Chapter 217: Contrasting Mindsets

【What is this rebellious girl up to?】

Luo You was baffled by Luo Zining’s attitude.

You’re a Magical Girl, and yet when you see me—the true Witch—you’re not even afraid, but actually find it amusing?

Aren’t you a bit too disrespectful?

So she went up and landed a lightning-fast elbow at her.

Surprisingly, it actually hit!

Lost in her own fantasies, Luo Zining was caught off guard and took the blow directly, clutching her stomach and collapsing to the ground.

The elbow was a bit heavy; if Luo Zining weren’t a Magical Girl, her body tougher than most, she’d probably be coughing up blood from that hit.

“Seriously, do you even deserve to be called a Magical Girl?”

Luo You’s face was filled with disbelief.

She couldn’t believe that a casual move on her part had actually worked.

This changed things abruptly, elevating it to a level Luo You considered rather serious.

It was like a parent joking about how their son, whom they’d painstakingly raised for years, might be gay—and it turns out, he really is!

There’s just no laughing at a joke like that.

Utter shock was followed by utter disappointment.

Luo You planted a foot on Luo Zining’s head, grinding it in ruthlessly.

“With this level, I really don’t know what Elera saw in you. Go play your little house games.”

She was genuinely disappointed, feeling like all the effort she’d put into this rebellious girl was thrown down the drain.

They’d been at the front lines for so long, and she didn’t even have the most basic sense of vigilance.

Luo You had thought this rebellious girl had grown a bit—but no, this was all she had.

Hopeless!

With this kind of awareness, if she ever ran into real danger, Luo You would still be the one to bail her out.

If she’d known it’d be this troublesome, she’d have let her stay in Huahai City with Xue, living a calm, repetitive life.

At least she wouldn’t face major dangers, so what was the point of going to the front?

Why did she ever support her going to the front lines in the first place?

【Oh, right, it was so she wouldn’t keep causing me trouble.】

Luo You recalled her original intention.

Of course, that was only secondary; the main reason was that Luo You thought sending this rebellious girl out for some toughening up would really help her grow.

That’s why she supported her trip to Jiuming Sea.

***

“!? Why’d you suddenly attack me?”

Luo Zining, finally recovering her HP after that elbow, sprang up and shouted in anger, “Are you trying to get me killed?!”

Luo You placed one hand on her hip, knees slightly bent, her center of gravity leaning forward, not taking the rebellious girl’s anger seriously at all.

“What? You have something to say for yourself? With that performance, you can’t even pass my test, let alone be Elera’s disciple.”

“I was just spacing out for a moment—?!”

Her stomach took another hard hit, and Luo Zining collapsed again.

This time, her eyes were unfocused; she lay on the ground for a long while, not snapping out of it, as the Gray Witch’s mocking voice echoed in her ears.

“Hilarious… The same move worked twice on the same person in such a short time! Couldn’t you tell I was already in an attack stance?”

“I think you’d be better off not staying at the front lines. Go back where you came from. There’s nothing wrong with hiding in the rear as a rookie Magical Girl.”

Not coming.

Luo Zining curled up on the ground, not even daring to look up at the other person.

Even after Luo You left, and the pain in her stomach faded, she lay there like she’d lost her soul, unable to get up for a long time.

It felt like something was about to well up from her eyes, but she bit her lip and forced it back.

How humiliating…

She couldn’t believe how ridiculous she’d been before…

“Was it really not Dad?” she whispered to herself.

She desperately hoped she’d made a mistake.

If the Gray Witch wasn’t Lao Deng, then it was just her losing her mind and misunderstanding everything.

But if she was… that would mean Lao Deng was completely disappointed in her.

She’d weathered plenty since becoming a Magical Girl, but she’d never imagined her dream would be almost shattered by just two elbows.

“Little Red Riding Hood? Can you hear me? Where are you?”

“Eh, A-Auntie…?”

“What did you call me?”

“…Sorry.”

“Little Red Riding Hood?”

Ji Yue sensed something was off.

“Where are you?”

“I’m going home to rest for today… Sorry, Auntie.”

Luo Zining wandered back to her place in a daze.

***

200 km away from Huahai City, in a rental apartment in Qingping City.

“Xue.”

“You!”

Luo You ignored the hopping Xue who came to greet her, carrying a bag of drinks to the fridge.

“I bought you Coke—zero sugar, vanilla flavor, the classic, Pepsi too. Don’t make trouble for me.”

“…Oh.”

Xue stared blankly, tilting her head in confusion.

Usually, wouldn’t this be when Luo You snapped back with, “Your mom’s head, Xue!”?

Something’s off, really off!

Maybe Luo You was in a good mood today?

Can’t let the opportunity slip! Xue immediately repeated her earlier request, “You, I want to team up with you!”

“Sigh—”

Luo You sighed, chilling Xue’s heart.

She looked at Xue and asked, “Tell me, even if you do tag along, what are you planning to do? Compete with me to be a Magical Girl? I’ll flatten you.”

“I can help you beat up Magical Girls!”

Just listen to this goofball’s wild talk.

It sounded tempting, but she decided against it.

Even that average-IQ Luo Zining managed to make such a mess; as for Xue… hard to say.

She might end up selling out her own secret by mistake.

With Luo Zining already serving as a negative example, Luo You was even less willing to let this one go out there.

If she had the same expectations for Xue as she did for Luo Zining—letting her leave her cocoon and tag along—she’d probably end up with even bigger problems.

Facing Xue’s hopeful gaze, Luo You replied, “Scram.”

“Okay!”

She was gone in a flash.

Xue immediately scurried to her computer desk and started gaming obediently.

Time slowly passed.

The nonstop clatter of keyboard and mouse and the flashing screen lights made Luo You feel irritated again.

Especially seeing Xue so absorbed in her games—she grew even more annoyed.

This feeling was oddly similar to how she felt around that rebellious girl in the past.

Why was she feeling the same way toward Xue?

Luo You didn’t know, but a thought suddenly occurred to her.

【In the end… was I really just trying to get the rebellious girl out of my hair by sending her away back then?】

Luo You asked herself honestly.

Pondering the question, looking at Xue, she could only come up with an answer so vague it was barely visible.

“Xue.”

“Hey!”

Luo You took off Xue’s headset. “I’m talking to you!”

“What’s up?”

Xue answered, sneaking glances at her computer screen.

Oh no, just two more kills and I’ll get the Fearless Warrior—can’t let someone steal them!

“Never mind, go back to your game.”

Luo You put the headset back on her.

“I’m heading out. Call me if you need anything. If you can’t reach me, just wait.”

“Okay!”

With those unresolved feelings, Luo You returned to Huahai City.

She didn’t go home but transformed into a Magical Girl and headed to the Huahai City branch.

“Golden, Scaled, Giant, Man!”

Magical Girl Moshui dashed over and asked ingratiatingly, “The Ten Seats are forming a stability squad, could you be in my team? (Stare)”