Chapter 24: A Son’s Resolve

After ensuring his own well-being, Lin Han departed on his motorcycle. He had already informed He Hui and Su Ru of He Yao’s intentions. He simply couldn’t risk lingering in He Yao’s presence.

He Yao might have found it amusing to tease him in Ink Crystal’s form, but Lin Han was locked in a constant battle with his own desires and primal instincts. He couldn’t be certain he would always emerge victorious.

A single misstep, and he would surely plunge into an unfathomable abyss.

What’s more, Magical Girl Ink Crystal was simply no match for him.

Should that happen, even He Yao would likely be powerless to intervene.

He absolutely could not remain in such a perilous environment.

On another note, Teacher Liu was still planning to treat him to dinner… but alcohol was definitely out of the question.

Alcohol could easily lead to a loss of control, and Teacher Liu seemed rather fond of drinking. He would need to devise a convincing excuse to decline, lest a drunken state lead to regrettable revelations.

****

He Yao patiently awaited his parents’ return home.

Just as Teacher Lin had predicted, they would make time if the matter concerned their son.

He Yao smiled. “I’ve sliced some fruit. Why don’t we have a little first, and then we can discuss this matter?”

Observing the complex expressions on his parents’ faces, He Yao proactively spoke, aiming to ease the tension in the room.

After they had each consumed a couple of watermelon slices, Su Ru subtly tugged at her husband’s sleeve.

He Hui took a deep breath, striving to maintain a benevolent expression. “Xiao Yao,” he began, “we’ve learned of your aspirations through Teacher Lin. We respect your decision. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to become a Magical Girl; it’s a testament to your righteous heart. As your parents, we are immensely proud and filled with joy that our child possesses such noble intentions.”

He Yao nodded. “And the ‘but’ that inevitably follows your statement?”

It is a well-known truth that pleasantries often serve as a preamble to a ‘but’.

For it is what trails the ‘but’ that truly conveys the intended crux of the matter.

He Hui fell silent for a moment. “But Xiao Yao,” he finally said, “no parent in this world wishes to see their child undertake such perilous work.”

“Throughout history, there have been countless parents who sent their children to the battlefield, tales of great patriotic fervor that echo through time.” He met his parents’ gaze. “This past Friday, I participated in the subjugation of the Monster Society. There was a Dragon Mask among them, whom Rainbow Jade effortlessly impaled with her spear, sending him flying. He perished on the spot.”

He fixed his gaze upon his parents. “Do you know what thoughts consumed me at that very moment?”

Both of them shook their heads.

This, however, came as no surprise to He Yao; his parents, in truth, didn’t truly understand him. Yet, he held no resentment towards them.

“I found myself wondering, if that junior high school girl, Zhang Xiao, had encountered Rainbow Jade instead of Emerald and me, would she too have been impaled by Rainbow Jade’s spear, her body transfixed and pinned to the very ground?”

He Hui and Su Ru were left utterly speechless.

He Yao offered a faint smile. “I am, of course, aware that becoming a Kaiju or a Kaijin, and being summarily executed on the spot, aligns with legal statutes and the provisions of the ‘Kaiju and Kaijin Disaster Act’. The methods for dealing with Kaijin and Kaiju have been a contentious topic ever since their emergence alongside Magical Girls. I harbor no arrogance to believe my perspective is the sole correct one.”

“However, I believe I can genuinely save lives in my own unique way. Teacher Lin and I visited Zhang Xiao; her father was incredibly respectful and profoundly grateful that I had intervened to stop his daughter. A terrible disaster was averted, and his daughter remains safe and sound.”

“While I am undeniably your son, I might also be capable of saving the sons and daughters of many others.”

His reasoning was crystal clear as he articulated his thoughts. “Just as Teacher Lin once helped me, what if he hadn’t appeared then, and I had transformed into a Kaiju? What would have become of me? Would I have been stopped? Would I have taken innocent lives? Would I have been exploited by the Monster organization, becoming an even greater menace? Would anyone… have come to my rescue?”

Never before had he delved so deeply into his innermost thoughts with his parents. Yet, at this very moment, he spoke from his heart, revealing his true self to them for the first time. “Therefore, when I lay in that unconscious state, and I saw that entity, when it asked me if I wished to become a Magical Girl…”

“I remember thinking, ‘What kind of fool would ever choose to become a Magical Girl? I lack for nothing! Why would I willingly put my life on the line for such a role?'”

“Yet, I still seized that power.”

He raised his hand, gazing at his palm. “This was not a decision born of fleeting impulse. It was a choice from the very core of my being. Even if you were to forbid me, it is a path I would still pursue. I aspire to be like Teacher Lin—someone who can genuinely help others. Life, in its essence, is a fleeting thing, but if I am to seek meaning within my own existence, then this is the life I choose.”

“I will walk this path, steadfastly, until I am utterly unable to continue!”

His resolve was unyielding, his words ringing with conviction.

He Hui was a man accustomed to grand spectacles and high stakes. The pressure in this moment, perhaps, paled in comparison to the intensity of negotiations with rival CEOs. Yet, one undeniable truth crystallized for him: in this particular matter, he was utterly powerless.

While coercive measures might potentially thwart He Yao’s aspirations, He Hui understood, with absolute certainty, that such an act would only culminate in tragedy.

‘Our child has grown up.’

Do parents truly grasp that their child has matured when, without a word, they suddenly become filial, offering a basin of water to wash their feet, expressing gratitude for sacrifices made?

While such gestures might elicit comfort and elicit words of contentment, they are seldom the true moment of realization that a child has truly come of age.

Parents truly understand their child has grown when they find themselves utterly powerless to sway them.

It is when children genuinely choose to forge their own path, defying parental will, disregarding their opinions, and standing resolutely before them—leaving only a receding back—that parents truly awaken to this truth.

Only then do parents truly realize: ‘That person has grown, and moved far beyond our reach.’

As He Yao had so eloquently stated, his decision was not born of fleeting passion, nor was it made without thorough consideration of every potential outcome. Rather, he found himself incapable of defying the voice within, powerless against his own fervent desires and aspirations, which ultimately led him to embrace the mantle of a Magical Girl.

When a spirit harbors the will to soar freely, what cage could ever hope to contain it?

A tremor ran through him.

He witnessed it: his wife’s hand was trembling.

Within his wife’s eyes, he caught the faint shimmer of unshed tears.

He realized then that his wife shared the very same profound understanding.

Taking his wife’s hand, he squeezed it with a gentle, reassuring pressure.

His touch brought a measure of calm to his wife.

“I understand now, He Yao.”

He no longer addressed him as Xiao Yao.

“Though you embark on your activities as a Magical Girl, you have truly matured into a formidable young man! I find myself unfamiliar with this new facet of you, yet simultaneously filled with immense pride and relief. You remind me of my own youth, when I defied my family’s disapproval and ventured to the big city, driven solely by the ambition to make my mark—and ultimately, I succeeded.”

A smile graced his lips. “Even now, I can vividly recall your grandfather’s incredulous expression when he was alive. And the sheer smugness he exuded when I built roads for our village.”

“I suppose, in the end, you are truly my son.”

He clapped He Yao’s shoulder with his free hand. “Since you’ve decided to embark on this path, then pursue it wholeheartedly! Do so until your heart is entirely content! We have faith in you! And if, one day, you find yourself weary, that is perfectly acceptable! Your parents may not have much else, but we certainly have plenty of money! You can simply inherit the family fortune when that time comes!”

“Dad…”

He Hui rose to his feet. “It’s still early enough to depart, your mother and I will be leaving first! If you’re destined to become a Magical Girl, then your mother and I would only be cumbersome at home, wouldn’t we?”

Without preamble, he swept Su Ru into his arms. Amidst her startled gasp, He Hui carried her out in a princess-style embrace, leaving without even a proper farewell.

He Yao understood that his father, too, valued his dignity.

However, He Yao also valued his own.

But…

He was profoundly grateful for his parents.

Though they had endured various misunderstandings and navigated extreme emotions, he could now, without a doubt, feel the profound love his parents held for him.

They had all been, at one point, quite naive, struggling to comprehend each other’s words and expressing their affection in misguided ways.

‘Ah… becoming a Magical Girl.’ Speaking of which, he still needed to keep that card on him. He wondered when he would next encounter Kamen Rider, so he could return the bank card.

And yet…

Rainbow Jade was truly formidable.

According to the latest interrogation reports, Dragon Mask was supposedly the most potent entity within the Monster organization. Yet, even this formidable being had been instantly annihilated by Rainbow Jade, barely able to lift a hand in defense.

‘Could the world’s most elite Magical Girls truly wield such overwhelming power?’

‘Her methods seemed remarkably similar to my own; Ink Crystal could conjure ten Ink Crystal swords. So, could Ink Crystal similarly dispatch Snake Mask in an instant?’

‘Evidently not; she wouldn’t be able to coordinate them effectively.’

‘While he had vowed to walk this path with unwavering resolve, the journey ahead remained long and arduous indeed!’

****

“Hey, Teacher Liu! You’re drunk!”

“Teacher Lin, what on earth are you talking about?” Her cheeks flushed crimson, the woman exuded an unintentional allure. The top three buttons of her blouse had come undone, revealing a glimpse of white fabric and the deep valley of her cleavage. “Such a paltry amount of alcohol, how could I possibly be drunk?”

‘But you are unequivocally intoxicated.’

‘And Teacher Liu, when drunk, becomes this clingy?’

“Teacher Liu, you absolutely cannot drink like this at future gatherings,” Lin Han earnestly advised. “You’re highly susceptible to being taken advantage of in such a state. This is incredibly dangerous. I’d suggest you simply declare you don’t drink when you’re out in public from now on.”

“What’s the big deal~? Are you implying you wish to take advantage of me, Teacher Lin?” Liu Yun purred, her voice syrupy sweet.

“Of course not!”

“Then what’s there to worry about~?”

‘Wow, there’s absolutely no reasoning with a drunk person!’

Nonetheless, Teacher Liu’s cooking was quite good. He particularly enjoyed the spare ribs; he would have another piece.

Lin Han continued eating, gently pushing Liu Yun away.

‘Speaking of which, it really is different from Ink Crystal—even at such close proximity, my heart remains perfectly calm. Liu Yun’s figure isn’t necessarily inferior to Ink Crystal’s, and her looks are also exceptional. Is it truly just Ink Crystal’s presence that affects me?’