Hibiscus suddenly understood—no wonder she felt things like opening clinics and registering companies went smoothly. Jin Ruochu actually contributed to this. Truly a little mascot—she must treat her well in the future.
So the system reward's so-called "affection activated" represented gaining good luck protection.
Wait, this still couldn't explain what "activating Nan Zhiyi's affection" meant. Could it count as gaining an ally? Probably. Perhaps when powerful magical girls successively pledged allegiance or even unified with an organization, rewards would be more substantial.
This pattern coincided with Hibiscus's actions. Even without the system, she would eventually try collecting personnel—after all, many hands make light work.
What mattered was that you could represent a faction practicing goals.
The girl answered "yes" since she had indeed tasted what good luck felt like—life opening on easy mode.
Unfortunately, this also meant Jin Ruochu had to be unlucky for a while. After all, luck never disappeared, only transferred. causal magic most emphasized iron laws of rules.
【Actually experienced good luck protection! This shows Jin Ruochu's affection is quite high. Previously only main group members who went through life and death had a bit of effect, and only limited to gacha ten-pulls getting double gold】
【I want it, get me one】
【What am I seeing? Manjusaka and Hyacinth can really work in this timeline? Good, I'm shipping it, more please】
【As long as you update in "ManHya Party" topics I'll like and favorite every time】
【Produce content faster】
【You don't need to worry too much. For objects of Jin Ruochu's affection, there's extra luck amplification, doesn't fully follow conservation, not all paid by her. Unless like Jin Changfeng operating a company requiring luck beyond scale, otherwise things like your business negotiations going smoothly won't produce causal balance—can be called win-win, everyone happy】
Hearing this news, Hibiscus breathed a sigh of relief. After all, she didn't want Jin Ruochu to stumble because of her good luck. Both parties owing each other nothing would be fine.
【Speaking of which, you should have experienced how troublesome Fortune and Misfortune is. Anyway, remember this: the more powerful the ability, the stricter the conditions. For example, damage transfer can't be given to those with strong magic power, can't be too distant, consumes enormous magic power...】
【Indeed worthy of being the protagonist. For early-stage survival, Fortune and Misfortune magic is definitely first tier】
【For comparison, others' damage immunity mechanisms are at 2nd or 3rd awakening, she can transfer damage at 0 awakening】
【Holy shit, orig—】
...After thorough communication, early-stage mechanisms of Fortune and Misfortune were clear. Whether enemy or friend, first grasp weaknesses. This also gave the girl a sense of urgency:
Sands of Time showed no signs of evolution.
Clearly never slacking off, after the Vanguard Disaster Beast battle there were several more sparring sessions... perhaps those didn't count. Bullying rookies like Nan Zhiyi and Jin Ruochu brought no sense of achievement. She had always strived to be first, determined to establish cliff-like strongest status among magical girls with first-mover advantage. But now stuck at Three Awakenings for so many days, still unclear which direction Sands of Time's next stage should develop?
Development results netizens had mentioned before had little reference value—no process, specifics still depended on herself.
Hibiscus edited a new question: "You once said the Great Catastrophe is in half a year, and more serious than before. Are there any major events before then?"
She had to actively seek trouble to train magic.
【Very difficult. OP is currently in "prequel timeline" which has no major events to begin with. We have no way to start】
【Wait. From the original anime it's indeed in prequel stage, but what about including games, novels, peripheral manga, even stage plays? Our Magical Girl of Light series is a cross-media multi-field project】
【Now that you mention it, I remember. At least derivative games "Relics: Treasure Hunters" and "Exploration: Previous Era" indeed have earlier timelines】
【Using "clearly performed scenes" as standard, not counting "textually described past," the earliest known is the night before Hyacinth's college entrance exam, mentioned in her personal confession during the final battle. Second earliest is Manjusaka's kidnapping case... right, that Storm Gang incident. It connects】
【In other words, this post's birth moment. Memorial, Saint Hibiscus】
【Magical Girl of Light series is so long and chaotic I can't remember clearly. You guys are the real Light scholars】
【That's exaggerated. Actually no one has specifically organized a major events chronicle combining all media projects. OP's question stumped me】
【Let's brainstorm】
【I have an impression. There should be other events in this half year, related to relics. They actually have relationships with magical girls, fairies, and even Disaster Beasts... I can't help spoiling again. OP's rule is can't say too far ahead. We need to precisely search for events corresponding to time points】
【Spoilers are fine, but can't be too advanced. Attracting fairy knight attention would be troublesome】
【Be careful. Planet Gaia world has divination and prophecy relics. Fairies also have fate observation. If too many key events change and attract various parties' attention, it would be disadvantageous for Hyacinth】
Hibiscus didn't quite understand but they were indeed biased toward considering her interests, otherwise the system wouldn't filter it as valid information.
She, a dignified time magic user, least cared about what the future held. Sands of Time existed precisely to change things. Spoilers or no spoilers didn't matter.
From fragments, she knew that though Magical Girl of Light claimed to be children-oriented passionate anime, there were plenty of dark schemes. No need to prematurely blow up late-stage bosses. So she had the system try to screen out overly advanced content. What mattered was grasping the present. The Great Catastrophe wasn't far—the urgent priority was training time magic. First raise the most cost-effective power then fill shortcomings. Time waits for no one—keep pushing forward.
【I checked, there are indeed several events during this period but they're hard to trigger, plus need to consider knowledge poison】
【More careful organization would be safer】
【OP wait a bit】
Hibiscus temporarily closed the system page. Anyway, she knew all the Fortune and Misfortune magic mechanisms she should know—the rest was matter of chance encounter. After simply collecting her emotions, she routinely performed magical girl exercises to calm her sense of urgency. Though Sands of Time showed no reaction, basic attributes all improved.
Click. After turning off lights, the room was pitch black with only scattered lights from another building outside the window. Night was deep, all was quiet.
She stretched and lay on bed, wrapping herself in blankets like a spring roll.
Hibiscus had lived alone for a long time. When sleeping, she always liked doors tightly closed while wrapping herself tightly in blankets for protection. Even becoming a magical girl who could punch a cow to death couldn't change her nature.
Just preparing to sleep, she sensed a pushing sensation from below, as if something was supporting the bed, even sensing life reactions.
"What the hell?" Hibiscus almost couldn't maintain composure, thinking after finally finishing two days of work and planning to catch up on sleep, complications arose. Whether you're Sadako or Kayako, anyone daring to disturb my rest will be beaten into an idiot.
The bold girl showed anger and looked under the bed.