By the time they finished discussing the uses of Magical Armor, it was already close to midnight. The three of them parted ways at the open lot, each heading home on their own.
Veronica walked away at a leisurely pace, glancing into the distance as she went. Just as she found a relatively secluded spot where she could take off and fly home, she noticed someone had been following her.
Lin Xiaolu stood beside her with her head lowered, hesitation written all over her face. She looked like she had something to say but didn’t know how to start.
“What is it?” Veronica asked directly.
Lin Xiaolu lifted her gaze briefly before looking down again. “…Veronica.”
Hearing her call her by her alias, Veronica turned fully toward her, signaling that she was listening.
“I heard something a few days ago… about my mom.”
Lin Xiaolu’s voice was quiet, and she still avoided Veronica’s eyes as she continued, “She was a magical girl too, wasn’t she?”
“And she was your teammate.”
Veronica didn’t hesitate in answering.
She had anticipated these questions ever since she showed Lin Xiaolu that old photo a few days ago.
Telling Lin Xiaolu that Veronica knew Aya was a choice she had considered carefully. There was no doubt that it would create a connection between Veronica and Lin Yun in her daughter’s mind.
Even if she wouldn’t immediately suspect they were the same person, the risk of exposure had increased.
But Veronica knew she couldn’t keep up the deception forever. The more time she spent with her daughter, the sooner Lin Xiaolu would notice the obvious—Lin Yun and Veronica had never appeared in the same place at the same time.
She didn’t like deceiving her daughter, but given the current state of their relationship, Veronica was still a necessary identity.
There were many things she couldn’t explain as Lin Yun, but as Veronica, she could afford to say a little more.
And since Lin Xiaolu had come to her with questions, she felt responsible for giving her answers.
Receiving Veronica’s confirmation, Lin Xiaolu pressed on. “Then… what kind of magical girl was my mom?”
Aya as a magical girl—Veronica found herself reminiscing.
From her perspective, Aya had been strong, righteous, and radiant. So many wonderful words could be used to describe her because she truly was an outstanding magical girl with a kind and pure heart.
But if she had to choose the one trait that stood out the most, none of those words were quite enough.
There was a better way to describe her.
“…She was optimistic,” Veronica said softly.
Lin Xiaolu looked puzzled. “Optimistic?”
It wasn’t the answer she had expected. The word seemed too ordinary—so plain that it hardly felt like a description of a magical girl.
“No matter how powerful the enemy, she never despaired. No matter how dire the situation, she never gave up. No matter what kind of blow she suffered, she never let it break her.”
Veronica explained calmly, “She may not have been the strongest or the smartest, and sometimes she seemed like a fool who did nothing but laugh. But her presence was infectious—she made you feel like things weren’t truly hopeless, that there was still a way forward. As long as she was there, so was hope.”
Lin Xiaolu listened, a little entranced by the image Veronica painted.
But along with that admiration came a creeping sense of self-doubt. Fınd the newest release on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚫𝙣𝙚𝙩
“…Then my mom must have been really beloved as a magical girl, right?” she asked.
Veronica didn’t shy away from the truth. “Yes. She was.”
“…Then, does that mean you’re disappointed in me?”
Veronica blinked. “What?”
“I’ve been thinking about this for the past few days.” Lin Xiaolu fidgeted, grasping the hem of her clothes. “Veronica… you came to Fangting because of my mom, didn’t you?”
Her voice grew smaller. “So compared to her, I must seem like such a letdown.”
“…That’s what you think?” Veronica frowned.
“I don’t want to think that way… but I can’t see any other possibility.”
Lin Xiaolu’s voice was dry, almost brittle. “I know what kind of person my mom was. And I can imagine that, as a magical girl, someone with her warmth and enthusiasm must have been well-loved.”
“…But me? My talent isn’t great, my personality is awful, I’m not like Xia Liang, who knows how to be likable. And I always ask for things that trouble others. Honestly, I must be annoying.”
“And then, when you see how different I am from my mom… doesn’t it feel like a huge letdown? I mean, if it weren’t for my connection to her, would I even have anything that makes me worth your attention?”
Veronica took a step closer.
She wanted to see her daughter’s face as she spoke, but Lin Xiaolu turned her head away, continuing in a self-deprecating tone.
“I heard from that woman, Hong Siyu… you’re an Inspector, right? That makes you a big deal in the Magic Kingdom.” Lin Xiaolu exhaled shakily. “And you only came to Fangting City to investigate Senior Moko’s disappearance. But now, because of me, you’re stuck here wasting time on someone useless like me.
“…That’s just unfair to you.”
Veronica’s voice was cool but tinged with curiosity. “Are you saying you want me to leave you alone?”
“No! That’s not it at all!”
Lin Xiaolu immediately lifted her head, her expression flustered. “I would never think that! I want you to stay! It’s just that right now…”
“You don’t feel like you deserve it?” Veronica finished for her.
“…Yeah. Something like that.” Lin Xiaolu’s voice was small.
“If I tell you that’s not true, you’ll just think I’m trying to comfort you, won’t you?”
Her answer melted into the quiet night.
Veronica understood immediately.
Her daughter was struggling with self-worth. She had been for days now—it was painfully obvious, since Lin Xiaolu wasn’t the type to hide her emotions well.
Veronica had been meaning to find an opportunity to talk to her about it.
And now, the chance had finally arrived.
“…Then, how about we go for a walk?” she suggested.
Lin Xiaolu hesitated. “A walk? Right now? For what?”
Veronica turned slightly and gestured toward the road ahead, inviting her to follow.
“For example… now that you know who your mother was, what else is on your mind?”