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

Pushing open the door abruptly, unlike before when he had repeatedly come up empty-handed, with the message "You're too late, the princess is in another castle," Chang Rong finally managed to trap the girl in the room. She was dressed in a purple-black mesh butterfly-striped kimono, had purple eyes, and exuded a noble, mysterious, and effortless aura.

"...Oh my, it seems that text message really did have another purpose. You found it this time, Chang Rong, right?"

The instigator of everything, Baosheng Mag, was lying on Chang Rong's bed. Facing the white-haired boy who was glaring at her with veins bulging, the purple-eyed butterfly girl did not panic or try to escape. Instead, she reached out and lifted the hem of her kimono, revealing her long, slender feet clad in white stockings.

“Marg…”

"Judging from your expression, it seems my prank went a little too far... Oh dear, what should I do? Are you going to punish a bad girl like me severely? Are you planning to treat me like An'an, toying with me so badly that I can't even get out of bed...? That really scares me so much~?"

Baosheng Mag extended his right hand, gloved with black silk, and gently stroked his ankle, sliding it slowly upwards along the white silk. Then, he brushed past his chest, slowly exploring the undulating cleavage that was no less impressive than Milia Meruru's, and even more revealing due to her clothing style. Finally, he touched his cheek, stopping at the tip of his outstretched tongue, gently licking his fingertips.

If we were to replace Chang Rong in this position with Nikaido Shiro, and have Chang Rong make this move, then without even thinking, Shiro would definitely yell, "What if you do this? I'll kill you!" and then pounce on him, activating hunting mode.

But faced with Baosheng Mag's gesture, Chang Rong, standing before the bed, was—

"Get off my bed first, and don't get on the bed while you're putting on your shoes."

"...Huh?"

Upon hearing the words of the young man before him, Baosheng Mag blinked, and his composed demeanor cracked instantly.

"Also, Marge, your prank has indeed gone beyond the scope of 'playing around' and has even had a bad influence on many people. However, since we are still companions, I will not pursue this matter too much this time. Remember to apologize to An An and Miria Hannah later."

"Wait...they won't pursue this...?"

“That’s right. Also, do you remember what I said before? Marg, you’ve worked hard these past few days. If the translation work on the witch resurrection ritual is too stressful, Hiro, everyone, and I will come to help. Don’t try to handle it all by yourself. That’s all I wanted to say. Now, you should get some rest. If my bed is comfortable, I won’t mind.”

"Well--"

Click!

Without even giving Baosheng Mag a chance to respond, Chang Rong finished speaking to herself with a blank expression and turned to leave the bedroom. The speed at which she changed her expression was so fast that it made people wonder if she was the same mysterious white-haired demon who had just been grinning with an aura of madness.

"Huh? Okay, that was fast... Is it over already?" Tono Hannah, who was guarding the door, was also stunned when she saw Chang Rong come out of the room.

She was even prepared to elbow Chang Rong through the door and rush into the room, shouting for Chang Rong to stay still while secretly joining the party. But Chang Rong's reaction was completely unexpected by Tono Hannah. His actions were as casual as if he had just gone to a public restroom to relieve himself. It was a simple and straightforward thing, without any twists or unexpected events.

"Is it over or not...? We'll probably know the result soon." Chang Rong shrugged and brushed off the question from Tono Hannah with ambiguous and subtle words.

"What does that mean? You idiot knight, what are you thinking—"

Click!

"What exactly is this... Shouldn't you be even angrier, more troubled, and more irritable? This kind of bland, mediocre, and boring 'normal' reaction... is just not right!"

Before Hannah Tono could finish her question, she was interrupted by the hurried shouts of Mag Hosho, who suddenly burst out of the room.

At this moment, Baosheng Mag's face lost its usual composed and shrewd demeanor, and instead revealed the panic and confusion that a girl of her age should have.

Upon hearing the voice behind him, Chang Rong, who had his back to Mag, once again revealed an evil grin.

—It's done! As expected, in the end, the winner is me, the Emperor Rabbit King!!!

Chang Rong had been thinking about one thing: how should she deal with Bao Sheng Mag after meeting her?

With veins bulging on his forehead, he questioned what kind of nonsense was going on in this girl's head, asking if she had nothing left but dirty jokes and scams. He then threatened her that if she didn't reveal the real steps of the witch's resurrection ritual, he would rape her until she submitted. But in reality, he was just bluffing.

This approach is reasonable and in line with the development of the situation.

But that's a useless way of thinking.

Why did Baosheng Mag go through all this trouble? Although Chang Rong didn't know the specific answer to this question, there was at least one thing he was certain of during his time with Mag: this girl named Baosheng Mag utterly despised so-called 'ordinary, mediocre, and mundane' behavior.

After all, a guy who truly believes in "simplicity is the best" would never go to the trouble of handcrafting something like "you can't leave the library without XX," let alone aspire to become a con artist who spouts nonsense.

Chang Rong didn't know the specific reason why Mag did this, but he knew very well that Mag, who pursued the 'unusual,' 'fun,' and 'dramatic,' would definitely find it more unacceptable than anyone else to his formulaic and boring speech that sounded like a human machine.

Given this, if I wanted to truly 'punish' Baosheng Mag and not fall into her rhythm, starting with this method might be a good choice. And judging from Mag's response, I did indeed gamble correctly.

"How I react...that depends on what you're really thinking, Marge. How about we talk about some 'mature topics' between adults, Marge?"

Chang Rong snapped out of her daze and looked at the black-haired girl in the kimono in front of her, her tone still as indifferent as if she were just going out to buy soy sauce.

"Oh dear...it seems I just got outmaneuvered...? Chang Rong, you really have changed...although I don't yet know the specifics of this 'change' (referring to regaining memories from the second playthrough and losing the innocent rabbit-head mode), but...as you said, let's talk about some adult topics~"

Although Chang Rong successfully gave Bao Shengma a hard time, Zi Ren, who possessed considerable strength and the strongest magic on Witch Island, was no ordinary person. She quickly adjusted her rhythm and tried to start a second round of confrontation with Chang Rong.

The two returned to the room one after the other, while Tono Hannah, who was guarding the door, blinked.

What...what does this mean? Are they going to sleep together or not? Just give us a straight answer!

Just as Tono Hannah was agonizing over when she could rush into the room and sneak into the silver party under the pretext of catching her husband cheating, a faint sound suddenly came from the loudspeaker at the corner of the castle not far away.

"Zzzzz—Zzzzz—Hannah…! Quick, take Chang Rong and run! Noah has already locked onto you…and is heading towards…Noah, she…tontonton—Zzzzz…"

Emma's voice came through the radio intermittently, sounding anxious, but after a burst of noise, only the even snoring could be heard on the other end.

"...?"

Tono Hanna tilted her head. Although the brief broadcast seemed important, considering that it came from her cheap, unreliable best friend who only had Hoshino, Tono Hanna decided after a short thought to leave it alone!

Meanwhile, in the flower field, separated by paths between the two corners of the bedroom:

“Those who ran away…accept Noah’s punishment. Noah—Noah is coming for you, Rongrong…”

The obedient daughter, Palette Balloon, who has lost her color and is now only black, white and gray, walks among the flower fields. She ignores the witches who are lying around sleeping, and in her ink-black pupils, there is only the purest and most primal desire to kill her father.

I ate too much yesterday, and my stomach is acting up again today...

Thanks to Chenguang for the donation, I'm going to buy some stomach medicine now.

275. This was the umpteenth time Chang Rong had faced three witches simultaneously—

In Chang Rong's bedroom—

"Don't jump into bed again at the drop of a hat, Margot. I'm really curious why you went to all this trouble. If Hannah at the door and Milia before were just stalling for time, then the trap you set for An An in the first place was definitely intentional. Why did you do all this? It can't just be for 'fun,' right?"

"Oh dear... why is that...?"

—That purple-haired girl in Asakusa…tsk.

Chang Rong asked the kimono-clad girl in front of him with a serious expression what the purpose of such a big fuss was. However, Mag's indifferent response, coupled with her calm and shrewd expression, made the veins on Chang Rong's forehead throb.

Although she had successfully given Mag a hard time in the initial confrontation, Mag, as a con artist, was no ordinary person. She quickly readjusted her pace and returned to her usual cheerful and seemingly invincible self.

In reality, at this point, Chang Rong inevitably found himself in a passive position. Although it was Mag who made the mistake, Chang Rong was actually the one in the weaker negotiating position. The biggest reason for this unequal gap between the two was the difference in their "trump cards".

Simply put, Chang Rong didn't have any trump cards to play against Bao Sheng Mag at this moment, and her "pretending to be calm" tactic only slightly threw Mag off balance at the beginning.

Whether the specific details of the witch summoning ritual were being concealed was known only to Margot, who was acting as the translator. Furthermore, even if we concede that Margot herself hadn't yet expressed any intention to leave Witch Island, if it was truly as the warden and other prospective witches suspected—that Margot herself wanted to remain on this isolated island, far removed from society and her past life—then Chang Rong was genuinely unsure how to proceed.

The witch resurrection ritual requires the same number of people as each witch trial, that is, 13 prospective witches as 'spellcasters', at least that much is certain.

Chang Rong couldn't say that she, the old ice pop corpse, was dressed in women's clothing as a current trainee witch, nor could she dig up Nana from the basement to fill the role. Therefore, in a sense, both the specific method of the ritual and the necessity of starting the ritual were the trump cards that Mag held at this moment. She alone held the key to whether the ritual could proceed successfully, whether the great witch Green Snow could be summoned, and whether everyone could return to their lives.

On the other hand, Chang Rong didn't actually have any 'trump cards' to use for negotiation. If this really was some kind of Gala Gemu Great World, it would be fine. As long as he launched an attack with the ice-mixed Niu Zi, everything would be alright!

But this isn't such a convenient world, and a little-known fact is that sexual activity won't hypnotize the opposite sex.

What's more—Margot suffers from severe heterophobia. This girl, who seems to be a seasoned veteran, is actually, in some ways, the purest and most innocent girl on the entire Witch Island. Oh, and there's Noah too, my lovely, innocent, and kind little darling.

In conclusion, although Chang Rong could still feign anger and appear ready to hold Bao Shengmage accountable, he was actually at his wit's end.

Even if he were to be controlled by the small head and possessed by the big head, he would just have to do it first. This action would be immediately noticed by Hannah, who was hungry and ready to pounce at the door. At that time, he would probably have to experience what it means to be a flying big boss.

Moreover, no matter how much Chang Rong gets angry, he wouldn't actually pull down his pants and start a game on the spot without a word. Although he is a shameful guy who has fallen deeper and deeper into collecting CGs and is completely unrelated to Sigma, he has never been a scumbag who only thinks with his lower body.

"Oh dear... you look so troubled, Brother Changrong. The person who caused all this chaos is right in front of you. At a time like this, it's probably better to follow your heart and act instead of thinking about what to do next, right?"

Marge noticed Chang Rong's somewhat awkward pause. She smiled and moved closer to Chang Rong, resuming her playful and teasing behavior.

"Can I really follow my heart? Even if my heart hurts you a little?" Chang Rong looked at Bao Shengma, her tone full of expectation.

"Oh... if it's Brother Chang Rong, I don't mind at all~~? Pain and all that, in other words, will also be accompanied by enjoyment, right?" Bao Sheng Ma Ge cast a charming glance at Chang Rong, exhaled softly, smiled and stroked her chest as she spoke.

"OK, then Mag, you'd better take off your pants right now and face west, and I'll whip you into a spinning top." Having received Mag's permission, Chang Rong's forehead veins throbbed instantly, and he gritted his teeth as he responded to the order.

"Oh dear... Is this the kind of pain? Well... please allow me to refuse..." Marg chuckled dryly, and at the same time, she wisely stopped touching Chang Rong for the time being.

Although Marge also enjoys the so-called "Ace admiration," she prefers to be Ace's side rather than admiring him. Moreover, given Chang Rong's current situation, if they were to actually engage in such activities, it wouldn't be considered fun at all, but rather just a way to beat someone up and vent her anger.

Seeing that Baosheng Mag had calmed down a bit and become more docile, Chang Rong reached out and rubbed his temples.

"Anyway... we can't keep leaving Hannah out there in the cold; she might catch a cold. Besides, I can't think of any roundabout way to get information, so I'll just be direct—Margot, do you not want to leave this witch's island?"

Chang Rong leaned against the coffee table and looked at the purple-eyed butterfly girl in front of her, directly asking her question.

"—Hehe, asking a girl such a blunt and impolite question is hardly the behavior of a gentleman, is it?"

Baosheng Mag paused for a moment, but she immediately put on that confident, fake smile again.

"A true gentleman wouldn't bend over so badly in the library that he can't even get out of bed—what are you thinking, Margot?"

Chang Rong chuckled self-deprecatingly, taking a step closer to Baosheng Mag. He was fed up with all the formalities and the probing and tug-of-war between them. Right now, Chang Rong just wanted Baosheng Mag to give him the simplest, most direct, most straightforward, and most foolproof answer.

"I was just bored and wanted to find some fun—oh dear, don't stare at me like that, Chang Rong!"

Baosheng Mag responded with a smile, while observing the expression of the white-haired boy beside him. This thrilling experience of being pulled back and forth in a minefield, repeatedly dancing around, where the slightest mistake could trigger the minefield and plunge one into eternal damnation, being tossed around by the monstrous rabbit until one was on the verge of death, almost perfectly hit Baosheng Mag's sweet spot.

However... continuing to be so 'willful' is really not suitable for Chang Rong...

Unlike the bratty child, Mag is more knowledgeable about human nature than most aspiring witches. Because of this, Mag is very clear that Chang Rong's actions and attitudes at this moment are all for the purpose of 'solving the problem'.

He genuinely wanted to hold the witch resurrection ceremony and lead everyone away from this witch island. Even though Chang Rong's 'personality' and way of doing things had undergone some subtle changes, the responsibility and belief that this young man carried had never wavered from beginning to end.

But what about myself? From the very beginning... I've been running away from the possibility of leaving Witch Island. Even now, I'm still being willful, relying on Chang Rong's gentleness and indulgence to act recklessly.

That's really... not elegant at all.

"...I've always wanted to prove one thing."

After a brief silence, Baosheng Mag sat down on the edge of the bed, a slightly helpless smile on her face, her feigned ease now gone.

"prove?"

“That’s right, I want to prove that I’m not the only one who wants to refuse to hold the witch resurrection ritual.”

Finally, he revealed his true purpose... Heh, I suddenly feel much more relaxed. So this is what it feels like for a con artist to tell the truth?

Baosheng Mag sighed, his fingertips, clad in black silk gloves, rubbing together unconsciously to mask the softness and vulnerability in his heart.

"Hey, Chang Rong, did you know that humans are actually more foolish than you think? Many people don't even know what they truly want in their hearts. They just follow the crowd and drift along, eventually making decisions they'll regret later."

"...I understand."

Hearing Baosheng Mag's words, Chang Rong nodded solemnly.

"A new crepe shop opened near my home and it was packed because of the advertising. I had promised Xiaoxue that I would go to the zoo to see the penguins with her, but because the shop was so popular, I had to go through a lot of trouble to persuade Xiaoxue to queue up with me. I promised her that we would go to the zoo after we ate there. In the end, after queuing for two hours, not only did the crepe itself taste very average, but we also missed the zoo's opening hours. As a result, Xiaoxue kept kicking my calves on the way home."