After the match, Drakan smiled faintly and walked off the stage with a calm expression.
Selena watched his back, her sword lowered but her thoughts spinning.
"Why does it feel like he was holding back?" she wondered, frowning. "I train like a maniac every single day, and yet... he still had the strength to go easy on me?"
Her hands clenched into fists, not from defeat, but from the quiet fire of frustration and determination. "No matter what it takes, I'll get stronger. Next time... he won't hold back."
Unaware of Selena's steely resolve, Drakan was lost in his own thoughts as he walked away.
"Hmm... I held back. That's what they do in the Demon Continent when they're in love. She'll understand... right?"
But when he glanced back at Selena, expecting a look of admiration or shy affection, his expression faltered.
She wasn't blushing.
She looked like she was preparing for all-out war.
Drakan's eye twitched. "...Maybe I miscalculated."
On the sidelines, Mia was practically bouncing off the floor, eyes sparkling with excitement. She clung to Zara's arm for balance, barely containing herself.
When Selena was announced the winner, Mia squealed with joy and lunged forward like she was about to sprint straight onto the stage.
"My idol! Selena won! Ahhh—!" she cheered, practically vibrating with excitement.
Before she could take off, Elira grabbed the back of Mia's shirt with one hand, holding her in place like a misbehaving kitten.
Mia squirmed. "Let me go, Elira! I need to congratulate her right now!"
Elira's eye twitched. "Can you calm down for one second? She's literally walking down the steps."
"But it's Selena!" Mia whined, reaching out dramatically like she was being torn from her soulmate. "The way she fought—so cool, so graceful, so powerful—I have to tell her!"
Zara chuckled beside them, watching the chaos unfold. "Mia, maybe wait until she's not still glowing with golden magic."
Mia pouted but crossed her arms, deciding she'd only wait five more seconds. Maybe six,
Zara crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Drakan leave the stage with a calm smile. In her mind, she called out to her companion.
"Fluff, can you tell me why the male lead is this weak? In Lira's memories, she clearly read that the cold-faced male lead wins against Selena."
High above in a cozy space dimension, Fluff—her tiny, floating companion—twitched his ears and sighed.
[Host, are you seriously this dense? That version was the future male lead. I think he hasn't reached that strength yet].
Zara frowned, tapping her finger against her elbow.
"Hmm... maybe," she muttered, unconvinced. "But something still feels off. In the game Lira played, Drakan completely crushed Selena without even trying."
Fluff floated in a lazy loop. "Maybe the butterfly effect already started? You're here now, so things are changing."
Zara's eyes lingered on the back of Drakan's retreating figure.
Zara's gaze shifted to the stage, where the mock battle between students was unfolding with bursts of magic and sharp clashes of weapons. Her brows furrowed as she watched.
"But… I didn't even do anything to the male lead," she muttered under her breath, confused. "My only involvement was that demon attack, right?"
Fluff, who usually wore a lazy expression, suddenly perked up with energy.
Zara glanced at him, puzzled."What happened, Fluff?"
Fluff looked at her with unusual seriousness and asked,"Host, can you tell me your parents' names?"
"Huh? Why?" Zara frowned.
Fluff stared at her, almost hopefully.
"Okay..." she said slowly. "My father's name is Leo Caesar, the strongest human in the empire—second only to the Knight Commander. And my mother's name is Sophie. She's the best archer in the kingdom."
Zara's eyes sparkled with pride as she spoke.
She looked back at Fluff and asked,"Why did you ask like it was so important?"
But Fluff quickly zipped away into the space realm without answering.
"Hey! At least tell me first! Go to sleep after you explain!" she shouted.
Inside the space realm, Fluff hurried to a floating screen and began typing frantically. After a moment, he stared at the screen in silence.
[So that's why… Even though Zara's luck stat is lower than Selena's, she still has more luck than normal. It finally makes sense.]
On the screen, two portraits were displayed:
Leo Caesar—blond hair, blue eyes, and even though middle-aged, he looked no older than twenty, with a face that could rival any noble's.Sophie—green hair, blue eyes, elf ears, and a beautifully crafted bow in hand.
But what truly stood out were the words beneath the images:
Male Lead and Heroine of a Fantasy Novel
Fluff's eyes widened.
[Wait a minute... Sophie's an elf? But in Zara's background, she's listed as human?!]
He quickly typed more commands. A deeper file opened.
{After falling in love, Leo went to the Elf Empire to ask for Sophie's hand in marriage. But the elves rejected him and accused Sophie of betrayal for loving a human. At that time, the Elves and Humans were at odds. The two lovers fled, and Sophie disguised herself as a human to live safely in the Human Empire.}
Fluff stared at the chapter, eyes slightly misty.
[Ugh, so annoying... Why couldn't the Elf Empire just accept Leo?!]
But the screen continued updating. Another line appeared:
{Their story isn't over. Once the Demon lord's seal breaks, he will claim Sophie as his fated lover, forcing Leo to fight to save his wife. To be continued…}
Fluff stood up abruptly, eyes wide.
"I need to tell Zara—"
Suddenly, the space realm shifted from a calm blue to a pulsing red. Fluff's expression darkened.
But then he put on a forced smile as a visitor appeared.
A red cat, identical in size and shape to Fluff, floated before him.
The new arrival spoke in a deep, mechanical tone:
"[System Administrator 00067. What do you think you're doing.?]"
Fluff frowned."[Can you not talk like you're some edgy villain?]"
The red cat glared at him.
Then, in a sickly-sweet voice, she said,"[Shut up. I'm your senior now, got it? Hmph.]"
Fluff rolled his eyes.
"[Yeah, yeah. I'll get promoted too once this world ends. Hmph.]"