With the Martial Heart Festival approaching, Alice entrusted everything concerning the Holy Church to the Vice Commander of Red Knights, and the Blue-haired youth was also assigned to assist.
Meanwhile, she prepared for the Martial Heart Festival.
The Kingdom of Midgar had been turbulent recently, and she needed to win the Martial Heart Festival to demonstrate her strength to everyone.
The incident where Alice was knocked unconscious last time was not made public, so Alice was still highly regarded in the eyes of the capital's citizens.
Alexia practiced her sword alone in the royal palace.
She believed that with year-round, day-in and day-out effort, she would definitely surpass Milia, and then she would be qualified to know everything.
Alice came to Alexia's side.
"Alexia, regarding the Academy representative, why don't we let Claire take your place? Your arm…"
Alice wanted to say that Alexia only had one arm, and it was her left, which would greatly affect her combat ability.
However, she was afraid of hurting Alexia's pride if she said it aloud.
King of Midgar had also mentioned this before, but it was met with a strong refusal from Alexia.
Representing the Academy in the Martial Heart Festival was something she had planned for a long time; how could she just give it up?
"Princess Alice, even if I only have one arm, my strength will absolutely not be weaker than yours!"
"Then let's see!"
Alice took out her Magic Swordsman and looked at Alexia. In Alice's impression, Alexia almost always used her right hand for the sword, and never wielded a sword with her left.
Facing Alexia like this, she felt she wouldn't lose.
Moreover, if Alexia, with her severed arm, were to represent the Academy, wouldn't it make outsiders laugh, saying that the esteemed Midgar Magic Swordsman Academy couldn't even produce a proper representative?
For all reasons, Alice did not want Alexia to participate.
The two took out their Magic Swordsman, ready to spar.
Both attacked simultaneously, their blades clashing together.
Alice clearly felt a terrifying amount of magic power in Alexia's sword.
The opponent's magic power was at least three times hers.
Alexia swung with force, and Alice retreated several steps.
As Alice stabilized herself, Alexia's sword was already at her throat.
This left Alice stunned.
Alexia's strength had completely overwhelmed her; whether in speed or magic power, she was no match for Alexia.
And Alexia was using her unfamiliar left-hand sword now; if Alexia had both arms intact… Alice stood there, lost in thought.
Alexia noticed Princess Alice's state; she seemed to be having a hard time accepting it. She could probably understand her sister's feelings.
"Princess Alice, I won't represent the Magic Swordsman Academy!"
Alexia compromised; she could still participate as an individual, there was no need to represent the Magic Swordsman Academy.
Although the championship was also something she had carefully calculated to obtain, intentionally adjusting the match schedule so that Milia would face Student Xi Nuo.
Alexia knew how much Milia liked Student Xi Nuo.
He was the only one in the Academy selection competition who could defeat Milia. (Sid was eliminated in the first round and doesn't count!)
Alice walked away, disheartened.
She remembered Milia's words.
"Is wanting power not that simple?"
At that moment, Alice's heart wavered; was purity really that important?
Alice shook her head, trying to dispel other thoughts. She would never rely on a man, no matter what she said. She wanted to win the championship with her own strength.
Milia wouldn't participate in the Martial Heart Festival, and Alexia wouldn't represent the Academy; in that case, she might just win the championship!
Of course, Alice forgot one thing: Alexia wouldn't represent the Academy, but she could register herself.
Alexia had already decided to participate in the Martial Heart Festival herself… Sid was currently racking his brain, thinking about how he should participate in the Martial Heart Festival.
Sino had just returned to his room, and Sid noticed, running over to knock on the door.
The two sat in the room, chatting.
"Sino, what do you think is the best way for me to participate in the Martial Heart Festival?"
"I don't have any good ideas either!"
"I think I should pretend to be a weakling, then, with the weakest appearance, I'll overcome all obstacles and eventually become the champion! That's what fits my idea of an Eminence in Shadow!"
"The problem now is, what kind of appearance looks weak!" Sid asked.
"Let's go ask Gamma at the Mitsugoshi Company!"
The two arrived at the Mitsugoshi Company. After hearing Sid's request, Nu brought Sid an album.
It contained a large number of deceased individuals, and Jimina Saine was one of them.
"According to Lord Shadow's request, Jimina Saine should be the most suitable candidate!"
Sid looked at the photo, and after magic power surged and covered him, his face completely transformed into Jimina Saine's image.
Sid originally couldn't change his appearance like this, but Sino had long since created this technique and taught it to Sid.
The principle was not difficult; as long as one could control magic power, it was fine, similar to how Epsilon used slime as padding.
Both involved using magic power to change one's own appearance.
Sid also used magic power to change his overall image, making himself look like a skinny bamboo pole.
And he deliberately twisted his shoulders, making himself a hunchback.
All preparations were complete, and Sid was just waiting for the Martial Heart Festival to arrive.
The two left the Mitsugoshi Company and walked towards the dormitories.
"Oh, by the way, Sino, my sister didn't even bother with me. I vaguely remember her asking me to go back home together. Did you say something?"
"I said you needed to find a path for your future, and therefore weren't planning to go home!"
"Future? I've never thought about it!"
"I think your future is to muddle through life and then be kept by a rich woman!" Sino said.
"Being kept, that doesn't sound bad. It fits the image of a useless background character, achieving nothing, and then I wouldn't have to work hard to earn money!"
"What about you, Sino?" Sid asked.
"I'm already being kept by a small rich woman!"
"Who?"
"Milia!"
At this moment, Milia suddenly appeared.
Sid had long known of Milia's existence; wherever Sino went, Milia would follow.
One could only say that Milia was a very competent maid.
"Master, did you call me?"
"Milia, would you be willing to keep me?"
"Master, it would be my honor!" Milia said respectfully.
"Milia, do you know any other rich women? I think I could also be kept." Sid asked.
"None!"
"What a pity!" Sid said disappointedly.
As the three walked towards the dormitory, Alexia suddenly appeared before them.
"Bochi! Student Xi Nuo, Student Milia, long time no see!" Alexia greeted happily.
It was only then that Sid realized Alexia was missing an arm!
"Princess Alexia, where is your right hand? Did you undergo some special training?"
"My right hand was cut off during the Academy incident; this news was made public a long time ago. Doesn't Bochi know this?"
Sid was usually a bit absent-minded, and he hadn't read the post-incident report about the Academy incident.
"You don't look sad at all!" Sid asked.
"You get used to it!"
"By the way, Milia, are you participating in the Martial Heart Festival this time?" Alexia asked.
"I'm not participating!"
"That's a real shame! I might have been able to win against you this time!"
"Then I'll go ahead and register!"
"I was joking, please don't participate!" Alexia quickly interjected to stop her.
Alexia couldn't beat Milia before, and now with only one arm, how could she possibly be Milia's opponent?
Alexia's goal this time was the Martial Heart Festival championship.
She wanted to rise from where she had fallen, and to stand on the champion's podium.
"Then good luck! I just remembered I have other things to do, I'll be going first!" Sid said, waving his hand and leaving.
Walking shoulder to shoulder with the Princess was too eye-catching, and Sid couldn't stand the stares of passersby anymore.
Because Alexia had shone brightly during the Academy incident and was also the representative of Midgar Academy, Alexia now had extremely high prestige.
Many people looked at Alexia with admiring eyes when they saw her.
Many people were discussing amongst themselves.
"Who is that man next to Princess Alexia!"
"That white-haired girl is also so cute, but that man is too ordinary!"
"Yes! Yes! Who exactly is that person! Is he Princess Alexia's boyfriend!"
"How could that be? If that's Princess Alexia's boyfriend, I'll eat dung."
The people around were discussing animatedly.
Alexia also knew that she was attracting a bit of attention.
She leaned forward, close to Sino, and whispered softly in his ear.
"Master, see you tonight!"
"Bye-bye!" Alexia waved her hand and turned to run off.
Sino, of course, understood what Alexia meant by "see you tonight"; it meant she wanted him to train her.
Alexia really wanted to become stronger.
And she also wanted to grasp the future.
Sometimes Sino even felt that he was the one at a disadvantage.
After all, Alexia always seemed to smile more happily than him at those times.