“Still nervous?”
“N-nervous? I’m not nervous at all! Something like this, Xuan Guang Pi Fu just needs to ‘pop pop’ twice and it’s done!”
“…What should we do, Qiu Yu? Isn’t it risky for her to go on stage like this? The audience might actually die!”
Behind the stage, the magical girls of Huahai City gathered together.
Luozining sat at the center of the group, her head bowed deeply.
The most experienced among them, Qiu Yu, patted her shoulder and said, “It’s okay, Little Red Riding Hood. Today is just a brief spotlight moment for you. Most magical girls feel just like you during their first time on stage. Even if you fail, the audience will be understanding. No need to be so nervous.”
“Y-yeah! Ahahaha… my Xuan Guang Pi Fu is already itching to go!”
“…No, you better let your Xuan Guang Pi Fu cool down first.”
Luozining was still so nervous that she couldn’t speak smoothly.
Appearing in front of so many people wasn’t that difficult, but the main reason for her anxiety was that she had just seen her old man in the crowd.
【What do I do, what do I do… if Dad sees me… aaaaaahhh!!】
Luozining muttered to herself, then suddenly raised her head and grabbed Qiu Yu’s hand, pleading, “Can’t I just not go on stage? Isn’t it okay if I’m only introduced in the video?”
“No, it’s part of being a magical girl!”
Qiu Yu refused firmly.
The relationship between magical girls and the public wasn’t always smooth.
Most of the time, when magical girls went to hunt Dimensional Beasts, collateral damage to residents’ property was almost unavoidable.
In such cases, magical girls would often face harsh criticism and verbal attacks.
That’s why it was necessary to maintain regular contact with the public, to turn around this negative reputation.
In times like these, media channels became extremely important!
Take the paranormal organization, for example — even when they killed both hostages and criminals during rescues, they still earned widespread public approval, all thanks to support and promotion from official media.
Without that backing, they would have been drowned in slander long ago.
Magical girls, lacking official media support, had to firmly pursue a popular, approachable entertainment route to win broad public recognition.
This was the duty of second- and third-tier magical girls.
When Luozining was still a trainee, today was already considered a late debut.
“Little Red Riding Hood, do you hear the voices outside? The audience is really looking forward to you. Listen—”
Qiu Yu led her to the side door of the stage and cracked it open, letting in the roaring clamors of a crowd.
“Little Red Riding Hood! Little Red Riding Hood!”
“Magical girls are the best!”
“Damn it, give me back my house! You bombed my building just a few days ago, didn’t you?”
“Can you wear your skirt a little shorter?”
“Qiu Yu! Qiu Yu! Gentle like rain!”
Luozining closed the side door, and the room grew quiet again.
“Hear that? The cheers and longing from the audience—they’re all eager to see a new magical girl.”
“But I thought I heard…”
Qiu Yu cut her off, “Alright, the audience’s enthusiasm is our driving force. Cheer up!”
“Uh.”
Luozining hesitated, but somehow the pressure seemed to ease, as if a weight had been lifted.
So annoying, stupid~~!
It’s just one bombing of your building! It’s your own damn Dimensional Beast’s fault!
She wasn’t the type to pass the buck, but equally, she wouldn’t willingly take the blame.
Ding ding—
The bell outside rang, and Qiu Yu stood up.
“Alright, it’s time to go on stage.”
“Okay!”
“If there’s anything you can’t answer, we’ll cover for you.”
Luozining clenched her fists and stepped onto the warmly glowing stage.
“Wow——————”
The volume surged several times over in an instant, washing over her face like a tidal wave.
Even the world seemed to renew itself at this moment.
“Little Red Riding Hood! Little Red Riding Hood!”
“Her outfit is so cute!! Take a picture! Tomorrow I’m buying the same costume at the cosplay shop!”
“Damn it, give me back my house! Damn it—!”
“Look here and smile!”
How many people were there?
A thousand?
Ten thousand?
No individual faces were visible, just a flowing sea of people stretching out in waves.
For a first stage appearance, such a big crowd was overwhelming.
This was the power of a magical girl’s influence—everyone came because of the title “magical girl.” Alongside their obligations came corresponding rights.
“Hello everyone, I’m the new magical girl who officially joined recently, Little Red Riding Hood! Please take care of me!”
“Woohoo——————!”
Listening to the audience’s cheers, Luozining finally revealed a sincere smile.
So this is how it feels to perform on stage…
“Little Red Riding Hood! Little Red Riding Hood! Hum hum ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah——————”
Gei!
Her confident expression immediately broke, and her smile stiffened.
In the front row less than ten meters away—
A silver-haired fluffball stood out dramatically in the crowd, screaming through a megaphone with a voice nearly drowning out everyone else.
A red cloth strip was wrapped around their forehead, festooned with countless red glow sticks.
The whole person bounced around like dough dancing in flames.
Someone you just wanted to stomp flat.
Seeing this, Luozining instantly wilted like a burnt-out torch, drained of color.
【Why is Dad here aaaaaahhhhhh!】
She wanted to cover her face with her hands, abandon her magical girl duties, and run to the ends of the earth, never to return.
“Fight! Little Red Riding Hood! You’re the best! Little Red Riding Hood! You’re the fiery new dawn lighting up my heart!”
“I love you!!”
Qiu Yu, who was sharing the stage with Luozining, couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed hearing that cheer.
Truly… a brave person.
It takes no small courage to shout out support so loudly.
Almost the entire front two rows were not looking at the stage, but were focused solely on Luoyou.
Qiu Yu glanced at Luozining, silently asking if she recognized the person in the crowd, but Luozining averted her eyes.
No choice, just carry on as usual.
The stage music began to play, drowning out the cheers below.
Obviously, Little Red Riding Hood’s movements faltered, barely keeping up with her teammates, and her voice trembled slightly.
Below the stage—
Luoyou secretly chuckled to herself.
Serves you right for spreading rumors that I’m gay!
For destroying my muscles!
It’s so satisfying to get some payback!
“Well, the prank has gone far enough…”
Luoyou took off her ridiculous full armor, then opened her bag and pulled out a red garment, draping it over herself.
On stage, Luozining’s gaze was instantly drawn to that glaring red.
【That’s…】
Her pupils slowly contracted.
【The same… costume as mine?】
【Huh? How does she have it? Has she ever seen me somewhere?】
Luozining stared at Luoyou in astonishment.
Even though it was just the outer cloak, the details were terribly sloppy—must have been thrown together at the last minute?
Yet she could still feel the heat radiating from it.
Below, Luoyou pulled out a banner from her bag, holding it high above her head—
“Little Red Riding Hood forever supported!”
Boom!
In an instant, the stage seemed to burst into flames, glowing a dazzling red.
Luoyou had no idea what kind of image her actions painted in Luozining’s eyes, but after this display, Luozining’s performance finally stabilized.
Moreover, she began to radiate a charm strong enough to attract attention and steal the audience’s gaze.
***
Later, Luoyou got thoroughly beaten by Luozining.
At home, Luoyou held her head, expressionless, and asked, “Why’d you hit me all of a sudden? You unfilial girl.”
“No reason, just a whim… (awkward smile)”
Luozining’s eyes shone with white light, her fists radiating incredible heat—like a killing god risen from hell.
Her aura was so strong that even Luoyou didn’t dare talk back.
Maybe the prank went a bit too far.
“Dad, did you go to a concert today?”
“Huh? How do you know?”
Luoyou feigned surprise but got a glare in return.
“You searched online yourself. Your stupid face is all over the internet!”
“Huh!? No way!”
This time Luoyou was genuinely shocked.
Opening her short video app, the first recommendation was a clip from today’s concert, capturing her spectacular antics in the audience.
Honestly, it was so embarrassing…
Damn it, who the hell filmed me?
And in such clear quality!
Luozining snorted impatiently, “Luckily they didn’t catch your face straight on. You better pray no one digs up more about you!”
“N-not really, right?”
“What do you mean ‘not really’? There might really be someone like that! If you get exposed, I’ll be embarrassed right alongside you!”
“Uh—s-sorry…”
“Hmph, good that you know.”
Silence lingered for a moment.
“Do you really like that, that… that Xiao Hong Mao so much?”
“Huh?”
Luoyou looked up and saw her daughter’s cheeks flush faintly, not even glancing her way.
Slap! Luozining slammed the table and leaned in to demand loudly, “I mean! You made such a big fuss—what’s so special about that Little Red Riding Hood?”
Luoyou smirked, weighing her words.
“Oh, it’s not exactly like that.”
“Huh?!”
Luozining’s brows furrowed deeply.
“Then why did you act like a fool showing off like that!”
“Guess.”
Duang!
Luoyou clutched her newly bruised head and shouted after Luozining’s retreating back, “You’ll get your comeuppance for this.”
“Nyah nyah nyah~~~!”
Back in her room, Luozining opened her phone and frantically searched for videos from today’s concert audience.
She downloaded and saved every clip that showed Luoyou, hiding them in the most secret folder.
After a long while, she rolled over and stared at the ceiling, exhaling in frustration.
“Sigh————”
“What should I do from now on… I was planning to go on stage a few more times, then apply to transfer to the Border Customs Department for some real training. This is making me not want to leave…”
“Stinky old man… you better take responsibility…”
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