Episodes 101. A Servant who Take a Lead Pt.7

Point of View: Rasyid Londerik.

Cklak!

I inserted some coins into a vending machine inside the bus.

If you ask me why?

I'll answer easily...

I'm thirsty...

The course of the battle suddenly turned 180°.

The class I thought would win the war ended up slaughtered.

I don't know how to comment now.

As I stare at the cans of drinks, I see my reflection in the machine's glass, myself staring back at me, eyes meeting eyes, I'm truly gazing into the depths of my own eye reflection.

"Why you so careless...?"

My mouth slips, I didn't realize I had said it.

What could be lacking in them?

I question it again.

"Instead of thinking about what's lacking in your students, try to think... What are the strengths of your opponents that allowed them to get into this situation," Ryan lectured me.

I was startled by his sudden appearance, but I quickly covered it up so it wouldn't seem like I was surprised.

"Huh?"

I didn't quite understand what he meant, but I would soon grasp his meaning.

Ctak!

Ryan pressed the button on the machine, choosing a canned drink that was a source of pride for men, black coffee.

Is he okay? As far as I remember, the brand he chose is known for its bitterness.

Buk!

The can of drink he chose fell down and was grabbed by my cousin. And immediately, Ryan opened the can and drank it all.

This guy's resilience is amazing, he can drink such bitter coffee without even flinching. I thought being immune to bitterness was just a myth, or maybe I'm just the one who didn't know it.

"Hhwah... Think about that..." He left after drinking the coffee and went back to his seat.

Still in the same place, I try to contemplate. What's lacking...

"The strengths of the opponent...?"

I don't understand this at all! It seems like thinking about something in the context of a team isn't my skill. I should just choose a drink and go back to watching.

But...

As I'm about to press the machine, I feel like something is missing.

Ctak!

When I press the button on the machine, it doesn't react at all.

"Why I can't-"

I'm slapped back to reality, realizing he took advantage of my distraction.

TAK TAK TAK!

I walk very quickly and steadily.

When I'm right behind him, I grip his shoulder tightly.

"Oi Ryan..."

I call his name.

Immediately after, his face is drenched in cold sweat, he bites his lip to hold back laughter, and his eyes widen in surprise.

"Give back the coins you used earlier!"

I demand from him.

He annoys me, seizing the opportunity in adversity. Taking someone else's right and diverting it with a conversation. He's truly a skilled asshole.

Slowly, his head turns towards me, his face showing submission.

From how I see his face now, I can tell he's begging me not to do it. He wants to exploit the sincerity of a human.

Oh my...

How fortunate...

Hihihi.

I curve my lips, my eyes narrow at Ryan, and my grip on his shoulder tightens.

I have no sincerity, I will crush him if he doesn't return the money he stole. Right now, I'm filled with darkness like a demon king.

"Re~turn..."

Ryan's face instantly darkens and he sweats profusely.

.............

Point of View: Kanda Sophia.

I run towards them hastily and create a shield of ice to fend off the incoming traps.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The magical circles explode, causing the palace room to resonate and shake like an earthquake, thick smoke billows from the explosion, so thick that I can't see anything around me.

I don't know.

Did I manage to save them or not?

My heart is pounding very fast, not out of joy, but out of tension.

I can't be sure. The smoke from the explosion is too thick.

I can only gape while waiting for the smoke to dissipate.

A few seconds after the explosion, the smoke begins to clear and...

My eyes catch the silhouette of someone, is that them?

But, everything is instantly betrayed.

And once again, I feel the betrayal.

Betrayal of effort. That's what I feel right now.

"Sophia~?!" (With a mocking tone)

"Sophia?!"

I hear two voices calling my name.

One voice sounds familiar to me, and the other does not.

But from the way he called my name earlier, I can be sure that the boy is...

My eyes slowly turn to his annoyed face. From what I gather here, he doesn't like my tardiness.

When the thick smoke has completely disappeared, my eyes reveal the faces of Hakam and Rizal, the only ones I can save.

They both look at me with dumbfounded expressions.

"Are you guys okay?" I ask, slightly stuttering.

Hakam nods slightly indicating he's okay, but his face clearly shows otherwise. He's injured almost everywhere.

"Okay?!" Rizal, who is beside him, gives me an annoyed look, his eyes narrowed and his teeth gritted. "Can't you see around you?!"

As I expected, he would bring that up.

I want to retaliate immediately, but I can't.

I'm still powerless because I'm forgotten.

"Hey, are you deaf?! Look around you! They're all K.O. because you were late!"

His words pierce my heart, but I'll endure. This is what I deserve.

"Rizal, that's enough!" Hakam yells at him beside his ear.

Rizal falls silent, his hand holding his ear that was yelled at.

"Huh?! You're telling me to shut up?! No way! Remember, you're the one who led our classmates into the trap!"

Hakam's recklessness as a leader is the cause of all this. He led his friends into the trap.

But that doesn't mean he should be blamed entirely.

"I know that! But why are you also blaming Sophia?! Didn't she the one who struggled to protect us?!" (Hakam)

"Protecting us?! But why are there only two of us left?! I'm sure she deliberately left the people close to that teacher to finish this exam!"

Hearing his words, I'm suddenly speechless.

I don't know why...

I really want to destroy the person in front of me right now.

My patience can't hold any longer. It's okay if I'm insulted, but if the name of the teacher is insulted.

Then I will...

Unconsciously, and because of emotions.

I take out my pageblug and widen my fan.

SLASH!

Instantly I cut the insolent man in half.

"Haghh!"

But upon hearing the sound of my victim, I'm instantly shocked and widen my eyes.

Thud!

Hakam's body lies on the floor and the traces of my fan slash are visible on his chest.

"Why did you protect him?!" I'm confused by his way of thinking.

Why did he sacrifice himself for that jerk?!

"If what he said is true, then it's best for me to be eliminated. And (his voice faltered), isn't a captain who leads a troop happier to fall with his soldiers than to flee and be the only survivor?"

With that, those were Hakam's last words before he was eliminated.

He vanished and exited the arena.

Now it's just me and this rat, Rizal.

He looks at me with fear, imagining what would have happened if Hakam hadn't protected him earlier.

"Just forget it..." I say, standing up. "Let's go to the throne room! I've checked all sides, there are no more traps until we get there."

I don't care if he follows me from behind or not, what matters now is that we immediately warn the team on the balcony to abandon the plan and unite to attack the throne room.