The 800-Year-Old Villainess Translation

22: The Villainess Tries Tennis

“Is Cecily good at sports?”

“Am I not?”

When I answered Anita’s question while doing some warmups, Anita stared at me with suspicion.

“Would you please not ask me about yourself?”

Certainly. However, Anita added that she didn’t recall Cecily having participated in the sports festival last year.

In the first place, although the students were required to participate in the sports festival, they didn’t have to participate in any of the competitions themselves.

Nevertheless, there was a certain student called Akatsuki. Having won both the individual and class championships, that student both received a bonus to their grades and an internal report, which served as an incentive for many students.

Apparently, if a student participated in a relay race that required at least the entire class to participate, credit could be received for attendance. As such, Cecily was only minimally involved. She was too busy preparing her sister’s lunch box and following up on various matters.

Since Cecily is used to handling a lot of chores, she might be good at exercise?

[I’m not particularly good at sports, but I don’t recall having any trouble with it, either…]

Or so she said.

“Are you sure? Magic is prohibited at the sports festival. If you are caught casting a spell, you’ll be disqualified. Don’t think about cheating!”

“I won’t, I won’t. Didn’t the teacher pretty much explain the same thing?”

Even though I told her not to bother, Anita continued to swing her racket.

“I’m not saying this because I want to! It’s your fault for making me worry!”

Hence forth, I asked Cecily while smiling at the adorable Anita.

What did I do to make her worry so much?

[You always do the most unexpected things…]

I’m sorry about that.

All things considered, I confronted her sister head-on, tried to break up with her asshole fiancée, fought a rampaging doll, and was locked in a room during the drama showing…

And that’s about it.

Almost all of that was self-defense?

Anita was cute even when she was angry, so let’s just let her be.

“You don’t need to worry this time! Isn’t that why we decided to play tennis together?”

“O-of course! I’m going to be your partner! Let me remind you that I’m the former ace of the Magic Tennis Club! So don’t humiliate me!”

“Of course, I’ll live up to your expectations!”

So today, instead of a study session, we were having tennis practice after school.

By the way, tennis didn’t exist 800 years ago, so it was my first time experiencing it. Apparently, all I had to do was bounce the palm-sized ball back into my opponent’s court using a racket.

…As for the detailed rules, well, they don’t really matter. I’m sure Anita will teach me.

“Okay, let’s start off light!”

Just like that, Anita moved to the opposite side of the court and hit the ball with a bang.

I see that it’s a loose ball with an arc.

I got fired up and swung my racket.

Swoosh—!

My hand suddenly felt lighter. The ball was bouncing and rolling behind me.

Uh, where did the racket go?

“Ce. Ci. Ly~~~!?”

Anita’s voice was terrifying.

When I fearfully turned around, I saw her smiling in a twisted manner.

Why does she have two rackets? Didn’t she lend me one to use?

“I’ll give you another chance, okay? Tennis isn’t a game where you hit your opponent with a racket. It’s a game where you repel the ball off your racket… right?

As expected, I once again sent my racket flying at great speed, hitting Anita in the forehead. In order to avoid injuring my opponent, surrendering was my best option.

“If I didn’t give up, I’d have been threatening her life! Hey, Genius Magician, do you know of any competitions in which even I can excel?”

“How is that a question for a genius?”

The next day, when I asked Eivind who had come to talk to me to relieve his boredom during the break, he shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, what else can you do? Have you ever ridden a horse?”

“I don’t remember, but I feel like I can get along well with horses!”

“That doesn’t mean anything. There’s also fencing, archery, shot put, football, basketball, short and long distance hurdle competitions… Right, what if you just behave and join the cheerleading squad? As a cheerleader, you can cast magic, so why don’t you set off some flashy fireworks?”

Although that suggestion isn’t that bad, for some reason I feel like he’s giving me a major handicap? Well, even though I have the physical ability, I didn’t expect myself to be so bad at this…

“I-I can run! Like sprinting!”

“No, let’s not. Last time we ran holding hands, you were really slow.”

Was that when… We were attacked by the rampaging doll?

At that time, he did his best to pull me along despite my slowness.

“What about you, Eivind?”

“Oh, I won’t be participating.”

“What?”

That’s surprising…. Considering how popular he is, I’m sure everyone would be delighted if he participated.

Perhaps having guessed my thoughts, Eivind shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t like to stand out. Why don’t you make some pom-poms with me instead?”

Anita, who was sitting next to me, questioned his decision.

“Why not? His Majesty the King will be among the audience, so why don’t you try to leave an impression?”

Eivind paused briefly.

He was smiling beautifully and ruthlessly like usual.

“I don’t need to, because I’m already excellent.”

“How annoying.”

Seems like Anita is also getting along with Eivind.

I wish Eivind was interested in Anita instead of me.

His Majesty the King…”


Read ahead on patreon~

***T/N: So far the only thing that stood out to me was the fact that Eivind fell for her for seemingly no reason.

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