The grey world cleared, and time began to move again.

The surrounding clamor returned. Father's shouts, the bishop's fluster, Celestia's anxiety…

Unconsciously, I searched for that fiery red hair.

Rage Volf. The hero chosen by [Destiny].

As I descended from the podium, the uproar grew louder.

To those around me, I must have looked like I had accepted the prophecy.

That wasn't it.

I was just… concerned.

About the prophecy that would be given to Rage next.

In the strange atmosphere, Rage hesitantly made his way to the podium.

Soon, the prophecy was bestowed.

*'Thou art the Savior.'*

The Hall of Prophecy stirred.

Right after a Great Sinner, a Savior had appeared. Everyone held their breath at the contrast.

But I was the only one who knew.

The future where he would truly, in the full sense, claim that title of Savior… did not exist in this world.

"Ugh—!!"

Instantly, images replayed in my mind.

This is… the blessing [Destiny] implanted in me, 《Master of the Proper World Line's Eye》.

In the vision, Rage and I were facing each other, swords at the ready.

What? Why are we dueling?

*—'You, a Savior!? Impossible!! I'll test you myself!!'*

*—'I don't care about being a Savior… I just absolutely refuse to lose to you!!'*

I see. It seems in the original world, I got angry at Rage's prophecy and picked a fight.

We exchanged blows with our swords.

At first, I had the advantage. But partway through, Rage's sword began to glow.

The Holy Sword. The proof of the Savior, a blade imbued with divine power. Wielding that holy sword, Rage glared sharply at the cruel and wicked noble.

*—'Wha, what!? That light!?'*

*—'Graaaaaaaaahhh—!!'*

Rage's Holy Sword released a slash of light.

Claude was swallowed by the slash and sent flying.

The vision ended.

This… is what was supposed to happen in the original world.

…And you want *me* to do this?

Hey, [Destiny].

To save the world… are you telling me to do things like this from now on?

No… wait a minute?

According to the god, Rage has grown weaker because of me. But what if, by some one-in-a-million chance, that's not the case…? Couldn't I just continue as I have been?

It's worth checking.

Don't get the wrong idea, [Destiny]… I haven't agreed to dance to your tune just yet.

I just want to confirm.

Whether Rage is truly weaker compared to how he should be in the original world.

"…Hmph."

I snorted and stepped forward, standing before Rage.

First, just as I saw with 《Master of the Proper World Line's Eye》, I would berate Rage.

"Y-you… a Savior!? Im-impossible."

It came out totally monotone…!

What do I do? The atmosphere just died. Is there any insurance I can buy right now?

"………………Claude?"

Rage looked at me with concern.

His eyes held not a shred of hostility. Only pure worry.

"S-shut up!! Don't you dare call my name so casually!!"

"What's gotten into you all of a sudden? Are you shaken up by that weird prophecy earlier?"

…This won't work.

This is no good.

Even if I force a duel from this state, I can't properly gauge Rage's strength. To compare him to the world that should be, I need to genuinely make him angry.

…Just once. I'll act in earnest.

Playing the villain should be easy for me. Because the original me *was* evil.

Remember how I was over a year ago.

I just need to recreate that.

**"—I SAID SHUT UP!!"**

My voice echoed through the Hall of Prophecy, silencing the commotion.

Before a stunned Rage, I snatched the sword from the belt of a nearby guard. I pointed the blade at him.

"You, a Savior!? Don't make me laugh! With that level of strength, you can't protect anything!!"

"Claude…?"

"Prove it to me!! If you can't even defeat me, then you're nothing but a fake!!"

The color in Rage's eyes changed.

Facing me with my sword ready, Rage also grabbed a sword from a nearby guard. The guard resisted, but when I shot him a sharp glare, he froze completely. This was the first time I was thankful for my position as a ducal heir.

"I don't know nothin' about being a Savior… but I don't like being told what to do!!"

Good flow. —Now to test Rage's strength!!

I lunged at Rage with a slash.

I held nothing back. I swung with the intent to kill.

"Oooooooooooohhh—!!"

"Graaaaaaaaahh—!!"

Rage blocked my strike and immediately twisted his body, launching a spinning slash.

I parried the horizontal slash and sharply countered.

The clang of metal rang out, sparks flying.

In the fierce clash of our guards, Rage and I glared at each other.

Rage was serious. He was seriously fighting me.

And yet—

…He's light.

The arm Rage used to block my sword was trembling minutely.

His stance was unstable. His footing wasn't solid. It wasn't his sword technique, but pure physical strength… the foundation you can only get through steady, grueling training was critically lacking.

My own foundation is lacking too. It can't be helped after living a self-indulgent life until a year ago. But I received an elite education from the ducal house since childhood. Swordsmanship was one of the subjects. Even with low physical ability, I learned the sword as part of my cultivation.

Rage…

Are you going to lose to a cultivated, *theoretical* sword?

Ah… Damn it.

This… doesn't connect.

The current Rage and the Rage who becomes a hero in the future… I just can't connect them—!!

"Damn iiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!"

With an explosion of emotion, I swung my sword with all my might.

*Clang!!* With a loud sound, Rage's sword clattered to the floor.

Disarmed, Rage stood there dumbfounded.

The match was decided. Rage's defeat.

And—the defeat of my naive, wishful thinking.

It was no use.

The current Rage was incomparably weaker than the Rage I saw with 《Master of the Proper World Line's Eye》. He doesn't even have the Holy Sword yet.

Because I acknowledged him.

Because I was kind to him.

Rage never learned rage. He never sharpened his fangs to fight against injustice.

A wolf without fangs is just a dog.

A docile dog that never disobeys its master, Fate.

*I* made Rage into that.

"Lord Claude…?"

I heard Celestia's trembling voice.

Turning, I saw her face painted with terror and sorrow.

Ah, that face.

That is the expression that should be directed at me, the stepping stone.

My heart felt like it would tear apart.

Bile rose in my throat.

I wanted to run to her right now, embrace her, tell her it was all a lie.

I wanted to scream that I would become a splendid person… that I loved them all.

But that was not allowed.

For them to live on, I had no choice but to persist in being evil.

No matter what I had to sacrifice…

No… *so that I wouldn't have to sacrifice anything.*

…Fine.

The world needs a stepping stone.

A stepping stone to elevate Rage Volf into a hero.

And if I am the only one who can be that stepping stone—

…I'll do it.

I'll become the stepping stone.

But not just any stepping stone.

I—will become a **PROUD STEPPING STONE!!**

Not because I yielded to fate.

I will become a stepping stone by my own will.

The Rage who became a hero in the future embodied justice to an enviable degree. If this man exists, then someone like me doesn't need to uphold justice… That's how cool the future Rage was.

I want to meet that future Rage.

I want to entrust the things I love to the Rage who became a hero.

I won't cry.

I won't grieve.

Because this is what I decided. It has nothing to do with the world or fate. This is what **I** will do, for **my** sake.

"Hahaha…"

Laugh…

That's right, laugh!!

Because I'm doing what I want to do!!

Because I'm living happily!!

So show them a grand laugh!!

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!!"

Watch me, [Destiny].

I'll live to the very end without letting this smile break.

**I—WILL BECOME A PROUD STEPPING STONE!!**