Ch.3535. After the Duel Ended

The magical energy Arin shot at me comes rushing in.

Well, I expected this.

I wrap my body with the tail I had been aiming at her, using it as a shield to block the attack.

With just a slight flow of magical energy through my tail.

Just enough to match the concentration of magic Arin fired.

I need to appear weak, after all.

I should let her attack push me back a bit, otherwise Arin might give up for real.

While I’m at it, I’ll act like I’m struggling from the surprise attack.

“Ugh… hah, a surprise attack, is it?”

“…! This…?”

“What’s wrong? Isn’t it normal to never let your guard down, even against an opponent you’ve neutralized?”

“Hah, seriously…!”

After those words, I only used my tail to block Arin as she charged at me with her scythe.

If I were to dodge here too, the enthusiasm I just ignited in Arin would disappear.

Arin attacks the tail protecting me with her scythe.

My tail, already reinforced with magical energy, deflected all of Arin’s attacks.

However, I made sure she could feel some recoil, but at this rate, I’ll end up backed against the wall.

With her this close, it’s a good opportunity to observe Arin’s attacks.

At first, she was swinging thoughtfully, but now that she can’t break through, she’s just swinging wildly.

This isn’t the way to go.

I send a glance to Blanc, who’s watching everything from the stands.

Asking if it’s enough and if I can end this.

Since I got the signal that it’s okay to end it.

Now I should gradually finish…

Ah, I’ve already been pushed back to the wall and can’t move, only receiving attacks.

Still, even though I’ve been giving Arin openings the whole time, she hasn’t targeted them and just keeps swinging blindly.

“Just! Break through! Ugh…!”

“Are you saying a villain would weaken their defense just because you asked? Is this your best?”

“I’m… almost… there…!”

“Almost doesn’t count.”

During Arin’s indiscriminate attacks, I let one slide and jumped up, kicking off the ground.

Then, I glided through the air.

“This is the last chance. Pour all your strength into me. Come at me with killing intent. With the thought that this is your final attempt, unleash everything until you collapse. Then, who knows if you might touch this hat.”

“Hah… hah…”

“Well then, come.”

The flow of magical energy around Arin gathers in one place.

No, to be precise, it gathered in her legs and weapon.

She’s preparing to charge for a final strike.

Hmm, I should let her know that she could launch a surprise attack during the preparation phase.

But I can tell her that later, can’t I?

Having finished her preparations, Arin kicked off the ground and flew toward me to reach me.

And she slashed at me with her scythe full of magical energy.

Like a scythe cutting down weeds, she slashed through, but ultimately fell due to magical energy depletion.

I caught her as she fell, like a tough vine that wasn’t cut.

Then I took Arin to Blanc, who was up above, handed her over, and asked how the match went.

“How was it? You were going easy on her.”

“Do you know how hard it is to go easy? How delicate it is to control that power.”

“Arin might get really upset with you.”

“It was something that had to be done anyway. Vaccination. Do you know how important it is to know beforehand, before getting hurt worse?”

“Arin will be the judge of that. Take care of her when she wakes up.”

“Hmm, what should I do if she punches me as soon as she wakes up?”

“You’ll have to take it, of course.”

“But I won, you know…”

“That’s different. You brought this on yourself, so you have to take responsibility.”

“Ugh… I suddenly feel like I might have done something a bit harsh…”

“You decided to do it. I’ll lay Arin down in the rest room, so will you stay and watch over her for a while?”

“Are you just passing the buck to me…?”

So I went with Blanc to the rest room carrying Arin and sat down beside her.

Arin, whose transformation had been released due to magical energy depletion, was sleeping with a truly peaceful face.

I took off my hat and placed it beside me as I looked after Arin.

Blanc sent me the footage captured by the cameras installed in the training ground, so I analyzed it while waiting for Arin to wake up.

Arin takes priority over sparring with Blanc, after all.

Blanc said she was going to prepare the training ground after leaving me with Arin.

Or no, I think she went to ask the Association President if she wanted to observe.

While I was taking care of Arin, the crybaby and the redhead suddenly came to where Arin was.

Both seemed a bit excited.

“Is Arin okay? Oh, Vine?”

“Ah, I was watching over her. Please, have a seat.”

“No thanks. Seohyun, do you want to sit?”

“No, unnie. I can sit on the bed next to her.”

“Sigh, alright. Vine, you weren’t too hard on her, were you?”

“How could I be too hard on Arin? I controlled my strength the whole time. She just fainted from magical energy depletion, she’ll wake up soon.”

“Sigh… I rushed over because Yunseul said you knocked Arin down.”

“And why is the redhead here?”

“Me? I came to watch Arin’s training, but it seems it’s already over.”

“Hmm, anyway, next is my turn to fight Blanc. Why don’t you and Arin watch that together?”

“That’s the plan.”

The crybaby, who had been stroking Arin’s head, asked me.

“I was worried from the moment Arin asked you to spar, but how was it? Does she seem okay?”

“By whose standards should I answer?”

“By your standards, you’d say she was terrible. Compared to magical girls of this age group.”

“As for magical girls Arin’s age… I’ve experienced a few, and among them, she’s the most outstanding. Still, she has many shortcomings. Well, to put it nicely, she’s a child with high growth potential. To put it harshly, she’s terrible.”

“Hmm, is that so… So you’re going to oversee Arin’s training from now on?”

“My wish is that Arin wouldn’t go into battle, but she’s a magical girl. So, I can only do my best to build up her capabilities.”

“Poor Arin…”

“Well, I’m planning to have sparring sessions with you all as well. But before that, I should assess your skills too, shouldn’t I?”

At my mention of sparring with them, the crybaby was the first to panic.

“What? S-sorry, but wouldn’t that be a bit difficult…? Haha…”

“What’s difficult about it? It’s something that needs to be done. Shouldn’t you all get the same preventive shot that Arin got?”

“Surely not one-on-one…?”

“Of course. I need to assess your skills, not conduct a group hunt. Since you’re here, let’s set a date.”

“Umm! I don’t think I’ll have time…? Association work or dispatch cases… Haha…”

“You mean we should consult with the Association President. Then what about you, redhead?”

“Hmm? I need to take care of Arin, so… Haha…”

“You can do it anytime. I understand. I’ll schedule it after Arin’s training.”

Good, that’s how we’ll set the schedule.

I check my calendar on my phone.

Hmm, this day would be difficult…

As I was looking through my schedule, the crybaby spoke up.

“Ah, no! W-wait a minute!”

“What’s wrong? Are you perhaps afraid to fight me?”

“N-no! That’s not it…!”

“Then face me with dignity. I’ll face you wearing the same uniform.”

“Come to think of it, Vine, that outfit…”

“The fact that you only notice now shows how unobservant you are. Really.”

The redhead, who had been staring at me in surprise from the adjacent bed as if a sparring schedule had suddenly been set, seemed to have just realized something.

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s not like you’re seeing this outfit for the first time.”

Although this outfit has been damaged a bit, I wore it because it seemed good for maintaining the right mindset during sparring.

Hmm, why are they so surprised?

“No, where did you get that outfit…?”

“Didn’t I go to the confiscated items storage with the Association President? It was there. I repaired it with Blanc and put it on.”

“Ah… Then that burnt part…”

“That’s the part you burned, redhead. Why, are you happy to see it after so long?”

“Ah…”

As the rest room became noisy with various conversations, Arin woke up.

“Mmm… ugh…?”

“Ah, you’re awake.”

“Eek! V-Vine unnie!”

As soon as she woke up, she tried to attack me despite her aching body, but I pinned her down with my tail and approached Arin carefully.

“How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened earlier?”

“Uh, uh…?”

“Arin, how many fingers am I holding up?”

I wonder if there’s something wrong with her cognitive function, or if she can’t speak.

I held out three fingers to Arin.

“Th-three…”

“Hmm, that’s normal. Are you okay?”

I released my tail that was holding Arin down.

Well, she’s not going to attack anymore, right?

After being released from the restraint, Arin rubbed herself a bit and explained her condition.

“Ugh… My whole body feels limp…”

“That’s because you used up all your magical energy. When you’re used to having your body enhanced by magic and it suddenly depletes, this can happen. Well, it could also be muscle pain from earlier.”

Arin examined her body a bit and then stared at me, asking:

“Ah… right… Um, what is Vine unnie now…?”

“Ah, that question.”

I put my precious hat on Arin and said:

“I am your kind unnie, Vine. Does that answer your question?”

Then, the redhead next to us looked at me with strange eyes and said:

“Hey, p-putting that hat on Arin is…!”

“Why? It’s a defunct organization anyway. And this is my cherished hat. What’s wrong with putting my cherished hat on my cherished little sister?”

“Hmm…? Is that so…?”

“Yes, it is. Arin, do you dislike it?”

“Ah, the hat… Oh, doesn’t this mean I won, unnie?”

“That was already over when I took you to Blanc.”

“Ugh…! But I’m holding it now!”

As Arin was making a fuss, Blanc opened the door and came in.