Chapter 31: The Little One Who Broke Into My Life

“I understand.”

Olivia’s voice returned to its usual cold clarity, but deep within her ice-blue eyes, a turbulent undercurrent of complex emotions swirled.

“This information… is very useful.”

She gave a slight nod, her gaze sweeping over the two young Magical Girls before her.

“You may leave now.”

Mu Yurou and Huang Xi exchanged a glance, a mixture of relief and unresolved worry flickering between them, then respectfully exited the office.

The heavy door closed softly, cutting off the noise from outside.

Silence reclaimed the room.

Afternoon sunlight slanted through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows on the floor.

Olivia did not immediately sit down.

She walked to the window, crossing her arms over her chest, her gaze penetrating the glass, unfocused as it rested on the distant city skyline.

Her silhouette was upright yet solitary.

In her mind, information crashed and collided like a storm.

The Abyssal Sludge Beast that attacked Red Sea City… the report described its strength as far surpassing that of an ordinary Abyssal-Class Magical Girl.

And that terrifying presence that nearly wiped out an entire Magical Girl Squad…

Was ultimately… cleanly sliced into minced flesh by some unknown power?

That horrifying destructive force…

If it truly was Teacher… she was completely capable of it!

And…

Teacher’s account…

That password… she had deduced it from that one secret glimpse she’d accidentally caught…

No one else in this world should know it!

Who is it?!

Could it be… Teacher herself?

The thought struck her like thunder exploding in her mind!

Could it be… Teacher is coming back?

An indescribable flutter instantly clutched at her heart!

But the next second, cold reality poured over her like a bucket of ice water—

Why… hasn’t she contacted me?

Ah… right…

A bitter smile twisted at the corners of Olivia’s mouth.

Teacher… has already become a Witch…

A Witch… would she ever voluntarily contact her student, the so-called “Witch Hunter”?

She slowly turned around; the ice-blue eyes now held no warmth, only a heavy, almost ruthless resolve.

She was a Magical Girl…

Yuri, the Witch Hunter…

Her mission upon arriving in Red Sea City… was a Witch Hunt!

She had personally ended more than one fallen soul…

Witches… inherited all memories and knowledge from their original selves…

But their core was twisted into bloodthirsty, insane monsters who delighted in toying with life!

If… if Teacher really became such an existence…

If Teacher… was truly hurting innocents…

Then…

Olivia’s fingers clenched unconsciously, her nails digging deeply into her palm.

Then… I can only…

She abruptly closed her eyes, forcibly suppressing the searing pain and soul-rending struggle within!

No matter what!

Now… I have to find her!

Find Teacher!

And then…

Stand before her myself…

And ask clearly!

Her gaze returned to the window, like the sharpest probe scanning the vast, unfamiliar city below.

Thousands of lights flickered on in the twilight, like a river of stars reflected on the ground.

Beneath every light could be the figure she longed for day and night, yet feared to face.

Teacher…

You’re hiding somewhere in this city’s… shadowed corners…

Her eyes hardened into the icy chill of tempered steel.

I will find you…

Teacher…

No matter… what you’ve become…

***

Since that stern conversation a few days ago, Mu Ming seemed to have calmed considerably.

She no longer sneaked out at night “for fun,” nor acted out in extreme ways.

Most of the time, she quietly stayed close to Mu Xi, occasionally mumbling a few soft complaints.

She truly looked like a little girl who knew she’d caused trouble, throwing a tantrum but unable to resist drawing near.

Of course, there was one habit she never changed—

She still stubbornly liked to cling tightly to Mu Xi at night to fall asleep.

At this moment, the night was deep and still.

Cool moonlight flowed like liquid mercury, slipping silently through the cracks in the curtains.

On the bed, it traced the outline of two bodies entwined.

Mu Xi lay on her side, her gaze fixed on Mu Ming, curled up beside her, clutching her right arm tightly.

The moonlight gently sketched Mu Ming’s sleeping profile; her long eyelashes cast tiny fan-shaped shadows beneath her eyelids, making her look unusually peaceful and harmless.

“What are you looking at?”

Mu Ming’s sleepy, muffled voice came from the crook of Mu Xi’s arm without opening her eyes.

“…Go to sleep soon…”

“You’re holding on so tightly…”

Mu Xi’s voice held a hint of helplessness and barely perceptible indulgence.

“…How can I sleep?”

She paused, adding with a serious tone, “Besides… I have to watch over you… can’t let you sneak out again at night…”

“I don’t even have a physical form right now…”

Mu Ming grumbled unhappily, nuzzling her head against Mu Xi’s arm as if seeking a more comfortable spot.

“…Relax… relax…”

“…Really…”

Her voice grew quieter, thick with drowsiness.

“…Why don’t you trust me…”

“You…”

Mu Xi looked at the gentle sleeping face bathed in moonlight and sighed softly.

“…You really are hard to trust…”

“Ugh~”

Mu Ming let out a whiny, aggrieved snort, like a small protest.

She sulked, burying her face deeper into Mu Xi’s arm like a petulant little beast.

Mu Xi said nothing more.

She lay back, staring at the ceiling, faintly silvered by moonlight.

Her thoughts drifted.

Life these past few days…

Because of this reckless little creature barging in…

Seemed… really less lonely and desolate.

Her old self…

Like a hedgehog with its spines raised.

Living in isolation, detached.

Locked tightly within a thick shell.

Refusing anyone’s approach…

Afraid that her “contamination” and “sin” would hurt others.

Even her closest sister, Little Rou… kept a careful distance.

But she…

Mu Xi’s gaze involuntarily returned to that furry head nestled in her arm.

This little one, claiming to be her dark side…

Was like a wild wind blowing in recklessly…

In the most direct, reckless, and even somewhat bratty way…

Just stormed in!

Pulling her out shopping…

Dragging her to the movies…

Clinging to her for all kinds of food…

Filling her formerly empty, pale time with those childish, noisy, and even ridiculous demands.

It was as if…

Since this little one appeared…

She had… never dreamed again of that cold, hopeless rainy night?

This little creature was not a Disaster-Class Broodmother.

A steady, even breathing came from the crook of her arm.

It seemed the little one had fallen into a deep sleep.

That warm breath seeped through the thin fabric of her pajamas, soothing her skin.

A strange, long-lost peace wrapped around her like warm water.

Mu Xi’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier…

As if filled with lead…

What exactly was her purpose?

Her consciousness slowly sank into that dreamless darkness warmed by body heat and breath.