Chapter Forty-Four: The Abyssal Spirit's Shock
Amid the teachers’ idle banter, a phone call came through. Bai Yuze picked up his phone—it was his second number, known to very few. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw the name and number displayed. Offering an apologetic glance to his colleagues, he stepped out of the office and onto the rooftop before transforming and answering the call.
If only she could fake her voice.
On the other end came a familiar female voice—not just anyone, but the captain and homeroom teacher of his sister’s team.
“Hello, Miss Violet. I hope I’m not disturbing you. Are you free tonight? How about we have dinner together?”
“Yeah, sure.”
In real life, they barely knew each other, let alone as magical girls. After a brief chat, they hung up.
Gazing at the azure sky, Bai Yuze canceled his transformation and checked the date on his phone.
It was Monday—four more days until the weekend. Time was dragging so slowly!
What made it worse was that he still had two evening study sessions to attend tonight.
“Money’s hard to earn!”
Descending the stairs, Bai Yuze sighed. Compared to working, he still preferred the carefree days of being a magical girl, effortlessly slaying disaster beasts.
A thousand for each “Falling Star” disaster beast slain.
With each rank he ascended, his reward multiplied tenfold, plus a guaranteed monthly salary.
Those days, he was unstoppable—whether gods or Buddhas stood in his way, disaster beasts fell wherever he went.
Alas, all that was destroyed by the Abyssal Demoness, right there in the East District of Ye Qiu City.
His life took a dramatic turn.
Not to mention, the merit points in his original account vanished without a trace—converted into real-world currency, that amounted to tens of millions.
Quietly, a trace of sorrow and despondency crept onto Bai Yuze’s delicate features.
“Teacher Bai! Teacher Bai!”
Hearing his name, Bai Yuze turned, eyes filled with pain, meeting the gaze of Teacher Hoshino.
“...”
Startled by his sorrowful look, Hoshino Seri slowly set down her yogurt box.
After a long pause, she cautiously asked, “Teacher Bai, did something happen?”
---
“Teacher Hoshino, do you remember the class swap we arranged earlier?”
“Mm…” Hoshino Seri nodded, a hint of confusion in her eyes. Was there a connection between these two events?
“The swap was so I could watch the finale of Magical Girl Lime tonight without worry. But at the Monday teachers’ meeting, the school leaders added two more evening study sessions for me.
“It feels like when a friend, who ranked top ten in the high school entrance exam, wants to treat themselves to a nice meal at a restaurant, but then returns to the dorm only to find their phone lost.
“So they scrimp and save their pocket money for half a year to buy a new phone, hoping to enjoy that meal, only to find the phone lost again when they come back.”
His calm tone gradually turned somber, as if this had truly happened.
“Uh...” Hoshino Seri smiled, puzzled. “Teacher Bai, is this friend you’re talking about actually... yourself?”
“I’ve been through it once in a past life, so it’s so painful I can’t forget,” Bai Yuze said earnestly.
“...”
Hoshino Seri kept smiling, though it felt somewhat perfunctory.
“Ah... that’s really unfortunate.”
Bai Yuze nodded in agreement.
“...”
With a sigh, Hoshino Seri asked helplessly, “So, Teacher Bai, are you here to swap classes with me again today?”
“Teacher Hoshino’s wisdom shines like the sun and moon, like a dragon serpent within my heart,” Bai Yuze praised sincerely.
Hoshino Seri blushed before turning annoyed, “Teacher Bai, how dare you compare me to a parasitic worm! That’s so mean!”
Bai Yuze was momentarily stunned, then stared at her in surprise, mouth slightly agape.
“...”
“Eh?” Hoshino Seri twirled a lock of hair. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Teacher Hoshino, your command of Chinese is surprisingly good,” Bai Yuze said, admiring her.
Her cheeks reddened further, and she retorted confidently, “You owe me this favor, Teacher Bai. How do you plan to repay it?”
Bai Yuze pondered for a moment, cleared his throat, straightened his chest, stood tall, bowed slightly, and introduced himself:
“Greetings, beautiful lady. I have over ten years of experience in housekeeping, am responsible, efficient, possess excellent communication skills, and a cheerful, straightforward personality. I excel at managing complex interpersonal relationships, am adaptable, quick-witted, and nimble.
“I am eager to learn new skills. With rapid technological advancements, I’m proficient with many electronic devices such as phones, computers, and washing machines.
“Moreover, I am a skilled cook, able to prepare a variety of dishes; you may try before you decide.
“I also accept unconditional returns, dear!”
“Well then, how do I place an order...”
---
Halfway through, Hoshino Seri couldn’t hold back her laughter, clutching her stomach and bending over.
“All right, you can leave tonight’s study session to me.”
“Thank you, Teacher Hoshino.”
“You’re welcome. It’s what colleagues do to help each other.”
The sunset bathed the entire campus in golden light, trees and buildings glowing warmly, as if the whole world had softened.
Bai Yuze strolled leisurely, occasionally stopping to gaze at the distant scenery, as if contemplating life or savoring the peace and beauty.
In truth, he was conversing with the Abyssal Spirit, Butterfly.
“I’m curious,” the Abyssal Spirit asked with a puzzled tone.
“Today, why are you so polite?”
Bai Yuze’s expression remained unchanged as he silently walked along the forest path.
“I want to know why you... care about this ordinary female teacher.”
There was a hint of bewilderment in Butterfly’s voice.
“Besides being a bit cute, I don’t see anything admirable about her. If you want a girlfriend, you could find someone prettier.”
“Is it possible that my relationship with Teacher Hoshino is purely platonic?” Bai Yuze smiled in reply.
“Pure friendships between men and women often arise from attraction, and you’re no exception.”
Butterfly paused, then added:
“Besides, the Abyssal Mark is the Abyssal Demoness’s authority key. It won’t vanish just because the Abyssal Energy of the Violet Star is cleansed. Its side effect is difficult to control.”
The Abyssal Mark was the magical tattoo on Demoness Phantom Butterfly’s abdomen, granting control over abyssal creatures. Its side effect was to amplify the seven emotions and desires of the Abyssal Demoness: survival instinct, thirst for knowledge, desire to express, desire to perform, comfort-seeking, and lust.
This power was formidable—Bai Yuze himself struggled to resist it. That was why he established the Abyssal Academy to satisfy his desires for expression, performance, and comfort.
Iris teasing him and him teasing Evening Mist fulfilled the last desire—lust.
“So, you think I have lustful feelings for Teacher Hoshino?”
“Do you want me to help? We are one. I can take human form. You really don’t need to degrade your body to solve this problem,” Butterfly’s voice drifted softly.
In the eyes of abyssal beings, humans were mere insects, food. Bai Yuze’s actions looked to them like the lizard knights of the White Elephant Kingdom—utterly incomprehensible...
“No need,” Bai Yuze replied bluntly, as if unheard.
For him, if the Abyssal Spirit Butterfly truly took form as Demoness Phantom Butterfly, that would be spiritual pollution.
“But... humans only have one mouth, two eyes, no tentacles, and are all soft flesh—what’s so good about a human girl?” Butterfly said plaintively.
Bai Yuze: “...”