Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Chapter 134: That Special Girl

At 15, a year older than before, Hong Siyu was a girl who liked to daydream a lot.

In fact, it was probably because she rarely interacted with others and spent most of her time immersed in her own world that she subconsciously indulged in fantasies.

Since a certain incident during her second year of junior high, one particular boy’s figure had started to frequently appear in her daydreams.

At first, he only appeared vaguely in the various scenarios her mind created, and Hong Siyu didn’t pay much attention to it. But as time went on, his image didn’t fade with time—on the contrary, it became more vivid.

Hong Siyu knew exactly why this was happening—because she had used that boy’s textbook.

At the time, she had still been in second year, but now, in third year, that boy’s old textbook had become the material she studied. Every time she opened the worn-out pages and read the handwriting he had left behind, something about his words would stir her thoughts.

That boy, Lin Yun, was handsome, cool in personality, and his handwriting was beautiful. It seemed like they would get along really well.

Such thoughts often popped into her mind, then expanded until they reached a point where she would flush with embarrassment at her own fantasies.

She couldn’t keep going like this. Hong Siyu told herself repeatedly, spending all her time thinking about a boy who didn’t even know her and who she would probably never see again, making her emotions fluctuate—wasn’t that completely uncharacteristic of a good student? If she kept going like this, she wouldn’t learn anymore, wouldn’t make friends, and would just get lost in daydreams—what kind of life was that?

She scolded herself and tried to hide that private textbook, resolving not to look at it anymore. However, this resolve lasted only a few weeks before her feelings got the better of her again, and she ended up pulling out the book.

After all, it was a ready-made study guide—such a waste not to reference it.

She carefully and secretly flipped through the textbook like a thief, trying to deceive herself into believing she wasn’t doing anything wrong.

What she never expected was that, despite having fantasized about many scenarios where she and Lin Yun might meet again, the reality of their reunion happened in a completely unexpected situation.

During the third year’s school cultural festival, their school was attacked by Ravagers.

Ravagers, whose origin was unknown, suddenly charged into the school and began indiscriminate attacks on the people who had been enjoying the festive atmosphere, throwing the crowd into chaos.

When Hong Siyu saw the Ravager’s large mouth open right in front of her, its sharp fangs clearly visible, she almost froze in place, forgetting to even run.

But just as she stood there, a hand suddenly reached out from somewhere and grabbed her sleeve.

"Don’t just stand there, run!"

A voice, somewhat familiar but also strange, rang in her ears. Before she could process it, she was pulled along by the hand, and without thinking, she started running. She followed the person into an empty classroom in the teaching building.

As the screams from outside slowly faded, and the immediate danger seemed to pass, she looked at the boy in front of her and, uncontrollably, blurted out the name in her heart:

—"Lin Yun?"

"You know me?"

The boy, who had been leaning against the door of the classroom, looked down in surprise at her.

"Ah, no, I..."

Hong Siyu, faced with his confused expression, didn’t know how to explain herself.

Should she tell him they had exchanged a few words in school once? Would he think she was stalking him?

Or should she tell him the truth—that she had secretly kept his textbook after he had left it behind before he graduated? That would probably sound even more suspicious, right?

"I used to… see you a lot in the library."

After thinking for a long while, she stammered out an answer and then tried to change the subject. "Didn’t you graduate? Why are you suddenly back?"

"The cultural festival. I was invited back to have a look."

Lin Yun casually explained why he was there, then turned his gaze back to the hallway outside. "Just didn’t expect to run into something like this right after I got back."

"Something like this?"

"The Ravagers."

"Uh, Lin Yun... aren’t you scared?"

"Do I look scared?" he replied.

"Well, more like... you look like this happens all the time for you."

"...I’m just calmer than most."

Lin Yun leaned against the classroom door, took a quick glance outside, then turned back to Hong Siyu. "I’m leaving now. Remember, if you don’t want to die, lock the doors and windows in a confined space and stay quiet. If the Ravagers test the doors and windows, try to hide in a cabinet or under a desk to cover your scent."

"Huh?"

Hong Siyu couldn’t help but ask in surprise, "Leave? Now? Why?"

"...Sitting here waiting to die isn’t an option," Lin Yun said, pausing slightly before continuing with a calm expression, "I’m going to see if I can get out and save a couple of people."

"No, no, no! You’ll die!"

As soon as he moved to open the door, Hong Siyu quickly rushed up to him and pressed against the door. "Don’t do anything stupid, the Ravagers will kill you if you go out now!"

"I’ve been watching. The Ravager went somewhere else," Lin Yun said calmly. "It’s fine. As long as I move fast enough, I can find somewhere to hide if I get spotted."

"Huh?" Hong Siyu was astonished. "What do you mean? You really plan to go out?"

She realized, for the first time, that Lin Yun wasn’t quite who she had imagined him to be. She had always thought he was quiet and reserved, just like her. Despite rumors about him being a heartbreaker who had cheated, she had always believed that he was different—someone who wouldn’t play with people’s emotions.

But now, the side of Lin Yun she saw was shattering all of her previous assumptions.

She felt like she’d been lost in her own daydreams all along, never truly understanding him. She had just realized this when the loud roar of the Ravager outside interrupted her thoughts.

—"Roar!"

The door suddenly shook violently, and a razor-sharp claw pierced through the classroom door, reaching right in front of them.

Hong Siyu was nearly about to scream, but she clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. She looked at Lin Yun for help.

Lin Yun didn’t say a word. He just made a shushing gesture and dodged the claw reaching into the classroom, pressing himself closely against the door again, watching through the crack.

His reckless actions made Hong Siyu’s heart race.

They both stood there in an eerie silence, Lin Yun frowning and observing the situation outside, while Hong Siyu stood behind him, waiting for the Ravager’s next move. The atmosphere was unnervingly still.

The fragile balance couldn’t last long, and sure enough, the door was struck again.

Bang!

The Ravager tore a hole in the door once more.

"Roar!"

The Ravager had clearly confirmed there were people inside.

"W-what should we do?!" Hong Siyu stumbled back, panic in her voice. "It’s coming in!"

"Yeah, it’s coming in," Lin Yun nodded calmly.

"We’re not going to just sit here and repeat what I said, right?" Hong Siyu’s eyes were wide with disbelief. "We’re going to die if we keep waiting like this!"

"It’s fine. We won’t die."

"Huh? Do you have a plan?"

"I… don’t have a plan, but someone will come to stop it."

"Who?" Hong Siyu asked, hopeful.

"The Magical Girl," Lin Yun said with certainty.

The classroom fell into silence. Even as the Ravager almost tore the door off its hinges and its claws reached through, the eerie quietness didn’t break.

"Are you joking, Senior?" Hong Siyu tried to sound calm, though her voice wavered. "Relying on a Magical Girl? That kind of imaginary thing?"

"Is that so strange?" Lin Yun glanced at her. "Where there are Ravagers, there are Magical Girls. Isn’t that just how it works?"

"That’s not how it works!" Hong Siyu pointed at the Ravager at the door, her finger trembling like a leaf. "This isn’t an anime! It’s going to get in here, can you stop joking?!"

"It’s fine. The Magical Girl will come."

"Why are you so weirdly confident?"

"I’ll be right back. I need to step outside for a moment." Without answering her question, Lin Yun went to the window and opened it.

"Huh?" Seeing his strange behavior, Hong Siyu felt her mind struggle to keep up with what was happening. "Wait, this is the fifth floor! Where are you going?"

"I’ll be outside for a moment." Lin Yun pointed to the window.

"...Oh."

At that moment, Hong Siyu’s first thought was that he was going to jump.

Since he had brought her into the classroom, he had been spouting nonsense. Surely, the stress from the Ravager attack had driven him to the brink, causing him to behave irrationally.

She almost felt a sense of strange camaraderie with him. Maybe she should join him? In a moment of madness, Hong Siyu thought, why not, at least she’d die with someone she might have liked.

But just as she made up her mind, when she turned to tell him, she saw that Lin Yun was already gone.

He had jumped.

Hong Siyu stood frozen, staring at the open window. All the emotions she had prepared to show vanished, leaving her expression frozen in place.

At that very moment, the battered classroom door couldn’t hold up any longer. It broke apart, shattering into pieces. The Ravager’s dark body poked through the door, its wide eyes fixed on Hong Siyu.

—"Roar!"

It seemed thrilled to have found its prey.

Losing her only companion in the classroom, Hong Siyu felt her ability to scream leave her. She could only slowly retreat, keeping her eyes locked on the Ravager, taking slow steps backward. When she reached the window, the cold wind rushing in reminded her that there was no escape.

Now, what was happening?

Her gaze grew distant, and she slumped against the window, feeling powerless.

Her once-in-a-lifetime cultural festival had been ruined by a Ravager attack. Even though there were so many people around, the Ravager had singled her out, chasing her all the way into the classroom.

She had finally met the boy she liked, only for him to lose his mind and jump out of the window.

"Seriously, what is this?"

She couldn’t help but voice her thoughts, trembling with her words. "Why am I so unlucky?"

They say that after the worst comes the best, but her life had been nothing but bad luck, and now she was about to die at the hands of a Ravager. She had so many things she wanted to do—wasn’t that all hopeless now?

And now, there was no other way out.

In this confined space, she couldn’t run from the Ravager. It was clear that the monster wouldn’t spare her just because she begged.

"Is the Magical Girl here?"

Finally, she raised her head, half in resignation, and shouted into the void. As soon as she spoke, she couldn’t help but laugh at herself. "How did I start saying such stupid things?"

She watched the Ravager advance, its mouth opening wide, and she could already smell the foul stench coming from it.

But this time, no one would pull her away and lead her to safety.

"...Whatever, just end it already."

She closed her eyes with resignation. "People like me will never meet a Magical Girl."

—"Maybe not."

A calm, crisp voice suddenly came from behind her.

The voice was so lively and clear, like a nightingale’s song, fresh and delicate. Just hearing it made Hong Siyu feel a sense of clarity.

Then, she felt blue light swirl from the side of her face, and a small figure passed by her.

"Roar!"

The suddenly appearing figure startled the Ravager.

It seemed to sense the threat posed by the petite figure, so as soon as it leaped forward, it raised its claw and ruthlessly attacked.

But in the glow of the deep blue light, the small figure remained unmoved.

"Masterpiece, the third, Piercing Sarisha."

The crisp voice uttered a short phrase, and then a glowing blue spear shot out from her hand, piercing the Ravager’s chest with perfect precision. The force of the blow sent the Ravager flying backward.

Bang!

In an instant, the battle was over. The massive, fierce Ravager, facing the petite girl, was completely powerless, instantly killed in a single strike.

The girl landed lightly in front of Hong Siyu.

"It’s all right now."

She turned around with a graceful motion, her navy dress fluttering as if it were a blooming Veronica flower. The large bonnet on her head swayed with the movement, giving her a whimsical, graceful air. Her delicate, cute face turned slightly toward Hong Siyu, her expression calm, yet warm:

—"Because the Magical Girl has arrived."