40 – Ugly Fight

Siegfried and Alex were in the middle of a full-blown fistfight, rolling around the cage, while Maximilian and the village girl hurled insults at each other. Meanwhile, Leon sat in the corner, trembling with a pale face.

“Kukuku… this is like a zoo.”

“Indeed it is, Your Highness.”

“Haha! This is hilarious!”

“Truly a delightful sight, boffu.”

“Brad! This was all your trap, wasn’t it!? I’m telling Father about this!”

Siegfried yelled a line that sounded oddly familiar to me.

Where have I heard this before?

Oh, that’s right!

It’s just like the time when Brad got caught in a mess and ended up detained with Lily, and Siegfried said something similar. It took me a moment to recall, probably because of the mental image of the voice actor.

“A trap of mine, you say? If anything, it was you who tried to set a trap for me, Siegfried!”

“Guh…”

“Oh? Did I hit the nail on the head? The monster subjugation mission was given to me by Father himself! You tried to steal my glory, but you failed. And now you’re trying to pin the blame on me? Hah! It’s so laughable I could host a tea party with my bellybutton! Fuhahaha!”

“Graaaahhh!!!”

Suddenly, Leon, who had been quiet until now, let out a roar, shaking his head violently from side to side and began thrashing about. Despite being bound by handcuffs and shackles, he rolled around the cage, trying to attack Siegfried and the others inside.

“Prince Brad… regrettably, Leon has already succumbed. The zombification has progressed beyond recovery. Alas… how pitiable… pffft.”

Sontak tried to speak with a solemn expression, but he couldn’t suppress his laughter by the end. His family, the Viscount Azel house, had a long-standing rivalry with Leon’s Lionel family. In the original story, Sontak wasn’t entirely innocent either, but Leon had gotten his just desserts in the end.

“Eeeek! What’s happening!?”

“This isn’t a Biohazard game, you idiot!!!”

Wait, what?

Did someone just say Biohazard?

“Bluaaahh, grrrlrlrlrlrraaaaah!!”

Was that Maximilian just now?

It sounded like him, but the pronunciation was so bad I might’ve misheard…

In Fortune Engage, there was an event to undo zombification, but it could only be achieved by Freesia, who had awakened to the power of the Saintess. Her pearl-like tears were the key to the cure.

Watching the deadly game of tag unfold in the cramped cage, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of exasperation and amusement.

“Offer Maximilian of the Magus family as a sacrifice!”

“Wh-what!?” 

Siegfried, suddenly pointing at the most vulnerable person, called for a sacrifice. Despite having been fighting just moments ago, Alex immediately obeyed Siegfried’s command and grabbed Maximilian by the shoulders, locking him in place from behind.

“N-nooo! I don’t want to die!”

Even the village girl joined in, pushing Maximilian toward the zombified Leon.

“How utterly disgraceful!”

When push came to shove, people really were quick to betray their comrades—what a dismal sight.

“Pathetic.”

I glanced at Omonell and the others, giving them a nod.

“【Freeze of Diamond】!”

In perfect sync, the three of them cast the Triad Chant, encasing Leon in ice and bringing an end to the chaos within the cage.

“Phew… I’m saved. Brad! Why didn’t you save me sooner!? Are you trying to kill your own flesh and blood?!”

“Shall we freeze him too, Your Highness?”

Omonell, looking toward Siegfried, asked with a deadpan expression. Siegfried, seeing this, instantly fell silent, clearly too terrified to speak another word. 

The tables had turned rather quickly.

“Hmph, you weakling! Mocking the older brother who had to clean up your mess—you’re truly… a foolish little brother!!!”

“Grr… Grrrnnn…”

Siegfried, filled with frustration, pounded the ground in anger.

If we were to bring Siegfried back to the capital like this, even though he’s the second prince, he could face severe punishment. Their father, King Bismarck VIII, is a man known for his fairness.

In the game, when Brad’s various misdeeds were exposed, starting with the broken engagement to Freesia, Bismarck not only disinherited him but also demoted him by two ranks and banished him to the frontier. 

Based on my own prediction, Siegfried would likely lose his right to the throne… Although Freesia seems to have taken a liking to me, there’s still a death flag hovering over me. If something happens to Siegfried, I can’t be sure what will become of my own life.

That’s why I’ve been thinking of something.

If I were to ask Omonell and the others, I know they’d definitely object…