“Jiayu Jie! It’s settled then! Tomorrow morning at nine!”
“I know, I know, Xiaofeng, you should head back now. Don’t be late again tomorrow morning.”
“I won’t be late! …Ah, Tianqing Jie, goodbye~”
“Bye-bye—” Fox Fox wagged her tail.
The SUV’s window rolled up, and it drove around the corner, out of sight.
Nan Xiaofeng finally stopped waving excitedly, turned, and took Hua Ling’s hand. Her face was filled with uncontrollable excitement.
“This is great! Hua Ling, did you hear? Jiayu Jie said she’s taking us to Rong City Amusement Park tomorrow!”
“Xiaofeng, you’re really happy,” Hua Ling said with a light laugh, seemingly infected by the joyful atmosphere.
Returning home in their nightgowns, the first thing they saw was the White Sable Spirit sitting on the sofa, watching a news program.
Hua Ling curiously observed this Observer Spirit, whom Nan Xiaofeng called “Bai Ling.”
“Oh? Xiaofeng, did your sister and her friend leave? I thought they’d stay here for the night.”
“Bai Ling, why did you come out? What if my sister saw you?”
“Only Magic Girls and those with magic talent can see me. Ordinary people can’t, so don’t worry about that.”
“Hmph, I don’t care. Let me sit here.”
Nan Xiaofeng said indignantly, walking over to the sofa in her slippers and unceremoniously squeezing next to the White Sable Spirit.
“Why are you squeezing me?!”
“This is the best spot to watch TV!”
“Xiaofeng, can’t you watch from the side too?!”
“I don’t like watching with my head tilted!”
Watching the interaction between the person and the spirit, Hua Ling suddenly felt lighthearted and chuckled.
“Hehe… You two have a really good relationship, Xiaofeng.”
““Who has a good relationship with her (it)?!””
They spoke in unison.
Hua Ling smiled and walked over to sit on the sofa, still curiously observing the White Sable Spirit with the small wings.
“…Hua Ling, why are you staring at me like that?”
Being intensely focused on by Hua Ling’s gaze, the White Sable Spirit also felt a bit shy and asked, puzzled.
“Um… I talked with Tianqing Jie today, and I suddenly understood something. I want to discuss it with you, Bai Ling,” Hua Ling answered honestly.
“Tianqing Jie? …Ah, that cute Fox Jie. Hua Ling, you’re so cunning! I didn’t even get to say a few words to her!”
Before she could finish, Nan Xiaofeng suddenly realized, stamping her foot in exasperation.
“Tianqing Jie is much gentler than Jiayu Jie! And… speaking of which, Hua Ling, did you touch her tail?”
“N-no, I heard that touching a beast-person’s tail is a bit impolite, so I…” Hua Ling shook her head repeatedly.
“That’s too bad! Tianqing Jie’s tail and ears are just so—comfortable to touch! And they’re super cute too!”
“Jiayu Jie said she met Tianqing Jie in college, and they go to class and eat together every day! I’m so envious!”
“Hmph, this morning you were telling me how annoying fox-people are, and now you’ve betrayed them tonight?” Bai Ling retorted sharply.
Nan Xiaofeng’s eye twitched violently. She grabbed the White Sable Spirit’s ear hard, making it squeal in pain.
“When did I say that?! What I meant was… I’m annoyed by guys like Xin Yuehu! Tianqing Jie is simply a gentle and adorable little angel!”
“…I can’t argue with that.” The White Sable Spirit rubbed its ear and nodded.
Its gaze returned to Hua Ling.
“Hua Ling, what were you going to say? What did you figure out?”
“…Bai Ling, do you have any extra guardian stars?”
Both of them froze simultaneously.
Nan Xiaofeng looked at Hua Ling with an incredulous expression.
“A guardian star? …Wait a minute! Hua Ling, weren’t you saying yesterday that you needed a few more days to think about it? Why the sudden change…?”
The White Sable Spirit was also very surprised.
It had long sensed Hua Ling’s magic talent and really wanted to help her become a Magic Girl, but ultimately, the decision had to be Hua Ling’s own.
After all, once she became a Magic Girl, she would have to fight Monsters at any time, not to mention the addition of Xin Yuehu, the villain who doesn’t fight but just causes trouble.
If Hua Ling refused due to fear of danger, neither Bai Ling nor Nan Xiaofeng would say anything. After all, becoming a Magic Girl was something that required careful consideration.
—But!
Even if Hua Ling herself had the desire, the guardian star still needed to respond to her!
If the guardian star did not respond to her… then no matter how high Hua Ling’s aptitude was, she would not be able to transform into a Magic Girl.
“Because Tianqing Jie and I talked for a bit. I learned a lot from her, and I didn’t tell her about being a Magic Girl,” Hua Ling said seriously.
“Xiaofeng, we’re friends, right?”
“Of course.” Nan Xiaofeng said without hesitation, “I don’t have many friends to begin with. Hua Ling, you’re definitely my best friend! …Besides Jiayu Jie.”
“I see.”
Nodding, as if she had made up her mind, Hua Ling reached out to Bai Ling, opening her palm to reveal her fair, delicate wrist, and said:
“Please give me a guardian star. I want to see if I’m worthy.”
.
.
A little later.
On the roof of an office building in Rong City.
Su Tianqing happily dangled her two small feet.
After transforming, she was no longer wearing the ribbon socks from earlier in the day. A pair of over-the-knee white socks highlighted the curve of her calves, their surface reflecting the distant neon lights, creating a hazy, dreamlike glow.
The camera floated nearby, but it was not turned on, faithfully awaiting its master’s command.
Su Tianqing was in a very, very good mood.
The two recently completed missions had directly boosted the number of divine code stones in her pocket to 1500!
Coupled with the slacking-off mission given by the secret codex, the number of divine code stones reached an unprecedented 1600!
“A huge sum, a huge sum! Now I can buy the new item I’ve been longing for!”
Su Tianqing happily opened the secret codex, turning to the newly unlocked item section on the shopping page, ready to spend this huge sum wisely.
【Xin Yue Magic Wand: 1500 divine code stones】
【The iconic magic wand of a Magic Girl, capable of transforming into desired objects and shapes】
【Unlocked Skill A: Monster Summon, once daily, summons a designated Monster who will absolutely obey your commands】
【Unlocked Skill B: Monster Enhancement, three times daily, comprehensively enhances a Monster’s attributes, can be repeatedly applied to the same Monster】
After reading the description, Su Tianqing invested all the divine code stones, originally planned for reusable strengthening potions, into this magic wand.
A golden yellow staff appeared beside her.
It floated beside her, within reach, with a cross-star at its tip identical in shape to the guardian star on her chest. Overall, it looked a bit like a child’s toy sold on a carpet, but it felt significantly more substantial in hand.
Just by holding it, Su Tianqing could feel a surge of magic power within her.
How could a Magic Girl be without a magic wand? This was the soul of a Magic Girl!
She would try casting various different spells with it later. Now, it was time for serious business!
Placing both the magic wand and the secret codex into her magic space, Golden Fox opened the camera, adjusted its position, and gave a charming smile to the lens.
“Good evening, everyone!”
“Villain Magic Girl Heart Moon Fox, meeting everyone again!~”