Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Chapter 76: The Time of Eliminating Traitors and Rebellion

In the Midday of Midsummer, in the Living Room with Air Conditioning

Lin Xiaolu, after a long time in a state of spiritual resonance, slowly returned to consciousness. Leaning against the sofa, she absentmindedly picked up her phone.

She casually scrolled through some boring messages on social media, chuckling a few times at a couple of short videos. But then, something felt off. She set her phone down and said, puzzled, "Has Moko been out for too long?"

"It's fine, it has its own things to do," Xia Liang lazily leaned back on the sofa, stretching her voice, "Didn’t she say earlier that there was progress in finding a potential magical girl?"

"But it's been way too long. Normally, she goes out for a while around lunchtime, but today it’s already almost 3 PM."

Propping up her chin, Lin Xiaolu thought for a moment. After a while, she looked up and abruptly made a judgment, "Something's fishy."

"What's fishy?" Xia Liang was used to Lin Xiaolu’s sudden shifts in thought, so she lazily asked.

"Moko is hiding something from us." Lin Xiaolu said firmly.

"Fairies need their own private space, you know? But I didn't expect that, Xiaolu. You argue with Moko all the time, and yet you actually care about her?" Xia Liang’s voice was low and teasing.

Lin Xiaolu rolled her eyes and slapped the cushion next to her. "Care? I'm suspicious!"

"Okay, okay." Xia Liang leaned forward, stretching and yawning, "So, if you're suspicious, do you want to go check it out?"

"We can't, can we? Isn't it almost time for afternoon training?"

"Just ask for leave from your junior." Xia Liang lazily suggested.

"How can we disturb Veronica just for this?"

"Well, if you put it like that..."

Xia Liang shrugged and pulled out her phone, typing a message in their group chat. "Done, I sent it!"

"Huh? I just told you not to do that, and you went ahead and did it? Hurry up and retract it!" Lin Xiaolu raised her eyebrows and leaned forward, reaching for Xia Liang's phone.

"Heh, no way, no way, it's time to be honest." Xia Liang raised her phone, using her height and arm reach to dodge Lin Xiaolu’s attempt to grab it, smiling mischievously. After some playful back-and-forth, she suddenly felt her phone vibrate. She blinked, lowered the phone, and said, "...Oh, we got a reply?"

Lin Xiaolu, frustrated from the failed attempt to snatch the phone, froze for a second. "A reply? That fast?"

"Yup, a quick reply."

Xia Liang swiped through the message, imitating Veronica’s cool and calm tone as she read aloud: "She said, 'You can go, but remember to come back before night. If there’s news of a potential candidate, I’ll come over later.'"

After reading the message, Xia Liang turned the screen toward Lin Xiaolu. "That’s pretty much it. She seems to agree?"

Lin Xiaolu didn't respond right away. Instead, she pulled out her own phone and carefully read Veronica’s message. After confirming it matched Xia Liang’s version, she found a string of additional information: "What's this? An address?"

"Xihe Road and Yuyun Road intersection in Lixing District...150 meters west..."

Xia Liang immediately read it aloud. "Wait, this is near Fangting City’s First Orphanage?"

"Is this where Moko is?" Lin Xiaolu asked.

"It seems so, but how does Junior know where Moko is?" Xia Liang asked, slightly confused.

Lin Xiaolu didn’t think it was odd. She arrogantly said, "Someone as powerful as her must have many more tricks up her sleeve that she hasn’t shown. Don’t limit her abilities with your narrow perspective."

If you just looked at her expression, without listening to what she said, you’d think she was proud of herself.

"Ha... I guess so. Junior probably had it all prepared." Xia Liang chuckled in response to Lin Xiaolu’s fangirl statement.

The two reached an understanding about the odd situation and quickly moved on from the topic. Soon, Lin Xiaolu discovered another suspicious detail.

"Speaking of orphanages, doesn’t that mean there are a lot of kids there?"

"You’re calling them 'kids,' but they might not be any younger than us," Xia Liang corrected her, sighing. "But it is strange, you’re right. Let’s head out now. Maybe we can catch Moko off guard."

"But... training..." Lin Xiaolu hesitated.

Since she couldn't make up her mind, Xia Liang raised her finger and proposed, "How about I go alone and tell you what happens?"

"You—ah! You really are!"

That was the final straw, and Lin Xiaolu couldn’t sit still any longer. Her curiosity won out over her indecision. She stood up suddenly, shouting, "I can’t take it anymore! Let’s go, who’s scared?!"

It was summer break, and since Veronica had cleared their schedule, there was nothing to stop them from heading out.

After changing into casual clothes, the two took the light rail to Lixing District.

Fangting City First Orphanage was located on the edge of Lixing District, near the outskirts of the city. Fortunately, the transportation was convenient, so it didn’t take long to get there.

Walking through the quiet station, Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang strolled along an old street, glancing around and taking in the sights.

Lixing District was on the far east of Fangting City, one of the first administrative areas, so the infrastructure was older. The roads and buildings were aged, and as the city grew westward, it became known as the "old district." Now, it was quieter with fewer people and less traffic.

Since it was a weekday afternoon, they felt the area was especially empty.

Not far ahead was their destination—Fangting City First Orphanage. Being a large building that housed many people, the surrounding facilities helped fill the otherwise lonely atmosphere.

After walking a few more minutes, they spotted the orphanage’s building and wall. Confirming the location, they hurried, hoping to catch Moko by surprise.

However, as they approached the orphanage, their plans were thwarted.

They found an invisible wall blocking their way.

Feeling around and examining it closely, Xia Liang realized the obstacle wasn’t truly "invisible," just hard to see. With her keen senses, she could detect the magic flowing through the structure—clearly, this was a magical barrier.

"Xiaolu."

Xia Liang’s expression grew serious as her usual smile faded. "This situation... it’s not what we expected."

Lin Xiaolu reached out and touched the transparent wall, and a bad memory resurfaced. Her brow furrowed in worry, "Is this... a magical barrier?"

They were no longer beginners, and they understood the basics of magical barriers. And in this world, those capable of using magic were rare. Either they were magic users from the material world or magical girls who had reached Leaf-tier or above. For either of those types to appear around the orphanage and set up a magical barrier—it was highly unusual.

"Let’s notify Veronica," Lin Xiaolu said, remembering how Veronica had emphasized contacting her whenever they encountered something beyond their capabilities. Though Lin Xiaolu didn’t understand why Veronica was so overprotective, she followed her advice nonetheless.

However, after a long wait, Lin Xiaolu’s phone call went unanswered, and all she received was a voicemail notification.

"No one’s answering?" Lin Xiaolu asked, confused.

"Leave a message in the group chat. Let’s try to break the barrier with magic," Xia Liang suggested, quickly making a decision. "If we wait for Junior to answer, Moko might be in danger."

Realizing the urgency of the situation, Lin Xiaolu reluctantly typed a quick message in their group chat, then pulled out her Heartstone Seed and transformed into a magical girl.

After both of them had transformed, they used their magical threads to bombard the barrier, trying to break it with force. Though the barrier shook, it didn’t break.

After several failed attempts and realizing their magic was depleting, they paused.

Lin Xiaolu’s frustration showed clearly, and Xia Liang, though not successful either, appeared thoughtful. "Maybe we can approach this differently."

"What do you mean? Do you have a plan?" Lin Xiaolu asked, confused.

"Just watch," Xia Liang said mysteriously, and raised her magic wand. "Little Viola, Magic Construct Manifest."

Her wand transformed into a magic nebula, which then coalesced into a small vanity mirror, her magical construct—Guiding Departure.

Lin Xiaolu, recognizing the construct, asked, "What’s the mirror for?"

"Don’t ask so much. Just watch." Xia Liang grinned, not offering further explanation. She began experimenting, making several smaller mirrors. One of them, the size of a person, she pressed against the magical barrier.

"One of Guiding Departure’s abilities is to transfer magic across mirrors," Xia Liang explained. "Since a magical barrier is essentially magic structured into a specific form, my guess is that... magic will flow to the other side."

Lin Xiaolu looked at the second mirror, which now glowed faintly as magic flowed through it. It was a sign that magic was being transferred from the barrier. Eventually, they noticed a gap in the barrier, just big enough to pass through.

"Well, that worked," Xia Liang said with a satisfied grin.

Inside the barrier, the black-robed man, who had been planning to deal with Moko, turned in surprise. He quickly adjusted his attitude, "Hah, so you’re using some weird tricks."

When he saw the magical girls, his anger turned into a calm, eerie confidence.

"Three magical girls, one fairy... hmm, just one more to go, huh? Those nuisances still have some use."

The battle that followed quickly escalated. The magical girls faced off against the black-robed man, and his true form began to emerge. What they had thought was a human was actually a Ravager, a hideous, monstrous creature.