Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 706

"Whaaaaaaat?!"

"Now for my trump card."

I switched my Body Enhancement from the fire attribute's Blazing Flame to the wind attribute's "Gale."

The red, flickering mana covering my body changed to a pale green.

Body Enhancement: Gale is a combination of wind attribute aptitude and Body Enhancement, Second Form. By wrapping myself in wind mana, I gain increased movement speed and the ability to fly. However, flying consumes a massive amount of mana, so I can only do it for a short time.

Pouring mana into my wooden sword and body, I leaped into the air, aiming for Johann who had been blasted skyward. A sudden gust of wind whipped across the training grounds, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Johann, your physical abilities are amazing. But that's only because you have the ground as your footing."

"Guh...?! Ridd, you're the same!"

"Wrong again. By activating Body Enhancement: Gale, I can fly for a short time."

"W-what?!"

"From here on out, it's my turn to attack alone. Magic Thrust Soar!"

I thrust my wooden sword sharply towards Johann as he deployed his Magical Barrier, releasing a 'Flying Slash'. Even in the air, if I got too close, there was a risk he could grab me. It felt a little ruthless, but I would attack him one-sidedly from outside his range.

However, the Magic Thrust Soar scattered into mist without piercing through Johann's Magical Barrier.

"Haha. It seems your power is insufficient."

"Is that so? I told you, from here on out, it's my time alone. Magic Thrust Soar: Early Summer Rain."

I grinned fearlessly at Johann, whose mouth was twitching, and began firing Magic Thrust Soar consecutively. Simultaneously, countless impact sounds echoed from his Magical Barrier.

"Are you planning to break my Magical Barrier by force? But even if it's continuous, with this level of power..."

"Whoa, I'd hate for you to forget about me."

A fearless voice rang out from the ground, and Johann gasped. On the ground, Memory, the shadow clone, was generating a massive number of fire spears.

The intense mana consumption of Gale was no joke. I would finish this in one go with a simultaneous attack from the ground and air.

"No matter how much you've lionized, you can't withstand this many fire spears and Ridd's Magic Thrust Soar."

"Da-damn it! Two against one is cheating, Ridd! Fight me fairly on the ground!"

Johann glared at me resentfully, but I shrugged my shoulders as if to say 'oh well.'

"You agreed earlier that two against one was fine. And also..." I smiled sweetly. "...I can be surprisingly underhanded."

"...Are you still angry about me calling you gloomy?"

Just as Johann tilted his head in confusion, my consecutive Magic Thrust Soar: Early Summer Rain and the multitude of fire spears controlled by Memory from the ground were unleashed towards his Magical Barrier, creating firework-like explosions in the night sky.

Spotting a small crack in the barrier he had deployed, I poured all my remaining mana into my wooden sword and swung it down with all my might.

"This is the end!"

"Wha...?! Gyaaaaaah?!"

My wooden sword shattered Johann's Magical Barrier and slammed directly into his right shoulder, covered in its mane. Johann plummeted downward, but Memory on the ground activated tree attribute magic, creating vegetation to form a makeshift cushion.

As Johann fell into the plants, they rustled and scattered, filling the training grounds with the sound of rustling leaves.

I landed slowly on the ground and deactivated my Body Enhancement.

"With that, I hope he's satisfied."

'Ridd, it's too early to deactivate Body Enhancement!'

The moment I heard Memory's shout in my mind, Johann's blue eyes were already right in front of me.

"I... I haven't admitted defeat yet!"

"Guh...?!"

The attack he unleashed wasn't with his tonfas, but a sharp claw strike. My wooden sword, infused with mana, was sliced apart as if it were paper. I dodged hastily, but the clothes on my right shoulder were torn and I sustained a wound.

I hurriedly leaped back to create distance, my eyes wide open. Johann's fur, which should have been uniformly brown, was now a mix of brown and pale grey. That must be another form of Lionization. Johann, glaring fiercely and breathing heavily from his shoulders, looked just like a wounded beast. Moreover, his tonfas were gone from his hands, replaced by sharp claws.

"Hah... Hah... That hurt. That really hurt."

"I'm sorry about that. But with my wooden sword like this, we can't fight anymore, right?"

I showed him the wooden sword, cleanly cut in two, but Johann bared his fangs and laughed, "Haha."

"Ridd, what are you saying? You still have your magic, don't you? We can't end such a fun time like this."

No sooner had he spoken than he leaped towards me. Had he gotten too heated and lost himself? Maybe the change in his fur was related. Whatever the case, I had to deal with this since he was coming.

The instant I hastily deployed a Magical Barrier, a black shadow cut between us.

"That's enough from both of you."

"...?! Capella?!"

"Move!"

Johann roared and swung a claw strike with his right hand, but Capella saw it coming and dodged at the last moment. Then, grabbing his arm, he threw him in the opposite direction.

"Forgive my impertinence."

"Wha...?!"

Tossed into the air, Johann twisted his body, took the fall, and landed on the ground. He reset his stance and glared sharply at Capella.

"What's the big idea, suddenly cutting in? Don't get in the way of my fight with Ridd!"

"Lord Johann, look over there."

Capella sent his gaze in a certain direction.

"Over there...?"

Puzzled, Johann turned around, and there stood 'Sekmetos', emitting tremendous pressure despite her narrowed eyes, and 'Tabal', watching with a wry, exasperated smile.

"Eek...?! Mother! And even Father?!"

Johann's Lionization vanished in an instant, and he shrank back, trembling.

'Ridd, I'm going to withdraw for now.''Yeah, understood. Thanks for everything. Good work.'

I responded to Memory's mental message, and the mana constituting his physical form as a shadow clone quietly and silently scattered into the night. The magic I used would likely be reported to Sekmetos and the others by Johann. But it would be a hassle to be questioned about the shadow clone, so for now, this should let me gloss over it.

Sekmetos and Tabal, who had been standing a little distance away, walked over to us with slow steps. Then, Sekmetos smiled at Johann.

"What was that 'Eek...?' all about, Johann?"

"Mother, this is, well..."

All his earlier bravado was gone. His ears drooped and he seemed to shrink, just like a scolded cat. Watching their exchange out of the corner of my eye, Tabal came over to me and bowed his head.

"Lord Ridd, it seems Johann has caused you trouble. My apologies."

"No, I also accepted his invitation, so I am equally responsible. If you are to scold Johann, then I should be scolded as well. For today, could you possibly forgive him, for my sake?"

I looked alternately at Tabal and Sekmetos.

"I ask this as Johann's friend as well. Could the two of you please let this matter end peacefully?"

"Ri... Ridd...?!"

As I bowed my head lightly, I heard Johann's delighted voice.

"Sek, Lord Ridd has said as much. Wouldn't it be fine to let this incident pass without penalty?"

As Tabal threw him a lifeline, Sekmetos let out a deep sigh and shook her head.

"Since it is a request from our guest, Lord Ridd, I shall say nothing more for now."

"Mother! Father! Thank you!"

Johann's ears perked up and he smiled, but Sekmetos furrowed her brow and glared.

"However, prepare yourself for training starting tomorrow. It seems you have energy to spare. I will personally give you a thorough workout."

"Ugh...?! Understood."

"Haha, you've gotten yourself into quite a situation, Johann."

"Fatheeeer..."

As Tabal smiled wryly and patted Johann's head, Johann looked up at him resentfully. The images of Sekmetos and Tabal overlapped with those of my own father and mother. They must be a normally affectionate family.

"By the way, how did the two of you come to be here? Is everything alright at the venue?"

Changing the subject, I asked, and Sekmetos shrugged her shoulders as if to say 'oh well.'