"WHY WOULD YOU INVITE THIS RANDOM!?"
Ruma leapt to her feet, slamming her palms against the table.
I thought she would be the one on my side…
Princis, seated calmly beside Anfang, tilted his head and spoke flatly:
"In that case, I must disagree with you. He's a complete stranger to us. There's no reason to invite him."
With her head still buried in her arms on the table, Gota mumbled,
"I think he's fine…"
Oh… thanks.
Edward leaned back in his chair, rolling his eyes.
"Mehh, I don't know. I don't even know that guy's name."
It's Theo... Theo Moretti.
Mochiko suddenly stood, raising her staff like a banner.
"He gave me this staff, so… I DON'T HAVE A DEFINED POSITION!"
OH C'MON!!
Freya leaned close... too close, and tapped my nose with her fingertip.
"Muohhh, he looks like such a cute boy… You don't bite, right?"
I-I don't know what to say…
"Think a little, people…"
Anfang finally raised his arms, calm but firm.
"He managed to steal Lisa's staff, something perhaps no one here could have done. That alone suggests he's someone… powerful."
W-WAIT, NO—
Ruma spun toward me, her eyes wide and shining.
"WAIT, THAT'S TRUE! HE MUST MASTER VARIOUS TYPES OF MAGIC!"
Gota sighed.
"Or just one…"
Mochiko's eyes lit up. She clutched her staff and nearly bounced in her seat.
"WAIT, REALLY!? T-THEN COULD WE BATTLE!? I PROPOSE YOU FOR AN OFFICIAL DUEL!!!"
Princis narrowed his eyes.
"If that's the case…"
Anfang tilted his head slightly, his calm gaze falling on me.
"So, Theo… what's your power?"
…
WHAT SHOULD I SAY NOW!?
S-Should I tell the truth? About my rebirth power? No! I don't want my merit to come from that. It wouldn't be fair with myself!
S-So do I say I don't have? B-But then they'll hate me!
Wait… do I even want to join this group? If not, I'm wasting my time here.
Still… they're just illusions. Why should I be afraid?
"I… I have no power. No power at all."
The stuttering was gone. My words cut clear.
"I stole the staff by pure luck. That's all."
…
"WHAT?!"
Here we go.
Mochiko leapt up, pointing her staff straight at me, her face burning red.
"HOW DARE YOU!? THAT LINE OFFENDED ALL WIZARDS FROM LYNDELL!!! SOMEONE WITHOUT POWER COULD NEVER STEAL THE STAFF OF LISA THE GREAT!!"
"T-That wasn't what I—I was trying to—"
Edward burst out laughing.
"Hah! I knew it!"
Gota touched her chin with her hand, deadpan.
"Well then… what are you even doing here?"
Freya twirled a strand of hair with a playful grin.
"Oh, but it's fine, right? He can carry our bags."
Ruma jabbed a finger at me.
"Hah! Yeah, that's actually all he's good for!"
Princis didn't even speak. He only gave Anfang a long, sharp look.
I think… they're all against me.
"Either way," Anfang said quietly, "I'd still like you to join the group."
Again, almost everyone shouted in unison:
"WHAT?!"
Princis took a deep breath.
"Think about it. He might even be a spy—"
Ruma cut him off sharply.
"No, he's not. I'm sure of it. With everything I've seen and lived with him, I can say for certain, he is no spy."
…Thanks.
Wait really? Why she trusts me so much? I don't think she should.
Gota let out a lazy giggle.
"Princis, you're flattering us too much. Do you really think anyone would bother spying on us?"
"Not us," Princis muttered. "On the leader."
Anfang chuckled softly.
"Hey, come on. He could… carry our bags. And it wouldn't hurt to have a non-magic person on missions, maybe for stealth. He could pretend to be a normal dude and-"
"NO!" everyone shouted at once as if I committed a crime.
Edward crossed his arms.
"This group has always been made up of people that had a minimum connection with, no one knows who this random is."
I'm Theo Moretti...
Freya placed her hand on her cheek and leaned toward me. Her eyes glittered.
"Where did you come from, boy?"
A-Ah… what should I say?
If I tell the truth, I'm screwed. I'll have to lie.
"I-I—"
Princis interrupted, his voice rigid.
"Then at least tell us one quality. Something useful to the group."
Gota murmured, almost too softly,
"He could carry me when I'm tired."
Mochiko scoffed, looking at me with disdain.
"REGARDLESS OF YOUR QUALITIES, THEY CANNOT BE GREATER THAN A WIZARD'S!"
I-I know that…
Freya's smile stayed gentle.
"I'm sure he has plenty."
Thank you…
Edward leaned forward, glaring.
"So? Go on then. Tell us about your 'great qualities'…"
S-Shit! What can I say?!
I don't have anything. Nothing special.
Damn it, I created you!
Aghhh… what do I say?
"I-I think I'm quite smart…? I-I mean, I was always ahead of my class. Not that my grades were exceptional! It was more their fault than mine… b-but still, I think I'm smart…"
I mean, I literally predicted the afterlife! …Kinda.
…What will happen now?
Ruma burst into laughter.
"Smart? Oh, fella, I'm way smarter than you! At least I didn't try to commit suicide for a staff!"
Mochiko muttered under her breath.
"But he managed to."
"…Fair point," Ruma admitted.
Then Mochiko shouted suddenly, her veins were visible on her forehead.
"BUT YOU'RE NOT SMARTER THAN ME!"
Edward sighed.
"What my friend was trying to say is we already have plenty of smart people. Anfang, Princis, Gota… me—"
Gota didn't even look up.
"No, you're not."
Before Edward could defend himself, Ruma slammed the table.
"Hey, c'mon, I'm not that dumb!"
Mochiko puffed out her chest and mimicked her.
"YEAH, AND I'M WAY SMARTER THAN ALL OF YOU!!"
Freya tilted her head.
"What about me?"
…Silence. Nobody answered.
Princis glanced sideways at Anfang.
"Alright, guys…" Anfang's voice alone quieted the room.
"I understand some of you are against it. So… we'll make a game."
Princis's eyes narrowed.
"A game? You mean—"
Anfang smirked.
"Yes. Our favorite. Rock, Paper, Scissors."
Ah. A game of luck? Seems fair—
"IT CAN BE!!"
Ruma nearly jumped in excitement.
"Play Rock, Paper, Scissors, please!"
Why does she look so happy…?
Edward's grin twisted sly.
"Perfect."
Mochiko shook her head with small pity.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors? Ah, poor guy."
Why are they all so happy? Or pitying me?
Princis locked eyes with me, serious.
"Do you accept?"
"H-Huh… Y-Yes, of course."
Ruma, Edward, and Mochiko exploded in laughter.
Freya never lost her smile.
"Well, boy. It was interesting meeting you."
W-Why are they acting like I already lost?!
Mochiko wiped tears of laughter. She came closer, whispering like it was a secret.
"Oh, you fool… Didn't we tell you? The leader NEVER loses in games of luck. Literally NEVER!!"
Ah. That explains it.
Anfang calmly extended his right hand, clenched into a fist.
"Well then, shall we play?"
"Y-Yeah…"
I extended my hand too.
With everyone watching, expecting victory, we began.
"Rock."
"Paper."
"Scissors!"
…
He played paper.
I played scissors.
I WON!!!
"Oh. I lost," Anfang said simply.
The other six froze in shock.
A terrifying silence passed over everyone for a moment.
No one could believe their eyes.
Ruma nearly fell off her chair.
"W-WHAT!?!? H-HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!"
Mochiko's eyes spun in circles.
"W-What?! HE MUST HAVE USED BLACK MAGIC! THAT'S THE ONLY EXPLANATION!"
Freya chuckled.
"But wasn't the boss supposed to win even if he was cursed?"
Gota's mouth fell open.
"I-It can't be… The leader lost his first match in life?! N-No way…"
While the tavern erupted with screams and disbelief, Anfang remained perfectly calm. Smiling. Staring straight at me.
Those eyes. That simple smirk...
Did I really just win by luck? Or… did he let me?
Why is the "unbeatable" leader looks completely unfazed, almost amused… as if this was part of the plan?
"Well," Anfang said smoothly, "that makes Theo Moretti the new member of Grimwerod. Congratulations."
Princis's voice shook.
"Y-You're really sure about this?"
Anfang placed a reassuring hand on his arm.
"Don't worry. If he does anything suspicious, I'll deal with it myself."
…
I-I joined this group!? I-I don't even know what to think.
"Well, Theo," Anfang continued, "you must be tired. It's still only five, you must be tired. Rest in your room until dinner. At eight, we'll hold a special banquet. All of us together. My treat."
"T-Thank you…"
And as I got up towards my room, I just felt thousands of eyes watching every step I took.
This is crazy...
---
A few minutes later…
I lay on the bed, arms stretched out, staring at the ceiling while my mind raced.
Hm…
"WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED!?"
H-HOW DID I MANAGE TO GET INTO THAT TEAM!? I-It wasn't even my goal!
…
The scene replays in my head. Not the win, but the moment after. During the chaos, the shouting… and in the middle of it all that calm smile. A smile aimed right at me, like a playwright watching his actors perform.
He let me win?
That's the only explanation.
But why? Why would he want me, a powerless, anxious nobody? What does he want from me?
And how do you even let someone win in Rock, Paper, Scissors?
…
I'll just sleep for now.
"Do I even dream in this false world? Is sleep the same?"
I pull the covers over my head. The pillow feels softer than anything from my old life. Slowly, my eyes close.
…
"Ahhhhhh… How I love to sleep…"
These white ceiling walls always creep me out.
"What time is it already? Am I late? That would be a shame—"
"Hello again, dear conscience."
W-What? T-That voice…
"B-BRAIN?!"
I shot upright. Everything was white.
"I-I DIED?!"