CHAPTER 305: THIS IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE [PART 2]

The Seventh Training Room trembled from the noise, not from Caelum’s heavenly voice but from the way the elves forcefully smashed their hands on the benches in protest.

"This is outrageous!" Serenya snapped. "Caelum’s voice is like flowing water under moonlight! How dare you insult his performance with such a low score?!"

"Yes!" another elf shouted. "Even our bards would give him full marks!"

The fairies didn’t even flinch.

Doh crossed her arms and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. "Flowing water under moonlight? More like a lullaby to put toddlers to bed. I nearly dozed off halfway through."

Reh twirled her hair with a finger, smirking. "Sixty-five points is already generous. If you ask me, sixty-four would be more fitting—and only because he managed not to trip over his own voice."

"Don’t worry," Mii said cheerfully. "Your friend has potential! Potential to work in a nursery, maybe. Babies would love him."

The elves’ faces turned crimson with outrage.

Caelum clenched his fists, trembling with fury. "You mock the voice of the Elves?! You dare!"

"Stop." Sue, who had woken up from her nap, lifted her hand lazily. Her sleepy eyes met Caelum’s glare. "Listen carefully, Elf-boy. You sing beautifully. Truly. But beauty isn’t enough here."

"W-What do you mean?" Serenya demanded.

Sue pointed her tiny finger toward Alex. "That young man over there broke our souls. He dragged us into a world of auditory destruction that made us see the edge of heaven and hell at the same time. Compared to him, your voice is like... like a peanut butter and pickle sandwich without the pickles."

Doh nodded sagely. "Exactly. When Alex sings, he’s just not singing. He’s scarring everyone who hears his voice. His music will stay with you whether you want it to or not. You’ll dream of them, you’ll cry because of them, and you’ll wake up screaming in the middle of the night thanks to them."

"That’s impact," Mii added with a grin. "And that’s why none of you will ever dethrone him."

The elves turned toward Alex in disbelief.

The young man simply leaned back in his chair, smugness radiating off him like a halo. Dim Dim wobbled on the armrest beside him, clapping its tiny bun hands in celebration.

"Feel free to challenge my score anytime," Alex said smugly. "I don’t mind if you use the entire month of your stay in the academy to achieve that."

"You!" Caelum started, his pride on the verge of collapse.

But Serenya suddenly stood. "Fine. If Caelum cannot claim the Singing King’s throne, then I shall."

The elves gasped.

Serenya was not only beautiful, but she was also one of the prodigies of their group.

Gentlemen in the academy wished to become her partner, while the ladies wished to be like her.

In short, she was an idol among the First Years in Faelarun Academy. For her to personally step up to beat Alex’s score in the Leaderboards showed how serious she truly was.

Alex’s grin widened. "Oh, this is going to be good."

The fairies perked up as well, though not with excitement. Rather, it was the kind of look hunters gave when they knew fresh prey had stepped into their trap.

"Very well," Sue said, yawning as she motioned toward the glowing orb. "Let’s see what you’ve got."

Serenya walked toward the stage, her posture regal and steps confident.

"I shall prove," Serenya said, gripping the floating orb with elegance, "that Elves are not inferior to humans."

Dim Dim gave Serenya a pitiful gaze. The beautiful elf had no idea what she was talking about.

The little bun was certain that Serenya was a great singer, but being able to sing well was not enough to make the Fairies give her a high score.

But it didn’t have any intention to say anything, so it bought a bag of potato chip from the Arcana Shop and started to eat, waiting for Serenya’s attempt to put Alex’s song to shame.

The lights dimmed once more, and Serenya stood center stage, illuminated by the soft glow of the enchanted spotlight.

The microphone hovered before her lips, awaiting her voice.

When she sang, her enchanting voice captivated the elves, who looked at her with admiration.

The room itself seemed to hush, mesmerized by the elven prodigy’s melody.

Her song painted vivid imagery.

The moonlit forests, rivers sparkling with starlight, and the gentle warmth of twilight breezes. It was elegant, refined, and undeniably beautiful.

The elves in the audience held their breath in awe.

"This is it!" a lady whispered.

"As expected of Serenya!" another cheered softly.

’She will surely dethrone that human!’ Caelum clenched his fists in anticipation.

But while the elves were enchanted, the fairies... were silent.

Not the kind of silence that comes with reverence. Quite the contrary, it was the silence of someone trying very hard not to burst into laughter.

Doh chewed a potato chip that Dim Dim had offered her.

Reh was doodling a caricature of Serenya on her notepad.

Mii leaned on the table, resting her cheek on her palm, her eyes glazed over.

Fah and Sue were whispering to each other, trying to decide if Serenya’s singing reminded them of a past they had already forgotten.

Dim Dim, meanwhile, continued to eat one potato chip after the other, its cheek bulging a bit like a chipmunk.

Unlike the fairies, whose criteria had changed, the little bun still believed that there was beauty in the world.

While it didn’t believe that the elf could beat Alex’s score in the Leaderboards, it preferred to listen to any song. Even tone deaf singers and offkey singers were welcome.

Simply put, any song that wasn’t sung by Alex was a good song for the Dim Sum God.

Serenya poured her soul into the chorus, unleashing waves of magic-infused harmony that made even Caelum rise to his feet, proud of his companion.

The elves clapped when the final note hung in the air, her voice fading like silver dust.

Serenya lowered the microphone with elegance, smiling sweetly, already convinced that she had conquered Alex’s throne and brought honor to the Elven Race.