The Friendship of Super Darlings (Zamaa)

――――[Siegfried’s Perspective]

“Siegfried, are you sure we’re going the right way?”

Even though I took it upon myself to lead the way, Alex keeps acting like the senior and complaining.

“Are you suggesting my directions are wrong?”

“No, not at all. I just wondered if there was another route.”

“That’s the same thing!”

“Uh, I don’t think Alex-senpai meant it like that,” Leon chimed in, backing him up.

“I’m only saying,” I continued, “I picked this route deliberately because you two said you wanted to get one over on Brad, and now you’re questioning me?”

“I’m not disagreeing. If what you say is true, and Brad is treating Freesia—who might be the next Saintess—like some kind of sex slave, then it’s unforgivable.”

“I can’t even imagine Freesia being stripped naked and collared, crawling around the palace on all fours. That’s… enviable…”

Wait—did Leon just say enviable? Come on, I’d love to do that myself if I could!

Well, maybe not everything, but after I fed Alex and Leon a mix of truth and lies, they quickly jumped on board to help me. I guess Freesia’s beauty is enough to make any man lose his mind.

And I’m no exception!

But I’ll never forgive Brad for monopolizing her!

Well, Brad’s time to do as he pleased with Freesia is over. If I achieve military success by defeating a large number of monsters in the Braginor Plateau, not only will girls from Lievenrathia, but all over the world, be willing to open their legs for me.

Including Freesia and Lily!!

With Alex and Leon by my side—both skilled enough to take on a hundred enemies each—and my own tactical prowess, a horde of monsters would be no challenge.

But just when I was getting caught up in that satisfying thought, Alex and Leon started to ruin the mood. Well, actually, what was really ruining the mood was the fact that we were wading through a poisonous swamp.

“This swamp is draining our stamina like crazy,” Alex grumbled.

“Yeah… if I lose focus for a second, I feel like I’m gonna pass out and dunk my face right into the poison,” Leon added.

“Hang in there! Once we get through this, we’ll reach Braginol Plateau in no time,” I said, trying to keep up appearances as I pressed on through the swamp, hiding how the toxic environment was sapping my strength with every step. My vision blurred with red as exhaustion washed over me, the swamp seeming to pull my life force with each motion.

Around us, sulfuric gases from a nearby volcano bubbled up from the swamp’s depths, creating noxious bursts on the surface. The smell of rot clung to the air.

“To hell with this! I’m going ahead!” Leon yelled, trying to push through the swamp in a mad dash. But in this kind of terrain, that was a terrible move.

“Wait! If you push too hard—”

Just as I expected, Leon’s impatience got the better of him. The locals call this swamp the Sacrifice Pond because the only way to cross it safely is to offer a sacrifice.

“Whoa! Aaargh!”

There it was. Leon lost his balance and fell forward, thrashing violently at first as the poison seeped in, but his struggles gradually slowed until he was completely still.

I told him not to rush…

“Leave the idiot behind.”

“What?! Wait, Siegfried!” Leon shouted as he began to sink into the depths of the poisonous swamp, his body exhausted. Without hesitation, I used the last of my strength to leap onto Leon’s back, then pushed off from him, vaulting over the toxic mire.

“Hey, Siegfried! Are you just going to leave me here too?” Alex shouted.

“You decide, Alex. Will you abandon your comrades and survive, or will you be the noble fool who dies for them?”

“Gah… I-I’m sorry, Leon… But this is all for the sake of saving Freesia. When I make her my wife, I promise I’ll build you a memorial, Leon. Don’t hold this against me…”

Alex whispered a quick prayer, then, like me, used Leon’s body as a stepping stone to leap across the swamp, abandoning him to his fate.

“You’re going too far, Siegfried!” Alex yelled, panting after he made it across.

“Hah? You sacrificed Leon to save yourself just like I did. You have no right to lecture me!” I shot back.

“We should’ve taken a different route, even if it meant taking more time,” Alex said, his voice strained.

“Oh please. Once I take down Brad, I’ll be the next king. Are you seriously thinking of defying me?” I sneered.

Alex let out a deep sigh. “I’ll tell you this now—you don’t have what it takes to be king. To be honest, you’d be better off licking Brad’s boots.”

“What did you just say?!”

“If you’re up for it, Siegfried, I’ll take that fight,” Alex said, tossing his gloves to the ground in challenge.

The nerve of him—my supposed subordinate, daring to challenge me.

“Fine! This will be where you die!”

“That’s my line!” Alex shot back, fire burning in his eyes.