Magical Girls Exposed!

Chen Xiaoxia raised her head even higher at that and said, "Anyway, unless a fifth magical girl appears, she definitely knocked Xiao Chun out!"

"Then why didn't you tell Aunt He when you were discussing it earlier?" Xiao Chun asked Chen Xiaoxia in confusion.

Chen Xiaoxia's momentum instantly weakened, and she stammered,

"...Well, it's because I was afraid... afraid Aunt He would tell on me to my dad... Drawing conclusions without evidence—if my dad finds out about this, I'll definitely get lectured again when I go home."

Chen Xiaoxia came from a family of police officers. Her grandfather and father were both cops. Her presumption of guilt might not seem like much to ordinary people, but at home... if her father and grandfather found out, they would probably tan her hide.

But no matter what, Chen Xiaoxia's intuition was good. Though she had no evidence, she had relied on instinct to zero in on Xiao Bai.

There was probably a little personal grudge mixed into that, but there might well have been official personnel who thought similarly to Chen Xiaoxia.

Fortunately, no one currently suspected Fang Ming. Even if they did, no one would think Fang Ming was the fourth magical girl.

This world's entertainment culture had the concept of magical girls, but there had never been a precedent of a boy becoming a magical girl. It was unlike his previous life, where similar manga and novels had explored the idea to death.

Without precedent, no one would consider that Xiao Bai's true form was male.

Fang Ming should be able to keep lying low for a while longer.

"But if it really was Xiao Bai, why did she knock Xiao Chun out?"

Yu Muqiu raised this crucial question.

That was right. If Xiao Bai had truly done this, why had she specifically gone over to put Xiao Chun to sleep as well?

"The reason... I think I can guess it," Xiao Chun said hesitantly. "She was probably trying to keep me from getting hurt... But if she could knock me out, putting all of you to sleep shouldn't have been difficult either. Why was it specifically me...?"

Xiao Chun could not figure it out.

Neither could Yu Muqiu and the others.

Seeing that the girls were about to uncover a crucial piece of information through their recap, Fang Ming immediately cleared his throat and said,

"Ahem. All right, there's no point discussing this here. Why not ask her directly when we meet the person involved?"

"That's true..."

The three girls nodded.

Fang Ming did not give them time to keep thinking and continued asking,

"By the way, what did you come here for?"

Prompted by Fang Ming, the three finally remembered something. Chen Xiaoxia cried out,

"Ah, I almost forgot! We came to invite Brother Fang Ming out to have fun!"

"Have fun?"

"Yeah! There's a local lantern festival by the river in Spring City these next few days. Brother Fang Ming rarely gets to come here, so we wanted to invite you to the festival with us."

Chen Xiaoxia explained why they had come to invite Fang Ming.

The riverside lantern festival was also one of Spring City's major attractions.

When Fang Ming's parents had still been alive a few years ago, he had come here with them once. Now that the festival had been mentioned again, he could not help feeling nostalgic.

But...

Was Yu Muqiu and the others going to the lantern festival part of the second season's plot?

If it was...

Then something very special would probably happen at this festival.

A Magic Barrier That Should Not Exist

The Spring City Lantern Festival.

One of Spring City's special attractions, it was held in summer. Before the weather turned cold for winter, it took place by the river almost every evening.

At certain times each month, there would also be fireworks at night, along with performers taking the stage.

Even passersby could go up and showcase their talents. If they did well, they could receive special rewards.

But Fang Ming and the magical girls certainly could not go onstage to perform.

After all, they were famous now. Forget performing onstage—even going out required a certain amount of disguise.

Otherwise, they would be like top idols and celebrities, mobbed by fans the moment they stepped outside.

They would not be able to enjoy themselves at all. Walking would probably be difficult enough.

"Here, Brother Fang Ming."

Before heading to the lantern festival, Xiao Chun handed Fang Ming a pair of black-rimmed glasses with plain lenses.

Sensing the magic power on them, Fang Ming roughly understood what the glasses did, but he still asked,

"These glasses are...?"

"I added magic to blur other people's impressions of you. That way, no one will recognize you when you go out, Brother Fang Ming."

"I see. That's pretty convenient."

Fang Ming put on the glasses, then looked at Xiao Chun and the others. "What about you?"

Xiao Chun and the others were not wearing glasses, and he did not know how they planned to conceal themselves.

Xiao Chun smiled and pointed to the strawberry hair clip on her head. "I'm using this."

After saying that, she looked toward the other two, who were discussing where to go first that evening, and pointed at them.

"Xiao Qiu's magic is on her hair clip too. Xiaoxia has glasses like you, Brother Fang Ming, except hers don't have lenses."

It seemed the magical girls all had ways to hide themselves, which put Fang Ming somewhat at ease.

After magical girls appeared, there were still many people harboring ulterior motives toward them where they could not see.

Fang Ming had even heard that in other Federation regions, there was some church called the Demon Society. They believed the descent of Demons would bring new hope to the world, while magical girls were heretics who needed to be purged. They harbored deep hostility toward magical girls.

The magical girls did not know about this. Fang Ming had only learned of it after getting in touch with He Xuan.

That was why official personnel accompanied and protected the magical girls wherever they went.

Now, with the magical girls' own protective measures added in, their safety should not have been a problem.

As long as Demons did not appear again.

The group of four, plus one cat, got into an official business van and headed straight for the riverside.

The driver was a female bodyguard, mainly there to protect Fang Ming. After all, among everyone present, Fang Ming was the only ordinary person.

The remaining protectors were concealed in the shadows. Fang Ming glanced around without using magic to investigate, but he could not see anything.

It was clear that these protectors were professionals. Before they stepped forward on their own, no one could know where exactly they were hiding.

After arriving at the festival grounds, Fang Ming and the magical girls entered through a less crowded entrance under the bodyguard's lead.

Before they entered, He Xuan specifically gave the magical girls a round of instructions.

"Do not use magic unless absolutely necessary. Do not expose your identities. If your identities are exposed, retreat immediately. And don't run around recklessly... Mr. Fang Ming, I'll leave them in your care."

"...I think Xiao Qiu and the others should be able to take care of themselves."

Having had enough experience babysitting already, Fang Ming truly did not want to be their guardian now.

And hadn't he come here to have fun? What was this about making him look after Xiao Qiu and the others?

Fang Ming was somewhat reluctant, and He Xuan said helplessly,

"But they're still children after all..."

"All right, all right! Aunt He, what could possibly happen at a lantern festival? Stop fussing! Xiao Qiu! Let's go!!"

Before He Xuan could finish, Xiaoxia interrupted her. At the same time, she grabbed Xiao Qiu and, like a husky freed from its leash, dragged her into the crowd in a flash.

He Xuan stared dumbfoundedly at Chen Xiaoxia, veins seemingly bulging on her forehead.

"Xiaoxia, you—!"

Among the three magical girls, He Xuan had the best relationship with Chen Xiaoxia because she was friends with Chen Xiaoxia's mother.

Part of the reason she had become deputy director was that she was indeed qualified for the position. Another part was her connection to the magical girl Chen Xiaoxia.

Someone familiar was always more likely to make magical girls lower their guard than a stranger.

But precisely because of that, Chen Xiaoxia was also the least well-behaved around He Xuan.

Chen Xiaoxia might listen to He Xuan when it came to serious matters, but ordinarily... she was just like this.

He Xuan could be saying one thing one second, and Chen Xiaoxia would throw those words to the back of her mind the next.

Watching Chen Xiaoxia disappear from sight with Yu Muqiu, He Xuan tiredly rubbed her temples before saying,

"Teams One and Two, confirm Xiao Qiu and Xiaoxia's locations. Team Three, follow us. Team Four, remain on standby..."

She held her earpiece as she spoke, clearly passing instructions to the magical girls' protectors.

Fang Ming and Xiao Chun had not left.

The two stood beside He Xuan.

When Xiao Chun saw Chen Xiaoxia drag Yu Muqiu away, then turn back and give her an encouraging look, she instantly understood what Chen Xiaoxia meant.

She wanted to leave Fang Ming and her alone together.

But...

Xiao Chun secretly glanced at Fang Ming, who was marveling over how energetic Xiaoxia was, and let out an imperceptible sigh.

...But someone did not seem to have that kind of intention.

"All right, let's head in too."

Seeing that He Xuan was still making arrangements and did not seem to have anything else to tell him or Xiao Chun, Fang Ming prepared to take Xiao Chun into the festival grounds.

Xiao Chun froze at his words, then quickly and vigorously nodded. She jogged a few steps to move closer to Fang Ming, and the two entered side by side.

Xiao Chun had thought Fang Ming would keep his distance from her, but she had not expected him to allow her to remain by his side.

Though Fang Ming's behavior was almost no different from before, after the Sky Screen exposed her feelings, Xiao Chun had once thought he would distance himself from her.

That was why Fang Ming's unchanged attitude now made Xiao Chun so happy.

No matter what the future held, as long as she could continue staying by Brother Fang Ming's side, she was already content.

Unlike Xiao Chun's rosy thoughts, Fang Ming, who appeared to be admiring the festival street scenery, was actually thinking about something else.

If something unexpected really happened at today's lantern festival, then where exactly would that "unexpected event" occur?

The officials had agreed to let Xiao Qiu and the others come to the festival. Perhaps they shared Fang Ming's thoughts and believed something unexpected would happen here, which was why they intended to "follow the plot" while preparing to prevent any accidents.

Then, since the officials had already made preparations, would the possible accident at today's festival still happen?

As Fang Ming was thinking this, he and Xiao Chun beside him suddenly stopped almost at the same time.

But in only an instant, Fang Ming realized something and continued forward as if he had sensed nothing.

At the moment he stepped forward, Xiao Chun swiftly hugged his arm tightly and said,

"Brother Fang Ming! Something's wrong!"

"?"

Fang Ming looked at Xiao Chun with a bewildered expression. "What is it?"

"A Magic Barrier...! Someone has deployed a Magic Barrier here! But... but why..."

Xiao Chun tightly gripped Fang Ming, her eyes equally filled with confusion.

That was right, a Magic Barrier.

Unlike the bizarre Nightmare Barrier, a Magic Barrier was a reflection of the real world formed by magical girls actively deploying it.

And because it was a reflection, nothing that happened within it would affect the real world.

That was why magical girls deployed barriers before fighting.

In the seventh episode shown by the Sky Screen today, when Xiao Bai fought Xiao Qiu and the others, she had deployed a Magic Barrier.

Now, someone had deployed another Magic Barrier over this lantern festival.

And unlike the Magic Barrier that could drive all ordinary people away, this Magic Barrier had enveloped everyone within the lantern festival!

To use an inappropriate analogy...