Ch.4848. Still, I’m Grateful.

Well, alright.

It’s good if things end well.

I feel better moving around now than when I first woke up earlier.

The increase in magical output means I did something my subconscious recognizes as an evil deed.

Was it trying to “educate” Ellie that my subconscious interpreted as evil?

Or something else?

Maybe showing an unfavorable side of myself to Arin.

Or perhaps destroying the floor?

Hmm, I’m not sure.

I need to figure out what the standard for evil deeds is.

But that means I’d have to commit evil acts.

Which means becoming a criminal again.

I don’t want to commit more crimes when I’m already marked with a red line.

Besides, it’s annoying to have to get past this magical girl to commit evil deeds.

What is my subconscious standard for evil?

Do I need to commit acts punishable by law to register as evil?

Or is it enough to do things that society generally considers wrong for my mind to recognize it as evil?

Sigh, it’s complicated.

For now, I’m curious about what those two are plotting.

“So, Arin? Are you done with your conspiracy?”

“Huh? What? Conspiracy…?”

“Can you make sure I don’t regret letting Ellie go? I’m sure you can, right Arin?”

“Yes, yes!”

Arin’s slightly trembling response.

I’m not sure if she’s driven by a sense of duty to satisfy me or consumed by fear. For now, at least.

“So Blanc, can I go back now? I don’t even know where this is… Staying too long in a room like this is… well…”

“Ah, I suppose so. We should head back soon, but I still need to check if you can move properly, and I need to look into why your output suddenly increased so much. Can you wait a little longer? I’ll call a doctor.”

“Hmm… No matter what, I don’t feel comfortable in this kind of hospital room. And I feel a bit bad for destroying this room too. Where exactly are we?”

“The Association. The Association President’s office is right above us. Since it wasn’t appropriate to admit you to an Association hospital yet… they created an entire room just for you.”

“What…? Why would you do something like that for a villain like me? Creating a whole room must have cost a fortune!”

“It wasn’t that expensive. The Association President approved it, and we used temporary equipment. Besides, everyone wanted to participate, saying it was a good opportunity to study the characteristics of a monster.”

Hearing Blanc’s answer, that’s clearly a lie.

Using temporary equipment might be true, but I doubt everyone was eager to participate.

Even if it’s not a complete lie, she seems to be hiding something.

“So, what’s the truth you’re hiding?”

“Huh? Hiding…?”

“You know what I mean. Did you threaten someone?”

“Threaten? How could I do something like that? Hmm?”

“Then, did you bribe someone? How?”

After I keep pressing for an answer, Blanc finally responds honestly.

“Fine, sigh… really. I can’t even tell a small lie in front of you. I simply borrowed some power from the Association President. As you know, there’s a monster treatment team in the Association.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about them. But their role, as I understand it, is to capture near-death monsters, treat them enough to extract information…”

“Right, so they’re experts at emergency treatment to make monsters talk, but complete recovery is difficult for them. That’s why they didn’t want to take this job. So I borrowed some influence from the Association President. I didn’t use any coercive measures. I also gave those people appropriate compensation.”

“Sigh, I still don’t understand why you’d treat someone like me this way. Ugh… I’ll cover all the expenses for this…”

“Why would you cover it? Don’t talk nonsense. I’ll call people for your examination, so just rest.”

“No, but still…”

“You collapsed because I pushed you too hard out of my own greed. I’m doing this because I feel sorry.”

“No, your greed…”

“It was my greed.”

Whether she’s trying to end it by taking the blame, or forcefully insisting it’s her fault no matter how much I offer to pay…

What can I, a villain, do about it?

I’m already living under the capture of a magical girl…

“Sigh, fine… I understand…”

“Good. Arin? Can you come over here and stay by Vine’s side?”

At Blanc’s call, the two stopped their plotting and came to my side.

Whatever fear she had earlier seemed to have disappeared, as Arin returned to her usual self, holding my hand tightly, which was cute.

Her soft, small hands, not much different from mine in size, holding mine firmly…

Perhaps feeling jealous again at the sight, or thinking she also had ownership rights to my hand.

Ellie came to the opposite side and grabbed my other hand.

Looking at this, both my hands have been restrained by these small children.

It feels warm, which is nice.

Yes.

After giving me that warmth, Blanc had already left the room.

Well, the redhead seemed a bit wary when I got angry earlier, but now she’s just sitting on the sofa looking at her phone, as if she doesn’t care.

“Redhead. Don’t you need to follow Blanc?”

No wonder she’s startled by my sudden call.

She drops her phone in surprise and answers.

“Huh?”

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Oh, no… it’s just, you suddenly paying attention to me is surprising?”

“You’re surprised by strange things. So, do you have no objection to letting Ellie in?”

“Well, what difference does one more villain make at this point? Though I am a bit upset about that contract magic trick she tried to pull earlier, but…”

“Besides that, you’ve fought with Ellie many times, haven’t you?”

“That’s all in the past. We fought briefly when I first debuted. She wasn’t even that difficult an opponent back then.”

At this dismissal of Ellie’s combat ability, Ellie shouts from beside me.

“Hey! You, really!”

“Ow… my ears… Ellie, I’m an injured person, you know?”

“Ah, Vine. S-sorry! But how can I stay quiet after what Garnet said?”

Ha, Ellie seems to have been quite sensitive about it.

Well, after Ellie left the front lines of battle, she barely trained, while the redhead worked hard to improve. The current Ellie probably couldn’t win against her.

By now, the difference in their magical capacity must be significant too.

“But what’s this about a contract magic trick? What’s that about?”

“Well, she tried to reverse a contract magic to put me under her control.”

“Ah, that. I remember there were a few idiotic fighters who ended up becoming servants to monsters that way…”

“Yes, she tried to control me like that. Fortunately, Yunseul unnie stopped her before that happened, otherwise who knows what would have happened…”

“Huh? I don’t think it would have mattered much…?”

“Hm? The plan Elise confessed to was quite serious though?”

“Ah, what I meant is that you’ve already far surpassed Ellie in magical capacity.”

“Huh…?”

At that answer, Ellie, who had been snickering beside me, also questioned.

“Vine, wait. What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m weaker than that Garnet?”

“Yes, there’s already a big difference in magical capacity.”

“Huh? That’s not what I found out! From the videos I saw, nothing had changed! She was a magical girl with less magic than me when we fought!”

“You haven’t grown since then, but the redhead has grown that much. Enough to be selected as one of the 20 for Ragnarok.”

“No, then… my plan…!”

“It seems you would have become the redhead’s subordinate…”

“Ugh, aaack! I’d rather die…! I hate that!”

She’s terrified to the point of saying she’d rather die.

Was the redhead as much of a rival to Ellie as Blanc is to me?

“You’re currently contracted with Blanc, right?”

“Y-yes. I’m rather fortunate… ugh… at least having Blanc as my master is better… The thought of being a slave following Garnet around like a pet… Eek! Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!”

Ellie, wanting to show me that she really did get goosebumps, rolled up her sleeve to show me her arm.

“So, Blanc owns you, which means…”

“Yes, if she gives an order, I have to follow it. That’s why I’m even more glad I didn’t contract with that Garnet! I’m so glad I failed…!”

The redhead seems indifferent to these words.

“So redhead, how are you with this? Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m really fine. She’s bound by contract anyway, right? If needed, I can ask Yunseul unnie to handle it.”

Making such a ruthless statement so casually is truly characteristic of her.

So, is everything settled now?

I guess I can just enjoy this warmth and rest comfortably.

“Arin, I’m sorry for treating you harshly earlier. And though it’s ancient history for you, I’m sorry for being harsh during training too. Will you forgive me?”

“Of course, my dear Vine unnie whom I truly cherish.”

Yes, this warm comfort.

“Ellie, you too. We meet after so long and yet… I’m sorry…”

“No, it was my fault. You’re really alive… not Marina. Out here, like this… Sigh… I’m so glad…”

“Well, I’m living as a captive of magical girls.”

“Still, we can meet again.”

“I suppose so.”