Chapter 19: Ward

Thud thud thud…….. The sound of gunfire echoed. Bullets whistled past her ears.

“Are the enemies coming again?”

Darkness surrounded her, filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder.

“Prepare to respond to the aberrant beast attack………”

Her wounds burned fiercely, pain making it impossible to rest.

“Watch your back!”

An explosion, shockwaves… deafening.

“Five hundred meters, four hundred meters, three hundred! Two hundred! Prepare for contact!”

A burst of light flared, too dazzling to look at directly.

“Mission accomplished, you did well.” The figure before her was blurred.

“Bai Lingyi………………”

In the end, it was all in vain.

Fragments of memories flashed by, jumbled without order.

It felt like she had been on a forced march of over ten kilometers—Porcelain Moon felt utterly exhausted in body and soul.

Then, white crystals blossomed, newborn flowers filling the battlefield.

Everything quieted down; the pain in her wounds faded, the irritating noises disappeared, and Porcelain Moon’s mind and body began to relax.

Whispers seemed to brush past her ears as she gradually regained consciousness.

Suddenly, fragmented memories connected, shattered mirrors in her mind piecing together; countless memories flooded her heart in an instant.

She snapped her eyes open.

A ceiling she didn’t recognize.

“You’re awake, Porcelain Moon.”

Porcelain Moon sat up and saw a soldier sitting beside her, two golden stars gleaming on his shoulder epaulets.

“Ah, General Chen.”

She looked around—it was a hospital ward. Bandages wrapped her body tightly. She quickly asked, “What happened? Has that Kingdom-Class Aberrant Beast been dealt with?”

“Porcelain Moon, just focus on healing. The aberrant beast has been handled. You don’t need to worry about it anymore,” Chen Hanjun told her.

“That’s a relief.” Porcelain Moon breathed out.

Suddenly, Chen Hanjun stood up and strode to the foot of the bed, standing straight and tall.

“General Chen, may I ask why?”

Chen Hanjun raised his right hand and gave a solemn military salute to her.

“I am Chen Hanjun, Lieutenant General of the Central Military District, representing the Former Northern Field Army’s 54th Army Group, 163rd Infantry Division, as well as the reorganized 26th Group Army’s 138th and 199th Divisions. On behalf of all the soldiers, I thank you for your sacrifice.”

“The Former Northern Field Army… they still remember that incident,” Porcelain Moon murmured. That military district had since been reorganized, with all its subordinate units broken up and rebuilt.

Chen Hanjun finished the salute, took off his military cap, and sat back down beside her.

“We have never forgotten you,” Chen said. He knew she had originated from the Northern Field Army, a vital force resisting the main invasion of northern aberrant beasts.

The casualty rates had been high for two decades, and every soldier from the Northern Field Army was a hero.

***

After becoming a Magical Girl, Porcelain Moon had been assigned to the frontlines. Her prior military experience helped her adapt to intense combat.

She had saved her original unit—the 163rd Infantry Division.

Following this operation, she had also saved the joint command of the 26th Group Army and the Central Magic Administration Bureau of Zhonghe Province.

If not for her special identity, she would have received countless public honors.

“No need to thank me so much. It’s my duty,” Porcelain Moon said. “By the way, about my condition…” She glanced toward the closed door, unsure if anyone was outside.

Chen Hanjun understood and gestured for her not to bring it up.

Porcelain Moon felt helpless. She could switch back to her male body, which was uninjured and allowed free movement.

But due to the S-Class Magical Girl Confidentiality Ordinance, she couldn’t expose her male identity publicly.

“Alright then.” Porcelain Moon guessed her Magical Girl body’s strong regenerative abilities would have her fully recovered within a day, so there was no rush.

Just then, knocking sounded at the door. Chen Hanjun opened it, and Ma Xinyin walked in.

“Porcelain Moon, you’re awake.” Ma Xinyin approached and gently checked her burn wounds. “Luckily, though severe, they’re not fatal.”

“Big Sister Ma, I’m not dying here, no need to fuss.”

Ma Xinyin pinched her wound sharply.

“Ow!” Porcelain Moon cried out. “What are you doing!?”

“Shut up. Do you know you almost died? If that neutron warhead had been just a moment later, you’d have been blasted to ashes by the charged particle beam.”

“But if it weren’t for me, half the command would have died. Besides, these were superior orders. I had no choice but to carry them out. It was a necessary sacrifice.”

Porcelain Moon replied flatly; at that moment, she had already put life and death aside.

“Alright, alright. Just rest here for now. We’ll talk about your return once you’re discharged.”

“Eh!? I don’t want to be a Magical Girl anymore, it’s exhausting!” Porcelain Moon immediately reacted to the mention of her comeback.

“You think you have the right to refuse?” Ma Xinyin gave a perfectly timed smile—a smile that was more scary than comforting in Porcelain Moon’s eyes.

“Treating me like a beast of burden………..”

“Well, I have a lot to do, I’m off for now. Porcelain Moon, come find me at the Magic Control Bureau after you’re discharged and we’ll discuss your return.”

“You old witch, leave sooner!” Porcelain Moon grumbled.

Ma Xinyin pushed the door open and left.

“Xiaoyue, you really have it rough.” Chen Hanjun smiled too.

He patted Porcelain Moon’s shoulder.

“We’ll be fighting side by side again. For now, just focus on healing. I have matters to attend to. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, General Chen.”

Chen Hanjun donned his cap and left the room.

“Eh…………… this is ridiculous.”

Porcelain Moon thought she was alone when a girl with long, straight black hair walked in.

Upon seeing her face, Porcelain Moon instinctively blurted, “Luo Xi!?”

Luo Xi was surprised. “Eh, Senior Porcelain Moon, do you know me?”

Porcelain Moon froze.

She had accidentally said her sister’s name—she panicked.

“Ah… I’m more concerned about juniors, so I know your name………….” Porcelain Moon scrambled for an excuse, but she knew her poor lie wouldn’t fool her sister’s sharp eyes.

Unexpectedly, Luo Xi blushed.

“I didn’t expect a retired senior to care about me so much. I feel truly honored…” Luo Xi sat down beside her and lowered her head in shame.

“Thank you for coming back to take over my missions and for getting hurt so badly for me. I feel I have failed you.”

Porcelain Moon had never been treated like this by her sister before and felt a little awkward.

“It’s, it’s nothing. I’m fine. Fighting aberrant beasts is my duty. You don’t need to blame yourself so much.” Porcelain Moon comforted the bowed Luo Xi.

Luo Xi reached out and took Porcelain Moon’s hand—this time it was Porcelain Moon who blushed.

“Um, Miss Luo Xi………………”

Luo Xi lifted her head and said, “I have always looked up to Senior Porcelain Moon. Before becoming a Magical Girl, it was your actions and teachings that inspired me to fight for justice and sacrifice myself.”

“That’s why I became a Magical Girl. I want to be a reliable great hero like you, Senior Porcelain Moon.” Luo Xi said firmly.

Porcelain Moon could only awkwardly smile, never expecting her sister to see her this way………

“By the way, Senior Porcelain Moon, I just heard Director Ma say you’re making a comeback. Is that true?” Luo Xi asked.

That sister of hers—how did she get into the habit of eavesdropping?

Porcelain Moon worried about her sister’s bad habit.

“As for my return, I’ll discuss it with Director Ma. But, Miss Luo Xi, do you want me to come back?”

“Of course! Senior Porcelain Moon is the great hero of Zhonghe Province. Having you back to guide me would be the greatest blessing. I’ve been looking forward to this day for so long.”

Luo Xi smiled sincerely, a smile Porcelain Moon loved to see.

But did I say I was going to guide you? As expected of my little sister, always imagining things—Porcelain Moon thought to herself.

Still, if she could get along happily with her sister this way, Porcelain Moon thought it would be another kind of happiness.

So she said, “For Luo Xi’s sake, I will definitely agree to come back. I actually like you a lot too.”

“Really!? Senior, where do you live? I’ll come visit you.” Luo Xi said excitedly, squeezing Porcelain Moon’s hand tighter.

“That’s a secret. Have you forgotten the S-Class Magical Girl Confidentiality Ordinance? Although the list of secrets no longer grows, it’s still in effect, and I’m one of the key protected persons.”

Porcelain Moon said.

Luo Xi was a little disappointed but leaned closer like a cute kitten and whispered, “Senior Porcelain Moon, after you’re discharged, do you want to hang out with me? I have a few days off coming up.”

“I… I’ll see how things go.” Porcelain Moon could only say that. Her usually aloof sister seemed like a different person right now. Porcelain Moon was completely dumbfounded.

“Then that counts as a promise, Senior. Don’t forget it.” Luo Xi stood up as her communicator beeped—looks like another mission.

“I still have some finishing tasks. Senior Porcelain Moon, I’ll take my leave now. Bye~”

Porcelain Moon gave a stiff wave, watching Luo Xi leave the room.

“Why is this happening? How did things end up like this…………” Porcelain Moon murmured to herself, unable to think straight.

Fate sure is toying with me.