Before long, the four remaining A-rank monsters in the stadium met their swift end, either beaten into a pulpy mess by Magical Girl Grey Moon or dispatched to oblivion as mere dust. Captain 19, however, managed to escape thanks to his personal perception-shielding device. When the massive stadium sunshade finally retracted, revealing the clear blue sky, the thousands of hostages trapped within the stadium felt as if reborn, collapsing onto the grass or slumping into the spectator seats.
As they watched Magical Girl Grey Moon’s retreating figure, many shed tears of joy, celebrating their newfound freedom and overwhelmed with emotion.
“I’ll never slander Magical Girl Grey Moon again.”
“Exactly, this line of work is far too dangerous; I’ll never be a paid online agitator again.”
Among the survivors, some repented, while bolder individuals recorded the entire ordeal, uploading it online with the caption, ‘I’ll never slander Magical Girl Grey Moon again.’ Countless haters turned into fans, and similar comments ignited yet another surge of positive public opinion for Magical Girl Grey Moon online.
The familiar blue news helicopter also arrived, faithfully broadcasting the news of Magical Girl Grey Moon saving thousands, even tens of thousands, of lives.
But whatever the news reporter now broadcast, Magical Girl Grey Moon no longer cared.
She simply turned her head, gazing into the distance.
Banjao’s offensive against the office building, for which Magical Girl Tri-color was responsible, was also retreating; it seemed the entire setup had been a trap specifically for her.
The whirring of the helicopter blades was loud.
Magical Girl Grey Moon ascended, soaring above the clouds where even the helicopter could not follow.
Here, she finally took a breath.
She realized what truly mattered to her; the opinions of others seemed utterly insignificant. She then recalled the time she had spent with Zhou Huanan just two days prior.
Even Magical Girl Grey Moon’s typically stern expression softened, dissolving like ice.
Imagine the person you cherished cooking delectable meals for you, engaging in games with you, coordinating with the seamless understanding of close comrades, and rushing to your side, abandoning all else, whenever sorrow struck.
“Hehe~”
How wonderful.
Having endured a fierce battle, the poor, adorable girl, now scarred and weary, embraced the clouds in a secluded sky, a soft smile gracing her lips. Though clouds could not be held, her heart swelled with a quiet joy.
[‘I like Magical Girl Grey Moon the most.’]
Alas.
Magical Girl Grey Moon sighed in the sky, thinking of that wonderfully comfortable bed, those delicious, abundant meals, and the person who treated her with such tenderness.
Yet, the one she truly liked was not herself.
Such an experience, for Magical Girl Grey Moon, felt like a fleeting three-day trial of a divine artifact—beautiful and palpable, yet ultimately an illusion, like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in water, seen and felt but forever out of reach.
“If only…”
Magical Girl Grey Moon murmured in the sky:
“If only I truly were Magical Girl Grey Moon.”
****
“That wretched Magical Girl Grey Moon!!”
In a desolate alley, Captain 19 furiously kicked a trash can, a desperate attempt to vent his rage. The plan had failed, and he dreaded the unknown punishment that surely awaited him.
Having vented his frustration, he looked at the nearby phone booth, an entrance to the evil base. Though he loathed the thought, Captain 19 had no choice but to accept his fate and step inside.
Dialing 114514, he successfully entered the inner sanctum of the evil headquarters.
Was it unexpected or entirely predictable?
Dr. Zhuge, her high green ponytail swaying, awaited him at the entrance.
“This operation failed, and as the one in charge of the action, you bear half the responsibility.”
“However, given that you were not involved in the actual planning of the scheme,”
“the organization has decided on a lenient punishment: your captain’s rank will be revoked, and you will start over as a basic combatant.”
Dr. Zhuge held a tablet, her finger tapping on the screen as she read out Captain 19’s verdict.
“Do you have any objections?”
“…No.”
Captain 19 uttered the words, but his heart swelled with resentment. He had never wanted to provoke Magical Girl Grey Moon, that overpowered force, only to be forced to shoulder the blame for work thrust upon him.
“Sigh…” Captain 19’s complaint ultimately remained unspoken.
“Very good.”
Dr. Zhuge’s lips curved into a satisfied smile as she typed on her tablet, then hooked her chin towards Captain 19, motioning for him to follow.
Along the way, Captain 19 observed countless researchers, their hands bound in handcuffs, lining the corridors of the evil base. A disturbing premonition settled over him, and his anxiety prompted a question.
“Who are they?”
“Oh, them…”
Dr. Zhuge turned back to Captain 19, her smile chilling as she explained.
“They are the masterminds behind the ‘Magical Girl Grey Moon cyberbullying plan,’ what else could they be?”
“Because their major blunder led to Magical Girl Grey Moon entering her second stage, these individuals are to be executed shortly.”
“Wait, executed?”
Captain 19’s voice was tinged with panic and disbelief. He had been walking with the doctor down this corridor for what felt like an eternity, yet the line of handcuffed researchers stretched endlessly. Were all these people truly to be executed? It seemed as though every researcher in the entire base was here.
Captain 19 stared at Dr. Zhuge, a flicker of fear in his eyes, but she merely offered a cryptic smile, withholding any further explanation.
Now, Captain 19 worried he might soon face a secret firing squad, yet their destination was merely an ordinary equipment room.
Left alone with the doctor, Dr. Zhuge immediately turned and instructed Captain 19 to strip.
Of course, she meant strip of his equipment.
‘It finally came to this,’ Zhou Huanan thought, his shoulders slumping in resignation. He removed his mask, revealing a face etched with sorrow, then shed his red, high-grade combat suit and all other gear.
Finally, he unfastened the device that shielded his presence, handing it over to Dr. Zhuge with profound reluctance. Though he had initially been unwilling to accept it, this device had proven incredibly useful…
He had harbored intentions of using this very device to infiltrate the women’s bathhouse.
Zhou Huanan’s face was a picture of sadness.
Dr. Zhuge collected the equipment and stored it away. “That should be all. Now, go collect a standard combatant’s uniform.”
“Oh, and did I forget to mention?”
Before leaving the room, Dr. Zhuge patted Zhou Huanan’s shoulder, a knowing, sinister smile playing on her lips.
“Such a colossal blunder naturally implicates the base Commander, who will also face judgment.”
“Thus, the Commander’s position is currently vacant.”
“Well?”
Zhou Huanan felt the pressure on his shoulder intensify, and he nodded, indicating he understood the doctor’s meaning, swallowing the Commander’s grand, yet empty, promises.
“Excellent~”
The door opened and closed, and Dr. Zhuge departed.
“If they want me to be Commander, they shouldn’t demote me first,” Zhou Huanan grumbled, clutching the drab grey combat suit. Despising its color, he angrily shoved it into a cardboard box, then retrieved his school bag from that morning, slung it over his shoulder, and left the secret base.
When he emerged, the sky was ablaze with orange hues.
Zhou Huanan, carrying the cardboard box, walked along a tree-lined road, finding a stone stool beneath a tree by the roadside and sinking onto it, dejected.
“What was all this for?”
He gazed up at the distant, undulating skyline, silhouetted against the setting sun. His eyes flickered as he watched Magical Girl Grey Moon streak across the sky, a silvery-white comet. How wonderful, he mused, envy almost spilling from his eyes. He reached out to grasp Magical Girl Grey Moon, but her figure slipped through his fingers.
The rustling of leaves overhead finally drew his gaze away from the shimmering silver trail.
He sniffled mournfully, then pulled out his phone.
Zhou Huanan found Liu Li’s contact, a faint smile gracing his lips.
Alright, he decided, he would forget about the unattainable Magical Girl!
First, he would completely win over his wife!