The villainous magical girl's daily mission is to find fault.

Chapter 164 The Blooming Iris

A melodious symphony echoed through the theater.

The familiars danced on the stage, while the golden fox sang a fairytale-like song.

"The Demon King and Sleeping Princess" is a fairytale-like theatrical story.

The background is that the Great Demon King has invaded the kingdom's capital, kidnapped the princess, and seized the palace, while also using magic to control the kingdom's chief knight.

The theme is the story of a hero who receives a goddess's blessing and embarks on an adventure to save a princess, overcoming numerous obstacles and ultimately defeating the demon king to save the kingdom.

Although it's a cliché, it's a classic, and Su Tianqing really likes this kind of classic story.

Especially when playing the villainous fox king in this story, the villainous fox was very well immersed in the role.

"—Hehehe, unknown hero, you've finally arrived!"

The Demon King Fox stands atop a tall tower, with the Sleeping Nightingale, dressed as a princess, beside her, and Hyacinth, the young knight wielding a greatsword, at the castle gate.

Dandelion gripped her magic wand tightly, standing at the edge of the theater audience, staring intently at the hyacinth in front of her, her brow furrowed.

"Heart Moon Fox! Release Hyacinth and Nightingale!"

"Hehehe, you think I'd just release you because you say so? Wouldn't that make this Demon King lose face?"

The Demon King Fox said with a smile.

"Come, nameless hero, state your name, and I won't mind having it engraved on my spoils."

"...Don't give me that!"

The dandelion waved its magic wand and charged forward, engaging the hyacinth in a fierce battle.

.

"The hero has arrived at the former royal city."

"However, countless thorns blocked her way, and even when she tried to burn them with fire or cut them with a sword, they showed no sign of breaking."

"This is the Demon King's powerful magic. The evil magic has turned the entire palace into a dangerous place filled with thorns. But outside these thorns, the hero's former mentor has appeared at the palace gate."

"Hero, lay down your sword and leave. This is my final act of mercy towards you," the Demon King said, controlling the knight's body.

The golden fox recited its narration lines.

Countless familiars surrounded the edge of the stage, sitting in the audience, watching everything that was happening on the stage with their magical eyes.

"Crack!!"

"Huh?!"

The greatsword slashed down, and Dandelion, unable to withstand it, was slashed back several steps, falling to the ground covered in dust.

But the golden fox quickly got up, gripped its magic wand tightly, and kept its eyes fixed on the female knight not far away.

"Put down your sword and leave. This is my final act of mercy towards you."

Hyacinth whispered, reciting lines from the play.

The golden fox gritted its teeth, took a few steps forward, and continued to wave its wand, trying to rush towards the hyacinth, but was once again knocked away by the greatsword without any suspense.

"The brave fall again and again, and rise again and again."

"Her obsession seemed to outweigh her physical pain, but her sword could not break through the knight's thick defenses, and she could only be knocked to the ground one after another—"

Hua Ling stared at the image on the Divine Stone screen, clenching her fists, her heart filled with worry, yet she still dared not take a step.

But when the golden-haired fox on the screen stood up once more and charged towards the almost insurmountable young female knight, Karin finally trembled and murmured to herself:

"Why... knowing full well that it's an opponent I can't defeat, why...?"

"Is this your belief? Is this what you wanted to convey to me, Sister Tianqing...?"

The female knight once again sent the golden fox flying far away, almost causing her to fall off the stage.

The golden fox rolled around a few times, then lay on the ground covered in dust, trying to stand up by supporting itself with its hands, but could only kneel down.

"Gurgle... Ugh..."

A painful cry came from the dandelion.

The Fox Demon King's recitation of his lines continued:

"After falling countless times, the hero could no longer stand up."

"Is this all you have, nameless hero?" the Demon King said.

"I admire your courage, brave warrior. If you leave now and swear never to invade again, I will spare your life."

Dandelion looked up at the Demon Fox on the tower, gritted her teeth, and stood up straight with trembling hands.

Despite being covered in wounds and her formal attire being tattered, covered in dust and marks from the greatsword's strikes, she still stood up straight.

"...Hmph, even if your body can't hold on any longer, you still insist on launching a pointless attack on me?"

The Demon King Fox said with a smile.

"I have to rescue them. I can't let you... use their bodies to do evil again..."

Dandelion gritted her teeth, as if enduring immense pain, and spoke to the Demon King Fox.

But the controlled female knight showed no mercy, raising her greatsword at her, ready to attack again.

"Hehe, all courage and no strategy, overestimating your abilities. Having faith but no strength won't save your friends."

"...From the moment I chose to become Magical Girl Dandelion, my belief will never waver!"

Dandelion whispered.

"I will always protect them, no matter where they are, no matter what difficulties they encounter, I will do everything I can to save them!"

"This is me... Magical Girl Dandelion, this is my belief!"

"Interesting," said Demon Fox with a light laugh.

The demon king casually raised his hand, and the young knight immediately sheathed her greatsword and retreated, replaced by another tall, dark figure.

"Then let it end your so-called belief."

"Your beliefs are worthless in the face of absolute power!"

Its entire body seemed to be shrouded in black miasma, while the sharp, clanging sound of razors was transmitted to Hana Rin's ears through the magical light screen, causing the girl's tense pupils to suddenly contract.

Razor Man.

The moment she saw the dark figure clearly, Hua Ling involuntarily took a step forward.

From taking hesitant steps to walking with determination, then to jogging, and finally to running at full speed.

Sister Tianqing is protecting me.

She was doing everything she could to save the hyacinth and the nightingale; was she just supposed to stand by and watch?

Karin! You're such a selfish person!

Just because you're afraid, are you going to let this weak, support-type fox fight against the hyacinth controlled by Heart Moon Fox?!

You clearly possess the power of a magical girl, and you could have stopped all of this from happening, yet you just stood by and watched as if nothing had happened!

Selfish! Shameful!

It was as if another person was shouting angrily in the girl's heart, the roaring voice blending with the clanging of the razor, mixed with her powerless screams of despair.

The chill that permeated her entire body almost froze her.

But the rousing music playing in the theater only strengthened her resolve.

In the light drizzle, the girl strode towards the grand theater where soaring music was playing, as if she could hear whispers from the starry sky:

Do you want that incident to happen again?

"I don't want to!"

You've already lost them, do you want to lose her too?

"I don't want to!!"

Are you ready to face your true inner self?

Let go of the past, let go of your obsessions, look to the future, look to what you should protect. Are you ready?

"...I'm ready!"

.

.

Razor Man walked up to Dandelion.

The golden-haired fox stared in terror at the terrifying monster before her, its ferocious nature fully revealed. Trembling, it collapsed to the ground, closing its eyes as if awaiting its inevitable end.

—Support characters without combat abilities can only end up like this if they try to fight against monsters.

"Farewell, nameless hero."

The razor swung down.

But a bright beam of magic cannon light instantly tore through the theater's outer wall, pierced through the audience seats, sent countless familiars flying, and blasted straight at the Razor Man!

"?!"

The Razor Man was knocked back several steps by the blast, and the shockwave also sent the weakened Golden Fox flying, only to be caught in mid-air by the fair-skinned girl.

"Dandelion! How are you?!"

Hua Ling looked at the weak fox in her arms, covered in wounds, and her heart trembled. She shouted loudly.

The dandelion opened its eyes, its ears and tail drooping. It glanced at the fair-skinned girl who had caught it, and forced a smile onto its dusty face.

"You still came... Iris..."

"As expected, my belief has been conveyed to you..."

"Don't talk! I'll treat you right away, just hang in there!"

"……Um."

The golden fox nodded, then tilted its head and fainted.

The girl stood blankly in the ruins of the stands, staring at the heavily injured and unconscious golden magical girl in her arms, a single clear tear rolling down her cheek.

A powerful magic emanated from her.

The girl's pristine white dress was stained jet black by the starlight.

But unlike the shadows, this darkness is adorned with countless glittering stars, and even the pure white crown has transformed into a crown of stars!

"Hehe... Hahahaha...!"

"Excellent! Iris! You've finally arrived!"

The Demon King Fox burst into laughter.

The dark-skinned magical girl stood up straight, holding the unconscious golden fox in her arms, and the magic cannon beside her emerged from the almost materialized starlight magic!

Three quadruple-mounted magic cannons were aimed directly at the Demon King at the top of the tower!

Magical Girl Iris☆Shadow of the Stars!

Come on!