CHAPTER 44.5 - The girl who doesn't give up. Part 2.

CHAPTER 44.5 - The girl who doesn't give up. Part 2.

(Pov - Kei.)

I wasn't a big fan of anime. I preferred reading manga and light novels. There was less censorship and I liked that.

I found it amusing when protagonists were beaten by their friends and family. I believed it was a way of showing their love. For example, a girl's attitude who doesn't accept her feelings or doesn't want others to know about what she feels. Hitting the protagonist was a way of getting their attention.

Now I realize that was physical abuse... And I also suffer from it. Damn domestic violence!

"It's about to start! Get ready!"

"W-wait!"

We were in the stands of the coliseum. My mother brought me here to greet my father and some of my mother's friends.

After I finished introducing myself, she grabbed my arm and held me tightly.

"Go!"

"Uwaaaah!"

She threw me onto the fighting arena... Damn crazy woman!

This is not my normal form. I can't control it as well as my normal form. My movements are more limited and my reflexes decrease. Landing is difficult for me in this state! I'll fall on my face!

Huh? Luna extends her arms... Does she want to catch me? Oh, Luna, you're my savior. My hero.

She was about to catch me, but lowered her arms and moved away from me... Huh?!

My face hit the ground. Ahhhhhhhh! I thought she was going to help me! You betrayed me, Luna!

"Are you okay?"

"Why didn't you catch me?!"

"I was going to, but I remembered that we are enemies now. I can't help you."

"Yeah, yeah. Great excuse."

I got up from the ground and dusted myself off.

I looked at the people around me... The first round is a fight to the death. The round ends when only 8 people are left alive. Yes, alive. This arena is special. It has the magic of a God called "Fate". The people who die here will be revived. According to legend, Fate built it so that common people could use it to train without fear of dying.

I really want a place like this to use it to train with my companions, so we could train to the death... Literally.

Mmm... Only women... Oh, I must give up on the idea of meeting a powerful man. I want to have male friends, not just female friends!

"There are only women... I had hoped to meet a powerful man and be his friend."

There were about 100 people in the arena. It will be a little difficult... I'll have to use "that" to win.

It will be difficult because I don't know most of the participants, but if I ignore the participants I don't know, I think only Near, Luna, and my mother are a danger to me. As long as I stay away from them, I'll pass the first round without any problems.

"You're the only powerful man I know... I think your father is also strong. I've heard rumors about him, although I don't know if they're exaggerations."

"He's strong, but not as much as my mother. He's within an acceptable range. He can tame my mother, that alone is a great achievement."

"Love changes people, huh? I'd like to experience it someday."

"It's a pretty warm and cute feeling, I tell you from my own experience. But don't change just to please someone, it's not worth pretending to be someone you're not, you'll just live a false life that you probably won't enjoy."

"From personal experience, huh? Interesting."

"The first round will begin! Are you ready?!" shouted the host.

The host's voice sounded familiar...the guild master? Well, well.

The women prepared themselves and some looked at me with lewd expressions. I feel sexually harassed. Hey, hey, I know Crisfa is handsome, but control your hormones, I'm a decent man.

"A man is here? Pathetic."

Oh, judging without knowing me? Well, well. Did they really accept newbies in the tournament? What a waste.

"He'll be the first to die."

No, that will be you.

"I feel sorry for him."

I should be the one saying that to you.

Fufu. The three who said that look powerful... They will be the first. It's a bit spiteful on my part, but someone has to teach them a lesson.

I smiled at them and they blushed. I activated my [Seduce Women] ability on them. I don't want them as companions, I just want to have the advantage.

"Begin!"

And as I suspected, the women tried to attack me first.

When they tried to hit me, they stopped. Women under the influence of my ability cannot harm me.

They really try to hit me, but my ability prevents them. They stop before touching me.

I love their desperate and confused faces, but I have to finish this.

"I'm sorry for this, beauties."

I punched the first one in the face with my right fist.

With my left elbow, I hit the second one in the throat.

And with my right knee, I hit the third one in the stomach.

The second one turned to dust and scattered... I killed her pretty easily. She surely had very few hit points... The other two were still alive... For now.

The other women tried to attack me at the same time, so I used "that".

"Wind attribute! Burst!"

Two small red circles appeared on the palms of my hands and I smiled. It's not a very powerful attack, but it's perfect for attacking multiple targets at the same time.

Two huge gusts of wind started coming out of my hands and I began to spin, as if I were a tornado.

The wind caused the women to fly away... Well, almost all of them.

"Your wind magic is powerful," said Luna, who was unaffected by my attack and stood still, as if my powerful wind was only a light breeze to her.

I suspected it... I can't compare myself to her. She is a lion and I am a newborn baby. It's impossible for a baby to defeat a lion. I definitely can't let the other heroes discover my identity... Thanks for keeping the secret, Luna.

The wind disappeared and the circles too... Well, I wasted 49% of my magical power... But it was worth it. The gusts of wind did good total damage to the participants around me, so it saved me a lot of fighting time. Now I just have to give them the final blow and it's done.

... Huh?

While I was fighting with cowardly long-range attacks, Near was mercilessly killing the women... And my mother was doing the same... They're monsters. I won't make it to the final.

"I'll miss you, Class C."

So close and yet so far. Why did this have to happen to me...? Huh?

I felt a sense of danger and ducked.

Someone threw a knife at my head. Fortunately, I managed to dodge it.

Shit, that was close. I managed to dodge it in time. My mother taught me how to use my magic to enhance my senses. I can feel when I'm in danger, although I give credit to my survival instinct... Although it only works when I'm focused.

"Despite being a mere man, you are very strong. Fight me, inferior."

Eh? Is a little girl challenging me? No, wait... She's not a little girl... I think she's around 15... I thought she was a little girl because of her appearance. She's flat-chested and I think she's about 1.50 meters tall. And considering that light clothing, I think she specializes in long-range attacks. What a light outfit. Just a very short pair of pants and a short blouse that exposes her abdomen. Did she really come dressed like that to a tournament? With no protection, huh? I'll have to be careful of her attacks and speed... Wait, that hair and eye color seem familiar... I think I know her... Yes, I know her! I haven't seen her in years.

Kiarna?

Yes, it's her... It's definitely her. I heard rumors about her. Since I rejected her, she started training to become an adventurer... I don't know why she did that. She belongs to one of the richest families. I suppose she's like me and wants to have adventures... Did her parents allow that?

Well, it doesn't matter. I'm glad to know she's become powerful. She was very weak in the past.

•

•

(Some time ago.)

How did I meet Kiarna? Well, this happened when I was 7 years old.

"Kiss the ground! Do it!"

"Quick!"

Despite belonging to an important family, Kiarna was very weak. Her magical and physical power was low. She was considered a disappointment.

Her cousins teased her about it... Kiarna cried, but they didn't care, on the contrary, seeing her cry only made them feel happier because they enjoyed her pain.

They were in the garden of a mansion. Kiarna was on the ground, and her two cousins had their feet on her small body.

"P-please, stop!"

"Kiss the ground!"

Despite being the same age, they behaved in different ways... That's why I hated nobles.

I was observing the situation from a distance, just to see how Kiarna reacted. I wanted to see if she would defend herself or awaken some hidden power, but since nothing was happening, I decided to act and defend her because it hurt me to see her cry.

"Hey, she's crying. Leave Kiarna alone."

I approached them, with firm steps and without any doubt on my face.

They clearly didn't recognize me, as they showed aggression towards me and looked at me with disgust and contempt. If they had recognized me, they wouldn't have dared to look at me in that way.

"Who are you?! Who let you in, kid?!"

"My name is Kei Molfer. My mother is Sei Molfer. She asked me to come talk to your father. I was talking to him, but I heard someone crying, so I came to help her."

Their faces turned pale and they stepped back, trying to get away from me.

"S-son of Sei Molfer?"

"Stop."

"Y-yes!" Both said, and they stopped moving away from me.

I stood in front of them.

"Listen carefully, you idiots."

I took them by the arm and pulled them towards me.

"I hate people who take advantage of others."

I hit their legs, and both fell to the ground face first.

"Listen carefully. Kiarna is under my protection. If you try to do anything to her, you will regret it. Having me as an enemy is not pretty."

I extended my right hand and threw a fireball.

The fireball hit the ground and exploded. A small explosion, but enough to threaten them.

It caused a huge hole, and both began to tremble with fear.

"In social terms, I am superior to you. In terms of strength, I am superior to you. Don't try anything stupid, understood?"

"Y-yes!" Both said, on the verge of tears.

I approached Kiarna and extended my hand.

"Do you need help? Are you not hurt?"

"N-no... I'm fine. T-thank you."

She took my hand and stood up from the ground.

"If they do something bad to you, don't hesitate to tell me. I will kill them if necessary."

Both started crying and ran away.

"We won't go near her again!"

Obviously, I wasn't going to kill them for something like that. I'm not that ruthless.

"Well, I guess the problem is solved."

"Brother!"

Mei approached us, quite angry.

"What are you doing here, Mei?"

"I was looking for you to eat together! Your lovely sister wanted to eat with her lovely brother, but you're wasting time flirting with a girl!"

"Flirting?! I'm not flirting!"

"Why are you holding her hand, then?"

"Eh?"

Kiarna was still holding my hand, and as I was so distracted, I forgot that I was still holding her hand.

"Eh?!"

I turned completely red and walked away from her, so as not to make her feel more uncomfortable than I already had.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable!"

I lowered my head so as not to see her, afraid of seeing disgust on her face.

"I-I'll go now."

I ran out and Mei chased after me.

"Wait for me, brother!"

Kiarna put her hands on her chest and smiled.

"Kei... You're amazing."

I caught a glimpse and heard that last part only because I wanted to make sure I hadn't made her uncomfortable, but I never expected to see that reaction.

I became even more nervous and decided to pretend I hadn't heard her.

•

•

Ah, I remember that moment... Honestly, I helped her just because I hate people who take advantage of others, I had no ulterior motive behind that action. In the other world, when other guys tried to bully me, I would fight back and beat them up. And I always won because Cris helped me... Ah, what nostalgia... Shit, this is not the time to feel nostalgic! I have to fight her!

Kiarna, we were friends, but you ruined our friendship when you decided to stop talking to me and seeing me just because I rejected you. We are no longer friends, so don't think I will have any mercy on you.

You have become powerful despite being so weak in the past, and that is something I respect. It would be a great disrespect not to fight you seriously.

I will defeat you.

"Okay, let's..."

"The first round is over!"

"Eh?"

So fast?! Ahhhhhh! And I was about to get serious!

"The first round lasted less than I thought," Luna said.

Luna approached me.

"Your mother and Near finished with the contestants," she said quietly next to me.

"Shit, that was fast."

Well, we're not enemies anymore, at least for now. I'll go say hello to my old friend.

I approached Kiarna.

"It will be some other time. We cannot fight now."

I extended my hand and smiled.

"My name is Crisfa, it's a pleasure to meet you, miss. May I know your name?"

Kiarna slapped my hand and moved away from me... What?

"Disgusting."

"Eh?"

...

...

...

She ignored me?

"Hey, why did you do that?"

"You don't deserve to touch my hand, disgusting commoner."

"Eh?"

Disgusting commoner?! No! What happened to the adorable and cute Kiarna?! Have you also become a stupid noble?! What a waste.

Oh yes, my theory has been confirmed. Power corrupts people! Damn shitty world, you corrupted a kind and pure girl and turned her into an arrogant piece of shit!

"Shit... That was disappointing."

Kiarna, you were a good person, but you have become what you hated. I thought of talking to you again to be friends again, as I remembered how close we were, but now that I see that you have become an arrogant piece of shit, I decided not to talk to you again.

Goodbye, Kiarna.

•

•

The losers have left the arena and the winners from the first round are gathered in the arena.

My mother, Near, Luna, Kiarna... And unfortunately, Cris also won.

She was by my side... Shit, I have to be alert, she could kill me at any moment. I can't die 100% in this place, but that would give her clues on how to kill me completely.

The other two winners are Class A adventurers... Honestly, I don't know them well, so I'll consider them filler characters.

"I didn't expect you to participate too, Cris."

"I just want the prize money. Don't forget our appointment, Crisfa."

"Yes, yes... I won't run away."

After all, I have no other choice.

After a few minutes of waiting, the results will be displayed.

A huge magic hologram appeared. Our names appeared in the hologram.

By the way, I'm very nervous! There are thousands of people in the coliseum! Shit, I was too focused on winning that I didn't pay attention to my surroundings! Now that I realized it, I became too nervous and red.

Ahhhhhhh! Come on, Kei, pretend you don't care! Crisfa is someone who has no shame! Don't act like Kei Molfer, you're Crisfa right now!

"The order of the fights is as follows! I remind you that the order is random!"

The names started moving quickly inside the hologram. Please, don't let it be Near or my mother. Please, Supreme God, please. Let it be Cris or Kiarna, or one of the two filler adventurers. Please, at least I want to pass the second round.

The names stopped moving, revealing the order.

... What?

"N-no..."

Supreme God, you failed me.

"The first fight will be between Crisfa and Near, the hero!"

Near smiled and I said goodbye to my dream of becoming a Class C adventurer.