Chapter 266: The Stage of Envy (I)

In the end, Samimi had led them to the base and successfully stolen back the gold bonus from Fabiana’s room. Their current travel budget consisted of that very prize money.

“What exactly is going on?” Selina finally caught up to Samimi and whispered the question.

“What do you mean, what’s going on?” Samimi asked back.

“What do your personal grudges have to do with me? Why do I have to fight her?” Selina pressed.

“You’re right. My grudges, I’ll handle them myself,” Samimi said nonchalantly. “You go on home, my lady.”

“Wait, let me do it.” Just as Samimi prepared to step forward, Selina grabbed her hand. In the end, the girl obediently ascended the stage and stood side-by-side with Niubao.

Selina felt as if everything she had encountered lately was moving in the opposite direction of what she had imagined. She had originally wanted to have a showdown with that smart-mouthed Nun, but now she was fighting alongside her.

However, after listening for a while from the sidelines, she had a good idea of the gray-haired girl’s true identity.

That girl was the legendary Royal Capital Hero, the Hero of the Storm, Aigoas—someone whose background was even more prestigious than her own “backdoor” status.

This realization immediately ignited Selina’s competitive spirit.

To be honest, she really couldn’t beat the Twin Heroes or the Hero Sword Saint, but against this girl who was similar to her in age and experience, she surely stood a chance.

“Go for it, Selina!” Samimi cheered.

“Leave it to me!” For a Rice Bug like Selina, a single word of encouragement was enough to win her over. This feeling of being entrusted with a heavy responsibility made her very happy.

“I trust you to handle it.” Samimi had dropped her previous sarcasm and was now acting as a cheerleader.

‘Listen to what I’m saying. This is complete PUA psychological control—how wicked.’

But Samimi had known from the start that Selina wouldn’t refuse her request. At most, the girl would grumble a few lines before ultimately standing on that stage.

When Selina carried the title of Hero and the role of the Villainess, she was destined to stand on this stage, face the true protagonist, and fulfill her mission as a stepping stone.

This was called **[Conspecific Cannibalism]**.

This was a plot point designed from the very beginning.

‘But with me, Samimi, here, I won’t let that ending happen.’

‘Even though I’m sarcastic to you, even though I’m using PUA on you, don’t you dare compare me to those other bad women in reality. Because I will truly be good to you.’

The Villainess would not be a mere sacrifice. She wouldn’t give up, and she wouldn’t be abandoned.

On the other side, the Hero Sword Saint was discussing tactics with the two newcomers.

“I don’t know much about your former teammate. But that female knight is the Shield Axe Hero from the Dawn Guild. Her personal skills are average, but you must be careful of the transforming weapon in her hand,” Cresia shared her intel.

“She’s also a Hero?” Aigoas suddenly perked up, dropping her previous hesitant demeanor.

“Yes, why?” Cresia asked.

Aigoas didn’t answer. Instead, she turned her head to look at Selina, who was chatting with Samimi across the stage. Her gaze gradually became sharp.

A strange negative emotion began to sprout—and that was jealousy!

It seemed the Hero had finally found her own path.

After experiencing life as a Knight, a Clown Magic User, and a Sickly Elf, she had finally arrived at the most significant role: the Hero of Envy.

This change in personality had already exceeded Samimi’s expectations. Even as a Transmigrator, she couldn’t have predicted that the Hero’s personality would shift as fast as lightning—a new persona for every encounter.

Samimi’s perception of the Hero Aigoas was still stuck on the idea that this girl was a logical woman.

But the version had been updated!

Aigoas was no longer the rational Hero; she had become an emotional one.

Moreover, this had been indirectly caused by Samimi herself. Who told her to become a Cardinal? Who told her to show off every day? Who told her she liked to act cool?

Do you know what the **[Butterfly Effect]** is?

Samimi’s every action had silently pushed the Hero Aigoas into the abyss of envy. All the details had piled up to create this current situation.

Originally, she could have maintained a shred of dignity. But when she saw another Hero girl of similar age appear by the Rice Bug’s side, it pushed that negative emotion to the extreme. It was like a volcanic eruption, impossible to stop.

‘Samimi is going to support another Hero girl? I will never allow that to happen!’

‘I must prove that I am the strongest Hero! I must take Samimi back! Even if I have to use chains to keep her by my side!’

Envy had completely filled her aggression and ambition, transforming jealousy into battle intent.

“Under the name of the Hero, I absolutely cannot lose.”

However, the most terrifying thing was that this complex psychological activity was hidden beneath Aigoas’s calm expression. Beneath the surface of the lake, which was as still as water, was a frenzied soul.

No one knew what she was thinking except us. Even the Rice Bug, a self-proclaimed master of young girls’ psychology, couldn’t deduce it.

“You just use the small buckler to hold the line. If you can block her, that’s a success.”

“No! I’m going to open the shield axe and go in swinging!”

Aigoas watched as Samimi happily chatted and joked with Selina while arranging tactics, and her rage burned even hotter.

In truth, despite all the complexity, this situation was like a misunderstanding with a girlfriend. After pushing her away, she finds out the girl has a new girlfriend. Only after losing her does she realize she loves her. Her heart aches, but it’s already too late to chase her back.

This was a very, very classic “cliché face-slapping” subplot. A cookie-cutter routine start—it was truly as cheesy as it could get, but wasn’t it satisfying?

Although Samimi’s carefully designed “pig eating a tiger” power fantasy plot hadn’t materialized, she had accidentally stumbled into this “ex-girlfriend’s jealousy” subplot. It was a case of “the willow she planted unintentionally providing shade.” It was at least worth watching.

“She’s a Hero just like you,” Bemore said, fanning the flames.

While Samimi couldn’t see through the situation, Bemore actually sensed a hint of the truth.

The reason was simple: she had previously felt very displeased when Samimi assisted others instead of her. Having been through it herself, she understood the feeling well.

But even Bemore underestimated the intensity of Aigoas’s feelings.

Because Aigoas was the Captain, her feelings for Samimi were different from those of the other team members.

She had been the first to realize the importance of the Divine Official, and she was the one who had sent the White Knight to persuade Samimi to rejoin. It was clear that she was the person in the squad who originally harbored the least ill will toward Samimi.

Because the original Rice Bug’s groping hands were used far less on the Hero, Aigoas really wouldn’t have kicked Samimi out if not for the strong protests of her teammates. Once the deed was done, the entire group immediately regretted it.

At first, everyone was stubborn, but subsequently, one by one, they were beaten down by the cruel reality.

Bemore was the best example. The once-arrogant Magic User had been reduced to her current identity: a Sub-Queen.

*Whoosh—* the sound of wind sliced through the air.

Aigoas didn’t reply. She merely drew her steel sword with a cold, stern expression and stepped onto the stage. In an instant, she entered a combat state.

“Hmm?” Across from her, Selina felt a sudden chill and a sense of killing intent. It rushed toward her like an overwhelming wave.

“…” Even Niubao’s body tensed up.

The expression on the silly cow’s face turned serious. One could see how much pressure the opponent was putting on her.

Selina eventually settled down and raised her Tech Deep Blue Buckler, unfolding its defensive barrier.

‘This girl might be mouthy, but her body is honest. She listens well—a perfect idol teammate.’

“Now, children, don’t be in such a hurry to start. Let me explain the rules first.”

The Hero Sword Saint, Cresia, walked to the edge of the stage to introduce the match, acting as the referee.

“This is a fair, closed-door sparring session. Whoever loses cannot go around spreading rumors. The goal is exchange. Stop when the point is made. You must not harm anyone’s life.”

Although she looked cold, her personality was exactly the same as Company Commander Ophika’s—the kind of senior who was as steady as a mountain. They were both women worthy of being called Sword Masters.

“Aigoas, the Hero of the Storm, is a Hero who specializes in using the wind. she is famous for her speed and technique. If you try to compete with her in magic arts, you have zero chance of winning. Just survive first, then we’ll talk about the rest.” Samimi stood at the edge of the stage, informing her two companions about the enemy’s traits.

“Stop bragging,” Selina said, still being stubborn.

But in the next instant, countless afterimages filled the entire stage. The high-speed movement of the Hero of the Storm was etched into the air.

“**[Warrior-Exclusive Augmentation Spell Combo]** times two, activate!” The one with the fastest reaction was actually Samimi below the stage. She raised her Rune Staff, and her two teammates began to glow with power.

*Clang!* Almost the moment the amplification took effect, Aigoas’s sword slashed across, striking Selina’s Tech Deep Blue Buckler.

Selina didn’t even feel the impact; it was as if she were holding a piece of tofu. This damage reduction was far too powerful!

*Whoosh!* Another cold wind howled. The enemy’s second sword was already coming toward her as predicted.

*Clang!* Selina raised her blue straight sword, narrowly parrying the lethal strike.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!* But there was still a third flash of light!

A clearer figure gradually took shape. Aigoas’s true body had already circled behind her opponent, delivering a strike toward her back.

This time, Selina could no longer react. She didn’t have a third hand or weapon to block.

At the critical moment, Niubao swung her sword through the void. The Golden Sword flashed by, helping Selina parry the Hero of the Storm’s third sword.

But by the time Niubao intended to counterattack, Aigoas’s form had already vanished.

Looking closely, she was standing on the opposite side of the stage, as if that judgment attack had never even happened.

However, the entire venue was deathly silent. The looks of shock on the faces of the Third Guild adventurers showed that everything that had just happened was real.

Even the Hero Sword Saint, Cresia, lowered her hand. It seemed the Hero of the Storm she had fought yesterday had not exerted her full strength.

“What a fast sword!”

“Hero… have you finally started getting serious?”

Only Samimi and Bemore were relatively calm. They had a certain understanding of Aigoas’s strength, but they still couldn’t help but let out two gasps of surprise.