Chapter 116.5

Chapter 116.5

[Part 5/5]

Tamaki unintentionally let out a dumbfounded voice at the unexpected turn of events. Surprisingly, the bear was also wide-eyed and surprised. And then...

'Grrrrrrr!!?'

Immediately after, combustible fuel, secretly prepared by the old man, erupted powerfully with flames from somewhere unknown. The bear youkai, in a state of panic, was sent charging forward, raising dust and leaving the sound behind. It even surpassed the escaping hibachi. And then... it crashed with its rotating horns from the face that was teary-eyed.

'Gwaaaah!?'

With a scream, it smashed through the door. Boldly. Piercing through it, it plowed through the earthen wall behind it. '(;^o^) You're cornered now! One-hit sure-kill!!' or some incomprehensible gibberish seemed to echo, but Tamaki couldn't be bothered. The important thing was that the escape route of the fleeing hibachi had been blocked.

"...Wait, do you mean to say that wasn't even its full power?"

'The power I released, yes. It's nothing to be surprised about.'

"I am surprised! And, that wasn't its own power, right? Bear-san was surprised too, right? I mean, it was definitely crying, right!?"

What was that acceleration method? It was terrible, no, it was beyond terrible! Tamaki couldn't help but break the seriousness of the situation with her exclamation. Even if the bear was a modified youkai, there's a limit. There's no justification for being pushed around like that, probably.

'It's good to have compassion. However, that's not the point now. Look, that hibachi is trying to escape into the labyrinth again.'

Being destroyed by the door or the means of it, perhaps they were stunned. The hibachi and its subordinates hesitated for a moment before finally recalling their route and changing direction. Unable to escape to another room right away, they tried to flee into the endlessly continuing and intricate maze.

"Ugh!! That's right, I can't let them escape...!!"

Once Tamaki remembered that, she regained her composure and tried to resume the pursuit... but she felt a presence behind her. Quickly, she swung the Dagger (tantō) with the uninjured hand.

With a metallic sound, the blade was deflected. She staggered slightly. When she looked ahead, she saw it with a flustered and pained expression on her face. It wasn't just because of the injury to her pierced palm.

"Shishimai-san...!!"

Tamaki swung the dagger once again towards Shishimai Asami, who had a half-beast-like appearance. The clash of the dagger and claws resonated repeatedly...

'Grr!? Unbelievable, how much have you grown in such a short time...!!?'

"Shishimai-san, please step back!! Don't interfere with me...!!"

Shishimai shouted in astonishment at Tamaki, who had become much more skilled since their last encounter. Meanwhile, Tamaki earnestly pleaded with her, begging her to comply.

"Don't be absurd!! I have my own priorities here!! I can't die in a place like this...!!"

At the same time, Shishimai intensified her assault in opposition to Tamaki's request. She increased her attack, but she still couldn't break through. Despite her turmoil, Tamaki adeptly evaded Shishimai's attacks with the best of her abilities. With each passing second, her movements became even more refined. Shishimai came to realize the truth of the situation; the balance of power was slowly but steadily tilting in Tamaki's favor. She was reminded of the difference in their inherent talents.

'Grr!?'

Moreover, the counterattacks Tamaki launched were enough to make Shishimai feel threatened. Even in her semi-youkai form, they were at a stalemate. The balance's scale, aimed at Tamaki, was gradually tipping further every two hours. She was made aware of the difference in their innate abilities.

'Grr!?'

Eventually, Shishimai suffered an injury. The half-lion's face contorted in pain. However, Tamaki's expression was even more agonizing, turning pale and looking like she was about to cry. In contrast, Shishimai displayed an irritated expression, as if her emotions were being played with.

'Grr... huh?'

And then, Shishimai Asami finally became aware of the abnormality. Come to think of it, she hadn't felt her own heartbeat for a long time. Despite facing numerous intruders, she couldn't recall feeling her heart pounding. She had been out of breath at times, but she couldn't remember experiencing the intense palpitations of her heart. Why was that?

'Huh...?'

And she realized something else. After intense battles, her body never felt hot. In fact, it was quite the opposite. When she touched her own body, it was terrifyingly cold, as if she were a corpse.

'...'

At some point, the strength to keep clashing with Tamaki had left. The lion returned to its human form. The girl stared at Tamaki. Tamaki tightly closed her mouth, nodding with a tragic expression. Shishimai Asami, through the tears in her torn clothes, touched her chest where she had felt her heart. She touched it hesitantly.

Under her clothes, there was a hole piercing her heart.

"Ah..."

Tamaki lowered her head in frustration and sorrow. And Shishimai Asami remembered. She remembered that scene.

Assigned to her room, in the vicious space where intruders could not leave until there was only one left, Shishimai Asami had been continuously used as a gatekeeper and a corpse handler, according to the contract...

"Ah, ah..."

How many times, dozens of times, had she fulfilled her role? The end came suddenly. Among the countless and diverse youkai, beasts, and humans, only two remained. She immediately recognized the origin of the one dressed in a familiar black clothes. It was a servant.

"Aaaah...!"

Since the last two refused to kill each other no matter how much time passed, her turn came. She warned them, and then attacked, forcibly reducing the number of survivors to one.

"Aaaahhhhh!!?"

And she faced off against the one who had audaciously challenged her to a fight. Shocked, stunned, astounded. Her heart was pierced by a vile trap, and she cut off the other party body diagonally from the head to at least take him with her.

At the same time, the mask her opponent wore was torn away. As she spat blood, she looked at the detestable face of her opponent and Shishimai Asami opened her eyes wide in despair.

"AaaAAAaaAAaaAAaaAAaaaAAahhhhhh!!!??"

In her final moments, the last thing she saw was the female servant who rushed to embrace the lifeless body of the man she had loved, cursing her with all her might...

Little fifth-grade loli: "Bankai... Zanka no Tachi, South: Great Burial Ranks of the Ten Trillion Fire Dead'!!"

Fan art:

Title: Botan Illustrations Compilation: Tsundere is cute.

URL: here

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