I'm a magical girl in the future

Chapter 169 The Initial Timeline

The weather has been getting colder and colder since the beginning of winter.

For magical girls, the concept of "catching a cold" doesn't exist because of the protection of magic, but they still feel uncomfortable when the temperature drops.

If a magical girl only transforms during battle, she will usually keep her default battle outfit. After all, since the transformation only lasts for a short while during battle, there is no need to add a special outfit for it.

However, for girls who are used to maintaining their magical girl form all the time, it is necessary to prepare an extra set of thick everyday clothes for daily wear.

Outside the Civil Defense Bureau building in Yuehua City, Fuping, wearing a sweater and trousers, held Noah's hand and walked with her into the bureau's gate.

Floating Duckweed has successfully reached the "Blooming Bud" level of awakening. According to Noah, it took Floating Duckweed less than a year to go from awakening to reaching the "Blooming Bud" level. This is incredibly fast for a magical girl.

However, this has led to other problems, namely the mindset of the floating duckweed.

Normally, one should be able to use the Mind Image when they reach the "Budding" stage of the second realm of Kaihua. However, Fuping is currently at the "Blooming" stage of the third realm and still shows no signs of being able to use the Mind Image. This is making Fuping a little anxious.

In fact, when she reached the "Budding" level, Fu Ping had a strong feeling that she seemed to need to reach the "Eternal Radiance" level to unleash her mental abilities.

Noah was also getting anxious. Normally, awakening a Heart Image at the "Blooming" level is considered a late bloomer. However, even though Floating Duckweed had already reached the "Blooming" level, she still couldn't use her Heart Image, so there must be something wrong.

That's why they came to the Civil Defense Bureau.

Some time ago, they went to the laboratory to seek help from Dr. Wang Tingshi.

After her daughter's death, Wang Tingshi resigned from her position as director and returned to the research institute, devoting herself entirely to the study of magical girls. Her understanding of magical girls far surpassed that of most researchers of her time.

Floating duckweed underwent several trips to the lab for examinations. A few weeks later, this morning, Noah received a text message from Wang Tingshi—

A conclusion has been reached, but the situation is much more complicated than imagined, and I hope to explain it to you in person.

"I didn't expect you to choose this place."

As soon as Noah entered, she unceremoniously found a seat and sat down. Floating Duckweed, who was next to her, also found a seat next to her and sat down obediently.

"I was once the branch chief here, after all. It shouldn't be difficult for me to borrow a meeting room."

After Wang Tingshi finished speaking, her expression became serious.

"Let's get straight to the point. The research on the mental state of duckweed—it's truly incredible."

"First of all, it's not that Floating Duckweed's mental form is unawakened. It's just that its activation conditions are very strange. Floating Duckweed, you once said that you had a premonition that your mental form would only be able to exert its power when it reaches the 'Eternal Radiance' level, right?"

The duckweed nodded.

Wang Tingshi continued, "Your feeling is correct. Your mental imagery does indeed only become useful at the 'Eternal Radiance' level—but not in the kind of 'useful' way you imagine."

"Your mental capacity is a power that transcends cause and effect. As long as there is a 'floating duckweed' on any timeline that successfully awakens to the 'Eternal Splendor' level, then all 'floating duckweed' in past timelines will automatically become 'Eternal Splendor' level."

"————"

Silence fell over the meeting room.

Noah and Floating Duckweed were both stunned. What kind of ability was this? It sounded—very high-class and powerful.

"Let me confirm," Fu Ping scratched her head, "So, I'm going to work hard at cultivation now, so what about my past self—"

"So I can enjoy the fruits of my current cultivation?"

"That's one way to understand it." Wang Tingshi nodded. "But what good is that to me now?" Fu Ping's tone was somewhat disappointed and annoyed.

The benefits that come from this state of mind are something I can't possibly enjoy!

"This is indeed the first time I've encountered this kind of mental state, and your mental state has an even more peculiar ability."

Ignoring Fu Ping's disappointment, Wang Tingshi continued.

"Imagine someone you know can time travel back in time and meet you as a magical girl. Then, when your past self meets this person, they will simultaneously access all your memories and personality from that timeline."

"Stop with all this nonsense," Noah interrupted her, her tone impatient. "All I want to know is, does this mental image actually offer any real help to our current predicament?"

Wang Tingshi looked at her and slowly uttered two words.

"no."

The duckweed was beyond tears.

However, Noah frowned; she noticed something strange—

"No, that doesn't make sense. According to your theory, if Fuping's mental state is that after she reaches the 'Eternal Shao' level, she instantly makes her past self on the timeline also reach the 'Eternal Shao' level, then why hasn't she become 'Eternal Shao' now?"

class?"

Noah pointed to the duckweed beside her.

"Time flows forward. No matter what, there will always be a future floating duckweed ahead of our timeline," right? Why then does this duckweed still need to slowly cultivate itself, little by little?"

Wang Tingshi sighed, then gave a bitter smile.

"That's exactly what I meant by a complicated situation. There are three possibilities regarding this issue."

"The first possibility is that if the timeline is unidirectional and linear, then it's very likely that our current point in time is the latest. There is no future ahead of us," and naturally, there is no such thing as a "future adrift" that has become "eternal."

"The second possibility—time exists in the form of parallel universes. Indeed, countless timelines precede ours. But—"

She paused, then looked at the duckweed.

"In other parallel worlds—Floating Duckweed, you are all dead."

"You were attacked by a calamity beast on the day you awakened as a magical girl, right? If Noah hadn't been there, you would have died then and there. So, it's possible that in other parallel timelines, Noah wouldn't have been there to save you, or that Noah arrived too late."

"Therefore, the timeline we are currently on is the only one among countless parallel worlds where you have survived—the most recent and only surviving route."

After listening to Wang Tingshi's story, Fu Ping was already sweating profusely.

If it really is the second scenario, then I am already one in a thousand lucky ones.

"However, these first two outcomes are already the best possible results. Don't expect a third one—"

Seeing the appearance of the duckweed, Wang Tingshi said it wasn't over yet.

"The third possibility is that, assuming Noah's rescue of Fuping was inevitable, then all the Fuping in the future would necessarily die before 'Eternal Shao' awakens. Therefore, it would be impossible for them to pass on the cause and effect of 'Eternal Shao' to you in this era."

After saying this, Wang Tingshi stood up and prepared to leave the meeting room.

"Regardless of the facts, the conclusion is the same."

"Your mental image is of no use to you right now. Its only purpose is to serve 'you' on other timelines."