Ch.198198. Receiving a Warmth So Overwhelming It Takes My Breath Away.

The light strikes my eyes.

In this south-facing penthouse, it’s not uncommon for strong light to shine on me as I lie in bed.

But it feels unfamiliar to me, someone who usually wakes up at dawn.

Something blocks the warmth coming toward me.

A heavy presence climbs on top of me, blocking the light.

A body as warm as that light, coming a little closer.

Then, moving to my side.

And stealing my lips.

I thought warmth was embracing me in a dream.

But what pulls me from the sea of sleep is someone’s passionate love.

Stealing my breath, entwining tongues.

As if they could entangle the vines that entangle someone else,

Like a predator devouring its prey.

Fierce yet elegant.

Stealing my lips, gradually trying to delve deeper.

At first, surprise—not forcibly prying open tightly closed gates.

But knocking, tap-tap, on crimson soft lips.

Someone’s tongue gently licking.

Playful like a child tasting ice cream.

Then, opening my eyes to see what’s before me.

Pure white light—Blanc.

At first, I was bewildered why Blanc was doing this to me.

After all, Blanc was certainly my enemy.

But soon enough, I remembered.

Blanc is no longer my enemy.

But someone I love.

Despite the stark contrast between those two relationships.

It’s what actually happened.

And…

Didn’t I resolve yesterday?

As I had prepared myself, I truly was ready.

So I didn’t stop Blanc from coming at me like this in the morning.

Instead, I opened the door and welcomed her invasion.

Normally, I should counterattack an enemy.

But this is different, because she’s someone I love.

I open wide, allowing her warm tongue to ravage me.

I can’t breathe.

Our tongues intertwine wildly.

She doesn’t leave me be.

To her, coming at me as if to devour me.

I surrendered everything.

“Hah… haah…”

“Are you awake?”

“Thanks to someone.”

“Did you like it? Should I wake you like this often?”

“Being woken up like this… by different people every day would be exhausting… even for a monster who can hold their breath well.”

“But Vine, you taste too delicious.”

“…How can you say such things so casually? Lewd things aren’t allowed…”

“Lewd? Do you think a kiss is that lewd?”

“…We agreed that kind of kiss would be called lewd.”

“Is that not allowed? Should I stop?”

“…A little is fine.”

Though my final answer came in a crawling voice.

I wanted to express that I was prepared.

And…

That I somewhat permitted it.

That question from yesterday.

I wanted to convey that I had given permission.

“Blanc…?”

But…

Blanc’s eyes began to look a bit frightening.

“Did you just say a little is fine…?”

I had just answered and was sitting up…

Oh.

Blanc snatched me and pinned me beneath her.

And then.

“You just said it’s fine. With your own mouth.”

“Blanc, your eyes look scary…?”

“I was going to be gentle since it’s morning, I was planning to wake you up and leave right away, but you’re the one making me unable to hold back…”

“Um, B-Blanc…?”

“May I devour you?”

“T-that…”

Even with her face shadowed against the light, her blue eyes were glowing.

As she stared intently at me…

“T-that… as long as it’s not below the waist…”

I could only answer with tightly closed eyes, trembling.

The worst, most terrible villain—the only one who could fight Magic Girl Blanc as an equal—had fallen.

Under Blanc’s onslaught and restricted counterattacks.

In the end, she rendered the small villain’s resistance futile.

And left me completely exhausted.

That wicked magic girl.

* * *

“I’m… dying…”

“Sorry, was I too rough?”

“…My lips might be swollen. No, they might already be stained red. I might look ridiculous outside. And with tears streaming down… I’m completely… ruined.”

“Sorry…?”

“…Aren’t you treating me too carelessly just because I’m a monster?”

“Well…”

“I’m sure I had things to do today… but after what you’ve done, I can’t move… Hah. To do this to a monster’s body…”

“B-but you enjoyed it too. And you seduced me first…”

“How did I seduce you? When did I ever seduce you? No… Hah. Really… a magic girl with no self-control… Is this how you treat someone once you’ve claimed them?”

“…So, did you dislike it?”

“I… didn’t dislike it…”

“Then it’s fine, isn’t it?”

“…My face is a complete mess, and my hair is all tangled…”

“…It’s always like that when you wake up.”

“Tsk.”

“Hmm…”

“…Are you going to fix my hair when we go out?”

“Me…?”

“…You know I usually only let Ellie do that, right?”

Occasionally, when Ellie wasn’t around, I’d let the magic girls handle it.

But since Ellie came to this house, I’ve entrusted it to her.

It felt more reassuring that way.

And… truthfully.

I thought Ellie was the only person in this house who was on my side.

Unless someone volunteered to style my hair, I either did it myself or left it to Ellie.

If they wanted to touch my hair, to style it…

I might have reluctantly allowed it.

But I never actively asked anyone for such a request.

But now it’s different.

Blanc too…

Could be considered on my side now, couldn’t she?

Well, considering she nearly drove me to death’s door with her breath today, I’m a little resentful.

…But that’s because it’s love beyond what I deserve.

“W-wait…?”

“I’ll wash my face myself. But you’re responsible for restoring my hair to its original state. Otherwise…”

I covered my feelings with harsh words and left the room.

Fleeing to the bathroom before anyone could see me, I examined myself in the mirror.

As expected.

It looks pretty serious.

And this on my neck.

…It definitely won’t wash off.

And not just my neck.

There were marks she left on my shoulders too.

I should be grateful she didn’t bite, I suppose.

I wonder if there are any bandages in this house.

These magic girls rarely get hurt.

Or rather, when they do get hurt, it’s always serious…

I’ll have to search the cabinets.

Until then, I’ll have to cover it with my hair somehow.

After a quick wash to remove the saliva marks and faint reddish traces.

And wiping away tear stains to look presentable, I returned to the room.

I think I passed Ellie on the way back.

But I decided to chalk it up to my imagination.

I sat in the chair and waited for Blanc’s touch.

“Come on. Hurry up.”

“R-really… can I do it…?”

“Should I go to Ellie’s room right now instead? Ah… without bandages, she might notice though.”

“…N-no! I, um… okay. I’ll do it.”

My long hair was tangled from all that intensity.

So naturally, Blanc’s comb would glide smoothly then catch on knots.

Nevertheless, she seemed to be trying to untangle it without hurting me.

When it caught, she would gently, carefully work through it.

Like creating a work of art.

“Where did that predator from earlier go? All that’s left is a flustered Blanc.”

“Ahaha…”

“I’m glad you at least realize you did something wrong. Blanc? Please hurry and comb my hair. The time… oh?”

“It’s about lunchtime…”

“…When did you wake me up?”

“…Around 10 o’clock? I deliberately came in late so you could sleep more than usual…”

“Two hours. We did that for two hours…?”

We did… that for two hours…?

It felt like only 20 minutes…?

How could it have been two hours…?

“Was it really two hours…?”

“Well… minus the time you spent washing up, still about two hours…”

“That… putting in the washing up time, which barely took 10 minutes, seems a bit much…”

“…Wasn’t it 5 minutes?”

“At least… it seems we both need to recalibrate our sense of time.”

“You too.”

“Yes… Hah. Please hurry. I don’t mind if it hurts. I’m used to enduring pain.”

“Who said I’d hurt you?”

“What are you saying? You know better than anyone that your sword caused me the most pain.”

“T-that… was unavoidable. For both of us…”

“Well… I’m not trying to blame you. I’m just thinking we might miss lunch at this rate.”

As I said that, looking back at Blanc.

“…Hey, Vine.”

“Yes?”

“…Just one more time.”

“What?!”

“Sorry.”

Except for the fact that our lunch was delayed by about 30 minutes because Blanc couldn’t resist and pounced on me again as soon as our eyes met, it was an ordinary weekend morning.

* * *

“Sister.”

“Yes, Arin?”

“Why can’t I?”

“Excuse me…?”

“Ugh… why is time like this. No, I met Vine sister too early. Is there nowhere I can secretly grow up alone? No, sister said yesterday she wouldn’t stop anyone who comes, so somehow…”

Arin, suppressing her anger inside.

“Why are you staring at me… Ellie…?”

“Hmm… never mind. Yuri.”

“Y-yes?”

“This won’t do. I’ll be relying on you when Vine isn’t around.”

“W-wait, w-w-wait…!? T-this has never happened before…!”

“Vine made me… Hah. She made it impossible to endure. You take responsibility.”

“W-why is that my responsibility…!”

Ellie, on the verge of devouring Yuri.

And… Hyewon with a regretful look.

Even Seohyun looking somewhat urgent.

After finishing a chaotic lunch and cleaning up.

Sitting on the sofa watching TV with nothing else to do.

Talking about old times a bit.

And then everyone went off to do their own things.

“…I was too embarrassed to do it on the first day. Today… I was prepared, in the morning.”

“Were you?”

“…Yes. So… I’m prepared for all the embarrassment. Not just for you… but for everyone who gives me more than I deserve.”

“More than you deserve?”

“…Anyway, that’s how it is. Ah, this animation…”

“That’s right. It’s probably our story. I’ve never shown it to you, have I…?”

“…Is that little kid supposed to be…”

“It’s you.”

“What?!”

Then, forgetting I needed to put on bandages, Ellie discovered the marks and helped me apply them.

And as time passed, evening came.

And when night fell again.

Arin, saying she would go to bed early because she was tired.

Ellie, taking Yuri to her room.

The other two besides Blanc also went to their rooms first.

“…Um, Blanc.”

“What?”

“…Where will you sleep?”

“Wherever you’re comfortable.”

“No… don’t push the decision onto me.”

“…Let’s go to my room. It’s… less likely to be heard and… closer.”

“…I don’t recall giving permission yet.”

“Really?”

“…That’s not something you should question.”

Another night between the magic girl and the villain.

A long night was passing by.