Esper X Family – Chapter 553 – I Guarantee On My Honor

Facing the arrival of “Lullaby”, a group of high-ranking officials led by the parallel Fu Qi stepped out to receive her.

The presence of S-rank Espers like parallel Fang Ze and parallel Cheng Muxue was a display of maximum prestige.

Parallel Lou Wei was naturally among them.

There was no reason for him to hide away just because he had been defeated.

A moment later, the group arrived before the three little girls.

The initial meeting took place in midair.

Without bringing up a formal meeting with the older Mo Qiuli, parallel Fu Qi first stated the reason for this encounter.

“It’s rare for the three magical girls to pass by here. Would you be interested in visiting the Countermeasures Bureau’s headquarters?

We have long admired your courageous acts of justice in the island nation.”

It was impossible to outright expose their identities.

At least, until Lullaby allowed it, it was better to pretend not to know anything.

Parallel Fu Qi could only treat them as passersby rather than guests who had accepted an invitation.

After all, how could Mo Qiuli possibly have any connection to the Magical Girl Alliance?

She had never said so.

Ye Yao swept her gaze over the group, letting out a soft hum when she spotted a few familiar faces.

“Mm, since we’re so fated to meet, lead the way then. It’s our break time anyway.”

“Please follow us.”

Parallel Fu Qi and his group led the way, inwardly clicking their tongues in amazement.

He finally understood what Lou Wei had meant by “recognition inhibition magic”.

No matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn’t make out any details. It was as if a mysterious veil had been draped over them. He could sense that the girls were delicately featured, yet he couldn’t see their true faces.

He couldn’t even equate Flower Leaf with Luo Jianhua, or Morning Star with Mo Qiuli in his own mind.

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This was definitely not just a visual trick. There was mental interference at play.

Could this be an effect of Luo Jianhua’s【Eyes Obscured by a Single Leaf】?

The fact that it could easily affect a Super S-rank Esper was truly incredible.

Just as parallel Fu Qi was deep in thought while leading the way, a voice came from behind.

“Hey, the uncle I beat up a while ago, have you really not considered switching careers to become a magical girl? I really think you have the potential.”

Lullaby was clearly talking to parallel Lou Wei.

She didn’t seem to find it awkward at all to chat with someone she had defeated.

If it were any other powerhouse being teased like this, they might have already turned red with anger.

Fortunately, parallel Lou Wei had always been as composed as ever, his heart utterly unmoved.

“Not interested. Besides, I’m not a girl.”

“Small-minded, you’re thinking too small! Being a magical girl is a profession!

As long as you become a magical girl after transforming, who cares what you look like before?

I have a way to easily solve that problem, so that anyone can transform into a magical girl.”

Ye Yao sounded utterly delighted.

Just the thought of it seemed fun to her.

At that moment, Morning Star’s protesting voice came from beside her.

“N-No, please don’t defile the magical girls in my heart anymore. At the very least, at the very least, they should be female, right?”

“Isn’t it fine as long as they look female on the outside?”

“Even if it’s Lullaby’s idea, it’s still not okay.”

“What a pity.”

The conversation behind them set the minds of those leading the way racing.

Parallel Cheng Muxue couldn’t help but turn her head curiously to observe.

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This kind of dialogue felt like that of innocent, carefree little girls.

Xiao Jing might have been right after all.

They really were children, including “Lullaby”. There was no deep-seated hatred, only a fairy-tale-like fantasy.

They really did sound like children.

Apparently, the magical girl named “Flower Leaf” was the Countermeasures Bureau’s prodigy, Luo Jianhua.

She had disappeared without a trace ever since Ye Ge had forcefully taken her away. And now, she had unexpectedly become a magical girl.

She hadn’t said a single word from the moment they met until now, nor had she given the slightest hint of a gesture. It was unclear if she was being controlled.

Could it be that she didn’t want to be recognized?

Possibly.

Luo Jianhua was said to have a mature personality. She probably thought it would be too embarrassing if someone recognized her.

A little while later.

At the headquarters’ main reception hall.

It had an opulent, magnificent feel to it.

As soon as Ye Yao entered, she saw several people already waiting there.

Among them were parallel Xiao Jing and a woman whose eyes were covered by a blindfold.

The woman radiating a maternal glow seemed to sense Ye Yao’s gaze, giving her a small nod and smile, as if greeting her.

Her friendly warmth was practically overflowing.

Ye Yao nodded back in acknowledgment, managing to restrain her fidgeting.

At that moment, parallel Fu Qi walked past her and gestured for the three to take their seats.

“Please sit down. We’d like to ask you about a few things. If it’s convenient, please help clear up some of our doubts.”

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“Go ahead. Us magical girls will tell you everything we know.”

Ye Yao’s tone was remarkably magnanimous, a world apart from the attitude Ye Ge had displayed.

It made people wonder if they were really companions.

Parallel Fu Qi took a deep breath.

“One of our people, Lou Wei, had a minor run-in with you recently. First of all, thank you for going easy on him. From him, we learned that you know a woman named Ye Ge.”

Parallel Lou Wei stood stiffly to the side, like a wooden dummy that couldn’t speak.

Parallel Fu Qi continued, “I don’t know if you’re aware, but Ye Ge once visited the Countermeasures Bureau headquarters and forcibly took one of our members for reasons still unknown. Do you know what her intention was?”

“No, but it must’ve been for a good cause!”

Ye Yao answered with complete confidence.

Any pretense of magical girl virtues had already been thrown out the window.

After all, Mo Qiuli had said that everything she did was right.

Parallel Fu Qi’s lip twitched.

“Ye Ge once said that she would destroy the world in the near future. Do you know the reason?”

“Huh? Did she really say that? That’s a little scary…”

Ye Yao’s tone was one of surprise.

Instantly, everyone felt a suffocating pressure.

Parallel Fu Qi’s voice unconsciously carried a hint of urgency.

“Aren’t you friends?”

“Maybe, possibly, perhaps we have that kind of relationship. But a lot of the time, I don’t understand what she’s thinking. Right now, I don’t even know where she is.”

Ye Yao’s tone was somewhat innocent.

Parallel Fu Qi had to force himself to calm down.

It seemed that after dumping Luo Jianhua on Lullaby, Ye Ge had gone off to look for the fugitive innate Sequence Espers.

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Judging by Lullaby’s tone, there seemed to be no need for her to lie.

“One more question. Where do you come from?”

“That’s a secret.”

Ye Yao certainly couldn’t reveal everything.

But she could offer them a glimmer of hope.

“What exactly did she do here? Did she really do bad things? I don’t even know what she’s been up to lately. She didn’t tell me anything.”

Hearing this puzzled voice, everyone exchanged glances. They could only honestly recount everything Ye Ge had done, without any exaggeration.

After listening, Ye Yao was shocked.

“What? She deliberately hurt people? How could she be so awful?

Then, to make up for the mistakes she made, I can help you out a little.”

With that, she dispelled the “recognition inhibition magic” around herself.

“I guarantee it on my honor as a magical girl.”

As the girl’s true appearance was revealed, everyone felt a momentary daze.

What an adorable little one…

No.

Several familiar faces, including parallel Fu Qi, felt their souls tremble.

Why did they feel such a strange sense of familiarity?

Author Note

Cooking for myself in this sweltering heat is pure torture. I’m tempted to just order takeout.

Text: Rub salt into the wound