Why are the magical girls in your area male?

"I can feel magic flowing inside; this card is definitely not an ordinary object, right?"

“Yes.” Nakado nodded and explained, “This is your pass to the association.”

Outposts, safe houses, training grounds, supply depots, libraries... everywhere that requires identity verification, it is needed.

It records your actions, accepts tasks, and contributes points; the information is synchronized to the 'planetary' in real time.

Oh, you can think of this planetarium as a magical version of an AI management system, roughly equivalent to a huge AI database.

The planetarium records all the magical girls' information and activities. Of course, the private parts are encrypted and cannot be seen by outsiders unless you authorize it or it involves a major violation investigation.

He paused, then added, "At least I won't look at it. As for the chairman... it depends on his mood."

"Ha, that's quite in line with her style." Yuan Qing chuckled softly. "Anything else you're hungry?"

"Hmm...you've killed Shadow Beasts before, haven't you? When a Shadow Beast dies, it leaves behind a pile of turbid vapor, have you seen it?"

"Yes, I have seen it, though not often."

Yuan Qing recalled that the pile of slimes was gone, but the skeletal undead and the night hounds were left behind.

Nakado nodded and continued, "It absorbs the turbid energy left behind after the Shadow Beast dies, and then uses this to record contribution points."

Points can be exchanged for various resources at the association's 'Exchange,' including equipment, potions, rare materials, and even skill scrolls.

"Huh? Six hundred and sixty-six, there's even a sect's treasure pavilion!"

Yuan Qing was taken aback for a moment.

Where did this come from? Is this still part of the magical girl world?

Ignoring Yuanqing's complaints, Zhongtang Wu continued, "There's one last thing: the identity card can be used to locate your position during the Moon Etching."

If your life is in danger, the card will automatically send the highest level of distress signal to the association headquarters and nearby members, and continuously transmit your precise location.

This is very important, remember it, keep it safe, and don't lose it.

"Wow, that's reassuring."

Yuan Qing's face lit up with joy, and he became even more enamored with the identity card.

I didn't expect the Tarot Association to have such good benefits; no wonder my sister has such a high opinion of the association.

"That's pretty much it."

Zhongtang Wu flicked his cigarette ash and looked at Yuan Qing, "Is there anything else you want to ask?"

"Me? Oh, there really is one."

Yuan Qing wiped his nose and asked curiously, "Kaoru told me that the reason the Tarot Association kicked out all Awakened Ones and only retained and recruited Magical Girls was because of an attack two years ago."

Although she didn't say it explicitly, I could sense that you were all being secretive about it. What exactly happened? Please tell me.

Are you very concerned about this issue?

“That’s right, I’ll be frank, this issue will directly relate to my opinion of the association.”

"..."

Nakado was silent for a short while.

After a while, he scratched his messy hair and sighed, "Sigh, that shorty, he just likes to push this kind of trouble onto me."

He flicked his fingers, and the cigarette butt vanished on its own with a faint glow.

Then, he turned his gaze back to Yuan Qing.

In that instant, Yuan Qing felt his body and soul tremble simultaneously—

Nakado Go's eyes changed!

Although it looks as decadent as ever, it is clearly much sharper than before!

It's like a sword that can pierce straight into your own heart!

No wonder he's the only S-rank in the Tokyo area! Just from that look in his eyes, you can tell he's no ordinary person!!

"Kid, let me ask you this: we have no connection whatsoever. If we encounter a Shadow Beast and neither of us is armed, would you be willing to risk your life to shield me from it?"

"I don't want to."

Yuan Qing's answer was concise and to the point.

He prides himself on not being a selfish person, considering himself a good person, but certainly not a saint.

The only people he would be willing to risk his life for are Kaoru and Tsukishiro. If it were anyone else, even the student council president, he would have to think twice.

Sincerity is essential for both parties in this conversation, Yuanqing will not beat around the bush and will speak frankly, which is better for both of them.

Clearly, Nakado was also satisfied with his frankness, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

Then he said in a fairly calm voice, "But I will."

"......ha?"

"Not just me, but all two hundred-plus magical girls in the Tarot Association are such idiots, fools, and hopelessly brain-dead."

"Uh......"

"Do you know why?"

Yuan Qing shook his head.

Nakado paused for a moment before explaining, "Because the power of magical girls comes from the Heart Flower, and the Heart Flower symbolizes 'justice,' 'protection,' and 'love.'"

It represents the approval of lofty morality, and only those of truly noble character are qualified to receive this power.

Therefore, strictly speaking, it is not that we awakened the flower of our hearts, but rather that the flower of our hearts chose us.

"..."

Yuan Qing felt like he was listening to a fairy tale.

What's with this talk of justice and protecting love? Aren't these elements only found in children's animation?

The shadow beasts etched by the moon have all grown up to look like that; this world doesn't seem to be geared towards children at all!

Volume 1: Chapter 67 That dwarf must have done a lot for you (3/5)

"I know you might think I'm telling you something unbelievable, but I'm just stating the facts and there's no personal feeling involved."

Nakado Go added this sentence with a calm expression.

However, Yuan Qing immediately refuted her: "Uh, does that also include what you just said about the magical girls being 'idiots, morons, hopeless morons'?"

“Oh, that doesn’t include that,” Nakado Go replied calmly. “That’s purely a matter of personal feelings.”

"That's too honest, teacher."

Yuan Qing twitched the corner of his mouth.

Therefore, the "selection" of magical girls not only depends on their qualifications, but also on their character.

The flower of the heart is the scale for measuring morality? That's a bit abstract...

To be honest, I'll pass on Nakado Go, since I don't know him very well.

Shiori Shiomi? She may be cold, but she is also genuinely kind.

But her own younger sister and that bastard Yuki Tsukishiro were actually considered by Kokoro to be completely good people?

Oh, that makes sense.

Xun is a typical example of someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Yuki, having experienced such an unfortunate past, is still able to smile at this messed-up world. Putting aside the abstract element of being corrupted by herself, it is truly admirable.

Personality and morality are not contradictory. Yuan Qing has seen many seemingly kind but actually treacherous people, as well as seemingly fierce but actually gentle people.

But how to say it......

The magical girls that Nakado Go talked about have a feeling of putting a gun to the heads of good people and making them obediently continue to be good people.

Anyway, Yuan Qing will definitely ask, "Does being a good person mean you deserve to have a gun pointed at you?"

As Yuan Xun mentioned before, the Tarot Association is as harmonious and friendly as a utopia, where everyone is equal.

He didn't believe it at first, but now he's starting to believe it a little.

If the conditions for awakening the flower of the heart are truly so stringent, then the small circle formed by this group of "fools" might indeed be considered a limited "ideal state."

Of course, we can't really talk about a true ideal world, and discussing this topic in depth would take too much energy. Let's focus on what's in front of us for now.

Yuan Qing banished these random thoughts from his mind and asked, "So, Professor Zhongtang, what is the connection between what you just said and that attack?"

"It's about the relationship between seeds and results."

Nakado Go replied, "You probably guessed it already. That attack was a 'betrayal' launched against the magical girls by awakened individuals recruited by the Tarot Association."

The attack cost us seven B-rank members, two A-rank members, and three C-rank members. The dead are gone, and the two survivors have both left the association. The perpetrator of all this is still at large.

Zhongtang Wu's eyes dimmed for a moment, then he said, "The association is not strong enough, Yuanqing, so we need your strength."

"..."

"Let me tell you something you don't know. Regarding the decision to recruit you into the association, apart from a few people you know, all the association members voted against it."

"Uh......"

Yuan Qing gave a wry smile and said, "I can probably understand."

"I don't know how that little girl convinced more than half of the people, but she must have done a lot to get you into the association."

"You mean Shiori Shiomi? She..."

"She must have her reasons for hiring you, but this is the first time I've seen her go to such lengths for anyone. Take some time to treat her to a meal and express your gratitude."

Upon hearing what Zhongtang Wu said, Yuanqing suddenly recalled the brief look of sadness that Shiori Shiomi had shown before leaving yesterday.

She said it herself: "The association needs you more than you need it."

Regardless of her motives, her sincerity is undeniable.

After a moment of silence, Yuan Qing smiled and teased, "Why? She hired me to work for her, so she should be the one treating me to a meal."

"Ah......"

"Don't look at me like that, I was just kidding. I'll treat her to dinner sometime."

"Tch, whatever, you troublesome brat."

Nakado Go scratched his messy hair, yawned, and revealed a relaxed expression:

"That's all I wanted to say. In short, welcome to the Tarot Association."

His last words were spoken lightly, with a sense of relief that "I can finally go home," which left Yuan Qing feeling somewhat helpless.

However, more than feeling helpless, I felt a mix of emotions.

Now, Gensei understands why Shiori Shiomi used such a tough approach to kick out all the awakened ones who weren't magical girls.

Simply put, she used the "screening mechanism" of the Heart Flower.

Those who were kicked out of the Awakening realm are not necessarily bad people, but the magical girls who remain are definitely good people.

Shiori Shiomi used harsh methods to ensure the purity of the association.

While scraping the bone to remove the source of the disease, it also greatly weakened the association's power.

As an outsider, Yuan Qing had not personally experienced their predicament, so he certainly couldn't judge whether what they did was good or bad.

Although it wasn't outwardly apparent, the attack was undoubtedly an indelible scar on the association and its then-president, Nakado Go.

No wonder Yuan Xun didn't take the initiative to inquire; such a thing is too painful, and anyone would want to avoid it.

After Nakado left, Gensei stood alone in the sunlight, clutching the cold card in his hand.

He looked down at the stars on the back of the card, then looked up at the azure sky, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Ugh......"

"I think I've gotten myself into a whole bunch of trouble..."

......

After school.