Chapter 56

Chapter 56

"As you can see, we're enjoying our summer vacation. We're not your enemies. Do you understand?"

Horikita, finding his behavior incomprehensible, pressed her fingers against her forehead and wrinkled her brows as if she had a headache.

"A pretty bold lie there, Magenta-kun." Lelouch interjected.

"Hmm? What was that, Raven-kun?"

"Saying you're not our enemy. It's quite a bold lie."

"Kukuku," Ryūen merely laughed in response.

"Ugh, both of you are idiots. I'm trying to warn you!" Horikita sighed in exasperation.

"Who's the real idiot? Me? You?"

Ryuuen would accept no insults, and threw them back at Horikita.

"You want to try surviving on this deserted island in this shitty heat?

Don't joke. Class E, the lowest of all, has to put up with starvation, heat, and futility just to save a measly 100 or 200 class points. It makes me laugh."

Ishizaki ran over, dripping with sweat as he brought the water.

He handed a cold bottle of water to Ryuuen. However, Ryuuen threw it back at Ishizaki.

"I said to bring me cold water. This water's warm."

"I... B-but..." "Hmm?"

Ryuuen's pupils were just like those of a snake. Ishizaki's body stiffened. He picked up the bottle and ran back toward the tent.

"This test is about perseverance, ingenuity, and cooperation. It would likely have been impossible for you from the start. You can't even establish a satisfactory plan."

"You're wrong!" Lelouch cut in. "This test is about freedom. The freedom to choose. There are no strictly wrong choices. Ryūen has made his choice. Have you made yours?"

I didn't exactly get what Lelouch was getting at. If you asked me, I'd have to agree with Horikita's assessment. What other choices could there be?

As always, Lelouch seems to be much quicker on the uptake than you, defect. You think that you can win with cooperation? Don't make me laugh. People betray each other with ease. People lie. Relationships built on trust just aren't viable. You can only trust yourself. If you've finished your reconnaissance, leave. But if you wish, we'd welcome you here. You're free to enjoy yourself, whether it's to eat meat or play on jet skis. Or perhaps you would prefer to have a different kind of fun with me? I can prepare a tent for personal use." Ryūen taunted disgustingly.

I already felt uncomfortable when he said that last part, but of course a certain someone decided to make it ten times worse.

"Mind if Suzaku and I join in? The more the merrier, as they say." The amethyst-eyed boy standing beside me asked.

I buried my head in my palms as I was dragged into this debacle. Honestly, at times like these, I preferred to just stay out of out. Now, I'd inevitably be forced to say something.

Ryūen shot Lelouch a look of genuine confusion. "Huh? But Suzune wouldn't be able to handle that many--"

"Just shut up, both of you! Why do you have to be so revolting? What about you, Kururugi-kun? Are you just going to stand there while that friend of yours spouts nonsense?!"

As I thought, my involvement was forced. "Honestly, a lot of things that Lelouch says are completely above me, so I just avoid saying anything because I know it'll sound stupid."

"So you're okay with letting them walk all over you?" She gestured sharply at the duo beside us.

"At least he's better than you, Suzune, who doesn't admit when something is above you and continues to say pointless shit."

"Did you seriously declare war on me just to do this and say stupid things? I'm disappointed."

"You'll lose if you take that kind of mindset." Lelouch scolded her arrogantly. "Do you really think that what you see on the surface level is everything that there is going on?"

"Sorry, but I won't believe your proclamations. All I can see here is an incompetent fool who'll cause his whole class to suffer."

"That's too bad." Ryūen said in a sad tone.

Working up a sweat in order to evaluate other classes is such a pain."

Horikita turned on her heel to walk away, but paused. "There is one more piece of business. You know Ibuki, of course?"

"Yeah. She's a member of our class. What about her?"

"Her face is swollen. Who did that to her?"

While Horikita was nearly convinced he was the culprit, she purposefully asked in a roundabout way.

"Ah. She ran out of here rather suddenly. She went looking for help from another class in the end? Pathetic girl."

Ryuuen snorted in disgust, then laid back in his chair.

"There are helpless idiots in this world. A ruler doesn't need subordinates who disobey orders. We determined that I would use our class points to my liking. That's the fact of the matter. Besides, it's pointless to raise the banner of revolution against the ruling class."

"In other words, Ibuki-san clashed with you when you wanted to spend points."

"Well, you could say that. That's why she got a light punishment."

He made a gesture like slapping someone's cheek. Ryuuen had apparently hit her.

"She's not the only one." Lelouch interjected. "A poor girl also turned up at our camp with a swollen face."

I had a feeling that Lelouch was dropping some kind of subtle hint to Horikita. Of course, she didn't pick up on it.

"So, you've kicked out multiple members of your class. And you call yourself a leader?" Horikita said scornfully.

"Kuku, so what? As I said, a leader doesn't need disobedient servants. Maybe your class of defectives idiots could learn a thing or two and drop some of the individuals in Class E. And by some, I mean most."

"What a shallow point of view. Let me guess, you've also used up all 300 points we were given, haven't you?"

"Of course he has. Isn't it obvious?" Lelouch chimed in.

"If he has, then he's just stupid. Sure, he's all happy now spending his points, but what will he do when the party's over?"

"Probably more than you." Lelouch said cryptically.

"So you're saying that you've already understood Ryūen-kun's strategy?"

"Perhaps," Lelouch retorted ambiguously.

I didn't get it at all. Lelouch must've noticed my perplexed expression, because he sent me a glance that said 'I'll fill you in later.'

"If Ibuki is with you, you're better off chasing her away. If you shower her with your awkward sympathies, you'll have one extra person to prepare water, food, and bedding for. Anyway, if you can't deal with it, she can return here. If she grovels on the ground, I'll forgive her. I've a tolerant heart."

Of course, Ryūen didn't actually want Ibuki to return to him - that would defeat the purpose of planting spies in the first place. He just said that to sell the act. That much, I could infer.

"Whatever. Your self-destruction will only help us. I have nothing more to do here."

"See you later, Suzune."

"I don't know where exactly you found that out, but do not call me by my first name so casually."

Ryuuen had clearly done some investigating.

"Well, I rather like forceful women. I'll make you submit to me eventually. When that time comes, it will be the ultimate pleasure."

When he said that, Ryuuen touched his crotch under his bathing suit, clearly to provoke Horikita. Horikita, eyes full of contempt, turned her back and walked away.

Ryūen's behaviour disgusted me, but I kept quiet. There would be no point in causing a fuss. Besides, it was hard for me to tell if what he was saying was genuine, or just a provocation.

"So, what about you two guinea pigs?" Ryūen turned to us.

"Guinea pigs?" I echoed.

"Your class is called the 'experimental class,' right? You're just an experiment. A test subject. Running around for the school's amusement."

To be fair, I couldn't deny that, so I just shrugged instead.

"I'd like to take you up on your offer, Dictator-kun. Living this extravagant lifestyle is better than sleeping on leaves in a cave, even if only for a few days." Lelouch threw a curveball at me.

He actually planned to stay here with Ryūen? That meant that I'd have to stay in this incomprehensible environment as well.

"Just make sure you don't do anything funny while I'm asleep. If you're going to do something like that, I'd prefer if you sent me a woman." He added, clearly trying to mock Ryūen.

Ryūen, though, merely laughed, seemingly not affected by Lelouch's implication. "Kukuku, I like you, Lelouch. When the time comes, I hope you'll entertain me."

"Don't worry about that. When I crush you, I'll make sure to have fun doing it."

After saying that, Lelouch turned and scanned his eyes over the beach. He whistled to one of the boys, Ishizaki I think his name was. The boy came over quickly.

"Fetch me a chair, will you? I'll be staying here a while." He commanded.

Ishizaki looked to Ryūen for confirmation, who nodded in amusement. Ishizaki then rushed off, apparently going to get Lelouch a chair.

"Your dogs are well-trained."

"Thank you."

Hey, uh, Lelouch," I interrupted. "Don't you think you should treat them a little nicer?"

I didn't like to see my own friend doing the exact same thing as this distasteful tyrant.

"Hmm? Why should I? Will treating them nicely benefit them in any way? They're already used to the lifestyle handed to them by Ryūen, so I might as well make full use of that."

"You don't think that you have a duty to be better than that?"

Ryūen was watching our exchange in amusement. He'd probably predicted that something like this would happen after seeing my nature on the cruise ship.

"Nonsense. I already told you, didn't I? It's foolish to live your whole life caring about every single insignificant insect that comes along." The raven-haired boy said, impatience in his tone.

"Even if it's foolish, it's the right thing to do. I'll be able to go on without regretting the way I've lived."

"That's good for you, I suppose. I won't be regretting the way I've lived, either."

Ishizaki arrived back by use, hastily putting a chair down beside Ryūen's for Lelouch to sit in. Lelouch sat into it comfortably, crossing his leg like a king on a throne.

"You can go now," Lelouch waved the boy away.

"You have to stop acting like this, Lelouch." I said, losing my amicable demeanour.

"Do you want to take his place?" Lelouch asked.

"If it'll make you stop bullying others, then yes."

"Too bad. You're one of the few that I've judged as valuable to me, so I won't be treating you like that."

That logic was incomprehensible to me. I felt my irritation rising.

"If you won't treat me like that, why will you do the same to others without batting an eye?"

"Because you're important to me." He retorted, leaning back and placing his hands behind his head in relaxation.

"What kind of inequality is that?!"

"Humans will never be equal, Suzaku. Stop trying to strive for equality. You're a fool."

"I'd rather be a righteous fool than a corrupt genius. I can't be here any longer. I'm going to take some distance."

Lelouch and I have argued a few times in this manner before. While I knew that we'd have no problems later, in the moment I had to take a breather to compose myself.

I turned around and started to leave, intending to just go over to the other side of the camp and separate myself from him Lelouch for a while.

"Suzaku!"

Just as I was walking away, his voice called out to me and I stopped walking, although I didn't turn back to face him.

"Yes?"

"Would you rather die as a king, or live as a slave?"

I didn't give him a reply. Instead, I simply resumed my walk as I felt my fist tighten in anger.