Just Bad Timing

Many people were seeing a real magical girl for the first time.

With her sweet, adorable face, fluffy ears and tail, and gorgeous ribboned dress, quite a few people would have pulled out their phones to record her if they had not been in the middle of evacuating.

However, the fox girl's declaration was rather terrifying.

Turning a pleasing teaching building into ruins was hardly difficult for a magical girl.

No one doubted that Su Tianqing could do what she claimed.

"Move! Just take your important belongings with you! The lighter, the better!"

The teachers hurriedly organized the evacuation, while the students quickly filed out. In the blink of an eye, the entire school building had been completely emptied.

After confirming that the last student had left, the teachers took one final glance at the Golden Fox magical girl sitting atop a school building and idly reading a book. Then they too entered the shelter passage and swiftly departed.

Silence.

The school was empty, deathly still.

"...They've finally all left."

Su Tianqing closed the Codex in her hands and murmured.

The midday sun was somewhat scorching.

Su Tianqing lowered her head to look at the school buildings baking beneath the blazing sun, her brows knitting slightly.

Something was off.

She had specifically chosen this place because Hyacinth attended school here. Now that everyone had evacuated, why had she still not come out?

Was she really planning to watch Su Tianqing tear down buildings with Magic Missiles?

You had to be kidding! How long would that take?

"...Come out, Hyacinth. I know you're nearby."

Glancing at the Magic Power Detector beside her, Su Tianqing spoke. Its signal indicated that the nearest magical girl was here.

.

Nan Xiaofeng moved swiftly through the corridor, carefully peeking out to observe the golden figure.

She tightly gripped the golden cross-shaped star in her hand, but she did not rush to transform and challenge her.

...What was she worried about?

Nan Xiaofeng could not help questioning herself.

Was she afraid of being tricked by her again, then turned into material for her next video?

But Heartmoon Fox had never harmed her after catching her. Even when Nan Xiaofeng had lost all ability to move, all she had done was play a prank.

She had even deliberately given everyone time to evacuate before causing destruction. What exactly was this Golden Fox trying to accomplish?

"Damn it! I have no idea what she's trying to do!"

Nan Xiaofeng clenched her teeth and hurried down a corridor, searching for the best point to intervene.

She must have laid traps around herself, just like last time!

She had to see what tricks she had up her sleeve before acting. She could not let her guard down again!--

As Nan Xiaofeng rounded a corner and prepared to keep running, a familiar figure suddenly entered her field of vision from the corner.

The girl froze.

It was a girl leaning against the corner of the building, dressed in a school uniform. One hand covered her ankle, while the other tightly clutched her collar. Her expression was pained and terrified.

--Hua Ling.

Nan Xiaofeng was startled, recognizing her at once.

Her new deskmate this semester, Hua Ling.

She had probably twisted her ankle and fallen behind, so she had found a hidden place to hide?

Hua Ling seemed to notice Nan Xiaofeng as well. The pain on her face was immediately replaced by surprise, as she could not understand why her new deskmate had not gone to the shelter.

"Xiaofeng? Why are you--"

"Shh!!"

Nan Xiaofeng was scared out of her wits and hurriedly gestured for her to stay quiet.

Damn it! She should have warned her not to make a sound beforehand!

Hua Ling hurriedly covered her mouth, but it was already too late.

"...Hehe, hiding over there, are you?"

The Golden Fox's voice in the distance dropped several tones, plunging from bright sunshine into an icy abyss.

"Oh no!"

Magic Missiles pierced through the wall, and the dense bombardment instantly destroyed the classroom wall!

"Hua Ling! Run!!"

Nan Xiaofeng shouted and charged forward!

Upon hearing that voice, Su Tianqing, who had been grinning savagely as she blanketed the area with Magic Missiles, suddenly froze. She hurriedly swished her tail, sending all the remaining missiles toward the sports field instead of continuing the assault.

That was Hyacinth's voice? Then who was that just now...

Realizing what she had done, Su Tianqing clutched her head with both hands, her tail fluffing up in fright.

Oh no! Had this fox dragged an innocent bystander into it!?

However, the Magic Missiles she had fired could not be recalled. She could only watch helplessly as the wall was swallowed by smoke and dust, with no movement coming from within.

"Ah... ahh..."

For the first time, Villainous Fox Fox felt truly panicked.

.

However.

The smoke cleared.

The sky-blue magical girl emerged from the edge of the ruined building, holding up a greatsword with both hands!

A magic shield spread out before her, blocking every Magic Missile Su Tianqing had fired!

Behind her, the girl with the twisted ankle stared blankly at Magical Girl Hyacinth's back, unable to believe what she was seeing.

"Hehehe... Hahahaha...!"

Su Tianqing sneered a few times before breaking into a hearty, villain-like laugh.

So you were finally willing to transform!

Good thing you transformed at the critical moment and protected her! Otherwise, this fox would have been consumed by guilt over involving an innocent bystander!

"You were finally willing to show yourself, Hyacinth," Su Tianqing said.

"Shut up, Heartmoon Fox!" Hyacinth dismissed her shield, stepped forward, and shouted at Su Tianqing, "Why are you destroying the school? Answer me!"

"...Haha."

Su Tianqing gave a dry laugh.

Sorry, she had not prepared a line for that beforehand. She was still thinking one up on the spot.

But in Hyacinth's eyes, this Golden Fox was clearly brewing some even more terrifying plan.

Su Tianqing nervously swayed her tail.

Should she force herself to keep going?

The Codex had already told her that her daily mission was complete. She had gone through so much trouble to bait Hyacinth out with provocation, so there was not much point in continuing to fight her.

She might not even win.

"...Hehe, Fox Fox is tired today too. Since Miss Hyacinth was willing to show herself, Fox Fox will keep her promise and retreat now~"

After saying that, before Hyacinth could react, Su Tianqing swept her tail. Teleportation magic activated, and she vanished in an instant.

The world fell silent.

The magical girl's magic fluctuations no longer appeared. Aside from the damaged wall of the school building before her, it was as if nothing had happened.

[If Miss Hyacinth comes out to stop me, perhaps Fox Fox won't continue causing destruction.]

Hyacinth recalled those words from the video.

She really could not understand this Heartmoon Fox! So annoying!

"Um... Hy-Hyacinth... Miss? Xiaofeng...?"

Nan Xiaofeng suddenly came back to her senses and turned to look at the girl behind her.

Hua Ling had fallen to the ground and was staring at her blankly, at a complete loss. She did not even know what to call her.

"Don't move. I'll take you to see a doctor."

Nan Xiaofeng sighed softly, canceled her transformation, walked over to Hua Ling, and picked up the girl with the twisted ankle.

The two remained silent, neither saying another word.