Living with a Magical Girl, but a Monster Executive

"After that, many cities began following suit as well. Hmm... I'm guessing you're definitely about to ask something next."

Just as Cong Yu said, Yaochuan Guang's next words overlapped with his—

"What is Contractualization?" X2

Lantian Zhu, who had been listening all along, explained in her usual cool voice, "Contractualization means that agencies no longer have a direct subordinate relationship with magical girls."

"Agencies also no longer automatically bear responsibility for a certain city. Instead, they open commissions to the public and local city management."

"When certain important events require security and need to ensure that no monsters cause trouble, they issue a commission to an agency."

"The agency then takes an intermediary fee and hires magical girls to complete the commission."

Yaochuan Guang thought it sounded pretty good. "Isn't that great? That way, magical girls won't get blamed if something goes wrong at work."

Previously, whenever broadcasts reported monster attacks, Yaochuan Guang had needed to rush to the scene immediately. She could even receive calls in the middle of the night.

If things worked that way, work would be much more convenient.

"Yes, for magical girls... or rather, for famous magical girls who could actually get commissions, it was pretty good."

As Cong Yu spoke, his stomach was getting a little hungry, and he wanted to move past the subject quickly. "But have you considered something?"

"What happens to monsters outside the scope of a commission?"

As he said this, Cong Yu patted Yaochuan Guang on the shoulder. "Right now, you're expected to eliminate monsters in the city by default, then occasionally take commissions for some extra money, right?"

"But afterward, if you passed by a monster doing evil, you wouldn't even be allowed to deal with it... That's explicitly stipulated."

Yaochuan Guang clearly wore an expression that said [Why?].

Lantian Zhu, who had worked in Central City before, helped explain. "If magical girls acted without a commission being issued, then who would issue commissions afterward? Agencies and magical girls wouldn't make any money, would they?"

Yaochuan Guang: "!!!"

She didn't understand, but she was deeply shaken.

"Now you get it, right? If you do, then be glad your agency hasn't started Contractualization yet... Though if it did, you'd definitely earn more."

At Cong Yu's words, Yaochuan Guang nodded as if she half understood.

Besides, there was something Cong Yu hadn't mentioned... something even Lantian Zhu didn't understand, the twists and turns behind why Contractualization had come about.

Promoting this sort of thing was partly a trend of the times, but there were indeed interests involved as well.

Interests related to the Monster Group...

After "Contractualization," it became even easier for agencies to collude with the Monster Group... It didn't matter if monsters caused trouble.

No one had to take the blame!

We, the agency, weren't responsible for city security in the first place, so why should we be responsible? They hadn't even issued a commission.

Still, that was a little secret only monsters knew.

And not just any monster knew it... At the very least, one had to be an executive.

Cong Yu smiled softly, then suddenly tossed the hairpin in his hand to Yaochuan Guang. "Oh, right. Take this."

Though it was rather abrupt, Yaochuan Guang caught it easily. She pinched the hairpin between her fingers. "What's this?"

Naturally, she wasn't asking what the thing specifically was. Anyone with eyes could tell it was a scorched hairpin.

"It was found in the old gymnasium. Judging by the burn marks and its style, the owner of the hairpin had been to the gymnasium before the fire."

Cong Yu explained simply as he fiddled with the mouse from his seat on the sofa. "I asked the homeroom teacher to retrieve the surveillance footage, and then found that the camera had happened to malfunction that very day... I judged that this was something left behind by the arsonist."

Those "judgments" were, of course, true.

However, Red had given him the hairpin, and Red had made the deduction as well... She had already reached a conclusion from the magic lingering on the hairpin.

Though Cong Yu thought it was far-fetched, since Red said there was a human student at school who was a traitor, they would investigate along that line for now.

Afterward, Cong Yu realized that someone had deliberately covered things up, and the other party's methods had been extremely crude.

Unfortunately, crude as they were, they had worked.

It was like openly telling you that something was wrong, while leaving you with no idea what exactly was wrong.

"See if you can sense any traces of magic..."

As Cong Yu spoke, he saw that both Yaochuan Guang and Lantian Zhu were already nodding, so he immediately said, "Then we'll have to investigate this matter ourselves."

That was obvious. Cong Yu could sense it himself as well.

If he couldn't, Cong Yu wouldn't want to wade into this mess. He would just stuff the evidence into the police's hands, then report Red for tampering with the scene.

(Red: Was that polite?)

"So... you mean I should keep an eye out at school for anyone wearing a hairpin of the same style?"

Yaochuan Guang asked this, tilting her head in confusion. "I don't think the culprit would buy a whole bunch of identical hairpins, would they?"

"..." What kind of magical logic was that?

"Can't you keep an eye out for someone with the same aura as the hairpin? Even police dogs know that much..."

Cong Yu patiently guided her in a gentle and tactful manner, while Yaochuan Guang clearly disliked that "gentleness and tactfulness." Holding the hairpin, she puffed up in anger and went to cook.

"Got it, got it already!"

As Yaochuan Guang responded, Lantian Zhu kept staring at Cong Yu, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.

"..." Cong Yu clicked his mouse without distraction.

Lantian Zhu: Stare—

Cong Yu silently tapped on the keyboard.

Lantian Zhu: Stare—

Cong Yu began sweating profusely.

"..." What was this? Had he done something strange in this matter? Had she noticed something suspicious?

"What is it? Why do you keep staring at me?"

At Cong Yu's deliberately calm question, Lantian Zhu narrowed her eyes but still shook her head. "Nothing. It's just..."

Just?

"Cong Yu, your criminal investigation methods are very formulaic."

Lantian Zhu said simply, looking away into empty space. "It feels like you often deal with similar situations."

"..."

"Haha..."

All Cong Yu could do was laugh awkwardly and find himself an excuse. "I'm an artist. I've read quite a few novels like that... Have you?"

As he said this, Cong Yu casually gave an example—"Like The Sherlock Holmes Detective Collection, for instance?"

But clearly, that was not an appropriate example.

"Sherlock Holmes wouldn't retrieve surveillance footage."

After making that jab, Lantian Zhu paused before asking, "What do you think of the system popular in Central City?"

Cong Yu thought for a moment and organized his words. "Although I have to admit it has made work more convenient for many people, personally... I don't think it's a perfect policy."

Because for magical girls, it was a little too exploitative.

"..."

"As expected... you aren't an ordinary manga artist."

Lantian Zhu spoke as she let out a soft breath. "Then what do you think of Wind City? Compared with Central City?"

"..." Cong Yu was numb. Completely numb. But no matter what Lantian Zhu knew, or how much she understood—

No matter what identity Lantian Zhu thought he had, he was willing to answer her with any identity—

"Though I don't know what you're talking about, I like the wind in Wind City."

Chapter 39: Doggy Yaochuan Guang

"Cong Yu! Please!"

Yaochuan Guang said this while performing a rather unstandardized dogeza on the sofa... Yes, it was not standard.

The reason it was not standard was because her butt was raised extremely high.

It made one wonder whether this was a dogeza, or a cheetah preparing to begin a hunt... As for the prey—

It was probably Cong Yu... maybe.

"Even if you say please, there's nothing I can do..."

Cong Yu said as he looked at Yaochuan Guang kneeling on the soft sofa without an ounce of sincerity. He said seriously, "I have reasons why I can't help."

Yaochuan Guang immediately raised her head. The confusion in her eyes showed that she was asking Cong Yu what those reasons were.

Cong Yu fulfilled her wish and told her the buried, cruel, and true answer—

"Because I'm lazy."

It could only be said that this was indeed very true.

Lantian Zhu, who was watching TV nearby, was also very sincere. After clasping her hands together, she said in an utterly insincere tone, "I'm asking too."

So I really didn't want to help at all.

Thinking this, Cong Yu propped up his chin and looked toward Lantian Zhu and Yaochuan Guang, who had already sat up. "What's in it for me?"

Benefits... There obviously were none.

"I think you could find a professional studio. If you don't know any, I can recommend a few."

As Cong Yu said this, he saw absolutely no need for himself to help them shoot videos. "Besides, don't you already have your own traffic?"

As Cong Yu understood it, the two of them were no longer unknown magical girls. They could honestly just slack off.

They only needed to interact on their accounts every now and then.

Under those circumstances, even if Yaochuan Guang really looked down on her fans and showed an attitude of contempt toward them, there would still be fans to defend her.

Then she could just ride Lantian Zhu's popularity.

But clearly, the two magical girls did not think so. Lantian Zhu considered it for a moment. "As for benefits, Little Guang can pay you."

Yaochuan Guang: Why me?!

At those words, Cong Yu looked at Yaochuan Guang and asked with a smile, "Is that so? How much are you offering?"

Yaochuan Guang: "Uh..."

Like Lantian Zhu, Yaochuan Guang began thinking. Then she tentatively asked, "For one video... three hundred yuan?"

Three hundred... Was she trying to get rid of a beggar?!

"I'd rather film police dogs on the street!"

At Cong Yu's "tactful" refusal, Yaochuan Guang pouted and silently complained about him bringing up police dogs again.

"That really is very little, or rather, absurdly little."

Lantian Zhu agreed with Cong Yu's assessment. She pondered for a moment. "Then, how about adding one pair of Little Guang's unwashed stockings?"

Yaochuan Guang: "Hey!"

Ignoring Yaochuan Guang's shout, Cong Yu shook his head. "That feels even less worthwhile. Since you added something weird, my price will be higher."

Yaochuan Guang: "Hey!!"

Also ignoring Yaochuan Guang's cry, Lantian Zhu sighed and gave Cong Yu a look. "I understand... The bathwater is ready. Little Guang, go take a bath first."

After being relentlessly messed with by the two of them, Yaochuan Guang was already panting. Exhausted in spirit, she nodded and decided to soak in the bath properly.

Watching Yaochuan Guang enter the bathroom, Lantian Zhu gave a light cough and drew Cong Yu's attention. "Cong Yu, you really know how to run an account, right?"

That much was beyond doubt.