Chapter 39: A Shameless Request and a Magical Girl’s Dilemma

To acquiesce to Ink Crystal’s demands felt incredibly audacious.

Yet, Lin Han understood that refusal would only spur Ink Crystal on; she was not one to easily relent. Though often aloof with strangers, she harbored a fervent warmth for those within her inner circle.

Much like the young woman, Zhang Xiao.

He had witnessed the scene that day, knowing instinctively that it was Ink Crystal who had extended a helping hand to the girl, despite her earlier stubborn, heartless remarks during their conversation.

Thus, her intervention in this matter was all but guaranteed.

A thought stirred within him: was he, too, cunning? He had, after all, logically known that merely informing Ink Crystal of the situation would compel her to act.

He massaged his temples, a faint headache beginning to throb.

With a newfound brazenness, he settled into Ink Crystal’s home.

How to describe it?

A sprawling estate. The spacious bathroom alone, with its luxurious bath, offered profound comfort. Furthermore, Ink Crystal’s residence boasted advanced massage chairs, providing an utterly blissful experience.

“Teacher, how do you find the water temperature?”

The woman’s voice drifted in from beyond the door. Through the swirling steam, Lin Han imagined he could discern a graceful silhouette behind the frosted glass.

“No! Ink Crystal! What are you doing?!”

A mischievous chuckle emanated from beyond the door. “Teacher, what do you imagine I intend to do?”

The young woman leaned against the door. “Surely you don’t believe I’m about to burst in and scrub your back, like some anime heroine during your bath?”

‘I actually thought you were serious!’

Lin Han had instinctively tensed, ready to assume a defensive stance as if he were a Wudang master.

“Relax, I wouldn’t actually do that. Such a perilous act is simply out of the question; I have my boundaries, after all. I merely wished to seize this moment and ask, Teacher, what are your impressions of my home?”

Despite the excellent soundproofing in Ink Crystal’s house, which muted her voice somewhat, Lin Han’s exceptionally keen hearing allowed him to catch every word.

“Regardless, moving in with you would be truly audacious. While I am not one for excessive politeness, I must regrettably decline this proposition.”

He understood Ink Crystal’s unspoken intention.

‘Was this truly his answer, even when cornered by her in the very bathroom?’

Ink Crystal let out a resigned sigh.

“Alright, I understand.”

Her silhouette slowly receded.

Only then did Lin Han finally exhale, a silent breath of relief, as he immersed himself in the tranquil pleasure of his bath.

****

Meanwhile, Ink Crystal had retreated, burrowing back into the comfort of her quilt.

She retrieved her phone and composed a message for Liu Xingyue.

“Any boyfriend-exclusive photos of Magical Girl Emerald? (Mischievous grin).”

On the other end, in her living room, Liu Xingyue, engrossed in her homework, noticed her phone screen illuminate.

‘Who could be messaging me at this hour?’

‘Huang Xi? That girl must have neglected her homework again, now expecting me to photograph mine and send it over.’

‘Such an unhealthy practice! I must put a firm stop to it!’

Upon picking up her phone, she found the message was from He Yao, an utterly unexpected sender. Then, her gaze fell upon the text.

A blush instantly suffused the young woman’s face.

“Little Moon, what’s the matter?”

At her mother’s inquiry, Liu Xingyue swiftly locked her phone screen, fumbling for an answer. “Nothing at all! This problem is simply quite challenging! I considered looking it up on my phone, but then I decided it would be better to attempt solving it on my own!”

“Ah, I see…”

Her mother, harboring no suspicions, turned and departed.

‘That man! I’d always known him as a lewd, gloomy shut-in! I had genuinely believed his transformation into a wealthy young master these past two days had shattered my preconceived notions! Yet, here we are, back to square one!’

‘How utterly disappointing!’

Under ordinary circumstances, Liu Xingyue would never have entertained such a request; she would have vehemently rejected it, stating, “Even if we are now dating, we are still high school students, and engaging in such activities is simply inappropriate.”

However, her thoughts drifted to the incident with Teacher Lin that past Saturday.

An inexplicable pang of guilt stirred within her towards He Yao.

He Yao had, after all, done nothing to offend her. And truthfully, despite it being an accident, she felt she had indeed wronged him in some way.

“I’m going to take a shower first!”

She uttered the words with a hint of guilt, then, gathering a change of clothes, slipped into the bathroom.

After securely locking the bathroom door, she finally underwent her transformation into a magical girl within its confines.

Dispelling the magic that obscured her true form, she then snapped a rather charming photo in the bathroom mirror, naturally without revealing anything improper.

Come to think of it, she realized she hadn’t truly taken a good look at herself after transforming into a magical girl.

Staring at the image of Magical Girl Emerald on the screen, she found it somewhat difficult to believe it was truly herself.

‘Is this truly how I appear to the world, battling monsters in such a cutesy, voluminous skirt? Why does a sudden wave of embarrassment wash over me?’

After a moment’s contemplation, she reverted from her magical girl form. Then, donning the camisole and shorts she typically wore post-bath, she took another picture.

“One of Magical Girl, one of me. Which one do you prefer?”

Ink Crystal paused, momentarily stunned by the message.

She had wondered why the reply had taken so long, only to realize there was a choice involved.

Was there even a question?

The Magical Girl photo, of course!

Emerald’s personal selfie! Utterly unobtainable anywhere else online! Magical Girls, under normal circumstances, cannot be photographed!

“I want the Magical Girl one!”

‘That scoundrel…’

Liu Xingyue felt an inexplicable surge of displeasure.

She then sent her own photo.

Ink Crystal glanced at it.

Liu Xingyue was clad in a delicate camisole and shorts, her midriff and thighs tastefully revealed, exuding the captivating allure of a well-proportioned high school girl her age.

Had she not undergone her own transformation, Ink Crystal might have found it rather appealing. But now…

Ink Crystal cast a glance down at herself.

She then compared her own physique to Liu Xingyue’s.

‘Does Emerald’s form truly enlarge after transformation? Perceptually, she feels slightly more substantial than I do in my regular form, yet Liu Xingyue’s own measurements aren’t particularly grand… Could it be an effect of the ceremonial dress?’

‘But as for me…’

‘What exactly is the meaning of this?’

‘If I request a photo of her, she’ll send me one of Emerald instead?’

‘Is she in some rebellious phase, trying to provoke me?’

[Your girlfriend is Liu Xingyue! Not Emerald!]

Upon seeing that message, Ink Crystal snapped back to reality.

‘Ah… is she still wary of me?’

She couldn’t help but sigh. This reaction, truthfully, came as no surprise. After all, her reputation in Liu Xingyue’s eyes was likely far from stellar; who, indeed, would look favorably upon a mere shut-in?

Even if said shut-in happened to be wealthy.

‘She sent me a photo of Magical Girl Emerald; is she worried I might disseminate it?’

‘Then again, is she not concerned about her *other* photo being shared?’

‘It seemed relatively innocuous to share, given that nothing was explicitly revealed. Many women today wore far more revealing attire in public than what Liu Xingyue had on.’

‘So, in essence, there was likely no real issue.’

She consequently set her phone aside, dismissing thoughts of Liu Xingyue for the moment.

Her decision to message Liu Xingyue stemmed from a recollection of the girl’s subtle oddity the previous day. Engrossed in gaming at the time, she hadn’t paid it much mind, but now, upon reflection, it struck her as rather peculiar.

However, given the nature of the response, she surmised it likely held no significant consequence.

With that thought, she rose from her bed once more.

While a magical girl’s ceremonial attire could be altered, such modifications demanded a considerable expenditure of magic.

Indeed, it was far more practical to simply change into civilian clothes. Considering her collaboration with Teacher Lin, she couldn’t possibly venture out in her ceremonial dress; that would be an open invitation for her identity to be exposed.

Thus, earlier that afternoon, she had arranged for several outfits suitable for Ink Crystal to be delivered.

She then selected and donned one of the outfits.

Her choice fell upon a rather classic sailor uniform.

After putting it on, she scrutinized her reflection for a long moment, then promptly changed out of it.

‘Why do modern sailor uniforms look less like something one would wear out in public, and more like attire for… intimate moments at home?’

‘My own ceremonial dress, though revealing, seems more appropriate than this. This doesn’t feel like something a respectable person would wear.’

Subsequently, she experimented with various combinations before discovering her own shirt in her wardrobe. She paired it with a light blue short skirt and white over-the-knee socks.

“Oh~”

His original stature wasn’t particularly tall, yet Ink Crystal’s transformed height was far from diminutive. Moreover, her figure was well-developed, making his shirt fit her surprisingly well.

It exuded the perfect ‘boyfriend shirt’ vibe. Perhaps with a bow tie, it would look even better.

‘Speaking of which, fair-skinned girls truly suit white stockings!’

‘While everyone tends to favor black stockings, in reality, for average girls, black stockings are a bonus. But for girls already at a high level of attractiveness, black stockings appear rather ordinary.’

‘White stockings, however, are a different story. For those less attractive, white stockings can look quite unflattering, but for those already stunning, white stockings can instantly elevate their appeal even further!’

She regarded her current ensemble with a hint of satisfaction.

At that moment, Lin Han had just emerged from the bathroom.

“Oh~ That was invigorating!”

“Eh~ Teacher Lin, I half expected you to come out wrapped in just a towel! You actually got dressed first?” Ink Crystal popped out. “While this is my home, you don’t need to be so reserved~ It makes it seem like you’re being overly polite.”

Lin Han shook his head. “I always get dressed before leaving the bathroom, even at home.”

“You’re certainly particular about your privacy.” Ink Crystal seemed unfazed. She held up the hem of her skirt and twirled. “How do you like this outfit, Teacher Lin? I’ll transform and wear this to find you tomorrow after my PE class. You just need to pretend to be exercising on the sports field, and everyone will know of my existence.”

‘You truly have everything planned out.’

Lin Han sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “Alright, we’ll do as you say.”

His gaze swept over Ink Crystal. “This outfit, however, is much more modest than your ceremonial dress. You look considerably purer in it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Teacher, are you implying that I look indecent when I wear my ceremonial dress? I am a magical girl, a symbol of love and justice! Is Teacher actually looking at everyone’s hero with such lewd eyes? How shameless!”

‘That’s not what I meant…’

‘Forget it, arguing with her seems pointless.’

Before he could utter another word, Ink Crystal continued, “Teacher, would you like some late-night supper? Let’s go for some barbecue!”

“No, I’ve already had my bath!”

“Then, Teacher, do you expect me to go to bed at eight o’clock? How can I possibly sleep at my age! Now is precisely the time to go for barbecue!”