Chapter 199: Chapter 174 Sword Maiden’s Interlude – Part 2
“Hey, congratulations,” Sonia said with a bit of gloom. “I haven’t recovered yet…”
Sonia didn’t hide the fact that she had died in the Void Realm. Instead, she spread the news widely through Professor Trozan, letting the whole school know that the genius ‘Red-haired Sword Maiden’ had finally succumbed in the Void Realm.
After some strategic management, her classmates started seeing Sonia in a more positive light, and even the ‘jealous of talent’ Professor Trozan took extra care of her. Even when Sonia went to the cafeteria, the auntie would give her an extra couple of scoops.
Failing hadn’t tarnished Sonia’s talent; rather, it made her more approachable and likable.
Just like the ‘poor beautiful college student,’ the ‘genius who sometimes fails’ was also a useful label. Sonia decided to take this rare opportunity to deepen her persona, so she wouldn’t have to bear everyone’s expectations but could still access the resources meant for a genius. She was winning big time.
“It looks like I’ll have to go back to the dorm to sleep tomorrow night…”
Most people choose to sleep, right? Who else, like you, gets so excited in the middle of the night and insists on picking fights? It’s just a maniac Village Girl… Felix thought to himself, scoffing, “Make sure you tell Celia not to wait downstairs to run into me for so long.”
Sonia opened her big innocent eyes, looking puzzled: “Celia? Are you talking about Senior Celia? What about her?”
“Acting as if you don’t know,” Felix said disdainfully. “I won’t be going to the Meditation Building tomorrow night, but I’ll be entering the Void Realm at home instead. Just tell her to stop bothering me.”
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about—”
“Sonia, think of others for once,” Felix sighed. “You know it’s dangerous to get close to me. Why don’t you advise Celia to stay away from me?”
The Village Girl retorted, “Do you hate her?”
“Is the opposite of hate, like? Sonia, I hate this tricky way you speak—”
“So answer me directly, do you like Celia?”
“…I like her, but not in the way you’re thinking.”
“Feelings can be fostered over time, don’t you believe in love at first sight?”
“Why do you care so much?” Felix was getting impatient. “What has she offered you? Whatever she can give, I can give too.”
Sonia replied instantly, “She promised to get me the lead role in the Shadow Actress of Moon Nine!”
Felix exploded, “Bullshit! Celia doesn’t have that kind of power!”
Moon Nine specifically refers to 9:00 PM on Saturdays, which is prime time for dramas. Only the season’s highest quality and best-funded dramas get that slot. It almost guarantees the success of the show even before it airs.
Becoming the female lead in a Moon Nine drama meant stepping halfway into the realm of top-tier female Shadow Actresses!
You, a mere Village Girl, have no right to be the lead in a hit drama!
The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Sonia turned her head away, covering her mouth to hide her amusement, while Felix helplessly laughed and sighed at the same time.
Why did such a shameless Village Girl possess swordsmanship talent like she was favored by the stars, and why did he have to be friends with such a shameless Village Girl…
“It’s not just for the payment, actually,” Sonia said as she tucked her hair behind her ear and held her wooden sword in front of her, looking at the patterns on the Sword Body. “I heard from Senior Celia, isn’t it true that many noble marriages are emotionless arranged marriages?”
“Indeed,” Felix nodded, “noble marriages are essentially exchanges of interests.”
“Since those who don’t like each other can be together, then why can’t those who do like each other?” Sonia said softly.
Felix blinked, somewhat surprised, as he looked at the red-haired girl.
She suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked, “Do you have someone you like?”
Sonia instinctively wanted to deny it, but suddenly remembering something, she looked around and whispered, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“You weren’t this sentimental before,” Felix raised his eyebrows. “Don’t forget, though it’s nothing to brag about, I’ve had quite a few romances. If there were a faction for love, I’d at least be at the Golden Level. Looking at you, could it be your first love? Who’s the unlucky—or should I say, lucky, person to catch the eye of the red-haired Sword Maiden?”
“You were about to insult me just now, weren’t you!” Sonia gritted her teeth and said, “And I haven’t… think whatever you want!”
“If you really did not have someone, your response should have been ‘then guess who I like,’ not this weak ‘think whatever you want,'” Felix laughed. “Always hanging out with you common Female Mages, I can keep up with your thought processes, but you, Sonia, seem a bit flustered yourself.”
Watching Sonia, who was both embarrassed and angry, Felix was also filled with questions—He knew every person in this village girl’s social circle, and there were almost no males, so who could she possibly like?
Arsen who she co-hosted with? But it’s said that Arsen would run away whenever he saw Sonia on campus…
Lauren, the senior? Unlikely…
Me? Not to bring up how she beat me up, but she also helped Celia ambush me. And as a bona fide Golden Level lover, highly sensitive, it’s impossible for me not to sense if someone likes me…
Felix thought again and again, suddenly recalling a piece of information: On the night of the hosting, Sonia seemed to have made up with her roommate Lois, and since then, the two became increasingly close. The day before yesterday, Sonia had drinks with senior Reonie, and after getting drunk, it was Lois who helped her change clothes and bathe…
Just as Sonia had managed to calm her emotions, she turned her head and saw Felix a few meters away, puzzled, she asked, “Why are you standing so far away?”
“Nothing,” Felix stood up and said, “My left hand is almost healed, I’m thinking of heading home for a bath and some treatment. I had a pleasant evening with you, but let’s never meet again, goodbye—”
“Since it’s the last night,” Sonia also stood up, “then drive me back to the dorm… you don’t want to?”
“Does the opposite of not wanting mean wanting? Sonia, I hate this kind of trap-laden way you speak—”
“Since we’re training Water Therapy Technique Spirits, maybe add a few more injuries—”
“I still have to drive, I can’t afford injuries to my hands and feet,” Felix surrendered.
The two left the empty training hall and stepped onto the campus avenue, under the watchful eyes of the Star Cluster.
Sonia suddenly remembered something, exclaimed, “Ah, I almost forgot, I’ve wanted to ask you something for a long time. After all, Felix, you are a noble young master and might know some secrets unknown to the poor.”
“Do you know… the Four Pillars God Sect?”
Felix blinked, subconsciously raised his left hand, but then lowered it again.