Chapter 2: Past Lives and Present Life

Finally, when the assassin appeared, Midi also implicated her, causing Fina, who could have safely navigated the perilous situation, to inadvertently sustain injuries. Not only did she fail to secure the first place in the trial, but she also had to rest for several months thereafter

Someone like this has no chance of receiving a favorable impression from the future Queen of Magic Bullets

Just as Fina initially promised Dean Lind, she had no intention of causing any difficulties

Nevertheless, the arrival of the Storm Queen still caused quite a stir

Since you have requested it so, let us give it a try. In an unprecedented move, the Storm Queen agreed to this chaotic proposal

It was from that time onward that Midi began to pay attention to her savior and, at last, started to strive for her recognition

"The six intermediate automatons are rather uninteresting; it would be better to replace them with 'Flame Challenge,'" proposed Midi.

On the training ground, the simplest method to test practical combat abilities is to use automatons created by puppeteers. After being programmed with specific instructions, these automatons can simulate various actions of mutated monsters. In the event of an accident, they can stop instantly, with a delay of no more than half a second, making it a very safe method

To Fina, what lay before her was merely a young scion of a wealthy family, whose lackluster abilities were overshadowed by the privileges inherited from his forebears. There was no need for politeness; had it not been for the scheming of the councilor, she could have outright refused to accept Midi as a member of the team.

The vast majority of the nobility residing on this land will perish in that war, and their lands, properties, and even their wives and daughters will become the spoils of the Delos Empire

From the very beginning, Medea knew who her enemies were and what she ought to protect

Fina thought to herself, unable to suppress a slight smile at the corners of her mouth, finally revealing her first smile of the day: "Very good, I didn't expect you to have such awareness. Everything has been arranged over there; let's go now and settle this quickly."

By the year 986, the invasion of the Delos Empire would deliver a fatal blow to the crumbling royal family of the principality

This fellow is quite composed, but what is his true strength? Sigmund thought to himself, exchanging a glance with Lilian

It seems that it won't be too boring

However, this familiar style inevitably brought a trace of nostalgia and longing to Midi's eyes—after all, even in her youth, Fina was indeed that very Fina

He is Sigmund, the gunslinger. She is Lilian, the cleric," Fina introduced simply

Originally, whether it is smoothness or sophistication, or perhaps worldly wisdom and experience, in Fina's view, they are merely tricks of the nobility; she has never possessed compromise or politeness.

But this time is different

The cold, numbing sensation emanating from his palm made Midi realize that Fina had, in an instant, cast a spell, enveloping her entire hand in frost. In other words, she had no intention of making skin contact with him at all, and she was planning to express her inner fury in this manner, filled with a sense of rejection.

However, it is still too late for everything

Moreover, and more importantly, it is about patiently and carefully rebuilding the trust and bond between oneself and Fina, bit by bit. Regardless of the nature of the battle, having a partner who shares a deep connection and a reliable, strong team is the best assurance

Yet, in a subtle way, she felt that this dark-haired, dark-eyed youth before her might truly have the potential to succeed through challenge

Although this pampered body currently lacks exercise and can barely be considered a level 16 swordsman, Midi possesses twenty years of combat experience on the brink of life and death, along with the most exceptional vision and broad perspective following his second awakening, which allows him to fully compensate for his lack of strength with skill

Although over the past three years, both flora and fauna have undergone varying degrees of mutation, the level of threat they pose is at most comparable to that of roaming bandits and robbers, and it has not yet reached a point that warrants panic

Who would have thought that the current self is still the notorious dandy in the academy

With the fertile land of Belmar, and having not engaged in any warfare with other nations recently, there is naturally no deliberate emphasis on military strengthening. Even within this historically significant Royal Academy of Magic, an increasing number of idle noble offspring are present, rather than the diligent elites of the principality.

This naturally includes Fina's Hamilton family, as well as Midi's own Asrelax family

A blond-haired boy and a cute girl with some freckles on her face were already waiting here. Without a doubt, they were the other two members of the Fina team. Until this moment, Mi finally understood what the girl meant by "arranged".

"There is no need to be so troublesome; just call me Fina. I do not like complexity. Besides, you already called me that earlier, didn’t you?" The future Queen of Magic Bullets shrugged and said in a nonchalant tone, then coldly added, "However, please do not make any presumptuous assumptions on your own, or you will bear the consequences."

The Duchy of Belmar is currently divided into two opposing factions: the Queen's faction and the Parliamentary faction. The struggle between the two sides has persisted for decades, with various overt and covert conflicts and competitions arising continuously.

"One opportunity is enough," Mi Di quietly replied, almost as if repeating it to herself, "Enough."

This is one of the most renowned challenges of the Belmar Royal Academy of Magic, consisting of one magical puppet, two superior puppets, and eight intermediate puppets

The red-haired girl looked at Midy's outstretched hand with an icy gaze, let out a soft snort, and then, as if accepting a challenge, grasped it back firmly.

In the previous life, I, as a hindrance, indeed caused Fina a great deal of trouble

Therefore, Midi immediately chose the "Flame Challenge"

For instance, crossing one's arms can convey "Stop bothering me." Meanwhile, a cold yet charming smile signifies "I am somewhat interested." As long as an appropriate response is given, it is possible to slightly bridge the distance with her

Middy thought to herself and then replied without any hesitation: "Well, Fina, you can just call me Middy as well. In any case, since we are going to form a team, shall we head to the practice field to give it a try?"

However, since the arrival of Fina, this magical prodigy, at the academy, she has consistently suppressed numerous noble scions with her impeccable performance, thereby increasing the influence of the Queen's faction. Consequently, the leader of the parliamentary faction, Duke Seth, conceived this method to preemptively eliminate the future mainstay of the Queen's faction.

He remembers that the spirit he contracted in his previous life is now sleeping in an uninhabited canyon not far from the family territory. If he can prepare well and become a ghost swordsman in advance, it would surely be of great benefit

"Even with this hindrance, I can still achieve first place in the trial." The girl with vibrant red hair seemed to declare this loudly and confidently

Medi Xiang www.hetushu.com.com believes this, but he does not want to be a hindrance again

Whether it is six puppets or ten puppets, in the eyes of these three individuals, they are likely seen as a hindrance. In fact, the attitudes displayed by Sigmund and Lilian have already made everything clear; to gain their approval, one must be on the same level as them

However, at the moment when Midi silently made up her mind, the "lover" across from her looked on with a hint of disdain in his eyes

"However, let me be clear: if you fail, I will not give you a second chance." Fina said coldly, staring intently into the other person's eyes

And now, this document states that a person who can barely reach the strength of a level 16 swordsman actually dares to proclaim a fiery challenge

Six intermediate puppets are quite suitable; it is better to proceed step by step. As long as you do not hold us back, we will not take any action against you. If you were to perish on the training ground, it would also cause trouble for Miss Fina. Why must you be so stubborn? Sigmund kindly reminded, and within this kindness lay the compassion of the strong for the weak

Intermediate puppets are equivalent to level 14 Tauren Vanguard. Advanced puppets are equivalent to level 16 Glowing Cat Demon. Mage puppets are equivalent to level 17 Flame Mage. When these puppets are combined, they form a complete adventure team. If the formation is fully deployed, even relying solely on the intelligence of the puppets, they would be capable of eliminating any opponent below level 20.

In fact, even without an introduction, Midi is very familiar with the two core members of the future "Hawk Brigade"

Fina is not to be mentioned for now; in Midi's memory, both Sigmund and Lilian have already reached level 19 and possess the strength to sweep through the Flame Challenge.

Following closely behind the striking red-haired Midi, he immediately became the center of attention among the crowd. After all, no male student has ever been seen this close to the Storm Queen until now

The training ground on a rainy day appears quite desolate, with most outdoor facilities empty, and only a few individuals remaining in the indoor shooting range. From a certain perspective, this indirectly reflects the current situation in the Principality of Belmar: a hazy winter rain is sufficient to cause the top students of the principality to abandon their training, which should be unwavering.

Although they knew they could not directly expel him from the team, both Tu and Shu openly displayed expressions of disdain and contempt, as if they were looking at a pile of garbage when they looked at Midi

Ignoring the restless movements of the crowd, Fina led Midi directly into one of the training grounds

However, this outstanding pair of men and women have no fondness for a wastrel like Midi. If Midi is merely a pebble on the roadside in the eyes of the proud Fina, then in the eyes of these two, he is nothing but a complete hindrance.

This is not because Midi is receiving any special treatment now, but rather because over the years he has become well acquainted with his lover's personality. Midi is able to understand what emotions are represented by Fina's every gesture and movement.

However, Medusa, who possesses memories of her past life, knows that soon, a series of crises, like a violent storm, will follow one after another, shattering the entire principality

However, it is evident that the three of them, including Fina, felt that this young man before them was completely acting recklessly

Let us use six intermediate automatons as opponents. After greeting her teammates, Fina turned her head, still maintaining her cold demeanor with her arms crossed.

He remembers very clearly that the greatest danger in this academy trial was not the monsters, but the assassins

To this end, Midi must find ways to enhance her strength before the academy trials, so that she can play a significant role during the trials

Trust cannot be established overnight; it requires gradual cultivation. Midi intends to first demonstrate her capabilities.

"Lack of self-awareness can lead to a swift demise," Lilian's voice was clear and crisp, yet it was laced with a hint of sarcasm. "Do you think you can call off the puppet at any moment and be safe? Inertia cannot be halted, and when a collision occurs, you might just end up as a puddle of flesh."

The red-haired girl originally thought that this half-hearted swordsman, a young man of privilege, might make some excuses, but to her surprise, he actively proposed to engage in a genuine practice session.

Even becoming a member of Fina's team as a debauched scion was a clever scheme long arranged by the council members—allowing a minor noble with no substantial background to get involved, so that even the queen's faction could not say much, lest it be seen as special treatment.

"Well, Miss Hamilton..." Miss Midy cleared her throat, breaking the silence

In fact, this fellow named Midi appeared quite strange from the very beginning—clearly just an inept dandy, yet he maintained an air of calm and composure in front of me; although he stared at me with great rudeness, I felt no aversion whatsoever, but rather sensed a long-lost familiarity and tenderness in those eyes.

The blonde gunman and the violent cleric were both taken aback, but Midi seemed to have anticipated this answer all along, nodding calmly without any surprise.

In Midi's memory, during the previous life when Fina was undergoing the test, due to his repeated obstruction, the process was delayed by several days, and the two individuals did not appear. He even secretly rejoiced in this, unaware that he had already caused Fina to feel disappointed and missed a genuine opportunity to gain the other's recognition

A typical youth, under such blatant and provocative gazes, would surely have erupted in fury long ago; however, Midi merely introduced himself calmly, showing no signs of emotional disturbance

However, the red-haired girl sensed the determination hidden within that slender body from Midy's serious expression

The unpredictable and even illogical circumstances made Fina feel a wave of irritation

In the year 985, alongside the cataclysmic fire in the Forest of Gran, came the reappearance of the Sky City and the intensification of anomalous phenomena. By that time, Belmar, which relied solely on a few small knightly orders and mercenaries to maintain order, would find itself plunged into chaos

The intermediate puppet is, in fact, only at the level of a level 14 minotaur beast, which is certainly not significant for those of them who have already reached or exceeded level 16 and are preparing for their job change.

But now, Midico will no longer let the great opportunity presented before him slip away right under his nose

Medea could not help but let out a bitter smile, but there was nothing that could be done about it

Neither of the two managed to complete their job transfer using the large strategic magic array of the principality, and they were forced to become exiles. It was only afterward that they truly experienced the hardships and suffering of being alone and helpless

In the year 984 of the Arad calendar, twenty years before the fall of Midia, the Duchy of Belmar in the southern part of the continent was still enveloped in an atmosphere of tranquility and peace

This time, I will absolutely not lose her again

The joy brought by rebirth, the happiness of a lover returning from the dead still lingers in the heart, but Midi did not let this cloud his judgment. Having once tasted the flavor of despair, he understood very well that this was far from the time to express emotions or enjoy life. On the contrary, he must quickly become stronger, so as not to repeat the same mistakes.