68 – What a Bunch of Deadweights!

‘Team 38 knight-class Divine Princess Kadeen has been defeated by Team 45 knight-class Divine Princess Astrid.’

‘Team 38 heavy-artillery-class Divine Princess Bray has been defeated by Team 45 knight-class Divine Princess Astrid.’

‘Team 38 Divine Child Arkai has been defeated by Team 45 knight-class Divine Princess Astrid.’

‘Team 38: Eliminated.’

As the cold system broadcast concluded, Astrid sheathed her sword. The battlefield, bathed in the silver glow of the moon, had no more enemies left.

“As expected of Her Highness,” murmured a Wood Elf girl, armed with a sword and shield, eyes sparkling with admiration. “There really aren’t any rivals among this year’s new students.”

“Everyone, please stay still and relax,” said a Sea Elf girl with flowing blue curls. Staff in hand, she began chanting—her voice like a quiet spring breeze, pure and soothing, as though straight from a cathedral choir. It bathed everyone in a radiant, golden light.

The soft, divine veil of healing fell upon them like sacred waters, and under this warm sunshine, even the tiniest wounds quickly mended.

“Thanks, Sister Hanyuan! You really saved us~” the Wood Elf girl winked playfully.

“I’ve only soothed a bit of your injuries and fatigue,” Hanyuan shook her head. “Compared to Her Highness, my efforts are insignificant.”

“We’ve only done this well thanks to Her Highness. Honestly, we’re like accessories on her coat—optional.” The Wood Elf chuckled self-deprecatingly.

“Every one of us is necessary and irreplaceable.” Astrid said calmly, gazing into the distance.

“Such a shame Princess Sophia won't officially enroll until next year,” the Wood Elf said, tapping her temple. “Honestly, I think even if she’s still Unawakened, Her Highness could’ve brought her along no problem.”

But everyone in the Elf Tribe knew that Sophia, second princess of Oleniman, was fiercely competitive. Compared to relying on her sister to blaze a trail for her, she preferred to prove her worth through her own strength.

After all, she was the one always shouting “I won’t let anyone marry my sister—I’ll marry her myself!” Just hearing her talk about her sister was enough to ignite a blazing fire of pride and stubbornness.

“Good. Under ten minutes,” said a bespectacled elf girl—Team 45’s Divine Child. She checked her pocket watch and nodded.

“Everyone, did you hear the secret realm announcements just now?”

“Of course! Her Highness took out four in a row—it was read loud and clear,” the Wood Elf replied cheerfully, not quite getting the point.

“I don’t mean those. I mean—any announcements not about Her Highness.” The Divine Child frowned.

“Not about Her Highness?” The Wood Elf brushed back her beige hair and smiled behind her hand.

“Dear Divine Child, surely you misheard? It’s only been half an hour since we entered the realm. No one would have outpaced Her Highness for kills.”

Not everyone had been paying full attention to the announcements mid-battle.

“There was one,” Astrid suddenly said, cutting in before her Divine Child could reply.

“Eh? What...?”

“Just now, while we were fighting—”

‘Team 57 Divine Child Pick has been eliminated by Team 30 ranger-class Divine Princess Teresa.’

‘Team 57: Eliminated.’

Before Astrid could finish, another broadcast echoed coldly through the realm. The clearing fell silent.

“...Teresa? That name sounds familiar... Wait—wasn’t she that blonde girl from outside the secret realm?”

“She eliminated an entire team?!” the Wood Elf exclaimed, shocked.

“I remember that kid—her team only had two people! And the only one who could actually fight was her…”

All eyes turned toward Astrid.

Because Teresa’s Divine Child was a human boy named Dylin—the same Dylin whom Astrid had never stopped thinking about.

“It seems winning first place might be harder than we thought,” the Divine Child mused aloud.

“I wouldn’t worry just yet,” the Wood Elf said casually. “Maybe Teresa just got lucky and ran into an especially weak team. That’s possible, isn’t it?”

“Maybe,” the Divine Child nodded slowly, “but wiping out an entire team this early still speaks volumes. Her strength must not be underestimated.”

“Still, there’s good news,” she added with a smile. “It wasn’t just Team 57 that got wiped—Teresa’s Divine Child was eliminated too.”

Astrid said nothing.

Her hand rested quietly on the hilt of her elegant curved blade.

She... didn’t protect him...?

Unconsciously, she gripped the handle tighter.

“Most likely a battlefield mishap,” the Divine Child continued. “Without a Divine Child, even the most capable Divine Princess can’t maintain peak performance. And she’s alone now.”

After reassessing Teresa’s strength, Team 45 continued moving under the Divine Child’s lead.

Whatever Teresa was capable of, they likely wouldn’t run into her again—at least not for a while.

***

A Few Minutes Earlier...

“Forgive the intrusion... May I ask your name, sir?”

“...Pick. Currently, the Divine Child of Team 57.”

“Mr. Pick, is it? No offense meant.”

The golden-haired girl with a longbow on her back placed one hand behind her and lightly gripped her wrist with the other. She bowed gracefully, curving her flawless legs beneath her sculpted hips. Snowy-white and smooth, her posture was as impeccable as porcelain.

“...Then tell me, Miss Teresa... what would count as offensive?”

Pick, now pinned to a tree by a glowing arrow shot clean through his collar, twitched as he forced a smile.

“My apologies, sir,” Teresa replied calmly. “But we are enemies. So even if you are a non-combatant Divine Child, I can’t overlook you.”

“All of us come to this battlefield with different dreams. It is out of respect for my opponent that I fight seriously. To ignore you would be to belittle you.” She placed a hand gently over her chest, raised her bow, and conjured another radiant arrow.

Pick stared at her—stunned.

Thanks for the respect, I guess—go thank your whole damn family!

But the words caught in his throat. He stared into the eyes of the beautiful girl—glimmering with sincerity.

In the end, he swallowed the curse.

Damn it... just my luck to end up with three walking disasters for teammates.

Next time, no matter how strong or well-connected a Divine Princess is, if she doesn’t follow orders, I’m out.

Earlier, he had literally run his legs into the ground trying to reach the fight. The moment he arrived, he learned the entire team had been wiped.

All three—gone.

Stunned, he barely had time to process it before vowing to drag out his survival as long as possible.

And then he ran straight into Teresa.

Now here he was—pinned to a tree.

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