Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Chapter 88: Signature

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“...Director Liu.”

Seeing that Liu Wenqin was starting to veer off-topic, Veronica had no choice but to interject. “This isn’t part of our scheduled discussion.”

“Oh, my apologies. It’s just my first time seeing a Magical Girl up close, so I got a little carried away.”

Liu Wenqin stopped herself, offering an apologetic smile. “I’ve already asked everything I wanted to. Let’s get back to the main topic.”

Suppressing her excess enthusiasm, she flipped through a stack of documents on her desk. After a moment, the elderly director pulled out a set of neatly bound forms—over a dozen pages—and handed them to Veronica.

With a hint of curiosity, Veronica accepted the stack and skimmed through it. That’s when she realized—these were Bai Jingxuan’s medical records, along with various official documents and certifications from before she was admitted to the orphanage.

The files provided a detailed and formal account of Bai Jingxuan’s past—why she had entered the orphanage, and her current condition.

Gently pinching the edges of the pages, Veronica remained silent, methodically flipping through them.

From the documents, she learned many things. She learned of Bai Jingxuan’s congenital illness. She learned that the girl had lost her parents and her eye in a Ravager attack. She also learned that, even after waiting three years in the orphanage, no one had ever come forward to adopt her.

Veronica never considered herself overly sympathetic, but as an adult, she at least had the basic capacity for empathy. Holding these documents in her hands, she could feel their weight pressing down on her palms.

A Ravager attack was never just a number in a report.

Even with Magical Girls and the Countermeasure Bureau working tirelessly to protect the city, casualties were inevitable.

Each casualty, when reduced to ink on a page, was merely a statistic. But behind every statistic was a shattered family.

“Xiao Xuan... I’ve been keeping an eye on her situation,” Liu Wenqin said from behind her desk as she watched Veronica go through the files. “The caregivers talk about her often, too. I can only say that her case is... rather unique.”

“She lost her parents in a Ravager attack, and life hasn’t been easy for her since. While she seems to behave normally, we can’t be certain whether everything she shows us is truly how she feels.”

“In the past, tragedies like these were something ordinary people like us had no choice but to accept as misfortunes beyond our control. But now that she has become a Magical Girl—now that she has the power to fight and kill Ravagers—I can’t help but worry about what emotions she carries.”

“She’s always quiet and well-behaved. And perhaps because of that, we’re even more concerned. Just how deep does her hatred for Ravagers run? How will that hatred affect her?”

“These are questions I cannot predict, let alone control.”

“No matter how much care the orphanage provides, there’s a limit to what we can do. And since no one wants to adopt her, she may never have a proper mentor to guide her in life.”

“But... Miss Veronica, if it’s you—if it’s someone who once saved this city—I believe you can set her on the right path.”

“Not just by making her a Magical Girl like yourselves, but more importantly, by helping her move past her emotions and gain a new perspective on the world.”

Liu Wenqin’s words were spoken with complete sincerity.

Not only as the orphanage’s director, but also as an elder, she genuinely worried about Bai Jingxuan’s future.

“...I will.”

Lifting her head from the documents, Veronica met Liu Wenqin’s gaze and answered seriously.

With Moko’s help, Bai Jingxuan had already become a Magical Girl. That meant she was now a member of the Fangting City Magical Girl Squad—Lin Xiaolu’s comrade, both now and in the future.

Whether out of sympathy or as a senior Magical Girl taking responsibility for a newcomer, Veronica had no reason to neglect her.

Learning about Bai Jingxuan’s past and current state would help her tailor her guidance, ensuring the girl received the support she needed.

At this point, their conversation had achieved its purpose.

Just as Veronica finished going through the documents and expressed her gratitude, Liu Wenqin suddenly lowered her voice, as if speaking in a whisper.

“I heard from the Countermeasure Bureau agents... that after all of this, I’ll gradually forget these events—without any negative effects.”

“If that’s the case, I suppose I’ll also forget that Xiao Xuan became a Magical Girl. I’ll forget that I ever met you.”

“So, before that happens, I need to properly say this—thank you.”

“I thank you on behalf of everyone at this orphanage. I hope your work continues to be smooth and successful.”

She hesitated slightly, then, with an embarrassed smile, opened the notebook on her desk and pulled out a bookmark, extending it toward Veronica.

“This is actually for my daughter... but would you mind signing it for me?”

Veronica looked at the bookmark she was being handed.

She picked up a pen.

There weren’t many words she could say in response. Only—"thank you.”

With a mix of emotions, she wrote the name “Veronica” on the bookmark.

Then, she bid farewell to Liu Wenqin and left the office.

Before stepping out completely, she turned back and saw Liu Wenqin seated at her desk, waving at her with a calm smile.

She was remarkably accepting of the fact that she would soon forget everything related to this event.

But Veronica and Liu Wenqin both knew—if they were to meet again, they would be strangers.

Perhaps, for most ordinary people, forgetting and returning to a peaceful life was the safest choice.

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On the way home, Lin Yun sat inside the light rail train, staring blankly out the window at the cityscape, lost in thought.

The Countermeasure Bureau had acted quickly. In just a day, the surrounding area of the orphanage had been mostly restored, with only a few corner sections still blocked off by safety barriers.

He hadn’t checked in at the office, but he knew the repairs to the office building wouldn’t take long. Magic constructs were far more efficient at reconstruction than any regular construction crew.

Too much had happened over the past two days, keeping him in a constant state of tension. Now that things were settling down, he finally had time to relax—but also to consider his next steps.

He had officially resigned from Gaosheng. That was why he had the free time to visit the orphanage on a weekday morning.

However, now that he was unemployed, should he simply “take it easy at home”? He hadn’t decided yet.

During the day, he would be active as Veronica. But as a father, Lin Yun felt it wasn’t something he should tell Lin Xiaolu.

After all, for a middle-aged man, being unemployed was... not exactly great for one’s image.

Should he hide the fact that he had quit? Or should he find some meaningless position to keep up appearances? He was still weighing his options.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaolu and the others were still on summer break.

Now that he was about to officially take charge of their training, he needed to carefully plan their regimen.

Bai Jingxuan—an orphan, disabled, an outlier.

These words flashed through Lin Yun’s mind, forcing him to seriously consider how he would guide her.

“First things first... I’ll talk to her.”