Chapter 27: A Game of Endurance

Mana served as one of a magical girl’s primary methods of assault.

It could be wielded offensively, and naturally, deployed defensively.

The same principle explained why a magical girl’s transformation invariably brought forth an entirely new ensemble.

Even the so-called ‘holy light’ was nothing more than a tangible manifestation of mana.

Garments did not materialize from thin air, nor did they vanish into oblivion.

Thus, when Su Qianyu gazed upon Illo’s face, a wave of panic seized her.

More dreadful than death itself was the prospect of social annihilation.

Though, admittedly, she desired neither fate.

As her swimsuit steadily vanished from her form, she became irrevocably certain that her attire had indeed been woven from Illo’s mana.

“No, don’t! We’re in a swimming pool!”

“Have you lost your mind?!”

Yet, Su Qianyu’s desperate cries did nothing to halt Illo’s insidious actions.

In what felt like the mere blink of an eye, Su Qianyu found herself utterly bereft of clothing once more.

The instant her swimsuit disappeared, Su Qianyu plunged her head beneath the water’s surface without a moment’s hesitation.

How did that old adage go?

If a brothel were to catch fire, one ought to prioritize concealing their face above all else, rather than merely covering their exposed body parts.

Alas, she was no fish.

Before long, Su Qianyu’s face beneath the water began to flush a deep crimson from holding her breath.

Yet, perceiving that Illo still harbored no intention of restoring her attire, Su Qianyu found herself utterly powerless, reduced to slowly re-emerging behind Illo.

Gritting her teeth as she stared at Illo’s back, Su Qianyu instantly resolved to employ her Golden Finger (TL Note: A common Chinese web novel trope referring to a special ability or cheat code possessed by the protagonist, often allowing them to achieve impossible feats.) to procure a swimsuit for herself.

However, the very moment she attempted to activate her Golden Finger, Su Qianyu was assailed by a distinct sensation of unease.

Eh… eh!?

You’ve banned my skill again!

Turning her head, Illo regarded the floating Su Qianyu and raised a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.

She understood Su Qianyu far too intimately.

Upon witnessing the Little Fox Girl’s face flush a vivid red, Illo’s expression once again morphed into one of smug triumph.

This was precisely the reaction she craved.

Revenge itself was hardly a joyous endeavor; thus, it required a certain ‘seasoning’ to make the process more palatable.

Scanning her surroundings, Su Qianyu meticulously ensured that only her head remained adrift above the water’s surface.

Yet, despite her efforts, the chilling sensation emanating from her bare skin and the surrounding water was undeniably palpable.

Despite the undeniable absence of her swimsuit, the individuals nearby remained utterly oblivious to their presence.

It was as if they simply couldn’t perceive the two of them.

It was only then that Su Qianyu realized, with a jolt, that Illo had, at some unknown moment, already employed her mana to render their forms completely invisible.

While Illo’s possessiveness wasn’t overtly strong, she would absolutely never tolerate Su Qianyu being sullied by the gaze or touch of another.

Her own plaything was hers alone to enjoy.

“I know you’re a clever girl,” Illo suddenly declared, shattering the profound silence that had settled between them.

“So, how about we play a little game?”

Drawing upon her mana, Illo playfully slapped the water’s surface with one hand, while the other reached out to gently tilt the young girl’s chin upwards.

“Should you emerge victorious, I shall not only restore your clothes but also grant you a brief period of unfettered freedom each week. What say you?”

Upon hearing the tantalizing words ‘unfettered freedom,’ Su Qianyu’s eyes instantly gleamed with renewed hope.

Was this not precisely what she yearned for most in this moment?

It was akin to someone providing a pillow precisely when one felt weary; this was utterly marvelous!

Yet, before she could fully bask in her nascent joy, Illo’s subsequent words promptly doused her burgeoning enthusiasm.

“However, should you lose, the consequences…?”

Illo left the sentence hanging, instead allowing her gaze to drift playfully over every inch of Su Qianyu’s form.

That intensely invasive stare, even without a single word spoken, allowed Su Qianyu to perfectly infer the depraved thoughts swirling within the other’s mind.

After a protracted silence, the fox girl before her finally managed to force a single utterance past her lips.

“You… you truly are depraved!”

However, Illo paid no heed to Su Qianyu’s pre-emptive outburst, instead reclaiming the conversation by speaking once more.

“So, will our esteemed Miss deign to participate in this utterly vulgar contest?”

Illo’s eyes curved into a delighted crescent as she watched Su Qianyu; the more resistance the latter displayed on her face, the greater Illo’s amusement.

Swiftly, Su Qianyu delivered her answer.

“Fine! I’ll! Play!”

“I… I’m not afraid of you, not in the slightest!”

Evidently, Su Qianyu found herself with no genuine alternative.

Whether it was the promised reward for victory, or the unspoken implications of refusal.

After all, even if she were to decline Illo’s challenge, the other girl would hardly release her with ease, would she?

Having steeled her resolve, the Little Fox Girl boldly declared.

How much worse could things possibly become?

She would fight with all her might!

However, Su Qianyu’s defiant cry, far from deterring Illo, merely ignited a deeper spark of interest within her.

Initially, Illo had considered devising a somewhat simpler challenge, primarily to facilitate her later disguise and subsequent meeting with Su Qianyu under the guise of the Sub-Moderator.

But now?

Observing Su Qianyu’s unexpectedly fervent fighting spirit, an entirely new idea began to coalesce in Illo’s mind.

“In that case, let us challenge the very limits of your endurance, shall we?”

Displaying her meticulously manicured fingertips, Illo slowly licked her lips.

She certainly hadn’t sated her desires the previous night.

“No, absolutely not?!”

“Here, of all places?!”

Her legs furiously churned, striving to provide the necessary propulsion to stay afloat, as Su Qianyu grappled with the realization of just how depraved Illo’s games could become.

This, this was a public swimming pool!

However, Illo remained utterly unconcerned by these trivialities, choosing instead to continue speaking.

“Let’s be clear upfront: if you later beg for mercy, I shall remain entirely unmoved, understood?”

Swiftly, the other girl gradually glided to the Little Fox Girl’s side, and her hand began to leisurely roam across that unadorned body.

“Then don’t care…!”

“I, I am not one to be easily trifled with!”

Swallowing hard, Su Qianyu squeezed her eyes shut.

‘Form is emptiness, emptiness is form!’

She was a transmigrator who had even contended with Slaanesh (TL Note: A Chaos God from the Warhammer 40,000 universe, representing excess, pleasure, pain, and perfection.), could she… could she truly be intimidated by this?

Undeniably, Su Qianyu genuinely believed she possessed the fortitude to withstand it.

Yet, the immutable truth remained before her.

For even the most unyielding spirit must, in the end, be grounded in the material.

To claim endurance verbally was one thing; to truly manifest it in reality was an entirely different calculus.

Hmph hmph, ahhhhhh!

You were born a demonic essence 👿! No matter what, you can never transform into a spirit pearl 😡!

However, just as Illo prepared to withdraw her hand, a strangely ethereal jasmine fragrance subtly wafted forth from Su Qianyu’s very being.

Hm!?

Upon catching this peculiar scent, Illo dared not treat it lightly. Instantly, she recoiled several paces, her eyes narrowing as they fixed intently upon the Little Fox Girl before her.

Even her hand instinctively conjured her weapon, poised to confront whatever unforeseen circumstance might unfold in the next moment.

Yet, the anticipated anomaly failed to materialize; instead, the unusual fragrance simply dissipated, as though it had never existed at all.

“Eh… eh!?”

“I, I won!”

Witnessing Illo’s abrupt withdrawal, Su Qianyu mistakenly assumed the other girl had succumbed, and promptly burst into a triumphant cheer.

However, upon observing Illo’s bewildered expression, she hastily reined in her own jubilant demeanor.

“Um, I… I won, didn’t I?”

Taking a deep, stabilizing breath, Illo was clearly still reeling from the preceding incident.

It wasn’t until Su Qianyu gently tugged her hand that Illo finally snapped back to reality, remembering that this was not her previous life.

“Of… of course.”

“I never would have imagined… that you possessed such remarkable endurance.”

Her magic wand vanished, and Illo discreetly wiped away the cold sweat that had beaded on her forehead.

Forcing a strained smile, she then meticulously feigned an air of unconvinced reluctance.

“So, the reward?”

Gazing at Illo, Su Qianyu’s eyes practically sparkled with anticipation.

“Naturally, my word is my bond.”

“However, let’s establish this upfront: I shall only grant you a mere hour, alright?”

“Ah? What do you mean by that?!”