Chapter 22: A Fateful Confession

It was lunchtime.

Lin Han surveyed the dishes on the table.

He noticed a significant amount of seafood. Lin Han had never been particularly fond of seafood; it wasn’t an allergy, but rather a dislike for its distinct briny odor.

However, he soon spotted several dishes that he absolutely loved.

Instinctively, he glanced at He Yao.

He Yao offered a knowing look, an expression that clearly said, “I understand.”

This instantly complicated Lin Han’s emotions, bringing to mind his recent conversation with He Yao’s parents.

He was, of course, aware of He Hui and Su Ru’s intentions. In truth, even if they hadn’t mentioned it, he had been contemplating when he should finally reveal the truth to He Yao.

After all, it was a conversation that had to happen eventually.

The matter of his student being a Magical Girl—and Liu Xingyue, for that matter.

Perhaps this was an opportune moment.

Yet, how was he to initiate such a delicate conversation?

Furthermore, a more crucial question lingered: He Yao’s parents hadn’t explicitly stated whether they supported their son in this endeavor or opposed it.

However—

He Yao was not one to blindly obey his parents.

Lin Han understood this perfectly.

After all, if He Yao had been an obedient child, he wouldn’t have caused such a severe rift with his family that it almost manifested a monstrous entity.

The young man had never been a “good child” in the traditional sense.

He was, in fact, incredibly stubborn. If he believed something was right, he wouldn’t change his mind unless he was convinced by logic. Conversely, if one could connect with him on his wavelength, he was surprisingly easy to communicate with.

The meal proved to be thoroughly enjoyable for both host and guest.

Lin Han, too, had consumed a fair amount of alcohol.

Or rather, He Hui had been quite the heavy drinker.

“Teacher Lin, why don’t you rest here at our place?” He Yao proposed. “It’s safer to wait until you’ve sobered up before leaving. Riding a motorcycle after drinking isn’t safe.”

“Coincidentally, your mom and I are going on a date this afternoon, then we’re flying out tonight. We’ll discuss the specifics next month.”

He Yao waved a hand dismissively, clearly accustomed to such pronouncements. Although his mother claimed she was returning to family life, she actually had a multitude of responsibilities.

He had already seen her conducting video conferences from her bedroom on several occasions.

It seemed those affairs weren’t so easily relinquished.

“Then I wish you both a smooth journey.”

He didn’t harbor much reliance on his parents, after all.

Lin Han had originally intended to leave. However, with He Yao’s parents departing, perhaps he could seize this opportunity, feigning “drunkenness” from the alcohol, to have a proper chat with He Yao.

Moreover, He Yao had a point: riding a motorcycle after drinking was indeed unsafe. Even with his extraordinary physique, he couldn’t set such a bad example for his student.

Resting until the effects of the alcohol dissipated was a sensible choice.

He Yao led him to his own room.

“Teacher, do you want to sleep?”

Lin Han shook his head. “Sleeping immediately after drinking too much leaves you feeling horrible when you wake up. Do you know why so many people go to KTV after drinking?”

“Isn’t it because when you’re well-fed and warm, lust arises, and you go looking for pretty girls to flirt with?”

“…” Lin Han couldn’t help but crack a smile. “I was talking about something serious.”

“I know what you mean, Teacher. It’s simply about talking a lot to expel the alcohol, which helps you sober up faster. Then, once you’re mostly clear-headed, you eat something, drink a hangover remedy like yogurt or a special soup, and then get some proper sleep, right?”

This truly surprised Lin Han. “How did you know?”

“You always pick up knowledge from novels that you’ll never actually use,” He Yao replied casually. “Since that’s the case, we have a place to sing here at home. Do you want to sing?”

“You do?”

He Yao nodded. “There’s a music room. My parents originally set it up for parties, though they haven’t actually invited anyone over since the house was finished. They don’t use it much themselves, but don’t worry, the equipment is all fine, and we have someone come in regularly to clean it.”

He led Lin Han into a unique room.

Just as He Yao had described, the decor and setup of the room resembled a large private karaoke booth.

After He Yao fiddled with some controls for a moment, a spotlight illuminated the room.

“Alright—and then the song selection… Teacher, what do you want to sing?”

Lin Han scanned the song list. As if struck by a sudden thought, he selected “Blazing Heart.”

“This is… Carnelian’s single, released back when she was very active, right? I heard it was quite famous for a while,” He Yao recognized it instantly. “Teacher, that’s incredibly nostalgic.”

Lin Han chuckled. “Though Carnelian isn’t very active now, as one of the few Magical Girls who openly revealed her identity, she possesses a celebrity aura. Back when I was younger, Teacher, this song was incredibly popular.”

‘A Magical Girl active for fifteen years?’

‘How old is Teacher Lin now?’

‘Ten years ago, Teacher Lin would probably have been in college. Fifteen years ago… he might still have been in high school.’

‘Wow…’

He profoundly realized just how long Carnelian had been a Magical Girl in Clear Sky City.

While Rainbow Jade was now the most dazzling Magical Girl in Clear Sky City, Carnelian might truly be the city’s steadfast anchor.

“Teacher, why don’t you learn some more recent popular songs? Weren’t you saying you wanted to find a Magical Girl… Speaking of which, that’s actually a great idea! Carnelian should be around your age, shouldn’t she?”

He Yao seemed to have a sudden realization. “She’s also an idol for your generation, Teacher. Carnelian’s identity isn’t truly a secret anyway. I could ask my dad to look into it, to help arrange a meeting. Carnelian would definitely agree to see him.

“Dad would certainly be willing to help with this favor. You might actually get to go on a date with Carnelian.”

“…”

‘Don’t make it sound so simple, alright? Is it really that easy for rich people to get things done?’

At that moment, the music swelled. He Yao was just about to sit down and observe Teacher Lin’s singing prowess when he saw Lin Han extend the microphone towards him.

“Huh? Teacher Lin… what are you doing? I don’t know how to sing old songs like this!”

“But, this is a Magical Girl’s song. As a Magical Girl, you should be quite proficient at it, shouldn’t you?”

He Yao froze on the spot.

He desperately wanted to laugh it off, to dismiss it as Teacher Lin speaking nonsense because of the alcohol.

Yet, he clearly saw Lin Han’s serious expression.

‘There was no hiding it.’

In an instant, he grasped the truth.

“Teacher, when did you find out?”

Lin Han then explained, “I heard that during Teacher Liu’s exam, Liu Xingyue was absent, and then you claimed you were taking her to the infirmary. I went to the infirmary myself, but I couldn’t find either of you.

“It just so happened that I also heard about a large-scale Magical Girl operation in the city. It was hard not to wonder, if you two weren’t skipping class for a date… what other reason could there be besides being Magical Girls?”

“But, but I’m a boy… If someone was going to transform into a Magical Girl, that would be Liu Xingyue, wouldn’t it?”

‘Sorry, Liu Xingyue! It’s not that I’m selling you out! It’s just that you’ve already been exposed! Skipping the exam outright was far too reckless!’

“No, you are also a Magical Girl. Aren’t you, Ink Crystal?”

The moment Lin Han uttered the name “Ink Crystal,” all resistance drained from He Yao.

He suddenly recalled his conversation with Lin Han just two days prior.

“You knew then! You were testing me!”

“I thought you would tell me,” Lin Han sighed. “But since you didn’t say anything then, I didn’t want to expose you.”

‘If that’s the case, then why now…’

He Yao was sharp; he reacted almost instantly. “Was it my parents?”

“Yes. They said that even though you opted for secrecy, your parents hold significant influence, so their opinions couldn’t be ignored. In fact, the higher-ups’ recommendation is to discourage you, to prevent you from being a Magical Girl.

“Ink Crystal isn’t considered an exceptionally powerful Magical Girl, not like Rainbow Jade, whose boundless potential was clear from her very inception. In reality, your battles aren’t easy. If you were to die in combat against a fiend or a monster, it would create a negative impact.”

The music had already begun to play.

But He Yao had no inclination to listen.

He had, in fact, anticipated this.

Perhaps, even before becoming a Magical Girl, he had been grappling with this very issue.

The spotlight’s beam rotated continuously, flickering between bright and dim, casting shadows across his face and obscuring his expression.

“So, Teacher, are you here to convince me?”

“Your parents likely hoped I could persuade you. I’ve also been considering that, given your circumstances, there seems to be little reason for you to strive as a Magical Girl.”

Lin Han stood facing He Yao, his gaze as unwavering as it had been when they first met. “However, if that were the case, I wouldn’t have remained silent from the beginning.”

“Then, Teacher, do you support me?”

Yet, Lin Han still shook his head.

“I neither support nor oppose it. This is your own decision, He Yao. Magical Girls are the embodiment of love and justice; they can only become so through their own will. If you are determined to be a Magical Girl, no one can stop you.

“Conversely, if you don’t wish to be one, then no one can force you into it.”

“You have many choices. You excel academically, capable of entering any university in the country and pursuing any major you desire. Your family is wealthy; you could inherit your parents’ company and live a life of affluence.

“You enjoy anime and stories; you could become a free-spirited traveler, a poet, a novelist, or even simply take money from your family to invest in the industry, creating the anime and films you wish to see.

“Of course, you could also… choose to become a Magical Girl.”

Lin Han’s tone was gentle. The background music, though somewhat noisy, failed to disrupt his composure. “You have so many choices, He Yao. Whichever path you choose, I, your teacher, will support you.

“The only condition is… the one I told you before.”

He Yao knew the answer.

It was the very sentence his teacher had spoken to him when he had isolated himself.

‘To choose a life I won’t regret?’

“Precisely.”

He Yao smiled.

“Teacher, you’re truly cunning!”

“Hm?”

Shimmering points of light scattered all around them.

A slender, curvaceous Magical Girl, clad in black, Ink Crystal, materialized within the room.

With a stride of her long legs, she swiftly pushed Lin Han onto the sofa. Then, kneeling between his legs, she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered into his ear:

“Before truly reaching a dead end, who can say whether they’ll have regrets?”