Ch.5757. Reunion in Darkness

While embracing Ellie as she collapsed onto the bed, I asked Blanc.

“So, what did you talk about that left her in this state?”

“Oh, nothing special. Just shared some old stories. And I didn’t torment her, I swear. Don’t look at me like that.”

Ah, she noticed I was glaring at her.

I seem to be having trouble controlling my expressions lately.

My emotions keep showing through.

I guess a lot of time has passed.

“Haah… Ellie, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine now that I’ve recharged my Bine essence. Huff… haah… I’ve been running low for years… hehe… this is bliss…”

“Ellie, I can’t breathe.”

“Mmm… but it feels so good… just a little longer…”

“Haah… Ellie.”

“Mmm… today was hard. Besides, even if we stayed together all day, it wouldn’t be enough to make up for all the time we missed. Hehe…”

I struggled desperately to pry Ellie off me, but she wouldn’t let go, so I simply gave up and accepted it.

Well, after a while I could breathe again. And it was warm.

Besides, if I made a fuss now, Arin would wake up and—

“Unnie. What’s going on here?”

Ah, I’m doomed.

“Ellie? Isn’t this different from what we agreed on? I thought we promised to respect boundaries?”

“Well, you lied first, so I think I’m entitled to do this once! If you’re jealous, you can do it too!”

“Really… haah. Bine unnie is having a hard time, so get off her quickly. What are you doing?”

“Bine understands completely! Right?”

“Ellie, get down.”

“No.”

Arin just watched the scene with a pouty expression.

Perhaps not wanting to bother me further, Ellie soon got down.

I don’t know what secret plans they might have schemed together afterward.

Once the room calmed down a bit, Blanc took out the food she had brought and set the table.

“Ah, Blanc, let me—”

“No. Stay seated.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I don’t understand why she won’t let me help.

“Am I not allowed to help at all…?”

“Patients help their caretakers by resting. Not moving and getting proper rest is better for our mental health.”

“But moving around this much would actually—”

“Ahem.”

I didn’t expect her to be so firm about it.

With my body itching to help, I could only watch Blanc and the redhead assisting her.

From what they’re preparing, it seems they bought some tteokbokki for a light meal.

“Ah, is that the rose tteokbokki that Arin wanted? Isn’t it?”

“Huh? How did you know? How could you tell?”

“I have a rather sensitive nose. I can smell tteokbokki, but it’s a bit different. There’s a creamy scent mixed in.”

“I didn’t know your nose was that sensitive… then, perhaps…”

“My sense of smell is quite ordinary unless I’m actively focusing. Why, were you worried I might do something strange?”

“N-No…!”

It’s amusing to see Blanc flustered like this.

“Ah, could it be…”

“It’s nothing, come on. It’ll taste bad if it gets cold.”

Blanc quickly recovered from her embarrassment, busy taking care of everything.

Eh, that’s no fun. Couldn’t she be more fun to tease, like that redhead?

Following Blanc’s instructions, I sat on the sofa, and she even unwrapped the wooden chopsticks for me.

“You don’t need to do that…”

“Here, there are drinks too. Arin! Come and eat!”

“Coming! I’ll be right there!”

Despite having just woken up, she claimed the spot next to me with an energetic voice and bold steps…

“Here, Bine unnie, say ahh~”

“I can eat by myself. Isn’t this the tteokbokki you like, Arin?”

“Come on, don’t be like that. Hurry. Ahh~”

I don’t know why she’s doing this, but I decided to humor her just once and accepted the food she was trying to feed me.

“There, ahm. Haah, that’s enough. Now Arin should eat too.”

“Aww… okay…”

Meanwhile, Ellie, who had lost her spot next to me, sat beside Blanc and just glared at Arin.

Seriously.

What are they doing with me?

And so time diligently fulfilled its role.

The villain who had been unable to fulfill her role was now recovered enough to do so, yet remained captive to the magical girls, unable to break free.

After various incidents in the hospital room, the moon waned and waxed again, darkness fell and retreated many times.

I had countless conversations with Arin.

I finished unfinished conversations with Ellie.

Time passed as I reflected on the moments I had rampaged in that darkness.

And I broke up dozens of fights between Ellie and Arin.

By the time I had grown accustomed to this room…

“Alright, you can leave now.”

“You’re finally letting me go…”

“Why? Do you want to stay longer? I can tell the Association Director you’ll be staying another month.”

“N-No, that’s not it. Let’s pack up and go home quickly. I’m worried about how much that unemployed person has messed up my house.”

“Pfft… alright. And how could Yuri unnie mess up your house? She’s been here with us anyway.”

“Well, she did come by briefly to switch with the redhead, but since they work different shifts, I let her off. Knowing her personality, her room is definitely a mess again. Probably built a mountain of energy drink cans…”

“I cleaned up occasionally, so it shouldn’t be that bad. Come on, let’s go home.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Now that I’m finally leaving this Association building, I feel a bit bittersweet.

But I have to get back to work.

What’s the fundamental reason I’m with these magical girls anyway?

I’ve had a lot of time to think while resting here.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this treatment was too good for me.

So to repay even a small part of that debt…

Hmm, I was looking for work to pay off a debt, and now I’ve become indebted again.

Though this time, it doesn’t seem to be a monetary debt.

Haah. Even I don’t particularly enjoy being attached to magical girls like this.

I wonder what other villains would say.

With these thoughts, I got in the car for the journey home.

To think the Association Director would even provide a car.

Blanc, how much did you pester the Director…

Maybe I should bring a gift later. A real gift this time, not a bomb…

Leaving the Association with Arin by my side in the car.

Haah. I came for training but ended up being indebted.

Breaking the training ground was one thing, but how much the Association…

Staying in a forcibly created room, just playing and eating… cleaning must be work too.

From what Blanc said, they’re keeping it as a dedicated hospital room for Ellie and me, using it as a break room normally…

Whatever that means.

Oh right, I also broke the floor.

They covered those marks with a carpet.

Hmm, that’s another debt I owe.

I should prepare a special gift for the Association Director.

But what gift could I possibly give…

Well, I’ll think about it later. It’ll just give me a headache if I think about it now.

With these thoughts, we arrived home.

Yes, at home…

It was a complete mess.

* * *

“The operation has become difficult to execute?”

“Yeah, our biggest asset is on their side now. Plus, that ‘Brain’ has disappeared because the contract was terminated.”

“The contract was terminated?”

“Yes, the faint connection I was maintaining has been completely severed.”

“Haah. This is troublesome. I wonder if ‘Voluptatis’ will proceed as planned.”

“For now, well… haah… we should have approached faster. Losing to the magical girls was a major blunder.”

“Well, she wanted to hide. Besides, according to our plan, she was supposed to be gathered last anyway.”

“So, about the terminated contract. Can we still contact them?”

“Isn’t it obvious that we can’t contact them after the contract was broken? Hela?”

“Ugh, really… why did the boss only tell us about this plan before leaving?”

“They’re just kids. Well, one of them isn’t exactly a proper kid, but it’s true that the doctor kept adjusting their ‘condition.’ Same goes for the Brain. They think they’re different, but whatever.”

“True, they were strong enough to follow orders obediently, but to us, they all looked the same.”

“It was hilarious watching them work harder just because we gave them fancy titles, like the kids they are.”

“Haah, but now we’re in this mess because those kids are gone.”

“Well, since they’re kids, we should be able to get them back with the tools the doctor handed over and a bit of persuasion.”

“Basically, you’ll tell them we’re rescuing the boss?”

“Yeah, Marina is part of the final plan anyway, so it’s not a lie.”

“Really, you think they’ll fall for something like that?”

“How many times do I have to say they’re just kids before you understand?”

“Establishing a new paradise. Or rather, laying the foundation for paradise.”

“Anyway, how’s the doctor?”

“Same as usual. Better than when he was rampaging after losing his test subject.”

“Tell him we’ll get them back soon. The plan will go more smoothly if the doctor regains his senses.”

“So, you have a plan?”

“I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t.”

“Then, I’ll head back trusting you. For the glory of Eden.”

“Yeah, just wait and believe. Actually, get prepared. Things will get chaotic once the kids return.”

In the cold, dark night.

In the middle of a dense forest.

In a small concrete bunker with a rattling window.

The executives of a paradise already lost were laying the foundation for a new garden.