TMGS 04

“The patient’s condition has stabilized for now—thank heavens. If she had been brought in five minutes later, she probably wouldn’t have survived.”

On the fourth floor of Kong Su Hospital, a doctor wearing a surgical mask stepped wearily out of the operating room and into the nearby lounge. She gave a deep bow to the two girls seated inside.

“She needs more rest at the moment, so I’m afraid you won’t be able to visit her just yet. I’m very sorry.”

“Why are you bowing?”

Jin Elisi, who had been lazily lounging with her feet propped up on the table while sucking on a lollipop, sprang to her feet. She pulled out a stack of bills from her pocket and handed them over.

“We should be the ones bowing. You volunteered to save that girl under so much pressure—we can’t thank you enough. Here, take it. This is your personal compensation. No need to give change.”

“No need.”

The doctor smiled and gently pushed the money back. Removing her mask, she revealed a delicate, beautiful face.

“Saving lives is a doctor’s duty. It’s not for money or worldly gain. You’ve already paid the required surgical and hospitalization fees. That’s more than enough.”

“You’ve got something in common with that nurse at the front desk—neither of you are greedy,” said the red-haired girl as she stuffed the money back into her pocket and sat down casually again, grabbing a can of soda. “The only difference is that her glare looked like she wanted to swallow us whole.”

“Ah, Xiaomei…”

The young doctor, who appeared to be under thirty, removed her surgical cap, revealing long black hair. She bowed again.

“I’m truly sorry for the trouble.”

“Let me guess.”

Jin Elisi took a sip of her fizzy cola and reclined half-lying in her chair again, legs back on the table. The lower half of her trench coat draped loosely over the seat, leaving her black-stockinged legs fully exposed.

“That nurse you mentioned probably lost someone very close during the war. Severe PTSD, right?”

“Everyone here lost someone close,” the doctor sighed quietly as she sat down and picked up a bottle of juice. “The only difference is how many.”

“Two hundred million dead in the all-out war between Magical Girls and humans,” Jin Elisi said, the lollipop bobbing between her lips. “Out of eight billion people worldwide—just like that, one fortieth of the population gone. Behind that number? Countless shattered families.”

She pointed toward Mo, who was quietly gnawing on candied hawthorn while pressing her forehead to the glass, staring at the night scenery outside.

“Her entire family—over eighty people. Hundreds of classmates and teachers. All dead. Died right in front of her. In the Malovet Massacre. When we arrived, she barely had half a breath left. Same as the girl today—five minutes later and she’d have been gone.”

“…Ah…”

The doctor hadn’t expected someone who looked like a middle schooler to speak so calmly about one of the bloodiest massacres in modern human history. She froze for a moment, then quickly stood and bowed again.

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea your companion had suffered something so tragic. I apologize.”

“Oh please, how boring.”

Jin Elisi drained the rest of her cola.

“No need to apologize for everything, especially when it’s not your fault. Oh right, almost forgot—I’m Jin Elisi. And this is Mo.”

“My name is Zengman Yinying. Nice to meet you.”

“You’re Zengman Ming’s second daughter, aren’t you?” Mo suddenly asked, still staring out at the city lights.

“Eh? You know my father?”

The doctor looked shocked, nearly spilling her juice.

“One of the representatives of the Communitarian Party—how could I not?”

The silver-haired girl finally turned around and winked at her.

“Five years ago, at Central Plaza, he passionately condemned humanity’s persecution of Magical Girls. He debated fiercely with the United Nations delegate and narrowly won. He was one of the key supporters behind the Third Proposal for the Protection of Magical Girls’ Rights.”

“My father’s ideals were actually very simple,” Yinying said softly, placing her hands on her knees. “He wanted humans and Magical Girls to be treated as one whole—not separated because of special abilities, but regarded equally as individuals.”

“Is he doing well these days?” Jin Elisi asked casually.

The doctor’s eyes dimmed.

“A year and a half ago, this hospital was hit by long-range artillery from Magical Girls. The shells landed with terrifying precision right in the center of the building. Everyone inside—including my father, who was visiting the wounded—was blown to pieces. When they recovered the remains, the only thing left of him was the mechanical wristwatch he always carried.”

Jin Elisi’s lollipop stopped moving for about five seconds.

“Then… you don’t hate us?”

“To be honest, I hated—so much,” Yinying said, gripping her surgical gown with a faint bitter smile.

“For countless days and nights, I kept asking myself—Father worked so hard for the fate of Magical Girls, yet was killed by the very ones he tried to protect. What was it all for? Was it even worth it?

After the war ended, I saw several psychiatrists and took a lot of medication. Eventually, I figured it out: drowning in past grief would only suffocate me. Better to let go and move forward.

So I gave up my original profession and became a surgeon, filling the massive shortage left by doctors who died in the war. I’ll do everything I can to save more humans and Magical Girls—to prevent more tragedies like that from happening.

I think… my father’s spirit would be proud of my choice.”

Let go?

Jin Elisi slowly pulled her legs down from the table and sat upright, lost in thought.

“Oh, right!”

Yinying clasped her hands together instinctively, eyes shining with hope.

“I heard Yinbin City is about to officially begin operations. I’m so, so excited.”

“The first city where humans and Magical Girls coexist peacefully. If it succeeds, maybe it can dissolve the hatred and darkness in people like Xiaomei. Maybe it could even lead us all toward a better future.”

Such beautiful ideals.

But if she knew that the appointed mayor of Yinbin City was a useless absentee who spent his days loafing around and refusing to take office… would she be terribly disappointed?

Jin Elisi grabbed an oversized lollipop from the snack counter and held it up under the lights, examining it carefully.

She had sworn before that cold corpse she would never get involved in damn politics again.

Yet she had broken that oath again and again.

And with it came inner chaos and exhaustion—no longer even knowing what she truly longed for.

Five minutes of silence.

“It’s so quiet.”

Mo finally broke the stillness, still gazing outside.

“The silent night, the lonely me,” Jin Elisi yawned, stretching. “Doctor Zengman, when can we visit the girl?”

“Around six tomorrow morning, I think.”

Yinying glanced at the wall clock and calculated quickly. “And please, just call me Yinying.”

“It’s too quiet.”

Mo murmured loud enough for everyone to hear, her eyes widening as she stared out the window.

“Far too quiet.”

“Oh—” The doctor joined her at the window. “The power plant hasn’t been repaired yet. Electricity is limited, so during curfew only special institutions like hospitals are allowed lights. People don’t really have nightlife—they go to bed early.”

“Still too quiet,” Mo said, her eyes growing wider. “Since we subdued that extremist from the Human Salvation Front this afternoon and riot police dispersed the crowd, there hasn’t been a single movement. No protests. No demonstrations. The streets are completely empty.”

“Well, obviously. It’s curfew—of course no one’s allowed out,” Jin Elisi said lightly, whistling as she leaned back again, closing her eyes to rest.

Beep… beep… beep…

A crisp phone ringtone shattered the stillness, ruining her attempt to nap. Annoyed, she ripped the wrapper off the oversized lollipop and stuffed the whole thing into her mouth.

“Oh, sorry—it’s my boyfriend.”

Yinying glanced at her phone and smiled shyly before answering sweetly.

“Hello, darling. Calling so late, what’s—”

Her expression froze.

Her mouth slowly fell open. She stood motionless like a statue, as if struck by something incomprehensible.

Jin Elisi narrowed her eyes immediately.

Mo reacted faster—she rushed over, snatched the phone, and hit the speaker button.

“…They’ve broken through the third floor. There are dozens of times more of them than us—they’ve surrounded the place completely. Run! Yinying, run! Inform the other Communitarian Party members—there’s a traitor. Our identities have all been exposed. Leave the city immediately—”

Static swallowed the rest.

Behind the frantic male voice were screams and gunshots.

Then nothing but mechanical beeping.

“No… impossible…”

Yinying stood pale as death, eyes empty of light.

“They wouldn’t dare… how could they… The agreement—the agreement was already signed…”

Jin Elisi leapt to the window and flung it open, looking down.

Dozens of beams of light pierced through the dark streets like fireflies, slowly approaching. The glow grew brighter, clearer.

Until she could see soldiers armed to the teeth standing on military trucks.

And the black-eagle-and-bloody-sky flag fluttering in the wind.

Federal Government
Counter-Subversion Committee
Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.