Bailan’s tactics shocked Xuefei, but that didn’t mean she could actually win.
The Bailan who had seized the opening wasn’t up against a Xuefei whose flaw had been exposed. No, she was facing a Xuefei who had already devised sixty-seven countermeasures in a mere 0.1 seconds.
In just a few swift moves, the poor undead lady was sent sprawling to the ground. Or rather, her impressive “rank” was nothing but empty show—she hadn’t been forged in the crucible of true battlefield slaughter. Xuefei, on the other hand, knew that kind of killing inside and out. It was a genuine case of overwhelming superiority.
In the end, Bailan simply gave up.
It was like trying to catch a little goldfish barehanded. Going all out every time would only backfire, and the moment she exposed even a single weakness…
“Whoosh—!”
The massive scythe sliced through empty air. Xuefei leaped up and stomped down hard on the blade, driving it deep into the ground where it stuck fast!
Xuefei, of course, promptly rested her sword against her opponent’s neck. The match was over.
Before the competitors left the arena…
“As expected, Sister Tilly is so strong… wuwu…”
“You’re not bad yourself.”
“By the way, I’m Bailan.” Bailan flashed a charming smile, her energy fully restored. She waved, cheeks flushing as she said, “I’ll be waiting for you after the matches. There’s… that milk tea shop in Arios Town. I think it’s really nice…”
“We’ll have a champion decided by this morning. You have to give it your all!”
“Mm-hmm. Thanks for the good luck.”
They bantered back and forth who knows how many more times before Xuefei finally managed to send her on her way.
Is this a tournament or a matchmaking party? And do these little Demons have some kind of special fetish? Xuefei couldn’t help thinking. Suddenly, she found herself worrying about Tilly’s safety once she enrolled—from every conceivable angle.
Up in the stands, countless students seethed with jealousy.
Xuefei’s next opponent was something special—or rather, familiar.
Antlers resembling those of a sika deer sprouted from her head, and her hair was a matching orange-yellow. If Xuefei wasn’t mistaken, she was from the Deer Clan.
They actually had a better name for their kind, one Xuefei had only learned about recently after facing a similar foe—this wasn’t a particularly large group.
She stood a bit taller than the others, around 175 centimeters, her height giving her a striking, slender silhouette. Her figure was bold and captivating, her face brimming with heroic vigor. She was no doubt the dream mate for plenty of males.
In a deep, steady voice, she declared:
“I am the strongest warrior of the Karat Clan, Linda. I look forward to crossing blades with you.”
With that, she bowed in a gentleman’s salute.
Female though she was, her style leaned neutral—hair tied back in a high ponytail, crisp and commanding. It was hard not to like her.
“Hello. I’m Tilly.”
This one’s strong.
Stronger than Bailan—not in raw rank, but in sheer presence. A clear step above.
Linda nodded in acknowledgment, her sharp Demon eyes fixed on Xuefei as she continued:
“I am the heir to the Karat Clan, the next clan head…”
No wonder.
Xuefei nodded to herself.
As an heir, this girl had likely seen action on the front lines against the descending Divine Soldiers not long ago. Their clan head was a great general, after all, and dragging one’s daughter into battle was par for the course.
Unlike the others, her combat experience dwarfed the sloppy sparring accumulated within the walls of Ephise Academy.
At odds with her stern exterior, Linda’s voice carried the soft lilt of a delicate girl, deliberately deepened for gravitas.
“As the next clan head, it is my duty to treat every victory and defeat with utmost seriousness. Even in today’s friendly match, I hope you will do the same, Miss Tilly.”
“Of course.”
Linda smiled and nodded.
“Excellent. Then…”
“Please, Miss Tilly—with courtship as our premise—treat this friendly match as a true duel. Fight me with everything you’ve got!”
What?!
Hey, hey, hey—Karat clan head! If I’m not mistaken, your heir’s tastes run a little… unconventional! This isn’t child’s play. As the saying goes, like attracts like—the whole clan could end up in hot water!
And whatever you do, Leia must never find out about this!
“Um…”
Xuefei tried to protest, but Linda seized the initiative once more, nodding again as she said:
“Rest assured, I’ve already obtained the principal’s and student council president’s approval.”
“Why not the Dragon King’s?!”
“What’s this? Could Miss Tilly have some… connection… with Her Majesty the Dragon King?”
Xuefei had no clue why Linda was eyeing her like “has this girl been up to something?” Confronted by that earnest intensity, Xuefei sighed in quiet despair, at a loss. Feigning composure, she explained:
“Arios Town isn’t under Ephise Academy’s jurisdiction.”
“Is that so? It was my oversight. Please do tell this humble one who your parents are.”
“Better not!”
“Then I’ll take that as agreement…” Linda closed her eyes.
The jealous voices from the stands grew even louder.
“Hey, Linda, that’s going too far!”
“Don’t steal Tilly away from us, waaah…”
“Linda, don’t rely on your strength to steal my future wife!”
Among them was even the voice of Xuefei’s previous opponent, Bailan. Her two small hands clenched tightly together as her entire head drooped down. Heartbroken, she whispered softly, “I was clearly here first, waaah…”
It was confirmed.
Everyone at Ephise Academy was a little off! That’s right—this academy must have been led astray by some damn trend in a bizarre direction. Sure, her own relationship with Leia had always been a bit unusual, but that didn’t mean this bunch from Ephise Academy was normal!
Xuefei hurriedly said, “Miss, listen—there are so many people who disagree with this. How about we pick someone else instead? Mainly because I…”
“No problem…”
“Hah?”
“No problem.” Linda spoke with resolute determination, her expression suddenly turning sorrowful. “Even if it means standing against the whole world, I will marry you and make you my wife.”
“Don’t go picking fights with the whole world on a whim!”
Xuefei had no idea how to even begin roasting these people anymore. At the very least, there was no way she could stop this bizarre trend from spreading on her own.
That said…
She still had no idea what Tilly’s preferences were.
If Tilly wasn’t one of them, would she bring home some guy instead?
No way in hell was that happening.
The mere thought of Tilly finding some normal man made Xuefei shudder all over for some reason. Imagining someone snatching away her precious girl right in front of her eyes filled Xuefei with such fury that she stamped her feet in outrage—like her tender little cabbage being rooted up by a pig. It was utterly heartbreaking.
But just because Xuefei felt that way didn’t mean this bunch could waltz off with Tilly!
Xuefei drew her wooden sword, her expression twisting into something fierce. To everyone else, though, she looked like an adorably angelic little thing.
A strange [Obsession] began to burn fiercely in Xuefei’s heart.
“Just think of it as doing a good deed for my girl—I’ll take you lot out!”
