Chapter 59: Awakening and Reckoning

“Beep—beep—beep—”

Opening her eyes, Jin Shiling found an unfamiliar ceiling above her.

‘A hospital, then…’

She inhaled the faint scent of disinfectant in the air, pinpointing her location.

‘What happened to me?’ She instinctively tried to sit up, only to find her body as heavy as lead; she couldn’t even lift a finger. Simultaneously, a jolt of needle-like pain surged through her forehead, forcing her to close her eyes again.

‘So uncomfortable, I feel like throwing up.’

After an unknown duration, as the discomfort began to recede, the utterly exhausted Jin Shiling managed to pry open her eyes and roll onto her side with immense effort.

The sensation was akin to running three kilometers under a scorching summer sun.

There was no damp chill clinging to her, and she noticed she had been changed into a loose-fitting pajama set. Perhaps to account for her time spent drenched in the rain, the room’s air conditioning was even emitting a gentle warmth.

It appeared she had been rescued.

Fragmented memories began to piece themselves together in her mind. She recalled participating in the battle to track down Liu Tianze, and a silent self-mockery followed: ‘My luck really hasn’t been great since I became a Magical Girl. Why do I always seem to be fighting opponents far beyond my league?’ ‘

Having been forced to concentrate all her energy on using her Magic Gear, she, as a direct participant, couldn’t quite recall the other details of the battle. It was only now, lying half-dead on the bed, that she belatedly wondered what immense courage had driven her to resolutely attack an enemy whose strength vastly outstripped her own.

Then, she remembered the three peers embracing in the rain. In that moment, despite their opposing sides, she had felt a profound relief at their reunion. When she saw Liu Tianze regain consciousness, she thought that perhaps fate wasn’t so merciless after all.

But subsequent events taught her that these were mere illusions. Fate was far crueler than she could have imagined. Their reunion had only created a more extreme, suffocating chasm for the losses that followed. When the unrecognizable monster emerged amidst the thunder, everything was irrevocably lost.

A profound sense of powerlessness washed over her, not just physically, but spiritually. Despite fighting with all her might until exhaustion, she had been unable to save anything, even forced to witness hope being strangled and extinguished before her eyes. This intense shock left Jin Shiling with a crushing sense of defeat.

‘I wonder what happened to them in the end.’

At the thought of what came after, she buried her head directly into the pillow, trying desperately to evade the memories like an ostrich. Yet, that memory was seared into her mind, appearing with startling clarity the moment she closed her eyes.

Black Mirror, the Corroded Entity who had crushed her before and then, in an awkward manner, formed a brief alliance, had saved her life.

She still couldn’t forget that gaze, a look that had inexplicably stirred something within her.

It was the gaze of a “person.”

That look… it was like seeing something lost and then found again, or perhaps… staring in disbelief at some untouchable existence.

She had never been looked at like that before.

Why had the other party saved her, and why had they worn such an expression? The more she pondered, the more Jin Shiling found herself utterly bewildered.

Black Mirror was an enemy, of that there was no doubt, yet the hostility she displayed was never truly intense. She had had countless opportunities to kill her, but she hadn’t. Her attitude towards Magical Girls was complex, especially towards Polaris.

What exactly was the other party thinking? Jin Shiling racked her brains, recalling the memories before and after that scene, attempting to glean some clues. However, at the time, her consciousness had been muddled, and her memory presented brief “fragmented” symptoms. The more she tried to remember, the deeper she sank into confusion.

In that moment, Black Mirror had been closer to her than ever before, their foreheads even touching. Rainwater had soaked her short hair, and those eyes were so strikingly similar to her own when she was Baoyu. That sense of proximity was not merely physical; it was something spiritual, perhaps even more profound—

‘Wait.’ Her memory instantly froze, then rewound. The scene played back frame by frame, stopping at another instant, which then magnified repeatedly.

In Black Mirror’s eyes, Jin Shiling vaguely saw a person, someone collapsed in the rain, appearing utterly frail. Who could it be? Undoubtedly, it could only be herself. But the problem was—

It wasn’t Baoyu; it was Jin Shiling.

“!!!!”

Her heart skipped a beat, as if she were plunging from a cliff.

If not for her current physical state, Jin Shiling would have practically fallen off the bed in fright. In that instant, all her memories crashed down upon her like razor blades, and she belatedly realized that her true face had been seen by Black Mirror!

She had no recollection of it, only feeling utterly drained of strength, unable to squeeze out even a speck of magic, and then collapsing in a daze. It turned out that at that moment, she was no longer “Magical Girl Baoyu,” but “Jin Shiling.” She had been completely exposed, utterly defenseless.

The Magical Girl Code, penned by the Magic Supervision Department, explicitly stated that every Magical Girl had an obligation to keep her true identity secret and should never willingly reveal her true face to others. This was a covert measure to protect their daily lives and personal safety. Now, however, her face had been seen by Black Mirror, a Corroded Entity.

Thinking of this, Jin Shiling broke out in a cold sweat. Once targeted by such a dangerous enemy, what would become of her life? Could she still go to school as she did now? Would her friends, classmates, and even Zhang Qingwei, who lived with her, be drawn into danger because of her? She dared not contemplate further.

Concurrently, a new hypothesis formed in her heart: ‘Does this mean Black Mirror’s inexplicable reaction wasn’t because of the Magical Girl “Baoyu,” but because of the ordinary person “Jin Shiling”?’

‘What exactly is going on?’ Baoyu rolled over again, mindlessly pulling open the nearby curtains with a slight struggle as she mused. A hazy night greeted her eyes; the rain had stopped.

It seemed dinner time had passed. Her stomach wasn’t particularly hungry, but what should she do tonight? In her current state, she’d likely have to lie here and slowly recover. Should she inform that guy? It wouldn’t be easy to explain staying out all night.

Scanning her surroundings, the girl spotted her phone, but it was a little too far, out of reach. Just then, footsteps echoed from the corridor outside the door. Judging by the rhythm and sound of the steps, it sounded like a small child.

A moment later, Polaris, dressed in a child’s hospital gown, opened the door and entered. Seeing Jin Shiling sitting up in bed, she seemed to visibly relax, the worry etched on her small face easing somewhat.

“You’re awake. Your body hasn’t fully recovered, so you should rest more.” As she spoke, she placed a stainless steel insulated container on the table. “I just got some dinner from here. I’m not sure if it’s to your taste.”

Opening the container, Jin Shiling saw dishes still steaming and fragrant.

“I’m not very hungry yet, Senior. Have you eaten?”

“I’m not hungry either, so I wasn’t planning on eating.”

“Then let’s eat together, Senior. I can’t finish all this food by myself. With you, none of it will go to waste.”

“…Alright then, let’s eat together.”

And so, Polaris went out to fetch another set of cutlery, brought in a chair, and sat down beside Jin Shiling’s bed.

“Senior, what about Asherah, String Moon, and the others? Are they safe?” Upon seeing Polaris, Jin Shiling naturally began inquiring about the others’ whereabouts.

“Yes, they’re both fine. Asherah kept insisting on coming to see you, but after much persuasion, I convinced her to go back. Otherwise, with her boisterous personality, others here might have complaints. But she did ask me to bring these to you.”

Polaris pulled out a handful of different flavored lollipops from her person and placed them on the table. Both girls shared a slightly helpless smile at these comfort items, which were very much in Cheng Zhenzhen’s style.

“String Moon also safely returned to the Magic Supervision Department with Ji Lanxin and Wen Qiusheng. Ji Lanxin’s condition isn’t very good; she’s still receiving treatment. The two of them will temporarily be monitored and cared for by the Jingping City Magic Supervision Department. Later, they will likely contact the Jihai City Magic Supervision Department to jointly decide on their subsequent arrangements based on their condition.”

“As for Liu Tianze…” Polaris trailed off, seemingly unsure how to explain the boy’s fate to the girl who had fought with all her might before her.

“He barely clung to life, but that’s all. The doctors say the possibility of him regaining consciousness is… extremely slim.”

Though she had anticipated such an outcome, Jin Shiling’s gaze still dropped slightly. A person who had just found a glimmer of hope and courage before their eyes had, in an instant, withered away in such a tragic manner, transforming into an evil and hideous monster. All promises and commitments had dissolved into a fleeting illusion.

After serving a bowl of egg drop soup, Polaris held the bowl in one hand and spooned soup with the other, bringing it to Jin Shiling’s lips.

“Um… Senior?”

“Ah, sorry. Is it still a bit hot? Wait, I’ll blow on it…”

“That’s not what I meant, Senior. I can do it myself…”

“Don’t try to be strong. The doctor just told me your stamina is completely depleted. And because you had no protection and were exposed to an Erosion-level Corroded Entity, suffering a mental attack, you are very weak right now. It’s already a miracle you haven’t developed any other psychological after-effects. Just let me feed you.”

“Mmm, mmm…”

Polaris’s words left Jin Shiling with no room for argument. She truly couldn’t even guarantee the strength to lift a rice bowl. Yet, watching this girl, who appeared much younger than herself, meticulously caring for her like an elder parent, she felt a vague sense of embarrassment.

To escape this awkwardness, she decided to throw out more questions to distract herself, taking small sips of soup from the bedside with Polaris’s help. “By the way, Senior, where is this place? It doesn’t feel like a regular hospital.”

“This is a medical facility that cooperates with the Magic Supervision Department. Most of the time, it provides treatment and rehabilitation services for Magical Girls, and it also offers comprehensive physical examinations. All of these services are, of course, free. The doctors just performed some basic checks on you. Aside from being utterly exhausted from the battle, you have an exceptionally healthy body. You must take good care of it in the future, okay? Here, have some vegetables.”

Somehow, Jin Shiling suddenly remembered her childhood, when she was sick. Her father would care for her with similar gentleness and patience. When she couldn’t sleep at night due to a fever, her father would hold her hand, sitting by her bed, silently watching over her all night.

It had been a long time since she had felt such warmth.

Jin Shiling inexplicably felt a lump in her throat. Indeed, her physical weakness had made her spirit more fragile and sensitive, and she found herself wanting to depend on others more.

“You should rest well today. We’ll handle everything else. Oh, right, Baoyu, this is your phone.” Polaris picked up the girl’s phone and handed it to her. “Send a message to your brother in a little while. It’s getting late, so don’t let him worry too much.”

“Mhm.”

Jin Shiling nodded softly, her hands resting on the phone, a hesitant expression on her face. “Senior, at the end of the battle, did I… did I revert from my transformation, and was I seen…?”

Her words remained unfinished, and there was no need to complete them. Any encouraging words would have sounded hollow in that moment. Thus, Polaris offered no immediate response, merely noting Jin Shiling’s slightly trembling hands. This young captain, who had always borne heavy responsibilities but had once again failed to uphold her promises, understood clearly that the girl before her was steeped in profound unease—an unease born from her own dereliction of duty.

The girl’s ears replayed Black Mirror’s final words to her before leaving, a phrase utterly devoid of warmth that negated her resolve and trampled her beliefs, leaving her no way to refute it.

She had been just a hair’s breadth away from once again witnessing the very thing she was determined to protect vanish before her eyes.

“I wasn’t blaming you, Senior. Rather, it’s my fault for being so reckless, and I caused you a lot of trouble. Besides… we achieved our goal, didn’t we? Because of our fight, more people were spared from greater harm. I think it was all worth it.”

‘To be comforted by her junior like this… I truly am an incompetent Senior.’

“I can’t promise you anything right now, Baoyu, but as you said, in places unknown to people, you bravely fought with all your might for their safety. You successfully protected the lives of many. You should be proud of yourself.”

“While you were unconscious, the Magic Supervision Department also contacted me. What you mentioned is indeed a very serious matter. Regardless of Black Mirror’s future intentions towards you, the consequences of exposing your true appearance to a sentient Corroded Entity are still immeasurable. The Magic Supervision Department will send some people to secretly protect you and your family in the near future. Of course, regarding your brother, I imagine the Magic Supervision Department will inform him accordingly soon.”

‘So, the fact that I’m a Magical Girl can’t be kept secret anymore?’

If he knew she was a Magical Girl, what would that guy’s reaction be? Jin Shiling pondered, but found she couldn’t possibly imagine Zhang Qingwei’s reaction or expression upon learning this. From this, she formed a new idea.

“Regarding this matter, could I tell my brother myself? It won’t take too long, just a few days.”

“That might be a bit…”

However, seeing Jin Shiling’s pleading expression, Polaris ultimately conceded.

“I’ll try my best.”

After this, Jin Shiling grew much quieter. Perhaps she simply lacked the energy to think about anything else. She leaned against the headboard, obediently allowing Polaris to care for her through dinner. Soon after, she appeared rather sleepy, prompting Polaris to offer a few quick words of caution before discreetly leaving the room.

Listening to the footsteps outside fade into the distance, Jin Shiling lay in bed, picked up her phone, and slowly opened the green chat application. She found her ‘cheap brother’ (TL Note: A humorous or affectionate term for an older brother with whom one has a distant relationship), with whom she rarely exchanged more than a few words a month. Checking the current time, she took a slow breath and proactively placed a voice call to him.

His ringtone was a foreign song she didn’t understand, likely an anime theme song judging by the melody. The ringtone lasted about six or seven seconds before being cut off, replaced by Zhang Qingwei’s usual flat tone.

“Hello, what’s up?”

‘While I was fighting hard and in danger, this guy was probably living his usual boring, uneventful zombie-like daily life.’

“Nothing much, just letting you know I’m staying at a friend’s house for a couple of days and won’t be back tonight.” The girl twirled her hair around her finger as she delivered her prepared excuse. “So you don’t have to wait for me for dinner tonight.”

“Ah, I see. Got it. Did you eat dinner?”

Somehow, Jin Shiling felt that his tone was slightly heavier than usual, but she dismissed it as her imagination.

“Already eaten. You should check the time… Is the rain heavy back home?”

Normally, the call would have ended here, but because she had something else to say, she rather awkwardly kept the conversation going.

“It’s alright, it’s stopped. Did you take an umbrella when you left? The forecast says it might rain again tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I did, I did. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“Okay, then be careful, have fun, and get to bed early tonight.”

The siblings, who usually ended conversations so easily, were now struggling to keep it going. Jin Shiling found Zhang Qingwei’s words a bit strange but didn’t dwell on it. She still hadn’t conveyed what she most wanted to say.

“Yeah, I know, I… I’m fine, you don’t need to remind me.”

Trying to maintain a basic level of liveliness in her voice, Jin Shiling grew slightly agitated. She remembered Liu Tianze’s final struggle to say something, only to die with regret. She understood that people often felt they had countless chances to say certain things and thus procrastinated, but in reality, such opportunities often came only once.

She didn’t want to face regret only when it was too late.

So, with a surge of inexplicable emotion, her voice suddenly rose a few pitches: “Actually, there’s something else I want to discuss with you.”

“Mhm, I’m here, I’m listening.”

“It’s… it’s about that thing a week from now, that event, the memorial sweep for Uncle and Auntie.”

It felt as if something was lodged in her throat, preventing her from uttering the rest. She gritted her teeth, forcibly swallowing her stubbornness, and conveyed her wish in that very moment.

“This year, could we go together… just the two of us?”