Chapter 7: The Unexpected Encounter

In the movie ‘Ringu’, the protagonist, after a busy day, takes a short nap and wakes up to find her son seriously examining a mysterious VHS tape. Ling Wei is currently in a similar state of mind.

Not like this, Morning Star! You, the final boss, shouldn’t be busy handling more urgent matters? Why do you start by riding my face like this in a JRPG?

You should stay seated on your throne, first send a bunch of minions to level me up and give me clues, then sequentially send the four kings to give me the holy sword and armor, and finally deliver a world-ending speech in the throne room where saving is not allowed, and then be slain by me at the last moment!

I don’t accept this!

…Alright, this is also quite interesting. A smooth journey would be too boring.

Ling Wei invoked her magic, sending a telepathic message to Zero, who was playing a suffocation game with Morning Star.

This was her original and unique communication magic, designed specifically for her cosplay career after years of research. Although the casting range was short, it was discreet. Morning Star, who relied on instinct and had shallow theoretical knowledge, would never be able to detect it.

‘Dear Zero, how much have you told her? Ah, don’t stop flapping your wings, or she might notice.’

‘Dear master, I admire you so much, and I have not said a single word to this wild robber that could be harmful to you!’

‘I promise I won’t hold it against you, just tell the truth.’

‘I only mentioned some trivial details. For example, that you are actually a strange person, that you are looking for the Silver Moon Heart, and that you have a grudge against her.’

‘So, you’ve basically spilled everything. Thanks for your honesty.’

‘…You really won’t hold it against me, will you?’

‘Of course. When have you ever seen me lie?’

‘I’ve been seeing you lie quite often lately.’

‘I’m increasingly impressed by your courage… Alright, enough chit-chat. Now, cooperate with me.’

Telepathy was much more efficient than speaking. The master and servant completed their conversation in a few eye contacts.

Ling Wei temporarily ended the conversation and looked at Morning Star. She bowed slightly, her hands hanging in front of her skirt.

‘Miss Morning Star, it’s been a long time. And who is this crow?’

Morning Star raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting Ling Wei’s reaction to be so calm. She thoughtfully curved her lips and released her grip on Zero, walking towards Ling Wei. The crow was very loyal and immediately tried to fly out the window to escape. But after a few flaps of its wings, it inexplicably flew back to its original position, unable to increase the distance from Morning Star, like a satellite orbiting her.

Amidst the caws of the crow, the strongest magic girl had already reached Ling Wei’s eyes. She looked up, her golden eyes gazing at Ling Wei, her presence as imposing as a 1520mm peak.

‘I heard that Fireworks had risen from the dead and was escorting her injured lover home, so I hurried back from afar to see her. Instead, I found this poor little pet at Mr. Lu’s apartment. As for its identity… Come, monster, repeat what you just told me.’

Saying this, Morning Star beckoned with her slender finger. Zero was immediately pulled by an invisible and powerful force, floating to the center of the group, and opened its beak to say:

‘I am the servant of the Incarnation of Sin! Under the threat and command of my master, I am forced to monitor the owner of this apartment!’

Lu Chen was startled. Before the others could respond, he asked in surprise:

‘Me? Why monitor me?’

‘Because… because my master wants to better play the role of your lover, to play the role of Fireworks!’

The crow’s voice was slightly hoarse but very clear and unambiguous. After understanding its words, Lu Chen’s face turned as pale as paper.

He couldn’t help but glance at Ling Wei, then quickly averted his gaze, disbelievingly asking Zero:

‘Y-you… your words sound like…’

Although they were just a few simple words, Lu Chen’s voice became increasingly shaky and soft.

Morning Star took over, smiling as she completed the second half of the sentence for him.

‘Yes, Mr. Lu, you are absolutely right. The woman standing beside you, the one talking to us now, is not Fireworks.’

Morning Star casually threw Zero aside and then looked at Ling Wei. Her eyes were still lazy, but her tone was devoid of any warmth.

‘She is a servant of the Primordial Witch, one of the seven Incarnations of Sin, a powerful monster who has committed countless sins. Good, Mr. Lu, please stay away from her. I am about to start exterminating the pests.’

Morning Star raised a finger, her body surging with overflowing magic, causing the nearby air to warp and resonate.

Ling Wei maintained a serene expression, controlling her increasingly heated mind while trying to make her eyes even colder. She looked down at Morning Star and said:

‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying. I am Xia Shi, the former partner of Morning Star, Fireworks, and a friend of Lu Chen. I have no other identity. You call me the Incarnation of Sin… just because of the words of a crazy crow?’

Morning Star let out a light laugh.

‘Not just that. The security department has long been aware of the activities of the Incarnations of Sin, approaching to seize Fireworks’ inheritance… so I have been suspicious of you from the beginning. This little pet’s testimony is just the final straw.’

Sweat beaded on Ling Wei’s forehead, and her calm voice began to waver.

‘That’s still just a baseless speculation. I underwent a full medical examination at the hospital. Are you claiming that the entire hospital has been infiltrated by monsters, providing false examination results?’

‘Hmph… those examinations can only detect ordinary monsters, but a powerful Incarnation of Sin like you can certainly deceive the equipment.’

‘Perhaps, but in the end, you still don’t have concrete evidence, do you!’

Morning Star’s smile became more pronounced, like a detective cornering a suspect.

‘Concrete evidence? It’s simple. Your way of doing things is well known. You are too weak, weak enough to sign a master-servant contract with all your subordinates, ensuring they can never attack you, never make you bleed.’

Saying this, she waved her finger again, and Zero, who was trying to sneak away, spun back like a top.

The girl stroked Zero’s nape, parting the black feathers to reveal a complex mark. She smiled and said:

‘Look, this crow also has the same contract. Just let it try to slice open your wrist and see if blood flows out!’

Ling Wei’s expression became increasingly tense, her shoulders trembling slightly. There’s no way out, I’ll have to expose myself and then be sent to a PvP match with Xia Shi… Just kidding, everything is under control.

Morning Star raised her finger, pointing at Ling Wei’s brow:

‘You are completely exposed, ‘Envy’!’

Ling Wei struggled not to laugh out loud. By switching the proposition from ‘prove you are not an Incarnation of Sin’ to ‘prove you are not Envy,’ she had found her solution. Zero had indeed revealed most of the information, but not which Sin she represented. And as far as Ling Wei knew, Envy had also been eyeing her Silver Moon Heart and had been beaten up by Morning Star. Moreover, that person naturally had the ability to change appearance, and the method to verify their true identity was well known, making them a perfect scapegoat.

In contrast, Ling Wei had been in Morning Star’s sight for almost a year, almost enough for a hundred-day celebration, and would not be the first suspect. As long as she sweated a little, adjusted her microexpressions, and protested a few times with ‘you have no evidence,’ mimicking Envy’s fragile psychological state, she could deepen Morning Star’s mistaken impression, making her believe she was Envy and use a method that would not work to verify her identity.

Then, she could smoothly shake off all her suspicions and become the genuine Xia Shi. Although Zero would probably be imprisoned and tortured by Morning Star for slandering Xia Shi, Morning Star would not kill prisoners, and this punishment was something it deserved. She could rescue it later.

By the way, Zero was not a loyal servant forced into a contract, and had nothing to do with Envy. The mark on its nape was self-inflicted, signed while Ling Wei distracted Morning Star’s attention.

Ling Wei bit her lip, extending her pale wrist, the blue veins visible beneath her skin.

‘…I understand. Then, proceed.’

Morning Star narrowed her eyes, seeming to sense something amiss. But she still restrained Zero layer by layer, pressing the sharp beak against the girl’s wrist. The girl pretended to shudder, closed her eyes, and started thinking about what to have for dinner that night to celebrate passing this challenge.

How about some skewers? It’s been a while. Since we’re having skewers, we naturally need ice-cold cola and a horror movie. The cola has to be Pepsi, but the movie selection is vast. ‘The Thing’ is still unviewed, and while the American version of ‘The Grudge’ is said to be terrible, I haven’t watched it yet. Or maybe rewatch ‘Grave Encounters 2’?

…Um, why hasn’t the beak reached yet? Hurry up, I need to get off work.

As Ling Wei daydreamed, a firm, warm hand pressed down on her wrist. She opened her eyes in surprise to see Lu Chen already standing in front of her, blocking Morning Star. He looked at the displeased strongest magic girl and stated his stance.

‘Sorry, please don’t do this. She is not someone else; she is the real Xia Shi.’