Chapter 10

1.

"Wouldn't I be the one who should be annoyed? Today was such a great day for me…"

Seriously, I'd been in such a good mood all day, spending time with Dojin. I felt like I could float away. And on top of that, the thought that I'd been promoted to A-rank had me feeling all smug, like 'Ahem-' But now that I thought about it, the A-rank promotion was just a lie.

It had all gone up in smoke, and I was angry. I made chains out of the water sloshing across the ground and bound all of them.

"You've turned this into a real 'Lucky Day' for me."

I fired a swirling water cannon at the witch who was shooting lightning. Up until now, everyone but Iris had been too weak to withstand my attacks, so I'd deliberately focused on Iris. But since lightning hit my weakness right where it hurt, my annoyance had been building.

One way or another, it wasn't an attack that could grind a person into chunks of flesh. It might break their arms or legs if it sent them flying, though.

Things weren't as easy as they seemed, either. Now that I'd learned how to use my ability, its destructive and defensive power had both improved, but it consumed so much magic that my efficiency had plummeted.

Before, I hadn't realized it because I reclaimed the water I'd used as magic and reused it like recycled material. But now I couldn't reclaim the magic I'd used to give the water its properties, so I wasn't exactly swimming in magic. If Iris found out, she'd probably tease me, 'You low-mana girl!'…

Hmm… Even in this body, the word 'premature' still bothered me.

"Gueegh!"

Still, the blonde witch couldn't properly dodge the water cannon I'd fired at her and was swept away by it. Blood spilled from her mouth, and her limbs twisted grotesquely, but at least I hadn't killed her. Um, she'll be okay, right? They seem to have healing magic, too.

Anyway, I'd made bubbles with insulating properties just to counter lightning, so it was a relief if I didn't need to use them. My magic reserves were already running low.

By my rough estimate, I had about 25 percent left. Fighting Iris was a problem, but using 'Blade Vortex' to wipe out the whole monster horde at once beforehand had taken a lot out of me, too.

And I'd weakened it to control its power, then used even more magic to finish off the monsters that were still left… That must've been what did it.

"Hey! Get everyone out of here!"

Apparently she couldn't even remember her companions' names, because she shouted that at the white-haired witch and ripped the chains apart with her bare hands.

Now that's impressive. The water chains were reinforced with hardness, but when she strained with a loud groan, they crumbled and lost their shape.

"Attacking the weakest one first? That's cowardly!"

"What are you talking about, when you all jumped me…"

Sometimes, her state of mind scares me.

"I'm a villain, so it's fine!"

"That's an unbeatable argument…"

I tried to block her kick again with a hard shield and a sticky blob of water. But Iris changed the trajectory of her kick midair, dodged the blob, and struck the shield directly.

The strange thing was that her kick still broke the shield, even after she'd changed its trajectory. Wouldn't changing the trajectory naturally reduce its power by losing kinetic energy? Come to think of it, I think that's called a Brazilian kick.

So she's a martial arts expert?

Iris smashed the shield and dashed into my arms once again. Her movements were much sharper than before.

A punch carrying all the momentum of her dash shot toward my stomach. If that hit me head-on, I'd be killed—or knocked out!

Bang!

"Guh!"

I could read the punch's trajectory, but I was too slow to respond. I couldn't make a sticky blob of water in time, so the best I could do was form a small, hardened plate. Iris's fist punched right through it and struck my abdomen.

Fortunately, I was already pulling my body backward, so I was sent flying back. If I'd just crumpled where I stood, I would've had to deal with Iris's follow-up attack.

"Cough. Cough."

Then saliva, stomach acid, and blood kept spilling from my mouth, all mixed together.

That much damage from one hit? She's insane. It was mostly because I hadn't defended myself properly. If I had, I wouldn't have taken such a hit.

"That one had some weight to it. Want to take a few more?"

"Ugh, go to hell…"

Iris said with a smirk, and I answered by flipping her off. I didn't want to get hit anymore, and I didn't want to give in to this much pain and become one of the Collector's collectibles, either.

No other choice. I had to run.

"You're getting mouthy. Fine. Sometimes a fist is the best medicine."

As she spoke, Iris lowered her stance again. It was like she was seriously using martial arts now. Unlike before, when her movements had seemed relaxed, she launched one swift, precise move after another.

I drew up my magic. I could see Iris doing the same. With a splash, she pushed off the water and dashed at me like an arrow.

"Tidal Wave!"

I summoned a five-meter-high wave right in front of her.

With that, she'll have no choice but to back off!

"Hup…!"

Instead, Iris lowered her stance and threw a punch, drawing her fist as far back as she could.

Her fist split the wave in half. The divided wave lost its force and collapsed helplessly.

The blast of wind from her punch whipped my hair around.

That used up almost all my magic!

"Well, are you done fighting back now?"

Iris walked between the divided waves, shaking out her arms and legs as if she were a little tired. Behind her, the split wave flooded everywhere.

How is that even possible?

"You… You're really a monster, aren't you?"

"And what would you call the bitch who conjures a tsunami on dry land?"

And what would you call the bitch who splits a tsunami with her fist?

"Haha. You're seriously hopeless."

"That's right~. You're still a kid, so you can't beat me. Even if I'm no match for someone like Esper, you're easy enough."

"Someone like me?"

"That's right, kid. You're kind of cute, aren't you? Like a puppy that's accepted defeat."

Iris walked toward me, splashing through the ground that had turned into a swamp.

"Want to try a little more? But you'll have to deal with the consequences."

"Can't you deal with the consequences for me, too? I'll call you Senior."

Since my attempt to run had failed, was I going to get captured? I really didn't want that.

"No can do. You were talking shit about Master earlier. I'll ask him to leave your arms and legs intact, at least. But you'll become my pet."

"That's a bit…"

"Geez, you don't want this, you don't want that. Don't be such a pain."

Iris was already right in front of me.

"If you do as you're told, Master will show you heaven. You'll feel like you can't live for even a moment without him."

"Um, sorry, but… I already have a man like that."

"…? You're actually a slut, aren't you?"

Iris chuckled, then grabbed my hair and dragged me down to her eye level. I could see why women grabbed each other's hair when they fought. It really hurt. A cry of pain slipped out of me before I knew it.

"Hey, have you done it?"

"Guh… No."

"Then just follow the contract. Once you're impaled on Master's cock, you'll change your mind and won't be able to resist."

"That's the part I don't want, you crazy bitch."

Iris slammed me into the ground. There was still water on the ground, so it felt like I'd plunged my face into a shallow puddle. I tried to lift my head, but Iris pressed firmly on the back of it.

"Why do you have to get hit before you'll listen? Is it because you used to be guys?"

"Ghk… Ghk…"

It was awful. I couldn't even think straight when I couldn't breathe. I couldn't open my eyes in the muddy water, either.

I was reclaiming my magic, but the wave had spread over such a wide area that it wasn't coming back very quickly.

"Puh, puha… Haa…"

Iris grabbed the back of my head and pulled me up, barely letting me breathe. My hair hurt where she tugged it, but being able to breathe mattered more right now.

"Want to bet how many more times it'll take before you say, 'I'll just become Master's property'? I'll bet ten."

As she said that, Iris shoved my face back into the muddy water.

How many seconds had passed? Or was it minutes? I couldn't breathe, so even my sense of time had grown hazy.

"Puh, puha… Cough!"

This time, I was shoved back under before I could even breathe properly. I struggled desperately, but the difference in our physical abilities was too great. Since I couldn't breathe, I couldn't reclaim my magic properly, and the water level didn't drop any further.

"Huff… Hah…"

"So, what number are you betting on?"

Squelch! She shoved my head under again.

"Cough. Cough…"

"That was the fourth time!"

Iris smiled with an innocent expression.

My face was shoved back into the water.

Bubbles of air escaped my mouth with a gurgle.

I had no idea how many times this had happened.

"That's the ninth time again!"

But I did know this much. That crazy bitch had just called it the ninth time for the fourth time now.

She was never going to get to ten.

"Your pretty face is a mess now."

Iris said that as she looked at my face, filthy with muddy water. Come to think of it, I'd put on makeup for my date, too. That unpleasant stuff running down my face wasn't just muddy water—it was makeup as well.

On top of that, my water-blue dress had already lost all value as clothing. I'd taken that much of a hit to the stomach when Iris struck me earlier, so there was no way my clothes would still be fine. And now the hem was ripped up to my panties. It wasn't even a dress anymore.

"Well, is this the ninth time again?"

"Just kill me… you crazy bitch."

"That's not the right answer."

Iris shoved my face back into the muddy water. She'd dunked my face so many times that there was a puddle about the size of my face.

After another stretch of time whose length I couldn't tell, Iris grabbed my hair and pulled me up.

"……"

Iris looked at me silently. I said nothing, just breathing hard.

"You've got a strong will, don't you?"

Iris shoved my face under.

Iris pulled me up by the hair.

Iris shoved my face under.

Iris pulled me up by the hair.

I didn't know which time this was. At some point, Iris stopped even counting and just silently shoved my face under the water.

"Hah… Hah…"

By now, my face was covered in wounds, too. I could feel sticky blood trickling down. Fortunately, I hadn't hurt my eyes or anything like that. Maybe my instincts were protecting them with more magic, but…

Now I was afraid. Iris's merciless torture made my body tremble, and part of me wanted to give in.

But still, I didn't want to give my body to another man.

With my body trembling, I looked Iris in the face as steadily as I could.

I couldn't let fear overwhelm me here. I gathered all the strength in my body to calm my trembling. It seemed to lessen a little.

"Such a steadfast, aching devotion."

Iris tossed me aside and stood up. I had no choice but to lie there limply, like an abandoned doll. I didn't have a shred of strength left in my body.

"I'll let you off once, at my discretion. You reminded me of myself from back then. There won't be a second time."

With that, Iris kicked off the ground and flew away.

And my consciousness faded with her.

2.

I wanted to say, 'I don't recognize this ceiling…' but it was a familiar hospital ceiling. More than anything, my face was wrapped in bandages, so I couldn't speak.

"Are you okay?"

I heard Ruby's voice.

I shook my head.

"I see… Get some more rest."

Ruby went outside.

As soon as I realized I was alone, my body naturally curled up.

My body trembled like I'd switched on a vibration setting.

I'm really scared. So scared.

I realized that every act I'd experienced until now had come with some consideration for me. The merciless water torture, without even a speck of mercy, had devastated my mind.

The worst part was that, every moment, the pain made me question whether I could keep going. I realized just how terrifying torture could be.

"Hic…"

I felt the bandages grow damp. The fear of being alone in the dark hospital room welled up again. It crept up slowly, then grabbed me by the throat and shook me.

I wanted to call Ruby right now. But I was afraid to show her how weak I was. To be honest, I was afraid of other magical girls right now.

Iris had left me traumatized. If she showed up here, I'd probably flail around and throw whatever I could get my hands on, then tremble in a corner and beg her, 'Please. Stop. I'll do anything, just stop.'

All kinds of thoughts came to mind, and those thoughts became fear. There were other witches besides Iris, too. One of them controlled familiars. What if she was watching me right now? My trembling hands drew the curtains across the window.

I crawled into a corner of the bed. The enclosed feeling of being in a corner was strangely comforting. It was familiar, too. I'd always preferred sitting in secluded corners.

Knock, knock.

I flinched at the knock. Using my bandages as an excuse, I chose to stay silent, pretending I couldn't speak properly.

Knock, knock.

There was another knock. Had Iris come back? Or had another witch come because Iris was too famous to sneak in? If so, had she come to capture me? If I became one of the Collector's collectibles, would I at least not have to be tortured by Iris like before?

With trembling hands, I pulled my knees to my chest. It felt like curling up that way made the shaking a little less severe.

"Lapis?"

The voice that came from outside was a man's.

It was Dojin's voice.

"Y-yes?"

"Can I come in?"

"Not… right now. I'm a mess."

I refused because I didn't want him to see me like this. A woman with her face wrapped in bandages—honestly, even if I were a man, I don't think I'd want to see that.

I wouldn't need to keep the bandages on for days like an ordinary person, thanks to my magic, but I'd probably have to wear them for at least today.

"You're hurt, right?"

"…Yes. I'm a Hero, after all."

It wasn't unusual for Heroes to be captured by villains and found as horribly mutilated corpses. In fact, five out of ten missing Heroes were found like that. Four out of ten became villains, and one out of ten managed to escape.

A Hero getting hurt wasn't anything special. But I still didn't want to show him that I was hurt. I didn't want to make him worry.

"Want me to take care of it?"

Dojin was the first to offer me his hand. I had a bad feeling about it.

If I asked him for help now… I'd fall apart. I'd become a doll, unable to do anything by myself.

I refuse. I don't want to be a doll.

Than a doll sitting quietly beside someone,

a person who stands beside someone of their own accord is more valuable.

"No. If anything, thanks to you, I've made up my mind."

Once I'd made up my mind, the trembling gradually melted away.

And then I remembered how I'd endured that cruel water torture.

"I have to deal with this myself. At the very least, it's something Ruby, Peridot, and I need to handle."

"…Is that so?"

Dojin sounded like he had mixed feelings. Was he disappointed that I couldn't rely on him more?

I took off the bandages. I turned a drop of water into a mirror and looked at my face. There were still a few scars, but my face was still decent, thanks to my ridiculously good looks.

I balled up the bandages, tossed them roughly into the trash, and opened the door.

"Dojin."

"Huh? Yeah."

As the door opened, I saw Dojin looking a little surprised. Had he not expected me to open the door? Or was he startled by my injuries? Maybe both.

"Kiss me."

As I said that, I stood on tiptoe, clasped my hands behind my back, and closed my eyes.

I waited for a little while. A long while. Dojin seemed a little flustered. Imagining him flustered made me feel like smiling without even meaning to. I could feel the corners of my mouth twitching.

Smooch. It was a peck, not a kiss.

I wondered if that was what he'd been hesitating over. I opened my eyes, wrapped my arms around his neck with the hands I'd held behind me, and threw myself at him. I couldn't reach him, so I stood on tiptoe.

"Haup, mm… chuup…"

Our tongues tangled in an indecent kiss that went on and on, until my legs began to tremble and I could no longer stay on tiptoe.

I could feel myself breathing hard. Dojin's face was only a few centimeters from mine.

Shyly, I smiled.

"Please go out with me."

I want to share a pure, devoted love with this person.