Chapter 62: Led Inside by the Big Sister

The living room was in complete disarray.

Liyun curled up on the sofa, hugging a thick quilt tightly.

A window was left slightly ajar, and a cold wind whispered in.

The faucet over the sink hadn’t been fully closed, dripping water relentlessly.

On the dining table lay a pile of dishes long since cooled; in the chilly air, the grease had begun to congeal.

“Sister… still hasn’t come back… is she really angry?”

Liyun murmured softly, shrinking deeper into the quilt, unwilling to come out.

She had never seen her sister say those kinds of words to her before.

They had grown up together since childhood.

Even after losing their biological parents, anyone who wanted to adopt them had to take both or none at all.

Nothing could ever drive a wedge between their bond.

They considered each other’s lives more important than their own safety.

Yet,

Why… did things end up like this?

Liyun recalled the way Ji Meng had shouted at her before — it wasn’t some provocative tactic to spur her on, but words spoken straight from her heart.

Her sister was tired of taking care of her.

—I want you to look at me too!!

Liyun shut her eyes tight in fear.

That hysterical scream from Ji Meng only made her more unwilling to meet her gaze.

“You said I was worthless… but aren’t you just the same… still clinging to Eleira so desperately…” she muttered quietly, complaining.

After being scolded like that by Ji Meng, Liyun realized her mistakes.

But she couldn’t change.

That woman — in just one night — had left a mark deeper in her heart than her sister ever could, impossible to erase.

Like a curse, that woman’s image echoed endlessly in her mind.

She also understood that, as a magical girl, this was a serious failure — to be captured by the enemy and still be obsessed with them was something to be condemned by everyone.

Everything had started because of the magical girl.

Her current predicament was because of the magical girl.

If she weren’t a magical girl, Eleira wouldn’t have targeted her.

If she weren’t a magical girl, her sister wouldn’t have scolded her for negligence.

If she weren’t a magical girl, as an ordinary person, she would have admired her sister even more and longed for her all the more.

“Why… did I become a magical girl…”

Liyun buried her face in her knees, moaning in pain.

The path of a magical girl was harsh and grueling — nothing like the glamorized stories online.

But as long as she and her sister overcame hardships together as magical girls, they could achieve something greater than usual.

Now, however, the identity of magical girl only brought her suffering.

No sense of accomplishment or joy remained.

Liyun hugged her knees tighter.

“I’m sorry… Sister… maybe I really am as you said, unworthy of being a magical girl…”

Clack, clack, clack

Suddenly, the sliding glass door in the living room was pulled open.

Liyun snapped her head up, only to see a blurry white figure crossing the room and stopping at the front door.

“Si—Sister?”

Liyun stared in disbelief at the silhouette on the windowsill.

It wasn’t her sister, but—

“Ma…” She instinctively wanted to call out that name, but caught herself in time and lowered her voice, “Eleira…?”

No answer.

The figure slipped out like a phantom breaking in.

Without hesitation, Liyun leapt out of her quilt, barely having time to slip on a shoe as she grabbed something nearby and gave chase.

Around the corner, the figure paused on the staircase, and just as Liyun appeared, it glided down the stairs like sliding on rails.

“Wait!”

Liyun hurried after her.

The phantom seemed to be leading her on a chase, moving downstairs at breakneck speed whenever she caught up, as if guiding her somewhere.

Breathless, Liyun — who’d been cooped up at home for seven years — struggled to keep up with the sudden exertion.

Finally, when they reached the bottom of the stairs and exited the apartment complex, she caught hold of the white figure’s shoulder—

“Eleira!”

“Hm?”

“…Eh?” Liyun blinked at the girl before her, realizing she was not the person she’d been looking for.

“Big sister, were you calling me?”

Luo You smiled sweetly, her infectious smile warming Liyun’s heart.

Cute, so cute…

This girl’s looks were absolutely stunning, and Liyun stood there stunned for several seconds.

She’d only been out of the house for seven years — was it really a world where any random girl was this adorable now?

“Uh, no… you haven’t seen someone like… Ah, never mind, asking you probably won’t help…”

Liyun’s voice trailed off in disappointment, realizing what she saw earlier must have been a hallucination.

“Big sister, you look sad?”

Luo You cupped her face in both hands, her thumbs gently lifting the corners of Liyun’s mouth, “See? You really do look better when you smile.”

“Eh? Haha, kids these days really know what to say.”

Liyun blushed slightly.

“Kids?”

Luo You suddenly gave a surprisingly mature smile that didn’t match her appearance, “I’m already ** years old, you know.”

“Eh——!? Really!?”

Then why do you keep calling me big sister!?

Liyun felt shy, completely losing herself in the repeated ‘big sister’ from this adorable little girl.

“Hohoho~ Calling me ‘big sister’ makes you happy too, right?”

Luo You wore a teasing grin, clearly enjoying having the upper hand.

She glanced down at the object in Liyun’s hand and asked, “Big sister, are you out walking a pet?”

Liyun looked down and jumped in surprise when she saw what she was holding.

A red collar.

It was the ‘symbol of taming’ Eleira had bestowed on her that night.

[Why did I bring this out too?]

Liyun blushed deeply.

Upon seeing Eleira just now, she’d reflexively brought it along.

Was it subconscious hope that Eleira might lead her by it again?

“Big sister?”

“Eh? Th-This… yes, I am walking a pet…” Liyun broke into a cold sweat, her expression awkward, desperate to escape immediately.

“Hmph… Where’s the pet? Did it run away? Is that why you’re chasing so urgently… ‘Eleira’ is your pet’s name?”

Eh eh eh eh eh??

This bizarre reversal left Liyun completely stunned.

Could she just admit that so casually?

“Hmm~ But just now, big sister you grabbed my shoulder and shouted ‘Eleira’… do I really look that much like your pet?”

While Liyun tried to think of a reply, Luo You’s smile turned devilishly mischievous.

“Ah! Could it be~~ big sister wants to put this collar on me? Then drag me back by force? Gyaaah~ Someone’s about to be taken away for training by a big sister she doesn’t even know~!”

“N-No no no! You’re misunderstanding! I just mistook you for someone else!”

Liyun denied it fervently, cheeks burning bright red.

What’s with this brat!?

Show me the innocent, adorable side that matches your looks!

Just as she thought this, Luo You’s expression became serious.

“Big sister feeling better now?”

“I was just thinking — when you called me earlier, you looked like you’d been abandoned. Now you look much livelier.”

Hands clasped behind her back, she was adorably sweet in her mannerisms.

Such a sudden shift left Liyun utterly unprepared.

Like a devil who could read minds.

If this girl was the one… maybe she could show her a way out.

“Um—!”

Liyun mustered courage and invited, “Could you come to my place for a bit? I want to talk to you about something!”

“So am I really being tricked by big sister to go home and do all kinds of things?”

“I already said it’s not like that!”

“Hehe, just kidding.”

Luo You dropped her playful act, confidently patting her chest, “Alright then, let this reliable adult come and give big sister some guidance.”

—The plan to have the target invite me inside (completed)