Villain Magical Girl

Formal statement: all characters appearing in this book are at least eighteen years old. There are no minors!

[Name.]

"...Su Tianqing."

A clear, melodious female voice rang out in the dim room, along with a deep voice that seemed to come from somewhere far away.

Su Tianqing sat at the head of the bed, staring blankly at the black, ancient book floating before her. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught an unfamiliar, petite figure in the full-length mirror beside the bed-

Brilliant golden hair cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. Fluffy ears drooped atop her head, bouncing twice with her unconscious movements and complementing the delicate features and eyes beneath her bangs.

The fair skin of her neck and shoulders reflected the sunlight spilling through a gap in the curtains, inviting a lingering look.

A petite, golden-haired fox girl.

With the big, bristling tail behind her added to the picture, she looked like a sweet, adorable, fluffy Golden-Haired Fox Fox.

[Hmm, hmm... I see...]

The deep voice sounded again in the room, dragging Su Tianqing's attention back to the ancient black book before her.

Su Tianqing felt rather bewildered.

Five minutes earlier, she had just gotten off work after three consecutive night shifts and was sitting at a roadside noodle stall, slurping a deluxe bowl of beef noodles topped with a fried egg. As she sprinkled chili powder into the bowl, she suddenly heard her great-grandmother speaking behind her. Dazed, she turned and saw her great-grandmother sitting in a wicker chair, leisurely knitting a scarf. Then pain struck her chest, her vision went black, and she passed out.

Looking at the big, bristling tail swaying beside her, Su Tianqing reached out on impulse and gave it a firm tug.

An exquisitely silky sensation brushed her hand, followed by an unfamiliar feeling of rubbing and pulling that shot from the tip of her tail straight to the crown of her head. Both ears sprang upright in shock, and her whole body went rigid.

It feels so real!

[...What are you doing?]

The ancient black book spoke in its deep voice, unable to understand why Fox Fox had suddenly decided to tug at her own tail in such a strange way.

Didn't that hurt?

"Ahem! Wait, hold on a second!"

Su Tianqing coughed twice to hide her embarrassment and raised a hand to stop the strange ancient book from speaking further. Her eyes darted as she quickly sorted out her thoughts.

I've been reborn.

Reborn as a golden-haired fox girl.

Then what's with this talking black book in front of me? Can someone explain?

"Who are you?" Su Tianqing turned to face the book and asked blankly.

The ancient book fell silent for a while, as though considering whether this dim-witted Fox Fox was really the person it sought. Only after a long pause did it repeat the introduction it had given two minutes earlier:

[My name is the Mercury Codex. I have journeyed here from beyond the stars in search of my most suitable candidate.]

[And that person is you, Miss Su Tianqing.]

After hearing those lines again-so embarrassingly overdramatic that she could have carved a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor with her toes-Su Tianqing fell silent and thoughtful once more.

Then Fox Fox abruptly hopped off the bed, walked over to the full-length mirror, and silently studied the petite figure in a loose nightdress reflected there.

Next, she lifted one foot and earnestly admired the little foot's fair, soft skin and rosy tint.

Mm. Perfect. A masterpiece.

[It seems you're quite satisfied with your current body.]

Seeing Fox Fox so earnestly admiring her foot left the ancient book speechless. It struggled for a while before finally squeezing out that remark.

[But why are you staring at your feet? Normally, shouldn't you be...]

"You don't understand. Little feet are the most wonderful treasures in the world. Seeing them during a meal would help me wolf down another two bowls."

Even as she gave the book that irrelevant reply, Su Tianqing was beginning to get a rough grasp of her situation.

This book knows I'm not this body's original owner. Could it be...

[Since you're so satisfied, we can skip straight to the next step.]

The ancient book's words snapped Su Tianqing out of her crazed fixation on admiring Fox Fox's body. She turned to face it.

[Listen, Su Tianqing.]

[You are the Mercury Codex's most suitable candidate. As an emissary of the Star Realm, I will guide you toward a perfect life. All you need to do is sign one little contract with me-]

"Sure. I'll sign."

[...Huh?]

The ancient book was thrown off balance.

[Wait, you're not following the script. How can you agree to a contract just like that? Aren't you going to hesitate or think it over?]

"That's where your thinking is too narrow, you shabby little book." Su Tianqing's expression abruptly grew solemn, making the ancient book momentarily forget the strange way she had just addressed it.

"Tell me, what are the two most universal wishes in the world?"

[...What are they?]

The ancient book asked blankly.

Golden-Haired Fox Fox bent down and held up two fingers, gently waving them twice in front of the ancient black book. The big, fluffy tail behind her swayed along.

"Endless wealth! And turning into a little girl! Those are the two most universal wishes in the world!"

Su Tianqing spread her arms, her eyes shining.

"Turning into a little girl is already the greatest reward, never mind becoming such an adorable Fox Fox!"

Silence.

Something about that seemed very right, yet also completely wrong. But the ancient book did not remain stunned by that brief confusion for long and quickly dragged the conversation back on track.

[Since you've agreed, shall we consider our contract established?]

"Established," Su Tianqing answered without a second thought.

But a moment later, Fox Fox suddenly realized something and asked curiously:

"Um... can I ask what exactly the contract involves?"

It couldn't have activated some weird slave contract, could it? That would be a terrible deal!

[Villain Magical Girl.]

The ancient book answered without the slightest pause.

"Huh?"

[Now that the contract has been signed, starting today, you will be active in this world as a Magical Girl. The Creator has designed an entire set of missions specifically for you to help you gradually reach the pinnacle of Villain Magical Girls!]

"Wait, hold on! What's this about being a Magical Girl? Is that the high-risk profession with a ninety-percent death rate?!"

[Don't worry. It's the classic heroic kind.]

"That's exactly the problem! Isn't being a Villain in a classic heroic story just asking to die?!"

Su Tianqing suddenly felt a little regretful.

What were classic heroic stories? Stories where Magical Girls gradually grew stronger against powerful enemies, then charged in shouting about friendship and bonds and smashed the Villain to pieces! Even with a system and missions, it'd be hard for a Villain to crush the protagonists in that kind of story!

Do I still have a chance to back out? Can you send me back to my original body? I think there's still a chance of saving someone from an acute heart attack-

[Mercury Codex successfully bound.]

The voice ringing in her head left Su Tianqing wanting to cry, but unable to shed a tear.

[Contract established.]

[Walk the path of a Villain Magical Girl, Su Tianqing.]