Chapter 28: The Unlikely Encounter

“Hehe~ Little Bai… So soft~”

Lin Xi, her top unbuttoned, clings to Bai Li like a koala, her body pressed intimately against Bai Li’s. The softness of her skin, the warmth of her breath—it all leaves Bai Li feeling a flutter in her heart, wondering if the intensity of this moment is a bit too much.

Usually, even when they sleep together, Lin Xi might occasionally roll over and end up on top of her, but she’s always in her sleepwear. Now, however, she’s in her casual clothes, and they’re disheveled to boot.

Although it’s because they were just practicing, and Lin Xi didn’t even bother to change before falling asleep, Bai Li can’t help but feel her heart race. Despite the desire to stay in this moment forever, she knows she has other things to attend to.

Carefully, Bai Li extracts her hand from Lin Xi’s grasp and replaces it with a pillow, ensuring she won’t be disturbed.

“Mmm… Little Bai… Hug…”

Lin Xi instinctively reaches out for a hug, her adorable action contrasting sharply with the intimacy of the moment, making Bai Li momentarily wish to stay.

“Ugh… just… just breathe…”

Taking a deep breath, Bai Li refocuses on her task. To return quickly, she must finish her work swiftly.

“Xi Xi, sleep well. I’ll be back soon.”

She plants a gentle kiss on Lin Xi’s forehead before leaping out the window.

“…”

“… Contractor, stop pretending.”

Ruth jumps onto the bedside table, looking at Lin Xi, who is blushing and twisting in the bedsheets. She sighs, thinking that watching a high-attack, low-defense type with a long reaction time and a high-attack, low-defense type with a dramatic contrast is exhausting. She wishes she could return to her original place, away from this awkwardness.

After much thought, she concludes that the only solution is to start dating!

…

…

On the rooftop, Bai Li, oblivious to what’s happening in the room, checks her messages.

“Report: The items you requested are here. [Location Shared]”

This is the account Bai Li uses to communicate with her subordinates, and the information she requested has just arrived. Despite being constrained in a human city, these unusual creatures work efficiently, completing the task assigned in the afternoon by evening.

“Midnight… Perfect timing.”

After confirming the time, Bai Li heads to the shared location, her surroundings shifting as she moves.

A star-studded sky, like a river of stars, and a tranquil lake reflecting the heavens. This place is often called the Sky Mirror.

On the lake’s surface, a white-haired girl stands, her face expressionless despite the beautiful scenery. Suddenly, a pink figure appears beside her, taking her hand.

Instantly, the girl’s reflection in the lake transforms into a black Gothic dress-wearing teenager. Their gazes meet, and the space around them shatters into countless mirrors, reflecting the girl’s various forms.

The stars above begin to move, forming constellations that eventually engulf the entire sky and space, turning it white. The space then completely shatters.

The white-haired girl breaks through the space, now wearing a black Gothic dress with a low-cut back, black tights, and boots, and a pink ribbon in her hair, as if the pink figure has become the ribbon, inseparable from her.

“It’s been a while since I last took this form.”

Bai Li examines her current appearance, noticing how her outfit is the antithesis of Lin Xi’s, emitting a mysterious and alluring aura.

She hesitated when Lin Xi asked why she didn’t transform, as this form isn’t the kind of appearance that embodies the essence of a magic girl, but rather, a witch’s. And indeed, when she awakened, “that existence” informed her of the true meaning of a witch. But for her, it made no difference.

She only wants the power to protect Lin Xi.

The reason she now takes this form is to conceal her identity. This form has a certain cognitive disruption ability, making it difficult for others to recognize her true self. It’s a seemingly effortless ability to hide, allowing her to control whether others can identify her or not. Her subordinates, the unusual creatures, use this ability.

And the reason she needs to hide her identity is the building not far away.

A typical apartment building with ordinary rentals, this place looks like any other residential area. But her target resides here, hidden among the ordinary people.

“Room C701… This is the place.”

Bai Li confirms the room number and directly removes the window, jumping inside.

“… One day, I will definitely… Who are you!?”

The person in the room, halfway through a sentence, notices the intrusion and steps back, startled.

“It doesn’t matter. Just know that you won’t have it easy from now on.”

With that, Bai Li raises her hand, ready to strike…

“Are you okay!”

A faint yellow, semi-transparent barrier appears between Bai Li and the person, enveloping the entire room.

“Who is that thief, daring to break into a residence while I’m here!”

“Is this really the time for that!?”

“I know, I know, Yuxin.”

Yes, the person living here is Tian Yuxin, who awakened with a D-level ability, and the target of Bai Li’s visit.

However, this unexpected presence wasn’t part of her plan.

“Roar, seeing me and not running away, but instead approaching? Even with my [Unmoving Tiangong Shield]?”

The woman who appeared spreads her arms, adopting a dramatic pose and speaking in a grandiose manner. Her title alone suggests that her abilities are formidable.

But Bai Li remains calm, preparing for battle.