A Scorching Revelation and an Unwanted Shopping Trip

Having laid out her hypothesis, Mo Linyu concluded her explanation.

“To put it simply, whenever I approach within a kilometer of you, the wound on my chest begins to throb faintly, a direct consequence of your presence. The same principle, in theory, applies to your Holy Sword, and I suspect it would react similarly to other souls originating from different worlds…”

Her hand instinctively rose, gently pressing against the wound on her chest.

“This, then, is our radar.”

Li Yue, however, found herself utterly unable to relax upon hearing this revelation.

“‘Radar?’ she scoffed. ‘Absolutely not. There’s no way I can use *this* as a radar.'”

If the Demon Lord’s conjecture proved true, then the other otherworldly souls currently residing in Tianyuan City would also trigger the awakening of her Holy Sword. Such a prospect made merely walking outside an extremely perilous endeavor.

A single transformation in a public place would spell the definitive end of Li Longkang’s existence.

“Naturally, this remains merely my current hypothesis,” Mo Linyu stated.

Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, Mo Linyu tilted her head slightly and continued, “Given the undeniable connection between souls, it’s quite possible that by simply venturing out more often, we might stumble upon those very souls.”

“‘Hah,’ Li Yue scoffed, ‘If only it were truly that simple.'”

Li Yue harbored no illusion that the matter would be so easily resolved.

“Indeed, it isn’t that simple,” Mo Linyu conceded, “but lacking any other immediate solutions, our best course of action is to verify this theory first.”

Mo Linyu gestured toward the oversized T-shirt she was wearing.

“And while we’re at it… Hero, you really ought to acquire some proper women’s clothing.”

“‘Huh?'”

Li Yue could scarcely have imagined, even in her wildest dreams, that she would be embarking on a shopping trip with the Demon Lord.

Still, she genuinely possessed few feminine garments. Surely, she couldn’t continue wearing her mother’s hand-me-downs indefinitely? If she truly had to navigate this period in her current guise, then acquiring some well-fitting attire was an absolute necessity.

Ideally, she wished for men’s clothing, or at the very least, something gender-neutral.

Despite rolling her eyes in exasperation, Li Yue ultimately did not reject Mo Linyu’s proposition.

A shopping mall stood at a crossroads less than two kilometers from her residence in Quanxin Jiayuan. Though it was still a bit of a trek, the two ultimately decided to proceed on foot.

She harbored a profound aversion to wearing women’s clothing. Even during her year as the Hero in the other world, her attire largely consisted of basic women’s undergarments, and even those had been forced upon her by Melia, the team’s resident mage.

In that other world, she had consistently worn the blue tracksuit she had arrived in, a garment blessed by the Goddess. This blessing not only allowed it to adapt to her physique but also imbued it with remarkably superior defensive capabilities.

Alas, that blessing, alongside her Heroic power, had since been reclaimed.

As she strode down the street now, her only covering was an oversized, short-sleeved shirt.

“Today marks the first day of summer vacation, and with students finally unleashed after a semester of confinement, places like shopping malls should be teeming with people. Perhaps by simply walking through it, we’ll sense something… and concurrently, ascertain the validity of my hypothesis.”

While Mo Linyu exuded an almost boundless enthusiasm, Li Yue could only use the back of her hand to wipe away the beads of sweat threatening to cascade from her chin.

They had been outside for barely five minutes.

“‘…Ugh, I’m absolutely roasting.'”

Her shirt clung to her, thoroughly soaked with perspiration. Beneath it, a tight-fitting tank top was now distinctly outlined through the damp fabric. While her figure wasn’t exceptionally curvaceous, this revealing silhouette possessed a certain alluring quality.

Fortunately, the scorching mid-summer streets were not overly crowded, and her own oblivious nature kept her from noticing this particular detail…

Or perhaps, her heat-addled brain simply had no capacity left for such observations.

“‘I’m just saying, why don’t we hail a cab?’ Li Yue grumbled. ‘Surely you’re not so out of touch that you don’t even know what a taxi is?'”

The suggestion to walk had come from Mo Linyu. Striding ahead, she answered without turning her head:

“‘…I’ve been reincarnated for seventeen years; how could I possibly not know?'”

“‘Then why on earth are we walking?’ Li Yue pressed.”

“‘Hm? It’s merely a paltry two kilometers.'”

“‘But it’s bloody scorching today!'”

The very first day of summer vacation brought with it a blistering temperature of 39°C.

Not a single cloud marred the sky, and shimmering distortions of heat danced above the very pavement tiles. Li Yue felt like a sausage sizzling on a grill, on the verge of bursting its skin.

Many pedestrians sought refuge under umbrellas, making the two of them, who hadn’t even bothered with sunscreen, stand out as peculiar anomalies.

Mo Linyu then scoffed, a hint of derision in her tone, “You are the Hero, after all. Can you truly not tolerate such a meager rise in temperature?”

The former Demon Queen, for her part, remained utterly unconcerned with the stares of others or the opinions of passersby regarding Li Yue.

Her Demon Lord persona was clearly dominant now, infusing her words with an undeniable arrogance, yet simultaneously revealing a surprising lack of common sense.

“‘And I’d like to know why you’re not sweating at all,’ Li Yue retorted. ‘Did you secretly use magic?'”

Though the weather was undeniably sweltering, and Mo Linyu was indeed perspiring, her sweat was nowhere near the copious, dripping rivulets that now streamed down Li Yue.

“‘Magic…’ Mo Linyu chuckled, a dry sound. ‘Hah, if I possessed the ability to wield magic, why would I not simply use it to locate these individuals?'”

Her reply carried an unmistakable undertone of helplessness.

It wasn’t merely Hero Moon who had been stripped of her powers; even the Demon Queen’s formidable magical prowess had proven utterly useless post-reincarnation, for the simple reason that…

“Magic, in this world, simply does not exist,” Mo Linyu stated plainly.

Even if she still retained the intricate techniques of magic, without the accompanying magical power, they were utterly meaningless.

“‘If not magic, then how exactly are you managing to keep cool?’ Li Yue pressed, narrowing her eyes. ‘Some marvelous little gadget only a high school girl would possess?'”

Li Yue had indeed heard of such items as cooling patches and antiperspirant sprays.

“I’ve done nothing particularly special, Hero,” Mo Linyu replied, her tone deliberately profound. “It is merely that your inner spirit is too restless.”

Mo Linyu shook her head slowly, her words imbued with feigned profundity.

“‘Hmph, you’ve always enjoyed lecturing from your high horse, even back then… hm?'”

It was only then that Li Yue truly noticed: Mo Linyu’s chest and abdomen were also damp with perspiration. The difference lay in the location of the sweat and the generous cut of her top’s hem, which rendered it far less noticeable.

“‘So, it turns out your inner calm isn’t quite as profound as you make it out to be.'”

****

“‘Phew, air conditioning truly is the single greatest invention of the modern age!'” Li Yue exclaimed.

She vigorously shook the sweat from the back of her hand, voicing her profound relief.

Stepping through the mall’s grand entrance and being enveloped by the refreshing blast of conditioned air, she finally felt a resurgence of life, the dampness of her sweat intensifying the delightful chill.

Her lower body, in particular, suffered; her loose boxer briefs, now damp with sweat, clung uncomfortably to her buttocks, chafing against the skin between her thighs with every step. This was a sensation utterly imperceptible during her time as a male, and it filled Li Yue with irritation.

More pressing than any shopping, the two first needed to rehydrate themselves.

A small shop selling tea beverages was conveniently located right at the mall entrance. After placing their respective orders, the two waited nearby, finding the high stools outside the shop a perfect spot to rest their weary legs.

As Li Yue settled onto one, the cool plastic seat, its chill penetrating the thin fabric of her trousers, sent a jolt of icy relief through her damp thighs and buttocks, eliciting an involuntary shiver.

“‘Hiss—'”

Li Yue instinctively clamped her legs together, shifting her hips in an awkward, restless motion. Yet, this futile adjustment only caused the fabric to burrow deeper into sensitive crevices.

Just as she contemplated whether to discreetly reach down and adjust herself, Mo Linyu, with a complete lack of inhibition, produced a handkerchief and casually reached beneath her shirt to wipe away perspiration. Through the slightly lifted hem, one could glimpse a toned abdomen, a striking landscape often overlooked beneath the ‘high mountain’ of her chest.

“‘The Earth truly is a peaceful place,'” Mo Linyu remarked suddenly.

Mo Linyu’s abrupt statement was met with a teasing retort from Li Yue.

“‘Indeed,’ Li Yue drawled, ‘especially since there are no demons here.'”

“‘Incorrect,’ Mo Linyu countered, ‘it is merely that *this* particular nation is relatively peaceful. Even without demons, haven’t your people perpetually engaged in warfare? The fundamental nature of conflict remains unchanged: it is always a struggle for territory and resources.'”

‘Truly the Demon Lord,’ Li Yue thought with an inward sneer, ‘ever so quick to find a graceful exit for herself.’

Li Yue muttered silently to herself, then inquired, “‘…When exactly did your memories awaken?'”

Regarding this particular matter, Mo Linyu offered no concealment.

“‘Yesterday at noon,’ she recounted. ‘The student council was in a meeting, and I merely rested my head on the desk for a brief nap. Suddenly, a searing pain erupted in my chest, and with it, the deluge of my past life’s memories.'”

“‘…Sleeping during a student council meeting?'” Li Yue echoed incredulously.

Mo Linyu subtly raised her chin, responding, “Our school’s student council operates on an election system; I was merely voted in due to my popularity. I, personally, hold no desire to participate in student council activities.”

It was Han Xiaoyu who had been the student council president yesterday.

Li Yue covertly observed Mo Linyu from the corner of her eye.

Dark purple hair cascaded naturally, her wispy bangs clinging to her forehead with fine beads of sweat. Her delicate features exuded an unadorned, captivating charm. Not only was she remarkably tall, but she also possessed a ‘king-level’ bosom.

Her current demeanor indeed strongly resembled the Demon Lord she had once faced. Yet, if she hadn’t awakened her past life’s memories, would she simply be an ordinary… albeit strikingly beautiful, high school girl?

“‘Then how did you find me?’ Li Yue asked again.”

“‘I didn’t find you at all. It was still fate that brought me before you. The student council’s summer activity involves persuading truants to return to school… Of course, given your situation, you’ll most likely be held back a year.'”

Li Yue didn’t care about her studies; even if she did, she couldn’t possibly attend school.

The Goddess had given her a three-month deadline. This summer vacation might not be enough to locate all the otherworldly souls. If Li Longkang were to dutifully return to school at the start of the term, he would inevitably transform into Li Yue upon encountering Mo Linyu.

This school, she simply could not attend.