Crown 5

Eichi: In any case, Switch defeated Valkyrie just as planned, and just as we’d hoped.

The pitiable Valkyrie knew nothing of Tori’s abduction—he must have been considerably shaken when he discovered that the culprit was someone the commander of his own army.

Itsuki-kun has always been a fastidious person. It’s honestly a wonder that he loves so deeply that dirty, stained doll.

Wataru: Shu is an artist; he recognizes true beauty and value when he sees it. Besides, there are some flowers which only bloom in the muck.

Eichi: That must be beauty, yes. Beauty and value begin with comparison. There is no distinction between things which are equally pretty.

It is only when darkness stains it that the light of beauty can shine through. Or am I incorrect?

Wataru: No? Though I imagine Shu would find fault in it anyway: “Don’t act as if you understand!” or perhaps, “How dare you speak on the arts!”

But you are only talking about the laws of physics.

Light stands out to us only because we know darkness. There is nothing to question here.

Eichi: Every phenomenon can be explained by science, even the human mind. I refuse to believe that is the only exception.

Humanity is somehow special because we are God’s carefully crafted masterpiece? Is that not the sort of religious zealotry everyone hates?

Every part of us can be analyzed physically.

There is nothing beyond human knowledge, and there are no miracles.

If there were such a thing that one might call mystery, magic, or miracle—

It would merely be something we have yet to dissect with the scalpel of reason.

Were we to perfect that reason, we humans could even kill God. We could finally wrap our hands around that already suffocating thing and choke out the last of its life.

The earliest opportunity I have to do that is this SS. The latest, when I draw my final breath.

God never once answered my prayers as a child, no matter how much I begged for him. Ever since then, I have wanted nothing more than to strike him.

Wataru: Even if that were part of an omniscient, omnipotent god’s design?

Eichi: Even still. It’s a rare opportunity to come so close to God. I won’t waste mine.

At the very least, I will spare Him no pains. I’ve made arrangements to that end.

But first, we must claim victory over the White Team. They’ve gone through great trouble to lay out the table for us, so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t feast.

Until Valkyrie’s defeat to Switch in the first round, I still thought it might be a trap, some clever tactic by the White Team.

Though I must not rid myself of that doubt until the very end.

I don’t think Nagisa-kun would do something so pointless as losing a battle he could surely win.

What does he gain by sacrificing Valkyrie? Only a defeat, some distrust, and our uncertainties. Thus, he must have laid this out as a trap.

These doubts work in our favor, though. I was born sickly and weak, an inferior creature to others.

I had to work and scheme desperately to finally overcome those in good health. Because of this, I have foregone my pride. I lack the arrogance of a victor.

Uncertainty only serves to make me think harder.

Nevertheless, I let myself get so carried away with my first victory during the War that I lost my footing. That’s why I’ll never repeat that mistake.

If nothing else, I will be meticulous in my planning. Still, what meaning in there is making me, making our entire team, stronger?

Is he thinking like a conveniently placed villain in a shounen manga, who grows ever more powerful by preying upon opponents stronger than himself?

But the story usually goes that while the villain lies in wait, the protagonists become unbearably strong.

And the villain’s final words go something like this: “H–how could this happen!” or “You meddling kids...!”

Wataru: Aha. I had the inkling our friends in Eden were acting a bit too theatrical, but perhaps that is exactly the point.

Eichi: What do you mean?

Wataru: It’s just like you during the first DDD, Eichi. You dared to assume the role of villain.

I can’t tell if they had intended to take up such a mantle, but their performance is quite wooden.

Eichi: You’re as as ever harsh in your critique when it comes to acting... As for why they would be putting on this performance, there is room for speculation.

But the curtain has already risen on the stage. We, too, are merely playing our assigned roles as best we can.

And all the while, we wait with bated breath for the ending of the script to be revealed.