Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
Starry Sky, Sword Art Department, Professor's Office at Jianhua University.
"What does 'forgot' mean?"
"It means I forgot to notify you. It actually happened just two days ago. Two members of the fellowship team died in the Virtual Realm."
"Were they badly hurt?"
"Their injuries weren't severe, but one got an eye injury and the other an ear injury, which greatly affected their combat abilities. So we replaced them, and then Leonie recommended you. Thus, it was only logical for you to become a team member—Oh right, I'll be leading the team for the upcoming fellowship with Trajectory University. I didn't want you to compete so soon, but this batch of swordsmanship students is the worst I've ever seen. We had no choice but to rely on a newcomer like you, who's been learning swordsmanship for less than a month, to make a show of it."
"Why didn't you ask me first?"
"Because I thought you'd definitely agree, so I didn't bother asking and then forgot to tell you."
"But why the lead battle?" Sonia complained, holding her forehead. "I enter the Virtual Realm every night at 11 o'clock sharp, Professor, you know that… The lead battle doesn't start until midnight at the earliest, completely disrupting my schedule—not to mention I train for two hours in swordsmanship every night."
"And if someone hadn't mentioned it to me, I wouldn't have known that I was supposed to attend the fellowship party tonight! The whole school knows I'm fighting in the lead battle, except for me!"
"Professor, this is really—"
Thud!
A pair of boots landed on the desk as Teluozan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, looking particularly impatient. "Have you said enough? I just forgot to tell you, okay? Do I really need to be nagged like this? Next time, I'll bombard you with ten messages on the Curtain about anything concerning you, alright?"
Although his words were harsh, Sonia knew the professor had taken her point.
After half a month of interaction, Sonia had already figured out Teluozan's character. The swordsmanship professor was brash and domineering in conversation with anyone, and his teaching style was always 'are you strong or am I strong? If I'm strong, then listen to me.' But that was because from a young age, her innate talent had allowed her to sail through life smoothly and become a Saint Realm Artificer, her gift completely overshadowing any lack of emotional intelligence, so she never needed to learn how to interact with others.
To others, dealing with Professor Teluozan might seem torturous, but Sonia didn't feel that way at all. Back in her hometown, there were plenty of villagers with even lower EQ than Professor Teluozan, who relied solely on dramas for knowledge and prenatal education for social interaction. Sonia had plenty of experience dealing with despicable people.
Or rather, Sonia was quite satisfied that Professor Teluozan was a genius with low EQ, which allowed her to quickly grasp his character traits and even know how to make the professor 'obey.'
Sonia was so stern this time because she knew Teluozan wouldn't blame her, and that only by doing so would he really listen—honestly, Teluozan was the kind of person who wouldn't take things to heart unless you gave him a good shake.
"I get the impression you're not too keen on participating in the fellowship, let alone the lead battle," Teluozan tilted his head. "If you're really in a hurry to enter the Virtual Realm, I can change the order and let you fight in the vanguard battle first. Finish it and rush back to school, or even replace you… What do you think?"
"But, I've never been as obsessed with the Virtual Realm as you are. Missing it for a day or two, would you really miss out on anything?"
Miss out on anything? She'd miss the critical moments of the Observer and the Witch's growing affection.
Though she complained inwardly, Sonia knew nothing much would happen in one night. If progress could be made overnight, it would only show that the Farm women were too weak—she hadn't been able to counter the Observer's control in half a month, could the Witch really win him over in just one night?
Is having a girlfriend with multiple personalities really that great? Isn't it just like dating a caring sister, a sly and sharp-tongued girl, an energetic young lady, and a cold-blooded killer all at once? What's the big deal?
Well, actually, the Witch does have quite a few advantages.
After analyzing it point by point, Sonia realized that besides arriving early, she didn't seem to have much more competitive edge.
Even in the Observer's favorite theory of combat power, the Witch's future, with her ability to practice the Time faction, surpassed her own—the Time faction grows automatically in the Time Continent, meaning the Witch will always have one more specialty than herself.
Although her position in the team seemed shaky, Sonia wasn't too worried about being neglected. Even though the Observer often spoke seriously, talking about 'status,' 'struggle,' 'survival of the fittest,' 'wolf spirit,' and 'the capable take the lead,' she knew it was all rhetoric to encourage her to train harder.
Just like how the academy would say 'this test score affects your regular grade' before every quiz to make students anxious and learn to review on their own.
Half a month's advantage wasn't fake; Sonia had already subtly grasped the Observer's character. This legendary figure, who seemed to have revived, was a very delicate person. His absurd jokes hid undercurrents, and his silent actions were wrapped in goodwill.
If it weren't for the Observer taking the initiative, Sonia would never discuss the Witch's personality confusion in battle with her, and even if she did, she would wait for it to happen a few more times and for their relationship to progress further. However, the Observer seemed impatient, wanting to address it as soon as he saw it, as if holding it in would affect his ability to urinate.
It was unclear whether it was out of a sense of responsibility, concern for the team, or simply kindness.
Such a delicate person takes much longer to accept someone than ordinary people do. And it's not just the Witch; Sonia felt that she hadn't really been accepted by the Observer either, even though he said she was the pillar of his life. Occasionally, the Observer's gaze towards her carried an indescribable sense of distance.
It was as if… he was looking at something unattainable.
This sense of distance was deeply hidden, perhaps because they were not in the same realm, and the spatial distance led to emotional detachment.
If Sonia couldn't break through this barrier, she didn't think the Witch could either.
Besides, if the Observer was really in such a rush and lustful, selecting Agents just to choose consorts, then why was Sonia still unscathed? Was it really because the Observer couldn't beat her?
Sonia could come up with a thousand reasons to prove that there was no problem with the Observer and the Witch exploring the Virtual Realm alone.
But she just couldn't convince herself.
Sometimes reason isn't very useful; emotional thoughts occupy every inch of the mind, and the army of rationality collapses and flees.
The thought of the Observer and the Witch traveling through the Virtual Realm without her tore Sonia apart.
She couldn't know what they would do or say there. Would they speak ill of her? Would the Observer talk about his past? Perhaps they would encounter Virtual Realm adventures, like Miracle Park, the Hall of Sorcery, or even the Fate Quiz…
The special treatment that once belonged only to her, the attention that only she could receive, the exclusivity that only she had, was gradually being handed over to someone else.
If she didn't refuse the lead battle and turned down the fellowship party, then the Observer and the Witch would have their own memories, exclusive experiences, and secrets shared with a smile.
She hated this feeling of not being in control and feared the development of being excluded.
She knew her suspicions were unreasonable and that indulging in such emotions was meaningless, but she couldn't help herself.
Sonia Seway was just such an incapable country Farm women, unable to pick up, let go, part with, or hold on.
All the reasons in the world couldn't stand up to a moment's impulse.
"So what are you saying?"
Professor Teluozan asked, "Do you want to switch the order of the battles, or just cancel this fellowship altogether? Well, I can understand prioritizing Virtual Realm adventures over real-life events…"
"No."
Sonia's answer surprised both the professor and herself.
The Farm women stared intently at the professor, her fists clenched tightly, shaking her head stiffly: "Let's stick to the professor's plan. I'll take responsibility for the final lead battle and will participate in the school-level fellowship to the end."
"The Virtual Realm should give way to reality."