Chapter 163: Knower

Those people from before were willing to offer great rewards just to recruit members from the organization because they wanted to bypass the Elira checkpoint.

Since they didn’t control Elira’s movements, no matter how meticulous their plans were, they could still be disrupted by one impulsive action from her.

Now, by the same logic, if they can’t get past the Xingyue checkpoint, even if they try to stir up trouble, Xingyue will blow it all away in one breath and restore calm.

It’s a barrier they have to overcome.

So, if they want to use the Black Candle Giant Spirit to open a breach in the Boundary Sea Customs like four years ago, Xingyue is the gate they must cross.

“Hmm… so the next step is to show off their strength to the outside world?”

Luo You muttered to herself.

“Oh? Have you figured something out?”

Looking up, she met Zhi Zhi’s sly and penetrating gaze—a sharp intelligence that was completely unlike Zhi Zhi’s usual personality.

“Nothing much~”

“Tch, I thought you’d come up with something insightful, You You.”

Zhi Zhi suddenly lost interest and then took Luo You on a tour around the Boundary Sea Customs before heading back to Huahai City.

Previously, Xingyue had firmly refused to let You You become a Magical Girl, and Zhi Zhi didn’t want to challenge her limits.

She decided to let You You stay in the rear for a while and see how she performed before deciding whether to send her to the front lines.

Well, Zhi Zhi figured that with Luo You’s abilities, being on the front line would be a piece of cake.

“Zhi Zhi, when can I awaken my innate magic?”

“Awakening your innate magic is a natural thing. Once the opportunity comes, it’ll happen smoothly. No need to rush~”

Ah, right.

Luo You glanced at her palm.

If Zhi Zhi knew she already mastered several innate magics, she’d probably be terrified.

She could use the innate magic of the Broken Winged Butterfly, Litia, Akabane—whichever she wanted.

She thought innate magic was like the special ability triggered by the divine particles’ awakening—unique in function but with a much lower ceiling than divine particles.

But her own innate magic hadn’t awakened yet.

What would it be like if it did?

“I’ll come back tomorrow. Remember to practice your magic well.”

“Coming again?”

“Of course! Always! Nyah nyah~”

Just as Zhi Zhi was about to close the door, she suddenly pushed it open and poked her head in, asking, “You You, what do you think about the current situation in the Magic Alliance?”

“…You’re asking me?”

Luo You puckered her lips in confusion.

“You, Fourth Seat, asking me?”
“Mm.”

“Then what do you think, Zhi Zhi?”

“Hmph~?”

Zhi Zhi narrowed her eyes mysteriously.

“You know, I think pretty much the same as you. Well, it’s getting late. Let’s talk next time~”

***

The door closed tightly.

Luo You went straight to her bed, wanting to get a good sleep.

She was tired from studying magic these past few days.

But less than half an hour later, she suddenly jumped up from bed.

“No! That’s wrong!!!”

What she needed wasn’t rest!

She wanted her big sister’s body to release the fatigue!

No wonder she was naturally connected to her big sister.

Just as the thought popped up, her phone rang.

It was Li Yun.

“Hello? You You? Can you come out for a bit?”

“Big Sister, your sneaky tone—are you trying to invite me out for a night of fun? When? I’ll wear some sexy stockings.”

“W-what?!”

Li Yun almost screamed, then lowered her voice to scold, “Don’t joke around! My sister’s right here!”

“Oh~ I’m free anytime. You can come find me whenever.”

“Alright, see you later. I’ll call you when I get there.”

I get to meet Big Sister~~

Taking advantage of the time, Luo You picked a pair of seductive stockings from her wardrobe and changed into a short skirt that showed them off perfectly.

No big sister could resist such temptation!

Ten minutes later.

“You You, I’m downstairs at your place. Come down.”

“Okay okay. Want me to book a hotel?”

“No no no, no need! I’ll be leaving soon!”

“Tch~”

Luo You’s excitement was immediately dampened.

So Big Sister wasn’t asking to hang out after all.

Well, no choice.

Being able to release some stress in Big Sister’s embrace was good enough.

Going downstairs, Li Yun hid in a dark corner like a mistress sneaking around to meet a married man.

When she saw Luo You come down, she immediately waved.

“Big Sister, you really look like you’re having an affair.”

“N-noisy!”

Li Yun blushed.

“Want to take a walk?”

“Sure, where’s your sister?”

“She’s not coming. You know, she has important Magical Girl duties.”

“Oh~ considering what happened, that makes sense.”

Luo You clearly understood why Li Yun suddenly came over—it was obviously related to the conflict between Xingyue and Manjusha.

Otherwise, with Big Sister’s fickle personality, she wouldn’t have come at a time like this!

Li Yun hesitated for a few seconds.

When they reached a bench in sight, she gathered courage and pulled Luo You to sit.

“You You, that Golden Scale… it’s you, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“You actually admitted it!?”

“Big Sister, you know Zhi Zhi wants to pull me in.”

There was no point hiding it from Xingyu and Li Yun, and besides, their help was welcome.

Li Yun had prepared herself mentally before coming and quickly calmed her restless heart, asking, “So You You, what do you think of the current situation?”

“What situation?”

“Ugh—”

Li Yun pouted.

“Still trying to act innocent at the conference? I mean the current state of the Magic Alliance!”

Of course.

Luo You helplessly shrugged.

“What can I say? Big Sister, you’re the Tenth Seat. Is it really okay to ask me? That’s basically signaling that even the Tenth Seat is uncertain about the current situation.”

“Uh! That’s… fine, because You You, you’re reliable.”

“I’m not reliable, so I don’t have much to say.”

Then, she slipped off her shoes, tracing curves along Big Sister’s legs with agile toes.

“But if Big Sister wants some psychological comfort… I can comfort you properly, you know?”

“Ugh—!”

Her smooth legs wrapped in black stockings rubbed against Li Yun’s waist, making her knees weak and eyes barely able to open.

***

“I-I don’t want… this kind of… uh… wow…”

“Hoho, Big Sister’s expression is so honest~ I’ll give you a little more teasing.”

Under the cover of night on the bench, they were doing some rather strange things.

But unlike usual, Li Yun didn’t completely fall into Luo You’s rhythm this time.

During their teasing, Li Yun glanced at Luo You somewhat disappointedly.

“Hey, You You, do you really… have no thoughts?”

“Nope.”

“Is that so… then do you know what Zhi Zhi thinks?”

The topic shifted back to that brat again.

Luo You blinked blankly.

“You and Zhi Zhi work together, why not just ask her directly?”

“I did ask… but her answer was evasive. That’s not her true thoughts.”

The atmosphere inside the Tenth Seat was strange.

The core of the issue, Xingyue and Manjusha, were unpredictable.

Xingyu and the others tried repeatedly to mediate and communicate but always felt they couldn’t get to the heart of the problem, never striking the key point.

Only the Fourth Seat, Zhi Zhi, seemed to know something, but when asked, she said nothing.

That’s why Li Yun came to talk to Luo You.

Luo You recalled how, when she asked Zhi Zhi earlier, Zhi Zhi had also dodged the question ambiguously.

“So you think I can get answers just by asking?”

“That’s what I think.”

Li Yun awkwardly looked away.

She knew Zhi Zhi was already ‘infected’ by You You—once you got that kind of infection, it meant whatever you asked, she’d answer.