Chapter 101 World H: 4 Although I really didn't want to agree, but...

Although I really didn't want to agree, this seemed a bit easier than the previous World E test. After all, that one could be life-threatening, while this one only made me so embarrassed that I wanted to die.

So, after much internal struggle, they began to undergo training.

First, Nadia wanted to test their flexibility, as performing some of the more difficult moves could potentially injure them. The other guardians also had their own tasks and were assigned different roles.

She wore a black turtleneck sleeveless top paired with loose-fitting casual pants. Her arms, with their smooth lines and some darker scars, exuded a strong and reassuring aura.

“First, let’s look at basic flexibility.” Nadia said, and then suddenly bent over backwards. The moment her arms touched the ground, she used her hands to push herself up, lifting her feet off the ground and demonstrating a perfect split in a handstand: “Like this, do this once.”

Are you kidding me?! Starting with something this difficult? Is this really a basic thing?

The group looked hesitant, but they still obediently tried.

Nadia bent over, did a handstand, and executed the splits in one smooth motion. Only during the splits did her eyebrows furrow almost imperceptibly, before quickly returning to their normal state.

Ethan managed to bend over, feeling a dull ache as the pain was transmitted to his brain via the central nervous system.

Standing upside down was easy. When his body was fused and repaired by alchemy and the alchemical puppet to help it function, even without magic, as long as there was a basic amount of energy at work, his strength increased considerably.

However, doing the splits was much more painful. When he felt the intense pain, Ethan instinctively wanted to close his legs and return them to the inverted position, but he suppressed the thought. When Ethan showed a less-than-perfect split, his legs were still trembling slightly.

Ugh! I'm so envious of people with great flexibility!

Lord Starfall and Miss Nadia, your flexibility is like a cat's! Is it because your bodies are different from ordinary people? His body is clearly different from ordinary people too!

Ethan gritted his teeth and struggled to maintain his posture, trying to ignore the sensations emanating from his fragile ligaments, while thinking enviously.

Of the three, Turner was the least resilient.

His expression showed pain when he bent over backwards, but his face was still relatively normal when he did a handstand. That's how it is with a martial arts style; it's easy for him. He can even support himself with one hand.

However, he couldn't do the splits. When he did the splits, his body swayed and he almost fell. Turnas quickly put his other hand on the ground to support himself, but he was still a little unsteady.

He was pressing down higher than Ethan, and his trembling was more pronounced, like someone with Parkinson's disease. Turner had a bitter smile on his face, a smile that looked more like a grimace.

Looking at the calm Nadia, the somewhat impatient Ethan, and the sweat-drenched Tenas, Nadia sighed.

Why is everyone's flexibility so bad? Her own body was a little better, but she still didn't miss the fleeting pain Nadia felt when she did the splits.

Even Tenas in their world isn't this flexible, so how come his counterpart is so bad? But Ethan's counterpart is the same as his at the beginning; although the foundation is terrible, he can endure it.

As expected of her counterpart, she must have never tried this kind of movement before, which is why she showed pain for a moment. However, she adapted relatively quickly and was able to put things on her legs because they were stable.

Nadia had no choice but to slowly begin teaching him step by step.

Although it's not like ballet or other dances, some movements still test the dancers' flexibility, and everyone basically has to adapt to them.

Because the leg stretches were too painful, Turnas started talking nonsense, confessing all the things he had done in the past, and expressing extreme remorse.

Nadia hadn't expected this to involve her. While Turner didn't say anything, Nadia wondered why her favorite limited-edition lipstick was broken, and also about Reena's eyeshadow palette, which was already a discontinued item.

“So, it was you who did it.” Nadia’s tone was light and airy, like a gentle breeze, as she pressed her foot down slightly on Tenas’s leg. “Well done, Tenas.”

"Ouch—" Somewhat innocent, yet not entirely innocent, Tenas cried out in pain, howling like a Tom the cat. He screamed, "Stop, stop, stop! It hurts, it hurts, Nadia—I'm not Tenas from your world! Gently, gently, it's going to break—I didn't do it, you can step on it... Did I just hear a cracking sound?!"

Ethan and Nadia watched Nadia's dark background from the side, huddled in a corner trembling, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

“Miss Nadia,” Ethan muttered, “wait, why don’t you go first?”

“Don’t be shy.” Nadia looked righteous and her eyes were firm: “Go ahead, we’ve known each other for quite some time.”

"How can that be? Ladies first..." Ethan said, feeling extremely guilty.

“What a coincidence, I’m actually someone who respects the elderly and cares for the young,” Nadia said.

"I'm not exactly young, am I? If I were alive, I'd be 18."

"Then you're the oldest."

"...?"

Ethan pointed to himself, incredulous, his face a picture of "Me?" Respect for elders? Respect for him?

Nadia nodded seriously.

Ethan was completely incredulous: ( ？Д`)

Why is this post even more wicked than I imagined? It doesn't quite fit your seemingly serious and aloof but actually gentle and strong public image.

But is this the right attitude to have towards close friends? Well, that's fine.

Although training under Nadia was physically painful, their flexibility improved quickly, and they began to practice dancing.

Watching the battle video of the world's guardians, Ethan and his companions lost their sparkle, their eyes becoming empty.

Are they going to jump along?

Those moves that seemed okay at the time, but turned out to be even more embarrassing and fatal when actually performed? Even Nadia was speechless.

“Otherwise, you can treat the dance as a gift to your family.” Reena pushed up her non-prescription glasses. With the glasses on, she had an even more intellectual air about her, aloof and ethereal, exuding a strange scientific researcher vibe. She tapped the small blackboard twice with her pointer: “If you have a lover, treat them as your lover; if you don’t have a lover, treat them as family; if you have no family, treat them as friends; if you don’t even have friends, then treat it as dancing for yourself. In short, ignore everyone else.”

Even if he imagined the person on the other end was his mother... Ethan watched the video of the cute heart-making gestures and winks, and realized he still couldn't do it.

Even if his mother were actually standing in front of him, just standing there, he would definitely blush with embarrassment if he were to dance that dance.

And... how do I make that feeling of winking and creating stars?

He's always been an ordinary, honest kid, and he can't seem to learn.

Thinking of his parents, Turner immediately rejected the idea.

That's so awkward. I don't know if it's because the child has grown up and feels awkward talking to his parents. He doesn't even talk to his parents anymore, and they spend less and less time together. If things get this awkward, aren't you afraid he might really stop going back?

Imagining the other person as Nadia or Reina wouldn't work either. They grew up together, and he already considered them both as older sisters, which perfectly made up for the regret of being an only child at the beginning.

“I can’t do it.” Nadia said very directly: “I’m not that close to my parents, and I can forget about Tenas, but if I imagine the other person is you, I really can’t do it at all.”

Reena: "..."

Rerna coldly remarked: "It was a voluntary performance, and the audience consisted of children under five years old."

Nadia fell into deep thought.

Not content with that, Reena added fuel to the fire: "It's about a child from an orphanage who recently fell ill. His dream is to become an idol, but due to his health, he can't. He can't even leave to see his idol live, and he can't leave the machine that sustains his or her life."

Nadia was deeply moved.

Do you really need to add so many settings? You're basically just making this up on the spot! Does the child have to be so miserable to evoke Miss Nadia's pity?

However, the effect was also significant, shaking the resolute Nadia, who never said she couldn't jump again.

“Children? Children…that’s right, children!” Turner, who had been deep in thought at first, suddenly realized something: “Right, I have my sister, Rose, who is not yet five years old!”

In that case, he won't feel embarrassed. After all, what does a child know about embarrassment? He'll just think the person in front of him is amazing at dancing, clapping his soft little hands and looking at you with eyes full of admiration.

Thinking of Za's two little chicks-like sisters, and remembering that his own world was currently on hold, with his once vibrant sisters only able to maintain the posture they were in before the pause, Tenas gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind.

Ethan glanced at the moved Nadia on his left and the determined Tenas on his right, knowing that he was still unable to overcome that hurdle.

Do you want to be a mother?

Although he didn't mind, he still felt a little embarrassed. He felt awkward letting his mother see him dance, especially if she watched it live.

Will Mom smile? Seeing Mom smile will definitely make him even more embarrassed...

Wait, I almost convinced myself that Mom couldn't possibly see what happened.

Never mind, let's just think of it as that time in kindergarten when I was little, or the play I participated in when I was a child.

Although he was just playing a tree in the background instead of the main character, a role that nobody cared about, his mother still smiled as if he had done something remarkable.

Ethan remembers that after the performance, when he was four years old, he asked his mother, who was leading him home, why she could look so happy even though he was just playing a small role.

What did Mom do back then? Her eyes crinkled with laughter, her gaze filled with a tenderness reserved only for him, a tenderness beyond words: "Because in Mom's eyes, you are the protagonist, not an unnoticed character. Even if a star is a small tree, it is the most lush small tree in Mom's eyes, and it will surely become a big tree that provides shade for passersby and a place for small animals to live in someday."

His mother's gentle words deeply moved him.

My mother said that you are the protagonist of your own life, unique. In the eyes of others, you may just be an insignificant person, but in my eyes, you are the shining protagonist of my world.

Young as he was, he didn't understand the meaning behind his mother's words, and simply corrected her in a low voice, "I'm not the main character! I'm the little tree!"

This made her mother chuckle softly: "Good, good, you are a little tree."

□□, full of vitality, trees.

Mom, now that he's grown up, I think he understands some of what you said.

Perhaps he is a failure, weak, and unable to do anything well. He becomes helpless when he loses an elder he can rely on.

Perhaps he is unremarkable, blending into the crowd without making a ripple, a completely ordinary person.

Perhaps he was timid, had low self-esteem, or had some psychological problems; he might even have been a bullied figure in Starfall City.

But he is who he is; he is the protagonist of his own life.

Unlike other protagonists who shine brightly, whose brilliance can be described with all the beautiful words imaginable, as if they were born from this, that is enough.

Perhaps he is ordinary, unremarkable, and unremarkable.

But in his world, he was also the most dazzling existence.

This is Ethan. Even if he is not liked or cared for by others, he should still live freely and unrestrainedly.

You may be insignificant, but everyone is the most dazzling protagonist in their own life.

Ethan's eyes shone brightly; having come to his senses, he no longer succumbed to his old emotions, his eyes shining as if they were filled with stars.

Reena looked at the three people whose eyes were filled with determination, and a hint of satisfaction flashed across her face almost imperceptibly.

Very good, they already possess the qualities of an idol—a steadfast heart and a clear understanding of what they want to do.

Reena pressed play, and the exact same music as in the video started playing.

The music drifted softly through the well-insulated room, the intro setting the mood for them.

“I know what I want.”

As soon as the lyrics started playing, the three of them reacted instantly.

Perhaps because they were new to the sport, their dance moves weren't very smooth, with a few pauses and they weren't able to keep up with the rhythm of the music.

"I am the brightest star."

At first it was fine, but as time went on, their movements became increasingly ineffective.

Reena went from being calm at the beginning, to gradually frowning, and finally to the familiar look of looking at trash.

Nadia and Tenas grew up with Reina and were already familiar with her appearance, so they were not affected at all.

But Ethan wasn't so lucky. He caught that look and unconsciously made another mistake.

Reena: Stare—

Ethan: QAQ

Dark energy! The dark energy seems to have increased!

After the song ended, Reena brandished her pointer, as if flames were burning behind her, and her eyes glowed red: "To be honest, your performance made me feel terrible, but it's okay. What I'm best at is training people well. I promise you will become qualified idols."

Everyone: No!

Reena's Intensive Training Program - Speedy Version is now open!

And so, Ethan and his two companions spent the next few years in such a state that even recalling the horror of the time would send shivers down their spines.

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Author's Note: After this, Tenas was questioned by his angry sisters [panda head emoji]

Tenas: Bro, bro, I hate you! [Cracks]

When I was writing the dance list, my playlist sent me blacklisted/help me dance, and all I could think about was them dancing... I'm doomed.

Everyone is the protagonist of their own world. [heart]

When I first created Ethan, I never intended to create a perfect child. I wanted to give him flaws—perhaps he wasn't as brave, as kind, or as unwavering in his self-belief. I'm past the age of liking perfect protagonists. In middle school, I liked writing characters who could do anything, almost like gods. That was many years ago, so I prefer this kind of character now.

The Ethan I created isn't powerful [not in terms of strength]. He's neither that clever, nor that worldly-wise, nor does everything go his way; in some ways, he's even inferior to the other Guardians. He's not the protagonist of that world, but undeniably, he is.

I wanted to make this a bit more of an ensemble piece halfway through, but I failed. [Clown]