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

"It was a truly exhilarating battle. I think I'll never forget you all, Miss Lihua, Alice, and Rhea-sama."

Chang Rong tossed his hair and declared victory in formulaic words. Without even breaking a sweat, it was an undeniable resounding victory!

"Damn it... Even the One Heart One Body Endless Witch Rhea can't do it!" Hiro slammed his fist on the table and gritted his teeth.

"Well, purely from the result, Rhea just used different styles of sensuality to seduce Chang Rong's karate social trio... Do things like One Heart One Body and Endless Witch really work?"

While complaining, Zedu Coco glanced at Rhea, who was completely paralyzed from the triple damage. Emma, ​​Meruru, and Milia could at least occasionally wriggle around and wipe off the witch factor from their bodies, but Rhea was simply motionless as if she were in a deep sleep.

"Oh dear... it turns out that I, the detective, am the only one who can do it."

While everyone was stunned into silence by Rhea's tragic and horrific end, Sherry Tachibana walked out cheerfully as always.

"Rhea is ultimately just an amateur witch. It's time to put an end to this farce, Watson!"

Tachibana Sherry slowly took off her detective hat, put the magnifying glass in her hand into her waist bag, and then tossed it aside.

She shed all the adornments that represented her detective identity, which meant that in the battles to come, she would not face them as a 'sickly detective girl,' but would instead give it her all without reservation.

"So, only you can do it, President? My burning blood is yearning for a truly evenly matched battle to cool it down."

Without a moment's mourning for Leia's instant defeat, Chang Rong and Tachibana Sherry's gazes met again, as if drawn together by a gravitational field.

"You are about to fall into the path of evil, Watson. As your boss, I must pull you back from the edge of the forbidden precipice—the process may be a little painful, so please bear with it~"

Sherry Tachibana clenched her fists, and everyone noticed in surprise that this blue-haired girl, who always had a silly and innocent look, was no longer smiling.

“You won’t always be my Watson. If left unchecked, you’ll only become Mordred, who reigns supreme over Ben Holmes—”

"That...is Moriarty...?"

Arisa's quiet question was completely ignored by Sherry, who continued to walk slowly toward Chang Rong with a blank expression.

"So, let's use this battle to declare to everyone that you, you idiot Watson, will always belong to me alone!!"

creak creak creak creak—

As Tachibana Sherry declared war, the courtroom trembled violently, and even the air seemed to tremble and groan.

With a body forged through relentless tempering, a tyrant, and an absolutely calm and rational mind, Tachibana Sherry, born a strong woman, has found her destined battlefield. Perhaps everything from the moment she was born—the countless hardships, torments, and sorrows—was all for this final battle!

The strongest technique versus the ultimate brute force – who will prevail?

Everyone held their breath, for witnessing this internal conflict within the detective agency was worth the price of admission, even if it meant death!

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Once bitten, twice shy. After my entire chapter was taken down and couldn't be changed last time... I'm really scared now, so I can only use this method of expression.

Sorry everyone

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Thanks to Chenguang for the generous gift of the salted fish spike! Love you!

308. Internal Strife in the Detective Agency: The Gloomy Bean Sprout Gets a Setback

Hanna Tono (1X years old), a current female high school student, said the following in an interview:

"You ask who the strongest arm wrestler is on Witch Island? Need I say more? It's definitely Rhea or Heero!"

"But thinking about it carefully, Emma is actually not to be underestimated. She always pretends to be timid and weak, but then suddenly bursts out with incredible strength. Speaking of which, Nanoha Kaori's level should not be underestimated either. She is a tough character who can tie clothes into knots to use as ropes and climb a building with heavy loads by hand! Of course, when it comes to moving things, she is definitely no match for me, who doesn't even leave any footprints!"

"In short, to be honest, it should be either Rhea or Shiro, either one is possible, that's the answer."

"...Heh, isn't this the kind of boring answer you wanted to hear? Do you want to know about a more 'real' and 'dark' side? Honestly, it seems you're also a hound that can't help but tear into the truth because it's so bloody."

Tono Hannah lit a lollipop and put it in her mouth, then put down the clothes she was washing.

"Forget all that talk before. On Witch Island, the only one who truly deserves the title of arm wrestler and stands at the pinnacle of strength is that guy, [Tachibana Sherry]!"

"What? Rock-breaking? Diamond-sculpting? No, no, no, it's not some childish game like sculpting stones into balls—it's more like dancing than martial arts. That gorilla woman is someone who can skip steel coils across water and even win a championship!"

"Wouldn't that be too invincible? Hmph, those idiots who only have brute force are still too green for my imaginary levitation! If I can't hit them, no matter how strong I am, it's meaningless!"

"And if I had to say... that guy wasn't invincible in close combat. There was actually an even more terrifying being on Witch Island who could suppress Sherry. Sherry's battle with him back then is still unforgettable to this day. I never thought that Sherry would have such a side."

"Who is that person? Heh... It's the one who made this young lady realize the 'female' in her heart. As for how you want to know how I found out? Sorry, some things... I would rather die than say them! Do you think this young lady would tell you that I fought with that stupid knight for three days and three nights, and in the end I lost to him by a narrow margin, but we ended up marrying each other because we admired each other as heroes?"

"Speaking of becoming husband and wife, have you heard the story of the White Rabbit? In the second year of Yuanhe, an old popsicle rabbit was awakened from the basement by Cinderella's singing voice—oh, so we've already tasted that before… Would you rather hear about the final battle? Hmph, the ace aerial battle between this rich young lady and the foolish knight is much more interesting. But if you insist on hearing it—"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Hmm... this aura is truly terrifying. It seems that Sherry has been preparing for today's ceremony quite a bit these past few days."

In the courtroom, watching Watson and Holmes about to intersect, Nikaido Heero frowned, clenched his fist, and gritted his teeth as he felt the earth cracking.

"Isn't she... a little different?" Kurobe Nanoha Kaori frowned and tilted her head. The blue-haired girl who had abandoned her 'detective' identity and transformed into a mace-wielding character not far away seemed to give off a slightly different vibe.

“Before, Sherry’s aura could only be felt when she activated her witch factor to use magic, but now she exudes an aura of dominance just by standing there.” Nanoha Kaori expressed her confusion. At this moment, Sherry’s spiritual pressure in her normal state had already reached a terrifying level.

Upon hearing Nanoha's question, everyone turned their gaze to Tono Hannah, who, as the gorilla girl's best friend, might know the reason for Tachibana Sherry's changes.

"Haa... alright, alright, I'll tell you then, desuwa..." Tono Hannah sighed, and could only explain the changes in Tachibana Sherry to everyone.

After regaining her memories, Shirley reviewed why she had lost to Chang Rong in both playthroughs, and naturally came to the conclusion that she relied too much on her Super Power. Normally, in any situation, her super brain, kissed by Sherlock Holmes, would tell her to use her super powers. This meant that Shirley never actively trained her physical body.

However, witch factors are not inexhaustible. When she encounters someone who can absorb her witch factors and seal her magic, Tachibana Sherry's weakness will be immediately exposed, leaving her with nothing but flaws.

The witch factor will eventually dissipate, and magic and miracles will be eroded and worn away by reality and time, but muscles and sweat will never betray you.

Having grasped this point, Tachibana Sherry began training to increase her physical muscle strength, even doing squats and weightlifting until last night. The brutal training nearly killed her, but it also gave her a gift that superhuman strength magic had never bestowed.

"Waaaaah... This, this doesn't mean..."

After hearing Hannah Tono explain the whole story, everyone showed panicked expressions and turned their gazes to Chang Rong.

As mentioned before, the prospective witches are all sisters, yet sisters are also enemies. Everyone is worried that someone too strong will help Chang Rong stack up her Mejai's Soulstealer, meaning those who enter later might be spinning like tops just during the laning phase. However, everyone is also worried that a Gluttonous Witch, uncontrollable by Chang Rong, might actually appear and slaughter the rabbits inside and out. In that case, the remaining characters wouldn't even get a sip of soup, let alone a bite of braised rabbit meat.

After witnessing Tachibana Sherry's resolve and hard work, everyone couldn't help but feel worried for Chang Rong.

After all, Tachibana Sherry was already terrifying enough, and Chang Rong could only barely contend with her by relying on her magic-absorbing physique. Now that Tachibana Sherry has completed the last piece of the puzzle through training, doesn't that mean...

"Chang, Chang Rong...run! You're no match for Ju. You don't need to fight anymore, Chang Rong...!!"

Arisa Zifang was the first to give in. She yelled at Chang Rong, saying that as the person she admired, he didn't need to fight a battle he couldn't win!

Arisa's mournful cry didn't reach Chang Rong, but instead reached Tachibana Sherry's ears. She gave a cold laugh, fiddled with her drooping braid, and held up a finger between herself and the white-haired boy in front of her.

"Hey Watson, let me make this clear beforehand, you're the challenger!"

"...You, the club president!"

Boom!Boom!Boom!

The Emperor Engine roared throughout the entire courtroom, and no one could stop the two of them anymore! No one could stop them, damn it, not even the Great Witch Xue!

Unable to stop it, unable to change it, all everyone could do was stare wide-eyed at the moment the two crossed paths.

Seven steps, six steps, five steps, four—

Pfft!

"—Huh!?" "What, what's going on...!!"

With only three steps remaining, a sudden scene unfolded before their eyes, leaving everyone wide-eyed and bewildered—Tachibana Sherry, while walking, suddenly tripped and fell to the ground.

"Yes, it's a Stand attack! It's a Stand attack!" Natsume An-an was the first to come to her senses and shouted in panic.

"No—no...! This isn't some kind of Stand attack, this is...!"

Hannah Tono (1X years old), a current female high school student, later provided more detailed supplementary information about the situation in an interview recalling that battle:

"You asked how far that gorilla woman trained? Hmm... let me put it this way, do you know what you can ultimately gain after undergoing extreme training, forging an iron will, and possessing an unwavering determination?"

"That's right, the answer is simple. It's muscle soreness to the point where you can't even get out of bed."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Huh...huh...? What, what's going on? My legs feel like they're filled with lead and I can't lift them at all, and my arms feel so heavy, like they're soaked in electrified sesame oil...Watson, do you know gravity magic...!?"

Tachibana Sherry blinked her amber eyes in a panic. She tried to twist her body while frantically asking Chang Rong, but her efforts only looked like a mess to others.

"This is the inevitable side effect of sudden high-intensity training! You idiot gorilla girl!!" Hannah Tono exclaimed loudly. The mystery... was solved! This wasn't a Stand battle or magic; it was the muscles protesting!

"Eh?? Is there really such a thing?" Tachibana Sherry blinked innocently, desperately looking up at Tono Hannah to ask.

"After all, you're more tolerant of pain than others, but the accumulated fatigue won't disappear, and you eventually break down. That's how it is," Hannah Tono explained helplessly, spreading her hands.

"Now that you mention it, Sherry, your lips do look a bit purple today... Did you not get enough rest?" Hiro asked thoughtfully, resting his chin on his hand.

"No way...! You can't outmove me, you believe it or not...!!" Shirley Tachibana retorted angrily, but could only wriggle around.

"Oh no... I really can't move at all... Move your limbs, why can't I move...!"

The great detective had already started to strain her arms and legs, but Chang Rong didn't let the farce continue. When she came to her senses, Tachibana Sherry found that her Watson was already standing next to her, looking down at her with a face full of magnetic black lines.

"Waaaaah... This, this doesn't count as Watson, we'll fight another day—waaaaah!!? Waaaaah... Ugh?"

Tachibana Sherry begged for mercy in a panic, but Chang Rong completely ignored the blue-haired guy's wails and grabbed him suddenly.

However, after the initial panic subsided, Tachibana Sherry suddenly realized that she did not feel a storm of attacks. Instead, even though her arms and legs were so sore that she was almost numb, she could still feel a warm touch gently rubbing and comforting her.

She barely opened her eyes and found herself being held gently in the arms of the white-haired boy. "It's good to try to break free from the magic, but you should at least do what you can. What will you do without me... You're such a worrywart Holmes."

Chang Rong sighed while smiling at the girl he was holding in his arms.

Then, Chang Rong gently lowered her head, her blue and white hair first intertwining, then their noses gently touching. But they immediately looked away. They didn't seem like soulmates who already knew everything about each other, but rather like shy classmates sitting close together during recess in school.

"Wait, wait a minute, Watson—oh!"

It's clear that the detective isn't a lawyer or prosecutor; all she can do is collect clues and deduce logically, not raise her hand and shout "Objection!" Unaware of her own role, Tachibana Sherry can only watch as her employees disregard the hierarchical workplace relationship and collect clues leading to the truth from her, the company president.

In this simple, straightforward, and honest way, the white-haired boy completely sealed off all of Tachibana Sherry's abilities with the gentlest movements, forcing her to participate in this logic-based detective show with him.

The blue-haired girl, Shirley Tachibana, had her cheeks tinged with the scorching color of the setting sun. She initially tried to create some distance, but unable to unleash any superpowers, she was no longer even an ordinary girl; she was just a blue person with purple lips due to over-training.

In the end, Tachibana Sherry gave up on her pointless rebuttal and could only shrug and ignore it. Even her last act of stubbornness—trying to look away—was forced to be met with each other's reflections because her vision was controlled by the same kind of magical power as Chang Rong Leia (on a physical level).

Looking at the shy, cute, and flustered Shirley in his arms, Chang Rong smiled with satisfaction and happiness.

"Although this president looks very unfamiliar, she is dozens of times cuter than usual. And no matter what kind of president she is, whether she is a president who likes to deduce, a president who likes to use brute force, a president who looks like a malfunctioning robot, or a president who is extremely shy in my arms right now... no matter what you become, you will always be my Miss Holmes."

"Watson—"

"So, how about putting those mysteries and truths aside for now and handing everything over to me? I'm so sorry, I must have been too rough before, which is why the club president is forcing me to train like this. So, as an apology, this time I will use the most straightforward and direct approach, to catch you earnestly, gently, without hiding, without forgiving, without running away, and steadily, okay?"

"Honestly, you've already said all that, what else can I say..." Tachibana Sherry looked at the boy in front of her, hesitated briefly, and then smiled happily with her cheeks flushed.