Ch.147147. Arrest Successful!

“Yes. I’ll leave the detailed explanation to Jibril. Jibril?”

“Ah, yes…”

The cat-eared girl reluctantly nods her agreement.

Wait…

Jibril…?

Jibril is… that noisy, annoying, fur-shedding cat…?

That cat…

It was a white cat, wasn’t it?

But that cat-eared girl over there also has white hair…

Even the eye color.

That unique heterochromia.

Let’s assume this is a dream… no, even if it is.

I decided to ask anyway.

Yes, for now.

“Blanc…? The Jibril I know is a noisy, irritating, and troublesome cat…?”

“Ah, yes. In this world, we can be in our true forms, so Jibril too. This form is probably new to you, right? Since you’ve never crossed over to this world before.”

“What…?”

“Say hello. This is my mascot… my partner, Jibril.”

“…Sigh.”

The cat-eared girl looks at me and heaves a deep sigh.

Then she says:

“How did Blanc end up taking responsibility for such a strange one… just a villain…”

“Jibril.”

…Yes, that’s right.

That rude way of speaking.

And those behaviors, it’s definitely that annoying cat.

“Blanc…?”

“Yes, Vine.”

“…This doesn’t seem like a dream…?”

“No, it’s not a dream.”

“Then, have I… failed?”

“Failed? Who?”

“Me… As a person… as an individual villain.”

“What are you talking about? You haven’t failed anything.”

“…The person I followed, as it turns out.”

“Yes, is the person who was deceived bad, or the person who deceived? Add brainwashing and controlling your thoughts. Isn’t that side obviously the bad one?”

“…But, I. I… was fooled by such things, and you all… you all…”

“That… let’s talk about it in front of those concerned. We need to hear their thoughts too, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Good. How was it? Running away from home?”

“…”

I couldn’t give a proper answer to Blanc, who asked with a smile.

Rather than being embarrassed…

Yes, it’s because emotions are overflowing.

Overflowing and spilling over…!

* * *

We decided to return after staying a few more hours.

Of course… it wasn’t my decision, but Blanc and Elise’s.

Of course, it’s really annoying that they left me alone in a room with that cat during what they called a meeting…

“What.”

“…No, it’s just fascinating seeing you like this?”

“What is.”

“…Well, how should I put it. I didn’t expect you to be so small and stocky.”

“What?”

“I thought you’d be tall… well, big in many ways. Who knew you’d be such a tiny little squirt.”

“Hey, you?! Do you have no respect for the one who saved your life?”

The cat’s face turns red as she hisses in anger.

“I…! Even though you’re a villain, I specially called you here and saved you from that seal through the Queen’s grace…!”

“Wasn’t that Blanc who did it?”

“Hey! Would it have happened without me?! You should at least show some gratitude instead of picking fights!”

“Pfft.”

“Nyaaah!”

The way she snarls and gets angry at me is really something.

It really must be that cat.

“Fine… Even though you’re a fur-shedding, troublesome cat, just for today, thank you.”

“Yes, yes, you should be thankf— Wait, what did you say?”

“You shed a lot of fur, so clean up after yourself.”

“No, no, wait. Did you say thank you? Did Vine just, did Vine just thank me…?!”

“I did no such thing.”

“Vine just thanked me?! Blanc! Blaaaanc!!”

“Sigh…”

Look at her running off to Blanc all excited when she was supposed to watch me.

That’s why I hate that rotten cat.

After the cat left, another white-haired girl entered.

But this one is familiar.

Elise.

Elli, my friend.

My precious friend…

“…Elli.”

“Vine.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“…I made things difficult for you.”

“Is that something to be sorry about?”

Just a moment ago, the mood was positive about me waking up.

Why am I now in a position of being scolded?

“Ah, um… yes?”

“So… how much do you remember?”

“…Vaguely, that something happened at Marina. And… after that, I don’t remember.”

“I see… Then you should know what you did wrong.”

“Hmm…”

I really don’t know.

When you look at me with such an angry face…

“S-sorry…! I’ll do anything… okay? Please don’t be mad… okay? Elli…?”

I can’t help but use a cute voice toward Elise.

This is… a method I used only in emergencies at Eden.

And actually, it’s still effective now.

“Ugh… N-no… I’m, I’m seriously angry right now.”

Even if you say that with a red face…

“Hmm…? Elli… at least tell me what I did wrong… then I promise I’ll never do it again, promise. Okay?”

“Really, haah…”

Elise puts her hand on her head and gives me a flick on the forehead.

“Ouch.”

“You, are you not going to take care of yourself properly? Take care of your body properly! I really, huh? I don’t need anything else. Not that crazy doctor, or the boss, none of that matters. I just need you, just having you is enough, okay?”

…Ah.

“Sorry…?”

“Do you know how heartbroken I was? Vine, you were destroying your own body, like, right? Like a crazy person… Even if you were being manipulated, it was too much.”

“…That, that was…”

“So, that thought that you had to sacrifice your body was so… hic…”

Eventually, Elise starts crying.

All I can do for her is… just hug her.

So I just… hugged her tightly.

In my arms, she says, thank goodness, thank goodness.

Rather, let’s forget about Eden and such. Let’s just live forgotten.

Nobody knows anyway.

Just… even if we can’t live well. I don’t need anyone else’s happiness, just yours.

Just having you makes me happy.

Your happiness is my happiness.

When we go back, let’s live happily together, just the two of us.

Let’s get a cabin somewhere in the forest where others won’t see us, and live there.

Eden’s secret funds are cleanly laundered, so it’s enough.

We don’t need to earn more money, or live for anything else, so let’s live like that.

She poured out all these words, but.

I’m sorry I can’t do that yet, Elli…

First, the Eden… the boss’s matter hasn’t been properly resolved.

With a clear head, what I heard from the boss.

From those hazy memories, those clear and dark memories, I need to ask again.

Sincerely, if they deceived me.

Used me to treat humans as livestock.

Not for their happiness, but only for their own safety, if that’s certain.

…I can’t just stand by.

And besides that.

There’s also the magical girl matter.

…Especially with Arin, I don’t know how to face her.

How should I approach her?

Really…

Arin…

How should I face her again?

Sigh.

* * *

Time flew by, and by the time I could walk properly.

“Jibril. Please report after sending these people back.”

“Ah… yes, Your Majesty…”

“Then, everyone… I hope we meet again if the goddess grants us time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After Blanc finished greeting on our behalf.

A door connecting between dimensions was created.

And through that door, we returned to our original world.

“Unnieeee!!!!”

The person I was most reluctant to face came running immediately.

As the gate behind closed right away. Just like that.

Crash—!

I rolled over and ended up lying on the floor.

And on top of me was Arin… in a mounting position, pressing down on me.

“…”

When you look at me like that…

It’s a bit awkward…

Besides, my memory…

The memory of that day.

The memory of what happened at the amusement park that day is so vivid…

So I turned my head to avoid her gaze.

But Arin grabbed my cheeks and made me face her.

“Unni. Look me in the eyes.”

“A-Arin…”

“Vine unni… haah…”

As if overcome with emotion while trying to say something.

Keeping me pinned beneath her, her tears fall, drip, drip.

Each falling droplet is so heavy.

With each drop that falls.

That weight… is heavier than a building.

How long did Arin cry like that?

“…Arin.”

“You’re… calling me by my name, unni…?”

“…”

Having nothing more to say, I tried to look elsewhere again.

But this effort was in vain too.

…Why is Arin so strong…?

“Unni…”

“Yes, Arin… what is it…?”

“Not ‘new magical girl’ or… some strange title like that… you’re really calling me Arin…”

“…Arin is, Arin after all…?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m Seon Arin. I’m Arin…”

“Arin…?”

Then she collapsed onto me and started sobbing uncontrollably.

I spent quite a lot of time trying to comfort her.

And then. During that time, the magical girls who were outside.

The magical girls I lived with started gathering.

“Vine…?”

Starting with the yellow-haired girl.

“Vineee…!”

The pink-haired girl.

“Vine!”

Even the red-haired girl.

They all entered the room… and rushed toward me.

That…

This is kind of, how should I put it…

It feels like I’m being subdued, which is a bit…

But why doesn’t it feel bad?

Why suddenly.

Why here…?

Surely… they shouldn’t have such feelings for me.

I sorted all that out when I left.

Thinking about it…

Why are they… welcoming me like this?

I’m the one who betrayed them and left.

I’m the one who broke their trust and ran away.

Why, why…

“Ex-excuse me…! This is uncomfortable…! I-I can’t breathe…! Help, I mean, monster help…! Gack, gaack…!”

“It’s okaaay. You won’t die from this much.”

“B-Baeksu…! Y-you don’t even kn-know, cough cough…! Let me go quickly…! I-I can’t breathe…!”

“Just stay still for now, okay? Hehe… Arrest complete! I need to report to the Association Chairman!”

And so…

I was “arrested” by the magical girls and only released.

When the Association Chairman said he was coming to see me in person.