Chapter 8: The Awaited Opponent

ALTHOUGH IT WAS ONLY by one point, Katsuragi managed to reduce Sakayanagi's life to nine.

With about five minutes remaining, Ryūen entered the room somewhat forcefully.

"Welcome. Please, have a seat."

Sakayanagi, still seated, politely gestured to an empty chair.

Ryūen glanced at Sakayanagi and, without parting his lips, sat down and crossed his legs.

"Today marks the beginning of your departure on a new journey. Please, make the most out  of your time."

"That's my line, Sakayanagi. I'm the one who's going to win."

First, to keep each other in check, they lightly pushed their sentiments against one another.

"Even if you were to defeat me, would you really be fit to serve as an opponent to Ayanokōji-kun?"

"There's no one more suited for that than me. To defeat him, you need to be able to embrace evil without hesitating."

"I see. You seem to be under the misconception that you're an anti-hero."

"Huh?"

In stories, characters who performed heroic roles were called 'heroes.'

Heroes were fundamentally moral beings based on high ethical standards, always helping the weak and punishing the wicked, embodying goodness and justice.

However, among such heroes, there were those who also possessed the opposite nature, evil.

An anti-hero was defined as one who mercilessly took the villains' lives and rampaged for money and property without hesitation, not being confined by common sense or ethics.

"If they are a villain, then they will simply be defeated, but an anti-hero is also granted the role of a hero. In other words, that also makes them serve as the leading role."

Sakayanagi conveyed this information to Ryūen in a somewhat roundabout way.

"However, you are not fit to become the leading role. I shall teach you that now."

"Aren't you mistaking yourself as the heroine here or something?"

"Rest assured. I am not the heroine, but the leading role."

It was a childish exchange of taunts, but this was merely a gentle form of it, like an extension of their greetings.

"Was this special exam favorable for you, or was it rather unfavorable? Since the contents of the exam were not disclosed in advance, you weren't able to prepare any distasteful strategies beforehand, and at the same time, Hashimoto-kun, who could've been used as a spy or a back-stabber, was unable to be used efficiently. On the other hand, you managed to avoid the types of exams that would require knowledge and academic abilities—lucky for you."

Sakayanagi said with a smile, and Ryūen suddenly remembered.

"You said you were like childhood friends with Ayanokōji."

"Indeed, what about it?"

"I can't imagine what he was like as a kid."

Before he even spoke, Ryūen had tried to imagine it many times, but couldn't even conjure a single image.

Not only was Ayanokōji's fighting prowess immeasurable, but his mental capacity was also beyond normal.

And yet, he could act without hesitation, performing actions that others would balk at.

"It's understandable that you're curious. Ayanokōji-kun is a very special person."

Seemingly even happier than when she was being praised herself, Sakayanagi had a fond look of joy on her face.

"But I won't tell you. It's my precious secret."

Sakayanagi joyfully refused to answer, and Ryūen gave a slight glare.

"Compared to him, it's easy to imagine what you were like as a child. Rebelling against those around you, mistakenly thinking that you were the center of the universe, and ruling everything with violence. Dismissing intelligence and reasoning as meaningless weaknesses. No matter how many defeats you suffer, it's fine as long as you win in the end—"

"That's me."

"Hehe, I'm not saying that it's bad. That's why you're thinking of challenging Ayanokōji-kun again. Ordinary people, whose hearts are easily broken, wouldn't even have the desire to do so. However, I don't have that loser mentality."

"Then you think you can beat Ayanokōji? Sorry, but I don't see it."

"How rude. I may look like this, but I think I'm better than him. And in order to prove that, you, who's standing in my way, must be eliminated."

Sakayanagi had always aimed to meet Ayanokōji from a higher position.

Meanwhile, Ryūen sought to climb up from below and drag Ayanokōji down.

Their positions were completely opposite.

The recess interval timer reached zero, and the time for group selection arrived.

Looking at the tablet, which showed five different groups, Sakayanagi immediately chose to exclude one group.

It was the group that Hashimoto Masayoshi belonged to. She made it clear to the vanguard and middle guard not to choose his group either. Hashimoto was bound to betray her, but if he couldn't be selected, he couldn't betray her. From her perspective, the rules of this special exam were indeed favorable for Sakayanagi.

"I will now use my right to select the traitor."

In the first discussion within the generals' battle, Sakayanagi had decided to make her move.

Was it because Sakayanagi disliked the fact that the game started with her having nine lives and Ryūen having ten, meaning that he had a slight advantage in terms of numbers alone? Or was it some other reason? In any case, it was a preemptive strike, aiming to take advantage of Ryūen's unfamiliarity with the environment of this special exam.

"Kuku, this as the first move, huh? You're really out for blood."

"I have no intentions of dragging this out. I will settle our match in the first discussion."

[ILLUSTRATION]

"Don't you get it? That there is a theory out there, stating that whoever uses their trump card first loses."

"Then, shall we overturn that theory?"

With a resolute gaze, Sakayanagi looked towards the monitor where the battle was about to begin.