NOVEL NEXT Chapter 64 - Trouble
After arriving at the cake shop with WuYue, YouYu parked his motorcycle, then led her inside.
Once inside, instead of heading directly to pick up the cake, YouYu glanced around the counter and suggested to WuYue, “Why don’t you take a look around and see if there’s anything you’d like to take home with us?”
WuYue perked up at the idea and eagerly set off to find some of her favorite treats.
Meanwhile, YouYu took this opportunity to approach the counter.
“The same blonde girl…”
Seeing the blonde-haired employee behind the counter, her attention absorbed by her phone, he couldn’t help but think. He’d half-hoped that coming here today would give him a chance to run into Bai Yu.
But it seemed she wasn’t working today. Maybe, after the conversation she’d had with WuYue, Bai Yu had been affected enough to stop working here, at least for now.
If she had been here, he could have brought WuYue over for a proper talk. Well, no matter; he’d try calling her later to check on her.
With these thoughts, YouYu spoke up, “Excuse me. I’m here to pick up a cake I ordered.”
Hearing his voice, the employee looked up from her phone, realizing her oversight, and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry for not noticing you sooner. Let me check your order, and I’ll bring it out right away.”
“No worries.”
After confirming the order, the blonde employee headed to the back and soon returned with a box resembling a gift containing the birthday cake. “Here’s your cake. You’ll be all set to go once you’ve paid the remaining balance.”
“Alright.”
With a nod, YouYu opened his payment app, preparing to settle the bill.
But just then, the blonde employee glanced at him thoughtfully and asked, “Em…is this birthday cake for that girl over there?”
“Hm?”
Following her gaze, YouYu looked over at WuYue and nodded. “Yes, it’s hers. Today’s her birthday, so I ordered the cake last time we were here.”
“I see…”
For some reason, after his response, her expression turned slightly enigmatic, as though some unreadable sentiment lay beneath it.
“Well then…please treat her well.”
YouYu paused for a second, then replied casually, “Of course. Alright, I’ve settled the bill. WuYue, bring over what you picked out, let’s go.”
“Huh? Already? Why didn’t you call me over when you got the cake?”
“You’ll have plenty of time to see it once we’re home!”
“Ugh~~~ fine!”
…
As they paid and made their way to the exit, the blonde employee smiled and said warmly, “Come again soon.”
—
“So, YouYu, next we’re heading home to put the cake away, then going over to see Bai Yu?”
“Yep. After all, we can’t bring the cake to her place; in this heat, it’d be a melted mess by the time we arrived.”
“Oh…yeah, good point!”
Listening to WuYue’s awkward laughter from the back seat, YouYu shook his head helplessly, keeping his eyes on the road as they drove on.
To be honest, he couldn’t shake the feeling… that the blonde-haired employee’s words had carried a deeper meaning, something more than a simple question.
Though he had no evidence, his instincts, honed by his interactions with WuYue and Bai Yu, told him otherwise.
And, according to the intel from Mamba, that blonde employee was the third magical girl.
In other words, she was ‘Petra’, the magical girl of earth—a figure shrouded in mystery. Though he still didn’t know her intentions, her subtle actions today hinted she might already be a magical girl…
“…”
Of course, that was just a theory. Without solid proof, YouYu wasn’t about to jump to conclusions.
For now, he’d focus on celebrating WuYue’s birthday and then handling things with Bai Yu. As for Petra… she could wait for much later.
“So… just how many magical girls am I going to leave with eternal regrets?”
YouYu couldn’t help but wonder.
Back then, he hadn’t asked Mamba just how many magical girls there were… so far, only three had shown up, but who knew if there would be more in the future?
If the magical girl count grew enough to form a whole squad… that would be disastrous for him.
“…Ugh, it shouldn’t be too likely.”
Shaking his head, he dismissed the unsettling thought and refocused on driving.
No, it wasn’t that he was scared of them—he was just a bit worried he might crash if he kept getting distracted.
“…”
—
Two minutes of driving later.
As he was cruising along, YouYu suddenly sensed a familiar, unwelcome presence.
It had only flashed by briefly before disappearing, but he’d caught it nonetheless.
After all… he’d fought this presence himself in his ‘Ouja’ form not long ago, so he knew it well.
It seemed Night Demon had appeared.
“…”
Not panicking, YouYu took a deep breath and spoke to WuYue behind him, “WuYue… hold on a little tighter. I think the cake might start melting soon, so we should speed up and get it back in the fridge.”
“Huh? Oh… okay!”
Though a bit puzzled by the sudden need to speed up, WuYue didn’t hesitate, obediently wrapping her arms tightly around him.
Feeling her grip, YouYu wasted no time and accelerated the motorcycle, racing forward at a faster speed.
“…”
“Whoosh——”
“!!!”
“Eek?!!!”
But after a short distance, YouYu, sensing something, suddenly slammed on the brakes, bringing the speeding motorcycle to a near-instant stop.
Luckily, with his custom modifications, the motorcycle didn’t throw them off due to inertia. Instead, the special design kept both him and WuYue securely in place.
“Ugh… What’s going on, YouYu? You stopped so suddenly…”
“Sorry, WuYue. I didn’t want to do that either.”
“It’s just… take a look up ahead.”
He sighed, gesturing toward the path before them, where two massive silver ants and one enormous red ant blocked their way.
“We might be in big trouble”