Dark-colored Fairy Tale: Seven Magicians - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

A Demon’s Threat and a Shopping Trip

Liu Menglu didn’t pry into the conversation between Chloe and Yang Shishi, instead joking with her friend, “Shishi, you seem so tired lately. Did you stay up all night gaming?” Yang Shishi didn’t answer; she was already asleep. Liu Menglu found it strange, and Chloe, also intrigued by Yang Shishi’s unusual sleepiness, asked, “Is she not normally like this?”

“No,” Liu Menglu replied. “She hates sleeping in crowded places like a classroom because she says she doesn’t feel safe.”

Chloe, now more concerned, sent a message to her colleagues in Falion. She then looked at Liu Menglu, her expression serious. “You’ve probably guessed, but there’s a demon rampaging through the city. When we get home, I’ll set up some defenses. You should stay home for the next few days.”

Hearing this confirmed Liu Menglu’s suspicions, and her worry grew. “Will you be okay?”

Chloe wasn’t entirely sure, but she tried to reassure her. “It’s just a weak, cowardly demon hiding in the shadows. We’ll find it and get rid of it.”

Liu Menglu sighed in relief, her worry replaced by a sudden excitement. “Great! Since we can’t go out for a few days, let’s go on a big shopping trip!” Chloe’s face froze. She still disliked going to crowded places, but she couldn’t refuse.

…

A Mysterious Encounter

Yang Shishi’s sleep was so sound that she didn’t wake up until 1 p.m., just as the afternoon classes were starting. When she woke up, Liu Menglu immediately said, “Shishi, I’m going shopping later. Do you want to come over for dinner?”

Yang Shishi hesitated, then shook her head. “No, I have something to do.”

“Oh, okay,” Liu Menglu said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. She quickly recovered and added, “Then you be careful. Aiai said it’s not safe lately.” Yang Shishi nodded and got ready for class.

That evening, Chloe accompanied Liu Menglu to a supermarket. However, the one near their neighborhood was unexpectedly closed, so they had to go to a larger store in another area. As they entered, they immediately spotted Yang Shishi. She was dressed in her school uniform, handing out flyers to every student who passed by.

Liu Menglu froze, her first instinct to go and help, but she stopped halfway. She didn’t know why her friend was doing this, and the fact that Yang Shishi had intentionally hidden it from her meant she didn’t want Liu Menglu to know. Liu Menglu was a girl who deeply respected her friends. A step forward was an impulse, but a step back was out of love and respect.

Chloe looked at Liu Menglu curiously. “You wanted to help her, didn’t you? Why did you stop?”

Liu Menglu smiled. “I really want to help. It must be hard for her to hand out flyers alone, but I also want to respect her.” As she spoke, she looked at Yang Shishi with nothing but warmth and gentle encouragement.

Chloe watched the tenderness radiating from Liu Menglu. Her reason for enjoying their time together was exactly this: the inherent kindness and warmth that the girl exuded.

After watching for a while, Liu Menglu turned to Chloe. “Sorry, Chloe. It looks like we’ll have to go to another store.” Chloe simply nodded. For Liu Menglu, she had infinite patience.

However, as Chloe watched Yang Shishi, a strange feeling crept over her. Her instincts told her that something was off. The flyers were just normal paper, and there was no trace of demonic energy on Yang Shishi herself. But why would she be doing this? Chloe knew Yang Shishi wasn’t in need of money. She was the successor of a Taoist temple, similar to how Chloe was from a magical girl lineage. This whole situation was very peculiar.

…

Preparation and a Parting

Filled with questions, Chloe and Liu Menglu went to another supermarket. Meanwhile, Li Qiuyu was also reflecting on her own behavior from that day. She was annoyed with herself for losing control and fighting Chloe. She didn’t like her, but she desperately needed to cooperate to solve the case. She looked at the red string in her hand, lost in thought.

Chloe went to bed early since she had a plan to go to the Taoist temple the next day. She woke up at 6:10 a.m., tidied herself up, and went downstairs. She bought a large amount of snacks and breakfast items—steamed buns with various fillings—and carried them back upstairs.

She found Liu Menglu sitting on the living room sofa, drinking plain water. Liu Menglu smiled at her. “You’re back.”

“Yeah, I’m back. Here’s your breakfast. Is there anything else you want to eat this morning?” Chloe asked, handing the buns to Liu Menglu. Yesterday, they bought a lot of things, but most of it was food that Chloe liked. Very little was for Liu Menglu.

This made Chloe determined to get everything Liu Menglu could ever want. That way, she wouldn’t have to leave the apartment. With the defensive barrier she had set up, Liu Menglu would be safe as long as she stayed inside. Confident in her plan, Chloe left the apartment and closed the door behind her.

Liu Menglu sat there, hugging her knees. She stared blankly at the TV, her mind numb. She didn’t know if she was even paying attention to the show. All she knew was that she felt sad and helpless. She had always been a “pride of heaven,” but this was the first time she had stumbled upon a world she couldn’t belong to. A world where things are decided at birth, and there was nothing she could do to change it. This feeling was truly disgusting.