Stars Kingdom, Swordflower College.

“From today onwards, I am part of the nobility.”

Sonya stepped out of the administration building and opened the red velvet box in her hand. Inside, resting on pink satin, was a heavy sword star badge made of stainless steel, devoid of any additional patterns or jewels.

Despite its plain appearance, this sword star badge represented the foundation of the entire Stars Kingdom: the Sword Peerage.

A million Sword Peerages, guarding the Stars.

Though this was just a line used by the upper-tier individuals to motivate and placate the lower nobility, it also showed that only by becoming a Sword Peer could one truly step onto the stage of the Stars.

Non-noble commoners were like fragile rice stalks, livestock to be raised, and parts to be maintained-but they were never considered people who could have a voice.

In addition to her noble title, Sonya also took on a part-time role as a ‘Swordsmanship Researcher.’ Her mentor was still Professor Trozan, or rather, this was a position Professor Trozan had specifically applied for her to take advantage of state benefits. Every year, she could apply for certain subsidies, which included not just money but also quotas for Miracles and spirits. Though the amounts were small, it was better than nothing.

The most significant meaning of being a ‘Swordsmanship Researcher’ for Sonya was not only elevating her status within the college but also unlocking her faculty permissions on the college forum.

Though she couldn’t ban accounts, she could easily mute someone for 24 hours-unfortunately, it was unlikely that anyone on the forum would dare to insult her now.

After the Meteor Trial, all of Sonya’s detractors had vanished. Now, the forum was abuzz with discussions about which lucky man could become Ms. Therave’s dog.

“Even if you’re just a Sword Peer, a sanctuary sorcerer can still make money from noble consultations, national research, and business association inquiries,” Professor Trozan spoke without reservation on these matters. “I can help you make connections, but you can also figure it out on your own-or wait for someone to offer you money.”

Sonya had initially thought that a sorcerer like her, who only wanted to remain a Sword Peer and not accept the blessing of the Stars, would face subtle societal ostracism. However, after discussing it with Sister Trelozan, she realized that sorcerers like her were not uncommon-or rather, it was only natural for sanctuary sorcerers to resist being controlled.

No matter how wonderful the effects of the Stars’ blessing or how righteous the cause, it still forcibly turned people into slaves. Without even mentioning how much sanctuary sorcerers cared about national concepts, the mere addition of the attribute ‘compulsion’ was enough to make anyone resentful and resistant.

Not to mention, sanctuary sorcerers are essentially tactical weapons capable of ensuring their own safety-before the sanctuary, no matter how hard a sorcerer’s skull was, it couldn’t withstand a bullet; but after the sanctuary, no matter how much you bombard them, the sanctuary remains unshaken.

Of course, some might doubt, “Can’t the state control you, a newly ascended sanctuary sorcerer?” If faced with the full force of the state, Sonya certainly couldn’t resist. But the problem is, the state apparatus is made up of individual components.

Setting aside Trozan, a sanctuary sorcerer close to her, even unfamiliar sanctuary sorcerers wouldn’t hold any grudge against her.

It’s precisely because of ‘wild fox sanctuaries’ like Sonya, who refuse the blessings of the Stars, that the ‘domesticated dog sanctuaries’ appear more valuable to recruit.

Even the most enforced justice has gaps for personal interests.

Not just Sonya, even Dimy, the eldest son of the Stargazer Duke, is only a sword peerage. Though he can’t directly inherit his family’s noble title, he could easily take the highest-tier guard palace title of ‘armor peerage.’ Yet, he deliberately delays accepting the blessings of the Stars.

It’s almost an unspoken consensus among upper-tier sorcerers to resist the blessings of the Stars.

If even the great nobility are doing it, why can’t Sonya?

Who wouldn’t want to control their own fate?

As for the Royal Family of the Stars, they likely don’t care much. They hold the most critical social resources. If the ‘wild fox sanctuaries’ thrive, so be it. But once they hit a bottleneck, they’ll naturally turn their gaze toward the blessings of the Stars and advanced resources.

Taking a step back, even if a wild fox sanctuary truly ascends to become a wild fox legend, the Royal Family of the Stars surely has other ways to recruit them.

In an era where nations don’t interact, all talents eventually remain within their own borders. They’re in no hurry-after all, there’s nowhere to run.

However, due to the oversaturation of sword peerages, there’s naturally no formal knighting ceremony. The village girl simply went to the school’s administrative building and received her medal and researcher contract. From that moment, she became a noble of the state.

Sonya looked at the medal in the box. While others didn’t think a mere sword peerage was worth much attention, only she knew how significant this title was to her.

Even if it wasn’t exactly a dream come true, this Sword Star Medal was enough to comfort her: “You haven’t betrayed the hardships you’ve endured.”

Yet, for some reason, Sonya couldn’t feel any joy. She didn’t even have the desire to wear the medal.

She returned to her dormitory, where Adelle, who had been waiting, immediately took the box and examined the Sword Star Medal. “Why does it look even more exquisite than my dad’s…”

“That’s because this is a newly minted medal. Your family’s Bow Star Medal has been around for so long that its luster has faded. Just get it polished, and it’ll look good as new,” Lois said without looking up from her book.

Engulite leaned in to take a look as well. “I want to get one before I graduate.”

“If you perform well in next year’s Meteor Trial, you might just earn it,” Lois replied.

Closing her book, Lois turned to Sonya. “Is it really just a sword peerage?”

“Yes.”

“The minimum requirement for that Moon Nine Drama from the Thousand Star Business Association is a bow peerage…” she said softly. “They have ways to apply for a cultural sector peerage for you.”

Adelle scratched her head. “My dad actually meets the criteria. Are there any roles for middle-aged handsome guys in the drama? I think my dad could-“

Lois ignored Adelle’s interruption and continued, “There’s also a collaboration proposal that just came in at noon. The invitation is from Nalaiduo’s studio.”

Everyone froze.

“Nalaiduo?” Adelle asked, unsure. “That Nalaiduo?”

“Who else but Nalaiduo, the director hailed as the ‘Sage’?”

“But she’s practically Delarose’s exclusive director!”

“Exactly,” Lois nodded. “Though it’s only a supporting role as the third female lead, this time, Sonya, you have the chance to collaborate with Delarose and appear in her next film.”

Hearing this, the Stretch Paw Club President was momentarily stunned.

After a moment, she sighed and shook her head. “Turn them all down.”

“But it’s Delarose!” Adelle nearly jumped up, hugging Sonya and pleading pitifully, “Take me to the set! Even if it’s just to get me an autograph-preferably one that says, ‘To the most adorable Adelle’…”

Engulite reached out and pulled Adelle back. “The person here who loves Delarose the most is Sonya herself.”

“It’s so close!” Adelle said, unwilling to let it go. “So close, my roommate could have starred in a Delarose film!”

“It’s not you, so why are you so worked up?”

Lois watched Sonya’s back as she sat down and asked, “Aren’t you even going to ask about the peerage requirement?”

“Isn’t it also sword peerage and above?” Sonya smiled. “Or is there a surprise?”

Lois nodded. “Well, since Delarose’s films are guaranteed to make over a hundred million at the box office, all main cast members need to be at least lance peerage or higher.”

Adelle clicked her tongue. “My dad wouldn’t even qualify to have a single line in that.”

“However, for special guest roles, there’s no such requirement,” Lois said. “After I replied that you weren’t planning to advance your noble title for now, they proposed a second collaboration: since Delarose is playing a Swordmaster in this film, they need a Swordmaster to help with guidance, or even make a special appearance.”

“There’s no noble title requirement for this,” Lois added with a smile. “I just don’t know if the esteemed sanctuary sorcerer is willing to lower herself to such a task.”

Sonya turned and stared at Lois for a moment, then smiled softly. “Thank you, Lo.”

Adelle immediately stepped forward, delivering a karate chop to Sonya’s head-a mortal daring to challenge a sanctuary sorcerer. “Lo is my personal nickname! If you want a nickname, come up with your own. Don’t steal mine!”

Sonya teased, “Lo Lo Lo Lo Lo…”

“Don’t think I won’t hit you just because you’re a sanctuary sorcerer!” Adelle rolled up her sleeves, but Engulite quickly grabbed her and pulled her back.

“Enough joking around,” Sonya said. “Lois, it’s really unfair and troublesome for you to be my manager.”

Lois nodded calmly. “What can I do? I’ve got a village girl artist who’s completely hands-off.”

“But,” Sonya lowered her gaze, “I still have to turn down this collaboration.”

Lois was taken aback and quickly added, “Even though it’s a special guest role, they’re offering a rate befitting a sanctuary-level consultant. It wouldn’t demean your status-“

“No, it’s not about the money. I’d be willing to pay to collaborate with Delarose,” Sonya said. “I just don’t want to test myself.”

“Test yourself?”

“I don’t want to test whether I can resist the temptation to advance my noble title,” Sonya said softly. “I have reasons for not doing so.”

The others sighed but didn’t press further. In fact, when Sonya wasn’t around, Engulit had explained the concept of a ‘Wild Fox Sanctuary.’ They all assumed that Sonya, a genius sorcerer, didn’t want her freedom constrained by the blessings of the Stars.

But that wasn’t the case.

Sonya didn’t mind serving her country. For her, almost everything was negotiable, including her freedom.

To her, trading the freedom of ‘loyalty’ for full access to advanced social resources was the most ideal deal imaginable.

She really wanted to say yes. She wished she could become a professor at Swordflower College today, star in Delarose’s film tomorrow, and reach the pinnacle of her life.

However, within the laws of the Stars Kingdom, there are two rules:

One cannot leave the Stars Kingdom for an extended period, and if accidentally leaving, one must return as soon as possible (those inside are not allowed to leave).

Kill any visitors from exotic lands (those outside are not allowed to enter).

If there were only one rule, Sonya might have found a loophole. But these two rules together completely extinguished the village girl’s ambition to become an upper-tier noble.

The lawmakers probably never imagined that these seemingly insignificant regulations would become the primary reason sanctuary sorcerers abandon their allegiance.

Nevertheless, although Sonya believed she could resist the temptation of ascending her noble title, the recent events in the Virtual Realm made her unwavering heart waver.

That’s why Sonya dared not accept Delarose’s invitation to collaborate, fearing it might be the final straw.

She was afraid of developing a longing and even more worried that she might start to feel… resentment.

In the afternoon, she didn’t go to training but continued watching TV dramas with Adelle. She had been rewatching Delarose’s films for several days in a row.

“Should we watch ‘Blade of Shifting Time,’ ‘Bouquet in the Stars,’ or ‘Inverted World’?” Adelle asked.

“‘Inverted World,’” Sonya replied.

After spending the entire afternoon and evening rewatching the seven-episode drama, Sonya left her dormitory and headed alone to the Meditation Building.

Although both Engulite and Lois were sorcerers, they had recently died. Engulite was killed by a sorcerer projection, while Lois met her end at the hands of the Blade Fish Dragon.

The new assassin, Blade Fish Dragon, certainly lived up to its fearsome reputation.

Adelle ran to the balcony and watched Sonya leave the dormitory area before starting to gossip: “I feel like Sonya has recently fallen into an emotional whirlpool.”

“Honestly, I don’t really care,” Lois said. “We beautiful girls always end up in emotional whirlpools. Adelle, you probably wouldn’t understand, right?”

“Well, that’s true… It’s just that I have a fiancé, so I don’t! If I wanted, the line of suitors would stretch from here to the school gate!” Adelle grinned.

Engulite seemed puzzled: “Sonya is so wonderful; could there really be someone who wouldn’t cherish her? And with her good judgment, would she really fall for someone who doesn’t appreciate her?”

“Who knows,” Lois said. “Those who enjoy watching Delarose’s films are often young girls willing to be deceived… Maybe she’s met a man who makes her willingly accept being fooled.”

Engulite picked up her sword bag: “Should we help her, then?”

“As if you know who it is,” Lois retorted. “I’ve had so many people keeping an eye out, and yet there’s been no information. I’m starting to suspect her lover might be right here in this dormitory.”

“That’s right, it’s me,” Adelle said, patting her chest.

“Still, I don’t think we need to worry because Sonya seems to be planning to resolve things herself.”

“How do you know that?”

“From the changes in the types of dramas she’s been watching,” Adelle explained. “At first, it was pure love dramas like ‘The Last Night of the Abyss,’ with no unexpected twists. Then it was tragic love dramas like ‘Dragon Tiger Phoenix,’ where a third party complicates the relationship. And these past two days, it’s been ‘Inverted World,’ where the female lead is resolute and never backs down.”

“She probably doesn’t want to endure it anymore.”

Virtual Realm, Distant Sky Domain.

Tonight’s initial phantom seemed to be a research facility. They appeared in a clean, white-walled, and empty laboratory.

Sonya watched expressionlessly as Deya, as usual, clung to Ashe’s arm. After Ashe distributed the initial collection, Sonya took a deep breath and said, “Observer…”

“Before we begin tonight’s exploration, Sword Princess, Witch,” Ashe looked at them, “there’s something I want to tell you.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay