“Oh, you’re asking about the Transformation Phrase?” Xiaoxi said dismissively. “It’s pretty normal, probably just a requirement from the Variety Show Crew.”
“The show definitely wants to emphasize and promote Xingge… Senior Magical Girl’s identity. You only really look like a Magical Girl if you shout out the Transformation Phrase during your transformation.”
“Sometimes, this requirement is even specifically written into the contract. It’s that important.”
Xiaohongmao nodded in disbelief. She knew she felt a bit nervous with the crew filming today but never imagined there was so much behind the scenes.
“Can’t be helped. For Senior Xingge, both being an idol and a Magical Girl are jobs… Watch out!”
Xiaoxi suddenly lunged forward, grabbing a panicked girl in one arm while her other hand threw a clean, precise punch to block a shelf that the strange person had hurled.
“It’s fine now. Hurry and get out of here.”
Watching the girl rush away carrying large bags, Xiaoxi shook her head. At this point, why was she still holding onto so many things? No wonder she couldn’t run faster.
“But why did Senior Xingge fight that weirdo for so long?” Xiaohongmao asked, puzzled again.
Muxingge was dealing with the stranger while the two of them evacuated and protected the crowd, so the division of labor was fine.
After all, one person was definitely enough for Muxingge to handle a freak like that.
But from Xiaohongmao’s perspective, Senior Xingge was an S-Class Magical Girl, so she should have been able to take down such an enemy instantly, right?
“Senior Xingge could have easily ended this with a Note Light Cannon, but the problem is, this is inside a mall—not on the street. If she blasted a light cannon here, the mall would have a hole in it.”
“So she had to deal with the enemy without damaging public property. Also…” Xiaoxi lowered her voice again, “if she fought too fast, what would the Variety Show Crew have to broadcast? They definitely asked for the fight to be a bit longer.”
As she spoke, Muxingge, who had been using relatively gentle attacks to tie up the strange person, finally seized an opportunity to pin the stranger to the ground.
The cameramen nearby disregarded the danger and moved forward with their cameras, ready to get a close-up.
“Why?! Why am I the only one losing money?!”
“Ugh…”
Xiaoxi sighed. That weird person was kind of pitiful— failing at business and losing everything, then turning into a freak and getting caught on a variety show as entertainment.
The pinned stranger kept struggling.
“Clearly… after everyone hoards their stock and hikes prices, they all make a killing, but I bought so many accessories and just ended up stuck with them in the warehouse… I’m so unwilling!”
Xiaoxi: “…”
Oh, so she’s a reseller of game accessories. Well, that’s fine—resellers are easy to deal with.
With the fight over and waiting for Logistics Department to wrap things up, Muxingge walked over toward the two of them. Xiaohongmao was staring at Xiaoxi’s neck.
“Alanbel, are you hurt here? Are you okay?”
“No, it’s not really an injury… sigh, anyway, it’s fine.”
Xiaoxi blushed a little, trying to cover the strawberry mark on her neck.
That Sirius form was so annoying— stylish in appearance but the outfit was too skimpy to cover anything.
“Sirius, I didn’t expect you to know so much about these things. Usually, new Magical Girls wouldn’t know this much.”
Muxingge crossed her arms. Xiaoxi and Xiaohongmao froze for a moment. Had Muxingge overheard their secret chat?
“Next time, remember to turn off your Communicator,” Muxingge pointed to her ear, “I’m not deaf. I can definitely hear you.”
“But what Sirius said isn’t wrong either. Where did you learn all this?”
“Just… happened to know a little bit…”
Xiaoxi gave an awkward smile. Of course, she couldn’t say that Muxingge herself had told her.
Back when the teammates went out for team building, Muxingge often bitched and moaned about these things.
Muxingge narrowed her eyes slightly. Sirius was strange in this way.
Though her strength was indeed that of a D-rank rookie Magical Girl, she had a certain maturity and worldliness not typical of a newcomer.
Other things could be hidden, but combat habits and experience were hard to fully conceal.
“Um…” Just then, a tentative voice sounded, “Thank you for saving me earlier! Can I take a photo with you?”
It was the girl Xiaoxi had just saved. She had somehow come back, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Xiaoxi.
“I was so scared! That huge thing was thrown at me, I was totally stunned!”
“I didn’t expect you to rush over in a flash. That big thing—how did you catch it with one hand? So amazing!”
The girl’s enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming for Xiaoxi.
Seeing her carrying so many bags and trying to make two-handed gestures, Xiaoxi instinctively wanted to refuse.
“Sorry, I’m not really into taking photos…”
Before Xiaoxi could finish rejecting her, L’s voice came through the Communicator.
“Alanbel, just deal with it. We have outsiders here; we need to maintain the Association’s image.”
When it came to not wanting others to hear private conversations, L was good—she and Xiaoxi had a private channel.
Xiaoxi glanced out of the corner of her eye at the several cameras pointed at them nearby and sighed helplessly.
“No problem—shall we shoot over there?”
A moment later, the girl was flipping through photos on her phone, clearly excited.
“Thanks! I never thought I’d be saved by a Magical Girl someday. I’ve always loved Magical Girls!”
“By the way, since you’re so strong, what rank Magical Girl are you?”
“Ah, no no, I haven’t properly thanked you for saving me yet. Wait a second… here, this necklace is for you!”
The girl rummaged through her pile of bags and pulled out a small box, pressing it into Xiaoxi’s hand.
Xiaoxi felt a headache coming on. This girl was way too familiar too fast—just the kind of person a shut-in like her had trouble handling.
And with the Variety Show Crew filming, she couldn’t be too blunt in refusal.
Xiaoxi had no choice but to accept the gift and was pulled into a bit more chit-chat before the matter finally ended.
“Looks like you’re as popular as ever, Alanbel. If only I’d sent you to be an idol too, just like Xingge.”
“By the way, one more thing—regarding the Association’s investigation into [Alanbel] Mo Lan’er, it’s basically finished. They’ve checked Mo Lan’er thoroughly and found nothing suspicious.”
“Looks like tracking down the Blood Moon Witch isn’t going to be easy.”
Xiaoxi fell silent. Though she had expected this, it was unsettling that the Association hadn’t uncovered a single lead on the Blood Moon Witch.
It wasn’t that the Association was inefficient, but Xiaoxi believed the Blood Moon Witch couldn’t have hidden for this long alone.
Where was she hiding? Who was covering her tracks? Xiaoxi was uneasy about the unknown helper supporting the Blood Moon Witch.
“By the way, since the freak is dealt with, can I take a stroll around the mall? I want to buy a gift.”
“Oh~ trying to buy a gift for your little girlfriend, huh?” L teased. “Sorry, no can do. If the Variety Show Crew caught a Magical Girl ditching work to go shopping during a mission, it’d be a big problem, Alanbel.”
Xiaoxi sighed. She had wanted to get a thank-you gift for Ye Xinglan, but it looked like she’d have to find another time.