You know the type—the "stepping stone" character.

The nuance is close to "the rival" or "the villain." In short, they are the antagonistic role meant to be triumphed over for the protagonist's growth.

It's been several years since I reincarnated as such a stepping stone character.

Finally, I was about to fulfill my purpose.

"Rage… As if a piece of trash like you could ever defeat me!"

Packing as much contempt as I could into my voice, I sneered.

"Not yet…!! I'm… I'm not finished yet…!!"

A boy, smeared with mud and blood, looked up at me from where he was crawling.

Flaming red hair, eyes shining with indomitable will. He is the one destined to save this world, the future hero—Rage Volf.

Even though I had beaten him to a pulp, Rage stood up once more and raised his sword.

A shiver ran through my entire body, goosebumps rising on my skin.

My instincts screamed a warning. At the hidden, explosive power this man was about to unleash.

………….

……………….

…………………….

Ahhhhhhhhhh—!!!!!!

It's finally here!!!!!!!

It was so long in coming!!!!!

So… you're finally going to defeat me!

Good!! Bring it on!! I'm all ready for my grand, spectacular defeat!

Rise, hero. Burn with rage, and glare at me.

Then, use me, your stepping stone, to awaken and rise higher.

This Claude von Ainhart.

My once-in-a-lifetime stepping stone life… ends here.

"Wait, Rage!!"

At that moment, a high-pitched voice rang out.

A single girl was watching us. Lustrous silver hair, amethyst eyes brimming with tears. Celestia, the duke's daughter I had so callously and utterly broken off my engagement with.

"Lord Claude isn't to blame!!"

Huh?

What is she talking about?

"There's no way Lord Claude would do something so awful! Isn't that right, Lord Claude?! This is all just some terrible misunderstanding!?"

Celestia said this while staring at me.

I was too bewildered to even move my mouth, and then another girl with golden hair appeared before us.

Eileen, the kingdom's second princess.

"That's right!! There's no way Claude would hurt someone without a reason!"

Hey.

"You might have a foul mouth and a terrible attitude, but… but deep down, you're kinder than anyone else!"

Hey!!!!!

Stop it!! Don't get in the way!!

Get a little self-awareness of your own influence!!

I desperately keep a poker face to stop it from twitching.

After years of practice, controlling my expression was a skill I had mastered. But right now, even that foundation was on the verge of crumbling.

'Fufufu…'

A man's amused laugh echoed inside my mind.

It came from the single sword I held.

'It seems they understand. Who the true hero is.'

Shut up, you cursed blade.

'I am a holy sword!!'

What kind of pitch-black holy sword looks like you!?

"Clauuuudeee!!"

Rage closed the distance to me in an instant and swung his sword down.

A speed impossible for a normal person to follow. Power so great the mere wind pressure cracked the ground. But the path of that blade looked painfully slow and lacked any real brilliance to my eyes.

So I'm asking you...

So I'm asking you—!!

"Why are you still so damn WEAK—!!"

"Guhk!"

My hand moved reflexively, exceeding the speed of sound.

Using a backhand, my knuckles connected squarely with Rage's cheek. Rage tumbled violently across the ground, disappearing towards the horizon.

The one who scattered spectacularly… was Rage.

…Sigh.

I couldn't help but cradle my head.

Give me a break. You're the only one who can save this world.

At this level of strength, I can't even let you step on me.

Where did I go wrong?

I look at Celestia and Eileen, who had intervened.

Why?

I've been moving all this time to make those two hate me. I should have steered them to become Rage's allies.

So why?

Why are these two looking at me with eyes so utterly clouded?

An indescribable, utterly abnormal emotion reached me, sending a chill down my spine. From them, I felt something sticky, twisted—like a tangled mess of affection and regret.

…What did I miss?

For years now, I should have been pouring my blood, sweat, and tears into becoming the stepping stone to raise Rage up. The groundwork I laid for my own downfall was perfect.

…I need to analyze this.

The fatal miscalculation I made.

Why is Rage still weaker than me?

Why won't Celestia and Eileen give up on me?

I need to review the past, search for the cause.

There must be something. Some major misalignment that I failed to notice.

Remember.

Those days, ever since I awakened the memories of my past life—