A smile bloomed across Cecil's plump, pink lips. For the first time in her life, Cecil didn't smile after seeing anyone else, reading something or finding something amusing.

She was smiling for something she achieved on her own.

Cecil panted, her face pale and the blood sliding down her arm from the ugly gash, along with the cut on her cheek. Yet, the smile on her face was beatific and blinding.

She lifted her uninjured arm into the air, clenching it as she shook it a little.

The applause from the audience grew louder.

Linqin, who was on the floor, her disheveled hair reflecting the state of her mind.

She lost, fair and square.

Linqin slowly recovered, releasing a frustrated sigh, standing up as she trudged over to Cecil. She raised her arm, asking for a handshake from Cecil.

"Congratulations, you won and I lost."

Cecil was taken aback by Linqin's sudden change in attitude.

"Th-thank you," Cecil shook her hand, her expression softening. "It was a good fight, Linqin."

Linqin harrumphed, snatching her hand back, she strode off with her head held high. Born in a village with warriors, though she was a brat and a spoiled princess, she was still a warrior at heart.

A good fight, indeed, Cecil Lan.

Linqin scowled and Cecil watched her leave. There were exclaims from the crowd.

"Good fight, good fight!"

"Impressive!"

"Wonderful! Absolutely beautiful!"

"Finally, a proper match!"

Cecil suddenly felt someone embracing her from the back, squealing excitedly.

"That was amazing, Cecil!"

"Thank you, Hana."

Hana giggled and stared at her best friend, her appearance would always be neat and beautiful. However, right now, there were black smudges all over her robe and face, along with her disheveled hair and bloody wounds.

It was a mystifying sight.

"It's my first time seeing you so messy." Hana remarked, amazed.

Cecil blinked, touching at her hair and face. "You are right--ow." Cecil winced, the adrenaline had worn off and now she could feel the pain of her wounds and her aching body.

She felt fatigued as well, her legs trembling.

Hana hurried to support her friend, shocked. "Cecil! Are you okay?"

"It's okay...I'm just tired and...in pain." Cecil smiled tiredly.

"I'll bring her to the sick bay." A new voice intruded and Cecil lifted her head weakly, seeing Kai with his toothy grin.

"That was a spectacular fight, Cecil."

"Hmmm." Cecil hummed in return and Hana willingly handed the exhausted Cecil to Kai.

Cecil stumbled from the loss of support and Kai panicked, reaching out to grab her but someone else was quicker.

A callused hand grasped gently at her arm, balancing her and Cecil assumed it was Kai. To her surprise, it wasn't the alter but the protagonist.

"..." Xue was quiet, his face indifferent.

He then carelessly tossed Cecil to Kai, standing by Hana's side.

Cecil gasped as Kai caught her.

Xue then looked down at Hana with a gentle smile, his indifference gone. Hana smiled back and she approached Cecil, making her hand damp with water as she rubbed at Cecil's face diligently.

"Lemme clean your dirty face!" Hana grinned, her actions careful. "Okay, there! Now you are all clean on the face! See you later, Cecil!"

Cecil nodded lightly, and Kai supported her as they went to the sick bay.

***

After drinking an elixir given by the healer, Cecil felt immensely better, rejuvenated. She sat on the bed, flipping through a book about medical practices and herbs.

"Cecil?"

Cecil paused, looking up to see Kai holding a glass of water.

"Feeling better now?"

"Better." Cecil nodded, looking back at the book.

"What's that book?"

"The healer was reading it, and I asked if I could look at it after she was done. She just passed it to me without a word." Cecil shrugged, her voice gentle and soft.

That healer is amusing. Right after I asked her, she just passed the book to me with a deadpan.

Kai grinned, sitting down on the chair beside the bed. He rested his chin on his hand, his elbow resting on his thigh.

"You like medical books?"

"I am interested," Cecil stated, and she paused, closing the book. "The sword mound expedition will be next week, am I right?"

Kai widened his eyes in surprise. "You know about it?"

"I heard a rumour." Cecil bluffed with ease, looking out the opened window.

It was already nighttime.

Cecil pouted inwardly, it seemed like she had no chance to train today.

"Why are you asking about the expedition?"

"Hmmm, curiosity," Cecil bluffed once again and she turned to Kai, her clear eyes gleaming. "Would you mind doing me a favour, Kai?"

"Anything for you, Cecil." Kai blurted out before covering his mouth.

Cecil chuckled, ruffling his hair. She then leaned in close, making Kai jerk back in alarm.

"Wh-what are you--"

"The favour, it's better if you are the only one who hears about it."

"O-oh."

Cecil whispered into Kai's ear, his cheeks slightly red. However, his eyes slowly widened as Cecil started to explain about her favour.

Cecil withdrew, a trace of nervousness present on her face.

"Are you sure, Cecil?"

Cecil nodded, before biting on her lip. If Kai could do it, it will make her life so much easier. "Can you do it?"

"If it's me, it's possible."

Cecil cheered in her heart. "Then, please do, Kai."

Kai nodded, grinning and she smiled back.

***

The next day, Cecil swore to herself to forfeit from the tournament, whoever her opponent was. Even if they threatened her or pleaded with her, she'll withdraw without a second thought.

The gong sounded and the participants were asked to present themselves upon the stage.

Cecil ascended the stairs, bringing her head up to face her opponent and she froze.

Her opponent was equally surprised, blinking his grey eyes at her. The crowd noticing the match-up grew clamorous.

There's no need to hesitate! Forfeit or forfeit your life, Cecil!

"You--"

"I forfeit."

The crowd became quiet.

"Winner, Xue!"

Cecil flipped her robes, stepping down the stage.

Around the academy, the rumours about the relationship between Cecil and Xue were the most perplexing ones.

There was only one thing in common among the rumours. Whenever someone even does an inch of wrong to Hana, Xue will not hesitate to hunt down for the culprit, be it man or woman.

Fortunately, if it wasn't for Cecil, Xue would have murdered countless students and even teachers.

Hana was always the damsel-in-distress.

Xue was always the overprotective, possessive and obsessive hero.

Cecil was the courageous female second lead but was tossed aside to be a pacifier.

The rumours surrounding her skills as a pacifier to Xue was the perplexing ones.

Everyone looked at Xue, seeing his face expression changing rapidly. A few students swallowed nervously, the hero was about to turn into a demon again.

[ Previous impression points : 80
Remaining impression points : 75
Protagonist "Xue" isn't happy that you forfeited. ]

Again?!

Great lord protagonist, I didn't mean anything bad about forfeiting!

Cecil panicked, she didn't want to see the impression points decreasing abruptly again.

I don't think I'll ever recover from that if it happens a second time!

Cecil spun around, walking briskly back up, plastering her usual facade across her face.

"I forfeited because I will lose without a doubt, Xue. I did not mean to offend you in any way."

"There it is! The tranquilizer has made her move!"

Sure enough, Xue's expression slowly became calm. However, he was still glaring at Cecil.

Cecil didn't pay attention to the rumours about her, since she was mostly locked up to do her training. Everytime she decides to take a break to visit Hana, she also somehow conveniently there to put a stop to Xue's madness.

Even Cecil was shocked at her own luck.

"You aren't even going to try? I wanted to experience your fighting style myself for once, out of curiosity."

Cecil widened her eyes.

Is the protagonist praising me indirectly?

The protagonist acknowledges me! He acknowledges my small presence!

Am I finally promoted from a loyal trash to a loyal something useful?!

She wanted to immediately agree to his demand, however, Cecil held back. She knew Xue wouldn't hold back fighting her...maybe.

Moreover, if she didn't continue with her original plans, the story will follow the original tragic plot once again.

I won't allow that to happen, my reputation as the most loyal female second lead is on the line!

"I am not going to try, I am still exhausted from yesterday's match. I'm afraid I will not be able to fight to my full strength, I wouldn't be respecting you, Xue." Cecil lied easily.

She had already recovered thanks to the magical elixir that the author has created for this world.

[ Previous impression points : 75
Remaining impression points : 76
Protagonist "Xue" is pleased with your words, you are safe now~ ]

"Yes! Saaaafe!" Cecil cheered out to AI500.

"Is that so?" Xue raised an eyebrow, and the next sentence he blurted out made Cecil sweat. "Maybe next time we can have a proper match."

Protagonist...you already killed lowly me in a very miserable way, into tiny tiny pieces.

I think once is enough...

Cecil managed a polite smile, turning around and their match ended.

***

Two days went by and Cecil dedicated the entire two days to training. She knew that soon, she'll be able to make a breakthrough to the third gate.

When she opened the second gate before, there wasn't any change in her surroundings. The author was extremely vague in explaining the gates, and Cecil wasn't sure what the changing of surroundings meant.

She also wondered if they will ever change again.

Cecil sat down beside Hana, who was fidgeting eagerly in her seat. Cecil glanced at her in amusement. Since Hana wasn't in the academy as a student in the novel, everything that happened throughout this past month made Cecil surprised as Hana.

She was going through an actual character development, and Cecil was honoured to see it happen before her very eyes.

Maybe...grooming the heroine is also my job as a loyal second female lead.

Cecil pondered and Hana suddenly grabbed her arm, shaking her lightly.

"Xue made it to the finals! This match will determine if he is first place or second place."

Cecil chuckled, patting the enthusiastic Hana on her head.

In the novel, Xue naturally won first place as he is the omnipotent protagonist.

His opponent was strong, and deserved to at this rank. If Xue wasn't here, the first place would belong to him. Alas, against someone who is the descendant of the almighty Supreme God, Xue won after a few minutes of fighting.

It was stated he was hit once by his opponent, and that was humiliating to many. However, to Cecil and the readers of the novel, it was impressive.

An omnipotent being that is separated into fifty different fragments, being able to land a hit on him is already worthy enough.

If Xue was in his original state, his opponent would be crushed like an insignificant bug...

The gong sounded, and the audience was completely filled up. Everyone was eager to watch the final match.

The participants were revealed and Cecil observed with an indifferent expression.

That's when she realised something was wrong.

"...?!"

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

Why did she forfeit?

Her fighting style is annoyingly beautiful and I...

...

...I wanted to use this chance to observe it up close.

Is she afraid of me? That I'll hurt her?

Why would I do that?

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

Cecil wants me to get that? I'm surprised the rumours are so deadly here.

Well...I'll be fine even if he finds out.

I think?

...where is the seven petals when I need them?

《 stop 》