The Tyrant Arrives Late

“Nuuuunnn!!!”

Rowen swings his battle axe magnificently, slashing at Elfriede.

It had enough momentum to smash even a boulder, but Elfriede dodges nimbly hirari.

“Such attacks relying on brute force won’t hit me.”

“But, it buys time!”

Rowen continues his fierce assault while floating a wry smile.

──Just as he said, the difference in ability between Elfriede and Rowen is clear.

It’s like fighting Leonil, Rowen thought inwardly, but──

“No… that’s an exaggeration.”

While panting zeezee, Rowen mutters like a soliloquy.

“Still, training with Leonil is much harder…!”

“Hey Rowen! I can’t aim if you don’t stop her movement!♠”

Laki readies her crossbow and tries to aim.

But tossed about by Elfriede’s nimble movements, the timing to fire is hard to determine.

“I know that!”

“Totally hopeless. You aren’t coordinating at all. You two don’t usually partner up, do you?”

Elfriede says as if seeing through them.

The two were completely being played in the palm of her hand.

“…I guess Class F’s ability really is just this much. Honestly, I’m disappointed.”

“Tch, don’t say it…!”

Rowen grinds his teeth in frustration.

Then, at that moment──

“Ceruano Yannick-kun Dead, Garec Daltry-kun Dead, Fianca Lufrey-san Dead! Class C remaining: five!”

Paula-sensei’s voice echoes throughout the dungeon.

Hearing that, Elfriede’s face was dyed in surprise for the first time.

“──!? What did you say…!?”

“Hoh… did Ester, or perhaps Ivan and Matthias do it?”

Rowen grins.

That is undeniably good news for Class F, and bad news for Class C.

“We can’t be losing either… We’ll ride this momentum!”

Now that her composure is disturbed is the perfect opportunity!

Seeing this as a chance for victory, Rowen swings his battle axe to land a critical hit.

“OOOOOOOHHH!!!”

“…………Truly, it can’t be helped.”

Yurari, Elfriede moves her twin swords.

In the next instant──she unleashed a serious slash for the first time.

Not missing the opening created when Rowen tried to unleash a large swing, she slammed a combo with twin swords in at once.

“Gu──oh──!?”

“Let me apologize, Class F is better than I thought. I can’t be leisurely anymore.”

──Rowen’s body freezes, becoming unable to move.

He was judged Dead.

“Rowen! You…!”

Laki fires her crossbow immediately.

However, Elfriede easily deflects the arrow she fired and closes the distance in an instant.

And the twin swords she holds are placed perfectly against Laki’s neck, sandwiching it.

“U… a…h”

“It’s over.”

Against Laki who is poor at direct combat, Elfriede is an expert dual wielder.

There is a difference in ability as vast as heaven and earth between the two.

Both sides understood that well.

“I have to finish you and catch up to Peroni quickly. I’m worried about her.”

Elfriede tries to put strength into the twin swords against the neck with a cold gaze.

But, “…You might not need that worry.”

Laki, who should have been completely cornered, for some reason smiled niyat.

“Eh?”

“Because you end here♦”

“What nonsense are you──”

“They say it often, right? ──’The Tyrant Hero arrives late’★”

“…Oi, who is a Tyrant Hero. You wicked cat.”

▲ ▲ ▲

I don’t know why, but it looks like I arrived at a pretty good time.

Seems Rowen was taken out, and Laki was one step away from dying.

I didn’t think about stepping in to save Laki even a bit, though.

The only one I want to save is Letitia.

I just came as a rover because I was uneasy about this pair.

But──coming was the right answer.

“As expected of my Hero! Al-kun comes at the perfect timing♥”

“Who’s your Hero. I told you my Princess Heroine is only Letitia.”

“…I see, you are Baron Alban Odrant…”

The twin-sword woman holding swords to Laki’s neck slowly moves them away from Laki.

Then walking toward me,

“Joshua said it. That in Class F, you should be exceptionally strong.”

“Yeah, well, that’s right.”

“…I am Elfriede Schwarz. As a fellow martial artist──may I request a match?”

Class C female student Elfriede readies her twin swords.

…Hmm, I see.

Seems she can do a bit.

I can tell enough from her stance.

Not as much as Joshua, but she’s strong too.

Probably Class C’s Number 2 in sword skill alone.

Enough to overwhelm those two.

Rather, with the combination of Rowen and Laki, it feels like they held out well until now…

──Ah, come to think of it, Letitia said.

If you have self-awareness as a King, praise your subordinates properly when they work hard.

“…Laki, Rowen.”

I also slowly ready my sword──

“You held out well until now. Leave the rest to me.”

I face Elfriede.

Now then… let’s see what you’ve got.

“Then… fair and square──”

We both stomp the ground jirijiri with our soles.

Unconsciously searching for the ideal footing to step on when charging in.

And──

“Match!”

──Like lightning crawling on the ground, our flashes crossed at tremendous speed.

Truly an event of a split second.

Blades unleashed in passing.

The match was just a mere instant.

As if switching positions from before, Elfriede and I stand back to back.

“Wh… which one won…?”

Laki, who seemingly couldn’t follow the instantaneous offense and defense with her eyes, gulps.

──Zanshin (remaining mind/awareness).

Neither Elfriede nor I move a muscle as if time has stopped.

But──the one who released Zanshin first was me.

“…Not bad. But not as good as the Protagonist Leonil.”

“I… Impossible…”

“If Leonil’s strength is ten, you are at best eight… no, seven. Not my enemy.”

To Elfriede who is judged Dead and cannot move, I say while sheathing my sword.

Yes, finished.

My win.

“A──Amaaaazing!☆ Al-kun strongest! As expected of Class F’s King!♡!”

Spreading both arms, Laki tries to hug me with a dash da!.

I dodge it hyoi.

“Don’t touch. Only Letitia is allowed to touch me.”

“Geez, mean as always~♠”

“Call it devoted. Well then, I’m going now.”

Patting the shoulder of Rowen who can’t move, I give words of appreciation “Good work,” and leave this place.

“Noow then… After this, it’s time for a fun ‘Date’ with Letitia.”

I float a fearless smile on my lips.

Just like a villain.

Immediately after, Paula-sensei’s voice conveying Rowen and Elfriede’s Death judgment echoed throughout the dungeon.