Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 625

"Alright, here we can fight to our heart's content!"

The place Johan proudly showed us was a magnificent martial stage located within the royal castle grounds.

Though smaller in scale compared to the martial stage where I faced off with the Second Knight Order in Baldia, it was equally grand in design, complete with spectator seats, much like the rest of the castle.

A martial stage of this caliber would be hard to find anywhere else on the continent.

For a beastman, simply standing on this stage might be considered an honor in itself.

As I glanced around the martial stage, I asked weakly, "Johan, are you really going to do this?"

"Of course. That's why I brought everyone here, isn't it?" He looked around at Amon, Dynias, and the others behind me, narrowing his eyes and smiling. "Besides, Raphie agreed to spar with me, didn't she?"

"Yeah. I haven't been moving much lately, so this should be a good workout," Raphie replied, her lips curling into a smile as she met Johan's gaze.

The reason we had come from the guest room to the martial stage was due to Johan's insistence on showcasing his skills against Raphie, following Thys's comment that "Even if it's just a rumor, it's unfair to gain information about you before a fight." Raphie, who had been chosen as his opponent, had eagerly accepted the invitation, saying, "This should help pass the time."

Amon and I had tried to stop her, but she had playfully shrugged her shoulders and said, "Oh, come on. It's an invitation from the prince of Zubera himself. How could I refuse?" She had refused to listen.

While Raphie's carefree attitude was typical of her, there was another issue at hand. I turned around and sighed as I looked at the group standing at the back.

"...Everyone, you must be busy. Perhaps you should return to your rooms now?"

"Don't worry about boring stuff, Ridd," one of them said.

"Indeed. There's no need to concern yourself with us," another added.

The rabbit tribe chief, Vene, flashed a bright smile, while her assistant, Shia, stood behind her with a grandfatherly grin. Next to Vene, the monkey tribe chief, Jetti, narrowed his eyes, and the horse tribe chief, Asteca, smirked.

"That's right, Ridd. It's more fun if we all watch together," one of them chimed in.

"Yeah, Ridd. Times like these are when those in leadership should show their magnanimity," another added.

The four of them began to laugh merrily, while I hung my head in resignation.

Earlier, on our way here, we had run into them as they were heading to the guest room to discuss meeting schedules. When Johan saw Vene and Shia, he immediately suggested, "Hey, let's have Vene be the referee." At first, Vene and Shia were confused, but after we explained the situation, Vene responded with a broad smile, saying, "That sounds fun. Alright, I'll be a fair referee."

Just as Amon and I were trying to politely decline, Jetti showed up with a smile, saying, "Oh, are you all having a secret meeting?" Then Asteca joined in, teasing, "What's this? Does the unconventional Lidd prefer older women?"

With no other choice, I explained the situation with a resigned expression, and as expected, their eyes lit up with curiosity and excitement.

And so, they decided to tag along to watch.

As I let out a small sigh, recalling the events that had led us here, I turned my gaze back to Johan.

"By the way, is it really okay to use this martial stage?"

"Of course. Some days, I even train here with my mother."

"I see."

Just as my father had taught me, Johan must have learned many things from Sekmetos as well.

In that regard, I felt a sense of kinship with him.

"But..." I tilted my head and looked around again, but aside from us, there was no one else in sight.

"Is Sekmetos not here?"

"She's in a meeting with Luva and Gyobu," Johan replied, then took off his coat and leaped onto the stage.

Standing on the martial stage, he began to stretch, crossing his arms and loosening up his body.

"Alright, ridd. As I said, I'll show you my skills against Raphie. Make sure you watch closely."

"Understood," I nodded.

Raphie, with a fearless smile, walked over leisurely. Despite having nearly finished all the alcohol prepared in the guest room, her expression showed no signs of intoxication.

As always, she was an incredible drinker.

"Raphie, can I have a word?"

"Oh, what is it?" she asked, crouching down and turning her white fox ears toward me.

The tips of her ears brushed against my nose, tickling me, so I cleared my throat before speaking.

"...Johan's strength is still unknown, but he might have even greater potential than me in terms of physical ability and close combat talent. Even if this is just a test, be careful."

In my past life's memories of  game  Johan Bestia was known as the strongest  attacker.

While there are many differences between the game world and the reality I now live in, I've already caught glimpses of Johan's talent on several occasions.

There's no doubt that he's an opponent you can't afford to underestimate.

"Fufu, got it," Raphie replied with a smile, turning to look at me.

Her eyes were a bewitching pale purple, and this was the first time I had seen them up close.

For some reason, my heart skipped a beat.

"Still, I'm a bit surprised you're worried about me."

"Surprised or not, Raphie, you're already an important part of my family. Of course, I'd be worried."

Since my sister Thys and Amon are engaged, Raphie, as his sister, is now distantly related to me.

She has a complicated personality, and as someone who has been in charge of the dark side of the fox tribe, she's not someone to let your guard down around.

But she's not like Elva or Gales, who take pleasure in trampling and hurting others.

"Fufu, you say such sweet things. But you know, I might turn back into an enemy at any moment. Are you sure you should be saying that?"

"Yeah, maybe," I nodded at her teasing words, but then smiled and added, "But it's okay."

"Even though it's hard to see, Raphie, you have something beautiful deep inside you."

"Oh..." She blinked in surprise.

Even when she was our enemy, Raphie never took lives unnecessarily.

She seems to mercilessly strike down those who come after her life, and as someone in charge of the dark side, she has a cold, calculating side.

But more than once, I've sensed a small, beautiful, and warm light deep within her heart.

From the first time we met during the assault incident, I've felt it every time we've crossed paths.

Since Amon became the tribe chief, that warm light seems to have grown a little stronger.

Raphie, taken aback, suddenly let out a low laugh and shrugged her shoulders.

"Something beautiful, huh? I think I lost that a long time ago."

As she said this, Tys came running over.

"Raphie-sama, Ridd-nii-sama."

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I'm sorry," she said, bowing deeply.

Confused, I was about to ask what she meant when Thys looked up with a sullen expression.

"It's because of my careless words that things turned out like this..."

Ah, so that's what it was. I smiled and shook my head.

"Don't worry about it. It was surprising, but this is also a rare chance to see Johan's skills."

"But it's because of my thoughtless words that Raphie-sama has to step onto the martial stage. How can I apologize?"

Thys's face remained clouded as she hung her head.

Then, Raphie gently placed her hand on Thys's head and began to stroke it.

"You don't need to worry about me. But if you want to make it up to me, there's one thing I'd like to ask. Is that okay?"

"Y-Yes. If it's something I can do, please tell me, Raphie-sama."

As Thys put on a serious expression, Raphie's lips curled into a smile.

"Could you stop calling me 'Raphie-sama'? You're Amon's fiancée, right? That makes you my sister-in-law."

"Ah..." Tis was taken aback, then bashfully said, "Then... may I call you Raphie-nee-sama?"

"Yes, that sounds nice."

As Raphie nodded with a smile, an impatient voice called out from the martial stage.

"Hey! Hurry up and get over here!"

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm coming," Raphie replied, then smiled at Thys, Citri, and Amon in turn.

"Well, I'm off. It's about time I showed my little siblings what I can do."

At her words, the three of them were momentarily stunned, then quickly shouted.

"G-Good luck, Raphie-nee-sama!"

"Raphie-nee-sama, do your best!"

"Nee-sama, please do your best!"

Raphie raised her right hand in response to their voices, then leaped onto the martial stage.

Landing silently in front of Johan, she smirked.

"Let's see what you've got, little boy."

Raphie had said she'd "lost that a long time ago," but as I watched her stand on the martial stage in front of Amon and the others, I thought to myself, "I knew it. Raphie still has that warm light in her heart."