I, Matou Sakura, Third of the Flame-Chasers!

That was why she had earned the title of The Last Witch.

Kuzuki Alice had this concern, and she was capable of resolving it.

As long as Kuzuki Alice agreed to her terms, she would solve this problem for her. A problem Kuzuki Alice could not resolve was as simple as taking a sip of water to her.

% !. Such was the disparity in strength.

"Do I have any reason to refuse?"

Kuzuki Alice smiled. She rose to her feet, looked at the two girls beside this lady, and spoke to them as gently as possible. "You'll live here from now on."

Kohaku and Hisui said nothing. They merely kept their eyes fixed tightly on Matou Sakura beside them.

Neither Kohaku nor Hisui wanted to leave Matou Sakura's side.

"I'm not suited to taking care of you."

Matou Sakura spoke flatly.

She had taken Kohaku and Hisui away because there was a mission involving them, though the two of them only counted as one.

First came the mission. Second, she now possessed the power to truly change fate.

In the Honkai World, she had tried to make changes, but her weak strength, incapable of contending against the Honkai, had left her with no choice but to accept that sorrow and those partings.

But she was different now. She had the ability to change the things she wanted to change.

Even if her reasons for doing these things had already changed from before.

Perhaps this was the result of selling off her so-called Humanity, but she did not regret it.

Besides, she truly was not suited to caring for others. She herself was someone who had been cared for.

Saving Kohaku and Hisui, and giving them a place where they could live in peace, was all she could do.

"Be good. Stay here. You can come find me anytime when you're free."

This was her final concession. Even if she was no longer in such a hurry, she would not remain in one world for too long.

So Kohaku and Hisui were simply not suited to staying by her side.

"Kohaku understands."

Kohaku took her sister Hisui's hand and lowered her head slightly.

"Thank you for being willing to save my sister and me, my lady."

Hisui seemed to realize something as well, lowering her head together with her sister.

Kuzuki Alice merely watched, her expression somewhat complicated.

This lady was truly contradictory. It was impossible to understand what she was trying to do.

But never mind. It was better not to think too much about this lady's affairs and simply focus on her own.

A few minutes later, they were in the basement of the Kuzuki Residence, which was also where Kuzuki Alice brewed her potions.

After all, she was a witch. Potions suited her well.

"There's no need to make this so troublesome."

After following Kuzuki Alice here, Matou Sakura swept her gaze over the surroundings before looking at Kuzuki Alice in front of her.

"Solving your problem isn't a problem for me."

The corner of Kuzuki Alice's mouth twitched slightly. She knew this lady was powerful, but did she have to make it sound so effortless?

That was rather hurtful!

But they were already here, and it was not as if she had said so earlier.

"What do I need to do?" "Take off your clothes."

Kuzuki Alice froze for a moment, then immediately began undressing.

This lady was a girl too, so there was nothing wrong with simply taking them off.

Very soon, Kuzuki Alice's snow-white body—an utter contrast to her usual black attire—was completely exposed before Matou Sakura.

Matou Sakura's gaze did not change, and not even her emotions stirred.

Was it because Pernor had completely tamed me, turning my entire being into her shape?

The thought surfaced involuntarily, only for her to shove it out of her mind. Then she reached out toward Kuzuki Alice's snow-white body. Dazzling light bloomed at that moment, dispelling all the darkness in the basement.

Was that it?

There was no strange sensation. She had merely seen a dazzling, warm light.

When the light faded, nothing seemed to have changed.

Then she heard the lady before her say that everything was over.

Was it over?

Lowering her head, she looked at her snow-white body; she could clearly see her toes.

Her body seemed to have become much lighter.

An inexplicable ache welled up in her heart, and she suddenly thought of her mother, of her dead father.

Her family had died because of the bloodline within her body.

Although it had been a choice the two of them had made together, still... in the dead of night, she would remember the warmth of her mother's embrace from when she was little.

She did not cry. She merely sniffled softly.

"Thank you."

She said it with great weight. She knew it was nowhere near enough to express her gratitude toward the person before her, even just for taking in those two children.

Perhaps removing the curse was merely a trivial matter to the person before her, but for her, a witch, it held extraordinary significance.

"Mm."

Matou Sakura merely nodded lightly, then picked up the clothes Kuzuki Alice had taken off earlier and set aside.

"Get dressed, then come with me. Aozaki... Akiko is there too. Have dinner at my place tonight before going back."

"Mm!"

The witch who always treated others with coldness revealed a warm smile at that moment.

Meanwhile, Aozaki Akiko looked at herself in the mirror, unusually nervous.

Her delicate skin had been given a light touch of makeup. Pernor was highly skilled; with only simple makeup, she had made Aozaki Akiko even more beautiful.

Of course, that was also because Aozaki Akiko already had an excellent foundation.

Otherwise, it would not have had such an effect.

Her original clothes had also been changed into a pale blue dress. A light layer of foundation had been applied to her exposed shoulders, making them look snow-white without losing their healthy color.

At that moment, the girl looked as though she were about to attend a grand ball.

"Is this really okay?"

Aozaki Akiko was still somewhat uneasy. Was it really necessary to dress like this just to have a meal?

No matter how she looked at it, it felt strange! "Don't be nervous. You'll change back later."

Pernor put away the tools in her hands and said flatly, "You didn't really think you were going to wear this to dinner, did you?"

"Huh? Aren't I?"

Aozaki Akiko's eyes widened slightly.

"Of course not."

Pernor said irritably, "It's not a banquet. If you dress like this, everyone else will definitely think you're an idiot! Are you trying to become an idiot like Joan?"

Even now, Pernor still disliked Joan.

It was not as though Joan had never tried to change Pernor's dislike of her, but she had failed every time.

Once, she had even been subjected to all sorts of mockery and vicious remarks from an angry Pernor, leaving Saint Joan of Arc, who had participated in war, so aggrieved that she had nearly cried.

"Sister Joan is actually pretty nice."

Because she often came here, Aozaki Akiko had a fairly good relationship with Joan. She also knew that Joan was a Heroic Spirit, the saint from history.

Unlike Pernor, she still liked Joan very much.

Pernor said nothing, merely looking at Aozaki Akiko with cold eyes.

Aozaki Akiko could not help lowering her head. In a small voice, she said, "Sorry. I shouldn't have brought up Joan."

Pernor said nothing. She continued looking at Aozaki Akiko, and only after a long while did she slowly say, "Change out of those clothes. Put them back on later, and take off the makeup too. That idiot look of yours suits you better than this does."

With that, Pernor put down the tools in her hands and left directly.

Rather than storming out and slamming the door as Aozaki Akiko had imagined, Pernor simply opened the door and vanished without a trace.

"Pernor..."

Aozaki Akiko looked at the open door, lightly bit her lip, then sighed.

Was she really such an idiot?

5:16 PM.

Matou Sakura arrived here with Kuzuki Alice and the sisters, Kohaku and Hisui.

"My dear Sister, you're back!"

As usual, Pernor threw herself into her dear sister's embrace, then studied Kohaku and Hisui beside Kuzuki Alice with curious eyes.

They were excellent material.

Pernor's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing the look of a merchant appraising goods.

Kohaku and Hisui felt a chill run through their bodies. When their eyes met Pernor's gaze, fear could not help but creep into their hearts.

The two instinctively backed away and hid behind Kuzuki Alice.

"Don't do that."

Gently patting Pernor on the back, Matou Sakura helplessly rubbed Pernor's neatly arranged hair.

A habit.

"Sorry, My dear Sister."

Pernor withdrew her gaze, curling up against her dear sister's embrace.

"Pernor will remember. I won't do it again next time."

Matou Sakura said nothing, merely pinching Pernor's soft cheek lightly.

She had already heard Pernor say those words three times.

But she also knew that it was hardly possible for Pernor to break her old habits in such a short time.

So they would take it slowly.

Turning her gaze toward Kohaku and Hisui, who were hiding behind Kuzuki Alice, Matou Sakura smiled faintly.

"This is my sister, Pernor. I hope Kohaku and Hisui won't mind what just happened. Pernor didn't mean it."

Kohaku and Hisui exchanged a glance, then nodded.

Though some fear still lingered in their hearts, the two of them stepped out from behind Kuzuki Alice.

Matou Sakura also set Pernor down from her arms.

Though she was small in stature, Pernor was not a child. She had long since come of age and could be considered Hisui and Kohaku's older sister.