Chapter 29: Welcome Home

“Mom? What exactly happened yesterday?”

Since waking up this morning, her daughter had been staring at her constantly—only when Jiang Lingwei reheated the fried eggs and the stew she’d partially prepared last night and brought them to the table did Jiang Yao finally ask.

Prepared for this, Jiang Lingwei quickly put on a confused expression. “I don’t really remember. I was cooking yesterday, and then… I don’t know what happened exactly. The next thing I knew, I was lying on the sofa.”

She touched her forehead.

“Maybe I was just too tired.”

“Hmm…”

Jiang Yao ate the fried eggs, her heart aching deeply, tears welling up.

Since Mom woke up, except for the first night when she seemed a bit drowsy and unfamiliar with her surroundings, she had never shown such fatigue or sleepiness before.

And now, those faint dark circles under her eyes ruined her mother’s flawless face and hurt her pure and kind soul!

(Damn that demon!)

Cursing silently in her heart, Jiang Yao hurriedly asked again:

“Mom, are you feeling unwell today?”

Maybe it was just a girl’s intuition, but Mom gave her a resentful glance while eating, then returned to her usual calm expression and said:

“Nothing much, just still a little sleepy. Maybe I didn’t rest well last night.”

“Oh, then you should get a good nap during the day.”

There was nothing Jiang Yao could do about this. She was actually somewhat relieved—Mom must have been knocked unconscious and taken away by the demon without truly waking up to face those evil and terrifying situations.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been as simple as just feeling sleepy.

At that moment, she also recalled what the mysterious pink-haired magical girl, [Aurora], said about “she wouldn’t be affected.”

Praising Aurora’s reliability in her heart, Jiang Yao started tidying up to get ready to leave.

After all, it wasn’t a day off, and after eating, Jiang Yao had to go to school; she couldn’t stay home for long.

Jiang Lingwei thought to herself: It seems the population pressure in 2032 isn’t as intense as before. Otherwise, how could students be allowed to have all sorts of hairstyles, wear nicer uniforms, and only need to arrive at school by eight o’clock?

Back in her day, Jiang Lingwei had to be at school exactly at six to prepare for early self-study, carrying a fifty-kilogram backpack and wearing clothes made from flour sacks… not to mention fighting off two magical beasts beforehand.

“Mm-hmm.”

Nodding, Jiang Lingwei saw Jiang Yao off at the door.

Just before leaving, the girl, still carrying her backpack, suddenly grabbed her hand. “Mom?”

“Oh.”

Because she was so tired, she almost forgot something.

Placing her hand gently on Jiang Yao’s head, she stroked it softly. Then, Jiang Lingwei saw the girl squint her eyes, looking like a little kitten, showing a comfortable expression.

(Saikou!)

Her inner self cheered and jumped for joy.

Even after doing this several times, though she appeared calm on the surface, Jiang Lingwei’s parental heart was about to melt.

Just for this adorable little expression from her daughter alone, having a daughter was worth it!

Yes, this was the loving head-pat before going out.

Jiang Yao seemed to really like it when her mother patted her head. A few days ago, she even took the initiative to ask if she could get a head pat before going to school or leaving the house.

The girl called it “absorbing mom’s energy.”

Jiang Lingwei was no stranger to this. Back when she was an active magical girl, she often patted her teammates’ heads after battles.

After all, the head is where the “spirit” truly resides. She could always release positive magic there to relieve the pressure everyone felt after intense battles. The only difference now was that she didn’t actually have to cast magic anymore.

This was not only the duty of the magical girl [Aurora], but also out of deep respect for her teammates—some once ordinary, some timid, but all eventually bravely protecting the city.

Jiang Lingwei never grew tired of taking care of everyone, whether in daily life or after battles.

Unfortunately, until now, Jiang Lingwei didn’t realize that what she considered “the responsibility of the only male in the team to be strong and bear the burden” was actually seen by everyone as a kind of “maternal instinct.”

Well, except by Beifeng.

As the eldest sister and team leader, Beifeng was surprisingly sensitive. Once, after Jiang Lingwei patted her head, Beifeng immediately made a strange noise.

Moreover, Beifeng knew Jiang Lingwei’s true male identity. Ever since she ran off blushing and yelling, she never let Aurora help her again.

“I’m here.”

Standing before an unremarkable little Western-style house, Jiang Lingwei looked at the signboard that read “Yaoguang Café” and smiled while holding the phone.

“You really name every shop the same thing, huh.”

This wasn’t a commercial street but rather a quieter area. Wen Yajuan had called that morning, sent the address, and arranged to meet here today.

“Of course, because it sounds nice.”

Wen Yajuan’s voice came through the phone. “Anyway, just go inside and find the staff. Tell them you’re on a dark mission bestowed by the Evil Black Dragon and that you must get a cup of piping hot core magma today. They’ll take you there.”

“…Can I not say that?”

“Mm~~ No no no, Sister Yajuan wants you to say it~ No say no entry!”

“Fine, I’m going in.”

“I’ll pay extra.”

“Okay, boss.”

Jiang Lingwei immediately changed her expression. She should’ve said that earlier. As the boss, Wen Yajuan certainly had the final say.

Ding ling ling.

The wind chime sounded just like the one in the original café.

This was probably the underlying logic of the Yaoguang Café brand.

Jiang Lingwei glanced around. Since it was morning, the morning rush of office workers was over, and the lunchtime crowd hadn’t arrived yet. So there weren’t many customers.

“Not bad.”

Jiang Lingwei murmured softly, swaying her body as she quietly approached the staff member.

“Hello, welcome~”

The clerk was an energetic girl.

(Should I do it?)

Jiang Lingwei thought to herself. This girl looked like a typical chūnibyō type—probably the contact Wen Yajuan had arranged.

She glanced around discreetly. Yeah, no one was paying attention.

(Now!)

Her body suddenly leaned forward, pressing close to the counter. Using a deep, mysterious, low voice, she quickly said, “I am on a dark mission bestowed by the Evil Black Dragon, and today… I must get a cup of piping hot core magma.”

“W-wait.”

The young clerk looked startled. “Please speak more slowly.”

“Huh?”

Jiang Lingwei froze. “I said, I am on a dark mission bestowed by the Evil Black Dragon (etc.)…”

“….”

The clerk’s face showed the expression of someone who just heard something seriously incredible. She grabbed the phone next to her, pursed her lips, and looked at Jiang Lingwei cautiously.

“….”

Jiang Lingwei was silent too.

She lowered her head in melancholy for a few seconds, then unwillingly raised it again. Her eyes grew sharp as she stared at the clerk and quietly intoned, “I said, I am on a mission from the Evil Black Dragon…”

Three minutes later.

The two of them entered a hidden underground passage in the café.

“Go to hell!!! Wen! Yajuan! Do you know how embarrassing this is for me?!”

“Ow ow ow! I told you, right? I forgot that person was working this afternoon! But hey, I was still pretty quick to save the situation—yue—No, don’t choke me—I’m going to suffocate…”

“Hmph! You’re just faking death. I’m done dealing with you.”

Letting go of the arm choking Wen Yajuan, Jiang Lingwei casually tossed the clown aside, sighing in exasperation:

“So, what exactly do you want me to do here?”

“Hahaha.”

Wen Yajuan, who recovered full energy in seconds, burst out with vitality completely unbefitting her age. She led Jiang Lingwei to a steel door ahead and pointed at the red button beside it.

“One-button foolproof operation. Just press it and see.”

“Huh?”

Jiang Lingwei obediently walked over and gently pressed the button.

“Vuuum—”

Mechanical sounds came from behind the door, lasting for more than ten seconds. Finally, with a loud “clang,” everything stopped.

Two seconds later, the door slowly opened before them.

Bright light shone on Jiang Lingwei’s face—and revealed her shocked expression.

“I originally wanted you to come in holding a bottle of champagne. Although there was a little mishap, anyway, welcome.”

Wen Yajuan stepped inside from the side, casually grabbed a white lab coat hanging on the rack by the door, and draped it over herself.

She laughed and turned around, stretching out both hands, her eyes sparkling with tears.

“Welcome back to the Magical Girl Base.”