“So you really don’t remember where she went afterward at all?”
Lu Shan nodded. She didn’t even remember how she got home.
Su Mu’s expression was grave; having the clues stop here made her feel extremely frustrated.
At least one thing was clear—her mom was now in B City, which also meant that the city’s top official should be able to play some role.
But to have to ask Tang Nai for help… She was still a bit unwilling to do that.
Forget it, better not talk about this for now.
“Speaking of which, isn’t it true that recently a lot of weirdos have started using the internet to gather Dark Magic Power?”
“Yeah, and a lot of people picked it up really fast. It’s not just limited to the Forum—they’re active on all kinds of new short video sites, and some are even so self-taught it’s a bit much.”
Lu Shan thought for a bit, then picked up her phone and tapped away, pulling up a bunch of recently popular, abstract online celebrities.
Big Eater? Itchy Cop? What the heck are these…
After skimming through them, Su Mu, for the first time in a long while, frowned, showing a look of utter disdain.
She had to admit that, after looking at them, she had indeed provided that bunch with a fair bit of Dark Magic Power. Not that her tolerance was getting lower, but really—these people… What else could you call them but weirdos? They easily came up with things no human would ever dare imagine.
Just thinking about that guy weighing over four hundred jin, who was losing teeth while eating but could probably last till eighty or ninety years old for the finale, made her scalp tingle.
Even with her background as a legendary online troll, Su Mu couldn’t help but feel, as a Magical Girl, that she might just have to go and take down this bunch.
“But these aren’t even the most extreme. Some weirdos who aren’t under the association’s control seem to have been inspired too, and their methods are even nastier. The most famous is Justice. Even though he doesn’t have an official account, he’s estimated to have at least a million followers.”
At this, Su Mu was surprised. She herself had about that many followers on the Forum—though the number was much higher on doujin sites.
“Huh, no official account? How do they estimate that?”
“Number of live viewers.”
“One million online?!”
Lu Shan nodded and added:
“Because his content is too explicit, he can’t stream on any official platform, but whenever he starts streaming, the pop-up for the stream always appears right on time on computers and phone interfaces, luring people to click.”
“Weirdos even have that kind of tech?”
“I wouldn’t know about that.”
Su Mu tried searching for the keyword Justice, but found nothing; most of the results were useless info that gave her a headache.
They manage things this strictly? Not a single leak…
Just then, a very odd pop-up appeared at the corner of her screen—a dark brown wax seal stamped with a goat’s head, giving off an eerie retro vibe.
As if compelled by intuition, Su Mu clicked on the pop-up. In the next instant, a black box with red text appeared before her eyes.
Su Mu instinctively narrowed her eyes.
Such a gloomy aesthetic.
“Dear Miss Irina:
I have long admired your reputation. Though I have not had the chance to behold your countenance, even being able to converse with you here is comfort enough for me.
I must say, what you have accomplished could easily be called the work of a Genius Girl. I, too, have been inspired by you, and my abilities are now worlds apart from what they once were.
However, I am well aware that such small tricks have their limits. For this reason, I wish to collaborate with you. What do you think?”
After reading it, Su Mu raised her brows, looking troubled.
It wasn’t that she was struggling over whether to agree.
“What kind of nonsense is this, talking in circles—who’d read that? Get lost, your streaming room’s doomed.”
Su Mu had long decided to deal with this bunch. It wasn’t that she was burning bridges, but things really had gone too far.
One Irina online was enough to stir up a frenzy; any more and wouldn’t it push the netizens to the edge?
Even the best supplements can’t save my brain anymore!
Thinking this, Su Mu sent a message to Tang Nai.
Though the other party’s tech was indeed strange, luckily, the Magical Girls had someone even more extreme.
Might as well ask about her mom, too.
“Are you there?”
“Not here.”
Seeing the lightning-fast reply, Su Mu immediately understood.
She must be gaming, but no matter how much Su Mu asked, Tang Nai continued to play dead.
Guess I’ll have to go and catch her in person.
—
After not seeing each other for a while, the café’s previous maid theme had been taken down, and now it was back to its cozy atmosphere.
Su Mu walked down the stairs, tiptoeing across the carpet, slowly making her way to the game room in the back.
Even that girl, when she’s focused on gaming, probably wouldn’t notice me sneaking up on her. Watch me swipe her away in silence.
Thinking this, Su Mu slipped off her shoes and shuffled forward in her white stockings.
She was so light that she made almost no sound—until the door creaked open.
A pink-haired head poked in through the door crack, but it was pitch dark inside, which surprised her.
Where is she?
Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Su Mu began to notice things she’d missed before.
Besides herself, there seemed to be another person’s breathing in the room. It was light, very slow. The moment Su Mu noticed it, she was startled.
Light from the doorway crept little by little into the room, finally hitting an obstacle somewhere inside.
Gray hair, slender arms as delicate as a child’s—she was almost certain of the person’s identity.
Su Mu covered her mouth, suppressing her shock.
Why is she sleeping here?
Tang Nai, wearing an eye mask, lay peacefully on the carpet, face up and sleeping soundly. Even with Su Mu so close, she was completely unaware.
But before Su Mu could breathe a sigh of relief, Irina hurriedly warned her:
“Don’t touch her.”
Startled by the sudden voice, Su Mu instinctively stepped back, keeping her distance from Tang Nai—after all, something was clearly off with her state.
“What’s going on?”
“She’s currently suppressing her Authority. If you touch her now, you’ll be affected.”
Upon hearing this, Su Mu carefully retreated a few more steps. She still remembered that Tang Nai’s regular Magic Index was B-level—if she got too close, her own life might be at risk.
“But she was awake just a moment ago.”
“It’s not like she has to be awake to reply to your messages.”
Inside the “Leisure Zone” of the Neon Veil, Irina glanced at the black-haired girl engrossed in her game nearby while replying with a thought.
Though Tang Nai didn’t have any network-related powers, that Handheld Console was her creation. Even in dreams, she stayed connected with it—just like the sunflower on Su Mu’s bedside.
“In any case, keep your distance. She’s not in a good state right now…”
While Irina was talking with Su Mu, the black-haired Tang Nai in the dream had already crept up behind Irina and gently placed her hand on Irina’s unfocused shoulder.
“What secret are you whispering about? Let me hear too.”