Chapter 56: The Sports Festival and a Shadowed Clue

Today’s main event was a fighting competition, featuring He Yao.

Lin Han had also been ‘assassinated.’ Therefore, neither of them, strictly speaking, needed to appear at school.

However, the sports festival in this world was always a grand affair, so everyone was expected to participate.

He Yao did not come in her true form. Instead, she arrived at the school directly, disguised as the young girl Ink Crystal.

The sports festival was open to the public, drawing numerous news outlets, students’ parents, and other community members.

Naturally, security became a paramount concern under such circumstances. Yet, when everyone saw the young girl in a vibrant red gown appear at the school, a collective sense of relief settled over them.

Rainbow Jade might have been the most formidable Magical Girl in Clear Sky City at that time, but Magical Girl Carnelian had always been the city’s protecting female presence.

Her very existence held immense significance for Clear Sky City, radiating a profound sense of security.

This feeling of safety differed somewhat from the reassurance that Magical Girl Rainbow Jade provided.

While Rainbow Jade brought comfort through her formidable power, Carnelian earned the people of Clear Sky City’s unwavering trust.

Indeed, the Vice Mayor of Clear Sky City had also arrived in person. Facing the reporters, he smiled faintly.

“My presence here is, of course, a matter of responsibility. Clear Sky City has always placed great importance on sports events like these, as they are a testament to our students’ holistic education.”

“In life, one inevitably encounters strange beings and monstrous fiends. When facing such entities, one can never be too vigilant. Therefore, we must never grow complacent in matters of physical training!”

He would, of course, never mention that Si Kouxin was his daughter. His presence also stemmed from a desire to watch his daughter fight; otherwise, sending someone else in his stead would have sufficed.

Naturally, the opening ceremony of the sports festival included speeches from both the principal and himself.

Given its particular importance, the fighting competition would occupy an entire day of contests and matches, much like the World Martial Arts Tournament depicted in animated series.

However, unlike the World Martial Arts Tournament, where raw power reigned supreme, the sports festival’s fighting event ultimately differed from actual combat.

This competition leaned heavily towards technique.

Everyone stood ready, poised for battle.

Ye Liuyun, burdened with the responsibility of being the class’s water dispenser monitor, moved the dispenser to the edge of the arena with two other students. He then sat down, ensuring the dispenser remained within his sight.

Just then, Liu Yun approached him.

“Our class seems to have had bad luck. According to the draw, you and I will face each other, while Liu Xingyue is in another group.”

“Based on the rules, there will be eight groups.”

The other students in their class, upon hearing this news, expressed some disappointment.

“Teacher Liu, your luck is terrible!”

“Shouldn’t we have someone else draw lots?”

“Teacher Liu’s hand is too unlucky!”

Liu Yun’s brow furrowed, and instantly, no one dared to utter another word.

“Regardless, since we’re participating in a fighting competition, it’s meaningless unless we strive to be the strongest. Since we are set to face each other, I must emphasize that even though you are my student, I will not hold back on your account.”

Ye Liuyun’s expression turned solemn. “Please, Teacher, guide me!”

Though he spoke to Liu Yun, his gaze lingered on the figure in the vibrant red dress within the audience. He had to prove his strength to his mother, to make her realize that he was not a burden and that she would not be dragged down by his existence!

Meanwhile, Ink Crystal happened to run into Zhang Xiao.

“Sister Ink Crystal!~”

She spotted Ink Crystal immediately within the school. Though Ink Crystal had disguised herself, it clearly hadn’t been very effective.

“Eh~ Is Teacher Lin here too?”

The young girl blinked. “So, does that mean you both know each other’s secrets?”

Ink Crystal grabbed Zhang Xiao’s cheek. “I knew you must have known something! Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Didn’t Sister Ink Crystal figure it out herself already? I trust Sister Ink Crystal’s wisdom!” She quickly wriggled free from Ink Crystal’s grasp, rubbing her cheek to ensure it hadn’t been deformed. Besides, wasn’t this sort of thing rather fun?

Teasing Teacher Lin was indeed quite amusing.

“But why is Teacher Lin dressed like that? He looks like a suspicious character.”

At this moment, Lin Han was wearing a trench coat with a stand-up collar, along with sunglasses, a cowboy hat, and a black mask, making him almost completely unrecognizable.

“Because Teacher, in a sense, is a deserter right now, ‘assassinated’ by me. So he can only come to the sports festival looking like this; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to account for himself to others.”

Zhang Xiao, familiar with such protocols, said, “Ah~ Assassination? How did Sister Ink Crystal ‘assassinate’ Teacher?”

Ink Crystal revealed a knowing smile. “Of course, I have plenty of strength and methods. Teacher Lin is merely a trifle, easily handled!”

“Hoh hoh, Sister Ink Crystal is truly amazing!”

“So, what are you here for?”

“To watch the sports festival, of course! I want to apply to your school in the future, so I thought I’d come early to get a feel for the atmosphere!”

‘Our school isn’t easy to get into. You need to be in the top thousand city-wide to be admitted, and there’s also an interview stage, though the interview usually isn’t too difficult.’

She briefly described her school. “But this school is quite good. The teachers are very responsible, and the students are all rather nice.”

“That’s true. So, will Sister Ink Crystal be competing today?”

“My event isn’t today. We primarily have other matters to attend to today.”

Zhang Xiao blinked. “Is it related to the Masked People?”

“You little imp, you’re too curious. This isn’t something you should be thinking about. What you should be focusing on now is how to live your own life well.”

The junior high student merely shrugged. “Is that so? I thought I had found some information that might be related to the Masked People, but since Sister Ink Crystal doesn’t care, then never mind.”

“?”

Ink Crystal and Lin Han both froze for a moment. They exchanged a look, and immediately, Ink Crystal picked her up, carrying her into a classroom.

At this time, everyone was on the sports field watching the arena. The classrooms were empty, and the teaching building was quiet, with only an occasional student perhaps retrieving something or passing by.

“You said you have clues related to the Masked People?”

Ink Crystal asked very seriously.

Zhang Xiao nodded. “Of course. I came to see you because I wanted to report this news and ask you to find an opportunity to confirm it. If I hadn’t found you today, I would have messaged you to invite you to my house, but that would seem less natural.”

The young girl was clearly more cautious than they had imagined.

Lin Han took off his mask and sunglasses. “Zhang Xiao, please elaborate.”

“There’s a student at our school whose name is Huo Qingqing.”

Zhang Xiao spoke candidly. “Although the power of the monstrous fiend has left my body, I can still sense, based on my instincts, that she should also possess the power of a monstrous fiend.”

“It’s said that she registered for school a long time ago, but she’s always been frail and sickly, never attending classes. However, combining the time she started attending school—and the faint aura of a monstrous fiend on her, I think she might have some connection to the Masked People.”

“?!”

Ink Crystal glanced at Lin Han. “Could it be… the Saintess?”

“If we look at it that way, it’s possible.”

Zhang Xiao then added, “Of course, she could just be an ordinary girl, an ordinary girl with a monstrous fiend inside her. That’s not impossible—but isn’t that also the responsibility of a Magical Girl? So, no matter what, I felt I should tell you.”

She spoke very earnestly:

“However, if you need proof, I genuinely don’t have any. It’s just a feeling. The monstrous fiend that was once in my body was very adept at this kind of sensing; knowing your identities was also related to this.”

“This is also why I didn’t make a direct call. I estimate that ordinary Magical Girls might not be able to sense the faint aura within her—and I didn’t want to alert her. So, I recently became friends with her and plan to host a party at my house when I have some free time, inviting you all over. I’ll use that as an excuse to check her condition.”

“If you can confirm it, then taking action directly wouldn’t be an issue.”

“That’s too dangerous!” Ink Crystal immediately exclaimed. “You shouldn’t get close to her.”

“I know it’s dangerous.” Zhang Xiao looked at Ink Crystal. “But Sister Ink Crystal, weren’t you the same back then? Even though I nearly killed you, you still came.”

Her gaze was firm. “I hope to help you.”

“So—that child didn’t come?”

“If she had come, I would have brought her to meet you directly. In fact, she said she wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t good with lively places like this.”

After saying this, Zhang Xiao smiled. “In any case, that’s the situation. How to proceed is up to you to decide. Just let me know once you’ve considered it. I’m going to go explore your school.”

The young girl then cheerfully headed towards the sports field.

She was still limping slightly, but it seemed to no longer significantly affect her movements.

After she left, Ink Crystal stared at Lin Han. “Teacher Lin, do you think—is it her?”

Lin Han pondered for a moment. “The possibility is high. Zhang Xiao isn’t the kind of girl who would speak carelessly. Since she said this, she must have her reasons and basis. And the girl named Huo Qingqing could indeed be the Saintess.”

“After all, the Masked People don’t have true monstrous fiends within them. Only the Saintess, who has truly accommodated a monstrous fiend, can cause a person’s physical body to mutate.”

“I thought the same. But I didn’t expect them to dare to enroll so openly. From this perspective, Ox Mask might have prepared the Saintess’s identity many years ago. It’s even possible that Huo Qingqing’s background will be flawless.”

“Everything about her should be traceable, which is why her true identity wouldn’t be noticed by others.”

“If Zhang Xiao hadn’t transferred schools, or had transferred later, she probably wouldn’t have been able to discover her identity. After all, Zhang Xiao’s sensing ability should gradually disappear as the monstrous fiend vanishes.”

Ink Crystal sighed. “In that case, it feels a bit like fate.”

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