After Transmigrating to Become Lady Skylark - Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Jin Chaoyan was brought by Kyoya Hibari to the thirteenth floor of the Vongola underground base, specifically the second medical treatment area.

As she was placed onto a hospital bed, she couldn’t help but ponder: she had only activated her body’s full potential with the Sharingan and fought this man for a mere ten seconds—and that wasn’t even his full power—yet she was this exhausted. Meanwhile, he had just finished fighting Reborn, spent time teaching her, and still had a special training session with Sawada Tsuna coming up… What kind of monstrous stamina did this man have?

“I’ll go find Sasagawa Ryohei.”

The man standing by the bed spoke to her from above. He was about to turn away when he saw the woman on the bed suddenly widen her eyes, staring straight ahead as if witnessing something astonishing.

In the next instant—

A purple diamond-shaped mark appeared on her forehead. The woman, who shouldn’t have even had the strength to lift a hand, suddenly grabbed his sleeve and sat up naturally on the bed. Even she looked ahead in a daze:

“F-fifty percent off…”

“What?” Hibari stopped his movement, his grey-blue eyes fixing on the mark between her brows. He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked.

Having just seen the Lunar Valentine’s Day (Qixi) special promotion pop-up from the “Dog Store,” Jin Chaoyan was stunned. Before she could even think, she had purchased the three high-level medical ninjutsu modes that were 50% off today: [Yin Seal], [Yin Seal: Release], and [Strength of a Hundred Technique].

The [Yin Seal], which could instantly increase healing effects, attack speed, and physical capabilities, actually only cost five million yen.

Moreover, as long as she didn’t cancel it, this ninjutsu would remain permanently active. Healing was one thing, but Jin Chaoyan was most captivated by the final sentence of its description:

Maintains youthful appearance.

Five million yen to defeat all high-end luxury skincare and supplements—now this was true “fountain of youth” mastery.

When she had purchased [Tsukuyomi] and [Amaterasu] before, she hadn’t known to cherish them. After using them once, they never appeared in the store again. Later, she was unable to use those single-target or wide-area damage abilities, leading her to realize that these skills did not reappear.

The [Susanoo] she had missed on the first day was also something she could no longer buy.

But today’s [Sharingan] was still within its bargain-price window. Looking at the store that seemed to be having a fire sale, Jin Chaoyan couldn’t help but ask 001 with her consciousness:

Are you guys going bankrupt? This sudden discount is making me a bit nervous.

001: Today is the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of this store. Therefore, we have prepared a one-day 50% discount for all lucky “transmigration geese” still alive. You truly are the European Emperor (Lucky King) of transmigrators~ To encounter a discount that only happens once every thousand years~

Jin Chaoyan: …

A discount only once every thousand years. This “Dog Store” really was a stone-cold miser.

Getting a new perspective on the store’s “only take, never give” nature, Jin Chaoyan suppressed the urge to continue chatting with 001, fearing she’d die of anger. She stood up from the bed; not only was her exhaustion gradually fading, but the pain in her twisted ankle was slowly vanishing as well.

She didn’t let go of Hibari’s sleeve, tilting her head up to look at him. “You might not believe this, but I suddenly hit a discount event. My recovery ability is a bit better now.”

Pausing, she asked with quite a bit of anticipation, “While the Sharingan is still cheap, shall we… train a bit longer?”

Kyoya Hibari: “?”

He couldn’t quite understand her excited reaction to “50% off,” nor this current state where she looked like a housewife excited about a weekly supermarket sale on Namimori Street.

However, after confirming that her current state was indeed no longer exhausted and that color had returned to her face, he looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, then flatly refused.

“No.”

“Not right now.”

Eh?

Jin Chaoyan looked at him blankly. She saw that the sharp light in the man’s phoenix eyes hadn’t completely vanished, and his thin lips were slightly curved. “Having fought two consecutive battles without being able to go all out—”

“I need an experience that can satisfy me. It just so happens to be time for Sawada Tsuna’s training. Go play by yourself on the eighth floor for a while,” Kyoya Hibari said with a smile.

…The “bad” lines have appeared again!

Just hearing those words made it clear he hadn’t fully calmed down from battle mode. Jin Chaoyan’s expression turned subtle. Watching his swift silhouette leave the medical room, sensing that murderous aura, she decided to light a candle for Sawada Tsuna in advance.

The Yin Seal wasn’t without side effects.

For example, when it repaired physical fatigue, it needed to use a large amount of energy normally stored in the body. Since Jin Chaoyan had just activated it and had been exhausted prior, she felt a terrifying surge of hunger shortly after staying in the room.

She hurried to the restaurant on the seventh floor and happened to run into Yamamoto’s father. Transforming into a “foodie,” she gratefully finished three times her usual serving of sushi before feeling her energy fully restored. Sitting at the table, she looked up and saw Kina, who had come to the base with her but stayed behind to help the girls instead of going to the training room. She asked casually:

“Kina, how is Chrome doing?”

“The child hasn’t woken up yet. Currently, she can only rely on nutritional IVs to maintain her basic vitals.” After washing a bowl of cherry tomatoes, Kina placed them in front of Jin Chaoyan. Her expression turned worried when mentioning Chrome.

Jin Chaoyan glanced left and right. “Where are Haru and Kyoko?”

“I saw Miss Sasagawa near the laundry room just now, but I didn’t see Miss Miura.” After recalling briefly, Kina looked Jin Chaoyan up and down. “How was Madam’s experience at the training room?”

“…Not bad.”

Abruptly asked, Jin Chaoyan’s fingertips twitched instinctively. Recalling the movements of disassembling and reassembling firearms, she decided to go to the training room immediately to review the operations copied by the Sharingan, seeing how much she could remember in her normal state. As she stood up, she instructed, “By the way, Kina, do you remember the snacks I wanted to make? Could you find some time later to make a few batches for me?”

“No problem, Madam.”

Kina didn’t ask for a reason, but Jin Chaoyan said with a smile, “Today is the Lunar Valentine’s Day. It’s perfect for the girls to have a party. I’ll come find them later.”

The versatile housekeeper opened her eyes in surprise. Because Qixi in Japan usually follows the Gregorian calendar and the rituals had already passed last month, why was Madam observing the lunar one?

Furthermore, isn’t modern Valentine’s Day usually spent with a lover?

She hesitated and mentioned: “Then, what about Mr. Hibari…?”

Reminded of this, Jin Chaoyan mused for a few seconds. Thinking of the weapon he gave her today and his patient sparring, she rubbed her nose a moment later. “Then help me prepare some other ingredients. I’ll send you the list. I’ll come over after I finish training tonight.”

“Of course, Madam.”

Ten minutes later.

Basement level eight training ground.

Bang! Bang! The sounds of gunfire rang out continuously. Jin Chaoyan stood at the long table, moving her shoulders. Watching her ability to hit the bullseye even with one-handed shooting, she marveled at how the Sharingan’s copying of physical techniques was truly etched into her marrow. At the same time, she declared that the Yin Seal—which boosted physical stats and kept her young—was her absolute favorite skill!

She carefully recalled the combat movements of Kyoya Hibari and Reborn. After casually spinning the gun and repeating the magazine-changing movements to deepen muscle memory, she tried to learn more of their combat skills.

Unknowingly, she stayed in the training room alone until eight o’clock in the evening.

When she walked out, the heavy weight of the ammunition supplies and the two handguns at her waist served as a reminder: today, her connection to this world and the Mafia seemed to have grown much tighter.

Unlike the reinforced, shock-resistant ninth-floor training room reachable by direct elevator, the rooms on the eighth floor were connected by a long corridor. As Jin Chaoyan headed toward the elevator, she heard a faint, ghostly sobbing coming from the hallway.

“!”

Her reflex was to reach for a weapon. She wondered: today is Qixi, not the Ghost Festival, right? Did she get the date wrong? Are there ghosts in the world of Shonen manga?

Then, the instinctively purchased Sharingan enhanced her night vision in the long corridor. she saw a familiar figure hugging their knees in the corner. Walking closer, she recognized who it was. “Haru?”

“Eh?”

Haru, who was crying alone in the secluded corner, was startled by the voice. Looking up and seeing Jin Chaoyan, she embarrassedly wiped her eyes. “It’s Chaoyan-chan. Sorry, I made a fool of myself… I-this is my daily ‘sad time.’ It’s already part of my essential routine. Don’t mind me, I’ll be fine soon.”

But Jin Chaoyan didn’t leave. Instead, she deactivated the Sharingan, walked to her side, and sat down, leaning shoulder-to-shoulder with her. “Are you homesick?”

“Mhm…”

Haru nodded, resting her chin on her knees with a lonely expression.

“Don’t worry, you guys will eventually return to your own world.” Jin Chaoyan reached out to stroke her head and couldn’t help but say, “Perhaps this heart-to-heart talk is a bit sudden, but Haru, the you from ten years in the future was my first friend in this world besides Kina.”

“Eh?”

Haru, who had been deep in depression, looked up at her in disbelief. “Chaoyan-chan… you’re so beautiful, so talented, and your personality is so great. You should have many friends around you.”

Miura Haru couldn’t imagine why she would be her first friend.

Jin Chaoyan shook her head. “The one with the good personality is you. When I first saw you, I thought: how can there be such a bright girl? Like a little sun, looking like you aren’t afraid of any setbacks, with so many whimsical ideas to make life interesting. Being friends with you must be a joy every day… Later, I found out it was true.”

She looked at Haru with a gentle gaze. “I’m always happy when I go out with you. So seeing you in low spirits now, please forgive my unsolicited concern.”

“No, no, no, Chaoyan-chan, don’t say that—”

Haru’s face flushed red from the compliments. She was no longer in the state of wanting to wallow in sadness alone. After hesitating for a long time, she spoke again, “I just feel that Tsuna-san and the others are working so hard every day to help everyone return to the past, but the things I do seem so limited. I can’t really help with anything…”

“You’re already doing great.”

Jin Chaoyan said, “And don’t feel like your abilities are limited.” It’s just that they haven’t told you enough of the truth. In the name of protection, they’ve left you trapped in anxiety, panic, and confusion.

But she didn’t plan to criticize Sawada Tsuna’s actions. Ultimately, they were all just a group of teenagers in middle school. Through a screen, it was easy to take it for granted that they were protagonists meant to save the world. But being in this world and truly brushing past those crises, she could somewhat understand the pressure they faced. Everyone carried a massive burden, so it was inevitable that some things would be overlooked.

“Really, I’ve always admired you.” She talked with Haru about the fun times they had learning to drive together ten years later. Although she didn’t reveal the other’s future career choice or mention that she eventually gave up on liking Sawada Tsuna, the stories Jin Chaoyan told clearly captured her attention.

When Haru finished listening, feeling a sense of disbelief and yearning for the future version of herself described as being so wonderful, Jin Chaoyan added an example to convince her:

“The current you is just as admirable to me. For instance, you like Sawada Tsuna so much; even though you clearly know his eyes are always on Sasagawa Kyoko, you still charge forward following your heart to be by his side. I couldn’t achieve that kind of bold pursuit of love.”

Only the love of youth is this sincere and passionate, like the midday sun, crushing all difficulties. Fortunately, Miura Haru never regretted this youthful love later. This kind of “no regrets” candor was what touched Jin Chaoyan the most.

Haru’s face turned even redder at her words.

Hugging her knees for a while, Miura Haru muttered: “That’s because the person you like, Chaoyan-chan, happens to like you too, so you—”

“That’s not it.”

Jin Chaoyan shook her head, nudged her with a shoulder, and leaned in to whisper, “Let me tell you a secret.”

She spoke about the “marriage of convenience” and mentioned the expiration date of this marriage. This greatly shocked Miura Haru, who had not yet encountered the adult world. Finally, she heard Jin Chaoyan summarize:

“I don’t know if he likes me right now. But I am very certain that I cannot be like you; if he has no interest in me, I would never take a step closer to him.”

Miura Haru: “…”

She asked blankly, “Then, Chaoyan-chan, do you like him?”

Jin Chaoyan was suddenly struck by the blunt question of a fourteen-year-old girl. She hesitated for a long time. “Does that matter?”

“Of course,” Haru nodded seriously, her short ponytail bobbing behind her head. “You are his wife now. Regardless of what the original form of this marriage was, if you like him, and you have stood in a position so close to him… if you don’t try to make an effort once, when you look back later, you will definitely regret it!”

Jin Chaoyan imagined the scene she described. She found that just by imagining a future where she and Kyoya Hibari were strangers on the street, brushing past each other as if they didn’t know one another, an indescribable sense of grievance surged in her heart. Her chest even twinged with a slight ache.

“Honestly…”

She turned her head to look at the quiet corridor nearby. “I came here to comfort you, Haru-chan. Don’t suddenly change the subject. How did we start talking about me?”

“Because Chaoyan-chan is very seriously trying to cheer me up, I can feel it—”

Haru leaned her head over persistently to look at her. “So I want you to be happy too. Having someone worth liking is also a thing worth being happy about, right?”

She asked stubbornly, “So, Chaoyan-chan, do you like him?”

“…”

Jin Chaoyan was silent for a long time. This time, she could no longer ignore her inner thoughts. Finally, she nodded.

“…A little.”

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