Magical Girl's Knight Brother

Chapter 741 The Final Act: After Everything Is Over

Two weeks later, the afternoon sun shone lazily through the clean glass window, casting its rays onto the floor of the entryway, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies.

"Dad! Mom! I'm home!"

A crisp, cheerful sound rang out with a loud "bang" as the door opened. Tang Cao swept in like a gust of wind, casually tossing her schoolbag onto the shoe cabinet with a "thud."

"Ouch! Slow down, slow down!" Tang's mother, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, hurriedly poked her head out of the kitchen upon hearing the noise, her face showing undisguised surprise and reproach. "You crazy girl, can't you come in quietly? You've almost broken the door!"

Mr. Tang also looked up from behind the newspaper in the living room, pushed up his glasses, and looked at his energetic daughter. He couldn't help but smile. "Are you hungry? Your mother made your favorite pork ribs."

"Wow! Mom's the best!" Tang Cao cheered, kicked off her shoes, and rushed barefoot to the kitchen, giving her mother a big hug. She also quickly grabbed a freshly baked, still-hot cookie and blew on it.

After a flurry of warm greetings, from school life to her recent adventures (which Tangcao glossed over), the atmosphere at home was cozy and lively.

Tang's mother wiped her hands, her gaze sweeping over Tang Cao's back, a habitual question escaping her lips. "Xiao Cao, why are you alone? Where's your brother? Didn't he come back with you?"

She remembered that her son, Tang Zijun, had said he would come home after he finished being busy for a while.

Tangcao, who was holding a biscuit and munching on it, suddenly stopped.

"elder brother?"

She looked up, her face full of genuine bewilderment, her big eyes blinking as if she had heard an extremely unfamiliar word.

"What brother?"

Mr. and Mrs. Tang were both stunned.

The sound of spatulas stirring in the kitchen stopped as well.

The only sounds in the living room were the ticking of the clock on the wall and Tang Cao's blank, innocent gaze as she looked at her parents.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

The next moment, Tang's father and mother reacted almost simultaneously, exchanged a glance, and saw a mixture of helplessness and amusement in each other's eyes.

"Oh—!" Tang's mother drawled, pointing at Tangcao with her finger, a knowing look on her face. "You and your brother had another fight, didn't you? What was it this time? Did he steal your snacks or delete your game save file?"

Tang's father shook his head, suppressing a laugh. "How old are you? Still acting like a child. Your brother..."

"Hmph!" Before Tang's father could finish speaking, Tang Cao pouted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, turning her head away angrily. "I don't have that annoying older brother! Who wants to come back with him! I'm never talking to him again!"

Seeing their daughter's typical haughty and aloof demeanor during a sibling-like cold war, Mr. and Mrs. Tang's last doubts vanished.

These two kids have been bickering and fighting since they were little. When they're happy, they're inseparable, but when they fight, they're like enemies. They're used to it.

"Alright, alright, ignore him, ignore him." Tang's mother smiled and shook her head, no longer asking about her son's matter. Her gaze was soon drawn to a furry little figure at Tang Cao's feet.

Little White was sitting gracefully at the feet of Tangcao, seemingly uninterested in this human family drama, intently licking its snow-white paws, which were gilded by the sunlight.

"Oh my, a kitten~" Tang's mother was immediately charmed and bent down to pet it. "This little guy is so beautiful. Your brother... cough, who usually takes care of it?" Tang's mother almost let slip again.

"Of course I'll take care of it!" Tang Cao immediately forgot about her brother and proudly picked up Xiao Bai, rubbing its soft fur against its skin. "Xiao Bai is such a good boy, isn't he?"

Little White lazily meowed in response.

Tang's father also came over to tease the cat, and the conversation naturally turned to the cat.

As they chatted, Tang's mother seemed to remember something, and while wiping the kitchen counter, she spoke up seemingly unintentionally.

"By the way, Xiaocao, your brother... cough, I mean, that kid Tang Zijun..." She tried to keep her tone normal. "Has he... been dating anyone lately?"

Tang's father also perked up his ears.

"Dating?" Tang Cao, holding the cat, paused for a moment.

"Yes." Tang's mother's eyes sparkled. "Before, there was a rather special girl? Tall, with long hair, a cool and aloof demeanor, but she seemed like a nice person."

She tried hard to recall Shi Yao's unique figure. "That girl seemed pretty good, I wonder who they were..."

Tang Cao blinked, genuinely bewildered this time.

Who is Mom talking about?

Is it Sister Qin Nan? Or Sister Tan Zhixin? My brother has more than one sister with a special aura around him... And why bring this up now?

Looking at her mother's gossipy yet expectant eyes, Tang Cao's mind started racing: Yeah, brother... what will you choose?

Sister Tan Zhixin is both gentle and strong, like a great tree protecting life.

Sister Qin Nan is more reliable than anyone else in critical moments, like a fierce yet pure wind.

Every sister-in-law is amazing!

Tang Cao unconsciously tapped her chin with her finger, her big eyes sparkling with curiosity, completely forgetting that the little white dog in her arms was rolling its eyes because she was squeezing it so tightly.

And then there's Sister Gloria, the sister-in-law from another world isn't bad either... Director Shangguan? ...Hmm...

This problem seems to be a bit more complicated than the world-saving scenes she just experienced!

The sun was still warm. In the living room, Tang's father was still trying to attract the attention of the aloof Xiaobai with a cat toy, while Tang Cao, holding the cat, was caught up in the sweet troubles of "candidates for sister-in-law", and a gossipy smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

Hey, I wonder if Sister Nan and Sister Xin are also having a headache over this issue right now...

"My head is killing me!"

Unlike the bustling atmosphere of Tang Cao's home, filled with the aroma of baked biscuits, the atmosphere in Tan Zhixin's cozy living room, filled with greenery, was somewhat fantastical and subtle.

Qin Nan, Tan Zhixin, and Su Siyao sat around a small tea table next to the carpet, all three pairs of eyes fixed on Luan Luan, who sat in the middle and seemed a little uneasy.

But their gazes were more focused on the exceptionally beautiful goldfish beside Luan Luan, its body shimmering with iridescent colors, leisurely swimming in the air.

This goldfish is no ordinary fish.

It has no water, yet it can levitate. Its scales shimmer with a jewel-like luster, and each swish of its tail brings up tiny, stardust-like specks of light. Its round eyes occasionally flash with an extremely human-like, profound light that seems to have witnessed the vicissitudes of life.

Qin Nan's lips twitched several times before she finally broke the silence, "Are you sure... this is reasonable?" Her gaze pierced sharply at Su Siyao opposite her, her tone filled with undisguised doubt.

Su Siyao nodded seriously. "I'm sure. I monitored the energy fluctuations and the formation of the soul-binding contract throughout the entire process. The procedure was completely compliant... although there really wasn't that clause in the regulations."

Qin Nan took a deep breath, as if suppressing the urge to flip the table, and pressed for an answer again.

"Is this even reasonable?!" The voice rose an octave. "A fish! A high-ranking member of the Greedy Ones! And it contains the primal power of countless Greedy Ones! It is now..."

She pointed to the leisurely goldfish.

"She's become Luan Luan's spirit beast?!"

Su Siyao nodded again, her tone calm. "According to the supplementary explanation of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of the Demon Surveillance Bureau's 'Regulations on the Management of Symbiotic and Contractual Relationships of Abnormal Creatures (Trial Version)': For non-traditional biological forms of spirits possessing high intelligence and autonomous will, and achieving soul resonance with their host, after rigorous energy assessment and fair contract confirmation, they may be deemed special spirit beasts." Luan Luan and Liuli (she gestured to the goldfish) meet all the conditions. I've submitted the energy assessment report and soul resonance waveform for filing.

"Liuli?" Qin Nan caught the name, but an even greater sense of absurdity overwhelmed her.

She abruptly turned to Tan Zhixin, who had remained silent beside her, seeking an ally. "Sister, what do you think? This is simply...this is simply..."

'

She was at a loss for words.

Tan Zhixin was dressed in comfortable loungewear, her emerald green eyes filled with curiosity.

She glanced at the innocent-looking Luan Luan, then at the incredibly beautiful seven-colored goldfish Liuli, then at the helpless Su Siyao, and finally met Qin Nan's anxious gaze. In all her years of life, this was the first time she had encountered such a situation.

"Uh..." Tan Zhixin blinked, organizing her thoughts. "In terms of energy attributes, Liuli does indeed possess an extremely pure and vast source of greed, but this power is currently very peaceful and stable, even carrying a sense of... purified and restrained order, and..."

"Its soul connection with Luan Luan is very close, carrying a strong sense of protection, which does indeed meet the characteristics of a high-level spirit beast contract, but..." She paused, then smiled wryly, "This form... is indeed beyond common understanding."

Qin Nan finally exploded. "This is utterly unreasonable!!!"

She slammed her hand on the coffee table, sending teacups flying. "A spirit beast! Aren't spirit beasts exclusive partners that we magical girls can only forge through elemental resonance or ancient contract rituals? What's going on with this? A greedy person transformed into a spirit beast, and a fish at that! The highest level of greed power condensed into an ornamental fish?! Who wrote this script?!"

Su Siyao and Luan Luan exchanged a glance, both showing a helpless yet slightly smug expression, and then... shrugged in unison.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized.

"Hey! You guys..." Qin Nan was speechless at this attitude.

Just as the atmosphere was about to descend into a philosophical debate about "rationality and existence," a ripple suddenly appeared on the screen of the television in the corner of the living room, which was playing mundane news.

Immediately afterwards, a man dressed in a sharp black uniform with his hair neatly combed walked gracefully out of the television's reflection as if crossing water.

It's Chang Lei.

"Alright, alright, what's all the noise about?" Chang Lei waved his hand, as if to dispel the tension in the air. He glanced at the tea on the table and the eye-catching seven-colored goldfish, his gaze lingering on Liuli for a moment, a hint of understanding and amusement flashing across his face, but he didn't investigate further.

He walked straight up to Su Siyao and took out an official document bearing the logo of the Demon Supervision Bureau from his pocket.

"Xiao Su." Chang Lei handed the documents to Su Siyao with a smile like that of an elder. "Here, your official appointment letter. Congratulations, from now on, you are a full-fledged agent of the Anomaly Investigation Division of the Demon Surveillance Bureau."

"Really!" Su Siyao instantly forgot all about rationality, her eyes widening as she snatched the document, flipped it open, and saw the bright red seal and her own name. Excitedly, she jumped up from the carpet. "Thank you, Uncle Chang! Oh no! Thank you, Deputy Director Chang!"

She held the documents, her face flushed with excitement.

Chang Lei nodded in satisfaction: "Do a good job. Alright, Luan Luan, let's go see Grandma. I'll introduce you to a lady later."

At this moment, Qin Nan shifted her gaze from the excited Su Siyao to Chang Lei, and the question that had just been interrupted resurfaced in her mind.

She composed herself, a hint of concern and urgency in her eyes, and asked, "Lao Chang, where's Tang Zijun? Didn't he come back with you? Is he... alright?"

Tan Zhixin immediately turned her attention to him, and even Su Siyao, who was holding the documents, and Luan Luan, who was teasing Liuli, quieted down and looked at Chang Lei.

The living room fell silent instantly, with only the steady voice of the news anchor on the television as background noise.

Upon hearing this, Chang Lei's nonchalant expression softened somewhat. He stroked his chin, revealing a mysterious smile, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense.

"Tang Zijun..."

The afternoon sun shone through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of the Director of the Demon Surveillance Bureau's office, illuminating the spotless desk and the large chair behind it that symbolized power and responsibility.

Shangguan Su sat there, her posture upright, her dark purple bureau chief uniform impeccably tailored. She didn't look at the documents on the table, nor at the city view outside the window, but instead fixed her gaze, almost scrutinizing and filled with complex emotions, on the young man on the sofa opposite her.

Tang Zijun, dressed casually, was relaxed in the soft sofa, holding a steaming cup of coffee in her hand.

He seemed much more composed than before, his gaze behind his glasses was calm, but at this moment, under Shangguan Su's persistent and focused stare, his fingers holding the coffee cup tightened almost imperceptibly, and his back straightened slightly.

"...I said..." Tang Zijun finally couldn't help but break the silence, clearing her throat with a hint of helpless laughter. "Director, could you please stop staring at me like that? I'm getting a little... creeped out."

Shangguan Su raised her delicate eyebrows and let out a soft, ambiguous hum.

"Is there anything else you, Tang Zijun, are afraid of?" Her voice was unreadable, but her sharp gaze seemed to pierce through glasses and reach straight to the heart.

Tang Zijun wisely adjusted his glasses, refusing to engage with the conversation, which was clearly sarcastic and hinted at settling scores. He wisely chose to remain silent.

Seeing Tang Zijun's "obedient" appearance, Shangguan Su seemed to think it was about time. She leaned back slightly, the swivel chair creaking softly, and the light finally shifted from Tang Zijun's face back to the documents on the table. Her tone also became more formal.

"Alright, let's get down to business. How are the Wasteland and Dream Worlds doing now?"

When the topic turned to business, Tang Zijun suppressed her helplessness and answered seriously.

"Black City is now focusing its main efforts on the reconstruction of the river front." He pushed up his glasses, his tone tinged with relief. "Without the pressure of the nightmares and the complete disappearance of the disaster winds, the environment there is recovering very quickly, thanks to the power of the Flower Fairy Clan. The land that was originally polluted and eroded is now regaining its vitality."

"As for the wasteland..." Tang Zijun paused. "The God of the Epoch has settled down and is focusing on infrastructure development, but the wasteland itself is not yet unified. Fang Xin and the Dragon Group have basically taken control of the southern region, integrating resources and restoring order. I heard... the next step is to prepare for a northern expedition to clean up those warlords and mutant nests in the north. Katie and Suolin are helping with that."

Shangguan Su flipped through the report in her hand, listened to Tang Zijun's narration, and nodded slightly. "Hmm, it's good that it's well-organized."

"Where are the gods?"

She raised her head, her gaze sharpening.

"They came all the way from Earth, so they won't cause any more trouble, or they might want to come back, right?"

Shangguan Su always maintained the highest level of vigilance towards these ancient beings.

Tang Zijun shook her head, her tone resolute.

"No, this war...spanned countless worlds, lasted for countless years, exhausted their last bit of divine power and their spirit. Now they just want to find a quiet place to sleep for hundreds or thousands of years to recover their strength. Besides, they have already found a suitable area deep within the dream world to settle down in, and they have no interest in Earth."

He smiled and added, "Besides, even if some of them really want to come back, they still have to obediently use my reverse passage. Without my permission, they can't get in."

This assurance eased Shangguan Su's tense nerves a little.

She knew Tang Zijun's control over the reversal channel.

"That's good."

She closed the folder in her hand, let out a long, heartfelt sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and a rare hint of relaxation after exhaustion appeared between her brows.

"By the way, Aphrodite thanked me. She said that the damned sword in her body had been removed with the help of Poseidon's divine power avatar, and she feels much lighter. She also specifically said that you should take... well, the others, to her place when you have time. She's a great tea maker."

Upon hearing this, Tang Zijun smiled sincerely. "Understood. I'll go see her after I finish what I'm doing."

A brief chat dispelled the last vestiges of the formality of the official meeting in the office.

The sunlight was warm and inviting, and the aroma of coffee filled the air. Shangguan Su leaned back in her chair, her gaze somewhat vacant, as if lost in memories.

"You know what, Tang Zijun?" Her voice softened, carrying a hint of barely perceptible emotion. "Since I sat in this position... this chair of the Director of the Demon Surveillance Bureau... I haven't had a single day... a good night's sleep."

Tang Zijun picked up his coffee, took a small sip, and the bittersweet aroma spread across his tongue. He looked out the window at the bustling city skyline, his gaze becoming distant.

"Back then... I was the same..." He was referring to those days when he struggled to survive in the reversed world, every step of which felt like walking on thin ice.

The responsibility of guardians is always heavy.

Just as this rare, tranquil atmosphere, imbued with mutual appreciation, was about to spread—

Waaaaah! Wa ...

A piercing and urgent alarm sounded without warning in the office, and the alarm lights embedded in the wall instantly turned a blinding red and flashed wildly.

Tang Zijun and Shangguan Su sat up almost simultaneously, their eyes instantly locking onto the holographic screen that popped up on the wall.

The alarm message is clearly displayed on the screen:

[Spatial rift K74 detected! Energy fluctuation: Standard frequency of Outer Path Demon! Threat level: Level C (Regular Intrusion)! Location: Abandoned Industrial Park, West District!]

Upon seeing the message, Shangguan Su's tense shoulders instantly relaxed. She even waved her hand lazily, as if shooing away a fly.

"Phew...it's those persistent cockroaches again. Oh well, a C-rank threat. Let the magical girls practice on them." She had recently increased the magical girl group's efforts in handling routine anomalies to train the team.

Shangguan Su manually lowered the alarm sound, and the glaring red light turned into a warning yellow.

The office returned to silence, but the relaxed atmosphere of casual conversation from before had vanished.

Shangguan Su remained silent for a moment, then turned her gaze to Tang Zijun again, this time with a deeper look and a final uncertainty.

"Tang Zijun." Her voice was soft, yet clear. "That nightmare...after that...it's truly been completely resolved, it won't come back, right?"

As the director, she had to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Tang Zijun's expression also turned serious. He put down his coffee cup, leaned forward slightly, looked directly into Shangguan Su's eyes, and spoke with a resolute tone.

"Don't worry, it's completely resolved." He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts for clarity. "According to the last message the Mirror God left me, those so-called Nightmare Familiars—they're collectively called 'Nightmas' because they aren't, in essence, independent cosmic life forms."

"They are born from some extremely powerful mental projection." Tang Zijun tapped her knee lightly with her fingertips, explaining this revolutionary understanding. "It's like a long and twisted...dream...the products of the dream, projected into reality, become the nightmares we see."

"And now."

Tang Zijun's gaze hardened.

"I shattered the core structure of that dream, ending the source of that projection, like forcibly terminating a running program. Therefore, they lost their foundation for birth and naturally will never appear again."

"Phew..." Shangguan Su let out a long, truly relaxed sigh, a relieved smile appearing on her face.

"That's wonderful..."

The biggest weight on my heart seems to have finally been lifted.

However, the moment she relaxed her guard, a thought flashed through her mind like lightning.

The smile on her face froze instantly, gradually turning into extreme astonishment, and even a hint of disbelief and horror.

She suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed on Tang Zijun.

"Wait, wait a minute... Tang Zijun!"

"You just said...those things...or originated from a dream of some being?"

"And you... shattered that dream... which means... ended that dreamlike state of existence?"

Tang Zijun was taken aback by Shangguan Su's sudden and intense reaction, and subconsciously nodded. "Yes, that's how the Mirror God interprets it..."

Before she could finish speaking, Tang Zijun suddenly stopped.

A chill ran through me.

He had been so absorbed in his explanation that he thought it was a matter of course to solve the problem, but now, Shangguan Su's shocked tone and logical reasoning were like ice water poured over his head, instantly waking him up.

Seeing Tang Zijun's sudden change in expression, Shangguan Su knew that he had figured out what she was thinking. Her voice was very low, carrying an almost terrifying suspicion.

"Then, you... woke that being up..."

""

"Wouldn't that mean..."

'

"5

'

Tang Zijun's mouth opened unconsciously, her eyes widened, and she froze on the sofa as if petrified.

The next moment, a sharp explosion came from the office.

"Lying down"

(End of the book)