funbook-pk Chapter 74 Opening Ceremony
Chapter 74 Opening Ceremony
Shenyue City Sports Plaza is located in the heart of this megacity. In this prime location, a space that is neither a CBD nor an office building has been carved out.
The entire area covers nearly 20,000 mu (approximately 1333 hectares) and is divided into three sections from north to south: the North Section, the Central Section, and the South Section. The North Section is a forest park, a rare green landscape in the city where the surrounding areas have become wilderness, and an eco-tourism and leisure area where citizens often go camping and vacationing. The Central Section is a cluster of venues and supporting facilities, with many large sports stadiums built there, and it is also an area for holding political and performing arts events. The South Section is a cultural and business park, catering to various commercial, catering, and tourism needs.
On August 15th, the sports plaza was packed with people, bustling with activity, and the crowds were all converging on the central area.
They were all dressed in all sorts of clothes, some even carrying binoculars and light sticks, clearly well-prepared. Even more outrageous, some of their clothes even had anime characters drawn on them.
This isn't a character from an anime; it's a two-dimensional image of a magical girl circulating online. If it weren't for legal prohibitions, they would definitely print real photos on it.
"Hey, who do you think will win in the intermediate division this year?"
"Hmph, I have some inside information to share with you—"
"Keep your voice down! Betting on the results of the Magical Girl League is illegal!"
"That's what everyone says, and the odds are still so big."
Today is the day of the annual Magical Girl League, which is both the opening ceremony and the opening matches for the beginner and intermediate groups. The champion will be determined through a week-long competition.
Of course, this is just the champion of the Shenyue division. The champion and runner-up of the intermediate group will have to meet with seeded players from six other cities in Huancheng to compete for the national champion of the year.
Moreover, this only covers the beginner and intermediate groups. As for the most popular [advanced group], it is attended by the dignified [Lei] level participants, and can only be held in the surrounding city, which is even more eye-catching.
Even so, this is still the biggest event in Miyuki City in a year, and a half-month holiday will be given for it. Basically all citizens will watch the game live or watch the broadcast.
This is not just an event for young people. It is clear that among the crowds queuing to enter, there are many children holding their parents' hands or riding on their shoulders.
They shout things like, "I want to become a magical girl someday!"
However, some people responded with a helpless smile:
"Boys can't become magical girls."
Such conversations were commonplace around the venue; in this day and age, "magical girl" is clearly the number one choice in any survey of children's future career aspirations.
Besides these hopeful children, you can also see many middle-aged and even elderly people.
The reason is not hard to understand. People of their age group just experienced the monster disaster thirty years ago. They are a generation that personally experienced those desperate days. They fled their hometowns to Miyuki City, and may have also experienced the painful past of the death of family and friends. Although they survived, they live in fear every day that the monsters will invade the inland.
Just then, the magical girls appeared, bringing a glimmer of hope and successfully reversing the tide of the war, even achieving final victory.
Therefore, in the hearts of this generation, the magical girl competition not only represents itself, but also embodies the hope of a new era, the respect for heroes, and an indelible sentiment.
Thus, this league, imbued with special significance, possesses multiple values including sportsmanship, celebrity worship, and commemoration, attracting people from all eras and becoming an unprecedentedly glorious event. This year marks its fourth edition, with each iteration growing larger and attracting more spectators than the old Olympics.
Even those who cannot attend the event in person will watch the live broadcast at home. A large number of drones will be floating around the venue to film the situation.
However, this year, Chen Mu did not, as in previous years, comfortably lie on the sofa at home, open some snacks and drinks, and idly watch TV broadcasts.
He wasn't among the ordinary spectators queuing up.
Instead, as insiders, as the magical girls' "coach" or "mentor," they stood in the very close entrance path, watching the opening ceremony up close.
Today he was dressed in a very proper suit and tie, which made his figure look very straight. However, the shadow of the building above him covered his face, making it almost impossible to see his face. Half of his face was hidden in the darkness, and only his legs could be seen, which contrasted with the brightly lit stage above.
Chen Mu tilted his head and asked the girl behind him, "How are you?"
Standing behind him was Lin Yongxi, who was completely in the dark. All that could be seen were her shoes, which bounced repeatedly as they landed on the ground, and her bouncy ponytail.
She seemed to be hopping around in place, perhaps warming up her body and taking long, deep breaths at the same time.
"To be honest, I'm a little nervous."
At this moment, the sound pressure from the audience came from all directions, pressing on their eardrums. This was not just tens of thousands of audience members, but also a great deal of expectation and pressure.
"normal."
Chen Mu offered only one word of comfort and then said nothing more.
He crossed his arms, his deep eyes looking upwards.
Standing on the podium giving a speech was the mayor of Shenyue City. He was a middle-aged man wearing a white shirt, slightly overweight, with a round face. His speech was not official or stiff, but rather very friendly, punctuated with many trendy internet slang terms. Chen Mu was not familiar with him, having only met him a few times, and didn't even know the mayor's name.
"...May this grand event not only witness the heroic spirit of a new generation of magical girls, but also remind us to remember the past, cherish the present, and join hands to move towards a brighter future!"
But after all, he was an official capable of governing a region, ensuring the stability of the lives of over 2000 million people during wartime, and dealing with the increasingly sensitive relationship with the Demon Court after the war. It's clear this person's methods were not simple; otherwise, he wouldn't be in this position. He finished speaking with a smile, and then walked off the stage amidst cheers and applause.
Chen Mu clapped his hands briefly, his gaze sharpening. He wasn't interested in the old man; he was more focused on the person who was about to go on stage.
He noticed that two magical girls were sitting next to the podium, one of whom was naturally the head of the Magic Academy, Bixi, with her long, dark green hair.
The other magical girl was somewhat unfamiliar, but judging from her seat of equal rank, she should be the "Chief Referee" from the Ring City, representing the headmaster of the main academy.
Who will be giving the opening remarks?
Chen Mu guessed in his heart that either of them was possible. It could be the Shenyue City Demon Court, representing the host organization, or it could be the Huancheng General Hospital, which was at a higher level.
But to his surprise, neither of the two magical girls stood up; they both looked up at the podium with respectful and admiring eyes.
—There, a magical girl appeared out of nowhere.
She had long, jet-black hair and a beautiful, shimmering, pale purple skirt. She was elegant and beautiful, and her gait was light and graceful, as if she were walking on water and under the clear moonlight. She appeared so mysteriously and unbelievably.
More importantly, her left eye was tightly closed, while her right eye, which was open, had a pair of clear and bright white pupils that were scanning around.
The moment he appeared, he ignited the atmosphere at the scene!
Even Chen Mu couldn't help but feel his heart racing, thinking:
What is she doing here?
"She's back?"