Year 1399 of the Imperial calendar - Shouyo continent - White Coliseum
(Alastor POV)
It was strange for Ifrit to ask me to protect some unknown person, but this seemed important to her.
"Traitor!" Voice from the grandstand A
"How dare someone take the side of that deviant?!" Voice from the grandstand B
The people here really hate the noble lady of the Graupel, what exactly did she do to deserve this?
"A long day awaits us, so without further delay, let's clear the arena!" Announcer lady
Everyone starts walking towards the north gate of the arena.
"Very well then, I leave this to you" Villainess
One particular voice in the coliseum catches my attention.
"Don't you think, you can get out unscratched!" Voice from the grandstand C
I step forwards closer to the Villaness and lift my hand to catch a brick directed at her head.
"...I see I am in good hands" Villainess
The surprise on her face only lasted one second.
"Please sit at the side of my lady for the day" Alastor
Ifrit will have to keep her safe while I am here.
"I will do so" Villainess
...
Only two participants remain in the arena.
"The ace of the Vine dukedom vs the butler of the Graupel dukedom" Announcer lady
The announcer is now on a special platform on top of the south gate.
"Who will attain victory in the first round?" Announcer lady
Blue sapphire eyes, shining gold hair, and a dress of the same color as her eyes.
A girl barely 14 years stands in front of me.
"You are that foreign lady's butler, arent you?" Alteria Wisper Vine
She must have been in the ballroom that day.
"You should give up while you have time" Alteria Wisper Vine
Five square boxes wrapped for gifts float in front of her, four are half a meter high while the last is easily one meter.
"Unlike anybody born outside the barrier of the city, we the four dukedoms can cast special skills without any inconvenient" Alteria Wisper Vine
Does time create a tolerance to the barrier effects?
"Someone without any skills like you does not have any chances to win against us" Alteria Wisper Vine
"Lets the fight begin!" Announcer lady
A stuffed cactus pops out of one of the boxes and charges at me like a cannonball.
"It is over" Alteria Wisper Vine
I extend my left hand forward.
"Thanks for the info" Alastor
"!!!" Alteria Wisper Vine
And stop the stuffed cannonball with one hand, grabbing it by the pink flower on its head.
"How is it possible! the Unknown butler has stopped the attack of the Doll Princess with only one hand!" Announcer lady
Since I entered the barrier, I feel extremely weak to the extent that I can't cast even a simple fireball.
"You are not a simple butler" Alteria Wisper Vine
But I don't feel as weak as the time I was under the effect of the spear of the Isekai Pope, I am able to cast some electricity and I can reinforce my body to some extent.
Did I get some tolerance too?
"I am sorry Doll Girl, but I have no intention of losing here" Alastor
The cactus doll throws its thorns at me, managing to lessen my grip and escape.
"It seems that I do not need to hold back" Alteria Wisper Vine
The remaining boxes open up to show three more cacti, that get in a file in front of their owner.
"There they are, the princess's royal guards!" Lady announcer
The four dolls begin to spin on themselves.
"1000 needles, Shoot!" Alteria Wisper Vine
As a little army, they shoot their projectiles at me.
One of those cleanly pierced my hand before, 1000 would be dangerous.
"Hmp!" Alastor
I hit the dirt ground with my Warhammer and the shockwave repels the incoming needles.
"What?!" Alteria Wisper Vine
Under the cover of the dust cloud, I get behind the cactus dolls and cut the long mana-covered golden hairs connecting them to the Doll Princess.
"Elstat, Protect me!" Alteria Wisper Vine
She immediately summons out the doll in the big box, a knight in dark armor.
"..." Alastor
But it is too late.
"..." Alteria Wisper Vine
My right hand is already touching the skin of her neck.
"You should give up while you have time" Alastor
I smile as I repeat what she said before.
"..." Alteria Wisper Vine
She slowly lifts both her hands.
"I give up" Alteria Wisper Vine
...
The coliseum goes into silence in disbelief.
"The... The winner is the butler of the Graupel dukedom!" Announcer lady
I take my hand off the neck.
"Are you okay?" Alastor
I didn't apply any force on her, but maybe some dust entered her eyes or something.
"..." Alteria Wisper Vine
She just walks towards the dolls on the floor.
"I told them that I am not a fighter..." Alteria Wisper Vine
And she picks them up carefully.
"Those dolls are very well made" Alastor
She walks towards the north door and answers without looking at me.
"...Thanks" Alteria Wisper Vine
...
(Suigintou Arnestianne Graupel POV)
We won the first round, but out of the three dukedom fighters, Alteria Wisper Vine was the most inexperienced.
"I am grateful to you for lending me your servant"
I speak to the foreign lady sitting at my side.
"But isn't it dangerous for him to continue?"
It is the only servant she brought in, and they seem to be close.
"Accidental casualties aren't weird in these types of tournaments"
They rarely happen, but there is always the possibility of happening.
"It is fine" Ifrit Atisse Aelius
Is it so?
"Alastor isn't that weak" Ifrit Atisse Aelius
I will have to thrust her words.
"Let's begin the fifth round of the tournament!" Announcer lady
Already?
I was expecting a scheme where everyone else would give up to shorten the time between fights, but they're not even trying to hide it!
