Once the affection level is maxed out, the rivalry begins!

After parting ways with Lu Xingyao, Bai Ze returned to his apartment building carrying a large tote bag.

Lin Tingwan was squatting in the stairwell shared by the two households, with her back against the white-painted wall.

Today she was wearing a white V-neck T-shirt that allowed her to move around easily. The two cat ears on the front of the shirt were standing up lively. When she squatted down, her checkered pleated skirt lifted up a bit, revealing her shapely calves and ankles, which were dazzlingly white.

The way she squatted down was quite pleasing to the eye, but with her hands clutching her lower abdomen and her pale face, she looked like a tragic heroine who had survived a death game, dragged her badly injured body back to life, only to lose her strength at the last moment and die with her eyes wide open in front of her house.

"That's an outrageously long metaphor!"

She must have overheard Bai Ze's unintentional words, because she sat up abruptly as if on her deathbed and angrily rebuked him.

"At least compare her to the female lead in 'Léon: The Professional'!"

"If simply squatting in the stairwell could turn you into Matilda, this place would soon be packed with a frenzied crowd."

Bai Ze pulled out his house key. "So why aren't you coming inside?"

"I forgot my keys today."

She said shyly.

Did your super wisdom as a witch tell you to use your super powers as a witch?

Bai Ze's superior intelligence told him that this guy must be making excuses.

But the current situation clearly doesn't allow for a second answer.

"...Want to stay at my place for the night?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry—"

"The corridor is a cool summer night, where you can sleep soundly without worry."

"Please let me in, Lord Bai Ze!"

But then again... (png)

Lin Tingwan immediately squeezed through the crack in the door he had opened, as if afraid of being locked out.

"I brought you some food from outside."

Bai Ze emptied the snacks out of his bag.

Speaking of which, after merging with the Blade of Judgment, he has always had an inexhaustible energy, as if he could survive without food and water.

I wonder if witches have similar abilities.

Anyway, Lin Tingwan didn't seem to have any—he thought to himself as he watched the girl tear open the vacuum-sealed spicy strip and pick one up.

"You and your junior classmate must have bought these together!"

She spoke in a clicking, clacking motion.

"If I said yes, would you not eat it?"

Bai Ze asked curiously.

"If that's the case, then of course you should eat it! We won't leave you a single crumb so you can lick it while thinking about her!"

"Who would do something so disgusting?"

He protested, "Besides, I bought it all myself, so you're not allowed to finish it."

"Let me use your bathroom for a bit later."

After sharing the snacks, Lin Tingwan patted her belly and said.

She slumped unceremoniously on the sofa, her T-shirt slightly lifted, exposing her flat, soft abdomen.

It's really intriguing where all the food went. Could it be that there's a magical furnace inside that can convert food into fuel?

"...Will I gain weight?"

Bai Ze was talking to himself unconsciously, which made Lin Tingwan sit up nervously.

"No way! I just weighed myself yesterday!"

Even if she eats a lot, the energy she burns from fighting the anomaly will far exceed that! So she doesn't need a diet plan at all!

"I didn't mean you're fat... never mind, what are you going to do about your change of clothes?" Bai Ze asked.

"Oh, I'll go back and get it..."

"Didn't you say you didn't bring your keys?" He noticed the inconsistencies in the girl's words.

"Y-yes, that's true. Do you have any spare clothes?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed the ambiguous atmosphere in the conversation and lifted her knees to bury her face in them.

Although the two were childhood sweethearts, they had always respected each other's personal boundaries. Washing up and even preparing to stay overnight at each other's homes today was undoubtedly a radical move that crossed that invisible dividing line.

If she hadn't accidentally witnessed Lu Xingyao and him together on what appeared to be a date, she probably wouldn't have chosen to do that.

"The size might not be the right fit."

Bai Ze went back to the bedroom and brought out a shirt and a pair of pajama bottoms.

"It's okay."

Lin Tingwan took the clothes, quite confidently, "Anyway, I won't feel any tightness in my chest."

Bai Ze: "..."

"Don't give me that 'I'm sorry' look with pity, it really makes me sad!"

Tears welled up in the girl's eyes.

Who told you to use the self-torture trope?

She grabbed her clothes and rushed into the bathroom, locking the door and burying her face deep in her shirt.

This was originally just an act to escape shame, but after doing it, I realized that the scent of others was lingering around my nose, enveloping me completely.

Take another small puff.

The girl suddenly looked up, and the mirror above the sink reflected her profile, flushed like a rosy cloud.

What kind of perverted thing am I doing?!

She threw the clothes onto the counter as if she had burned her hand.

Soon, Bai Ze heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom, a novel experience for a young man accustomed to living alone.

[Senior, I forgot to ask, how well have you mastered the Minotaur's labyrinth?]

As he sat down on the sofa, which still retained the warmth of the girl's touch, his phone received a new message.

Lu Xingyao has always had his contact information, but she has never taken the initiative to contact him since the two gradually drifted apart.

The rare new information received now seems to mark the rebuilding of the relationship between the two sides.

[It is already in a state where it can be called upon at any time.]

Bai Ze replied, "I think I can modify the entry conditions for the maze to some extent."

After ascending the throne in the center of the labyrinth, he seemed to have developed a profound connection with this otherworld.

So much so that, like the priests of the Holy Trinity Order, one can summon it anytime, anywhere to erode reality, and even modify the conditions for entry.

That would be much more convenient.

Lu Xingyao replied so quickly that it was as if she was typing with her mind.

After sending a rabbit giving a thumbs-up emoji, she sent another message:

Is your senior with you now?

She's taking a shower.

There was a sudden silence on the other end for nearly three minutes, after which Bai Ze's chat interface was flooded with a barrage of question marks.

You are so, so filthy!!!

She typed three bright red exclamation marks in a row.

It's your mind that's corrupt.

Just as Bai Ze sent the message, he heard the bathroom door open again.

"...I'm done washing."

Lin Tingwan draped a towel over her wet black hair and pushed open the door to go out.

Bai Ze's shirt was slightly too big on her, the hem even covering her summer-style short pajama bottoms. Her smooth and slender legs reflected the light, and her small, round toes were tucked into her sandals like pebbles washed by water.

"I'll sleep on the sofa tonight, you can do whatever you want."

Bai Ze tossed her something shiny, and the girl caught it instinctively, opening her clasped hands.

It is a small key.

"I promised you a spare key last time. You're not allowed to enter the house without permission or make noise to disturb the neighbors."

"You still remember?"

Lin Tingwan clenched her fist and mentally made a victory sign.

This is a huge victory for me!

[Witch Transformation Progress (Lin Tingwan): 23% → 31%]

"...Can I get it back?"

"No way! This is already mine! Ha!"

She hissed like a cat guarding its food.