novelraw Chapter 50 was identified as...time-stop magic.
Chapter 50 was identified as...time-stop magic.
"Teacher, teacher, come here for a second!"
Before long, Tao Zhuo called for someone again.
"They're here." Gu Bai left Guan Lan's side and turned to walk over.
Inside the glass jar, the liquid was still flowing extremely slowly, continuing the meaningless 'breathing' for someone who showed no signs of life.
"First of all, teacher, do you know how magical girl techniques are structured?"
Seeing Gu Bai approaching, Tao Zhuo spoke first, probably considering the teacher's understanding of the magical girl system, and first laid out some background information.
Tell me about it.
Gu Bai himself really didn't understand why, even though they were all magical girls, the things they could unleash were so different that it was like the difference between a person and a dog. For example, some people could accelerate time, while others could... throw punches.
"I've already heard the pre-launch banter from iPeach TV!"
Tao Zhuo puffed out her cheeks, gestured with her little fists in the air for a while, and then spoke:
"In short, basic magic is taught in school and everyone knows it. In addition, there are special magics that each person specializes in. These are mainly determined by intangible things like talent and determination. They can't be taught; you can only create them yourself."
"A magical girl's basic skills are universal and replaceable, but her ultimate skill is unique?"
Gu Bai changed to a more straightforward way of putting it.
"That's roughly the idea, although the teacher's description made me think of those cheap, 2D match-3 games."
Tao Zhu muttered something, but then quickly suppressed her teasing tone and focused her gaze:
"I continued, 'There are traces of special magical energy left by four or five magical girls in this area. The key is that they all activated at the same time, and the coordination was so precise that it was unbelievable. My sister Dong and I discussed it, and the only possibility is...'"
Tao Zhuo stopped speaking and then looked at Dong Chun beside her.
Dongchun met her gaze, nodded in confirmation, and finally said, "Time-stop magic."
—Oh, I see.
Gu Bai's gaze fell on the combat suit inside the canister. If time had stopped, it would indeed explain why his ambush hadn't been detected.
A moment later, he slowly turned his gaze to Dongchun, who was standing to one side.
Dongchun was also looking at him at this moment, and she expressed her thoughts:
"In my opinion, reaching six stars does indeed make it possible to stop time."
"I have to say, controlling time is much more difficult than hypnosis, even though the number of works on the website tagged with both is about the same."
Tao Zhuo, a body cultivator, didn't quite understand this "low-level" ability. At this moment, she was whispering her evaluation of hypnosis and time stop.
Gu Bai was too lazy to deal with this little fool. Although he knew it was unlikely, he still asked with a sliver of hope:
"Who else is in Qixin Academy besides Tao Zhuo?"
Dongchun's answer immediately shattered his illusions: "No, neither in the high school nor the university. Time-related abilities are quite rare."
"Guanlan, does the Ximing Church have magical girls like this?"
Gu Bai raised his voice slightly and asked the last magical girl on the field.
"There are no such magical girls in the Ximing Cult either." Guanlan replied calmly, and judging from her tone, her condition should have improved considerably.
It seems quite rare, which to some extent explains why Fuyutsubaki became the main focus of Qixin's promotion.
But getting back to the main point, has everything come full circle and we're headed for a dead end again?
Perhaps sensing the anxiety in Gu Bai's furrowed brows, Tao Zhuo playfully stuck out her pink tongue and continued:
"Find the culprit? That's easy. There will always be traces on the body. Just bring it back to the academy, open the container, and analyze it to figure out who did it!"
"what?"
It was truly a case of "after the darkest hour comes the dawn." Gu Bai reached out and pinched Tao Zhuo's cheek hard before giving the order:
"Then why are you laughing so happily? Call Qi Xin's people over!"
Tao Zhuo took a half step back, covered her face, and said with a hint of resentment, "Report, although I am a noble five-star magical girl from the Qixin Academy, my authority to allocate resources to such a remote and impoverished place is definitely insufficient!"
"I'm going out for a bit. You two keep watch over things."
Tao Zhuo had no better ideas at this point, so Gu Bai had no choice but to go out and make contact himself.
"Um, teacher, is this magical girl important to you?" After Gu Bai left, Tao Zhuo, who remained behind, asked another question, her tone less playful and more serious than usual.
"..." Gu Bai was silent for a moment, then finally nodded and replied, "Yes."
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
In the corridor.
Guanlan followed beside him, using the black umbrella as a walking stick. After a few steps, she spoke in a measured tone:
"It's best not to take her away."
"You're all recovered? Want to try it out?" Gu Bai still didn't speak kindly to Guan Lan.
"If word gets out, it will have a huge impact on the Ximing Church." Guanlan didn't address Gu Bai's point, but instead explained, "In that case, the church as a whole will inevitably be dragged into making a choice with the Insect Magical Girl."
"So I didn't tell them that it was the magical girl from the past. You know, I know, we just pretended that this never happened, and that the girl from the past is still alive."
Stepping out of the corridor, the two stood quietly for a moment, gazing at the foot of the mountain.
Gu Bai thought it was alright.
The announcement of the beheading of a Seven-Star Magical Girl will have a huge impact on Qi Xin and the entire magical girl environment.
Although he didn't have any particular fondness for Qi Xin, strange events had been occurring frequently in the disaster zone lately, and he didn't want to add any more variables at this critical juncture.
"You want me to help you cover this up?"
Guanlan spoke in this way, her tone devoid of provocation, simply asking, "Wouldn't it be more reassuring to shut me up forever instead of killing me?"
"There's no need."
Gu Bai only said these three words.
The two continued walking, down the mountain, and into the town.
It's midnight again.
Gu Bai took out his phone, which had just regained signal, and contacted Xia Zhi.
Guanlan waited by the side. The moment Gu Bai finished his call and hung up, she took a step, gently touched the tip of her black umbrella to the ground, turned halfway around, and spoke as she walked.
"Lord Gu Bai."
"The deaths of magical girls are not equal; some are ignored, while others are destined to cause a stir."
Her long, light blue hair fluttered gently in the night breeze.
The girl seemed to be laughing, her voice so gentle in the midnight mountain breeze, yet the words she uttered carried considerable weight:
"The maximum number of Seven Star Magical Girls is fixed at nine. Under normal circumstances, Yubi only allows seven to be on duty at the same time."
"As far as I know, there are currently two staff members in the Qixin Academy where you are located, while the traditional Qixin Academy II has one."
"In the past, the allocation of quotas has always been tacitly agreed upon: three from our main academy, two from the second academy, and two from the Ximing Church. This way, in important matters concerning magical girls, voting can avoid any one group dominating."
"But right now, if the Priestess Academy can persuade Yubi to take the vacant spot vacated by the former magical girl..."
As his voice faded, Guanlan, without waiting for Gu Bai's reply, disappeared from his sight and vanished into the night.