Surviving as the Third-rate Extra: I Can Plunder Talents

[Laura Von Agnus of Year 3 - Pantheon Class, eliminated!]

In the illusory world, the figure of the elder sister of Zion Von Agnus, who died at the hands of Lugh in a faraway grave, cracked before shattering into fragments.

The audience watched in awe and silence, seemingly unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

Someone from the Agnus Family, one of the Four Elemental families of the Holy Empire, a powerhouse in itself in the league of elemental magic, was unexpectedly obliterated in the blink of an eye.

Only a select few from the outside of the spherical dome, where the real bodies of the participants lay at rest, could see through the magical projections what had transpired.

"Kang of Delkira, the representative of the new Class Mu? I heard she's from the Adania Empire, maybe that's why she's skilled with using an immaterial blade."

"She looks pretty young, but she can already control at least two aura blades and make them hover around her? If you didn't know her specialty, you really would have been caught by surprise... I pity the daughter of the Agnus Patriarch."

"What an interesting individual. Does she worship the Blade God of the East? I know that deity isn't known to have a shrine or a church, but His influence throughout the Eastern Empire was no laughing matter."

Murmurs among themselves echoed, and the Patriarch of the Agnes Family, Marquis Agron von Agnes, watching from one of the VIP seats, gritted his teeth as his fiery eyes met the gaze of his daughter, who was safely escorted out of the dome of illusion while maintaining an expression of confusion and hatred.

Looking at the floating projections, as he stared at Delkira's figure, Agron von Agnus mumbled inwardly,

"How dare this nobody touch my beloved daughter?!"

He would be able to accept it if Laura were eliminated at the hands of the one from the Astraea Family or either of the two graduating students belonging to the two mighty Ducal Houses of the Holy Empire.

"To a no-name like her...!" Marquis Agron seethed, unable to accept the outcome.

He never blamed her daughter, which is synonymous with the saying that he didn't believe that he failed in teaching Laura everything she knew at this moment.

However, the other Family Heads of the Elemental families sitting nearby saw his expression and mocked him.

"Hahaha! What's with you? You think your daughter is untouchable?"

"There are many hidden talents in the continent, Marquis Agron. You know that very well, and right now, we are witnessing that kind of talent that seems to have come out of nowhere. This Hero Tournament is truly interesting compared to our fleeting years."

"I don't know what the three of you are mumbling to yourselves, but this will be won by Duke Aragon's son, who is set to take the Royal Heart exam after his graduation to become His Majesty's royal guard..."

The Four Marquises—Agnus of Fire Element, Lakestorm of Water Element, Terrion of Earth Element, and Gaia of Wind Element—continued bickering with each other like true old friends.

*

"I can't believe you are the first one I'll face, but it's the best I could hope for. After all, there's no need for a warm-up anymore since the semi-finals." A man with fair skin and crimson eyes, whose short hair was black and smooth, said.

He was the young brother of Saleana Aragon, Castor Aragon, belonging to the 4th Year of Class Divine.

"..."

"Is it really true that you've destroyed the entire Ranaya Island... Ryeon's little sister, Alana?"

"..."

"I see. It seems you really live up to the rumours, huh? You barely open your mouth unless you're talking with someone you're close to. Well, I didn't expect you to befriend and even defeat the genius magician, Maya..."

"..."

Alana only stared blankly at Castor some distance away. The latter was standing elegantly as a magical book hovered above his right hand.

With the history known as descendants of an ancient dragon, Alana seemed aware of what that book was. From the start, the Aragon Family was a family of skilled and talented mages.

"Let's see... Maybe you'll let out a sound if you've been hit by something."

The floating codex of spells opened itself, submitting to the will of its wielder.

[Restraining Mirror]

Extending his grasp, four mirrors suddenly appeared near Alana, as if they were trying to limit her space. Seeing her reflection in one of the four mirrors, she instinctively closed her eyes as she drew Seraphmire from the void, letting out a blinding light, which subsequently shattered one of the mirrors.

However, it was a mistake.

< "You naive fool. What's with your instinct that's either a hit or a miss?" >

Ranaya mumbled in her head, and with such words, Alana realized what had gone wrong.

As soon as she opened her eyes, Alana saw Castor smirking.

What followed were four mirror images having similar features to hers, apart from their bodies, which were formed through crystals.

"How about fighting yourself, Ryeon's little sister?"

*

"That's a tricky spell." Yuridika surmised, seeing what's happening through the projections presented to every audience outside of the illusory sphere.

"What is it? That man, Castor, didn't even blurt out the spell's name." Beatrice asked.

"Muttering the name of magic? It's for amateurs, or perhaps for intimidation. Mentioning the spell you'll use to attack will alert your target, but at the same time, it will make the target nervous due to the possible unexpected outcome. But it seems Castor didn't want to gamble with that as he judged that Alana's mental state is something that couldn't be easily broken or affected..."

Beatrice looked at Yuridika after the latter's brief analysis.

"You know... Maybe you should have become a commentator."

"Commentator? No? Battle Analyst and Strategist? Already had been one."

"..."

I watched these two women, who always seemed to have their own worlds, discuss what's happening at the moment as the fight between Alana and Castor raged.

The other audience was all silent, anticipating and observing every attack thrown by either side. It's a battle that was nerve-wracking, especially with the rumours, even if it had died down, that Alana was the reason Ranaya Island was erased from the continent.

On the other hand, my thoughts were fixated on Delkira, who was fated to fight Alana to take the Title of Aladdan's Symbol for this academic year.

'What could she and Saintess Lumen possibly have talked about during that night after I and Adelle ran for safety... If there's one thing, it's possible it's about the instability of Alana as the True Hero... It's because of her [Incomplete Talent]... I wonder how it'll transpire in reality compared to when I was reading that section of the original story...'

As my thoughts surged, filling in the details of the future given that Saleana would agree with my proposal, my amethyst eyes landed on one student from the second year seats...

It's Rahkeid van Elargrave—the son of a bitch that I hated with all my soul as a reader. To simply describe him, he's the embodiment of a wolf in sheep's clothing... And Delkira only used what he already was to her gains, which caused numerous deaths in the next arc after the Hero Tournament, with the sole purpose of measuring Alana's divine prowess as the next True Hero based on the original.

'Should I just kill this son of a bitch? Since Adelle already fucked the storyline as many powerful entities had surely noticed what she's done, ending this fucker wouldn't matter, right?'

I was seriously considering eliminating this character... But if there's an actual, irrational reason...

'Why did it have to be you? Saki's favorite villain.'

The blurry face of a girl in a hospital bed flashed in my mind, albeit fleetingly.

Shaking my head to abandon such thoughts of the distant past and world, I let out a deep breath to calm down.

[Castor Aragon of Year 4 - Divine Class, eliminated!]

I didn't know how much time had passed, but it was quick as I heard the cheers erupt throughout the arena.

"Holy hell! I can't believe a second year won against a graduating hero!"

"I know that she's from the Hero Bloodline... Even then, how could she possess such a monstrous power? It's not just power itself... The way her body moves along with her weapon... As if she's one with it, and it's one with her! I-I'm genuinely amazed!"

"But what a good fight! Will we be able to see such caliber in this grand finals? I wonder who will be crowned as the Aladdan's Symbol? Will it be the most likely True Hero?"

These were murmurs from the Guild Masters nearby. Even if they wanted to, there was no way they could recruit Alana to join their organization.

It's not only blatant and shameless, it's also against the tradition of the Hero Bloodline, something that would be met with undesirable consequences.

...

Just as everyone cheered and roared with Alana against Castor, the voice of the announcer echoed just a few seconds later as another surprise shook the crowd.

[Mira Al Gaia of Year 4 - Wisdom Class, eliminated!]

Everyone's eyes turned to Delkira.