Chapter 37: Not simple

Melina didn’t make any rash moves.

“May I ask what exactly you’re here for? We haven’t broken any competition rules, have we?”

Cathyville let out a short, mocking laugh.

“Whether or not you broke the rules—that’s the judges’ concern, not mine.”

“I’m here only because of the Wraithspawn. And you…” Her smile deepened slightly. “My lovely young lady, your companion spirit weapon from the Radiant Clan—did it take down that Wraithspawn all by itself?”

“Interesting, isn’t it? A spiritkin capable of fighting independently without relying on its Spirit Master.”

Cathyville stepped forward.

Her face still wore that gentle smile, and her presence wasn’t outwardly fierce.
Yet Melina and Wyne felt an indescribable weight pressing down on them!

‘So this is… a true knight?’

‘Not like us rookies who are just starting out, but someone who can manifest a [Spirit Armament], even a [Spirit Force Aegis]—a true powerhouse among Spirit Masters!’

‘What do we do?’

‘What do we do now?’

Melina racked her brains, sweat beading on her forehead, only to find her mind blank.
She couldn’t think of any way to deal with the crisis before them.

Yes, a crisis.

This woman before them was, without question, the greatest danger here.

Handled poorly, this would be far deadlier than the Wraithspawn!

“I’m sorry, esteemed Constable. You’re right—my companion spirit weapon is indeed special.
But after slaying the Wraithspawn, it consumed too much power and has fallen into slumber.
Please forgive me for being unable to present it to you.”

Cathyville arched an eyebrow, the smile on her lips tinged with a hint of danger.

“You’re hiding something. Trying to talk your way out of this…”

She didn’t bother to soften her words. “Perhaps what you said is true, but that’s not the point.”

Her smile slowly faded, impatience settling in her expression.

“Little girl, you probably don’t understand. The live feed outside has lost its effect.
Whatever I do here—no one will know.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to hand over that sword for me to take a look?”

Her gaze turned cold, a sharp glint flashing within.
“Relax. I only want to look.”

‘Like hell I’d believe that!’

Melina gritted her teeth, unwillingness burning in her eyes.

As for Wyne, he had long since concealed his presence entirely, melting into Melina’s shadow at some point.

“Kid, your killing intent is far too obvious. You’re still green.”

“This matter has nothing to do with you. I can give you a chance to walk away.”

Realizing his little trick was useless, Wyne gave up hiding, his voice echoing eerily from Melina’s shadow.
“Just now you said no one would know what you did here, and now you’re offering me an out?
Who do you think would believe such a self-contradictory claim?”

“Hehehe… looks like you two really don’t intend to behave.”

Cathyville’s hand slowly curled around the hilt of the blade strapped to her back.

Just then, a burst of static noise cut through the forest, rapidly approaching.

Cathyville’s expression changed.
She immediately prepared to strike and take it by force!

But—

Clang—

A clear metallic note rang out.
Her blade flashed in a draw slash—but the strike wasn’t aimed at Melina.

“Lian…”

Cathyville’s face darkened.

She hadn’t expected Lian to arrive so quickly.

“Heh. A Constable raising her blade against contestants? Cathyville, regardless of your reasons, this act alone—don’t you think you’re showing a lack of respect for me, the chief referee?”

The man who had imposed those cruel, deadly rules on the match.
The aristocrat who looked down on every participant.
The one who exuded arrogance and cold indifference—Rozval Lian.

At this moment, he leapt lightly from Qilin’s shoulder, landing with effortless grace in front of Melina.

In his hand gleamed an ornate flintlock pistol.

A wisp of spirit energy smoke curled from the barrel, proof that it had just fired.

Clearly, the bullet her blade had struck aside was his shot!

“You should have seen the broadcast feed, right? A spiritkin capable of independent combat—this is no small matter.
I need to verify its authenticity.”

Cathyville’s expression grew grim.

Sephilia rushed to Melina’s side, quietly asking if she was hurt.
Seeing Melina unharmed, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, that youth suspected of being a transmigrant—Qilin—trotted over to join the group.

“Hey, doesn’t it feel like their roles just flipped?” Qilin muttered.

Sephilia nodded in agreement. “You know what? It really does.”

Ignoring the four whispering kids behind him, Lian’s voice turned icy.
“This is no excuse for you to threaten and interfere with contestants mid-competition.”

“I’ve said it before—I am the chief referee. Everything that happens during this match follows my will.
Did you not understand that?”

“Okay, maybe he hasn’t changed,” Sephilia murmured, “but somehow, he’s a little easier on the eyes now.”

As for Cathyville, her face was downright stormy.

“Lian, what exactly are you trying to pull?”

She finally understood.
This man was dead set on protecting that companion spirit weapon.

Did he want it too?
Or was there some deeper scheme?

The [Flashling] curved blade slid back into its sheath, but the aura around Cathyville grew even sharper.

“You really want to stand in my way? Lian… this is just a trivial preliminary.
Not to mention the Wraithspawn incursion—you can’t escape blame for that.
And as for the companion spirit weapon…
If I report it, do you honestly think you can keep her safe?”

Lian snorted coldly.
“Trying to scare me? Is that all you’ve got? If you’re out of moves, then scram.
Stop wasting breath.”

His words dripped with disdain.

At the same time, a crushing pressure radiated from his body.

Waves of spirit energy surged outward like ripples.

“If words won’t work, I don’t mind testing how sharp your [Flashling] really is.”

The flintlock slowly leveled at Cathyville, the spirit energy within its chamber compressing tighter and tighter.

Cathyville could feel it.
The next bullet would not be one she could casually cut down.

Her gaze flicked toward the group behind him, lingering on the sword at Melina’s waist.

She knew—
With Lian here, she couldn’t touch the girl or claim that blade.

Not unless she ignored all consequences and struck Lian down right here.

She was certain Lian wasn’t her match.

A mere 65% resonance dandy—she was a Spirit Master at 73%.

And that flintlock? It proved something else.

At this range, [Flashling] could slaughter them all.

Lian wouldn’t even have time to react!

But she couldn’t.

Killing Lian would spell trouble—a disaster for her and the people backing her.

Real, irrevocable trouble.

Cathyville turned and left.

Lian slowly turned to face Melina.

The group tensed again in an instant.

The wolf had left.
Now the tiger was watching them.