"Little Fox~ Little Fox, you're amazing! Pro, please take me under your wing~"

Nan Shi hugged Qiu Li’er close, vigorously ruffling her little head while chirping phrases like, "I’m such a newbie!" "So strong, so strong!" "Ah, I’m dead!"—leaving Qiu Li’er flustered and cheeks warm.

Yuenina, by contrast, stayed perfectly calm. "This stone golem escaped from the low-tier training ground… yet fell in one clean strike. Which means… Little Fox, you’ve fully mastered the low-tier *Iai Strike*?"

"Ah… um, I guess so." Qiu Li’er glanced at the shattered golem remains, a flicker of guilt stirring in her chest.

Truth was, she’d closed her eyes to cast *Blade Enhancement* and hadn’t seen a thing. *So embarrassing…*

But seriously—could *she* have sliced that hulking brute? Its palm alone dwarfed her head! She was just a little fox girl who could barely hold a sword steady.

Still… the System delivered. Every martial art and spell it granted clicked instantly, proficiency maxed out from the start.

*Hmm. From today on, the System is my savior.*

"Dear guests~" The shop assistant clasped her hands, bowing deeply. "We sincerely apologize for the danger. A small compensation has been transferred to your accounts—please accept it."

"Ah, no need, really!" Qiu Li’er waved hurriedly.

"Whoa~ Ten thousand gold coins!" Nan Shi gasped beside her. "Yuenina, we’re rich!"

"Shhh! Keep it down, idiot!" Yuenina hissed.

*…So embarrassing.*

The assistant smiled sweetly. "Glad you’re safe! Don’t forget to leave us a five-star review, okay~"

Just then, Qiu Li’er spotted a flash of white light near the assistant’s chest. Her body froze. Nodding quickly, she grabbed both friends and dashed outside.

*Terrifying… She hid a knife there?! Is that a threat? No good review = silenced?!*

Heart still pounding, she patted her own chest. Nan Shi patted her shoulder too. "With your skill now, tomorrow’s prelims are a sure thing, Little Fox."

"More than prelims," Yuenina added. "That clean strike? Many upperclassmen couldn’t pull it off. Making the top 4 would already be a win."

"Top 4? Really?" Qiu Li’er blinked. "There are a thousand first-years in East District… I’d be happy just staying above 500th."

"Your goal’s *too* low," Nan Shi teased. "Yuenina and I are aiming for top 16. Are you a coward?"

"Think about it," Yuenina sighed. "One-on-one matches, two rounds a day. Survive day two, you’re top 100. Want top 500? Just forfeit after round one."

"…Then I’ll try my best," Qiu Li’er murmured. She didn’t want to be the orphan left in the dorm while her roommates shone onstage. *Someone’d definitely ask: "Your roommates are fire—why’d you flop?"*

"Also," Yuenina tapped her phone, "top 32 get special rewards. Past prizes included: master-forged weapons, a campus cottage, a *truly* non-revealing mini-skirt, even a one-day date with the campus queen—"

"Wait, *whose* date rights are up for grabs?!" Qiu Li’er gaped.

"Only for first place," Nan Shi grinned. "But I’d pick the cottage… so we could all move in together."

Yuenina deadpanned, "Focus on *winning* first."

"Pfft. I’ve already scouted tomorrow’s opponents," Nan Shi declared proudly.

Qiu Li’er shrank slightly. *Everyone’s so strong… I’m the only noob. A total pushover.*

Her phone buzzed. Xi Xi had sent a barrage:

【Flirty Fox! Going to that trashy tournament tomorrow? Meet me at Bo Guang Plaza after. Urgent intel!】

【NO repeats of yesterday. COME. ALONE. ESPECIALLY not that big-breasted airhead!】

【TOP SECRET. MUST be face-to-face. I said it: YOU. MUST. COME. ALONE. MEMORIZE THIS!!!】

【P.S. I haven’t forgotten yesterday. Was gonna tell Teacher Xi… but treat me to flower nectar tomorrow, and *maybe* I’ll forgive you. Cherish this chance~】

Qiu Li’er tilted her head. *Such urgency… must be case-related. Less than a day? No wonder she’s the Loli Detective.*

*But… two girls meeting alone? Feels kinda like a date…*

"Little Fox?" Nan Shi leaned in. "Chatting with that tiny detective again?"

Qiu Li’er tucked her phone away. "She’s mad I didn’t reply last night."

"Mad?" Yuenina chuckled. "Or mad you spanked her?"

*Who lets someone spank them unprompted? Unless they like it… or are a masochist.*

"She didn’t seem *that* mad," Qiu Li’er mumbled.

"Next time she invites you," Yuenina said lightly, "bring us."

Nan Shi nodded. "Yeah, or that sneaky loli’ll whisk you away again."

*(They’re worried I’ll whisk *her* away…)*

Qiu Li’er’s heart skipped. Remembering Xi Xi’s warnings in the Magic Network, she nodded stiffly. "…Got it. I will."

*Alone’s fine, right? She’s just a twelve-year-old. Can’t eat me…*

*Though… if *she* made the move? Embarrassing… but not unthinkable…*

Inside her backpack, her fluffy tail gave a happy little wag.

"Blades bought, power tested," Yuenina shrugged. "Lunch time. Then what?"

"Train?" Qiu Li’er suggested.

"Train? *Pfft.*" Nan Shi scoffed. "Strong people don’t train! If you lose, training or investigating—that’s weakling logic. Ever seen a dragon *practice* its breath attack?"

"…No."

"Exactly. Nap time."

And so, the three girls drifted back to sleep—the day slipping gently away.