Taming The Villainesses novel Chapter 365

For a while, it was a battle of strength against strength.

My clash with the Queen wasn’t about technique or trickery. It was a pure release of power.

“You’re holding out at seventy percent. Then, Teo—this is eighty.”

KWOAAAA—!

“Ghhk!”

It might sound like a strange thing to think in this situation, but it felt almost like a mating display in the animal kingdom.

Like I’d become a male peacock, fanning my brilliant tail feathers to impress a potential mate.

This is how strong I am.

So fall for me—something like that.

Of course, Ayra’s tail feathers were far more dazzling and extravagant than mine.

“Well then, Teo Gospel of Angmar. What will you do? For someone who challenged me so boldly, your steps have faltered. At this rate, you’ll be blown away like the rest of the contestants.”

“...Ghhk!”

KWOAAA. Crackle, fzzzt!

In terms of sheer magical output, Ayra had the edge—by at least a head.

Did I think that stealing the spider Bael from Ayra would shackle her powers? But even without Bael, Ayra had already surpassed the limits I had envisioned.

In fact, seeing her so composed and without a trace of instability made me think—perhaps it was Bael who had been her weakness all along.

This was the Queen of Angmar.

A woman who had ruled the great powers by force alone.

I think I’m falling for her.

━Ah—! Our comrade is being pushed back! Everyone, pour more strength into your cheers!

If it weren’t for the imp sisters’ magical support, I too would’ve been blown away like the rest, crashing into some far corner from the magical storm.

━Hioooong...

Yeah, I know. If I keep clashing with magic alone, I’ve got no chance of winning. Like stag beetles, who know from just locking horns how strong their opponent is—and back down.

That’s what this was now.

Ayra’s horn is longer and more dangerous than mine. I have to admit it.

I need to use every bit of technique and trickery I’ve got.

That’s where my chances lie.

“Charm Beam!”

I raised my hand and fired a spell at Ayra. The pink lightning bolt zipped toward her and struck her body. But Ayra’s expression remained composed.

“A charm spell? Such magic has no effect on me. Not that it matters—I’m already overflowing with interest in you, Teo of Angmar.”

“Not the kind of interest I was hoping for!”

Still, it created a small opening.

Shfft.

I used the tiny lull caused by the Charm Beam to move my hand to my waist. What I drew was the dagger I had carried with me since I was a scrawny weakling.

Srrrrng.

Clutching it tightly, I dashed toward Ayra, whose defenses had momentarily loosened. With this dagger, I would land a hit on her no matter what. The distance between us was about thirty meters.

Three seconds—no, two would be enough.

“So you’ve got a trick up your sleeve. But you think I’ll just let you approach me?”

Shshsh.

Ayra raised her hand and unleashed magic.

─Light Bullets.

Bababababat—!

Spheres of magic, each the size of a volleyball, came flying at me in a barrage. Pure magic condensed into projectiles—getting hit would definitely hurt.

Click.

I bit my thumb and drew blood.

“Black Coffin!”

I slammed my bloodied hand to the ground, and a coffin-shaped barrier rose up to shield me from the light bullets. I ducked behind it and caught my breath. I’d advanced about ten meters—now Ayra and I were only twenty meters apart.

Then Ayra’s voice rang out from behind the black coffin.

“A coffin that blocks physical projection—black magic. Draco-style black magic. Quite resourceful. So, is this what you’re relying on?”

At her provocative line, I unfurled a spell scroll.

From within, I drew the round beads I had prepared for this very day. I hurled them beyond the coffin, and with a loud bang, thick smoke exploded out.

“Smoke? Smells like garlic...”

It was a smoke bomb I’d learned to make from Stella, back when I was beyond the barrier. Not only did it block sight, but it also contained an aromatic essence that erased one’s scent.

━Grrrrr...!

I could feel Bael within me reacting strongly to the thick garlic odor now filling the air. Wasn’t it said that Ars Novas were weak to garlic for some reason?

I didn’t know if it would work on Ayra in her current state, but just that momentary hesitation was enough. I pulled out a few more beads.

These had the word “Honey” written on them.

I threw them toward Ayra.

POOF—.

Just as the sweet scent reached my nose—

“Kamigin.”

I invoked the 4th-tier grand incantation.

A necromantic spell that influenced human consciousness. With it, reviving the unconscious contestants strewn around wasn’t too difficult.

The number: five hundred and twelve.

“When... did I pass out?”

“Where is my master’s enemy, Yujinoi...?”

As they began to grab their weapons and charge toward Ayra one by one—not even the Queen could escape being overwhelmed.

From within the smoke, Ayra’s voice came.

“So you intend to hide a tree in the forest. Their numbers are impressive, but ultimately they’re just a mob being manipulated. With this many under your control, won’t your mana run out?”

She wasn’t wrong.

But I never said I was controlling them. I simply awakened them and planted a single message in their minds.

『Defeat the Queen and seize the crown.』

***

Among the fifteen hundred contestants, each of them surely had their own reasons and stories.

Still, they shared one thing in common: they entered this tournament to win.

If their own will and my planted message aligned, all I needed to do was give them a little push. That cost far less mana than trying to manipulate them one by one.

『Defeat the Queen and seize the crown.』

Now I just had to watch.

“Right, the rules changed, didn’t they? We just need to touch the crown.”

“I’m going to win.”

Srrrng, srrrung.

The sound of fallen contestants picking up their weapons and steeling themselves echoed out. As the thick fog cleared, Ayra stood surrounded by the crowd, holding a single sword in her hand.

“Come.”

Compared to the seemingly relaxed Ayra, the contestants hesitated to move.

“......”

“So, who’s going to go first?”