I Reincarnated As A Villainess, But Why Did I Become A Cat Butler Instead? - Chapter 163

Chapter 82.1

After some satisfying refreshments, Dimitri took me to the tourney hall*. There, the knights and Sasha were waiting for us there as if he had contacted them in advance.
[ T/N: The word the author used was ‘연무장’, which literally meant tourney hall, though you could imagine it like a gymnasium! ]

I read an unusual atmosphere.

Dimitri said, glancing around at the knights with Sasha beside him.

“Is there anyone willing to compete with this one in hand-to-hand combat?”

At those words, Sasha clenched her fists with a dignified face as if she realized what Dimitri was trying to do.

“Bring it on! I’m going to give you a very bitter feeling!”

…Even though she skipped meals, where did she get that energy from?

Forgetting that she was hungry, Sasha swung her fist in the air enthusiastically. In the meanwhile, the knights were hesitant to step forward as the little black girl shouted loudly at them.

Of course, they weren’t intimidated by Sasha…

‘Whether they win or lose, it’s something the knights won’t even be able to overcome, so who wants to step up?’

Needless to say, the idea of ‘competing’ with a child who hadn’t learned martial arts would be unthinkable for a normal adult. Yet, it seemed serious enough for Dimitri to step in and take charge. From the knights’ perspective, however, figuring out what Dimitri intended was their first priority.

As I glanced at their faces, I could see the unspoken question: ‘Is he really telling us to lose to this young shapeshifter?’

Dimitri must have sensed their thoughts, so he began to wield his words carefully.

“I’ll reward the one who fights with all their might and wins. I’ll bet as much as one month’s wages as a reward.”

Sasha then raised her hand in the air, bravely recognizing the words reward and prize.

“Me! What about me? What if I win?”

Dimitri glanced at Sasha, who was bouncing up and down, and this time, he looked at me as if to say, ‘What would be a good reward for Sasha?’

I rolled my eyes inwardly.

‘Dimitri’s knights are skilled and experienced in battle. Besides, they followed him because they admire the strong without preconceived notions.’

Could Sasha, who had been playing the role of a children’s alley leader, win against such people?

‘Besides, since she’s in a human form, her movements would be slower than when she would be in her true form.’

I eventually drew a conclusion in my mind and made a slightly sleazy suggestion.

“If Sasha wins, I’ll let her make a contract with the devil.”

“….!”

Sasha’s piercing blue eyes sparkled visibly with life. When I saw that, I felt remorse though I didn’t hesitate to look away.

‘If this can get Sasha to give up…’

If I could get Sasha to give up something dangerous, I could overcome my conscience.

And so, blinded by the prize, one knight and Sasha stood in the center of the fighting sand arena. Dressed in thin t-shirts and comfortable pants, the two were given nothing but leather gloves.

“There are no rules. You can do whatever you want, as long as you win.”

Dimitri solemnly declared.

“If you lose thinking about trivial chivalry or pride, each of you will either become a laughingstock for your colleagues or you won’t be able to accomplish what you want.”

He meant fighting properly.

The knight and Sasha stood facing each other with their fists clenched.

Even if he was pretending, the knight’s fist-clenched posture and standing posture seemed solid and unflinching. Conversely, everything about Sasha was loose and full of gaps. Although she looked excited, her eyes were quite fierce.

“Start.”

When Dimitri waved a small flag the size of his palm, the fight began.

While the knight was wary of Sasha without recklessly approaching her, Sasha opened his eyes and charged at the opponent with great vigor. Dashing swiftly, she turned lightly and jumped high, dodging the knight’s outstretched hand as he tried to subdue her before she swung her fist into his head like she was taking out his liver*.
[ T/N: It’s an idiom that means ‘to take advantage of someone in a very difficult situation.’ ]

“Hiyap…!”

The knight ducked to avoid Sasha’s mischievous attack and put some distance between them. He then lunged straight down towards Sasha’s waist.

“Yaaaaah!“

“Huk!”

Sasha evaded the knight with very agile movements.

At that moment, in a very fluid motion, the child stabilized her center of gravity and leaped lightly with one foot on the ground. Her body spun halfway in the air, grabbing the knight by the hair from behind as if in slow motion, and kicked with all her might, aiming for the knight’s throat as though she were about to do a cat ‘back foot’…

“Stop!”

Just before her ambitious attack, Dimitri waved his flag again in an X-shape.

“No! Why?!”

Instead of kicking, Sasha protested while wrapping her legs around the knight’s neck and clinging to the back of his head.

“Why! Why! Whyyy?!”

“That’s enough. You win.”

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