The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 5
Shock.
Confusion.
Fear.
Worry.
Disbelief.
A storm of emotions crashed into You Dong’s mind all at once.
He didn’t know what he was supposed to do.
More importantly…
He refused to accept the reality before him.
Why?
Why is You Xi a magical girl?
His thoughts immediately drifted to one person.
Old Lin.
The shameless old fox who had spent months trying to persuade him—whether over the phone or sitting casually at the foot of his bed.
The moment he found someone to blame, every tangled emotion inside him transformed into blazing fury.
With trembling hands, You Dong hurriedly pulled out his phone.
His fingers shook so violently that he couldn’t even hold it.
The phone slipped from his grasp.
Crack!
It hit the floor.
The screen shattered instantly, turning his brand-new phone into a damaged wreck.
He didn’t care.
Ignoring the startled stares of everyone around him, he snatched up the phone and rushed out of the smoking area as though his life depended on it.
“Old Lin!”
“Yo, Dongzi.”
Old Lin’s cheerful voice came through almost immediately.
“This is the first time you’ve called me yourself. What is it? Finally changed your mind? It’s not that I’m nagging, but if you’d only lis—”
“I have a question.”
You Dong cut him off coldly, emphasizing every word.
“Who is Magical Girl Raging Flame?”
“…”
Silence.
Several long seconds passed before Old Lin finally spoke.
“The identities of magical girls are strictly confidential.”
“Even among Connectors, we’re forbidden from revealing the identities of the girls we’ve contracted.”
“Then let me ask differently.”
You Dong’s voice grew heavier.
“Is Magical Girl Raging Flame…”
“…my niece?”
“…You Xi?”
More than anything…
He wanted Old Lin to deny it immediately.
To laugh and tell him he’d mistaken someone else.
Instead…
The silence on the other end became the answer.
“I…”
His voice broke.
“…Damn you.”
His eyes reddened.
“Why?”
“Why did you choose You Xi?”
“Was this revenge against me?”
“Because I refused your contract?”
“It’s not like that.”
Old Lin remained as calm as ever.
“I’ve already told you before.”
“Theoretically, I could force a contract onto you over the phone right now.”
“But I won’t.”
“Every magical girl I’ve ever contracted—including You Xi—made that decision of her own free will.”
“I never forced them.”
“I rarely even guided them.”
“You…”
“…are the only exception.”
Even after being cursed, Old Lin’s tone never changed.
“It’s not that I’m lecturing you, You Dong, but your compatibility is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
“I still don’t understand why.”
“If you were willing to become a magical girl…”
“…perhaps this endless war could finally come to an end.”
“Fine.”
You Dong answered without even thinking.
“Turn You Xi back into an ordinary girl.”
“I’ll accept your contract.”
“Very well.”
Old Lin answered almost immediately.
“But…”
“Would You Xi agree?”
“I won’t force anyone into becoming a magical girl.”
“And I won’t forcibly reclaim a Soul Gem either.”
“That’s one of my principles.”
“…”
You Dong fell silent.
His final hope had just been extinguished.
“You should calm down first.”
Old Lin sighed softly.
“Now isn’t the time to discuss whether you’ll become a magical girl.”
“It’s not that I’m preaching, but we’ve talked for nearly three months now.”
“So…”
“Allow me to ask you something.”
“As a friend.”
“Don’t misunderstand what I’m about to say.”
For the first time…
Old Lin sounded genuinely serious.
“Before You Xi signed the contract…”
“She already understood everything.”
“She knew becoming a magical girl meant getting hurt.”
“She knew she could disappear.”
“She knew she could die.”
“I watched her before every deployment.”
“She wasn’t some fearless superhero.”
“She was just an ordinary little girl.”
“She was scared.”
“Her voice trembled.”
“She stuttered.”
“She was so nervous that her arms and legs moved stiffly in the same rhythm when she walked.”
“But despite all that…”
“She still chose to transform.”
“By her own will.”
“You may only see a rebellious teenager.”
“A stubborn girl who constantly causes trouble.”
“But I…”
“I see a warrior.”
“A magical girl who willingly shoulders justice.”
“And now…”
“You tell me to change her back.”
Old Lin’s voice became almost solemn.
“So tell me, You Dong.”
“What right do you have to deny her conviction?”
“What right do you have…”
“…to belittle everything she’s sacrificed?”
A weirdo?
I practically crushed it under my butt.
Instant kill.
Easy.
At that moment, You Xi was in an unbelievably good mood.
If she had a tail, it would probably have been sticking straight toward the sky.
She had expected her first solo mission to be terrifying.
Instead…
It had ended so easily that even she was surprised.
Maybe…
I’m actually a genius.
Unable to stop herself, she burst into a silly little laugh.
After completing her mission, she changed back into her school clothes and headed to her favorite café.
With a parfait in one hand and her phone in the other, she happily browsed magical girl forums while enjoying her reward.
Today’s hottest topic…
Naturally…
Was Magical Girl Raging Flame defeating Bubble Person in a single strike.
[I’ve officially become Raging Flame’s No. 1 fan! Nobody steal my spot!]
[This rookie might actually be the strongest newcomer in years. She didn’t even use her weapon or Soul Skill.]
…
Every comment praising her received an immediate like.
Of course…
When she saw comments like—
[Come back after beating a C-Rank by yourself.]
She immediately frowned and gave them a downvote.
Jealous people.
By the time she finally stopped admiring herself and remembered to head home…
Night had already fallen.
“Crap…”
“You Dong’s definitely going to lecture me again.”
Sticking out her tongue, she packed the rest of her dessert into a takeaway box, slung her backpack over one shoulder, and left.
The house she shared with You Dong stood near Shangjing City’s Fifth Ring Road.
Unlike the crowded downtown districts, this neighborhood was quiet and spacious.
The wealthy residents preferred detached villas over high-rise apartments.
Strictly speaking…
Someone with You Dong’s salary shouldn’t have been able to afford living there.
Although he’d worked his way up to junior management at a foreign company, he was still nothing more than a hardworking salaryman.
The two-story villa—with its small garden—had actually been inherited from You Huimei.
It was the last home she left behind.
Click.
Unlocking the front door, You Xi quietly stepped inside.
The living room was pitch black.
He’s not home yet?
Lucky.
Just as she breathed a sigh of relief…
Her eyes caught sight of a figure sitting motionless on the sofa.
“Ah!”
She nearly jumped.
“Why aren’t you turning on the lights?”
“Are you trying to scare me to death?”
Once she realized it was only You Dong, she immediately became annoyed.
She switched on the lights.
Only then did she notice…
He was sitting with his back facing her.
In her memory…
Her uncle had always been tall, broad-shouldered, and dependable.
Yet now…
His back somehow looked much smaller.
Much lonelier.
As though he’d suddenly aged years in a single afternoon.
What happened?
Did Mo Li’s parents really scold him that badly?
A trace of guilt quietly surfaced inside You Xi.
After all…
She was the one who had caused today’s trouble.
If she hadn’t hit someone…
You Dong wouldn’t have needed to rush to school…
Nor would he have had to lower himself and apologize on her behalf.
Her cheeks gradually flushed.
“Um…”
The word sorry almost escaped her lips.
Almost.
But she swallowed it back.
Apologizing now would only make things more awkward.
Instead…
She quietly tiptoed toward the stairs, hoping to sneak back to her room unnoticed.
Just as she reached the staircase…
You Dong finally spoke.
His exhausted voice echoed through the silent living room.
“…Magical Girl Raging Flame.”
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