Ch.5454. A New Morning Has Dawned.

“Alright, since we have a redhead here, let’s talk later. When you go back home, come to my room secretly. Then I’ll tell you.”

“Oh, Seohyun unnie… I understand! But, Yunseul unnie also calls her Blanc. Why does she call her that?”

“Oh, that. It’s nothing special. Because she’s my enemy?”

“So Blanc unnie doesn’t have a nickname?”

“No. From beginning to end, Blanc has always been Blanc. Hmm… really. Come to think of it, Blanc and I have been fighting for an incredibly long time…”

“But you’re not fighting now, right?”

“That’s because I ultimately lost. Well, there are good things about losing. Like gaining such a cute little sister.”

Honestly, Arin really does give me strength.

“Hehe…”

Arin turns her head that was leaning on me and buries herself in my embrace.

As I hold the warm Arin in my arms, I look at Ellie.

Ellie seems like she wants to come over too, but she’s holding back.

I gesture for her to come, and she tiptoes over and snuggles up beside me like Arin.

It’s warm.

Human touch. It’s been so long since I’ve felt precious people around me.

That damn slum. I want to forget it now.

How sad it is to be unable to forget something even when you want to.

I’m feeling it deeply now.

Should I try to cover it up?

If it can be covered.

Even if it can’t, even if I have to keep covering it up for the rest of my life.

If my karma, my sins…

Could be reduced… even a little…

“Vine! Are you awake?”

Before I can think further, Blanc bursts through the door.

“Yes. I’m wide awake. Why are you so… energetic today?”

“Oh, my broadcast schedule for today got canceled. Seohyun, do you want to go in and rest a bit?”

“Oh, unnie. You’re here? Well, I don’t mind. I was just a bit worried about the kids.”

“Right. If they weren’t a magical girl and a villain, they’d look just like normal kids their age, wouldn’t they?”

“Yes, exactly. But if you look inside… one is an intelligent, vicious villain with a history of kidnapping magical girls, and the other is a super rookie magical girl with the fastest growth rate in history…”

“Right. And the last one is history’s worst villain. One who single-handedly faced a unit composed of elite magical girls from around the world. Record-breaking damage costs. Yet the lowest casualty rate in history. The infamous Dark Vine.”

“Wow… how did such…”

“Well, it happens. But now, rather than those titles or infamy, what matters is that they’re Vine and Arin.”

“What about Ellie?”

“Hmm… not yet. Oh right, Ellie. Can you come here?”

“Ah, Miss Blanc… ugh… I don’t want to leave.”

Ellie, having found either the most comfortable position or the warmest spot, looks at Blanc with eyes that clearly say she doesn’t want to move.

“Really? Hmm…”

“Eek! I-I’ll go! I’ll go right now!”

“No, no. Stay there.”

“I’m sorry for disobeying orders when I’m just a villain and Miss Blanc’s property! I’ll run out right away!!”

“Stay put.”

“Hiiik…?!”

What’s going on…

Oh right. Contract magic.

So that’s how it works on aberrant humans.

“You’re making such a fuss over nothing. Well, you were ready to die if I told you to.”

“Of course! If it’s Miss Blanc’s order!!”

Hmm… aside from it being contract magic.

Making such a fuss…

Ah, she’s someone who holds her life in her hands.

“Blanc, I told you not to be mean to Ellie.”

“Hmm…?”

“If you speak in that commanding tone, the contract magic puts pressure on her core. Please be careful.”

“Hmm? Commanding tone…?”

“Yes. Commanding tone. Like the commands you just gave: ‘come here,’ ‘stop.’ As you can see, not following them puts a huge burden on her.”

“Really…? Ah… sorry. So, Ellie. No, it might be better if we look together?”

“Huh? What is it?”

“I made a room for Ellie and wanted to see what she thinks. Vine, wouldn’t it be better if you looked too?”

“If that’s all… she would have happily come if you’d just called her without making it an order…”

“I understand. Here.”

Blanc shows her phone to Ellie who’s beside me.

The room on the screen has the same layout as mine, but it seems furnished with what Ellie would want, as if it was custom-ordered.

“So what will Ellie need to do?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

“Excuse me…?”

“Why? You’re the one who suggested hiring her. We don’t know what to make her do. Didn’t you suggest hiring her because you needed help with something?”

“Ah, that’s…”

“Otherwise, we don’t really have a reason to hire her. We could just let her work at the association?”

“Yes, I understand… I should think about it…”

“Good. Ellie, is there anything you need?”

“No! I would follow Miss Blanc’s orders even if you told me to live as a pet in a doghouse with a dog bowl!”

“Ellie, that’s burdensome, so please don’t say such things. I’m not threatening you. Right?”

“B-but… someone who holds my lifeline… of course…”

“Ah, this contract magic. Really. Is there no way to transfer it to someone else?”

“What…? You’re going to sell me off…?”

Ellie, shocked at Blanc’s words about transferring ownership, began pleading with her.

“P-please… I can really do well… please?”

“It’s not like selling a slave. I just want to get rid of this annoying contract magic.”

“T-this is… pretty much like being a slave…”

“No, Vine. Do you know how to transfer this?”

“I do know, but who are you trying to transfer it to? Wouldn’t it be better to just release her?”

“Hmm… but I’m still uneasy… I want to transfer it to someone I can trust. If she keeps acting like this with me… it’s uncomfortable for me too. Vine, would you take it?”

“Excuse me…?”

Seriously, has this magical girl lost her mind?

“What kind of novel idea is that? What if I make a contract with Ellie, run away, and create a New Eden or something?”

“You? Would you really do that?”

“This time it might be real.”

“Really? If you run away and don’t do anything bad, I won’t come after you.”

“What…?”

“Hmm… but will you really go?”

“Ugh… really…”

“So. Do you know how to transfer it? I’ll do it right away if you do.”

“Hmm… I’ve done it with aberrant beasts, but I’m not sure about aberrant humans. I can’t guarantee the stability of the magic core either. It’s complicated.”

“Hmm… this is really annoying. I don’t want to have this kind of relationship with Ellie either. Right, Ellie?”

Well, as for Ellie…

“I-I’m fine with any relationship! Just being alive as a mere villain is already more than I deserve…!”

“Ellie. Why do you keep doing that? Sigh… Vine, please do something…”

“Well, you brought this on yourself. You’re the one who put the contract magic on Ellie. If that’s a mistake, then it’s your mistake.”

“That’s why I want to transfer that mistaken contract to you…”

“You could just release it. It’s just a contract. Hmm… but canceling a contract magic… Ellie’s magic core must already be heavily influenced by your magic. If we suddenly separate them… hmm… since aberrant beasts and humans have different magic cores…”

“Sigh… anyway. Let’s talk about that later. If we continue, this will go on endlessly. So, Ellie. How’s the room?”

“I-I would be grateful even if you gave me a doghouse! If it’s from Miss Blanc…!”

“Ugh… really. Ellie, stop that strange attitude. I’d rather have the childish Ellie I used to know. Seriously.”

“Ah, then… um…”

“Hm? Why that expression?”

Ellie, unable to stay still, grabbed her head as if her beliefs and orders were clashing in her mind. Then, as if she had sorted out her thoughts, she finally spoke to Blanc.

“F-fine… Blanc! Is this better?!”

As if afraid of her own words, she trembled while looking at Blanc.

“Yes. This is better. But isn’t this too drastic a change? Hmm… it feels too… no, it feels like you’ve gone back to your old self.”

“W-what! What do you want from me! While holding my leash and my life! What do you want?!”

“Hmm… maybe speak a bit more kindly? Ellie, you’re too extreme. No matter how I look at it.”

“Whatever. What’s wrong with me? I don’t know. You told me to be like this, so this is how I’ll be from now on. Nyah! Even if you tell me to go back to that polite attitude, I won’t listen! Oh, but if it’s an order… ugh…”

“Sigh, really… Vine, can you take responsibility and help make sure Ellie doesn’t cause trouble?”

“I can’t guarantee that, but I’ll try my best.”

“Good. I trust you, Vine. Sigh… so, how’s the room?”

Ellie, now carefully examining the photos of what will be her room, made one request.

“Make it a bed where I can sleep with Vine. I need time sleeping with Vine too.”

“This kid, really. Blanc, you can just ignore this.”

“Hmm, bed… We were due to replace the dormitory beds anyway. We have budget left over. And… sleeping with Vine… hmm… nice. Yes. That’s good.”

Hearing that answer, Ellie thought all her demands would be met.

“Huh? You’re agreeing? Then I want other things too…! The new massage chair! And a computer… and a drink refrigerator…”

“What are you saying?! Blanc! You can ignore all of this!”

She’s talking nonsense now!

In cases like this, I have no choice but to cover her mouth with both hands!

And look at her enjoying it when it ends up looking like I’m hugging her tightly.

This… really…