Taming The Villainesses novel Chapter 359

Including me, there were sixteen.

That was the total number of contestants advancing to the finals.

━That’s Anchornoi speaking...! Congratulations to all the finalists...! Now, if you look at your flags, there should be letters written on them...!

Following the crisp voice of the nymph commentator, I unfolded the flag in my hand. Sure enough, just like the announcer said, a large letter was printed there.

G.

I was G.

━From A to H, participants with the same letter will form a match together—simple rules...! Now, the stage for the finals...! Let’s get it set up quick, yes indeed...!

At the commentator’s words, a swarm of people appeared from somewhere and began clearing the chaos that covered the arena. They carried off the fallen on stretchers, patched up the damaged floor, and tidied things up with practiced coordination.

As they moved swiftly and efficiently, I scanned the other finalists who also held flags in their hands.

I figured I should get a feel [N O V E L I G H T] for who I might be facing next to pace myself properly.

Who else had the G flag?

Did those bizarre nymphs from earlier fail to qualify? Well, considering they chose to fight over collecting flags, it seemed they hadn’t made it to the finals.

Swish.

That was when I felt someone reach toward me.

Turning my head, I saw a girl—someone whose head didn’t even reach my shoulders—thrust the tip of her flag at me like a sword.

Flutter.

Her flag bore the letter H.

“You. I don’t know what kind of trick you pulled earlier, but I won’t allow anyone to stand out more than me! You steal all the attention and even hide your face behind a mask!”

Who was this?

Naturally, I had no idea who this woman was. She looked to be about fifteen or maybe twenty at most. Platinum blonde hair and clear blue eyes—her features had a brilliant luster.

Beneath her red cloak, she wore a fitted white pair of trousers with a uniform jacket—quite stylish. A noble, perhaps.

Judging by the medals and epaulettes pinned to her chest, she seemed to be someone with both experience and skill. Still, for someone of that level, she looked remarkably young.

Of course, judging age by appearance in this world was a foolish endeavor.

There were races like fairies that looked young even in old age, and those who trained their mana or physique could appear youthful no matter how old they were.

Even I was using a treasure called the Karma Changer to alter my appearance.

“What’s this? Cat got your tongue? Someone’s talking to you, so say something! Or are you scared of me? I knew it the moment I saw you hiding behind that mask. You coward!”

Well, one thing was for sure—she was bold. Brimming with spirit, yes, but drawing this much attention was a good way to make unnecessary enemies.

In fact, the other finalists were starting to focus their attention on the girl standing before me. Let’s eavesdrop on what they were whispering.

━Isn’t that the Aslan of Orléans?

━Just like they say—fiery temperament. Kinda dumb-looking though.

“What? Who just called me dumb?! Who said that?! I’ll skewer your mouth with my magic lance! I don’t need the finals—come at me all at once, I don’t care!”

She shouted furiously. That temper of hers. With that blessed look—blonde hair, blue eyes—she reminded me of someone. Elga.

Come to think of it, I remembered something Elga had said while looking through the contestant roster.

That the House of Leones had many branch families, and some among them had been eyeing this tournament eagerly.

Aslan of Orléans.

This girl was probably one of Elga’s many cousins. And now that I saw her under that premise, her appearance and personality did share a lot of similarities. The only difference—

━Flat-chested, especially for a Western family.

━Yeah, aren’t Leones women known for having big breasts?

Apparently, the common opinion was that her chest was unusually flat. I hadn’t known Leones women were famous for large busts.

“Grrr...!”

Whether her ears were sharp or she just had good hearing, the girl called Aslan turned bright red. I began to tense up slightly, wondering if she might explode and cause a scene right here.

The others seemed to feel the same. Those who had mocked or provoked her were all reaching for the hilts of their swords.

Everyone looked ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

“Hmph.”

At that moment, Aslan snorted.

“Cowards who can only whisper behind my back... Pathetic. I’ve lost interest. You’re not even worth dealing with.”

And just like that, she coolly backed off, as if truly uninterested now.

Matches go from Group A to Group H.

Since I’d received a G-flag, I naturally belonged to Group G.

Seventh in line, then?

My opponent was a young prodigy from the Red Mage Tower in Borja, a central city of the West.

He was said to wield red-elemental magic with flashy, powerful firepower. What was his name again? It had been a long, strange name, and it had already slipped from my memory.

Still, Borja was in the West—Elga’s homeland, wasn’t it?

If I could ask her, I’d probably find out both who my opponent was and who that Aslan of Orléans girl really was.

But the VIP section for a highborn like Elga and the waiting area for contestants were worlds apart—talking to her was physically impossible right now.

That’s when someone called out to me.