Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Book 2: Chapter 146: Follow-up Examination

Vol 2 Chapter 146: Follow-up Examination

"The examination is complete, all indicators are normal. Congratulations, young one. Your Heart Gem has nearly fully healed, and you can now use all your abilities normally."

Emerald's fingers danced across the holographic screen floating before her as she delivered this conclusion to Veronica: "Of course, I'd prefer you not activate Bloom here in my lab. Please test it at a training ground afterward, or I can help schedule an appointment for you."

Her words made Veronica pause in her motion to clasp her hands over her Heart Gem.

It had been one week since Veronica arrived in the magic nation and completed her treatment. To ensure the therapy achieved its intended results, Emerald had asked her to return to the Research Court for this final follow-up examination.

With this checkup completed, it confirmed Veronica's Heart Gem had fully recovered, meaning she wouldn't need to keep visiting Emerald's laboratory for further treatment.

Since Emerald didn't want her testing Bloom here, Veronica naturally had no intention of provoking her. She slowly sat up from the examination bed, steadied herself with one hand on the edge, then hopped down. Picking up her jacket from nearby, she gave it a shake before slipping it on. "Thank you."

For once, Veronica offered genuine gratitude to Emerald.

Though she still didn't understand what Emerald truly wanted from their arrangement, the fact remained that the older woman had provided substantial assistance thus far.

As the current Scepter of Gems—a position second only to the highest authority in the magic nation—Emerald had treated Veronica with remarkable friendliness, even deference. Given that level of courtesy, Veronica saw no reason to withhold her thanks.

Emerald reacted to Veronica's gratitude as if hearing something unbelievable, her perpetually sleepy eyes widening as she studied Veronica like some rare specimen. After a long pause, she simply reclined in her chair and gave a casual wave:

"Hearing thanks from you youngsters is rare indeed—I'll take it. But as I've told you before, we're grasshoppers tied to the same string now. Often when I help you, I'm helping myself too—it's not pure altruism."

"I know. You are the Scepter of Gems, after all."

Veronica fastened her jacket and smoothed out the wrinkles with two pats, speaking matter-of-factly: "That's not criticism, just factual observation—those who reach positions of power rarely make losing deals."

"Yes yes, I'm the Scepter of Gems. It's not like the title will grow legs and run away if people talk. You youngsters can say whatever you like."

Had this been their first meeting, Emerald might have taken offense at the description, but now she simply lounged in her chair, even yawning: "Anything else? If not, I'll see you out."

Anything else?

The question gave Veronica pause as she considered carefully.

Indeed, there was something she wanted—no, needed—to say. It concerned those words Mohe had spoken to her several nights ago: that something "potentially dangerous" might happen during this evaluation.

At the time it had sounded like mere riddles, so Veronica's first thought upon waking the next morning was to seek Mohe out for clarification. But disappointment awaited—Mohe's small dwelling stood empty.

Only then did Veronica realize they'd exchanged no contact information, neither through magic mirrors nor phones. Inquiries with the Marshland staff yielded nothing useful.

It was as if they'd merely crossed paths at life's intersection, exchanged words, then vanished from each other's sight upon looking back.

Yet while Mohe herself was gone, her "warning" grew increasingly unsettling in Veronica's mind.

Since that night, she'd repeatedly reviewed all their conversations, gradually noticing details she'd initially missed or deliberately ignored.

Pieced together, these details suggested Mohe's unwillingness to continue their confrontation—even leaving without farewell—itself served as commentary on her cryptic message.

This implied Mohe's words likely held truth, and that she herself probably played... not a benevolent role in whatever "danger" loomed.

Had it been mere rumor or jest, she wouldn't have adopted such an enigmatic attitude before vanishing the next day as if anticipating events.

If Mohe had been conveying this as law enforcement, abandoning a potential ally after one cryptic message made even less sense.

The opportunity to verify these suspicions now lay before Veronica.

A single question could unveil all answers.

Yet the words caught in her throat.

"What is it? Something too difficult to say?"

Emerald found Veronica's hesitation curious, craning her neck from her reclined position: "What? Lost two centimeters in height and want to blame me?"

"...I wasn't going to mention that."

Emerald's jab made Veronica glare, but the interruption did ease her tension somewhat.

She knew she couldn't turn away from truth now before her eyes.

Even unpleasant truths demanded confrontation—only through knowledge could change begin.

"We'll discuss height later. There's something else I need to ask."

Regaining composure, Veronica asked in perfectly neutral tones: "Chief, do you remember a Magical Girl codenamed 'Tulip'?"

She avoided mentioning Mohe directly—both because "Tulip" was more widely recognized, and because revealing Mohe's codename here felt unwise.

Facing Emerald, who might be considered half an ally, was one thing. But should word leave this lab, reaching the nation or even the royal court... Veronica trusted none of them.

Mohe had withheld truth; the royal court deserved no faith. Between these dilemmas, Veronica chose only to invoke Tulip's name.

Yet she already anticipated the answer she'd receive.

"Tulip? Ah... oh, you mean that daughter of Lycoris?"

Emerald mused the name lazily, seemingly oblivious to Veronica's inner turmoil: "What about her? You saw her recently?"

"...She was my comrade during military service. I visited the memorial cemetery recently and remembered her. Wanted to know how she's been." Veronica measured each word.

"Oh, just random curiosity? Makes sense—normally you wouldn't have seen her anyway."

Emerald resumed staring blankly at the ceiling:

"After all, that girl defected to the Claw Marks long ago."