Originally, today's schedule was to proceed up to the round of 16 in the martial arts tournament.
However, considering the particular circumstances, the Glory Knights' match was postponed to tomorrow. It would be too much to ask them to compete after such an incident.
Thus, the other matches went on as planned...
***
Round of 16. My main party VS the Terrifying Sisters.
The members of the "Terrifying Sisters" were Elize, Rosetta, Bodybag, Violet, and Nameless.
Truly, they too were of championship caliber. As heroes who had demonstrated formidable presence on the frontline, their squad was powerful.
Moreover, their tactics were quite innovative... As soon as it began, Bodybag used psychokinesis to lift me up and threw me far away.
"Whoa?!"
"My lord-?!"
Since there were no disqualifications for being thrown out of the arena in this martial arts tournament, I was bewildered while being flung.
"This is what I've been waiting for!"
While I was out of the area, Violet deployed [Illusionary Realm].
[Illusionary Realm] is an area-of-effect mental status ailment. My [Unyielding Commander], which provides area immunity, is the perfect counter.
But I had been thrown out of range, and they seized this opportunity. What a combination!
Squeal!
[Illusionary Realm] unfolded, and the main party members just fell victim to it right there.
Evangelin, Lucas, Junior, they all had dazed expressions, drooling as they stared blankly into space.
Isn't it too much to be taken down in one hit, even without me?!
"Damn it, I need to get back... Woah?!"
I tried to hurry back, but Bodybag cast another psychokinetic spell, binding me to a corner of the arena. I was thoroughly caught!
"Now! Attack-!"
Then, the rest of the Terrifying Sisters, excluding Violet, rushed in furiously.
They focused their attack on Evangelin first. Did they have some pent-up grievances?
"Heh, this traitor...! After saying we'd stick together to the end!"
"To show us such dreams and then abandon us! It's time for heresy points settlement!"
"I'm not sure but... When else would we get to hit the President?"
"Go easy, though. Let me know if it hurts!"
Elize and Rosetta, Bodybag, and even the innocently-faced Nameless pummeled Evangelin mercilessly.
"Even if I fall here..."
As she was finally overwhelmed by their furious assault, Evangelin solemnly muttered.
"The dream of a handsome harem... will live on immortally..."
"Why are you keeping such a thing immortal?! What kind of dream are you dreaming!"
I screamed while struggling to free myself from the psychokinetic magic.
Anyway, our frontline tanker Evangelin was knocked down.
Next, the Terrifying Sisters' gaze turned sharply toward Lucas. Lucas, with a vacant look in his eyes, said,
"It's alright, my lord. Please go out with Lady Serenade. I'll take care of the house today. Yes. I'll feed the baby formula, play with them, and put them to sleep with lullabies. Who am I? I'm the house's guard dog and butler. So don't worry and have a pleasant date..."
What kind of illusion are you showing the child-?!
Why has he become a newlywed couple's golden retriever and housekeeper taking care of their home! What kind of dream has he fallen into!
"Hooo..."
Serenade, watching from the stands, somehow seemed very pleased. No, no, don't be happy about that now!
...
...
...
Anyway, the Terrifying Sisters, after glaring fiercely at Lucas, suddenly withdrew their gaze and passed him by.
"I'm dreaming the same dream, so I can't bring myself to disturb it."
"Let's leave him be."
"Look, I'll overlook it..."
"May your dream become reality, knight."
They're even cheering now! What are you doing!
The next target for the Terrifying Sisters was Junior.
Junior, a wizard with full magic power stats, was dizzily affected by the illusion.
As they approached her, the Terrifying Sisters sneered evilly.
That was when Junior muttered softly,
"What's my taste...?"
...
...
...
The Terrifying Sisters hesitated for a moment, then exchanged serious looks.
"We probably shouldn't disturb this one either."
"Indeed, this might be a very significant moment for Junior."
"May you come to a good conclusion...!"
"Taste? What is she talking about?"
Only Nameless, unable to follow the conversation, tilted her head in confusion.
Anyway, after skipping Lucas and Junior, they finally turned their attention to Damien. And then.
"Found the dragon's reverse scale!"
Damien, with a calm smile- shot an arrow at the Fake Dragon.
"...?!"
The Terrifying Sisters gaped a beat too late, but the arrow was already in flight.
Damien's [Far-Sight] sees through the essence of things.
Although hearing, smell, touch might be disturbed, Damien's vision was unaffected by [Illusionary Realm] from the start. How is there such an overpowered character!
So, Damien had pretended to be affected by the illusion from the beginning, quietly standing in place while searching for the Fake Dragon's reverse scale... and now he had fired the arrow.
Thud!
The arrow hit the reverse scale precisely, and immediately the match-ending bell rang. Ding, ding, ding!
"This... how could this happen..."
"The tactic was perfect... Argh, we were careless."
The Terrifying Sisters sat down dejectedly with a look of utter despair. Only Nameless clapped for Damien, acknowledging it as a splendid match.
As [Illusionary Realm] dissipated, the rest of my main party members also collapsed to the ground.
Evangelin and Lucas came to their senses a moment later, looking around bewilderedly.
"Where... my harem, where...?"
"The baby? Where has the baby gone? It's time for their formula... And then to rock them to sleep..."
Wake up, you dreamers...
"Huh?!"
Junior, who had collapsed with her arm on the ground, suddenly sweated and muttered,
"What, what... I dreamed that spinach juice and tomato juice were fighting, asking me to choose between them."
"Ah, so your dilemma was about that kind of taste...?"
Returning to the center of the arena, I first took care of my still disoriented main party members and heaped praises on Damien.
Then, I nodded grandly towards the 'Terrifying Sisters'.
"It was an excellent strategy, ladies. It wouldn't have been strange if you had won."
To conceive and execute a tactic that excludes me and targets mental status ailments.
It was truly commendable. Had Damien not held out with [Far-Sight], we would have honestly lost just like that.
I praised each member of the 'Terrifying Sisters' one by one. Elize and Rosetta sincerely regretted the loss, while Bodybag and Nameless laughed, saying they enjoyed it.
Lastly... I approached Violet, who was hiding in a corner looking for a chance to escape, and forcibly grasped her hand in a handshake.
"You did great, Violet. Your mastery of illusions improves as the days go by."
"Ah, um, thank you..."
"I'm looking forward to seeing you in the Black Dragon Subjugation."
"What?"
After giving her a smile, I left the arena, leaving her behind.
A few seconds later, Violet, who had regained her senses, turned pale.
She tried to flee out of the city, but when I snapped my fingers, the other members of the Gambler's Club appeared and dragged her screaming back into the city.
Where do you think you're going? Enjoy the festival a bit more.
No, no, no...
Violet's screams were drowned out by the cheers and applause from the stands.
Thus, the first match of the round of 16 came to an end. Stepping outside the arena, I looked around at my main party members and announced.
"Alright, from now on, everyone rest up on their own! It's fine to watch the remaining matches or go out and have fun. Just enjoy yourselves. Since the quarterfinals are tomorrow, gather at the lord's mansion in the morning."
The party members answered in unison, "Yes~!"
After exchanging greetings for their hard work today, the party members dispersed to their respective destinations.
As I watched the children head towards various parts of the city,
"My lord."
Lucas approached me, looking cautious.
"Lucas. What's up? If you're here to apply for the future butler position of our house, there's still some time before the job posting. Submit your application later."
"Please stop teasing me about that... More importantly."
Lucas, with his eyes darting around in thought, looked straight at me.
"I have something I want to say about Hecate."
Evangeline, who had been walking away, suddenly made a U-turn and started listening in.
I smiled bitterly.
"Yes. I felt that we needed to talk about that too."
***
Etti's Honey Inn. 2nd Floor.
"..."
Hecate stood in front of her locked room door, blankly staring at the key in her hand.
Caught up in an accident, her handbag had been crushed, and the room key inside had been bent out of shape.
She could go down to the lobby and get a new key from the staff, but she didn't feel up to it. Explaining her bandage-covered, bloodied appearance was also troublesome.
Hecate staggered and then just sat down in the corridor.
'How did it come to this...'
She looked down at her body, wrapped in bandages.
'How did I end up like this.'
It was the life she had chosen.
As a citizen of the empire, she revered the Emperor and had aimed to join the Glory Knights from the moment she first picked up a sword.
She willingly risked her life and fought for the empire.
And now, she had received a diagnosis that she didn't have much time left.
The Emperor had given her some free time, and Hecate had come to the southern end of the world to find her old school friends.
Dressed up and excited for the festival after such a long time.
But, she felt awkward around her old friends and couldn't easily approach them. Her plan to show off in the martial arts tournament was ruined by an accident.
'With this cursed body... I can't approach Lucas again...'
She remembered the young mercenaries running away in horror after seeing her reassemble.
Ash's face, frozen in shock, too.
And... Lucas, who had come running out late to guard Ash and had also turned pale at the sight of her from afar.
'I shouldn't have come.'
It was then Hecate realized the reality. She had become a being far too different from ordinary people.
No matter how much she tried to cover it up, she was nothing but a monster wrapped in curses.
'I should have just disappeared quietly. Stayed as a beautiful memory from my school days...'
Why did she come all this way to tarnish even the good memories with her ugly appearance?
Sitting crouched in the corridor, Hecate looked to the side.
She could see the square in the distance through the inn's window. Groups of people laughing and talking under the dazzling afternoon sun were visible.
"..."
She couldn't even step out of the shadow.
She envied those smiles that could laugh under the sunlight.
And honestly.
A little bit.
'...I hate it.'
Hecate covered her face with her hands, desperately trying to suppress something welling up inside, when...
"Excuse me!"
A nervous, stuttering voice called out from in front.
"...?"
Startled, Hecate hastily wiped her face with her hands, rubbed her moist eyes with her forearm, and looked up.
"Is, is it the door? Can't you open it? This inn is so old, the locks break all the time! I've had my fair share of trouble with it too!"
Junior was standing there.
She had just returned from the round of 16 match. She had only come to pick up some luggage, but then she ran into Hecate sitting in front of her room.
Trying hard to ignore Hecate's tear-streaked face, looking flustered and sweating profusely, she spoke with a voice that seemed to squeeze out courage...
The young wizard hesitated and then asked carefully.
"Ca-can I help you?!"
She bit her tongue in the process.
"..."
Junior, sticking out her tongue, which was now bleeding a little, stood silently for a moment, then awkwardly... blurted out a line she hadn't used in two years.
"...It's a joke."
It wasn't funny at all.
But because it was so absurd, Hecate ended up laughing anyway.
--TL Notes--
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