Sorry

--boom!

In the dead of night, a violent Explosion erupted from the city center, the deafening roar waking Lin Xiaolu from her sleep.

"... What happened?"

She groggily got out of bed and looked out the window. After a brief moment of confusion, she gradually opened her eyes wide.

"Wake up, Xia Liang! Bai Jingxuan!"

Turning around, Lin Xiaolu woke up the other two girls who were still asleep, pointing out the window and shouting, "Something seems wrong! There's some strange noise!"

The two, who had been sound asleep, rubbed their eyes and crawled out of bed. They went to the window together and then fell silent.

A massive, purplish-black pillar of light rose from the city center, shooting straight into the sky and piercing through the clouds. Even the surrounding clouds were tinged with purple, swirling around the pillar and shimmering with an ominous light.

Half asleep, Bai Jingxuan took two steps forward, trying to get closer to the window to see the view outside. But as soon as she got close to the window, she saw a huge moth crash into it with a "smack".

"Hmm!"

The commotion startled her, and she took a few steps back, her previously drowsy mind becoming much more alert.

"Really, why are you getting in the way at a time like this!"

Seeing Bai Jingxuan startled by the sudden appearance of the moth, Lin Xiaolu angrily slammed her hand on the window to chase it away. Then she walked to the wardrobe in the room, opened the door, and said, "Hurry up and change your clothes! Although we don't know what's going on, we have to go out!"

"Can't we just transform and go outside?" Xia Liang asked, yawning. "Changing clothes at a time like this seems like too much trouble."

"Wouldn't it be fine if you just put on your shoes?" Bai Jingxuan suggested.

"You two..."

Lin Xiaolu glanced at them, put her hands on her hips, and spoke somewhat unhappily. But before she could finish her sentence, she felt the purple light shining from behind her intensify.

This made her words catch in her throat.

"It's Aberrant Beast!"

Moko had just woken up, also came over and pointed out the window, shouting, "Xiao Lu! I can sense the aura of Aberrant Beast! And it's very powerful, more powerful than any Aberrant Beast I've ever seen before! This one is definitely a big one!"

Unfortunately, no one paid attention to its words. Even Bai Jingxuan, who was closest to Moko, only gave a token nod of agreement.

After all, the view outside the window was far too conspicuous. Even a fool would know, after seeing the current situation, that the purple beam of light shooting straight into the sky was definitely not normal.

Lin Xiaolu realized that if she insisted on changing into a complete set of casual clothes before leaving, it would be too late by the time she arrived. Reluctantly, she had to change her plan. She grabbed a coat from the closet, draped it over her shoulders, and walked towards the door. "Never mind, I'd better hurry up and go."

The other two, realizing the urgency of the situation, followed her out of the room. The three of them and the Fairy hurriedly left the room, not even having time to turn on the lights, and ran towards their home.

Lin Xiaolu wanted to remind them to keep their voices down so as not to wake her father, but seeing that they had already run to the entrance, she didn't know what to say. She could only stand in the corridor and glance guiltily at the door of her father's room.

She wouldn't have cared if she hadn't looked, but when she actually looked over, all she saw was an open door.

The door wasn't closed?

This surprised Lin Xiaolu.

"What are you still standing there for?"

Before she could think it through, Xia Liang, who was not far away, said to her in a low voice, "There's no time to waste, let's go!"

"Hmm... Oh."

Lin Xiaolu could only suppress the doubt that arose in her heart for a moment and followed the others to the entrance.

She didn't have time to check if the door was open, nor did she know if her father was actually in the room.

She probably forgot to close the door when she went to sleep.

She explained it to herself in this way, and then walked out of the house with her companions.

--

--

"Senior".

The name called out by the person behind Larkspur undoubtedly proved her identity: she was Hong Siyu.

But upon hearing this address, Larkspur felt a slight heaviness in her heart.

She stood there stiffly for a while, staring at the ground. After a short while, she couldn't suppress her thoughts any longer and turned her head to look back.

"Don't turn around yet, senior."

However, Hong Siyu stopped Larkspur's movements.

Her voice was soft and clear, and she sounded fine, "Just listen to me, and then talk to me."

"... I hate people who are secretive and evasive."

Without directly responding to the other party's request, Larkspur lowered her head, looking at her shadow on the ground, and suddenly sighed, "Why didn't you just tell me? Why play this disappearing act and refuse to answer the phone? When exactly did the Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau become like this?"

"Hmm... who knows? I've forgotten too."

Hong Siyu a flippant tone, "And what's with all this talk about hiding things? Senior, aren't you the most dishonest one? How much of what happened back then have you been keeping from me? I've been kept in the dark the whole time."

"If you're willing, I can tell you after this is over." Larkspur kept his head down, his voice low. "So tell me, do you have any way? A way to turn these people back?"

"I don't know, but I guess not."

Hong Siyu drew out her words, as if deep in thought, "The person who did this never intended to turn these people back; after all, they were just test subjects and fodder."

"... Who did this?"

"You know I can't say, senior."

So, what is your stance now?

Larkspur's voice was somewhat serious. "Are you still a retired magical girl? Are you an employee of the Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau? Or... are you already a member of Black Ash Dawn?"

After she asked the question, Hong Siyu's voice disappeared for a moment.

After a moment, she spoke again, "Your question really hurts me, senior."

"In your eyes, am I the kind of person who would easily betray you? After being a magical girl for ten years, I ended up betraying you to join such a disgusting organization and do disgusting things?"

Hong Siyu's voice was tinged with dissatisfaction, as if she were somewhat angry, saying, "Even now, I was still thinking of having you deal with the Aberrant Beast here. If I had really betrayed you, why would I have told you this?"

"...Yes." Larkspur pursed her lips, her eyes flickering, then let out a long sigh, her expression complex. "I really shouldn't have doubted you."

"I can't tell you who did it, not because I don't want to, but simply because I can't."

Hong Siyu's voice carried a hint of grievance. "Otherwise, I would have told you back when Xiao Lu was ambushed. Why did I have to beat around the bush and wait until now?"

"Xiao Lu? You mean the one at the Wetland Park? It already started back then?"

Larkspur paused, then said, "It seems I really am too late."

"It's not late at all, in fact, you've arrived too early, senior."

Hong Siyu suddenly laughed, "Don't you know why I asked you to stay at home? If you're in such a hurry to come over at this time, I'll be a little sad."

"If I don't come now, will I still be able to see you?"

"If we really drag this out until late at night, or even until tomorrow, you won't talk to me so much anymore, will you?" Larkspur asked, puzzled.

"... That's true." Hong Siyu sighed. "It's always good to be able to say a few more words, although I didn't want to chat with you in this situation. Wouldn't it be better if I said goodbye to you in the elevator as a final farewell?"

"You're just going to say 'It's all yours'? Such irresponsible nonsense!" Larkspur retorted loudly. "Are you really willing to just leave me with that one sentence and then have me clean up this mess all by myself?"

"Well, there's nothing I can do about it then." Hong Siyu laughed awkwardly. "As you can see, I've messed it up."

"There's still a chance to salvage this," Larkspur said softly, staring at the shadow on the ground. "It's not too late; we still have a chance to fix this."

"Yes, there's still time," Hong Siyu agreed. "Now, we can clear out all the monsters here, then go to the culprit and defeat her in a spectacular fashion. There's still a chance."

That's not what I meant.

"Senior, you should still have the combat power of Blossom Rank fighter, right? Although winning might be a bit of a stretch... it does seem a bit far off? But it's okay, I believe in you, after all, you can always create miracles."

That's not what I meant.

"Xiao Lu and the others have grown a lot now, they shouldn't be a burden anymore, right? Oh, maybe there will be a surprise when you go to meet them? Hehe, I won't reveal the details here."

"Hong Siyu," Larkspur spoke, her tone serious, "You know that's not what I meant."

"... However, you must do as I say, senior."

Hong Siyu gradually lowered her voice. "Can you see it? It's over there, in the center of the city."

As her voice rang out, a sliver of moonlight suddenly pierced through the boundless darkness, illuminating the previously dim hall with a silvery-white glow, revealing the original appearance of a glass curtain wall.

Beyond the glass curtain wall lies the night view of Fangting City.

However, even from an immense distance, the Larkspur could see a beam of purplish-black light rising straight up from the ground, illuminating the clouds.

A simple estimation of the distance suggests that the location of the pillar of light is quite far from the Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau, but even from such a distance, Larkspur could sense a strong ominous aura.

"... What is that?" Larkspur asked calmly.

"Aberrant Beast...?"

Why is it a question?

"Because compared to a typical case of a maimed Aberrant Beast, it may not be as pure."

"... What does 'pure' mean?"

"You know what I mean, senior, right?"

Hong Siyu's voice suppressed a certain emotion. "What exactly did that Aberrant Beast eat to grow up like that?"

"... Are you involved in this?"

"Have no idea."

"Have no idea?"

"Hmm," Hong Siyu responded softly, "This is the only thing I knew nothing about, but I think if I had known, I definitely wouldn't have done it."

Larkspur turned her head to look at the purplish-black pillar of light in the distance, her expression solemn. She knew that this pillar of light was probably the result of Black Ash Dawn's many efforts to obtain.

The question Hong Siyu asked, "What did that Aberrant Beast eat to grow up?", was one they both knew the answer to, but neither of them could bring themselves to say it.

Before she died, the spider from Bai'an City told her that the Black Ash Dawn was searching for "nourishment" for the Aberrant Beast, and this nourishment had no restrictions whatsoever: it could be humans, other Aberrant Beast, Fairy, or even magical girls.

Therefore, Hong Siyu she "definitely will not do it" is actually a statement of opinion.

She was saying that even though she seemed to have some connection or involvement with the mastermind behind this, or even had been involved in it from the beginning, she had not betrayed them.

"... You don't need to make such a promise." Larkspur spoke again, but felt her voice was incredibly dry.

"I do, senior." Hong Siyu's tone was very serious. "There are some things I don't want you to misunderstand."

"I won't misunderstand."

"You've already misunderstood, haven't you?"

"All I need to know is whether you're now a member of Black Ash Dawn. If not, then there's no misunderstanding."

"No, I'm not." Hong Siyu's answer was calm and clear.

"...That's good." Larkspur didn't know what she was feeling when she said those words.

"So, senior, although you arrived early, there's no time left."

Hong Siyu didn't dwell on the topic, but gently suggested, "The real culprit is right there. The magical girl should clear away the Aberrant Beast blocking her path and face the real enemy."

Clear out the Aberrant Beast.

Larkspur now fully understood what Hong Siyu was talking about, because she had collected all the pieces of the puzzle related to it and obtained the answer to the matter.

However, precisely because of this, she had never felt such aversion to the phrase "cleaning up the Aberrant Beast."

Before the unknown call, Hong Siyu "high up." After seeing the view of the ceiling, Larkspur already knew where this "high up" was.

She now understood the meaning behind the strange words Hong Siyu had uttered when she left her home a few hours earlier.

Retired magical girls shouldn't possess the power to see Fairy, but Hong Siyu did. How did she do it? Larkspur found the answer.

Hong Siyu finally understood the reason behind the strange taste she usually displayed in cooking.

Also, five months ago, on the day I first discovered my daughter had become a magical girl.

It was a terrible day, just like any other since Anya's death. He had just finished work, and it was getting dark. Before he even learned that Lin Xiaolu had become a magical girl, Hong Siyu called him and asked, "Want to have dinner together?"

In the restaurant, this junior colleague, with whom she hadn't spoken in a long time, chatted with her about many trivial things and subtly informed her of Lin Xiaolu's transformation into a magical girl.

Then, he took her home, even though she was drunk.

She couldn't remember what the drunken Hong Siyu had said, but she felt as if she were back in that alcohol-filled driver's seat. Amidst the bitter smell, she heard a muffled sob from the passenger seat beside her:

--"sorry".

That was a statement that the Larkspur at the time could not understand.

"I..." she began, but had no idea what else to say. She felt her blood rushing and her mind buzzing. "I can't..."

"You can do it, senior, that's why I said, 'Please help me.'"

Hong Siyu's voice softened, carrying a hint of encouragement. "Because only you can do it here, and I believe you can do it too. Just like in the past, bring miracles to this city."

"After all, you're the person I admire most."

As soon as those words were spoken, the Larkspur felt the buzzing in her head disappear. The whole world seemed to have lost its sound, becoming an emptiness, entering a silent, colorless, illusory realm.

Without blinking, the Larkspur remained expressionless. She slowly lowered her head, looking down at her feet, at the spot where her shadow had been reflected.

There should have been a shadow there, a shadow representing "Hong Siyu". But at this moment, she couldn't find what she wanted to see.

Although she could see shadows, the shadows on the ground did not belong to Hong Siyu, and in fact, they did not belong to "humans".

The only shadow cast on the ground behind her was that of a moth, wings outstretched, its body erect, completely obscuring itself.

It appeared so alien, yet it was not alone. For within this Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau, there were far more than just one moth's shadow.

Countless shadows of pitch-black moths extended from the ceiling, from beyond the walls, and from all directions. They crawled, knelt, and sang praises, but all faced the same direction—the purplish-black pillar of light in the distant city center.

They surrounded the Larkspur in layers, like a whirlpool, ready to engulf the tiny figure at any moment.

"Hong Siyu ..." Larkspur spoke again, breaking the silence amidst the endless shadows.

However, this call went unanswered.

She stood there expressionless, staring straight at the ground in front of her, when suddenly she felt like laughing, and at the same time, she felt suffocated.

She wasn't happy; she simply didn't know what expression she could still make.

"Sorry, shouldn't I be the one saying those words...?"

The Larkspur suddenly tilted her head back, muttering indistinctly. Then, she finally turned around slowly, facing behind her.

"I'm so sorry, Hong Siyu."

She hadn't looked back before, not only because of Hong Siyu's request, but also because she had already guessed what she would see, so she was unwilling and dared not look back.

She knew that the moment she turned back, all the beauty and memories would be easily torn apart like a thin sheet of paper, and she would never be able to find a trace of warmth again.

But she had to turn back; she needed to confirm, she needed to tell herself, that there was no one there anymore for her to say "I'm sorry" to.

A gigantic, Aberrant Beast, several people tall, stood there.

Its outstretched wings resembled a brilliantly blooming flower, their fluffy, outstretched wings radiating a purplish-red glow under the moonlight. Countless black and white spots adorned the wings, forming dreamlike and bizarre patterns.

Its eyes were jet black and deep, shimmering with an eerie, purplish-black light, as if they could see through everything. Its long, slender, furry body carried a hint of ferocity, instilling a sense of instinctive fear in those around it.

Under the moonlight, the Aberrant Beast silently gazed at the Larkspur. It made no sound, nor could it speak.

It simply stood gracefully in front of the Larkspur, then extended its beak and gradually approached the Larkspur.

The slender mouthparts gradually enlarged in the Larkspur's pupils, then slowly extended to the Larkspur's neck, stretching out and protruding several slender tubes and fangs from the sticky saliva, sticking to the Larkspur's seemingly delicate neck.

The Larkspur closed its eyes.

In the darkness, she seemed to see the familiar figure of her junior once again. She stood in front of Larkspur, placed her hand on Larkspur's neck, and gazed at her with her dark eyes.

There were no more clumsy imitations, crude lies, or pretentious foolishness. These things would no longer affect Hong Siyu's true self. She shed all her usual pretense, just like when she first met Larkspur, looking at Larkspur with a shy yet determined expression, and opened her mouth:

"Let's get started, senior."

"Magical girl... it's time to drive Aberrant Beast."