Chapter 18: Don’t get me wrong, i’m just sleeping in a bed

A whoosh.

A clang.

A series of metallic clashes echoed relentlessly through the training grounds.

In that moment, a hammer and a sword collided, showering sparks as two young women engaged in a fierce confrontation.

Their every move suggested no restraint, as if each sought to drive the other to their demise.

“Melina… she’s actually that powerful?” someone on the sidelines exclaimed in astonishment.

Those nearby offered no reply, their own thoughts mirroring the sentiment.

During yesterday’s match, everyone’s attention had been captivated by the luminous cannon blast and Melo, causing them to overlook Melina’s combat prowess.

However, the duel unfolding now fully showcased Melina’s true fighting capabilities.

As Spirit Masters themselves, everyone present could sense that the two fiercely battling combatants were not unleashing even a trace of spirit energy.

They were relying solely on their innate combat skills.

Bang—

Another crisp sound rang out, and the two combatants separated.

Sephylia, shouldering her great hammer, wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, a look of pure exhilaration gracing her features.

“What a thrill! Hahahaha! Not bad, Little Nana.”

Melina was speechless. “What’s with ‘Little Nana’? Are we really that close?”

Shedding her usual haughtiness, Sephylia strode over and threw an arm around Melina’s neck. “Don’t be such a stranger. After all, in a few days, we’ll be fighting side-by-side. We’ll be entrusting our backs to each other.”

Melina narrowed her eyes and pointed to the side. “Have you forgotten Wyn? A team needs three people.”

Wyn, standing nearby, wore an expression of utter helplessness, as if he hadn’t quite woken up.

When Melina mentioned him, he merely cast a sidelong glance, then seemed to sink further into boredom.

How he wished the two of them would just continue ignoring him.

“Oh, speaking of the upcoming competition, the format for the first preliminary round has been announced,” Sephylia began. “It’s a popular battle royale. We’ll need to defeat other teams within a constantly shrinking arena to secure a ranking. The top five teams will advance directly, while the losers are immediately disqualified.”

Melina, of course, was well-acquainted with the various competition modes in knightly tournaments.

Battle royale, in particular, frequently featured in preliminary rounds with large numbers of participants, proving highly efficient at eliminating weaker competitors and culling the ranks quickly.

Moreover, these preliminary rounds, often filled with so many inexperienced participants, held little interest, drawing scant attention. Thus, the most efficient format was naturally chosen.

Now, their three-person team had already registered with the help of Dean Sophia, and they were scheduled to participate in this battle royale in four days.

“So, what you’re saying is…”

Sephylia offered a mysterious smile. “What do you think would be a suitable name for our team?”

Melina froze, then stared at her with an incredulous expression. “You… you don’t actually know that the team name also has to be submitted during registration, do you?”

Sephylia, too, paused in bewilderment.

She blinked her eyes, a look of adorable confusion on her face. “Wait, in that case, what team name did Dean Sophia actually register?”

With that, she hastily rushed out of the training grounds, heading straight for the Dean’s office.

She even left Little Huoyao behind.

Little Huoyao transformed into her human form and immediately pounced into Melo’s arms, who had also taken on a human appearance.

She seemed to have developed quite an addiction to Melo’s embrace.

Melo held Huoyao with a resigned sigh, stroking her small head.

Melina finished her bottle of mineral water, then stood up and said to Melo, “Let’s go, Melo. We should go see what’s happening.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Melo, holding Huoyao, replied respectfully.

Little Huoyao clung to Melo’s neck like a koala.

Wyn, meanwhile, followed Melina’s footsteps like a shadow, his presence barely noticeable.

“What?!”

Before even reaching the office door, Melina heard Sephylia’s desperate cry resounding from within.

Upon entering the office, Melina looked at the two women with a puzzled expression.

“What’s wrong?”

Sophia looked at her with a sigh of resignation. “Sephylia isn’t happy with the team name I submitted.”

Sephylia, looking utterly dejected, threw herself onto Melina.

Although she was a year younger than Melina, she was half a head taller.

Her sudden embrace, therefore, ended up with Melina being enveloped in her arms.

“Little Nana, I’m telling you, the Dean is so mean! She actually registered our team under the academy’s name! It’s called ‘Duncheng Knight Academy Team’!”

“That’s enough, don’t be so dramatic! How is registering under the academy’s name an insult to you?” Sophia chided, clearly annoyed.

“But it’s so cheesy! It’s not cool at all, not fashionable, and certainly doesn’t have that flashy, eye-catching swagger!”

Sephylia complained, still holding Melina.

“So, what team name did you have in mind?”

“Why, ‘Queen Sephylia’s Team,’ of course!” Sephylia declared, utterly convinced and without a moment’s hesitation.

Melina promptly extricated herself from Sephylia’s embrace and, with a deadpan expression, gave Dean Sophia a thumbs-up.

“I think using the academy’s name for the team is excellent, absolutely excellent. Dean Sophia is brilliant!”

“Damn it, Little Nana! Whose side are you on?!”

“The side of normal people, naturally.”

“You’re calling me abnormal!”

“Normal people don’t call themselves ‘Queen,’ especially when you’re not even a queen.”

“Damn it, Little Nana! I’m not done with you!”

Sephylia made a move to pounce.

Melina, with swift reflexes, snatched Huoyao from Melo’s arms, then, holding the child by the back of her collar, pressed her against Sephylia’s face.

“Mmmph…”

Melina smirked mischievously. “Oh, my, assault! This person is so malicious, Little Huoyao is still so tiny.”

Sophia watched the two squabbling women with a peculiar expression, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

She turned to Melo, who had walked over and poured her a cup of black tea, and couldn’t help but ask, “Thank you. By the way, what exactly happened? When did their relationship become so good?”

Melo pondered for a moment, then offered uncertainly, “Perhaps they became friends through fighting?”

Worried that their bickering might tarnish her reputation as Dean, Sophia quickly intervened.

“The team name has already been registered and cannot be changed, even if you’re not satisfied. You’ll just have to use it and, incidentally, give the academy some publicity.”

Ignoring Sephylia’s resentful expression, she couldn’t help but ask, “Now, I just want to know what exactly happened? Why does it feel like your relationship…”

Little Huoyao, who had been set aside, then dropped a bombshell, her words startling everyone.

“It’s not strange. After all, they even slept in the same bed.”

Having said that, she seemed to fear misunderstanding and added another explanation.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand. Not the same bed, but the same blanket.”

The other four people in the room all turned to look at her simultaneously, a single thought emerging in their minds.

‘You really shouldn’t have explained.’