Hot Springs Trip (Part 2)

Huahai City – Xiren Organization Branch

Atop a high platform stood a middle-aged man exuding an ancient and terrifying aura.

He had four arms, a towering and unnaturally muscular body, and skin with a metallic sheen rippling through every muscle.

“The Magic Alliance dealt with that woman?”

“Yes, sir. Nothing suspicious was left behind.”

“Really now? I don’t believe those naïve little magical girls could handle someone like her.”

“Indeed, just as you predicted, sir. The Alliance has sealed off all internal info, but our investigations suggest the one who dealt with the matter was… Elera.”

BOOM—

The platform under his feet cracked in an instant.

Wind howled around him as a non-human aura shook the air.

“How reliable is this intel?”

“We weren’t present at the scene, so it can’t be 100% verified. If you want to know more, the only leads are those magical girls involved.”

“…Keep this information off headquarters’ radar for now.”

“Understood.”

Once the room emptied, the man stood alone in contemplation.

Just his branch alone wasn’t enough.

This prize was far too massive.

“The third Ancient Relic is with her… and she has the highest compatibility we’ve seen.

If I could unlock her secrets—and combine them with the fifth relic—

I could stand at the very pinnacle of this world!”

Everyone who had ever worked frontline in the organization had heard of that woman’s terrifying strength.

He once saw Elera clash with top-tier magical girls—

The power gap was staggering, seared into his very DNA.

“Rumor is… seven years ago, she was dispatched on some secret mission.

If she’s reappeared now… could it be related to that?”

The man’s imagination spun wild.

And the conclusions he arrived at were spine-chilling.

Given the organization’s obsession with the Box,

Elera’s mission from seven years ago had to be connected.

How many of the Ancient Relics did she collect?

The Second, the Fifth, the Eighth—what did she find?

Did she already uncover clues to the Box itself?

“This world… is about to get noisy.

The Magic Alliance and the human government won’t sit still for this.”

As he predicted, five minutes later, his contacts in the government summoned him to a confidential meeting.

Two days prior, the Magic Alliance’s headquarters—deep within the Dimensional Sea—had already ordered all regional branches to recall magical girls from inland cities.

They were to remain stationed near the Sea’s border and operate in groups to avoid falling prey to Elera’s ambushes and… losing their purity along with their dignity.

Elera’s reappearance had broken years of stillness—

The world was beginning to move again.

In the Car…

The mood was… awkward.

Especially in the backseat.

So awkward it might as well have been hell.

Luo Zining repeatedly glanced sideways at Zhou Xi, but couldn’t muster the courage to speak.

Every time she thought about starting a conversation,

her mind would flash back to that incident—

Zhou Xi getting “pummeled” by the Aurora Witch.

How could you chat normally after that?

Vrrrrmm…

The car rumbled gently.

Luo You fastened her seatbelt and turned back.

“Alrighty—let’s roll!”

“Hey ba—uh, Yuyu, you do have a license, right?”

“Mm-hmm! Don’t worry.

Licenses are easy to get if you’ve got some… connections.”

“Huh?” “What?”

“Oh no, nothing. Nothing! I mean, I’m a great driver anyway.”

In truth, Luo You had not one but two licenses.

That wasn’t the issue.

The real issue was…

“Heave-ho!”

She adjusted her seat.

Trying to push the clutch down with her stubby little transformed legs.

Her sock-wrapped foot was stretched taut—

And still couldn’t reach.

“…Let me just move the seat forward.”

She awkwardly cranked the seat until her face nearly mashed against the wheel.

“Such a… unique guardian.”

Zhou Xi chuckled softly.

Then froze as she caught her reflection in the car window.

She looked… relaxed.

Despite being in a strange place, she looked genuinely at peace.

Just looking at Luo You’s back made her feel like spring rain washing away fatigue.

“Strange…”

Zhou Xi stared intently at that familiar silhouette,

Trying to overlay it with someone from her memories.

Height, build—they were similar.

But no matter how hard she tried, it didn’t line up.

Was she just projecting Elera onto Luo You?

Yes, Luo You was beautiful—almost dangerously alluring—

But thinking of her that way was way too rude.

[…She’s watching me.]

From the driver’s seat, Luo You noticed Zhou Xi’s glances in the rearview mirror.

Fortunately, Zhou Xi didn’t seem to have recognized her.

It was curiosity, not suspicion.

Still—risky.

Had she known Zhou Xi would be tagging along,

she would’ve just finished the job yesterday.

Make Zhou Xi too sore to move and avoid this whole identity crisis.

Arrival

“Here we are!”

Zining hopped out of the car with uncharacteristic enthusiasm,

grabbing the luggage before anyone could react.

That… puzzled Luo You.

Usually, she was the one doing all the heavy lifting.

Since when did this brat suddenly become helpful?

She glanced at Zhou Xi.

Ah. That’s it.

Zining was showing off for the senior magical girl.

Trying to leave a good impression.

Tsk. So young… already starting to play politics.

Was this the result of moral decline? Social rot?

Even the Magic Alliance wasn’t safe from these filthy trends?

Luo You’s thoughts:

“Foolish girl!

Impressing a superior means buttering up them,

not acting out in front of them!

Ugh. Let your wise father pave your career path for you!”

With that, Luo You zipped to the other side of the car,

grabbing Zhou Xi’s hand with exaggerated warmth.

“Come, Miss Zhou Xi.

You must be tired from… last night.

I’m so sorry we had to cram you into this tiny little car.”

Zhou Xi’s expression snapped.

She clutched Luo You’s wrist tightly.

“How… do you know what happened to me?”

“Ah, I could just tell~”

Luo You smiled innocently.

“The way you walk… can’t quite close your legs.

But your cheeks are rosy.

A girl only looks like that when she’s been absolutely… ravaged.”

“…!” Zhou Xi’s face was a storm of expressions.

She wasn’t wrong—but how could she say that out loud?!

Was she trying to skin her pride bare?!

Luo You winked cheekily.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep your secret.

Oh, and please take care of our Zining, would you?

She’s such a mischievous child.”

“You—”

Zhou Xi almost said “Are you threatening me?”

But stopped herself.

She really didn’t want to think poorly of Luo You.

Magical girl families were usually decent people.

She’s just… eccentric. That’s all!

She forced a smile.

“Zining is diligent.

As her senior, I’ll do my best to help.”

“Many thanks!

Don’t worry—this conversation will stay between… two people.”

Zhou Xi blinked.

“Didn’t you mean three?”

“Oops! Silly me! Of course—only you and me and Zining know.”

“Hahaha… You’re really something, Miss Yuyu…”

Internally, Zhou Xi was screaming.

Even if I were a corrupt official—who could survive that kind of cross-examination?!

With a guardian like that, what kind of chaos is Zining hiding herself…?

“Senior Zhou Xi! I got our room keys!”

Zining sprinted over with visible panic.

She was terrified her adorable dad had let something slip.

Zhou Xi was assigned Room 312.

Zining opened 313 next door.

Then—

“Where’s my key?” Luo You held out her hand.

“This room.”

“And yours?”

“Also this one.”

“…We’re sharing?”

“Any problem?”

“Eh, not really.”

Luo You had assumed Zining would want some privacy,

Especially after she caught her playing a BL game mid-ritual a few nights ago.

Hotels weren’t nearly as private as home.

There were… things one might not want to be seen.

“Dad, what exactly did you say to Zhou Xi just now?”

Luo You paused.

She knew kids hated parents meddling in work matters.

So the answer was obvious.

“Oh, nothing. Just some casual chitchat.”

“Chitchat!?”

Zining flinched.

She grabbed her dad’s shoulders.

“You didn’t say anything… weird, right?”

“Nope! She’s a real sweetheart.

Even said she’s gonna look after you from now on!”

Luo You grinned with hands on her hips.

Feel that overflowing fatherly love, kid?