Chapter 174-3

Chapter 174-3

[Part 3/4]

And then Akane pointed at me with confidence.

"Oni-san!"

"Who's Oni?"

Then Akane pointed at herself.

"Dragon!"

"Not a lizard?"

Then Akane declared she was taking a strong stance.

"Let's go! Like Oni-dragon!!"

"Wait a minute. That's not good at all!"

It was only natural that I wouldn't say that out loud until now, but it was no good.

"Huh? Why not? Since Oni and Dragon are together, it's Oni-Dragon, right?"

"Call it Sensei and lizard instead."

Sensei isn't a proper noun, and it's too much to call you Dragpm. Oh no, don't boo.

"I'm dragon! I'm absolutely dragon!!"

"Will you be the one who is defeated?"

She must have been influenced by some imported picture book from the Tachibana Trading Company or something. It's ridiculous.

"Fine, fine. I'll take you along. So don't cause a ruckus, okay?"

"It's a given!"

"But don't let me worry from the first move...?"

I was worried even before I answered Akane's loud voice.

"Haa. Alright, let's go... umm?"

I reluctantly gave in, and before I could even take a step, someone grabbed my sleeve and pulled me along, her eyes fixed on me.

...There was a cow-girl grabbing my sleeve with both hands.

"No, don't sell her, don't do that. Don't sell Akane-oneechan..."

"..."

I was at a loss, looking up at the sky, wondering what to do as the little girl pleaded with me in tears....

I warned Shiro and opened the shouji paper door. The room was dimly lit, and I couldn't see ahead.

"...?"

Was it dark? Did the sun set? I turned around reflexively. The intense sunlight was shining mercilessly. I turned back to face the front.

"What's...?"

I took a step forward, but it was careless and reckless. This was the mansion protected by Azuma Hibari's curse. I was taking it lightly because I was used to it.

As I stepped into the room, something long and white wrapped around my ankle at the same time.

"Ah...!!?"

I tried to turn around and escape, but it was all in vain. Something white wrapped around my wrists and neck. Before I knew it, I was dragged to the back of the room.

"Oni-san!!?"

"What's going on!!?"

The two kids rushed into the room with shocked faces, following me as I was being dragged. Idiots! Don't come in!!?

"Hngh, ng!!?"

Before I could shout to stop them, a white fur covered my field of vision, enveloping me...

"Nh...?"

When I regained consciousness, I was restrained. White cloth was wrapped around me from all directions――around my torso, arms, legs, and neck, capturing me, binding me, and suspending me in mid-air.

"..."

I remained silent, only moving my gaze to observe my surroundings. It was an extremely bizarre space. White cloth hung from the ceiling, scattered all over the place, making it hard to sense distance. The visual chaos was disorienting.

"!? Akane, and Ume too...!!"

After a brief observation, I finally found them. Two kids, similar to me, were captured and suspended in the air, caught by the cloth, and hung limp, unconscious.

"Ku, I'll help you..."

"Ho, you're finally awake?"

The moment I tried to break free from the cloth restraints, a soft, whispery voice spoke in my ear. And a moment later, something gently stroked my cheek with a warm, smooth sensation, making my body tremble unintentionally.

Then, I froze at the sound of that voice. I slowly moved my gaze from the hole in the wall, and my eyes met hers.

A white woman was there, her cheek touching mine. A white fox was there. White was there. No, this is...!?

"Ruri... Shiraki?"

Astonishment, agitation, and her name were intertwined, as the almost naked vixen with 9 white tails fluttered them, responding with a bewitching and ominous smile that seemed to pierce through anywhere.

It was a beauty that could eat its prey alive, a carnivorous beast in disguise....