Chapter 12: You’re a Heroine Too?! (Part I)

The zero-frame slap stunned the esper and mage witnesses alike.

Lu Xiya was stunned by the slap.

“Th… Third Sister?”

Laige Lingxiang hadn’t expected this either, her voice trembling.

[System Quest: Engage in physical conflict with Heroine No. 2 (Feature: White Hair).]

[Quest Requirement: Must be done in public view.]

[Quest Success Reward: Max MP +1.]

[Quest Failure Penalty: Baldness.]

Laige Fuling had just been yawning nearby when this system quest appeared before her eyes, forcing her to act.

Though judging by the force of her slap, it didn’t seem forced at all—like she’d long been itching to hit that woman.

And it wasn’t over yet…

Then Laige Yulian suddenly thrust both hands under Lu Xiya’s armpits, wiggling her fingers to tickle her—a somewhat inexplicable and sleazy move.

“? !”

“? !”

Laige Caicai and Laige Fuling were baffled.

[System Quest: Molest Heroine No. 2 (Feature: White Hair).]

[Quest Requirement: Must be done in public view.]

[Quest Success Reward: Max MP +1.]

[Quest Failure Penalty: Baldness.]

Because Second Sister had also received a system quest!

“You! How dare you!”

Lu Xiya finally snapped back to reality.

An uncontrollable surge of shame and fury flooded her heart.

Her face burned, and the humiliation threatened to devour her.

With a violent jerk, she threw off Laige Yulian’s disgusting, groping hands.

“You what? Who do you think you are? Without us mages providing support and protection, you lot would be nothing but rats hiding in the sewers—a bunch of rampaging monsters! And now you dare to be so insolent, stepping all over us? Looks like you’ve eaten too much and let the food go to your head!”

Laige Caicai unleashed a full verbal assault without mercy.

Her words shocked everyone present.

The espers around didn’t dare breathe, completely intimidated.

“! !”

“! !”

Even Laige Yulian and Laige Fuling were shocked.

Since when could Big Sister curse so fluently?

Finally, she stopped spewing those cringe-worthy, bizarre remarks.

[System Quest: Verbally insult Heroine No. 2 (Feature: White Hair).]

[Quest Requirement: Must be done in public view.]

[Quest Success Reward: Max MP +1.]

[Quest Failure Penalty: All body hair falls out.]

Of course, Big Sister had also received a system quest simultaneously.

“Since when do you espers get to meddle in mages’ family affairs? I think you’re tired of living. I could snap my fingers and have you all disposed of like trash.”

Laige Caicai continued her arrogant tirade.

And to some extent, she was speaking from the heart.

Seeing Laige Lingxiang bullied, the three sisters naturally couldn’t stomach it.

Only they could pick on their little sister.

Who were these nobodies to point fingers?

Courting death!

After all, Fourth Sister had lived with the three sisters for years—from age nine to now fifteen.

Though the system forced them to prank her now and then, their affection for Fourth Sister was deep.

“This is a blatant violation of school rules!”

Lu Xiya’s voice lacked its earlier strength.

“So what? You’re questioning our strength? Fine! I’ll give you a chance. You! And you! You! You! You! You! You! You! You! You! Let’s go to the gymnasium right now and spar.”

Laige Caicai pointed her finger arrogantly.

At those words, the Internal Affairs members felt a chill run up their spines, their scalps tingling.

They exchanged glances, seeing shock and fear in each other’s faces.

No one dared to speak.

The corridor fell into dead silence.

“Hmph, cowards.”

Laige Caicai sneered disdainfully.

“We accept the challenge.”

Lu Xiya was so angry that veins bulged on her forehead.

Unable to suppress her rage, she agreed immediately.

“Good, you’ve got guts. See you at the gym. Whoever doesn’t show is a coward.”

Laige Caicai laughed loudly, turned, and led her sisters away, taking the mages-only elevator downstairs.

Lu Xiya trembled with fury, rooted to the spot.

The stinging, needle-like shame and humiliation on her cheek tormented her.

“Captain…” a member of Internal Affairs whispered.

“Let’s go! We’ll face them at the gym—otherwise, we’ll be looked down on by mages forever!”

Lu Xiya roared, then turned and left.

The news of apprentice-level esper rookies taking on mages spread through the academy almost instantly.

Soon, before the protagonists even arrived at the gym, hundreds of curious apprentices had already claimed seats, eager to witness this earth-shaking battle.

Though espers sparred with each other daily, a match with mages was a first.

This was exceedingly rare, because mages almost never revealed their magic in front of espers.

Officially to prevent theft, but in truth, to preserve mages’ honor.

If defeated by espers, where would mages’ dignity go?

And it was never a given that mages were superior to espers.

Mages could pass down magic generationally, making it more stable—but that didn’t mean it was stronger.

Espers were all wild cards.

Who knew what uncontrollable abilities these freaks might awaken?

Cases of a random punch killing a master craftsman were plenty.

So the spectacle of this spar was beyond doubt.

Too many things were at stake.

Soon, Lu Xiya led the Internal Affairs members to the gym.

But the four Motefei sisters, who had left earlier, had yet to arrive.

She could only stand in the center of the field with her comrades, waiting.

On the other side, the four Motefei sisters had first stopped at the milk tea shop to order four cups.

“Sister Caicai, is this really okay?”

Laige Lingxiang asked weakly.

“Look at you, you coward! You’re a mage! And you let them talk to you like that? You’ve disgraced the Motefei family!”

Laige Caicai scolded.

“I’m sorry.”

Laige Lingxiang lowered her head.

“You should know that a mage’s honor is above everything. We’re cleaning up your mess today. I don’t want to see you turn into a turtle the next time someone insults you.”

Laige Caicai said seriously.

“Only we can bully you. No one else is allowed to touch a single hair on your head.”

Laige Fuling added solemnly.

“Third Sister…”

Laige Lingxiang’s eyes welled with tears even as she was scolded, her heart filled with an indescribable warmth.

This was the first time she had so truly felt the twisted yet tender bond between sisters.

“Enough talk. Let’s go, or they’ll think we ran away.”

Laige Yulian said helplessly.