Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Book 2: Chapter 52: Reasons for Fighting

Vol 2 Chapter 52: Reasons for Fighting

The cemetery in winter was even more desolate than usual. Without the greenery brought by plants, the only colors in sight were black, white, and gray. The few people walking among the graves wore clothes in dull shades—not quite mourning garb, but solemn enough to show their respect. Standing in such a place felt like stepping into an old, colorless photograph.

Among all the gravestones, one stood out ever so slightly.

It was made of the same gray-black stone, with the same modest decorations. On the surface, there was nothing particularly eye-catching about it. Even the offerings placed before it were sparse, suggesting that its owner hadn’t had many close connections in life. Nothing about the gifts or the gravestone’s design screamed for attention.

And yet, something about it was different.

If you asked a passerby in the cemetery what made that grave stand out, they might say: “the atmosphere.”

Many people have felt this before in life—a room that’s been lived in feels different from one that’s been empty for a long time. That subtle, intangible feeling is often enough to tell if a place has been occupied.

Among the older generation in Donghua Province, that feeling is sometimes called “presence.”

That grave radiated a different kind of presence. Just noticing it left a strange impression.

His hands hung at his sides, his face expressionless, eyes slightly downcast as he stared in silence.

The gray stone looked even colder in the winter wind, a layer of pale frost covering its surface. A cherry blossom crystal necklace hung from one corner, now encased in ice, making the scene feel especially bleak.

Because of that, Asou Madoka, dressed in a stylish trench coat, and Lin Yun, in casual wear, looked oddly out of place.

“Maybe we should’ve changed into something more appropriate before coming here?” Madoka murmured as she rubbed the back of her hand, sunglasses shading her eyes. Even though she wasn’t a local of Fangting City, she could feel the heavy atmosphere here.

“…The thought is what counts.”

Lin Yun’s words paused briefly, then became a soft sigh. “But thinking about it, even if she were here, she probably wouldn’t care about that. This is really just me trying to make myself feel better.”

After seeing the girls safely back to the base, Lin Yun had no reason to keep up his appearance as Veronica. And so, he returned to his true form.

Next to him, Madoka crouched down before the grave, staring ahead without a word.

They had barely exchanged a few sentences since getting out of the car, and even less once Lin Yun brought her to this spot.

He had no idea what Madoka was thinking—but silence seemed the right choice. Nineteen years ago, he might’ve tried to find something to say to ease the tension, but those days were long gone. As adults, sometimes silence speaks better than words.

“...So this is what it feels like,” Madoka finally said. “Seeing a friend’s grave. It doesn’t feel real.”

“What did you expect it to feel like?” Lin Yun asked.

“I thought I’d cry.”

Her gaze remained fixed ahead, her expression filled with quiet regret. “But standing here, I’m not as sad as I imagined. I just feel… a kind of vague sorrow, like there’s a veil over my emotions. I can’t even see them clearly myself.”

“It’s been a long time,” Lin Yun replied calmly. “And you haven’t seen her in a while either, right?”

“A long time… Maybe. Eight years? Nine? Anyway, not as long as since I last saw you.”

Madoka sighed. “When I was an examiner in the Magic Kingdom, she brought some newcomers from Fangting City to take the test. I didn’t expect that would be the last time I’d see her.”

“Did you keep in touch afterwards?” Lin Yun asked.

“At first, yeah. But over time… the common ground between us just faded away, and we barely talked one-on-one anymore.”

Madoka gave a light laugh. “She knew I wasn’t interested in her daily family life. I knew she didn’t care about the crap in my career. She became a full-time housewife. I focused on my singing career. We still thought of each other as sisters, still missed those days when we could talk about anything… but we just couldn’t understand each other anymore.”

“Funny how people are,” she continued. “Even when they wish to stay close, their hearts can still drift apart.”

“I thought about reaching out so many times,” Madoka murmured. “Meet up somewhere, catch up on life… but I kept thinking, ‘There’s still time,’ ‘No rush.’ Then one day, the Director called me in and told me: ‘Sakura is dead.’”

Lin Yun said nothing.

His right thumb sat in his pocket, the rest of his fingers tapping lightly on the fabric. His lips moved slightly, but no words came out.

Because he suddenly remembered—just a few months before Anya’s death, she had suggested to him: “Why don’t we get the old squad together for a reunion?”

At the time, he was buried in work, and hadn’t thought anything of it. He’d just replied, “Sure, we could do that,” and left it at that.

No rush. There would always be time.

That was what he had thought.

Now he understood why so many people in middle age turn to smoking—not out of addiction, but frustration they can’t express. He didn’t smoke, so he just stood there like a wooden stake.

“If someone else told me she died, my first reaction would’ve been, ‘You’re joking, right?’” Madoka’s tone was calm. “No one knew her strength better than we did. If it was just a Ravager… I can’t imagine any Ravager being a match for her.”

“She wasn’t transformed at the time? Or was it some illness? Whatever the case, she shouldn’t have been killed.”

“But the Director made it very clear—she wasn’t taken by accident… it was pure murder.”

Lin Yun clenched his fists.

Even though he’d heard that truth countless times, confirmed it to himself over and over… hearing it again still sent a tremor through his heart.

Two years ago, when he was consumed by vengeance after Anya’s death, someone had come to him. Someone who told him: “Think carefully about what you’re carrying. Don’t act recklessly.”

That person was the very “Director” Madoka had just mentioned—Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye.

“You said she told you not to attend the funeral, not to even come to Fangting City?” Lin Yun’s voice was hoarse. “Did she say why?”

“She did.”

Madoka replied plainly, “You know it was a baseless order. There’s no way I was going to follow it.”

“Why not?”

“Because if I came then, revenge would’ve been your only option.”

She turned her face to look at him. “If I hadn’t come back—or if both Su Shengzi and I hadn’t come back—you might’ve cooled down and weighed the consequences of revenge. But if we all showed up to the funeral, what would’ve happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“Imagine it: the old Fangting City Squad reuniting… one member murdered… everyone out for vengeance… and only one person no longer capable of fighting.”

Madoka rose from her crouch, lifting her heels a bit—maybe her legs had gone numb. “With your personality, would not going for revenge have even been an option?”

Lin Yun had no reply.

She was right. If things had played out that way, he wouldn’t have hesitated to return to battle.

“…And what would’ve been so bad about that?” he asked anyway. “I wouldn’t have felt pressured or forced. I wanted to do it anyway.”

“Really?”

Madoka challenged him. “Then what are you fighting for now?”

“I’m obviously fighting for—” Lin Yun suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

Because he understood her point.

Right now, he wasn’t fighting for revenge. The reason he picked up the Heartstone again… was to protect his child.

“The reason you fight matters,” Madoka said softly. “A different reason leads to a different way of fighting. You get that, right?”

“The Director’s thinking is this: the question of whether to fight must be answered by you alone. Only if we don’t interfere can you find your own reason to fight—a reason that’s truly yours.”

“And what if I decide—by myself—that I want revenge?” Lin Yun frowned.

“If that’s really your own choice, then no one will stop you.”

Madoka’s tone grew serious. “But I have to say this—I don’t want you dying alongside Anya. Neither does the Director. You used that move during the Moon Festival, didn’t you? Damaging your own Magical Armor just to boost your power? Keep doing that and you will die.”

“You're already facing battles this dangerous just to protect your child. If you find the real killer and choose revenge, how long do you think you’ll last? Honestly, friend, it might sound selfish, but no one wants to see that happen.”

“…I get it. I’ve known all of this for a long time.” Lin Yun let out a deep sigh. “Either way, first I have to make sure Lulu—no, all of them—can protect themselves. I won’t act until they’re ready.”

“Even then, it’s still not okay.”

Madoka glared at him. “You that eager to die? Don’t even know who the killer is and you’re already planning revenge? What, gonna storm Black Cinders Dawn’s headquarters and start a massacre?”

“You’re not okay with this or that, then what are you here for? Watching over me for our dear Director?”

“Need I remind you, I outrank you by half a tier? Candidate Inspector?”

“We already went over this—I’m your bodyguard, remember? Inspector-sama.”

Madoka smirked. “Besides, didn’t you say earlier that things have been rough lately, even after toppling ‘Moth’?”

“It’s been… a lot,” Lin Yun admitted with a sigh.

“Who’s the enemy?”

“You don’t know?”

“How would I? I just got here.”

“Didn’t you ask Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye? The Investigation Bureau has no records?”

“Records of what?” Madoka blinked innocently.

“Weren’t you the one bragging just now that you ‘knew the situation better than anyone’?”

Lin Yun stared. “That was just a nice-sounding line?”

“I do know the situation. I know Claw Mark sent someone. But who they sent? No idea.”

Madoka shrugged. “We’re here to exchange intel, right? So tell me.”

“…Forget it. I’ll take you to the Countermeasure Bureau later and show you the files. Then you’ll get it.”

“Sounds good. I haven’t been to the Fangting City Countermeasure Bureau in ages.”

“Funny, I swear you said not long ago that the Bureau was boring as h**l.”

“It is boring. That’s why you said we’d go later, right?”

Madoka curled her lips. “Coming straight to the Bureau every time I enter a city—it’s gotten old.”

“It’s not like this is a sightseeing trip.”

“Yeah yeah, I know.”

She waved it off, then suddenly rummaged through her purse and pulled out a square-shaped disc.

“What’s that?” Lin Yun asked.

“A CD. My latest album.” Madoka grinned.

“You’re taking out your own album here? Why?”

She waved it like it was obvious. “Isn’t it tradition here in Donghua Province to bring a gift to the dead?”

“…So?”

“This is my gift.” She winked.

“You’re seriously too full of yourself.”

Lin Yun facepalmed, hand on his hip. “Who brings a CD to a grave?”

“It’s not about me. If Anya were here, she’d love it.”

She placed the CD in front of the grave, made a formal gesture of respect, and bowed deeply. After a few silent seconds, she stood and smiled.

“She said it sounds great.”

“You’re such an idiot,” muttered the grieving friend.

Madoka didn’t reply. Not this time.

She just looked softly at the gravestone.

The gravestone didn’t respond. But in her thoughts… lingered their last conversation. 

“So you really didn’t listen to my new song?”

“I spent days recording the perfect version! Please, sis, just give it a listen, okay?”

“Mm… even if you say that, you sent me a string of weird letters. I don’t even know how to turn that into music.”

“That’s a web link!”

“You have to use a computer for that, right? Sounds complicated… Anyway, Lulu made something at kindergarten today. She learned how to fold paper cranes. Wanna see it? Turns out she’s got a real knack for crafts—probably the first one in class to finish.”

“Really? That sounds impressive. Send me a pic later. But my song! Don’t forget to listen to my song!”

“Okay, okay. Big star’s song, of course I’ll listen. I’ll have Yun do it once he’s back from work.”

“You so don’t sound like you actually mean it…”

“I really do intend to listen, okay?”

“Sigh… Fine. If you can’t handle a link, at least you know how to use a CD, right?”

“CD? Oh, you mean a disc? That’s fine, no problem. Wait—you’re already putting out a CD?”

“There’s still a bit to go before the full album, but it’s happening. At the latest, within two years. My songs have been doing well in sales. If things keep going, the album’s basically a sure thing.”

“Awesome, I’ll buy a copy when it’s out.”

“You don’t have to—I’ll give you one.”

“Love you, Madoka~ So touched!”

“Don’t use that lazy tone for something heartfelt. Makes it sound sadder…”

“Fine, fine. It’s just—I really don’t know much about music, or computers. But Madoka, even if you didn’t give me one, I’d still buy your album. I promise.”

“Deal?”

“Deal.”

“If you don’t buy it, I’ll personally show up at your house with the album.”

“Show up at my house? Hmm… Now I suddenly don’t want to buy it.”

“Hey!”