“Anyway, you’re not allowed to look anymore! Turn around!”
Li Huayu turned around obediently, her back to her.
“Alright, alright, I’m turning. You put on the Detection Suit yourself, then. I won’t look.”
Luo Tianyou breathed a sigh of relief, but then she realized the problem hadn’t been solved at all.
What should she do next?
She looked down at herself.
Gritting her teeth, she quickly took off the last item and grabbed the Detection Suit to pull it on.
However, the more she rushed, the worse she did.
The design of this Detection Suit was very unique; it had to be put on starting from the feet, and then the side zipper had to be pulled up.
She struggled for a long time in a flustered mess, either putting her leg in the wrong hole or getting the zipper stuck.
“Tianyou, do you need help?” Li Huayu asked with her back still turned.
“No!”
“But you’ve been at it for ages…”
“I’ll be done in a second.”
Luo Tianyou finally managed to shove both legs into the correct holes, then stood up clumsily, desperately trying to pull the side zipper.
When the zipper reached her chest, it got stuck.
She gave it a hard tug.
Riiiip!
The thin fabric couldn’t withstand her brute force, and a large gap tore open from her chest down to her waist.
Luo Tianyou froze.
Hearing the sound, Li Huayu turned around.
Then, she saw it.
She saw Luo Tianyou wearing a torn Detection Suit, revealing half of her body.
And the fact that there was nothing…
“…”
Li Huayu’s eyes slowly widened, and her mouth hung slightly open.
Luo Tianyou’s mind went blank.
It was over.
Everything was over.
She had been seen.
Huayu had seen her most shameful secret.
What would she think?
Would she think I’m a monster? Would she find me disgusting? Would she…
“So that’s how it is.”
Li Huayu’s voice was very soft.
Luo Tianyou covered her thighs and closed her eyes, waiting for judgment.
“No wonder Tianyou is so shy. It’s because you haven’t fully developed yet.”
Li Huayu had a moment of realization.
“…Eh?” Luo Tianyou opened her eyes.
Li Huayu walked over to her, knelt down, and looked at her earnestly.
“Tianyou, are you still in your growth period?” Her gaze was as pure as if they were discussing how nice the weather was.
Luo Tianyou:
“…Huh?”
“I heard before that some magical girls develop slower than others because of a late awakening or unique mana characteristics. That’s the case for you, Tianyou, right? That’s why things haven’t grown in down there yet, and your chest is still small.”
As she spoke, she even gave Luo Tianyou a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“It’s okay. You’ll grow up slowly. I heard some magical girls take special Mana Nutrients and fully develop in only 6 months.”
Luo Tianyou’s mouth hung open, unable to speak for a long time.
What kind of development was this?
“So don’t be shy.”
Li Huayu stood up and took another new Detection Suit from the cabinet.
“Here, be more careful this time.”
“Huayu, what… what did you see?” Luo Tianyou asked cautiously.
“It’s fine. I didn’t see anything,” Li Huayu shook her head firmly.
“Just tell me what you saw,” Luo Tianyou insisted, unable to take it anymore.
“…Just a child-like state. Fair and tender.”
Now it was Li Huayu’s turn to be shy.
She lowered her head in embarrassment.
Luo Tianyou’s head spun as she realized roughly what Li Huayu had seen.
A child-like state… she probably meant a 2 or 3-year-old.
So that was it.
She didn’t see anything.
Or rather, because there was nothing to see, she had filled in the blanks herself.
Phew, that was close.
Luo Tianyou reached out her right hand and smoothed a stray lock of Li Huayu’s hair.
“Huayu, you didn’t read many books in school, did you?”
“Eh? How did you know?” Li Huayu looked at her curiously.
“No reason. I didn’t study much either, I was just asking. Alright, hurry and turn around so I can get dressed.”
“Okay.”
Finally dressed, Luo Tianyou breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Huayu even helped her straighten her collar.
“There, that’s better. Oh, don’t worry, Tianyou. I won’t tell anyone.”
Li Huayu placed a finger over her lips, making a gesture of secrecy.
“This is our secret.”
Luo Tianyou looked into her sincere eyes, and a complex mixture of emotions welled up in her heart.
There was relief, gratitude, and… a deep appreciation for a lack of education.
The less one knows, the more they believe in their own perceptions.
Wait, that’s not right!
‘I haven’t gone to school much either.’
‘So, is there something I’m getting wrong too?’
Luo Tianyou began to doubt herself.
“Let’s go, Tianyou. The doctor is calling for us.”
Li Huayu pulled Luo Tianyou along.
The two of them walked into the Detection Room one after the other.
Inside the Detection Room, the walls and ceiling were a soft cream color, and the floor was covered in non-slip light gray rubber.
In the center of the room was a streamlined silver Detection Pod.
The hatch was halfway open, emitting a faint blue light from within.
Beside it were several display screens and control consoles.
A young female doctor in a white lab coat and glasses was adjusting the parameters.
“Please come this way, you two.”
The doctor turned around, pushed up her glasses, and pointed to two lounge chairs next to the Detection Pod.
“Lie down first for a basic vital signs scan. Just relax; it won’t hurt.”
Luo Tianyou and Li Huayu lay down as instructed.
The chairs were comfortable.
Two ring-shaped scanners slowly descended from the ceiling, emitting a soft humming sound.
“Close your eyes and relax your whole body,” the doctor said.
Luo Tianyou closed her eyes and felt the light from the scanner sweep across her body.
It felt warm and a bit ticklish.
‘I hope… it won’t be discovered.’
“Hmm?”
The doctor suddenly let out a confused sound.
Luo Tianyou’s heart rate immediately spiked.
“Miss Luo Tianyou, your mana fluctuations are a bit unusual.”
“W-What’s wrong?”
“Your mana concentration is high — absurdly high. The machine can’t even measure the specific concentration.”
“Is there any risk?”
“No. It just means you’re very well-suited to being a magical girl. This is the first time I’ve seen this kind of concentration. We’ll need more advanced equipment to test your exact mana levels.”
The basic scan ended quickly.
The doctor asked them to sit up and then picked up a handheld scanner.
“Next, we’ll perform a detailed area check. Miss Li Huayu, please stand over here first.”
Li Huayu obediently stood in the designated spot.
The doctor held the scanner and moved it slowly downward starting from the top of her head.
The scanner emitted soft beeps, while the display screen beside them showed complex values and charts in real-time.
“Mana Affinity: A-. Potential: B+. I’ve detected a trace amount of foreign energy, but it’s in a stable state with no immediate risk. I suggest regular monitoring in the future.”
Li Huayu nodded.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Alright, next. Miss Luo Tianyou.”
Luo Tianyou stood where Li Huayu had just been.
The doctor raised the scanner.
She started from the top of her head.
Beep.
Beep, beep.
When the scan reached her chest, the doctor paused again.
“Mana activity in the thymus area… something isn’t right here?”
She pushed up her glasses and leaned in to look at the display.
“This value is almost zero. That’s not normal. Miss Luo Tianyou, have you felt like your chest development is somewhat delayed?”
Luo Tianyou’s cheeks flushed. “I… I don’t know…”
The doctor said seriously, “In theory, a magical girl’s mana should promote physical development, especially in areas related to sexual characteristics. However, your situation is the exact opposite. Your mana seems to be intentionally avoiding these areas… How strange.”
She continued scanning downward.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep —
When she scanned below the abdomen, the device suddenly let out a series of rapid warning tones.
On the display, the once-stable value curve fluctuated violently.
Several key parameters jumped straight off the scale before quickly dropping back down and turning into a blur of garbled code.
“What’s going on? Is the equipment malfunctioning?”
The doctor tapped the scanner, restarted it, and scanned again.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep —
The same rapid warning tones played, and the same garbled data appeared.
“That’s impossible. The mana reaction in this area is completely unreadable?”
The doctor looked up, her expression complex as she stared at Luo Tianyou.
“Miss Luo Tianyou, are you aware of any special conditions regarding your body?”
Luo Tianyou froze in place, her mind racing.
Should she admit it?
If she did, would she be studied like a monster?
If she didn’t, what would she do if the doctor kept asking?
“Doctor,” Li Huayu suddenly spoke up with a serious expression.
“Tianyou is still in her growth period.”
The doctor turned to her.
“Growth period?”
“Mhm! Some magical girls awaken late, and their development is slower. That’s the case for Tianyou. That’s why she hasn’t grown in yet, and her chest is small.”
Li Huayu added another comment.
“But it’s okay. She’ll grow up slowly. I heard some magical girls take special supplements and fully develop in only 6 months.”
The doctor:
“…”
Luo Tianyou:
“…”
The air was silent for a few seconds.
The doctor looked at the earnest Li Huayu, then at the beet-red Luo Tianyou, and finally pushed up her glasses with a sigh.
‘Are you trying to teach a doctor how to do her job?’
However, this young lady’s problem probably didn’t lie there.
She needed to transform to complete her magical girl form, which meant her current mana state was inaccurate.
It could be an intentional concealment, or it could be the truth.
She was just a doctor; she would simply provide her recommendations.
“There are indeed cases of Mana Development Delay Syndrome, but one like yours… it’s the first time I’ve seen it. Regardless, Miss Tianyou, I will note ‘Suspected developmental delay, long-term observation required’ in the report. Additionally, I suggest you consult a professional nutritionist to create a plan for mana supplementation and physical development promotion.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Luo Tianyou whispered.
Li Huayu smiled happily, as if she had done a great deed.
The rest of the detection went much more smoothly.
Although the device still made strange warning sounds when scanning the lower body, the doctor had already accepted that it was an anomaly caused by developmental delay and didn’t investigate further.
An hour and a half later, all tests were complete.
The doctor printed out two preliminary reports and handed them over.
“The detailed reports will take 3 business days. At that time, they will be sent directly to the Archives System of the Management Bureau. These are the summary versions for you to look over.”
Luo Tianyou took the report.
She couldn’t quite understand the dense data covering the page, but a few bolded conclusions were very prominent.
[Mana Potential: S-rank]
[Mana Affinity: S+]
[Physical Development Status: Suspected Developmental Delay]
[Special Note: Periodic monitoring of physical development is required; Mana Nutrients recommended]
“S-rank potential?”
Li Huayu leaned over to look, her eyes sparkling.
“Tianyou, you’re amazing!”
“It’s alright.”
Luo Tianyou tucked the report away, feeling embarrassed.
The two of them changed back into their own clothes and walked out of the Detection Room.
In the waiting area outside, Yuexia Liuli was standing by the window holding a cup of water.
Hearing the door open, she immediately turned around.
“How was it? Did the detection go smoothly?”
“It was fine…”
Luo Tianyou looked away, guiltily avoiding her gaze.
She couldn’t help but feel that Yuexia Liuli might have sensed what happened inside the Detection Room even through the door.
“Li Huayu, what did the doctor say about you two?” Xiaoyuan was also waiting and asked with a smile.
“I’m great!”
Li Huayu said happily.
“The doctor said my foreign energy is stable and there’s no risk for now. Also, Tianyou has S-rank potential! But the doctor said Tianyou’s development is a bit delayed and suggested she take some nutrients.”
Yuexia Liuli’s brow furrowed slightly.
Developmental delay?
“Luo Tianyou, don’t worry. It’ll get better.” She didn’t ask further.
Luo Tianyou blinked in surprise.
‘She’s being so considerate?’
She had thought Yuexia Liuli would take the chance to tease her about being flat-chested or not growing in yet.
Noticing her gaze, Yuexia Liuli tilted her head.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No…”
Luo Tianyou shook her head.
‘Has this dog really changed?’
The sound of hurried footsteps came from the other end of the hallway.
Lin Weiwei rushed over, her expression a bit strange.
She nodded to Luo Tianyou and Li Huayu before looking at Xiaoyuan and Yuexia Liuli.
“Lady Xiaoyuan, Lady Yuexia, there’s an emergency. We just received a communication from headquarters. An S-rank magical girl is on her way to C-City. She’s expected to arrive in 10 minutes.”
Xiaoyuan narrowed her eyes. “Which one?”
“Code name: Seraph. Evelyn.”
Xiaoyuan’s expression stiffened slightly, as did Yuexia Liuli’s.
Luo Tianyou looked at the two of them curiously.
“Evelyn? Is she very powerful?”
She knew of this magical girl.
She had been promoted to S-rank 5 years ago and had once teamed up with another magical girl to slay an S-rank monster, the Five Kings.
Xiaoyuan looked at Luo Tianyou and said helplessly, “I suppose this counts as good news? Little Tianyou, the marriage alliances your mother Flora arranged for you back then… well, there’s actually more than just Yuexia Liuli.”
The air went dead silent for a second.
Luo Tianyou:
“…Huh?”
Yuexia Liuli:
“Heh.”
Li Huayu:
“…?”
Xiaoyuan rubbed her temples, looking as if she had expected this.
Lin Weiwei added from the side, “According to the emergency contact I just received, Seraph is coming to C-City.
The identity she registered with the Management Bureau is the daughter of Flora and a candidate for Luo Tianyou’s fiancée.”
Crack.
A crack appeared in the water cup in Yuexia Liuli’s hand.
She expressionlessly placed the cup on the table and pulled out a tissue to wipe the water from her hand.
“A candidate for my fiancée? Just how many did Mother find for me?!” Luo Tianyou panicked.
“As far as I know, there are seven explicitly recorded on file, not including Yuexia Liuli,” Xiaoyuan said honestly.
Luo Tianyou felt like she needed oxygen.
‘Seven of them, not counting Yuexia Liuli?!’
‘Did Mother recruit every top-tier magical girl in the world?!’
“The one who is currently on her way, code name Seraph, is the most… well, the most passionate of the seven,”
Xiaoyuan said, choosing her words carefully.
“She made a promise with Flora 10 years ago, saying she would come to marry you once you grew up.”
“Marry me?”
Luo Tianyou’s eyes widened.
“But she’s a girl.”
“Yes, that’s why Flora was especially happy at the time. She said her Little Tianyou was indeed popular with the girls.”
“Can I not see her?” Luo Tianyou asked weakly.
“I’m afraid not. She has already registered through official channels. According to the rules, the Management Bureau must receive her. And…”
Xiaoyuan looked at Yuexia Liuli.
“She said she’s here to clean house.”
Yuexia Liuli’s golden pupils constricted.
“Clean house?”
“Her original words were: ‘I heard some tactless stray dog is trying to steal my wife. I have to come and teach her the rules.'”
The hallway became deathly silent.
A cold smile slowly spread across Yuexia Liuli’s face.
“Heh. Fine. I’d like to see just who has such a big mouth.”
“Little Liuli, stay calm. She’s S-rank and an extremely aggressive type…”
“So what if she’s S-rank?”
Yuexia Liuli interrupted her, hostility burning in her eyes.
“7 years ago I was already S-rank. Dealing with a bird that can only breathe fire is more than enough.”
Seeing the atmosphere grow increasingly tense, Luo Tianyou quickly spoke up.
“Can you guys please not fight?”
Yuexia Liuli looked at her.
Luo Tianyou bit the bullet and said, “At the end of the day, this is something Mother started. It actually has nothing to do with you guys. Why don’t we just explain things to her properly?”
“Explain what?”
Yuexia Liuli arched an eyebrow.
“Explain that you’re mine and tell her to get lost?”
“I’m not yours.”
“Then you tell her to get lost.”
“I…”
Luo Tianyou felt like she was going to die from frustration.
‘Mother, just what kind of mess have you made?’
‘It’s one thing to look for a dog, but you even arranged childhood marriages!’
“…Tianyou, what’s a fiancée?”
Li Huayu suddenly asked in a small voice.
She had never heard the word before.