Magical Integration Association Branch, a certain room.
“So, you accidentally brewed a poisonous potion instead of the intended one?”
“Yes.”
Hilxi, sitting on the iron chair, showed no expression.
In the end, she had been caught.
“What the heck, fine, one Silver Coin as a penalty. Don’t let it happen again!”
The woman standing not far from Hilxi had long golden hair and wore a white magic robe. A cigarette was pinched between her fingers, and her attitude was rather carefree.
Upon hearing about the fine, Hilxi furrowed her brows and frowned with reluctance:
“You want to fine me too? I didn’t do it on purpose, and I sincerely apologized! Why do I still have to pay a fine?”
“One Silver Coin.”
“Damn, ignoring me completely.” Hilxi lightly tapped the table in front of her, then quickly shifted her eyes and called out with a somewhat coquettish tone, “Teacher Sheila~”
“What? What’s with that tone?” Sheila took a drag from her cigarette and exhaled smoke in Hilxi’s direction.
“I… cough cough! Could you please not smoke? I feel like my lifespan is shrinking with every puff. You’re breaking the law, it’s intentional harm! Compensate me!”
“Dream on! Hurry up and pay! I want to sleep.”
She waved away the cigarette smoke with her palm. Hilxi endured the constant assault on her lungs and forced a smile, crossing her hands to prop her chin:
“Teacher Sheila, you are Saya-san’s master, and Saya is my good friend, so that makes you my master too! Master, how can you be so heartless as to fine your beloved disciple?”
“Huh? What kind of logic is that? Anyway, you still have to pay!”
Sheila clearly wasn’t buying any of this.
“Master~ No, you can’t… your disciple didn’t bring any money.”
“Who said I’m your master? Well, since you don’t have money…”
Just as Hilxi expected the next sentence to be “then forget it,” Sheila’s face broke into a mischievous grin:
“Then leave your clothes here. Hmm, that necklace you’re wearing isn’t bad either.”
“…That’s too much.”
Helpless, Hilxi reluctantly pulled out a Silver Coin and handed it over.
“Hmph, so you do have one after all.”
Sheila casually blew out smoke, then reached out and grabbed the coin from Hilxi’s hand with some effort.
“That’s too much! There’s a saying that a gentleman doesn’t take away others’ cherished things, Teacher Sheila, you’re really—”
“Ah?” Sheila suddenly showed a dangerous expression.
“Ahaha, never mind, never mind. Well then, I’m off. Bye, teacher~” Hilxi quickly changed her tone and stood up, starting to walk away.
“Get out of here quickly, geez.” Sheila pushed Hilxi lightly as she passed by, and Hilxi hurried off.
After leaving the Magical Integration Association, Hilxi wandered the streets like a lost soul, her body battered by the biting cold wind, but her heart felt even colder.
Losing a Silver Coin, ahhh!!
Only when her nose was about to start running uncontrollably from the cold did Hilxi mount her broomstick and fly toward a certain place.
Riding a broomstick at night wasn’t a pleasant experience; the wind was brutally cold. Of course, if she could use Flame Magic to ward off the chill, it wouldn’t be so bad.
Soon, Hilxi arrived in front of a red-brick house.
She didn’t knock but circled on her broomstick once before entering through the window.
Warmth enveloped her, and Hilxi scanned the room layout before putting away her broomstick and moving to the stove to warm herself.
The room was dim, with only the stove as a light source, barely revealing the shapes of the furniture.
In this unfamiliar room, she made no sound, slowly approaching the bed nearby and looking down at the sleeping person.
It was a pink-haired girl, lying on her side with half her head buried under the covers, her sleeping face adorable.
Hilxi’s intention was clear.
Her hand was inside the covers, making contact tricky… but this was no challenge for her.
Countless previous experiences allowed Hilxi to act immediately. She gently placed her hand on the girl’s head, still without making a sound—not even the rustling of clothes.
This was her first time “assassinating” in this country… no, comforting someone to sleep.
All that was left was to endure a boring half hour. If she was lucky, three replication attempts would get her the Transforming Magic.
If not, no matter, she could try again tomorrow night, until she got it.
A malicious smile crept across Hilxi’s face.
But things didn’t go so smoothly.
Having just acquired a type of Water Magic, Hilxi suddenly heard a faint noise.
Someone was moving?
Hilxi turned her head sharply and found a shadow by the window!
Startled, she quickly summoned her Magic Wand, transformed into a Mouse, and scurried under the bed, intending to observe the situation.
The figure entered soon after but seemed unprofessional—making noticeable noise when landing… so lame.
The intruder didn’t approach the bed but began rifling through drawers, apparently searching for something.
Seeing this, Hilxi guessed in her heart: searching for something, so it’s not an assassination… Wait, why did I even think about assassination? What is he looking for? Money? Oh, a thief.
About ten minutes later, the figure stopped, muttered a curse about being poor, then glanced toward Hilxi’s direction.
Just when Hilxi thought he might come over, the thief headed straight for the window, seemingly intending to leave.
A bit timid… and cautious.
Hilxi crawled out from under the bed and shifted back into human form.
Dressed in black, she looked formidable.
Walking to the window, Hilxi glanced at Noffy once, then climbed out.
On the street.
The black-robed thief looked around cautiously, then opened his cloth bag and counted his loot.
His name was Xiaren. Not only a thief, but also a Magician who called himself a Magical Thief.
This time, the job was a paid commission: a certain Young Master hired him to steal valuables. But the employer clearly wasn’t after the money; otherwise, he wouldn’t have promised to let Xiaren keep everything he stole.
“Though I didn’t steal anything valuable, at least there’s a commission fee. Either way, it’s a win!”
He casually tied the bag around his waist, feeling pretty good as he strolled down the unlit street.
This money would last him half a month, so no need to move again for now, avoiding the Association’s people.
Just as he thought this, a black figure suddenly appeared ahead.
The figure was cloaked in darkness, dressed in black with a hood covering the face, blending perfectly with the night.
Xiaren was startled and instinctively turned and ran!
His steps were quick as he darted into an alley, weaving rapidly between trash bins without even daring to look back!
This was the instinct honed by years of experience.
What was that just now!? A ghost?
As he ran, Xiaren furrowed his brows, panicked.
Suddenly, he stopped abruptly, stepping back several paces, pupils shrinking sharply.
A few meters ahead, the eerie black figure reappeared!
“W-Who are you!?” Xiaren summoned his Magic Wand, no longer running blindly but adopting a defensive stance.
“I am a Justice Ally.” The black-clothed figure chuckled lightly, spouting a cliché line.
“……”
Xiaren was stunned for almost two seconds before casting magic, hurling a blazing, bright fireball!
“What kind of bullshit Justice Ally are you!”
The fireball illuminated the surroundings, revealing the figure’s face beneath the hood: golden hair and sapphire-like blue eyes.
“You seem to look down on Justice Allies.”
The figure spoke calmly. When the fireball was just a meter away, she waved her hand and smashed the brain-sized fireball into flames!
Her Magic Wand appeared in hand.
“A Magician?” Xiaren didn’t give up. Dodging a step, he formed several more fireballs and launched them at the target again!
He refused to believe she could block it a second time!
But reality was harsh.
He saw her draw a silver Magic Circle with the wand, which instantly expanded several times, easily blocking his fireballs without a ripple.
“Useless.”
A disdainful laugh sounded near his ear. Xiaren realized he was no match and turned to run!
After two steps, the black figure mysteriously appeared again in front of him, like an inescapable nightmare.
“How is this possible!? You… how are you here!?”
“A simple magic to block vision and confuse direction.”
The corners of the black-cloaked person’s mouth curled into a smirk, then she raised her right hand, grabbed Xiaren’s cheek, and slammed him against the nearby wall!
Momentarily dazed, Xiaren didn’t react until a loud bang echoed beside his ear, ringing painfully, and sharp pain struck his head.
He tried to resist but found himself trapped in a ring of purple magic, collapsing weakly to the ground.
So strong… I’m a Magician crushed like this. Could she be a Witch?
Xiaren writhed on the floor, unable to break free, glaring fiercely at the black figure, determined to memorize her face for future revenge.
Then, he saw the black-clothed woman squat down, rifling through his loot bag.
“You stole all this?”
“…”
Xiaren fell silent, refusing to answer.
The woman chuckled lightly: “You have the right to remain silent, but all the money on you belongs to me now.”
She then grabbed Xiaren and began searching his pockets for any hidden money.
Xiaren’s face showed terror.
“No! Stop!”
“Nooo, I have no money on me!”
“Help!”
After a moment, Hilxi clicked her tongue and looked disdainfully at the almost crying man: “You’re a thief but so poor? Only a few Silver Coins?”
“…”
“Tell me, where’s your home? Where do you keep your savings?”
“…”
“Not talking, huh? Hmph, I have ways to make you talk…” A cruel smile appeared on her face.
“You… take me to the Association! I want to… surrender…” Xiaren’s face turned pale.
“Oh right, almost forgot! I can do Divination Magic.”
Hilxi showed a delighted expression, took out her Crystal Ball in front of him, and performed a divination:
“Mirror, Mirror, tell me, where does this man keep his savings?”
“…”
Such a clumsy act. Does he think I’d believe that… Xiaren stared intently at Hilxi.
But the next moment,
Thunder seemed to strike his mind as he heard a voice:
“In Residential Area, Street 3, the fifth house on the right, under the stone tile three meters into the bedroom. Hmph, quite well hidden…”
“Y-You… how do you know?” Xiaren’s face was full of shock, his heart in turmoil!
She really knows! She truly can do divination! Is my three years’ worth of savings doomed!?
“Oh, looks like it’s correct.” Seeing his reaction, Hilxi was nearly certain the divination hadn’t failed.
“Are you… a Demon?” Xiaren whispered, despairing.
“Oh dear, I have seen real demons before, but I’m not one~ I’m just an ordinary Justice Ally.”