Toyokawa Shoko doesn't want to become a witch

Page 237

"Are you really feeling unwell?" she asked Xiangzi with concern.

"A little... How about we stop here? I want to spend some more time in the archives."

"Okay, anyway, there's nothing special to tell you." Kasumi patted Shoko on the shoulder. "Working in the archives is tough, don't try to carry it all on your own."

"Of course, of course, I'm not alone anymore." Xiangzi squinted and smiled brightly. "I believe in my partners."

Meow Dream: Achoo!

"That's settled then. All five of your files have been approved by the administrator." Kasumi turned and walked towards the door. "RiNG is yours now, and so is Ayashihara."

"You're making it sound like you're never coming back."

"Who knows?" Kasumi turned around and smiled at her. "Just take it as a joke."

This smile was completely different from the sunny smile that Kasumi always had on her face.

=======

As evening approached, Xiangzi spent some more time rummaging through historical documents in the archives, learning more about the Flower Witch.

The Magical Girl Gathering in Reed Plains has three gathering points. Among them, Galaxy, which is small and located underground, is an illegal building dug under the livehouse to construct the gathering. RiNG and CiRCLE both use barriers.

The barrier needs magic to power it, so where does this magic come from?

Xiangzi had never thought about it carefully before, and she guessed that apart from those in the know, no magical girl had thought about it carefully either.

A file placed inside the compound records the construction process of the gathering barrier, mentioning the method to fix the barrier in place. The most crucial element, however, is the energy source that sustains the barrier's operation—the two Lament Seeds of the Flower Witch. One for CiRCLE, one for RiNG, exactly two.

what......

It seems they not only know how to use it, but have also figured it out. However, ordinary Lament Seeds, when filled with filth, will give rise to new witches; won't the Flower Witch do the same?

Like the Soul Gem, the magical power contained within the Seed of Lamentation is inversely proportional to the degree of filth it contains. Since the Flower Witch's Seed of Lamentation possesses near-infinite magical power, if it cannot be used up, it probably won't create new witches.

If they run out, will new witches still be born?

Will that previously dead consciousness be reborn, or...?

Xiangzi pursed his lips and closed the file.

Never mind, I'm overthinking it.

After all, even the incubator herself hadn't fully understood flowers, so how could she possibly guess?

Xiangzi stuffed the file back in, stood up, patted his butt, and stretched.

"Never mind, I don't want to think about it anymore. I'm going home for dinner."

She yawned.

"Chuhua is still waiting."

Xiangzi tidied his backpack and casually picked up a copy of "Urban Legends Compilation (Issue 50)" that was the most recent, planning to read it again when he got home tonight.

This is a bi-monthly publication with a very close connection to the Magical Girl Gathering, serving as a stable source of information.

As Xiangzi stepped out of the elevator, he ran into Rinrinko, who was on the RiNG billboard. Rinrinko was one of the very few ordinary people who worked with the magical girls to keep the gathering running, and she was also the general manager of RiNG.

"Good evening, Ms. Rinrinko," Shoko greeted politely.

"Good evening, Xiao Xiang~" Rinrinko peeked out from behind the computer and smiled at her, "Are you leaving already?"

"Okay." Xiangzi nodded. "Goodbye, Miss Rinrinko."

"Take care~" Rinrinko said goodbye to her, while her eyes caught sight of the "Urban Legends Compilation (Issue 150)" in Shoko's hand.

"Xiaoxiang——"

She was about to call out to Xiangzi when he was stopped by someone else at the same time.

--"benefactor."

Xiangzi turned his head to look outside the door.

"Please teach me how to become a powerful magical girl."

Chihaya Aine stood blocking the doorway, panting as she looked at Shoko.

The Lost Story: The Lost Child - Chapter 287 Revisiting Familiar Places

"My benefactor! Please teach me how to become a powerful magical girl."

Ai-yin, supporting herself on her knees, was panting heavily.

She looked at Xiangzi.

The world in my eyes gradually returns to the very beginning of today.

......

Let's go back to this morning, to the location of Reed Plain - Hanasaki River Girls' Academy.

The students walked into the classroom in a bustling manner.

Hailing took out her textbook from the drawer and looked at the densely packed words on it for the first time in a long time.

I'm finally back at school.

The week that Qi Liuhai had spent away from home felt like an eternity, so much so that returning to her daily life felt almost like a dream.

Ding dong.

The school bell rang, and Hai Ling looked up at the second seat in front of her.

Still empty.

Where did Lixi go?

The moment the thought popped into Hailing's mind, a box of chocolate-flavored milk pudding was placed on her desk.

She raised an eyebrow.

"That's rare." She looked up at Lixi. "Is there something you need?"

Are you free after school?

"Ok?"

"We want to take on more projects, but we're short-staffed."

"I have something to attend to," Hailing said calmly.

Xiangzi informed the entire group last night that they were going to become administrators, and today, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they would be handing over their responsibilities.

"Oh, never mind then." Li Xi sighed and sat back down in her seat.

Hai Ling glanced at her retreating figure, then pulled her phone out of the drawer, her fingers flying across the virtual keyboard like phantoms.

[Hailing]: Xiangzi, what time do you need to arrive this afternoon?

[Xiangzi]: It should be four o'clock. It would be best to come over immediately after class.

[MeowDream]: Four o'clock! So early! I haven't even woken up from my afternoon nap yet!

[Xiangzi]: Are you looking for a beating?

【Meow Dream】: Waaaaah, don't be so mean to me.

[Hailin]: How long will the handover process take?

[Xiangzi]: I'm not sure, it will take quite a while.

[Mu]: There's a family gathering tonight, so I have to leave early.

[MeowDream]: I have a live stream scheduled for today~

[Chuhua]: The company arranged a last-minute event this afternoon, so I probably won't be able to come. Oh dear...

[Hailin]: ...Actually, I was invited by someone suddenly this afternoon.

[Xiangzi]: ......

What a classic scenario! Before asking, they say they're free, but there's no word from them on the day itself. Only when someone asks do they suddenly appear like mushrooms after rain, saying they're busy.

[Xiangzi]: Forget it, none of you need to come. I can handle it by myself.

[Mu]: I just need to leave a little earlier.

[MeowDream]: Me too~

[Xiangzi]: No thanks, too many people will only get in the way.

Angry?

Hailing raised an eyebrow, her fingers hovering over the virtual keyboard, unsure of what to type.

[Xiangzi]: I'm not angry.

Isn't this anger?

[Hailin]: I can go see my friend after I finish my business.

[Xiangzi]: Just go ahead, I don't have much to do here.

[Hailin]: Just said in anger?

[Xiangzi]: I'm really not angry.

[Xiangzi]: I won't look at my phone during class.

Hailing chuckled as she put her phone back, opened the chocolate-flavored milk jelly that Lixi had given her, and left her seat before the teacher arrived in the classroom.

"Where should I wait for you?" Hailing stopped beside Lixi and asked.

"You're free again?"

"You can come over after you're done."

=============

In fact, apart from Chu Hua who really couldn't find the time, the other three arrived as promised in the afternoon.

After all, everyone could see that those were just Xiangzi's angry words.

But in fact, just as Xiangzi said, there wasn't much for them to worry about, and Xiangzi continued to take on most of the work as always.

Mu was already skilled at adjusting Soul Gems, and the RING's adjustment room and craftsman's room were places she frequented. She exchanged her dolls and greatswords there, so the handover was particularly quick. She soon completed her task, got into the black luxury car parked in front of RiNG, and felt refreshed.

Miao Meng stayed in the lobby and chatted with Rinrinko at the front desk for a while, which made her feel refreshed.

After following Xiangzi and Xiangcheng around a few times with a confused look on her face, Hailing was kicked out of RiNG by Xiangzi with the excuse, "Don't you have something to do? Go quickly."

Uh......

It seems she really can't be of any help.

So, she had some free time, so she turned on her phone and confirmed the meeting place that Lixi had told her.

Lixi said he would send her the address, but Hailing didn't rush to confirm it. Now that she's opened the navigation, she's discovered that the place... is in Kabukicho.

Hailing has never been here since that day.

It's a place that feels both familiar and strange.

Did Lixi choose this place on purpose?

Obviously not. Li Xi knew nothing about these things.

However, there are a lot of witches in Kabukicho.

Hailing only found out about it just now.

When Mari Ono was still around, the entire Kabukicho district was dominated by Ave Maria, leaving no room for other witches to survive.

Even after Ave Maria disappeared, nothing changed. The nightlife continued, and people crowded into Kabukicho at night, singing and dancing. The neon lights continued to cover up the traces of crime.

Crazy people and people struggling to survive all gather here. Without the king who monopolized the mountain, Kabukicho has become a paradise for witches. The crime rate within Kabukicho has not decreased but increased. This month alone, the police have put up yellow lines here several times. The people here have gotten used to it.

So, when Mary was still alive, she did control the harm caused by other witches to some extent by keeping them under her control?

If they hadn't reunited, this stable situation would have continued indefinitely.

Hai Ling raised her hand and touched the corner of her upturned mouth.

How ironic.