Love at first sight is an intense and uncontrollable emotion that cannot be explained with words. Just by seeing someone, there is a passionate surge within one's heart.
But it's mostly based on appearance, so it fades quickly.
However, there is a feeling in this world that is even more intense and unstoppable than love at first sight, and it lasts a lifetime.
That's right...
- From the moment I first locked eyes with her, everything became clear in my heart.
- This person will be my arch-nemesis.
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"Hey, what's your name?"
The dark-haired girl, covering one eye, ignited a massive black flame in her hand and grinned at the pointed-eared being across from her.
"Hehehe, I don't think it's necessary to introduce myself. What do you think?"
The elf girl with bluish lotus-colored hair swept her hair behind her ear and smiled gently at her.
"Ah, you're right. Anyway, as long as I win against you this time, it's all good."
"Oh, I have the same thought as well."
The dark-haired girl: "Aiyah, don't come help me, this will be the only battle I have in my life."
The elf girl: "Hehe, since you said so, you can step back. I'll take her on."
The dark-haired girl (raising a ping pong ball with her finger): "Game..."
The elf girl (a cold light flashing in her eyes): "Start!"
A massive zero-degree black flame, dazzling enough to darken half of the ping pong table, spewed from the dark-haired girl's fingertips. The ping pong ball, accompanied by a grand momentum, fell onto the table and then rebounded heavily onto the opposing side.
Elf girl: "Heh, not bad."
Dark-haired girl: "You're pretty good at receiving it too."
Referee: "Stop, player Wakaka fouled by hitting the ball with a racket. You can't use your hands."
Wakaka: "..."
Elf girl: "Oh well, just like that. Watch mine-"
Referee: "Stop, player Diana fouled by holding the racket with her hand. You can't rely on remote sensing magic."
Diana: "..."
Although many people didn't understand the rules, with the guidance of the referees, the students from the Magic Academy played a decent game of ping pong...
Yeah right.
When I arrived at the competition venue, I truly understood-
- This was no longer a magical world spin-off ping pong competition.
- This was a battlefield where mages recklessly unleashed their magical powers.
- They vented their violence at will using props called "ping pong" and "table."
Um... how do I describe it...
It was probably like students tearing up textbooks after finishing their college entrance exams, jubilant and insane.
I found a place that looked like an information desk and greeted the teacher slumping on the table-
"Um... excuse me, which table is the match between Aiyah and Wakaka?"
"Eh... hasn't the game already started?"
The teacher lazily stretched her body, wiped the corner of her mouth with her eyes closed, changed her angle, and continued sleeping.
"..."
In a white robe with silver hair...
I grabbed the teacher's high hat in front of me and lifted her entire body-
"Why are you here!?"
Emile rubbed her eyes, recognized me, and cheerfully greeted me-
"Oh, Molly Ann sweetheart, long time no see. Did you rush to find me because you wanted to see me so urgently? I'm so happy..."
"Long time no see my foot! We saw each other just yesterday afternoon, didn't we? Didn't Damia tell you not to show your face? Why are you here volunteering? By the way, if you're doing it, do it properly for me! Did Damia pay you to sleep here?!"
"Hmm."
"So you're just going to answer with 'hmm'? That 'hmm' is an answer to which question? The last one? Is Damia really paying you to sleep?!"
"I didn't sleep well last night, you know. A dragon came to challenge me in the middle of the night, and then a little girl with a small animal popped up... I even saw a cobra, and I tied it to a rocket in a package and... *huff*... *huff*..."
"Don't sleep at this time! What happened to that cobra? By the way, am I an idiot for actually being interested in this obviously made-up story!?"
Finally, on the paper soaked with Emile's saliva, I found the arrangement of the venue and successfully located Aiyana and the others at table 54, in the southeast corner of the venue.
Then I delicately lifted Emile's arm and put the paper back in its original position.
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At this moment—
"Hoo... Hoo..."
"Hoo... You, as a lower race, are quite capable..."
"Hehehe, long ears, you're not bad either."
"It's already two to two. Next is the decisive round—"
"Come on, this time, I will definitely—"
"Wiiin!!"
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I looked speechlessly at the ongoing match—
"Um... Is this a doubles match?"
Aiyana leisurely ate a steamed bun for nutrition next to me, then handed another steamed bun to her elf companion who was excluded from the doubles match, and the two of them yawned together—
"Because those two seem to be archenemies."
"..."
Vakaka: "So, Molly Ann sweetheart, you've arrived. Don't interfere, this is our battle."
"But..."
"Don't worry, leave our future to me!"
Um... Vakaka, I don't mean to discourage you, but whether we win or not, we will still make it to the top 16, right?
