Back when Academy Lily Princess was serializing, there was one hot topic that had readers fiercely debating across the forums, heating up the boards.
The question of who the main heroine—the one to end up with the protagonist—would be.
The author had drawn a clear line early on, stating it wouldn't be a harem, so fans waged heated discussions in the communities about who would have the last laugh.
💬 Comments— User[Chloe is the main girl]— User↳ [You forgetting Lady Arlan, who carried the finale in part 2 by sacrificing herself as a living saint to save the protagonist?]— User↳ [That's weird. I'm pretty sure I asked.]— User↳ [H-honestly... compared to the other heroines who were useless dead weight in part 3, Marin pairing up with the protagonist to smash through that dungeon makes her perfect for main girl.]— User↳ [What are you even saying, Marinmy?]— User↳ [Quantity over quality. Date Ter, and Yupi comes as a package deal. You passing on that?]— User↳ [Quality? That's hot af, hehe~]— User↳ [Bro...]
Countless characters got mentioned, but the ones brought up most often by far were the four members of the protagonist's party.
Chloe Opal, heir to lead the Opal Family. A sword prodigy wielding integrated offense and defense through iaijutsu-based swordsmanship.
Arlan Canirian, the masterpiece of the Red Witch. A living curse doll capable of killing foes with a mere touch.
Ter Citrine, the bastard child of the Citrine Family, yet hailed as the family's pride—the owner of "Lightning." An divine archer who can pierce anything her eyes lock onto.
Marin Light, the tear of a slumbering giant. The legacy of the Divine King, called proof of the gods' existence and master of the world.
Not one of them lacked anything; they were all captivating figures.
Having firmly secured their heroine spots through their unique personalities and charms, it wouldn't have been strange no matter who ended up as the main girl.
In the end, the original story wrapped up the "main girl wars" with Chloe accepting Eva's confession. But as always, people understood it rationally yet couldn't help voicing deep regrets that their favorite didn't end up with the protagonist.
I was on Team Arlan, Eva's childhood friend slot. A diehard fan who shelled out for five limited-edition event merch items from the webnovel site.
The scene in the part 2 finale where she sacrificed herself to save the protagonist against the final boss? It wrung a fourth tear from this guy who'd sworn only to cry three times max.
The story earned rave reviews for its quality, and I was satisfied too. But the Eva x Arlan ship I'd gone all-in on got delisted when she exited stage left.
After that, I stopped caring who the heroine was. When Chloe became the main girl, I even left a short review saying, "As expected, the poster girl takes the throne."
"Slammed the readers right in the back of the head, refreshing as hell."
If I'd known it was an open ending, I never would've written that. Congratulating the wedding, only for them to trash it right in front of the sender?
Anyway, enter the first member of that legendary protagonist party.
I stare Chloe down, eyes wide.
"Pointing a blade at someone without warning? What if they die?"
The wicked edge gleams sharply. Poised to sink into my throat like a beast's fang thirsting for blood.
The moment I release the mana wrapped around my arm, that razor-sharp blade will claim my breath.
"Hit 'em with the flat, and they won't."
"Like that's okay for firing a blank at someone."
"Anyone else, maybe not. But you're fine, right?"
I pour strength into the arm blocking the sword and shove. Clang! A sharp metallic clash rings out as her body lifts into the air.
Yet she lands lightly, cat-like, absorbing the brutal impact.
Her ruby-red eyes flick downward. She resets her grip on the katana and retreats. Her raven-dark hair sways in sync.
A refined noble stance worthy of her prestigious lineage, topped with dazzling looks that seize the gaze. A line from the original story flashes in my mind.
If I had to describe her in one word:
Rose.
Amid a garden bursting with colorful blooms, her beauty stands peerless. One look, and anyone loses themselves staring.
"Kya, check out that face."
"Hell yeah. Gotta have looks like that to join the protagonist's party."
Beauty at its peak, turning even TV celebs into average Joes for normies like me. I've seen plenty of girls, but hers blinds you.
And this is the prime culprit who ruined my favorite series—yet for a moment, I feel this ironic surge of forgiveness.
"Eva, you okay? Not hurt anywhere?"
"Ch... Chloe!"
She checks over her blanketed friend meticulously. So thorough, it'd make U.S. airport security blush.
"Good, you're fine. Was worried sick when you vanished after saying you were hitting the bathroom."
"S-sorry."
"No need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong."
Chloe pats Eva's back reassuringly. A tender big-sis embrace, her warm, empathetic eyes cradling and soothing her.
"The fault lies with that guy."
Suddenly, her gaze spears toward me, hostile. The polar opposite of the warmth for Eva—icy cold, utterly merciless eyes glaring.
"You, who targeted Eva? I'll kill you."
"Ch-Chloe, wait!"
Eva tries to intervene, but her mumbling, uncertain voice is thoroughly ignored.
Chloe plants her feet firmly, facing me head-on.
"I am Chloe Opal. By the honor of the Opal Family, I challenge you."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Black mana rises from the sword tip. Flames erupt, noxious smoke filling the room—or so it seems—as it engulfs the area.
Black Mist
The power of Chloe's beloved sword, Black Night. Black smoke that devours light, blinding the foe's vision while concealing the user's presence.
"Gotta be that one."
Chloe's ultimate technique and the Opal Family secret art.
A single line of light slicing through pitch-black darkness, claiming the target's life in one iaijutsu stroke of death.
By the time you sense the ominous hush, it's said your head's already rolling apart from your body.
"I know. Can't miss it even if I tried."
This mana-packed mist disrupts senses, breeds anxiety. Born to hide the caster—but even in it, I clearly feel her blazing fighting spirit aimed at me.
Fighting spirit, not killing intent.
Chloe never intended to kill me from the start.
She just used Eva as an excuse to pick a fight.
"Confirmed I didn't do anything bad to Eva, yet still challenges me? Answer's obvious."
Chloe's Eva's bestie. Cares for her enough to lose her mind over her troubles. Later, it evolves into someone she'd die protecting.
But right now, she prioritizes something over her bestie: her lifelong dream, her goal. Surpassing her father, the Sword Saint and head of the Opal Family.
That's why she enrolled in the academy. To grow stronger, reach his level, stand on the same plane.
Chloe, aiming for the pinnacle—spots a mana-wielding man by Eva. Maybe even Sword Saint tier.
She burns with rivalry and throws down the gauntlet. Invoking her family name proves it.
"I know. Chloe's got limits—she'd dispel the mist if I begged on my knees till my hands bleed."
It's her desperate bid to push boundaries. If I yield, she'll reluctantly sheathe her blade. Might even feel silly for getting serious.
But
"Why the hell should I?"
Chance to smack that bitch down finally comes, and I'm passing? No way in hell!
I cursed the author for ruining my fave. Thought she was the villain who trashed webnovels and deserved hell. Turns out she just transcribed this world's tale—arrow turned to the characters who wrecked the ending.
Reality's harsher than fiction. Webnovel would've ended as trash; knowing this world's real makes Chloe look like a domestic abuser shattering family peace.
Meeting the webnovel's protagonist, my dream waifu? Thrilling to tears. But rage boils even hotter.
Chloe Opal. If Arlan lived, you'd never be main girl.
You'll never be Eva's.
I'll make sure.
The author's warning pierces my ears.
Instantly, a straight line rips through the black mist backdrop with searing intensity.
So blindingly fast you'd mistake it for light—the katana's edge drawing it, shrieking as it slams into me.
"I see it."
I capture every trajectory perfectly in my sight.
Vivid, tangible sensation. Her stance, thrust speed—playing out in pitiful slow-mo.
I test by clenching and opening my fist. My movements flow at normal speed, unlike her slowed world.
Time isn't slowed. My mana-heightened senses make her seem sluggish.
And I'm the only one adapted to it. In this "slowed" timeflow, I close the gap a step ahead.
Thud!
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥
Mana-fueled fist to the gut
No need to catch that sluggish blade. Disrupt before the technique completes—break the flow.
My mana-packed fist, blazing hot, hammers her abdomen decisively.
"Guhk!"
Whoosh!
Chloe's secret art crumbles right before completion, sabotaged cruelly. Pain radiating from her gut clouds her mind; even Black Mist fades pathetically.
Unable to withstand the shockwave, she flies limply. Tumbles wretchedly across the cold floor repeatedly before clutching her belly, gasping.
"Ahh, yeah. My uterus punch landed true."
"Where does this novel go wrong? Starts with Chloe getting pregnant. So I smash it thoroughly—make sure it never works again."
The author panics hard, dropping politeness to yell at me.
But I'm shameless. No regrets in heart or deed.
"Extreme or not, doesn't matter. Make Chloe barren for ruining the webnovel. That's every reader's dream!"
Truth? Just baiting for that spicy reaction. Even trash like me wouldn't go that far.
Plenty ways to change the ending without it. Why bother?
But if—truly—all hope's gone, no options left... the lie might turn real.
Anyway, match over.
Chloe defeated. I win.
"Everyone, stop right there."