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#606 Kickoff
🕑 Added 2023-01-12 12:00:05 +0000 UTCAfter this and that, the day of the wrestling show arrived.
It’s me, your star player, Momoko!
...Just kidding!
In this world where the concept of wrestling is still new, everyone is a rookie, and that includes me!
Still, I’m going to dash my way to a winning streak and be the number one attacker!
“You’re really passionate about this, huh, Momoko!”
Selena!
I know we’re party members and partners in crime, but we’re each other’s rivals today! Even if we get paired in a match, I won’t go easy on you! Let’s give it our all and fight to the bitter end!
“That’s all fine with me, but... This costume... Can we really not wear anything other than this...?!” says Selena, looking at her outfit.
It fits her so well!
It’s the ring costume tailored for this occasion by the wonderful Miss Batemy!
“But it’s way more revealing than I thought it’d be...! My belly button and thighs are all exposed, it’s almost no different from normal underwear!”
No, it’s not.
You’ve got boots and elbow pads on.
It’s similar to what you demonesses normally wear if you ask me!
Since I’m also appearing in the ring, I’m dressed in my own custom ring costume.
I like it a lot because it’s pink, my favorite color, and it matches my name!
“Don’t forget, Selena! Wrestling is both a serious battle and a show! You have to be a little naughty and bashful like Marilyn Monroe, or you won’t attract the audience!”
“Why are you so assertive with entertaining the people...?!”
I’m sure it must’ve been every girl’s dream to be a celebrity at some point.
Don’t you think female pro wrestlers and celebrities are similar?!
“And who’s Marilyn Monroe?”
“You’re seriously commenting on that now?”
Anyway, if I perform well as a professional female wrestler, I might get a special bonus or something!
Money is vital for adventurers!
“Let’s win all the matches we can today and get the crowd rooting for us, Selena!”
“Of course I intend to win now that I’m also in this. The Demon King’s soldiers cannot afford to lose, even if it’s just for show. But...”
But what?
“It may be hard to get the crowd cheering.”
What? Why?!
I don’t know who else will be there, but with our charm, we can surely win over the crowd.
“I don’t think it’s going to be that easy. After all, this is the first time that wrestling has been attempted in the Demon Kingdom. Most of the people who heard about it would have tilted their heads in confusion. Only hardcore fans would bother coming to this event.”
Y-You make a good point!
Pro wrestling has just been introduced into this world!
“On top of that, Qiukeichi, the city chosen as the venue for today’s match, is located along the road leading to the Human Kingdom. It used to be an important logistical support in the Human-Demon War, a pivotal point, so to speak.”
It does seem like it.
To clarify, Qiukeichi is on the side of the Demon Kingdom.
It’s located close to the Human Kingdom’s borders.
Of course, there’s a reason this city was chosen as the first location for the wrestling exhibition led by Pink Tonton.
From now on, adventurers from the Human Kingdom will be able to enter the dungeons of the Demon Kingdom after the easing of restrictions.
A hazy future looms over these adventurers, who were not originally in the Demon Kingdom, unsure whether the general populace will accept them.
They might even be reported as suspicious individuals.
To avoid such a situation, we decided to hold a wrestling exhibition to familiarize and desensitize the demons with adventurers, so they get to know and eventually accept them.
If even one adventurer can become a star player through this event, adventurers as a whole will become more familiar to them.
“I fear that choosing Qiukeichi, a demon territory closest to the Human Kingdom, will eventually backfire.”
“Why?”
“Because of its proximity to the Human Kingdom, this city remembers the tyranny of the humans more vividly than any other.”
“Tyranny?”
“The war, remember? It’s perfectly natural to have hatred for the enemy and hold a grudge against them.”
Maybe so, but...
If there is hostility and hatred coiled up with a nation that was once at war with us, it’ll be most noticeable along the border territories like this city, you mean?
Many people would have passed here to fight against the Human Kingdom. Maybe they were even direct receivers of their attacks.
For such people, they may be wary of us, perhaps livid, wondering where we got the audacity to show our faces.
Yeah, that does sound bad.
I can only imagine the empty cans and raw eggs they’ll throw at us as soon as we enter the venue!
Rather than being stars, we’ll just be outcasts, a nuisance to them!
No sudden rise to stardom or anything!
“Oof, I’m suddenly sick in my stomach just thinking about it! My fragile heart can’t take the booing from the crowd!”
“Don’t be like that. Everything requires patience to bear fruit. Besides, your heart is anything but fragile, so you’ll be fine.”
I’m not as shameless as you think!
Oh, the event is about to start after all that chit-chatting!
First is the opening ceremony with all the wrestlers!
No! Please don’t throw raw eggs at me!
I don’t want to be booed as soon as I enter the venueeeeeeeeee!
* * *
When we got into the ring...
...cheers rained incessantly.
“Everything was as I initially imagined, after all!”
Right from the very beginning!
Who said anything about being hated? They made me anxious for nothing!
When we went out to the venue, we were greeted by a full house and ear-piercingly loud cheers.
The voices sent to us players were unmistakable—zero hostility, rejection, or any of that sort of thing.
We feel right at home!
“I’m pleasantly surprised...! I was prepared for the booing, but they’re all welcoming us warmly!” says Selena, amazed.
Yep, this is the girl who gave me unnecessary worry!
She scared poor ol’ timid me and planted seeds of anxiety in my mind before the show began!
I’m charging you a fine for causing psychological stress!
“Hahaha, surprised, eh? We’re not so reckless as to go in without a plan, you know.”
“Kato?!”
Why are you here?
“I’m here as a referee today. I bet you’re wondering why a city so far away from the Demon Kingdom is openly welcoming you guys.”
Yes, totally!
Selena’s had a false but understandable assumption, so this turn of events came as a surprise to us!
What’s going on here, Kato?!
“We’ve been laying the groundwork to make this event a success. Earnestly touring for days on end paid off.”
“Touring?”
I wanted to ask more, but... Woah, what was that?
The cheers from the audience suddenly grew even louder!
“Ladies and gentlemen... thank you for your patience.”
Oh, Kato started announcing something!
“The last wrestler scheduled to participate today will now make her entrance. She’s the ray of light of our new organization! A talented and powerful wrestler who has already made a name for herself as a star! Please welcome her with a round of applause!”
A star player?!
How can there already be such a person when I’m right here?!
“She’s a mysterious person hiding behind a mask! But this mysteriousness makes her even more appealing! Her appearance has earned her the alias ‘Masked Royalty.’ Without further ado, let’s call her onto the stage!” Kato takes a quick breath and continues, “The mysterious masked wrestler! Give it up forrrrrr Missssss Beaaaan Crushhhhhh!!!”
A female wrestler appears with great enthusiasm!
She’s got a mask on!
A masked female wrestler!
Her mask and ring costume are filled with gaudy embroidery!
But that’s not all!
It’s not just the outfit that’s shining, even its wearer is glowing!
What was it again? An aura? That kind of radiance that emanates from one’s very core is fundamentally different from us commoners!
What is this intrinsic grace?
Is this what noble birth is?!
“Everyone! Make sure to eat your beans!”
Miss Bean Crush, the masked female wrestler, makes her opening remark!
“If you eat beans, you will be healthy and happy! I am the messenger of beans! The bean evangelist! I, Miss Bean Crush, will make everyone present here full of beans!!!”
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
The audience goes wild in response!
I can’t believe she captured the audience’s hearts in a mere matter of seconds!
The mysterious masked wrestler, Miss Bean Crush...
Who in the world is she?!
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- Marilyn Monroe is a localization take on my part. the original was a reference to Maicching Machiko-sensei, an anime from the 1980s about an elementary school teacher who gets her skirt lifted up by perverted faculty and students at every possible, fanserviceable opportunity.
- I double, triple-checked just to be sure, and other than meaning something is baloney, 'full of beans' can also mean energetic/lively. letasreit's original line was 豆の花を咲かせて 'to bloom with bean flowers' literally. however, 花を咲かせる is a set expression that generally means to enliven/animate something, so i did my best to retain that nuance in English
