Chapter 136: Retry

Wrapped in the familiar white light, Su Mu instinctively closed her eyes.

Come to think of it, ever since the first time, she hadn’t tried transforming again, and she wasn’t sure if the feeling would seem strange now.

As the white light gradually engulfed Su Mu, she felt her limbs wrapped in a surging heat, like basking in warm sunlight, her entire body filled with a gentle warmth.

After that warm sensation ebbed away like the tide, a swelling power surged forth from every cell’s pulsation.

“Look, what’s that?”

After the train crashed heavily, the noisy crowd hadn’t stopped, and suddenly several exclamations rang out.

This scene was all too familiar to the people of B City—the transformation of a Magic Girl.

“Is that Lando?”

The only ones still active in the public eye were Lando and Miti.

It seemed Motes had long gone to S City and rarely involved herself in the monster incidents here afterward.

If she had stayed in B City all along, given her strength, the monsters here definitely wouldn’t have caused much trouble.

It was unclear why she left.

Lemon had left soon after her and was now stationed in S City as well.

Su Mu wasn’t sure what their assignments were—probably more troublesome tasks.

This created a very peculiar situation.

Apart from Tang Nai, almost no B-level or above beings remained stationed in B City.

Tang Nai herself was unable to act for unknown reasons.

The whole city’s situation became delicate, as if it were a newbie village reserved for monsters, allowing them ample room to survive.

Of course, this was only true for the elites.

Trash monsters like Gang’e still had only one fate—to be defeated.

Coincidentally, people loved watching stories where trash monsters were defeated by Magic Girls.

They didn’t know how strong the Magic Girls really were or what their strengths lay in.

They only knew their graceful and agile figures, their striking yet smooth attacks.

Although they often only caught glimpses of their backs, when they realized those backs stood tall to protect them, they couldn’t help but genuinely admire these girls.

So, at this moment, Su Mu’s transformation instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby.

People were curious about this new face with bright rose-pink hair—who was she, and in what form would she appear?

“Isn’t Lando’s hair blue? Looking at that hair, it must be that newly appeared Magic Girl they’ve only talked about online… Irina, I think?”

With this, many finally recalled Irina’s existence.

“Oh, the genius girl who was forced to comply after being captured by the Magic Girls… Ah, I mean, the reformed genius girl Irina.”

Hearing others say this, Su Mu, still lost in thought, couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.

Well, not wrong, but at this point, it didn’t matter anymore.

Not wanting to linger, Su Mu pushed off with all her strength, darting into the air like a nimble fish.

The astonishing jump made the process appear elegant and brief; in an instant, she disappeared from the crowd’s chatter, plunging toward the rushing current.

On her body, there was no embarrassing, skin-tight combat suit.

Instead, she wore the witch’s dress Tang Nai had gifted her earlier.

Now, she looked exactly like Irina in the Dream World—only lacking some of the mysterious aura and instead possessing a livelier, more approachable presence.

Leaving only a fleeting unforgettable silhouette as she poked her head out of the train window, Su Mu submerged underwater.

In truth, she still wasn’t good at swimming like the last time at the seaside, which almost caused her to choke.

Fortunately, she didn’t surface and cause a scene, or else it would have been yet another blot on her still-unformed Magic Girl image.

Underwater, Su Mu finally detected the fading trace of Ye Wanqing’s Magic Power.

The water’s surface seemed to partially block the transmission of magic power, which was why she hadn’t been able to pinpoint her location before.

Now, she could clearly determine Ye Wanqing’s whereabouts.

Through the murky river water filled with countless white bubbles and waves, Su Mu stared straight toward that direction.

At this point, the distance between her and Ye Wanqing was already over a hundred meters.

Normal methods definitely wouldn’t catch up; she had to focus on her own abilities.

Su Mu puffed out her cheeks anxiously, holding her breath, squeezing her slightly oxygen-deprived mind.

‘There’s still time—think of an effective method. Use the Handheld Console? No, that’s too difficult underwater. I have to—’

Just as Su Mu furrowed her brows tightly, the console’s interface suddenly popped up directly in her mind, just like when she entered the dreamscape, bluntly asking her a question.

[Detected important target: Magical Girl Miti, target’s Dark Magic Corruption level: 57%, currently unconscious. Would you like to remove her negative status?]

‘Yes.’

[Failure! Target’s body contains residual Dark Magic Power level B, unable to remove. Current corruption: 61%.]

‘Try again.’

[Failure! Retry? Current…]

No matter how many times she retried, the result wouldn’t change.

Interfering with magic power at a strength spanning two large tiers was absolutely impossible.

What was more urgent than nearly drowning was the steadily rising corrosion index.

It was already unnecessary to rely on the console’s assistance.

Su Mu could now see the red-black cracks appearing on Ye Wanqing’s body.

Su Mu clenched her pink fists.

The red words echoing in her mind were harsh and conspicuous, but she could only keep choosing to retry again and again.

The answers remained resolutely negative.

Such rigorously calculated results weren’t something so-called friendship or bonds could influence.

[Failure! Current target’s corruption level: 83%.]

Find another way!

If nothing else works, just pull her over first!

[…]

Silence was the only reply.

Su Mu sank into the quiet.

Yes, hoping for help from others—or even from a Handheld Console born from her own ability—in times like this was truly laughable.

[Retry?]

The console continued to repeat the prompt.

At that moment, the coldness wrapping around Su Mu pulled her into calmness, though her tightly furrowed brows showed no sign of relaxation.

‘Scan Ye Wanqing’s magic source. Quickly.’

A guess sprouted in Su Mu’s heart.

If it proved true, there might still be hope.

[Scanning—]

[Conclusion: B-level Dark Magic Power source is genius girl Irina, concentration: 13.27 units/cubic meter…]

‘Cut the useless details. Can I affect that magic power?’

[No, unable to exert effective influence.]

‘Damn it!’

Su Mu blew bubbles; her lungs were reaching their limit.

The uneven water currents were forcefully pushing her away from Ye Wanqing.

‘If only I were a trash monster, at least I’d be able to swim!’

[…]

[…]

[Suggestion: Influence water flow speed through magic ripples to transport you to target’s side, estimated time: 20s.]

The sudden electronic voice revived Su Mu.

‘Why not say it earlier!’

[…]

‘Fine, fine, hurry up—execute!’

Moments later, Su Mu felt a strong impact beside her.

Her magic power seeped out of her body, disturbing the water flow and creating propulsion similar to a submarine’s propeller.

The distance between her and Ye Wanqing was closing rapidly.

Within seconds, she could clearly see the other’s figure.

Su Mu had no time to spare and hurriedly closed in, while countless thoughts flashed involuntarily through her mind.

‘This console Tang Nai gave me definitely has some hidden tricks. I’ll deal with it later, now…’

Su Mu grabbed Ye Wanqing’s snow-white arm that looked like broken porcelain, drawing the Dark Magic Power in the most familiar way possible.

This was exactly how monsters fed.

‘No matter if I can swallow it or not, I’ll try first!’