Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Chapter 35: Train Incident

"Mr. Lin Yun, an employee of the Countermeasure Bureau. Compared to ordinary civilians, he's already an exceptional individual. Some, even as mere mortals, have grasped magical powers. But at this level of strength, in the eyes of The Kingdom, it's no different from an ant trying to shake a tree."

"The Egg-stage Ravagers that require several, sometimes even a dozen of us, working together with equipment to barely subdue—those are nothing more than the most common prey for Magical Girls."

"We sacrifice so much, yet in the end, we are nothing more than tools standing between The Kingdom and the Material World. Clearing away the mundane obstacles that might hinder a Magical Girl's operations, swaying between various forces, struggling to appease the public—that is the true reality, the true role of the Countermeasure Bureau."

"We are merely The Kingdom's gloves. And the protection that gloves provide is painfully fragile."

"So, I cannot promise you that we have the ability to protect your daughter. I can only hope that you believe me when I say I will do everything I can to help her and her companions avoid any possible dangers."

"I understand how you feel."

Mors' words lingered in Lin Yun's mind.

Even though the conversation afterward was mostly minor details, in the days that followed, he still found himself thinking back to it from time to time.

A simple conversation wasn’t enough for him to discern Mors' stance and intentions, but the information she provided was something he couldn't ignore. Not just about The Kingdom and "Claw Mark," but also about her—her own past.

That single sentence brought countless thoughts to Lin Yun's mind—thoughts of the present and thoughts of the future.

Mors had said that when the opportunity arose, she would pass along the information she had on Claw Mark to Lin Xiaolu.

All she asked in return was mutual secrecy—Lin Yun was not to disclose her views on Claw Mark and the Countermeasure Bureau, and she would not reveal to Lin Xiaolu that they had spoken.

"Miss White Rose doesn't seem to know about her mother yet. As part of our mutual secrecy, we haven’t told her either. You may have your own plans, but in my opinion, you should tell her the truth as soon as possible."

Those were Mors' exact words:

"Children have to grow up eventually. And for a child who has become a Magical Girl, that growth may be faster than you expect."

A few days later, on the train, Lin Yun stared at his phone.

It was a message from Lin Xiaolu—short and simple, just three words: "Remember to come."

Leaning against the seat, he enjoyed the rare chance to actually sit down on the train. Feeling somewhat at ease, he replied with just one word: "Definitely."

Time had moved swiftly. Since the day he took his daughter to school and promised her the truth, he could feel that Lin Xiaolu’s attitude had softened—just a little.

She still wasn’t eager to talk to him. Most of their exchanges had been cold, filled with resistance and sharp words. But now, there were moments of calm, ordinary conversation. That tiny change in their relationship was, to him, already an invaluable experience.

And so, when the day of the parent-teacher meeting arrived, Lin Yun had prepared for it with absolute certainty.

Overtime at work? He switched shifts.

A dinner invitation from colleagues? He rescheduled.

Requests from clients? He delegated everything in advance.

Every work-related matter had been set aside. Nothing would stop him from attending.

Now, he was already on the train to Lin Xiaolu’s school, well ahead of time.

At some point, a light rain had begun to fall outside the window. Raindrops streaked down the glass, leaving delicate trails. Holding onto a rare sense of excitement, Lin Yun leaned back in his seat, quietly awaiting his destination.

To make sure he had no extra burdens today, he had wrapped up his work in advance, but the long hours of exhaustion were catching up to him. Sitting for a while, he felt drowsiness creeping in, his eyelids growing heavy.

He forced himself to stay awake, fighting the urge to doze off—he couldn't afford to miss his stop.

Just as he was battling against sleep, a sharp scream jolted him awake.

—"Ah!"

The sudden cry shocked him into alertness.

The next moment, the entire train lurched violently.

Lin Yun instinctively grabbed the handrail beside him, preventing himself from being thrown off his seat. But in his field of vision, several passengers were flung backward, tumbling chaotically down the length of the train.

Screams filled the air. The lights flickered wildly. The chaotic scene made him squint in discomfort.

The train was still in motion. He first glanced out the window behind him but saw nothing unusual. Struggling to stand, he grasped the opposite handrail and pressed his face to the window, looking in the direction of the impact—

A massive, beast-like Ravager was clinging to the train.

Its claws were pierced through the body of a passenger. Blood gushed from the wound in the person's abdomen. Their head hung limply, unmoving. They were almost certainly dead.

"Sh*t. Of all times, now?"

Lin Yun cursed under his breath, but the vibration at his waist pulled his focus back.

He pulled out his phone and saw the screen flashing—Veronica's phone was ringing. The caller ID read: "White Rose."

Scanning his surroundings, he saw passengers sprawled on the floor, moaning in pain. Others, unscathed but terrified, were curled up in their seats.

His heart tensed—he couldn't transform here.

Ignoring the call, he staggered forward through the shaking train car, feeling along the wall until his fingers found an emergency hammer.

Gripping it tightly, he clenched his jaw, braced himself, and swung it hard at the window.

At first, the other passengers didn't understand what he was doing. When they realized, they started shouting:

"Stop that!"

"Are you crazy?"

"You trying to kill yourself?"

But Lin Yun ignored them, striking the window again and again until cracks formed at the corners of the glass. He methodically shattered each of the four corners before the entire window gave way.

Shards of glass flew everywhere. A few cut his face, drawing thin streaks of blood.

Shifting from a kneeling position to standing on the seat, he looked out at the rapidly passing scenery, gripping his still-vibrating phone. He took a deep breath, his expression firming.

Then, amidst the gasps and screams of the passengers, he leapt out of the train.

The elevated track wasn’t too high off the ground, but it was enough that he had only moments before impact. Flung by the train's momentum, he tumbled through the air.

His hand clutched his Heartstone Flower, and light flared.

Brilliant blue magic burst forth.

From within the dazzling glow, Veronica emerged.

From the instant she materialized, magic surged behind her, propelling her forward in pursuit of the train.

She pulled out her now-silent phone and redialed. A moment later, the call connected.

—"Veronica! Moko said there's a Ravager attack on Line Four!"

Lin Xiaolu's voice was rushed. "I'm still at school, it'll take me a while to get there, but I'll hurry! I'll send you the exact location soon, and Xia Liang—"

"No need."

Veronica cut her off.

"Why not?" Lin Xiaolu asked.

"Isn't today the parent-teacher meeting at your school?"

"But—"

"This Ravager is a Caterpillar. Stay away."

Veronica spoke quickly, her voice steady despite the wind roaring around her.

"I'm close. I can already see it. No doubt about it—if you come, it'll be dangerous. Leave this to me."

"So focus on your own responsibilities. Don’t get distracted. If your dad arrives at the school and finds you missing, it'll be hard to explain, won't it?"

"…Mm." Lin Xiaolu hesitated.

"Then leave it to me. Don't worry—I'm strong."

With that, Veronica ended the call.

The glowing blue magic surged behind her. With a few rapid bursts, she caught up to the Ravager's train car in seconds.

It was tearing the train apart, dragging passengers from the wreckage into its gaping, fanged maw.

A young man was screaming, struggling desperately in its grip.

Then, suddenly, the Ravager's claws stopped.

It was as if an invisible force had locked them in place. The beast’s entire arm trembled, but it couldn't move an inch.

The man, gasping in terror, looked up—

Standing atop the train, a girl in a deep navy-blue dress glared down, her expression dark.

Wind whipped her blue hair beneath her beret.

Rain blurred the scene, but it couldn’t hide her murderous glare.

"Could you pick a better time to die, you dumb f***?!" she growled. "You're blocking my way to a parent-teacher meeting, you damn beast."