episode_0027

Finally back at the dormitory.

I wanted nothing more than to collapse without changing out of my clothes due to mental fatigue.

But there was work to be done.

I need to organize the items I brought back first.

There are more boxes from the Association than I thought.

I was about to start with the largest box when,

“Vine Unnie! I’m back! Oh? What’s that?”

Arin opened the front door and returned.

“Oh, Arin. You’re back early today.”

“It’s exam season. Wow, that box is really big.”

“Yes. These are the items I brought back from the confiscation warehouse. Hmm, this must be it.”

“What’s that? What is it? I’m curious! Please tell me!”

“You might be surprised if you see it for yourself, Arin.”

“What’s so surprising about it? Is it dangerous?”

“Well, if it’s dangerous, I can say it’s dangerous. Here, see for yourself.”

I grabbed the edge of the box and opened it.

Inside, as I expected.

“Well, my clone is here. It’s been a while.”

“W-what is this? A staff? A wand?”

Blanc, who had quietly approached, was the one to satisfy Arin’s curiosity.

“Arin, this is a tail. It’s unusual to see it detached like this.”

“A tail? How is this a tail…?”

Well, it might be better to show her directly if she’s that curious.

But I’m a bit hesitant to demonstrate it here.

I can’t turn the already organized living room into a mess.

Hmm, is there a suitable space nearby to test it out?

“Blanc, is there a space nearby where I can test this? Or should we go back to the Association?”

“Well, there’s a training room in the basement of this apartment. It’s smaller than the Association’s training room, but it should be fine.”

“Yes. I just want to show Arin a demonstration. I’ll just grab my weapons and head down there.”

Upon hearing this, Arin cheered.

“We can see Vine Unnie in action? Let’s go right now!”

“Arin, we need to check what’s in the boxes first. Please wait a bit. Well, most of the boxes should contain weapons.”

Right. As I said that, the box I was opening contained a pistol and a dagger.

And when I opened another box, it had my customized firearms.

Firearms made to fit my small hands.

Designed to convert mana for creation.

Well, magical girls don’t even flinch unless it’s a mana bullet.

It’s been a while since I’ve touched them.

“Yes, these are the boxes. This one is…”

I opened the last small box.

Yes, it contains my uniform.

The Eden uniform that has now disappeared.

The emblem shining on the hat… I won’t need it anymore.

There was another outfit in there that I wore when I was released, and I continued to wear it.

I recognized it, so I raided the nearby donation box for old clothes.

That outfit is probably stored in the deepest part of the closet, the safest place.

I couldn’t bring myself to sell it.

“Yes, this box contains clothes. Nothing special. Just Eden’s old cell phone and accessories. Please wait a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

After roughly putting them in my closet, we headed to the basement of the dormitory.

The dormitory is the top floor of a regular apartment.

It feels like a penthouse, but it’s not that luxurious.

I guess they had to choose the top floor to have two floors.

After all, this apartment is owned by the Association.

So they could have a training room in the basement…

But, following Blanc into the basement, it was not just small, but…

What are you looking at to say it’s small? This should be enough.

Numerous facilities visible on the way to the training ground.

It’s almost like a mini association.

“Bl, Blanc? Didn’t you say it was small? Isn’t this more like an association…?”

“Well, in case of emergency, the association comes down here to command. This is an emergency bunker.”

“But, if it’s for emergencies, why are people working here? What are those people over there?”

“Oh, the association president, who thinks it’s a waste to mock such facilities, made it a condition for the employees working here to move in. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“What? Is that… I see. Is that so? It’s not even surprising anymore.”

“Just leave your luggage over there. Set the magic reinforcement to the highest grade… Arin! Can you close the door over there?”

Arin closed the door, and the overall flow of magic began to change.

It felt like walls reinforced by a floor. Like this.

“Now… on the app… release weapon usage restrictions… release ability usage restrictions. Alright, show me now.”

“Could you control my collar too? How…”

“Well, that’s not important. You need to show Arin your fear, don’t you?”

Saying that, Blanc handed over the excited Arin to me.

“Ah, Arin. Please don’t come near me right now. This feeling is subtly strange. Haa…”

“Since the magic is returning to normal, let me know when you’re ready.”

“…But, aren’t you afraid of Blanc?”

“What?”

“What if I regain my abilities, attack you, and become free?”

After saying that, Blanc sighed and replied.

“First, I don’t think you’ll attack me and run away.”

“Haa, the same words as the association president.”

“And second, Arin is here, right? Will you show that side to Arin?”

“And third, that thing around your neck, I’m the one controlling it anyway. Well, even if I can’t control it, I don’t think you can beat me.”

“Wait, what did you say?”

“Is that an answer? Alright. Get ready.”

“I’ll remember what you just said clearly. Now, I’ll endure it since Arin is watching, but be prepared…”

With that, I opened the largest box.

The box that contained the tail from earlier.

Lifting my skirt slightly, I attached the tail connector to my spine.

“Arin, Blanc. Please don’t look at me with those eyes. It’s a bit embarrassing…”

“Uh, okay!”

“Yes! Please let me know when you’re done…!”

After they finished answering and turned around, well…

Aligning the tail connector with my spine… like this. Insert it.

The sensation of the tail, which I hadn’t felt in a long time, spread through my brain and my whole body through my spine.

Feeling a bit tingling, I wagged, stretched, extended, and retracted the tail, waiting for it to become familiar again.

“Now you can look. How is it?”

Arin, looking at me, was staring at my tail with truly admiring eyes.

Well, I must have looked really cool when I first received it from the doctor.

Honestly, a tail made of mechanical joints has a romantic feel to it.

Plus, it’s useful in combat and daily life.

And Blanc was looking at me with a slightly nostalgic face.

“Ahem. Let me show you the functions of the tail first. Blanc, you already know, right?”

“Yes, but Arin is seeing it for the first time. Please explain.”

“Alright, Arin. Watch closely.”

As I got used to the feeling of magic roaming through every corner of my body, I slowly tried flying again.

Concentrating slowly.

Recalling forgotten memories, as trained.

Once I got used to floating slightly, I freely maneuvered around the training ground.

“Wow! It’s so fast! How can you be so fast and accurate…?”

“Arin, you can do it with practice.”

Saying that, Blanc attempts to attack the mannequin he left behind.

At first, focusing his magic on the tip of his tail…

It rises up my back, over my head, the ends of my arms, and the split ends of my legs, spewing fire.

Kuwaang—

Crimson flashes emitted from the tips of five tails.

At the end of those flashes, the only thing left is a pile of ashes.

That was the mannequin.

It must have been a training mannequin reinforced for magical girls.

With a slightly exhilarated feeling, Blanc asks Arin.

“Well, this is a basic attack. Well, I did focus a bit on firepower. What do you think?”

Arin looks at me with a vacant expression.

And Blanc looks at Arin with eyes that seem to be locked in deeper memories.

Blanc’s eyes didn’t seem to contain only memories.

As the faint smoke clears, Arin’s answer comes back.

“… Just now, that was a normal attack…?”

“Yes, this can be done more succinctly and continuously. It can also be used to form barrages and for sniping. It also has a decent range.”

“Oh, no… yes?”

“Oh, in close combat, it can also be used for stabbing purposes, and in the old days, it was a useful tail to use instead of hands?”

“Oh, no. The splitting, not…”

For some reason, Arin seems to have lost her words.

Speaking on behalf of Arin, Blanc says,

“Yeah, that was really annoying. How each one moved individually like they had eyes attached. It was so frustrating.”

“Your movements were just that easy to read, Blanc.”

“Alright, Arin. When training with you, we’ll start with avoiding the attacks of these cute tails. Oh, I don’t want to hurt Arin… I’ll adjust the output.”

“U-umm… Unni. P-please spare me…?”

Arin may not have been spared, but it’s too early to be surprised.