From Trash to Villain Master of Card: With Harem of Evil women-Chapter 56: Day 1 - The Edge of Steel
Combat Arena — Dawn
The arena was full three hours before the contest was set to begin.
Five hundred people in the official stands. Another two hundred standing around the perimeter. Children sitting on parents’ shoulders. Elderly folks with the best positions they’d claimed before dawn.
It wasn’t just the population of Aschenfall. Villagers from Grimbach had traveled through the night. Workers from the iron mines. Merchants from surrounding territories who had heard rumors.
Everyone wanted to see this.
The air was thick with anticipation and the smell of food from street vendors who had set up improvised stalls. Bread. Roasted meat. Beer. As if it were a festival instead of a serious combat.
Kaito was in the judges’ box, visibly uncomfortable with all the pomp.
Gorman stood beside him, holding a tablet with rules and scoring systems.
"Betting has reached absurd levels," Gorman commented.
"How absurd?"
"Naporia three-to-one in combat. Some people bet land."
Kaito rubbed his temples.
"Of course."
Drake approached from behind.
"Arena is secure. Medics in position. Emergency teams ready."
"And the queens?"
"In separate preparation rooms. As you ordered."
Kaito nodded.
He didn’t want them seeing each other before the combat. The tension was already high enough.
A horn sounded—the official start signal.
The crowd roared.
Kaito stood, raising his hands.
Silence gradually fell.
"Citizens of Neudämmerung and visitors."
His voice resonated well in the arena.
"Welcome to the first day of the Queen’s Contest."
Applause.
"The rules are simple. Individual elimination combat. Victory by surrender or incapacitation."
He paused.
"Not to the death. Any use of lethal force results in immediate disqualification."
He looked toward the preparation rooms.
"The combatants may use all their powers. No restrictions."
The crowd murmured with excitement.
"A draw will determine the matchups."
Gorman approached with an urn containing four tokens.
Kaito drew two.
He read them aloud.
"First combat: Adelheid von Eisenberg versus Lilith the Poisoner."
Murmurs. That would be interesting—military strategy versus psychological manipulation.
Kaito drew the other two tokens.
"Second combat: Naporia, Empress of the Sword, versus Valeria the Butcher."
The crowd exploded into cheers.
That would be the brutal clash everyone wanted to see.
Kaito sat down.
"Let the combats begin."
---
Combat 1: Adelheid vs Lilith
The doors to the preparation rooms opened.
Adelheid emerged first.
She was still limping slightly. Her abdomen was bandaged beneath the armor. The cane had been replaced by a sword, but her posture revealed controlled pain.
The crowd applauded—everyone knew she was injured but fighting anyway.
Lilith emerged from the opposite side.
Barefoot as always. A dress that flowed with every movement. No visible weapon—she didn’t need one.
Her golden eyes scanned the arena with an indecipherable expression.
Both met in the center.
The referee—a veteran named Klaus—explained the rules once more.
"Verbal surrender or physical incapacitation. Understood?"
Both nodded.
"Positions."
They separated ten meters.
Klaus raised his hand.
"Begin!"
And lowered it.
Adelheid drew her sword.
Lilith simply smiled.
She didn’t move.
Adelheid charged—or tried to. Her speed was reduced by the injury. But her technique was perfect, each step calculated to minimize pain.
Lilith began to whisper.
So low that only Adelheid could hear.
Words in a language Adelheid didn’t fully recognize. But the effect was immediate.
The mist began to form.
Not physical at first. Mental.
The edges of Adelheid’s vision became blurry. Her thoughts slowed as if moving through thick water.
Why am I here?
The question appeared in her mind uninvited.
Why am I fighting?
Adelheid shook her head, trying to clear it.
She activated Iron Will.
Clarity returned... but only partially.
The injury weakened her. Her power wasn’t at full capacity.
Lilith noticed the resistance.
She intensified her whisper.
The mist thickened.
Adelheid took another step forward.
But her movements were slow. Uncertain.
I don’t remember... what am I protecting?
Her sword lowered slightly.
The crowd watched in tense silence.
Some who had bet on Adelheid were beginning to worry.
Lilith stepped forward.
"Surrender, dear. There’s no point fighting something you can’t see."
Adelheid stopped completely.
Her sword hanging in her hand.
Eyes lost in the mental mist.
Lilith was about to declare victory.
But then Adelheid’s eyes moved.
Toward the judges’ box.
Where Kaito watched with a worried expression.
And something ignited.
A memory pierced the mist like lightning.
"I’ll win. For you."
Her own words. Her own promise.
"I want to be by your side. Officially."
Iron Will exploded.
Not partially. Completely.
The pain in her abdomen disappeared—not healed, it simply stopped mattering.
The fatigue evaporated.
And Lilith’s mist shattered like glass.
Adelheid charged.
Full speed. No reserves.
Lilith barely had time to react.
Adelheid reached her in three seconds.
Her sword cut—not to kill, but to disarm.
Lilith’s dress tore. A chain she wore hidden broke.
She fell to the ground.
Lilith retreated, but Adelheid was already there.
Sword at Lilith’s throat.
Not touching her. But close enough.
"Surrender," Adelheid said, gasping. "Or this ends badly."
Lilith looked at her for three full seconds.
Then she smiled.
"I surrender."
Klaus raised his hand.
"Victory for Adelheid von Eisenberg!"
The crowd exploded.
Adelheid lowered her sword, swaying slightly.
Lilith approached, ignoring the referee.
"Your will is... impressive."
Her voice held genuine respect.
Adelheid, still gasping, responded.
"Never underestimate someone protecting what they love."
Lilith raised an eyebrow.
"Love?"
Adelheid blushed but didn’t retract.
Lilith laughed softly.
"Interesting."
She left the arena with grace despite the defeat.
Adelheid headed toward her room.
But she had to lean on Klaus when her Iron Will finally deactivated and the pain returned like a tsunami.
Kaito nearly jumped from the box to help her.
Gorman stopped him.
"Commander. You must maintain impartiality."
Kaito clenched his fists but remained seated.
Watching as medics took Adelheid away.
---
30-Minute Break
The crowd used the time for more betting and food.
Kaito discreetly went down to the temporary infirmary.
He found Adelheid reclining while medics checked her bandage.
"How are you?"
Adelheid opened her eyes.
"Sore. But victorious."
Kaito approached.
"You pushed yourself too hard."
"I did what was necessary."
"Adelheid..."
She touched his hand.
"It was worth it. I saw your expression when I won."
Kaito didn’t know what to say to that.
The head medic interrupted.
"Commander, the wound didn’t reopen. But it’s at its limit. Another combat today would be dangerous."
Kaito nodded.
"Understood."
He looked at Adelheid.
"Rest. The final combat is in hours."
"I’ll be ready."
Kaito knew protesting would be useless.
He left just as the horn announced the second combat.
---
Combat 2: Naporia vs Valeria
The atmosphere shifted completely when both entered.
Naporia in her dark blue imperial uniform. Sword on her shoulder. Confident smile.
Valeria in black plate armor. A war axe larger than most people. Empty expression.
They met in the center.
Klaus repeated the rules.
Both nodded without looking at each other.
"Positions."
They separated.
"Begin!"
Naporia attacked immediately.
No probing. No testing.
Full assault from the first second.
Her sword moved in patterns most of the audience couldn’t even follow.
Valeria blocked.
Every blow.
Methodically.
With no visible effort.
Naporia increased speed.
Attacking from impossible angles.
Using her small size to move under and around Valeria.
Valeria simply... existed in the right space to block.
As if she knew exactly where each attack would be.
Naporia retreated, breathing heavily.
"Fight seriously!"
Valeria looked at her.
"I am fighting."
She raised her axe.
"I just don’t enjoy it."
And she attacked.
The strike was simple. Direct. Descending.
But the force behind it was like a falling mountain.
Naporia dodged by centimeters.
The axe struck the arena floor.
CRACK!
The stone cracked in a radial pattern.
The crowd collectively inhaled.
Naporia smiled.
"Finally."
The combat turned brutal.
Speed against strength.
Technique against raw power.
Naporia cut. Valeria blocked.
Valeria struck. Naporia dodged.
For five minutes, they were evenly matched.
But then Naporia began to tire.
Her movements slowed. Milliseconds, but enough.
Valeria didn’t tire.
She didn’t sweat. Didn’t pant.
She simply continued.
One of Valeria’s strikes connected.
Not with the edge—with the flat side of the axe.
It struck Naporia in the ribs.
CRACK!
Naporia flew three meters.
She landed badly. Rolled. Got up.
Spit blood.
The crowd was on their feet now.
Naporia charged again.
Valeria struck her again.
This time in the shoulder.
Naporia fell.
She got up.
Valeria waited.
Naporia attacked.
Valeria blocked and counterattacked.
Struck Naporia in the leg.
Naporia fell to her knees.
The crowd screamed—some for her to surrender, others cheering her for continuing.
Naporia used her sword to stand.
Trembling visibly.
Blood running from a cut on her forehead.
Breath labored.
But she raised her sword.
"Still... not..."
Valeria raised her axe.
Position for a final blow.
Naporia didn’t move to dodge.
She only raised her sword in final defiance.
Valeria stopped.
The axe centimeters from Naporia.
She looked at the small empress who refused to surrender.
Something crossed her face.
Not exactly emotion.
But... recognition.
She lowered her axe.
"Enough."
Klaus approached, confused.
"Commander Valeria?"
Valeria looked at Naporia.
"You’ve made your point."
She turned to Klaus.
"I surrender."
The silence was absolute.
Then the crowd exploded in mixed confusion and cheers.
Klaus, completely lost, raised his hand.
"Victory for Naporia!"
Naporia collapsed.
Medics rushed toward her.
---
Immediately After
Kaito found Valeria in her preparation room.
Methodically cleaning her axe.
"Valeria."
She looked up.
"Commander."
"Why did you surrender?"
Valeria considered the question.
"Naporia wanted to win. I was only fulfilling a function."
She set down the axe.
"She deserves victory more than I do."
Kaito sat across from her.
"That’s... unexpectedly noble."
Valeria looked at him.
"It’s not nobility. It’s efficiency."
She paused.
"A queen should want the role. Naporia wants it. I’m only following an order."
"The difference matters."
Kaito smiled slightly.
"You’re a great friend, Valeria."
Valeria blinked. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
For the first time since Kaito had known her, she seemed genuinely confused.
"Friend?"
"Yes. Someone who puts others’ needs above their own. That’s friendship."
Valeria processed this for a long time.
"I have no... experience with friendship."
"Now you do."
Kaito stood.
"Thank you. For what you did."
Valeria nodded once.
Kaito left.
Valeria remained staring at the door.
The word "friend" echoing in her mind.
---
Final Combat: Adelheid vs Naporia
An hour later, both were in the arena.
Adelheid with abdomen visibly bandaged beneath open armor.
Moving carefully. Each step clearly painful.
Naporia with three broken ribs (bandaged), a cut on her forehead (stitched), and multiple contusions.
But smiling.
Because this was what she did best.
The crowd watched with a mix of excitement and concern.
Both were clearly injured.
But neither would withdraw.
Klaus approached.
"Commanders. You can postpone if..."
"No," they said simultaneously.
Klaus sighed.
"Very well."
He repeated the rules.
"Begin!"
Adelheid attacked first.
Perfect technique despite the pain.
Naporia blocked.
Counterattacked.
Adelheid dodged—barely.
Her mobility was compromised.
Naporia noticed immediately.
She increased pressure.
Attacking the left side where Adelheid’s injury limited movement.
Adelheid tried to activate Iron Will.
It ignited... but flickered.
She had already used it too much today.
Naporia pressed her against the arena edge.
Adelheid blocked desperately.
But each impact sent pain through her abdomen.
Finally, Naporia struck her sword with particular force.
The sword flew from Adelheid’s hands.
Naporia placed her own sword at Adelheid’s throat.
"Surrender."
Adelheid looked into her eyes.
She tried to move.
Her legs gave out.
She fell to her knees.
Klaus intervened.
"Combat ended! Victory for Naporia!"
The crowd roared.
Naporia lowered her sword immediately.
Extended her hand toward Adelheid.
Adelheid looked at her for a moment.
Then accepted it.
Naporia helped her up.
"Good combat," Naporia said.
Adelheid nodded, gasping.
"Same."
Both left the arena—Adelheid leaning on a medic, Naporia limping but under her own power.
---
Judges’ Box
Kaito stood.
The crowd quieted.
"First day of the Queen’s Contest: complete."
He pointed to the scoreboard.
"Naporia: one victory. Adelheid, Lilith, Valeria: zero."
He paused.
"But three days remain. Three more trials."
He looked toward where the four queens were being attended to.
"Tomorrow: Oratory and Diplomacy."
The crowd murmured with anticipation.
"Everyone rest. See you at dawn."
The horn sounded.
Day one had ended.
And Naporia had the advantage.
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