Urging for more updates, then turning into a magical girl.

Chapter 23 Impossible! My modification skills are number one in the world, Zhang Menglin!

Lying in bed, Cheng Qi picked up his phone out of boredom and started browsing novels on the Endpoint Novel app.

"This meal replacement novel has also stopped updating... Why are there so many abandoned stories on this track..."

Looking at the note "Last updated 24 days ago" under the description of a certain book, Cheng Qi couldn't help but complain under his breath.

Because the update speed of Lin Yuyan's novel "Becoming a Magical Girl and Then Going Off Work" is too slow, many readers who cannot bear this slow torture have begun to take matters into their own hands and start writing "substitute novels".

However, writing novels also requires talent.

Although everyone was full of enthusiasm, most people didn't possess Lin Yuyan's writing skills and exquisite plot arrangement. Even so, as long as it was a substitute with the same theme and similar setting, many hungry readers still enjoyed it, trying to alleviate the emptiness caused by not being able to find the main course.

However, things gradually took a strange turn.

This genre seems to be cursed by some inexplicable curse of the author himself, as many of the magical girl replacement stories that were written to a decent standard have been discontinued and abandoned after being serialized for a period of time.

This caused Cheng Qi great distress.

I finally found a book to satisfy my craving, but while I was eating it, the chef ran away! This is even worse than being starving!

After much searching, Cheng Qi realized that the original author, who had been suspended by the palace eunuch, still wrote the best. This led her to unconsciously reread "Become a Magical Girl, Then Go Home" countless times.

High emotional intelligence: The stories written by the Grand Eunuch are never boring, even after reading them many times!

Low emotional intelligence: Because the update speed is too slow, I can only read the past chapters and keep reminiscing.

The most crucial point is that, due to the slow update speed, many people have forgotten some of the less important characters who appeared earlier! They can only rewatch the episodes to recall the plot.

Just as Cheng Qi was in pain, the phone he was holding vibrated—

Zhang Menglin called.

Without thinking twice, Cheng Qi pressed the answer button: "Hello, Dr. Zhang, what's the matter so late?"

"Um... Commander, the situation is not good."

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Menglin sounded somewhat tired. "Baole and Mo Ranying couldn't find you, so they came to the lab to question me face to face. They've started to suspect that I'm plotting to usurp your position."

Then, Zhang Menglin reported to Cheng Qi about the incident that afternoon in the laboratory where the two magical girls had been aggressively interrogating her.

After listening to this grievance, Cheng Qi felt a little numb.

Why are those two so sensitive and jumping up and down after only one day apart?

I never imagined that my cautious approach of only sending text messages and not answering calls would actually arouse such strong suspicion from them...

But now that I'm using this body to explain to them... will they even listen?

"Do you think I should tell them about my current situation?" Cheng Qi began to seek Zhang Menglin's opinion.

"Uh... that probably won't work. Putting aside whether your current physical condition is convincing... even if they did believe it, once they find out you're with Arc Moon... they'd definitely come straight to you, right? That would make it impossible to remain infiltrated..."

"Therefore, you need to speed up the brainwashing process on your end with Arc Moon! The sooner you turn her into one of ours, the sooner you can step back and take charge of the overall situation!"

After hearing Zhang Menglin's urging, Cheng Qi could only sigh helplessly.

"Alright... I'll try my best to speed things up on my end."

"Don't just talk about working hard, you really need to get moving! Also, Commander, how are you feeling? Have you noticed anything that's bothering you?"

When asked about his physical condition, Cheng Qi sat up in bed, stretched his slender and flexible wrists, and looked down at his short legs dangling over the edge of the bed.

"I'm fine physically, it's just... I'm so short now, my line of sight is so much lower, I'm still not used to it."

"Isn't it your own insistence that you make yourself this tall? I even suggested you make yourself a tall, mature woman, but you wouldn't have it," Zhang Menglin complained over the phone.

"I didn't say I regretted it, I just felt a little awkward."

Cheng Qi paused, her tone becoming somewhat serious, and spoke about her biggest concern at the moment.

"More than how well my body adapts, I'm worried about whether others will notice something amiss. After all, this is a modified body; there will definitely be some artificial traces left, right? Is it possible that some magical girl with special abilities will be able to see through my true identity at a glance?"

"Commander...you're completely overthinking it!"

Hearing Cheng Qi's skepticism, Zhang Menglin's tone on the other end of the phone carried a hint of dissatisfaction: "You know nothing about my techniques! Your body is completely female right now, how could anyone tell?"

"But magic doesn't follow science," Cheng Qi sneered. "Especially those 'Sower' fairies; they're incredibly sensitive to the essence of souls and life. What if…"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! My modification skills are unparalleled!"

Zhang Menglin on the other end of the phone became visibly excited.

"This is a modification technique that combines magic and biotechnology. How could those idiots, the Seeders, possibly discover it?"

"Really?" Cheng Qi still harbored a sliver of doubt. "Are you that confident?"

"Of course!"

"But even if those seeders can't see it, there's no guarantee that some strange magical girl with some magical equipment won't be able to see the true nature of my body's modifications—"

Zhang Menglin's competitive spirit was completely ignited, and she immediately interrupted Cheng Qi:

"Even if the 'Supreme Scepter' of the magical kingdom came in person, they absolutely wouldn't be able to find any problems! If you were to possess a 'Heart Seed' right now, you could even awaken on the spot and become a genuine magical girl!"

"Huh?! This modification technology... is it really that powerful?"

Cheng Qi was completely shocked.

She originally thought that Zhang Menglin's skills were already incredibly advanced enough to prevent anyone from noticing the modifications... but she never expected that she could become a magical girl after the modifications?!

However, Cheng Qi still harbored a sliver of doubt: "But as far as I know, when the Seed of Hearts selects magical girls, they also test whether the soul itself is female, right? Would touching the Seed of Hearts really be useful?"

"Hmph, that's someone else's modification technology. How can it be the same as mine?"

Zhang Menglin became increasingly angry as she spoke.

"My transformation rewrote your life form from the very foundation of your being! Even on a soul level, you are absolutely a woman!"

Finally, seemingly to dispel his own leader's suspicions—

"Commander, I'll say it again: if this body of yours can't transform into a magical girl, I'll commit suicide!"

"..."

It's a wolf that destroys.

Why is she so competitive?

"Okay, okay, I understand. You've put it this way, of course I believe you."

"Yes, that's more like it! Thank you for your trust, Commander."

Hearing Cheng Qi back down, Zhang Menglin's tone returned to its gentle and pleasant manner, "So, Commander, are you planning to obtain a Heart Seed to transform into a magical girl?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Qi did not immediately agree.

To be honest, Zhang Menglin's suggestion was indeed very attractive.

Imagine this: the boss of the villainous organization has acquired the exact same power as the protagonists, and has even infiltrated their ranks as a novice magical girl...

There is no reason to refuse.

"The 'Seed of the Heart' isn't so easy to obtain, is it? Unless you're the one who sows it..."

"What's there to worry about!" Zhang Menglin impatiently interrupted Cheng Qi. "Don't worry, just keep Arc Moon by your side. Sooner or later, the Seeder will be attracted by your amazing magical girl potential! Then you'll become Arc Moon's partner, making it even easier to deeply brainwash and control her, right?"

...Why does this guy seem even more eager than I am for me to become a magical girl?!

"These things can't be rushed. I'll consider it seriously at the right time," Cheng Qi gave an ambiguous answer, trying to change the subject.

"Yes, I won't rush you. I fully respect the Commander's opinion." Zhang Menglin seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Then, Commander, do you have any other questions regarding the follow-up plans and your health?"

"...Yes, there is one more thing."

During the conversation, a strange remark made by Zhang Menglin caught Cheng Qi's attention.

"Regarding this physical modification on my body, you just said it's a 'modification technique combining magic and biotechnology,' right?"

"Yeah? What's wrong?" the person on the other end of the phone asked, puzzled.

"Aren't you an ordinary person? How can you use magic...?"

"Huh?" The person on the other end of the phone paused slightly, then stammered, "Ahaha... well... after all... uh, magic is a kind of science, so I can... uh, grasp some... the essence of magic..."

"I see..." Cheng Qi seemed thoughtful, but quickly noticed another problem, "Then why were you so sure I could become a magical girl? Doesn't that depend on aptitude? How did you figure that out?"

The moment this question was asked, the other end of the phone went completely silent.

"Hey? Dr. Zhang? Are you listening?" Cheng Qi frowned and called out twice into the microphone.

"……ah!"

Suddenly, Zhang Menglin's voice became extremely exaggerated: "Um! Commander! Oh, I'm so sorry! My... my phone suddenly ran out of battery! Let's talk again later, I have to hang up now, bye!"

"Beep—beep—beep—"

Then, without waiting for Cheng Qi to react, the other end of the phone hung up.

"..."

Cheng Qi held her phone, the screen emitting a faint light that reflected the deep confusion in her large eyes.

What's going on with this thing?