Chapter 375
"... Very... warm..."
Although the young man's hands had been soaking in the water for a long time, they surprisingly still retained some warmth.
The girl felt the warmth emanating from his palm.
"So, you're not dreaming, right?"
The young man asked again with a smile.
The girl nodded.
This time, the young man gently stroked the girl's head and said very seriously:
"Dongdong, it's all true. You've really made friends and you've really started a family. I don't expect you to forget the past, but I hope you can try not to think about it. You should think more about the present and the future."
"We will be with you for a long time to come, so don't worry, we will be with you, always by your side."
"Will we... always be together...?"
The girl looked up and met the young man's gaze, then asked him a question.
The young man wiped the pool water from the girl's face and said helplessly:
"I can't guarantee that, after all, you'll grow up eventually, and there will be a time when you're separated from us. I can only guarantee that we'll protect you as long as we can see you."
"But... sometimes we might not be there for you, so when that happens, you'll need to protect yourself."
The young man didn't make grand promises like "I will always protect you."
But that's precisely why the girl felt the young man's words were so true.
That's right, no one can be together forever, and girls will always have times when they are alone. It's unrealistic to expect young people and their companions to protect you forever.
Girls need to learn to be strong, to protect themselves, and to stop being bullied by anyone.
Even so, from the time she met the young man until now, the girl has become accustomed to their protection and to her current life.
She almost forgot that she was a Magical Girls.
The graying that started at her fingertips had already covered half of Song Niandong's body.
The memories that flashed through my mind were like a revolving lantern before death.
Scenes of Song Niandong spending time with Fang Ming flashed before her eyes like a slideshow.
She... isn't really a qualified Magical Girls.
Because she had once been an enemy of Magical Girls, she didn't do anything useful after joining their team.
As if listening to Fang Ming's words, she forgot all the sad and painful past that she didn't want to recall.
Enjoying the care from young people and the protection from her peers, Song Niandong has always been like this.
She became a protected canary, and everyone was willing to protect her, a girl with a sad past.
But no matter what, she is still a Magical Girls.
The graying of her body continued, but Song Niandong closed her eyes, as if she had given up and stopped struggling.
As the opening theme played, Song Niandong recalled Fang Ming's image and the words he had said to her, and her will gradually became firm.
"Brother, you're right... You can't protect me forever, and I... I don't want to hold you back forever, so--"
Boom!!!
A surge of powerful purple energy swept across the sky, and Song Niandong's body was enveloped in purple light.
In a very short time, magical power has made the leap from the Lower Rank to the Middle Rank!
"I'll take care of this bully myself!"
As Song Niandong spoke, she appeared in the sky in a new form!
The purple dress became looser, turning from a long dress into a short one, and the wizard's hat on her head was replaced by a headband and hair clips to bind her long hair.
If Song Niandong's Magical Girl Form was previously described as resembling a witch, then her current Magical Girl Form is more in line with the title of 'Magical Girls'!
This is Song Niandong's new form, the Shining Form!
Following Xiao Qiu, Xiaoxia, and Xiao Chun, a fourth girl has appeared who has activated her Shining Form!
After Song Niandong activates her Shining Form, the ending sequence cuts in.
That concludes the third episode.
Volume 4 <Magic Autumn> Theatrical Edition and Season 3: Chapter 406 The True Location of the Aurora Society Headquarters
(See? I told you so, Dongdong is really alright!)
(When I saw the flashback scene, I knew this game was in the bag!)
(Emmmm, in Dongdong's memories, it's also her cousin...)
(Hilarious, is the harem king in Magical Girls anime a joke?)
(But his cousin did save Dongdong, so it's normal for Dongdong to think of his cousin, right?)
(I don't care about any of that!! Why did the Sky Screen break here?! I want to see Dongdong beat up the monster!!!)
(Let's wait until tomorrow www)
"Call..."
When Fang Ming saw Dongdong activate its Shining Form, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Once the Shining Form is activated, the user's strength will be enhanced to a certain extent.
Judging from the power displayed by the Sculpture Demon, he was unable to quickly petrify objects of the same level as himself.
Even against Magical Girls with magical powers, even if they are not of the same level, he cannot immediately turn Magical Girls into statues.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have wasted his breath talking to Song Niandong, nor would he have needed to resort to such a troublesome method to petrify Song Niandong.
He could have petrified Song Niandong completely.
The reason he's in so much trouble is simply because this is the only way he can do it; there's no other reason.
Therefore, once Dongdong awakened its Shining Form and its strength advanced to the Middle Rank, the defeat of the Sculpture Demon was already certain.
Ultimately, it was because the Sculpture Demon relied too much on his magic. Despite having the advantage of being Middle Rank or Lower Rank demon, he could have easily overwhelmed Song Niandong sheer power, but instead, he chose to defeat her by turning her into a sculpture.
Well... but it's also thanks to the weakness of the Sculpture Demon that Dongdong had the opportunity to awaken his Shining Form.
Otherwise, the outcome of this battle would probably be very different.
"Dongdong has awakened its Shining Form, so Little Red and Xiao Lan should be next, right?"
Seeing this, Xiao Chun turned her head to look at Aurora beside her.
Aurora, still with her arms crossed, tilted her head slightly and said:
"Don't look at me, I haven't figured out the trick yet, and I'm not even as strong as the me on the Sky Screen... By the way, uncle, when are you going to share my Emotional Force? I can't wait."
Aurora turned to look at Fang Ming.
The excess Emotional Force is now holding Aurora back; she needs to Emotional Force as soon as possible.
Now that she has found a suitable Magical Girls, Aurora is eager to share her Emotional Force and enhance herself.
Otherwise, let alone her Shining Form, she would probably end up being the weakest of all Magical Girls.
This is precisely what Aurora cannot accept.
"Almost there, almost there..."
Fang Ming said, "Let's observe for a few more days, and once the third season ends, we'll take action."
"All right..."
Hearing that it would only take a few days, Aurora stopped urging them.
The third season has now finished airing its third episode. Based on the current twelve-episode run, Aurora should be able to divest her Emotional Force within nine days at the latest.
"The third episode has ended. What are Fang Ming's plans now? To continue observing, or...?"
Xiao Chun squinted at Fang Ming.
After what happened yesterday, Xiao Chun is now quite worried about Fang Ming going out alone. Otherwise, who knows if he might bring back another Magical Girls!
Xiao Chun now fully understands Fang Ming's appeal to Magical Girls!
Therefore, Xiao Chun needs to ascertain Fang Ming's intentions today.
If the purpose was to observe, Xiao Chun would have Fang Ming stay at the hotel, or she would simply take Fang Ming with her.
If it were to do something else...
"Didn't we agree on this yesterday?" Fang Ming interrupted Xiao Chun's thoughts and said to her, "Today we're going with Stella to find the remaining members of the Aurora Society."
"!!"
Oh, and Stella too!
Xiao Chun slapped her forehead with a "smack".
They were so focused on those new Magical Girls that they forgot about the only Witch in the world right now.
Thinking that Stella seemed to have also been captivated by Fang Ming's gentleness, Xiao Chun became even more worried.
She hesitated, "Maybe I should just go with you..."
"Xiao Chun." Fang Ming's tone suddenly became much more serious.
This sudden serious expression made Xiao Chun unconsciously take it seriously as well. She immediately adopted the demeanor of a well-behaved child and listened attentively to Fang Ming's words.
Fang Ming then said, "I know you like me. To be honest, I'm actually very happy that you like me. I've even told you that I do have some feelings for you."
Aurora:!?
"But," Fang Ming, oblivious to Aurora's expression, continued to Xiao Chun, "I don't want our relationship to affect the important things we're about to do. You understand, right? What we're about to do is crucial to this world... and even to all worlds!"
"So now is not the time to be willful!"
Fang Ming's tone was slightly harsher.
Xiao Chun lowered her head, her hair covering her eyes, making it impossible to see her expression.
Perhaps realizing he had spoken too harshly, Fang Ming softened his tone considerably, and said gently:
"... Besides, I'm not the kind of guy who falls for every girl he meets. Stella's feelings for me are probably just gratitude. Don't overthink it. Just focus on your work, okay?"
"... Um."
Xiao Chun nodded obediently.
Fang Ming then said to Aurora, "Then Aurora, I'll have to leave the observation work to you and Xiao Chun. I'll go and handle the Aurora Society matters with Stella."
"No problem."
Aurora gave an 'OK' sign.
Seeing this, Fang Ming nodded in satisfaction, turned around, and slowly left the hotel.
After Fang Ming left, Aurora turned to look at Xiao Chun: "Hey, Cow Girl, are you alright?"
Aurora was a little worried that Fang Ming might have said something too harsh and hurt Xiao Chun's feelings.
But when Aurora noticed Xiao Chun's expression at that moment, she knew that her worries might be a little unnecessary.
The green-haired girl, who had completely fallen for Fang Ming, had a slightly flushed face and a somewhat dreamy look in her eyes.
She gazed at Fang Ming's retreating figure, murmuring to herself, "... Indeed, I love Fang Ming's serious side the most, and... the way he looks now, saying such earnest words, he's both serious and adorable... I'm already..."
"Tsk."
Aurora didn't want to listen anymore.
She rolled her eyes dramatically, then turned and walked away.
Sure enough, she shouldn't have worried about this Cow Girl brain was gradually filling with paint!
This green-haired girl who is so smitten with Fang Ming would probably still think, "Brother Fang Ming is so handsome," even if Fang Ming were to get really angry and hurl the most offensive insults at her.
Love-struck people are beyond help; Aurora shouldn't worry about her!
Let's go do the observation task for now. Maybe if she does well, she can distribute her Emotional Force ahead of time.