The villainous magical girl's daily mission is to find fault.

If you bring something from the future into another dimension, it might appear in the place that corresponds to present-day Chengdu.

Since the disturbance caused to that old mental world can be reflected in the present world, and the albatross is also intentionally using this method to transmit information, why not use the hyacinth's exploration of the other dimension to establish a communication channel with her?

"We've confirmed Albatross's special status in that alternate dimension, so no matter what, we must first establish a reliable way to contact her, at least to find out what she's doing in that alternate dimension."

"Is she trapped inside by some mysterious force, unable to escape, or did she actively enter to maintain her mental image, or perhaps both?"

"How can we help her, and how can we fight against the giant hydra in that other dimension that attacks innocent people—all these questions are left to you, Hyacinth. You are the only one among us who can enter the other dimension to investigate."

On the rooftop of the Hero Association, Hellcat read aloud the script his villainous comrades had come up with, and walked up to Hyacinth, who was still not quite understanding what was going on, and handed her the thin notebook in his hand.

"Here is the intelligence we've compiled; you might find it useful during today's exploration."

The girl lowered her head and opened her notebook.

On the title page of the booklet, the scribes of Xin Yuehu had written a few lines in delicate handwriting:

[Survey Task List]

[A: This hints that we have found the clue that Albatross left behind in the present-day city of Chengdu.]

[B: Continue exploring the millennium-old Chengdu on a larger scale to find areas that urgently need restoration.]

[C: Try to investigate everything you find, and try to find the root cause of Chengdu's time loop in the new millennium.]

[D: If possible, try to eliminate the giant hydra]

The nine o'clock morning sun shone on Hyacinth, and the expectant gazes of her companions, colleagues, and even rivals were all focused on her. The intense gazes made Hyacinth feel a surge of excitement—

Would she get scolded if she said she actually thought the rooftop was a bit too hot? Hyacinth decided to keep this thought to herself.

But what hyacinth is very confused about is that... ten days and half a month have passed since the disappearance case began, so why is she the only one who has been able to enter it?

Even Xin Yuehu, a master of the mental world, couldn't get inside. According to her, she personally went to the spatial rift of the football field and studied it for a long time but still couldn't get in. Why can she just jump in and squeeze in?

Hyacinth gave up thinking.

……

later.

"Based on the latest naming rules discussed by the Hero Association, we will call the city in that space 'Millennium,' which will avoid a lot of trouble as the official name."

"Would you like us to read the field investigation guidelines one last time, Miss Hyacinth?"

"No need."

The sound of hyacinths came from the other end of the Divine Stone.

The heroes stood ready, and the magical girls eagerly awaited the moment when Hyacinth would be pulled into "Millennium Chengdu".

After much discussion, Hyacinth took on the heavy responsibility and became the only field member of the investigation team.

As a renowned magical girl with countless battles under her belt, can Hyacinth successfully complete the long list of investigation tasks recorded in her notebook? Nightingale couldn't guarantee it, and Heart Moon Fox didn't dare to make a hasty judgment either.

But one thing is certain—once the giant hydra in the Millennium City of Chengdu goes out of control and falls into the mortal world, swallowing people with magical talents and seizing their power, its destructive power will definitely not be less than that of Jormungandr.

The safety of Chengdu rests on the line, and such a task can only be entrusted to Hyacinth, who is the main character of the main story.

"...It's coming." The hyacinth murmured softly.

A slight magical hum was heard, and the video feed from the Divine Stone was briefly interrupted. Qi Yun immediately adjusted the antenna to reconnect the disconnected video communication.

"Shhh..."

"Hyacinth reports: We have successfully entered the new millennium."

.

Hyacinth opened its eyes and looked around.

A familiar breeze caressed my face, bringing a coolness unlike anything I'd experienced before.

This time, I entered the millennium alone, without Bai Ling and Yue Tianxin accompanying me. I traveled light to ensure as much mobility as possible during this short investigation.

The reason I brought two stargazers along yesterday was to carry out a rescue mission, but there were no missing persons cases today. All the information the stargazers could obtain was exchanged during yesterday's communication, so there was no need to put them at risk again.

The surrounding environment felt completely unfamiliar to Hyacinth, yet it also evoked a strange sense of nostalgia for a bygone era.

A triangular-framed bicycle with a stand was parked on the side of the road. On the back of the bicycle was a rather wide tray covered with a transparent board and mesh, inside which were neatly arranged old-fashioned pillow bread that looked very soft and delicious.

The nearby concrete utility poles are covered with countless thick cables that resemble a grid, stretching from the transformer in the distance all the way to the far reaches of the city.

Cotton candy machines framed in sheet metal are parked on the street, and several pots of red oil that have long since cooled can be seen in the roadside mala tang (spicy hot pot) shops. Various dishes skewered on bamboo sticks are placed on iron plates, some of which have already begun to accumulate dust.

The roadside was packed with pedicabs and motorized carts. Across the street, buildings were covered in green scaffolding for renovations, with a striking banner that read, "KFC under renovation, stay tuned," followed by another banner that read, "Golden Arches under renovation."

Hyacinth was certain she had never been to this old-fashioned snack street before, but where did this feeling of nostalgia come from?

"(stamp)"

"You're here very early."

The sudden poke of a finger, coupled with the soft laughter coming from right behind her, startled Hyacinth so much that she jumped up on the spot.

"Whoa?!"

"S-Senior? When did you get behind me? You scared me to death!"

The albatross covered its mouth and chuckled, its laughter radiant.

In those days, before magical girl culture had developed into the mature and diverse genre it is today, the albatross best represented the general impression people had of magical girls at the time.

She is beautiful, youthful and lively, yet possesses a girlish reserve, and occasionally plays little pranks that make people laugh.

Even though Hyacinth reminded herself that "Albatross is a senior from more than ten years ago and I should respect her more," the fact that the girl in front of her looked exactly the same age as her still made her feel a little dazed.

"I knew you came in the moment you walked in. So you didn't notice me at all?"

The albatross smiled and straightened its back, while the hyacinth, unsure of what to say, sighed helplessly and slumped its shoulders.

The girl glanced around, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a rather uncertain tone:

"Where am I? I feel like this place is familiar, but I don't know exactly where I am."

"You mean this street?"

The albatross tilted its head, lightly spun half a circle on its toes, looked at the fast food restaurant under renovation across the street, and said with a smile:

"This is one of the most bustling streets in Chengdu, and everyone calls it 'Qiuxi Road'."

"What a pity, neither of these fast food restaurants is finished being renovated yet. I was really looking forward to it..."

After speaking, the girl turned to look at the hyacinth, which was standing there in a daze.

"...Is Qiuxi Road more bustling now?"

"Yes, there are many large shopping malls and restaurants. There are seven or eight fast food restaurants. A new commercial street selling luxury goods and other trinkets has also opened next door."

When asked a question, Hyacinth answered truthfully.

The albatross, its mouth slightly open, turned its head to take another look at the fast food restaurant still under renovation, and whispered:

"The Kraken is currently in hibernation and won't hear our conversation."

"I know you must have a lot of questions for me, right, Miss Hyacinth from the future?"