The Master of Balance

After trying on clothes at several stores in a row, Kirishima Shiro and Hoshino Sakio discovered that Florna was basically a universal clothes rack.

She could pull off any style.

Meanwhile, Florna felt like her soul was about to float away.

Although this was far more proper than the goddess’s awkward dress-up sessions, after visiting so many shops, the level of exhaustion was no lower than listening to believers pour out their troubles.

If this kept up, she was going to develop wardrobe PTSD.

“Want a lollipop to recover a bit?”

Just as Florna stared blankly at the pile of clothes, a lollipop appeared in front of her.

Then, she saw a familiar face.

“Thanks.”

Taking the lollipop, Florna naturally popped it into her mouth.

As the sweetness spread across her tongue, she squinted her eyes in comfort.

She felt alive again.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing Suzuki Kei’s stunned expression, Florna asked in confusion.

“Nothing, I just remembered that when we first met, you were pretty guarded.”

Suzuki Kei shook her head.

“I just don’t like being treated like a kid.”

Florna turned her head aside, neatly dodging Suzuki Kei’s attempt to pat it.

“I see—my occupational habits acting up again.”

After being a teacher for so long, seeing any young person made her want to take care of them like a student.

Retracting her hand, Suzuki Kei looked toward the two who were still shopping with boundless enthusiasm and sighed.

“Young people really do have great stamina.

Unlike me—I’m exhausted after just a few rounds.”

“Are you shopping too?”

“No, I’m looking for someone.”

“Looking for someone?”

“Recently, one of my students became so obsessed with magical girls that it started affecting his grades.

After a big argument with his family, he actually ran away from home.”

As she spoke, Suzuki Kei irritably scratched her head.

If it had drawn this much of her attention, it was clearly a student from Tianqing High School.

But obsessed with magical girls?

Florna lifted her gaze toward Shiro.

Just as her eyes landed there, Kirishima Shiro happened to look back and even waved at her.

After waving back, Florna turned and asked, “Did you contact the local security forces?”

“You mean the police,” Suzuki Kei said with a helpless tug at the corner of her mouth.

“I already did, but there’s no news so far.

They checked the surveillance too—this area was the last place he appeared.”

By all logic, it shouldn’t have been that hard to find him.

Yet no matter how much they searched, there was no trace.

Suzuki Kei was even starting to suspect he’d been taken by monsters.

“By the way, since you can see curses, do you have any way to find people?” she asked, remembering Florna’s identity as someone with special abilities.

“I’m not very good at finding people.”

That was something for the elven ranger on her team—the one with the sharp nose who never missed.

Florna wasn’t very keen on doing this kind of tiring, brain-consuming work.

Suzuki Kei deflated.

“Alright.”

“Florna, come look at this one!”

“Still, letting me take a look is fine.”

Seeing Sakio approach with a Lolita dress in hand, Florna changed expressions in an instant.

Finding people?

That was nothing compared to outfit changes!

Hearing that, Suzuki Kei immediately perked up.

“That’s great.”

Maybe Florna really could find a clue.

After hearing the general situation, Shiro and Sakio readily agreed.

“Florna, go with Suzuki-sensei.

We’ll wait here.”

As soon as they said that, the two of them locked eyes again, sparks practically flying.

No words were spoken, yet their thoughts were obvious.

Florna definitely likes the outfit I picked.

No, she likes mine.

“I think the first two outfits already looked great.

And Shiro, you must be tired too.”

Instead of leaving right away, Florna took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from Kirishima Shiro’s temple.

The touch of the fabric, carrying Florna’s faint scent, blew away the heat in Shiro’s heart.

She couldn’t help but lose focus for a moment.

Then, before Shiro could react, Florna placed a wooden cross into Hoshino Sakio’s hands.

“Thanks for accompanying me for so long to pick clothes.

This is my gift.”

Engraved inside was Florna’s protective divine art, able to block damage at critical moments.

For someone like Sakio, who often ran into danger, it was quite practical.

“I’ll carry Florna’s gift with me at all times.”

Holding the wooden cross against her chest, Hoshino Sakio smiled brightly.

“Alright, you two go find a place to rest.”

“Well, since Florna says so…” Hoshino Sakio hesitated.

She actually wanted to stay with Florna longer.

But Kirishima Shiro, now holding the handkerchief, wasn’t about to give her that chance.

She grabbed Sakio’s hand.

“Come on, let’s go buy some snacks over there.”

“Let go of me!”

Damn it—why is she so strong?!

Watching the two leave, Suzuki Kei could tell what was going on and sighed.

“It’s not easy for you either.”

Having to mediate between friends and sisters.

“This is for you.”

Another wooden cross was placed into Suzuki Kei’s hand.

“I get one too?”

Suzuki Kei was surprised.

“Consider it a return gift for the two candies you gave me.”

“Thanks.”

As they walked, Suzuki Kei took out her phone and showed Florna a photo.

“This is what he looks like.”

“Isn’t this the one who wanted to find Silver Moon last time and got elbowed unconscious by you?”

At a glance, Florna realized it was someone familiar.

“That’s right.

It’s him.”

She hadn’t expected Florna to remember.

As a teacher, Suzuki Kei didn’t like situations that required violence.

Yet trouble kept finding her, forcing her to step in.

Especially during the period when special ability users kept appearing—each one acting like they’d read too many hot-blooded manga, shouting about conquering the school.

That was how Suzuki Kei developed the habit of using her fists instead of words.

Thus was born the reputation of the “Tianqing Iron Fist.”

Some even spread rumors that she was a retired magical girl who used to tear monsters apart barehanded.

All so they could comfort themselves that they weren’t losing to a woman—but to a magical girl.

“Magical girls have only existed for less than three years.

If there were retired magical girls already, that’d be way too fast,” Suzuki Kei said helplessly.

“Exactly,” Florna agreed.

Who retired after just three years?

It had taken her ten full years from becoming a saintess to retirement.

She absolutely could not accept anyone retiring earlier than her.

That would really make her cry.

Turning into a narrow alley, Suzuki Kei stopped and pointed inside.

“The surveillance only recorded him entering this alley.

The cameras inside were deliberately damaged, so we lost his trail there.”

The alley was cluttered with scattered debris, yet there wasn’t the slightest trace of malice or lingering mana.

“It’s not monsters,” Florna said firmly.

Suzuki Kei sighed.

“Then that’s troublesome.”

“What do you mean?” Florna pressed.

Suzuki Kei was silent for a moment, as if choosing her words, before saying,

“If it’s not monsters, then it was done by people.”

She didn’t say the rest, but Florna understood.

Sometimes, the evils humans committed were no less than those of monsters.

Before leaving the alley, Florna glanced once more at the manhole cover.

“Something wrong?” Suzuki Kei asked, thinking Florna had found something.

“I feel like something under the manhole cover was watching us.”

Florna walked over, wanting to lift it and see what was going on.

“Probably rats.

Manholes connect to the sewers—there are lots of rats down there.

And by the way, lifting manhole covers at random is illegal destruction of public property.”

Seeing what Florna was thinking, Suzuki Kei didn’t recommend it.

“I see.”

Florna stopped.

Illegal activities could wait—she really didn’t want to be invited in for tea.

Especially since she was still undocumented.