Determined to Interrogate

"You two have gotten close fast."

When Youyue returned to the cake shop, she saw Yalin enjoying a slice of cake while Qingyin repeatedly stroked her tail.

And here Youyue had been worrying about what to do if these new-generation magical girls did not get along, whether she should come up with introductions or little games to help them bond.

Now, it seemed unnecessary.

"Here, the Spatial Medicine and the contract. Just sign at the designated spot. If you're worried, you can read through the whole thing first." Youyue set the items on the table and casually pulled over a chair to sit down.

Without bothering to check the contract's contents, Qingyin put down the fluffy tail and picked up the bottle of Spatial Medicine first, examining it carefully in her hand.

Things like the conditions for use and production date needed to be checked thoroughly.

It had become a necessary habit before buying, receiving, or taking medicine.

"It's genuine. Don't worry," Youyue said.

Unfortunately, Qingyin had never seen Spatial Medicine before and had nothing to compare it to.

But judging from its appearance, it did not look counterfeit, and Youyue would not do something that would turn them into enemies.

"Mm." Qingyin responded flatly, flipping to the signature page and taking a look.

"Should I sign my real name or my magical girl name?"

To be honest, Qingyin did not want to sign her real name.

If people discovered that Qingyin had been male before transforming, the trouble that would follow did not bear thinking about.

But for this Spatial Medicine, it was worth it.

She would still sign her real name without hesitation.

If her identity was exposed, at worst she would no longer be a magical girl.

"Your magical girl name. The Association respects every magical girl's privacy," Youyue explained casually.

"This is the Magical Girl Treaty. It only applies to magical girls."

"Understood." Qingyin answered in a deadpan tone.

She took the pen and paper and wrote the two large characters "Qingyin" on the signature page.

Nothing happened.

Shouldn't a Magical Girl Treaty unleash some kind of magical power after being signed, binding her from breaking the rules?

That was how novels always wrote it.

"You're not going to read the contract? What if there are exploitative terms in it? Aren't you going to fight for better benefits? Being so careless doesn't seem like something an adult like you would do," Youyue said, somewhat surprised.

"An adult like me? What kind of extraordinary adult do you think I am?" Qingyin asked in return, gripping the Spatial Medicine in her hand.

"I'm leaving first."

Forget exploitative clauses.

Even if it were a contract selling herself, Qingyin would sign it without a second thought.

If one gave birth but did not raise the child, severed fingers could repay the debt.

But if one raised a child without giving birth to them, even a hundred lifetimes could not repay it.

As long as she could save her adoptive mother, she would not consider anything else.

She was only an ordinary person who had luckily become a magical girl. It was only through that luck that she had the qualifications to negotiate with Youyue and complete this transaction.

If it had been Ye Qing, even if he knelt and cried, begging Youyue for a dose of Spatial Medicine and promising to work like an ox and horse for the rest of his life, he might not have gotten one.

If magical girls openly recruited attendants, people would probably rush to serve them like oxen and horses. Why would anyone care about Ye Qing?

Everyone wanted Spatial Medicine. It was not as though magical girls could give one out to every person who came asking.

There was no need to do something that would make both herself look undignified and the magical girl uncomfortable.

That was why the circulation of Spatial Medicine was prohibited on the surface, and people were not allowed to beg magical girls for help either.

That alone was enough to prove how precious a cure for Spatial Illness was.

It was difficult to make and scarce in quantity.

If Suppressant Medicine was taken punctually, Spatial Illness would not flare up again.

But with a cure available, Qingyin naturally wanted to pursue a full recovery. Really, anyone would want to eliminate the threat of Spatial Illness forever.

"Wait." Youyue hurriedly stopped Qingyin.

I know you're in a hurry, but don't be so hasty.

A dazzling Heartglow Stone emerged above Youyue's chest. In front of it, the phantom image of a phone appeared before materializing into a real object.

"Here, a phone specially used by magical girls for communication. Keeping your real identity confidential is important, so you'll need to handle that yourself." Youyue handed over the phone and explained along the way.

"The Heartglow Stone can store inanimate objects, but it can only be used while you're in magical girl form. Remember to take out anything you need before changing back into an ordinary person."

"Okay."

Qingyin accepted it and tested the phone. She succeeded on the first try; it was even easier than changing magical outfits.

Then she stored the precious Spatial Medicine she had been longing for inside. Without a word of farewell, she quickly flew away.

"Spatial Illness isn't that urgent. An attack won't kill you so easily. She's so anxious that she's lost her composure." Youyue watched the hurried figure leave, slowly pinching the contract between two fingers.

"I feel like I set the term too short. I should've added another two years. I could've reduced the salary a little too... Hmm, would another district poach her then? Well, forget it."

"Huh?" Having just finished her cake, Yalin looked up and saw Youyue. Memories sealed away by cake came flooding back.

"Youyue, why are you here? Do you know what happened to Feiyan? She seems really depressed."

"Just let Feiyan have some time alone for now. Don't provoke her." Youyue waved her hand.

Yalin looked around and did not see Qingyin. Confused, she asked,

"Youyue, where's that senior?"

"You mean Qingyin? She was in a hurry to treat someone to cake."

Phew.

Nervous.

Standing outside her parents' home, Qingyin kept taking deep breaths. She was hesitating over whether to give the Spatial Medicine to Mother Ye as Qingyin or as Ye Qing.

As a magical girl, she did not care about dwelling on such trivial emotions, but when something crossed a certain threshold, she still experienced obvious emotional turmoil.

Though it did not show on her face, her restless toes and the faint trembling throughout her body all made clear just how important this was.

If she went as Qingyin, how would she explain her relationship with Ye Qing?

If she went as Ye Qing, how would she explain where the Spatial Medicine had come from?

Knock, knock...

In the end, she still decided to deliver the Spatial Medicine as Qingyin. With the expression of someone facing death, she gently knocked twice on the door.

Ye Qing could not fool his parents, but Qingyin could.

"Was... was I knocking too softly?"

There was no response at all. Even Qingyin had only just learned that she could use such little force.

"I'm coming. Please wait a moment." A gentle female voice came from inside.

When the door opened, the two looked at each other, both with slightly bewildered expressions.

"You are?" Mother Ye looked at Qingyin warily, though her vigilance eased slightly because of Qingyin's appearance and outfit.

She looked like a student.

"Qingyin, magical girl Qingyin." Qingyin spoke truthfully.

Why did Mom not look weak at all?

Was the scene at noon just an act to fool Yuyan and me? Qingyin felt slightly confused.

"A magical girl?!" Mother Ye covered her mouth in surprise, then spoke respectfully.

"What brings you here?"

"Someone asked me to give you Spatial Medicine, the kind that cures Spatial Illness." Qingyin extended her hand, displaying the Spatial Medicine in her palm.

"Could it have been delivered to the wrong person?" Mother Ye immediately suspected a mistake, hardly daring to believe it.

"No." Qingyin answered decisively.

"Then I understand." Mother Ye looked into Qingyin's serious eyes, took a slight breath, and accepted the medicine. She also tried to invite Qingyin inside.

"Qingyin, you haven't eaten dinner yet, right? My husband and I just finished making dinner. Would you like to come in and eat with us?"

"No, I have things to do." Qingyin politely declined the invitation, but before leaving, she did not forget to add,

"Pay attention to the usage conditions."

Mother Ye held the Spatial Medicine and blankly closed the door.

Father Ye, who was sitting on the sofa behind the door, had clearly heard the conversation between his wife and Qingyin.

"You think it was?" Father Ye asked in confusion.

"It could only have been Xiaoqing." Mother Ye sighed and picked up the Suppressant Medicine on the dining table.

"Because Xiaoyan delivered the Suppressant Medicine this afternoon."

"I didn't expect Xiaoqing to have such skills. We owe him big time now," Father Ye said with feeling.

"What do you mean, owe him? How can you talk like that?" Mother Ye pretended to be angry.

"If Xiaoqing were really as you said, how could he have gone to such lengths to get medicine that cures Spatial Illness?

Can't you really tell that during lunch, he was deliberately trying to please us the whole time, and even pretended he had to work overtime before leaving?"

"Uh..." Father Ye awkwardly scratched his cheek.

He really had not noticed.

In any case, apologize first.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong, my dear wife."

"Hmph. Next time, remember to prepare food Xiaoyan and Xiaoqing like, along with the drinks they enjoy."

"Definitely, definitely."

It was no easy feat for both of them to have channels for contacting magical girls.

Compared to a dose of Suppressant Medicine, Ye Qing—who could make a magical girl personally deliver medicine to their door—was clearly more capable and better connected.

Finding someone to contact a magical girl? It was more likely that he already knew that magical girl!

"By the way, Old Ye, there's something I find very strange."

"Wife, what's strange?"

"That girl called Qingyin seemed nervous when she saw me. Why would she be nervous when she was only delivering medicine?" Mother Ye said, unable to understand.

"Hmm, maybe she's a socially anxious magical girl?" Father Ye guessed.

Mother Ye had not expected Father Ye to give her an answer she would find satisfying anyway.

Next time, she would have to thoroughly interrogate Xiaoqing about his relationship with that magical girl.