Chapter 60

Theresa: "Wait, why is it thundering all of a sudden? Mei, you didn't use up your trial card, did you?"

Thunderclap suddenly roared across the sky above St. Freya Academy, and flashes of lightning roared through the dark clouds, seemingly welcoming the Queen's return.

Raiden Mei: "No, Headmaster, the trial card is in my hands. Perhaps it's because I already have Herrscher Core within me, causing the power to resonate?"

Bronya: "That possibility can't be ruled out. Anyway, Sister Ya, you'd better not draw your sword again."

Chapter 96 Did Mei defeat Apponia?

Kiana: "Mei, if you pull out your sword a few more times, I bet all the other students' clothes hanging on the roof will be swept away by your gusts of wind."

Raiden Mei: "Ahem, I'll be careful."

It seems the gap between myself and Mei from the Elysian Realm is more than just a little bit.

Danzhu: "I was just about to ask, why was Raven able to persuade Senior Sister Klein? What's her relationship with Senior Sister Klein? How come we don't know her?"

Kiana: "Actually, we don't know each other. We just know she's a high-ranking member of World Serpent and always tries to get close to Mei with ulterior motives."

Raiden Mei: "... I think it's just mutual help among colleagues. Raven probably isn't having a good time in World Serpent either, so she needs companions."

Ultimately, even Raiden Mei herself didn't think she was that popular.

One pink Fairy Elysia, was already enough to give her trouble.

Now another Raven has arrived. If that's the case, she won't be able to stay in this Previous Era Elysian Realm for even a moment longer.

[In the scene, Raiden Mei's battle with Apponia continues, with surging lightning roaring in the Deep, its Thunderclap proclaiming its authority.]

However, her opponent was the third-ranked Flame-Chaser, and Mei's power was still somewhat insufficient in front of Apponia.

"It's still not enough, although Griseo's help was unexpected..."

Raiden Mei pondered.

Griseo's help greatly reduced her stress, but she was still no match for Apponia.

Unless someone else can help her.

"Then, you must miss me a lot?"

The sudden sound entered her mind, startling Raiden Mei, who was still fighting.

"I'm sorry, but I finally managed to convince Klein."

"Ugh... ugh..."

Raven's voice carried a hint of helplessness, indicating that persuading Klein was under considerable pressure.

Moreover, painful whimpers could be heard from the side from time to time.

It seems that, after Raven's careful persuasion, Klein completely convinced and willingly offered his help.

Danzhu: "So this is how you convinced Senior Sister Klein?"

Kidnapping is kidnapping, but to call it "persuasion" makes it seem like this Raven isn't a decent person either.

Kiana: "Not only was he exploited in Mobius's lab, but he also had to work overtime in the Previous Era Elysian Realm, and now he's been kidnapped and bullied. Klein really having a tough time."

Cang Xuan: "Senior Sister Klein, you're really in such a pitiful state."

Even the sisters, Cang Xuan and Danzhu, couldn't help but feel sorry for their senior sister for a couple of seconds.

Senior sister, my poor senior sister, what sins did you commit to suffer such a great injustice!

Don't worry, they both swear they'll never compete with you for any work in the future, leaving you to immerse yourself in a sea of overtime alone!

Kiana: "I completely agree that Klein pitiful, but you two have no right to say that, okay?"

Raiden Mei: "If I remember correctly, a large part of Klein's workload was due to your messes, which is why she had to work overtime for no reason, right?"

Cang Xuan: "Uh..."

Danzhu: "Hehe!"

Damn it, what does "eh-heh" mean?!

Pardofelis: "With Little Griseo and Klein helping out, Sister Mei's chances of winning will definitely increase. Sister Nia is on the verge of losing."

Theresa: "Go, Mei, it's time to show the true strength of the St. Freya Academy and take down that riddle-maker!"

Raiden Mei: "Headmaster, please don't give people tasks that are beyond the curriculum."

You guys really think highly of me, taking down the third-ranked Flame-Chaser.

[Q&A begins.]

[Mei and Apponia are vastly different in strength, and the outcome of their battle will be clear. Did Raiden Mei defeat Apponia?]

[Note: This is a short-answer question. If you fail to answer correctly, you will be entered into a random draw to select a lucky audience member.]

Kiana: "An open-ended question? But why does it look like a true/false question to me? Win or lose, aren't there only two options?"

Theresa: "Actually, there was also a draw."

Himeko Murata: "Theresa, didn't you notice that the system said it would immediately determine the winner? Besides, there's a huge difference in strength between Mei and Apponia, so it definitely won't end in a draw."

Raiden Mei: "In the battle just now, I could sense that Apponia was showing signs of defeat. If we could hold on a little longer, I should be able to win."

Theresa: "Mei, calm down, that's the third-ranked Flame-Chaser."

So far, no one has seen Apponia use the Precepts.

Although on the surface, Mei, with the help of Raven and Klein, presents a more assertive side.

But who knows, maybe Apponia will put some kind of Precepts on Mei and she'll just surrender on the spot. That would be a defeat faster than free fall.

Bronya: "If there really are only two choices, then it means that if the first person answers incorrectly, the second person will definitely answer correctly."

Fu Hua: "Hmm... this is a bit tricky."

The Immortal Crimson Bird is an honest person; she would never do something like taking advantage of others.

Danzhu: "Huh? That's easy, it's just a true/false question. Look how stumped you are, Chi Yuan. Leave it to me and Cang Xuan, we'll take it down easily!"

Cang Xuan: "Take it down!"

Danzhu: "Cang Xuan, you go first!"

Cang Xuan: "Huh? Why am I the first one?"

Danzhu: "Cang Xuan, did you not learn math well in elementary school? True or false questions have a 1/2 probability, which means it doesn't matter whether I answer first or you answer first. I'm letting you answer first to give you an extra chance to answer correctly."

Cang Xuan: "Huh? Oh, I guess they didn't win."

Compared to Raiden Mei, Cang Xuan had more faith in the fighting prowess of Flame-Chaser.

Although the initial ranking wasn't entirely based on strength, it was still somewhat related to it. Apponia being ranked third definitely means she's not someone Mei can handle.

[Incorrect answer.]

[Cang Xuan's punishment: Wash Danzhu's socks for a month.]

"?!!"

A huge question mark appeared above Cang Xuan's head; she knew perfectly well that she had been tricked.

Cang Xuan: "Waaah, Danzhu, you lied to me again."

Fu Hua: "Cang Xuan, Danzhu, you two are still the same as ever."

The Immortal Crimson Bird couldn't help but rub his forehead. He was thousands of years old, yet he was still so unreliable.

Kiana: "Poor Cang Xuan."

Cang Xuan: "Waaaaah, Danzhu, you've gone too far!"

Danzhu: "Relax, Cang Xuan, we're best friends. If it were me, I could definitely answer correctly on the first try. It's you who's useless. You'll have to wash my socks for a month, hahaha."

Danzhu was grinning from ear to ear.

She never expected that her little trick would lead Cang Xuan into such a predicament. Now that the landmines have been removed, it's her turn to reap the rewards of victory.

Cang Xuan, you'd better just wash my socks for a month straight!

Danzhu: "I bet we won! Give me a reward, a reward!"

[Incorrect answer.]

[Danzhu's punishment: Wash Cang Xuan's socks for a month.]

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Dear Apponia

Danzhu: "W-What's going on? Aren't there only two possibilities? Why is it wrong? This isn't scientific!"

The moment Danzhu saw that the answer was wrong, she felt utterly hopeless.

What was originally a scheme to outwit Cang Xuan ended up trapping him as well.

Cang Xuan: "Hahaha, this is what they call trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead! Danzhu, you'd better just obediently wash my socks! Hahaha."

Danzhu: "What are you laughing at? Neither of us got anything out of it. At worst, we'll just hurt each other!"

Making each other wash each other's socks for a month is a punishment that truly hurts both sides.

Theresa: "Where did Mobius find you two clowns? Bronya, what do you think about this question?"

Bronya: "Bronya is having a headache too."

How can you expect to see it? Do you expect the Bronya to jump up and down to watch?

It's worth noting that the sacrificial strategy was a reliable strategic idea proposed by Bronya, but she never expected it to fail so quickly, turning into a disaster right after it was first used.

[Time for self-selection ends; time to draw lucky audience members begins.]

[Congratulations to Bronya for being a lucky viewer.]

Bronya: "?! Why, why me?"

Damn it, Bronya hasn't even started thinking yet, and you're already making her answer questions right away? Can't you give her a little more time to think?

Moreover, this shady system doesn't even present any questions from the mortal world.

[Ten-second countdown. Bronya, please make your choice quickly, otherwise the system will determine failure.]

Raiden Mei: "Bronya, hurry up! We have to try anything, even if it's a last resort! There are only five seconds left!"

Kiana: "Four, three, two..."

Bronya: "Ugh! Bronya can't think of anything!!!"

[Time's up, Bronya receives punishment: Heavy Machinery Rabbit will be on standby for half a month.]

The moment the system announced the punishment, the Heavy Machinery Rabbit behind Bronya made a sizzling sound again and collapsed completely.

The previous punishment was a one-month suspension.

It had only just ended, and Bronya was able to pilot her Stand User at will again, but after only a few days, she was put on standby again.

Bronya: "Heavy Machinery Rabbit, Heavy Machinery Rabbit, why did you fall down again?!"

Kiana: "Poor Heavy Machinery Rabbit, it just recovered and now it's AFK again. It's really tough for it."

Theresa: "Kiana, you still have the nerve to make sarcastic remarks? The system's Q&A isn't over yet! We might be next!"

Kiana: "!!!"

[Congratulations to Chakravartin for being a lucky viewer! Please answer within ten seconds.]

Kiana: "Phew... thank goodness it wasn't me."

Danzhu: "This isn't some lucky audience selection, it's a selection of the biggest grudge!"

Cang Xuan: "We can win or we can't. There are clearly only two possibilities, but both are wrong. Who can guess correctly? Is the system deliberately making things difficult for us?"

Elysia: "Now our hopes rest on Chakravartin's hands. Can he bring about a miracle and save us from this fire and water? Now, let's see Chakravartin's expressions!"

Raiden Mei: "Elysia, stop causing trouble! Getting picked is no joke!"

Pardofelis: "Brother Jie, Brother Jie, you have to answer correctly!"

Chakravartin: "... Get out!"

After thinking for several seconds, Chakravartin saw that there were only three seconds left on the countdown and then uttered a single word.