The Idol Festival Format

(Bai Ziye)

That night.

I don't know why I ended up staying here, but I couldn't fall asleep, tossing and turning in bed on the floor of the glass villa's guest room.

This time it wasn't because Ceruno wasn't around, but because Sirius's request to me was practically a knife to my throat!

If I can't beat Ceruno, will she expose my secret?

Isn't this forcing me to Ceruno myself?!

Besides, whether I'll be eliminated is still a question. I never thought my performance was particularly outstanding; I just performed normally in both the preliminary and open rounds.

"Well..."

He couldn't help but sigh, which attracted the attention of those around him.

"What's wrong Miluno? You're not confident you can beat that little girl? Listen to me, as long as you play normally, you'll definitely win."

Halley rolled over on the bed, lay on the edge of the bed looking at me, her tail held high and swaying gently from side to side in the air.

"It has nothing to do with confidence; it's just that the cost of failure is too high for me."

She pointed to herself and said, "The price? Can it be greater than the price I paid?"

She lost.

Ceruno is about to filter out the Dark Energy within her, turning her back into an ordinary person, and thus pulling her away from her ideal path as an idol...

However, Ceruno may not be able to do it; this so-called cost is just a hypothetical scenario.

If I lose, my magical girl career is definitely over.

"Statistically speaking, the price I have to pay might be even higher. If I lose, I might not even be able to continue being a magical girl."

"Huh? It's that serious?"

Halley looked surprised.

But the seriousness on my face prevented her from questioning me.

"I don't know what your secret is, Miluno, but don't forget, your strength comes from your power and confidence—to exaggerate a bit, it's the aura of a king."

A brand new series? Heaven's Destruction and Heroic Chaos?

Even with her saying that, I still don't know what's so special about me.

"I was originally planning to let Ceruno win, but now I can't hold back... I really don't know what Sirius is thinking. She should be supporting Ceruno's victory. That idiot's magic strength is related to her confidence; the more she believes, the stronger the magic's effect... If she believes she can filter out Dark Energy, she'll most likely succeed."

"Wow, so there are magical girls with such idealistic views."

Halley nodded knowingly, then asked, "In that case, wouldn't it be more effective to let her defeat you fair and square? It's hard to hold back without revealing any flaws, isn't it?"

That's what they say, but it's not easy.

"The reason she chose the name Ceruno is because she admires the magical girl named Miluno. To her, I am a distant mountain, an ideal goal, but definitely not easy to climb."

"I understand, you are her idol."

"Uh-huh?"

"Haha, I knew you were a born idol!"

"These two don't mean the same thing, do they?"

The very act of "defeating Miluno" holds special significance for Ceruno.

"Sirius was right to tell you not to hold back. She chose the most profitable route, which is also the route most likely to filter out Dark Energy. After all, it's very difficult for the other party to not notice when you hold back. Once she realizes that she succeeded because of shady dealings, her confidence..."

Halley shrugged on the bed and didn't continue, but that didn't stop me from understanding what she meant.

"Yes, you're right."

However, high returns also mean high risks.

Whether Ceruno can eliminate me remains a question.

"Go to sleep early, you'll start training with us tomorrow."

Halley turned over, her pointed tail swaying in the air for a moment before limply curling up under the covers.

"Huh? A one-on-one elimination tournament?"

The very next morning, Sirius personally delivered the match schedule.

I pointed at her and questioned, "Is this the rule you changed on a whim last night? Idol Festival set up according to the rules of magical girls?"

"Of course not. Haven't you ever wondered why this year's Supernova Idol Festival is being held in an outdoor stadium?"

For most talent shows, an indoor studio is indeed more suitable.

"You, from the very beginning, planned to use magical girls to grab attention through battles?"

"Huh? Fighting?"

Sirius waved his hand, seemingly amused.

"I never said we were going to fight. The large space is just to give everyone more room to cast their magic."

"Then why call it one-on-one?"

"Because this time it will be in the form of a 'competition on the same stage'."

"Chorus?"

"Of course not, it's a battle of idols! Two performers take turns on stage, using their singing, talents, and magic to win the votes from the audience and judges! By the way, the Greenfield Stadium has a capacity of... 50,000 people!"

With so many tackles in this show, it's no surprise the venue was packed on the day of the main event.

The judging panel provided their professional answers, but the final winner would depend on the 50,000 audience members present.

However, this competitive format also has drawbacks, such as a lack of balance, where eliminated players may be weaker than those still remaining.

"One-on-one?"

Liu rested his chin on his hand, seemingly lost in thought.

"My magic... cough cough, my projection ability creates an illusion that can be seen but not touched, a reflection of the moon in the water. This kind of cinematic, purely visual performance is insufficient to compete with others on the same stage."

"I'll do it."

The Shark Princess Witch adapted very quickly.

"That day, I also tried to get to the scene."

Because she was afraid of being recognized, she never went to the live performance; she simply hid behind the scenes and sang to Flow Princess telepathy.

Just like she used to be backstage as a backing vocalist during Sirius's performances...

"However... when it comes to the expressiveness of magic, I seem to be at a greater disadvantage."

Whether Time Acceleration or decelerated, my magic cannot be used over long distances or applied to groups, making it difficult to devise any interesting programs.

When magic shows are also incorporated into the competition by Sirius, it's difficult to go far by relying solely on singing.

In comparison, Ceruno's bubbles, which she can create at will, are...

That's terrible.

"What? Are you getting discouraged just thinking about the possibility of losing to Ceruno?"

Sirius's smile just infuriates me; I find it hard to control myself.

"Still bringing this up? Your actions are clearly designed to drive me to my doom!"

However, saying that only made her happier.

"Oh my god? Miluno- chan can make such a flustered face? Are you panicking? Don't worry, you have the best teacher by your side. Train hard with Halley, and beating Ceruno- chan at this stage shouldn't be a problem. But I also told you..."

Halley patted my shoulder... with her dangerous tail.

Sirius continued, "That girl's potential as an idol is immeasurable. If she can overcome her cowardice and find her hidden self, she will make rapid progress on her idol journey, perhaps even surpassing me."

"The self that has hidden itself?"

Does Ceruno have some hidden personality?

"The true self, Ceruno, needs to peel away the unbearable illusions before her and liberate the other self within her heart... You can also call yourself, Anima."