novelraw Chapter 113: Alice in the Mirror
Chapter 113: Alice in the Mirror
"Take your clothes off."
Although Jiang Si already couldn't remember who Hyacinth was,
the moment the black-clad girl said that line, he remembered instantly.
Back when he and Yumo had gone to see that supposedly retired-but-not-really Magical Girl.
So this one always said that to everyone she met?
"Where did this pervert come from? Show some respect to our Simo Tu! How dare you look at Simo Tu's noble body? Don't you know Simo Tu just slaughtered Azure Cloud Sect's Sect Master, Shion?"
Xilan immediately jumped out and jabbed a finger at Hyacinth's chest, "It is your honor that Simo Tu came to your lab to test Complete Witch techniques! Know your place and attitude, got it?"
So the legendary ultra-bootlicker turns out to be like this.
Jiang Si watched Xilan with amusement; this kind of role was naturally rare.
He couldn't help but again marvel at the boundless depths of web novels.Only web novels could capture such a character's essence; traditional literature with its affected airs and film and TV constrained by performances could never match that lived-in realism.
Although Xilan's attitude was arrogant and her actions rude, Hyacinth did not get angry, still only smiling faintly:
"Sorry, that was rude of me. I wanted to check his physical condition."
Her hands were in the pockets of the black coat; only then did she nod toward a secluded teaching building in the distance, "You're here to borrow the lab, right? It's over there."
With that she stepped forward and began to lead the way.
Jiang Si glanced at the black coat; it looked like a lab coat recolored to black.
This one really liked black.
"You guys were lucky to survive the Azure Cloud Sect's people."
While walking, Hyacinth took the initiative to open a topic, "I've been in East China so many years, and I haven't seen the Witch Association survive an encounter with Azure Cloud Sect. Especially you two fighting that Magical Girl."
"Heh, you have no idea how many things you can't imagine."
"Care to tell us what happened after? The final crystal ball broke so we didn't see your fight. Everyone says Shion was killed by you, but it seems Azure Cloud Sect hasn't tried to take revenge."
"Don't pry into things you shouldn't. Have some manners. I said she was killed—of course she was. Azure Cloud Sect even had its leader taken out by Simo Tu. How dare they come after us? Idiots!"
That news had of course been spread by Xilan; no matter what happened to Shion, they'd say Simo Tu killed her first.
After all, nobody in the Witch Association dared check with Azure Cloud Sect, so it couldn't be disproved. That way, when Simo Tu built a reputation as Azure Cloud Sect's killer, it would make future moves easier.
Unexpectedly, someone dared to question it!
Xilan looked displeased at the black-clad girl.
From the moment she saw that face, Cong Chao knew interacting with the other side had started.
Simo—jealous of pretty boys—felt ugly compared to that Hyacinth; in looks Simo lacked confidence, thinking she wasn't worse than that Hyacinth.
Mainly it was that attitude and temperament.
Simo hated that kind of cool, indifferent demeanor the most; it made her want to lash out in the next second.
Especially Hyacinth's eyes, which were close to outright contemptuous; it made Simo instinctively dislike her.
And daring to speak disrespectfully of Simo Tu and wanting to see Simo Tu's body.
As a bullying senior, she could no longer hold back.
Only in front of Simo Tu did she have to keep her worst behavior in check.
While she was thinking how to escape Simo Tu's ear and properly teach this outsider a lesson,
Simo Tu suddenly spoke:
"If I'm not mistaken, Hyacinth, East China, former captain of the Beihai Disaster Control Bureau Magical Girl Combat Team."
Hyacinth paused slightly and tilted her head, that somewhat hollow gaze appraising Jiang Si.
Of course she couldn't see anything.
Protected by Unclear Confusion and wearing the fox mask, Jiang Si was undetectable by a Magical Girl like Hyacinth.
Besides, the two were not acquainted.
Hyacinth didn't show much surprise or excitement at her identity being guessed; she remained indifferent, "I've never hidden my identity, but it seems you know Beihai quite well."
"Hey, you brat, if you watched the stream you should know! Simo Tu has always been active in Beihai!"
Hyacinth smiled calmly, "I've been in Beihai a long time; I've never heard of anyone called Simo Tu."
"Nonsense. If someone like you knew the name Simo Tu, how could he have stayed hidden until today?"
The black-clad girl nodded, "Makes sense, you really trust him."
"If you don't even trust your rescuer, your second parents, then who in this world can you trust?"
"Trust needs to be cultivated over time."
In that hollow gaze there was a hint of pity, "You easily trust others because your environment lacks trust. Miss Xilan, in the Witch Association you cannot find people to help you, so when someone appears willing to save you, you hand over your trust too readily..."
"Little brat giving me a lecture now." Xilan scoffed, "What do you know? I've drifted half my life. Only Simo Tu understands and protects me. Simo Tu is the Witch Association's hope and light!"
"The con men I know love to exploit hearts like yours."
"Simo Tu is different." Xilan gripped a Grief Seed, "Guess wrong about Simo Tu again and I'll gut you!"
Hyacinth sighed lightly, "I don't mean to anger you. I'm just worried you'll get hurt later."
"You joined the Witch Association and still pretend to be a Magical Girl?"
As Xilan reached to use Polluted Magic to teach Hyacinth a lesson,
Simo Tu's hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, "We're here to conduct Complete Witch experiments. This is still a school, don't make trouble."
Huffing, looking at Hyacinth who remained unruffled as if nothing mattered, she clenched her teeth and put down the Grief Seed.
A cheerful young man rode past on a bicycle and greeted Hyacinth, "I have a basketball game tomorrow. Want to come watch?"
"Sorry, my experiment isn't done yet."
"Too bad."
The cyclist smiled sunny but regretfully, then left while glaring at Jiang Si as if daring anyone to get close to Hyacinth.
"I'm going to gouge that guy's eyes out," Xilan said ominously, "How dare his dog eyes stare at you!"
"Shut up."
"Oh." Xilan immediately pouted and stuffed a cloth into her mouth to gag herself.
Along the way many people greeted Hyacinth, both men and women.
She was obviously popular.
Hyacinth had probably been at Yanzi University for some time.
Most likely she had lived on campus for about the last half year; otherwise she wouldn't have so many acquaintances.
But it was clear Hyacinth didn't know everyone.
Although Hyacinth's Magical Girl name only had some fame in Beihai and even now few in Beihai recognized it,
her looks and abilities drew attention even from those who didn't know she was a Magical Girl.
After turning several corners and entering the secluded teaching building, it finally quieted down.
Earlier outside several college students were obviously staking out Hyacinth.
Her popularity was absurd.
There were very few people inside the teaching building; almost nobody. The empty building felt eerie and cold.
"It was supposed to be abandoned, but after the professor joined the Witch Association, he wanted a quiet test site, so he moved here."
Hyacinth explained casually while walking, "Few people means the Witch Association can operate more freely."
"After all, we are the heroes in the dark."
Xilan immediately spat out the cloth in response.
Jiang Si said nothing; he simply observed the building and noticed a problem:
there were too many mirrors.
In the Azure Cloud Sect, mirrors—considered lacking in transcendent aura—were banned from the sect... though that command had been casual when issued; even if someone brought one, he was too lazy to enforce it.
He'd originally thought mirrors lacked spiritual aura, but then changed his mind. Under Bingtang's lead, the disciples had gotten used to not bringing mirrors.
So he was a bit sensitive to mirrors. From the entrance onward, the front door was a thick new glass door,
and the main lobby faced a huge mirror.
He looked at his reflection and had the sensation of almost being pulled in, as if another world lay behind it.
Then, whether in hallways, classrooms, bathrooms, or lounges, every place had conspicuously large mirrors.
So many that it produced a strange unease,
as if something in the mirrors was staring at you.
"What kind of place is this, putting up so many mirrors," Xilan cried, "It's creepy!"
She even hid behind Jiang Si.
Not that she was truly afraid, but it made her uncomfortable.
Hyacinth paused in the corridor, touched a mirror, then said, "Have you heard of the world behind mirrors?"
Jiang Si raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"The Mirror World, the inner world, the inverted world." Hyacinth faced away and tilted her head, looking at the two, "There are many names."
"Monsters live in the mirror, and they come out to eat people, so if someone is being targeted, cover the mirrors in the room."
"At dusk, when lights flicker, if you catch a glimpse of something different in the mirror's corner, look away or the mirror's door will pull you into the inner world."
"On certain days while driving, if window glass fogs and you wipe it, you might see terrifying things..."
"And at midnight, if you get up to use the bathroom and play rock-paper-scissors with the mirror-self." Hyacinth touched the mirror; the two saw Hyacinth's sullen face in the reflection like another person, "Whoever loses gets pulled into the mirror and replaced by their mirror-self."
Xilan rolled her eyes, "What urban legend? We're witches of the Witch Association. Can your nonsense beat my full Polluted Magic?"
"This isn't urban legend. There used to be such a phenomenon in South China." Hyacinth withdrew her hand and when she turned back her expression was not gloomy but calm, "The one replaced into reality is called Alice of the Mirror Kingdom."
"Heh, how arrogant, showing off in front of the Witch Association." Xilan boasted, "When we run into them, we'll show them what true terror is!"
"The Witch Association lost over six hundred people in South China back then," Hyacinth casually mentioned, "They all disappeared at the hands of Alice of the Mirror Kingdom—well, perhaps not died, but vanished."
"However, some who lost rock-paper-scissors escaped the mirror's clutches, but Alice of the Mirror Kingdom came out too, resulting in two people in this world who look identical, have the same name, and possess identical abilities."
Hyacinth finished and looked at Jiang Si, "In Beihai, I recall one Magical Girl was replaced like that. Alice of the Mirror Kingdom took everything from her—she lost her parents, identity, was forgotten by everyone, and eventually joined the Free Magical Girls organization."
Jiang Si shook his head, "Never heard of it."
Hyacinth smiled without minding, "That's normal. It was long ago and few remember."
Seeing the two silent in tacit understanding, Xilan grew annoyed, "Acting spooky! Who are you trying to scare?"
Hyacinth wasn't angry. She just looked at a mirror, and when she turned her head her expression went suddenly gloomy.
Xilan stared dumbfounded.
Did she just change her face in an instant, or was mirror-Hyacinth different...
"I have no reason to trick you. Since there are mirrors everywhere, try it yourselves and you'll know."
Hyacinth gave Xilan space, "Wanna play rock-paper-scissors?"
Xilan's heart jumped and she clutched Simo Tu's coat.
To be honest, so many mirrors already gave a mysterious, oppressive feeling; endless reflections, some twisted, made the space feel cramped and suffocating.
Now Hyacinth stood there and calmly invited her to play rock-paper-scissors with her mirror-self,
Xilan couldn't help but feel...
afraid.
But who was Xilan? She was a world-changing person!
"Do you think you can tell me what to do? If you want me to play, I'll play? No! If you scare us again I'll kill you!"
This time Simo Tu did not stop her—likely thinking the same thing.
"The Witch Association is the most ferocious and evil terror in this world!"
Hyacinth smiled and took a hand from her pocket, "No intent to frighten. I just want to prove I'm not lying. Since you're scared..."
"Who said we're scared? Don't slander us. Who would join the Witch Association if they were scared?"
"Actually, after Azure Cloud Sect killed a few, most of the Witch Association scattered." Hyacinth tilted her head, "It's about making a living. The Witch Association isn't that noble."
Xilan was suddenly speechless, and glanced at Simo Tu.
Sure enough, Simo Tu looked like he was about to fall asleep!
Hyacinth faced the mirror, "Since you won't, I'll do an experiment for you."
With that she actually began facing the mirror and playing rock-paper-scissors.
Scissors, rock, paper.
Three rounds passed with nothing unusual. On the last round, Hyacinth played rock.
Opposite, paper!
Xilan flinched!
But instead of hiding, she instinctively lunged to grab Hyacinth.
Simo Tu's experiment wasn't finished yet!
Leaning in she discovered Hyacinth had used her other hand to play paper.
A common sleight-of-hand trick: from this side it looked like rock, but the mirror showed the other hand playing paper...
"See? It's all a facade. Simo Tu, I'll kill her!"
"Heh, I just find it interesting."
"Interesting my ass!"
"You're earlier terrified expression was funny. Want to see it? I recorded it."
"Delete it! Delete it now!"
Jiang Si yawned, "When can we start the experiment?"
Pulled by Xilan, Hyacinth said leisurely, "The lab has been empty. Anytime."
"Then let's start now."
Xilan finally released her grip and let Hyacinth lead the way, vowing to kill her later.
They reached a lab on the third floor.
The lab had three heavy doors—thick iron doors—and Hyacinth took some time to open all three.
Xilan found it odd she seemed unfamiliar with the doors.
Suspicious, but Hyacinth had only recently come to this Witch Association lab, so it wasn't too strange.
When the lab doors opened, the three entered and saw various equipment.
Standard microscopes and tweezers aside, there were Grief Seeds and Calamity Eggs, and some dried Disaster Beast specimens.
Most important, chained up and locked in a corner of the lab, hung a girl.
She wore very simple white clothing, tattered like a prison uniform, barefoot, toes curled and trembling slightly as if cold or in pain.
She slumped asleep against the wall; needle marks could be seen on her neck, arms, and feet, evidence of many experiments.
"That's the professor's experimental subject," Hyacinth said indifferently, "Caught half a year ago. The professor values this subject. Magical Girls are hard to capture; free Magical Girls are even harder. If Azure Cloud Sect or the Disaster Control Bureau captured a Magical Girl, it would trigger massive investigation. Free Magical Girls with no organization and no rescue are rare."
"Where's your professor?"
"He's out on business recently. But it's fine. I can do the Complete Witch experiment myself. But I should warn you, as a rule men generally can't become Perfect Witches."
"No matter. I just want to see if it can increase my Polluted Magic adaptability and make me stronger."
"Good. I can collect data too."
Listening, Xilan didn't dare interrupt; she merely glanced at the bound girl and snorted.
It reminded her of the pain she'd endured when she was once a Complete Witch.
Hyacinth pulled open a bed in the center of the lab while putting on gloves, then looked at Jiang Si:
"Take your clothes off."
Xilan spun around, glaring at Hyacinth, "Simo Tu's noble body is not something you can—"
"Shut your mouth."
Jiang Si said casually, and Xilan's words died halfway as she obediently produced a fresh handkerchief and stuffed it into her mouth.
Hyacinth smiled faintly, "You're too much trouble here."
Xilan glared at Hyacinth, murderous intent in her eyes.
Jiang Si had already grabbed the back of her collar and tossed her out of the lab,
then shut the lab door.
"I'll call you when it's done."
Tugging off the handkerchief, Simo Tu muttered softly, "Jiang Si Tu, Jiang Si Tu! If you stay obediently it's bothersome, don't sneak off!"
Muffled dialogue came faintly from beyond the door.
"Your muscles are pretty solid."
"Not bad."
"Feels good."
"How long will you be touching?"
"This is a routine check..."
Damn woman!
Xilan nearly gnawed her handkerchief to shreds.
The ignorant Simo Tu would surely be manhandled by that woman. Sorry Simo Tu, Xilan couldn't protect you...
Lost in such thoughts, she paused; when the voices stopped, she slumped into a chair by the lab.
Thinking about revenge on Hyacinth, she couldn't come up with an adequate plan.
She stared blankly at the window, lost in memories of past good times with Simo Tu—saving Magical Girls in the rain during Disaster Beast attacks, fighting alongside each other in the Witch Association, long nights before forced separation, and the final life-or-death battle beneath Beihai's little godling.
Scenes surfaced one after another, reliving old bonds they had formed...
Xilan looked at her reflection in the window—everyone in the mirror showed scissors.
She sprang up and scanned around.
The corridor was full of mirrors; every mirror reflected her face.
All of them showed scissors!
In the silent corridor her heartbeat roared, as if it would shatter the mirrors!
All gazes were fixed on her.
Xilan swallowed and cold sweat formed on her brow.
She drew a deep breath to steady herself.
She was not a coward like Twins!
Probably just Hyacinth's trick; she'd seen through it.
Afraid?
Those two words were not in Xilan's vocabulary!
With a hardened expression she was about to play rock,
when every mirror-person instantly switched to paper.
What the hell, cheating!
She lunged at the iron door and pounded it like mad:
"Help! Simo Tu!"