I Was Sent to an All-Female Frontline Unit to Get Rid of Some of the Trouble, but the Most Beautiful Girls Who Are Rumored to Hate Men Love Me So Much That I Have a Hard Time at Night - Chapter 65: Encounter With Narcissus (3)

Chapter 65: Encounter With Narcissus (3)

“What…?”

I would fight Narcissus at the magic tournament…?

If the goal was to showcase advanced combat between soldiers, Elena or Sephia would be more suitable, even if they agreed to participate.

So why…?

“Why me…?”

I asked the question that arose directly.

Narcissus opened his mouth and answered.

“You’re said to be exceptionally talented among trainees, right? But that’s just a rumor… Everyone wants to see your skill with their own eyes. So, to sum up the purpose of this Expert Match, it’s to see how far Finn Teraward, a supposedly talented trainee, can fight against me, Narcissus, a formal soldier and extremely skilled.”

“Huh…?”

Elena let out a slightly intimidating, doubtful sound.

She maintained a cold expression and spoke in a cold tone.

“You seem to misunderstand something, so let me clarify: Finn may lack real combat experience as a soldier, but in terms of hidden potential, he’s not only on par with other soldiers but even compared to us—”

“Thank you, Elena.”

I interrupted Elena’s words, likely meant to acknowledge my skill.

I stretched out my arm in front of her, opened my palm to stop her from continuing, and expressed my gratitude.

“But… if I’m to show my skill, I think I should prove it with actions, not words.”

“Finn…”

That’s right.

If I was a member of the Luvankrum Empire’s military’s strongest unit, I couldn’t afford to lose to others.

Above all, I wanted to prove I could be of help to everyone.

Training could show that, but real combat or a tournament like this would demonstrate it better.

With that thought, I faced Narcissus again and voiced my answer to his invitation.

“I understand. I accept your offer.”

“I see… It’s impressive you didn’t refuse, knowing you’ll face me. Then, don’t forget to come to the venue on time for the magic tournament… Now, I’ll take my leave—beautiful ladies! Witness my splendid battle at the magic tournament! Heh.”

Narcissus spoke loudly, as if on a theater stage, and swept his already side-swept hair to the side.

He turned his back on us and walked away from the scene.

Immediately, everyone voiced their disgust without hiding it.

“What’s with that guy…?”

“Totally impossible…”

“If he weren’t an ally, I’d have blasted him away already…”

“Totally…”

“Trying to ask Elena-senpai out was ridiculous, right?”

“Yeah, no way that was ever happening.”

“No matter who invites us, we’d never sway except for Tera.”

“Men other than Teraward-kun are just impossible—”

They continued talking among themselves.

The atmosphere felt heavy.

Just moments ago, everyone was so cheerful about going to eat sweets…

Sweets… That’s right, sweets!

To change this heavy atmosphere, I opened my mouth and spoke quickly.

“Um, everyone! We’re on our way to the shop, so how about we talk about sweets while heading there?”

“!”

“Sweets… talk…!”

Everyone’s mood shifted from heavy to bright instantly.

They opened their mouths and spoke.

“Yeah! Let’s do it!”

“There are so many sweets; it’s hard to choose what to talk about.”

We exchanged words and started walking toward the shop again.

“What kind of sweets do you like, Teraward-kun?”

“Me? I love fresh cream cake, chocolate cake, and cookies too!”

“!”

“Fresh cream cake, chocolate cake, and cookies…!”

“So cute…”

“Too cute, it’s overwhelming…”

“Tera’s the only healing…”

“I can’t wait to see Teraward-kun eating sweets—”

We continued talking about sweets while heading to the shop.

The heavy atmosphere from before felt like a lie.

Everyone now had bright expressions, and I enjoyed talking with them immensely.

This fun time with everyone was more precious than anything.

But that didn’t mean I could neglect becoming strong enough to protect them.

To get closer to that goal, I’d first aim to defeat Narcissus, who likely had more combat experience, at the upcoming magic tournament.

I thought about this in the back of my mind but quickly returned my focus to the present.

I decided to enjoy this time with everyone wholeheartedly.

◆◇◆

Narcissus arrived at a room used temporarily as a meeting room and spoke while thinking of the frontline unit’s women.

“Those were the frontline unit’s women… As rumored, they were all very beautiful.”

“Their dislike for men was just as rumored too.”

A subordinate said this.

Narcissus shook his head and responded.

“Their seemingly cold actions are just the flip side of their affection for me… In other words, they can’t be honest. If I defeat Finn Teraward with overwhelming skill at the magic tournament, they’ll have no choice but to be honest. And by assassinating Finn Teraward, I’ll gain a promotion and even higher status—perfect. To think I can gain so much just by defeating and assassinating a commoner… The goddess might be charmed by my existence. Don’t you think?”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“Heh, you think so too… To charm even the goddess’s heart, what a sinful existence I am!”

Narcissus spoke lamentingly and indulged in his own world for a moment.

A subordinate spoke to him.

“Of course, we don’t think you’ll lose, Narcissus-sama, but what is Finn Teraward’s skill level, actually?”

“As for that, I observed and assessed him after exchanging words with him.”

Narcissus’s observation lasted only a moment, so likely no one in the room noticed.

His words drew gasps of admiration from his subordinates.

Narcissus received their reactions and continued speaking proudly.

“He seems talented for a trainee, but… he’s still just a trainee. I didn’t sense any strong presence from him.”

“Oh…! That means…”

“Yes. In a few days, I’ll gain everything I mentioned.”

Narcissus trusted not only others’ information or documents but, above all, his own eyes as absolute.

His eyes saw Finn as inferior in skill.

So all that remained was to overpower Finn with skill.

“But to make it a proper show, I’ll need to hold back a bit at first… And I must think carefully about which frontline unit woman to have dinner with. With a promotion, I’ll have even more to think about… But it can’t be helped. This is because I’m too excellent… My excellence is such a burden! Why am I so exceptional!?”

No matter how much he lamented, the burden wouldn’t fade.

Feeling this strongly, Narcissus indulged in his own world again.

After the magic tournament in a few days, this burden would likely grow stronger.

By then, as his eyes observed, he’d defeat the inferior Finn Teraward at the tournament, irresistibly charming the frontline unit’s women.

And by assassinating Finn Teraward after the tournament, he’d secure a promotion.

Narcissus felt deep burden over this and continued indulging in his own world for a while.