Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Book 2: Chapter 67: White Thistle and White Rose

Vol 2 Chapter 67 White Thistle and White Rose

Before she became a Magical Girl, Bai Ji—or rather, the girl named Qiu Yun—led an utterly unremarkable life.

An unremarkable face, an unremarkable figure, an unremarkable personality, and unremarkable talents. The only thing that couldn’t be called unremarkable was probably her mother, who left the family for good after a fight with her father, and her father, who rarely came home at night.

Still, as far as Qiu Yun was concerned, none of that had much of an impact. Her life went on. Even if her father was hardly ever around, he still sent her money for living expenses and tuition, and she could still attend school like normal.

At school, Qiu Yun was considered a top student. She worked hard and did well in her studies. She was obedient, too—so much so that her homeroom teacher appointed her as class president.

If nothing else had changed, Qiu Yun’s life would probably have continued on its ordinary track: study hard, get a decent job, and eventually leave behind her emotionally barren family thanks to her own efforts—maybe even find someone who truly loved her and start a happy new life.

At least, that was how she’d planned it.

Then one day, someone appeared in her apartment—where she was usually the only one. A strange woman had shown up with her father in tow. The woman lashed out at Qiu Yun, calling her the child of a homewrecker, a “b*stard,” and declared that she had no right to live there anymore, ordering her to get out.

It was only during that confrontation that Qiu Yun learned the truth: her parents had never even been married. She was the product of an affair.

Her father stood there silently the entire time. Only after the woman left did he slip her some money, sigh, and wave her off.

Qiu Yun tried calling her mother, but all she got was an automated message saying the number was no longer in service.

From that day on, she was forced out of her home.

She moved into a cramped, run-down rental. That man—her so-called "father"—still sent her some money, but it kept getting smaller and smaller. Eventually, it was barely enough for food, let alone tuition.

To stay in school, Qiu Yun started looking for part-time work. But she was too young to get anything decent. She ended up handing out flyers and tissues on the street. Struggling to make ends meet, her grades began to slip, and everything seemed to be falling apart.

That life went on for quite a while—until one day, while she was handing out flyers, she met a very unusual woman.

She was tall, beautiful, and had a unique air about her. A stuffed animal that looked like a raccoon sat on her shoulder, making her look completely out of place among the crowd.

Unlike most people who brushed her off, the woman actually took a flyer—and asked a question that felt like a hallucination to Qiu Yun.

—“Interested in becoming a Magical Girl?”

Maybe it was the numbness from her hardships, but Qiu Yun blurted out a ridiculously blunt question: “...Is there a salary?”

“Room and board included. Bonuses, too.”

And just like that, Qiu Yun got a new name: Bai Ji.

As it turned out, Bai Ji had a surprising talent for being a Magical Girl. Maybe not a genius, but definitely not average. And because this job had saved her from rock bottom, she studied magic even harder than she’d ever studied in school.

She deeply respected the woman who had recruited her—not just for rescuing her, but also for her strength as a Magical Girl. Bai Ji called her “Mentor.”

Respect turned into admiration. Admiration became aspiration.

To become someone as strong as her mentor, Bai Ji pushed herself harder than anyone else. Through discipline and relentless effort, she rose above her peers. During the certification test earlier that year, she ranked first overall—tenth in live combat and first in the written exam.

She believed all of that was thanks to her mentor’s guidance.

She believed it was her mentor’s skills that made the difference.

To Bai Ji, her mentor—Margaret—was the greatest Magical Girl in the world. No one could replace her in Bai Ji’s heart.

So, when Margaret said they were heading to Fangting City to “visit an old friend” and hinted that “a sparring match between youngsters” might happen, Bai Ji agreed without hesitation.

She knew who Margaret meant. The Magical Girl named Veronica was a big deal. Meeting her student meant Bai Ji had to represent their side properly.

At the same time, she hoped to outperform the opponent—to make her mentor proud.

Even if the opponent was a student of the Investigation Bureau’s Inspector, Bai Ji wouldn’t be intimidated. Even if the opponent was a newbie who had only been a Magical Girl for six months, Bai Ji wouldn’t underestimate her.

Especially when that opponent had the audacity to disrespect her mentor.

While Margaret and Veronica exchanged kind greetings, that short girl named White Rose had the nerve to barge in and yell, even throwing around words like “pervert.”

That blatant rudeness—almost contempt—stabbed at Bai Ji’s heart.

Out of respect, she couldn’t criticize or retaliate in public. That would only embarrass her mentor in front of the Inspector.

But that didn’t mean she was going to let it go.

Once they reached the Fangting City base, Bai Ji sought White Rose out and proposed a “private spar.” On the surface, it was just a duel—but really, she wanted to test the girl’s strength. And if the girl turned out to be weak? Then Bai Ji would give her a lesson she wouldn’t forget.

And sure enough, Bai Ji won.

The other girl clearly had no idea what “Tainting” even was. She thought once rituals and Magical Armor were off the table, it was just a raw power contest—so she walked right into a trap and got taken down instantly.

But at the same time, Bai Ji also lost.

Her mentor found out about the secret duel. Instead of praising her, Margaret sternly told her it was wrong—that exploiting an information gap and bending the rules violated the principle of fair competition. She told Bai Ji to apologize to the Fangting City squad.

Bai Ji didn’t understand. She didn’t get why her mentor was scolding her over this. But even though she was bitter about it, she still obeyed.

And now, in this very moment, she was watching her opponent use Tainting.

“Three days, I think?”

The moment she heard that, it was like something in Bai Ji’s mind snapped.

What shocked her wasn’t anger or humiliation—it was something uglier.

Jealousy.

Why did someone who had insulted her mentor now enjoy her favor—and even get taught a secret technique?

Why was someone with such a rotten attitude being treated like a princess by everyone around her? The Inspector from Fangting doted on her like a daughter—anyone could see it.

Why did a girl like that get such absurd talent? Bai Ji had poured blood, sweat, and tears into mastering Tainting—and she learned it in just three days?

Bai Ji’s mind was spinning with doubts, but she couldn’t voice any of them. Her jealousy had completely unbalanced her.

All she could do was unleash her Magical Armor—pointlessly, furiously—and pour out her magic. Spells, Tainting, Magical Armor—anything she could use, she used. She had only one goal: crush the girl she hated so much.

“Prose!”

She shouted the name of her Magical Armor. The pen in her hand sprayed out rows of Favored Runes like a printer gone mad, hurling attack spells in every direction.

She burned through her magic so fast that she started showing the same symptoms Xia Liang had before—dizziness, blurred vision. She gritted her teeth so hard she almost cracked a molar.

The barrage was so intense that Lin Xiaolu could barely keep up. She hadn’t fully mastered Tainting yet. All she could do was throw up a few symbolic blue flames to block some spells, then dodge the rest. But the attacks came too fast—she still took several hits.

Even so, she didn’t give up.

She kept repeating what Veronica told her before the battle.

“Let Veronica see who I am now…”

That one line felt like a spell in itself, clearing her mind completely.

It wasn’t about winning or losing. It wasn’t about anyone else.

Right now, all she wanted was to show the progress she’d made.

Even if her Ability Blooming hadn’t advanced one bit. Even if her Magical Armor hadn’t responded at all—she had worked hard. And that effort had produced real results.

She just wanted Veronica to see them.

Her improved flying let her dodge more effectively.

Her enhanced magic quality let her go toe-to-toe with a Leaf-tier without running dry.

Her Tainted flame could ignore—and even counter—an opponent’s Tainted shockwaves.

These were all real, tangible improvements.

As long as she could show them, and let Veronica see that she was trying, that she was growing—that would be enough.

...Was it really enough?

Suddenly, she asked herself.

Just getting this far… felt like something was still missing.

She didn’t know why, but she felt like she could do more.

It was just a hunch—but it was so clear, it was almost shouting at her: Now is the time.

And it felt both foreign and familiar.

The last time she felt like this was during the Moon Festival. The time before that was during the crisis at the orphanage. Back then, it was rage that pushed her beyond her limits.

But this time was different.

It wasn’t rage. It was the sheer, pure feeling—I can do this.

She had never believed this was her limit, even after all her Tainting practice.

Looking at the pale blue flame in her hands, she felt a voice inside her urging: Go further. Show more.

Could she Taint it again?

The idea startled even her.

During past lessons, Asou Madoka had discussed this with her. The conclusion: theoretically possible, but practically useless.

Tainting already strips away the shared traits of magic and personalizes it. Doing it again wouldn’t make it more personal—it would just undo it.

It was like multiplying a negative by a negative.

Madoka hadn’t figured out the exact mechanics. But the consensus was clear: double Tainting wastes energy and achieves nothing.

So why was her intuition telling her to try?

She quickly shrugged off the question. It was just a test—no harm in trying.

With that thought, she focused on the flame in her hand and applied the techniques she’d learned.

The fire-like magic began to calm down, and the flame gradually faded, leaving behind a glow of ordinary magic.

Of course, Bai Ji noticed.

What the hell is she doing?

That was Bai Ji’s first thought.

She’d tried double Tainting herself—everyone in the Bo’an City squad who’d learned it had. The result was always the same: it reverted to normal magic.

And now, her opponent was trying it mid-battle? Was she stupid? Or was this just her way of mocking Bai Ji?

Thoughts raced through her mind, but unlike Lin Xiaolu, Bai Ji didn’t lose focus. She raised her Magical Armor again, ready to finish this annoying fight.

Whatever that girl was thinking, it didn’t matter. She’d beat her down first, ask questions later.

With that resolve, she pointed her pen at Lin Xiaolu. Magic gathered at the tip—one final strike.

But then—something changed in her vision. No, on Lin Xiaolu.

The calm magic in her hand—once Tainted—began to fade.

Its light blue hue drained, like someone was sucking the color out of it.

Was it a trick of the light?

Before Bai Ji could be sure, the magic faded more—turning from pale blue to a blinding white.

No illusion. It was real.

Then, from that tiny spark in Lin Xiaolu’s hand, the white light suddenly exploded outward.

In that moment, it stole the gaze of everyone present.