Ch.33. Purchase of Darkness, Salvation of Light

The state of Vine I saw there was truly wretched.

Even for a monster’s body, Vine’s emaciated appearance was painfully obvious to me, having analyzed every detail about her for over ten years.

When I grabbed Vine’s arm, I knew for certain.

Vine was already malnourished, and she hadn’t noticed only because of her monster physiology.

She was already dying.

Slowly. Even before I arrived.

I should have found her sooner. I should have met you earlier.

While lost in these thoughts, I couldn’t bear to overhear her talking about selling her body—her spring—to someone.

Because I couldn’t save her, because I couldn’t protect her. In the end.

My usually sharp mind became like a wanderer lost in darkness.

In the end, perhaps buying Vine myself would be the fastest way to save her.

To save someone like her. Maybe this was the only way.

Walking through the dark forest in my mind, losing my sense of direction. In the end. Making the wrong choice.

I didn’t realize it in that forest. Not when I made that choice.

“How much do you charge per hour?”

When she heard those words, her expression—which had been consistently blank—instantly twisted with contempt.

Well, she quickly returned to her usual expressionless self.

So I purchased her, purchased her time. For now. Yes, for now, let’s take her somewhere. Anywhere.

* * *

Blanc, this magical girl who has revealed her true nature, where is she taking me?

Well, we’ve left the house and are heading toward the main road, but since I’m being dragged along… I don’t know where we’re going.

As the traffic gets busier and the buildings grow taller, it seems we’re heading toward the downtown area.

Being pulled along by Blanc, who’s gripping my arm, through this bustling area I haven’t set foot in since all this happened.

It feels somewhat like being arrested, which doesn’t exactly put me in a good mood.

Huh? That place is…

As I thought earlier, you really are…

An ugly, filthy human.

What the Boss said was completely right.

* * *

Hmm, for some reason, I’m in a suite room.

Does this mean there are that many people who call for someone like me? To let me into this room so easily.

It’s disgusting. Really.

“Vine, come in.”

“Well, you bought me, so I have to follow.”

“First, take a shower. I’ll be waiting.”

“Fine. I’ll go wash up.”

Leaving Blanc who told me to shower first, I entered the bathroom.

The suite’s bathroom was much larger and more luxurious than the shack I’d been living in.

That toilet alone could probably buy my entire house.

It’s not like I’ve never used such luxurious facilities before.

At least during my Eden days, I lived more abundantly than now.

But rising back up from such rock-bottom living conditions really makes you think.

I start cleaning myself under the warm water from the shower.

Yes, more than anything else, being able to shower with warm water made me truly happy.

After that brief moment of happiness, I put on the provided bathrobe and went out to the living room where Blanc was waiting.

The memories I had pushed aside while enjoying the warm water, worries about what would happen next, and disgust toward the magical girl who revealed her ugly nature—all started to resurface.

Swallowing that disgust, I faced Blanc.

“I’m done washing. What now? Is there anything I should prepare before you harvest my spring?”

“No. Just relax and rest.”

“I’ll still charge you by the hour.”

“That’s fine with me.”

After saying that, Blanc went in to shower.

With nothing to do and no instructions, I decided to just lie down on the bed.

I wonder how many years it’s been since I last lay on a bed.

Pushing thoughts of the upcoming spring harvest to the back of my mind—yes, I’ll enjoy this. When will I ever feel something this nice again?

While enjoying this softness I might never experience again in my life, Blanc came out.

Is it starting now?

Well. I came prepared for all of this.

“Sigh, enjoy yourself to your heart’s content. I’ll accept all of your desires.”

Blanc calmly came to the bed and settled beside me.

And then. She simply pushed me down with force.

Blanc on top of me, our faces suddenly very close.

Up close, Blanc’s face was somehow unreadable.

And Blanc, with me so defenseless beneath her.

She simply moved me to her side.

Why?

Aren’t all humans supposed to have ugly, sinister hearts, wanting to unleash their vile desires?

Why, after paying so much money to buy me, aren’t you unleashing your dirty, ugly desires?

Go ahead and toy with me. Overpower me and defile me all you want.

Isn’t that why you bought me? But why. Why are you leaving me alone?

You’re just another filthy human.

Why.

How come.

“What are you doing? You paid good money for me, didn’t you? Come on, harvest what you bought.”

“I don’t plan to. Why would I do something like that?”

“If you’re not going to do anything, I’ll just leave. It’s not proper to take money without giving anything in return.”

“Didn’t you say earlier it was ten thousand won per hour?”

“That’s more like an additional fee after the main act. Well then, I’ll be going.”

“Wait, hold on. I did buy you, didn’t I?”

“Hmm, yes. That’s why I said I would accept your desires.”

“My desire is for you to just sleep next to me. I have no intention of taking your first time or anything like that.”

“That doesn’t make sense. I’ll be leaving now.”

“I bought your time to hug you like a dakimakura while sleeping!”

“What?”

What did I just hear? Dakimakura? That hugging pillow?

That’s what you wanted? What?

This Blanc who was after my neck?

“Sigh, so you have a sadistic hobby of mocking the defeated? Really. If people found out that a magical girl, a guardian of justice, behaves like this behind closed doors, it would be quite damaging.”

“That’s why I’m saying don’t go. This way, it’s not a favor without compensation.”

“Hmm, I don’t understand how your logic works.”

“Besides, I only said I was buying you, not your spring, I think.”

“What? Is that so?”

That can’t be. Blanc clearly dragged me here to fulfill her vile desires…right?

I couldn’t have misjudged, could I?

“Are you really saying that wasn’t your purpose? Look, I’m mentally prepared to accept all your desires…”

“Why would I harbor such thoughts toward you? That won’t happen, so just lie down and relax.”

“That can’t be… surely those ugly… those dirty desires…”

“Vine, just lie down. I’m tired. I’ve been searching through mountains since morning.”

“Uh, what? But…”

“Whatever. I’m going to sleep. If you want to get paid, hurry up and come here.”

Blanc patted the space beside her, urging me to lie down.

Reluctantly, I lay down next to her, but remained tense, vigilant for when her ugliness would surface and her desires would overwhelm me.

Sure enough, she moved closer to me, placed her hand on my body, and

hugged me tightly like a doll.

“What, what are you doing? Let, let go of me… this is uncomfortable…!”

“Why? I told you earlier, I bought you to hug while sleeping. *yawn*… You’re warm… good night.”

“Ugh… really… what nonsense…”

Yes, I’m tired of arguing with her. I’m mentally exhausted. Let’s just sleep…

So, the kind villain Vine, pitifully subdued by the evil magical girl Blanc, was defeated once again…

In the end, unable to escape, she suffered the punishment of sleeping like a doll.

* * *

Hmm, Ellie, is that you…?

Sigh… Today was too hard. Really. As if I wasn’t already unable to work, and starving for days with no strength.

And then that person suddenly appeared?

Ah, you know. Blanc. That woman you arbitrarily called my rival or whatever.

Just as I arrived home, there she was.

Since my release, I’ve been living like a mouse, quiet and unnoticed.

I really didn’t do anything.

Even when walking down the street and getting rotten eggs thrown at me.

Even when beaten by a convenience store owner, or when almost assaulted in an alley.

I did nothing. I didn’t resist, just silently endured until someone saved me.

But when magical girl Blanc suddenly came looking for me. Seeing her back.

Really, at first I felt wronged. I was afraid the government had changed its mind and sent her to throw me back into Marina.

But, you know what?

The moment I saw that expression, like she was about to crumble. All those worries just flew away.

How long have I been looking at that damn face?

That unbreakable spirit. I know it all too well.

It was truly an expression I’d never seen before, but I could tell.

So, that’s why I was even more dumbfounded. My head became filled with contradictions.

Ellie. You would understand.

You know how fiercely Blanc and I fought.

But why was she worried about me?

After I treated her so harshly, so cruelly, why was she concerned about me?

Ellie, do you know?

Being smarter than me, maybe you do. Yes.

* * *

“Hmm, what time is it…”

Where am I… This uncomfortable thing beside me…

B-Blanc? Why is Blanc next to me, oh.

Ah, right, that happened…

How is she still hugging me? It’s hot, too hot…

I guess I should wake her up. Sigh…