How to Survive as That Villainess - Chapter 3

<– 3. The Villainess Named Radell →

Chapter 3.

Filled with excitement during my first outing, I strolled around the streets as if I were running. Despite the late hour, the streets were well-lit, likely due to the high-hanging moon. The flowers blooming here and there sparkled under the moonlight. I enjoyed the dreamlike and serene streets with Vivian, even though she seemed tired.

Wow, it’s so quiet and beautiful…

“Hey, this guy dares to hit on my girl?”

“My girl seems to like it; should I join in?”

It’s really not quiet at all…

“If we bump into someone, we should apologize!”

“Get lost, you fool!”

What a mess. That was my initial impression of the streets. I think I now understand why Vivian warned me not to go out. It was a dangerous place to walk alone without any escort. All I could see were brawlers and revelers. As I was taking a deep breath to calm myself in this somewhat unfamiliar environment, I spotted a noticeable shop.

“Vivian! Let’s go over there.”

“Miss, before that…”

Vivian, trying to restrain me from running over, gathered and tied my long, straight hair that reached down to my waist into a single bundle. Then, she draped the robe she had been carrying over her arm around me and spoke with a concerned tone.

“In case someone recognizes you.”

“Ah, so this is how you conceal my identity!”

It felt like something out of a spy movie, which made it exciting. Wearing the robe snugly, I entered the noisy shop with Vivian. As soon as we entered, a pleasant aroma and the strong smell of alcohol filled the air.

“It’s a tavern… isn’t it?”

“Yes, but it doesn’t seem like an ordinary tavern.”

Vivian said that and glanced at a particular spot. I followed her gaze and saw a large dueling arena at the far end of the tavern. It seemed unusually large compared to other establishments. The circular arena housed two men who appeared to be fencers, with one muscular man pushing the relatively leaner one.

“Oh, customers. Welcome! What can I get you?”

A man casually spoke up. Startled because I had been watching the dueling, I looked at the man. He seemed to be the owner of the establishment and had a friendly demeanor.

“Oh, I’ll place an order later, but can you explain what that is?”

I wouldn’t drink alcohol because I was still a minor, but I didn’t want to be kicked out for not ordering anything, so I casually inquired. The tavern owner chuckled and pointed with his finger at the dueling arena.

“Haha, that’s like an event that takes place every night in our establishment.”

“An event?”

“Yes. They compete in fencing, and the last winner receives a prize.”

Oh, a prize?

The mention of a prize piqued my interest. Events like these are often more enjoyable. Besides, I had learned some fencing, so I thought it might be a good opportunity. I looked at Vivian with excitement in my eyes.

“Miss… you can’t be serious.”

“Just once, I’ll do it just once.”

“When it seems too dangerous, please stop immediately.”

Vivian, who had learned that my stubbornness was relentless, sighed deeply as she had been by my side all this time. She had once told me that I would age quickly if I sighed so often, but now she was the one giving me a stern look.

“Wait a minute. At first glance, you look like a noble young lady, but that’s more dangerous than you think!”

“It’s okay! I know how to handle a sword to some extent!”

As I smiled and spoke, the tavern owner, though perplexed, didn’t stop me any further. The nighttime streets and the tavern event made it feel even more like a novel. Being possessed like this is far from ordinary, so I should enjoy every moment!

“Please be careful…”

With Vivian’s worried gaze, I made my way to the dueling arena. The match seemed to be reaching its conclusion. The big guy had deflected the opponent’s sword and finished him off with a punch. Wait a minute, I thought they were supposed to use swords?

“Finally, we have a winner. Today’s victor, Alfredo! Now, do we have any challengers who want to face Alfredo?”

“Me, me!”

I hesitated for a moment in the unexpectedly hostile atmosphere, but I raised my hand instinctively due to the announcer’s thunderous voice. Alfredo, the burly man, looked strong, but it seemed he lacked skill. I thought I might be able to win quite easily, so I raised my hand without hesitation. However, the surroundings suddenly fell silent. Just a while ago, there had been cheers and shouts, but now…?

“Wait, are you going, Miss…?”

“Yes, it’s me. Oh, by any chance, are women not allowed?”

The festive atmosphere was momentarily hushed as if I were taking a college entrance exam. What’s going on? Is there some rule that women aren’t allowed? I glanced at the announcer on the stage and asked, and he looked bewildered, unsure of what to do.

“It’s not that you can’t…”

“Well then, I’ll challenge!”

Drawing the sword I had brought for self-defense, I stepped into the dueling arena. Alfredo, the big man, chuckled as he looked at me, and the audience watched with a mix of confusion and interest. I confidently raised my sword and aimed it at my opponent.

“Okay, let the match begin…”

The signal for the start of the match rang out, taking us all by surprise. The announcer looked at me with a flustered expression. To reassure him, I flashed a V sign with my fingers and smiled.

“Young lady, are you sure about this? A few bones might get broken, but it won’t be over.”

Bones might get broken in a sword fight? While my opponent appeared strong, I hoped he wouldn’t resort to using his fists against a woman. Considering what I had seen in the previous match, he might be allowed to use other weapons or his fists, but… I couldn’t help but recall the scene of this man, Alfredo, striking someone down with his fist. It wasn’t particularly terrifying, but I needed to be cautious. I had to finish this as quickly as possible and win the prize.

“Oh, Mr. Announcer! What’s the prize?”

“It’s a ring with 5,000 gold and rubies embedded in it…”

Hmm, it might be a bit excessive to call this a prize for a tavern event. I didn’t really need the money, but the idea of a ruby-studded ring was tempting. My finger felt empty, and this came at the right time!

“Hey, are you ignoring me?”

While I was talking to the announcer and temporarily ignoring him, Alfredo approached looking irritated. His size was even more massive than I had expected, and his muscles were rather grotesque. He flexed his bulging arm muscles as if showing off, and it somehow made me uncomfortable. Ugh, I can’t keep looking at that.

“What’s the matter, are you scared? It’s not too late to withdraw.”

I avoided eye contact because of his imposing muscles, and Alfredo, thinking I was avoiding him out of fear, laughed loudly. His voice was as loud as his physique. I plugged my ears and glanced at Alfredo, my eyes filled with a mischievous spirit.

“If you won’t withdraw, then I’ll go first!”

Alfredo charged towards me without any hesitation. Well, what should I do now? Sword fighting seemed out of the question. Oh, right, let’s finish this in one shot! When I first started learning swordsmanship from Vivian, I learned a useful tip. If you ever want to safely subdue an opponent on the street, say, a bandit or a thug, aim for the vital spots and finish them off quickly.

So, when the man rushed towards me, I skillfully sidestepped and used the hilt of my sword to strike the back of his neck. I did as I had learned, but I never expected him to fall like in the movies.

“Ugh!”

“!!”

Huh? Why are you lying there, Alfredo? Weren’t you just moving with so much energy? But now, he was lying on the ground as if knocked out. It wasn’t like he was sleeping because he was tired, or he had some strong attachment to the ground. So, unless I did something, could it be…?

“Wow, incredible. You took him down in one shot…”

One of the spectators, awestruck by the situation, made a comment, and I realized what had just happened.

I had knocked him down.

Vivian’s teachings truly were incredible. Sending someone away with a single strike like that, is this my newfound talent? While I was still in awe of my abilities, the loud and booming voice of the announcer echoed through the venue.

“Today’s favorite, Alfredo, has been defeated! Our new winner is…uh, the Crimson Rose Knight!”

Ugh! Don’t give me such a strange nickname! I guess the hood had come loose, and my red hair was now flowing freely. The announcer, quick to scan my red hair and, with a great sense of naming, gave me a nickname that made me feel embarrassed. The Crimson Rose Knight? Seriously? It’s cringe-worthy! Outdated! I’d rather he asked for my name! Oh well, maybe that’s not an option. After all, I’m supposed to be a noble lady… Anyway, the announcer’s naming sense is terrible.

“Is there no next challenger?”

“Me, me!”

“No, next it’s me…”

It seems like I’ve become quite popular, though I’m not pleased with the reason for my newfound fame. But I was excited to engage in a proper swordfight, so I eagerly looked at the potential challengers for the next round.

“Miss… please go home now.”

Vivian, who had come close, was looking at me with a worried expression from the audience seats. I hesitated for a moment, but I saw this as a unique opportunity and reluctantly nodded.

“If it gets tough, I’ll stop right away.”

“Miss…!”

I could hear Vivian’s cries, but I chose the next challenger, ignoring her pleas. This time, I picked a bald-headed opponent, who somehow looked strong. I made up my mind that if I lost this round, I would call it quits. And then, almost unintentionally, I found myself winning again, and I kept selecting the next challengers… The pattern repeated, and before I knew it, I was on a winning streak with five victories.

“Miss, you’re amazing, taking down four opponents with that small body!”

“Miss, it’s time to stop now…!”

Amid the audience’s admiration and Vivian’s strained voice, I was feeling particularly good. It seemed that I had a talent for targeting pressure points and rendering my opponents unconscious with a single blow, as I managed to easily defeat each challenger.

While I occasionally engaged in battles with the challengers, it was indeed challenging to defeat adult men through sheer strength. I often had to rely on my agility to evade their attacks and find openings. It was sometimes a close call, but in the end, I emerged victorious. That was what mattered!

Now, with no challengers left, I seemed to be the winner, eligible to claim the prize money and items. Great! Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like there would be any more challengers. I was about to be declared the winner.

“Alright, are there any more challengers?”

The host searched for more contestants, but nobody raised their hand or came forward. I was already certain of my victory and thinking about preparing to head home.

“Oh, there’s a challenger!”

“…?!”

My heart felt like it stopped for a moment. The man who approached from the audience area, without saying a word but clearly expressing his intention to challenge me, was quite handsome, or more accurately, breathtakingly handsome. His jet-black hair, and deep and beautiful crimson eyes. I knew this extraordinarily attractive young man very well. He was someone impossible not to know, a fish in Seria’s fish tank.

…Kailonse Rayven, why are you here?!