My Girlfriends Are Hardcore Yanderes - Chapter 185

Chapter 185: Seeded Part 2
Unlike the scattered group outside the tower, these people were familiar with each other, moving and speaking casually.

He attempted to examine their bodies, hoping to gauge their strength and nature. However, like seasoned sorcerers, they had cloaked themselves well, masking their true essence from prying senses.

‘I could force it, but they’d probably notice,’ he thought, deciding it wasn’t worth the hassle.

Instead, he chose to observe them more closely using his other senses.

Standing at his window, he whispered an incantation, enhancing his hearing to pick up on their distant conversations.

“Can you believe they actually let outsiders come to this place this time?” one scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “It’s laughable. None of them stand a chance.”

Another, a tall woman with a sharp gaze, smirked. “They’re just fodder, a way to fill the ranks. The real competition is between us.”

“What were they thinking?” a third chimed in, shaking his head. “As if they could match our skill. We’ve trained in Eryx’s finest academies. This tournament is ours to win.”

Their laughter echoed through the courtyard, each word tinged with arrogance.

Some of them stayed quiet, choosing not to say anything at all.

Asher really didn’t care about their harsh words. They were free to have their opinions. He wasn’t here to judge people.

However, his disinterest changed when the woman who had greeted him upon his arrival appeared in front of the group.

Their smug expressions quickly morphed into reverence.

“Greetings, Lizana, Great Sage of the Arcane,” they respectfully bowed their head in unison.

Asher’s eyes widened in surprise. Great Sage of the Arcane—one of the six named sages of Eryx.

The title was not just prestigious but symbolized immense power and influence.

‘So she’s actually one of them.. She got me.’

He recalled his initial encounter with her, thinking she was not particularly powerful.

Her gentle presence had not given away any hint of the overwhelming power such a title suggested.

While he was focused on her, she suddenly turned her head toward his position and smiled, as if she knew he was listening, before turning her attention back to the others.

“Stand up,” she commanded the participants.

They quickly followed, none daring to question her orders.

She might looked innocent, but they all knew her reputation. Lizana was renowned for mastering tens of thousands of spells. Her other nickname, the “Unlimited Spell Queen,” was a testament to her well deserved titles.

When dealing with her, one had to forget such things as patterns. She could simply adjust her tactics on the fly, adapting to any situation to defeat her enemy.

“So, you’re the candidates, huh?” She looked them over, scrutinizing them from head to toe.

“What a disappointment,” she sighed, then turned away, uninterested.

One of the sorcerers, a male wolfkin, couldn’t control himself after she hit his ego.

“What do you mean, Great Sage? We’re the best of the best! How could you say we’re a disappointment?” he snapped, offended.

He had spent his life in Eryx honing his abilities, and to be disregarded like this was unforgivable.

She stopped in her tracks and turned back to them.

“I’m not going to answer that. You’ll find out in the tournament, after that outsider completely beats all of you.”

The group stood in silence, the weight of her words taking a long time to sink in.

The wolfkin’s fists tightened in frustration. “What? An outsider passed that hard test?”

One of the female sorcerers with brown hair, sneered.

“Don’t be absurd. We’ve trained for years. There’s no way someone who doesn’t even belong here could surpass us.”

Lizana found their reactions amusing and decided to fan the fire brighter.

“That test you think is hard? I tampered with it and made it almost impossible to clear, even by your standards. You’re all smart, right? You should know what that means.”

They all looked at each other, the tension rising. Unspoken thoughts passed between them—frustration, disbelief, and a growing sense of insecurity.

If she was speaking the truth, it meant the outsider wasn’t just lucky. He had overcome something that none of them could. Doubts filled them, but pride and arrogance quickly pushed it away.

The wolfkin, still flushed with frustration, was the first to speak.

“That can’t be true. You’re just messing with us. No outsider could pass the test, especially if it was rigged.”

Another sorcerer, a woman with short-cropped hair and a sharp, calculating look, scoffed.

“You’re exaggerating. That test is difficult, yes, but not impossible. If this outsider really passed, it’s just a fluke. He’s not better than us.”

Lizana’s lips curled into a thin smile as she witnessed their reactions.

“Keep telling yourselves that,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. “But when the tournament begins, you’ll see for yourselves. I wonder how you’ll feel when you all lose.”

Without another word, she walked away. The group hesitated for a moment, still processing her words, before they quickly fell into line behind her, their pride wounded.

Back in his room, Asher shook his head, a slight frown crossing his face. He couldn’t help but feel like she was just stirring up unnecessary trouble for him.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of the challenge—it was just… annoying. He didn’t care for the drama or the egos.

Lost in thought, he was jolted by a soft chime from the door. He opened it, only to be greeted by an unexpected sight.

A small silver golem, about three feet in height, stood there, its face shaped like a cat’s—round and wide-eyed, with tiny, delicate features.

The rest of its body was an oddity; its lower half was a rolling ball, making it appear almost comical as it tilted slightly forward.

It stared at him before speaking in a mechanical, monotone voice.

[ You are being summoned in the main hall,]  it said, its small ball-shaped lower body rolling sideways.

Asher blinked, a bit surprised by the sudden request, but he still decided to follow the golem.

It led him through the corridors until they reached the main hall. There, beneath the towering staircase, Lizana and the others were gathered, waiting for him.

Lizana, as always, looked composed, her serene expression at odds with the intensity of the other participants.

They shot daggers at him, their gazes filled with a mixture of contempt and frustration. Each one of them was eager to prove her wrong, to show that he didn’t belong here, that he was just an outsider who didn’t deserve to even stand among them.

But unfortunately for them, they had to wait until the tournament starts to make their move.

Asher, standing tall and indifferent, felt their glares boring into him, but he didn’t flinch.

Let them fume. In the end, it was all just noise. The only thing that mattered was winning.

Lizana was the only one enjoying the spectacle. She stepped forward, her gaze flicking between the group of sorcerers and Asher.

“The tournament will begin soon. All of you follow me,” she ordered, her voice firm and authoritative.

Without waiting for any objections, she turned and began walking toward another direction.

The sorcerers begrudgingly followed her, each of them stealing glances at him, especially the women.