CHAPTER 148: HER EQUAL IN PRIDE

"Of course, it’s not impossible that it’s indeed Ainsworth or another Awakener, but the method he or they used is by activating an SSS-rank Power Experience Card."

"In my first Otherworld Mission, I also obtained an SSS-rank Power Experience Card. So it’s unlikely for Ainsworth, whom I deemed worthy to be my equal, not to be able to get such a mission reward."

Elyndra didn’t mind revealing the Power Experience Card she possessed to the Principal, as while it was valuable, it wasn’t particularly useful to SSS-rank Awakeners like him.

Of course, even if she dared reveal that she got an SSS-rank Revival Coin (which she didn’t, but just speaking hypothetically), it would be another matter if Principal Magnus dared to snatch it from her.

Moreover, even if he dared, his personality was relatively straightforward and even honest and kind, which was the reason why he even risked counterinvading the Demon World just to avenge the deceased who became victims of the SS-rank Demon Lord.

So, Elyndra trusted his character, and Principal Magnus was indeed worthy of trust as he didn’t care much about the rewards his students had received.

Instead, he pondered the plausibility of Elyndra’s speculation, "An SSS-rank Power Experience Card can be obtained even before S-rank Otherworld Missions, but it’s highly difficult to get. I know the school staff don’t possess it, or else they’d be the first to step in to defend Edenbridge City from Skarnax."

"So, either Ainsworth and the senior students secretly possessed one and then used it, or Ainsworth, as you have guessed, had the power to defeat an SS-rank Monster Lord like Skarnax. No matter which one it is, the mysterious Awakener has earned my favor, and I will greatly reward and support him."

"With the Earth Will as the witness, I’ll strive to get the mysterious Awakener the merit and recognition they deserve and apply to the Awakener Association to let them gain preferential treatment."

Principal Magnus’ words didn’t seem to be false as his voice was resolute, seemingly deciding to do as he had said if he ever encountered and discovered the mysterious Awakener who saved Edenbridge City.

When Elyndra was about to reply to Principal Magnus, she halted as she noticed that Principal Magnus’ face turned solemn.

Principal Magnus seemed to be communicating with someone, likely the Earth Will, which explained his momentary daze. But after he snapped out of it, he disappeared, leaving these words resounding in the air that only Elyndra and her team could hear:

"I apologize, the Earth Will require my reinforcement as one of the SSS-rank Awakeners is being overpowered by two SSS-rank Demon Kings. If you find the mysterious Awakener, kindly bring him to me as I’ll greatly reward him."

With Principal Magnus’s disappearance, Elyndra and her team stood for a while at the Otherworld Mission Center before Nyx asked, "Where should we go next? The SS-rank Dimensional Gate has already been destroyed by the mysterious Awakener, while the citizens have already been evacuated by Mira."

In response to Nyx’s question, Elyndra responded, "As I’ve mentioned before, Ainsworth and his two best friends had completed their Otherworld Mission earlier than us. So, I plan to meet Ainsworth and convey my plan of teaming up with him."

"Also, I want to test how powerful he is, possibly spar with him, as Mira is too lazy to fight with me."

Even when Elyndra badmouthed her for being lazy, Mira just slept and paid no mind to it, as for her, being called "lazy" and "slothful" wasn’t an insult but a compliment.

Since they didn’t have anything to do and leaving Edenbridge High would be more dangerous, Nyx, Aria, and Isolde didn’t disagree with Elyndra.

The five of them started asking their schoolmates and seniors if they had ever met Ainsworth. Others might not know about Rian and Dante except for those who were in the same school year as them, but even seniors knew of Ainsworth.

Or rather, Ainsworth was a famous heartthrob, the prince charming of Edenbridge High. Not only were his grades the top of his school year, and his personality kind and approachable, but he was also very handsome.

Even those senior sisters held secret crushes on Ainsworth.

Speaking of which, since the advent of the Awakener Era, age merely became a number.

The globally accepted legal age became 16 years old. It signaled that they had already become Awakeners and were already mature enough to handle responsibility.

Moreover, it was also due to cases like Elyndra and her team. They were all 26 years old, based on years experienced, but their appearance and age on their birth certificate on Earth stated that they were only 16 years old.

So to prevent further legal confusion, the Awakener Association strictly ordered the Global Alliance to enact the law of sixteen years old as the globally accepted legal age.

It also solved the dilemma between a male SSS-rank Awakener whose appearance and birth certificate age was 20, yet his experienced age was 1000 years, falling in love with an SS-rank Awakener whose appearance age was 30, despite her experienced age being 600 years.

Of course, there were exceptions, such as those who awakened their classes earlier than 16 years old. While it was uncommon, there were indeed cases of early class awakening, but problems like that were easy to solve.

As long as their experienced age was twice the legal age, then no matter how young they looked, they would be considered a mature adult.

As for why the five of them thought about that law enacted by the Global Alliance, it wasn’t because Elyndra and her teammates became conscious of their 26 years of age!

Yes, definitely not!

They were still 16 at heart!

While they strongly believed so, Elyndra and her teammates soon discovered from other students that Ainsworth had caused a commotion before. It was to the point that everyone in the entire school knew that he was looking for Elyndra.

That alone made Isolde smirk as she nudged Elyndra beside her with her elbow teasingly, "Look, look, your prince charming isn’t even concealing his love for you. If you don’t make a move and reciprocate his love, don’t come complaining that a vixen stole him from you."

Regarding Isolde’s teasing, Elyndra remained indifferent, but if one were to look closer, they would be able to notice that she was merely hiding her blush.

Hearing from other students about Ainsworth’s indirect acknowledgment of his love for her was indeed something she hadn’t expected, causing her cold and indifferent facade to slightly break.

Noticing that Elyndra was hiding her embarrassment, Isolde no longer teased her while Aria pondered, "If I’m not mistaken, for Ainsworth to indirectly but publicly reveal his love to you, should be after he gained enough confidence to reveal it that boldly."

"Even before he became an Awakener, his crush on you, while an open secret, wasn’t something he dared claim in public. Others only knew due to eavesdropping on his conversation with Rian and Dante."

"But now, for him to reveal it publicly, does he want to attract your attention in order for you to confront him? Since he dared to do so, he should have obtained enough power to gain status and power that transcends background."

"He should have enough power and status to transcend his commoner background and be able to pursue and date you without your background as the Crown Princess pressuring him."

They were quite familiar with Ainsworth’s personality. While he might seem kind and approachable to others, they knew he hid arrogance, narcissism, and great ambition. Because of that, his pride wouldn’t allow him to pursue someone he believed was beyond his reach.

From that alone, Ainsworth had a lot in common with Elyndra. While Elyndra was cold and indifferent to almost everyone, Ainsworth was kind and approachable, yet it was his way of alienating others from knowing what he truly was.

In other words, those students who had a crush on Ainsworth only liked the facade he put up. However, Elyndra and even her teammates knew about Ainsworth’s true nature, which was the reason why Elyndra believed Ainsworth was compatible with her.

They were both greatly ambitious individuals whose pride and arrogance wouldn’t accept being beneath them.

As Elyndra’s teammates, Isolde and the rest didn’t know what Elyndra’s decision would be. But whether she accepted Ainsworth’s love or not, they’ll support her regardless of whatever decision she makes.

When Elyndra heard Aria’s speculation, she nodded in agreement, "It might be a hunch, but if I’m not mistaken, he should already possess SS-rank Awakener power. After all, Mira and I are both already S-rank Awakeners in terms of power, so he should be either as powerful or even stronger than us."

"Moreover, only SS-rank Awakeners can receive special treatment from the Awakener Association and Global Alliance. And if Ainsworth’s an extraordinary SS-rank Awakener, then marrying him can already ensure me winning the throne succession trial, even without assassinating all my sisters."

"Nevertheless, we’ll know when we meet him. No matter what, as the Crown Princess of the Valtoria Empire and the Empress of the Valford Empire, I’ll never back away if he confesses to me."