Chapter 66：One Punch (1/2)

”Huh?! You all let a Natal Spirit qualify? Are you too weak to even eliminate someone at this level?!”

Molark, a Fused Spirit who qualified from the first group sneered as he looked at me mockingly.

Honestly, he's one of the weakest in their group. For someone who just got lucky to stay standing to be qualified, does he have the right to mock the real powerhouses of their stage? Is he having a deathwish?

”Shut up weakling. Look at who your first opponent is.”

Ferbil, the 2nd name on the top list of the favorites and someone from my group threw the newly delivered match-up schedule to him. Since it's convenient to use the already split group, they just matched the 8 of us to the 8 of them, and by the stroke of bad luck, that guy who's sneering and mocking them became my first opponent. Karma eh?

While they're sneering at each other's faces, I'm sitting calmly without feeling any pressure. Should I just suggest to hold the Individual Matches in the same battle royale format?

For sure, they wouldn't agree and all of the Fused Spirit here will feel like they were being mocked by me.

I already stood out but it will be another type of standing out if I did that.

Alright. I'll let them feel it's possible to defeat me.

I was watching out for possible spies that were also disguised like me during the competition, but it's unlikely for them to send one in on a small competition like this.

Some of these Fused Spirits have made a name for themselves across the Spiritas Federation. Since they're in a somewhat perpetual war against the Spirit Beasts, most of them honed themselves on skirmishes against them. And with the addition of the Invading Forces, they needed to up their game.

We were given a 2-hour break to restore ourselves to peak condition. Even though I don't really need it, being given a chance to take a break is bliss in itself.

I stood up and left the still arguing Fused Spirits. Though they felt the threat in me, they still believed that as Fused Spirit, if it comes to one on one, they could best me.

”How does it feel? To stand out like that.”

Along my way out of the coliseum, I was stopped by a voice. I followed the direction where it came from and saw a smiling Yumiko, still in her shrine maiden attire and holding a candied fruit on a stick in her hand. Behind her was Jayna, holding the same thing as well as sporting the same kind of smile as Yumiko.

These girls found my performance amusing. Judging from where they came from, they went out to buy those candies from the stall outside. That was reminiscent of the candied apple that was popular during festivals but since there's no apple here, they used another type of fruit which is a native here.

”It's dreadful? But yeah, hearing the cheers for me is good to the ears.”

I answered as I went near them. Yumiko handed me the candied fruit on her hand before taking out another.

”I now understand why Yumiko asked if you like bullying the weak. She's right about your strength.”

Jayna also chimed in as she stared at my face, there's a sparkling glint on it as she took in the craft she made.

”Err. If there's another way to get the Orb then I wouldn't do this, you know?”

There's probably that way by pledging again but yeah, it would mean someone will be added again. As much as possible, I'll stray away from that. It feels like something or someone was forcing the girls who I made a pledge with to be attached to me.

Though I eventually came to like them, there's that bit of guilty conscience when I think of Yuko.

”Why not? It's amusing really, but remember to run away and go to the place I told you to after you get the stone.”

Yumiko said. With only what I showed, she already determined that I will win this competition.

”Alright. Will Jayna be there? Actually, I could dispel this by myself.”

I didn't hide this anymore, it will be a hassle to wait for them somewhere. And I also have to go to the gambling houses to claim my winnings in this form.

”Eh? How? Even father couldn't do that.”

Jayna was in disbelief. For her, her father is one of the strongest Noble Spirits, if he couldn't dispel it then no one can.

”A trade secret? Anyway, you both don't have to worry about this. I will really run away immediately.

I saw your father's eyes were already fixated on me. You don't want someone not real to be your spirit-pair, right?”

I could show it to her later but not now. She accepted my answer and didn't pursue it any further after Yumiko whispered something to her.

”Eh… you're right. He kept talking about Ember. That's also why we went out, I might spill that we know you.”