Ch.3434. Sparring with Arin

“Haha… To think I’d be mending this…”

“Indeed. Usually Ellie would do it, or I would.”

Blanc was mending the damaged parts of my uniform.

She was trying her best to repair the burnt sections of my uniform, though it wouldn’t be like new.

Just enough so it wouldn’t look too strange.

I was asking her to mend it moderately.

“Whew, how did this part get torn?”

“That probably happened when I was dodging the redhead trying to blow my arm off.”

“Ah… right… What should we do about these burn marks and the skirt?”

“I’ll just wrap the skirt around myself. We don’t have much time.”

“But why this uniform all of a sudden?”

“I need to face Arin as a villain. She needs to learn what a real villain is like.”

“So, you’re going to fight seriously?”

“Nah, I’ll just scare her a bit and go easy. Why would I hurt Arin?”

“I suppose not. So what’s your plan?”

“First, as I mentioned earlier, I’ll intimidate her right away. My old ruthless self might make an appearance.”

“Ah, ruthless. You really were ruthless… pfft.”

“Blanc, don’t laugh. After I finish training Arin, you’re next.”

“Hehe… *snort* Alright. I’ll look forward to it.”

“Yes. Ah, I’ll handle that part.”

“Okay. Got it.”

* * *

“Ugh… Sister…? Why…?”

“Magical Girl, would you show such shameful movements to your sisters watching from above?”

Cold amethyst eyes questioned the Magical Girl.

Her rifle had managed to graze the Magical Girl’s body.

Perhaps she had even inflicted a greater wound.

“Have you still not come to your senses?”

“Sister…?”

“Right now, I am Eden’s Vine.”

“Haa… Could you at least explain first… AAGH!”

A massive explosion erupted beside the Magical Girl.

Unable to dodge, the Magical Girl took a direct hit and could only look up at her precious person.

But that precious person, Amethyst, shrouded in dark energy, said:

“Have you ever seen a villain comfortably explaining things to a Magical Girl? Wake up, Magical Girl.”

“Hic, haa, haaa…”

“Sigh, it seems your tiny brain still can’t comprehend. I’ll explain kindly, so make sure to absorb it all into that head of yours.”

“Sister…”

“Training proceeds like real combat. My mission is to subdue you and deliver you to Blanc, who’s watching from above. You win if you take this emblem from my hat.”

“From now on, as Eden’s Vine, I’ll be your enemy in this duel, but as your sister Vine, let me say one thing.”

“To motivate you, if you succeed in removing this emblem, I’ll grant you one wish.”

With those words, fierce attacks rained down again.

The Magical Girl repeatedly dodged with all her might.

The Magical Girl wondered:

Was there any possibility of victory?

To win, she could only pray for those fierce attacks to stop.

With continuous attacks and bullets fired into spaces where she tried to dodge,

the Magical Girl saw no chance of winning.

No matter how much she dodged, no matter how much she fled, the attacks didn’t stop.

Her opponent showed no signs of fatigue.

“Haa… haa…”

“Magical Girl, are you tired? Is that all you’ve got? Did you challenge me with just this level of skill? How disappointing.”

Disappointing.

That single word.

Began to ignite the Magical Girl’s heart.

Began to inflame the Magical Girl’s passion wildly.

“…Ha.”

The Magical Girl stopped merely dodging and started approaching her enemy.

Slowly, deflecting attacks with her weapon.

She began advancing toward the one hovering in the sky.

Perhaps not disliking her determination, the villain smiled faintly and provoked the Magical Girl further.

“You won’t win by just blocking. At this rate, you might get captured by an evil organization and corrupted, you know?”

“Haa… haa… That… will never… happen…”

“Hmm. Good. Come at me then.”

The Magical Girl kicked off the ground and charged at the black-haired girl.

* * *

I didn’t expect much at first.

But I ended up hurting her a bit because my attacks connected.

Hmm, I didn’t want to hurt her.

Still, I should think of this as a preventive measure.

If she doesn’t experience fighting villains here, she’ll have to learn in real combat.

Would real villains go easy on Arin like I am?

Of course not.

Well, I said I wouldn’t go easy and would go all out, but…

Honestly, even without using my full output, I’m overwhelmingly dominant in this fight with Arin.

I deliberately miss slightly, and place attacks just where she’s expected to dodge.

Making them as weak as possible so Arin can block them.

I didn’t really want to provoke Arin verbally.

But the words I accidentally let slip ended up encouraging her.

I was able to create an environment where Arin tries harder and gives her best.

“Magical Girl. You can never win by just dodging. Think before you come at me.”

“Ugh… seriously…”

Even now I’m creating openings while fighting, but it’s hard to make more gaps than this.

As this tedious exchange continues, should I push Arin to the brink of defeat?

With me attacking and Arin just dodging, this will never end.

“Magical Girl. Is your resolve only this much? Come and take this emblem already. Otherwise, I’ll take you instead.”

With those words, I move behind Arin.

“Like this.”

In an instant, I transform my tail and grab Arin’s arm.

“Such a weak Magical Girl. Getting caught so easily, your sister would be truly disappointed.”

“Ugh…”

I lift one of her arms up to immobilize her.

She has her scythe in the other hand. Let’s see how she escapes.

First, Arin starts struggling.

That won’t work.

The more she struggles, the tighter it will get.

Then, she attacks my tail with her scythe.

“Ha, do you think that will work?”

Well, for short-armed Arin, just keeping her at a slight distance is enough to neutralize her.

“Magical Girl, think before you move. What should you do in this situation? Everything. What a kind enemy I am, giving such advice.”

“Ugh…”

“Sigh, how boring.”

I swing my tail holding Arin and throw her in the opposite direction.

Just enough to hurt a bit.

She needs to experience this too.

As Arin collides with the wall, the arena fills with dust.

“I know this just hurts but doesn’t really affect you. Come at me already.”

“Sister… why suddenly…”

Arin asked me why I was doing this.

Isn’t this necessary for training?

I got permission from Blanc anyway.

She said she’d intervene if things got dangerous.

The fact that she’s still just watching from above means it’s okay to push further.

I glance at Blanc for a cue, but she just smiles.

This means I’m still within acceptable limits.

As the dust around Arin clears, I see her figure.

Ah, is that why Blanc said it was okay?

Though she’s a bit dirty from the dust, she still looks perfectly fine.

Apart from the wounds I inflicted earlier, she has no injuries

and doesn’t seem to be in pain.

I was worried she might have landed badly. That’s a relief.

“Ugh… Sister! Seriously!!”

“Magical Girl. The one before you is your enemy, Eden’s Vine. Not your sister Vine. How many times must I say it? Geez.”

“I’m really angry now!! You might get hurt, Sister! You’re a real enemy!”

“Yes, attack me all you want. I am Eden’s Vine, remember? I’ve taken so many attacks from Magical Girls before. So what?”

After that retort, Arin’s scythe began to glow, and blade-like energy started flying toward me.

“I won’t care at all if your tail gets damaged, Sister!”

I easily deflect such energy blades while responding.

“This level of attack won’t damage it anyway. But I acknowledge your spirit. It reminds me of Blanc from the old days.”

“Haa… haa…”

Arin catches her breath, seemingly having used a lot of energy for those attacks.

I launch a surprise attack on her.

Since she’s this tired, I should throw relatively slow attacks.

It’s quite a task to consider all these factors.

I’m tired of attacking from a distance now.

Again, I move right in front of her and draw my dagger.

The dagger stops just in front of her neck.

“Now, Magical Girl. Do you surrender?”

“Ugh…”

“I’m getting bored, you see. If you surrender here, there won’t be any more pain. Isn’t that right?”

“Haa…”

“Just let yourself be dragged to the organization and become a corrupted Magical Girl. Oh, we’ll need information too, so you might be tortured. But at least you’ll keep your life.”

“…”

“Well? Have you made your decision?”

“…Sister Vine. I’m sorry.”

“…Are you giving up? Then throw your weapon over there.”

“No, that’s not why.”

“…?”

“I didn’t want to hurt you, Sister.”

Magic concentrates in her scythe.

That concentrated magic becomes an attack that engulfs me.