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

"……Um"

Hmm...? What about your bullying?

No, this is also part of his plan. The greatest damage is caused by the explosive release of suppressed emotions. Rong, a terrifying man.

"Interesting. Well then, let this great witch see just how far your schemes have progressed into the future. You can bully me first, then talk about the future." I thought this with anticipation, and then some more time passed—

"You got ice cream on your lips, come here and let me wipe it for you."

"Oh"

"Xiaoxue, eat less ice cream. I made your favorite cream stew for dinner."

"Ah."

"Don't be picky about food this time, okay? You need to have a balanced diet. Xiaoxue, you're so thin, aww, aww, aww!! I meant you're too weak, don't get the wrong idea and kick my leg! At least change it...!"

"Shut up, Rong. Of course I know what you're implying. I am a witch with great potential."

As I kicked Rong's shin and complained, I suddenly realized something—had he never intended to bully me in the first place?

I started to actively observe the boy, and that's when I discovered that Rong didn't have any "original sin." His soul was so flawless, even though he was sometimes quite annoying.

If... if he weren't burdened by original sin, if he were a flawless person... perhaps, perhaps I could...

No, I cannot give up my revenge. I have already sacrificed too much on this path. Meruru is also suffering because of my revenge. I absolutely cannot give up my revenge against humanity.

but……

……

The agonizing routine continued for a while, and I had grown accustomed to living with Rong. I knew this routine wouldn't last forever, but when the unexpected happened, I still wasn't prepared.

When I heard Rong's earnest confession to me, I felt panic. My forgotten magical instincts kicked in, forcibly pulling back the step he had already mustered the courage to take.

No… Rong is a flawless person, while I am someone already imprisoned by revenge. I cannot accept his love like this; it's not fair to him.

I...I have to make a choice about this relationship. No, the one who should really make the choice isn't me, it's Rong.

Meruru is still undergoing a meaningless trial on Witch Island... That child can no longer return to her people as a human; Witch Island is her final resting place.

Take Rong back, back to our home, and then... let him personally judge the being known as the Great Witch.

Whatever answer Rong gives in the end, I will accept it gladly. As long as he witnesses the full truth of 'Sato Yuki,' I will not regret it no matter what the cost, because this choice is definitely the right one.

Then—when Rong's broken body lay before me, I realized my mistake, a terrible mistake.

I shouldn't have brought Rong here to participate in some witch trial... No, that's not right.

My real mistake was that I still clung to that minuscule possibility, trying to obtain my own happiness.

I... am a witch. Unworthy of any redemption or love, an evil that should not exist in this world. These hands will only repel any aid that attempts to redeem me, and will only personally destroy all the treasures I cherish.

For someone like myself, perhaps being judged and facing death is the best ending.

But... before everything is over, I still have something to do: retrieve the magic of [Rewind] and prevent all the tragedies involving Rong from happening before they even begin.

After leaving Witch Island, I returned to human society and began searching for aspiring witches with the [Rewind Magic].

Eventually, I found a suitable candidate for the magic of reversal, and even became friends with that girl and her companion.

Does this mean I'm getting closer to humanity? I don't know, and I don't have time to think about it.

Because I gave almost all of my witch genes to Chang Rong back then, I can no longer maintain my own existence. I can't even use the magic of 'possession'.

I can only rely on my two friends—Emma and Hiro. I pray that they can protect the witch-slayer magic, find the truth in the upcoming witch trial, and use the resurrection ritual to return the rewind magic.

If it were them, they would definitely be able to do all of this... I'm sorry, I'm so willful.

After entrusting the key to destroying the world to Emma, ​​I fell into a deep sleep filled with remorse and hope.

For a witch, 'death' is an incomprehensible experience. When I was initially enveloped in endless darkness, I could only feel boundless panic and helplessness.

Even though I believed Emma and Shiro could succeed, I still couldn't stop trembling with fear—until I recalled all those little moments with Rong, those once boring and mundane everyday scenes.

We'd doze off in class together, walk home together in the sunset, snuggle on the sofa watching random movies, sit at the table admiring Rong's cooking, help Rong improve the endurance of her legs, sit on the grass watching fleeting fireworks, and curl up in bed, embracing each other to sleep… The fantasy grew clearer, as if Rong and I were truly holding hands again. I no longer felt fear, but instead, I couldn't help but sob uncontrollably.

I'm sorry, Rong. I'm so sorry for everything. I want to be your other half, I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I... I really, really want to see you again...

Suddenly, a light pierced through my memories, and my body, which had already disappeared, regained its senses.

It must be Hero; she succeeded. She truly found the truth during the witch's trial and performed the resurrection ritual.

I finally have the chance to correct my sins and mistakes. As long as I can open Rong's eyes again, even if I can never meet him again in this life or the next, I will accept it willingly.

------

"I'm sorry, I was so willful. I took Chang Rong for myself without your permission, Xiaoxue."

"Hero, what...are you saying?"

The Great Witch was sweating profusely, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment as she looked at Nikaido Hiro, as if she were possessed by Kurosaki Ichigo, questioning the very things she had heard.

Good news, we won the revival match.

Even better news is that Chang Rong also won the revival match.

The bad news is that things have developed in a way that is completely different from what I originally expected.

Xiaoxue was covered in cold sweat. She tried to use her brain, but her brain had been only focused on imagining the little things she had done with Chang Rong. Now that she had just logged back in, she was about to face a mental storm that even Sherlock Holmes couldn't handle, so she could only go on strike.

The fact that Chang Rong was here was already overwhelming for Xiao Xue, and all her preparations for Chang Rong to win the revival match were aborted.

Moreover, because this encounter was so rushed, Xiaoxue's carefully prepared apology words suddenly fell silent, turning into snowflakes and disappearing, leaving her unsure of what to say.

Life doesn't offer help in times of need; it only kicks you when you're down. Xiaoxue's brain was already fried, but her best friend Xiluo's words at that moment made the already dim-witted witch even more dumbfounded.

"Rongta...he's not your possession, Hiro, is he—Meruru, Emma?"

As if escaping reality, the Great Witch turned her attention to two other familiar faces on the field, hoping to find clues that this was actually a prank in the innocent angel Emma and the naive witch Meruru.

however……

"Well, actually... after I regained my memories of Xiaoxue, I realized that Changrong-kun was the boy you were talking about before, but... how should I put it... Changrong-kun is just too delicious, I really can't resist... so, so, actually Changrong-kun is now my personal master... because it was the Demon Slayer Magic that attracted me to Changrong-kun's side, so this is also Xiaoxue's own problem...!"

"Pure Emma, ​​kind Emma, ​​good girl Emma, ​​the Emma to whom I can entrust the key to destroy the world with peace of mind"—she said, rubbing against the boy she admired and looking at him with eyes that seemed to stretch silk.

"Ugh... Emma... what's with those indecent leg rings and collars? Why are there only leg rings and collars? And... I gave you the Demon Slayer Magic to protect humanity, not to seduce my men..."

The black lines and cold sweat on the Great Witch's forehead became more and more obvious. With her last bit of strength, she turned her gaze to Meruru, whom she had raised with her own hands and who was perhaps the most loyal to her in the world.

This must be a prank; my Meruru will solve this prank for me.

Thinking this, the Great Witch watched as the blonde nun knelt at Chang Rong's feet, gently rubbing her cheek against Chang Rong's calf while looking at her with apologetic eyes.

"Um... Great Witch... Meruru finally understands, right? The reason you left without saying goodbye was actually so that Meruru could leave your protection and grow into a witch who could stand on her own, right? So, Meruru left your protection and worked hard to grow up, and now... now she has finally become a true 'mature' and has found a Holy Son to whom she can dedicate the rest of her life! Please be proud of me, Great Witch!"

Meruru's tone on the ice was incredibly devout, yet also tinged with the pride of someone who had grown up.

"No... that... Meruru, how did you make up with Rong? You were the one who made Rong... no, let's not talk about that... I'm happy that you've grown, but growing doesn't mean you have to steal my man...! And, what is that indecent piece of flesh? Is it a provocation against Master...!"

Xiaoxue looked down at her own promising future, then at Meruru's future surging tide, and instantly blushed. If Chang Rong hadn't been surrounded by a dense crowd of girls, she probably would have already rushed over and kicked his shin to vent her anger. "—We've won!"

On the contrary, Natsume Anan, after repeatedly and carefully comparing, clenched her fist and struck a victorious pose, declaring that she had finally achieved a great victory after a hard-fought battle.

"Rong, what's wrong with you...?"

Having been betrayed by her best friend and her daughter in succession, the Great Witch felt a little disheartened for a moment. She looked at Chang Rong with a forlorn expression, her light blue eyes seeming to tell a sad poem, questioning Chang Rong if he really didn't remember anything from the past.

Although I had indeed prepared myself to forget Chang Rong and leave her side...

But... but seeing Chang Rong wrapped up by 13 naked prospective witches is still hard to accept!!

"You, you must have used some method to coerce Rong, forcing her to be humiliated and manipulated like this—"

"Hmph, that's not right, Miss Great Witch!"

A cheerful voice interrupted Xiaoxue. A girl with short blue hair stepped forward, coughed twice, and shook her finger.

"You must be the legendary Great Witch, right? Let me introduce myself. I'm the champion of Season 2! In other words, the winner is the cute and charming, kawaii daisuki Sherry-chan!"

"...Huh?" Xiaoxue blinked, utterly confused by the sudden appearance of this prospective witch.

Shirley ignored Xiaoxue's confusion. She took shaky steps and slowly moved closer to Chang Rong. She desperately stood on tiptoe to kiss Chang Rong's cheek, then lay down in Chang Rong's arms and held out a finger to Xiaoxue.

"So, that means—Watson and I are in pure love, and you're the challenger~? Give up the title of Great Witch and start from scratch with fireballs... Ugh!?"

"careful!"

Sherry, who was standing on tiptoe, couldn't hold on for long before losing her balance due to muscle soreness. Chang Rong quickly bent down and hugged her. Sherry, however, wrapped her arms around Chang Rong's neck and looked at the great witch in front of her once again.

"Hehehe... Why am I in this state where I can't even walk...? Here's a hint: this is the masterpiece of Watson, also known as 'Rong'...?" Shirley said, blushing.

"Even this guy is using false evidence now..." Ze Du Ke Ke muttered to herself. Although Chang Rong was partly responsible for Shirley's confusion, the main reason was that her lips were purple from over-exercising.

"...Rong, you, you've gone too far...too outrageous!!"

"Why did this great witch make that connection so quickly and believe it so strongly?!" Seeing Yuki's cheeks suddenly turn red and her hair stand on end, it was Tono Hannah who was completely dumbfounded this time.

"Waaaaah... Anyway, I'm really, really happy to see you again. But a lot has happened during this time... Anyway, let's calm down and have a good talk, okay? I have so many things I want to tell you, Xiaoxue."

Chang Rong quickly broke free from Emma, ​​Hiro, Meruru, and Sherry's encirclement. He raised his hands high, like a gentleman exposing his testicles, and comforted Xiao Xue in a serious yet gentle tone.

"...Okay, I also have a lot to say to Rong."

Xiaoxue paused for a moment and decided to follow Chang Rong's advice to 'talk slowly'. Just as he said, she and Chang Rong really had a lot to say to each other.

The tense atmosphere seemed to have eased slightly, but just as everyone was preparing to temporarily call a truce—

Click!

The courtroom doors were suddenly pushed open, and a little white girl wearing a hood, accompanied by a guard with a headband, walked into the courtroom. She wore a familiar black decorative lens over her right eye, and her fluffy dress was edged with black and white feathers.

"Coo coo coo... I knew the ritual couldn't be completed without my participation. I really can't do anything with you, Mr. Chang Rong. For everyone's happy future and to prevent me from working overtime again tonight, I'll reluctantly use this body that I've never used before for the final battle, so you can ravage it as you please... Hmm?"

Although there was no clear evidence, the mysterious little girl who looked like the warden blinked and was immediately frozen in place by the sight of a group of pure, aspiring witches flanking Chang Rong and confronting the Great Witch.

"The ritual is complete? *coo coo coo*... Master, what's going on? *coo coo*... Also, why is Master covered in X fluid...?"

"—" Xiaoxue blinked. She first glanced at the creature that appeared to be an 'owl familiar' that had emerged from in front of her, then lowered her head and reached out to touch her own body, her face expressionless.

"Coo coo... Master, my lord. I just logged into the wrong account...? I definitely didn't mean to take advantage of the chaos to participate in the ceremony and get a taste of the soup...?"

The white-haired girl with adorable feathered ears frantically waved her hands, trying to explain, while the headband-wearing guard beside her, after a brief silence, emitted a delighted sound. "Hiss hiss hiss hiss hiss~~?"

"【Although I don't know what's going on now, it's been a long time, Xiaoxue. By the way, I tried your Changrong, and it's really moisturizing.】—That's what my older sister said."

Nanoka Kurobe, acting as a serious translator, fairly and objectively translated the words of the headband guard.