Chapter 118

“Sheffy, what did you just say to her?”

“Nothing major. I was just teaching her some strategic plans. Once the fight starts, you’ll understand~ That pervert may be good at fighting, but she’s all brute force and no finesse. That works against weaklings, but against the strong? She’s just asking to get played, you know?”

“You have a point…”

“Hmm?”

Xiarette didn’t say much.

But after she returned to her seat on her side, it was clear that her mind was elsewhere.

Sheffy, naturally, noticed this subtle detail.

And when Sylatrella and Timani stepped onto the arena platform…

Out of the corner of her eye, Sheffy caught Xiarette sneaking frequent glances at her—turning her head at high speed, then snapping it back just as fast.

I can’t take it anymore!

“Xia? What are you brooding about?”

“It’s nothing.”

“‘Nothing,’ huh? My eyes can see through illusion. Even if I’m not using them right now, I can still see right through you. Stare—”

“Ugh… it really is nothing… I just feel a bit…”

“A bit…?”

Xiarette lowered her voice and turned her head away, just like her awkward little mood.

“Ugh… it’s just that Sheffy never taught me anything like that… I’m just a bit jealous of Sylatrella, that’s all…”

“……”

Alright, my bad. I shouldn’t have asked.

Xiarette, maybe think about why you’re the Hero?

In terms of combat skills alone, you’re probably not much worse than me, right?!

What could I possibly have to teach you?

If anything, I’d rather ask you about those ‘combat techniques’ you used on me in bed, see if I could turn the tables for once—but sadly, my skin isn’t that thick.

The match was about to begin.

But just at that moment…

Sheffy’s tone suddenly grew a shade heavier.

“Xia, someone’s coming.”

“I know. Headed our way?”

“Probably… hard to say. Still, doesn’t seem threatening.”

“Don’t let your guard down. Better to stay alert.”

Only with sharp perception and a high degree of mutual understanding could they exchange such efficient dialogue.

Both their gazes subtly shifted toward the steps leading up to the VIP spectator seats.

Over there… a figure in a gilded long cloak was walking in their direction.

At a glance, it was hard to identify him.

But the golden cross emblem representing ecclesiastical authority on his cloak, along with the crescent-shaped pendant around his neck, clearly signaled his identity.

As he passed the railing in front of Xiarette and Sheffy, he reached into his cloak and pulled out an envelope.

His motion was smooth, not breaking stride at all.

He placed the envelope on the edge of the steps, not far from the two of them.

Without stopping for even a second or uttering a single word, he continued forward with his hood lowered, the only sound accompanying his movement being the crisp jingle of the crescent-shaped pendant swaying at his chest.

Xiarette frowned and stood up, wanting to stop him and question him, but Sheffy held out her hand to stop her.

“No need. He’s just a messenger. Even if you stop him to ask, it’d be a waste of time.”

—Because everything he had to say was already placed right here.

Sheffy’s gaze turned to the elegant envelope lying quietly on the ground.

At the seal, there was the same golden cross emblem.

With that, the question of who the letter was from needed no answer.

From the high platform—church authority.

Silent as stone, a hidden tide.

Sheffy casually cast 【Gravity Magic】, and the envelope on the ground twitched a couple of times before floating into the air and landing steadily in her hand.

“Looks like… someone’s running out of patience.”

---

33. Tactics!

Timani had not expected that even in just the semifinals—without even having faced the Demon Clan Princess yet—the battle would be this difficult.

【Dragonflame】

【Advanced Fireball Spell】

【Fire Stream Loop】

From the magic circle formed at her fingertips erupted a stream of scorching flames, blazing forth like a crimson longsword, with herself as the hilt, piercing straight up toward the dome of the arena’s defensive barrier.

That surging power looked as if it could tear through the barrier at any moment.

Of course, tearing it down was out of the question.

After all, this time the barrier wasn’t just under the direct control of Eclight, but was also supported by one of the Kingdom of Aurus’s three great treasures, the 【Divine Thread Chain】—a legendary artifact used specifically to construct defensive barriers, now possessing strategic-level defensive power.

Even so, Timani’s powerful flame magic continued to slam against the barrier with booming shockwaves.

—But that was all it amounted to.

The fact that she had to keep unleashing her spells meant that none of her attacks had hit the target.

Sylatrella had become a streak of blue light, darting rapidly across the quicksand-covered arena floor.

Even though Timani had widened her vertical pupils as much as possible, using her Fire Dragon Clan’s unique dynamic vision to track Sylatrella’s movement, all she could see were afterimages.

【Dragonflame】…!

As expected, the roaring dragon-shaped flame passed straight through Sylatrella’s afterimage. Just like in every prior attempt, it struck the barrier and dissipated into nothingness.

This feeling of punching into a sponge left Timani thoroughly frustrated.

"Tch... running around like that…! You’re just like a sly little rabbit… Dragonflame!"

"Can’t hit me, can’t hit me~ Hehe, big sis, why don’t you just give up? That way, I won’t have to slice you up, right?"

"You brat! Don’t you dare look down on me!"

With a flick of her sleeve, she unleashed a massive wall of fire, brilliant like fireworks. From the stands, the entire arena appeared engulfed in a sea of flames.

But once the blaze and smoke cleared…

That blue streak of light continued moving three-dimensionally around Timani. Let alone chasing her, even just trying to keep her head turned to track Sylatrella’s movement and guard against a surprise attack was already exhausting enough.

The spectators’ reactions were nothing short of dramatic—mainly because they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa… I always thought that girl Sylatrella winning last year’s championship was just luck, but… she’s actually this strong! Even a Fire Dragon Clan warrior can’t land a hit on her!"

"Dude, I’m with you. To make a higher race look like a fool like this… This is insane. Who is she really?"

"Maybe she’s some secret trump card sent by the king...? But Sylatrella doesn’t even seem to be trying to attack. Is it that she can’t get close? If this keeps up, we won’t get a winner at all."

No winner?

Not necessarily.

Sylatrella had keenly noticed that the 【Dragonflame】 that had just landed near her was clearly weaker than before.

The Fire Dragon Clan might possess massive innate magic reserves—but that didn’t mean their magic was endless. It could be depleted.

And the truth showed just that.

Timani was already struggling to condense fire in her hands, and her breathing had become uneven and rapid.

Sylatrella was elated—Sheffy-sama hadn’t lied to her. Listen to your mother—she was always right!

A plan that let her avoid slicing up this fire lizard and ensured victory? Extremely effective.

Timani withdrew the magic from her fingertips.

She erected a wall of flames around herself to guard against sudden attacks and conserve as much magic as she could.

She’d also figured out what tactic the opponent was using.

This wouldn’t work in the long run… The opponent was clearly trying to wear her down with a speed advantage.

But Timani also found it strange.

If Sylatrella had that kind of speed… then why didn’t she attack?

Before Timani raised her fire barrier, she hadn’t made any move to defend herself, right?

Watching the "blue rabbit" bounding nonstop across the arena using 【Super Acceleration】 without any signs of slowing, the feeling of being taunted grew more and more unbearable in Timani’s heart.

Alright then—if you’re not going to attack, there’s no point in me wasting magic chasing you around.

“What’s this? Instead of trying to talk me into surrendering… why don’t you come at me yourself?”

As she spoke, Timani discreetly added an explosive attack glyph within her fire barrier.

The moment Sylatrella launched a strike, she’d run straight into the instant-triggered 【Explosive Dragonflame】.

Timani hadn’t expected any verbal response.

But surprisingly…

That blue rabbit still had the leisure to talk while hopping around!

“Me, go attack you? No way~ Lady Shaya told me I’m not allowed to cut you. She said it’s already hard enough for you to make a living. If you had to cover medical bills too, that’d be adding insult to injury—you wouldn’t survive.”

“Wha…! You’re the one who’s barely scraping by…!”

Furious and on the verge of cursing—

Timani suddenly realized she’d just heard a familiar name?

“Shaya? You know that rude little brat too?”

“You’re the rude one! How dare you speak ill of Lady Shaya in front of me?!”

“!”

Just as the words fell, Timani felt a sharp sting.

Looking down, she saw a thin slash mark on her arm where the blade had cut her. The wound was shallow—but it was definitely a hit.

Yet more than the injury itself, what stunned Timani was…

—Despite being struck, the hidden 【Explosive Dragonflame】 within her flame curtain hadn’t triggered.

Why…?

In other words… this girl named Sylatrella—had she struck faster than instant-cast magic could activate?

Was that even possible?

Something like that…

Now that was interesting…

Timani’s aura changed.

The scarlet pupils of her Fire Dragon Clan eyes gradually shimmered with golden light, and the calm expression on her face twisted into a vicious grin.

Being injured in battle—and worse, what felt like a deliberate “mercy” from the opponent—wouldn’t anger a member of the Fire Dragon Clan.

It would ignite their fighting spirit.

Very well… very well!

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