Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Chapter 51: Gemstone Scepter

"You noticed?"

Hong Siyu raised an eyebrow, but then showed a slightly troubled expression. "But this isn’t something I can just tell you. If Veronica doesn’t approve, I shouldn’t reveal it on my own."

"You can’t tell us?"

Xia Liang grew even more curious. "Why do you need Junior’s approval?"

"Huh? Junior—hahahaha!"

Hearing Xia Liang’s choice of words, Hong Siyu burst into laughter. "That’s an interesting nickname! You actually call her Junior?"

Xia Liang tilted her head in mild confusion, clearly not understanding what was so funny.

But she was quick-witted and immediately recognized an opportunity. She scooted forward slightly, putting on a pitiful expression. "Junior is so kind, she definitely wouldn’t mind. Come on, big sis, just tell us?"

"That’s cheating! You can’t just act cute like that!"

Hong Siyu wavered for a moment, almost blurting it out on the spot, but she held firm. "Alright, alright! I could tell you! But you have to admit—what I know is actually useful, right? Veronica wouldn’t tell you these things herself. She’s afraid you’ll get too ambitious and aim too high."

That last sentence was clearly directed at Lin Xiaolu, a jab at their earlier conversation where she was compared unfavorably to Veronica.

"Ugh…"

Lin Xiaolu’s curiosity was hooked, and being singled out made her even more reluctant to back down.

She wanted to stay stubborn, but if what Hong Siyu was about to say was connected to Veronica, she couldn’t just brush it off.

"Fine, I’ll admit it’s useful."

After a long pause, she reluctantly puffed out her cheeks. "So, I admitted it. Now will you talk?"

"Heh, that’s more like it!"

Finally getting Lin Xiaolu to acknowledge her, Hong Siyu grinned triumphantly and began, "Since you asked so nicely, I’ll give you a little lesson."

"First question—have you ever noticed your own code names?"

"Code names?" Lin Xiaolu was confused by the sudden change in topic. "Mine is White Rose."

"And you, little one?" Hong Siyu nodded, then turned to Xia Liang.

"My name is Xia Liang."

"Alright, and your code name?"

"My code name is Little Viola. It probably refers to the viola flower, or maybe the mimosa flower," Xia Liang answered, tapping her chin.

"Now, I can tell you that my code name was Morning Glory. And as you already know, Veronica’s code name is, well, Veronica. Notice the pattern?"

"They’re all flowers?"

"They’re all flowers."

The two Magical Girls answered one after the other.

"That’s right! Magical Girls’ code names are always based on flowers."

Hong Siyu lifted her chin proudly, as if she had personally discovered this fact. "When you become a Magical Girl, your code name appears in your mind along with the awakening of your Heartstone Seed. It’s proof of your newfound power. You can think of it as your wish helping your Heartstone Seed bloom into a flower."

"But, of course, there are always exceptions."

"Even though most Magical Girls have flower-based code names, some don’t follow this pattern."

"Why? Do their Heartstone Seeds not generate a code name?" Lin Xiaolu asked skeptically.

"No, that’s not the reason."

Hong Siyu shook her head. "But to explain it properly, I’ll have to tell you a story."

"You can’t just say it outright?" Lin Xiaolu frowned at her cryptic attitude.

"Nope! I have to tell the story first!" Hong Siyu insisted.

"Why do you have to add a story here?"

"You’ll regret not listening!"

"Alright, alright, Xiaolu."

Xia Liang, stuck in the middle, took on the role of peacemaker. "We’re almost at lunchtime anyway. Might as well listen, right?"

Her words managed to calm Lin Xiaolu down.

"Fine… but keep it short."

Lin Xiaolu wasn’t one to respond well to force, but since Xia Liang had asked nicely, she begrudgingly agreed.

"Alright, alright."

Hong Siyu gave a half-hearted reply, then adjusted her posture and voice, launching into her tale in a dramatic, storytelling tone.

"The reason the Magic Kingdom is called a kingdom is because it truly is one—a nation, just like those described in history books."

"And as a kingdom, it naturally has a ruler. In the Magic Kingdom, the one who reigns over all is Her Majesty, the Queen of the Rose Palace."

"Her Majesty possesses a stunning, jewel-encrusted scepter. At the very top of the scepter are five magnificent gemstones—her most treasured possessions."

"One day, the Queen decided to bestow these gemstones upon the Magical Girls she admired and trusted the most, granting them not only her authority but also a fraction of her own power."

"Their authority came in the form of control over the Five Grand Courts—each gemstone was tied to one of these ruling bodies. Their power made them beings of unparalleled influence within the kingdom."

"And with this, the Magical Girls who received these gemstones had their code names changed—not to flowers, but to the names of the jewels they were given."

"This is why they became known as the Jewel Scepters—the pinnacle of Magical Girl power and authority in the Magic Kingdom."

"The Investigation Bureau, the organization we’re talking about, is directly under the command of one of the Jewel Scepters—the Magical Girl who was given the Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye gemstone. Her code name is Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye."

"Using the Queen’s gemstones as code names, huh…"

Lin Xiaolu’s eyes sparkled. "That sounds so grand!"

Even Xia Liang was nodding in admiration.

"Right?"

Hong Siyu shrugged, a nostalgic look crossing her face. "Every Magical Girl reacts the same way when they first hear this story. I was no different back then."

"Well… except for your Senior Veronica. When she heard this story, she had a completely blank face, like she was frozen solid."

At that, Lin Xiaolu, who had been enthralled by the idea of gemstone code names, immediately straightened up, trying to act calm and unfazed.

"So, this Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye—she’s the real head of the Investigation Bureau? That means she’s technically your boss at the Countermeasure Bureau too?" Xia Liang asked, processing the information.

"You really like asking the tough questions, huh?" Hong Siyu sighed. "But yeah, if you put it that way, Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye is our superior."

"What about the Court of Magic?" Xia Liang pressed further.

"The Court of Magic… that authority was never delegated. It still belongs to the Queen and the Royal Court."

Hong Siyu rubbed her chin, considering. "So, in a way, the Queen could also be considered our direct superior?"

"Wow, giving yourself quite the promotion there," Lin Xiaolu muttered dryly.

"You too?! I told you to stop saying things that make you less cute!" Hong Siyu groaned.

After the discussion about the Jewel Scepters, the conversation shifted to the current state of the Magic Kingdom. By the time noon arrived, Hong Siyu stretched and stood up.

"Alright—what’s for lunch? Ordering takeout?"

"There are leftovers in the fridge from yesterday. The housekeeper made them," Xia Liang answered from her spot on the couch.

"Leftovers?"

Hong Siyu waved a dismissive hand. "No need! Since I’m here, let me show off my single-woman survival skills! What ingredients do you have?"

"Um… if you’d prefer fresh food, I do know how to cook a little."

Xia Liang straightened up warily, offering a polite smile. "It won’t be amazing, but it’s edible."

"Making kids cook for themselves is unacceptable! I’ll show you what a real adult can do!" Hong Siyu declared boldly.

"More like middle-aged woman at this point," Lin Xiaolu muttered.

"You brat! If you keep saying things like that, I will cry!"

"Okay, okay, just don’t come too close!"

Amidst the usual chaos, Hong Siyu ultimately took charge of the kitchen. As she rummaged through the fridge, Xia Liang and Lin Xiaolu watched her move around—her skills seemed decent, but they couldn’t shake a lingering sense of unease.

"This… should be fine, right?" Lin Xiaolu murmured.

"Haha… she did sound confident, so let’s just trust her?"

Xia Liang forced a smile—but as she watched Hong Siyu’s increasingly questionable seasoning choices, that smile slowly stiffened.

"…Right?"