Gyutaro scratched his cheek, several red claw marks instantly materializing. "I hate pretty things the most, so..."
"Just die!"
Before his voice even finished hanging in the air, Gyutaro's silhouette appeared right in front of Aoi Kazama. His sharp talons, wrapped in a foul-smelling wind, aimed straight for her throat.
Aoi's pupils shrunk rapidly. Her survival instinct made her violently lean back, her body folding at an unbelievable angle toward the floor.
"Reacted quickly, didn't you?" Gyutaro's voice carried a trace of dark amusement, but his movements didn't pause for a microsecond.
I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die.
"System! Is there any escape item?!" Aoi frantically cued the System in her mind.
[Ding! Detecting Host's intense desire to survive. Consuming 3,000 System Points to exchange for a one-time item: Teleportation Charm.]
The next second, a yellow paper charm appeared in Aoi's hand. She raised her middle finger toward Gyutaro. "Bye-bye to you."
Vwom—
The moment the charm vanished, Aoi vanished from the spot along with it.
"Hm?"
Gyutaro's attack met empty air. "She ran?"
"Heh. What an interesting human... better not let me catch you again..."
"Whew... finally..."
Aoi let out a long, long breath of relief, slumping onto the ground and panting heavily for air.
"Just a little more... and I really would have died."
"Who knew an Upper Rank demon was here. No, I have to hurry and tell Uzui-san."
She struggled to stand up. Just as she was about to take a step, the world suddenly began to spin violently.
[Ding! Detecting Host's health is below 10%. Entering Near-Death State.]
[Warning! Warning! Host is approaching death!]
The cold notification sound made Aoi's heart clench. She looked down to find a hideous wound on her left arm, gurgling with black blood.
Only then did Aoi recall that when she was dodging Gyutaro's attack earlier, her arm had been grazed by his talons. The situation had been critical; she hadn't paid it any mind.
The black blood spread at a visible rate. "No... I can't die here..."
"System, do I have enough points for another bottle of High-Grade Healing Agent?"
[Host, High-Grade Healing Agent costs 10,000 points. Current points: 7,000.]
"Can't I get a line of credit!" Aoi spoke through grit teeth.
[This System does not give lines of credit.]
Aoi's heart instantly felt cold and empty. The High-Grade Healing Agent she'd previously received from the System had been given to Shinobu Kocho for research. Was she really going to die this time?
The split second before Aoi lost consciousness, she seemed to hear the voice of that useless System.
[Ding! Passive skill has been activated. Use Portkey?]
Useless System, I just want to live right now...
[Ding! Detecting Host has entered a coma. Health continues to drop. Passive skill 'Portkey' has been automatically used.]
The Past?
Who knows how much time passed. Aoi only felt herself being kicked twice. "Hey, get out of the way!"
She furrowed her brow, struggling to open her heavy eyelids.
Meeting her gaze was a small child dressed in rags. Aoi was a bit confused—wasn't she just poisoned and about to die? Where was this!
Did I transmute again?
Seeing Aoi's completely confused expression, the boy furrowed his brows impatiently.
"Tch. What a pain."
He reached out a rough hand, grabbing Aoi's collar and hauling her up off the ground.
Only now did Aoi get a clear look at the boy's face, causing her eyes to widen in terror. This... wasn't this the demon from the Kyogoku House just now? Though he looked like a child, Aoi recognized him instantly.
What on earth is going on!
"What are you looking at!" Gyutaro looked Aoi's outfit up and down; this clearly wasn't something ordinary people could afford. She must be the young miss of a wealthy family.
Heh. Really doesn't know the meaning of danger, running into the Entertainment District all alone. Probably won't even know how she died when it happens.
"Let go of me!" Aoi pawed at his hand. The next microsecond, she froze. Why is my hand so small?!
"System! System! What exactly is going on!" Aoi shrieked frantically in her mind.
But the System was like it had vanished entirely—not a single reply.
Gyutaro looked Aoi up and down, a dark glint flashing through his eyes. If he sold this little brat to a human trafficker, it should fetch quite a lot of money, right? With money, Ume wouldn't have to go hungry.
Aoi perceived the intentions of the person before her. Right now her body was too weak and the System was gone; it really wasn't suitable to go head-to-head with him. She hurriedly fumbled through her pockets, finally feeling some coins. "I—I have money."
Gyutaro was stunned. He took the money from Aoi's hand and looked at her. Fine, he would consider this his charitable deed this time and let her go.
He turned to leave, not giving Aoi a microsecond of time to react.
Aoi looked at Gyutaro's retreating back, her heart filled with conflicting emotions.
She looked down at her tender little hand, then felt the few copper coins left in her pocket, momentarily at a loss.
This was the Entertainment District of the past. She had turned into a small child. The System had vanished without a trace.
Most importantly, she had just encountered the demon when he was still a human.
The breakthrough point must be on him. I have to follow him. Aoi bit her lower lip. Watching Gyutaro disappear into the alley entrance, she quickly made a decision in her heart.
She quietly followed, doing her best to maintain a certain distance.
Gyutaro was clearly extremely familiar with the terrain of the district, twisting and turning, soon arriving in an even more dilapidated area.
Aoi watched him walk into a small shack that was barely held together by a few pieces of broken wood and thatch.
She heard his raspy voice ring out, "Ume, look what tasty thing Big Brother brought you."
Aoi quietly peeked inside from a crack in the door, only to see Gyutaro with his back to her, carefully pulling an oil-paper package from his breast pocket.
Facing him was an extremely exquisite, beautiful little girl. She had snow-white hair and azure-blue eyes, like the purest of gems.
Gyutaro's voice dropped unusually soft, as different from his previous rudeness as two different people.
He opened the oil-paper package. Inside were two still-steaming, delicious-looking rice balls.
"Big Brother eat first..." Little Ume shook her head, pushing the rice balls in front of Gyutaro.
Gyutaro's rough hand paused, then he roughly rubbed Ume's hair. "Big Brother isn't hungry."
"Big Brother's lying," she whispered, but didn't persist further, merely bringing a rice ball to her lips and taking small, small bites.
Gurgle~
The traitorous stomach noise in the silent alleyway sounded unusually loud. Aoi instinctively clutched her stomach. Why did you have to growl right now, of all times!
Gyutaro violently spun around, his sharp gaze sweeping toward the doorway. "Who's there?"