Chapter 53: The Price of Protection

Liu Xingyue returned to He Yao’s home with him. She realized her visits here seemed to have increased at an alarming rate lately.

Yet, this statement didn’t quite feel right. Before the battle with that monstrous giant baby, her relationship with He Yao had merely been that of classmates.

“I was kidnapped with Teacher Lin earlier because I wanted to lure out more Masked Figures.”

Although she believed she had a clear conscience, she couldn’t help but bring up the topic once more.

He Yao nodded. “Of course, I know.”

After all, hadn’t He Yao himself transformed into Ink Crystal and feigned a relationship with Teacher Lin precisely to draw out the Masked Figures?

This time, the two weren’t holding hands. He Yao was laden with various items, leaving Liu Xingyue’s hands free.

“I’m sorry,” the girl suddenly said.

He Yao paused, his face etched with confusion. “What is there to be sorry about?”

“Teacher Lin’s matter, I…”

“Haven’t you already spoken about it? Has that matter not passed yet?”

“I wasn’t trying to say that…” Liu Xingyue opened her mouth, wanting to speak of what had transpired between her and Teacher Lin. However, she then recalled telling Teacher Lin that it was a secret between them.

He Yao sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “I know you’ve always felt a bit bad about it, but if you keep dwelling on it like this, Teacher Lin himself will feel sad. He can’t stand to see his students suffer.”

“…I made you worry.”

“It’s fine.”

“But still, I’m sorry.” Liu Xingyue apologized once more. “I want to express my regrets.”

“Perhaps it would be better to save that apology for Teacher Lin.”

‘This apology is for concealing Teacher Lin’s identity from you.’

Teacher Lin was no ordinary person. She couldn’t allow her personal feelings to drag He Yao into dangerous situations. This young man, possessing a strong sense of justice, would never back down, even when facing formidable enemies.

If he were to discover Teacher Lin’s true identity, he might undertake perilous actions. She wished to prevent such an outcome.

Therefore, even if it meant savoring a complex emotion and harboring guilt within her heart, she had to persevere, maintain the secret, and protect this young man.

She imagined Teacher Lin harbored similar thoughts.

The two returned to He Yao’s home.

Lin Han was already busy in the kitchen. “I’m already preparing the meat that was sent back. Oh? Liu Xingyue, welcome to our home.”

Teacher Lin seemed perfectly fine, preparing a meal at home.

Honestly, when He Yao had “assassinated” Teacher Lin, it was more like he convinced Teacher Lin to take a few days off, wasn’t it?

Their relationship was truly extraordinary.

Liu Xingyue placed her backpack on the sofa.

“Do you need any help?”

“No need. Just sit here for a bit.” He Yao skillfully put down his various items, then tied on an apron and disappeared into the kitchen.

Liu Xingyue sat on the sofa, listening to the sounds of cooking emanating from the kitchen.

Soon, she heard He Yao and Lin Han playfully teasing each other.

‘These two have such a good relationship.’

She felt somewhat like an anomaly, as if she were forcefully intruding between them.

She quickly shook her head.

‘What exactly am I thinking?’

After all, He Yao and Teacher Lin were both healthy young men. He Yao was her boyfriend, and Teacher Lin was being pursued by Teacher Liu. Why would she feel their relationship was *too* good?

‘Am I jealous of men?’

‘How could that be?’

‘Teacher Lin is clearly a normal man…’

The image of herself being pinned to the bed by Teacher Lin resurfaced in her mind—Teacher Lin’s immense power, a strength that made resistance almost impossible.

She gazed at her wrists, recalling Teacher Lin’s large, powerful hand that could grip both her wrists with ease, rendering her helpless.

‘If I hadn’t managed to awaken Teacher Lin then, I surely would have…’

The girl’s cheeks flushed crimson.

She secretly slapped herself. “‘Shameless!'”

Then, as if to distract herself, she turned on the television.

In this era, few young people watched television. However, she herself had a habit of watching, primarily for reports concerning Magical Girls, strange demons, and monsters.

Information found online was often biased, with much of it being mere rumors.

Of course, news reports weren’t always entirely true either, but by combining them with the information she knew through her own channels as a Magical Girl, she could at least verify some details.

It was exactly seven o’clock now.

She decided to watch.

The local channel in Sunny Sky City reported the arrest of Tiger Mask and announced that the remaining eleven patients—Rat Mask, Ox Mask, Dog Mask, and others—were undergoing screening.

Cross-referencing the remaining patients roughly identified a few Masked Figures, but all of them were either “missing” or “deceased.”

In other words, to their families, the Masked Figures had long since “died.”

The now-vanished Masked Figures were, of course, hiding under different identities, and people still needed to search for them.

Only three Masked Figures remained.

This was already enough to cause widespread panic, as the Masked Figures’ strength was far from trivial.

“Magical Girl Rainbow Jade has stated she hopes to implement a city-wide lockdown and search in Sunny Sky City. She claims that in just three days, the entire city can be swept, and even if the Masked Figures aren’t completely eliminated, Sunny Sky City’s safety can be guaranteed. Mr. Vice Mayor, what are your thoughts?”

“We have thoroughly considered Magical Girl Rainbow Jade’s suggestion. However, based on the current situation, our decision not to lock down Sunny Sky City comes after a comprehensive assessment and consideration of the Masked Figures. We believe they do not pose an immediate threat in the short term.”

“Therefore, we have chosen to pursue a strategy of covert searching to combat these monsters.”

“I see. Thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor, for the interview…”

‘Magical Girl Rainbow Jade.’

‘In Sunny Sky City, she was the Magical Girl no one could defeat.’

She wasn’t someone Liu Xingyue, as Emerald, could even compare to. Rainbow Jade wanted to directly seal off the entire city—and Liu Xingyue actually agreed with this idea.

Everyone deeply trusted Rainbow Jade’s judgment.

Just then, Lin Han and Ink Crystal emerged, carrying dishes.

“Dinner’s almost ready~”

Liu Xingyue then asked, “Teacher, He Yao, what do you think? The news is reporting that Rainbow Jade suggested a three-day city-wide lockdown to forcefully uncover the Masked Figures.”

He Yao approached the television, watching the report.

“It’s a good idea, but it’s impossible to agree to, isn’t it?” He Yao immediately pointed out the issue. “Ultimately, the Masked Figures haven’t caused a disaster. The destruction they’ve inflicted doesn’t even compare to the Regenerators from before.”

He calmly watched the TV. “How could they possibly lock down the entire Sunny Sky City just to find them? A single day would likely result in losses of billions.”

“But who knows what the Masked Figures, possessing the Saintess and the Holy Relic, might do next?”

Lin Han also chimed in. “However, from the perspective of the higher-ups, aren’t Magical Girls meant to exist precisely for such times? Magical Girls are needed so they can act when the Masked Figures cause trouble.”

“If they simply lock down the entire Sunny Sky City and find the Masked Figures, couldn’t that be achieved even without Magical Girls?”

He Yao nodded. “Exactly. Many matters, when viewed from a position of authority, simply become a calculation of numbers.”

Liu Xingyue paused, startled. “‘A calculation of numbers?'”

She knew that while He Yao appeared to be a homebody, his parents’ connections meant he wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with high-ranking officials since childhood. That was why she posed the question.

“Simply put, regarding just the Masked Figures problem, let’s say the Magical Girls who participate in the extermination receive a bounty and reward of 500,000 per person.”

“Of course, I don’t know the exact amount.”

He was, of course, joking.

“According to reports, there were fifteen Magical Girls who participated in the event, right? That totals 7.5 million. The losses from hospital damage and repairs, let’s estimate around ten million.”

“Or perhaps a bit higher, adding up to twenty million, or slightly more.” He Yao untied his apron and began serving rice. “But if Sunny Sky City were to be locked down for three days, the losses wouldn’t be less than a billion.”

“In other words, the losses incurred by non-Masked Figures would exceed the cost of locking down Sunny Sky City for three days; otherwise, such an action wouldn’t be taken.”

“Calculating based on a compensation of two million per person, such a large-scale lockdown would only occur if at least fifty people died—it’s a very simple math problem.”

“But if that’s the case! Fifty innocent people would die!”

He Yao had already served the rice and sat down at the dining table. “Come eat first!”

Liu Xingyue paused, then joined him at the table.

‘Monsters and strange demons are inherently like natural disasters, wouldn’t you say? Is He Yao the type to kill innocent people, like typhoons or earthquakes?’

“Of course, I understand that such matters are emotionally difficult to accept. If I were one of those fifty, or a friend or family member of one of them, I would certainly be filled with hatred, condemning the incompetence of those in power. This is only natural. Even the most rational person cannot remain calm.”

“However, this does not influence the choices made by those in authority.”

Hearing He Yao’s words, Lin Han couldn’t help but sigh. “There’s nothing that can be done about it, and that’s precisely where the greatness and nobility of Magical Girls lie.”

“Magical Girls are regarded as heroes because they work to prevent such occurrences. They strive with all their might to save every person who can be saved. That is a truly great and noble endeavor.”

‘Emerald?’

Liu Xingyue had been a Magical Girl for over a year, but ultimately, she was still just a high school girl.

She found it difficult to accept.

Yet, even Rainbow Jade, despite her opposition, seemed to… accept this reality.