Chapter 186 Temporary Body
When Lin Yun took the subway to Emerald's Research Institute, he happened to run into Hong Siyu getting off the treatment bed, finishing a day's treatment. The fairy doll was also sitting beside the bed, seemingly still debugging something.
Holding the heart gem in his pocket, Lin Yun simply sensed it and found that Hong Si and the magical fluctuations on his body seemed to be a little different. His heart moved and he subconsciously walked towards the research institute.
However, just before he took one step, the doll beside the bed also noticed the magical fluctuations of the runes at the door. It raised its head, looked at Lin Yun, stretched out its claws, and made a stop gesture: "Wait a minute, don't come in yet."
Lin Yun's feet suddenly stopped in mid-air.
His slightly puzzled look perfectly expressed his thoughts. Noticing this gaze, Emerald did not keep the secret. The doll's claws were bent, and one finger pointed directly at the heart gem in Lin Yun's hand: "Transform first, don't come in with your real body."
Only then did Lin Yun realize that she had not yet become a magical girl. He took a half step back and looked around in the corridor of the office building. After making sure that there were no other people's sight and no cameras, he changed into Delphinium and walked into Emerald's Research Institute.
"Will there be any impact if I enter this room with my real body?"
After activating the rune on the door and closing the door of the institute, Delphinium asked with some confusion: "It seemed to be the same when I came here before."
"It's difficult to explain. To put it simply, the space of this room has been affected and changed to a certain extent by the kingdom. It is in a transitional state."
Seeing that Delphinium had completed the transformation, Emerald lowered her head again and began to fiddle with the panel of the treatment bed in front of her: "It will be fine for the magic girl's magic body to enter here, but entering this space with the main body may cause some adverse reactions that you don't want to see."
Delphinium looked at Hong Siyu beside her, and walked to the treatment bed: "For example?"
"For example, the body is exploded by excessive magic power and turned into a soul creature."
The fairy doll revealed the shocking truth: "Or the body becomes magical and incompatible with the material world, and the body is missing some weight when it goes out."
"It sounds more serious than entering the realm in the physical body." After hearing the other party's description of the horrific end, Delphinium could not help but raise an eyebrow.
"Because the kingdom is a stable world, the rules between worlds also have stable transformation entrances; and this is just a small temporary space, so the stability is much worse."
Emerald doesn't mind exposing the immaturity of its technology. He introduced lazily in a dragging voice: "You can also think of this as a theft prevention method. If a thief from the material world wants to come in and steal, there is a high probability that he will explode on the spot when he walks through the door."
"…Is this really a method that a magical girl should use?"
"Didn't you tell me before? I am the Gem Scepter." Emerald's voice was calm.
A person who has completely given up on his face cannot be hurt by words. Obviously, the other party has completely given up the intention of clarifying the name "Gem Scepter" and instead used it as his own shield.
Since she had said this much, Delphinium naturally tactfully stopped asking further questions and instead asked another question.
"Then why did you use the magic mirror to call me on my way here?"
As they spent more time dealing with each other, Delphinium also understood Emerald's temperament. She became more straightforward in front of her, unlike the fake flattery she had in front of Golden Green Cat's Eye: "You should know how eye-catching it is to take out a magic mirror in public. I can't do that. Choosing this time to use the magic mirror, you can't just be having fun, right?"
"An old man like me can't understand the things you young people talk about. As for what you are talking about, you have to ask her."
After half-heartedly dealing with it, the doll stretched out its paw and gestured in the direction of Hong Siyu: "You can ask her to explain it to you."
After it said this, Kuizi remembered that when she first entered the door, she felt that there was something wrong with Hongsi and the magic fluctuations on her body.
A month has passed since Hong Siyu was sent to the kingdom for treatment after the Full Moon Festival. After this period of adjustment, the actual problems should have stabilized. Even if it is not cured, at least it should not get worse.
However, changes in magic fluctuations are often closely related to the true nature. The other party was so serious that she became a little worried.
"Is there something wrong?" Her first reaction was that something went wrong in the treatment, so she asked with a frown.
"No, it's not a problem or anything..."
Hong Siyu, who maintained her magical girl form, spoke hesitantly, flipping through her magic suit notebook in her hand, her eyes wandering around: "It's just something."
Delphinium looked at her, then looked at the doll beside her, and asked seriously, "What's the matter? Did the Chief ask you for a sky-high medical fee?"
"Hey, I can't pretend I didn't hear that. Your question is questioning my character, and I feel like my self-esteem has been insulted."
Emerald on the side immediately said in a discontented tone: "No matter how much I need funds, I won't bully the younger generation in a place like this."
"Haha... Senior, you think too badly of the Chief."
Hong Siyu smiled helplessly, and relaxed his grip on the notebook a little: "Actually, it's good news. That is to say... we just discussed a plan. If it goes well, I can turn back into my original form next."
Her words startled Delphinium slightly.
"Can you change back to your original form?"
After a brief pause, Delphinium immediately asked, "Really?"
"Well, although it is a bit troublesome, it can be done for now."
Hong Siyu tilted her head: "But, that is to say... it may not be the same as the usual meaning of 'changing back'."
"I feel like you're going to say something really annoying next."
"...As expected of a senior, indeed."
Hong Siyu lowered his eyes and nodded: "Because my original body has not fully recovered and is still in an unstable state. So if I want to change back and resume my normal life, the Chief gave me an idea."
"What's the idea?"
"Use the true form as a template to create a 'temporary entity'." Hong Siyu said honestly.
Delphinium did not reply, but fell into silence for a moment. She stared at Hong Siyu and took a few seconds to understand the meaning of her junior's words. Because his gaze was too direct and unconcealed, Hong Siyu didn't know what he was thinking of and lowered his head even more.
After a long silence, Kuizi started to speak again: "What you mean by 'creating a temporary body' is not to forcibly create a body and use it as the body for one's activities in the material world, right?"
"As expected, she is one of the top five magical girls with the fastest blooming speed in the past hundred years. Her comprehension ability is indeed extraordinary."
Emerald on the side continued the conversation, her insincere compliment drawing a slightly cold eye roll from Delphinium, but she didn't care:
"To be precise, because Chao Yan's original body was too severely affected by the remnant beast, even if the concept of the remnant beast was removed, there were too many eroded organs in the body that were difficult to restore to their original state. It takes a long-term nurturing process to heal, and it must be forced into a dormant state for the time being, so a spare body is used to move."
"It sounds like a technology that only exists in science fiction movies." Delphinium expressed her thoughts very bluntly.
"Don't underestimate our National Research Institute. Some science fiction movies in the material world may not be able to imagine our capabilities."
Emerald shook her head, completely forgetting what she had said a few words ago, "young people who don't understand the material world," and commented pointedly, "Fantasy is based on reality, and the legends of the kingdom are often the source of people's fantasy."
“What about feasibility?”
In line with the principle of being as cautious as possible, Kuiqi further asked: "Is the technology mature and how big are the risks?"
"Is it mature? You don't have to worry about that. The technology for creating life forms has been mature for decades, and there have been many successful application cases. Not to mention humans, we can even imitate the bodies of fairies to a certain extent."
Emerald pointed to her current fairy doll body: "The only thing we can't do is create a soul out of thin air. All the life forms we create are just unconscious dead things. But this is a good thing for us - just creating a spare body without self-awareness, we don't need to bear any moral and ethical psychological burdens."
"It sounds like you've had this plan for a long time."
"I don't deny it."
Emerald nodded: "Because you also know that Chaoyan's condition is not good, and your condition will only be worse than hers. Fangting City is currently lacking in deterrent high-end combat power. To be honest, as the next owner of the Source of Beasts, I am not assured of the safety situation here.
"So you want a wounded soldier to make more sacrifices for this?" Delphinium couldn't help but frowned.
"Don't worry, young man. I never said this was a 'sacrifice'. The technology of artificial bodies is very mature and will not cause any burden or harm to the user."
Emerald extended her claws and said simply, "I can assure you that Chao Yan will not suffer any adverse effects from this decision. She will only gain benefits - for example, she can immediately start training to consolidate her Flower-level strength, and she can also return to her original life."
"What is your own wish?" Cuiqiao looked at Hong Siyu.
"I proposed it myself and agreed to it."
In response to this question, Hong Siyu raised his head and looked at Kuei-ja seriously: "I told you, Senior. Even if it's only for a short period of time, I want to protect this city, the younger generations, and you."
Delphinium looked at her quietly.
After a while, she closed her eyes and opened them again, sighing, "Thank you, I'm sorry."
"Senior, there is nothing to apologize for. You have saved me three times."
Hong Siyu subconsciously wiped the cover of the notebook in his hand: "And, you know, it's mainly for you."
The second half of her sentence was spoken very quietly, but Delphinium and Emerald still heard it clearly. Delphinium pursed her lips and averted her eyes for some unknown reason; while Emerald whistled in a very malicious manner.
"Young people, young people." She couldn't help but sigh, "It's good to be young."
"So? Tell me about this now, what else do you want?"
Delphinium looked at Emerald expressionlessly and forced the topic back on track: "If you just want to ask for my opinion, there seems to be no need to call me with the magic mirror halfway."
"Oh, that one."
The fairy doll leaned back slightly. "It's actually very simple. It's still about the artificial body. In order to achieve the best fit, we will make her body based on Chaogao's true appearance. However, as you know, her age and appearance are nearly twenty years different from her true appearance. In order to make the spare body consistent with the original body, it may require some additional adjustment costs."
"'Extra cost', does that mean we still have to charge you?" Delphinium immediately understood what she meant.
"Yes, but it can be included in the transaction of the source of beasts."
The fairy doll shook her head: "The main reason is that Chao Yan made another suggestion."
"...What suggestions?" Cuiqiao turned her head and looked at Hong Siyu again.
"What I'm saying is, otherwise, let's save some costs."
Hong Siyu started to play with the notebook in his hand again: "I think it's okay not to adjust it, just use the original appearance as a backup body..."
"If you want to return to normal work and life, there is no need to save this kind of cost."
Delphinium thought about it and suggested seriously: "Since the Chief has promised that there will be no additional fees, there is no need for you to worry about this issue."
“It’s not a cost consideration.”
Hong Siyu's voice became smaller and smaller as he spoke: "That is to say, I really hope that I can still look like my original appearance after I change back."
Now Delphinium understood what she meant.
In fact, this is not difficult to understand, because the ideas expressed by Hong Siyu have also been expressed by other magical girls in history.
The older you get, the more your appearance begins to enter a stage called "aging", and it becomes more and more difficult to let go of your original youthful appearance.
The true appearance of magical girls, although not necessarily at their most youthful age, is full of youthful vigor and vitality. Even women in their thirties or forties have their own charm, but most women still wish to stay young forever, and magical girls are no exception.
In fact, there are indeed some magical girls who join the magic kingdom for such nonsensical reasons. They simply cannot accept the fact that they will gradually grow old after retiring, and choose to live as magical girls forever.
Although Hong Siyu is not that obsessed, it is understandable that she wants to look younger... right?
Thinking of this, Cuiqiao saw Hong Siyu glancing at her with a slightly strange look, and for a moment she was not sure of her answer.
“That’s not impossible.”
So she nodded and expressed her thoughts: "However, if the backup body is your appearance when you are sixteen, do you still plan to go back to work at the Strategy Bureau?"
There was silence again.
"I want to go back." After a while, Hong Siyu said slowly.
"…Are you going to work like this?"
"Senior, you promised me, right?"
Hong Siyu said softly: "I'm back, let me be your secretary."
"I did promise."
Cuique swallowed inexplicably: "But you use your 16-year-old appearance to come to the Strategy Bureau to be my secretary, isn't it a little bit..."
At this point, she finally realized why these two people called her with the magic mirror on the way she came.
It turns out that all the things said before were just foreshadowing and background introduction. What she really needed to accept and decide was never Hong Si and whether to accept a spare body, but "whether Director Lin Yun of the Strategy Bureau should hire a secretary who looks only 16 years old."
"...That won't work." She denied it almost subconsciously.
"I think it's great, a 16-year-old high school girl who is the director's secretary."
Emerald on the side said leisurely, ignoring Delphinium's rolling eyes: "It just so happens that you often transform into a magical girl, don't you? Just use your current appearance to be the director. An elementary school student director and a high school student secretary. With the two of you working together like this, I believe the employees of the Strategy Bureau will be much more motivated."
"What the Strategy Bureau needs is guidance on the direction of its mission, not flashy idols."
Cuique looked at her indifferently and rejected this unreliable opinion without hesitation: "Let's take a step back. Even if I don't mind causing a few more rumors in the Strategy Bureau, what about Hong Siyu's identity? She can't go back to work under her original name, right?"
"This is easy."
The fairy doll gently closed its claws. "You can just make up a resume. Just say she is 'Hong Siyu's niece'. Because her aunt was injured, she took the initiative to transfer from Tiandu City to take over her aunt's job. As for the problem of her looking too young, just fill in 25 years old on the resume. No matter how others ask, it will be 25 years old."
Delphinium was completely speechless now.
"Okay, if you don't have any objections, then lie down. Asagao's problem has been almost settled, but you still have a bigger problem. We need to do more physical therapy to stabilize your injuries."
Patting the treatment bed in front of her, Emerald urged, "Finish this as soon as possible. I still have to study the origin of the beast next."
Of course, it turns out that the previous claim that treatment required "undressing" was a complete lie, and this treatment does not require being naked at all. Therefore, Delphinium hardly needed to make any extra preparations. She just had to lie down on the treatment bed and become conscious for a while, and the whole process would be completed.
So much so that when she left the institute and walked into the corridor with Hong Siyu, she still couldn't figure out how to reject the two people's ridiculous proposal.
While thinking, she cancelled her transformation and returned to Lin Yun's appearance. She and Hong Si walked into the elevator of the office building one after another.
The two of them stood in an empty elevator car. Just as Lin Yun was still thinking about the question of "how to refuse", Hong Siyu beside him suddenly spoke in a low voice:
"Senior, if I want to go to work with my new spare body, the work clothes I wore before may not be suitable. I may need to change them."
"Not the right size?"
Lin Yun came back to his senses, took a look at Hong Siyu now, and nodded subconsciously: "I think I should buy a few new ones."
"Yes, I need to buy some new clothes that suit my true appearance."
Hong Siyu continued speaking along with his words, and finally whispered: "So, can you please give me some reference advice?"
There was silence in the elevator. The bright white lights flickered slightly as the floors changed, and the light in the compartment was somewhat uncertain.
After a while, Lin Yun understood what she wanted to express, and also understood the emotions contained in this sentence. For a moment, his expression was a little complicated.
"...I can go with you."
He lowered his voice: "But, there are some things, thank you, I'm sorry."
"…I said, no need to apologize."
Hong Siyu looked at the blurred reflection on the elevator door with a calm expression: "Senior, it would be fine if you could go with me."
After another period of silence, the display on the elevator counted to one floor. With a light prompt sound, the elevator door slowly opened in front of the two people.
Outside the office building is the largest shopping mall in the vicinity. Just by looking out through the elevator and the glass curtain wall of the office building, you can see the flashing neon lights.
"Going there?" Lin Yun looked straight ahead and suddenly asked.
"Well, let's go there." Hong Siyuye looked forward and answered.
The two of them walked out of the elevator door in unison. The distance between them had never seemed as close as it was at this moment in the twenty years since they met.
The two people's hands were also behind each other, and because of the height difference, the hands were also at different heights. The hand at a lower position was slightly raised in the process of moving forward, and the back of the hand touched the other person, but in the end, the owner of the hand put it down, grabbed the hem of his clothes again, and walked out of the office building side by side with the other person in a natural manner.
There are bright lights and feasting ahead, and there is quiet and desolateness behind.
Human urban civilization has been developing in this world for more than a thousand years. In modern cities, people can be close to each other, yet at the same time far away.
…
…
Also in the neon lights, walking in the cold wind of the winter night, Lin Xiaolu, who had just left the shopping mall with her companions, suddenly stopped and turned back as if she felt something.
She first looked towards the entrance of the shopping mall with some confusion, then, as if to confirm, she took two steps back and walked to the entrance.
As she stared at the two familiar figures, her expression became increasingly confused.
"What's wrong?" Xia Liang, who was carrying a lot of bags in his hands and was satisfied with the results of his shopping, suddenly turned around and asked after noticing Lin Xiaolu's strange behavior.
Lin Xiaolu did not answer Xia Liang's question.
She first took two steps towards the door, then rubbed her eyes as if she was worried that she had seen something wrong. After finally confirming what he had seen, he stood there in a daze.
Then, she stared and slowly opened her mouth.
Today's number is 6k words, let's just consider it as making up for yesterday's failure by 2k. Thank you all book friends for your continued support during the recent unstable update period. I am very touched, ashamed, and very grateful.
(End of this chapter)
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