“Transform. Bring out your weapon.” The Soul Summoner Princess said to Luo Shuangyue.
Luo Shuangyue nodded and activated her transformation using the White Night Hair Clip.
It seemed to sense her aura because the black gem locked inside the transparent containment began to tremble rapidly, as if it wanted to fly to her side.
The Soul Summoner Princess pressed a button and opened the containment.
At the same time, she said to Luo Shuangyue, “Its consciousness is much clearer than when we started and it’s more attached to you now.”
Before she finished speaking, the black gem suddenly shot forward and struck Luo Shuangyue’s forehead hard.
The little thing seemed unable to control its speed, but its intention was probably good. After heavily hitting her forehead, it started rubbing against her face vigorously.
Just like an overly clingy little puppy, it rubbed so much Luo Shuangyue was nearly overwhelmed.
“It’s so affectionate…”
The researchers standing nearby were dumbfounded. Before, when they studied the gem, it was just like a lifeless object. Now that Luo Shuangyue had arrived, the gem suddenly turned into a dog?
What’s going on?
Is this even rational?
Is this science?
Oh, right. It’s magic. Never mind then.
“Cough, weapon! Weapon!” The Soul Summoner Princess coughed and quietly reminded Luo Shuangyue not to forget the main task.
Luo Shuangyue hurriedly nodded and summoned her weapon, the Scythe.
As she summoned it, she said to the Soul Summoner Princess, “If this gem has consciousness, then after it merges into my weapon, does that mean my weapon will have consciousness?”
“If that’s true, does that mean each Magical Girl’s weapon can only absorb one Crystal formed from a Royal-Class Demon’s Original Magic Power?”
The weapon can’t end up having a split personality, right?
“I’m not sure…” The Soul Summoner Princess shook her head. This was unprecedented, and she could only feel her way forward.
But from the simplest and most naive perspective, she thought the consciousness inside the gem would definitely transfer to Luo Shuangyue’s weapon, turning it into an intelligent entity.
After Luo Shuangyue summoned the Scythe, the black gem seemed to have found its home, happily flying above the weapon.
Then, it gradually turned into fine black powder and evenly spread across the Scythe.
Luo Shuangyue could clearly feel her weapon undergoing a transformation — it was growing stronger, sharper… and smarter.
After absorbing all the black powder, the Scythe trembled twice, then with a bang exploded into a cloud of black mist.
Before Luo Shuangyue could even gasp, the black mist contracted in the next moment, forming a small black-clad girl about the size of a palm, holding a tiny Scythe.
The girl’s outfit resembled the Grim Reaper from fairy tales: a black hood covering her entire head and her body wrapped in a dark robe. The Scythe in her hand was a miniature version of Luo Shuangyue’s original large Scythe.
Compared to the original, the small Scythe was even more exquisite and ornate, with the existing butterfly and thorn decorations plus some strange new parts.
“My weapon turned into a living being?!” Luo Shuangyue took a sharp breath. She had imagined how her Scythe might be enhanced, but not to this extent.
Using two fingers, she lifted the little girl’s hood and saw a face about seventy percent similar to her own, with white hair and red eyes just like Lord Dark Moth’s transformation. The cute little face was full of confusion.
“This is…”
“Oh my god! What a great discovery! This year’s Explosive Award is ours!”
“Our names will be written in the history books! Wahaha!”
While Luo Shuangyue was still stunned, the researchers on the other side were already ecstatic. They seemed to see the bright future of fame and success waving at them.
The Jidong City Magical Department Research Institute — this name would be engraved in the annals of human civilization!
“How should we name this creature? How about Spirit Weapon?”
“No, that’s too old-fashioned. I suggest ‘Tsukumogami’!”
“Hey, you bunch of East District troublemakers, are you trying to pick a fight?!”
The whole area became as noisy as a vegetable market, scaring the little girl into instinctively hiding behind Luo Shuangyue like a frightened animal.
Seeing how adorable the little thing peeked out from behind Luo Shuangyue, Xia Mo couldn’t help but laugh. This little one was truly cute.
She wished she had such a little companion.
“Quiet! All senior researchers stay; everyone else sign the confidentiality agreement outside. Keep this matter secret!”
Finally, the Soul Summoner Princess restored order. Though not part of the Magic Department, the current head of the Jidong City Magic Department was her daughter, and she herself was a human-shaped nuclear bomb. Nobody dared disobey her.
The previously crowded white coats suddenly disappeared by ninety percent, leaving only a handful standing, curiously eyeing the little girl behind Luo Shuangyue.
The Soul Summoner Princess made two phone calls: one to gather the senior researchers at the institute, the other apparently to Long Wen.
“The girl you sent will stay with me for a few more days.”
“Yes, it’s very important — it might even affect the future balance of strength between us and the Demons. What? You don’t believe me?”
The Soul Summoner Princess snapped a photo of Luo Shuangyue with her phone and sent it directly to Long Wen through the Magic Department’s secure channel.
“Her weapon evolved.”
One minute later, just as Luo Shuangyue thought things would end there, the Soul Summoner Princess suddenly pulled her phone away from her ear.
From the receiver came Monice’s shrill scream.
“What is this?! I’m asking you, what is this?!”
In a short time — more precisely, three minutes later — Luo Shuangyue saw her beloved boss, Miss Monice.
“Where is it? Let me see!”
As soon as Monice arrived, she grabbed Luo Shuangyue’s collar, her eyes gleaming like a starving wolf spotting a juicy piece of meat.
“It’s over there, ask them.” Luo Shuangyue pointed toward the group of white coats already forming a big circle, responding innocently.
During the past three hours, the researchers had persuaded Luo Shuangyue’s little Scythe to undergo their examinations.
Now, they were testing the Scythe’s cognitive abilities. Several people held up whiteboards with words, trying to get the Scythe to recognize them. Judging by the expression, it seemed the little Scythe didn’t understand the characters.
Monice narrowed her eyes, rolled up her sleeves, and joined the fray. She pushed and kicked the crowd blocking the way, quickly making her way to the center of the circle.
Then, she loudly scolded the researchers, “Is this how you conduct research? Ignorant! Foolish! How did you even graduate?”
With that air, one would think she was some old scholar from a faraway place.
Although the researchers didn’t know Monice, they were intimidated by her aura and stammered, unwilling to speak.
Thus, control of the situation quickly fell into Monice’s hands, and the previously chaotic scene became much more orderly.
“I heard from Long Wen that you work under her?” The Soul Summoner Princess rubbed her chin and whispered to Luo Shuangyue, eyeing Monice, who had already completely tamed the situation within minutes.
“Yes.” Luo Shuangyue nodded blankly.
She was more curious now about how Monice managed to fly from Xinghai City to Jidong City in just three hours. That flight speed far exceeded the limit for a First Bloom-class Magical Girl; only a Full Bloom-class Magical Girl could move this fast.
Eliminating the possibility that Long Wen brought Monice here, the only remaining conclusion was that Monice flew here herself.
The leader of this evil organization — the notorious villain who showed disdain toward the Magic Department — was actually a Full Bloom-class Magical Girl.
“She’s not easy to get along with and has caused many conflicts before…” The Soul Summoner Princess shook her head and muttered softly.
“If she represents those with a decent relationship with the Magic Department, Monice is the type who looks down on the Magic Department. To her, it’s just a bunch of useless, complacent fools.”
“Has the Soul Summoner Princess ever had conflicts with Monice?” Luo Shuangyue asked curiously.
She wanted to know more about Monice’s past since Monice had been active during her mother’s time and her father was even Monice’s right-hand man. Without Monice, the family probably wouldn’t have held together.
“No, she used to operate in the Western Region but was pushed out to our area. Eventually, she became friends with White Night and has stayed in Xinghai City since.” The Soul Summoner Princess shook her head. They hadn’t met often or exchanged much.
Her knowledge of Monice was limited to those two facts: that Monice had a good relationship with White Night and was exiled to Xinghai City.
“Dark Moth, come here!”
Luo Shuangyue was about to ask more when Monice’s voice called out.
“Coming!” Luo Shuangyue responded quickly and made her way through the crowd to Monice’s side.
Her little Scythe was being held gently in Monice’s palms, its red eyes full of suspicion toward this stranger.
But when it saw Luo Shuangyue approaching, its wary expression instantly vanished and it eagerly jumped as if to ask for a hug.
If Monice hadn’t quickly closed her palms around the little girl, it probably would have jumped onto Luo Shuangyue’s face.
“Can you communicate with her?” After controlling the little Scythe’s movements, Monice asked Luo Shuangyue.
Luo Shuangyue scratched her head and answered uncertainly, “Maybe?”
Thinking this, she bent slightly to be level with the little Scythe.
“Can you understand what I’m saying?”
The little Scythe’s eyes were full of grievance. After hearing Luo Shuangyue’s voice, it cried “waa waa” twice. It was unclear if it understood or not.
But Luo Shuangyue felt the emotions coming from the little Scythe. Controlled by Monice, the little one was clearly unhappy now.
Could it be that telepathic communication was needed?
With this thought, Luo Shuangyue tried sending a calming command mentally to the little Scythe.
Hmm… no response? Seeing the lack of reaction, Luo Shuangyue scratched her head.
She reached out and gently touched the little Scythe’s forehead. This time, she clearly sensed the little one’s emotions and was able to transmit her feelings back into its mind.
So… if we’re a few meters apart, the signal gets weak?
Luo Shuangyue wanted to complain but wasn’t sure what exactly to say.
These days Bluetooth can have hundreds of meters range, but here, just a few meters and the signal is poor?
“I can sense her emotions and send my thoughts to her, but I don’t really know what she’s thinking specifically.” After carefully feeling the emotions sent by the little Scythe, Luo Shuangyue told Monice.
The little Scythe was like a newborn child. She could cry and fuss and instinctively cling to Luo Shuangyue, but clearly expressing her thoughts was still too difficult for this little one.
“I see. Looks like she’s not much different from a regular weapon right now…” Monice nodded. This result didn’t surprise her much.
If the little one could talk, she would have said so already instead of just bawling like that.
Oh well, speaking can be taught slowly. Monice still had lots of data to analyze.
“Try seeing if you can turn her back into your previous weapon.”
“Huh?”
“Are you really going to fight Demons holding this little thing instead of your Scythe?” Monice rolled her eyes. If Luo Shuangyue really dared to do that, she wouldn’t say a word.
At this point, what else could she say but comply?
Thinking about the idea of fighting Demons while holding this little thing made Luo Shuangyue shudder. That image was way too bizarre.
She quickly sent a query into the little Scythe’s mind and soon got a response.
The answer was yes, it was possible.