The so-called Magical Devices refer to items created by certain Magical Girls that possess special abilities, capable of applying their own magic onto materials to alter their properties or grant unique powers.
They are collectively known as ‘craft-type Magical Girls,’ and just like Si Beili, that perverted ‘healing-type Magical Girl,’ they are rare and treasured by the Bureau, raised like precious gems.
It was also the type of magic Jiang Yin most hoped to awaken.
Although personal freedom would be somewhat restricted, there was no need to fight Monsters on the battlefield, and the benefits were excellent. You could naturally retire in the logistics department.
If you had some research talent, even after losing your magic at thirty, you could still secure a good position.
Of course, even without that, it didn’t matter. The Nation provided a Retirement Pension. While becoming fabulously wealthy was difficult, living a leisurely life for a lifetime was more than enough.
Anyway, Jiang Yin’s current goal was to endure until thirty, then retire and travel the world.
“…You really plan to take this much?”
Ning Rong’s premonition came true.
Looking at the nearly emptied Warehouse, her voice trembled for the first time.
Actually, the Magical Devices in the Warehouse were originally meant for Magical Girls to use. As long as there was legitimate purpose and they were returned on time, no one would complain.
However, perhaps restraint was ingrained in the bones of Hua Xia people. Even though she knew Jiang Yin’s actions weren’t wrong— in fact, they aligned with the Bureau’s people-first policy to maximize safety— she still instinctively felt uneasy.
But thinking about it, she couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. She just felt inexplicably guilty.
It was like knowing the company prepared extra New Year gift packs, so taking one more shouldn’t matter, but you’d still feel guilty.
Still too honest.
“For safety’s sake~”
Unlike Ning Rong, a young person who entered the system straight from school and spent her life working and learning within established rules, Jiang Yin, a veteran who had struggled for years in society, felt no such scruples.
She was risking her life anyway. Wasn’t taking extra lifesaving items justified?
“And besides, there aren’t that many in total…”
The number of Magical Devices was quite small, and even fewer when distributed across all the Nation’s Bureaus. Usually, you had to submit a report and request a transfer from Headquarters if needed; the Magical Devices kept locally were just a few types.
Counting the Bracelet Ning Rong had given her earlier, and excluding a few with special functions she couldn’t use, there were only five items she could actually take.
She wore a black metal-patterned Choker around her neck and a Tactical Leg Ring on her right thigh, with a silver Dagger tucked into it.
Jiang Yin looked at the mirror—a white-haired girl in an off-white hoodie and ultra-short shorts, the long shirt hem covering her shorts and the Leg Ring, exposing only her slender legs and knee-high Tactical Boots. It looked almost as if she wasn’t wearing pants.
She awkwardly tied her silver hair into a side ponytail with a hair band.
She jumped lightly, confirming freedom of movement before muttering,
“By the way, do the Magical Girls in the Equipment Department have some special kink? Why do they even make things like Collars and Leg Rings?”
“It’s said that many Magical Girls jointly petitioned the Equipment Department to make more designs.”
Ning Rong explained.
“They need them for cosplay.”
“?”
Seeing Jiang Yin’s eyes full of question marks, Ning Rong smiled.
“Cosplay Outfits are also great urban disguises, especially in major cities.”
“Got it, undercover, right.”
“No criminal would suspect a young person wearing a Pain Shirt and Pain Backpack carrying Handcuffs, just like no Monster would think a girl in a cosplay outfit is a Magical Girl.”
“That’s pretty much the idea. Of course, there are also Magical Girls who love beauty by nature. The previous Equipment Department’s Magical Device designs were… rather old-fashioned.”
Ning Rong had a complicated look.
“I’ve seen them before.”
“What kind of designs?”
“Oversized Jade Thumb Rings and Golden Guanyin Pendants.”
“Ugh…”
Even Jiang Yin, a thirty-year-old Middle-aged Man, thought that was outdated!
—If it were a Walnut Bracelet, she might barely accept it.
“I heard they referenced Traditional Buddhist and Daoist Amulet Design. It took years of complaints before they changed.”
“In any case, the rental period for these items is one month.”
“Aren’t you taking one?”
“I hardly need it…”
Before she finished speaking, Ning Rong’s wrist was lifted.
Jiang Yin was careful not to touch her palm, but instead, pinched her wrist to put a Wristwatch on her.
“Still, wear it. Extra insurance means extra peace of mind.”
“Magical Girls can also run out of magic, after all.”
The girl winked.
“What if?”
“I can’t tell if you’re cursing me or…”
Ning Rong touched the Wristwatch and sighed softly, but ultimately didn’t refuse.
Since it was already checked out, returning it early would only mean writing another report. She might as well wear it. Besides, the latest Wristwatch model looked pretty good.
Jiang Yin really couldn’t use so many, anyway.
After all, of the five Magical Devices allocated to the local Bureau, four were detection-type defensive tools. Only the Dagger had attack capability. Jiang Yin already had three on her, and one more was unnecessary— in an extreme situation, another wouldn’t help.
“Of course it’s a blessing.”
The girl pouted.
“I don’t want the first Magical Girl I know to have an accident.”
“How’s that? Concern from a Middle-aged Man— special, right?”
Ning Rong looked at her cute, mischievous expression, trying to overlay the image of that Middle-aged Man from memory onto her.
Rendering failed.
The current Jiang Yin was simply too pretty; there was no overlap at all.
“You don’t feel like a Middle-aged Man right now.”
“Actually, my mentality used to be quite young too. No kids to raise, no mortgage, no life’s burdens bending my back.”
“Ha~”
Ning Rong laughed.
“You’re really optimistic. I thought after such a big change you’d be depressed for a while. Honestly, the Bureau even prepared a Psychologist for you.”
“Really?”
Jiang Yin scratched her head.
“Then can I try it? Since it’s already prepared, wouldn’t it be a waste not to chat a bit?”
There was a whiff of money-mindedness about her.
“Psychologists are expensive, you know. I wanted to try it during my low points too, but seeing the price, I decided drinking to relieve stress was more my style.”
“You can’t.”
Ning Rong turned, walking ahead, her left thumb rubbing the Wristwatch. The corners of her mouth curled slightly, but her voice remained flat and businesslike.
“You can’t waste Bureau resources because of your curiosity.”
“Ah…”
Jiang Yin looked disappointed, mumbling in complaint.
“So rigid? If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, who would know?”
“I would.”
“?”
“I’d have to write a report.”
“…Damn bureaucratic red tape!”