“Good afternoon, dear audience.”
“I am Magic Girl Red Rose, and I’m delighted to accept the invitation from the Suicheng Hero Association to attend this Firefly Comic Exhibition G125.”
The Hero Association channel’s interview program was showing on TV.
The red-haired girl sat in the guest seat, greeting the camera, her eyes reflecting the deep starlight as if mirroring the vastness of the starry sky. If one were to look with a magic-enhanced vision, they could even gaze directly into the boundless cosmos of the astral plane through her eyes.
The world's first-born Magic Girl—【Red Rose】.
Looking at the charmingly smiling red-haired girl on the TV program, Su Tianqing found it hard to imagine that this was a magic grandma who was already over sixty years old.
“I heard that Red Rose became a Magic Girl at twelve and fought for Sui City for twenty years before retiring due to illness.”
Nan Jiayu recited a piece of obscure knowledge she had recently crammed from Magic Girl series knowledge videos.
Su Tianqing observed the red-haired Magic Girl on the screen with interest, tilting her head, her fox ears flicking away a falling speck of dust.
Interesting. The Golden Fox thought to herself.
If ordinary people might feel a bit envious that Red Rose could never change back from a Magic Girl to an ordinary person, what Su Tianqing sensed from Red Rose would definitely subvert ordinary people’s understanding.
The deep starlight in her eyes was not a normal phenomenon, and it certainly did not represent Red Rose’s own powerful magic as people speculated.
Instead, it was a sign of her physical weakness, a manifestation of her reliance on magic to maintain her bodily functions.
The Golden Fox looked up at the lively crowd and stage not far away, gazing at the large screen on the stage that was showing the live TV broadcast.
This was at the entrance of Sui City’s largest stadium, where a warm-up event for Red Rose’s appearance at the comic exhibition was being held.
Since the warm-up event happened to be part of her plan to visit the Sui City Botanical Garden today, Su Tianqing took advantage of her morning travel time to drop by and participate in this rare event.
“It’s this lively just for a warm-up…”
Nan Jiayu looked at the sea of people at the venue and couldn’t help but exclaim softly.
The two arrived relatively late and couldn’t get front-row seats, so they could only watch the live TV broadcast from the back, but they could still deeply feel the lively atmosphere of the scene.
There were cheers from fans everywhere, and people holding custom light boards could be seen everywhere. It was hard to imagine what a sea of lights the venue would be if this event were held at night.
Actually, Su Tianqing wasn't particularly interested in the Firefly Comic Exhibition itself.
Firstly, because she had already attended two or three comic exhibitions recently, and Rong City’s CD105 Comic Exhibition was also a very large one. Even if Firefly was very well-organized, she couldn't help but feel some aesthetic fatigue.
It'd be better to go to the wildlife park with Jia Yu. Su Tianqing thought to herself.
But because of the mission assigned to her by the secret codex, she had no choice but to participate in this Firefly Comic Exhibition:
【Red Rose Exploration】
【Find Red Rose and learn the secret of Star Shadow】
That’s right, finding Red Rose and learning the secret of Star Shadow from her was another important mission given to her by the secret codex.
If she were to just wander around Sui City like a headless fly, hoping to run into Red Rose, it would be too reliant on luck.
This ancient senior couldn't even be detected by her Magic Girl locator! She could only find her by forcibly exploring the map!
But since she was coming to Firefly, attending the comic exhibition was the perfect opportunity to find her.
“Speaking of which…”
Su Tianqing muttered to herself.
Yesterday, she was attacked by a Catfish Monster on the cruise ship. At that time, Iris and her team appeared and defeated the Catfish Monster. Did Nan Xiaofeng and her team also receive an invitation from the Suicheng Hero Association?
But why wasn't she, Dandelion, invited? On the surface, she was a perfectly righteous Magic Girl in the Hero Association's eyes!
Could it be that the Hero Association had discovered her identity as Xin Yuehu and was hinting at her in this way…?
Su Tianqing couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
…In any case, first, she should tell her familiar to act cautiously, and also seriously check if her recent behavior had been unusual or if it had aroused the suspicion of the Hero Association.
…
Time passed quickly.
The next morning, the area in front of the Sui City Stadium was once again packed with people.
Cat Cat Fox Fox walked side by side in the queue for ticket checking and entry, marveling at the sheer scale of the Firefly Comic Exhibition.
“So lively!” Su Tianqing said.
“Yes, compared to this, Rong City’s CD105 feels like a small event,” Nan Jiayu echoed, also sighing with emotion.
They passed through the ticket window and entered the stadium.
What greeted their eyes was a spacious stage. The entire comic exhibition venue was specially designed around this stage, surrounded by vendors and Hero Association booths from various places, showcasing their Magic Girl merchandise.
Sharp-eyed Su Tianqing immediately spotted the Rong City Hero Association’s booth. It was very large, and she could instantly see all members of the Hyacinth Squad at the stall.
And opposite the Hyacinth Squad standees posing in battle stances, several familiar figures made Su Tianqing’s eyes light up. She immediately pulled Nan Jiayu and ran over.
“Jia Yu, look! Look at this!”
“…”
Nan Jiayu silently looked up, her gaze at the Rong City booth in front of them a bit strange.
The three members of the Hyacinth Squad, and Magic Girl Dandelion standing behind them, formed a Magic Girl combination that was currently quite popular and powerful nationwide.
But the life-sized standees opposite them were quite intriguing—
The devilish Xin Yuehu, Hellcat with her cat claws in a boxer’s back-facing pose, and Cheshire Rabbit with a dazed expression, holding a giant hammer.
Why could villainous Magic Girls also be on the Hero Association’s booth? This was the only thought left in Nan Jiayu’s mind.
“It’s Xin Yuehu.”
“Fox Fox has finally been officially recognized!”
Many passing tourists excitedly pointed at the villainous trio represented by Xin Yuehu, whispering about a series of things related to them.
They even completely overshadowed the Hyacinth Squad opposite them.
“Jia Yu, look, everyone likes Hellcat so much,” Su Tianqing tugged at the Cat Girl’s sleeve beside her, whispering softly.
Nan Jiayu’s cheeks flushed slightly, feeling a bit shy.
How could she have such popularity? This was all borrowed popularity from Fox Fox!
“Let’s… let’s go over there and have a look. I heard it’s almost time for the Magic Girls to perform.”
Listening to the increasingly lively discussions about Xin Yuehu and Hellcat around them, Nan Jiayu’s blush was completely uncontainable. She quickly pulled the chuckling Golden Fox towards the stage.
Nan Jiayu felt that Tianqing’s gaze towards her was already at a murderous level.
Who didn’t know the relationship between Hellcat and Xin Yuehu!
Not to mention their interactions in live streams, even during battles, their tacit agreement coordination and conversations would give the audience some interesting associations.
And if such associations fell into Tianqing’s fox ears…
“Jia Yu~ Do you like me more, or do you like Xin Yuehu more~?”
Nan Jiayu imagined the question Tianqing might ask later and instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
The Cat Girl's reaction was completely seen by the Golden Fox, and a joyful smile appeared on the playful Fox Fox’s face.
“Bang Dong!”
“Whoa?!”
Suddenly, the hastily fleeing Cat Girl seemed to have bumped into something, and a startled cry rang out in front of them.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
Nan Jiayu hurriedly apologized to the petite girl who had fallen to the ground in front of them. Su Tianqing also poked her head out in surprise, and then tapped the Cat Girl’s shoulder beside her.
Jokes aside, bumping into someone wasn't good.
The two quickly helped the petite girl in front of them up.
But when Nan Jiayu clearly saw the face of the girl, who was about the same height as her, the Cat Girl’s tail instantly thickened by a whole circle.
“Hmm?… How is it you…?”
“…Whoa?! Don’t come near me AHHHHHHH!!”
Upon seeing the Cat Girl in front of her, the girl’s face instantly turned pale, and she fled without looking back, leaving only the stunned Golden Fox and the embarrassed Nan Jiayu behind.
“Jia Yu? You know her?” Su Tianqing asked curiously.
“Yes… she’s an old acquaintance from before…” Nan Jiayu said with a wry smile, quietly leaning close to the fox’s ear and whispering.
“She is—Magic Girl 【Bai Lili】.”