"Hey, Ash, you really gonna play dirty like this?!"
Kellibey, one of the quartet of different species, spat out in anger, but I stood my ground and yelled back just as fiercely.
"There's no such thing as playing dirty in a competition! Just surrender already!"
There was no way I was going to lose to Dusk Bringar! The command over the Black Dragon Subjugation Operation was at stake! I was desperate too!
From within my arms, Hannibal, struggling fiercely, shouted with a face full of resentment.
"That's really low, Your Highness!"
"Quiet, you! I need to win this! Now, go ahead and convince your comrades to surrender!"
As I threatened Hannibal, Zenis, watching from the stands, couldn't bear the dreadful sight and tried to intervene.
"Hannibaaaal! Daddy's coming to save youuuu!"
Of course, he was immediately restrained by the guards. Even as he was dragged away, Zenis kept screaming, causing a commotion, while Hannibal covered his face with his hands, seemingly embarrassed.
Boooo!
Jeers poured down from the stands toward me. Disgusting, vile, but some still liked the bad prince, and various other reactions were heard.
I calmly spread my arms and took in the jeers, enjoying the villain role like a professional wrestler reveling in the audience's boos.
"Every show needs a villain, after all, heh heh..."
"No, it's not about being a villain; you're actually doing something terrible..."
Junior, looking uneasy, asked Hannibal, "Are you okay?" and Hannibal cheerfully responded, "I'm okay!"
Feeling somewhat guilty for being the only bad guy here, I tickled Hannibal's side once more.
Hannibal screamed with laughter, and this act was too much for the quartet of different species, who agonizingly clutched their heads.
"Ash! You rookie! Let my assistant go!"
"Ash, I didn't see you like this before...!"
"Prince Ash, honestly, I did see you like this..."
"You seem quite talented, Captain! I would have scouted you during my bandit days!"
"HAHAHA! You've got 1 minute! Surrender within a minute!"
Anyway, this was how it was between our main party, the kidnappers, and the Outsiders, who had their comrade taken from them. Both parties were screaming at each other, locked in a standoff...
That's when it happened. The bodies of the four representatives of different species, who had been glaring at me in anger, suddenly began to be wrapped in an incredible aura.
Whoa!
An unprecedented terrifying surge of magic power wrapped around the four. The representatives of the different species let out a roar and emitted an enormous magical power in all directions.
Dumbfounded, I gaped, sweating coldly.
"What? Why are they suddenly awakening in anger because their precious comrade was kidnapped? What's this?"
As everyone was taken aback, a calm voice came from the stands.
"Oh. It seems to have started."
Turning around, I saw the Emperor sitting in the stands.
I was furious at him for blabbing about our affair to Dusk Bringar yesterday, wanting to blame this tattletale, but the situation at hand was more frightening.
I gestured toward the four species' representatives and asked.
"Started? What exactly is happening?! Why are these people suddenly becoming super-Outsiders?"
"Didn't I tell you before? The gods of each species have moved south through the spirit realm... and decided to lend their strength to this front."
The Emperor nodded.
"And their method is to select their 'avatars', that is, representatives, to wield their power on their behalf."
"Eh, does that mean?"
"Yes. It seems that the selection has just been made."
So, during the martial arts tournament, and of all times, against our party, and precisely now when I've kidnapped a precious comrade, the gods of the species have chosen these four as their avatars?
"Argh, why did it have to be a power-up event at this timing?!"
From how it looks, I'm destined to be defeated as the villain! And it's actually happening!
Whoa!
Emitting streams of magical power that matched the colors of their respective species' guardians - Evergreen, Everred, Evergold, Everblue.
Having completed their power-up, the Chosen Ones of each species glared at me with menacing eyes.
I hiccupped involuntarily. Eek.
The audience was ecstatic over this classic cliché power-up scene.
"Wow!"
"Outsiders! Outsiders!"
"Give the prince a good hit!"
"Tickle him on the side just like he did!"
"Even worse! We're okay with even worse!"
What's to like, you masochistic viewers! Stop asking for weird stuff!
That's when it happened. While I was distracted by the four's power-up and the noisy reactions around me,
"Argh!"
Hannibal quietly slipped out of my embrace... and smoothly escaped, riding on the earth spirit!
"What?!"
My mouth fell open. This, this tactic!
"The one used against the Scarecrow Legion Commander!"
And to think, I was the one who had instructed him on this!
"It was all taught by Your Highness!"
Hannibal grinned, sliding away on the spirit, escaping the scene.
"I told you, I can hold my own...!"
Damn it! Underestimating him because he was considered the weakest in fighting power among the Outsiders was a mistake.
Hannibal had already become a formidable mercenary...!
"My son is doing great-!"
Zenis, having made a comeback in the stands, was cheering loudly and proudly.
And at the same time, the four representatives of different species, having completed their power-up of rage and justice, charged at me like bulls. Damn it.
"No choice, get ready for battle!"
At my command, the main party members also hastily took up their battle stances,
Whoa...!
With the audience's cheers, our two parties clashed.
***
Fortunately, the battle ended quickly without anyone getting hurt.
The problem was the divine power that had inhabited the bodies of the four species' representatives.
Having received such formidable power for the first time, the quartet couldn't control their bodies properly and eventually collapsed on the spot, groaning in pain like people who had overeaten.
"Why... why at this timing..."
Kellibey murmured, trembling on the arms propped against the ground, before finally collapsing with a thud.
"At this timing, for this to happen..."
In front of the collapsed representatives of the different species, our main party members wiped the sweat that had formed on their chins with the backs of their hands.
Though it was brief before they collapsed, the power of the divine within those four was extraordinary.
Had we properly fought, it's really uncertain how the battle would have ended...
"If I had known they'd self-destruct like this, there was no need for this kidnapping drama."
The four species' representatives being carried on stretchers to the temple for recuperation. And Hannibal, walking amiably with Zenis into the market street as they exited.
While cheers and applause were showered on those leaving,
Booo-
Playful jeers flew from all directions towards our party, who were declared the ultimate victors. Well, I brought it upon myself, so I can't complain.
"Being treated as the villain, it's been a while."
Damian grinned. That reminded me of the 'Blazing Colosseum' incident.
Back then, with these members, we overturned the victory odds set against us by the monster teams, winning despite the jeers and mockery.
Seeing the same memory reflected in the smiles of the main party members.
Winning with support is fun, but smashing everything as the villainous underdog has its own joys.
"Well, good."
I chuckled and waved towards the stands.
"Shall we emerge victorious as fitting villains amidst the jeers this time?"
"Oh, senior, you've ruined the mood again..."
Evangeline muttered something from behind, but quiet!
"Now that it's come to this, let's go with the villain concept for this martial arts tournament...!"
I then covered my face with my hands, wickedly curling the corners of my mouth.
I turned to the main party members and bluffed.
"Alright, you too! Switch to villain mode! On the double!"
"Eh? Oh, switching to villain mode...?"
Confused, the main party members looked at each other before earnestly scrunching up their faces, following my lead.
"It's time for me to return to being the bad Lucas who skips academy classes. Heh heh."
"Heh, heh heh... these eyes... darkness suits them..."
"Go, gold light. I got this from my mother, the gold light!"
"Crossroad is mine-!"
"..."
Watching each party member do their best to immerse themselves in the villain role, I thought to myself.
Honestly, you guys don't seem to have much talent for this...
***
The tournament progressed smoothly.
A little past lunchtime, the semifinals began.
And our opponents in the semifinals were-
"Glory Knights! Glory Knights!"
"The strongest knights of the empire!"
"Defeat the prince!"
"Tickle him on the ribs! Torment him!"
It was the Glory Knights.
As Hecate and the rest of the knights entered the stadium, they were surprised by this unexpected wave of support, their eyes going wide.
The rest of the knights also seemed taken aback by the sudden cheers, understandably confused since they hadn't been part of this front line for long.
"But all this passionate support is all thanks to our main party's switch to villains, right?"
Following that, as we entered the stadium with all our might, enthusiastic jeers and playful whistles filled the air from all around.
Especially since the heroes who had been defeated and eliminated by us - Uncles, Terrifying Sisters, New Outsiders, and others - were leading the jeering.
"Trading our party members as they please!"
"Using all sorts of dirty tricks to win!"
"Being handsome is everything?"
"Is it all about the salary? Is a festival enough?"
"Sweet?!"
"Seems sweet and sour?!"
"Anyway, booo!"
I raised my hands, contentedly laughing at their jeers. Any reaction is good for the show's success, after all. Thank you, comrades.
"Booo~!"
Among them, Nameless seemed not to understand why she was booing but was the most enthusiastic. You too...
"..."
Before the match began, as I scanned the stands, my eyes met with Dusk Bringar's, who stood aloof and alone.
Perhaps she came to scout her opponents for the finals.
I smiled brightly, but Dusk Bringar snorted and turned her head away abruptly. So cold.
"The sunlight is... adequately blocked."
Before today's match, a large canopy had been installed over the stadium to cover the entire area.
This was after learning that the Glory Knights could not be exposed to sunlight. Thanks to this, the stadium was covered in a suitable shadow.
"This match should be fair, without any conditions affecting it."
As I murmured softly, Lucas nodded satisfactorily and smiled.
The match was ready to begin.
Our main party and the Glory Knights stood at opposite ends of the stadium, quietly staring at each other.
The cheers and jeers filling the ears began to fade away. Waiting for the battle to start, the ten heroes started to focus entirely on each other.
And then...
Ding-!
With the sound of the bell signaling the start of the match, everyone in our party except Lucas rushed towards the Fake Dragon.
At the same time, four of the Glory Knights' dark knights also charged towards the Fake Dragon.
It had been agreed upon beforehand. In this match, these eight would not engage in direct combat but would focus on tackling the Fake Dragon.
The reason was...
"..."
"..."
To create a stage where the two knights could fully focus on their duel.
Lucas, having drawn his wooden sword, lightly warmed up as he walked towards the center of the stadium.
From the opposite side, Hecate, who had been holding an umbrella, smoothly folded it and, tying it with a string, also lightly walked towards the center of the stadium.
The blowing wind fluttered Hecate's white dress and white-brimmed hat.
Hecate, having taken a deep breath of the air from the south, lazily opened her eyes and looked up at the canopy filling the sky.
"Nice weather."
A faint smile formed on her lips.
"Enough for even spirits to dance."
Swoosh-!
The next moment, Hecate, pushing off the ground with the tip of her shoe, flew towards Lucas- and the two knights clashed.
Wooden sword and umbrella tangled in the air. Clashing swords and matching strength, they laughed.
"I feel like I could die without any regrets now."
"It's too early for that kind of talk, Hecate."
Lucas, applying force to his wooden sword, pushed Hecate's umbrella back sharply,
"There's so much you haven't done yet, for instance..."
He shouted, charging in.
"Like losing to me-!"
As this oddly heartwarming squabble between the two knights unfolded, I, watching from a distance, felt a strange warmth,
"...Uh, Your Highness."
A reluctant voice came from beside me.
"Hm? What?"
Turning around, Damian was sweating profusely, gesturing with his hand.
"It's... I found it, the reverse scale..."
"..."
Damian's words made our team members' shoulders stiffen.
You should've read the room and searched a bit slower! Like, give those two some time to duel after such a long time!
Hearing Damian's words, the shoulders of the four dark knights, who had been diligently searching for the reverse scale on the Fake Dragon, also stiffened.
Whooooosh-
We quietly eyed each other.
"Sorry, but..."
Damian smiled like an angel and then suddenly drew his bow.
"We're supposed to be the villains right now, aren't we?"
This guy, sticking so faithfully to his role...!
The next moment, Damian's arrow was nocked, and the four dark knights sprang into action to block the arrow.
Junior, Evangeline, and I joined in as well.
Not yet, damn it!