Chapter 205: Graduation

With the arrival of dawn, the colossal force that had lurked beneath Xinhai City for many years—the Akagi Gang—finally reached its end.

This was not merely a simple operation.

On the unseen side of the world, hidden from ordinary people, the [Dawn Company]’s cleaners moved like ghosts through the city’s shadows.

Those spiritual operatives corrupted by contamination, those contraband items tainted with subspace residue—were all silently purified and sealed away.

This raging fire of sin was nothing more than a dying red flame abandoned by the times.

Once, they had burned for this city.

But now, it was time for them to be extinguished.

However, the story did not end there.

Because as the investigation deepened, the people of Dawn Company discovered—

The so-called Akagi Gang was likely nothing more than a chess piece of the [Abyss Gospel Society].

But at the moment, Lin Yu had no energy left to worry about such grand, world-saving conspiracies.

Compared to distant plots, the pain biting into his own flesh was a far more pressing concern.

Yano Hotaru’s judgment had been correct—the strange toxin possessed an extremely strong [spiritual-energy bias].

After sending the unconscious Luo Shaotian into the ICU and repeatedly confirming that the guy only needed rest and observation, Lin Yu hurriedly switched back to his male body and, without stopping to catch his breath, rushed to company headquarters with Chen Bing and the others.

Inside Old Mei’s private laboratory.

“Tut, tut, tut…”

Old Mei lounged against the sofa, holding an oversized enamel mug.

Bold red characters printed on it read: “Serve the People.”

She looked Lin Yu up and down as he sat restlessly opposite her, amusement glinting in her eyes.

“Kid, your luck…”

She slowly blew aside the tea leaves floating on the surface and took a sip.

“Not buying lottery tickets is honestly a waste.”

“To actually run into trouble of that level.”

Lin Yu collapsed into the metal chair across from her, clutching his head with both hands, his entire being radiating a powerful I don’t want to live anymore aura.

“D-Dr. Mei, please stop joking around!”

He looked up, hands clasped together like he was praying.

“You have to save me! This poison is seriously cursed!”

“Do you know I don’t even dare chant my transformation phrase anymore?! The moment that spiritual energy stirs, it feels like every nerve in my body starts doing breakdance—pain everywhere, top to bottom, all over—worse than when I had hemorrhoid surgery!”

“How am I supposed to save the world like this—no, how am I supposed to work and earn money?!”

“Sigh…”

Old Mei set down the mug, a curve forming at the corner of her lips.

“This really is rare. Back when you first joined the company, you were always scheming about how to die in the simulator just so you wouldn’t have to work.”

“And now look at you—losing sleep because you can’t transform and work?”

“What, did you awaken some strange corporate-s*ave soul?”

“I don’t have a choice! People gotta eat!”

Lin Yu spread his hands helplessly, his expression tragic.

“I was young and stupid before—I valued dignity too much! But now, in Xinhai City, tell me—what job has better cost performance than being a magical girl?”

“Forty thousand a month, full insurance, bonuses!”

“This is my livelihood, Dr. Mei! Sister Mei! You’re the company’s top tech expert!”

“You definitely have a way, right?! Please—just give me another chance!”

“I still need to save up my marriage fund!”

“…Marriage fund, huh.”

Old Mei let out a long sigh, the smile in her eyes slowly fading.

“Hmm…”

She pondered for a moment, then let her gaze pass over Lin Yu and land on the three people standing by the door.

“How about this… you three step outside for a bit.”

“Huh?”

Li Qing froze.

“Why? Is there something we’re not allowed to hear? We’re comrades who’ve been through life and death with senior!”

“Some things fall under patient privacy.”

Old Mei didn’t explain further, only saying calmly,

“There are a few private words I want to say to this young man alone.”

The three exchanged glances, seemingly understanding something from her look.

“Let’s go.”

Chen Bing pulled the still-confused Li Qing along.

“Don’t delay the treatment.”

Everything felt… mysterious.

With a click, the lab’s heavy soundproof door closed.

Only Lin Yu and Old Mei remained in the room.

Lin Yu suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine.

What’s going on?

Why did this suddenly get so serious?

Clearing the room?

This setup… was exactly like those TV dramas where the doctor sends the family away and then tells the patient you’ve got three months left, eat whatever you want.

Gulp.

Lin Yu swallowed, his back turning cold.

“Um… Dr. Mei?”

He asked tentatively, his voice trembling.

“P-please don’t scare me. This poison… it’s not incurable, is it?”

“Relax.”

Old Mei pulled out a tea bag that looked extremely high-end, dropped it into a clean cup, and poured in hot water.

As wisps of steam rose, a fresh, elegant tea fragrance filled the room.

“Before I tell you the real diagnosis…”

She slid the steaming cup of Biluochun tea over to Lin Yu.

“Have some tea first. This is top-grade Biluochun—very warming.”

Lin Yu held the enamel mug printed with Strive Hard and stared down at the tender green leaves floating and sinking in the water.

The steam stung his eyes slightly.

The water was scalding.

Freshly brewed Biluochun smelled wonderful, but it was absolutely not drinkable yet.

What was this?

Giving him a few minutes to mentally prepare for his “sentence”?

His heart pounded uneasily against his ribs.

The torment of waiting for the unknown was worse than being stabbed outright.

…This damn company really is messed up from top to bottom.

Manager Qian—that smiling fox—always insisted on Blue Mountain coffee and cigars just to talk business, pretending to be classy.

And now this tech lead Old Mei was here, mysteriously savoring Biluochun.

What, is tea ceremony and coffee tasting a required skill for leadership?

“Phew…”

Time ticked by.

At last, the heat at his fingertips was no longer unbearable.

Lin Yu cautiously raised the cup and took a small sip.

Bitter.

Then sweet.

“Lin Yu…”

“Yes! I’m here!”

He straightened up instantly, like he’d been shocked.

Old Mei interlaced her fingers beneath her chin, eyes narrowing slightly behind her glasses, a depth impossible to read.

“Same old rule. One good piece of news, one bad piece of news.”

“You… which do you want first?”

“…Ah.”

The corner of Lin Yu’s eye twitched violently.

Again?!

Why did this line sound so familiar?!

Is this Dawn Company corporate culture or something?!

He took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and chose like he was betting all his luck on a single throw.

“Then… the bad news!”

“Heh—bring it on!”

He’d been unlucky his whole life.

He’d already taken a stroll past the gates of hell—what bad news could be worse than death?

Rock bottom rebound, get it?

After the worst comes the best, get it?!

“Mm.”

Old Mei nodded.

“The bad news is—based on the samples you brought back, I ran the company’s entire database. Hundreds of terabytes.”

“The conclusion is—”

“I can’t cure it.”

“…C-can’t cure it?”

Lin Yu’s eyes went wide, the tea in his hands sloshing as a few drops splashed out.

“Because that thing isn’t really a toxin at all.”

“It’s more like… a curse.”

“A curse…”

His lips trembled, his head buzzing.

“Hahaha…”

A dry laugh escaped him.

“D-Dr. Mei, you’re really good at jokes!”

“You’re a scientist! Since when did you start believing in feudal superstition? A curse—this isn’t a horror movie!”

“Then… the good news is next, right?”

“You’re going to say… it’s hard, but you do have a solution, right?”

“Like needing rare materials? Or sending me to run errands somewhere? Just say the word—I’ll climb刀山 and dive火海 if I have to—”

“Who’s joking with you?”

Old Mei cut him off coldly.

“I said I don’t have a solution.”

“My technology fixes equipment and tunes parameters—not plays shaman and exorcises demons.”

“This kind of curse that touches the soul itself…”

“It’s beyond my scope.”

The forced smile on Lin Yu’s face collapsed completely.

“Then… then what’s the good news?”

His voice cracked.

“The good news is—”

Old Mei pulled a document from the drawer and gently slid it in front of him.

“Given your current physical condition, you are no longer able to fulfill the duties of a magical girl, nor perform any form of spiritual-energy conversion…”

“According to Article 76 of the company’s Employee Welfare and Protection Regulations: for employees who completely lose their ability to work due to job-related injury—”

She tapped the bright red title on the document.

[Work Injury Certification]

“—your workers’ compensation claim has been approved.”

“…Huh?”

Lin Yu froze.

“I checked. Combined with the massive bonuses from your previous missions, plus this insurance payout…”

“The total is… quite substantial.”

Old Mei leaned back, a trace of complicated emotion in her voice.

“Haven’t you always complained about being poor? Always talking about wanting money to buy a house and get married?”

“Well, now you can apply for injury-based resignation. No breach penalty.”

“And the money you’ll receive…”

“Is enough for you to comfortably lie flat and retire in a city where every inch of land is worth gold.”

“R-retire?”

Lin Yu repeated the word blankly, his mind completely empty.

A lot of money.

Something he’d only ever dreamed of.

The sole reason he’d endured wearing humiliating outfits and fighting disgusting tentacle monsters with his life on the line.

And now…

That goal had been achieved?

And in a way he’d never imagined?

All at once?

No more risking his life?

No more fear?

He wouldn’t even need to transform anymore?

Wasn’t this…

Exactly the perfect ending he’d always wanted?

Then why—

Why wasn’t he happy at all?

Why did his chest feel… hollow?

“Dr. Mei… what do you mean…”

Lin Yu looked up, lost.

Old Mei met his gaze, a complex, unreadable smile on her lips.

She reached out and gently tapped the document.

“Don’t you get it, kid?”

“You can officially graduate…”

“From the goddamn hell known as being a magical girl.”

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