A Girl Who Doesn’t Believe in Humans

Chapter 11: Refuge

On the school playground, the display screen of Hou Entertainment is broadcasting the battle of the magical girl Bao Xiang.

“Student Du Zhi—oh, no, Magical Girl Bao Xiang’s opponent is the Seven-Winged Eye.”

Standing on the side, Ashu adjusted his glasses and began to commentate.

“Seven-Winged Eye? What’s that?”

A short-haired girl with glasses nearby asked cooperatively.

“The Seven-Winged Eye is a type of monster, characterized by ‘seven wings and one eye,’ that’s its main feature.”

Ashu explained like a teacher.

“Monsters have different types too? Aren’t they all weird-looking creatures?”

Another big guy scratched his head in confusion.

“Maybe—because the same monsters have actually appeared multiple times, even those that were previously eliminated by magical girls. So, they might be a large population.”

Ashu patiently explained.

“Why do you say ‘maybe’?”

The girl asked again, cooperating.

“That’s a good question because the ‘monster population theory’ is just a hypothesis. Another influential theory is that those repeatedly appearing monsters are actually the same one. They can reappear after being eliminated by magical girls because they have some kind of resurrection mechanism.”

Ashu proudly raised a finger.

“Forget about those hard-to-understand things! Tell us more about the Seven-Winged Eye. Bao Xiang sent that monster into the water with just one hit. Bao Xiang is so strong; I’m a fan of Bao Xiang from now on!”

A guy in the crowd excitedly shouted. However, Qing Yue felt he was more like a planted audience arranged by Du Zhi.

“Cough, cough…”

Ashu cleared his throat.

“Actually, the Seven-Winged Eye itself is not a very powerful monster. It’s not surprising that Bao Xiang directly sent it into the water.”

“Huh? How come? I remember this monster was on the news before, and that time it seemed quite big.”

A student expressed doubt.

“There have indeed been such incidents before because its ability is quite bizarre, after all, it’s of the Dark attribute.”

“Yeah? Dark attribute…? Aren’t all monsters evil?”

The big guy raised his hand gently.

“Of course not. Although in our human perception, it seems like all monsters are ‘evil’ and dark, each monster has its own attributes. This is similar to magical girls. However, even among monsters, the Dark attribute is rare.”

Ashu’s glasses reflected the light.

“Then shouldn’t the Seven-Winged Eye be strong?!”

The seemingly planted guy said unwillingly.

“Well… strong… it’s hard to say. The Dark attribute uses mental power, and the limits of mental power are extreme. If the Seven-Winged Eye really develops, it could be troublesome, but most of the time— it might be directly blown up in the early stages.”

And just as Ashu declared this—

“Oh no! Bao Xiang has been injured by that Seven-Winged Eye!”

A girl covered her mouth and exclaimed.

On the screen, Bao Xiang was shown being hit on the shoulder by the monster, revealing a scene of snowy white skin on her collarbone.

“Huh? This… doesn’t seem right? Shouldn’t Bao Xiang easily beat a Seven-Winged Eye in the early stages, being in the ‘top 100′ and all?”

Ashu began to doubt himself.

“Do you… developed Seven-Winged Eyes have great strength?”

At this moment, a bell-like voice questioned Ashu.

Simultaneously, Ashu’s sense of smell detected a familiar floral fragrance.

A fragile beauty in a gym suit appeared behind him. While speaking, her warm breath accidentally hit Ashu’s neck, making his face turn red.

“Y-yes!”

“How strong?”

Qing Yue maintained her usual indifferent expression.

“Well… it’s hard to say. Powerful spiritual attributes always get stronger against strong opponents. The final strength of the Seven-Winged Eye seems to depend on the opponent.”

Ashu’s words were a bit vague.

“Is that so… I probably understand. Thank you.”

Qing Yue seemed to have figured something out, then calmly expressed her thanks.

“No, you’re welcome. Haha…”

Qing Yue’s words seemed to make him a bit floaty.

While conversing with Ashu, Qing Yue intentionally let her body… because she had always been concerned about one thing.

And now, she confirmed it— the aura coming from “him” was indeed the essence belonging to a magical girl. The previous feeling was not an illusion.

(How is this possible…?)

But just as she wanted to further clarify the situation, someone shouted towards the screen.

“Oh no! Bao Xiang can’t beat the Seven-Winged Eye! She’s being chased by that monster!”

Beside Qing Yue, Han Quan also frowned as she watched.

“What is this guy… doing?!”

Her hands involuntarily clenched into fists.

Bao Xiang’s situation became increasingly difficult, and the disadvantage didn’t seem like an act.

“No, wait… Bao Xiang’s escape direction…”

Ashu, who had finally come to his senses, showed an expression of extreme concern.

“What’s wrong, Minister.”

The big guy who had been asking questions approached Ashu.

“No! Something’s really wrong! Everyone, quickly evacuate, the monster is coming this way!”

Ashu immediately shouted. His words caused a huge commotion in the crowd, but everyone was just looking at each other with half-belief.

“Really?”

Even the sports teacher, who had been watching the excitement, couldn’t sit still.

“Really, really! Quickly let the people inside the teaching building evacuate too!”

Ashu was so anxious that he was almost jumping.

“Well, he’s right. They’re indeed coming this way.”

Qing Yue calmly affirmed Ashu’s words.

Being the top student in the grade made her quite convincing. The sports teacher, still somewhat doubtful, glanced at the screen and then at the sky.

“In that case… everyone, quickly follow me to the gym for shelter!”

The sports teacher decisively shouted.

With the teacher’s endorsement, the students finally believed. Even those who were skeptical instinctively obeyed the teacher. People began to move toward the gym under the guidance.

“Student Ashu, go help inform the teachers and students in the teaching building. Hurry up! Thank you.”

The sports teacher couldn’t leave the on-site command, so he entrusted Ashu with the task. Although Qing Yue’s words might have been more persuasive, the “physically frail and often ill” girl didn’t seem like the best choice as a messenger.

“I understand. I’ll convince them.”

Ashu took on the responsibility with a strong sense of duty—of course, there might also be a desire to leave a good impression on Qing Yue.

As a result, students were organized into orderly lines for evacuation, and Qing Yue pulled Han Quan along, blending into the crowd.

Suddenly, Han Quan broke free from Qing Yue’s grip.

“What are you trying to do?”

Qing Yue asked indifferently.

“I want to help!”

Han Quan answered in a hushed voice.

“Haven’t you said before—’Snatching monsters is a taboo for magical girls’? The first rule of that unwritten rule? Why would you want to do such a thing now?”

Qing Yue’s tone carried a hint of mockery.

“Now is not the time to worry about this or that. That guy is clearly about to crash and burn! If I don’t help now, he’ll end up dead.”

Han Quan replied, lowering her voice.

“Haven’t you yourself said—’Rushing to the rescue of others is a big taboo for magical girls’? The second rule of that unwritten rule? How come you want to do something like that now?”

Qing Yue’s words were laced with irony.

“Enough with the rules! This is not the time to be bound by those things. If we don’t go help now, that guy is going to be in big trouble!”

Han Quan’s tone became more decisive, and she turned to run towards an empty area.

Watching Han Quan gradually disappear with a faint smile, Qing Yue, too, inadvertently vanished into the evacuation queue.