A few hours earlier...
Just after the trio had accepted Melony's request...
"Tuziku..."
Kutcher stepped forward.
"It's fine that you decided to help Melony, but what exactly is your plan...?" he asked.
"Hmm..." Tuziku scratched his chin.
"I think I have an idea..." He glanced over toward Melony.
"Melony..."
"Is it fine if we spend the night here?"
Melony gasped as her eyelids slowly widened.
She immediately understood his plan.
"I see..."
That does make sense...
"That's a great idea, Tuziku!"
Tuziku nodded.
"It only makes sense that we spend the night here..."
He turned toward his comrades.
"Let's stay here for the night and see if the burglar shows up!"
"Sounds like a good idea," Prīōra replied, wearing a grin.
"Fine by me," Kutcher replied bluntly.
"Oh! One more thing!"
The trio's gaze focused on Melony.
"Can I ask you guys to please keep the damage to a minimum...?" she asked.
"Sure thing, Melony!" Tuziku replied confidently.
He slowly turned and approached Kutcher.
"...Kutcher..."
"Can I leave it up to you to take care of the fighting?"
Kutcher shrugged.
"Well, since you're asking, I'd rather not take on such a bothersome task..."
He folded his arms.
"...But if it's an order..."
"Then I really don't have much of a choice," he waved as he walked out of the store.
"I'm going to check something out. I'll be back before it's dark!"
And then he was gone.
"Now then, Prīōra..." Tuziku glanced at her.
"Wh—what is it, Tuziku?" she blushed.
His expression hardened.
"...You and I will be Kutcher's backup in case he needs help."
Tuziku lowered his head.
"I know that I won't be of much help if we have to fight, even though I'm the one giving out orders..." Tuziku clenched his fist.
"But let's look out for each other!"
"Right!" Prīōra grinned, her cheeks red as cherries.
As Melony gazed at the two, she thought to herself,
Prīōra...
So that's how you feel about Tuziku...
Back to the present moment...
As the trio hid in the dark room, the burglar finally made an appearance.
In the dark night, his all-black clothing made him almost impossible to spot in the darkness.
He finally appeared... Prīōra thought to herself.
"Kutcher, now!" Tuziku whispered as quietly as possible.
Then—
Kutcher drew his sword and burst out from behind the counter.
"Stay right there!" he shouted.
The burglar was left frozen as the tip of Kutcher's blade aimed at his throat.
"Don't you even think about moving a muscle!"
"Tuziku, Prīōra, it's over now," he glanced toward the counter where the duo hid.
"Now, what should I do to you?" Kutcher wore an eerie grin.
"That was much faster than I expected!" Tuziku shouted as he and Prīōra revealed themselves.
"Tch!"
"Who do you lot think you are, trying to stop a guy from making a living...?" the burglar mumbled.
"What was that?!" Kutcher snapped.
"I'm gonna kill you—"
"Dark Smoke Screen!"
Fwoosh!
Cough! Cough!
"What is this...?" Kutcher coughed.
Smoke?
Cough! Cough!
"I can't see a thing!" Tuziku shouted.
"You lot are a hundred years too early to stop me!"
The burglar laughed.
"I'll be taking my leave now..."
"I don't think so!" Prīōra shouted.
"HAKASHI TECHNIQUE—"
"HEAVY..."
"GUST!!"
FWOOOOSH!!
The black smoke that covered the already dark room was instantly blown away by a gust of wind.
Upon regaining their sight, the trio watched as moonlight shone upon the burglar, who already stood beside the window in an attempt to escape.
"You're too late!" he shouted as he lunged himself through the window.
"We can't let him escape!" Tuziku shouted.
"I know that already!" Prīōra sprinted after the burglar, who ran through the streets of the empty market.
"Tuziku, let's follow them!" Kutcher shouted.
"Yeah!"
They followed behind Prīōra.
As the burglar ran through the clear streets of the market, he glanced over his shoulder to find Prīōra catching up to him.
"Tch!"
You annoying little pest!
"White Smoke—"
"Fog Town!"
Suddenly, the air slowly began to fill with fog.
"Get lost, you pest!" he shouted as he continued his escape.
Suddenly, Prīōra came to a halt.
"He can produce fog as well?!"
Damn him...!
Ididn't want to resort to violence, but oh well...
HAKASHI TECHNIQUE...
STAGE TWO—
"Wind Bow..."
Swoosh!
A bow and arrow suddenly formed from a current of swirling wind.
Prīōra inhaled deeply as she aimed her weapon.
He's not out of range as yet.
So what I need to do—
Is concentrate on sensing his Hei...
She drew the string.
Then—
She released.
The arrow soared through the air and pierced the bandit's leg.
"AHHHHHH!!" he screamed in agony.
Suddenly, the fog that had filled the air slowly vanished.
Prīōra approached the burglar.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you continue to steal from others who worked for what they have!"
"YOU FREAKIN SHOT ME!!" he snapped.
"AHHH!!"
"You should be thanking me for not doing Melony a favour by killing you!" Prīōra replied.
"Now stay still until my friends get here!"
"You shot me in the leg, how can I possibly escape?!" the burglar pleaded.
At that exact moment, Tuziku and Kutcher finally caught up to Prīōra.
"Finally... we caught up to you!" Tuziku desperately gasped for air.
Kutcher glanced over toward the burglar on the ground.
"Looks like you already took care of everything, Prīōra!"
"You bastards, how dare you do this to me?!" the burglar shouted.
"What should we do with him, Tuziku?" Kutcher asked.
Tuziku gazed at the burglar, who sat on the floor clenching his wounded leg.
Suddenly—
"I have the perfect idea!" he shouted.
...
The next morning...
The trio stood in front of Melony's shop.
"Thank you so much, you guys!" Melony thanked them.
"I don't know what I would've done if you guys hadn't shown up!"
"It's fine, Melony," Tuziku replied, wearing a grin.
"Yeah, Tuziku's right!" Kutcher interrupted.
"After all, thanks to you, we're able to buy enough supplies to last us a month!" he laughed.
Melony frowned.
"Do you guys really have to leave now?"
"I'm sorry, Melony, but we're in a hurry..." Prīōra hugged her.
"...Thanks for the dress," she grinned.
"No..." Melony nodded her head.
"Thank you for everything..."
"All of you!"
"It was nice meeting you lot..."
"I won't forget you..."
"BLACK SCABBARDS!"
Melony waved them off.
"I wish you the best on your journey!" she shouted as the trio departed.
As they walked—
"She was a nice lady after all!" Kutcher grinned.
"That's only because she paid us way more than necessary!" Prīōra snapped.
Tuziku laughed.
As they reached the exit of the village—
"Ohh!"
"It's the burglar!" Kutcher shouted.
The burglar's mouth was taped, and he was tied upside down to a wooden post with a sign attached to him that read:
"I'm an addict for pain. If you're unable to make me scream in agony, leave a tip."
"Well, I think that's just perfect for someone like him," Prīōra laughed.
"Nice idea, Tuziku," Kutcher patted him on the back.
Tuziku gazed up at the morning sun.
"Alright, guys!"
Kutcher and Prīōra remained silent.
"We got our supplies, and we got to adventure Hanafura town..."
He clenched his fist as he grinned.
"Next stop, Hakashi Village!"
CHAPTER 35 END