A new day dawned, and Yu Wangxin rose earlier than usual, burdened with an additional responsibility: serving as his cousin’s nanny. In stark contrast to her own father, who treated Yu Wangxin as little more than a living automaton, practically demanding he manage every facet of his daughter’s life, Yu Jing proved remarkably more gentle. At the very least, she did not expect him to wash her undergarments, only requesting his assistance with her school uniform and preparing her lunch and dinner bento boxes. As for breakfast, Yu Jing seemed to prefer the street-side pancakes and steamed buns, though, given her prodigious appetite, anything less than sixty yuan worth would barely scratch the surface of her hunger.
“It’s called the [St. Franmaria Private Girls’ Academy], isn’t it? It sounds like some strange, stitched-together name, yet the uniform is surprisingly beautiful,” Ah Xin murmured, his hands busy washing as he carefully examined its design. Fashioned from what appeared to be a special synthetic fiber, its outer surface felt silken and smooth, while the inner lining was soft and comfortable against the skin, offering both warmth and sweat-wicking properties. The harmonious interplay of red and white created a sleek, crisp aesthetic, imbued with an undeniable elegance. A delicate layer of gold-edged embroidery adorned the white collar, cuffs, and hem, lending it an air of considerable luxury.
Such a garment surely commanded a hefty price, which explained the specific instruction for hand-washing. Pondering this, Ah Xin realized that to enroll their daughter in an elite girls’ academy and employ a nanny, tutor, and chef for over a decade, Yu Jing’s parents must, at the very least, be minor entrepreneurs, even without knowing their exact professions.
“Ah… what would it be like if I had a daughter in the future?” he mused. Even if a man didn’t actively seek a partner, reaching a certain age often prompted him to idly contemplate family life. The thought of a daughter instantly brought Magical Girl Xiaoxin to Ah Xin’s mind—his transformed self. Compared to his first transformation a decade ago, her body had matured considerably; while her height might not have increased by even twenty centimeters, her chest had developed to a modest C-cup, making her somewhat resemble a middle school girl, though few middle schoolers could boast such a figure. One shouldn’t question his intimate knowledge; after all, if one had been a magical girl for ten years, they too would pay close attention to the development of their alternate body.
With both burners on the stove ablaze, one pot simmered while the other held a stir-fry, the dishes leaning heavily towards meat over vegetables. The rich, savory aroma wafted through the air, stirring a ravenous appetite even in Ah Xin, who typically ate only a minuscule breakfast. Boiled items generally demanded more time, while bento boxes primarily contained stir-fries or braised dishes. Once these were quickly prepared and packed, Ah Xin began mentally calculating the timings. Simultaneously, he used the dryer borrowed from the elderly woman next door to dry Yu Jing’s school uniform.
He had to be swift; even with an hour and a half head start, it seemed insufficient. His knife-work was a blur: potatoes peeled in four seconds, carrots diced in five. Though it had been ages since he last cleaned a whole grass carp, his hands moved with practiced ease, completing the task in under eight minutes. He could have processed the fish earlier, but fearing its strong odor would cling to the clothes, he deferred the task. The entrails and abdominal lining were meticulously removed, leaving a potent fishy smell that, while somewhat unpleasant, was tolerable. He could have purchased pre-cleaned fish, but the convenience came at a significantly higher price and a compromise in freshness. Moreover, the unwanted fish head could be used to make soup. He mused that land animals like chicken, duck, lamb, and pork were never sold whole at the market, yet they were cheaper and far easier to prepare and cook than seafood. This spared him the current messy ordeal of freshly slaughtering a grass carp and ending up reeking of fish. The fish bones, naturally, had to be removed. Given Yu Jing’s habit of chewing twice and swallowing whole, he genuinely feared she might choke.
Once everything was prepared, Ah Xin first watered his beloved orange tree. Then, with a bag containing the school uniform in one hand and a special bento box carrier—fashioned from ten stacked bento boxes—in the other, he hurried out the door, making his way toward Yu Jing’s home.
“Yu Jing’s cousin—Yu Wangxin, correct? You may enter,” the guard stated, glancing at Ah Xin before taking a sip of tea and waving him through. Both on the way there and within the complex, many eyes followed him. The bento box carrier was so substantial that one might mistake him for someone installing an ancient air conditioner from decades past. Observing the robots within the community, Ah Xin couldn’t help but grumble inwardly about why his cousin’s father hadn’t simply purchased a nanny robot. Such a robot could cook and do laundry, possibly even more efficiently than he could. Online, they cost only 1.2 million yuan each, lasted a good long while, and could even help clean the rooms—a truly practical investment.
‘But hiring a grudging soul like me only costs twelve thousand? Thinking that way, it seems even more cost-effective.’
After the events of last night, he felt too awkward to refuse Yu Jing. It seemed his days would only grow more arduous, yet fortunately, his cousin wasn’t temperamental or ostentatious. As long as he cooked well and provided ample portions of meat and fish, even without expensive ingredients, she would likely be satisfied. Considering this, twelve thousand yuan didn’t seem like such a bad deal after all. By carefully planning his expenses and purchasing ingredients, he reckoned he could even save a little.
[Ding-dong~] He pressed the doorbell. Unlike his own apartment, which still relied on a metal key, Yu Jing’s automatic door opened via fingerprint and iris recognition, or a simple swipe card.
“Ah, just a moment.” A voice, muffled by steam and accompanied by the sound of a shower, indicated she was bathing.
“How I envy her…” Ah Xin muttered to himself as he waited. He had almost always taken cold showers, or mixed boiling water with cold to sponge himself clean. Gas and natural gas represented significant expenses; even solar energy had to be factored into his calculations. Now, Ah Xin deeply envied Yu Jing’s life as a beautiful student, where she lacked for nothing, was served meals, and could bathe whenever the whim struck her.
[Shhh… patter-patter] The sounds drew closer, and as the door swung open, a scene rarely witnessed in reality unfolded before him. Her long brown hair, not yet coiled, slowly dripped water. A flimsy bath towel failed to conceal her plump, graceful figure, her breasts adorned with a few water droplets, and her smooth, shapely thighs exposed. Her face flushed with a hint of shyness, she had hurried to open the door.
“There’s no need to rush,” Ah Xin said calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips. Such a sight might cause a normal man’s heart to pound, but as a “tough” man who had seen his own female transformed body dozens of times, he naturally remained unfazed… especially since it was his cousin.
“Well, I didn’t want to keep Ah Xin-ge waiting too long, hehe~ Why don’t you come in and sit for a bit, cousin? I’ll just dry my hair, and I’ll be ready in no time.”
“No need, I have to catch a bus. But with all this food… how will you take it to school?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ve already booked a taxi, and there’s plenty of space to put things at school.”
“I see. That puts my mind at ease then. I won’t disturb you further; I’m off to work.”
“Mm, be careful on your way, cousin,” the girl said, smiling as she bid him farewell.
Heh, he suddenly felt a youthful surge, not to mention the delightful scent of shampoo that clung to Yu Jing. Even when he tutored her, the air freshener in her room always had a wonderfully soothing fragrance. Given the chance, he genuinely wished to borrow some for himself.
****
This time, there was no leisure for a grilled sausage or a stroll in the park; he made a direct dash for the bus station. He checked the time, calculating his arrival at the company. He let out a sigh of relief, having made it without being late. Though he was but an insignificant presence in the company, every deduction from his meager salary made his already difficult life that much harder.
“Sigh, if she takes a taxi to school, one trip alone must be fifty yuan, right? No, it should be more than that…” He had never been there himself. If he owned a car, he could probably look up the route via its networked system, but at a time when he could barely afford clothes, a car? Ha, that was a pipe dream.
Soon, the bus arrived, filled with a mix of unfamiliar yet familiar faces. Among the salarymen in suits and elderly folk in casual wear, several elementary school students huddled together on the seats, secretly sharing paper magazines or comics.
[A Brand New Female Cosmic Ultraman Appears! A Mysterious Being!]
Such large, eye-catching titles, coupled with whimsical fonts and illustrations, easily captivated children’s hearts, especially when paired with colorful mazes and puzzles. Just as they had done with Magical Girl Xiaoxin, they were now illicitly using Yu Jing’s transformed image for the magazine’s content.
Elderly folks, bored, would also pore over newspapers. Last night’s incident was undeniably major news, particularly the emergence of a female Cosmic Ultraman—a significant draw. In the current hero industry, women were already a rarity, and even with the presence of magical girls, most found it incredibly difficult to survive in the profession, not to mention the “mole” like himself. Just as one might observe in chaotic “electronic cricket fighting” works, magical girls typically served as eye candy, often depicted as naive, suffering setbacks, and learning the harsh realities of the world. Their combat prowess was generally weak compared to other systems, leading most to gravitate towards the entertainment industry or simply “loafing” among the populace.
In the past, there seemed to have been agencies dedicated to serving magical girls, but they had since collapsed. Once one became a magical girl, they were essentially on their own; even sidekicks had been abolished. They could only search for guides online or find part-time work with a relatively reliable hero company. He seemed to be getting off-topic, but the newspaper headline caught his eye: [Nationwide Search for New Cosmic Ultraman’s Identity! Reward: 500,000!!] While this sum amounted to only three months’ salary for many city residents, for Ah Xin, it was nothing short of a windfall.
He could, perhaps, betray his cousin. Yet, remembering the price of his momentary greed last night, he hung from the bus handle like a salted fish, resting on his arm, silently weeping inside.
‘I can’t make another mistake! It goes against my conscience! Still… I’m really hungry.’
“As expected, the new Cosmic Ultraman is amazing! Even if she is a girl.”
“Isn’t it even better that she’s a girl? That figure is just~ *ooh-hee-hee*~” A child, seemingly no older than ten, began to leer at Yu Jing’s transformed image, giggling lewdly.
“Stop being a pervert! Speaking of which, wasn’t there that thing with Magical Girl Xiaoxin a few days ago? She was super awesome! She defeated a Dark Warrior that even a Level 5 Belt couldn’t beat, all by herself!”
“Heh, wasn’t it said that she only got the chance to turn the tables and succeed because other heroes helped her? Someone else certainly deserves some credit.”
“Ugh… it seems there aren’t many magical girls left who can fight anymore.”
“Isn’t Miss Yuhua one of them? She’s the second strongest magical girl in Sea City! And she ranks eighth among heroes. That’s incredibly impressive!”
“So Huoli counts too, right?”
“As for her… she’s mainly strong because of the Level 5 Belt’s enhancement, and two SR plugins!”
Listening to the children’s chatter, Ah Xin found it rather amusing, even though he couldn’t interject. Then, a soft “Tch” suddenly sounded by his ear. Turning his head, he saw a girl whose face was obscured by a hood, sunglasses, and a mask. Though she was looking down at a magazine, her displeasure was palpable. Based on his years of experience, she was likely an entertainer in disguise, and quite young at that.
[Beep, student card]
“Stop, stop, stop! Uncle, what the hell are you doing using a student card at your age?” At the entrance, the driver seemed to be arguing with a passenger preparing to board.
“Ac… actually, I’m only sixteen.”
“Bullshit! With that bald head and that bushy beard, you’re clearly at least a twenty-five-year-old programmer!”
‘Just how much resentment did he harbor against programmers?!’
Ah Xin inwardly scoffed, while the passenger, growing increasingly indignant, lashed out with a fist, smashing the card reader.
“GUAAAH!!!”
A furious roar declared his rage! The man’s veins immediately bulged, and his body rapidly expanded, shedding its human disguise. His anger, at this moment, could no longer be contained!
“PROGRAMMER!? You dare call me a programmer!?”
He transformed! It was the [Petty Monster Who Couldn’t Hold It Together, who, trying to save money by secretly using a student card on the bus, was already thirty and unmarried, abandoned by his parents to become a shut-in otaku, then his favorite idol got married, and his beloved VTuber was about to graduate]. What an outlandish name, yet it generally described a monster that possessed human negative emotions, inducing transformation, a being whose consciousness was usurped by monstrous, evil thoughts.
“A man can endure grievances! But you cannot insult me by calling me a programmer!”
‘No! What did programmers ever do wrong?!’
As Ah Xin silently grumbled, the monster roared, delivering a punch squarely to the driver’s face. With a resounding [Bang], the driver was sent crashing into the window, his nose gushing blood, his eyes rolling back as he fell unconscious.
“YAAAAAHHHHHH!!!” Terrified, the passengers began to scream. The attack on the street was quickly witnessed by numerous passersby, and soon, sirens blared.
“Ugh… *gulp*, damn it! Who among you has a driver’s license? Step forward!” Feeling panicked, the mere bandit-level monster, incapable of fending off several police officers, threatened the passengers, his fingernails elongating into blade-like talons under the light. Honestly, at such a moment, to still be looking for someone with a driver’s license to help, the monster was surprisingly law-abiding in peculiar ways. However, everyone on the bus shook their heads; no one wished to become an accomplice to the monster, nor did they want to approach it, or end up like the driver, beaten and disfigured with a bloody nose.
“You! Get over here!”
Ah Xin glanced around, wondering if he was being singled out.
“What are you looking at, loser! I’m talking to you!” In two strides, the monster seized Ah Xin’s ear and dragged him toward the driver’s seat.
“Ow! Stop, stop, stop! Let’s talk this out!”
“Less talk! Drive the car!”
“Why me? No… surely there are others among so many people who can drive.”
“I just know you look like you can drive! Shut up! Otherwise, you’ll end up like this driver who called me a programmer—a disfigured, pig-headed, bruised mess, a twin to him!”
The monster’s judgment was, indeed, correct. Ah Xin did possess a driver’s license, having obtained it effortlessly during university. However, he had never owned a car, and while he once imagined using his driving skills on a cool hero vehicle, his “first time” was unexpectedly dedicated to this antiquated public bus.
The bus started. With a dagger-like nail pressing against Ah Xin’s neck, he had no choice but to accelerate. Soon, police sirens echoed all around them. He pushed the bus to seventy kilometers per hour, constantly overtaking other vehicles, while the police cars relentlessly pursued them.
“Take that lane! Turn there, now!”
“Yes!” Ah Xin sharply turned the steering wheel, daring not to delay. Without any safety measures, a monster’s attack could easily cost him his life. Despite his transformed self being capable of easily defeating Gast, who far surpassed death-row level strength, he was now being forced to drive wildly, a bandit-level monster’s sharp claws pressed against his vital points.
“Left turn! Left turn! Right turn! Left turn! Straight! Right turn! Straight! Left turn! Right turn! Right turn!”
They sped through over a dozen intersections, as if executing a combo move, constantly forced into emergency turns. It seemed the monster intended to get onto the highway, but the repeated sharp turns were also meant to shake off the police. Fortunately, Ah Xin’s skills hadn’t dulled; he managed several drift turns and two-wheel slides, weaving between cars. Otherwise, he would have crashed into oncoming vehicles countless times.
“Heh, you’re pretty good, kid.” He disliked being praised by the monster, but it at least proved his driving skills were keeping him alive. As for shaking off the police? That was easier said than done. Professionally trained officers would only drive more steadily and faster. However, with an entire bus full of hostages, they could only pursue without intervening.
“This is the Sea City Police Department! Stop the vehicle immediately! Your location has been locked! Special police forces will arrive shortly; you cannot escape! I repeat, stop the vehicle immediately!”
“Don’t stop!” The monster’s sharp claws pressed into Ah Xin’s soft waist.
“Y-yes…”
“Driver! Please do not offer futile resistance! Think of your parents! Think of your family! Think of everyone who loves and cares for you! Do not persist in helping the monster! Please stop and accept judgment!”
‘Family and those who love me, huh…’
Ah Xin thought of his parents. Besides their strong competitive streak as traditional conservatives, their personalities were akin to those in a satirical Western family comedy cartoon. Not only were their acting skills superb, but they seemed happier to see Ah Xin suffer misfortune than to win the lottery themselves. He had never possessed much wealth in his life, and love and affection felt more like abstract concepts than actual people… Regardless, when thoughts turned to those who cared for him, Ah Xin’s mind went utterly blank.
‘Of course, being isolated, bullied, exploited, none of that matters. After all… that’s not the point at all!’
“No, I’m just a law-abiding citizen being threatened into driving! How did I suddenly become an accomplice?!”
“Ah, honestly, with all those sharp turns and drifts, and observing the bullet trajectories in the rearview mirror to control the bus’s position and speed to dodge shots aimed at the tires… you’re working so hard and seriously, I honestly thought you were my accomplice.”
“I just don’t want to die! Your knife is at my throat! And you! Can’t you tell me where and when to turn in advance?!”
“Quick! Right turn!”
“Ugh! That was close!” Almost frantically pushing the bus’s performance to its limits, he drifted through another turn. Restricted by the vehicle’s weight, he wasn’t sure how many times he’d nearly overturned, drifting at a sharp 45-degree angle. This old bus was being driven with cinematic acrobatic flair.
Everyone inside the bus was thrown about, swaying from side to side. Being subjected to such a bumpy ride so early in the morning was torture, and some passengers, nauseated, simply vomited. Police cars multiplied, and helicopters circled overhead. The monster, sensing the gravity of the situation, grew increasingly agitated.
“Can’t you drive any faster?! You’re taking forever, and we still haven’t shaken off the police! Do you want to die?!”
“I want to, but… but this is as fast as the bus goes!” Driving the bus with trepidation and intense focus, he felt like a beast of burden, yet utterly unable to resist.
“Can’t it go up to 180?! Floor it!”
“It’ll stall! What if I lose control?” Ah Xin suppressed his anger. He hadn’t been happy lately, and being inexplicably dragged into being the monster’s driver, recklessly speeding under its haphazard commands, he could no longer tolerate it. He retaliated, reprimanding, “And you, why don’t you do something?! All you do is hold your claw to my throat and give blind orders! Aren’t you a monster? Use your special abilities to shoot something and interfere! You’re not doing anything to obstruct them, yet you won’t let others act either! That’s just not fair!”
“You… you mere bus driver dare to lecture me?! Only my beloved [Melrul] and [That Person] have the right to lecture me!” Losing his temper again, the monster, a creature driven by momentary gratification, unleashed its full power once more, directly grabbing Ah Xin’s head. The intense squeezing sensation made Ah Xin realize he could be crushed to death at any moment.
“Hey! Wait! Let’s talk this out! If you grab my head like this, I won’t be able to see the road ahead!” He still peered through the monster’s fingers at the road, gripping the steering wheel tightly. There were still many vehicles in the area, and if he crashed, even if he survived, he’d be buried in debt.
“Talk my ass off! You useless bus driver who can’t outrun police and still dares to talk back! Prepare to go to hell! Eat this!!!”
“Guh! My life is over!” Unable to escape or dodge, and with no time to transform, Ah Xin resigned himself to his fate.
‘Sigh, if this idiot kills me, how will he escape? He probably won’t even find a second driver before he’s apprehended.’
‘But instead of worrying about the monster, what about the passengers? The bus might lose control, and while the police have advanced interception equipment, I don’t know if they’ll make it in time. That uncle earlier seemed to have thrown up quite a bit; he’ll probably be relieved.’
Facing death, yet only at the very end did he begin to consider himself. It was strange; whether it was the Gast incident or facing a giant monster, Ah Xin felt pressure, but never genuine fear. With no time to conjure his key and transform, he at least had time to hit the brakes. Thinking he could do something for others in his final moments, he stomped on the pedal. With the recoil of the emergency brake, a burst of black blood shot out.
‘Ha, I never thought my evil deeds (referring to being petty) would even turn my blood black.’
‘No! What am I thinking?! This isn’t my blood! This is…’
…The monster’s blood!
“YAAAH!!!!” With a scream, the hand that had gripped Ah Xin’s head loosened, trailing a severed arm, and black blood gushed out.
Saved, Ah Xin looked to his side. One was the enraged monster, eyes wide, staring at its severed arm, while the other was a familiar figure. Miss Huoli, wielding her fiery blade, her crimson hair flowing majestically, looked just as formidable as when he last saw her.
“Don’t brake suddenly! Otherwise, I could have just blown this monster’s head off, couldn’t I!”
“Heh~ That would have been great, indeed. If it weren’t for this sudden brake, perhaps my head would have exploded too~” Ah Xin responded with a relaxed smile, despite the somewhat impolite remark.
“Arghhhhhh!! My hand… my King’s power!!!” Playing on a long-forgotten meme, the monster howled in agony, and everyone in the bus covered their ears. A scowling face of anger, a wailing face of sorrow, and a relaxed smiling face—what should have been a tense hijacking now held a touch of cheerful absurdity.