Placing Iris

Su Tianqing had imagined many ways to use binding magic.

The first was just like how she had lured Hyacinth into the trap back then.

She would deliberately hide a trap in some corner, repeatedly fleeing to exhaust the other's patience, and spring it the moment the opponent rushed forward in frustration.

That was how Hyacinth had fallen for it.

Yet this method seemed rather unreliable when used against Iris.

"Because Miss Iris dislikes moving!"

Su Tianqing sighed.

The gorgeous and flamboyant princess of artillery fire, Magical Girl Iris, preferred to provide long-range fire support with magic cannons.

This meant she was reluctant to move while aiming and firing, relying entirely on her magic shield to block attacks.

Consequently, the golden Fox Fox chose the simplest and most brutal method:

Taking advantage of the time Hellcat and Hyacinth were trash-talking each other, she secretly teleported to the ground, using the cover of buildings and dust to slip over to Iris's side.

She crept around the whole way, disturbing no one.

When she drew close to Iris's side, she pulled a binding trap from beneath her skirt—

"Fox Fox face-ride!!"

"Smack-boom!"

The binding trap slammed right at Iris's feet and triggered instantly!

Iris stopped in her tracks.

The binding magic activated, firmly locking the pristine magical girl in place.

The leaderless magic cannon also reverted into a wand and drifted to her side, suspending itself lazily.

"Phew! I've got my end done!"

The golden Fox Fox rounded Iris from behind to the front, wiped the sweat from her brow, and gave a thumbs-up to Hellcat in the sky.

"Iris!... Damn it!" Hyacinth shouted loudly.

"Where are you looking? Distraction is not a good habit!"

"...Tch!"

Watching the cat-claw gauntlet smashing toward her face, Hyacinth frowned deeply.

She desperately wanted to rush down to support Iris, but the deep-blue magical girl in front of her had no intention of giving her a chance to break away.

"Are they fighting already? The cat really seems to love fighting."

The golden Fox Fox looked up at the sky and muttered to herself.

Still, this was fine; the cat was enjoying herself quite a bit, and she had no desire to force a companion to do something she disliked.

Su Tianqing's attention returned to Iris.

The pristine magical girl had lost her earlier elegance, her face frozen in panic by the binding magic.

Looking at Iris before her, Su Tianqing had at least eight different ideas in her mind.

Yet facing today's daily commission... none of these ideas could be used.

[Daily Commission 2: Iris's Troubles]

[Iris's condition is very poor, you must not pick a fight with her today]

"Aah! What a pity!"

The little fox scratched her ears in distress and spoke.

Then how am I supposed to make up for the fun I'm missing out on!

...Wait, why is the description for this commission so weird?

I, Fox Fox, am very upright!

I haven't even done lewd things!

Mentally and fiercely ranting at the Codex for this bizarre commission, Su Tianqing sighed.

Sigh... whatever. Since it's such a good opportunity, I'll let her off today.

Just as she prepared to turn around and support Hellcat, Su Tianqing suddenly thought of something.

...Did she really want to let her off?

The Codex's commission was not to pick a fight with Iris.

Then wouldn't it be fine as long as she didn't proactively torment Iris?

Iris right now was tightly bound by the binding magic. How could this villainous Fox Fox easily let such a good opportunity slip away?

"...Hehe."

The golden Fox Fox wore an evil smile, having already thought of a marvelous plan.

She wasn't allowed to torment her?

Then this fox wouldn't torment her!

Iris stayed frozen in place.

Panic, astonishment, fluster.

Her body unable to move, unable to open her mouth to speak, the expression on her face was also frozen at the exact moment before the binding magic struck her.

How terrifying.

How scary.

This state where her body refused to obey, yet she could clearly perceive everything in her surrounding environment, made the young girl's heart beat violently.

She had fallen for it again. Iris thought to herself.

"Heh-heh... Good evening~"

A golden silhouette drifted before Iris, beaming with radiant joy, smiling and waving a greeting.

Heartmoon Fox.

Hua Ling recognized this cute little fox.

Yet at this moment, she had no mood to exclaim, "How cute," left only with dread and panic.

When only her eyes could barely focus, worrying about such matters was truly asking too much of her.

"I'm really sorry, Fox Fox must have caused Miss Iris quite a bit of trouble back at the train station."

The golden Fox Fox feigned dejection, her ears drooping atop her head, her endearing appearance resembling a child who had done something wrong.

Yet Hua Ling knew very well in her heart that this little fox before her was definitely not a good child; she was definitely a little demon.

"In that case, Fox Fox will make it up to Miss Iris just a little bit~"

True to what Hua Ling thought in her heart, Heartmoon Fox's lips curled into that familiar smile.

She was definitely a little demon whose scheme had succeeded.

Was it, was it coming?!

Iris thought tensively.

Involuntarily, that song from the train station echoed in Hua Ling's mind.

She had not responded to the little fox's invitation back then.

Was she expressing her dissatisfaction to her? Expressing her grievances?

Was that why she pulled a prank like this?

--Suddenly.

An eye mask blocking her vision was slipped over her eyes.

Darkness descended instantly.

So dark! She couldn't see a thing!

Iris felt an unprecedented panic in her heart.

Unable to see anything around her, forced to perceive solely through her ears and bodily touch, this extreme lack of adaptation made Hua Ling desperately want to scream out.

Yet under the effect of the binding magic, even making a sound or speaking was impossible.

"Mmh-hmh~ That's it!"

Heartmoon Fox's voice rang in her ear.

"After being bound, your eyes must feel very uncomfortable, so Fox Fox specially prepared this kind of eye mask for you~"

"Please just be a good girl and stay here for a little while, Miss Iris~"

Not the slightest sound remained around her.

Iris stood there dazedly, stuck in place.

Unable to confirm with her vision, Iris could only concentrate her attention on her hearing and sense of touch.

A gentle breeze brushed against her cheek, the chilly autumn wind bringing a wonderful sensation.

...Why was there no sound?

The anxiety in Iris's heart began to rise gradually.

Could it be that she was still nearby?

No... the surroundings were unusually quiet, with nothing at all, but this feeling...

Bad.

This feeling was very bad.

Clearly nothing was happening around her, clearly that Heartmoon Fox wasn't doing anything, yet she developed an inexplicable tension and anxiety.

What would she do next?

Having waited for so long, what kind of plan did she actually have?

What on earth was she anticipating?

Her bound and immobilized body seemed to tremble and shiver, the sound in her ears gradually growing distant, and her consciousness seemed to begin blurring as well.

--Come quickly.

--Don't be like this anymore.

--No matter what, whether it's...

Hua Ling felt her head grow dizzy and heavy.

Some strange thought seemed to climb and grow within her mind:

--Come quickly, someone.

--No matter who it is, Heartmoon Fox is fine too.

Help me--