Something's off about this magical girl.

Chapter 52 Summer's Determination

On the phone screen, clips from the previous Ximing Church press conference were playing.

"...It is an undeniable fact that magical girls have a very short lifespan, and we believe that the tragedy that occurred in the disaster zone could have been avoided if each team had been led by an experienced magical girl."

"As for extending the flowering period of magical girls, the methods used so far have not been very effective. Fortunately, under the guidance of the gods, we discovered a plant that can greatly extend the flowering period of magical girls under certain conditions—the Epiphyllum."

"Next, I have the honor of inviting the first insect magical girl to achieve 'immortality' to come to the stage and give a speech. Please give her a round of applause!"

Gu Bai paused the screen here and handed the phone back to Dong Chun, who had just arrived at the consultation room.

After gathering my thoughts and going through the entire logical chain, I began to speak:

"The Ximing Church released information about the Ephemeral Grass at 10 o'clock, causing the number of needles to increase fivefold in an instant. No wonder it was able to lull Tao Zhuo to sleep."

"I've already tried to persuade her, and she always says she listens." Dongchun gently placed Taozhuo's head on her lap to rest it.

"Good riddance."

Gu Bai nodded and did not pursue the topic further.

My gaze fell on Dong Chun's phone screen. She had switched apps and was discussing a discount on a trial pack with an account named "Secret Longevity Pill of the Eighteen Generations of Ancestors".

Well, there's definitely a reason why these two can get along.

If I had contacted the Qixin Second Hospital back then, would things have been better? At least my impression of magical girls wouldn't have been so completely shattered.

They've really gone astray and gotten on a pirate ship...

At this moment, Dongchun put away her phone and asked softly:

"Teacher, that magical girl from yesterday must have an unusual identity."

"Yes."

Gu Bai nodded, his small selfish motive being to protect them, but he still didn't give an answer.

He didn't say, and she didn't press him for details.

He glanced down at Tao Zhuo, who was still fast asleep on his lap, and then asked another question:

"You weren't injured in the battle with Guanlan last night, were you?"

"No, you noticed?" Gu Bai shook his head.

"It's just speculation. I'm glad the teacher is alright. I also thank you for protecting us last time." Dongchun's tone remained calm, but it stemmed from her sincerity.

"No need." Gu Bai waved his hand, changing the subject: "By the way, regarding the Epiphyllum, I wanted to ask you again, are you really capable of making it?"

"I was also planning to tell you this; I've already brought the things over."

After saying that, Dong Chun used her magic to take out about ten notebooks from her storage bag, and handed the top one to Gu Bai:

"I understand you won't understand me. I just believe that with enough time, many impossible things can be accomplished... This is part of my research notes. The records of the Epiphyllum in this book are merely my personal records. Please forgive me."

Gu Bai took it into his hands.

The cover has no special decorations, and the edges of the paper are oxidized and yellowed, but it is well preserved overall.

This is enough to prove that Dongchun cares about this matter far more than her facial expressions suggest.

Gu Bai flipped through it briefly. The handwriting was dense, and there were many annotations between the charts. The various characteristics of the Epiphyllum were broken down, recorded, and deduced from various dimensions.

But before he could figure it out, two rhythmic knocks sounded on the door.

Xia Zhi then pushed open the door and stood in the doorway.

Her gaze swept quickly around the room, then she adjusted her expression, walked in, placed a lunchbox next to Gu Bai's table, bowed slightly, and said, "Perhaps I've come at the wrong time."

The nine-word sentence took a turn.

Gu Bai understood what she meant. If it were something that could be said directly, she would definitely say it. The fact that she went around in circles proved that she might not want the other two to know about the magical girl from the past.

After a moment's thought, Gu Bai said, "Let's come back in the evening."

"Okay." Xia Zhi didn't linger, turned around and left, closing the door behind her.

The room returned to quiet.

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 afternoon, Tao Zhuo was still lost in her dreams.

In the end, it was Dongchun who took her back to her dormitory. I just don't know how much she earned in the other world.

After that, there was another period of leisure.

Today, the counseling room still didn't have any magical girls who actually needed counseling come in.

Gu Bai opened the notebook left by Dong Chun.

Habits, characteristics, and the effects of taking it alone or in combination are all recorded.

The epiphyllum will bloom briefly in a flash when it senses strong emotions, and the following situations may also occur.

She had even guessed about the reference to "immortality" long before Xi Ming did.

The research approach is clear, not just empty talk; Dongchun is genuinely putting in the effort to do something that seems silly.

I think I understand why Dongchun was able to prepare medicine to treat Guanlan yesterday; she really has the talent of a pharmacist...

But whether it can be done or not, Gu Bai can only say it's really difficult.

Time continues to move forward.

As the twilight light slanted in through the diamond-shaped window panes, there were two rhythmic knocks on the door.

"No one's here, come in."

Then, Xia Zhi walked in and sat down opposite Gu Bai.

"Is it related to the body found yesterday?" Gu Bai asked directly.

"Upon verification, her identity has been confirmed as that of the Bishop of the Church of Dawn, the Magical Girl of the Past."

Xia Zhi spoke as if reporting official business: "The magical traces on the neck are faint, and it will take another three to four days to reach a definitive conclusion."

"That's all?"

Gu Bai looked at Xia Zhi and saw that her eyes were slightly lowered and the orange hair ends were dyed a deeper color by the light.

She interlaced her fingers on her knees, remained silent for a moment before speaking, her tone unusually hesitant:

"...Teacher, could you please help me with something?"

"Speak," Gu Bai said.

"Let Dongchun let go of her extra thoughts and break through to the sixth star as soon as possible. As long as she returns to her original mindset in cultivation, it will not be difficult at all."

"Why?" Gu Bai asked, then answered the question for the other person: "To occupy the Seven Star Magical Girl slot left by the Magical Girl of the Past, right?"

"Yes, yes." Xia Zhi had such a guess, and sure enough, Gu Bai already knew the news.

"Why? I also think a 3-2-2 split is more stable." Gu Bai didn't reveal Guan Lan's name; he also wanted to hear Xia Zhi's thoughts.

Xia Zhi remained silent for an even longer period.

The twilight inside slowly shifted from a diamond shape to a narrower strip, turning into a calm, grayish-orange color.

With her hands clenched slightly tighter, Xia Zhi, having made up her mind, finally spoke. This time, without pausing, she continued:

"...In order to change magical girls."

"The magical girl system that Qixin has built is now too heavily tied to the four major companies, and any attempt to reform it will encounter resistance from all sides."

Xia Zhi's tone wasn't particularly passionate; she was simply stating her long-held and persistent beliefs:

"I can see it. I cannot accept the magical girls continuing to rot like this. If our academy can successfully centralize power over the seven star slots, I will take decisive action."

"The idea of ​​reform, coming from a five-star magical girl?" Gu Bai asked calmly. "What makes you think you can come up with it?"

"Six-star and seven-star are within my reach within a year."

Xia Zhi looked directly at Gu Bai, her gaze unwavering: "But I need companions who are not controlled by corporations: Dong Chun, Tao Zhuo, and most importantly... you!"

The orange twilight shrank to its last thin line, and the light in the counseling room suddenly dimmed.

After a long while, Gu Bai's voice came out: "I don't know how to take sides yet. If you want to gain my approval, you should at least rise to the seven stars you mentioned first."

"I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous..."

Understanding that it was a polite refusal, Xia Zhi sighed briefly and then changed the subject:

"If you are free tomorrow, the Magical Girl of Hearts and Vice President Zhang would like to invite you to attend the farewell party together."

"Yes, I will go."