Curtain Falls

"After causing so much trouble, killing you would be letting you off too easily. But I can't just let you go, either. How about another curse? Just one that's a little stronger."

The smile on Aozaki Aoko's face grew ever brighter as she continued, "From now on, whenever you set foot on this land again, you'll turn into a Madagascar Frog."

With her words, the curse took shape and branded itself onto Tōko Aozaki.

"Wait, what kind of shoddy, vulgar spell is this...?! There's a limit to having no taste! Are you really my little sister?!"

"Ah, yes. I'm the poor little sister whose artistic talent was all inherited by her big sister. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too much of a genius, Touko."

A distressed voice that sounded somewhere between laughter and tears echoed through the abandoned amusement park.

"Fine, it's just a curse. I'll undo it easily enough."

Tōko Aozaki forced herself up with a bitter smile and strolled through the ruins left by the battle. Then, she sharply noticed a cigarette that had slipped from her pocket.

"So there's still one left."

She picked up the cigarette, wiped away the dust, then drew the Rune of Fire and lit it.

"Phew—"

The nicotine numbed the pain in her body, leaving her slightly lightheaded. The magnificent starry sky had long since vanished, leaving only thin clouds and pure white spirits dancing with graceful movements.

"It's snowing."

"So sleepy..."

Aozaki Aoko let out a huge yawn, her eyes half-closed as her whole body swayed. She could barely remain standing.

"Hang in there. You can sleep once we're back."

"Mm... But you're still the same as ever. If I could, I'd really like to beat you up and vent some anger. You really are..."

Aoko's voice grew indistinct. Her eyes carried a maturity and allure that did not belong to someone her age, making her look just like a younger version of Tōko Aozaki—except with an even worse personality.

"Gentlemen settle matters with words, not fists. We should convince people with reason."

"As if anyone would believe you."

Her voice became softer and softer until she finally lost consciousness and slowly closed her eyes.

Michael shook his head. If he could still command the Star Core, he would not have minded teleporting directly back to the mansion. But controlling the Star Core earlier had placed an enormous burden on his soul, and he too was at the end of his strength.

He reached out to support Aozaki Aoko, keeping her from collapsing face-first onto the ground. Alice Kuonji came forward, and seeing that they were unharmed, she could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Alice."

"Mm. How is Touko?"

Alice gave Michael a slight nod, then looked at the sleeping Aozaki Aoko in his arms.

"We let her go. Of course, Aoko cursed her before she left."

"That really is a disappointing result. I can't tell whether it was Aoko or Touko who won."

Apparently dissatisfied with the outcome, Alice puffed out her cheeks.

"You could say they both won and lost. If Touko wanted revenge against the Aozaki Family, then she did win. If Aoko wanted to use magic, then she won too. Isn't that how battles between magi work? If you achieve your objective, you've won."

Michael unconsciously patted Alice Kuonji's soft head. Feeling the warm palm atop her head, Alice Kuonji's body suddenly stiffened.

"Mm—"

Noticing Alice Kuonji's reaction, Michael withdrew his hand. "Sorry."

Alice Kuonji said nothing, though an enticing blush appeared on her face.

The two walked quietly onward. Michael carried Aozaki Aoko not on his back or tucked under his arm, but cradled in front of him with both hands so that she could sleep in his embrace.

"Then did you win?"

After a while, Alice Kuonji's voice broke the silence between them. She brushed aside a loose strand of hair by her ear and asked in a deliberately casual tone.

"Of course I won. It was a huge victory, too."

"By the way, Mikaeru-kun, what exactly did Aoko do when she cursed Touko?"

"Words possess power, so naturally, curses can be cast through words."

"I see. Oh, right, what kind of curse did Aoko cast?"

"Apparently, it was a curse that would turn her into a frog if she entered this city. Aoko really has a nasty sense of humor."

"Eh—Aoko shouldn't have learned that kind of advanced curse that transforms the body yet."

"So there's no need to worry about backlash from the curse. After all, the person who cast it hasn't learned the curse yet. At Aoko's learning pace, she'll need at least another ten years."

Alice Kuonji seemed unable to understand Michael's words. If Aoko had not yet learned that curse, then how had she placed it on Touko?

"Maybe that's the wonder of magic. Still, Aoko's pretty heavy. Let's hurry back. Lying on a soft sofa and drinking hot tea sounds like it couldn't get any better."

"Does Mikaeru-kun think Aoko is heavy?"

Alice Kuonji tentatively tossed the question at Michael beside her.

"I wouldn't say she's very heavy. About as heavy as one and a half big baskets of apples."

Noticing Alice's expectant gaze, Michael found it somewhat baffling, but he answered honestly anyway.

"One and a half big baskets of apples..."

Alice Kuonji repeated it thoughtfully. She was much shorter than Aoko. By Michael's method of calculation, perhaps she weighed about one big basket of apples?

But why use apples as a unit of comparison?!

"If Aoko heard you say that, it would be a disaster."

A mischievous smile appeared at the corner of her lips, carrying the playful implication that she would tattle to Aoko later.

"You've been led astray by Aoko, Alice."

"Have I? Maybe that was always my personality?"

"An innocent-looking black-hearted type? I get it, I get it."

"What is an innocent-looking black-hearted type?"

"A complimentary term for someone honest, kind, united, and caring."

"Lying is not a good habit."

Alice Kuonji turned her face away and quickened her pace.

"All right. But Alice, you actually said so much today. That's pretty rare. Could it be that something made you happy?"

He only heard Alice's cold snort carried over by the Night Wind. Her steps grew faster and faster, leaving Michael far behind.

"So girls' minds really are more complicated than magecraft. Who knows what they're thinking?"

Mikaeru-kun muttered as he carried Aoko and hurried after her. The castle in the forest awaited the heroes' triumphant return. Though, in a sense, they were neither heroes nor had they returned in triumph, the result was a Happy End regardless, so there was no need to dwell on such trivial details.