Chapter 33: A Bold Proposal and a Moral Compass

This week, Clear Sky City had been exceptionally peaceful. The incident involving Zhang Xiao was entirely under control, and apart from that, there were only ordinary human crimes, with no sightings of strange beings or monstrous demons.

Naturally, Magical Girls often intervened in regular human crimes as well. However, most of the time, they remained unaware of such occurrences.

After all, it wasn’t like when strange beings or monstrous demons appeared, triggering their senses. Ultimately, when these creatures didn’t actively use their powers, Magical Girls couldn’t necessarily track their whereabouts.

From this perspective, justice was always a step behind evil.

For crime was born first, and only then would justice arrive, followed by punishment.

Logically speaking, this was an inevitable process. Unless something could monitor human hearts or foresee the future, this sequence was bound to unfold.

Of course, these were not matters He Yao should be concerned with. Even if he were, the relatively weak Magical Girl Ink Crystal would be powerless to do anything about it.

Today marked the first time He Yao had ever hosted guests for dinner at his own home.

It was just the four of them: Liu Xingyue, Lin Han, Liu Yun, and He Yao. The primary excuse for the gathering, of course, was to announce his relationship with Liu Xingyue.

Lin Han, surprisingly, arrived bright and early.

“What exactly are you up to?” Lin Han asked, looking at He Yao with a hint of suspicion. “What’s the real reason you invited us to your house for dinner?”

“Am I not currently dating Liu Xingyue?”

He Yao stated frankly, “Teacher Lin, you must have heard the news, right? Teacher Liu spoke with us individually about this recently, and I believe she has some misunderstandings about us. So, I was hoping you could help put in a good word for us with Teacher Liu.”

This wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. Lin Han probably understood why He Yao was dating Liu Xingyue—it was likely to conceal his identity as a Magical Girl.

However, on second thought, Liu Xingyue seemed unaware of He Yao’s true identity. That felt a bit dishonest.

“I’m more concerned about something else entirely.”

“What is it?”

“Since you’re dating Liu Xingyue, does she, as your girlfriend, know that you’ve been sending me those photos?”

He Yao looked utterly bewildered. “Teacher Lin, what are you talking about? I don’t quite understand.”

He then directly produced a Divine Separator. “Teacher Lin, have you received any unique photos? Like private pictures of Magical Girl Ink Crystal? It’s really best not to do such things~ Magical Girls always attract fervent fans, so if you’ve received any such photos, you must keep them well hidden and ensure no one discovers them.”

‘If you don’t want people to see them, then don’t send such things! And you even sent them directly from your own account!’

‘You’re so rich, yet you couldn’t create or buy a burner account to add me and send them?’

Lin Han wanted to retort, but ultimately, he said nothing. “In short, you mean Teacher Liu doesn’t approve of your relationship, so you want me to be your advocate. What makes you think I can persuade Teacher Liu?”

He Yao looked at Lin Han earnestly. “But aren’t you very good at persuading people, Teacher? You even convinced me back then! Besides… Teacher Liu will definitely give you face! Weren’t you two dating before?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! I was just helping Teacher Liu move. It was merely a normal interaction between colleagues!”

‘Oh really? Since when is ‘normal interaction between colleagues’ having someone drunk fall all over you?’

‘Are you trying to say I’ve never had a job before?’

“If you’re willing to help, how about you just move into my house afterwards, Teacher?”

Lin Han froze, setting down the radish he was washing—an ingredient for lunch. “You said move directly into your house?”

“Teacher Lin, you’re renting, aren’t you? And your rent expenses aren’t small, especially since you need space for your motorcycle,” He Yao stated plainly. “Plus, there’s food for three meals a day. Almost all your income goes towards modifying your motorcycle… your financial burden must be quite heavy, right? If you move into my house, you’ll save on accommodation, and then…”

Mid-sentence, He Yao vanished, and Magical Girl Ink Crystal appeared in his place. A charming smile graced her face as she leaned closer to Lin Han. “And a Magical Girl like me will prepare three meals a day for you, Teacher~ If you wish, I can even maintain my Magical Girl form at home~ I’ve discovered that as long as Magical Girls aren’t fighting, there’s actually very little energy consumption.

“I can stay like this indefinitely.”

“Wh-what do you mean by this?”

“Teacher is still being stubborn. You really like Magical Girls, don’t you?”

‘What kind of joke is this? How could I have such thoughts about a Magical Girl?! Don’t underestimate my integrity as a teacher!’

Lin Han desperately wanted to refute her, but he couldn’t help recalling Ink Crystal’s demeanor the last time she had approached him. It was truly difficult to say; if he lost control, it would be utterly disastrous.

He forced his gaze away, even though from that angle, he could glimpse the dazzling, almost blinding white expanse revealed by the Magical Girl’s ceremonial attire. But…

“You definitely have other motives. Don’t think I don’t know anything; I advise you to confess truthfully.”

“Oh~ Teacher is so wary of me. I thought we were good friends~”

“That’s enough! Don’t think that just because you’re a Magical Girl, you can be so disrespectful to your teacher!”

“Is there anything about you, Teacher, that’s worthy of respect?”

****

Liu Yun walked alongside Liu Xingyue, holding a parasol. She gazed at her companion’s physique with a hint of envy.

On such a bright, sunny day, perhaps only young girls remained unconcerned about their skin, freely basking in the sunlight. “You said He Yao plans to treat you and Teacher Lin to dinner. Inviting the two of you is normal, but why invite me?”

“He feels you were somewhat displeased with him during our last conversation, so he wants to explain himself. He also likely wants Teacher Lin to put in a good word for him, given their close relationship.”

That sounded perfectly reasonable.

After some thought, Liu Yun replied, “Since Teacher Lin is coming, I have no reason not to. But what did you mean by ‘helping me win over Teacher Lin’?”

“When He Yao told me about this, I immediately thought it was your chance, Teacher Liu. Since you’ve already confided in me about your feelings for Teacher Lin, it wouldn’t be right for me to stand by idly. Firstly, this is He Yao’s dinner invitation, and he and Teacher Lin are very close, so Teacher Lin will definitely help him. Don’t you agree?”

Liu Yun nodded. “That’s certainly true.”

“That means Teacher Lin will be seeking a favor from you regarding this matter. In other words, he’ll place himself in a subordinate position to you. While it might sound a bit improper to put it that way… this is precisely the opportunity we can seize!”

Liu Xingyue said with full confidence, “He Yao and I are students, so naturally, we can’t drink alcohol. But you and Teacher Lin are adults, so you can certainly have some. Since Teacher Lin needs a favor from you, you can naturally encourage him to drink a bit more. You mentioned before that you would invite Teacher Lin to dinner and then pretend to be drunk… what if we got Teacher Lin drunk instead?”

“G-get Teacher Lin drunk? Is th-that even possible?”

“Normally, no. But what if He Yao assisted? For instance, he could secretly mix some *baijiu* into Teacher Lin’s beer, causing him to become intoxicated… Then, He Yao and I would leave. What happens after that? Wouldn’t it be entirely up to you, Teacher Liu?”

Liu Yun’s eyes widened in shock. “You—this—Isn’t this illegal? Even if, technically speaking, a woman might not be charged with rape, isn’t this basically taking advantage of someone while they’re incapacitated? We’re Magical Girls!”

Liu Xingyue’s face was a picture of confusion.

‘No, sister, why do you always resort to pretending to be drunk yourself? So, you thought it would be illegal if Teacher Lin got drunk and did *that*…’

‘You…’

‘How should I put this?’

Liu Xingyue had always considered herself a highly righteous Magical Girl. Her confident remarks to He Yao stemmed from her belief in her absolute sense of justice.

Now, however, she felt profound shame.

Teacher Liu, Magical Girl Amethyst—a woman who could be a teacher and their class head, was indeed far more righteous than Liu Xingyue had ever imagined.

“As a teacher, how could I possibly continue to face my students if I took advantage of someone? This is absolutely unacceptable.”

She looked at Liu Xingyue with great solemnity. “I know you young people always have bold ideas, but you must always be vigilant and warn yourselves not to stray down the wrong path.”

Liu Xingyue’s face burned with shame. “Teacher, I understand. If that’s not acceptable, then, Teacher, why don’t you simply be honest and open?”

“Honest and open?”

“I now understand your resolve, Teacher. As the saying goes, love is war!” The shame on Liu Xingyue’s face hadn’t vanished. She felt this entire situation was He Yao’s fault. If she hadn’t secretly read He Yao’s novel titled *Filial Piety*, how would she have come up with such an idea?

The female protagonist in that novel, to seize her beloved, even went so far as to contend with her own daughter for a man!

In comparison, she felt her own proposal was quite mild.

‘Reading strange novels has messed with my perception! Damn it!’

‘He Yao must have become a dark *otaku* because he read novels like that too.’

Nevertheless, she still agreed with the notion that love was war.

“The method I just proposed was indeed the ‘art of war is the art of deception,’ but you, Teacher, are not that kind of person. So, at this point, we must proceed with integrity!”

She gripped Liu Yun’s hand. “Teacher, be forthright and tell Teacher Lin everything about yourself! Be forthright and show Teacher Lin your true self! Then, go and win Teacher Lin’s heart! If you do that, your feelings will surely reach Teacher Lin’s heart!”

Liu Yun felt a surge of passion from Liu Xingyue’s words, as if she had suddenly become much younger.

“You’re absolutely right! This is how it should be! In that case, today’s operation is canceled. Tomorrow, I will invite Teacher Lin out personally!”