Reinhard’s speed was still fast, and it wasn’t long before Fang Zheng and Emilia were informed that the Royal Selection meeting would be held in two days, with all candidates participating. Reinhard would announce at this meeting that all Royal Selection Candidates were present, and the selection process could begin.

"So, what you need to do is clearly state your identity and indicate that you won’t participate in the Royal Selection. I think it shouldn’t be difficult for you."

Standing in the waiting room, Fang Zheng looked at Emilia next to him and spoke, while Emilia seemed somewhat nervous and uneasy.

"Do you know what you should say?"

"I... I know."

"I hope you really know."

Fang Zheng stared at Emilia, who uneasily shifted her gaze, like a child afraid to look at their parents.

"I can almost guess what you’re thinking, but Emilia, I have to remind you, being too kind equals being weak. You know what will happen after you enter, you will become the target of those people in the hall, they will point at you calling you a Half-Elf or Witch, so what will you do?"

"I... I won’t say anything, after all, I do look a lot like the Witch of Jealousy, and I am a Half-Elf..."

Saying this, Emilia’s expression became increasingly downcast, while Fang Zheng reached out and knocked heavily on her head.

"Open your eyes and look carefully! Tell me now, did you try to destroy the world four hundred years ago?"

"......"

Emilia shook her head desperately, she probably hadn’t even been born four hundred years ago!

"That’s it, there are always a few people in this world who look alike, you see, Rem and Ram look quite similar."

"But they are twins..."

"That’s not important, what’s important is, you have to stand tall with your chest out, and defeat those bastards. Do you think they really consider you the Witch of Jealousy? Wrong! Absolutely wrong!"

"No? Isn’t it?"

Faced with Fang Zheng’s words, Emilia couldn’t help but be stunned, all along, she had been treated as the Witch of Jealousy and hated in this country, wasn’t it true?

"Of course not!"

Fang Zheng snorted lightly.

"If you really were the Witch of Jealousy, would these people dare to say anything? The person who dared to destroy the world four hundred years ago, you dare to point at her and curse, you’d be lucky if she didn’t keep you from living or dying! If they really thought you were the Witch of Jealousy, they’d be on their knees begging for mercy, too late to curse you! Do they think their lives are too long?"

"Then why......"

"Because they know you’re not."

"Huh?"

"Because they all know, you’re not the Witch of Jealousy, you won’t be like the Witch of Jealousy who would just kill them if she wasn’t pleased, so they dare to talk nonsense in front of you. They vent their anger at the Witch of Jealousy on you, and you don’t dare to talk back, so now all of this is your own fault!"

".........."

Faced with Fang Zheng’s angry shout, Emilia couldn’t help but shut her mouth, and Parker couldn’t help but come out.

"I say Fang Zheng, you’re being too much..."

"Parker, shut up, Emilia’s current predicament has your responsibility too."

"Me?"

"That’s right, when Emilia was being discriminated against, what were you doing? Why didn’t you come out and shut those idiots up? Aren’t you a Grand Elf? I didn’t ask you to freeze them to death, but giving them a lesson wouldn’t be hard."

"But that would make Emilia sad..."

"Nonsense, that’s why as a guardian, you need to tell her what to do! Is your mouth only for eating? Can you do anything other than eat?"

"Ugh........"

This time Parker couldn’t say anything either, having to admit, as Fang Zheng said, as a daughter-centric person, he was quite soft-hearted towards Emilia, as long as it was something that would make Emilia sad, he naturally wouldn’t do it.

"Listen carefully, Emilia."

Fang Zheng looked towards Emilia, forcing her to turn her head to look at him.

"Don’t expect to make everyone in the world like you, that’s impossible. I’m telling you, every single one of those idiots in the hall, whichever one sees me is like a mouse seeing a cat, too scared to make a sound. Do I care whether they like me? I don’t care! Of course, I could try to earn their favor, just like Reinhard, even with great strength, he values class and status, and only if I bow to them, they would treat me politely... But why should I bow to those idiots?"

Saying this, Fang Zheng snorted coldly, reaching out to point out the window.

"Do you want to earn others’ favor? Make everyone like you? I’ll teach you a method right now, go out and find a man, use your body to seduce him, and I guarantee no matter how much he dislikes the Witch, he’ll kneel at your feet, will you go? Kindness isn’t bottomless, kindness without a bottom line is just weakness. Someone is in danger, you help them, then what if someone takes a liking to you? Saying ’Miss, I have a sickness swelling here, need you to help suck out the pus’, will you do it?"

"Hey, Fang Zheng, your words are too much..."

"Parker, shut up, it’s your poor guidance that’s making me clean up."

Fang Zheng waved his hand directly, pushing Parker aside.

"Emilia, now answer me, are you friends with Meiyin, Mel, and Megumin?"

"Yes."

This time, Emilia responded quickly.

"They are my best friends."

"And they don’t believe, nor do they care, if you’re a Witch, right?"

"Mm!"

Emilia nodded vigorously.

"So, if you’re walking down the street and someone points out that you’re a Witch, they’d definitely argue back, wouldn’t they? But what about you? You, standing there like a fool, silently bowing your head and ’kindly’ accepting other people’s insults? But what do you think your friends would think? What would others say? ’Look, even she admits she’s a Witch, what nonsense are you all spouting!’ What do you think Megumin and the others would think?"

"............"

This time, Emilia finally fell silent.

"To be honest, we’ve not known each other for a long time, and truth be told, we aren’t very familiar with each other. Strictly speaking, I’m saying all this not for you, but for the group of girls around me. I don’t want them to make friends with someone timid, without opinions, and who mindlessly tramples on their friends’ feelings for a bunch of idiots they’ve never met."

".........."

"The Count of Monte Cristo said it well, I love those who love me, and I hate those who hate me. If they want to hate me, let them. Do I care? No, that’s just the howls of losers. Those idiots present, each one of them, I can send them to the Western Paradise with one sword, and I believe Parker can do it too. To us, they’re just a pack of stray dogs barking at the weak, but when faced with a lion, they run with their tails between their legs faster than anyone, so why care about what such creatures think?"

"Then... what should I do?"

At this moment, Emilia raised her head, her eyes slightly reddened, voice trembling.

"What should I do? I really don’t know what to do, everyone is like this, whether in the village or elsewhere... Everyone just avoids me when they see me... I really don’t know..."

"Hold your head high, stand upright, don’t always wear a cloak like you’re a thief. People have inertia, initially when you wander in front of them, they’d worry ’Wow, it’s a Witch, how scary.’ But if you turn in front of them for 365 days, they’d get used to it, and naturally wouldn’t care anymore. But you, wearing a cloak all day, looking like a thief, if people can’t see your face, they’d suspect ’this person is sneaky, probably up to no good,’ if they see it, they’d think ’ah, it’s a Witch, no wonder she’s hiding.’... So, your current situation is half caused by yourself!"

"This......"

Hearing this, both Emilia and Parker were stunned.

"Do you think it’s easier for people not to recognize you with your face covered? This is the consequence of temporary convenience! You said people in the village near your home view you this way, right? Well, that’s obvious, a young girl cloaked mysteriously all the time, who wouldn’t be scared? If you have nothing to hide, why dress like this?"

".........."

This time, Emilia and Parker exchanged looks, speechless, knowing not what to say.

"Don’t hide and cover, hold your head high, like an ordinary person, live your life. If someone insults you, insult back. If someone bullies you, fight back! Fairness and justice don’t fall from the sky, a fist is justice, strength is truth! Moreover, you’re not alone now, Parker, I’m here, and others will support you too, but first, you need to show your trust. If you really find this face bothersome, then destroy it, dye your hair, problem solved! See, it’s simple, why don’t you do that?"

Saying this, Fang Zheng stared at Emilia.

"So, where’s your trust?"

".........."

This time, Emilia was silent for a long while, then she stretched out her hand, slowly removing the cloak she wore.

"Lia...!"

"Parker, Lord Fang Zheng is right."

Removing the hood and fully showing her face, Emilia raised her head, her gaze much firmer.

"I first need confidence in myself. Although I know I’ve made many mistakes before, but... I don’t want to be a coward lacking courage. I know Parker, you’re looking out for me, but listening to Lord Fang Zheng made me realize, maybe all along, I’ve been too timid. I once feared this face, and hated it, I also thought, if only I didn’t look like this..."

Saying this, Emilia’s expression became somewhat downcast.

"But as Lord Fang Zheng said, this is me, I cannot avoid it. If I truly detest this face, maybe I should destroy it, but it’s what my parents left me..."

Emilia clenched both fists, her gaze becoming resolute.

"I should be proud of it, regardless, I am me, Emilia, that won’t change!"

Saying this, Emilia bowed deeply towards Fang Zheng.

"Thank you, Lord Fang Zheng."

"So I suppose you know what to do now."

Looking at Emilia before him, Fang Zheng nodded.

"Then, let me see how you perform."

"Yes!"

As Emilia finished speaking, suddenly, a knock came from the door, soon a servant opened the door and walked in.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, the Sage Association summons you..."

However, before the servant could finish, upon seeing Emilia, his eyes widened in shock. But Emilia didn’t mind, she just smiled slightly at the servant, then turned her head to Fang Zheng.

"Then, Lord Fang Zheng... let’s go."