Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 631

"Rafa-nee-sama, why are you saying that Ridd-onii-sama will lose?"

"That's right. I do think Johan-sama was strong. But there's no way Ridd-onii-sama, who defeated Elba, would lose."

As Tis and Citri raised their voices, Rafa smirked fearlessly, sitting down on the sofa and sipping from her glass of wine.

"Johan mentioned it too, didn't he? Ridd didn't fight Elba one-on-one from start to finish. It was a many-against-one situation for most of the fight. It only became one-on-one towards the end..."

Rafa spoke suggestively, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye.

"Can Ridd use that 'power' again?"

"That's..."

Her sharp observation left me stumbling over my words.

The 'power' I used when facing Elba was activated with the help of Memory, but it came at the cost of my own lifespan.

He warned me, "Don't use this power again. If you do, you'll die."

But only a few people should know about the dangers of the power I used in the fight against Elba.

How does Rafa know about the 'power'?

"It seems my guess was right."

As I looked at her suspiciously, Rafa relaxed her expression.

"Right about what?"

Tis tilted her head, and Rafa began, "Exactly what it sounds like."

"It's an undeniable fact that Ridd defeated Elba in the battle at the Narrow Fortress. That power was overwhelming even from a distance. But even though Ridd is stronger now than before, I don't feel the same overwhelming power as back then."

"So what are you saying? He just doesn't need to use such powerful magic all the time, right? Rafa-nee-sama, please stop being cryptic and explain."

When Citri pressed her, Rafa narrowed her eyes.

"In other words, the power Ridd used to defeat Elba was an 'abnormal power.'"

"Rafa, that's enough..."

I didn't want to worry everyone too much.

When I tried to stop her, she nodded with a smile.

It seemed she understood.

As I breathed a sigh of relief, Rafa shrugged and joked.

"That kind of power can't be used without some kind of cost. It probably took a toll on his life, or something equally dangerous."

"Eh...?!"

Tis and Citri widened their eyes in shock.

She clearly hadn't understood at all.

In fact, she seemed to be enjoying herself, her lips curling into a smile.

Under the gaze of everyone in the room, I slumped my shoulders and placed a hand on my forehead.

"Ridd-onii-sama, is what Rafa-nee-sama said true?"

"Yes, please tell us."

"Well..."

As Tis and Citri pressed me with panicked expressions, I scratched my cheek, trying to evade the question.

Capella, Tink, Dynas, and Amon had unreadable expressions, but they didn't seem as shocked as the two who were interrogating me.

Capella had witnessed my fight with Elba, so she might have known but kept it to herself.

If that's the case, Diana must have figured it out too.

Knowing her, she probably told Tink, who became her personal guard, about what happened back then.

To make sure I wouldn't push myself too hard.

Amon and Dynias weren't there at the time, but Dynas is the captain of the knights.

He must have received reports from the knights on the scene, and he might have heard something from my father.

Amon probably heard reports from the warriors who witnessed the fight with Elba, and Rafa might have told him something similar.

So far, I've only told Fara about the dangers of the power I used in the fight with Elba.

But as for what kind of power I used to defeat him...

The scene was witnessed by the fox tribe warriors on the enemy side, as well as the people of Baldia, including Diana and Capella, who were on the battlefield.

Some were simply overwhelmed by the fight between me and Elba, while others might have thought about how I managed to unleash that power and figured it out.

In fact, even Elba, who I was facing, had seen through it.

Especially those like Diana and Capella, who are familiar with my usual behavior, magic, and martial arts.

Of course, the fight between Elba and me must have been reported in detail to my father.

I haven't been questioned about it, but my father might have noticed something and chosen to remain silent.

Thinking about the future, it might be better to tell the truth to settle this situation.

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat.

"Yeah, Rafa's right. The power I used to defeat Elba came with a significant cost. I can't use it again, and I don't plan to."

"Eh?!"

"Ridd-onii-sama, are you really okay? Is your body really alright?"

Tis and Citri widened their eyes in concern, but I smiled and nodded.

"Of course. I'm fine, that's why I'm here."

"Is that so?"

"That's a relief."

As the two sighed in relief, Rafa smirked and said, "I knew it."

"You knew it, huh? Can you get to the point now?"

"Impatient, aren't you? But fine, I'll tell you."

When I asked, she looked at me over the rim of her glass as she poured more wine.

"Ridd is overflowing with talent in both magic and martial arts. In terms of overall strength, he might even be stronger than Johan now. But in a one-on-one fight, it's different."

As she said this, the smile faded from Rafa's face.

"Johan's physical abilities are far beyond what you've seen. If Ridd tries to use magic, Johan will close the distance before he can. Once it becomes a close-range fight, physical ability will decide the outcome. Can Ridd, who is physically inferior, really beat Johan when his magic is effectively sealed?"

Understanding what she was implying, everyone in the room groaned in frustration.

Judging from the fight on the martial stage, Rafa is right—Johan's physical abilities already far surpass mine.

If he forces the fight into close combat, where he excels, it will undoubtedly be a tough battle.

"But, Ridd-onii-sama can use 'Body Enhancement: Second Form' and 'Blazing Flame.' Even if he can't win, he won't lose, right?"

When Tis spoke up, Rafa sipped her wine and shook her head.

"It's true that being able to use Body Enhancement: Second Form and Blazing Flame at Ridd's age is astonishing, and his strength is considerable. But Johan has 'Beast Transformation.' And not just any transformation—he can enter the 'Lion' state, which is necessary for cat tribe members to compete in the Beast King Tournament."

Tis had no retort and hung her head.

Rafa chuckled and turned her gaze to the wine swirling in her glass.

"And as I said earlier, Johan wasn't even serious. At this point, Ridd's chances of winning are less than ten percent."

After taking a sip, Rafa looked at me.

"So, Ridd. What do you plan to do?"

"If my opponent is that strong, then there's only one thing to do."

With that, I smiled.

"If I can't win as I am now, then I'll just have to get stronger. That's all."

The future of Baldia is at stake.

No matter how strong the opponent is, no matter who they are, I can't lose.

Even if they're the strongest character in "Toki Rera," I can't afford to lose.

There's still time before the Beast King Tournament.

I'll get stronger by then and definitely beat Johan.

"My, how reliable. That's the boy I've set my sights on. I'm counting on you."

She narrowed her eyes in amusement and began pouring more wine into her glass.

Is she worried about me, or is she just enjoying this as a spectator?

Her true intentions are really hard to gauge.

As I shrugged in exasperation, Amon spoke up.

"But, Ridd. No offense, but what exactly do you plan to do to get stronger?"

"Well..."

As I pondered, a certain word flashed through my mind.

"For now, I think I'll try diving into the dungeon."

And so, the tribal chief meeting held in Bestia, the capital of the Beast Kingdom Zveera, came to an end. But the match against Johan in the Beast King Tournament...

The individual meetings with the tribal chiefs, starting with Sekmetos...

The true intentions of the untrustworthy Holst Padgri...

A mountain of new problems has piled up.

Personally, the most daunting thing is that if I lose to Johan in the Beast King Tournament, even by some fluke, it could determine the future of the child that Fara and I might have someday.

Of course, I don't plan to lose.

But I still have to report this to my father and Fara.

They're both going to be furious.

I can imagine my father's anger, but what about Fara?

Just thinking about it sends a chill down my spine.