Ch.22. Reunion of Good and Evil

Hmm… how should I describe this situation?

First, when I saw her, I thought: why, how?

Magical Girl Blanc, my only rival when I was with Eden.

The greatest and worst rival I met from my very first battle.

My only adversary.

We were always pointing weapons at each other, that kind of relationship.

So why is she standing before me in this shantytown halfway up this treacherous mountain?

And why did she look at me with such relief when she found me?

I couldn’t leave a visitor outside, so I invited Blanc into my home.

Though it’s hardly worth calling a home.

Just a makeshift shack with a haphazardly placed asbestos slate roof, walls made of wooden boards scavenged from construction sites, and torn tarpaulins wrapped around it.

There’s no electricity, let alone running water, so I have to use the communal tap and toilet, but still, it’s my home.

It’s embarrassing to show this to an enemy I’ve fought for over ten years.

“Well, my home is a bit shabby… but please come in.”

I seated Blanc in the warmest spot and began our conversation.

Despite not having seen each other for quite some time, I could talk without much resistance, perhaps because we’d developed some sort of bond.

After finishing a somewhat lengthy greeting, I asked about the purpose of her visit.

I wondered if this magical girl still held a grudge against me.

“So, why did you come looking for me, my greatest nemesis, Magical Girl Blanc?”

Hmm, I still have habits from my Eden days, which is problematic. I felt a bit embarrassed after saying that.

Fortunately, my expression didn’t change at all thanks to the character I’ve built up over the years.

Back at Eden, saying such things didn’t embarrass me. Really.

“Let me get you something to drink… oh. I’m sorry. As you can see, I live quite poorly.”

“No, no. It’s really fine. Vine, are you really okay?”

She asked me with concerned eyes. But I’m really living a fine life.

“Well, I’m still alive, so I must be okay. This monster’s body is quite sturdy.”

“How is this okay? You just told me you survive on sugar water. How, how could this…”

She’s always been frustratingly dense.

If someone says they’re fine, then they’re fine.

Blanc continued to look at me with worried eyes, as if a villain like me deserved any concern.

“As I said earlier, I’m someone who should be ostracized from society. I’m satisfied fulfilling that role…”

“Who, who decided you should be ostracized? I already know everything. All about your past. Even that you’re that male student who disappeared over a decade ago.”

Blanc knows about my past? That’s news to me.

Does she mean she knows how a pure young boy became the worst villain?

But that pure boy would be hard to find in me now. I’ve been too corrupted by evil, becoming a cancerous mass in society.

“Ah, you mean my past? That boy who suddenly disappeared without a trace? He has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with me anymore. What you see here is just Vine, a defeated villain.”

“The only person who survived falling into the dimensional rift. Someone who escaped that rift and asked people for help, asked society for help. But received none. Why should such a person be ostracized?”

Blanc must still see me as that pure student. Even though I’m already tainted.

“I’m a villain who committed evil deeds. Do I need to explain further?”

“That’s because you were picked up by that damn boss. Everything—your evil deeds, your difficult life—all of it.”

My boss being the cause of my corruption? Don’t make me laugh. That can’t be true. Such a benevolent person. The one who saved me.

“Please don’t speak ill of my boss. If they hadn’t saved me, I wouldn’t even exist in this world.”

“Sigh… I understand for now. It’s been a while, Vine.”

“Yes, it has been a while, though I can’t say I’m particularly happy to see you. What, did you come to mock a defeated loser who’s fallen to rock bottom?”

“No, I came to pull you out of that rock bottom.”

What is this magical girl talking about?

Come to think of it, where I’m living now isn’t such a bad environment.

Honestly, for the end of a top executive of a world-class secret organization, it’s not that bad. At least it’s not the deep Mariana.

Being free with just a power-sealing collar is actually an incredibly luxurious treatment for someone who was part of Eden.

So what does she mean by pulling me out of rock bottom? I’m secretly quite satisfied with this life. I’ll soon have a stable income too.

And besides, she’s the one who put me in this situation, so where does she get off saying she’ll save me? Really.

“No thanks. I have no reason to accept a magical girl’s help, nor do I want your help. If we’re done talking, then that’s it. We’re not exactly on friendly terms to be sitting here chatting.”

She seemed flustered and grabbed my arm as I tried to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“To find a new job.”

“You said you didn’t have a job earlier. What kind of job is it?”

“Just a decent job. Physically, it’s actually easier than working at a construction site. And it provides a steady income.”

“What kind of job makes you go out in the middle of the night?”

“Just a night job. Suitable for someone who belongs to the darkness like me.”

“A night job… you don’t mean…”

“I’ve stopped committing evil deeds. You don’t need to worry about that. The citizens you tried so hard to protect won’t be harmed. With this collar around my neck, I’m just a child with slightly more strength than normal.”

Ha, even after that explanation, this worry-wart magical girl wouldn’t let go of my arm.

It’s a bit much to treat someone who’s already stopped their evil deeds like a criminal. I haven’t committed—no, I’ve chosen not to commit any evil since leaving prison.

Thinking that, I tried to look at her face, and her expression wasn’t that of someone pointing a sword of justice at the worst criminal, but rather one filled with deep concern like starlight.

And that white starlight of concern wasn’t for the safety of citizens as I had expected, but for me, a defeated former criminal.

Why? The question swirls in my mind.

Why me? I still find you annoying and hateful, and you must feel the same.

Blanc looked straight at me and asked again, this time with a stronger tone. I could feel the magical power in her words, enough to make my small body stiffen.

“Where are you going? What are you going to do?”

“Sigh, really. It’s night work. I was on my way to sell my body. You don’t need to worry, Blanc. If I can earn money, I can live in a better environment. This kind of work isn’t that difficult. And it’s not physically demanding.”

“How, how can you say that so casually? How can you talk about selling your body so nonchalantly?”

“So please let me go now. A certain gentleman who likes this body type has agreed to pay a high price. I could earn enough for at least three years of living expenses.”

Hearing that, Blanc gripped my arm even tighter. Painfully so.

“Let go. What is a magical girl doing to an innocent civilian? Even with a monster’s body, it hurts when you grab me with magical power.”

Blanc seemed to think for a moment, then released my arm.

“Fine, then let’s part ways here. We won’t see each other again, so goodbye.”

“Wait.”

“What is it? Do you have something else to say? I’m going to be late for my appointment.”

“How much do you charge per hour?”

Huh? What did Blanc just say? How much I charge?

Did she notice my expression contorting in surprise? I never thought she’d have such tastes.

Ah, so that’s why she came looking for me.

I see. As expected, all humans are, as my boss said, hypocritical and insidious. If only my boss had won.

“What are you saying, Magical Girl Blanc? Are you finally revealing your ugly nature? Are you asking my price? Well, I charge 50,000 won per session. Just spending time together is 10,000 won per hour. Is your curiosity satisfied now?”

“Really, you’re… you’re really doing that kind of work?”

“Yes. Why would I lie about something like this? Oh, are you wondering if I’m actually going to set off some magical bomb somewhere? No. This collar detects magical power use and starts tracking me.”

“…You said 10,000 won per hour?”

“Yes, given this body type and my reputation as the worst criminal, the madam set that price. I’m satisfied with it as a reasonable price. Ah, if you’re buying, I’ll have to charge you a separate fee.”

“Fine, I’ll pay. Come with me.”

“There’s a cancellation fee for the previous client’s reservation.”

“I’ll pay whatever it costs. Just come with me.”

“Hmm, you’re buying my services? Isn’t that shameful for a magical girl?”

“Stop talking and just come with me. I have plenty of money.”

Hmm, taking money from someone I’ve been hostile with—I originally had no intention or desire to accept it.

But if I think of it as taking advantage of her, it might not be so bad?

“Well, if you pay enough.”

Yeah, I guess there’s no reason not to.