Miketsu's demonic energy whirlwind erupted violently, transforming into a tornado that burrowed into the mountain like an earth dragon. After piercing through thick layers of rock, it carved a long tunnel between her and Itsumaden's location, connecting the space where she, Itsumaden, and Gonnosuke were.
Through the light from the other side, Miketsu first saw Gonnosuke grabbing Itsumaden, preparing to pluck her feathers. Without a word, Miketsu directly unleashed a miniature Wind Scar, severing Gonnosuke's arm.
"Ahhh! My hand! My hand!"
Clutching his gushing, severed arm, Gonnosuke rolled on the ground, howling. His previously twisted and furious face was now filled with terror.
Following the tunnel she had opened, Miketsu walked step by step towards the other side. At this moment, Itsumaden was kneeling on the ground, staring blankly at the black-robed demon walking towards her, this mysterious being who had just saved her.
She looked at the single eye revealed beneath the hood, an unusual glint in her eyes, her mind lost in thought.
"You are..."
"Owl..."
Miketsu replied briefly to Itsumaden, then shifted her gaze to the iron collar around her neck, a cursed ring that suppressed her demonic power.
From her karmic perspective, Miketsu immediately saw the most vulnerable point on the ring. She placed the tip of her giant blade against it. To others, this action might have looked as if she were holding the blade to Itsumaden's neck.
"Don't move."
Miketsu said softly, and Itsumaden, trusting her completely, closed her eyes and remained still. Then, Miketsu channeled a portion of her demonic power, releasing it to directly destroy the iron collar on Itsumaden's neck from its fragile node.
"Thank you..."
Feeling her demonic power return, Itsumaden stood up from the ground. She first thanked Miketsu, then turned her gaze back to Gonnosuke. He was still howling, clutching his profusely bleeding hand. He tried to wrap his clothes around the wound to stop the bleeding, but it was largely ineffective. If this continued, he would go into shock from excessive blood loss and eventually die.
Taking a deep breath, Itsumaden silently walked over to Gonnosuke. He, too, looked up at the ice-cold Itsumaden.
Perhaps due to excessive blood loss, Gonnosuke reached out his other, intact hand towards Itsumaden, wanting to touch her feathers.
"Golden... feathers... golden..."
With a whoosh, Itsumaden's sharp claws mercilessly struck. Her pointed talons, empowered by yokai strength, plunged entirely into Gonnosuke's skull. Gonnosuke's greedy expression froze on his face, then blood began to stream from the corners of his mouth and eyes, and he started making strange, muffled cries.
"Go to hell and find your golden feathers..."
Itsumaden said slowly, her voice cold. Then, with a forceful tug, she tore off half of Gonnosuke's head, sending yellow and white matter splattering. His corpulent body, missing half its head, collapsed to the ground, its life force rapidly draining. Miketsu observed all of this from the side, watching silently from beginning to end.
...
After successfully rescuing Itsumaden, Miketsu returned alone to the dungeon. There, Nura Rihyon and the others had already begun organizing the first group of rescued yokai to save others still trapped in cages. This scene somewhat surprised Miketsu; she hadn't expected Nura Rihyon to be able to organize these yokai he had never met to such an extent.
Afterward, Miketsu began to destroy the demonic power-inhibiting shackles on Nura Rihyon and the others.
"Hoo-hoo~ Bunny's revived~ Thank you, Mr. Crane~" When Yamausagi's shackles were opened, she immediately jumped up happily, a pleasant wave of demonic energy radiating from her.
"I am Owl..." Facing this lively and adorable rabbit yokai, Miketsu's mood also improved. She suppressed her smile and said in a deep voice.
"Next, you all will open the shackles on the others..." Miketsu said, glancing at the Nura Rihyon trio. She then turned to leave, but Nura Rihyon called out to her.
"Please wait, Your Excellency."
Miketsu slowly turned her head, and what she saw was Nura Rihyon standing there, gazing at her with a solemn expression.
"What is it?"
"Your Excellency, you disregarded the danger and ventured into this city alone, solely to save the innocent. As those who were saved, we should express our gratitude here." With that, Nura Rihyon led the way, bowing deeply to Miketsu. Following Nura Rihyon, Tamamura and Yamausagi quickly imitated him.
With the trio taking the lead, all the yokai in the dungeon, whether already released or still caged, bowed deeply to Miketsu in their own ways. Humanoid ones bowed, beast-like ones crouched, and some strange ones might have jumped a few times or taken off their heads.
Regardless, the scene before Miketsu was magnificent, and it filled her with emotion.
"You are all excused. Once you return, live well. Do not harm humans, do not bully..."
With a sigh, Miketsu spoke softly, then prepared to turn and leave again. However, Nura Rihyon spoke up once more.
"Your Excellency's strength is formidable, and your character is even more admirable to me. To be honest, you are the goal I have always strived to become. So... please allow me to follow you! I wish to stay by your side and grow, eventually becoming you! And surpassing you!" As he spoke, Nura Rihyon knelt directly on the ground, his fists pressed against the earth, supporting his head as he bowed low, almost touching the ground.
Seeing this, Miketsu froze in place.
Just as Miketsu hadn't yet reacted to what was happening, Tamamura, beside Nura Rihyon, hesitated for a moment before adopting the same posture as Nura Rihyon.
"Ah... I also greatly admire Your Excellency's strength, and I too wish to follow you!"
Compared to Nura Rihyon, who specifically mentioned character, Tamamura only spoke of strength. In his view, upon arriving in Heian-kyo, if one truly wanted to make a name for oneself, having a powerful patron was essential. Also, he didn't particularly want to be separated from Nura Rihyon.
"Hula hula~ Bunny wants to too~ Bunny wants to too~" Watching the actions of the other two, Yamausagi jumped down from Mr. Frog, who had just been rescued, and began to playfully imitate them. Unlike the other two, she had no particular objective; she was simply copying them, finding it amusing.
Looking at the three yokai before her, Miketsu's mind was in a turmoil.
Rate on N.U.
