Who is Today's Winner?

Who is today's winner? 'It definitely should have been a piece of cake with two against one.' Something was going horribly wrong. Yet I couldn't figure out what or how.

'Did they actually catch a cold or something?' No, no way. The heirs of a ducal house. Nobles among nobles. Perfectionists like those two losing because they failed to manage their bodies? That couldn't possibly be true. But why? If they hadn't stupidly stayed up all night, this wouldn't have happened. The key point wasn't that staying up late was stupid, but that the method of staying up late had to be stupid. Like forgetting about today's classes and pulling an all-nighter anyway.

"However, you two appear to have taken quite the beating. Surely you didn't insist on one-on-one until you ended up in that state?"

'One of you should have jumped in!!! You did that to me!!'

"My apologies. It seems my foolish little brother neglected his health."

"Idiots. That's a skill too."

'It really was a cold?! If you're not feeling well, you shouldn't come to a place like this—you should be resting under a warm blanket!!!'

This was dangerous. Cold sweat was about to pour down my forehead. In times like this, I had to focus strength in my head to block the sweat glands...!

"Kuh... Are you planning to fight...!"

'What? Me?'

"Haa... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Arte, you should step back."

'Why...? I only blocked the sweat...?'

"I-I'm going to fight too! I can do it!"

'Miss Arte? Weren't you not supposed to get involved in this yet?'

What could Arte, who hadn't even entered a dungeon, possibly do? And shouldn't Fria, who actually had a cold, be sitting this one out? I didn't even want to fight in the first place. How long did I have to keep flexing my head like this?

"I can do it! My fire magic worked on Foelta too!"

"That half-baked fool is on a completely different level! He didn't take any damage from the flames you created!"

"Huh? ...Ah!"

Fire? Foelta had been getting scorched. So that was Arte's doing? I'd thought those two had pulled out some pattern that wasn't in the original story.

'Wait. If that's the case...?'

I seemed to have found a way to escape while preserving my dignity and even raise their evaluation of me a little. A brilliant answer.

"Those flames? I didn't show it, but they were quite hot."

"...Yes?"

"The girl who could only grovel and beg before me has grown so much already. I don't dislike humans who make an effort."

There was nothing more appreciated than recognition of one's hard work. There might be some, but not many. A single word of praise could create a lifelong ally. I could do this. If it was me!

"Let's do this. If you can defeat Foelta with your own power, I will withdraw what I said to you. You may play with whoever you wish."

"What... did you say...?"

Presenting the goal of defeating Foelta to create an opportunity for growth. Naturally resolving the isolation declaration I'd rashly made. Improving their perception through the feeling that I'd acknowledged them—

"You have no conscience...!"

"Hm?"

"Luke Colwen! There are things you can say and things you cannot! How dare you threaten someone weaker than yourself like that!"

"I... against the current Foelta...?"

Huh? Wait... Come to think of it, Alto and Fria were characters who appeared as bosses in a slightly later episode. They were on a different level from regular students, right? Foelta had shown performance worthy of winning one-on-one against them. Telling Arte to beat him was...

"Are you angry right now? That's rich, coming from you."

"What a piece of trash. If we're wrong, then say so!"

No. I was just enduring because cold sweat was about to break out. But how did they know I was flexing? Did veins pop out on my forehead or something?

'I'm so fucked...!'

It was just sarcasm and being difficult. Oh, you're pretty good? Then try beating this too~ If you can, I'll 'cancel' it for you~ It was exactly the behavior of a real scumbag. Especially since I was the one who raised that opponent.

'But canceling now would be even worse.'

I should have brought Melina. I could have sold her out and bared my teeth. Or waited for an assist. Come to think of it, what was I supposed to say when I got back? If Fria had really been too sick to come, we would have all died! It's a good thing you told me not to go or it would have been a disaster!

'This is seriously fucked...'

If I did that, my dignity would plummet to an irreversible level. First, I had to shut that bastard Foelta up... No, even if I left him alone, he probably couldn't say much. So this was the problem.

'Ah, those guys are extremely tense. Is it because I'm staying silent?'

After revealing my killing intent, I'd said nothing. Ha, I should have activated accelerated thinking. What was the academy doing? If someone had come, I could have withdrawn immediately. Students were about to have a life-or-death battle, so why wasn't anyone showing up? In the original story, Eres would interfere with everything—

Wait. Then where was Eres—

"You really never change, Luke Colwen."

From behind them. With footsteps so light it seemed like she'd simply come out for some fresh air, she appeared.

"This must be the first time we've seen each other since that first day."

"Indeed. Have you grown at least a little since then?"

The true protagonist of this world. I still had no idea what she was thinking, but at least it was clear she didn't fear me.

"You must have seen Foelta's power too. He grew strong enough to defeat the Ripelreus siblings right after receiving my teachings."

"Mm. I heard he came, but I didn't see the fight."

"Eh."

She didn't see it? We were fighting right outside? What had she been doing inside? At this distance, it shouldn't have been quiet. Didn't she look out the window?

"Eres, you should step back—"

"I have something to say to him."

Then why was Eres walking toward me? Surely she wasn't under the illusion that she could beat me in my current state? No matter how I thought about it, that was impossible. I had no idea. I really couldn't tell what she was thinking at all. Her eyes were so dense, too.

Eres stopped right in front of me. Looking closely, she hadn't even brought her sword.

"You said that if I defeat Foelta, you'll withdraw the threat you made to Arte, right?"

"...I did say that."

"Can we change that condition?"

There was no way I could change it. No matter how cornered I was from my verbal slip, if I simply overturned words I'd already spoken, what would happen to my dignity? I'd rather just cancel it outright. However. If she wanted to change the condition, now was the only chance.

"Speak."

Here, I had to let Eres talk and lower the condition as if yielding. Just don't say anything too ridiculous...! Give me something I can at least somewhat understand!

"If the issue between Arte and Foelta is resolved. Change it to that."

"...What does that mean?"

"Either settle it completely. Or resolve it through conversation."

"You're saying you'll look for the possibility of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ending it through dialogue rather than force."

"Yes. But the current Foelta won't listen to reason. To lead him into conversation, we'll have to fight anyway."

"That's strange. Then there's no merit for you, is there?"

To have a conversation, they would have to fight and win anyway. In that case, it was no different from now. Unless she mistakenly thought my victory condition was about killing him.

...It couldn't be, right?

"And you haven't seen Foelta. How do you know conversation would work?"

"He was never good at communicating. And if conversation was possible, they wouldn't have fought in the first place."

"You're the one who's bad at communicating. Don't you realize this whole situation happened because of you? What were you thinking, following him around and tormenting him?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"...Is that what happened?"

"You didn't even know that?!"

Four voices overlapped at the same time. To unite people who were hostile toward each other with one heart. As expected of the protagonist.

'Are you an idiot or just pure...!!'

She hadn't even been aware that everything had become a mess because of her. That's why she was still talking about having a conversation even now. But there were things in this world that couldn't be resolved through dialogue. Would the current Foelta, burning with vengeance, really listen?

"I'll ask again. When that proposal is accepted, what merit do you all gain?"

"I think responding when disaster approaches is simply the natural thing to do."

I still couldn't understand what she was thinking. She didn't seem to be struggling with it either. It was as if she was stating something too obvious to her.

"But we're not fighting to run away from you. We're fighting for Arte. I wanted to make that part clear."

"............I see."

'What is she saying?'

In the end it was the same thing, just with a different mindset, wasn't it? There was no real merit. I didn't understand at all. Why did they look so moved? Then it wouldn't work!! You have to present a condition that has merit for you!!!

'But with this, I can do it!'

Merit? That was something I could create. I could just break Foelta's arms and legs before the decisive battle. The important thing was whether they would accept that kind of atmosphere! This time I could really do it! If it was the protagonist!

"I don't dislike those who make an effort. It gives me no benefit whatsoever, but very well. I accept that proposal!"

"Mm. I dislike that part of you."

"Why!"

"Just now... you said 'why,' right?"

Oh. I was fucked.

'Is my sister going to be okay?'

Late at night, in the empty training ground. Melina, left alone, was waiting for the two of them to return. At that running speed, no matter where they were, they should have found Eres and come back quickly. She thought about going out to look, but she couldn't leave the training ground by herself.

'Where even is this place... Did she hear about a spot like this from Nine's Piece?'

It was just a dungeon from the original story. Far below, a war was raging between broken magical dolls and insect-type monsters. But learning that bugs were swarming under her feet was a story for a little later.

"Mel... I'm back."

"You're finally here. Abandoning your own maid in such a terrifying place... What's wrong with you?"

She'd been ready to get angry at her master who had finally returned. But seeing him come back with such a pitiful expression, as if he'd been beaten somewhere, made it hard to speak.

"Mel... Your sister is scarier when she's explaining things... than when she's asking questions...."

"What? What happened with my sister... Master? Are you okay?!"

And.

"By the way, sis. Who was that letter from earlier?"

"Layla Colwen."

"...Huh?"

"She said a warning came from the family because I wasn't attending classes enough. She offered to cooperate for the sake of attendance."

"Why did that guy come to the academy."

Layla Colwen — Worsening migraine due to stress. For reference, the stress had come from a two-hour conversation with Eres, not Luke.