The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 8
“Senpai…”
As they continued searching the abandoned factory, Raging Flame couldn’t help asking,
“Are all high-ranking Aberrations this intelligent?”
“They know how to set ambushes.”
“They know when to retreat.”
“They even know how to hide.”
“…They’re almost like humans.”
Violet Lightning smiled faintly.
“Aberrations are capable of thinking.”
“But intelligence isn’t necessarily tied to rank.”
“Some act purely on instinct.”
“Others…”
She glanced ahead.
“…like Greatarm, clearly possess the ability to think and plan.”
The two magical girls slowly advanced deeper into the abandoned factory.
They were now inside an old industrial park on the outskirts of Shangjing City’s Fifth Ring.
Built decades ago, most of the factories had long since fallen into disrepair.
After the government’s redevelopment plans took effect, nearly every business had either relocated or shut down.
Only empty concrete shells remained, quietly waiting for time to reduce them to ruins.
“Then…”
Raging Flame asked curiously,
“What’s the smartest Aberration you’ve ever encountered?”
“That depends.”
Violet Lightning looked at her.
“What do you mean by ‘smart’?”
“Like a person.”
“It can think.”
“It can speak.”
“It can communicate.”
“And…”
Raging Flame hesitated.
“…it understands human emotions.”
“…”
For the first time, Violet Lightning fell silent.
Raging Flame laughed awkwardly.
“That would actually be kind of interesting, wouldn’t it?”
Violet Lightning stopped walking.
Completely.
“Senpai?”
Raging Flame turned around in confusion.
“Did you notice something?”
Violet Lightning looked directly into her eyes.
“Xiao Flame.”
“I’m going to give you another piece of advice.”
“If you ever meet magical girls from the Second Ring…”
“…or the Fourth Ring…”
“Never say something like that.”
“No matter what.”
Her expression was unusually serious.
“O-Okay…”
Although Raging Flame had no idea which part of her words had crossed the line…
She instinctively swallowed every question she wanted to ask.
The factory itself had an old-fashioned layout.
Three massive concrete walls divided the interior into separate sections.
Only narrow passages connected each area together, once serving as routes for transporting industrial materials.
Most of the heavy machinery had already been removed years ago.
As a result…
The interior felt strangely empty.
There was almost nowhere to hide.
No…
Violet Lightning narrowed her eyes.
That’s not right.
An open field still leaves room to retreat.
Choosing a place like this…
Means it has no intention of escaping.
It deliberately chose this factory.
Why?
Is there something hidden here?
As the possibility formed…
Her expression changed.
This isn’t us chasing it…
It’s leading us here.
“Xiao Flame…”
She immediately turned toward her junior.
Just as she was about to explain her suspicions—
“Senpai!”
Raging Flame suddenly pointed ahead excitedly.
“There!”
Following her finger…
Greatarm came into view.
It leaned weakly against a thick steel pillar.
Its severed shoulder was still bleeding.
With only one arm remaining, it appeared completely exhausted.
“It’s badly injured!”
“Let’s finish it!”
“Wait—!”
Violet Lightning reached out instinctively.
Too late.
Raging Flame had already rushed forward.
Left with no choice…
Violet Lightning immediately followed after her.
The next moment…
Her worst fears became reality.
“…So that’s where they were.”
“Damn it!”
The difference between an empty factory…
And an empty field…
Was the roof.
A roof capable of hiding anything lurking above.
If they had only looked upward sooner…
They might have avoided what happened next.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Dark shapes suddenly poured down from the ceiling.
Like a swarm of bats erupting from a cave.
One after another…
Dozens of black figures descended toward them.
D-Rank Aberration — Ragman.
Its body resembled nothing more than filthy scraps of black cloth stitched together.
Individually…
They were almost harmless.
They possessed virtually no offensive ability.
Their sole purpose…
Was to wrap themselves around a target and restrain it completely.
Ragmen rarely appeared alone.
Instead…
They lived alongside stronger Aberrations, functioning more like living traps than independent monsters.
Twenty…
Thirty…
No…
There are even more!
Violet Lightning’s pupils contracted sharply.
Within a split second…
She made her decision.
Without hesitation…
She grabbed Raging Flame by the collar.
Then…
Using every ounce of strength she had—
She hurled her backward.
“Sen… Senpai?!”
Everything happened so suddenly that Raging Flame couldn’t even react.
She was thrown through the air, staring back in complete confusion.
Violet Lightning looked straight at her.
She didn’t speak aloud.
But Raging Flame clearly read the movement of her lips.
Run.
The next instant…
The countless Ragmen swallowed Violet Lightning beneath an endless tide of black.
…What is You Xi doing right now?
The uneasiness inside You Dong’s heart only continued to grow.
Like the dark storm clouds gathering outside the office windows…
The feeling became heavier with every passing minute.
Finally…
He couldn’t endure it any longer.
He took out his phone and called You Xi.
The number you have dialed is currently unavailable…
The mechanical voice only confirmed his fears.
Unable to wait even another second…
He hurried to a quiet corner far from the office.
After making sure nobody was nearby…
He immediately dialed Old Lin’s number.
“Old Lin.”
“Dongzi?”
Old Lin answered cheerfully.
“What’s wrong?”
“You Xi…”
The words caught in his throat.
He quickly corrected himself.
“…Is Magical Girl Raging Flame currently on a mission?”
“Yeah.”
Old Lin answered casually.
“How did you know?”
“…”
At that moment…
Every bit of strength seemed to drain from You Dong’s body.
His knees nearly gave out beneath him.
His hand loosened around the phone.
It almost slipped to the floor again.
“W-Where…”
His voice trembled.
“…Where is she?”
Old Lin laughed helplessly.
“You’re worrying too much.”
“She’s only been a magical girl for a short time.”
“Do you really think I’d send her into danger alone?”
“It’s not that I’m nagging, but you’re making a mountain out of a molehill.”
“This is a joint operation.”
“I specifically arranged for an experienced magical girl to guide her.”
“You know Violet Lightning, right?”
“…Ah.”
“I forgot.”
“You’ve never paid attention to magical girls.”
“Anyway…”
“As long as Violet Lightning is there…”
“Raging Flame won’t even need to lift a finger.”
She’ll just watch and learn.”
You Dong ignored every reassuring word.
His voice became frighteningly calm.
“I’m asking…”
“…where is You Xi?”
Old Lin sighed.
“…You’re impossible.”
The call ended.
Less than a second later…
A location arrived on You Dong’s phone.
Old Industrial Park.
Fifth Ring Suburbs.
Silently…
He calculated the distance.
The travel time.
Every possible route.
Then…
Without informing his coworkers.
Without requesting leave.
Without saying goodbye to anyone.
You Dong rushed out of the office.
Running faster than he ever had in his life…
He sprinted toward the parking lot.
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