I Played the Role of the Adopted Daughter Too Well

“The magnificent appearance of His Majesty, Pom-Pom!”

 

A boy with blue hair, Pom-Pom, turned into a large water bubble and enveloped Viola’s body.

 

Bubble. Bubble.

 

Viola almost squirmed.

 

‘Oh… I can… breathe?’

 

It was warm and cozy.

 

‘So this is the famous Water Barrier.’

 

The water barrier, which had protected Heidi until the end, unfolded. Although not as impressive as the water barrier that appeared in the latter part of the novel, Pom-Pom’s water barrier blocked all of Selvin’s punches.

 

Pong! Pong!

 

With every punch from Selvin, there was a ‘Pong! Pong!’ sound and a whirlwind of water erupted. Her punches contained enough force to split a large rock.

 

‘Is she not affected at all?’

 

Selvin’s movements were so fast that they couldn’t even be seen properly. Her punches came out multiple times in one breath, and the power and momentum were tremendous. However, even her formidable martial arts couldn’t penetrate Pom-Pom’s barrier.

 

‘Anyway, it’s pointless if they don’t land.’

 

Viola observed Selvin from within the water barrier. As time passed, she felt more relaxed. None of Selvin’s attacks could penetrate Pom-Pom.

 

‘Indeed, the world’s strongest defensive spirit!’

 

Pom-Pom wrapped around Viola’s body and asked, “How do you like the skills of His Majesty, Pom-Pom?”

 

Selvin was very upset and yelled, “Don’t cowardly hide, come out!”

 

Pom-Pom casually calling himself ‘His Majesty’ irritated Viola and her head began to throb.

 

She said softly, “Don’t casually use the term ‘His Majesty.’ If you’re not careful, we could be accused of treason. That could lead to losing my happy and peaceful life, having to spend the rest of our lives rotting in an imperial prison.”

 

Pom-Pom questioned, “What is ‘His Majesty’?”

 

“It’s a term used to address the emperor of the human world. You shouldn’t use it lightly.”

 

“But I’m a spirit? So, why can’t I use it when I don’t belong to the human world but to the spirit world? ‘His Majesty’ sounds cool.”

 

Meanwhile, Selvin’s mana-infused fist once again aimed at Viola’s face.

 

Pong!

 

The strike was absorbed with a ‘Pong!’ sound.

 

“Anyway, don’t use it casually. This is a command from your contractor.”

 

“Then suggest a cooler term than ‘His Majesty.’”

 

“Then, instead of ‘His Majesty, Pom-Pom’ let’s just shorten it to ‘Pom.’ That’s cool too.”

 

“Really? Is it cool?”

 

“Yeah, it’s cool.”

 

Trapped within the water barrier, Viola could feel Pom-Pom’s excitement. He seemed satisfied with the compliment.

 

Selvin used her martial arts footwork and took a few steps back. Her face turned bright red.

 

“What are you mumbling?! Ah…!”

 

Selvin’s pride was hurt. While she was giving her all in the fight, the other side was casually chatting with a spirit. She didn’t know what was being said, but it felt like she was being mocked.

 

“Just fight with your best effort.”

 

Tears welled up in Selvin’s eyes. She was so angry that she couldn’t control her emotions. Being underestimated due to her lack of ability was one thing, but being ignored due to her weakness was a different issue.

 

“Don’t insult me!”

 

Mana erupted from Selvin’s body. The unique golden mana wielded by the Brandia family spewed out and rippled over Selvin’s body.

 

‘This is bad.’

 

That mana, as a part of the Brandia family’s mana, boasted the most powerful destructive force in the world. People sometimes called those who wielded the golden mana of the Brandia family, ‘mana beasts.’

 

‘I shouldn’t make her feel bad!’

 

While Viola might defeat Selvin, insulting her was not allowed. Selvin would become a strong warrior someday.

 

‘If I provoke her too much, she might become my enemy.’

 

It was better to have no enemies than many allies. At least for Viola’s very long, and happy life.

 

Viola spoke urgently but still seemed to be speaking casually.

 

“Selvin, please stop the duel for a moment. We need to clear up some misunderstandings.”

 

“Do you think I’m stupid? Sister is dismissing me.”

 

“No.”

 

Viola gestured, and blades of grass started to fly around.

 

“The martial art I’ve learned isn’t Bellato’s swordsmanship. Do you feel it? It’s a martial art from the Eastern Continent. Specifically, it’s a swordsmanship called the Grass Sword.”

 

Selvin chuckled. Why would Bellato’s Young Lady be learning martial arts from the Eastern Continent instead of Bellato’s swordsmanship?

 

“You probably know that some of the martial arts from the Eastern Continent are based on principles of control. I was doing my best by reciting these principles of control against Young Lady Selvin.”

 

In reality, she had conversed with Pom-Pom, but Selvin didn’t know that. The intensity of her rough, surging golden mana began to decrease.

 

“I recited the principles of control to showcase everything I have, and I presented my strongest defensive technique. Do you understand now?”

 

Selvin nodded her head. It seemed like she had misunderstood Viola after all.

 

“It seems like I misunderstood you, Sister. I’m sorry.”

 

Selvin lowered her posture and lowered her center of gravity.

 

“Then, can we start again?”

 

***

 

“The Grass Sword shall soar, dividing both mountains and rivers.”

 

Viola’s body was covered in goosebumps. This was somewhat embarrassing.

 

Whoosh!

 

A strong wind blew and the grass scattered around began to rise.

 

‘Huh?’

 

The wind was stronger than expected. Moreover, a lot more grass than during practice rose sharply, rotating around Viola with sharp edges. Viola herself was surprised.

 

‘What’s going on? Is it different because it’s real combat?’

 

A much more powerful Grass Sword unfolded than during practice. Viola didn’t know but there was a faint light emanating from both her ring and dress. It couldn’t be seen with the naked eye however, it was a light that could be seen by those who could read mana.

 

Arriving late to the duel, Hickson’s eyes widened.

 

‘Huh?’

 

He could see it! Viola’s ring and dress were reacting. They seemed to be more than an ordinary ring and dress.

 

‘A ring, a dress, a spirit, and…’ 

 

The last one.

 

‘Viola’s killing nature!’

 

These four elements were combined to unleash tremendous power. Viola recited the lines of ‘Eloquence’ while enduring embarrassment. She spoke as quietly as possible.

 

“Solid wood and stone shall crumble before the helpless enemy’s eyes.”

 

Each and every blade of grass surrounding Viola and Selvin became filled with sharp killing intent. From a distance, it looked like a green mist was spreading, and up close, it seemed like a green storm was approaching.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Selvin found it difficult to open her eyes due to the strong wind.

 

‘What is this…?!’

 

Each of the small blades of grass was a sword. Although she raised mana to protect her skin, each time a grass blade touched her body, the mana was shredded. Selvin struggled to open her eyes and punched out a fist filled with powerful mana. She had to sever the connection between Viola and her grass swords. Her body was becoming more and more injured. Covering her face, Selvin lowered her body and used her martial footwork to move forward.

 

‘I have to get closer. I’ll have to give up my flesh to take her bones.’

 

There was no way to completely block the Grass Sword. Even if she shed a lot of blood, she had to approach Viola and stop her.

 

‘I won’t be able to sustain such a powerful attack for long.’

 

And it would be vulnerable to defense as well. She thought that if she could narrow the distance, she would have a chance of winning.

 

‘This is it!’

 

She narrowed the distance until she could see Viola through the green mist and then lunged at Viola. It was an attempt to drag the fight into a wrestling match rather than a weapons fight.

 

“Argh!”

 

However, her attempt ended in vain. She felt the pain of her entire body being sliced. At that moment, Medea’s voice was heard.

 

“Stop.”

 

As Medea drew her sword and swung it once, the vegetation that had covered the world disappeared. Viola’s Grass Sword as well as Selvin’s mana, were both suppressed by Medea. The scattered grass settled on the ground, turning into dust and then scattered by the wind. The dueling ground fell silent. Medea’s sword ended the duel and the scent of grass was thick in the air.

 

“I intervened, judging that Young Lady Selvin’s life was in danger. What do the spectators think?”

 

Leven, the witness from the Mariantu Duchy, coughed and cleared his throat. He had seen it clearly too. If left alone, Selvin would have died. Leven had no choice but to admit it.

 

“Lady Viola’s martial prowess is truly astonishing. It seems to be a defeat.”

 

“Please be precise.”

 

“It’s our defeat.”

 

Leven couldn’t take his eyes off Viola. To have such martial prowess and still be a White Bellato. It was hard to believe, but he had seen it with his own eyes, so he couldn’t disbelieve it.

 

“Does Young Lady Selvin admit defeat?”

 

Selvin hesitated for a moment before nodding her head. She felt it too. When she lunged at Viola, she saw death. Viola felt like a tsunami. It was like a giant wall of water, larger than she had ever faced before, swallowing her up.

 

Viola approached and reached out her hand.

 

“It was a good match.”

 

‘What was that… feeling of impending disaster at the end?’

 

Selvin shook Viola’s hand. Suddenly, she became terrified and it became difficult to breathe.

 

‘What?!’

 

It was the same feeling as before when she approached Viola. The feeling of death coming close. 

 

Startled, Selvin pulled her hand away and asked, “That ring… it’s huge! Did you fight against me while wearing it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

She didn’t think it was uncomfortable because she wore it every day.

 

“Can I try it on just once?”

 

“It was a gift from my father. I’m sorry, I don’t feel comfortable letting you wear it, but I can let you hold it briefly.”

 

Selvin accepted the ring, satisfied with just that.

 

Thud!

 

With a loud noise, the ring fell to the ground. Unable to withstand the weight of the ring and the immense power contained within, Selvin fainted, collapsing to the ground. 

 

Viola was greatly embarrassed. 

 

‘Why did she faint?’

 

She only handed her the ring, so why did she faint? It was a perfect situation for a misunderstanding. Since Violda couldn’t show any signs of panic, she just looked at the unconscious Selvin with a calm gaze. But her mind was in turmoil.

 

‘What happened today? I was just planning to hang out with Pom-Pom and then counterattack when Selvin got tired.’

 

Selvin was a strong warrior, but she was weak to earth elements. This duel somehow ended in a strange and grandiose manner.

 

‘Why, why?’

 

Medea’s gaze on her seemed unusual. Hickson also looked at her with a very suspicious gaze. They seemed to know something. But she couldn’t ask Medea or Hickson what happened. The most frustrated person here was Viola.

 

‘Why am I so strong?’

 

It felt like she had overwhelmingly defeated Young Lady Selvin. She wasn’t sure of the exact reason, but it was bewildering. Already frustrated and embarrassed, one strange event after another began to unfold.

 

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Translator Note:

 

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