Starting as a Magical Girl, I Alone Shall Rule for Eternity Chapter 32

"Keke, I came to play with you~"

After knocking on the door, Li Yi tried pushing it, and the unlocked door swung open under her hand.

Then she saw Keke curled up asleep on the sofa.

Keke's living room was quite spacious, with a long glass coffee table in front of the sofa. The glass table was very clean, containing nothing except a circle of cups placed on it.

The entire house was spotlessly clean. Although Li Yi had noticed during her last visit that Keke's home was extremely tidy—far cleaner than ordinary households—she didn't know which of the siblings had the cleanliness obsession that made it this immaculate.

She carefully entered the room, closed the door, took off her shoes, and found a pair of slippers in the shoe cabinet. Last time she visited without removing her shoes, and although the siblings hadn't mentioned it, she knew she had dirtied the floor quite a bit, something she'd been remembering in her heart.

After changing into slippers, she tiptoed over.

Then she noticed a section of floorboard in the corner that appeared somewhat damaged and broken, wondering what the two siblings had been doing.

Instead of waking Keke, she crouched nearby and looked at her.

Curled up on the sofa at this moment, with her hands placed before her face and smooth black hair spread out, Li Yi admired Keke's face for a while—quite adorable.

Keke's appearance wasn't the aggressive type of beauty, but rather like the girl next door, easily making people feel closeness and fondness.

For Li Yi, the only downside about Keke was that she was too tall.

Clearly a middle school student, yet taller than Li Yi, a high school student.

Moreover, Keke had very nice leg shape. Because of her short stature, Li Yi actually had somewhat short legs. She poked Keke's curled-up calf, feeling a bit envious.

Sigh, even though she jumped high and drank milk every day, her height just wouldn't increase. In her family, her older sister and parents weren't short—only she was the short one...

The young girl fretted slightly in her heart. On the sofa, Keke, whose calf had been poked, stirred, then drowsily opened her eyes, looking dumbly at Li Yi for a long while before rubbing her eyes: "Huh, Captain, you're here?"

Watching Keke slowly sit up, her bubble socks stepping directly on the floor—though the floor was quite clean anyway—Li Yi sat down beside her: "Otherwise? Why were you sleeping on the living room sofa?"

"Well, you said you were coming over to find Senior Hyacinth together, so I woke up early and waited for you on the sofa, but ended up falling asleep while waiting."

"Senior Hyacinth has exams today, we'll go find her later." Li Yi added, "I thought you'd been scolded by your brother and weren't allowed to sleep in your bedroom."

After waking up a bit more, Keke spaced out for a moment before replying: "Our relationship isn't that good."

"Ah?"

Li Yi was stunned for a moment, then didn't dare continue that topic, only asking: "Where's your brother?"

"He went for a run early in the morning." Keke stretched lazily, "On holidays he goes for morning runs. He can't stay idle at home—he has to move around and exercise. It's like if he sits quietly for even a moment, he's wasting his time and life."

"When he came back yesterday."

Li Yi casually helped straighten Keke's clothes, "Was he uninjured? Was there anything unusual?"

Keke shook her head, "No, he was fine."

"Not even a little injured?"

"Then I wouldn't know." Keke hesitated slightly, "Even if he was injured, he would never let others know. Probably trained himself to be very tolerant of pain."

What kind of Disaster Beast is he.

Li Yi complained internally, then thought about Peony saying she couldn't see Jiang Si, and sighed inwardly.

It's really hard not to be suspicious.

Then she asked: "When did he start liking exercise so much?"

"Since childhood."

"Since childhood?" Li Yi listened somewhat dumbfounded, "Since when? When he was little, BH City didn't have Disaster Beasts yet, right?"

"Yeah, BH City only started having Disaster Beasts three years ago." Keke hugged her legs, hair falling over her knees, "But from when I started remembering things, he's always been like that, never changed."

"He'd go out for morning runs after waking up, exercise in the yard after coming home—every single day like this. When I was little and afraid to sleep alone, I slept with my parents. On their days off, they'd squeeze into the blanket with me and watch Jiang Si exercising outside the window. He never stopped, whether it was windy or rainy. Dad often worried about what he'd do if Jiang Si rebelled later and he couldn't beat him. Mom said compared to that, what was most worrying was if Jiang Si didn't grow tall and no girls liked him..."

As she chattered on, she mentioned many things from the past. Then Keke tidied her hair, pinned it with a hair clip, and smiled somewhat embarrassed, "Sorry, Captain, I ended up talking a lot about my own things again."

"It's nothing, we're companions, friends—we should confide in each other anyway." Rubbing Keke's head, Li Yi then smiled: "If you have any worries, just tell me! Also, usually just call me Yiyi."

"Yes, Captain." Only after Li Yi pinched her cheeks did Keke laugh and correct herself, "Got it, Yiyi, Yiyi—won't call you Captain anymore."

"That's more like it."

After Keke changed how she addressed her, Li Yi released her grip, then said quietly: "The other members in the Magical Girl combat team are all older than me. Although they're very good to me too, it's hard to become friends—they treat me more like looking after a junior. And, even if they don't say it, I actually know some people in their hearts still want Senior Hyacinth to return more."

"Eh?" Keke was somewhat surprised, "Really? I saw everyone seems to follow your orders very well."

"Of course! I've been working hard to grow up. In the Disaster Control Bureau's records, I'm the fastest Magical Girl to become a Seedling. Although I haven't beaten Dandelion, I have beaten other Magical Girls from the Azure Cloud Sect. As long as I work hard enough and become stronger, everyone will naturally acknowledge me."

Li Yi said matter-of-factly, "With Senior Hyacinth setting the precedent before, if I were them, I wouldn't easily accept a new captain either. If you want to be recognized, you have to work hard yourself."

Keke immediately sat up straight, clapped earnestly, and praised seriously: "As expected of the Captain. If it were me, I'd definitely feel excluded and secretly sad."

"Hehe, so you see, I'm a very mature adult."

Li Yi laughed somewhat proudly, then said quietly again, "So, actually, when I found Keke, I was especially happy—finally a junior younger than me. So I thought, I must become good friends with Keke. That way, I'm not just a captain in the Disaster Control Bureau."

"Yes, Captain!"

"I said, no calling me Captain!"

Li Yi went over again to pull at Keke's soft little cheeks. Keke laughed and begged for mercy. After the two girls roughhoused for a while, Keke said: "Then I want to know about Yiyi and your sister too. It's not fair if only I talk—I want to learn about Yiyi as well."

"There's not much to say about me. My sister is called Li Ke. Silver Lotus at the Disaster Control Bureau is the Magical Girl codename my sister gave me when we were little—she gave herself the codename Silver Lotus too."

Li Yi leaned against the sofa, glanced at her phone.

There was still plenty of time, no need to hurry, so she said leisurely, "Then I'll start from when I was little. Don't find it annoying."

"Mm, mm."

Seeing Keke's expectant eyes, Li Yi began recalling, "My sister and I have had a good relationship since childhood. Since we were little, my sister has taken care of me. My parents actually didn't like me much because when I was born, it happened to be when the family's finances were most difficult, making the family's situation worse. And since I was little, I was often sick, frequently needing hospital treatment. There was a time when the family was so poor they could barely put food on the table."

When Keke heard that Li Yi had a good relationship with her sister since childhood, she showed an envious expression. But hearing that her parents disliked her, she also felt somewhat sorry for her.

"At that time, there was a particularly wealthy family. Oh, right, do you know Senior Bingtang?"

Keke was momentarily stunned, "Haven't heard of her."

"Wow..." Li Yi seemed somewhat incredulous, "Senior Bingtang has been Jiang Si's deskmate for two years."

"He wouldn't talk about such things."

"Alright." Coughing slightly, Li Yi continued, "Anyway, Senior Bingtang's family has a big company. A general manager from her family's company used to often take walks in a park near my home. I don't know how my dad found out, but he'd go chat and get friendly occasionally. Sometimes my sister and I were taken along to play too."

"That manager uncle was very wealthy but had no children at home, always wanting a child. That uncle took a liking to me at first sight, really wanted to take me home and raise me as his own child." Li Yi bragged without blushing or heart racing, "Because I was super cute when I was little."

"Captain Yiyi is super cute now too."

"I'm mature now!"

After refuting, Li Yi continued: "Although I don't know exactly how much money was offered, my sister said it was enough for the family to buy a house in the city center—that was a huge amount of money back then. Both Mom and Dad were very tempted, always wanting me to go to the uncle's house."

Speaking up to this point, the usually bright sparkle in Li Yi's eyes dimmed somewhat, "The money offered was really too much. They didn't want me, but I didn't want to leave home to become someone else's daughter. I kept crying and crying. Then when that uncle tried to carry me away, my sister suddenly rushed over, grabbed me, and ran out of the house."

"Although we were caught and brought back later, my sister kept holding me tightly, not letting go no matter how they hit her, and even bit the uncle. Finally, that uncle thought forcibly separating us sisters was too pitiful and gave up. My sister was just starting middle school back then, but in my heart, she was like a mountain—leaning on her, I wasn't afraid of anything."

Keke said softly beside her, "That's really nice."

"Yeah, I've liked my sister the most since I was little." When Li Yi said this, there was even some pride in her voice, "Because my parents failed to sell me and lost a huge sum of money, they were really angry. Later, they always felt I blocked their path to wealth, treating me like an enemy."

"But every time they wanted to hit me, my sister would stand in front of me. Although my parents didn't like me, they valued my sister greatly. After my sister entered high school, they were even somewhat afraid of her. So as long as my sister stood by my side, they didn't dare hit me randomly. As long as I hid behind my sister, I was definitely safe."

Holding her little face, thinking of past events, Li Yi narrowed her eyes with a faint smile, as if being disliked by her parents wasn't particularly painful for her, "Since childhood, I've been worse than my sister in every aspect—studies, cooking, running, and later height—all far behind. Although hiding behind my sister felt secure, I always thought then that if I could catch up to her, stand together with her, that would be good. Because being left far behind by her, I was really afraid of when I might not see her anymore."

"Until later we encountered a Disaster Beast, and I successfully obtained a Miracle Seed, saving my sister who failed to get one. For the first time, I had something I was better at than my sister. I didn't have to always stand behind her—I could even protect her."

Li Yi held her Miracle Seed, pupils glittering as she stared at her seed, "So, being able to become a Magical Girl is really wonderful. It lets me always stand by my sister's side, proving to her that I've grown up too."

After listening beside her, Keke was full of envy, "I wish I had an older sister like that too."

"Don't be envious."

Li Yi tried hard to reach up and pat Keke's head, speaking seriously like a little adult: "Sister Yiyi will take good care of you, Keke."

Jiang Keke couldn't help it—"Pfft"—she laughed out loud.

"What are you laughing at? What's so funny!"

Looking at the puffed-up Li Yi, Keke shook her head, "Sorry, pfft, it's mainly because when Captain Yiyi gets serious and mature, it's just, just especially... I'm wrong, I'm wrong, don't pull my face!"

Rubbing, pulling, and pinching Keke's little cheeks, Li Yi said fiercely, "Laugh again and I'll deduct your salary! My power as captain is unlimited!"

Keke immediately behaved.

After all, the family really needed money—salary deduction was truly frightening.

Only then did Li Yi release her grip, stood up, and stood on tiptoe to make herself appear taller.

She had actually been hesitating whether to tell Keke about the suspicions regarding Jiang Si's identity.

Previously, she thought it would make Keke worry, but now she felt it might not be necessary.

"Anyway, I'll take on the responsibility of an older sister and take good care of Keke, so you don't need to feel too sad about Jiang Si's matters."

"I'm not sad." Keke muttered, "Got used to it and think it's quite fine. Since he doesn't control me, I'm free and without pressure or burdens."

"Then..."

Li Yi paused, "If, say, your brother seems involved with an illegal Magical Girl organization, and the Disaster Control Bureau plans to monitor him long-term, what would you do?"

Keke stared at her blankly for a long time.

"Ah?"

...

"Sect Master, Lady Bingtang, you know, my original family was really miserable! Beaten by my parents since childhood, scared from being hit, they never gave me money to spend. Since I was little, I picked through trash in parks, never ate well, never drank well. Other people's children had parents who loved them, but I was like an orphan—no, even orphans weren't as miserable as me, since orphans don't have parents hitting them..."

Azure Cloud Sect, Illusory Moon Cavern Dwelling.

A girl in green clothes, whose ear was being twisted by Bingtang, cried miserably, "I worked like an ox for my parents since childhood, finally managed to join the Azure Cloud Sect and get a proper job. I'm scared of being poor, Lady Bingtang, I'm really poor, couldn't resist..."

Bingtang twisted her ear, holding her phone, "This month you hunted only one Disaster Beast total, skipped all other work, took the thirty-thousand base salary, and spent it all on gacha in the Magical Girl Idol Project. This is your 'scared of being poor'? Qinghua!"

"It's not that, it's just... since I had no money growing up, when I got money as an adult, I couldn't resist..."

"Yesterday you told me your parents were sick and needed money for treatment."

"They really were sick, but just, just a minor cold..."

Bingtang's expression turned stern, "Stretch out your hand!"

Qinghua immediately looked woeful, "No way, I was really wrong, Lady Bingtang, ouch!"

Saying this, she still obediently stretched out her hand and got hit with a stick by Bingtang.

Just as Bingtang was about to swing the stick again, Jiang Si spoke up from the side, "Alright, let's get to the main business. Punishing a bit is enough."

The previously woeful Qinghua immediately looked at Jiang Si with moved expression, "Sect Master, I'll always respect and love you!"

But then Bingtang hit her hand with the stick again, wiping the smile off Qinghua's face.

"I said before, don't spend money recklessly! Giving you high salaries is for you to live well later, not for you to indulge and waste!"

Bingtang's face was cold as frost, "The Azure Cloud Sect hates extravagance and debauchery the most! Even the Sect Master lives frugally, yet you're enjoying yourself! Not spending money recklessly is clearly written in the sect rules! You're still young, don't have a basic understanding of money. If you spend lavishly now, you won't be able to change later! What if you lose your Miracle Seed someday—how will you return to normal life!"

Qinghua immediately hung her head, saying quietly, "Sorry, I really know I was wrong, Lady Bingtang."

"Reflect properly! One week confinement, no internet!"

Qinghua looked utterly miserable but still nodded obediently.

Beside them, Four Leaf, Six Leaf, and Yumo—three girls—were so scared they didn't dare breathe loudly, sitting in their seats, eyes fixed on their noses, motionless, bodies stiff.

Although the highest position in the Azure Cloud Sect was the Sect Master, and Bingtang usually obeyed the Sect Master dutifully...

But if you asked which person the Azure Cloud Sect disciples feared most daily, it was definitely Bingtang.

The Azure Cloud Sect's base salary was set quite high. To ensure the children wouldn't lose themselves because of money and spend recklessly, Bingtang managed their monthly salaries for them, transferring money when needed.

For those from poorer families, like Yumo, the salary earned was basically used to repay debts. The money didn't even pass through Yumo's hands—Bingtang directly helped repay for her.

The Azure Cloud Sect had good benefits, but correspondingly, its rules were the strictest. And the person strictly enforcing sect rules and punishing violators was Bingtang.

You can't maintain an organization with just nice people. You need good treatment, generous rewards, but also strict punishment for violations.

Bingtang never minded offending disciples—if anyone dared violate rules, she would definitely pursue it to the end. Because during the Azure Cloud Sect's early days, all the disciples' salaries came from her family funds. Usually, any difficulties were mostly handled by Bingtang too.

Combining kindness with authority was why the disciples both respected and feared Bingtang so much.

Whereas the Sect Master was comparatively easier to talk to...

After Qinghua obediently admitted her mistake, Bingtang took the phone, glanced at the game, "What did you pull that cost so much?"

"The latest swimsuit Kingfisher, and the new ranking event—if you make top three, you can commission them to make a specific Magical Girl figure." Qinghua said resentfully, "It's all the Disaster Control Bureau's scheme! Damn Disaster Control Bureau, made me unable to resist..."

The stick tapped her forehead again, though less harshly this time. Bingtang said sharply: "Reflect on yourself!"

"Oh."

If strictly pursued, this could count as aiding the enemy.

The Magical Girl Idol Project was a rhythm game jointly developed by the Disaster Control Bureau headquarters and a mobile game company. Its biggest feature was official Magical Girl authorization—all Magical Girl models in the game were directly sourced from reality.

The majority of profits went to the Disaster Control Bureau. Heard it's been getting more popular in recent years, even becoming one of the pillars of the Disaster Control Bureau's funding.

Qinghua spending money on gacha equated to giving money to the Disaster Control Bureau.

But actually, Bingtang had previously considered, if their Magical Girl band here did well and gained fame, she planned to discuss collaboration for cross-promotion...

So she didn't intend to pursue this aspect too much.

Putting down the phone, Bingtang then turned to look at Jiang Si, somewhat apologetically saying, "Sorry, this matter must be dealt with strictly."

"Mm."

Jiang Si didn't mind either. Bingtang's management had always been quite professional—he, an amateur, shouldn't interfere. "So what message did Susan send earlier?"

Bingtang took a deep breath, "Susan said, after discussion, the Disaster Control Bureau plans to conduct long-term tracking and observation on you. Currently, Susan is still trying to take over the tracking surveillance task, but it seems difficult. Not just Silver Lotus, but others don't really agree either."

Slightly surprised that the Disaster Control Bureau made a decision so quickly.

Their efficiency wasn't this high before.

Jiang Si immediately shook his head, "No, long-term tracking observation is too restrictive for me. Not only would I be unable to come to the Azure Cloud Sect to train, but even transforming would be limited."

"Yes, and they plan to dispatch Magical Girls for tracking."

Bingtang said gravely, "We can only execute the plan we discussed before. As long as they know that Shion contacted you for Keke's sake and planted a Barrier Leaf on you, we can clear you of suspicion."

Beside them, Qinghua immediately raised her hand, "Sect Master, I have a better idea!"

Bingtang glanced at her. Qinghua immediately shrunk her neck, "What idea? Speak."

The previously timid Qinghua revealed an evil smile: "If we make them misunderstand that Lady Shion and the Sect Master are in a romantic relationship, the Disaster Control Bureau definitely won't dare investigate the Sect Master anymore!"

The Illusory Moon Cavern Dwelling instantly fell into deathly silence.

Six Leaf's eyes sparkled, "That sounds really fun, sis!"

Four Leaf pulled her, "Don't talk nonsense!"

Yumo hugged her rabbit, covering half her face, "N-not a good idea, right..."

Bingtang kept a straight face, turned to look at Jiang Si and whispered, "Makes a lot of sense, Sect Master. How about we do this?"

Jiang Si tilted his head, saying seriously: "I just want the fastest result. Don't hinder my training."

Bingtang immediately showed a smile, "Then Qinghua, quickly create Shion! This time it must be perfect. If there are any mistakes, I'll deduct two months of your salary!"

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!"