martial Tournament approaches—the dormitory battle finals set for the following day. The Academy’s headmaster delivers words of encouragement.

Representatives from Slade Dormitory and Karadis Dormitory, each numbering 100, make their appearance at the Grand Training Grounds.

Leon, standing behind Siegfried, speaks up.

“Yo… you look kinda bored out there.”

“Naturally. Aside from the swordsmanship match, there wasn’t a single decent villain to face.”

Many of the students from Grantzile Dormitory, led by Randolph, had chosen to forgo participating in the individual competitions. They likely feared confronting Siegfried.

The members of Karadis Dormitory, who were swiftly defeated by Slade Dormitory in the first round of the dormitory battles, similarly opted out of the individual events.

Likewise, Leon and the other Slade Dormitory students had decided to conserve their energy for the dormitory battles, refraining from entering the individual competitions.

As a result, the ones who faced Siegfried in the individual events were the knight students of Equites Dormitory.

They challenged Siegfried honorably… and were honorably defeated.

“It’s fine for them to come at me with such upright resolve. Crushing those kinds of opponents is part of my role as a villain. But if they’re not at least somewhat formidable, my ‘evil’ doesn’t shine. It’s quite the predicament.”

If the opponent is too weak, the battle ends without a chance for a villainous spectacle.

Prolonging the fight unnecessarily, on the other hand, would only result in a tedious farce.

“Truly, it’s a troublesome situation… If only a genuinely strong hero of justice would appear, I could go all out as a villain…”

During his match with Milgeng, Siegfried had said, “If you were a true hero, I wouldn’t mind letting you defeat me.” Those words were his true feelings.

If a hero were to appear, one worthy of drawing out his full strength and allowing him to showcase the full allure of his villainy… he’d be willing to offer his life.

“…You’re stressing over some pretty weird stuff, huh.”

To Leon, Siegfried is an overwhelming figure, someone who seems to have it all.

So, it struck him as slightly amusing that even someone like him could have such peculiar worries.

At that moment, Ludendorf steps forward before the participants. After surveying the crowd, he speaks.

“Tomorrow, the final match of the Duel of Dormitories will take place. As headmaster, I intend to bear witness to the full extent of your abilities.”

His words resound solemnly across the venue through the sound amplification system.

“Now then—captains of each dormitory, step forward.”

In response to his call, two figures step forward: Randolph, representing Grantzile Dormitory, and Siegfried, representing Slade Dormitory.

“Ooh…!”

“Lord Siegfried…!”

The mere act of Siegfried stepping forward sends the audience’s excitement to new heights.

Ludendorf, however, pays no heed to the fervor, calmly directing his gaze toward the two captains.

“Now, before tomorrow’s decisive battle, let us hear your resolves.”

“Yes, sir.”

The one to respond immediately is Randolph.

“I swear upon the noble bloodline we take pride in that Grantzile Dormitory will seize victory. Tomorrow, in this very arena, it will be none other than us who raise the cry of triumph.”

Randolph’s words are a declaration of victory, spoken with the unwavering conviction of a man who believes he cannot lose.

At this, Siegfried lets out a faint chuckle.

“What’s so funny, Siegfried?”

“My apologies. I was just thinking that a ‘mid-tier villain’ like you, Randolph-senpai, ought to carry himself with this kind of boldness. It makes you all the more satisfying to crush.”

“Mid-tier? Villain? What’s that supposed to mean? Even at the dormitory battle finals, you’re still spouting this nonsensical drivel?”

Randolph glares at Siegfried.

“Drivel, you say? Perhaps you’re right. But—I’m prepared to stake my life on that drivel. What about you, Randolph-senpai? Are you ready to risk your life for the drivel you believe in?”

“What are you trying to say?”

Randolph can’t grasp Siegfried’s true intentions.

But before the tension can escalate, Ludendorf clears his throat with a single cough.

“Exchanging opinions between captains is all well and good before tomorrow’s finals… but first, Siegfried. Let’s hear your resolve.”

“Very well… I’ll do my utmost to make it an captivating match.”

“Oh?”

Ludendorf raises an eyebrow, feigning surprise.

“This is my first time speaking with you directly, but… contrary to the rumors, you seem rather humble. I half-expected you to boldly declare victory.”

“Declare victory?”

A faint smile plays on Siegfried’s lips.

“Winning itself holds little meaning. What truly matters is how vividly I can portray the defeated as a villain—that’s all I’m thinking about.”

“Siegfried, enough already!”

Randolph’s anger flares, but Ludendorf clears his throat once more.

Randolph snaps back to attention, straightens his posture, and falls silent.

“I see, such confidence. However, in the history of the Military Academy, Slade Dormitory has never once claimed victory. Can you achieve the unprecedented feat of a first championship?”

“I enrolled in this academy by the command of His Majesty the King. If I can’t even win the dormitory battles… I’d be betraying His Majesty’s expectations.”

“…His Majesty, you say.”

Ludendorf flashes a meaningful smile.

Siegfried, too, continues speaking with a faint smile on his lips.

“By the way… if Slade Dormitory wins, would you grant me one wish, Headmaster?”

After a moment of silence, Ludendorf gives a slight nod.

Whatever Siegfried might wish for, Slade Dormitory’s victory is an impossibility.

Rather, agreeing to the wish now and then snatching victory away would make Siegfried’s defeat all the more comical.

“Very well. State your wish.”

“Please allow a person of my choosing… to graduate from this Military Academy.”