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

"We are not the first 'prospective witches' imprisoned here, nor will we be the last. And from the history I've glimpsed through my [Illusion Magic], the ultimate fate of every prospective witch is the same—"

"Will they fight each other to the death?"

"...It seems you're different from most aspiring witches."

Chang Rong actually had a vague idea of ​​the fates of all the previous prisoners. Or rather, in a place like this, everyone's fate was predetermined from the very beginning.

"In these nine places, being killed as a human being can even be considered a kind of peace, because if the murderer is voted out, all that awaits is to become the remains of a witch and be tortured and imprisoned for eternity. That's right... tortured forever."

Nanoha Kurobe clenched her fists, and her voice trembled.

"Chang Rong, if the person most important to you becomes a twisted monster that can live forever, but you happen to have a way to kill it, would you... choose to kill it and give it peace?" Kurobe Nanoha suddenly threw out a question that seemed to have no beginning or end.

But this question seemed crucial, because Chang Rong noticed that Kurobe Nanoha's eyes were filled with confusion and exhaustion as she looked at him.

"I--"

If it were Gala Gemu, this would definitely be a crucial branch in the story that would have a huge impact on the subsequent plot. You could even say that his answer would definitely affect how the girl in front of him would view him in the future.

In that case, should we respond by following our own instincts?

Come on, in my memory, any guy who tries to "leave no regrets in the crucial moment" always ends up being swept into the loser's trash can like a spinning top.

Nanoha Kurobe differs from other prospective witches in one crucial way—her [Vision] magic allowed her to witness all the tragic histories of the past and gave her a clear understanding of the final outcome of this witch game.

This made her different from other girls; she lost any room for self-deception and self-hypnosis.

Even so, knowing the ending, Kurobe Nanoha still tries her best to survive every day and keeps moving towards a certain goal.

In other words, she was not forced to be imprisoned here, but rather she had already made up her mind and came to this witches' tomb with a certain motive.

Her motives, the reason she came here even knowing the outcome, the 'immortal twisted monster' she spoke of—all of these have one thing in common: she is a witch.

Kurobe Nanoha was there to kill a remnant of a witch who was once the most important person to her—no, she never pulled the trigger, not even when facing herself, the 'suspected mastermind'.

Unlike Hiro Nikaido, Nanoha Kurobe's essence is 'weak'.

Rather than judging guilt as 'right' or 'wrong,' the answer she most desires at this moment is—

"【False Evidence】: If she is the most important person to me, even if she becomes a witch, even if she is burdened with all original sins, even if she has long been twisted—even so, I will still try to pull her back, no matter how long it takes, no matter what I have to sacrifice, no matter how impossible it may seem, I will still do so."

"—"

"..."

The two stared at each other in silence, and for a moment the air around them seemed to stand still.

—Don't lose points, Chang Rong! Bragging is all about momentum. As long as you can fool the other person with your momentum, they'll automatically defend you on the minor details!

"I understand"

After a brief silence and eye contact, Nanoha Kurobe nodded.

Is it done?

"—You are a very dangerous being."

"Huh?"

"I thought you were like Nikaido Hiro, the kind of person who would prioritize the collective correctness of everyone, a rational and responsible individual. But from your answer just now, I realized that those were just your disguise."

"..."

"Selfish, lacking a sense of collectivism, only following their own will, unable to be swayed by anything external, blindly stumbling towards 'destruction'... just like me."

A rare expression appeared on Kurobe Nanoka's face—a smile.

The girl, who had already made some kind of preparation, extended her right hand to the boy who was spouting nonsense and never uttering a word of truth.

"As an 'accomplice,' you are the most suitable partner, Chang Rong. If possible, would you be willing to temporarily become someone who uses each other for our own benefit?"

"use?"

“That’s right. I will use you to achieve my goals, to destroy all the secrets behind this, and to save ‘it’. And you can use me to find clues about that important person in your mind, even if it means ultimately becoming an enemy of everyone.”

Looking at the slender yet firm hand in front of her, Chang Rong did not hesitate and reached out to grasp it.

"This is my first time being an accomplice, so please take good care of me, Kurobe-kun."

"Hehe, the same to each other."

Chang Rong and Kurobe Nanoha smiled at each other.

"But to be honest, I don't think you're at all like what you say, Kurobe-kun?"

"Well?"

After becoming an accomplice with Kurobe Nanoha, Chang Rong withdrew his right hand, stretched out his fingers and rested them on his chin as he began to ponder and recall.

"I heard from Sakura that when Hosho Mag was injured, you, as her roommate, often ran to the infirmary. But the infirmary already has that healer, Ice Lilia, so you wouldn't gain anything by going there, right?"

"That's because...after all, they're roommates..."

"So this proves that Kurobe isn't selfish at all!" Chang Rong exclaimed happily as he emerged from seclusion.

"And, Kurobe-kun, you often eat with everyone, right? Apparently, your attendance rate is higher than Noah's and Fujiwara-kun's so far. And you've never told them about that despairing past of this prison island, have you?"

"This...making too many people despair only increases uncertainty...I won't go to the cafeteria anymore after I move my base..."

"So Kurobe isn't the kind of loner who doesn't consider other people's troubles at all!" Chang Rong continued, his double-hit combo making him famous.

"And another thing, Kurobe-kun, you said you wouldn't be swayed by anything, but you were clearly very shaken when you stole my bedding—"

"No, stop talking...!"

"Guwa!?"

Before Chang Rong could finish speaking, he was struck by Kurobe Nanoha's elbow with the butt of her spear and rendered unable to rise again.

It seems that even if Kurobe Nanoka is powerless against praise, she shouldn't get carried away and praise her to the skies, otherwise her instinctive protection mechanism will likely be triggered.

After a brief period of turmoil, the two accomplices arrived at the door of the punishment room where Armwagonist Lone Hand Crush (a man who could smash a wall into dust with a single punch) was imprisoned.

"Yin, are you sure you don't need me by your side, Tachibana Yukikuri... I don't know her, but her mental state is worrying."

"Yes, there are some things I'd like to talk to her about alone. And don't worry, I've already made up with Tachibana when I came here before."

"Make up? Anyway, remember to contact me if anything unexpected happens."

"No problem, accomplice sister—whoa!?"

"If you call me that again, I promise I won't miss next time...!"

"I'm so sorry, it was my fault!" Chang Rong quickly apologized and admitted defeat when he saw Kurobe Nanoha Kaori blushing as she swung her sniper rifle and grazed his scalp.

Click!

Nanoha Kurobe skillfully pried open the lock, then tossed the lock to Chang Rong before awkwardly getting up and leaving the punishment room.

So, let's talk about something a little less appropriate: between 'monsters'.

Chang Rong pushed open the door to the punishment room. This time, she was no longer separated by an iron gate, but could actually meet this sabotage detective in person.

"—"

The blue-haired detective girl, Tachibana Sherry, remained tied to the pillar, her head drooping motionless.

"Are you sleeping again?"

Chang Rong put her shoulder bag aside, walked over, and gently poked Shirley's cheek.

"—"

There was no reaction; it was much quieter than before.

"Hey, Orange, wake up, Orange—"

A chill ran up from the ground along the soles of his feet, seemingly threatening to engulf Chang Rong completely.

A sound arose from the depths, spreading and roaring, deafeningly loud in the silent room—

"Gurgle gurgle gurgle!!!"

"Mmm... Ah, is dinner served?! I want to eat Japanese head!"

"..."

Looking at the super-strong detective in front of him, who had suddenly woken up from his sleep and whose stomach was rumbling, Chang Rong felt a vein throbbing on his forehead.

Being startled twice by this guy's fake death made Chang Rong begin to suspect that this guy was deliberately messing with him.

Volume 1: Chapter 43. Sherry, Daddy's Coming to Kill You

"I didn't bring any proper food, but I did have this in my pocket that I found in the infirmary—"

"Awoo!"

Faced with the roaring blue beast in front of him, Chang Rong had just taken out a strip from his pocket, unwrapped it, and held it up to the bound Tachibana Sherry. But before he could explain the ingredients, it was devoured by Tachibana Sherry in the next second.

For a moment, Chang Rong even wondered if he had been attacked by something like a space-bombing vanilla ice cream.

"Hmm, hmm... It tastes like an energy bar or something! Although it's bitter and has a musty, plastic taste, it's still a delicacy compared to the cafeteria food!"

"I don't know about the others, but the plastic smell is probably because you chewed on the packaging paper too."

"Hehehe, in short, if we're ranking the taste from hot to low, it'd probably only be at the top level. It doesn't taste as good as sleeping pills!"

"An, sleeping pills...?"

Why is sleeping pill included in the taste rankings, and why is it ranked so high?

"Roasting a sleeping pill bottle sounds pretty good!"

"...??"

What is this guy talking about??

"But I did absorb the calories well, and my detective power is fully replenished! You're the best to me, Popsicle!"

Tied up and looking at the tattered Tachibana Sherry, she gave Chang Rong her signature carefree, silly grin.

"I can't say whether I'm the best person for you, but I do know who can pick locks."

To be honest, if it weren't for the night raid by Kurobe Nanoha, Chang Rong would never have had the idea of ​​coming to the punishment room in the middle of the night to find Tachibana Sherry.

"Unlock? Is it me? Is it me?! Indeed, if I just give it a hard tug—"