Ch.2525. Fear Makes the Amethyst Vibrate

“Vine, shall we go out?”

“No, how can you ask me to go out dressed like this! Are you trying to announce to everyone that you’re a magical girl with a villain by her side?”

“Why, what’s wrong? It looks pretty.”

“No, this is… Sigh.”

What kind of outfit is this skirt and blouse?

Something like a school uniform yet also like formal attire.

What does she want from me, making me wear clothes like these?

“Is there a reason you’re making me wear these clothes? Why… sigh.”

“Well, we’re going to work at the Association. It’s only natural to dress neatly, right? This is the most proper and nice outfit among those in the closet.”

“That’s not the issue! Sigh… at least let me wear a scarf.”

“No. Come on, let’s go.”

“Oh, really… sigh.”

I don’t care about anything else. But who on earth wears this… damn… dog collar with clothes like these…

My face… sigh. Seriously.

Couldn’t she let me cover up a little…

And so I was dragged out to the street by Blanc.

It feels like everyone’s eyes are focused on me.

That person over there. I think they’re cursing at me.

Like that, my body begins to tremble more and more.

The purple amethyst pupil vibrates.

My heart shakes violently.

“Vine, why are you trembling?”

“Haa, haa…”

“Vine, look at me.”

“Haa… haa…”

“Ah, I should have let you wear a scarf… no, that’s not it.”

“Uu, uuu…”

“Vine. Look here. See? No one is looking at you. Right?”

“Haa… what?”

“Look, there’s no one. Even without a scarf, even without hiding your face.”

“No, I… the things I’ve done…”

“Look. Nothing happens even when you show your face. And besides, I’m right here with you.”

“No, no… I’m more worried about you… If something were to happen to you while you’re with me…”

“Vine, you know well. Is my body weak enough to be injured by ordinary people?”

“That’s not the issue… your social reputation… how…”

“That’s my problem to deal with. It’s not something you need to worry about. Come on. Let’s go.”

“…Sigh, alright.”

I walk, feeling somewhat calmer now.

The gazes of those people, which felt like arrows, are a bit less intense now.

The needle-like stinging sensation has lessened.

The stares are still burdensome,

I’m still afraid of revealing myself, but the person beside me…

Well, I can’t trust her, but I know her strength well.

And so, we anxiously arrived at the phone carrier store.

Setting up the mobile phone didn’t take that long.

I just asked for the cheapest one.

You know, like a flip phone or something.

But Blanc insisted on buying me the best one… sigh.

Why does the monthly installment fee exceed 100,000 won?

With 100,000 won, I could do so many things…

For all of that to go into a phone bill, it doesn’t make sense…

Even at Eden, the mobile phone I received was under some ghost company’s forged identity, it was complicated and I don’t remember well.

Anyway, somehow I had lost my concept of fees, but now that I clearly hear it.

Yes, it’s expensive.

“Blanc, I don’t need such an expensive plan… why…”

“What if you can’t make calls later? That’s why you need it. Now that it’s set up, let’s go to the Association. The Association President is waiting.”

“Sigh, really. How much debt are you trying to create for me?”

“Debt? Think of it as employee welfare.”

“What kind of company gives its employees a phone that costs over 100,000 won per month…”

“Come on, put that aside now. Let’s go to the Association.”

“Isn’t the Association far from here?”

“Yes, but we can get there quickly by subway.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes. We’re taking the subway.”

“You’re saying this after seeing how I was on the street just now?”

“Yes, it’s a route we’ll have to take many times in the future.”

“Why would I go outside alone…”

“Do you think you’ll only be taking the subway? With that scarf?”

“I don’t think I’ll need to go out much…”

“Do you really think so? No, not at all.”

“Can’t I just stay inside? That would be convenient for everyone.”

“…I don’t want you to just stay inside.”

“The world wants it. I want it too.”

“Sigh, fine. You’ll have to go to the Association with Arin. Arin doesn’t have a car, so how will you get around?”

“Won’t someone give us a ride?”

“Hmm, everyone will be busy.”

“I don’t particularly want to go outside… sigh.”

“Still, it’s a path you’ll have to take someday.”

“…So you’re saying we’re taking the subway after all.”

“Yes. So that you can live in this world without anxiety.”

“And you won’t budge from that stubbornness.”

“Nope.”

“…Sigh. Fine, again. I understand. Let’s just go.”

“Good thinking. Let’s go. It’ll be better than you think.”

“I don’t know. I just want to die right now…”

“Let’s go. Hurry.”

“…Yes. Sigh.”

So the two of us set out.

I can feel those people outside looking at me again.

At least there weren’t many people in the phone store.

There were only about two employees, so it wasn’t that difficult.

Indeed, it’s hard to walk around when there are many people.

It feels like they’re telling me to die, asking why I’m out in the world.

I cling more tightly to Blanc’s arm.

This way, the noise that sounds like that is less intense.

Even though the stares are still burdensome,

Even though I’m afraid of revealing myself, the person beside me…

Well, I can’t trust her, but I know her strength well.

And so, we anxiously arrived at the subway station.

As expected of a crowded station, the noise feels like it has turned into daggers aimed at me.

I’m afraid that those daggers seem to be targeting my heart, my throat.

“Vine, look. No one is paying attention to you. They’re just walking their own paths. Right?”

“…They’re cursing at me. Can’t you hear it?”

“Not at all, so don’t worry.”

“Can you really not hear it…? The voices that sound like they’re about to kill me, the gazes that look like they’re about to pounce… can you really not see them…?”

“There’s no one like that here. If you’re that scared, you can come closer to me.”

“…”

With Blanc’s consideration, I moved my body closer into Blanc’s embrace.

It feels more reassuring than when I was holding Blanc’s arm earlier.

After standing like that for a while and taking time to stabilize, I realized that people really weren’t paying attention to me.

I was still afraid that they might suddenly change and attack me, but beside me, powerless as I am, stands the magical girl who defeated me and won proudly.

So we went down to the subway platform and boarded the train.

With so many people inside the subway, that fear, that trembling didn’t stop.

But when I moved closer into Blanc’s embrace, I felt reassured.

I wonder why.

Why am I feeling safe in the arms of a magical girl who was once my enemy?

Such questions didn’t cross my mind at all.

The crowd was still too difficult for me to even consider such questions.

And so, we safely arrived at the Association.

Nothing had changed since the last time I came.

I follow Blanc through the main entrance of the Association.

Then, a loud siren sounded throughout the Association.

And it wasn’t long before I realized that I was the cause of that siren.

It seems this collar has a function that alerts all Association staff when I enter.

Because I might change my mind and release all the monsters and villains from underground to the whole world. Well, that’s possible.

But I didn’t expect the entire security team to surround me and point guns at me.

“Don’t move! Villain, what’s your purpose for coming here!”

“…Can’t you see the magical girl beside me?”

“Magical… girl, oh. Isn’t that Ms. Blanc?”

Blanc, who was standing beside me, just smiled and answered.

“Ahaha… I told the Association President I was coming with Vine.”

“Oh, is that so? I’m truly sorry. Then, the villain beside you is…”

“Vine, Vine from Eden. Could you please let the Association President know we’re here?”

“Y-Yes! Please wait a moment. Boys, lower your guns! What are you doing!”

At the words of the person who seemed to be the leader, the people surrounding us lowered their weapons.

Sigh, how can there be such a tiring incident as soon as we arrive at the Association?

Well, after waiting a bit, the Association President appeared.

He seemed to have come down in quite a hurry, and he looked a bit flustered.

He must usually have a solemn and serious demeanor, as the staff members seemed slightly surprised to see the President like this.

Ah, they might be more surprised by the fact that the Association President came out to greet a villain, rather than by his appearance.

“Vine, thank you for coming. Does this mean you accept my proposal?”

“Hmm, I’d like to talk somewhere without people first. Please.”

“Y-Yes. Let’s go up to the President’s office. Oh right. That box is also in my office, so take it with you.”

“Yes. Where should I go?”

“Ah, this way.”

So I followed the Association President to the top floor of the Association building, where the President’s office is located.

Indeed, as the personal office of an organization’s leader, it was certainly spacious and luxurious.

Sitting on the sofa there, we continued our conversation.

“Vine, so you’ll help train the magical girls, right?”

“Hmm, for now, that’s correct for the magical girls at the dormitory where I’m staying. As for other magical girls… for now, tell them to defeat Blanc first.”

“Hmm, if they can defeat Yunseul… is that possible…?”

“Why not? It’s not impossible.”

“Y-Yes, that’s right. Well, I’m grateful if you’ll help.”

“Before that, I need time to analyze their capabilities.”

“U-Um?”

How will the Association President deal with a villain who openly declares they will analyze magical girls’ capabilities?

Association President, you need to think carefully.

Do you really trust me?