While the Dueling Festival within the academy was unfolding in orderly fashion, the St. Marian Dueling Branch Halls across the world had long since opened to the public.
St. Marian's Academy's dueling competitions were among the rare few hosted by humans yet hugely popular even within the territories of other Demi-human Species.
The rift between humans and the Demi-human Species had gradually surfaced after the war's end, and only St. Marian's Academy's reputation still stood firm.
Especially in the Free City—the homeland of mixed-bloods—newly built upon what had once been Demon race territory, St. Marian's Academy, which harbored not the slightest discrimination against mixed-bloods, had always been revered as a holy land, and every child dreamed of being able to enroll and study at St. Marian's Academy.
For this Easter Dueling Festival, apart from the capital of the human Kingdom, it was this Free City's Dueling Branch Hall that held the grandest celebration of all.
Cynthia St. Arte was, at this very moment, seated within Box No. 1 of the Free City's Dueling Branch Hall.
She had already been busy within this Free City for a long stretch of time, and today she happened to find herself at leisure, so she'd thought to come see just how the academy's Easter Dueling Festival was being run, and whether it could become a regular event going forward.
"Say, Cynthia, is this really an idea that Silf could have come up with?"
Beside Principal Cynthia, a woman whose long hair was as fiery red as the rising sun was carefully examining the Easter egg in her hand, clicking her tongue in wonder.
"Suna, didn't I already tell you? It was a student's plan."
Principal Cynthia reached out, pinched up a strawberry, and placed it into her mouth; her crystalline lips were faintly moist, and her silver hair, pure as moonlight, was nearly translucent.
Suna Montielfali, City Lord of the Free City, the heroine who had forcibly raised a whole city upon this land where everything waited to be rebuilt—a human mixed-blood who, like Professor Pava Jones, carried Giant blood.
"The student you speak of—you mean Alvit's son?"
City Lord Montielfali folded her arms across her chest and, without the slightest reserve, crossed her legs; a trace of curiosity surfaced on her slightly rugged yet still beautiful face.
Suna Montielfali, who possessed one-half Giant blood, was, in terms of build, actually somewhat more slender than Professor Jones, who had only one-sixteenth Giant blood; yet her physique was equally imposing, and beneath her fine, tender skin brimmed a sense of power.
At the mention of the Valkyrie's son, City Lord Montielfali couldn't help but ask: "Is he really as outstanding as you say? Because I've heard..."
Principal Cynthia smiled faintly: "Before a human comes to understand reason and after they come to understand it, both their temperament and their character will change. As educators, what we must do is offer them the proper guidance during this period."
City Lord Montielfali couldn't help but shake her head: "I hope so. He'd best not let me down."
Principal Cynthia lifted her head, her gaze passing through the box's one-way mirror to look down upon the spectator seats below.
As the eight-thirty matches drew near, more and more spectators came flooding into the arena.
Quite a few spectators had already been drawn in by the egg distribution points in each section, and the price of 188 Saint Coins apiece did nothing at all to dampen their enthusiasm.
Cynthia then said: "I hear he'll be taking part in this competition; you can observe him for yourself when the time comes."
"Taking part in the competition?" City Lord Montielfali said in surprise. "Isn't he only a first-year?"
Cynthia said: "This Easter Dueling Festival has a new format. Haven't you been paying attention?"
City Lord Montielfali shook her head slightly: "Busy from dawn to dusk—where would I find the time to pay attention to such things?"
"Knock, knock, knock."
A knocking from outside the box interrupted the two women's conversation.
City Lord Montielfali knit her brows, then lowered her long crossed legs and straightened her posture.
But Principal Cynthia smiled: "It's Aurora."
City Lord Montielfali's expression eased a little, and she relaxed once more.
As City Lord of the Free City, no matter her true nature, before outsiders she was obliged to observe etiquette.
After all, she was the face of the Free City, and people's impression of such an up-and-coming city depended in large part on the City Lord's personal charisma.
This meant that, having built the Free City, she ironically could no longer be as free as she once was.
She couldn't be like Cynthia, maintaining an impeccable bearing every single minute and second.
"Come in."
Only after hearing her mother's languid voice did Aurora, outside the door, gently push it open.
The door, originally locked tight, was pushed open with ease.
She tiptoed into the box, then shut the door behind her, not forgetting to lock it again.
Only then did she walk on to stand behind Principal Cynthia and City Lord Montielfali, setting down the tray in her hands and saying obediently: "Good morning, Mother. Good morning, Auntie Cynthia."
"Good morning, Little Aurora." Principal Cynthia turned slightly and looked at the tray.
Upon the silver tray engraved with simple patterns, a white porcelain teapot gave off warmth, and beside it were exquisite pastries carefully stacked up.
There were crystal jelly cakes giving off a fresh minty fragrance, cheesecakes glazed honey-gold, tiramisu spread with chocolate sauce, and cookies dotted with crushed walnut bits...
Cynthia said in surprise: "Little Aurora, did you make these yourself?"
Aurora gave a slight nod, her neat bangs veiling her brows and eyes, a faint bashful blush showing through cheeks as fair and tender as a freshly peeled egg.
Unlike her mother, although she possessed one-quarter Giant blood, she had been born petite and dainty, and even her hair color was white like Principal Cynthia's, rather than the rising-sun red of Suna Montielfali.
But differing slightly from Principal Cynthia's silver hair, her hair was even purer white, even more translucent, with a dreamlike, ethereal quality.
Aurora Montielfali had evidently inherited more of her paternal lineage.
Faced with Principal Cynthia's question, she only let out a shy "Mm."
"Louder." Suddenly, City Lord Montielfali snapped out a reprimand.
Aurora, her face flushing red, let out a forceful "Mm!"
Only then did City Lord Montielfali pinch up a walnut cookie and pop it into her mouth, saying helplessly: "I, Suna Montielfali, of all people once held the title of 'Sun Warrior'—how did I ever give birth to a moon-like daughter such as you?"
Aurora said bashfully: "How am I anything like the moon..."
City Lord Montielfali shot her a glare: "Just look at you—what part of you resembles my daughter at all? Anyone else taking a look would think you were Cynthia's offspring!"
Aurora couldn't help twisting a lock of her hair again, murmuring softly: "It's not as if that's my fault."
"So it's my fault, then?" City Lord Montielfali couldn't help giving a cold snort.
Principal Cynthia smiled and beckoned to Aurora: "Little Aurora, never mind your mother—come sit over here by Auntie."
Aurora glanced at her mother but said softly: "No need; I'll just sit here by Mother."
With that, she walked over and sat down in the seat beside the City Lord, her bearing as elegant as a noble young lady's.
City Lord Montielfali gazed at this daughter who looked nothing like her, yet deep within her eyes welled a thick, doting affection.
Pretending not to care, she said offhandedly: "Aurora, watch the matches carefully—you'll be enrolling in the second half of the year. I hope you can join the Dueling Club in your first year."
"Mm..." Aurora nodded, then, blushing as was her habit, said, "Once I enroll, I'll get to see him."
"Tsk." City Lord Montielfali turned her head aside, not wanting to speak.
Nor did she tell her daughter that in a little while she might just get to see the very person she wished to see.
...
The sunlight over the Free City was just right.
The Kingdom's capital, however, was shrouded in dark clouds.
Inside the carriage, Eldest Princess Eliza gazed somewhat sorrowfully at the sky beyond the window.
This Easter sermon tour was truly beset with misfortune.
She had no idea whether it could even proceed smoothly.
At this thought, she couldn't help looking toward the direction of the St. Marian Dueling Branch Hall, filled with envy.
"I really want to go."
Not only had Alvit and Claire gone—even Anna and Angie had gone too.
Only she had no choice but to press onward.
But to live as a person is always to bear some burden.
...
The St. Marian Dueling Branch Hall.
Alvit St. Demon and Claire Kite had already entered the spectator seats early and taken their seats.
The two little princesses sat on either side of Claire, teasing that fat cat.
With the Valkyrie and the Beast Sage at their side, they could refuse the company of those pesky guards with perfect confidence, and now they were in high spirits.
"Meow!"
The fat cat named "Galileo" struggled to clamber up, but with Anna and Angie each gripping one of its ears, it could only let out helpless, pitiful meows.
"Eliza will be all right, won't she?" Claire asked with some concern.
But Alvit was none too worried: "She has to learn to face things on her own sooner or later. We can help her for a while, but not for a lifetime."
Angie lifted her head and said with a giggle: "Auntie Claire, there's nothing to worry about—Big Sister can do it."
Anna chimed in too: "She and Big Brother are one in the East City, one in the West City—they won't be facing off directly, so it'll be fine."
Claire said helplessly: "You two little ones—what on earth are you thinking?"
"What else would we be thinking?" Anna and Angie said in unison. "If Big Brother wins, we'll be quiet little princesses. If Big Sister wins, we'll be lively little princesses."
Claire couldn't help being amused into laughter: "You two have certainly thought it through thoroughly. A pity that the affairs of the world keep changing and rarely go as one wishes. You're still young, though, so you needn't fret over such things."
Anna and Angie simply pretended not to hear.
After playing for a while, Anna suddenly looked up and said: "Auntie Claire, shall we go buy eggs together? I want a "Skyvault White Dragon" Magic Guide Model!"
Angie immediately added: "That's right, we have to be quick. I hear there are only three "Skyvault White Dragon" models, and only one of them is a moving Magic Guide Model! If someone else draws it away, then it'll be gone."
Having said this, the two little princesses tried to rise, but Claire pulled them back down again.
Claire looked toward Alvit.
Alvit then clapped her hands.
An "audience member" seated behind them immediately stood up and left.
After a little while.
A sweet-faced "distributor" came pushing a little cart over.
Neatly arranged upon the cart were rows upon rows of eggs.
"188 Saint Coins apiece—you go first, or shall I?"
Anna's and Angie's gazes turned sharp at the same instant, as though facing a battlefield.
But an arm like white jade had already reached out first, picking away an Easter egg with a white base.
Alvit, too, had long since been itching to open an egg.
Her target was "Gatomon"!
...
Within St. Marian's Academy.
The Open-air Dueling Arena.
After Dark and Diana walked into the contestants' passage, they kept walking along with the crowd.
It wasn't until a fork appeared ahead that the two of them came to a halt one after the other.
The staff stationed at the fork were loudly calling out: "First- through third-years to the left, please; fourth- through sixth-years to the right!"
And on each side, left and right, two more staff members were registering the contestants' names, Houses, and years.
"Let's take the left."
Dark led Diana over to queue on the left, and before long it was their turn.
The senior girl in charge of registration looked up and said: "Name, House, and year, then draw an egg."
"There are eggs here too?" Dark asked curiously.
The senior girl gave a light laugh: "Inside, besides a number tag, there's a participation prize. Good luck."
Looking at her smile, Dark for a fleeting instant wanted to have DemiDevimon help draw the egg—of course, he didn't actually do that.
In any case, after registering, he drew from a large jar an Easter egg merely the size of a tennis ball, then stepped aside to let Diana register next.
Among the students who had finished registering earlier, some crushed their eggs outright and pulled out a credit voucher from inside, instantly crying out in excitement.
And another student queuing in the next line over drew out a green ore; at first he was stunned for a moment, then he cried out in delighted surprise, so excited he could scarcely contain himself.
The other students in line—especially the first- and second-years for whom "it's the taking part that counts"—all began discussing it excitedly because of this.
Until they'd gotten here, no one had imagined there would be a participation prize.
"Heave-ho!"
After Diana finished registering, she too immediately fished an Easter egg out of the large jar.
Seeing that Dark hadn't opened his yet, she couldn't help saying: "Together?"
Dark nodded: "Together."
And so the two of them exerted force at the same time.
The Easter egg in Diana's hand shattered in an instant.
A round number tag and a hexagonal gem tumbled out from within.
Diana picked up the gem and said in delighted surprise: "Dark, look what I drew!"
That gem gave off a fiery red glow, casting a vivid crimson light across her face.
But on closer inspection, one would find a faint black shadow still hidden at the gem's center.
The students queuing on this side had their eyes drawn to that gem, and all wore looks of envy.
"Congratulations, congratulations."
Even as he offered his congratulations, Dark glanced at the egg in his own hand, which had merely been dented by a single fingerprint, and silently kept applying pressure.
In the end, after finally managing to crush the egg, he got nothing but a number tag and a dull, grayish stone.
He picked up the stone and looked at it for a while, but truly couldn't tell what it was, so he had no choice but to put it away for now.
Virt Gold, who was lined up in the queue on the other side, had finished registering by this time as well.
He cast a somewhat envious glance at the gem in Diana's hand, then drew an egg from the jar on that side too, and pried it open with both hands.
"This is... a 10-credit voucher?" Virt said in delighted surprise.
"Not bad luck."
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