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

Chang Rong chuckled awkwardly a few times in an attempt to brush it off, but this did nothing to dispel Ze Du Ke Ke's suspicions.

"Considering that Onii-chan still retains a sliver of rationality and hasn't completely succumbed to the sadistic slavery of lust, the one who could become a 'cheating cat' must be one of the participants in the previous 'bedroom battle'...?"

"^q^ I already said, how could that be? Coco-chan, you're overthinking it...!"

Chang Rong's heart skipped a beat. During her second playthrough, she hadn't seen Coco-chan display any decent logical reasoning ability. How come she's almost pulling her pants down with just two sentences now?

"Sniff sniff—I don't know why it smells like dust... but it doesn't have Emma's dog smell, and there are no signs of it being rubbed against, so it's not Emma."

Zedu Coco completely ignored Chang Rong's explanation. She leaned close to Chang Rong and gently sniffed her, then examined the clothes on Chang Rong's body.

"As for Heero... if it were that idiot, Onii-chan would definitely look even more disheveled right now, so it's not Heero. And Sherry Hannah was eliminated not long ago, which means—that philanderer is Arisa, right!"

After some reasoning, Sawatari Coco revealed the true identity of the 'cat that steals fish': Shito Arisa.

"Waaaaah..."

Why has Coco improved so much in catching cheaters?! If you had this kind of reasoning ability in the very first playthrough, Meruru would probably have been voted out in the first round!

Looking at the increasingly unfamiliar cat-eared girl before him, Chang Rong instantly broke out in a cold sweat. It seemed that even the strategic combat aspect of Witch Island was inevitably starting to inflate.

"Seriously... Onii-chan is such an idiot...!! He just told me to take this match seriously, and then he went and hung out with that fire-breathing cat!"

Zedu Coco also imitated Noah, pouting and throwing a little tantrum.

"I'm so sorry, Coco-chan... It's because Arisa is such a worry, so by the time I came to my senses I was already..."

"What the heck... Onii-chan, you really are a complete idiot!"

Zetsu Coco complained, slightly annoyed, but even so, she didn't activate her Spinosaurus form. After all, despite her complaints, Zetsu Coco knew better than anyone that the white-haired boy in front of her was indeed that kind of being.

He couldn't ignore those who were lost and confused. He could even see through the weaknesses of those who pretended to be strong and put on a prickly facade, and then he would go up to them and try to help them.

Because... that's how he gradually redeemed me...

If Chang Rong hadn't reached out to me, and hadn't persisted even after I breathed on him repeatedly, I probably wouldn't have grown like this and have the courage to keep moving forward.

"Sorry, Coco-chan, how about I let you—"

Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!

Before Chang Rong could finish her apology, their phones rang again.

"Seriously... if Arisa comes looking for you, Onii-chan, you have to give her an answer! After all, the niche of allies is like a little sister, you only need one!" Zetsu Coco picked up the crossbow next to her, loading it while complaining and acting cute to Chang Rong.

Although Zedu Keke understands Chang Rong's selfless dedication to others, her desire to eat alone doesn't diminish as a result.

"Hey, is there a 'choose one of two' scenario in this battle royale mode...?" Chang Rong blinked, wondering if his battle royale elements were a bit excessive.

"Hmm... My Clairvoyance magic has been activated. It's not Arisa, it's Emma-chan—since it's Emma-chan, then I'll protect Onii-chan!"

Zedu Coco suddenly covered her eyes, shook her head, and confirmed that the mysterious attacker was Sakura Emma.

"Was it you who protected me, Coco-chan...!!" Chang Rong tried to stop Coco, but the latter just gave Chang Rong a thumbs up, then said, "I'll be back," and rushed out of the confessional with her crossbow in her arms.

I can't beat Hero, I can't beat Sherry, I can't beat Rhea, I can't beat Noah, I can't beat An An, so how could I not beat Emma? What a joke!

"Emma! Although we used to be very good friends, and you treated me with the same warmth as my favorite idol, ... I have now found my true favorite idol #2. In order to protect him, I'm sorry, but please disappear, Emma!"

Zetsu Coco walked out of the confessional, raised the crossbow in her hand, aimed at the pink and white-haired girl who was slowly walking in front of her, and said in a resolute tone.

"Is it Cocoa-chan...? It doesn't matter anymore... Go to hell."

Sakura Emma, ​​wandering down the corridor, had empty, unfocused eyes. She slowly turned her head toward Ze Du Coco, her expression as calm as if she were looking at a passing ant. She simply raised her hand and said softly.

"Sorry, Emma, ​​you're the one who should die... After all, you're a key member of the 'cheating squad'!"

Zetsu Cocoa aimed her crossbow at Sakura Emma, ​​somewhat agitated, intending to eliminate the potential threat in advance and protect Onii-chan's little swallow.

Just before she pulled the trigger—

"No...no, Coco-chan, you're dead! So you can't use the crossbow anymore...?"

"……what?"

Sakura Emma hurriedly raised her hand in a panic to indicate that Coco was already a corpse, while Sawatari Coco, who had died suddenly without any explanation, was naturally completely confused.

"So, you mean... can you just die obediently, Coco-chan? Please don't hold me up while I'm looking for Chang Rong-jun... okay?"

"Aha!?"

How did I die, meow?

Today’s update is 6K (3 chapters)

My biological clock is completely messed up. How could it be... how could it have turned me into a complete mess?

Thanks to Doubi686 for the Golden Treasure Chest and Chizhihuayan for the Silver Treasure Chest.

Thank you so much, 686, for your continued generosity! After this book is finished, I'll just become your live-in male servant. My gratitude is beyond words. I'm also very grateful that you continue to spend money on this book even as it's nearing its end. Thank you so much, 686!

Many thanks to the generous donor, Chi Nagi Huayan, for the silver treasure chest! Your support is truly my greatest motivation for writing!

237. Emma: Hey Coco, why don't you go die for a second?

"You're already dead... Coco-chan."

"What?! Emma, ​​how can you say someone is dead just by raising your hand slightly? That's cheating!"

Sawatari Coco, who inexplicably died on the spot, shouted at Sakura Emma, ​​whose simple, crude, and even childish behavior, which was like "You are giving me!" "Rebound!" "Rebound invalid!", was completely unacceptable to Hakimi for a moment.

"Coco-chan doesn't understand yet... Hmm, okay. Well then, let me explain a little... Honestly, why didn't you just die obediently..."

Emma's eyes were empty and dull, her tone filled with helplessness. At this moment, the 'unruly and unreasonable child' had become Zedo Coco, while Emma had become a gentle teacher patiently explaining the truths of the universe to the child.

"That was my magic just now. My magic is the [Witch Slayer] magic, which, as the name suggests, is specifically designed to kill witches. Unlike you, Coco-chan, when I said 'Die!', the other person was already dead the instant they were killed."

"...What's so special about this?"

Hearing Emma's somewhat embarrassed explanation, Zedu Coco looked completely bewildered.

"Even if Coco-chan is troubled, there's nothing I can do, but that's the effect of my magic... Anyway, let's just kill everyone in one fell swoop and then take Chang Rong-kun for ourselves... Ah, I don't want this, but... only this way can everything end, right? Only when everyone is dead can I..."

Emma Sakuraba apologized softly to the already corpse-like Coco Sawatari, then muttered in a broken voice. Her usually cute, light pink eyes, full of beautiful hopes and dreams for everything, were now unfocused on anything, only filled with a fanatical and nihilistic worship of death.

"Coco-chan—how could this be...!!"

Chang Rong, who had been waiting for Ze Du Ke Ke's triumphant return, had no choice but to leave the confessional to check on the situation. However, as soon as he opened the door, he saw a scene that looked like hell.

"Ah, Changrong-kun... we meet again. Don't worry, everything will be over soon. I'll take care of everyone quickly, including Hiro-chan..."

Emma Sakura noticed Chang Rong. She raised her empty eyes to look at the white-haired boy in front of her, a cute smile on her face. However, that smile no longer contained the clumsy innocence that made people want to rush up and pat her head. Instead, it was filled with an indescribable, bone-chilling coldness.

"Emma...you, what is this...?"

Chang Rong stared at the still-warm body of Ze Du Ke Ke at his feet, her face contorted with resentment and a brutal death. Then, he looked at the pink-haired girl with a vacant smile approaching him step by step. Instantly, he broke out in a cold sweat. If there were a 'hell' in this world, then this place he was in must be that very hell…

"It'll be over soon, Chang Rong-jun... I've had enough. Hurry up, let it all end quickly, at least that way—"

"Objection!"

"Kiang!?"

Just as Emma walked up to Chang Rong and raised her hand in a pose as if preparing to unleash a witch assassin's magic, Chang Rong suddenly shouted a loud "Breaking!" which scared the blackened pink-and-white-haired puppy back into its original silly dog ​​form.

“Although Emma’s magic is indeed a witch killer, this magic itself is a complete bug in this battle royale!” Chang Rong pointed at Emma and said with a resolute tone.

"Woof...!? Bug?" Emma blinked in a panic, unsure how to respond.

"That's right. Don't forget, the purpose of this battle royale isn't just some random idea for fun; it's to fool the humans. That's the underlying logic of the whole battle royale. But Emma, ​​your magic is too special. You could say it's like holding the nuclear launch button, so you absolutely have to ban it. Otherwise, if the national authorities on that side realize this, they'll probably start bombarding Witch Island with nuclear missiles without restraint. Although Emma, ​​your magic can kill witches, it shouldn't be able to kill the chubby boy and the little boy, right?"

Chang Rong explained to Emma from the perspective of the essence of this battle royale why magic-killing magic could not be used.

"【Coo coo coo... Mr. Chang Rong is right, coo. Because the Great Witch has spread the Witch Factor all over the world, it's no exaggeration to call the Witch Killer Magic a 'world-destroying magic' right now. If humanity knew about this magic, they would definitely take action... coo... because that would force me to work overtime, so Miss Emma, ​​please be sure to stop using your magic.】"

Even the owl clone beside her echoed her sentiments, stating that Emma's magic must be banned in this round of battle royale.

"Eh!? How could this be... Then, if that's the case, isn't Chang Rong-jun's very strange existence?"

Emma was so shocked by the sudden title that she almost lost her balance and fell to the ground. But she gritted her teeth and tried to turn her terrible situation around.

"[Coo coo... It's not surprising that the dead can come back to life, is it? After all, this is Witch Island, a place filled with magic, Miss Emma.]"

"How could this be...! I completely don't understand the acceptance threshold of government agencies...!"

Emma was shocked that her counterattack was so easily rendered ineffective by the warden. She held her head in her hands, rubbed her hair helplessly, and complained softly.

Unlike Emma, ​​whose mentality collapsed after having her abilities banned by a divine intervention, Zetsu Coco, who had been unwillingly lying on the ground like a corpse, instantly came back to life after hearing the conversation!

She jumped up from the ground with a swift movement, a confident and dashing smile on her face, the same one she wore after winning the revival match.

Wow, so you don't even need to fight tooth and nail for a spot in the revival round. You can just lie there and still get a chance to revive!

"Hehehe... Emma, ​​now you can't use that cheat-like magic anymore... How do you feel, how do you feel, meow!"

"Waaah... No, don't come any closer!"

The balance of power shifted instantly between the two, and Hakimi rose again, charging confidently towards Sakura Emma.

Several tens of seconds later—

"Onii-chan, run!!"

Zedu Coco lay on the ground with her tongue sticking out, just like a cat whose testicles had been cut off.

"What a bunch of junk, Coco-chan!?" Chang Rong exclaimed loudly at Ze Du Coco, her eyes wide.

Although Emma's magic was indeed banned, I really liked a line from World's Number One Level 5: "My weakening doesn't mean your strengthening." Haki and Coco charged at Emma, ​​but ended up instantly dying as if they'd activated a blasphemous leap.

"Please don't underestimate me, Coco-chan... I've been training this body to learn how to fall in the most pathetic and embarrassing way possible without getting too badly injured..."

Sakura Emma slowly stood up, carefully straightening her leg ring, which had become slightly crooked due to the commotion, and then looked at Chang Rong beside her.

"Well then, you're next, Chang Rongjun... Let's end this already, I've really... had enough..."

Sakura Emma took the crossbow bolts that could be used to make a simple spearhead from Zedu Coco's corpse, held them in her hand, and slowly walked towards Chang Rong.

She should have been a delicate, frail, pink-haired girl who could be easily touched and kneaded at will. Even without her magic, the mad, cunning, and twisted aura she exuded at this moment still made people swallow hard and their hearts race.

"I've had enough of this endless tragedy of mutual slaughter... I'll end it all myself—Go, Emma's special Poké Ball!"

Chang Rong stared at the pink-and-white-haired girl in front of him, who was on the verge of madness. His right hand rested on his pocket, ready to strike. As he saw Emma quicken her pace and rush towards him, Chang Rong immediately reached into his pocket, took out a small ball, and threw it directly at Sakura Emma.

The shimmering sphere swirled in the air with a golden sheen, emanating a mysterious power and aura. Was it ripples? No—it was a scent!

"I'll grab it—"

Startled by the abrupt ball-tossing and catching, Emma almost instinctively tiptoed and caught the perfectly spinning 'sphere' with her bare hands. She also noticed what was emanating from the small sphere that was just held in her palm—the aroma of liqueur-filled chocolates.