“That concludes today’s class. Class dismissed.”
It was evening at Rongcheng Third College of Arts and Sciences.
As the dismissal bell rang and the professor spoke, the students immediately stirred.
Nan Xiaofeng sat up straight, stretched, and, having no interest in chasing the professor to the podium with questions, shifted her gaze to Hua Ling beside her.
The girl was quietly writing the last line of her notes. Catching Nan Xiaofeng’s gaze from the corner of her eye, she tilted her head and looked over.
“Xiaofeng? What’s wrong?”
“...Nothing, I just think you’re very serious in class, Hua Ling,” Nan Xiaofeng said honestly.
Her life seemed to have returned to its ordinary routine.
Classes during the day, special training with Hua Ling and the others in the evenings or on weekends, and incidentally, dealing with the Starry Sky Aberrants in Rong City.
Speaking of which, she hadn’t seen Xin Yuehu and the others for several days.
She should have felt relieved, but what was with this inexplicable irritation in her heart?
And...
Thinking that a new Observer was about to arrive in Rong City, and would also be developing a new Magic Girl, Nan Xiaofeng felt an even stranger unease.
She knew nothing about the Observer’s personality or who the Magic Girl he would develop would be.
Furthermore, she had revealed herself as Hyacinth to Tianqing Jie not long ago. Although Tianqing Jie was keeping it strictly confidential for her, if her teammates still didn't know...
Indeed, she still needed to find an opportunity to confess to her companions.
Thinking this, and seeing that most of the surrounding students had left, Nan Xiaofeng leaned closer to Hua Ling and whispered:
“Hua Ling, are you free tonight?”
“Tonight? ...I am, but aren’t we supposed to go...”
Hua Ling was a little curious.
Tonight’s plan was for the Magic Girls squad to have a concentrated training session, specifically to practice their coordination.
But Xiaofeng’s expression...
“I have an idea, Hua Ling. If you’re free tonight, stay at my place. I want to talk to you about something.”
“Talk about something?”
Hua Ling grew even more curious.
Is there something that can’t be said now? Is it something very important? the girl thought.
But Xiaofeng hadn't spoken about this so seriously before, so it must be quite important to her.
“Okay, I have nothing to do tonight, so I’ll just go to your place, Xiaofeng,” Hua Ling agreed with a smile.
Nan Xiaofeng breathed a sigh of relief.
Asking Hua Ling was indeed the right choice; her companion was always reliable.
The conversation shifted to what they would eat for dinner, becoming much more relaxed.
But as soon as the two stepped out of the classroom, a small golden Fox Fox floating in the air not far away immediately caught their attention.
Hua Ling thought she was seeing things; how could she have a hallucination of a small Fox Fox flying in mid-air?
But when Nan Xiaofeng also cast a puzzled look in that direction, Hua Ling finally realized something—
“(Looking around)”
The small golden Fox Fox had its back to them, holding something that looked like a divine code stone or some kind of magic, glowing faintly. It carefully observed every student passing beneath it, as if comparing something.
It wasn’t until the small Fox Fox turned around in distress and met their gaze that all three froze in place simultaneously.
“.........”
““......””
The small Fox Fox looked back at what was behind it, then looked at Hua Ling and Nan Xiaofeng, its eyes immediately lighting up. It quickly flew over.
“Hello! Can you two see me?!”
“...”
Hua Ling didn't dare to answer.
There were still a few scattered students around. In their eyes, she would appear to be talking to thin air, and would be considered a Monster in another sense.
The two exchanged glances, responding with silent nods.
This small Fox Fox seemed to understand Hua Ling and her companion’s predicament. It looked around, then immediately flew in one direction, saying to the two behind it:
“There are too many people around here, let’s go somewhere else to talk!”
“Don’t worry, I’m not a bad person~”
With that, the small Fox Fox even winked at them. Its bright, sparkling Fox Fox eyes made both of them simultaneously think of a certain energetic angel Fox Fox.
.
In a certain art classroom in the corner of the teaching building.
The students had all left, and since this art classroom was rarely visited, it became an excellent discussion place for both parties.
“Hello! I was in too much of a hurry just now and forgot to introduce myself. My name is Yue Tianxin, and I’m an Observer from the Starry Sky! Just call me Xiao Yue~”
“Since you two can see me, it means you both have the potential to become Magic Girls!”
“You know about Magic Girls, right? They can freely use magic to defeat Monsters, just like Hyacinth and Iris, super amazing~”
The small golden Fox Fox immediately recited its lines, not forgetting to wink hard at the two.
Hua Ling and Nan Xiaofeng exchanged glances.
Why does this sales pitch sound so familiar? Nan Xiaofeng thought.
When Bai Ling developed her into a Magic Girl, she used the same lines, except the Hyacinth part was replaced with Qiugui and Mai Sui.
“...Huh? No reaction?”
Seeing their calm expressions, the small Fox Fox seemed to be caught off guard. It pinched its chin and muttered to itself.
“That’s not right. The senior said that as long as I recite these lines, they’ll happily agree, and then I can just give them a guardian star...”
“Hmm... Could it be that you two still have some concerns?”
“The Hero Association is fully responsible for Magic Girls’ salaries and retirement benefits. It’s an absolutely legitimate high-paying job, so you can rest assured, a million times over!”
“And after retirement, a lifetime pension will be issued based on mission performance, medical welfare is fully covered, plus—”
Before it could finish, Nan Xiaofeng sighed and interrupted the small golden Fox Fox.
Then she pulled her guardian star out of her pocket.
The small golden Fox Fox froze abruptly, staring blankly at the golden cross star in Nan Xiaofeng’s hand, then at the cross star in Hua Ling’s hand.
“Huh? A guardian star? ...You two, why... huh?...”
The Fox Astrologer was incoherent, babbling for a long time before finally seeming to accept reality.
“Could it be, could it be that you two, you are the Magic Girls of Rong City!?”
“Yes,” Nan Xiaofeng replied instantly.
“Yes... yes, we are...” Hua Ling said a little awkwardly and timidly.
“I messed up AHHHHHHH—”
The small Fox Fox’s wail seemed to echo throughout the entire teaching building.
...
Later, at the Magic Girl training ground.
The small Fox Fox sat on a cardboard box nearby, nibbling on a biscuit, and said to the three in front of it:
“So, you’re the Hyacinth Squad, then?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Nan Xiaofeng nodded in reply.
“I am Hyacinth, this is Iris, and this is Nightingale.”
“Hello~ Miss Nightingale~ Miss Iris~”
The Observer, who called herself Xiao Yue, waved and greeted them.
“My name is Yue Tianxin, you can call me Xiao Yue. I’m a new Observer from the Starry Sky, and I’ll be working with Senior Bai Ling from now on. If you three have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime~”
With that, the Fox Spirit made a peace sign and gave them a “kira” pose, almost triggering their Monster-attracting Fox Fox attribute.
“You’re planning to have special training today, right? Then I won’t disturb you three. I still need to find a Magic Girl.”
“Bye-bye~ I’ll come to play with you often in the future~”
With that, the Fox Spirit wagged its tail, bid farewell to the three, activated its Starry Sky teleportation magic, and vanished into thin air.
Watching the small golden Fox Fox disappear, the three slowly lowered their hands and exchanged glances.
...Why did Bai Ling suddenly seem less appealing?