“Liyakade, I did it…”
Just as Field was about to turn around and share her joy with Liyakade, she saw in her vision a small pink fist rapidly enlarging.
“Hey! What are you doing!”
Field swung her sword horizontally in front of her, barely using the blade to block the punch carrying a blue ripple, but she was still knocked back several steps.
“Damn it, how did the sneak attack fail even like this!”
Liyakade looked at Field, who had blocked her attack, with frustration.
She thought, if only she’d used a little more strength just now and sent Field flying.
“You, you don’t play fair at all!”
Field stomped her foot in anger at Liyakade’s shameless sneak attack, angrily raising her sword and pointing the tip at Liyakade.
“I was even thinking of celebrating with you just now!”
A sneak attack, huh! Once I win the Festival Flower, I’ll make you pay back a hundredfold! I’ll target your weak spot mercilessly!
“Hmph hmph.”
Listening to Field’s words, Liyakade didn’t care at all; instead, she let out a cold laugh.
With her hands on her hips, she responded righteously,
“There’s no time to celebrate on the battlefield, and from the moment Her Highness Sistem stepped down, our alliance was already over. Isn’t it only natural to take this chance to eliminate a competitor?”
After speaking, Liyakade shrugged, revealing a sly, fox-like smile.
Liyakade had heard what they said at the beginning—Field and Alice had formed an open alliance, and after defeating Sistem, their next target was her. That’s why she’d taken the opportunity to launch a sneak attack while they were still celebrating Sistem’s defeat and hadn’t reacted yet.
Unfortunately, the sneak attack still failed.
Seeing how much Field trusted her, handing over her back without any defense, Liyakade subconsciously felt a bit soft-hearted, using little strength in the attack. She didn’t expect Field to turn around at just the right moment and block her fist.
“Alice-chan, even if you and Field join forces to defeat me, you’ll still have to duel with the higher-level Field in the end. Why not join me? I promise I’ll give you the title of Festival Flower in a bit. How about it?”
Liyakade gave Field a sly smile, then turned to Alice, throwing her a flirtatious wink.
With a coy tone, she looked deeply at Alice not far away, acting spoiled.
“Please, Alice-chan~”
“Wow, this person not only uses sneak attacks but also tries to sow discord. How shameless!”
“This is the method of the White Devil…”
“A-A Beautiful Woman Strategy? To go this far for the Festival Flower? Liyakade, you—!”
The audience below the stage was dumbfounded by Liyakade’s tactics.
“Alice! Don’t believe her, she definitely won’t give it to you!”
Field secretly cursed.
Originally, Alice was already interested in Liyakade, and now Liyakade was tempting Alice at this crucial moment. Field was truly afraid Alice would fall for it, just like how Sistem used a kiss as bait a few days ago.
“Eh? I really would give it. I swear on tonight’s dinner to give it to Alice.”
“See, she even says that! Don’t fall for it!”
“Sorry! Miss Liakade!”
Alice shook her head, her expression resolute as she solemnly rejected Liyakade’s proposal.
“This time, I cannot accept Miss Liakade’s invitation!”
“Damn… Did you see through me?”
Liyakade, rejected, helplessly held her forehead, sighing and retracting her previous charm, once again revealing a sinister look.
“You guessed right. Even if you agreed, I still wouldn’t give it to you in the end!”
“Pfft, can you not make me laugh? How could you be serious if you swore on dinner!”
Field couldn’t help but laugh at Liyakade’s fake sullen face, then gave Alice a thumbs up.
“But still, well done, Alice!”
“By the way, even when Liyakade looked at you with those eyes, you didn’t waver at all? What strong willpower!”
Field hopped back two steps, retreating to Alice’s side, and asked curiously.
“I wavered. I almost wanted to sell out Her Highness Field.”
“Uh… Maybe not that strong after all…”
Field muttered awkwardly.
“But—”
Alice raised her head, meeting Field’s gaze beside her.
“Just thinking about being able to see Miss Liakade like that for three months after becoming the Festival Flower, and even being able to do this and that, made me hold on.”
“…You’re something else.”
Field pursed her lips.
She could understand Alice’s feelings, because she also thought of doing this and that with Liyakade after becoming the Festival Flower.
But… if it was herself, could she really do it?
If Field obtained the Festival Flower and earned the right to be with Liyakade for three months, then after being together, her feelings for girls would be completely exposed.
There was no way this wouldn’t reach her father’s ears. At that time, would her father be furious, or…?
Field didn’t know, but she was sure he would oppose it. In that case, she might never see Liyakade again.
Thinking of this, Field wavered a bit, the tip of her sword drooping.
“Princess Field, there’s no need to worry.”
Alice seemed to notice Field’s thoughts and gently comforted her.
“There’s no rule that says you have to confess in front of everyone. If you’re afraid of your family finding out, just confess in secret and be together quietly.”
“Of course, the premise is that you have to defeat Miss Liakade, and then me.”
“Yeah, I was overthinking!”
After Alice’s words, Field’s spirits lifted again.
That’s right, what’s the point in thinking so much? If you like someone, just pursue them.
Why worry about everything else?
***
“It seems you’re determined to stand in my way.”
Liyakade, her attempt at sowing discord having failed, raised her chin, glancing sideways at the two standing side by side.
She stood before them, radiating arrogance, her knuckles cracking, her aura intensifying.
“No matter, even if it’s two against one, I have confidence I can win. It’ll just take a little more effort!”
In the next second, Liyakade stepped forward again, closing the distance with Field and Alice.
How could I… How could I just become your girlfriend like this!!!
Liyakade couldn’t believe what might happen if she really lost.
In those three months, she would first be like this, then like that, experience the bliss of the human world, and never return.
No! I absolutely can’t let something like that happen!
“Hmph, we have our reasons not to lose too!”
Field wasn’t about to show weakness.
Her burning fighting spirit seemed like real flames, and she raised her sword, charging straight toward the oncoming Liyakade.
Yes, Liyakade’s reason was not to experience bliss, and Field and Alice’s reason was to make Liyakade experience bliss.
Behind them, Alice wasn’t idle either.
The moment Field charged out, a layer of golden radiance enveloped her, and several Light Spheres followed from behind, shooting toward Liyakade.
Liyakade slashed out several Wind Blades, directly colliding with the Light Spheres.
The Light Spheres exploded instantly, and Liyakade could feel the overwhelming light and heat.
As soon as Liyakade blocked Alice’s attack, Field arrived.
With Alice’s support, Field’s speed and power increased significantly.
And having sparred with Liyakade for so long, Field was intimately familiar with Liyakade’s fighting style.
Field slashed downward.
Liyakade’s hands turned blue as she blocked and deflected the sword, then formed a fist and punched at Field’s shoulder.
Field anticipated this, easily dodging with a sidestep.
They exchanged blows continuously.
Alice remained at the side, releasing Light Spheres at just the right moments, forcing Liyakade to be cautious.
Even if she caught a flaw in Field’s stance, she was blocked by Alice’s Light Spheres.
Gradually, their teamwork grew smoother, and Field seemed to enter her element, completely seeing through Liyakade’s movements.
Liyakade shifted from offense to defense, falling behind.
Damn… I can’t go on like this!
Thinking this, Liyakade decided to go all out.
“Haah!”
Sheng Guang Shi
Liyakade shouted, leaping back.
A massive Wind Blade swept out from behind her, as if she was trying to widen the distance.
However, Field had already seen through this.
Almost simultaneously, Field swung her Flaming Sword horizontally, cleaving the Wind Blade in two.
“Don’t even think about escaping!”
Field prepared to pursue, but it was a feint—Liyakade had never intended to run.
Instead, Liyakade raised her right leg high, delivering a downward kick at Field.
Unable to retract in time, Field quickly blocked the kick with her left arm.
The expected pain didn’t come; Liyakade’s kick wasn’t as forceful as imagined.
Just as Field was about to push Liyakade away, Liyakade suddenly spoke quickly and quietly, like a mosquito.
“I’m not wearing any.”
The moment Field heard Liyakade speak, she felt as if time had frozen.
Her urge to push Liyakade away lessened, and her eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
N-Not wearing… Not wearing what!?
Could it be underwear!?
In front of the whole academy!?
How could anyone be so shameless!?
I get it, you’re trying to distract me!!!
Even though she thought this, it was too late—her eyes naturally drifted toward the Absolute Territory.
However, what Field saw wasn’t panties, nor was it a garden, but a pair of white Bottom Shorts.
Who invented such a thing as Bottom Shorts!
Eh? No, wait, this isn’t—
Crap!
“I win!!!”