The audience, still buzzing from Helen’s victory and unexpected slave liberation, was further ignited by the start of the Illusionist Division. First up, the semifinals, two matches.
“Now then, let’s give a grand entrance to our contestants! First, the illusionist who travels the world freely, Lord Nyowar!!”
Nyowar entered with a chilling solemnity. Yes, he certainly had the persona. He was a young illusionist, only 79 years old. I just hoped he’d gain more experience.
(And I hope he takes at least a little bit of his opponent’s strength down before the finals…!!)
“Next up, hailing from the Mu Mu Empire with pride, the empire’s stationed illusionist, Lord Sufma! Everyone, behold!!!”
The moment Cheer uttered those words, Sufma appeared on stage in an instant! As expected of a 118-year-old illusionist, his presence was immense, but…
(He used instantaneous movement and wasted magic power…)
He must have felt incredibly confident.
“Now then, explanations will be given to both contestants by the referee, and then the match will begin!!”
It was an illusionist’s match, so there would probably be all sorts of troublesome rules. Normally, illusionist attack magic often had instant-death properties, but they wouldn’t be able to use that…
“Master!!!”
The voluptuous tamer, still out of breath, was here. But I didn’t need her to explain that Helen was Helen.
“Um, congratulations. Did you know that winning meant slave liberation?”
“No, I didn’t! Lady Derus?”
“I didn’t know either. I was surprised. That’s great for you.”
Nastasia silently shifted in her seat, and then lunged at me! I couldn’t see anything for a moment.
“Now then, begin!!”
Ah, the match had already started, but my face was covered. Helen’s passionate, fervent lips… met mine… ah…
(She must have been holding back for so long.)
While all this was happening…
“That’s enough! Winner, Sufma!!”
The venue erupted. It must have been an incredibly fast-paced, thrilling, shocking, and suspenseful match. I couldn’t see it, though!
“Clarice!”
“Yes, it was a complete victory. A typical match where experience triumphed over youth.”
That was enough for me to imagine what happened.
“Helen, get off from me already, you’re sticking too close!”
“Ah! My apologies, Master.”
“Even though I’m not a slave anymore, you still call me Master?”
“Would ‘Husband’ be better?”
That was still a bit too soon, and embarrassing.
“You can call me whatever you like.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Um, please don’t bully Nastasia.”
“Not at all! Rather, I’ll take care of her.”
“Is that so, Nastasia?”
“Hmph.”
Ugh, don’t make such a displeased face!
(Didn’t you two make up?!)
“Lady Derus.”
“Yes, Clarice?”
“Nastasia merely wishes for Lady Derus to take care of her.”
Clarice seemed to have read my wry smile and offered an explanation. Helen had been liberated, and her first concern was that she wouldn’t run away. That part was fine, but then came the worry, “What if Nastasia gets bullied?”
(I wish her “evil female executive” version would only be directed at me…)
For now, she’d probably stay in obedient slave mode. I’d customize her later if I had the chance.
“Next up for the second semifinal match, hailing from the Alice Autonomous Nation, the slave illusionist, Lord Chigopas!”
He shuffled over, muttering something to himself. He seemed incredibly disgruntled, his grumbling almost audible.
(He was expecting VIP treatment, but ended up a slave.)
“Furthermore, if the contestant Chigopas wins, he will be immediately liberated from slavery!!”
The venue became mildly excited.
“And if he loses, he will be put up for auction as a slave one month from now!!”
This time, the venue erupted! It was no wonder they were so surprised, being able to purchase an illusionist who had likely been properly trained as a slave.
(Who would buy him? I’m fine with Anju-chan.)
“And facing him, ah, as everyone knows, the strongest illusionist of ‘Nina Starlights,’ everyone’s idol, Lady Ange, has graced us with her divine appearance!!!”
Divine appearance? I thought. Then, with a spectacular light effect, she flew in. It was probably her signature weather magic. Today, she only had her staff on her back, not her sickle.
(No, even just that Velvet Devil Rod is incredibly potent.)
It’s easy to forget, but that black staff is an SSS-rank item that grants ten times magic power, reduces magic consumption by a tenth, and increases magic recovery tenfold, along with the special dark magic ‘Dark Integrate’.
“By the way, if Lady Ange wins…”
Oh, what would she demand?
“She wishes for the right to be petted daily by Derus of Nina Starlights!!!”
(What is that?!)
“Clarice!”
“I knew about it.”
“Helen!”
“I had heard.”
“Nastasia!”
“…Envious.”
Seriously, is that something you announce in front of everyone?
“Now then, let’s get started quickly!!”
‘Quickly’… The referee was giving a lengthy explanation to both fighters, but didn’t they have a rules meeting that morning?
(Anju-chan probably forgot.)
After a while, the referee stepped away. Now, the fierce magical battle between the illusionists would… begin.
“Now then, begin!!”
In the end, Anju-chan simply kept hitting Chigopas with her staff.
(It’s physical combat?!)
“Ouch, ouch, ouch, I surrender, I surrender!!”
“That’s enough! Winner, Anju!!”
The stadium roared with applause. What can I say.
(It’s for conserving magic, but Anju-chan has bottomless magic power, so she doesn’t need to worry about that.)
Anju-chan, who had been flying around, performing for the second, third, and top floors before disappearing.
“Now, we look forward to the finals, but it’s time for lunch break. The Colosseum bento boxes are said to be almost sold out. And now, an unexpected surprise! Following yesterday, the Angel Race will be fighting! And with a different lineup than yesterday!!”
Ah, the charade was about to begin. I’d eat lunch.
“Everyone, please enjoy your bento boxes.”
The special bento boxes made by Citie were distributed.
“Here you go, Derus-chan.”
“Ah, yes, thank you, Older Sister… Huh?!”
A woman who looked exactly like me handed it over. When had Helen summoned the Silver Succubus…? I blushed and looked down.
“I called you ‘Older Sister’…”
“Heheh, I’m your Older Sister, my cute Little Brother.”
“Sil-neechan!”
“So cute!”
Ah, seeing me hug her, Nastasia was! She was biting her nails ferociously!
