After settling her emotions, Jiang Lingwei began to feel that things weren’t as bad as she had initially thought.
After all, their side held the numerical advantage, and that Dark Fairy had already suffered a heavy blow not long ago. Wen Yanquan had also mentioned that dark invasions had erupted simultaneously in the surrounding areas.
This meant that the Dark Fairy’s actions were not a sudden whim but had been prepared for much earlier.
Corrupted demons and the like take time to develop. No matter how times change, Jiang Lingwei didn’t believe any Dark Fairy could corrupt monsters in several cities overnight.
Dead.
If that were truly the case, what was the point of fighting? They would have already been overwhelmed by the enemy.
Perhaps it was precisely because Jiang Yao had successfully thwarted its plot the previous night that it now had to create chaos in the city.
If this was the truth, then although it seemed like they were caught off guard, it was actually the Dark Fairy that acted hastily.
A well-prepared enemy is terrifying, but an unprepared one isn’t nearly as formidable.
“Crash!”
Crystal shattered as a massive crab demon barreled recklessly onto the asphalt road, smashing a huge crack into the ground.
Growth.
At the joints connecting the crab’s limbs, clusters of purple crystals had grown.
These crystals, sprouting from the weak points, slowed the crab demon’s movements. The purple crystals, imbued with light magic, would pierce the membranes between the joints when broken, causing even more damage.
Cause of death.
The gap in the seam of the crab’s carapace indicated its final fatal wound.
Seeing this scene, Jiang Lingwei hurried over and said to the armored girl holding a longsword, looking like a holy knight:
“Using this method against enemies with strong shells, your battle intelligence is improving, Yao… Crystal, well done.”
“Hehe.”
Jiang Yao looked quite pleased at the compliment.
“How’s that, Aurora? Do you see me in a new light now? I’m no longer that magic girl who almost got defeated by bugs.”
“Of course.”
Without hesitation, Jiang Lingwei’s hand landed on the girl’s head:
“Well done.”
“……”
A flush of pink crossed the girl’s face as she unconsciously enjoyed the praise for a moment before ducking away.
(No, no, no, I can’t let anyone other than Mom touch me.)
“Oh, right.”
Ignoring her thoughts, Jiang Lingwei pulled Jiang Yao’s hand and pointed toward the approaching group behind them:
“Look, those should be people you know.”
“My acquaintances?”
Jiang Yao’s first sight was the red safety helmet—
No way around it, the stonemason’s look was pretty unique among magic girls. That little red helmet was hard to miss.
But he wasn’t paying attention here. Instead, he was clutching his head in pain, looking down at the destruction the crab demon’s pincers and claws had caused on the ground, muttering repeatedly:
“Working overtime, working overtime, working overtime…”
Words that sounded terribly depressing.
Hmm, that’s not an acquaintance.
Then Jiang Yao looked at Little White.
Well, that one was indeed an acquaintance… or rather, a familiar fairy.
That guy was flying over while pretending to cry as he flapped toward them:
“Wuwuwu, Crystal, you’re too heartless, leaving me behind at the Bureau. I waited for you until I forgot to eat and drink. Did you forget about me? Look at me, what a mess I’ve become…”
In response, Jiang Yao delivered a flying kick, sending the fairy-football flying aside:
“Cut it out. I’ve heard people say you eat whatever you want three meals a day, and you’ve gone through every flavor of chips. How does that show you miss me?”
Jiang Lingwei nearby nodded with satisfaction.
Finally, Jiang Yao looked at Lin Yu, who was approaching shyly.
Ah, this one was really familiar, but why was she here?
She definitely recognized her. This was her good best friend, who just a few hours ago was discussing magic girl matters with her.
If she heard correctly, she even heard this girl shouting a sudden, halted “Mom…?!” from far away.
Lin Yu’s face was flushed red now, and she kept her head down, unable to look over here.
“Little White! Little White!”
Jiang Yao roughly understood why she was shy. Lin Yu was always thin-skinned, but she had a ton of questions and wanted to keep getting explanations about the current situation.
Since Lin Yu was already this way, forcing her to ask now would be a little inconsiderate.
So, the girl could only activate her voice assistant.
“I’m here!”
Emerging from the rubble, Little White flew up and softly said to Jiang Yao and Jiang Lingwei flying together:
“Why do you all like to summon fairies without saying a word?”
“Used to it.” (x2)
“Eh?” (x2)
The mother and daughter exchanged a glance, then both looked away.
Jiang Lingwei covered one ear to contact Wen Yanquan. If all went well, this crab should be the last one. Let’s see if she can locate the Dark Fairy.
Jiang Yao poked Little White’s round body:
“What’s going on? How did Little Yu become a magic girl? Was it you who made the contract?”
“Wuwu… don’t tug me… listen! I originally ran out looking for you…”
Little White struggled a bit: “Then I happened to meet a suitable candidate, and there was a dark beast causing trouble. Of course, I couldn’t just sit back and watch.”
“But I didn’t have the power. You know, on Earth, fairies can hardly use any magic.”
“So, I asked that candidate if they wanted to become a magic girl, and just like that.”
“The whole thing was consensual! I’m a Light Fairy, not one to force anyone!”
What was said without intention was understood by the listener. While listening to Wen Yanquan’s situation, Jiang Lingwei also eavesdropped on what Little White was saying.
(Can’t use magic?)
That made her feel something was off.
Previously, facing that Dark Fairy inside the composite body, she had the same doubt.
She had never imagined a Dark Fairy would personally intervene and launch an attack while hiding inside a composite body.
That was because, in her impression, doing so only limited the Dark Fairy’s capabilities. No Dark Fairy would do that; they wouldn’t make things harder for themselves.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have felt comfortable letting Jiang Yao block first.
Not to mention the Dark Fairies as enemies, even the old man sometimes personally fought, casting magic with one hand and striking enemies with a staff as a close-combat mage.
Back when she thought it was the “final battle,” the old man had also directly—
Why now can’t fairies use magic? Has the fairy race changed so much after twenty years? Or has Earth itself changed?
Elsewhere, Little White quickly glanced back at the hesitant Lin Yu approaching and whispered:
“From what you’re saying, you know [Opal]?”
“Sigh.”
Patting Little White’s head without answering, Jiang Yao landed with everyone else and said to Lin Yu:
“So, let’s get along from now on—as magic girls.”
“Um… ah… okay, okay… I never thought… Yao Yao, you actually are…”
Lin Yu’s embarrassment had reached its peak. She remembered how, in front of Jiang Yao the magic girl, she had said “No, you don’t understand,” then praised Jiang Yao to the skies while treating her as her own mother…
Embarrassing memories seemed endless.
“Sorry, it’s my fault.”
Jiang Yao calmly held Lin Yu’s hand and said:
“Before, you were just a normal person. I couldn’t tell you the truth.”
She joked:
“This is the end of the line. You’ve been contracted by Little White, that unreliable guy. Welcome to our unreliable fairy squad.”
“Hey!”
Little White pretended to be angry, hopping around.
“Pfft.”
Watching that fairy bounce around like a soccer ball, Lin Yu couldn’t help but laugh, finally regaining some of her usual composure.
Seeing the atmosphere ease, Jiang Yao continued:
“But you were partly right. That day, your mom did intervene—it just wasn’t me.”
“!”
Lin Yu’s eyes lit up but she didn’t dare be too sure: “Really? She also…?”
“Exactly.”
Jiang Yao nodded vigorously, stepping aside and stretching out both hands:
“Your mom is here.”
Exposed, Jiang Lingwei was completely stunned. The pink-haired ancient magic girl trembled and pointed a small hand at herself:
“Huh? Me?”
Seeing Lin Yu approaching with tears in her eyes, she was utterly baffled by today’s kids’ thinking and quickly said:
“Wait, wait!”
“Wait!”
(How could this be…)
Jiang Lingwei sighed inwardly.
(I’m still a seventeen-year-old girl… Why do I feel like there’s already a generation gap with the kids?)