Taming The Villainesses

(EP-357.2) #2

357 – Protagonist #2

This martial festival’s preliminary round also adopted those rules.

With over a thousand participants, it was true that there simply wasn’t enough time to verify everyone’s skills. And so, flags were placed around the arena.

A total of sixteen.

The sharp ones probably realized right away—only those who managed to grab one of those sixteen flags would advance to the main round.

━The flag’s mine!

The wide arena had already erupted into a full-on brawl. Resources were always limited, but those who desired them were many. Naturally, chaos was inevitable.

━Ah! Participant No. 22 Punchinoi has stolen the flag from No. 1032, Sir Scouter! Now, the remaining flags are…

Amidst the loud noise of clashing weapons, pained screams, and angry roars, I simply took a step back like a bystander and observed the scene.

━Hiooong…!

“It’s not time yet.”

I ordered Bael, who was urging me, to wait. Like I said—now wasn’t the time to rush in to grab a flag. Just then, someone’s clear voice reached my ears.

━Burning all your strength so early… Idiots. This isn’t a game of stealing. It’s a game of holding. Don’t they get it? The winner’s the one holding a flag at the end.

Those who were quick-witted seemed to have already grasped the strategy for this first match to some extent. Like the voice said, this wasn’t simply a game where grabbing a flag early secured victory.

Even if you got a flag, it’d mean nothing if you couldn’t hold onto it.

━Ah—! Punchinoi is being cornered by a vicious mob of nymph-phobic hunters…! Attacking a small nymph with a group, how cowardly and despicable…!

In fact, one nymph who had managed to get a flag early on was now being targeted and was being pushed back by the continuous attacks.

They were still holding on for now, but at this rate, they’d tire and drop out soon.

━Participant Punchinoi, hang in there…!

The commentary was extremely biased. I want to hear what the other guys were doing!

Ssk.

I turned my head to glance at the others. With chaotic scuffles happening all over, the situation was roughly the same wherever you look.

“……!”

Just then, a chill ran down the back of my neck. I quickly tilted my head back—and caught a glimpse of a blade whizzing right past the front of my mask.

Shwaaaang—!

The blade, failing to pierce my face, flew back in the direction it had come from. As I turned my head, I saw someone grinning with a chain in their hands.

“You dodged that?”

On his bald head, a tattoo resembling the sun shimmered across his face. I couldn’t tell if he was young or old. He had a sleek build, like a stretched-out weasel.

He twirled the chain in circles, chuckling low.

“Thought you were just standing there spaced out, but you dodged that? I was going to kill you in one go.”

“……”

Who was this guy?

With such a strong impression, I should remember him, but since I don’t, this must be our first meeting.

I asked.

“I don’t even have a flag. Why are you attacking me?”

Clack—He grabbed the chain with both hands. Now that I took a closer look, something like a plummet was attached at the end.

“You’re planning to save your strength and snatch a flag at the last second, aren’t you? I hate sneaky bastards like you the most. I’ve already done in three of you!”

A ridiculous and selfish reason.

But it wasn’t surprising. The world’s vast, and there were plenty of people with weird ideas.

In the first place, the very fact of participating in this martial festival was proof that there was something strange about them.

Besides, I was planning to warm up soon anyway. I had come here straight after changing my appearance using the「Karma Changer」, so I had overwhelmingly little time to adjust.

Well then, shall we?

Sshk.

I raised my hand high.

“Eclipse.”

Ultra-fast incantation with Bael's assistance. But its power was so great that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it great magic.

Thanks to that, I felt a massive chunk of mana vanish as it traveled through my veins. The mana cost was heavier than expected. Was it because my body had grown taller?

That was when the chain-wielder in front of me sneered.

“You look like a sneaky little spellcaster. What the hell did you just do? Nothing’s—”

His words died mid-sentence. Not just him—everyone who’d been murmuring around us fell silent and looked up at the sky.

A deep shadow had fallen over their faces.

Probably because darkness had fallen over what was just a bright afternoon sky.

The once-clear sky had turned as dark as night in an instant. Maybe it was the shock, but even the people who had been locked in fierce combat just seconds ago froze where they were.

━What the hell is this?

━What’s going on? Why did it get dark all of a sudden?

━Did the organizers prepare this? Is this also part of the event?

━Aaah—! The sky has suddenly gone dark…! All the participants have come to a halt…! What is happening…! Even I, your commentator Anchornoi, have no idea what’s going on…!

No one seemed to know what was happening.

But they’d all find out soon enough.

“Fall.”

I invoked the spell once more.

Flash. A brilliant pillar of light came crashing down onto the arena. It left behind a deafening thunderclap and black scorch marks as it ripped through the sky.

KWA-GWAAAANG!

This was my Rank 7 magic, Eclipse.

Though I called it Eclipse, its true nature was a type of weather-manipulation magic that summoned thunderclouds and scattered violent lightning

━Magic—it’s magic! Streaking through the black clouds—! Tremendous great magic, the caster is…!

I could feel everyone’s eyes turning toward me at the commentator’s voice.

━Participant number 1432, Angmar Player. It’s Angmar Player…!!!

Edit by: faker