novelraw Chapter 39: Power of Love
Chapter 39: Power of Love
Sein’s transformation flickered around her, the crimson dress dimming and brightening in uneven pulses as the dark energy within her fought against the new magical girl power.
Andrey’s voice cut through the tension. "With this, the corrosion should have stopped, right, System?"
Sein, still lying on the narrow couch, stared down at herself in disbelief. Her hands trembled as she touched the flame-shaped accents on her skirt. "What... what is this?!"
System: That’s correct, Host. However, because the corrosion had already progressed so far—97% at contract—the dark energy has deeply embedded itself in Sein’s soul. Simple containment isn’t enough. We need to actively purify it.
Sein’s confusion twisted into fury. She lunged upward, grabbing Andrey by the collar of his shirt and yanking him down to her eye level. Her crimson dress rustled with the movement, the short hem riding up her thighs.
"Oi, Glasses! What is the meaning of this? What did you do to me?!"
Andrey didn’t flinch, even with her face inches from his. "Because you’re now contracted as a Magical Girl. That outfit comes with the territory."
Sein’s eyes widened. "Magical... Girl?" Her voice dripped with disbelief and disgust. "I never agreed to anything like that! And what the hell is this outfit? It’s too feminine!" She tugged at the hem of her dress, her face flushing whether from embarrassment or anger, it was hard to tell.
"You did agree," Andrey said calmly, though his collar was still twisted in her grip. "You said ’fine, do it.’ The contract is binding. And it’s the only thing keeping the corrosion from killing you."
Sein opened her mouth to retort—
And then the pain hit.
"Ah... ngh...!"
Her hands flew to her head, releasing Andrey’s collar. She doubled over on the couch, clutching her temples, her face contorted in agony. The dark veins that had receded earlier were flickering back, threading across her forehead and down her neck.
"W-what is this...? My head feels like it’s being pierced...!"
Andrey caught her shoulders, steadying her. "Hey—Sein! Hold on!"
He turned his head sharply. "System! You said the contract would stop the corrosion!"
System: As I explained, Host—because the corrosion had progressed so far, Sein’s body has become extremely vulnerable. The new Magical Girl energy feels foreign to her system. Her soul is rejecting it, and the dark energy is exploiting that rejection.
Andrey’s mind raced. "So we need to strengthen the Magical Girl energy inside her. Make it stronger than the dark energy, so it can overpower and eliminate it completely?"
System: Correct! You’re so smart, Host~ 15 affection points for you! ❤️
Andrey turned back to Sein. Her breathing was ragged, her orange hair plastered to her sweat-damp forehead. The dark veins pulsed at her temples, spreading slowly despite the crimson glow of her dress.
"Sein." His voice was firm, cutting through the haze of her pain. "Listen to me. If you want to live you have to fight. Don’t let that energy beat you. Push back."
Sein’s eyes, glassy and unfocused, found his. She looked weak—so different from the arrogant S-rank who had dismissed him in the plaza. But beneath the pain, something flickered. Stubbornness. Pride. The same fire that had made her an S-rank in the first place.
She gritted her teeth. "I... I’m not... going to let some... dark mana... take me down..."
System: Now, Host. It’s time. Make Sein feel the power of love~ ❤️
The pink barrier around them pulsed, thickening further until the outside world was completely muffled. Andrey could no longer hear the distant footsteps or muffled voices from the corridor. The room was sealed—soundproof, isolated, private.
Andrey looked at the barrier, then back at Sein. His internal thoughts surfaced: ’This barrier... it’s thicker than usual.’
System: The barrier is fully deployed! Soundproofing complete. External interference blocked. You’re welcome, Host~ Now get to work! Sein-chan needs lots and lots of affection to stabilize. Don’t hold back!
Sein, still clutching her head, looked around at the shimmering pink walls. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion cutting through the pain. "What... what is this? What’s happening?"
Andrey took a slow breath, steadying himself. He knelt beside the couch, bringing himself to her eye level.
"Sein. The only way to purge the dark energy completely is to strengthen your Magical Girl energy. And the fastest way to do that..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "...is through physical intimacy. Skin-to-skin contact. The system calls it ’affection.’ It’s how the power bonds and grows."
Sein’s face went through a rapid series of expressions—confusion, disbelief, then deep, burning embarrassment.
Her cheeks flushed a vivid red that clashed spectacularly with her crimson dress. She looked away, unable to meet Andrey’s steady gaze, her hands hovering defensively over her chest.
"Y-you’re saying I have to... with you?!" Her voice cracked, the usual sharpness replaced by something much more flustered.
Andrey kept his voice calm, though his own ears were pink. "I know it’s not ideal. But the corrosion is spreading again. We don’t have time."
Sein’s jaw tightened. She could feel the dark energy pulsing at her temples, the familiar ache creeping back. Her pride screamed at her to refuse, to shove him away and find another way. But the memory of that pain—the feeling of her soul being eaten alive—was still fresh.
"...Fine." The word came out as a strained whisper. "But if you lie, I’ll kill you."
Andrey nodded once. "Trust me."
He reached for the straps of her crimson dress.
The fabric was warm beneath his fingers, almost alive with residual mana. Sein flinched as his knuckles brushed her bare shoulders, but she didn’t pull away. Her hands gripped the edge of the couch cushion instead, knuckles white.
Andrey slid the thin straps down her arms slowly, deliberately, giving her every chance to change her mind. The crimson material pooled at her waist, revealing a simple black sports bra underneath—practical, no frills.
He paused, looking at her face. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her lips pressed into a thin line. The dark veins at her temples pulsed visibly.
"I’m going to touch you now," he said quietly. "Tell me if it hurts."
Sein didn’t open her eyes. "Just... get it over with."
Andrey placed his palms on her bare stomach.
Her skin was hot but beneath the heat, he could feel the faint, struggling pulse of her new Magical Girl power.
He pressed his hands flat, spreading warmth across her abdomen. Ki energy flowed from his palms, gentle at first, then deeper. Sein gasped, her eyes flying open.
"Wha—what is that?!"
"Ki," Andrey said, not stopping. "It’s different from mana. It might help stabilize you."
Sein’s breath hitched as the warmth spread through her body, pushing back against the cold ache of the corrosion. Her muscles relaxed despite themselves, her grip on the couch loosening.
"That’s... actually helping..." she admitted, her voice reluctant.
Andrey didn’t answer. He slid his hands upward, over her ribs, thumbs brushing the underside of her breasts through the sports bra. Sein’s breath caught again—this time not from pain.
"Hey—"
"Trust me," Andrey said, meeting her eyes. "I know what I’m doing."
Sein’s face burned, but she didn’t stop him. She couldn’t. The dark energy was receding, the veins at her temples fading as the warmth spread through her chest.
Andrey’s hands cupped her breasts over the thin fabric. He could feel her heart pounding—fast, erratic, not just from the corrosion. He pressed gently, kneading in slow circles, and Sein’s composure cracked.
"Anh—!"
A small, shocked sound escaped her lips. She clamped a hand over her mouth immediately, eyes wide with mortification.
Andrey didn’t comment. He continued the slow massage, his thumbs finding her nipples through the sports bra, circling them with light pressure. Sein’s hips shifted on the couch, her thighs pressing together.
"Ngh... this is... so embarrassing..." she muttered behind her hand.
"The barrier is soundproof," Andrey said. "No one can hear you."
"That’s not—I don’t—" She cut herself off with another soft moan as his thumbs pressed a little harder.
The dark veins were almost gone now, retreating from her temples, her neck, her arms. The crimson glow of her dress brightened, pulsing in time with her heartbeat.
System: Stabilization at 45%... 52%... 68%... Keep going, Host! Sein-chan is responding well~ ❤️
Andrey leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "We’re almost there. Just a little more."
Sein’s hand dropped from her mouth. Her eyes were half-lidded, glassy with a mix of pain, pleasure, and sheer overwhelming sensation.
"You... you’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" she accused weakly.
Andrey’s lips twitched. "I’m saving your life."
"You’re copping a feel."
"I’m multitasking."
Sein let out a strangled laugh and then Andrey’s mouth was on her neck, kissing, sucking, and she forgot how to laugh entirely.
Her back arched off the couch, her hands flying to his shoulders. Holding on.
"Ahhn—! W-wait—!"
Andrey didn’t wait. His hands slid under her sports bra, pushing the fabric up to expose her breasts. Her nipples were already hard, sensitive from the earlier stimulation. He took one into his mouth without hesitation, sucking gently.
Sein’s cry was muffled only by the barrier’s thick walls.
"Anhh—!! Glasses—!"
"Andrey," he murmured against her skin. "My name is Andrey."
"Andrey anhh—" She gasped his name like it was torn from her, her fingers tangling in his hair. "Andrey hyaa—that’s—too much—!"
The system’s meter in his vision was climbing rapidly.
System: Stabilization 82%... 89%... 95%... Almost there, Host!
Andrey switched to her other breast, his tongue swirling around the sensitive peak. His free hand slid down her stomach, over her navel, fingers hooking into the waistband of her dress and the black panties beneath.
Sein’s entire body tensed.
"Andrey nhha—"
"Last push," he said, voice muffled against her skin.
He slid his hand lower.
And Sein Alpis, former S-rank hero, proud and prickly and utterly out of her depth, let out a sound that was neither a scream nor a moan but something raw and vulnerable and completely, devastatingly honest.
"H-Hyann!! Cumminggg—!!"
System: Stabilization 100%! Corrosion halted! Purification successful! Sein Alpis is now a fully stabilized Magical Girl. Affection base: 45 points. Welcome to the team, Sein-chan~ ❤️
The dark veins vanished completely. The crimson glow of her dress steadied, no longer flickering. Sein collapsed back against the couch, chest heaving, her face flushed, her eyes wide and unfocused.
Andrey withdrew his hands slowly, carefully, and sat back on his heels. His own breathing was uneven, his heart pounding.
"It’s done," he said quietly. "You’re safe."
Sein stared at the ceiling for a long moment. Then, slowly, she raised one trembling hand and covered her face.
"...I can’t believe I let you do that," she whispered.
Andrey adjusted his glasses, which had gone slightly askew. "You didn’t ’let’ me. You needed it to survive."
"That doesn’t make it less embarrassing."
A pause.
"...Thank you," she added, so quietly he almost missed it.
Andrey stood, offering her a hand. "You’re welcome. Now get up. We need to find Sarah and Lisa before they come looking for me."
Sein took his hand, pulling herself upright. Her legs were still a little shaky, but the pain was gone. The dark energy was gone. She felt... light. Clear-headed for the first time in weeks.
The pink barrier faded, dissolving into harmless sparkles. The sounds of the Association corridor—footsteps, muffled conversations, the distant hum of the ventilation—rushed back in.
Andrey straightened his shirt and opened the door.
Sein followed him out, her head held high, her cheeks still faintly pink.
Neither of them mentioned what had just happened.
The system, of course, was not so discreet.
System: Teehee~ That was beautiful, you two~ I give it five out of five hearts! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Andrey and Sein spoke at the same time, their voices flat and perfectly synchronized.
""Shut up.""