The Vain Person (4)
"In the name of honor and order, I, Emilia Vanity, challenge Yuda Snakers to a duel."
As expected, the big one had arrived. A bold declaration of challenge right in front of the other students. The place where the two of us stood had already become a stage. A white glove falling to the floor, the atmosphere swelling to the breaking point, every gaze in the crowd converging on us. Someone had carefully orchestrated this scene.
"The price of defeat... is expulsion from Galimar Academy, at the winner's discretion."
The girl who had set everything in motion smiled. Her lips curled in a thin, mocking arc. Though the smile was dulled by jealousy, venom, and inferiority, it possessed a lethal kind of beauty. It resembled an ugly flower in full bloom. Her crimson lips were far too alluring.
Her voice, crisp and precise, pierced straight to the fingertips. Like a whisper that dyed the air with ecstasy.
"Your answer?"
Had she known I wouldn't be able to refuse? There was a strange certainty in her question. A sweet scent brushed past my nose. Faced with such an enchanting sway, denial melted away.
"So you accepted as if bewitched."
It was a forced choice, to put it mildly. If I refused the duel here, it would be the same as confessing that I was a fraudulent top student. Given how many people had already been suspicious, I would simply be handing them more ammunition to tear into me. That had been the goal all along—to tarnish the image of the top student beyond repair. For Emilia, even if the duel fell through, she would still achieve her aim.
"How clever."
She had put some thought into this. The realization brought a small, amused smile to my lips.
'Expulsion on a silver platter, huh.'
I had figured she was preparing something, but I never expected her to bring such an entertaining event to the table. This was what academy life was supposed to be like. There needed to be some explosive fun every now and then. Just imagining it already flooded me with dopamine.
While I stood there grinning to myself, Regia, walking beside me, spoke up.
"M-Master... W-What do we do...?"
"Hm?"
Her green eyes were filled with worry. She had always carried a fragile air, but now her expression looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment. Her voice trembled pitifully.
"B-Because of me... you're dueling Lady Vanity... N-No, you can't."
"Oh dear."
Her expression had been off for a while now. It seemed our protagonist was worried about me. Then again, Regia didn't know my true strength either. Like the other students, she must have been uncertain, unable to make a clear judgment. And then this bombshell had dropped.
'I never thought he would actually accept... He really doesn't know his place.'
Emilia Vanity, one of the top elites of this year. A powerhouse who had taken third place in the grade. She must have lost it the moment the expulsion condition was declared. Especially since I had stepped in to help Regia, she probably felt responsible.
"I-I'm sorry... I'm always... causing trouble... Because of me..."
She was a kind-hearted protagonist to begin with. She could endure others hurting her, but she could never forgive herself for hurting someone else. That overly gentle nature had remained exactly as it was in the original story.
Thud—
My hand moved on its own. I gently stroked her fluffy pink hair, as if taming a frightened puppy. Slowly, tenderly.
"Eep... M-Master...?"
It was nice that she was worried, but a smiling face suited her far better.
"I'm fine, Lady Regia."
"......"
"If anything, I'm quite delighted that things have turned out this way. If I could, I'd even bow to Lady Vanity in gratitude."
"...Huh?"
"Hehe."
I playfully poked the girl's cheek. The soft sensation lingered, followed by a warm trace of body heat on my fingertips. How could anyone make someone like this cry?
"Because now I have the chance to show you my magnificent performance."
I would have to surprise her. So much that even her sad thoughts would be completely swept away.
'I'm looking forward to tomorrow.'
It was truly a day to anticipate.
***
The snake moved farther down the corridor with leisurely steps. Watching the situation from a slight distance, the girl muttered as if she couldn't understand.
"What a strange person."
Her blue eyes reflected calmly. Platinum hair swayed gently in the breeze. Charlotte, who had been standing by the window, tilted her head as she watched the disappearing figure. A sign of confusion.
"I don't understand what he's thinking."
It was a purely innocent question. Yuda Snakers. Just what was he plotting? The boy's peculiar behavior had only deepened Charlotte's interest. Thanks to that, the princess had been thinking about him more often lately.
"This is difficult."
He was a hard person to figure out. Despite clearly possessing the power to overwhelm everyone, he deliberately allowed himself to be tormented by Lady Vanity. Having witnessed Yuda's strength once before, Charlotte found his willingness to endure it all the more bewildering.
'Should I help?'
'If he's putting up with Lady Vanity's harassment because he's worried about the Vanity family... I could step in and stop it.'
She had even asked if he was concerned about the Vanity name and needed assistance.
'If I say just one word, she won't be able to bother you anymore.'
Normally, she wasn't the type to get involved in such matters, but this was someone she had taken an interest in. He had also helped her during the class assignment exam. The pink-haired commoner who accompanied him had caught her attention as well.
But—
'I'm all right, Your Highness.'
The boy had refused firmly.
'I already have something in mind.'
'I would appreciate it if you simply watched quietly.'
'It will surely be entertaining.'
Yuda had answered with a bright smile, his face brimming with anticipation. A smile that carried an ominous undertone yet remained pure, almost childlike. Without fail, it was a clean, untainted color.
Charlotte had decided to follow his words. He must have his own thoughts. Perhaps worrying about Yuda was strange in itself. With a single gesture, he could rearrange the entire academy—yet here she was, worrying about him.
She shook off the stray thoughts.
"Maybe I'll watch a little longer."
Leaving behind the lingering echo of the snake's voice and the tangled web of questions, the young princess quietly turned away.
***
The duel was arranged for the very next day without delay. It took place in the same open training ground where the class assignment exam had been held. Normally, the schedule was packed and reservations were difficult to secure, but Selena had appeared out of nowhere and resolved the issue. The timing was impeccable, as if she had been waiting for this.
'Since this incident occurred within my assigned class... I will prepare the venue.'
'The headmaster will serve as the judge.'
'The entire faculty will also be observing this duel.'
Not only that, but word had spread that other faculty members would be attending as well. The scale of this event was growing larger than anticipated. Moreover—
I hadn't expected the notoriously lazy professors to come swarming in like this. Usually, duel supervision was divided into the roles of judge, manager, and executor, so the number of observing faculty rarely exceeded three. This duel was an extremely unusual case.
'Well... I can roughly understand why.'
These people had seen me save Charlotte, after all. The power I displayed at that time was only a fraction of what I possessed, but it was still far beyond student level. Overwhelming the Steel Princess. A talent that was truly one of a kind. They were educators, after all. How could they not be interested when such a brilliantly shining gem was right before their eyes?
Therefore, this duel was a form of assessment. Measuring just how great a value it held.
'The professors are one thing, but...'
What surprised me was Selena. It was far too unexpected. In the original story, the "Drunkard" was never the type to take interest in such matters.
'I have been assigned as the executor for this duel.'
'I hope both of you will compete within safe and fair boundaries.'
Seeing her act so proactively felt unfamiliar. Just what was she plotting? I pondered it for a while before brushing the thought aside. The immediate situation came first.
"Whoa... No matter how many times I see it, the scale is still hard to get used to."
After a brief exclamation, I stopped walking. At the center of the circular arena, I leisurely looked around. The news of the duel must have spread quite a bit—despite it being a weekday, the stands were packed with students. More than I expected.
"This is getting tense."
"If you're scared, you can still forfeit now."
A voice suddenly rang out. When I looked straight ahead, the blue drill-roll hairstyle was there, as expected.
"Lady Vanity."
"Honestly, I thought you would run away... At the very least, I should praise your courage for showing up to the duel."
"Thank you."
"Hmph."
Emilia looked particularly pleased. Her lips curled in a thin smile. The urge to break that expression surged within me. I steadied my breathing with gentlemanly restraint while the girl glanced around.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Hmm?"
"You're about to be humiliated in front of all these people... If it were me, I'd be so ashamed I'd want to die."
"Hehe, is that so?"
That sounds rather exciting. I desperately held back my laughter. Suppressing the boiling urge to stir up trouble, I gathered a lie at my fingertips.
"It seems we're about to begin."
From the opposite side, a faculty member was approaching. All eyes focused on them. The stage was set. The two actors faced each other. I suddenly spoke up. Before the chaos that was about to unfold, there was one question I needed to ask. For your sake.
"Come to think of it... may I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"I simply wish to know why you are doing this."
"Why...?"
"Yes, the reason."
Emilia Vanity. With what heart did you torment Regia? With what thoughts do you despise those weaker than you, and with what pain do you crave recognition so desperately? I asked about her wretched background.
'The Vain Person.'
What made you this way? Though life itself is said to be the disease of adulthood, why have you already forgotten your childhood? What happened on your star?
"Praise is truly sweet, isn't it?"
Recognition from others. Being praised as the prettiest, the best-dressed, the richest, the smartest. But what does it feel like to lose yourself while drowning in such praise? The girl was always sharp and vicious. To receive praise, she tore others down, pushed them away, hurt them. But if she erased everyone from her life like that—
"I would like to ask why you desire the top position so much, Lady Vanity."
A star left with only herself. What use would the praise that rained down then serve?
"What a trivial question."
Emilia answered with a disinterested expression, as if wondering why I was asking something so obvious. Her twisted lips held clear mockery. It was an unmistakable sneer.
"Because I am superior."
Her distorted perspective couldn't see ahead. She simply ran blindly toward her goal. That was the process of becoming an "adult."
"Unlike someone like you who has no qualifications, I am someone who rightfully belongs in that position."
"So that is your answer."
"Therefore, forfeit now if you still can. Unless you want to be broken in an ugly way."
"My, my... That will be difficult."
There is someone who wishes for me to win. Through the wide stands, I could see a head of pink hair. The girl had her hands clasped together in prayer. I smiled quietly.
"Well, I'll do my best."
"How foolish."
"Hehe... Perhaps so."
The light conversation came to an end. The faculty member serving as the interim judge stood in the middle and immediately began the duel. I calmly took my stance.
《Duelists, please wait at your designated positions.》
《The duel will proceed as a sparring match. The duel ends when one side subdues or incapacitates the other.》
《Additionally, the duel also ends if one side forfeits.》
The basic rules were similar to the class assignment exam. Following the announcement echoing through the arena, I took my position at the designated spot. Emilia did the same.
"Prepare."
The interim judge spoke the signal plainly. A single coin gleamed. It was to fairly signal the start of the duel. The judge picked up the coin with their fingers. And then—
Clink—!
They flicked it into the air. A golden afterimage fell toward the ground. The spinning coin gradually lost momentum before striking the floor with a loud noise.
Clang—!
At the same time, the two figures standing on the stage vanished. The silhouettes that had scattered like smoke reappeared at the center of the arena. Two blades clashed. It was the first exchange, happening in an instant.
Clang—!
And so, the duel began.