Ruri waited until Ryu stopped before speaking up. "Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, Lord Ryu, we would have been in grave danger."
"Yeah, yeah!" Chika, still shaken, patted her ample chest in fright. "That scared me to death! I can't believe there are actual ghosts—"
"It's surprising to find such a large wild boar in these mountains, which aren't even that remote."
Ryu glanced over his shoulder. "I'm just glad you two are okay."
"A w-wild boar?"
Chika immediately wanted to argue. Her biological instincts told her that thing was no simple creature. If it had been an ordinary wild boar, Ryu would have had no reason to fire bullets by the kilogram.
Besides, there was that assault rifle with what seemed like infinite ammo... There was no way Ryu could have been hiding all that on his person!
Yet, before she could speak, her small hand was gripped by Ruri's. The slightly firm pressure made her instinctively shut her mouth.
"Huh?"
"Chika-san, you must be frightened. That was, without a doubt, just a wild boar, albeit a bit larger than usual."
Ruri looked her seriously in the eyes. "Since Lord Ryu has said so, all we need to do is believe him. If you have any questions, perhaps we can discuss them later when we have time, Lady Chika."
The maid had used a title of respect—Chika pressed her lips together and, after a moment of hesitation, slowly nodded.
"Wonderful~"
Ruri smiled in relief, then turned to Ryu, who had his back to them, and called out, "Thank you again for saving us. What should we do now? Wait here for rescue?"
"No. Since an accident has occurred, it's not appropriate to continue the test of courage. Let's end it here."
Ryu's tone was like he was giving an order, with no intention of consulting them.
"You two just head straight back. The shrine priests should be right behind you. On your way, tell the remaining three participants that the contest has been canceled due to disruption by wildlife."
"Three? One team is the two from the tabletop game club, but... what about Miss Yotsuya Mieruko, who was teamed up with you?" Ruri asked, confused.
"...I feel a bit bad about that. When you run into her, please tell her I'm sorry."
"I understand!"
Ruri pondered for a moment. After figuring it out, her gaze toward Ryu softened with gratitude.
It was obvious. After receiving the message, Ryu had immediately abandoned Yotsuya Mieruko and rushed to the shrine at top speed, arriving just in time to save them from the monster's jaws. Along the way, he had probably encountered the shrine priests and the pair from the tabletop game club, but he didn't even stop, simply ignoring them.
Poor Mieruko, left all alone, was undoubtedly pitiful. But from Ruri's perspective, a Ryu who would unhesitatingly abandon others to choose her side... filled her with a sense of security!
Consequently, she felt it was her responsibility to apologize to Mieruko. She had to soothe her properly and ensure no resentment lingered. As Lord Ryu's right-hand woman, she had to cover for his oversights~
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"There are still some things to take care of." Ryu shook his head, the reflection of the charred boar carcass visible in his pupils.
Ruri responded seriously, "I understand."
She neither wanted to probe into what "things" he had to do, nor was she curious about where he had gotten the firearm and ammunition. For Ruri, the most important thing was to carry out her master's orders and ensure he had nothing to worry about.
Fujiwara Chika, on the other hand, was a bundle of questions, but because the situation wasn't right, she couldn't find a moment to ask them.
She watched as Ryu and the maid spoke back and forth, quickly and decisively reaching a consensus. A sense of perfect harmony and tacit understanding bloomed between them—and it made her feel strange inside.
Annoyed...
She knew Ruri and Ryu had just saved her, and she knew this wasn't the time to be pouty or throw a tantrum, but she couldn't help it... she was annoyed.
Why do you two have this vibe like no outsider can get a word in?
This kind of complete, unconditional trust between two people... you'd rarely see it even in a married couple, right?
Of course, it wasn't that this was a bad thing. After all, her surname was Fujiwara, not Kuse. She had no standing and no reason to be jealous—no, this wasn't jealousy, just a little dissatisfaction that her childhood friend was ignoring her.
"Ryu-chan..." Chika had wanted to say more, but she stopped herself. Taking a deep breath, she put on a bright, warm smile.
"Be careful, okay? We still have to go home together!"
"Yeah!"
Ryu couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry, I know the principle of running away if I can't win."
—
"They should have met up with the others by now. Once all the shrine priests have gathered, things will be fine. Let's just say tonight's little adventure is over."
Ryu seemed to be muttering to himself, pacing back and forth in the courtyard while keeping his eyes fixed on the "wild boar."
His finger was still on the trigger, his gaze as sharp as a blade. Suddenly, he said in a low voice, "If there's still room for negotiation, perhaps we can discuss terms."
[...]
The area was completely silent. No one responded to Ryu's words.
"...Although I can't see clearly, I can vaguely perceive the presence of spiritual bodies. A powerful demonic god like you possessing a beast is like wearing a suit of armor—it's incredibly conspicuous."
Ryu gave a wry smile. "Others might not be able to see it, but you can't fool me."
[...]
Still no response.
He let out a breath.
The man let out a breath, and the entire atmosphere lightened, as if a great weight had been lifted from his mind.
It seemed the "evil spirit" had been destroyed or driven off. He didn't need to worry so much—
ROAR!
A deep growl erupted from the corpse, and Ryu's expression changed instantly.
Crack, crack, crack...
The corpse's silhouette suddenly began to distort. A thick, black shadow seeped out of the charred flesh, slowly rising like boiling asphalt!
The shadow coalesced in mid-air, gradually forming a hideous demon's head—with a blue face, long fangs, crimson eyes, and disheveled, pale-white hair that danced like flames.
"Human..." the demon's head let out a hoarse growl, its voice seeming to emanate from the abyss. "You dare destroy my body... How rude. Are the samurai of this era all so weak that they only dare to fight with teppo (rifles)?"
Ryu's expression remained unchanged. He lowered the muzzle of his gun and took a step back, his tone carrying a hint of probing. "So you understand human speech. How about we each take a step back? You leave this place, and I'll pretend nothing ever happened."
He said this with all sincerity, but in his mind, he had already decided to come back with a few tons of industrial explosives and blow this place sky-high!
"Hahaha~"
The demon's head let out a piercing laugh filled with scorn, then declared, "You need not fear. I am no evil spirit, but a mountain god who was once worshipped by the people.
I was once a revered being, ensuring good weather and bountiful harvests for the region. But then an ambitious samurai came here, seeking to build his legacy, and he even usurped my divine power.
Not only that, but after he achieved fame and success, he grew fearful of my power and maliciously sealed me away in this mountain!"
The head's voice carried a strange vibration that sent waves of drowsiness over Ryu's mind, making him involuntarily believe its words.
"Now, all you have to do is enter the shrine and draw that wandering samurai's personal sword. Then I will be free, and I can grant you any wish you desire!"
"Really?!"
Ryu's eyes glazed over, his face filled with excitement and longing.
The head laughed heartily, very pleased with Ryu's performance. "Of course! Be it inexhaustible wealth, a lifespan beyond that of ordinary men, the status of a lord over a province and a castle, or even the most beautiful women in this world!
Speak, young samurai! What is your dream?"
"I want..."
Ryu murmured, "I want all of humanity to understand one another and journey to the sea of stars!"
Sukuna Demon: "......"
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