Chapter 31: The Genesis of Obsidian and Booboo’s Secret

“Xiaohua-senpai! Look, isn’t this Hollow Heart Syndrome!”

The magic girl, her indigo hair tied back into a single braid, was tugging at Xu Yanqing’s collar.

Xu Yanqing’s head throbbed from the shaking.

She had stayed up late the previous night, and the lack of sleep left her feeling somewhat unwell.

Yet, discomfort and pain were mere emotions, inconsequential to Xu Yanqing.

‘However, only punishment would intentionally inflict such agony.’

‘Was she being punished with this action because she had accidentally gotten lost in the high tower?’

Xu Yanqing arrived at this conclusion based on her deductions and experiences.

“Oh, let me see, meow… Wow, these symptoms are severe! No wonder this child makes me feel uneasy, meow.”

‘Symptoms?’

Xu Yanqing felt a pang of confusion.

Phrases like “about to die” or “illegal human experimentation” were entirely beyond Xu Yanqing’s comprehension.

Isolated within a corner of the high tower, with her studies confined, how could she possibly encounter knowledge so intimately relevant to herself?

Perhaps Xu Yanqing should have felt anger, or fear.

However, these emotions were halted at ‘confusion,’ and any burgeoning feelings were abruptly severed.

She remained tethered to the most superficial layer of rationality.

‘Hollow Heart’ was precisely the meaning.

Xu Yanqing, a patient of Hollow Heart Syndrome, was helplessly led by the hand, following a woman and a cat.

In the wizard’s high tower, under the afternoon sun, she embarked on an adventure far beyond the scope of ‘reason’ or imagination.

This was a memory Xu Yanqing would forever cherish.

It was the untold tale of her first encounter with Lin Xiaobai.

The genesis of [Magic Girl Obsidian].

****

Unlike Su Qingyao’s warmth, which was subtle and pervasive, like a warm spring offered to the chilled on a winter’s night, Lin Xiaobai’s warmth was akin to a struck match, striving to leap into Xu Yanqing’s palm.

Although it occasionally singed the frozen fingers of the young girl.

From that flickering flame, those scattered sparks, Xu Yanqing could perceive illusory dreams.

The ‘familial affection’ that should have been hers as a child.

****

Xu Yanqing’s narrative skipped over her initial meeting with Lin Xiaobai.

Before Su Qingyao, the otherwise expressionless girl slowly curved her lips into a faint smile, one devoid of praise or politeness.

‘What a lovely child.’

Su Qingyao mused silently, listening intently as words flowed from the heart Xu Yanqing had quietly opened to her.

In Xu Yanqing’s light narration, she began with Lin Xiaobai’s initial work, gradually progressing to how they joined the training program:

“…Just like the examples I gave, Lin Xiaobai really loves those children. After her studies in other high towers were interrupted, she proactively joined the ‘Magic Girl Training’ program…”

Originally, Xu Yanqing, accustomed to rational thought, had received an appointment as a researcher shortly after joining the Magic Girl High Tower.

However, unable to feel at ease about Lin Xiaobai, Xu Yanqing ultimately chose to participate in the training herself, doing so by working overtime.

After several twists and turns, Xu Yanqing became the lead instructor, while Lin Xiaobai, who had joined earlier, was ironically assigned as the assistant instructor.

“…Xiaobai easily empathizes with others. In several trial lectures, she inadvertently allowed the children’s questions to steer the class far off-topic. Yet, I, who initially didn’t care much for this matter, was chosen by the ‘Magic Girl Leader’ inspecting from above during one trial lecture to become the lead instructor—of course, in the end, I was the one with the most objections to this arrangement…”

Enthusiastic, kind, occasionally a bit clumsy, and with a fervor for children that bordered on ‘maternal affection’—Su Qingyao gradually sketched Lin Xiaobai’s ‘portrait’ in her mind based on Xu Yanqing’s descriptions.

‘A child with a very… natural magic girl disposition.’

Su Qingyao considered this carefully.

She was surprised to find that Lin Xiaobai fit the stereotype perfectly.

It was precisely this dreamlike personality, as if plucked from a fairy tale, that allowed Xu Yanqing to remember her for so long.

Furthermore, based on Su Qingyao’s experience, such children were often highly susceptible to danger…

Su Qingyao effortlessly recalled numerous examples in her heart, and an inevitable hint of sadness crept in.

While Xu Yanqing’s initial descriptions were coherent, as she delved deeper into her memories of Lin Xiaobai, her voice grew fragmented, eventually becoming subtly choked with emotion.

The girl, having guessed Xu Yanqing’s thoughts, could only sigh softly before gently encircling Xu Yanqing’s shoulders with her arms.

The not-so-tall Su Qingyao quietly promised:

“If you need anything, I will help you.”

Her words were light.

Su Qingyao’s breath, when she exhaled softly, remained gentle.

Xu Yanqing’s shoulders twitched, seemingly startled by Su Qingyao.

Yet, in the end, Xu Yanqing merely let out a breath as faint as a mosquito’s hum.

“Okay.”

****

Once Xu Yanqing’s narration was nearly complete, Su Qingyao saw the girl off before returning to the rooftop.

This time, however, Su Qingyao had also borrowed Booboo from Su Muxue.

Unlike Xiaohua and the other fantastical creatures in the high towers, who almost regarded magic girls as their own children, Booboo, while equally concerned for the magic girl with whom it had a contract, showed a distinct and almost excessively ‘respectful’ attitude towards Su Muxue.

Initially, Su Qingyao had simply assumed Booboo was intimidated by her identity.

Now, compared to other fantastical creatures, Booboo’s distinction was quite obvious, and one shouldn’t ask why Su Qingyao hadn’t realized this sooner—

For one, Su Qingyao wasn’t entirely clear on what changes the new generation of fantastical creatures would undergo.

The other reason was more direct: Su Qingyao’s contract partner had already died long ago.

There had been no deep understanding, no bond formed.

‘What a remarkably careless death.’

Su Qingyao casually stroked Booboo’s arched spine, noting that the areas frequently touched seemed to be made of soft, fuzzy fabric.

Mimicking Su Muxue’s usual way of holding it, Su Qingyao ran her hand over Booboo a few more times, further confirming her observation.

From the moment Booboo settled into Su Qingyao’s arms, it had been impeccably well-behaved; even as the girl absentmindedly stroked it, it merely rolled its eyes and extended a small, pink, furry tongue.

“Alright, stop trying to be cute.”

Su Qingyao asked rather casually, “What did you do to that cartoon cat today that made it so afraid of you?”

Since she would soon return it to Muxue, Su Qingyao didn’t want to get it dirty, so she positioned Booboo to face her, lifting its front paws.

Booboo’s face took on a surprisingly human-like expression of contemplation, while Su Qingyao waited patiently for an answer.

A moment later, Booboo began to explain:

“Actually, I didn’t actively try to drive it away or chase it—though I was certainly considering such actions, Your Majesty.”

“If you insist on knowing why it fears me…”

Booboo freed one of its front paws.

With its paw, it gently slit open a small incision beneath its belly, which was visible for only a fleeting moment before living threads stitched it back together.

Yet, Su Qingyao had undoubtedly seen what Booboo intended to reveal.

Inside its abdomen.

Numerous fantastical creatures, or rather, fragments of what were once fantastical creatures, undulated within a liquid darkness.

‘No wonder.’

Su Qingyao raised an eyebrow.