X
“Th-this is just a physiological reaction!”
“Machines don’t have physiological reactions, do they? Ah, though I have heard of malfunctioning robots blushing.”
“The machine was just a metaphor! Please stop fixating on it! I was merely trying to say that my sole objective right now is to hunt down Envy, so…”
“Of course, hunting down monsters is important, but you are a Magical Girl. A Magical Girl’s life can’t *only* be about guns and blood, can it?”
Lu Chen opened his backpack, retrieving a slice of cake he had intended to save for himself, and offered it to the girl.
“This is for you. How about we eat and talk things over slowly?”
The cake, fragrant and soft, shimmered with a pale yellow warmth under the sunlight.
Lu Chen’s kindness was pure and gentle. Yet, precisely because of this, Lily of the Valley felt an escalating dread, even finding her beautiful, fitted gown beginning to chafe.
She couldn’t accept comfort. She wasn’t allowed to eat what she liked or wear the clothes she preferred, like ordinary people.
She had to crawl alone in damp, shadowy corners, constantly battling monsters.
Ideally, she would lose an arm or two, or an eye, with each encounter. Only then could she briefly earn a moment of peace.
‘If I don’t do this, how can my sister rest easy?’
The girl sprang from the bench, clenching her fists tightly as she glared at Lu Chen, her eyes sparking with a feigned fury.
She took a deep breath, and a long-sealed floodgate of words suddenly burst open.
“Enough, Mr. Lu. Please stop spouting such thoughtless, frivolous remarks. To my knowledge, Ms. Fireworks has been missing for a year, and was even presumed dead, wasn’t she?”
“…Yes. What are you trying to say?”
“I merely wish to return your own words to you.”
“Mr. Lu, during the year she was missing, were you truly able to remain utterly unconcerned? Were you able to live a normal life, going to work and coming home, playing games, enjoying delicious food, and feeling perfectly cheerful?”
“Ah, are you truly such a heartless person? If so, I can only feel regret for Ms. Fireworks.”
“Not at all. I’m ashamed to admit, I lived quite a decadent life, even attempting suicide.”
“If that’s the case, then please don’t preach these high-sounding yet utterly useless—no, sickening platitudes to me.”
“Platitudes, you say… Ms. Lily of the Valley, perhaps these words could be considered platitudes for me, but they aren’t for you.”
“What blatant double standards. Mr. Lu, as a journalist who has written for years, do you not find yourself contradicting yourself? I’m quite concerned for Ms. Lin Wan’s performance!”
The girl usually adopted a cold, killer demeanor.
Her speech typically resembled a rudimentary game with only three options: ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ and ‘…’, making her seem like a machine designed solely for monster extermination.
Now, however, she was speaking volubly and with great emotion, even employing sarcasm. This, surprisingly, brought Lu Chen a measure of relief.
“It’s alright. After all, Ms. Lily of the Valley and I are entirely different types of people.”
“While I know it sounds pathetic and overly sentimental, objectively speaking, Xia Shi is everything to me. To put it more seriously, I am severely addicted to Xia Shi; there’s no turning back now.”
“But, Ms. Lily of the Valley, your life surely isn’t as narrow as mine, is it?”
Lily of the Valley let out a cold laugh.
“Mr. Lu, your arrogance truly sickens me. What do you know about me? Ultimately, we are just—”
“I am, after all, your cameraman, and I’ve reviewed every mission record you’ve undertaken since your awakening.”
“I know you often use violent methods to evacuate civilians, which has led to numerous complaints, yet you maintain one of the lowest collateral damage rates.”
“I know that when you fail to save someone, you rush to the training center, pushing yourself until late into the night, exercising while weeping with self-reproach.”
“And just now, I had the privilege of hearing your confession, learning that you deeply love your sister, that you enjoy going to amusement parks, and that you feel guilt towards your parents.”
Lu Chen spoke smoothly and naturally, reciting these facts as if they were precious treasures, leaving Lily of the Valley’s expression momentarily frozen.
The girl was accustomed to ‘crawling in the shadows’ and never sought kindness from others. Thus, she had never imagined an outsider would ever truly notice her.
Lu Chen nudged the cake closer to the girl.
“Ms. Lily of the Valley, your hatred is undeniable, which inevitably makes your actions somewhat rough… As one of your ‘victims,’ I hope you might consider refining your approach, perhaps finding a way to optimize it.”
“However, I believe your love is equally undeniable.”
“As a cameraman, I’ve studied the deeds and characters of many Magical Girls, and few can compare to you. Those who work tirelessly, and weep with self-reproach for every victim, are a rare minority.”
“It’s good to seek vengeance for the deceased, and it’s fine to agonize over your own mistakes.”
“But there aren’t many people like you who love life and humanity so deeply. I hope you won’t always suppress yourself. Be a little more confident, and allow yourself to love even as you pursue your revenge.”
Lu Chen looked directly into the girl’s eyes, his tone earnest and solemn, yet his words were undeniably sappy.
Lily of the Valley racked her brain, opening her mouth to retort, but neither her eloquence nor her education supported her continued resistance.
After much hesitation, she finally extended her hands limply and accepted the cake.
Lu Chen’s lips curved upward. Just as he was about to speak again, he heard the girl murmur softly:
“A grown man, saying ‘love’ so many times without a shred of shame…”
The young man’s body stiffened, and he awkwardly scratched his cheek.
“Th-there’s nothing to be ashamed of, is there? Magical Girls inherently draw their power from love. It’s actually stranger for you to deny it and stubbornly feign indifference.”
“Anyway… let me see, do you remember after we defeated ‘Knight,’ we ate cake together by the carousel at the amusement park?”
“I-I suppose I remember. What strange thing are you going to say now?”
“It might be a bit strange. But back then, the smile you showed was so natural, truly wonderful—top-tier for a promotional photo.”
“…Is that so? I’ll consider it.”
“You’ve reverted to your usual tone.”
Lily of the Valley gazed at the cake cup in her hands, falling silent for a moment.
Feeling that his words had been spoken, Lu Chen picked up his backpack and rose from the bench.
“There’s no rush for the promotional photo, nor do you need to start immediately today; this is fine for now.”
“However, Xia Shi and I are both seasoned experts in the ways of cakes and monsters, and you’re always welcome to join us for a discussion. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back.”
“…Alright. Goodbye.”
The young man offered a simple farewell, then turned to leave.
However, just as he took a step, the girl on the bench suddenly seized his wrist, pulling him back to his original spot. Lu Chen, caught off guard, nearly tumbled to the ground.
“Can you truly not find a way to change this rough manner of treating people—”
Mid-sentence, the young man suddenly noticed Lily of the Valley’s serious expression, her gaze fixed intently on a patch of woods nearby.
She whispered, “Please be quiet. A monster is approaching.”
The excitement doesn't stop here! If you enjoyed this, you’ll adore I Became a Vampire Girl. Start reading now!
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