Chapter 43: A Sharp Interrogation

Magical Girl Amethyst.

Ink Crystal had, in fact, speculated that this individual was Liu Yun.

However, she later discarded this theory. She lacked concrete evidence to substantiate it, even though Amethyst’s swift arrival during the incident with Zhang Xiao could theoretically serve as corroboration. Yet, Kamen Rider Great Aum had also appeared.

‘Surely Great Aum isn’t also one of my friends?’ she mused.

‘Who else could be my friend?’

‘It couldn’t possibly be Teacher Lin, could it?’

More importantly, Ink Crystal had personally witnessed Magical Girl Emerald’s transformation. Based on her limited understanding of Magical Girl Amethyst’s fiery temperament, Amethyst should have transformed swiftly during the Regenerator attack, despite the risk of exposure, to stop the monster.

At that time, Teacher Lin and Teacher Liu had been on a date.

Yet, Ink Crystal herself had already transformed and fought the Regenerator for a while before Amethyst, who was nearby, finally arrived.

If Teacher Liu truly were Amethyst, it made no sense for her not to transform immediately. Regenerators were dangerous creatures; even a slight delay in intervention could lead to dozens of casualties.

Why was Ink Crystal so determined to eliminate these masked figures? Why was she willing to employ such underhanded methods, even baiting them, to uncover the truth?

The confessions of Snake Mask and the others claimed they were all terminally ill patients. They had escaped the clutches of disease through the power of a sacred artifact and a saintess, believing this power to be magnificent and undeserving of being labeled monstrous.

Perhaps their ideals were indeed noble. Perhaps they were genuinely undertaking a grand endeavor. Perhaps what the Magical Girls were doing now would, years later, be deemed foolish.

But it couldn’t be allowed.

Because, ultimately, the power of the Regenerators and the masked figures grew by consuming living flesh and blood.

Regenerators were repeatedly defeated by Amethyst, yet they always escaped, reappearing time and again. This was because they fled underground, devouring rats in the sewers, and worms and insects beneath the earth.

Therefore, when Amethyst hunted them, she always aimed for complete annihilation.

Faced with such a monster, if Ink Crystal hadn’t been there at that moment, would Amethyst still have concealed her identity? Ink Crystal simply couldn’t comprehend it.

Thus, what could have been evidence for Liu Yun being a Magical Girl had, for Ink Crystal, become evidence against it.

Yet, in this very moment, she realized her initial deduction had been flawed.

Liu Yun had not transformed in time then.

Why?

‘No…’

She recognized her own narrow-mindedness. Magical Girls were still people, still human. They could experience confusion, helplessness, and moments of hesitation.

Her previous thoughts were perhaps overly critical. Magical Girls were not perfect beings; not every Magical Girl was like Rainbow Jade, capable of ruthlessly dispatching masked monsters with such cold, iron-blooded resolve.

She merely recalled the words Liu Xingyue had once spoken to her.

Not every Magical Girl was like that.

Were there not also Magical Girls who traveled the country solely for bounties?

So, she quickly suppressed that particular thought.

Now, with Liu Yun transforming before her, that wasn’t the main issue. The critical point was that she couldn’t let Liu Yun discover her own identity.

If she did, Liu Yun would undoubtedly insist she abandon her plan.

Ink Crystal believed her “fishing” method worked because she was “weak.” If Amethyst were to try fishing, the hook would be too obvious, the bait too salty. Unless the masked figures were fools, how could they possibly be lured out?

Furthermore, how could she fulfill Teacher Lin’s request if her plan was thwarted?

This was unacceptable.

“Ah, Amethyst-senpai, you wouldn’t want the fact that you’re a Magical Girl…”

Amethyst’s foot pressed down on Ink Crystal’s head.

“Wrong, wrong! I was wrong! Amethyst-senpai! Spare me!”

‘To step on someone’s head with your foot! You think I’m some kind of two-dimensional pervert with eccentric hobbies? I have absolutely no interest in that! If you have the energy to step on me, why not go step on Teacher Lin’s little head instead!’

With these complaints swirling internally, Ink Crystal put on a fawning smile.

“Um, Amethyst-senpai, you’re ruining my plan.”

“Your plan? What plan?”

“Didn’t a few of those masked figures escape? I transformed like this and dressed up as a cute, innocent girl precisely to lure those guys out.”

Amethyst frowned. “Intelligence is still tracking their whereabouts. If you intended to act, why didn’t you report it?”

“Eek, a plan like this would definitely not be approved, right?”

“If you knew it wouldn’t be approved, why did you proceed with it?”

Ink Crystal smiled. “Because I believe it has a chance of success.”

“But you’re weak!”

Amethyst seemed to grasp something, her expression growing increasingly grim. “You can’t handle masked figures alone. And even more outrageous, you got close to Teacher Lin! Don’t you know that puts him in danger? Do you have the power to protect Teacher Lin?”

“But aren’t you here?”

Ink Crystal smiled. “And Magical Girl Emerald, too.”

“…You knew my identity from the beginning?”

Ink Crystal raised an eyebrow. “I actually dismissed the idea for a while… so I could only confirm Emerald’s identity. What I’m more curious about is, during my first battle against that Regenerator, since you were present, why didn’t you transform immediately?”

Knowing she couldn’t let Amethyst control the conversation, Ink Crystal tried to seize the initiative. “You clearly knew how dangerous that monster was. If I hadn’t been there at the time, and you hadn’t transformed as a Magical Girl to fight, how many casualties would there have been?”

“I know your identity, but you couldn’t possibly have known mine, because I hadn’t transformed yet at that time,” Ink Crystal pressed on, step by step. “It’s precisely because of that incident that I thought you weren’t a Magical Girl. Yet now you tell me you are. Can you explain what you were thinking back then?”

At that time, Amethyst had also wanted to transform quickly, but Teacher Lin was beside her.

“Was it because Teacher Lin was there?”

Ink Crystal asked with a smile. “Because Teacher Lin was beside you, and you didn’t want him to know your identity, you didn’t transform into a Magical Girl. Although, in the end, no harm was done, Amethyst, as a Magical Girl, isn’t that a disqualifying act?”

She then asked, smiling, “So, Teacher Liu, does Teacher Lin know your identity?”

Lin Han hadn’t described the specific details of his date with Liu Yun to Ink Crystal.

However, that didn’t stop her from asking now.

Since Teacher Liu had revealed her identity, did Teacher Lin know about it?

“On Sunday, I told him.”

“Then he didn’t ask that question?”

Ink Crystal stared at Amethyst. “He didn’t ask you why you didn’t transform at that moment? Teacher Liu, were you planning to retire as a Magical Girl then, and become a full-time wife? If that’s the case, I have nothing to say. No one can demand that a person fight forever.”

Silence spread through the small room.

The initiative in the conversation had been completely seized by Ink Crystal.

“I imagine a kind person like Teacher Lin would certainly make excuses for you, believing you had hardships, believing you had reasons not to transform, and understanding your intentions. But can you understand yourself? As a Magical Girl, not stepping forward.”

How ludicrous.

She, Amethyst, had previously righteously questioned Ink Crystal, asking if she ever considered others in her actions.

And yet, Amethyst herself seemed unable to uphold that standard.

“As for involving Teacher Lin… Teacher Lin agreed to it,” Ink Crystal stated, righteous indignation in her voice. “Teacher Lin agreed to my plan. He is such an upright and kind person. I know this might have the suspicion of using him, and using you… but this is also Teacher Lin’s sense of justice.”

She had practically cornered Amethyst. “I say, Teacher Liu, if you truly love Teacher Lin, why not retire from being a Magical Girl and settle down as a full-time wife? After all, being a Magical Girl is a life-threatening profession. If you were to marry Teacher Lin as a Magical Girl and then die in battle against monsters and fiends, how heartbroken would Teacher Lin be? A wife, a mother, should not be on the battlefield.”

These words were genuinely heartfelt.

They were also Ink Crystal’s somewhat arrogant “test” for Teacher Liu.

Though such an approach was presumptuous, Ink Crystal was fully immersed in her role.

If Teacher Liu truly loved Teacher Lin, then Ink Crystal didn’t want Teacher Liu to continue being a dangerous Magical Girl.

Her mind replayed the moment she had asked Teacher Lin about his first love.

Teacher Lin had said his first love was dead.

She couldn’t describe her feelings at that time.

Therefore, if Teacher Liu truly loved Teacher Lin, if Teacher Liu was truly prepared to become Teacher Lin’s wife and build a family with him, then she shouldn’t continue to operate as a Magical Girl.

Even if she was a very powerful Magical Girl in Clear Sky City.

This was Ink Crystal’s somewhat selfish wish.

She didn’t want to see that expression on Teacher Lin’s face again.

Seeing Amethyst standing there, dazed.

She smiled, pushing open the door. “So, my dear Miss Amethyst, you should really think this over! I hope you’ve truly considered it carefully, and aren’t just taking advantage of Teacher Lin’s kindness.”

Ink Crystal closed the door.

Amethyst collapsed onto her bed.

‘I… using Teacher Lin’s kindness?’

Although Ink Crystal hadn’t explicitly stated it, Amethyst knew what she was referring to.

She had told Teacher Lin about her identity as a Magical Girl, claiming it was her honesty… but in reality, wasn’t it also leveraging Teacher Lin’s kindness to accept this profession?

Because she knew Teacher Lin wouldn’t stop her from continuing her Magical Girl activities.

‘In her eyes, am I such a despicable person?’

‘How sharp she is…’