Even if you're a corrupted magical girl, you still have to try to redeem yourself.

"Hmph, of course, our little Yuan is omnipotent."

Yes! I am omnipotent!

While eating barbecue and watching the fiery red sunset gradually sink below the horizon, Yuki felt a surge of comfort in her heart.

This is truly what travel is all about!

I've been adding a lot of extra chapters these past few days!

why?

The bowl needs to rest for two days!

A friend who just returned from abroad came to visit! I'm off to enjoy the weekend!

Chapter 71 Taking a nap in the hot spring

Yuuki Yui thought for a long time, but couldn't figure out how to formally apologize to the two girls leaning against the rock.

Although it's okay to say nothing, you are the one who put the other person in danger, and you can't just dismiss it with a simple "it was a close call".

Like a straw on a drinking table? Holding up a beverage as if offering a toast?

Or, to be more serious, summarize your actions on Halloween night and formally express your apology at the end of the summary?

Or perhaps you could downplay it, simply convey your apology, and make sure your message gets through?

Yuuki Yukino pondered repeatedly, gazing at Hyakki Chiyu and Koumori, who were sitting in the hot spring water opposite her, less than half a meter apart.

In the misty fog, Yuuki Enishi couldn't see what expressions Hyakki Senyu and Koumori had, or even whether they were looking at her or resting with their eyes closed.

Yuuki Yukino, with a towel over her head, shifted her body downwards, immersing her neck in the hot spring that enveloped her entire body.

The water, rippling slightly from Yuuki Enishi's subtle movements, flowed past her, the gentle gurgling sound seeming to massage her brain, as if melting into boundless tranquility, slowing even her thoughts.

Lying comfortably in her embrace, Yuuki Yukino was still slowly pondering.

Hmm, how should I apologize?

So what should I do? What if I do this, or what if I do that?

Yuuki Yukino's thinking became increasingly slow, her mind filled with vague images, unable to come up with even a specific idea.

In a daze, it felt as if my whole being had merged with the flowing water, and I could feel my consciousness slowly drifting away from me.

With her eyes closed, Yuuki Yuki could feel the light filtering through her slits getting less and less. In the dim light, it seemed as if only the quiet, flowing moonlight remained.

Then, the scenery before my eyes grew brighter and brighter. Normally, when I should have been resting with my eyes closed, all I could see was darkness. But in the darkness, the blurry images seemed to become clearer.

Starting with one red brick, another red brick was pieced together, and they fit together with a dull, wet sound.

Is it because of the presence of cement?

Unbeknownst to us, the bricks resting on the steel bars had been covered with cement.

When did steel bars appear?

Interlocking and multiplying, the solitary building materials rise at a visible speed, like a three-dimensional printed model, and a skyscraper rises from the ground.

Like a stalactite hanging upside down in the sky, it stood above Yuuki Yuki's head, making her feel uncomfortable, as if what was suspended in mid-air was not a tall building but the Sword of Damocles that might descend to punish her.

The overturned paving stones begin to emerge from the foot of the tall buildings, like dominoes, gradually outlining the scene that a city should have.

Asphalt roads, flower beds, sidewalks, traffic lights, and many more buildings.

In the empty space, Yuuki Eri witnessed the growth of a city.

And how it was destroyed.

As if a star had been ignited in the very center of the city, a massive explosion emanated from it.

The towering buildings, like children's toys made of cardboard boxes, were utterly vulnerable in the face of the intense impact and shattered stardust, and were razed to the ground in the blinding light that made Yuuki Emi unable to open her eyes.

Amidst the city's ruins, Yuuki Yuuki seemed to spot someone.

She saw a girl kneeling at the top of the ruins, raising her dusty face and casting a gaze at Yuuki Yuki standing in the inverted sky—a gaze that Yuuki Yuki couldn't see clearly, yet seemed to pierce through Yuuki Yuki's chest.

Yuki En suddenly felt her back be covered in cold sweat in that instant.

That's not quite accurate. In fact, Yuuki Eri didn't feel cold at all; on the contrary, it was a bit too hot.

Yuuki Yukino suddenly opened her eyes and found herself submerged at the bottom of the water, with scalding hot spring water massaging her cheeks from every angle.

Not only on her face, but the sulfurous hot spring water also filled Yuuki Yuen's nostrils, and a feeling of suffocation descended upon her instantly like a shadow.

"Goooooo!"

Yuuki Yukino struggled violently with her hands and feet for a few moments, splashing hot spring water everywhere like a puppy that had fallen into the water, before scrambling out of the water.

After finally managing to stick her head out of the water, Yuuki shook her wet hair and took deep breaths of the hot air, which was filled with water vapor and the pungent smell of minerals. Although it made her nose hurt a little, it was still better than being filled with hot spring water.

After taking several breaths to relieve the suffocating feeling after sinking into the water, Yuuki Yui finally lifted the white towel that she had been holding above her head and that had been floating as she sank into the water.

She draped the towel around her neck and shook her head vigorously, as if trying to dry her hair, but the bun that had been gathered at the back of her head wasn't so easy to dry.

After doing all that, Yuuki Yuuki realized that three pairs of eyes were staring at her.

Yuuki looked down at herself: the medium-sized treasure chest covered by a towel, her still-good figure despite not being deliberately maintained, the black magic markings lying silently on her stomach, and her lower body, which was still not clearly visible in the rippling hot spring even when she stood up.

Is everything alright?

Something's wrong! Did I just sleep so hard I became stupid? Did I even start dreaming?

Everyone was quietly enjoying the hot spring when he suddenly started splashing around, getting water all over the girls around him. That alone wasn't a good thing.

Before Yuuki could even explain, Baqi asked first, "Yuuki, did you just fall asleep, and then you slid down while gliding?"

Hyakki Chiyu and Koumori, the two little ones, nodded in unison, their nods perfectly synchronized.

"Yes, it is."

Yuuki Yukino stammered as she sat back down in the steaming hot spring.

"I haven't had a moment's rest since last weekend. I've not only been working, but I've also been buying all sorts of decorations for the holiday and thinking about so many other things. It's normal to be very tired."

Hong Moli made an excuse for Yuuki Yuuki, which made the embarrassed Yuuki Yuuki feel a little better.

Koumori was well aware of Yuuki's intentions, and these words did indeed ease Yuuki's earlier embarrassment somewhat.

Having appreciated Hong Moli's kindness, Yuuki Yuuki explained to the others.

"No, it's just that I was thinking about something, and the hot spring was so comfortable, and the atmosphere was really nice, so I started to drift off to sleep."

I was really embarrassed to admit that I had actually fallen asleep and even had the beginning of a dream, so I'd better not tell anyone else.

"Thinking about something? What are you thinking about?" Baqi moved closer to Yuuki Yuki and asked.

Everyone was in the hot spring, unlike when they were dressed. Under these circumstances, it would be impolite to have intimate physical contact, and it would also give people a warm and sticky feeling. So, Baqi did not stick to Yuuki Yuki's body.

But Baqi's gaze remained fixed on Yuuki Yukino's face for a long time without moving.

"Is Xiaoyuan still thinking about how to investigate Genki Mashiro? The main purpose of this trip was to relax, to relax! Falling asleep thinking about that kind of woman, ugh, that's really annoying!"

As Baqi spoke, she waved her little fists, making a splash even though it wasn't as loud as when Yuki accidentally sank to the bottom of the water.

"No, no, that's not it." Yuuki Yukino quickly waved her hand, trying to calm Baqi down. "I was thinking about something else. It's just that the purpose of this trip is indeed the method, but..."

Yuuki Yui paused for a moment, then turned to look at Koumori and Hyakki Senyu, who were staring intently at her, waiting for her to speak.

"My main purpose is to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Kurenai and Hyakki."

"Thank you both for granting my request..."

Yuuki Yui finally seized the opportunity to speak her mind and express her previous anxieties without reservation.

But she hadn't figured out what to say next, so she stopped halfway through her sentence.

After a brief pause, Hong Moli picked up where she left off, gently shaking her head.

"It's nothing."

"But after all, it was me who made you..." Yuuki Yuki wanted to explain further.

"When you risked your life for us, we also received your gratitude."

Unexpectedly, the person who picked up her words this time was Hyakki Senyou.

The girl, who wasn't bad at expressing herself but simply didn't often share her opinions, showed her trust in Yuuki Yuki.

"There's no need for such formality in our relationship."

Chapter 72 Dying together is a happy end

After the little incident, and the fact that she actually relaxed enough to fall asleep in the hot spring—although today was a day for traveling, Yuuki Yukino had had a good rest and couldn't possibly be that tired—she noticed some harmless little details that made her feel much better.

During the previous school trip, Yuuki Yuuki had to constantly be mindful of the feelings of Bachi or Herika, and also worry about her identity being exposed.

But now, she doesn't need to think about those things that were imposed on her later in life.

There's no need for anyone to deliberately care about or cater to others' feelings; everything unfolds naturally. This comfortable relationship was actually obtained from the corrupted magical girls whom she had previously considered "evil."

A tray, floating on the water like a small boat, holds warm milk and simple snacks like sakura mochi, serving as dessert after the meal to each girl.

A glistening snowflake drifted down from the gray night sky, landing on the girl's shoulder. It melted in the steam of the hot spring and flowed into the pool beneath her.

In the light snow of early winter, the girls chatted about random topics. They weren't necessarily talking about magical girls, nor were they deliberately avoiding the topic; it was just casual conversation about things related to them.

Reflecting on the present and envisioning the future, let us move forward with even greater vigor towards a brighter tomorrow.

Although Yuuki Enishi's goal was still to make up for the school trip that couldn't be brought to a perfect end back then, there weren't any particular places she wanted to visit.

Everyone was just getting along well, simply visiting Nijiha City to try the local specialties and enjoy the hot springs, which was actually quite nice.

After all, the beauty of being content with one's lot is an invaluable quality.

With this thought in mind, the regret that Yuuki Yuuki had felt for this city in the past melted away quietly, like snowflakes falling on the surface of a hot spring.

"Ah~ So comfortable, so comfortable! It's so great to soak in the hot spring with Xiaoyuan and everyone else!"

Even the usually energetic Baqi seemed to have become lazy in the gentle embrace of the hot springs. She was now walking lazily down the corridor in a bathrobe and slippers, her slightly flushed skin showing through the loosely tied collar of her clothes.

However, the hot springs and delicious food are not necessarily what Baqi praised so highly. What truly moved Baqi was probably the precious time spent traveling with everyone.

Anyway, that's what Yuuki Yukino thought, and that's her answer.

"Ah, yes, it's so good to be alive."

Koumori and Hyakki Chiyu's room is on the other side of the corridor, just around the corner after leaving the hot spring area.