Outside the assembly hall, the defeated Blood People lay scattered near the entrance. Several squad captains from the Combat Department exchanged looks. After confirming the perimeter was cleared, they signaled each other and cautiously led their team members toward the interior of the venue.
At that moment, a pink-haired girl flying swiftly on a magic staff caught the attention of the Human Alliance members around the hall.
For the on-duty personnel who frequently went on missions, they had some impression of this Magical Girl. After all, she was the President of the Satellite City Magical Girl Society. No matter how one looked at it, they had heard of her.
The commanding officer on the scene quickly went to meet her. Qiluo also understood the complicated rules of the Human Alliance. Although she did not care for these useless formalities, finding Jin Ming inside the venue was her top priority. However, she could only stand still for a moment, as she could not afford a direct conflict with the Human Alliance.
‘There are quite a few characters within the Human Alliance who eye the Magical Girls with hostility…’
“President Qiluo, may I ask what brings you here?”
Despite everything, this Magical Girl possessed Midnight Grade strength. Even if the commander did not particularly like these seemingly flashy and “fragile” Magical Girls, her power was undeniable—she was one of the top combatants in Satellite City.
“My junior is inside. She may be in danger, and I need to go in to check the situation,” Qiluo answered calmly.
The commander fell silent for a moment. He truly had no reason to prevent her from going in to find someone.
“Very well. If any emergencies arise, please lend us your full support, Miss Qiluo.”
As he spoke, the commander made a gesture, signaling the alert personnel to let Qiluo pass. He then used his radio to relay the information to the members inside the hall.
“I will,” Qiluo nodded, then continued to ride her magic staff as she flew inside.
As the President of the Magical Girl Society, everything concerning Magical Girls fell under her jurisdiction, let alone a situation where a Magical Girl had experienced such an event.
Sensing the magic power on the Blood People outside the hall and combining it with the information she had just received from Hongye Qiu, she quickly understood what had happened here.
‘Jin Ming… she is usually so reckless. I wonder if she ran into trouble.’
***
“…Hah, which eye did you see me harming her with?”
Although the Chitose Dream Girl, who was hiding here in a pathetic state, was currently far weaker in presence than Jin Ming, she still curled her lip and spoke with disdain.
“You!”
Jin Ming took a deep breath, her shoulders trembling slightly.
She truly had not expected this person to be so overbearing. For a moment, she was so furious she could not speak.
“What about me? If you have time to start trouble with me, why don’t you go kill a few more Monsters? As a Magical Girl, you come here to confront me now? Do you think you’re special just because you can fight a Monster?”
“And that woman named Ye Xin was truly as stupid as they come…”
Suddenly, her words were choked back into her throat, and she did not dare say another word.
Incensed, Jin Ming had pressed her blade against the girl’s neck. The overwhelming aura even caused the girl to forget how to breathe for a moment.
“Jin Ming! Don’t do anything foolish!”
Arriving at the scene, Qiluo immediately called out to stop Jin Ming’s actions.
Qiluo flew forward, grabbed Jin Ming’s hand that held the blade, and pulled her into a hug. She moved her a few steps away and gently stroked her back, which was heaving from heavy, ragged breaths.
“Senior Qiluo…?”
A familiar scent instantly filled her nose—a fragrance that made her feel at ease and allowed her to gradually calm down.
“Yes, it is me, little Jin Ming. Rest for a bit, then tell me why you are doing this, okay?”
Qiluo held her junior against her chest, forcing her to lean her weight against her.
“Senior Qiluo… that person… she caused Miss Ye Xin to be kidnapped by an Elf… and she even…”
Jin Ming spoke in fits and starts, her voice even carrying a hint of a sob.
Chen Xiaoyan had originally felt that, as strong as she was, she would never do something like cry in an elder’s arms. However, faced with her powerlessness against the Monsters, and the sudden betrayal from the people she was supposed to protect against her and her cherished companion—and the inability to seek justice for Miss Ye Xin—having her senior appear by her side was more than she could handle.
“I see. I understand.”
Qiluo did not say much else, simply continuing to comfort the junior in her arms, pressing the girl’s head against her chest with her chin.
“Everyone, the outside is safe now. Please leave the scene in an orderly fashion.”
At this time, the combatants from outside arrived after Qiluo had cleared the path, organizing the guests to leave the venue.
“Hah, she’s just a—ugh…”
When the Chitose Dream Girl passed by the two Magical Girls, she let out a cold laugh. She was just about to utter more mocking words when she felt an indescribable scent rush into her mouth and nose. In an instant, she lost the ability to speak.
Realizing something was wrong, she tried to move her legs to leave, but she suddenly felt her limbs become incredibly heavy. Her legs felt as if they were filled with a thousand pounds of lead; no matter how hard she tried, she could not move an inch.
Then, she saw a pair of bright yellow eyes filled with an unreadable emotion. Within those clear pupils, a magnificent and complex magic circle seemed to be etched…
“Please stay a moment, Miss. My member has something she needs from you,” Qiluo said softly, but to the listener, the words were incredibly cold and shivering.
“Miss Qiluo, this does not seem to follow the rules,” a Combat Department member organizing the evacuation said with a frown, looking somewhat dissatisfied.
However, he did not find it easy to directly interfere with her actions. After all, he had to consider that this pink-haired Magical Girl was a Midnight Grade combatant.
If she wanted to, the Human Alliance members around the hall would not be enough to stop her. He did not know why the higher-ups allowed such terrifying combat power like Magical Girls to exist. Not just Qiluo—there were even more powerful Magical Girls in the outside world…
They were complete unstable factors, were they not?
“Hehe, this certainly follows the rules, Mister of the Combat Department.”
Qiluo gently held down the Magical Girl in her arms who wanted to explain, patting her back to reassure her. She was the senior of these Magical Girls; the girl should have more confidence in her.
“During the battle, this young lady attacked a Hunter from the Hunter’s Union who was participating in the fight and protecting the guests. I believe this matter can be handled as a special case, right?”
Those yellow, smiling eyes erupted with a staggering sense of intimidation.
“Is that so?”
The Combat Department member turned his gaze toward the Chitose Dream Girl. If what she said was true, then her actions were merely a bit excessive. For a Midnight Grade combatant, this was a perfectly “excusable” “mistake.”
The girl suddenly regained her ability to speak.
But just as she was about to scream for help, she realized she could only say one thing…
“Yes… sir.”