Suddenly abducted by Fox Fox

"Magic Cannon—fire!!"

Boom!!!!

The thunderous roar of a Magic Cannon rang through the skies over Rongcheng's Wetland Park.

As the magical dust around the muzzle dispersed, Iris fixed her gaze on the Mud Monster lying motionless on the ground and let out a soft breath.

"Phew... finally took this thing down..."

They were now ten minutes into their battle with the monster.

The Mud Monster in the lotus pond had finally fallen.

"Iris! Nicely done!"

Hyacinth poked a grime-covered head out of a nearby bush and loudly cheered for Iris as she put away her Magic Cannon in the sky.

Had I really underestimated this Mud Monster that badly?

Hyacinth grumbled inwardly while using magic to remove the dirt and water stains.

Ten minutes earlier, Hyacinth had charged at the monster brimming with confidence.

That was Hyacinth's usual fighting style—whoever the opponent was, charge in and fight up close first!

Then the Mud Monster had delivered a crushing blow.

"Heartmoon Fox definitely did this on purpose!"

"Take that!"

Hyacinth stepped forward, lifted a combat boot, and viciously kicked the lifeless Mud Monster sprawled on the ground.

"Of all the things she could make, she had to make something this disgusting!"

"Oh... don't be mad, Hyacinth. We already beat it, didn't we...?"

Iris landed on the ground and spoke with a wry smile.

Then Hua Ling remembered how the Mud Monster had grabbed Hyacinth and slammed that head straight into the lotus pond.

She wanted to laugh a little, but didn't dare.

"I'm so mad! I feel like I still stink!"

Even after magically cleaning away every trace of dirt and water, Hyacinth made no attempt to hide that disgust.

Anyone slapped into a pond by a monster covered in sludge would be in a foul mood.

Iris could only keep comforting her companion, though her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the fallen monster.

Judging by her magical perception, the monster did indeed carry traces of Heartmoon Fox's magic. She had probably summoned it.

Yet Bailing had found Heartmoon Fox's monster-summoning magic utterly baffling:

[Magical Girls all use Astral Sorcery. As far as I know, no magic for summoning monsters like this exists in the Star Realm!]

[I'll head back to the Star Realm and investigate over the next couple of days. I'll be back soon!]

Those were the White Sable Spirit's exact words before returning to the Star Realm to seek help.

Crack!!

Lifting the greatsword, Hyacinth angrily slashed the Mud Monster a few more times before giving a little huff, apparently satisfied.

"She's so rotten. We were supposed to give you special flight training tonight, Hua Ling, but Heartmoon Fox just had to pick this moment to cause trouble."

"This lotus pond was actually pretty nice, and she ruined it!"

Hearing that, Iris couldn't help looking around.

A pavilion neatly severed by a greatsword, a stone-paved path covered in sword marks—

And shattered plants destroyed by Hyacinth's frantic struggles after falling into the water made up everything around them.

I feel like you did more damage to the surroundings, Xiaofeng—

The words crossed Iris's mind, but she didn't dare say them.

"Anyway, let's call it a night!"

After confirming that the monster had shriveled into a puddle of sludge, Hyacinth put away the greatsword and spoke to Iris.

"Mm. Today was pretty easy." Iris nodded gently.

It was probably because Heartmoon Fox and that Hellcat weren't around.

Her teamwork with Hyacinth was growing increasingly smooth. As long as their opponent wasn't another Magical Girl, handling a single monster was well within their abilities.

...Provided Heartmoon Fox didn't show up.

Thinking of that little golden fox left Iris with mixed feelings.

Hyacinth called her a sly, rotten fox, but Iris didn't feel that way.

A little fox who loved pranks and was incredibly cute—that was her impression of Heartmoon Fox.

But this strange feeling...

"Sigh..."

Iris sighed.

It seemed there really was something seriously wrong with her mental state lately.

Not only did she have strange dreams every night, but their contents were always the same—

This and that, one thing and another, such and such, so and so.

Even Hyacinth had appeared in her dreams.

Thinking of those strange dreams made Iris's face burn, and she hurriedly shook her head to dispel those dangerous thoughts.

Could this be why I've been feeling so strange?

I have to get rid of these thoughts!

"Speaking of which..."

Iris looked at Hyacinth beside her, leaned close to an ear, and whispered,

"Xiaofeng, do you have Tianqing's contact information?"

"Tianqing...?"

Nan Xiaofeng blinked in surprise.

"What do you want Tianqing's contact information for, Hua Ling?"

"There's something I want to talk to her about. Do you know how to reach her, Xiaofeng?"

"Well..."

Nan Xiaofeng scratched her cheek and frowned slightly.

"Sorry, I really don't, but Jia Yu definitely would. Want me to ask her for you today?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for? We're friends. Of course I'll help you—"

Just as she finished speaking—

A sudden burst of enthusiastic cheers rang out overhead, startling them both into hastily summoning their wand and weapon again.

Pshoo!~

"Congratulations on defeating the Mud Monster, you two! Fox Fox is so pleased~"

Heartmoon Fox?!

But there's no trace of Heartmoon Fox's magic anywhere nearby. How did she...

A cardboard box flapping its wings overhead caught their attention.

"Is that a monster?" Iris asked in confusion.

No, it didn't possess a monster's powerful Astral Magic. It was probably just an ordinary summoned creature.

The sound was merely coming from a recorder inside the cardboard box.

"But!"

Heartmoon Fox's voice came from the recorder.

"If you two haven't left yet, then the gift Fox Fox so carefully prepared for you should already have taken effect. Have you noticed it?"

"A carefully prepared..." "Gift..."

Hyacinth stared blankly around.

The lotus pond beneath the gathering dusk was unnaturally quiet. They couldn't even hear any insects.

It didn't look remotely like there was any "surprise" waiting.

Besides, the voice was only coming from a recorder, making it hardly trustworthy.

—And yet.

The faint fragrance drifting past their noses caught both their attention at once.

"It smells lovely..." Iris said softly.

"Where's that fragrance coming from? There shouldn't be any flowers around here that bloom at night..."

Then the lotus pond's surface suddenly churned, making both their hearts jolt.

The water surged upward, destroying the floating bridge, pavilion, and paths. They hurried back to the shore and stared, dumbstruck, at the mountain-sized dark shape!

"I-it's huge?!" Hyacinth's eyes shook with shock.

—The pitch-black sludge monster had reappeared, several times larger than before!

Countless lotus flowers bloomed across its body, giving off that uncanny, potent fragrance!

There seemed to be something familiar within that scent... like that sweet, fresh gardenia fragrance...

...No!

Iris froze, as though suddenly remembering something, and hurriedly covered her nose and mouth.

"Hyacinth! Cover your nose, quick! Don't breathe in that smell!"

"Hya—"

Before she could finish—

The sky-blue Magical Girl's vision went black, and she fell backward with a thud.

She seemed to hear Iris's startled cry and the roar of a Magic Cannon firing.

But after that—Hyacinth's consciousness was enveloped by a graceful golden figure and gradually sank into darkness.