The Protagonist is Always Intimidating Me - Chapter 12

— The man gently stroked the small creature in his hands. “If others don’t believe in you, there’s no need to argue with them. Just show them with your actions.”

— “Okay.”

The first round of the third-class guard selection had concluded, and amidst both anticipation and reluctance, the second round was about to begin.

The guard selection took place in a massive arena, constructed from the hardest stone in the world and incredibly costly, a structure controlled by the Beastman Dynasty. Only during significant events like the guard selection would this arena be opened, highlighting the importance the entire Beastman Dynasty placed on this matter.

The stands were packed, the roar of the crowd echoing through the arena as they cheered and jeered at the battles below. The sheer volume reverberated throughout, creating an overwhelming atmosphere.

Among the throngs of excited beastmen, marked by their animalistic features, a small group stood out—noble in their attire, serious in expression. Mo Jiuge, lips pressed into a thin line, his tea-brown eyes betraying a hint of tension.

“When Bai Meng steps out, everyone stay sharp. The moment you sense danger, get him out of there, regardless of whether he wins or loses!” Mo Jiuge commanded.

Using his authority, Mo Jiuge had secured seats close to the arena, in a secluded corner where they could stay hidden. The shadow cast by the structure concealed their presence, and Mo Jiuge quietly issued his orders.

“…There’s no chance of him winning, right? That weakling…” The tallest and slimmest among them, Mo Lengsui, muttered in his usual deadpan, his face expressionless. But as Mo Jiuge’s face shifted from a smile to a blank stare, someone quickly silenced him with a practiced hand, an indication of just how often this had happened before.

“Yes, Captain! Ignore what Lengsui said—you know how he is. His brain is all height, no sense. But… who exactly is Bai Meng, for us to be this cautious?” another team member, Mo Lei, chimed in. Mo Lei was broad and stocky, less muscular and more on the chubby side compared to the hulking warriors from before. Driven by his lingering conscience, he attempted to steer the conversation away from the impending doom awaiting his teammate under their captain’s glare.

Mo Jiuge glanced at the group before returning his gaze to the arena, his lips moving slightly.

“…He is His Highness’s male concubine.”

“……”

“What?!”

The response left everyone stunned. Even the usually unflappable Mo Lengsui showed a flicker of emotion, and the more expressive beastmen were visibly shaken.

“…His Highness suddenly has a taste for that? Wasn’t he only ever infatuated with that person from Yinchen Hall?” one of them murmured incredulously.

Mo Jiuge didn’t respond, his sharp profile shadowed in the dim light, leaving ample room for speculation. The others exchanged uneasy glances, their thoughts filled with wild, indescribable ideas. Yet, in the end, they all shared the same conclusion:

— Men…

……………

In the backstage area, the participants clutched their tokens, constantly glancing around. Greed, hesitation, contempt, and insecurity flickered across their faces, magnified by the pressure of the moment before being suppressed again beneath forced smiles.

Bai Meng leaned casually against the wall, lazily tossing a small pearl-like object up and down. It was pure white, glowing faintly.

Several beastmen cast greedy glances at the pearl in his hand, but upon seeing the exposed beast ears and tail on Bai Meng’s head, they wasted no time and moved to strike.

After all, to them, any beastman unable to hide their animal features was no stronger than the commoners outside.

In this world, every beastman possessed an energy similar to internal force, called “Sheng.” Sheng allowed them to control their beast forms and played a crucial role in combat and in fighting demons.

The stronger the Sheng, the stronger the beastman. But someone like Bai Meng, who couldn’t even conceal his ears and tail, couldn’t possibly have much Sheng to speak of.

Just as a group of beastmen prepared to pounce, one particularly arrogant figure swaggered up to Bai Meng and spoke first, his voice dripping with disdain.

“Hey, kid, want to fight me?”

A fool has arrived.

Bai Meng’s eyes gleamed like black obsidian, his smile soft and unbothered.

“Sure, no problem~.”