"First, let me expin the rules."

  Sumeragi-san took off the ring on her ring finger and pced it on the table. She was surrounded by a red aura, and waves of red magic envelope me.

  "The witch's question and answer session is originally a ritual to uncover each other's true feelings. If the answering party tells a lie, the ruby on the ring will sparkle. The other rules are as Kuro taught Yuya before."

  That ring is like a lie detector.

  "I will ask you a question. I will answer what Yuya wants to know."

  I'm a little curious as to why Sumeragi-san didn't call Big sister by name.

  "I will ask. Why do you call Big sister 'Kuro'?"

  "It's a name that is only used among witches. Because witches are immortal and ageless, they often change their names. It's too troublesome to remember everyone's names, so we call each other by our witch names. By the way, it's forbidden for non-witches to refer to someone by their witch name. The witch being called gets angry in an instant."

  Because his sister is a bck witch, she's called Kuro. Is the Witch's name based on their constitution?

  "I will ask. What exactly are witches?"

  "Exactly as it sounds, women who can use magic and bear curses."

  Curses? He had never heard about that from Big sister... but right now the ruby on the ring aren't fshing..

  "I will ask. What is the constitution of a witch?"

  "Most witches are basically immortal and ageless. I have been with Kuro for over a hundred years."

  Immortal and ageless!? Are there really people with such a constitution? But the ring didn't fshing.

  "I will ask. What are the curses of witches?"

  "Each witch has been cursed differently. The common feature of all the curses is that they all have to do with their sexual desires."

  Sexual desire...?

  "Although there are individual differences, sexual desire must be released regurly. However, a witch's sexual desire cannot be easily satisfied with normal sex or masturbation alone. In Kuro's case... I shouldn't be saying this, but I'll tell you."

  What exactly is the curse of the older sister...?

  "Bck, twisted. To put it simply, it's a curse that is simir to abnormal sexual preferences, not satisfied with normal sex."

  Not normal sex? What does that mean?

  "I'll ask you. What do you mean by not normal sex?"

  "Just as it sounds. It refers to sexual acts other than one-on-one lovey-dovey sex, such as rape, reverse rape, gang rape, anal sex, cheating sex, deflowering, and other sexual pys. There's no fixed standard. It's like today you want to eat fried rice, tomorrow ramen, the day after tomorrow sushi."

  Is Big sister too sexually open?! A ring!? It's not fshing. Is that really true? But how does Sumeragi-san know so much about Big sister?

  "In the end, only the person in question knows what they want to eat at that moment. It's the same for any sexual preferences. Now, it's my turn to ask a question."

  Me, a question? I'm not sure what a woman I've just met would ask me...

  "I'll ask you. Yuya, do you know about the curse of the Bck Witch?"

  "The curse Sumeragi-san was talking about just now?"

  "No. I guess Kuro didn't tell you... Why did she take on a disciple with these feelings..."

  Does Big sister have another curse?

  "I'll ask you. Does the Bck Witch have another curse?"

  I'll ask Sumeragi-san in return.

  "I'll expin now. Listen, the curse that a witch bears is the curse of their own color. Kuro bears the curse of bck. I bear the curse of red."

  It's about the curse Sumeragi-san mentioned earlier.

  "The disciple of a witch is affected by their master's curse, receiving the witch's curse, in Yuya's case, it's the curse of the Bck Witch. In summary, the Bck Witch's disciple receives the Bck Witch's curse. Do you understand?"

  "Is it a different kind of curse?"

  "Yes, once you become a witch's disciple, you have to bear the witch's curse."

  "May I ask, what is the curse of the Bck Witch?"

  "I don't know."

  You don't know!? You understood Big sister so well, but you don't know what effect it will have on her disciple?

  "In the first pce, Kuro has never taken a disciple. There is no precedent, so there is nothing to refer to. Also, there are individual differences in the effects of the witch's curse. The influence varies depending on the cursed person. Kuro has always been aware of the fear of her own curse, which is why she has never taken a disciple. What is she thinking now?"

  There is nothing to refer to... I also don't understand the motivation for Big sister to take me on as a disciple.

  "May I ask, has there been any changes since Yuya became a witch's disciple?"

  Is it because of becoming Big sister's disciple?

  "...being able to eat good food every day, sleep on a soft bed..."

  "That's not what I mean. Are there any physical, physiological, or psychological changes?"

  Physical changes? I don't think there are many... Oh, wait!

  "When Big sister was raped by the boss, I was very angry. I felt the urge to kill the boss."

  Sumeragi-san listens to what I say while checking if the ring is fshing.

  "At that time, I could almost hear another voice inside my heart."

  "...A voice?"

  Sumeragi-san looked at me as if he had noticed something.

  "Kill him, that voice that sounded like 'I'll definitely kill him' resonating in my heart, some kind of dark emotion exploded. Then, I tore off the zip ties binding my hands."

  "Destructive impulse... like the desire to kill..."

  Sumeragi-san seemed lost in thought.

  "But, there's also the possibility that you're simply angry! Anyone would be if something like that happened to their loved one in front of them!"

  "If it was just simple anger, you wouldn't hear that mysterious voice. And do you really think a child like you could tear off the zip ties? Even with adrenaline, there's a limit."

  That's true...

  "I think the curse of the Bck Witch will start to affect you. Before it causes any major harm, you should separate from Kuro."

  Another parting... Compared to our old life, I don't think this curse is that big of a deal...

  "Why do I have to separate from Big sister?"

  "It's for your own good. If the two of you stay together like this, only a bad outcome awaits."

  I looked at the ring, the gem didn't fshing. Why is Sumeragi-san so sure about this? I don't even know what the future holds for me and Big sister, I don't want to be told what to do by others.

  "Sorry, I think I'll talk it over properly with Big sister and then decide whether or not to part ways. It wouldn't be right to just listen to what the emperor says and decide, that wouldn't be fair to Big sister."

  "I said it for your sake! The curse of the witch is not as simple as you think!"

  Sumeragi-san suddenly became angry, and the red aura emitted from her body became more intense. I felt like I was being engulfed by the red waves...

  "I didn't want to tell you the truth, but if you don't want to break up with Kuro, I will tell you," Sumeragi-san said.

  At this point, it seemed like a simple question and answer session was no longer meaningful. Sumeragi-san was just talking one-sidedly.

  Sumeragi-san took some documents from her red bag and handed them to me.

  "What is this?"

  "You'll understand when you look at it. The real reason why Kuro wants to take you as a disciple."

  I looked at the documents, and the title read, "Slum Investigation and Preparation for Destruction...?"

  Inside were files on several individuals, Boss, Alex... and even my own file. There were also files and documents reted to several other people involved in the slum.

  "Originally, I was in charge of this case. Kuro wanted this case, so I handed it over to her. Kuro taking you as a disciple is also part of the slum investigation," Sumeragi-san expined.

  Was I... being used by Big sister...? It was a fact that I didn't want to believe, but looking at the documents, what Sumeragi-san said might be true...

  "I have a question. Is Big sister really pnning to take me as a disciple?"

  I asked for confirmation once again using the question and answer format.

  "I don't know, you'll have to ask her yourself to find out, right? But one thing is certain, you've been used," Sumeragi-san replied.

  "I don't mind being used! I'll do anything as long as I can be with Big sister!"

  I don't care about curses anymore. My sister was raped by the boss to rescue me. Selfish thoughts, but if Big sister wasn't there, I might have died.

  "Just being able to be together is enough? How much do you understand about the job of a Witch Detective?"

  "The job of a witch detective? What do you mean?"

  I might understand if it was a detective job, but a witch detective?

  "I have a question, what is the job of a witch detective?"

  Because there was a possibility that Sumeragi-san could lie, I asked first.

  "The constitution of a witch, immortality. Because of this, a witch's body is more sturdy than a normal human, so sometimes they sneak into dangerous pces, reconnaissance or destruction are common occurrences. In the case of me and Kuro, sometimes the curse is the reason for using the body. Can you handle that?"

  Suddenly, I remembered the events in the slums.

  "You seem to have an inkling. The incident in the slums. It's almost SOP for the job of a witch detective. Whenever Kuro is in danger, can you handle that?" (TL/N: An SOP - Standard Operating Procedure is a procedure specific to your operation that describes the activities necessary to complete tasks in accordance with industry regutions, provincial ws or even just your own standards for running your business.)

  I don't know... if something like Big sister being raped were to happen repeatedly...

  "I don't know... but if my detective work goes well in the future, the possibility of Big sister being in danger will be lower, right? And besides, Big sister is immortal, so even if she faces some danger... "

  "Yuya, let me tell you. Even if the wounds of a witch's body heal."

  Interrupting my speech, Sumeragi-san seemed to be suppressing her anger as she denied what I said.

  "The scars in her heart won't heal."

  Huh... Emotional scars?

  "Before you have someone important to you, even if you get hurt in the body from the job of a witch detective, it will eventually heal. Even if your body gets dirty from doing dirty work, you'll get used to it."

  Sumeragi-san seemed to be confessing his own experiences.

  "When you have someone important, you realize that your body is no longer just your own. While hurting your body, you also hurt the heart of someone important. Seeing the pain of someone important, your own heart hurts as well."

  The pain I felt when I was restrained in a chair, did Big sister feel the same...?

  "The work that uses the body is especially painful, and even if your loved one understands the nature of the work, the fact that your body and heart are tainted remains unchanged. This is not something that can be solved by you just enduring it. Consider Kuro's feelings too!"

  Big sister's feelings...?

  "I've been holding it in, but I'll say it all now."

  Is there something else?

  "Do you think someone like you, who once betrayed a close friend like Kuro, has the right to be next to Kuro?"

  "Huh...?"

  "The cause of the Slum incident is all because of you. If you hadn't made contact with Kuro, she wouldn't have ended up like that."

  The truth that I had unconsciously been avoiding suddenly came to light. Yes, I betrayed Big sister. The incident of putting drugs in Big sister's drink, the reason she came to the abandoned building to help me, all because of me.

  "Does a traitor like you have the right to be by my best friend's side?"

  A heavy blow of betrayal... there are no words to respond...

  "It seems like the answer is already clear. I need to make various preparations to cancel the witch's contract. Yes, tomorrow at 1pm, come to my office, the address is on the business card. It's not that hard to find. The red building stands out."

  Sumeragi-san handed me a business card from her bag.

  "It's almost time to finish the witch's Q&A session. What do you have to say to finish the ritual?"

  "I know..."

  "Then let's say it together."

  "Witch's Q&A session complete, approved."

  The Q&A session with the Red Witch was now complete.

  "I'll be waiting at the office tomorrow. It's best not to think about running away. I have ways of finding you too. Real men don't run away."

  Sumeragi-san talked and left the house, taking her bag with her.

  The Q&A session with the Red Witch was over. Although tomorrow I was told to go to the Imperial Detective Agency in the afternoon, I still had feelings of wanting to stay with Big sister.

  "I don't want to say goodbye."

  Throughout today, I've thought about our life with Big sister countless times. Just as we overcame one obstacle, a new one appeared. Am I really not meant to be with Big sister? As I looked at Big sister sound asleep in the bedroom, I made up my mind.

  .

  30, 29, 28... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

  I'm back here again.

  30, 29, 28... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

  There is still time until the promised time with Sumeragi-san. After I left Big sister's building, for some reason, I ended up at this traffic light. Maybe this is where it all began.

  "I wonder if Johnny is here, I'll take a peek."

  I remember the first time I met Big sister. I noticed a very beautiful woman in the bakery, and that woman was harassed by Johnny. I decided to get back at Johnny and set off to the bakery. Now I am reminiscing about that day in my head.

  Avoiding pedestrians, I crossed the street to the bakery, opened the gss door, took the desired bread, and intentionally brushed Big sister's chest with my right hand. When I tried to escape, suddenly my body floated in the air. Then I heard Big sister's voice.

  "The bread thief has been caught again!"

  Yes, that's how I ended up floating in the air. After Big sister caught me, I was carried like a backpack on her back and she kidnapped me... Huh? Why am I floating in the air?

  "Hey! Why are you here, sis?"

  "I'm here to catch my disciple who ran away. Hehehe."

  "Let go of me! Put me down! I've already made up my mind! I'm leaving you, sis."

  "Who's going to allow that?"

  "I've made up my mind! Hm...? Isn't the direction of the house the other way? Where are you taking me?"

  I'm currently being grabbed by Big sister with one hand and carried like a rucksack as we head somewhere.

  "It was Yuya's original intention to go there. That red building. We're going to exterminate the evil witch from now on."

  Are we going to the Sumeragi-san's office? What is Big sister pnning to do?

  She took me to the Sumeragi-san's office. The red building. Without even knocking, Big sister used a direct reinforcement magic to kick open the entrance of the red building.

  "EXCUSE ME ! !"

  "...Kuro, you could at least knock. What are you pnning by kicking down someone's door?"

  The Sumeragi-san said to Big sister with an annoyed expression. There was a red paper on the desk, probably something necessary to nullify the witch's contract.

  "I have so many things to ask you! I only asked you to clean up after the slums, and isn't your after-sales service too good? You even prepared a ceremony to nullify the contract. You intend to tell my disciple to leave me!"

  Big sister pointed to the red paper and compined to the Sumeragi-san in a very angry tone.

  "It's for your own good, wouldn't it be a good outcome for you two to stay together like this?"

  "That's not a decision for Beni to make. It's a decision for meand Yuya to make!"

  I felt intense anger from the Bck Witch and the Red Witch.

  "Why did you, the Bck Witch, take on a disciple in the first pce? What are you thinking?"

  "I also want to know why I have to part ways with Yuya. I want to know the reason. What are you thinking?"

  "I want to know each other's true feelings. So, let's py a game that suits us perfectly."

  "Sounds good. For bullying someone's disciple, we'll add interest and return the favor."

  The two witches kissed their own rings, and...

  "In the name of the Red Witch, Sumeragi, execute the Question and Answer of the Witches!"

  "In the name of the Bck Witch, Kurozaki, I will now execute the Question and Answer of the Witches!"

  The Question and Answer session between the Bck Witch and the Red Witch has begun.

  Note: 1The Red Witch's witch name is Beni

  紅” (Beni): This Kanji character means “crimson” or “deep red” in English.“ベニ” (Beni): This is written in Katakana, which is often used for foreign words, names, and onomatopoeic sounds in Japanese. In this context, “ベニ” could be a name, and it would also be “Beni” in English.