“I’m not some girl-loving pervert you imagine me to be!”
Zhou Xi said sternly to Luo You.
“But you looked like you were enjoying it.”
“I was just—!”
Zhou Xi flushed with a mix of embarrassment and fury.
In just a few words, all her defenses had been torn down.
Why did Luo Zining’s guardian speak without filtering her thoughts?
“My apologies.”
Realizing she’d overstepped, Luo You immediately backed off.
“It seems I misunderstood everything. Magical girls all have their own sacred missions. How could they possibly indulge in something so base? That was rude of me.”
“…No, it’s fine.”
Luo You’s sincere apology left Zhou Xi with no room to stay mad, and the matter was quietly dropped between them.
Really, having a pretty face lets you get away with anything.
Just then, a resentful voice echoed behind Luo You.
“I’m. Back!”
“Oh, Zining, where did you go…? And who’s this?”
Behind Luo Zining stood a striking woman with a graceful figure.
Her beige hair was tied to one side, a beauty mark rested on the edge of her lips, and her daring swimsuit accentuated her curves.
She looked like a ripe peach, just begging to be picked.
Zining stepped aside and said, “This is my aunt, Ji Yue.”
“Huh? Your aunt? She’s so young!”
Luo You suddenly rose from the water, and for a moment, the temperature in the hot spring seemed to spike ten degrees.
A wave of heat surged uncontrollably inside her.
If Ji Yue was the most mature in terms of presence and figure, then Luo You was easily the most seductive.
“?!”
“This is—”
Luo You’s ultra-revealing swimsuit dealt a critical blow to everyone present.
She looked like a masterpiece from European art.
Erotic art.
Though European styles often leaned abstract, Luo You’s beauty was vivid and realistic—captivating to the modern eye.
“Uh, ahem.”
The stares from all directions secretly delighted her.
But then a cold breeze swept in, making her shiver and prompting her to sink back into the water.
“Uhh, cough— I’m Luo Zining’s guardian, Luo Youyou.”
Ji Yue frowned at that.
“So, you’re the one…”
Luo You added, “I think we’ve spoken over the phone before… Oh wait, maybe not.”
Ji Yue nodded without emotion, clearly indifferent to her presence.
She then turned to Zhou Xi and said, “Can we talk privately?”
“…Sure. Over there okay?”
“Works for me.”
The two of them moved to a smaller, more secluded pool.
Whatever they discussed wasn’t audible.
A member of the Magic Alliance?
Luo You’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully at the neighboring pool.
She had overheard earlier—Zining had gone to take a call from the Magic Alliance.
Then that would mean her aunt Ji Yue… could she be a magical girl too?
In this moment, surrounded by three magical girls, Luo You couldn’t help but start thinking deeper.
As her thoughts sharpened, the tips of her hair quietly tinged red.
Her pupils darkened into a deep blood hue, and her mind instantly cleared.
In this state, everything—every movement, every fluctuation—seemed to slow down.
Her senses processed double the information of a normal person.
She’d only tapped lightly into her Crimson Authority, focusing just on enhancing her hearing.
This wasn’t even 10% of its full power.
If fully unleashed, her hair would turn a deep, flowing crimson, like fresh blood, and she’d be able to make uncanny moves by processing environmental data—almost like seeing into the future.
The Crimson Authority was one of her most trusted powers—but maintaining the state was incredibly exhausting.
She remembered one time, after using it to the limit, she didn’t even have the strength left to enjoy the defeated magical girl at her feet.
That’s how it was.
[Let’s see… what are they talking about?]
Feigning indifference, Luo You leaned casually against the edge of the pool, eavesdropping.
Ji Yue said, “Within the Magic Alliance, I go by the codename Feiyu. You’ve heard of me, I assume?”
Zhou Xi replied, “So it is you… Of course I’ve heard of you. I didn’t expect a Ten Seat candidate to show up.”
Ji Yue said calmly, “It’s just a title. Looking at your track record, I’d say with a bit more effort, you could reach this level too.”
From what Luo You could make out, they were still exchanging formalities—nothing too interesting yet.
“So Zining’s aunt really is a magical girl… Tch. What are the odds?”
Ji Yue was likely here to talk about the dimensional beast incident in Huahai City a few days ago.
Luo You nodded to herself, but then paused mid-thought.
[‘Feiyu’… Why does that name sound so familiar?]
“Hey, old hag.”
“Huh? Zining, give me a break—I’m trying to rest.”
“Zhou Xi-senpai’s body must feel really nice, huh?”
“…What’s with that ridiculously jealous tone?”
Luo You had to divert some focus toward Zining again.
At this point, her precious daughter had bared her sharp little canines—like she was ready to bite.
“I saw everything when I stepped away to take that call. What exactly were you doing to Zhou Xi-senpai?”
“Giving her a massage.”
“Hmph~~? Really~? You just met her and already got your hands on her?”
Zining’s eyes dimmed into lifeless gray, like a deranged yandere from an anime.
But Luo You wasn’t about to humor her.
With arms akimbo, she barked, “Stop talking in riddles. If you’ve got something to say, just spit it out.”
Zining crossed her arms and lifted her chin high as she snapped back:
“You two-faced old creep! You say you’re not into magical girls, and the moment I step away, you’re already flirting with one!”
“Actually, I think you should be happy about this.”
“And why would I be happy?”
“Didn’t you say before that you wanted me to find you a mom? If I end up with Zhou Xi, wouldn’t that make your wish come true?”
Luo You grinned, beaming as she wielded this rhetorical sword like an imperial decree, aiming it straight at Luo Zining.
“T-That’s not the same thing!”
Zining’s eyes darted around nervously, clearly flustered.
“I did say I wanted you to find someone… but now… maybe it’s not necessary anymore.”
“How come?”
Luo You pressed.
There wasn’t any special reason—just a selfish little desire.
Unable to come up with a decent excuse, Zining stopped trying altogether.
She put one hand on her hip and jabbed a finger at Luo You’s forehead with the other.
“A-Anyway! Jumping straight to massages is totally shameless! You’re using your womanly charms to gain improper advantages!”
Ohhh~ Luo You got it now.
She could see where Zining was coming from.
If the roles were reversed—if one of her old classmates had transitioned into a woman and then strolled into the girls’ bathhouse to ogle and grope other women—Luo You would be the first to curse them out.
But if she was the one benefitting?
Well, that was a different story.
“Don’t say it like that. Poor Zhou Xi was forced into an intense physical ordeal by a terrible woman and is now sore all over. I was just helping her relax, that’s all.”
Luo You spoke righteously, like an upright citizen.
If you conveniently ignored the fact that she was the terrible woman in question, then yes, she was indeed being helpful.
Fair.
Just.
Honest.
“I-I was almost forced to mature by a terrible woman too!”
Luo Zining blurted out.
“Nani?! Who the hell—tell me, I’ll make sure she can’t walk for a month—”
Luo You’s voice trailed off, her righteous fury collapsing under the weight of her guilt. Wasn’t she the one who did that?
“Ah… mm, yeah… if I ever run into her, I’ll… I’ll really give it to her!”
“Heh.”
Zining just smiled and said nothing.
That woman was none other than the infamous Aurora Witch, Herrera.
With a body and face like that, Dad was probably toyed with until she cried every tear dry.
Still, Luo You couldn’t help but fume the more she thought about it.
She had massaged Zhou Xi all for her daughter’s future (not really, but still), and now even the one benefitting from it was looking down on her?
She rolled her shoulders with exaggerated flair and let her tone drip with sarcasm.
“Instead of scolding me about who I’m massaging, don’t you think, as my daughter, there’s something more important you should be doing?”
“Fine! You want a massage? You’ll get one! Watch me do it better than anyone!”
Luo Zining rolled up her nonexistent sleeves, full of gusto.
“Get down and lie still!”
Huh?
Why was she suddenly so eager?
Suspicious, Luo You lay down by the edge of the pool, her lower half still submerged in the water.
“…Gulp.”
Staring at the flawless, alabaster-like body stretched out before her, Luo Zining reached out with a trembling hand.
Touch.
So soft—so smooth—aaaaaaaahhh!!!
Finally, peace.
Luo You lay there motionless, eyes closed, listening in on the nearby conversation between Zhou Xi and Ji Yue.
If she turned her head now, she’d definitely see the look on Luo Zining’s face—one of utter bliss, like she was ascending to heaven.
……
Ji Yue said, “I heard that two days ago, in order to bring my niece back from Herrera, you sacrificed yourself?”
Zhou Xi lowered her head slightly.
“I’m ashamed. That woman’s strength is beyond reason. I gave it everything I had, and this was all I could do.”
“It’s not your fault. Anyone else would’ve ended up the same.”
Ji Yue shook her head.
Herrera wasn’t someone you could just beat.
If Zhou Xi had won, it would’ve only humiliated all the magical girls who’d lost to her before.
“Though none of this is public knowledge… there are over forty magical girls I know of who’ve been defeated by that wretched woman.”
In the neighboring pool, Luo You’s eyes flew open. She stood up without thinking, water cascading down her body.
Excuse me?
Who just called me a wretched woman?!
Think about it—every magical girl she’d ever “conquered” ended up crying and calling her “Master” or “Daddy.”
No one ever dared to insult her like that!
And then Ji Yue added softly, “…I was one of them.”
Splash!
The so-called wretched woman collapsed back into the water with a loud splash.
“Dad? Did I press too hard just now?”
Zining asked nervously.
“…No, it’s fine. Keep going.”
Luo You brushed her soaked hair aside and lay back down again.
But clearly, she was panicking.
My daughter’s aunt… lost to me once?
She didn’t even need to imagine what that entailed.
Hoho~
Luo You suddenly remembered why the name “Feiyu” rang a bell—it dated back ten years.
Feiyu… was the magical girl she had once tied to a tree, covered in honey oil, and left to the mercy of ants for over an hour.
The one who’d gone cross-eyed, mouth slack, lost in that sweet agony.
She still had the CG saved in her memory stone.
Out of her many “hunts”, that particular conquest ranked among the top—so memorable, so exquisite, she had never forgotten it.
What a sin.
And that poor girl turned out to be her daughter’s aunt?!
Luo You snuck a glance at the unaware Luo Zining behind her and was filled with crushing guilt.
After committing such an atrocity, did she still have the right to enjoy her daughter’s massage?
Every time Zining’s fingers dug into her shoulders, it felt like she was reaching into her soul to collect a debt.
She was doomed. Absolutely doomed.