Chapter 11: The First Choice

Leila smiled placidly, tucking Ila’s hair behind her ear. Seeing that Ila was about to speak, she swiftly placed a finger over Ila’s lips.

“Shh~”

Leila then set Ila down on the ground, before stepping alone into the black mud.

Ila sat on the ground in a childlike kneeling posture, her eyes complex as she watched Leila’s figure slowly sink into the encroaching darkness.

“Why?”

“Heh, isn’t it only natural for an elder sister to protect her younger sister?” Leila chuckled. “What just happened was the black mud acting on its own accord. Don’t mistake it for me commanding them.”

Leila turned, the black mud clinging to her form like a flowing, dark gown.

“You clearly had the chance, an easy opportunity to turn me back into the Blood Demon Princess. Why didn’t you?”

‘Is she trying to humiliate me?’

‘Is she intentionally restoring my memories as Magical Girl White Rose, only to then use this method to shame me and satisfy her depraved, twisted desires?’

Upon hearing Ila’s unspoken thoughts, Leila lowered her gaze, falling silent for a rare moment.

****

A ripple spread across the surface of the black mud.

“Regardless, your sister did save your life.” Leila swiftly reined in her emotions, a mischievous smile once again gracing her lips.

“How will you repay me? Counting the restoration of your memories and helping you conceal your identity from Mona, your sister has helped you three times without charge, my dear little sister~”

“This…” Ila gritted her teeth, unsure how to respond.

While she was a hundred percent certain that the Dark Demon Princess harbored ulterior motives, a rescue was a rescue. She always judged actions, not intentions, and believed in repaying both grudges and kindness.

She would certainly seek revenge against the Dark Demon Princess Leila, but for now, she also had to repay the kindness shown.

Kindness did not cancel out enmity, nor did enmity negate kindness. This was Ila’s unwavering principle.

“Then let’s make a deal. Since I’ve helped you three times, I, your sister, will give you three opportunities to choose whether to truly fall into the abyss. This will be your repayment to me, and you absolutely cannot evade it.”

“Once these three choices are complete, either I will completely corrupt this world with the black mud, or you will succumb to the black mud and become the next master of the abyss.”

Leila held up three fingers, staring intently at Ila. Then, she retracted two fingers, leaving only the index finger that had touched Ila’s lips, placing it against her own mouth.

A pink tongue flickered out, briefly licking it.

Leila smiled, extending her hand towards Ila, and spoke warmly. “This is your first choice, Ila. Are you willing to return to the abyss with your sister?”

“Impossible!”

Ila refused without hesitation. She stood up again, glaring indignantly into Leila’s violet eyes, declaring righteously, “Even if my physical body has been transformed into this unsightly state, my soul remains that of Magical Girl White Rose! I will absolutely not fall and become a Dark Princess! This is my bottom line!”

“But didn’t you call me ‘Sister Adult’?”

“That… that was an accident! You deliberately forced me to call you that! Besides, it’s just two words, it’s not like I’ll lose any flesh. As long as I hold firm to my beliefs, the black mud won’t be able to exploit any weaknesses or subtly corrupt me!” Ila’s cheeks flushed slightly, and her gaze shifted away.

“As long as I don’t use the power of the abyss, you won’t have any chance to corrupt my soul!”

‘That’s right. As long as I don’t actively use the power of the abyss to transform into a Dark Princess, then I can maintain this form and stay with my sister forever and ever.’

“Don’t worry, my dear little sister, your sister has already planted a seed in your heart. It can help you resist the black mud’s corruption for three minutes. If you get corrupted as easily as you did today again, your sister won’t have another way to restore your memories.”

“You don’t need to try and tempt me! And I won’t thank you for anything, Dark Demon… Sister Adult! I will not surrender to you!”

“Oh~”

Listening to Ila instinctively try to call out her name, only to grudgingly bite out the unwilling ‘Sister Adult’ under Mona’s perceived pressure, Leila’s mood instantly brightened. Even the oppressive force suppressing the black mud eased considerably.

“Remember to tell Ye Yunchu and the other two that I’ll be holding training tomorrow morning at eight sharp, at the same place we had class today. After all, I’m still their teacher, and I must be responsible for my students.”

“Well then, see you tomorrow~”

After speaking these final words, Leila’s figure was swallowed by the black mud, and the rift closed, returning everything to tranquility.

‘This scoundrel!’

Ila clenched her fists in humiliation, angrily punching a nearby tree.

Ila composed herself, temporarily suppressing the humiliation and resentment she felt towards Leila.

‘Speaking of which, were the words I just said to Little Nai a bit too harsh?’

‘Perhaps there was no need to be so cryptic; a direct approach would likely have had the same effect.’

Ila walked home. It was already nine o’clock, and the streets were gradually seeing more people, though still sparse. Most were elderly, with a few children running along the sidewalks.

It was summer vacation, so it was slightly better. Normally, apart from holidays, it was rare to see young people on the streets.

‘See you tomorrow?’

‘Tsk, I hope I never see her again!’

‘This is clearly a threat, telling me not to leave easily.’

‘Allowing that old hag to be my little sister’s teacher will not only restrict my movements but also constantly put my little sister and the others in danger.’

‘I must keep Mona and the others away from Leila!!!’

‘If, in the end, they truly can’t find another teacher, then… then I’ll have to seek out those old friends of mine…’

‘And what exactly is going on with the Magical Girl Headquarters? How can the enemy leader become a teacher on our side? Have those guys in the audit department been slacking off for the past ten years?’

Ila initially wanted to report it directly to the Magical Girl Headquarters. However, on one hand, Leila’s relevant documents were surprisingly complete, even the seals weren’t forged. On the other hand, if she rashly exposed Leila’s identity, given Leila’s strength, ordinary Magical Girls would be no match for her. It would inevitably lead to a bloodbath, and the residents of Qingling Town would certainly not be spared.

Ultimately, her current strength was too weak. If she still possessed the power of Magical Girl White Rose, if not to defeat Leila, at least she could cover her sister and the ordinary people’s escape without issue.

But… Gungnir had been completely destroyed.

And the power of the Dark Princess, she absolutely could not use.

In the five years since escaping the abyss, Ila had been trying to find a way to restore her male body, attempting to repair Gungnir, and transform back into a Magical Girl.

But without exception, all attempts had failed.

‘I just want your brilliant self to completely fall with me. To make the rest of your life only for me, your sister~ To make you personally corrupt this world~’

Ila recalled what Leila had said to her last night.

Five years ago, she was brainwashed as the Blood Demon Princess, devoid of emotion for anyone except her sister, Leila.

But Leila had actively allowed her to touch Gungnir and regain her memories. Was she trying to make her original soul fall as well?

‘Hmph~’

‘Is it because the black mud can only transform the body but cannot change my soul as it pleases, which is why she wants me to remember the past, hoping that under her plan, I will completely blacken into the Blood Demon Princess?’

‘As long as I don’t use the power of the Dark Princess, no matter what tricks you, Sister, use, you will not get your wish!’

‘I am the strongest Magical Girl White Rose, after all!’

Ila firmed her resolve and arrived at the entrance of her shop, inserting the key.

The convenience store was somewhat dim. Ila looked at the quiet house and walked upstairs with a hint of confusion.

As expected, both rooms were empty.

Apart from a robotic bat lying on the bed, having opened a new bottle of cola, there was no other movement in the house.

“Eh, Little Nai isn’t home yet?”