Chapter 337: Afterlife

In the past, she would certainly have taken this as an attempt on her life. But now, listening to those calm, gentle words, she inexplicably felt that the other woman wouldn’t hurt her.

If the other woman wanted to kill her, erase her consciousness, or take over her body… she really didn’t need to go through such a complicated, roundabout process.

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She knew she wasn’t worth that much.

Besides…

Teresa might actually have a way.

Vivi lifted her head and looked at Sis Yi across from her. Without hesitation, she made her choice. “Sis Yi, I want twelve E-grade magic potions.”

“That’ll be 1,500 credit points, right?”

The blond woman fell silent for a moment.

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“Are you sure you understand what you’re getting yourself into?”

“I do.” Vivi took a deep breath, her voice firm. “I have a way to deal with it.”

Sis Yi gazed into her eyes, her tone inexplicably grave. “For something so vague and meaningless, you’re even willing to throw your life away?”

“You’ve seen the news. You should know how difficult this year’s trials will be.”

“If I were you, I’d give up sooner rather than let sunk costs dictate the rest of my life.”

“…”

Those words went far beyond the relationship between a customer and a seller. They were even more out of place coming from a superhuman of unknown strength to someone as weak as Vivi.

Even someone as stubborn and socially inept as Vivi could tell that the other woman’s tone held a concern and kindness she normally wouldn’t have shown.

Ever since the day they met seven or eight years ago, Sis Yi had always treated her differently from everyone else. Vivi had kept that kindness in her heart all this time.

And Sis Yi had never hidden her dislike of magical girls… as if she had some past connected to them.

But now, faced with the other woman’s gaze, the white-haired girl simply spoke, softly but firmly. “It isn’t vague and meaningless.”

She spoke each word with conviction. “I’m going to become a magical girl, no matter what!”

“…”

Looking into those clear, orange-yellow eyes, where the light of magic power shimmered, the blond woman’s expression seemed to grow unfocused for a fleeting instant.

It was as if, through those hopeful eyes, she could see memories from a very distant past.

Sis Yi lowered her head. A few seconds passed before she looked up again, her expression restored, even somewhat cold.

“Fine, then.”

Before long, with a soft click, a small opening appeared in the wall above the metal table.

A silver metal tray slowly slid out. Twelve glass tubes filled with bright yellow liquid were lined up neatly on it.

In the dim light, the clear potions glimmered with an alluring yet dangerous magical light.

Vivi paid without hesitation, then carefully tucked the twelve magic potions into the padded compartment of her one-shoulder bag.

Patting the bulging bag, Vivi stood up. Then, as if she had just remembered something, she asked the blond woman across from her, “Sis Yi, do you know of any jobs I could do to make money fast? I don’t mind if they’re dangerous.”

She’d just come into a windfall yesterday, but becoming a magical girl would burn through money, and this was nowhere near enough.

How could she become a magical girl without money?

Besides, now that she had the unfathomable “former magical girl” Teresa backing her up, Vivi felt a lot more confident.

Sis Yi shook her head. “Are you sure you’ve come to the right place?”

She fished another cigarette from her pocket and put it between her lips, her tone tinged with mockery.

“This is the End Bar, not the Afterlife.”

Vivi shrugged. “I already asked around over there. There’s no work.”

“That’s because you’re too weak. There are plenty of things you can’t handle.”

“…Tch.”

Just as the white-haired girl turned to leave, Sis Yi seemed to think of something and added in a casual tone,

“Come to think of it… Maine’s been looking to bring in some trustworthy newcomers lately. He’s been asking around.”

Vivi stopped in her tracks and blinked in surprise. “Maine’s recruiting? Why didn’t he tell me?”

Sis Yi took another drag on her cigarette. Blue-gray smoke blurred her face. “Do you think officially joining is the same thing as picking up odd jobs now and then?”

“Her standards are extremely high. With your half-baked skills, there’s a good chance you won’t meet her requirements. You’d be wasting your time asking.”

“But… since you’re already prepared to charge ahead without caring whether you live or die, maybe you have a chance of making the cut.”

Although the woman in front of her didn’t seem to think much of her, she had undoubtedly just pointed her toward an opportunity.

“Got it.”

The white-haired girl walked to the hidden door, then suddenly stopped and turned around to meet the other woman’s gaze again.

At the same time,

the pink-haired figure appeared beside her, looking toward the woman called Sis Yi with eyes the same orange-yellow as Vivi’s.

For an instant, their gazes seemed to meet in the empty space between them.

Though only one of them could see the other.

Still, the pink-haired girl’s eyes seemed to flicker faintly.

Vivi didn’t notice.

“…Thanks, Sis Yi.”

The blond woman said nothing. She waved lightly, and the cigarette in her hand burned down to its end.

As the hidden door closed again, shutting out the clamor of the basement, the woman’s ramrod-straight back finally relaxed a little.

She reached out and gently rubbed the small box hanging from the metal necklace on her chest, staring absentmindedly at the tightly shut hidden door.

Only after a long while did she let out a sigh so faint it was almost inaudible.

……………

After leaving the End Bar, Vivi returned to the street.

“You know that Maine?”

The pink-haired girl in the white dress appeared beside a streetlamp and walked along with her.

“Yeah. He’s one of the people who helped me, just like Sis Yi.”

Vivi explained in her mind, “Back when I ran away from the orphanage, those people wanted to drag me back and harvest my kidneys.”

“Maine happened to be passing by and rescued me. He said I was pretty fast for a kid.”

“I used to get most of my side jobs through his introductions. He was the one who introduced me to Sis Yi, too.”

Perhaps remembering those powerless days had made Vivi’s tone complicated.

“Anyway, he’s definitely strong. He controls several streets all by himself. Everyone’s afraid of him, but for some reason, he keeps a low profile, just like Sis Yi… Even though I know him, the bar for joining the team he leads is definitely high.”

“But if I can get in, maybe I can do missions with them and make a fortune!”

“This is the most realistic path I can see right now!”

Vivi turned to look at the pink-haired girl’s angelic face beside her, her expression suddenly lighting up with excitement. “So, Teresa, whether I can get past this hurdle is all up to you.”

“Especially when it comes to the meditation technique!”

Excitement shone across the white-haired girl’s face.