Even If I’m Reborn as a Cute Dragon Girl, I Will Still Make a Harem

Book 5: Chapter 197: Farce

Lucy felt utterly humiliated. It was as if the world champion, looking down on her—the best marble player in the village—with disdain, said, “Let’s play marbles. I can beat you with my eyes closed.”

Even though Lucy knew the world champion was ten thousand times better than her and that she would gain nothing from winning, she still felt humiliated, saddened, and enraged. After all, the most sacred and inviolable thing within her heart had just been attacked with utter contempt.

She prided herself on her ability to change her appearance, and no one had seen through it for the past twenty years.

Using her ultimate skill, she had clawed her way out of the filthy, muddy alley filled with insults, screams, and the stench of drunken vomit. Leaving behind her weeping prostitute mother, she persevered relentlessly until she achieved her current glory.

So, when Princess Estelle appeared with a different face before her, it was a profound insult that pierced Lucy’s soul.

“I will expose your true face and make you apologize!” Lucy declared, clenching her teeth so hard that she nearly shattered them.

“Huuuuuh?!” Erica was bewildered; she hadn’t even done anything to warrant Lucy’s anger.

Before Erica could utter a word, Lucy rushed forward, seemingly already forgotten Princess Estelle’s royal status and her formidable strength.

She reached out, caressing Erica’s cheek while saying, “How remarkable, Princess Estelle. Your mastery of transfiguration is nearly flawless. But did you know? There’s usually a crease behind the ear—a telltale sign that the magic hasn’t fully fused the two faces. It’s a detail that’s often overlooked.”

“Indeed, you are as skilled as I suspected, Princess.” For a moment, Lucy’s expression faltered, but she quickly composed herself and continued her inspection.

Lifting Erica’s eyelid with her fingers, she continued murmuring, “What about your iris? Overlapping irises are hard to spot, but if one looks closely enough… Damn, I don’t see it.”

“The skin’s tension is another giveaway. A transfigured face will feel different to the touch… What? It’s as firm as a real face? No, I refuse to believe this! Lastly, a transfigured face lacks life; it shows a certain stiffness when expressing emotions. This is a problem I, myself, have yet to solve.”

Kneading Erica’s cheeks frantically, Lucy urged, “Come on, smile for me! Now cry! Cry and smile at once, and your disguise will surely fail!”

“Huh?” Erica, bewildered and troubled by Lucy’s antics, protested, “Cry and laugh at the same time? I can’t do that.”

Suddenly, Lucy froze, staring at Erica as if struck by lightning. At that moment, she seemed utterly defeated. “That expression just now…”

“What?”

“That expression… was too real.” Lucy stumbled back, feeling as though her soul had been sapped from her body.

“Even I can’t put that expression on my face yet… No, I’ll never be able to do that. It looked so natural, as if… as if it were your true face. I’m really…”

“No!” Erica tried to interject, but Lucy was already spiraling into self-doubt.

“Is this all my life’s effort amounts to?” Clutching her head, as if her world were crumbling, Lucy slammed her fists against the ground. “Then what has been the point of my relentless pursuit all these years?”

“Umm… actually…”

“You don’t need to say anymore!” Lucy cut her off sharply. “You truly live up to your reputation as a princess. Not only is your strength formidable, but your mastery of the transfiguration is profound. I, Lua, concede defeat this time.”

“Huh… Isn’t your name Lucy…? How…”

The woman, whose real name was Lua, lifted her head to reveal another face covered by freckles and a large red birthmark covering the left half of her face. Her current appearance would probably frighten children more easily than the burly man from earlier.

“Ah, your face…” Erica gasped but instantly regretted her words.

“Hehe. See, this art of transfiguration I’ve honed for survival cannot compare to your leisurely pursuit of it, Your Highness.” Tears streamed down Lua’s cheeks, her ugly face twisted in despair and pain. “There’s no longer any point for me to participate in this tournament!”

Overwhelmed by emotion, Lua cried loudly, drawing a dagger. She faced the sky before plunging it into her chest. Blood spurted out.

“I’m defeated!” With these final, reluctant words, Lua turned into white light and was eliminated from the round.

Erica stood, stunned. “Wait… what happened… did I do something?” Looking at the bloodstained ground, Erica felt her mind reel. “I don’t think… I did anything.”

◆◇◆◇◆

In the grove, where the crowd lay hidden, someone finally broke the silence and asked in a low voice, “What’s the situation, Verjade?”

“Don’t panic, I’m watching them,” the composed man named Verjade replied. He was none other than the man who facilitated the draw earlier.

He was currently monitoring the situation atop Mount Coffin through a puddle of water.

“Come on. Are you even any good at this?” someone muttered quietly from deeper within the grove.

“How about you do it then?”

The man immediately fell silent.

“Hmph.” Verjade let out a soft grunt, his disdain for the cowards around him palpable.

Before the battle began, they had all dared to watch openly, almost as if they were brazen enough to peek under skirts without shame.

But now that the battle had officially begun, everyone seemed to have lost their guts, hastily retracting their surveillance tools, fearful they might draw Princess Estelle’s ire and be sent back home to till their fields.

Then again, Verjade was hardly any better himself.

He stared at the blurry image in the puddle, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face; his surveillance tool was far too removed from the action.

Although they were hiding at the base of Mount Coffin, Verjade’s surveillance tool was set up at the lakeshore, several thousand meters away—barely good enough for a rough overview.

Should he move it closer?

Looking around, the presence of his large group bolstered his courage. It was unlikely that the princess could accurately pinpoint that he was the one peeking with so many of them here.

A decision was made and Verjade resolved to advance his surveillance tool. As he moved, the surveillance image grew closer and, naturally, clearer.

“Do you see anything now?” another voice urged.

“Don’t rush,” Verjade responded impatiently, leaning closer to the water.

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