Ch.153153. Exam Preparation

“Well… I took the photo. Now I just need to send it.”

“…Is all this really necessary?”

“Blanc directly said it was an order, didn’t she? So I have to follow… what else can I do? I don’t want to die either.”

“Did you do it because it was a real order… or?”

“I’m telling you, I did it because it was an order. Don’t you know our master’s personality?”

“What master? You don’t even think of her as your master, so why call her that?”

“Hehe… her reactions are amusing, aren’t they?”

“She didn’t react at all earlier.”

“Well… that’s because she was being serious. Too serious to play along with such jokes. Tsk… why did she have to get sick anyway?”

“Is this really being sick…?”

“Of course it is. She can’t even recover on her own. This shouldn’t be news to you. When did you figure it out?”

“…After I dried Arin’s hair?”

“Until then, there was no need to use magic, so her reserves were full.”

“Right. They did get slightly depleted. It’s not like my magic reserves are small. If that little bit was enough to empty them completely… no, from the beginning, even that…”

“Anyway, you’re certain she can’t recover, right?”

“Well. I have enough for daily use.”

“…But that’s not accurate, is it? There’s also the amount that naturally dissipates every day.”

“…Not much dissipates in two weeks.”

“Sigh… is that something someone who collapsed from magic depletion should say?”

“That’s…”

Ellie flicked my forehead.

It doesn’t hurt, but…

“Hey, because of that magic depletion, I became Blanc’s slave. I’m bound by a contract spell to serve her as my master forever. Won’t you take some responsibility, Vine?”

“How is that my responsibility?”

“Well… Blanc did force me into it with half-threats, but… do you know how shocked I was when I heard you collapsed? You should experience it too. That panic. Really… I was living in hiding, and suddenly these magical girls barge in.”

She just starts telling her story when I stay quiet.

This feels like she’s lamenting…

I used to listen to this kind of thing and couldn’t sleep for hours…

Honestly, I could listen to some of it, but it’s too long, Ellie…

“No. I was chatting with the kids, and suddenly they came in looking for me. They even brought the teacher. The kids were so surprised. Blanc came, Blanc? She’s suddenly looking for Suyeon? Why? Why?”

“Um… Ellie…?”

“Listen. No… then they dragged me to the faculty office, and suddenly, she completely changed her demeanor. She threatened me with everything she could…”

“Ellie. I get it. Anyway, isn’t it good that you came back to me?”

“Yeah. That’s why. Take responsibility. What am I going to do with my life now? I’ve been leashed by a magical girl.”

“Responsibility… shouldn’t you be saying this to Blanc, not me…?”

“That… didn’t you see her order just now? Do you think she’s going to take responsibility for me?”

“…Honestly, you would have done that check even if she hadn’t ordered it, right…?”

“Eh… you caught me?”

“Sigh… so, what did Blanc say?”

There was definitely a vibration on the phone.

Blanc must have seen it and replied.

“She said to let you rest. Since you’ll be bored, she wants me to stay by your side and chat with you.”

“I don’t think she said anything like that.”

Ellie holds out her phone to me.

“Look. Isn’t that what she said?”

“Ugh…”

The actual message says…

“‘Wait for me until I get there. Keep her in the hospital room. Let her sleep if possible. Since being alone is boring, I’d like you to stay with her. I’m sorry for saying it was an order earlier…’? Wait, that’s completely different from what you said!”

“Well… I didn’t say anything wrong. I just told you my interpretation.”

“Your interpretation is different, very different.”

“Well… anyway, we’ll do the check again in three hours. Is there anything you want to eat?”

“No. I just… want to go see Arin right now.”

“That’s exactly why she told you to stay put.”

…I hope Arin isn’t pushing herself too hard.

I hope she doesn’t ruin herself trying to follow me.

That’s why I’m so worried.

“Why that expression? You look extremely worried. You barely listen when I talk, but when it comes to worrying about Arin, it’s different?”

“No… that’s…”

“I know… there was that accident and all. But you should have listened to me. I was so worried.”

“Sorry…?”

“If you’re sorry, lie down properly. I’ll cover you with the blanket, so don’t kick it off.”

“…It’s hot.”

“The Association is chilly. What do you mean hot?”

“It gets hot under the blanket.”

“Fine. Patients who don’t listen properly should just sleep. Organizing your thoughts? Why don’t you do that lying down? You might fall asleep while you’re at it. Don’t worry about Arin; Hyewon seems to be with her too. The only thing you need to worry about is your own body.”

“…Let’s say I test Arin. How should I adjust my magic output then? What if I make a mistake and leave Arin half-crippled…?”

“Says the person who’s already crippled someone. And isn’t it obvious you wouldn’t do that? That accident happened a long time ago. You handle magic differently now, don’t you?”

“…Still, I can’t help but worry. If I sense my magic is low, I might instinctively… Arin… Arin…”

“…Will Arin grow that much?”

“That’s the problem… I can’t predict Arin’s growth rate at all… Haah…”

“Okay… just rest for now. I’ll try to get some training videos for you.”

“Thanks, Ellie…”

After that, silence filled the room.

The following two weeks were ordinary.

I stayed with Ellie, returned to my room to check my magic levels, and reported them.

After about a week of this, Blanc said it was enough and that I could stop reporting to her.

I stopped reporting to Blanc, but Ellie was still extremely worried.

Not every three hours, but I still got checked three times a day without fail.

It’s quite annoying…

Having all those machines attached is uncomfortable… but for Ellie’s sake, not wanting to worry her, I just endured it and took the tests.

While at the Association, I tried to visit the training grounds.

I heard that Arin was practically living at the training grounds, using Association work as an excuse to leave school early or be absent.

I was so worried that I tried to go see her.

But Hyewon and Seohyun blocked me with all their might.

They said going now would anger Arin, that it would be counterproductive for her.

I was really worried and tried to sneak in, but each time Hyewon caught me when she came to work, and I ended up being treated like a mascot in her team…

Why do I have to sit on Hyewon’s lap like a hug pillow?

It’s uncomfortable…

But in exchange, Hyewon gave me training videos.

She gave me Arin’s training videos, which helped me endure.

Sitting on Hyewon’s lap watching Arin’s videos.

Ellie, who kept interfering with Hyewon’s work, putting snacks in my mouth, team members putting candy in my mouth.

Then when the Association Director came in, Ellie would drag him out and torment him.

The team members would sigh in relief.

That’s how life continued for a while longer.

And then, the day before my appointment with Arin.

“Blanc. Do I really have to do this…?”

“If you don’t want to… you don’t have to. There’s no need to waste magic.”

“…Haah.”

“I know you have plenty of magic left. But still, the fact that you can’t recover…”

“That’s not the issue…”

“You’ll need to conserve magic. Especially tomorrow.”

“Yes… no, that’s not the problem… The duel with Arin. Yes, training probably won’t consume much magic. But… how should I adjust? Should I overwhelm her? Or should I go easy on her?”

“…Was that the issue? That’s simple.”

“What…?”

We were definitely having a face-to-face conversation.

“That’s… simple.”

“Ack…”

Why am I now being lifted and sitting on Blanc’s lap…?

“Just do what you would normally do. What you would normally do. What did Arin say when she left? She said she wanted to be acknowledged by Vine of Eden, right? Well… Eden is a bit different now. But if you were still you back then. If you were the villain facing a magical girl, what would you do?”

“…Haah. Put me down first, please.”

“No. You let Hyewon do this, so why not me?”

“Blanc… you’re different…”

“How?”

“Ugh… this is uncomfortable… are you doing this while we’re having this conversation?”

“Why? What’s wrong with it? Do you remember what you did with Arin last time?”

“…That was different. The situation was different. Now put me down. Changing the subject won’t make me stop asking to be put down…”

“Do you remember? Hmm?”

Blanc asks while squishing my cheeks.

“…Why are you touching my cheeks?”

“It might help you remember?”

“This won’t bring back memories that don’t exist. And I do remember… please stop squishing… don’t move your hands down! What are you touching?!”

“Hmm? Vine… you’ve gotten a bit softer?”

“BLANC!!!!”

“Yes. I’m glad. You seem healthier than when I first saw you. You’ve gained some weight.”

“No, glad or not! Stop touching me! You pervert, seriously!”

After struggling and thrashing about, Blanc finally lets me go.

“Tsk… that’s a shame.”

“What shame? Really… how can a magical girl be like this…”

“So, are you less tense now?”

“…I don’t know. If anything happens, it’ll all be your fault.”

“Yes, it’s all my fault. It will be my fault. Don’t worry.”

“…Hmph.”

And time passes.

…

Like before, I put on the Eden uniform.

This time… it’s at least a clean uniform.

Since it’s a new uniform I just received.

There are no burn marks or scorch marks.

Well… it turns out washing makes it like new.

The dark, ashen gray uniform.

The hat pulled low.

The brightly shining emblem is.

My home, which I will destroy with my own hands.

What used to be my belief.

Arin, this is the time to test if you can break it.

Haah…

I wish you would just give up.