Chapter 40: A Paradoxical Assessment

The atmosphere on the return journey was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Inside the medical pod, Huo Hualan had already regained consciousness, her injuries stabilized after emergency treatment.

She leaned weakly against the stretcher, her orange-red eyes like two unquenchable flames, fixed relentlessly, unblinkingly, on Jin, who was huddled in the corner, trying to conceal herself.

The initial fury and murderous intent had vanished from her gaze—perhaps she simply lacked the strength for it now.

In their place was an utterly stubborn stare, as if her eyes intended to burn two holes straight through Jin.

It clearly communicated: “Just you wait! Once this old lady’s wounds heal and I can stand, the first thing I’ll do is settle accounts with you! We’ll tally every new grievance and old grudge, one by one!”

Jin felt a shiver of dread, her scalp tingling under that intense scrutiny.

She could only keep her head bowed, meticulously counting the patterns on the floor, while silently praying to every deity imaginable for the journey to never end—or perhaps for a meteor to just smash their vehicle entirely!

Xia Yue, Lin Wan, and Yu Niannian naturally noticed Huo Hualan’s blatant “death glare” as well.

Xia Yue merely gave a fleeting glance before averting her eyes, maintaining her characteristic silence.

Lin Wan, conversely, made a playful face at Huo Hualan, earning an even fiercer glare in return.

Yu Niannian, however, nervously nestled beside Jin, attempting to shield her with her small body from that scorching gaze.

The journey passed in silence, save for Huo Hualan’s unspoken accusations.

At last, the airship arrived at the Star Guardians’ base.

****

The moment they disembarked, Ouyang Na swiftly arranged for Huo Hualan to be transported to the medical center for intensive treatment.

Then, her gaze settled upon Jin, who resembled a trembling quail.

“Take her to Assessment Room 3,” Ouyang Na instructed a staff member nearby.

She then turned to Xia Yue, Lin Wan, and Yu Niannian, adding, “The three of you, come with me. There are some matters I need to understand first.”

‘An assessment room?’ Jin’s heart leaped into her throat.

‘Were they going to test her magical abilities? Would something be exposed?’

She was led into a room filled with an array of precise instruments.

Throughout the entire process, Jin’s palms grew slick with sweat from anxiety as she cooperated with the staff, completing a series of tests she couldn’t comprehend: magic power intensity determination, energy attribute analysis, mental strength threshold scanning, physical constitution evaluation, and more.

When the final report was presented to Ouyang Na, even the experienced supervisor revealed a hint of undeniable… bewilderment and speechlessness on her face.

The report indicated:

Magic Power Reserve Assessment: Approximately equivalent to 1.2 standard Shadow Beast cubs. (Note: A Shadow Beast cub’s magic power unit is roughly 1.05 times the average magic power value of an ordinary adult human male.)

Magic Power Control Precision: Extremely low. (Note: During testing, instances of magic power dispersion and control failure occurred multiple times.)

Energy Attribute: Weak dark attribute tendency. (Not meeting awakening standards, falling between ordinary humans and low-tier demonic energy creatures.)

Mental Strength: Average for an ordinary human female.

Overall Physical Constitution Rating: E-. (Below the average for an ordinary human female; increased nutrition and physical training are recommended.)

Comprehensive Conclusion: The target individual’s magic power level and special abilities are both extremely low, lacking the standard characteristics of a known witch. Threat level assessed as [Harmless].

Ouyang Na held the report, rereading it several times.

She then looked up at Jin, who stood before her, trembling slightly from nervousness, her eyes pleading, ‘I’m weak, don’t kill me.’ Ouyang Na’s brows furrowed tightly.

‘This weak? So weak she doesn’t even qualify as a “witch”?’

‘She’s practically an ordinary human who accidentally brushed against a speck of magic dust!’

Yet, how could such a person command the fierce loyalty of Xia Yue and Lin Wan, two proud and seasoned members, along with Yu Niannian, a gifted newcomer?

Moreover, she was even suspected of influencing the attack trajectory of the Abyssal Weaver on the battlefield where the high-ranking witch appeared earlier? (Though that influence was minuscule, and impossible to replicate or confirm.)

‘This is utterly illogical!’

Ouyang Na stared at Jin, trying to find even a trace of pretense in her eyes, which were filled with innocence and fear.

But she failed. The girl’s fear and weakness seemed so… genuine.

Ultimately, she could only rub her brow, arriving at a conclusion that even she found somewhat far-fetched:

‘Perhaps… it truly was a coincidence then? Did the Abyssal Weaver simply make a mistake?’

‘Or did this girl, Jin, possess some extremely unique, non-power-based quality—something even precise instruments couldn’t detect, like sheer luck—that happened to play a role at that crucial moment, distracting Violairella?’

After all, short of that, she simply couldn’t reconcile the glaring contradiction between this “useless” assessment report and Xia Yue and the others’ unusually protective stance.

“Jin,” Ouyang Na said, setting down the report, her voice regaining its usual composure.

“According to the assessment results, your current magic power level and special abilities do not meet the organization’s defined ‘threat’ standards. Given the… unique connection between you and Xia Yue, Lin Wan, and Yu Niannian, and their willingness to vouch for you…”

She paused, seemingly weighing her words, then produced a shimmering silver card and handed it to a nearby staff member.

“Issue her a [Temporary Observation Pass],” Ouyang Na instructed. “Permission level: lowest. Her scope of activity is restricted to the living quarters and designated areas. She is not permitted to leave the base without authorization and must undergo regular magic power monitoring.”

Then, her gaze shifted to Xia Yue, Lin Wan, and Yu Niannian, who were visibly relieved, her tone carrying an undeniable command:

“As for the three of you, until Huo Hualan recovers from her injuries and completes her report, you will be solely responsible for her supervision.”

She deliberately emphasized the word “supervision,” her sharp gaze sweeping over the trio. “Ensure she adheres to regulations, and simultaneously… ensure her ‘safety.’ If anything happens to her, or if she uses this pass to commit any actions harmful to the organization, the three of you will bear joint responsibility. Understand?”

“Understood!” the three responded almost immediately, their voices tinged with relief, and even… a hint of quiet joy?

Ouyang Na watched their expressions, sighing inwardly once more.

‘Who is supervising whom, exactly?’

She waved a hand, signaling that they could leave.

Watching Jin being led out of the office by Xia Yue and the others, as if she were the moon surrounded by stars—though Jin herself felt more like she was being escorted—Ouyang Na leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples.

‘An absurdly weak “ordinary” girl, who seemingly had a past grudge with a high-ranking witch, yet managed to capture the attention of her most troublesome team members to such an extent?’

‘No matter how she considered it, this matter was likely far more complex than it appeared.’

****

Meanwhile, Jin, having received her “get out of jail free card”—for now—felt her emotions swirl with extreme complexity.

She sensed the invisible “protection”—or rather, “supervision”—that the three magical girls around her had implicitly woven.

‘Was she safe? It seemed so.’

‘Was she free? It seemed not.’

‘What would her future hold? She had no idea.’

But at least, she wouldn’t be immediately purified, nor would she be locked away in some dark, sunless cell.

She looked at Xia Yue’s calm profile, Lin Wan’s sly wink, and Yu Niannian’s dependent grip on her arm.

Though the future remained shrouded in mist, and she had made an enemy of a “fire-breathing dragon”—Huo Hualan—who could erupt at any moment, still… being alive, and being “protected” in such a way (even if the method was peculiar), seemed… not so bad after all?

She gazed at the [Harmless Pass]. Although the “1.2” felt a little insulting, she now had official recognition, which meant she wouldn’t have to live in fear of her witch identity any longer.