Whose youth romance story begins with a witch's trial?!

"—v—..." "Ugh—"

"Hey!?"

However, after seeing the gazes of Tachibana Sherry and Hasumi Rhea, Tono Hannah's boastful and arrogant demeanor immediately subsided.

What if I wake up tomorrow morning to find myself swinging on a roof beam with a makeshift spear stuck in my chest...?

Hannah, oh Hannah, it wasn't this chaotic world that ruined you, it was Chang Rong who ruined you!

In short, after the riot, Chang Rong finally had time to explain to Hasumi Rhea what she and Hannah Sherry had been doing.

"Uh... wait a minute, let me sort out my thoughts. Chang Rong, you mean—[Moriarty and Holmes were locked in a fierce battle over the legal right to help others, competing to see who could make Hannah a proper young lady first. And after Hannah understood how to become a mafia boss who could cook, do OD, and say 'I'll fucking kill you, kora!', Holmes also had a change of heart, renamed Moriarty Watson, and that's how they got together], right?"

"又寸"

Hasumi Ryoya blinked and asked Chang Rong if there was anything wrong with her debriefing, while Chang Rong nodded seriously.

"This is just... just so incredibly cool!"

"Where's the cool part? I'm asking you!"

Hasumi Rieya's eyes sparkled with longing, while Tono Hannah beside her loudly complained.

This guy is hopeless...! I've been getting jealous and upset with this idiot all this time... I'm hopeless too!

The more Hannah Tohno understood Rhea Hasumi, the less hostile she became to her. After all, Rhea was too perfect at the beginning. Her dazzling appearance, Yokaku's steady personality, and her wealthy family background all hurt Hannah Tohno's sensitive and fragile heart.

But after spending more time with him, you'll find that... this guy is actually quite amazing.

"So Hannah is torn between femininity and aristocratic airs? Hmph, then let me offer you some insights—"

"No need, thank you. There's no need to offer advice to someone who can only barely be considered feminine when they're asleep." Tono Hannah had realized that associating with clueless guys not only wouldn't improve her femininity, but might even lead to her contracting some strange virus. She needed to say NO to losers as soon as possible!

"What's wrong with you...!" Rhea muttered, making a teppanyaki face. She was clearly trying to teach with good intentions, so why was she being criticized like this...?

"So, Chang Rong, what are your plans next? Are you going to continue, or...?" Ignoring the sulking Hazumi Ryoa beside her, Hannah looked at Chang Rong and asked him about his next goal.

Chang Rong's previously shelved matter was forced to resurface due to Shirley's interruption and abrupt kiss and confession—his past memories.

Although she had been telling herself that "the present is more important" and not to focus on exploring the past, Chang Rong had realized that if she wanted to get closer to the current trainees of witches, finding her past self was also an essential step.

"Perhaps... I should try to find out what I've been through and rescue that 'young lady'."

After a moment's thought, Chang Rong offered his suggestion.

"Although I don't know who 'Miss' is, I will support you in everything you do, Watson!"

Shirley patted Chang Rong on the shoulder and said with a smile, "The distance that I felt was a bit too intimate before now makes Chang Rong feel very reliable and at ease."

"Hmm... After all, I've been the one urging you, so this is my responsibility, and I have to see it through... You absolutely can't let me down, you silly knight?"

Tono Hannah also took out a feather fan and spoke to Chang Rong in a deliberately stern tone.

"I have absolutely no idea what's going on, haha! But you just said 'rescue people,' right? Who are you going to help? If that's the case, then I can't just pretend I didn't hear you and laugh it off. Count me in too!"

Hasumi Ryoua laughed heartily and waved her hand boldly, declaring, "I'll do this too!"

"No, Lady Rhea, you should go back first, after all—"

"What's wrong with you...! Are you all giving me the silent treatment...!" Seeing that she was about to be eliminated, Hasumi Ryoya instantly showed a pitiful expression, and her golden eyes became teary. When she squatted there, she looked just like a golden retriever that had been abandoned by its owner.

"Um, uh... Well, Lady Rhea, you must be careful..." "Yes, yes, I've got your back!"

—Just one glance was enough to make me completely unable to say no… Is this the terrifying acting skill of Lady Rhea?

No, I don't think Rhea is that intelligent. It's just that sometimes her demeanor is really hard to resist.

Chang Rong thought to himself as he rubbed Leia's head.

She's supposed to be a cool and stylish idol, but in the end, she charms people with an animal-like charm... Hasumi Ryoua, an unfathomable woman!

In short, the unexpected appearance of Tachibana Sherry and Hasumi Rhea caused a slight deviation from the original goals of Chang Rong and Tohno Hannah. After deciding to find the 'veteran young lady' mentioned by their older sister, the group immediately turned back and found Kurobe Nanoha.

"...?"

When Kurobe Nanoha was maintaining her weapons, she saw a large group of people and immediately had a question mark pop into her head.

"Don't worry about the number of people, Nanoha Kaori, it's just a Witch Link reaction." Chang Rong pushed up his glasses, adopting a scientist's air of profoundness as he spoke.

"...??" There were even more question marks above Nanoha Kaori's head.

"Anyway, we decided to go find the 'young lady' that my sister mentioned. It's not to give Hannah temporary tutoring... Since she was once a prospective witch like us, we can't let her continue to be tormented like this. And... perhaps I can also recover some of my past memories through that young lady."

Chang Rong rubbed her hair and told Naiye Xiang her decision.

"Just because you're both prospective witches, you want to help each other... What a naive reason. But it's a decision you, Chang Rong, can certainly make."

Kurobe Nanoha smiled at Chang Rong, then went to call over the headband guard to discuss the next 'Young Lady Extermination and Rescue Plan'.

"Well... although we managed to get here in one go with sheer force of will, thinking about it carefully, wouldn't it be safer to call everyone over?"

Tono Hanna tilted her head and asked in a low voice. Although she had just given a very cool pre-battle pep talk, thinking about it carefully, wouldn't it be better to call all 13 prospective witches over? This is not a movie or stage play. If you can gang up on someone, who will fight you solo? Do you think you're an idiot and can take on a whole group... Huh?

The absence of memories startled Tono Hannah, while Chang Rong, the former champion of one-on-one duels, shook his head.

"No, not to mention that many people's magic is not suitable for combat, more people does not necessarily mean greater power."

"Hiss hiss hiss—"

"My elder sister is right."

Nanoha Kaoru, wearing a hairband, returned to the group. Kurobe Nanoha Kaoru reloaded the magazine of the magic spear, and after confirming that there were no problems, she carried it on her back.

“In complex situations, the more people there are, the more likely unexpected situations will arise. That’s why I’ve always operated as a lone wolf,” Nanoha Kurobe said coolly.

"She's called a lone wolf, but Nanoha was only really independent on her first day on Witch Island. After that, she joined everyone!" Sherry Tachibana chuckled, teasing her.

"Well, that's because Chang Rong... well, anyway, because we have an accomplice, it's not a problem for us to act together occasionally..." Kurobe Nanoha awkwardly pulled down her cycling hat, her shy appearance making Tono Hannah wish she could lend her her feather fan to cover her rosy cheeks.

"In short, Nanoha Kaori's conclusion is correct! More people are not necessarily better; a small and beautiful setup is the right one. That being said, considering that the other party is currently in a wrecked state, we still need to call Meruru over."

Chang Rong stepped in to help Nanoha Kaori out of the predicament; otherwise, Nanoha Kaori would end up in the oven too. At the same time, he dialed Ice Meluru's number, asking Sister Jellyfish to join the group as well.

As everyone knows, going into a dungeon without a healer is suicide!

"Merluru on Ice...is she behind this?" Nanoha Kaori frowned and asked in a low voice after hearing Chang Rong invite Meruru.

"It's a 'reformed dark secret'... It would be even better if they could tone down those overly terrifying fetishes a bit. Besides, Meruru's abilities are necessary no matter what. We're going to help a prospective witch trapped in her past nightmares, not to put everyone in danger." Chang Rong's tone was very serious and earnest, almost to the point of 'notifying' rather than 'discussing'.

“Watson becomes very reliable in situations like this, and his words become very persuasive!” Tachibana Sherry said cheerfully from the side.

"Hmm...yes, this kind of silly knight isn't so bad after all." Tono Hannah nodded in agreement in a low voice.

"Huh? Really... Hmph, after all, I'm a Sigma man!" Chang Rong blinked. Although he didn't know what he had done, he still cooperated by putting his hands on his hips and puffing out his chest, striking a pose of a seasoned veteran.

"—v—Is this the pre-battle reward ceremony for the troops?"

"Eeeeeee!?" Then it immediately became docile again.

After Chang Rong sent a message to Meruru, Meruru on the ice ran up to everyone shortly afterward, panting heavily.

"Um... ha... I, I'm here... Your Highness... haha... is there anything I can do for you?"

On the ice, Meruru's cheeks were flushed from the intense exercise. She was panting heavily, and the armor on her chest was heaving violently.

"Tsk..." Tono Hannah started to deduct favorability from Ice Meluru the moment they met.

"Waaaa, Meruru, why don't you rest for a bit first!?"

"No, it's alright, Chang Rong-san. As long as it's like this—hmm, look, I feel much better!" Ice Meluru placed her palm on her chest, and with a flash of green light, her breathing calmed down.

Meruru, so you can switch between pets too!

It seems the person on Witch Island who is best at marathons is already taken.

Now that everyone was gathered, Chang Rong recounted the story about the 'young lady' to Leia, Sherry, and Meruru, who had joined later.

She was once in the same year as me, a true 'young lady', but she was reduced to ashes in that witch's trial and still wanders around. I can't let her continue to be tormented; I must save her.

"No wonder the guard suddenly came to me asking for the controller... Um, now that I know what happened, could you please be more polite next time? Otherwise, I might use witch-slayer magic on you and completely destroy you, you know?"

"Hiss hiss hiss—!"

Meruru and the headband guard breathed on each other, looking like they were at loggerheads. It was clear that their feud had started not only in Chang Rong's bedroom but also showed no signs of ending.

"But... the young ladies of Chang Rong's year... umm... I have absolutely no recollection of them..."

"What can you possibly remember? You can't even remember what you ate for breakfast, can you, Desuwa?!"

"I had flower tea with Chang Rong-san for breakfast... I can still remember that!" Meru said happily.

"Why do you have to remember something like this...!?"

Chang Rong, who was being stared at by everyone with eyes that seemed to ask, "What are you doing, little bro?", wished he could just pounce on Meruru and cover her mouth to physically silence her.

"Anyway, I'm really, really sorry... Even though the Holy Son is so important, I... I can't remember almost anything... Waaah... I'm so sorry..."

As expected, Meruru transformed into a jellyfish and began dropping tiny pearls with a splashing sound.

"If we rule out that Meruru has Alzheimer's, then it feels really strange that her memory loss is this bad~" Tachibana Sherry said cheerfully, holding up a magnifying glass.

For Sherry, it was just one of countless casual remarks, but when the person involved, Meluru Hikami, heard it, she showed a thoughtful expression.

"By the way, Meruru, Hannah is struggling with a lack of feminine charm and how to become a proper young lady. Do you have any insights on this?" Hasumi Rhea asked Meruru, raising her hand. Since she was already there, she might as well ask.

"I didn't mean any harm—whatever, do as you please..." Tono Hannah sighed and rubbed her forehead. This blond guy really didn't mean any harm; he was just a little too straightforward.

"Feminine charm...? Um, I, I'm not really sure... But these things are probably innate, right? Miss Hannah, you can't have them—ah, please don't misunderstand, I, I didn't mean Miss Hannah lacks feminine charm, I meant that none of you here are quite capable of it..."

"Iceborne Meruru spoke timidly, while bringing her hands together in front of her and pulling her arms inward, naturally highlighting her enormous 'feminine strength'."

"..." "..." "..." "..."

Several prospective witches glanced at the giant jellyfish on the ice, then looked down at their own tracks, before turning back to Meruru.

After a brief silence of a few seconds—

"—v—How about we take care of Meruru first?" "Hmm, I agree." "Agreed, desuwa." "Hehe, I agree!"

The four witches instantly united their thoughts, deciding to take down this brainless, ferocious jellyfish first.

"But... even so, everyone's femininity won't increase by a cup size...?"

"I'll kill you, you bastard!" "Are you kidding me, you bastard?!"

"Calm down, everyone!?"

What's going on?! The team just got together to fight Dio, and they've already started fighting amongst themselves before they even left the gate! Meruru, aren't you the healer? Why are you throwing taunts at your own teammates right from the start?!