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

"Stage plays, only stage plays—"

"Hehehe, Rongrong, do you still remember your promise to give Noya a body paint canvas?"

The witches swarmed towards Chang Rong, each immediately trying to cash in on the memories they had retrieved as leverage to invite her out.

"Calm down, everyone!? How about you continue reviewing the witch trial from before—"

Just before Chang Rong was about to be swallowed up, the door to the recreation room was suddenly pushed open, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

At this moment, only Heero and Emma were the two witches preparing to emerge from outside the entertainment room.

The person who came in... was it her? No, it was her!

A head of short, pinkish-white hair suddenly appeared from behind the door.

"Ah... everyone's here... everyone's here, but I'm the only one left out... why did it turn out like this?"

Emma Sakura murmured softly as she slowly approached the group.

"Emma!? Shouldn't you be with Hiro... um, anyway, it's not what you think!" Chang Rong was startled by Emma's sudden appearance, but he didn't have time to think about why Hiro, who was supposed to be holding Emma back from noticing the 'Second Memory Recovery Conference,' wasn't around. He could only try to explain and tell Emma not to overthink things.

"Am I being abandoned by everyone...? Did they all conspire to bully and isolate me...?"

"No, that's not it, Emma!? Onii-chan is just worried—"

Zedu Coco quickly tried to explain, but before she could say anything, she was startled and interrupted by Emma's suddenly raised hand.

"What if I'm going to be bullied and isolated again... Ah, right, if that's the case... I might as well just kill them all—"

"We haven't isolated you, Emma!"

"Pfft...!"

Emma Sakura smiled blankly, but even though she was smiling, that smile made everyone feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave, their whole body going numb.

Just before Emma was about to cast her spell, Chang Rong rushed to Emma's side and hugged the pink and white-haired girl tightly without saying a word. A short, cute puppy whimper also rang out.

"..."

After a short but incredibly long silence, Emma, ​​who was in Chang Rong's arms, slowly raised her head.

"Chang Rongjun..."

“Emma…”

The two looked at each other, their light gray eyes and pale pink eyes locked in a deep gaze.

"—If you make that kind of joke again, Emma, ​​I really won't include you in the next ceremony."

"Kiang!?"

Chang Rong flicked Sakura Emma's head hard, and the latter immediately let out a painful groan.

"When did Chang Rongjun realize I was acting...?" Emma asked with a pitiful look on her face, covering her forehead with her hand.

Although Emma appears soft and harmless, and at most occasionally reveals an extremely terrifying, cunning, and murderous side, even this Emma has her own source of confidence: feigning innocence and cuteness.

Emma thought she was a great actress and could manipulate Shiro at will, but Chang Rong quickly saw through her clever trick.

“At first, I was really afraid that Emma would misunderstand and think we had abandoned you, but when I pounced on you, Emma, ​​your first reaction wasn't to resist or struggle, but to actively and naturally nuzzle against me, even rubbing your nose against me with all your might—”

"Woof woof woof... I, I know, that's enough...!" Emma's cheeks flushed instantly. It seemed that she wasn't a very good actress; she simply couldn't control herself when facing Hiro like she did when facing Chang Rong, thus giving herself away.

"So, Changrong-kun, what exactly are you guys doing? Why did Hiro-chan, whom I shook off, also seem to be beating around the bush? I'm really curious...!"

Emma shook her head, raised her hands, clenched her fists, and asked Chang Rong with a serious expression.

“...Okay, if it’s Emma, ​​if it’s Emma whom even Xiaoxue chooses to trust...I believe you’ll be fine.”

Looking at the soft yet determined girl in front of him, Chang Rong sighed and finally decided to let Emma also regain her past memories.

-

Thanks to Chenguang Moxin·Linglan Huaxing for the unexpected help!

Thanks to Rena fan number one for the treat!

Volume 1: Chapter 288. A Forgotten Ending

Earlier, before holding the 'Second Memory Retrieval Ceremony' for the other prospective witches, Chang Rong made a point of asking the warden about the ending of the 'First Journey' to avoid any situation where 'our information was flawed' later on.

The warden himself was an observer specially modified by the Great Witch to prevent the misuse of 'death rewind'. In other words, his very existence can produce the effect of Zetsu Coco's clairvoyance, allowing him to transcend the effects of death rewind and remember events that occurred in other timelines.

"【Coo coo coo... That's right, when Miss Sakura suddenly extended her bone wings, it was both cool and terrifying. And even facing such a cute, mascot-like bird, she didn't hesitate to use Witch Slayer magic to wipe her out. Miss Sakura's magic can even automatically spread and affect all the backup Stands. Although I didn't get to witness the complete annihilation of all humans, the fact that Witch Slayer magic destroyed humanity is indeed an established fact.】"

When Chang Rong heard this, he already looked troubled and started thinking of a solution. He ignored the warden's subsequent comments about not disliking Emma, ​​since seeing his cheap boss being used as meat slices in a hot pot was worth it even if he died!

In the 'first playthrough' where Chang Rong had no involvement, Emma's game started off with her best friend Hiro recklessly charging at the headband guard and giving up her first kill. However, she persevered with her strong will and gradually formed bonds with the other prospective witches, supporting each other as they moved forward.

However, due to the lack of a certain frozen zombie that could create a witch factor, the witchification was an irreversible and irresistible despair for Emma and the others. Murder cases and witch trials took turns, and in the end, only four of the thirteen prospective witches survived.

But among these four, Meruru, who was the only one who survived to the end despite the behind-the-scenes manipulation by Pig Nose that led to her own premature death, turned against them. Her defection and the subsequent sacrifice of survivor Coco Mag became the last straw that broke Emma Sakura's sanity.

Under extreme despair and the threat of death, Emma finally transformed into a witch, releasing the destruction button that Xiaoxue had placed on her, which Xiaoxue should have pressed herself: [Witch Slayer Magic].

Realizing the terrifyingly high KDA of Emma, ​​Chang Rong immediately contacted Herro and asked her to find a way to stall Emma and give him some time to think about how to deal with this season's champion.

However, just like her performance in bed, the useless Hagiiro shouts "love me!" all the time, but in reality, she's easily toyed with by Rong's cat toy. In the second playthrough, Hiro only knows how to routinely get angry at Emma, ​​but when it comes to actually keeping an eye on the pink-haired puppy, she's easily shaken off—truly embarrassing for Jill.

However, during the time when Emma was held back by Hiro, Chang Rong witnessed the various reactions of the other prospective witches after regaining their memories. Although everyone's reactions differed in detail, after regaining their past memories, everyone still resolutely chose to continue on the path forward.

The reactions of the others gave Chang Rong courage, and she decided to believe in the pink and white-haired girl in front of her. If it was Emma, ​​even with that past, she would definitely have the courage and belief to overcome it.

"Hiro-chan looks strange, and Changrong-kun, your expression is just as strange... Could it be that I did something in the past timeline?"

Emma noticed the subtle change in Chang Rong's expression. She tilted her head and asked softly with some concern.

"Emma's observation skills are really sharp... completely different from that president of a certain company with the attitude of {IF no footprints at the scene, the culprit = Hannah}."

"—I'm going to deduct your salary, Watson! Subordinates aren't allowed to kiss their superiors!"

Chang Rong sighed softly, and not far away, the person who was hit by the AOE immediately waved and complained in dissatisfaction.

"I don't know how to explain the specifics, but that 'former Emma' did do some things..."

The time that Shiro bought was far too short, and Chang Rong was unable to find a tactful way to convey the ending to Emma that "you killed everyone in the world."

"What kind of trouble have I caused everyone, woof... No, but whatever those memories are, I really want to get them back, because—because only in this way can I keep up with everyone and continue walking with Chang Rong-jun!"

Seeing the white-haired boy's evasive manner, Emma first drooped her ears and muttered a pitiful complaint in a low voice. Then she raised her head and stared intently at Chang Rong. The determination revealed in her light pink eyes showed everyone the resolve of this pink and white puppy.

"Yes, you'll definitely be fine, Emma—but you must remember one thing: those memories of 'Sakura Emma' are yours, but they are not entirely yours either. The things that the fallen witches, corrupted by the witch factor, did were just mistakes caused by the lingering resentment that Yuki couldn't clear. You just need to know that, and you must not carry those burdens on yourself now."

Chang Rong earnestly advised Emma that although the Lostbelts that had been cut contained treasures worth recording, she must not lose her true self because of them.

"Yes, I will try my best, Chang Rong-kun... I will always be the Sakura Emma in Chang Rong-kun's heart!"

Emma clenched her fist and nodded vigorously, then gradually followed Milia's instructions to shake hands and clasp her hands.

"Well... Uncle, I'm going to start using magic now. This process might make you feel dizzy, so please don't be nervous, little Emma."

"Emma, ​​it's okay no matter what you see, because Onii-chan and everyone else are here, right!"

Saeki Miria gently took Emma's hand, while Sawatari Coco on the other side also reached out and placed her hand on hers, forming a wonderful circle.

Milia and Coco comforted Emma in their own different ways, gradually relaxing her tense body and making her clear mind gradually become hazy, making her more and more ethereal.

—What exactly did I do in the past...?

Emma's feelings were a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She was happy that she could finally reclaim the memories of her daily interactions with Chang Rongjun, but nervous that the 'sin' she was carrying might be exceptionally heavy.

"Wait a minute, I don't know if it will work, but let me try—"

Chang Rongjun...?

Before the ritual plunged into complete darkness, Emma seemed to hear Chang Rong saying something. She felt as if another pair of hands were grasping her palms, but before she could discern the source of the voice and touch, she 'watched' Emma's experiences in other timelines through Milia and Coco's magic.

At first, Emma saw her conversation with Heero in the bedroom. At that time, Heero still regarded her as the culprit who bullied Xiaoxue, so he continued to bully her with cold violence.

Later, Emma saw her standing by the bedside in the infirmary, waiting for the strange old popsicle that Tachibana Sherry had dragged out of the underground warehouse to wake up.

Later, Emma saw all the things she had done, both overtly and covertly, to become friends with Popsicle, such as sucking her fingers under the guise of stopping bleeding, pretending to fall and jumping into his arms, and lying on his lap with her belly exposed.

Emma saw her date with Chang Rong in the sunroom, saw her innocent and excited surprise when she raided Chang Rong's bedroom at night, and also saw the amusing scene of her and Xi Luo vying for Chang Rong's affections in the flower field.

Finally, Emma witnessed her and four other aspiring witches, with the ultimate resolve to reverse time and save everything, rushing into Chang Rong's bedroom in a neat formation, preparing for a final, epic suicide mission, only to be humiliatingly and embarrassingly defeated by Chang Rong in a 1v5 battle.

Emma's cheeks instantly turned bright red, and she covered her face with her hands, shaking her head as if refusing to recall the memory. But Emma would also secretly peek through her fingers at the seemingly delicious side dish.

If we were to stop the recollection here, Emma, ​​despite experiencing many separations and deaths and suffering, could still say that she was a happy girl because she met a lover she could cherish for a lifetime.

But her memories didn't stop playing. After recovering bits and pieces of her time with Chang Rong and others from the 'second playthrough', Sakura Emma saw even more distant memories this time, memories from the very first playthrough.

Xiluo, who should have gradually transformed from hostility to best friends, but instead became the victim from the very beginning due to her constant jealousy and rivalry over Chang Rong.

Meruru, who should have died at the beginning, survived and even became close friends with herself, Sherry, and Hannah.

Unfamiliar cases appeared one after another before her eyes. Although it was painful and sad, Emma fulfilled her duty as a demon of law in one witch trial after another.

When Nanoha Kaori's body was displayed before everyone along with the execution platform, Emma was shocked by how cruel and desperate her 'first time around' experience was, but she believed that she could overcome it. These deaths that no longer existed would only make her cherish the hard-won peace and warmth around her even more.

However, Emma Sakura's memories were far from over. The true culprit who murdered Nanoha Kaori was revealed, and Meruru, whom Emma had always believed to be her best friend, dropped her pretense and personally presented Emma with the truth she had been desperately seeking but could not accept.

When her faith crumbled, when her last companion died at Meruru's hands, when despair completely filled every blood vessel and cell in her body, Emma saw it.

She saw the pink-haired girl floating in the air, flapping her bone wings, with a twisted, sickly smile on her lips as if she had found relief.

Go to hell!

As the girl uttered those three words, Emma's consciousness was instantly filled with a white light.

Pure white, pristine white, pale, deathly white—

No matter how you describe it, this is the only way to describe the world at this moment.

The witch floated above the clouds, staring blankly at the slowly moving clouds below her.

The witch, who had always been troubled by not knowing what kind of magic she possessed, finally learned about her magic and used it herself.

The very purpose of the Demon Slayer is to kill all life forms containing witch factors within them. And through the Great Witch's silent spread over the past century, witch factors have permeated the bodies of everyone.

The moment the witch pressed the button, she killed all of humanity in the world and personally turned the Earth into a pure, empty white.

—So… this is the magic that Xiaoxue entrusted to me back then.

—Clearly, Xiaoxue believed in me so much, believed that I could protect this button, but... I messed it up.

The witch clasped her hands tightly together against her chest. She had long since become an immortal being, but the stabbing pain in her left chest still flickered from time to time.