Chapter 53: The New Teacher of the Magical Girls

On the Friday afternoon a week after the beast invasion, the final class bell rang just as Lu Ming finished teaching the classical alchemy curriculum.
Standing by the wall outside the classroom door, she waited as students, bags slung over their shoulders, rushed out.

She nodded in response to the polite greetings from some students.
As the classroom emptied, two girls holding hands emerged last.
Lu Ming seized the shoulder of the one in front.

Lu Yue, impatient while waiting for Xiao Yan to pack her bag, grabbed her friend’s hand and led her out of the classroom.

Lu Yue couldn’t understand why Xiao Yan, despite being a bit slow, took so long to pack her textbooks for weekend homework.
Is she just not used to bringing books home?
Lu Yue noted with suspicion that Xiao Yan had, for once, remembered her pristine classical alchemy textbook.

Weekend time was precious, every second valuable.
Even with training on the schedule, Lu Yue couldn’t tolerate wasting time on trivialities.
She dreaded to think how many extra training drills Lu Ming would assign if they were late.

As Lu Yue pulled Xiao Yan out of the classroom, a strong hand gripped her shoulder, sending a shiver down her spine.
Turning, she saw Lu Ming’s kind expression.

That look only made Lu Yue more nervous.

Since her fall from the building, Lu Yue had noticed Lu Ming’s demeanor toward her had softened, less cold and more human than their first meeting.

But after the Tier-Seven beast incident, Lu Yue felt Lu Ming had become a different person.
Her smiles, especially, were unnerving, like those of the uncanny “false people” in online videos—terrifying.

Lu Ming’s magical girl form, Abyss, smiled normally enough.
But her real self was scarier than the icy persona from before.

Trying to calm her racing heart, Lu Yue steadied her nerves and said, “Teacher Lu, why aren’t you…?”

She glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, then whispered, “Why aren’t you waiting for us at the Magic Affairs Bureau?”

Xiao Yan, slow to react, lowered her phone from watching a drama and saw Lu Ming.
Panicked, she stammered, “T-Teacher Lu, hello.”

Even Xiao Yan’s carefree nature had been worn down by Lu Ming’s intense training.
Every muscle and bone in her body seemed to scream in agony.

The training was more painful than any injury.

Seeing the two girls’ fearful expressions, Lu Ming found them oddly adorable.
But why did she think their fear was cute?

Is this a side effect of my resurrection?
Lu Ming worried her psyche might be warped.

Still, Lu Yue and Xiao Yan were undeniably cute—especially Lu Yue, like a kitten teetering on the edge of hissing, much like her sister… or mother when sulking.

Wait, why am I thinking this?

Lu Ming shook her head subtly, clearing her cluttered thoughts.

“Today, you’ll meet your new magical girl teacher,” she said, pausing.

“And we’ll all go together.”

“Let’s head out,” she told the two girls.

Lu Yue and Xiao Yan didn’t dare refuse, following Lu Ming to the Magic Affairs Bureau.

On the way, Lu Ming found a secluded spot for the trio to transform into their magical girl forms.
Thus, Abyss, Polaris, and Jin Yan, separated since the hospital, reunited under fate’s guidance.

…

On the Magic Affairs Bureau rooftop, Abyss led the magical girls to the top.

Flash, who had been waiting, noticed Abyss arriving with the rookies and pointed to a figure nearby.

Abyss and the new magical girls followed her gesture.

A silver-haired figure sat on a white, slender stool, a luxurious silver spear planted in the ground beside her—a clear sign of formidable strength.

Sensing everyone’s presence, the figure stood.
The stool crumbled into gray-white dust, scattered by an invisible breeze.

The silver-haired figure pulled the spear from the ground, turning to reveal striking blue eyes, a beautiful face, and an elegant figure.

Tapping her spear lightly on the ground, the silver-haired, blue-eyed magical girl introduced herself:

“I’m your new instructor. You may have heard my codename, though I haven’t appeared publicly in seventeen years…”

Seventeen years? No public appearances? A familiar codename?

Polaris, standing with Jin Yan, let her thoughts wander.
Could this senior magical girl be…

“My codename is Yuehua,” the figure confirmed.

It was indeed Magical Girl Yuehua, once called a Twin Star alongside Corona.
Rumor had it she retired to live a normal life—so why was she back?

“I was asked to return to guide you rookie magical girls,” Yuehua explained.

“Though Abyss was your previous instructor, she wasn’t a magical girl before and is now a rookie like you.”

“So the best way to train you is with a more experienced magical girl.”

“I’m Magical Girl Yuehua, your new teacher. I look forward to working with you.”

Flash stepped forward first to introduce herself: “I’m Magical Girl Flash, from Jiangbei City, Senior.”

Yuehua smiled softly. “Jiangbei City in Inner Plains Province is known for its tea and beautiful river views.”

For some reason, Yuehua felt a unique fondness for Flash—perhaps her vibrant energy reminded her of someone.

Little Yue has that same energy, Yuehua thought, glancing at Polaris, who was whispering with Jin Yan behind Abyss.

Abyss stepped forward next, saying curtly, “I’m Magical Girl Abyss.”

She knows who I am; no need for more, Abyss thought, knowing her mentor needed no lengthy introduction.

Finally, Polaris and Jin Yan, caught up in debating whether Corona or Yuehua was stronger, didn’t realize it was their turn.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Polaris looked up to see Yuehua watching them.

Quickly covering Jin Yan’s mouth to stop her from blurting out their debate, Polaris addressed Yuehua’s gentle smile:

“I’m Polaris, and this is Jin Yan. We’re both local magical girls from Tongzhou City.”

With that, the magical girls’ introductions concluded.