Chapter 21: Kidnapping

“Xiaobai, what’s going on today?”

After school, having dealt with a few more corrupted stray dogs, Jiang Yao trudged home, wearily scolding Xiaobai: “Didn’t you say there’d be no trouble for a while? How come new monsters show up after just a week’s break?”

“I’ve got to study when I get home, do activities, and help Mom adjust to modern life… so much to do!” “What’s with this pile of dark trash? They’re way too good at popping up.”

“This… this… I don’t know either!”

Xiaobai collapsed on Jiang Yao’s shoulder, exhausted. It had flown all the way to report news to her, but now its tiny paws were utterly spent.

“The dark elves split their forces too. Their goal’s always been to create a breach… You know about the Dongsha City incident, right?”

Jiang Yao nodded.

It was a true tragedy. All the magical girls in Dongsha City perished in battle. The enemy set traps, luring in many magical girls who came to help, but their fate was grim.

In the end, the city fell completely. It took three years to retake it last year, but it was too late. The dark goblins and demon cubs had gained immense power there. Rather than reclaiming the city, it was more like the enemy had drained its value and abandoned it.

Their strength surged, putting massive pressure on the magical girls’ defense lines in nearby cities. Such victories for the dark side had happened before, but none as devastating as Dongsha.

It was a wake-up call for those basking in false peace. Many realized: even now, in 2032, it was still a time of war. Magical girls were human, not gods, and they could die.

The last time something this catastrophic occurred was at the start—the Dark Disaster. Some mentally broken or terrified magical girls abandoned their magic, withdrawing entirely. Their fairy companions were recalled by the fairy kingdom for re-education and accountability.

Most fairies were lively, innocent creatures, but they were unrelenting in such matters. Beyond them, most magical girls carried heavy hearts, ready to sacrifice at any moment.

Magical girls were girls, but also warriors. This spurred society to offer more support: laws to protect their privacy, special agencies, and even public opinion reviews for magical girl matters. If you couldn’t help, at least don’t stab them in the back—that was the stance of this era’s leaders.

As for Jiang Yao, she didn’t know when her ultimate test would come. Perhaps the demon ambush should’ve been her end. She wasn’t sure if her body held hidden energy for a last-ditch self-destruction, nor if she could’ve used it then.

That high-level demon was slain by a pink-haired ancient magical girl without her making a single move. Who knew what other powers it might’ve had?

No matter what, Jiang Yao knew she couldn’t die yet, for any reason. Even if a magical girl felt fear, she’d only withdraw—not others.

These girls, facing darkness head-on, all carried a golden kindness, no matter their personalities. This was the golden spirit of magical girls.

Those who abandoned magic feared future dangers and dared not use it, their magic dulled by their mood. It didn’t mean they lacked character. Before the fairy kingdom reclaimed their transformation devices and ended their contracts, returning them to ordinary life, they still had “qualifications.”

But Jiang Yao didn’t think she did. She’d never considered sacrificing herself for others. If she’d known demons were involved, she wouldn’t have boldly fought those insects.

For good deeds within her ability, Jiang Yao was happy to help, even if it took effort. But when it came to “sacrifice”? She didn’t want to.

Without pretense or self-deception, Jiang Yao knew she wasn’t willing to risk her life for others. This mindset was very “un-magical girl.”

But she didn’t care. Becoming a magical girl was just because she found Xiaobai, who deemed her a suitable candidate. Plus, Xiaobai liked her as a long-term meal ticket, so it asked her to consider it.

Back then, her mother hadn’t woken from her coma. The biggest reason Jiang Yao learned magic was: Find Dad.

She remembered everything about her father, but all traces of him had vanished from the world. It was as if he’d been exiled from reality.

This was impossible in the physical universe. Only magic could explain his disappearance and her mother’s coma. Jiang Yao needed magic to uncover the truth.

Joining the Administration years later and climbing slowly was far less efficient than becoming a magical girl now.

“Who could’ve imagined it’d be this troublesome?” “I study by day, rush to problems instantly, and Xiaobai’s useless, knowing no magic at all. Did you even graduate from fairy school?”

“What?” Xiaobai didn’t catch Jiang Yao’s muttering.

“Nothing, go on.”

“I mean, logically, this city’s worthless, so why send a demon here?”

Xiaobai was puzzled. It had chosen this city for its magical girl vacancy and safety, sneaking in with a few “tricks.”

“Who knows.” Jiang Yao curled her lips indifferently: “I still have to figure out my magic suit’s functions myself. Got nothing to tell me?”

“This, this…” Xiaobai’s whiskers twitched, its small eyes darting aside: “Every magical girl has unique talents, and every magic is distinct…”

“Alright, alright.” Jiang Yao snapped, exasperated: “I checked with the Bureau. That’s the first chapter of your fairy school textbook, also released to humans. Any Bureau has it. That’s all you’ve got? Aren’t you the proud descendant of some great scholar? Where’s your research spirit?”

“Uh-huh…” Xiaobai mumbled guiltily: “How about researching… what’s for dinner?”

“Sigh.”

Jiang Yao worried deeply for Muchong City’s future. An unreliable magical girl and an even less reliable fairy—what lay ahead? Only the heavens knew.

But at least she knew a mysterious magical girl operated in this city, easing the pressure. And her mom was awake! She had real family now!

Finally home, Jiang Yao pushed open the door, leaving her worries and fatigue behind. She smiled and called out: “Mom, I’m back!”

But no savory aroma of food greeted her, unlike recent days. The house was a wreck, as if a typhoon had torn through, with items scattered everywhere. The windows stood wide open, curtains flapping in the wind.

“…Mother?” Jiang Yao’s voice trembled.

No response.

She spotted a letter on the shoe cabinet by the entrance, marked “From Magical Girl Crystal.” She snatched it, tore it open, and read two lines of small text:

[Dear magical girl, you’re truly careless. If you can’t even hide your residence, don’t blame me for visiting in person.] [If you want your mother safe, come alone to the old steel factory outside the city before sunset.] [Miss the deadline, and prepare a custom coffin to collect her body.]

Holding the letter, Jiang Yao fell silent.

“This… this is kidnapping!” Xiaobai, perched on her shoulder, was shocked: “Crystal! We must save your mother!”

“…”

“Crystal! I bet a demon did this! Only a demon has this kind of cunning!”

“…”

After a long silence, Jiang Yao spoke in a hoarse voice: “…What the hell is this bastard?”

A low growl escaped her throat, and under some force, the letter exploded into confetti, scattering across the room. “How dare you, how dare you, how dare you—”

Xiaobai sensed a shift in the escaping magic and leapt up, startled: “Crystal—Crystal! Human name Jiang Yao! Calm down—your magic’s off! You…”

“How dare you do this!!!”

Boom—

An airwave blasted Xiaobai, slamming it against the wall with a bang. Its tiny eyes widened in fear; Jiang Yao seemed terrifying. Her light magic was undergoing a darker, more fearsome transformation.

Though Xiaobai’s abilities were weak, it was a legitimate fairy and couldn’t stand idly by. It kicked the wall with its small feet, flying up with all its might, pressing itself against Jiang Yao’s face as she rushed out the door, shouting: “Calm down! Crystal, the Magical Girl! Listen! Only light magic can defeat their dark magic! We must be prepared!”

The storm seemed to halt instantly. Jiang Yao stopped abruptly, hearing its words.

“…You’re right.”

The girl, regaining composure, stretched out her arm, grasped her sword, and whispered: “Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, as she was cooking, a sharp pain struck the back of her head, and she lost consciousness. Jiang Lingwei, knocked out by a club, had now awakened.

This was the downside of being incomplete. In her prime, she wouldn’t have been ambushed so easily. Who’d expect an attack at home?

But no use dwelling on it now. Jiang Lingwei didn’t complain, instead scanning her surroundings warily. She addressed a tall man with an unmistakably eerie aura: “Where am I? Who are you?”

“Hehehe… beautiful lady, you’re awake.”

The pale, inhuman man, clad in a suit and black hat, clapped his pink-gloved hands, grinning at Jiang Lingwei. “Don’t worry, you’ll reunite with your daughter soon.”

He licked his lips, his greedy eyes unmasked: “Of course~ as my delicious meal—strung up!”

The strange man barked orders loudly. Jiang Lingwei felt the cage around her rise, suspended in the air.

“Hahahahahaha!!!”

Without another word, he vanished into the darkness with a wild laugh, leaving behind deformed, goblin-like monsters cackling shrilly. What a devil’s den atmosphere.

Jiang Lingwei eyed the ordinary iron cage around her—no magic, no restrictions, no traps—and the small-time demon cubs below. She touched the necklace around her neck.

‘Huh?’

Ordinary person, occasional magical girl, Jiang Lingwei was puzzled: ‘Am I… being kidnapped as bait?’ ‘Tie me up? Really? Oo’