Chapter 42

It is the first step that is troublesome. (それは面倒な最初のステップです. Sore wa mendōna saisho no suteppudesu): is the 42nd chapter of the manga written by Kore Yamazaki.

Synopsis
Chise finds herself trapped in one Cartaphilus's spells which have her come face to face with her mother and relive parts of her past. It starts off showing the good parts of her childhood alongside her little brother but also the difficulties they were going through because of there being a Sleigh Beggy in the family. A fragment of Cartaphilus appears before Chise and explains that the new curse will both protect and hurt her, it's also the reason she can see the fragment. Chise's father and brother are capable of protecting them but it doesn't last as the father leaves with their brother and never returns.

Left without their protectors, Chise and her mother goes through a difficult time. The mother struggles with work while trying to keep Chise safe from the beings that want to hurt her, ultimately taking a huge toll on the mother.