Chapter 7: The Witch’s Devotion and the Mascot’s Plea

The black cat’s vibrant purple eyes locked with Bai Li’s fiery crimson pupils.

“What is it you wish to discuss?” the black cat purred.

“There should be no need to ask, for this conversation has already played out more than once.”

Gone was the gentle demeanor she had displayed moments earlier with Lin Xi. Bai Li now seemed to revert to her solitary self, reminiscent of her time alone at school—no, more accurately, to the imposing presence she exuded when conversing with those aberrant beasts (TL Note: ‘Yishou,’ referring to mutated or strange creatures, often possessing supernatural abilities). Merely meeting her gaze now elicited a subtle, yet palpable, sense of oppression.

Yet, the black cat evinced no hint of retreat or fear, choosing instead to confront this formidable pressure directly.

“This is about the Contractor, isn’t it?”

Bai Li did not speak, merely offering a slight nod in confirmation.

“There’s not much to report, really,” the cat purred. “The Contractor continues to wield her magic with the same remarkable proficiency, as if she were a Magical Girl by birthright.”

“That is only natural. After all, Xi Xi is the epitome of perfection.”

“…You seem to be rather smitten,” the black cat purred, a hint of judgment in its tone. (TL Note: ‘Xia Tou,’ a slang term literally meaning ‘shrimp head,’ used to describe someone who is overly obsessed or infatuated, often to a humorous or slightly cringeworthy degree.)

“Hm?”

“Nothing,” it purred.

Muttering a silent ‘How heavy’ to itself, the black cat resumed speaking:

“If your concern lies with any unspoken difficulties or hidden circumstances the Contractor might be concealing, then you may temporarily set your worries aside. As the Magical Girl’s designated mascot, I possess the ability to perceive her transformations and even the intricacies of her supernatural powers, and in my assessment, absolutely no problems exist.”

Even among espers (TL Note: individuals possessing supernatural abilities) of the same classification, subtle variations in their inherent ‘settings’ can arise. Lin Xi’s mascot, however, primarily functions as a magical aid and mentor.

This can be simply understood as a sophisticated magical system. Ruth, the black cat, actively assists Lin Xi in her magical endeavors, and it is also the one responsible for bestowing and teaching her new spells.

Naturally, like most Magical Girl mascots, Ruth also possesses a certain degree of telepathic connection with Lin Xi.

“I shall make my own judgments. While the betrayal of a Contractor by their mascot remains unheard of among espers (TL Note: individuals possessing supernatural abilities), there is no absolute guarantee that such an event will not transpire in the future. Indeed, countless anime and novels from times past have already depicted scenarios where mascots cunningly ensnare Magical Girls, ultimately leading them to tragic conclusions.”

Despite Ruth’s categorical declaration, Bai Li harbored a lingering skepticism.

As previously mentioned, the abilities of espers (TL Note: individuals possessing supernatural abilities) are akin to individual ‘stories’ or ‘memes.’ Bai Li harbored a suspicion that some powers might originate from narratives that were far from benevolent, and should such a fate befall Lin Xi, she would, without hesitation, eradicate every single detrimental element.

No, even in this very moment, she was prepared to act.

“Do try not to suddenly lose control, alright? But seeing as you’ve posed your questions, I presume it is now my turn to inquire?”

“What do you want to know?”

Ruth’s gaze fixed upon Bai Li’s face, a countenance exquisite yet devoid of expression, resembling nothing so much as a finely crafted doll.

“…Are you still doing those things?”

“What kind?”

“Must I even elaborate?” Ruth purred, a hint of accusation in her tone. “As a human, yet you ally yourself with aberrant beasts (TL Note: ‘Yishou,’ referring to mutated or strange creatures, often possessing supernatural abilities)—does that not strike you as profoundly unsettling?”

Ruth was privy to the clandestine activities Bai Li undertook, which explained why Bai Li adopted such a distinct demeanor in her presence.

Naturally, Bai Li had also issued a veiled threat to Ruth, ensuring these matters would remain undisclosed to Lin Xi.

“No,” Bai Li stated flatly. “I don’t.”

“…?”

“To me, this world consists solely of what benefits Xi Xi and myself, and what harms us. If these beings possess the capacity to assist us, then what difference does it make if they are aberrant beasts (TL Note: ‘Yishou,’ referring to mutated or strange creatures, often possessing supernatural abilities)?”

“You…”

Upon hearing Bai Li’s chilling declaration, Ruth, as the esper’s (TL Note: individuals possessing supernatural abilities) loyal mascot, found herself utterly speechless.

Her ideology had diverged so completely from that of ordinary humans that she could no longer be classified as such—nor even as an aberrant beast (TL Note: ‘Yishou,’ referring to mutated or strange creatures, often possessing supernatural abilities). She existed as an entity entirely distinct from both.

“…You truly are something else. Indeed, the appellation ‘Witch’ suits you perfectly,” Ruth conceded.

“To be associated with a ‘Magical Girl’ brings me a certain degree of satisfaction as well.”

“While that’s technically true, it’s not quite what I meant.”

Ruth let out a resigned sigh, abandoning any further attempt to decipher Bai Li’s intricate thought process.

“So, you can guarantee that it won’t cause large-scale destruction, right?”

“Only if Xi Xi remains entirely safe and unharmed. Conversely, however, should any threat befall her, I shall show no quarter, even if the aggressor is human.”

“I hope so,” Ruth sighed.

Ruth was keenly aware of Bai Li’s formidable power; she was by no means an opponent to be underestimated. It would require no less than a concerted attack from a multitude of C-rank espers (TL Note: individuals possessing supernatural abilities) to even entertain the possibility of subduing her.

One should not dismiss C-rank as inconsequential; espers (TL Note: individuals possessing supernatural abilities) of that caliber already command the destructive potential to raze an entire city single-handedly. In this current epoch, merely possessing a D-rank ability marks an individual as a truly rare talent, yet Bai Li stands as an anomaly, capable of single-handedly confronting an entire group of C-rank espers.

****

“…I’m all clean now. Xiaobai, would you like to take a bath?”

No sooner had their discussion concluded than Lin Xi appeared, her timing impeccable, and with a gentle gesture, placed a cup of milk before Ruth.

“I’ve already drawn a hot bath; you can go in right away.”

“Oh? In that case, let’s bathe together.”

“Okay, I…”

Lin Xi instinctively agreed, only to immediately realize she had consented to something rather strange.

“Oh? Since that’s the case, then…”

“No, no, absolutely not! Anyway, Xiaobai, you must go bathe first. I still have a bit of homework left to complete!”

Bai Li was unceremoniously propelled into the bathroom by the flustered Lin Xi, who then swiftly shut the door, leaving no room for further discussion or reconsideration.

“…Contractor, don’t you think you overreacted a little?”

“No. More importantly, what were you just discussing with Xiaobai?”

“…”

Ruth lapsed into a telling silence, as if attempting to conceal the preceding conversation—a facade that would have held, had she not spoken again immediately.

“I merely inquired if you had encountered any unshared difficulties, and sought confirmation regarding the potential dangers of her clandestine activities.”

“Is that so?”

Judging by Lin Xi’s subsequent reaction, it became evident that she had not, in fact, been oblivious to these matters all along.

Indeed, the way Lin Xi now rested her head in her hands, a subtle smile playing upon her lips, subtly conveyed a profound, knowing air—an expression entirely incongruous with a Magical Girl who typically embodies dreams and hope.

It was as if everything was within her expectations.

“Do you truly possess no objections?”

“Why would I harbor any objections? Xiaobai has undertaken so much on my behalf, all in secret, and with such meticulous care to keep me from discovering it. Truly, she’s utterly adorable~”

“…”

Ruth, her mascot, simply sipped her milk, while inwardly offering a silent prayer for that intensely devoted (TL Note: ‘Zhong Nu,’ literally ‘heavy woman,’ is a slang term for someone extremely devoted or obsessive, often to a clingy or possessive degree.) girl, whose affection bordered on the yandere (TL Note: ‘Yandere’ describes a character who is initially loving and gentle but becomes dangerously obsessive, violent, and possessive over their beloved.).

That girl had painstakingly gone to great lengths to conceal her true actions from the one she adored, only for it to be revealed that her efforts had been futile, as she had been exposed from the very start.

“Speaking of which, her perception of you appears to be filtered through an exceptionally thick lens; she practically regards you as a flawless being, embodying cuteness, gentleness, and every other desirable quality imaginable.”

“Eh…”

Upon receiving this revelation from Ruth, Lin Xi, who had moments earlier worn a sly, ‘black-bellied’ (TL Note: ‘Fuhei,’ a Japanese term adopted into Chinese slang, describing a character who appears kind or innocent on the surface but is secretly cunning, manipulative, or mischievous.) smile, seemed to utterly ‘break character’ (TL Note: ‘Pofang,’ a slang term literally meaning ‘break defense,’ used to describe someone losing their composure or emotional guard, often in a humorous or relatable way.), reverting instantly to the innocent girl she had initially presented.

Observing her Contractor, who was similarly ‘high-attack, low-defense’ (TL Note: ‘Gao Gong Di Fang,’ a gaming term used metaphorically to describe someone who is strong in one aspect but vulnerable in another, particularly strong in offense but emotionally susceptible.), Ruth could no longer restrain herself. She slammed the cup of milk onto the table, exclaiming loudly:

“Just start dating already!!”