083 Defeat

The tournament concluded without further incident, and the usual daily grind of Noblesse Academy returned.

Thanks to the stellar performance of the Witch Sisters, Noblesse had secured the Championship Trophy once again. Unfortunately, the intermediate-year students only managed to snag the runner-up spot.

The biggest reason? Eva didn’t show up.

It had been several months since that Pseudo-Demon appeared and was dealt with. Since then, sightings of Pseudo-Demons had been on the rise all across the globe. This wasn’t an "alteration" to the world; it was proof that the game’s story was progressing exactly as it should.

Maybe Eva found the situation amusing, or maybe she was just bored, but she’d been ditching the Academy lately under the guise of "going on an observation trip." It wasn't an official leave of absence—it was just plain old truancy. Even if her points were docked, it didn't matter to her in the slightest. To Eva, Noblesse Academy was nothing more than a house where she could lounge around. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less.

"It’s cold, isn't it, Weiss?"

"Yeah. Extremely."

Class was over, and we were walking through the courtyard toward the dorms. Cynthia’s profile, flushed from the biting snow, was as beautiful as an angel's. It was getting far too cold for comfort, so most students had taken to wearing cloaks over their pristine white Noblesse student uniforms. Like Cynthia, many of the girls were now wearing black tights.

Snow was piling up across the school grounds. Even if this world had started as a game, it was my reality now. Every time the seasons shifted, my heart stirred with a strange restlessness.

Am I actually heading in the right direction?

"Eleanor, what color scarf do you want this year?"

"Eh? Really, Big Sister?! Then... then! Maybe red? Ah—but then again, maybe black?"

Just then, the pair of sisters currently reigning as the most talked-about—or rather, the most popular—duo in Noblesse strolled past us. Since they were upperclassmen, our paths didn't cross much unless we were in the dining hall or the Joint Training Room. Plus, elite students often had their meals delivered to their rooms, and since many of the top-tiers weren't exactly "people persons," they rarely showed their faces in public.

I caught a glimpse of the gold patterns on their shoulders. Lowerclassmen had one stripe, intermediate-years had two, and these girls? They had three.

"Hello. Congratulations on your victory in the Noblesse Cup," Cynthia said, giving a graceful, polite bow.

While a senior-junior hierarchy technically existed, it wasn't strictly enforced at Noblesse. The school couldn't entirely shake the influence of high society; on the surface, titles weren't supposed to matter, but in reality, they still carried weight. Nevertheless, Cynthia was always polite—to her seniors, and even to those in our own year.

"Hello there. ——Oh, you must be the 'Ice Lady' Cynthia. And Weiss, I assume?"

"Hello! I know you guys too!"

Apparently, Sierra knew who we were. Plenty of seniors couldn't care less about the lowerclassmen, but it seemed we’d made a bit of a name for ourselves.

"I’m honored you've heard of us," I replied. "By the way, the tournament the other day was quite entertaining. It’s rare for us to get a glimpse of how our seniors fight."

"Fufufu, thank you. Especially since Eleanor shares the same Dark Attribute as you, I'm sure it was quite the spectacle, wasn't it?"

"B-Big Sister?! Please don't call it a spectacle! I don't even really remember most of it..."

Despite the height difference, seeing them side-by-side really drove home the fact that they were sisters. I wonder what would happen if I insulted the older one right in front of Eleanor? Thinking like that reminded me that, deep down, I really was a villain like Weiss.

"Yes," I said. "It was very educational."

The Witch Sisters were top-tier powerhouses, even in the Original Story. The title of Noblesse Elite Four wasn't just for show. They were even supposed to clash with Allen during a specific event later on. I was already looking forward to it.

But for now...

"Though, to be honest," I added, "Eleanor-senpai looked like the stronger of the two of you."

"……What was that?"

Eleanor’s gaze slowly drifted toward me. Perfect. There’s no way I’m letting a chance like this slip by. I wasn't about to go storming into the upperclassmen’s building just to pick a fight, but if fate was going to hand me an opportunity like this on a silver platter, I’d be a fool not to take it.

Meeting these sisters here was a sign. If so, I’d have to ask them to give me a little education of my own.

"Weiss, what on earth are you—"

"No, I just thought it was rare for a younger sister to be so much more capable than the older one," I continued, cutting Cynthia off.

I could feel it—a bizarre, singular magic power was radiating from Eleanor.

"……Are you making fun of my Big Sister?"

Come on. Do it. Bring it on.

However——.

"Hey, you— Ow?! Big Sister, w-why did you hit me?!"

"Baka-noa, don't just jump into a confrontation like that. You’re a senior, act like one."

"Fueeee…… I-I’m sorry."

Sierra had stretched her arm as high as she could to smack Eleanor on the head. With that, Eleanor seemed to retract her fangs.

"Is picking fights like that your usual method for gaining power?"

To my surprise, Sierra looked at me with a fearless, knowing smirk. It appeared I’d been found out. I knew she was the intellectual type in the Original Story, but to see through my provocation so easily... she was the real deal.

"I’m not sure what you mean."

"People with the Dark Attribute are always so cunning. Fine then——the little sister is off-limits, but perhaps I should be your opponent instead?"

Sierra uttered the very words I’d been hoping for. A genius who possessed the Light Attribute yet wielded a Death Scythe. I wouldn't get many chances to see that power up close. She was usually the lazy type who avoided effort at all costs, so this was a rare break in character.

——It was more than I could have hoped for.

"Are you sure?"

"Granting the wishes of a junior is part of a senior's job. Meet me at the Underground Training Room in thirty minutes. I’m going to go grab my weapon, so wait for me."

"Understood. I’ll be looking forward to it."

"B-Big Sister?!"

I felt my heart racing as a smile spread across my face. Picking the fight might have been petty, but the result was perfect.

"Weiss, please don't overdo it," Cynthia whispered.

"Don't worry. Honestly, I'm just excited."

Thirty minutes felt like a long time, but it would pass in a flash if I focused on regulating my mana. Sierra was strong. I’d have to go all out, as if I were fighting Eva herself. Finally, I could get serious for the first time in ages.

---

Underground Training Room.

I finished my preparations and waited. Before I knew it, a crowd of my classmates had gathered, having sniffed out the rumors of a duel.

"I heard it’s Sierra-senpai versus Weiss! Who do you think is stronger?"

"Probably Shino—I mean, Weiss, right? Argh, I don't know!"

"I can't wait! Man, I hope it starts soon!"

Behind the crowd, I saw Allen and his group. Naturally, Cynthia and Lilith were there too.

I was going to win. I’d prove that even a lowerclassman could take down one of the Elite Four.

I... I would definitely win.

——I’ll win.

...

......

...

"Hey, when is she actually getting here? Crap, it's already been an hour."

"Isn't it almost dinner time? I mean..."

"……Wait... did he get stood up?"

I stood there in the center of the arena, waiting. And waiting. But Sierra was nowhere to be found.

And then, it hit me.

I remembered her character profile. She was an intellectual. She was cunning. And she was mean-spirited to a degree that made her Light Attribute seem like a cruel joke.

In other words...

"That Sierra... she’s trying to irritate me by making me wait, isn't she? A psychological tactic."

Unfortunately for her, I was an intellectual too. I wouldn't let my composure break over something so trivial. I don't know what’s taking you, Sierra Witch, but hurry up and get here.

---

Upperclassmen Building, the Witch Sisters' room.

In a cozy room, two girls were lounging around on a bed, sipping Orange Berry Juice. Sierra was currently using Eleanor’s... ample, jiggling softness as a pillow.

"Big Sister, when are we going to the match?"

"I’m not going. The tournament is over; why would I go out of my way to fight such a scary-strong guy?"

"E-Eeeeh?! But what about Weiss-kun?! Isn't he waiting for you?!"

"That straightforward type? Oh, definitely," Sierra giggled. "He’s probably waiting there as patiently as a good little puppy. Fufufu... that’s what he gets for mocking my Eleanor."

"Big Sister, you're mean..."

Sierra Witch vs. Weiss Fancent. Due to Sierra’s failure to appear, Weiss’s victory by default was confirmed. However, since it was not an official match, no points were exchanged.

And yet——.

If I release Debi and then she attacks with that scythe... okay, that counter-tactic should be effective.

Weiss——while technically achieving a victory in the match, suffered a total defeat in the battle of wits.