Chapter 381 Public Opinion Fermentation
Without any major setbacks, the Demon Armor Assessment entered its second day.
Of course, while it may be said that there were no major setbacks, it was only in terms of the process that things went smoothly. In terms of the atmosphere on the spot and the discussions afterward, things were in an uproar – everyone was discussing: what kind of place is Fangting City?
If it could be said that the magical girl codenamed Xiao Jin taking the lead in the first practical assessment was a coincidence, then the magical girl from "Fangting City" still stood out the most in the second assessment, making it impossible for anyone to ignore her.
Even though the project isn't truly over yet, and there's still some uncertainty on the final day, this unprecedented "SS" rank is already a glorious achievement for the magical girl codenamed White Rose. Everyone knows that even if other candidates could defeat her, so what? The nation's decision to award this rank isn't about the rating itself, but rather their willingness to create a separate rank for her! This level of importance cannot be swayed by simple exam scores.
To put it realistically, when a magical girl's magical outfit earns this level of recognition from the nation's higher-ups, her scores in other areas become irrelevant. Even if she fails every other category, the nation wouldn't abandon someone with such talent. Knowledge can be acquired through education, and practical skills can be improved through training, but talent is something that cannot be obtained through hard work alone.
In conclusion, when everyone realized that this magical girl named Bai Mei was destined to become the focus of this assessment, "what exactly is going on in Fangting City?" became the core of the problem.
And coincidentally, a previously widely circulated rumor could now serve as the answer to the question:
Fangting City is the secluded place of the cornflower, and also the place where the former strongest karuta—Sakura—was stationed and buried.
These two reasons alone are enough to lend this previously unknown small town a legendary aura.
Who is Cornflower? In the magical kingdom, this is a topic that needs no further explanation. As a legendary magical girl who broke the kingdom's record for fastest advancement and was once a "war hero" in the Garden Defense War, her achievements are undeniable. But what truly made her remembered and even unforgettable was her groundbreaking act of refusing to accept the Gem Scepter.
This was a move that most people in most countries wouldn't even dare to consider. In their view, only materialists who had no concept of the Queen's authority could do something so absurd. Twenty years ago, when Cornflower took the initiative to turn against the royal court, most people thought her actions were unwise. People either shook their heads in regret, lamenting that a magical girl who should have been great had her future ruined; or they mocked her, finding it amusing to witness the fall of a young and ambitious "genius."
However, things didn't go as they expected.
First, there was Cornflower herself. No one expected that this previously unparalleled war hero would vanish so suddenly, disappearing without a trace after refusing the royal court's offer. No one knew where she went, so much so that for the next twenty years, even guessing Cornflower's whereabouts became a subject of study.
Secondly, the Royal Court remained remarkably silent regarding the subsequent handling of Cornflower. Logically, if the Royal Court had truly clashed with Cornflower to save face, arresting, imprisoning, or exiling her, they would have publicly revealed the fate of this "rebel" as a warning to others. However, the reality was that after Cornflower refused the appointment with the Sapphire Scepter and disappeared, the Royal Court not only refrained from retaliation but also unilaterally bestowed upon Cornflower and her teammate Sakura the honor of "Lifetime Magical Girl."
This is very intriguing.
Furthermore, in the twenty years that followed, the Queen seemed to have no intention of appointing a new Sapphire Scepter, the Magic Academy and Hemwayen Castle remained powerless, and Sakura, a teammate of Cornflower, was active in the material world as the "strongest"... All these signs made people speculate even more.
—Will these cornflowers ever come back someday?
Many people who are concerned about the power circles in the country have made similar speculations.
The more this is the case, the more people become reluctant to discuss the topic. If Cornflower were to return, neither Cornflower herself nor the Royal Court and Queen would be in a position to comment on this gossip. Furthermore, Sakura's influence is growing stronger. Although her low-key approach has resulted in fewer friends and allies, her influence is gradually expanding beyond the Investigation Bureau. No one is foolish enough to believe there's no connection between Sakura and Cornflower. No one explicitly states it, but everyone has implicitly accepted her as part of the "Cornflower faction."
Thus, this topic gradually transformed from casual conversation into a political issue that could only be discussed discreetly. Even Sakura's death a few years ago was speculated by many to be the result of political infighting. These people generally believed that a conflict arose between the Emerald or Purple Diamond faction and the increasingly powerful Cornflower faction, and that Sakura died in a violent clash between the two factions…
Ultimately, this topic was completely ignited at the end of last year when cornflowers appeared in Fangting City.
This signifies that claims such as "Cornflower has retired," "Cornflower is dead," "Cornflower is secretly imprisoned by the state," and "Cornflower married into the royal court" are all now considered relics of the past and have been disproven. The possibility that "Cornflower will return" is becoming increasingly likely.
In this way, when the city of Fangting is associated with cornflowers, then Bai Mei, Xiao Jin, and even Bo Xue and Long Dan, who haven't yet shown any achievements, will naturally be seen as "disciples of the cornflower school." Of course, more meticulous people tend to think that among these magical girls from Fangting City, there are also Sakura's descendants, but Sakura herself has passed away, and her identity as a member of the cornflower faction was already established during her lifetime, so there is no need to make too much distinction.
To translate it another way, it means that "the students of Cornflower" have already won first place in two events in this year's assessment.
This inevitably makes people think more.
Or rather, there's so much to it that it sparks endless speculation and could fill several thick books of conspiracy theories.
Why did the cornflower reappear? And why did the royal court remain silent? Did the other jeweled scepters play any role in this? And was Sakura's death truly a result of this power struggle?
The young magical girl examinees were discussing the strength of the dark horse "Fangting City Team," while the veteran magical girls and citizens were completely engrossed in political topics. The results of just two simple exams had already ignited a frenzy of discussion throughout the entire city of Runenore.
"So, which of these strange rumors did you make up?"
Early in the morning, before heading to the examination hall, the examinee "Gentian," or rather, the cornflower that people were discussing, was still in the office of the Magic Academy branch, squinting as he asked his subordinates: "I can roughly understand the purpose of you spreading various conspiracy theories a few years in advance, to pave the way for my return; but what about these related to the research institute? Why are you spreading rumors that Emerald and I are political enemies?"
"Because the outside world generally believes that the Investigation Bureau is our ally, and the fact that the Red-Blooded Lord of the Minji Institute dislikes power is also a deeply ingrained character."
Zhe Helan smiled and explained, "The key to rumors is that they conform to the facts in people's minds, not that they contradict them."
"Is this the reason you spread rumors that I married and started a family in the royal court, and even became a mistress?" Cui Que drooped her eyelids.
"...It's almost time, it's time to go to the examination hall, Your Excellency." Zhe Helan remained silent for a moment before turning around.
"Don't change the subject."
"We can discuss this further on the way, Your Excellency."
“I remember your itinerary for today; you're not going the same way as me.”
"Yes, so please allow me to take my leave first, and let my deputy discuss this matter with you."
"Come back here."
In the end, Zhe Helan herself was the one who obediently received a scolding.
(End of this chapter)
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