Chapter 8 : “Well… It’s Not Impossible”

“Well… it’s not impossible!”

“Huh?!”

Su Xinran turned around in surprise to look at Wang Ya behind her.

“Yo~ Congratulations on your lovely new daughter! Come, I can help you handle the transfer procedures too. So, little one, what do you say?”

“Umm…”

Su Xinran fell into deep thought.

Was Wang Ya a bad person?

Not really.

On the contrary, she was actually quite nice.

Back when they were attacked, she had called out Su Xinran’s name loudly, searching for her despite the risk of being noticed by the one-eyed giant.

Not only was she not bad—she was a very good person.

Su Xinran had a pretty good impression of Wang Ya.

But suddenly gaining a zombie mom was a bit…

No no no…

Su Xinran shook her head.

Ethics aside, just being in the same room with Wang Ya was enough to make her nervous.

She was genuinely afraid that Wang Ya might not be able to control herself and do that kind of thing to her.

That really inappropriate kind of thing…

When Wang Ya saw Su Xinran shake her head, her expression immediately dimmed.

So… it’s a no after all…

Seeing Wang Ya’s disappointed eyes, Su Xinran’s heart suddenly ached a little.

But compared to being in an orphanage where many kids and caretakers might do those kinds of things, staying with Wang Ya was clearly the safer option.

“Don’t want to…? Aw, what a shame…”

The lady at the window put away the adoption transfer form.

“That’s not what I meant. Officer Wang Ya isn’t that much older than me, so calling her ‘Mom’ feels really weird. What I mean is—I want to be her younger sister, and Officer Wang Ya can act as my guardian as my older sister.”

As soon as Su Xinran said that, Wang Ya’s eyes lit up with joy.

“Older sister, huh… not bad~”.

A younger sister… eheh~.

No, no! Can’t think weird thoughts—you’re a police officer, remember?!

Wang Ya gave her face a couple of pats.

After completing the paperwork and receiving a receipt along with a blue booklet, Su Xinran officially became a demon race citizen!

Even if the term “demon race citizen” sounded a bit like something from the sewers…

At least now she had official legal residency.

If she got attacked by other demons on the street, she could legitimately call the demon police for help—as a human!

And she gained an older sister!

As a former only child in her past life, Su Xinran had never experienced something like this!

Sorting through the forms in her hands, Su Xinran noticed an extra blue booklet.

Curious, she opened it up and read:

“Minor citizens have the right to education and are also obligated to attend school. This certificate can be used to enroll in any demon academy within the approved regions.”

“…?”

“What the heck? It’s already the end of the world, and I still have to go to school?! Ayaya—sister, don’t tell me I really have to attend class?!”

Su Xinran cried out in dismay.

“You do~ It’s your right and your obligation!”

Although Wang Ya felt her heart melt from being called “Ayaya—sister,” she didn’t go easy on Su Xinran.

“Noooo!!!”

Su Xinran’s wail echoed through the sky.

There is no greater suffering in life than this:

It’s September in the apocalypse.

Not only are the video games gone—school is starting again!

As the two of them squabbled, Su Xinran accidentally bumped into a burly zombie man in the next line.

The man was huge, wore leather armor, had one eye, and looked just like the tough old guild leader from some fantasy adventure anime.

“Sorry…”

“No problem!”

The burly man didn’t take offense.

As it happened, it was now his turn in line, and he stepped forward to begin his business at the counter.

“Who’s that guy?”

Su Xinran, following behind Wang Ya, looked at the whole crew of rugged men that the uncle had been standing with.

The whole group had a vibe that was oddly refreshing and out-of-place.

She asked curiously.

“Ah… those guys?

They’re registered volunteer enforcers with the police department.

Right now, with the new government just getting started, there’s a shortage of law enforcement.

So powerful freelance demons are being allowed to help fight the Wild Faction.

The police station pays them a bounty as a reward.”

“Oh~! Then I wanna be a volunteer enforcer too!”

Su Xinran immediately grabbed onto what felt like a lifeline.

What she didn’t say aloud was: this way, she wouldn’t have to go to school.

The moment her words left her mouth, the previously noisy government hall fell completely silent—you could hear a pin drop.

And then, everyone burst into laughter.

“Hahaha, little girl, being a volunteer enforcer isn’t like becoming a magical girl—you can’t just say it and make it so!”

“Well now, little one, your first mission is to go study. Leave the city peacekeeping work to us grownups.”

“Haha, that’s why kids are so adorable… pfft hahaha!”

As the laughter filled the entire hall, dark lines appeared on Su Xinran’s face.

Strictly speaking, with shoes on she was close to 160 cm tall—not short by any means—but in front of these mutated, demon-type men built like British strongmen, she was clearly still a lightweight.

“Don’t laugh!”

Wang Ya snapped, her voice sharp.

Maybe because of her usual authority in the station, the demons actually quieted down.

But then—Su Xinran’s next sentence made them burst out laughing again.

“All of you might actually not be strong enough to beat me!”

After saying her bold line, Su Xinran even silently confirmed with Raphael in her mind—Was she really capable of taking them all on?

“Relax. Even though your three basic gear pieces aren’t in full form yet, they’re more than enough to mop the floor with everyone here.”

Raphael gave her a confident reply.

“You guys laugh so hard—wanna put it to the test?”

Su Xinran’s challenge made the crowd of big men stop and exchange glances.

“How do you want to test it? We’re not gonna beat up a little girl.”

“Just the most basic test—arm wrestling!”

“Huh?!”

The crowd of beefy guys looked at Su Xinran, who was now waving her slender arm, and burst into laughter again.

“Alright, I’ll go against you!”

A massive man—nine feet tall, with bear-like features—volunteered.

A member of the Bearfolk, clearly.

“Sigh, Xinran, you can play, but don’t hurt anyone.”

Wang Ya shook her head helplessly.

She’d seen with her own eyes Su Xinran take down a one-eyed giant with a single strike.

That kind of strength was beyond these guys’ imagination.

The people nearby instinctively cleared a space.

A few helped bring over a stone table and benches.

“Don’t say I’m bullying you. If you can even budge my arm—just make it shake—I’ll consider it your win!”

The bearfolk man sat down and rolled up his sleeve, revealing an arm as thick and hairy as a tree trunk.

That arm was probably three or four times the size of Su Xinran’s waist.

Su Xinran gently tapped her silver heart-shaped collar, then sat down.

Under her clothes, the mechanical exoskeleton activated and attached itself to her body.

“Let’s go!”

The two locked hands.

The bearfolk man even had to hunch over to align with her height.

Barring any surprises, the next thing everyone expected to see was an adorable little girl turning red from trying her best, unable to budge the arm, resorting to using both hands, standing up, trying every trick—only to ultimately give up.

Some of the pervy onlookers in the crowd were already imagining it.

“Ah~ that kind of scene is so heartwarming~”

However—The scene they imagined… never happened.