Zervanie’s brain finally started working again. She suddenly jumped up like someone stepped on her tail, and her cheeks turned red in an instant.
“You—what was that just now?! What kind of attitude was that?! You were treating me like a dog! I’m the empire’s super popular idol singer...”
“Please provide your information.”
Viloti interrupted Zervanie’s angry rant. Her face was still as cold and still as ice.
“You just said you’d only give the info if Felyn held your hand, but since Felyn didn’t want to, I did it for him.”
She slightly lifted her chin, looking down at Zervanie, whose face now showed both shame and fury.
Zervanie was about to explode.
What’s up with this pink-haired girl?!
She even wants to help Felyn meet my demand? Are you his puppet?
If Felyn weren’t here, I’d definitely teach you a lesson!
But in order to keep a “bullied but still thoughtful for Felyn” kind of weak-girl image, Zervanie decided to share the info anyway.
“When I went to cheer for another team earlier, I noticed something strange about one of them.”
“But I thought you only cheered for Senior Felyn. Didn’t you just say Senior Felyn was special?”
Bernice cut in.
“Unlike me, I only care about Senior Felyn.”
“Felyn is special! And that kind of up-close cheering—I’ve only done it for Felyn! I was just using cheering as an excuse to go scout for him!”
Zervanie stomped her foot. She didn’t expect Bernice to be so hard to deal with.
Just you wait!
Once Felyn comes back to my side, you’ll be left watching from the window as he climbs into my bed!
And I won’t be nice—you’ll have to watch the whole night!
Zervanie returned to her concerned-for-Felyn persona and continued:
“When I went in, there were a ton of seal cards on their table, and many were high-level. I even saw several that don’t appear on the market—they were special issue seal cards from the Divine Church.”
Felyn and Bernice glanced at each other. They already had the same thought.
So, people from the Divine Church really were getting involved.
Zervanie saw the three fall silent and put her hands on her hips.
This was the moment she wanted.
When Felyn loses badly and starts crying during the match, she’d step in and comfort him, letting him rest his head on her lap and gently stroking his hair.
Wouldn’t that just completely win over Felyn’s heart?
Zervanie was already picturing it.
“Oh, Zervanie. I really can’t do anything right. I’m such a failure.”
“Don’t talk about yourself like that. I will feel heartbroken. In my heart, you’re the greatest person in the world.”
“Really? Even if I’m useless, even if I can’t do anything or save anyone, you still think I’m great?”
“Mhm, of course. I will always stay with you.”
“Zervanie, I understand now. Only when I’m with you does life have meaning. Please let me stay with you forever!”
Viloti leaned over to Felyn and pointed at Zervanie. “Felyn, is she broken?”
“Probably.”
Looking at Zervanie smiling like a love-crazed idiot, Felyn couldn’t think of any other explanation.
“Ha ha—” Zervanie coughed twice and snapped out of her fantasy. “Also, their team leader is Isabella. She’s second place in the Seal Techniques class at the Alchemy Academy. Very strong!”
“Second place?”
“First place is Lady Adeline.”
Felyn pursed his lips and motioned for Zervanie to keep talking.
“She’s taking this match seriously. She even brought a Seventh-Order Seal.”
“A Seventh-Order Seal?”
Felyn didn’t get it. That kind of rare seal—why waste it in a school match?
But then he looked at Viloti and suddenly understood.
Better to waste it in a match than on something even more useless.
“So if you meet them, don’t force it, okay? Felyn, please don’t get hurt. Just thinking about you hurt makes my heart ache, you know...”
Felyn tuned her out completely—his brain automatically filtered her voice into background noise.
“Bernice, can you handle a Seventh-Order Seal? If we run into them, should we just forfeit?”
Bernice shook her head. “Just a Seventh-Order? No big deal. Besides, I might not have time to compete later, so I want to earn as many points as I can while I can. But if I go down, you and Viloti better surrender immediately.”
“Got it,” Viloti answered. She wasn’t the type to act tough anyway. She cared more about Felyn’s safety than the score.
“Well, we might not face them next round anyway,” said Felyn.
Off to the side, Zervanie was still acting,
“Felyn, I don’t expect anything in return. I just want—hey, why aren’t any of you listening?!”
Zervanie stomped her foot in anger.
So frustrating! Why do they keep ignoring me?!
You two bad women, I’ll remember you!
Don’t think just because you don’t face Isabella, you’ll win easily!
I already checked—today’s opponent is super strong too!
All three of them come from hundred-year-old noble families in the empire with massive wealth.
Each of them is carrying ten Fourth-Order Seals and five Fifth-Order Seals.
The higher the seal level, the harder it is to buy. Money alone isn’t enough—you need time to collect them bit by bit.
This match probably has the most seal cards used so far.
That pink-haired girl doesn’t look like a good fighter. Her skills are probably average.
The short-haired girl? Hard to read… maybe she’s a bit stronger.
And Felyn? No need to mention him. I’ve never seen him fight, and I heard his grades are bad too.
No matter how you look at it…
No matter how you look at it, Felyn’s team has no way of winning.
Mhm, go ahead and ignore me now.
I, Zervanie, love watching people get slapped in the face by reality.
Besides, I’m a totally classic bad woman! Once Felyn throws himself into my arms, I won’t be kind to you two!
The opening host’s voice and the knock at the door came at the same time, reminding them that the match countdown had begun.
“It’s getting late, so I’m off. My performance is up soon—Felyn, you better come watch!”
Zervanie waved at Felyn and gave him a sweet smile.
I could hardly wait.
That’s what Zervanie thought.
(End of Chapter)