Top of the Scumbag

“Hiss…?”

From afar, Luo You watched as Xingyu struggled against her opponent, visibly at a disadvantage.

A startling idea flashed through her mind.

“Mmph…”

With a seductive smile, her petite frame erupted with inhuman strength, completely at odds with her appearance.

She hoisted Liyun—an adult woman—over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Despite struggling, Liyun couldn’t break free.

“What are you doing?!”

“Cut the nonsense.”

Luo You carried her to the rooftop.

From here, the view was wide open.

If Xingyu really came this way, she’d definitely see them.

“Well, like I said earlier—your sister’s not in too much danger, so I’ll just carry on with my plan~”

“Wait, wait, wait—you’re not serious right now, are you?! You’re really gonna do this now?!”

Liyun’s lips trembled.

This couldn’t be real.

“Of course I am. After all, you’re completely useless here, aren’t you?”

Even through the visor, she could feel the cold gleam in Luo You’s eyes.

“I—”

After being told—again—that she was of no help, Liyun felt a flood of guilt.

But even more than that, she began to spiral into deep self-doubt.

She was a magical girl once, and yet now…

Now she could do nothing but watch helplessly as civilians suffered.

The screams, the cries, the slowly fading groans of pain—all of it came together to form a thick, oppressive despair.

Even her sister had given up on her.

“Looks like you agree with me.”

As Luo You slowly pulled her hand away from Liyun’s chest, Liyun felt her world losing color.

She stopped resisting entirely.

As an ordinary person, she had nothing left to offer.

“Big sis, you’re really boring right now.”

Luo You’s voice carried a tinge of disappointment, but Liyun didn’t respond.

She turned her head away listlessly, letting Luo You do as she pleased.

And then, with the roar of thunder drawing closer—

She saw it.

The dazzling light of a magical girl in battle, painting the sky with vibrant brilliance.

Even as that figure staggered under the assault of dimensional beasts, something about her presence sparked a fire in the heart.

[Ah… What a warm light…]

[If I could still transform, would people look at me like I’m looking at her now?]

The next moment, she finally saw who it was.

“Sis!”

She cried out on instinct, loud and desperate.

The shout caught Xingyu’s attention.

Three beings and one beast—locked eyes across the chaos.

Xingyu froze for a fraction of a second, nearly placing herself in mortal peril.

But strangely, the dragon-class dimensional beast also paused, missing the chance to strike a lethal blow.

Just like that, the moment passed, and their battle resumed.

But something had changed.

The dragon-class no longer pressed its attacks as ferociously—it looked… hesitant, even ready to retreat.

Liyun snapped out of her daze.

She shoved Luo You away and shouted:

“You said my sister wasn’t in any danger!?”

Luo You didn’t even blink.

“She was all talk just now, wasn’t she? Not exactly showing results.”

[Is… is Sis in real danger?]

A chill gripped Liyun’s heart.

She was terrified of losing the only family she had left.

And right when her thoughts were spiraling, Luo You had to make it worse.

“Judging by how she’s moving, she’s not gonna last much longer. A dragon-class beast has intelligence—if it finds a single weak point, your sister’s done for.”

Huh?

Luo You didn’t get a response.

She glanced sideways—and saw Liyun hugging her head, eyes blank, muttering to herself.

[What can I even do?]

[In this situation… in a fight like this… what can a powerless human like me actually do?]

[How can I help my sister now?]

[How can I possibly help her?]

“Everyone, shelter here! Don’t get in the magical girls’ way!”

“Reach out! Grab my hand—just a bit more!”

“Let the children in first! We’ll go to the next shelter if we have to!”

“My child—please, I’m begging you, someone help my baby! She’s still inside!”

Amid the booming destruction and chaos, faint cries reached her ears.

Liyun’s eyes suddenly sparked with light.

Seeing her still paralyzed, Luo You sighed inwardly.

‘So the bond didn’t form after all.’

‘Should I give her a little more time?’

‘…No. Better push her a bit harder.’

Luo You extended her hand toward her again.

“Herrera.”

“…Huh?”

Liyun snapped her head up.

“If I let you sleep with me for one night—will you save the people down there?”

“…You were already in my pocket. What kind of deal do you think you’re making?”

“But if I don’t cooperate, you won’t enjoy it, will you?”

“…Hah.”

Luo You raised an eyebrow.

“What kind of person do you think I am? I don’t take advantage of people during a crisis.”

Liyun blinked.

Carefully, she asked: “Then…?”

“—Three days. We play. You act. We film. And you follow the script I write.”

She held up three fingers.

Liyun’s last shred of hope withered into shame.

“You just said you don’t take advantage of people during a crisis!”

“I didn’t say it was free.”

Luo You’s smile turned cruel.

“I’m just helping you understand—there’s no such thing as a free lunch. If you want me to move, the price is steep.”

“You’re a scumbag! You know that?”

“Hmph. Queen of the scumbags, thank you very much.”

She struck a theatrical pose.

“Wherever Luo You walks—let the heavens tremble!”

“…What the hell is wrong with you.”

“So? Take it or leave it. It’s one of the very few things a powerless human like you can do.”

“…Fine. I accept!”

Liyun clenched her teeth.

Herrera was right.

This really was the only way she could help.

Luo You stretched, loosening up her limbs.

“Saving your sister, right? But if she asks to join in afterward to ‘share the burden’ with you, you better not say no.”

“No… I didn’t mean saving my sister.”

“I meant—please save the people suffering down there.”

“…?”

Luo You blinked.

For the first time, she looked genuinely surprised.

“You’re not asking me to save your sister?”

“Mm.”

“Even though she’s the one in danger?”

“That’s why. Because there are so many civilians here, she’s forced to hold back. She can’t fight freely.”

“…Is that your answer as a magical girl?”

“Yes.”

There wasn’t even a trace of hesitation.

Luo You fell silent for two seconds.

Then said, “Alright. But I’m not great at rescue work. Best I can do is wipe out the dimensional beasts that no one else is handling.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Before leaving, Luo You looked back and said one last thing to Liyun.

“Listen carefully, you idiot.”

“You don’t have to be a magical girl. You don’t need to throw your body at me for help, either.”

“There are things—important things—you can still do even as an ordinary person.”

“…Eh?”

“That night your sister came to me—”

“She was ready to sell her body too, just to get you out of your misery.”