#792 The Rivals Appear

“Bean-kenstein!!!”

“Super Bean Backbreaker!!!”

“Natto Stretch!!!”

“Pursuit Elbow!!!”

Letasreit is unstoppable.

Or should I say Miss Bean Crush?

Either way, with her mask on, she dances around the ring like a butterfly, grabbing her opponents like a stag beetle and hurling them away.

Challengers, each one a masked female wrestler, kept stepping up. But the matches ended almost instantly after starting.

She’s powerful.

Too powerful.

No opponent lasted even a second against the masked Letasreit. Mob enemies in a samurai flick probably would’ve done better.

“It can’t be helped. Humans are mere insects to the mega-evolved Letasreit with her bean power,” comments Horkosfon, whose word choices are, to be honest, intriguing.

“Go, goooo. Fight, masked beannnn.”

Junior is clearly enjoying the show. 

Kids do love a dominant performance.

“However, this one-sided spectacle isn’t ideal,” says Horkosfon. “Victory is one thing, but without a thrilling narrative or close calls, the audience will get bored. Monotony makes people lose interest.”

“Well, maybe...?!”

But isn’t that a concern for scripted events only? In actual competition, isn’t that just how it goes?

“Whether it’s a competition or a show, thrilling narratives are essential to entertain audiences. The excitement of a tight spot followed by a grand comeback is what makes people pay.”

“Uh-huh...?!”

Now Horkosfon is sounding like a promoter. 

She seems to have embraced the ways of this world.

“That is why I’ve prepared a trump card to spice things up. It will be a tough match for Letasreit, but she must overcome it to be a star.”

From whose standpoint are you saying that?

“Let us welcome the ring’s newcomers – my special wrestlers handpicked to challenge Letasreit!”

A wrestler enters the ring at Horkosfon’s command.

As expected, she’s a female wrestler wearing a mask.

She’s got that typical tight-fitting ring costume on – flashy and, at the same time, quite provocative.

But what really blew my mind was something even more surprising about this new wrestler.

“Isn’t that Platy?!”

A mask can’t hide some things from those who know! 

As her husband, there’s no way I wouldn’t recognize her!

That masked wrestler is definitely my wife!

I was wondering where she went after leaving the kids with me!

So that’s why I haven’t seen her around until now!

Who would’ve thought she’d be up to something like this?!

“I arranged her appearance.”

“You’re behind this?!”

Your ability to take the initiative surprises me, Horkosfon!

“Lady Platy is one of the strongest females on the farm. With her in the ring, it’s sure to be exciting.”

“W-When did you learn to think that way and act on it...?!”

And my wife actually stepped into the ring after someone asked her?!

She’s already a mother of two. What is she thinking?!

Her ring outfit is a high-leg leotard digging into her crotch, you know?!

“Mommyyyy, so cool, Mommyyyy.”

Even Junior knows that’s his mother!

What if this turns into an embarrassing past that haunts us later...?!

“Letasreit... The spoiled brat sure has grown up...”

Platy stands at the ring post, speaking through the mic very self-importantly.

“How many years has it been since then? Today, I’m here partly to see just how much you’ve grown. Remember when you went down with just one of my gut punches? Let’s see how tough you’ve become now!”

“Now’s your perfect chance!”

Letasreit retorts, not backing down.

“Once, I was scared to death when you scolded me, but that’s not me anymore! After overcoming countless challenges and with the support from beans and my friends, I’ve evolved! Now, I’m going to show you what I’ve become!”

“Bring it on! But remember, in the ring, I’m a masked wrestler too. It’s only fitting that I introduce myself with a ring name!”

So Platy isn’t Platy in the ring?

Guess that makes sense. Considering she’s also wearing a mask today to match the theme.

“The guest wrestler who’s here just for today’s showdown! The mysterious masked beauty from the deep seas, hailing from the Mermaid Kingdom! Instead of the vast oceans, she’ll be swimming around in this ring! Her name is Neptune Queen!”

Neptune Queen?! 

The masked wrestler, Neptune Queen?!

There’s a fine line between thematic and absurd, isn’t there?!

“I’ll snatch away your mask as Neptune Queen! I’ll expose your hilarious true face to the whole world!!!”

You can’t do that!!! 

Neptune Queen, AKA Platy, lives with us on the farm, so she should understand the consequences if the public saw the face beneath Letasreit’s mask!

Yet, why is she so eager to do it?!

“If you know her well, as her spouse...” begins Horkosfon with an enlightened look.

What is it? Tell me!

“...you’d know Prati prioritizes anything fun over other considerations, Master.”

“Gah! Right!”

Platy is precisely that kind of person! 

If there were a button in front of her to launch a nuclear missile, and pressing it meant she’d get a huge laugh, Platy would totally press it without hesitation!

Why did you invite such a person to the ring, Horkosfon?!

“Mommy, good luckkkk,” says Junior, cheering innocently.

“The audience seems taken aback by Lady Platy, suddenly appearing as a wrestler.”

“Call her Neptune Queen. Please.”

The last thing I want is for the secret of my wife being a masked wrestler to be exposed.

“Today, we’ve got a wildcard wrestler making her debut, and while her skills are still unknown, there’s no denying the powerful aura she brings. It’s impossible not to pay attention. She possesses star quality.”

“She does have a very powerful aura...!”

“With her participation alone, today’s event is already a success. But letting it end here would be something a mediocre matchmaker would do.”

“Huh?”

I’m already overwhelmed by the thought of my wife wrestling. 

Please give me a break.

What else do you have in store?!

“Don’t assume Neptune Queen is the only one after your mask! We've invited another special wrestler to make the match more exciting!”

“What?! Another guest?!”

“That’s right! Please welcome her with a round of applause!”

What’s with this scripted conversation?

“A surprise wrestler aiming for Miss Bean Crush’s mask! An assassin from the demon race! The feared and cruel woman has arrived!”

Platy’s narrations sends a buzz through the crowd.

From the demon race?

Who could it be?

And with a dramatic entrance, the splendid female figure was...!

“M... Mrs. Astres?!”

You’ve gotta be kidding me! 

The wife of the Demon King, the Queen herself, Mrs. Astres, is in the ring with a flashy costume and an iron mask.

You can still recognize someone you know, even with a mask.

As the chilly and solemn atmosphere envelops the venue, Platy continues.

“She’s a demon warrior here to show a human like you not to get cocky. Given that she’s wearing a mask and is from the demon race... let’s call her the Demon General!”

“Demon General?!”

Yet another borderline ridiculous name!

But why would Demon Queen Astres be participating with a mask on?!

“We both seem to have our wives to cheer for today, Lord Saint.”

“Woah! Demon King?!”

Before I knew it, the Demon King sat beside me in the audience.

The spouse of the Demon General who’s garnering the spotlight in the ring!

“After giving birth to our second child, Astres kept saying she wanted to ‘tone her body.’ Then, that angel approached her, and next thing I know, she’s in the ring...!”

Horkosfon...?!

This is your doing again...?!

Like Letasreit’s improved strength, Horkosfon’s negotiating skills are incredible.

“To negotiate persistently like sticky natto... That is my motto.” 

“A hard-to-turn-down negotiator?!”

The chaotic masked women brawl instigated by the Natto Angel.

...Who will emerge victorious?!