Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

"Although it is our first meeting, you don't need to be so formal. Please, have a seat."

"Yes, Teacher."

"You don't need to call me teacher; you can call me Emerald Sparrow."

"Understood, Teacher."

"Why insist on calling me teacher?"

"The caregivers said it's more polite to address someone who teaches you as 'teacher.'"

"Among magical girls, we don't call each other by mentor and student. For someone more experienced, we just use 'senior.'"

"Got it! Senior Teacher!"

"...You might as well keep calling me teacher."

The above conversation took place on the same afternoon.

At Lin Xiaolu, also known as Emerald Sparrow's home, while the other two girls were practicing their magic power in the living room, Emerald Sparrow took Bai Jingxuan away from them to the dining room for a one-on-one talk.

This was the first time Emerald Sparrow had a direct conversation with this newcomer, and it was also the first time she saw what Bai Jingxuan truly looked like.

Unlike her appearance with a short bob and a medical eye patch, which made her seem fragile and delicate, there was a subtly masculine air about Bai Jingxuan when she spoke.

Perhaps it was her simple and crisp trouser outfit, or the bright light in her right eye, or even the subtly mature tone in her speech. Altogether, these elements could make one feel as if they were conversing with a quiet, precocious little boy.

Emerald Sparrow had thought that with such experiences, the child in front of her would show a more introverted and closed-off personality, but, contrary to what she had imagined, Bai Jingxuan appeared very normal.

And this normalcy, combined with her experiences, was strangely fascinating.

But obviously, this wasn't something that could be resolved through conversation at the moment, what she had to do now was simply to get to know who Bai Jingxuan was, and her talents as a magical girl.

Undoubtedly, having an identity as a "deviant," Bai Jingxuan was quite special even among magical girls.

As for her character and behavior, they matched Emerald Sparrow's initial impression; the child did not show any issues.

However, after the conversation had smoothly progressed for a while, during a pause as Emerald Sparrow considered what to ask next, Bai Jingxuan suddenly spoke up, "Um, teacher, there's something I want to ask you."

"What is it?" replied Emerald Sparrow casually.

"You mentioned earlier that we are the magical girl team of Fangting City, right?"

"Yes."

"Then, is there a magical girl here who wears a pink dress and has pink hair?"

This question made Emerald Sparrow sharply raise her eyes.

Without a doubt, Bai Jingxuan was describing An Ya.

Hearing a familiar description from the mouth of a stranger made her somewhat surprised for a moment, but she soon suppressed her fluctuating emotions, maintaining her composure as she asked, "Why do you ask?"

"Because, if she is still in Fangting City, I would actually like to meet her."

Bai Jingxuan looked at Emerald Sparrow, her remaining right eye clear, "Three years ago, I encountered an incident with Remnant Beasts attacking, and she saved my life from that crisis. I've always wanted to thank her."

This child? Was she saved by An Ya?

This information left Emerald Sparrow momentarily stunned.

But she soon realized that it was entirely possible.

The records showed that Bai Jingxuan had encountered an attack by a Remnant Beast three years ago, and at that time, An Ya was still alive and active in Fangting City. With An Ya's strength, saving a child from a disaster would not have been difficult.

However, once the truth of the matter was confirmed, Emerald Sparrow didn't know how to respond to Bai Jingxuan.

Because An Ya was already dead.

Should she tell her right here that the Magical Girl she wanted to meet had already sacrificed herself? Would such news be too cruel for her?

But if she didn't tell her, after all, it wasn't a secret, how long could she keep it hidden?

Considering the child in front of her had already experienced the loss of her parents to the Remnant Beasts, and recalling Liu Wenqin's request for her to help the child understand and handle everything she had been through properly, Emerald Sparrow felt she might have to lie again.

She could feel that the gratitude and admiration for Sakura, or in other words, An Ya, were probably the main reasons this child could face the identity of a Magical Girl positively. If she were to recklessly cut this thread, then all that would be left to tie her to the identity of a Magical Girl would be her power and the hatred stemming from her parents' death at the hands of Remnant Beasts.

Emerald Sparrow had seen such Magical Girls, who, driven by the death of their loved ones at the hands of Remnant Beasts, lived every day in flames of hatred and would one day be consumed by those flames.

No matter what, she should not let Bai Jingxuan become like that.

So, in response to Bai Jingxuan's question, she could only feign indifference, "We in Fangting City did have such a Magical Girl, but she left two years ago."

"Two years ago?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jingxuan's expression clearly showed a touch of disappointment, "I see, I was hoping to meet her after becoming a Magical Girl."

Emerald Sparrow could only maintain her silence.

She couldn't tell Bai Jingxuan "you will be able to meet her someday," because even she couldn't bring herself to say those words.

If possible, she would have liked to meet An Ya again as well.

Not to mention, she didn't want to keep deceiving this somewhat pitiful child.

The conversation had brought her to a point where she already had some ideas about how to train Bai Jingxuan, not just in developing her abilities as an anomaly; more importantly, she needed to preserve the child's positive image of being a Magical Girl, at least, to make her feel that life after becoming a Magical Girl was good, was happy.

Only by doing so could she ensure that when the time came to tell her about An Ya, the child would not lose her positive emotional bond and fall completely into negative thinking.

Combining her experiences, she had to make the worst assumption, that even if the child seemed normal now, she had to be prepared accordingly.

Moreover, whether it was an illusion or not, Bai Jingxuan's unusual calmness felt to her like a dormant volcano. Such a volcano might appear silent and seem safe, but it still hid fierce and raging lava within.

Emerald Sparrow hoped this was just her imagination.

"So, about that pink Magical Girl, I remember her saying her name was Sakura? Miss Sakura, where did she go?" Unaware of Emerald Sparrow's considerations, Bai Jingxuan just asked with some confusion.

"Where she went...?"

Carried away by the question, Emerald Sparrow looked at Bai Jingxuan, then slowly lowered her gaze, her thoughts becoming somewhat hazy, "Perhaps to a place free from worries for Magical Girls?"

At least she hoped An Ya was free from worries.

If there was a place the soul could go after death, then as a Magical Girl who had saved countless lives, An Ya should rightfully go to the abode of the virtuous.

The abode of the virtuous should have a wonderful and peaceful life, and should have commendation for her deeds in life. In such a world, Emerald Sparrow hoped An Ya could have everything she wanted.

And without a doubt, this question made her think of tomorrow.

Tomorrow would be the anniversary of An Ya's death.