You are such a daughter!

After the confession, faint red marks linger on Luo You’s cheeks from the crushing.

If her mask were removed, her eyes would gleam like a cat high on catnip, reflecting a vast cosmos.

“Now it’s your turn to fulfill the confession’s reward.”

“?!”

Luo You snaps back to reality.

The Manjusaka before her still radiates sanctity, as if she’s merely a holy sister guiding a lost lamb, devoid of any sinful intent.

[Hmph, so high and mighty? The holier you are, the more I want you!]

Luo You silently vows to conquer Manjusaka’s heart, to make this saintly sister willingly submit in bed, accepting her confession before ruthlessly crushing her.

“Ahem, Sister, what do you want to know? Go ahead.”

“About Feiyu—what’s your relationship with her? And the origin of that little thing following you at the Sea of Realms Pass.”

“You’re asking a lot, huh.” Luo You ponders briefly before saying, “Let’s skip the last question for now. Why do you assume I know Feiyu?”

“Rumors say you two are rather close.”

“Hmph, we know each other, sure, but close? Think what you want.”

Luo You adds, “Honestly, you Magical Alliance folks should know more about Feiyu than I do. Why go out of your way to ask me?”

“Not true.”

Manjusaka’s gaze dips slightly. “I couldn’t find a trace of Feiyu—no records, nothing. Almost all the magical girls from her era are gone. I only got bits and pieces from Xingyu.”

“Oh… even the Top Ten don’t know?”

Luo You hadn’t expected Feiyu’s information to be sealed so tightly.

If even the Top Ten lack access, it can’t just be because Feiyu was once tainted by Plunder-Light blood.

Something else must have happened back then.

“I’ll be direct. I’m here investigating a magical leak, and Feiyu might be connected.”

“She’s been dead for nearly eight years. What could she have to do with it?”

“It’s not her—it’s the people around her!”

Manjusaka’s lowered gaze snaps up, locking onto Luo You.

“You may not know, but in that era without the Top Ten, every powerful magical girl had a mentor guiding their magic and path. I’m asking you, with your unusual connection to Feiyu, do you know who her mentor was?”

Mentors weren’t human back then. Unlike today, where retired magical girls mentor the next generation in the Magical Alliance, in Feiyu’s era, mentors were magical creatures from Sidheim, the Alliance’s headquarters.

Luo You racks her brain.

She doesn’t recall any magical creature by Feiyu’s side.

But she remembers Feiyu mentioning her mentor once.

It was a dreadfully boring creature—not in personality, but because it was absurdly idle, so bored it meddled in trivial matters for amusement.

Luo You had brushed it off as Feiyu venting and didn’t think much of it.

Now, she wonders just how idle that mentor was to earn such a description from Feiyu.

“I never saw it, but I have a clue.”

Manjusaka listens intently. “So, that mentor was…”

“A nutcase?”

Manjusaka pauses, considering, then moves past the question.

“What about the identity of that little thing following you at the Sea of Realms Pass? Can you share?”

“That has nothing to do with your magical leak investigation, does it?” Luo You counters.

“Xue was entrusted to me by Letia at Jiuming Sea. She’s a fragment of that Plunder-Light dimensional beast from four years ago. She can’t possibly be linked to Wangchuan.”

Manjusaka says earnestly, “I did your confession, didn’t I?”

“Too bad it wasn’t a real ‘doing,’” Luo You sighs inwardly.

“She’s my subordinate, from the Sea of Realms. That’s all I’ll say.”

“She can absorb the Giant Spirit of the Far Sea’s essence so easily just because she’s from the Sea of Realms?” Manjusaka questions skeptically.

“Oh, you mean that Plunder-Light beast? So it has an official name.”

Luo You, of course, won’t reveal that Xue is a Plunder-Light beast. Admitting that would bring the Magical Alliance’s wrath down on her. No one would tolerate a Plunder-Light beast roaming freely in the human world.

“She’s been modified by me, that’s all.”

“Divinity Particles, huh…”

Manjusaka knows she’s not telling the full story, only scraps. Xue’s origins, if revealed, would cause an uproar.

“A word of caution: don’t let her catch the wrong attention. They may not dare touch you, but they’ll go after those around you. We don’t want to clean up your mess.”

“Let them try. I’m not afraid.”

Luo You flashes a confident smile.

All these threats stem from a lack of deterrence. If someone dares to make a move, she’s happy to slaughter a hundred or a thousand to cow all factions.

Wiping out the UN’s Sea of Realms Special Operations Division was just a warm-up, not enough to fully intimidate the world after her seven-year absence.

Killing Wangchuan at the Sea of Realms Pass was her reintroducing herself to the world.

But it’s still not enough—Top Ten could do that too.

She needs to do something only she can, something no one else could, to truly terrify every monster and demon worldwide.

Such an opportunity is rare, but for now, Luo You’s goal is…

“Hey, Sister, wanna go somewhere else for another confession?”

Just pleasantries.

As she speaks, the Three Lives, Ten Directions aura spreads from her feet, enveloping Manjusaka.

Luo You is utterly smitten with Manjusaka. Letting her go now means who knows when she’ll leave Sidheim next.

Miss this chance, and karma will bite!

But—

“Regretfully, I have other matters and can’t stay.”

Manjusaka gives a slight bow, exuding the grace of a noble lady.

She seems utterly unafraid.

“You think Xingyu’s coming to save you?”

“No need for Xingyu. I can handle this myself.”

“…Oh, those two clones!”

Luo You suddenly gets it.

The moment she says it, the Manjusaka within her Three Lives, Ten Directions collapses like a boneless doll, limbs and head drooping lifelessly.

“It’s a substitute.”

“Elera, we’ll work together again. I hope it’ll be pleasant next time.”

“Hmph, I won’t let you slip away next time, Manjusaka…”

Luo You mutters, unwilling to let go.

Boom!

As if someone ascended to immortality, golden light rains down, as if transporting the area to another realm.

In that moment, the scene holds all the world’s wonders.

When the light fades, Manjusaka’s trace is completely gone.

“Guh, I’ll give you a perfect score, Sister… Manjusaka, Second Seat of the Magical Alliance, you’ve got some skills.” Luo You raises an eyebrow.

“That wasn’t just a smokescreen or sleight of hand—those low-level tricks couldn’t fool my Crimson Authority.”

That simple maneuver held techniques so exquisite no magical girl could replicate them.

“Even Xingyu couldn’t pull that off.”

“Nor Feiyu.”

“If Wangchuan had wielded magic with Manjusaka’s finesse that day, it would’ve been a real challenge.”

Next time, she’ll use the Spirit-Coral of Null to decisively cut off all of Manjusaka’s escape routes.

“No matter how deftly Manjusaka wields magic, without it, she’s just a female saint.”

“I’m back.”

Luo You returns home to find her daughter sprawled lazily on the sofa, deliberately posing to highlight certain… changes in her body.

She glances at Luo Zining and immediately looks away.

Right now, she just wants to video-call Liyun to tease her and make up for missing Manjusaka, then take a quick bath to handle some physical needs. In a couple of days, she’ll take Little Aunt and Liyun to shoot that film.

But—

“Hm?”

Luo You whips her head back, eyes wide with a new-world-discovery expression.

Is her daughter… developing?

Those shapely legs, the budding curves of her chest, the dreamy allure of her face—all scream transformation.

“Demon! Who are you? What’s your motive, impersonating my daughter?”

“Huh…? It’s me, Dad.”

Luo Zining glances up, her voice now carrying a newfound charm.

Seeing Luo You’s duck-egg-sized eyes, she smirks, feigning ignorance of her own changes and striking an even more flaunting pose.

When Luo You spots the uncontrollable grin on her daughter’s face, she knows it’s intentional.

She’s showing off her changes.

Luo You gets it.

[She’s probably started fusing with Divinity Particles… at this rate, just a small portion, right?]

If she’s reacting this strongly, this rebellious daughter will surely flaunt it endlessly.

Luo You pretends not to notice, heads to her room, pulls out some long-unused gym equipment, and starts working out.

First, 50-pound dumbbells, 30 reps, five sets.

She knows in less than a minute, the eager show-off in the living room will come charging in.

But reality moves faster than expected.

The next second—

The door swings open, and Luo Zining shuffles in, wearing slippers.

“Dad, you’re working out?”

She saunters over with a cat-like grace, deliberately leaning forward to flash a glimpse of what’s under her tank top.

“Hey, how’s the dad who turned into a little girl suddenly hitting the gym? Didn’t you give up on that~?”

“Cut the chatter, I’m exercising.” Luo You doesn’t spare her a glance.

“Then I’ll join you!”

Luo Zining drags two barbells from under the bed, deliberately positioning herself right in front of Luo You, working out face-to-face.

Her blatant display almost breaks Luo You’s composure.

Thankfully, Luo You’s willpower is exceptional. Pretending nothing’s amiss, she asks, “Zining, those are 30-pounders. Can you handle them?”

“No problem, no problem! But you gotta correct my form, Dad.”

“Correct what? Just mimic my movements.”

“But I’m worried I’ll miss some detail and pull a muscle!”

“It’s fine. A monkey could learn this move.”

Luo Zining fumes, itching to hurl the 30-pound dumbbell at this old fogey’s head and knock her height down a notch.

Can’t you just look at me?!

Suddenly, she stares at Luo You’s face. “Dad, why are there two red marks on your cheeks?”

“What!?”

Luo You panics.

Oh no, the crush marks haven’t faded!

It’s been half an hour since the crushing, and the marks are still there—imagine how brutal that ordeal was. A normal person would’ve died!

“Dad, did someone slap you!?” Luo Zining’s face darkens with fury.

“Slap? What marks? You’re imagining things.”

“But they’re clearly there!”

“Uh… probably from dozing off and leaning on gym equipment.”

“Dad, if someone’s bullying you at the gym, you can’t just take it!”

“Damn, this rebellious girl’s imagination is running wild again!”

Luo You’s face darkens. If this keeps up, she’ll be grilled about seducing some rich lady, won’t she?

Thinking fast, she looks up, feigning surprise. “Zining… have you changed a bit?”

“Huh? Changed how?”

Luo Zining instantly forgets the red marks, her lips curling into an unstoppable grin.

She spins like a model. “I don’t feel any different~”

“Must be my mistake.”

That’s it, conversation over.

Luo You grabs her barbell, resumes exercising, clearing her mind of distractions.

“…Dad, my chest’s been feeling tight lately. Can you buy me some new bras?”

“Didn’t your aunt buy you a bunch a few days ago? Already outgrown them?”

First set done, starting the second.

“But it’s just been tight these past couple of days! Do you think I’m hitting a second growth spurt?”

She’s practically spelling it out.

Luo You keeps her head down. “That’s just your imagination. Besides, how do you know it’s a second growth spurt? (Lifting barbell)”

“I swear I noticed it while lifting!”

“Damn this old fogey, pretending not to see!”

Luo Zining’s brows furrow, her barbell ready to smash this geezer’s head with an earth-shattering blow.