Chapter 20: “Tea Party”
Tao Lian had anticipated Su Tang’s surprise at the “discipline committee” outfits, so she elaborated:
“‘Discipline committee’ is just a normal school title—I used it for easy understanding. In Dongyang—no, all joint schools—they’re called ’Tea Party’.”
“Tea Party?”
“Yep. All members magical girls, but Tea Party itself isn’t a combat team. Association-selected elites forming a special org.”
“Never heard of them…” Su Tang murmured.
“Normal for little Su Tang not to know.”
Tao Lian said, “They never fight monsters, right? Rarely appear before civilians.”
“No monster fights?”
Su Tang frowned thoughtfully.
No battles = no database entry, like rookie magical girls.
“As said—their duty: supervise students, enforce rewards/punishments.”
Tao Lian continued, “On duty: vs. normies = discipline committee; vs. magical girls = Tea Party.”
Adaptive identity switch.
Su Tang pondered, realized: “So… double standards for normies and magical girls?”
“Sharp, little Su Tang.”
Tao Lian clapped, “Yes, stricter on magical girls—their words/actions decide final ‘living expenses’.”
Living expenses—Ningliu freaked.
“Those Tea Party pests bribe normies to spy—raid during gaming, confiscate consoles!”
Ningliu stomped: “Three taken this month!”
“Not just three.” Tao Lian casual add.
“…Then you still dueled me?”
Su Tang sweat, asked Ningliu: “Not scared of another confiscation?”
“Hehe, nothing to fear.”
Ningliu hands on hips, smug: “Points already zeroed!”
Wow~
Points gone = Tea Party ignores?
Cost?
“BTW little Ningliu—no loan this time~” Tao Lian smiled.
“NANI?!”
Ningliu paled, screamed, knelt hugging Tao Lian’s leg: “Can’t abandon me, Peach! Partners, friends!”
“No—need lesson. Can’t continue!” Tao Lian firm.
“How…”
Ningliu limp, released, slumped—eyes hollow, soul-drained.
Then helpless gaze to Su Tang: “Su Tang… you’ll save me? Only you now! Comrade!”
Su Tang: “…”
Here we go.
“No troubling little Su Tang…”
Tao Lian advising—Su Tang interrupted after brief thought:
“Not super rich… help what I can—don’t expect much?”
“SU… SU TANG BOSS!!”
Ningliu lit up—ahoge stood salute—prostrated at feet:
“Low demands! Just dinner bite—eternal gratitude!!”
“Ara, little Su Tang too kind.”
Tao Lian sighed, then meaningful smile: “But that’s your charm…”
“Ahaha… yeah?”
Su Tang surface bitter laugh, inner glee.
Hehe, foolish magical girls—unaware fallen into my grasp?
Su Tang had plans.
Purpose here: teach arrogant magical girls lessons, hunt XP-satisfying “prey.”
Hated lending initially—but Ningliu magical girl; future leverage. Build rapport now.
Plus, despite dumb—Ningliu cute. Longer together: resembled momo-sensei’s “brat magical girl yells ‘weakling’ then fried” doujin protag more.
Ningliu: perfect real-life plot actor.
Thus: subsidize—buy magical girl with cash: bargain.
Hide intent—shift topic:
“Besides campus life, Tea Party manage off-campus too?”
“Of course.”
Tao Lian arms crossed: “Association org, not school. On-campus: bonus discipline role.”
“So… off-campus wrongs under them?”
“Yep.”
Su Tang narrowed eyes.
Then Delinquent Girls’ many evils—light slaps—from Tea Party?
Noticing expression, Tao Lian curious: “Little Su Tang, something?”
“Nothing.”
Su Tang shook head, inwardly targeting Tea Party.
Years ago: Association rules—school for magical girls, build character via campus.
Yet Tea Party shields bad habits.
Contradiction?
Association oversight or Tea Party issue—either way: school alone insufficient. Society full of uncorrected like Delinquent Girls.
Blamed Association top-down before—but direct cause: Tea Party.
Su Tang decided: must contact Tea Party later.