The Heroines Who Have Regressed Are Obsessed Again

11 – Arena (2)

As soon as I entered, my vision was filled with the sight of a stadium enclosed entirely with iron fencing. ‘They’ve also put up a barrier.’ It was something to be expected. If one were not careful, a criminal could break through the fence and escape. So, of course, setting up a barrier would be regarded as a normal precaution. While I was surveying the surroundings, the announcer from the shadow guild, Walker, began introducing us.

“Now, the first match will be between participant No.3 who wishes to remain anonymous and Kalledon!”

Soon, Walker proceeded to introduce Kalledon.

“Those of you who are acquainted would know, the infamous Kalledon is notorious for his rampage of murders, mainly targeting soldiers! You can consider him the favourite to win this time!”

Now that the introduction has been made, I understand why, among all the criminals, he is a favourite to win. Had he not serially killed soldiers instead of civilians? Compared to ordinary criminals, he certainly has a stronger presence which is an undeniable fact. Of course, this is according to the standards of ‘common criminals’.

While I was lost in thought, the introduction ended at some point and the surrounding nobles began betting on who would win. And thus, I told Walker before the match: They will all bet on me. ‘Although at a glance I might look weak, I can definitely turn the table around. Earning money legally after all is the best.’

– Master, that is generally called a scam.

Ignoring the heckling from my spear, Walker announces, “The betting is over. Let the match begin!”

Before long, the long-awaited match began. At the same time, I spoke to Jukchang.

‘Jukchang.’

-Yeah? What is it, boss?

‘Minimize the curse of pain.’

-What? Are you crazy? Why all of a sudden?

Perhaps it’s because I’m doing something I usually don’t?

Jukchang’s reaction seemed to indicate that he didn’t understand. But, I had my own reasons for saying such things. And that would be,

‘If we don’t do that, won’t that guy get hit a few times and faint? Then it’s not education, is it?’

-You’re too harsh, boss!

‘This is all for the sake of education.’

In reply, I transformed Jukchang into a magic wand. The guy who witnessed that broke into a smirk.

“What is this? Were you a magician? I thought you looked frail, guess there was a reason behind it.”

“Do you fight with words? Just come in already.”

As if intentionally provoking him, I beckoned with my finger, and the vein on his forehead bulged. Then, he scowled and slowly approached me.

“I don’t know what a magician like you is thinking, but you’ll regret making me come forward.”

With those words, he swung a thick fist at me. Perhaps it was because he had killed soldiers?

His attack was surprisingly straightforward. However, that was it. I deflected his attack effortlessly with Jukchang. Then…

-Whoosh!

His fist pointed towards the air, and then…

“Huh?”

The guy seems to stumble forward.

Thud.

Did he not expect me to easily let things slide?

He bulges his eyes, staring blankly at me.

At the same time.

-What? Weren’t you a magician?

-That’s what I thought. I thought you were a magician because you were holding a staff.

-If you were going to be like that, why did you even hold a magic staff?

The audience stares at me in surprise.

I ignore their reaction.

Thump!

I lash out at his head, shoulders, and knees.

The next moment.

“Cough!”

The guy who was beaten all over rolls on the ground.

Now, seeing him drooling excessively, it seems he’s pretty hurt despite the fact I minimized the curse.

‘Hey, did I really minimize the curse?’

-Yeah. If I hadn’t minimized the curse from the start, that muscle head would’ve passed out already, master!

“Well.”

I was about to faint from several hits, so how could ordinary soldiers or criminals, who were only hunting, withstand this?

As I concluded inwardly,

“Heh. So, you’re a swordsman, not a magician.”

A guy who seemed to have made a serious misunderstanding, seeing me as a swordsman.

Well, in a way, half of it is right and half of it is wrong.

My skills are close to those of a swordsman.

-Bwooom!

Then, the magical power bursting forth from him.

He seems to be enhancing his physical abilities.

“Hoo. I shouldn’t let my guard down.”

“You think it’s going to make a difference?”

“We’ll see after I push you to your limits!”

Indeed, just as he said.

So, it seems like it’s time I show him hell.

***

At the same time.

Walker, the organizer of this gladiator arena, was a little worried about the showdown between the two.

He didn’t care whether the criminal Calderon lived or died, but Elick was the real concern.

If the eldest son of a duke dies here, bad things would happen to be certain.

So, he intended to intervene if it seemed dangerous.

“What the hell…”

Contrarily to his expectation, the situation didn’t seem dangerous. It was rather Elick, who was instead fighting with Calderon, taking the upper hand.

No. Can this even be called a fight?

‘It looks like he’s just playing.’

Calderon has the advantage in terms of pure physical ability.

However, apart from that, Elick was dominantly leading the situation.

Each movement was smooth as if flowing into the next one.

“Wasn’t Elick supposedly a mage?”

The Vandesal family was known to be responsible for the empire’s magic.

However, in that magic-lineage, the techniques being displayed now were far more overwhelming than any swordsmanship of the past.

“If that were not a magic wand but a sword…”

This mere thought sent chills down his spine.

If that had truly been the case, Caledon would by now be carved to pieces.

“I can’t understand why such a person is called incompetent.”

Despite showing no evidence of utilizing magic, his skills are undeniably impressive.

As an assassin taken aback by such skill, he wondered how a swordsman would feel.

This thought brought up the unexpected guest who had joined them.

He shifted his gaze in their direction for a moment.

“Haa…haa…”

Ib, flushed to the cheeks, appeared slightly excited.

Seeing this, Walker cocked his head.

“Hmm? Why is she acting that way?”

Though momentarily puzzled, upon seeing her gaze fixed on Elick, he figured it must be due to his sword play.

“It seems even a swordsman would find it exhilaratingly beautiful.”

As for Ib, hailed as the once-in-a-generation genius of Ross family, what more could there be to say if she was reacting this way?

Walker turned his attention back to the duel.

“It’ll soon be over,” he thought, carefully examining Elick’s movements.

Not to miss even the slightest bit of his beautiful motion.

***

At the same time.

Caledon was panting heavily, glaring at the man in front of him.

“Hack…hack…what is this.”

Right now, he felt as though he were in a nightmare.

As throughout his life, he had battled countless soldiers, yet never once had he been so overwhelmingly toyed around with.

‘Clearly, his physical abilities are significantly lower than mine. How can this be happening?’

A body that feels like it would fly away from just a small bump on the shoulder.

No matter how good the technique, there is always a limit to it.

However, it seems he overcomes such physical differences with just that technique.

– Whooosh!

At that moment, his magic wand came close to my face.

Caledon narrowly bent his head back to dodge.

Then.

“Crazy.”

The guy who abruptly changed the attack trajectory to strike down.

Eventually, he who couldn’t avoid it was.

– Smack!

Hit directly with the magic wand.

“Arghhhab!”

Excruciating pain spreads through the body from the brain.

I understand everything else, but this doesn’t make sense.

It’s not made from Mithril or Orichalcum.

It’s not even made of iron.

Just a tree.

Can it hurt enough to die just by being hit by a wand made of regular tree?

“Ghaaa!”

Clasping his face, Caledon slowly got up.

He moved his gaze momentarily.

‘Damn, he’s toying with me quite a bit.’

This guy, unlike him, looked quite at ease.

How relaxed he must be, to lick his magic wand like that.

‘I’ll kill him!’

With that thought, he stretched out his hand, draped with weapon, towards the guy.

However.

-Swoosh!

His attack was merely aimless, aimed only at the open air.

Not to mention hitting, it didn’t even graze the guy’s cloth.

At the same time.

“You should have sized up your opponent before stirring things up.”

The guy said so while swinging his magic wand with all his might.

As he did.

“Ugh!”

The entire body was in pain along the circuit at the same time.

“Argh!”

From Noble mtl dot com

His vision gradually faded into darkness.

***

Meanwhile, at that moment.

One of the heroine candidates who was slowly watching the match.

Eve von Ross gasped at the sight of the man’s swordsmanship in front of her.

“Haa… Haa…”

His movement evoked someone.

A man who made her, who has never been defeated in swordsmanship, surrender. Elik Von Bandesar.

His movements are so flexible and perfect as to remind her of him.

‘Anyway, who is that man?’

Seeing his movements made her excited remembering Elik, but she needs to know the identity of the man in the stadium more than anything.

Briefly immersed in thought, the face of a man flashed across her mind.

‘Could it be Elic, perchance?’

If so, that would indeed make sense.

His movements were quite similar to Elic’s, were they not?

But. That similarity was only to the Elic of the future.

‘Surely at this point in time, he has not displayed such movements.’

The Elic of the present, unlike the Elic of the past, shows different behavior—though that is all there is to it.

He had never demonstrated swordplay before.

Therefore, while there is no guarantee that the man before her eyes is Elic,

‘Provided that Commander Elic has not regressed, of course.’

Elic, displaying behavior entirely different from the previous episodes.

Moreover, his habits being almost identical to those before he regressed.

Consequently, it was impossible not to harbor doubts.

Regardless,

‘…I’ll contemplate this later.’

Rather, she needed to concentrate on the imminent dance with her partner.

Perhaps it could be Elic.

‘I would sincerely enjoy it if it were Commander Elic.’

With this thought in mind, Eve, with a deranged expression on her face, pictured a dance with Elic.

***

After finishing the match, I momentarily felt a chill run down my spine.

– “What’s wrong all of a sudden, boss?”

“I don’t know. I just got a chill down my spine.”

– “You must be overdoing it.”

“You think?”

Just as I contemplated this and returned to the waiting room.

“Guest number one, Mr. Hendrick, you can come out now.”

The announcer calls for the second round.

Then.

– Thud. Thud.

Two people make their way toward the ring.

Then.

‘Huh?’

I got the strange feeling that the person being called Guest number one was looking at me peculiarly.

‘What was that?’

– “What’s wrong, boss?”

‘Hmm. No, it’s nothing. Probably just my imagination.’

As if it was nothing, I responded and looked at the ring.

Then a moment later.

As the match begins.

– Whooosh!

The criminal, Hendrik, was cut down with a single blow by the first customer. The audience who saw this were all aghast – their eyes wide open in shock. Then suddenly,

“Wowww!”

They began to yell, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

“Damn it.”

Contrary to others, I spat out an obscenity while looking at the woman in front of me. Of course, I would, for this woman was none other than Eve Von Ross, who is also known as the future sword master and my next opponent in the contest!

Why are you here?