Chapter 52: Strive to Protect More People

“Another new little sister has arrived. Welcome, welcome.”

Poppy happily raised her hands and hugged the slightly nervous but excited Huang Xi.

“Wow~ Little sister, what’s your ability? What’s your weapon? How old are you this year? What’s your zodiac sign…”

“Eh, eh, eh?”

Huang Xi was a bit overwhelmed.

“Don’t scare the kid…”

Wuwangwo pulled Poppy away, putting some distance between them.

“Don’t be afraid, Sister Poppy is just this enthusiastic.”

Mu Yurou recalled her own experience of just joining as a Magical Girl a few months ago.

At that time, she was also a bit overwhelmed by Poppy’s passion.

“It’s nothing, Senior. Ahaha~”

“Anyway, you guys take her along and let her get some practice.”

Zhang Xia left the Training Room, leaving only the Magical Girls behind.

Huang Xi was surrounded by the Magical Girls, which made her a little nervous.

It was normal for Huang Xi to be nervous.

She had always dreamed of becoming a Magical Girl since childhood, and now her wish had finally come true, with so many Magical Girl seniors around her.

“What do you like to eat?”

“Ah, um…”

“Are you still in school?”

“Uh… yes.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Uh, uh… this…”

Huang Xi was overwhelmed by all kinds of questions.

Wuwangwo stepped forward and rescued Huang Xi from the siege of the Magical Girls, finally letting her catch her breath.

“Alright, don’t be so enthusiastic. You’re scaring her.”

“And you.”

Wuwangwo glared at Poppy among the Magical Girls.

“As one of only two adults in the team, you’re actually messing around with them too?”

“I’m just giving our new comrade a warm welcome.”

“A little too warm…”

Wuwangwo glanced at Poppy, then at the other Magical Girls, and finally locked eyes on Mu Yurou, who was standing away from the crowd.

“All of you, dismiss, except for Lily of the Valley.”

Wuwangwo beckoned.

The Magical Girls gradually left the Training Room.

This child, though newly joined, was mature-minded. Letting them train together could be good support.

Wuwangwo motioned for Mu Yurou to come over.

Mu Yurou pointed at herself. After confirming Wuwangwo’s signal, she walked over.

“Lily of the Valley, train together with Dandelion. Teach her a bit.”

“Eh? M-me?”

“Why not let me do it?”

Poppy’s voice came from behind Wuwangwo.

“Why are you back?”

A pound sign popped up on Wuwangwo’s forehead.

“What’s wrong? I’m just concerned about our new comrade~”

“So why not let me? Look how well I taught Lily of the Valley~”

“Well-taught? Hmm, you do teach well. Every training session you just overpower Lily of the Valley, teach nothing, and say things like… ‘Actual combat is more meaningful than training.'”

“See, Lily of the Valley is so strong now. If she suffers a bit in practice, she’ll suffer less in real combat.”

Poppy was still arguing.

“Hah? Haven’t we not trained together for a long time?”

As Wuwangwo took off her glasses, it was like a seal had been released, and a powerful aura spread from her body.

“Come, let’s spar!”

A magic book formed in Wuwangwo’s hand.

“Ahaha, I suddenly remembered something, I’ll be going first~”

Poppy bolted.

“Don’t run!”

Wuwangwo chased after her, leaving only Mu Yurou and Huang Xi bewildered in the wind.

“They… actually get along very well. The atmosphere in our team is really nice. How should I put it… maybe that’s how they maintain their relationship?”

Mu Yurou wasn’t sure.

“It’s hard to tell at all.”

“Alright, though we don’t know each other’s identities, I still hope we can be good friends and comrades, Magical Girl Lily of the Valley.”

Mu Yurou reached out her hand to Huang Xi.

“Magical Girl Dandelion, Lily of the Valley Senior, please take care of me.”

Huang Xi and Mu Yurou shook hands.

“By the way, when did you awaken? Was it today?”

“No, three days ago.”

Huang Xi recalled what happened three days ago.

That day, she was walking on the road when suddenly, her palm grew hot.

Somehow, a Pure White Crystal suddenly appeared in her hand.

Just as Huang Xi was puzzled, Zhang Xia appeared and answered her questions.

“You’ve successfully awakened, Huang Xi. To protect humanity, are you willing to become a Magical Girl?”

Huang Xi already had the answer in her heart.

“I am willing!”

At night, Huang Xi returned home feeling a bit tired.

After answering her parents’ concerned questions, she collapsed into her room.

Though today was exhausting, she still had something to do.

Something she had always wanted to do.

She opened her computer and entered the Magic Girl Forum website.

In the search bar, she typed the name of the idol she had always admired, Magical Girl Crystal Orchid.

Posts about Crystal Orchid appeared before her eyes.

Magical Girl Crystal Orchid, the most powerful Magical Girl.

Identity unknown. It’s said even the Magic Association doesn’t know her true identity.

Suddenly, she saw the most discussed post pinned at the top.

“Magical Girl Crystal Orchid… slaughtered teammates… fell into… a Witch?”

You’re kidding…

But this wasn’t a joke.

Three years ago, the fall of Crystal Orchid was a hot topic.

Many posts discussed her mysterious disappearance and the evidence of her becoming a Witch.

Huang Xi shut off her computer and slumped powerlessly onto the bed.

Her idol’s fall left her feeling down. Her already tired body, combined with the depression, made her eyelids heavy.

“What’s wrong with you?”

On the way home from school, Mu Yurou spoke to Huang Xi.

Mu Yurou sensed something was wrong with Huang Xi today.

She’d been so happy yesterday, but now seemed depressed.

“It’s nothing…”

Huang Xi forced a smile.

I can’t tell Xiao Rou… I can’t reveal my identity as a Magical Girl.

“We’re about to split up ahead, so I’ll go first…”

They reached the familiar intersection.

“Mm, goodbye.”

Huang Xi and Mu Yurou parted ways, but their final destinations were the same.

In the Magic Association’s Training Room, Huang Xi walked to Mu Yurou’s side with a gloomy expression.

“I’m here… Senior.”

“You came. Come, let’s start training.”

“Okay…”

Midway through training, Mu Yurou noticed Huang Xi’s downcast mood.

She stopped training and walked over to Huang Xi.

“What happened? You were fine yesterday. Did something happen?”

Huang Xi told Mu Yurou the reason for her depression.

Since they were both Magical Girls, it was fine to share.

So it was because of Crystal Orchid Senior’s influence.

Learning that her idol had become a Witch must be painful.

Huang Xi needed comfort now.

The two sat on a bench in the Training Room. Mu Yurou held a bottle of water.

“Crystal Orchid Senior… I used to admire her too. When I became a Magical Girl a few months ago and learned about what really happened to her, I was shocked for a long time.”

As she spoke, Mu Yurou took a sip of water.

“But my sadness didn’t last long, because I realized I needed to become like Crystal Orchid Senior too, to protect more people. That’s what being a Magical Girl is about.”

“Yeah…”

Magical Girls exist to protect people.

Her dream was to become a Magical Girl and protect others.

She also wanted to protect that person…

A white-haired figure on the rooftop flashed through Huang Xi’s mind.

“So, let’s work hard to protect more people.”

Mu Yurou smiled and handed a bottle of water to Huang Xi.

Huang Xi took the bottle, drank a sip, and stood up.

“Let’s go, continue training. I also want to become a strong Magical Girl like Crystal Orchid Senior.”