Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 675

"What...?"

When I didn't flinch at all and stared straight back at Kamui, he tilted his head as if caught off guard.

His entire body was covered in pale gray fur, with red long hair standing on end like bristles.

The moment I met his glare, a fitting nickname came to mind, and I smirked.

"If polite language doesn't work, let me put it simply. Say that again. That's what I said. You red-hooded hypocrite, acting calm but quick-tempered."

"...You bastard, Rid Baldia. Just because you're another country's heir, you think you can talk down to me like that? You better be prepared for this."

Kamui's beast form already towered nearly 10 meters tall. As he roared with anger, gales whipped up, the earth shook, and the air itself trembled.

But if I cowered at such cheap intimidation, I wouldn't be worthy of being Baldia's heir.

I took a deep breath and glared back at Kamui.

"'Talk down to you,' huh? You were the one who looked down on me first."

With his roar, the storm winds swirled into tornadoes, the earth groaned, and the sky instantly darkened with lightning and thunder.

"Ngh...?!"

As Kamui faltered slightly from the magical pressure, I stepped forward.

"You called me a 'spoiled brat from blessed lands'? Don't fuck with me, Red Hood. Because of Zubera, because of you tribal chiefs letting the old fox tribes led by Gareth and Elba run wild, do you have any idea how much damage Baldia suffered? The scars of grief and suffering that will never fade? Don't pretend you don't know."

In the Battle of Hazama Fortress, Cross and many other knights lost their lives.

They all had people waiting for them to return, people who loved them.

Newlyweds.

Fathers with newborn children.

Those about to get married.

Those supporting elderly parents.

Husbands who'd just learned their wives were pregnant.

Those with lovers awaiting their return.

The list of grief is endless.

But if we turn that grief into hatred, it becomes an endless cycle.

That would only create more unhappiness.

That's why Baldia chose to endure and overcome our sorrow rather than let it become hatred.

And yet, a tribal chief who shares responsibility for causing all that hardship dares to call Baldia "blessed lands"?

Don't fuck with me.

How dare you trample on my homeland and the precious people I protect.

Even if it was just words spoken in the heat of the moment, I can never forgive that.

Driven by anger, I stepped forward again, pointing up at Kamui's face from beneath him.

"And do you have any idea how much that 'spoiled brat' you mocked has struggled with his own helplessness, how much he's agonized and regretted?"

Death is something no one can change—we're powerless against it.

We can only accept it.

And yet, we still wonder:

If just one thing had been different that day, maybe that person wouldn't have died.

Even now, I have nightmares about the Battle of Hazama Fortress.

Every time I wake up, I think about what I could've done differently, even though I know it's pointless.

"You couldn't possibly understand, and I don't expect you to. Don't you dare... act like you know anything about people!"

Perhaps responding to my emotions, as I spat those words, another magical storm erupted around me, sending the towering Kamui flying.

"Gwooooh?!"

As he fell backward, the earth shook, a deafening rumble echoed, and a massive dust cloud billowed up.

"Hah... hah... How's that? Learned your lesson, Red Hood?"

While I caught my breath, the darkened sky cleared, and the raging tornadoes and lightning vanished.

"Lord Rid, are you alright?"

It was Karua, who'd been watching nearby.

"Yeah, this much is nothing. More importantly..."

As I answered, I glanced toward Red Hood. Through the dust, a gray shadow began rising.

Well, no tribal chief would go down that easily.

If that's how it is, I'll keep going until I've made my point.

Father, I'm sorry.

As Baldia's heir, I can't let Kamui's words slide. I absolutely can't back down.

This might cause some trouble, but I'll apologize properly when I get back.

Mentally offering that apology, I activated my Body Enhancement: Blaze.

"If that's how it is, we'll settle this by force. I don't know if you're blinded by anger or what, but I'll make you acknowledge us—even if I have to beat sense into you."

"Understood. I'll also do what I must."

Karua nodded and shouted, "Former chief, Kamui Magenta!"

"Back then, I hated and rejected everything you stood for. But now, I understand your struggles too. That's why I'll walk my own path. Today marks our parting—not with words, but with fists, as beastmen... no, as men."

Huh? Fists, not words? Beastmen really do think differently from me...

While I stood dumbfounded, Karua continued his transformation. Though not as large as Kamui, his body grew, covered in white fur.

"Fufufu... Ahahaha, hahahaha..."

Suddenly, laughter echoed as the gray shadow's shoulders shook.

Soon, Kamui's bear-like beast form emerged from the dust.

"I see. Interesting. I admit, I was skeptical about Lord Rid defeating Elba Granduke. But it seems that wasn't entirely baseless."

"...I'm honored you'd say that, Chief Kamui."

As if a spell had broken, Kamui's voice was calm again, his tone returned to its earlier politeness.

"Fufu, no need for formalities, Lord Rid. It's been years since I last met such an insolent—no, extraordinarily insolent—youngster. I may have let my emotions get the better of me. I apologize for my earlier rudeness."

"Ah, no. I also said disrespectful things, so I apologize too. Let's call it even, shall we?"

"Got carried away by emotions"? That's putting it mildly...

While internally吐槽, I scratched my cheek awkwardly, recalling my own words. Calling a transformed tribal chief "Red Hood" was way out of line.

Kamui wasn't the only one who lost his temper—so did I.

"No matter. But 'Red Hood' was quite an amusing nickname. I'll remember it."

"Ah, haha... P-please forget about that."

As I forced a smile, Kamui shrank to match Karua's transformed size.

"By the way, Karua. You said something about walking your own path, parting ways, and settling this with fists as a man?"

"Y-yeah. That's right."

"Very well. Since Lord Rid requested beastification training too, I'll test your resolve with my own body. Come, hit me with your full strength."

Kamui grinned fearlessly, stepping forward and pointing at his stomach.

"What's wrong? All talk?"

"Shut up! Here I come!"

Snapping out of his daze at the absurd challenge, Karua clenched his fist—charged with magic.

W-wait, isn't that "Point-Blank Earth Shattering Fist"?!

Normally, Earth Shattering Fist is an earth-attribute magic that fires a魔力 bullet from the fist.

It's Karua's signature move, the same technique that gave me trouble during our headband battle.

(I can use it too now that he taught me... but that's not important!)

The closer it's used, the more destructive power it gains.

Even for a tribal chief like Kamui, taking a direct hit from Karua—one of Baldia's elite Second Knights, likely top three—wouldn't be painless.

"W-wait a sec—!"

"This is my full strength now. Take it, old man!"

Ignoring my protest, Karua drove his fist into Kamui's stomach with all his might.

The next instant, a massive explosion erupted around Kamui.

A violent wind howled, and a thick dust cloud billowed upward.