For Miketsu, this feast before her was long-awaited. Ever since the dishes arrived, she had been eating non-stop, fully engrossed in enjoying the delicious grilled meat. Although she sensed some unusual movements, she paid no attention, continuing to eat as before.
What could be more important than eating?
And so, Miketsu, completely unfazed by Torin's intimidating yokai aura, still craved more after devouring all the food in front of her. She immediately decided to ask the Cat Shop Owner for another serving. But when she made her request, she realized the situation was a bit off, and a series of questions arose in Miketsu's mind.
When did so many cat-headed people suddenly appear? Their expressions don't seem very friendly?
Konkiku, what's with your expression? Did you see something terrifying?
Cat Shop Owner, what's with your expression? You look so worried?
And why is everyone staring at me?
Seeing the scene before her, Miketsu suddenly felt like she had missed something.
"Oh no... Lady Uka, please run..."
Konkiku, mouth agape, tried to speak, but due to extreme nervousness and being intimidated by the yokai aura, she stammered and couldn't utter a word. After all, she was weaker than the Cat Shop Owner at this moment.
The Cat Shop Owner, who had previously looked tense, first let out a sigh of relief, then immediately looked at Miketsu with worried eyes. She knew her guest was probably in deep trouble.
Among all the gazes directed at Miketsu, there was schadenfreude, angry glares, worry, sympathy, surprise, and astonishment. Only one gaze was bewildered, and that was Torin's. A ripple stirred within his heart.
This fellow... wasn't intimidated by me?
"What's wrong with you, kid! Are you looking for trouble?"
The burly leopard cat yokai, whose good time had been interrupted, looked angrily at the strange black-robed person by the side of the shop. Clearly, he didn't believe that this black-robed yokai had truly spoken to order food. At this critical moment, when everyone else was suppressed by the yokai aura and remained silent, this one just jumped out. What else could it be but deliberately looking for trouble?!
"How dare you provoke me... You're finished..."
With anger, the burly leopard cat yokai walked step by step to Miketsu's table, staring her down with a condescending posture, which left Miketsu bewildered.
"Huh... Did I do something? Didn't I just order food? Why does this guy look so angry..."
Seeing the approaching leopard cat yokai, Miketsu's expression changed dramatically at this moment, but the shadow of her hood and her bandages completely concealed the change in her demeanor. To outsiders, she simply sat there silently, as if waiting for the leopard cat yokai.
Seeing this, Torin's eyes narrowed, and he opened his mouth to stop his subordinate, but it was too late. The burly leopard cat yokai reached out with a large, clawed hand, grabbed the front of Miketsu's clothes, and lifted her entirely.
Seeing this, everyone in the room couldn't help but close their eyes. Konkiku, the entire fox, panicked and lunged at the leopard cat yokai, but her legs buckled due to the intimidation, and she fell directly to the ground.
"Oh no..."
Miketsu's heart leaped, but she wasn't worried about herself; she was worried about the leopard cat yokai in front of her. His grab had not only caught her black robe but also several bandages beneath it. Now, with the leopard cat yokai pulling so forcefully, there was a risk of dislocation and tearing of those bandages.
Her main reason for choosing bandages as a disguise was that they could wrap her entire body, absolutely avoiding direct contact with yokai. If this guy continued, it would inevitably cause some bandages to dislocate, revealing a bit of her wrapped skin, and then the result would be...
"You're finished..." Looking at the lifted black-robed yokai, the burly leopard cat yokai's face revealed a cruel smile. His other claw was already poised to leave a permanent scar on this foolish fellow.
"Aaaaaaah!"
A tragic howl erupted. The yokai who had closed their eyes all felt a sudden chill in their hearts. Konkiku, lying on the ground, buried her head in her paws, completely daring not to look. But a moment later, she suddenly realized that the scream seemed wrong.
Konkiku opened her eyes, and then she saw an incredible scene. The previously arrogant, burly leopard cat yokai was now writhing in pain on the ground, clutching his smoking hand, rolling non-stop, knocking over many chairs along the way, letting out heart-wrenching screams. Meanwhile, her Lady Uka remained cloaked in her black robe, silently observing everything.
That crimson single eye hidden in the shadows seemed to emit a terrifying glow.
"It hurts! It hurts! It hurts so much, aaaaaah!"
The leopard cat yokai, burned by Miketsu's Exorcism Power, struggled continuously, clutching his injured hand. This excruciating pain was unbearable even for a Demon-Faced Centipede, let alone him.
Hearing the unusual sound, the surrounding yokai opened their eyes one after another, and upon seeing this scene, they were astonished. They looked at Miketsu's dark figure, and questions arose in their hearts.
"What... what did he just do?" The Cat Shop Owner stammered, wide-eyed. No one knew what had happened in that instant; the arrogant leopard cat yokai was just rolling on the ground in pain.
But whatever happened, it was caused by that black-robed, one-eyed yokai wrapped in bandages.
"Torin... Lord Torin! Th-that guy actually resisted! Please... please avenge me!"
Clutching his agonizing hand, the burly leopard cat yokai struggled to his feet and came to Torin's side, tearfully pleading for revenge. However, Torin's gaze was not on him but remained fixed on Miketsu.
His subordinate's plight did not move him; rather, he seemed to have somewhat anticipated this scene.
"My subordinate was reckless and ignorant; he has offended you." Completely ignoring the leopard cat yokai crying and wailing beside him, Torin spoke in a deep voice to Miketsu. This action caused the leopard cat yokai, who was begging for revenge, to freeze completely.
To Torin, this mysterious yokai was like a deep pool, completely unfathomable. Although he appeared to have weak yokai aura, he could completely disregard Torin's intimidation. Torin's side had already announced the Leopard Cat Lord's name, yet the other party still dared to speak up and interfere. Even more concerning was that he had used some unknown method to turn Torin's strongest subordinate into this state in just an instant.
Completely inscrutable, completely unpredictable, but one thing was certain: the other party was an absolutely powerful yokai, and Torin's side might have kicked a hornet's nest.
As a capable subordinate of the Leopard Cat Lord, Torin was not a reckless individual. He understood how to assess the situation, and in such circumstances, one should not carelessly make enemies.
While Torin was analyzing, Miketsu was in a panic. At this moment, she faced a dilemma: she had burned the leopard cat yokai with her Exorcism Power. Now, if he returned with wounds caused by her Exorcism Power and they were carefully examined, they would inevitably discover an anomaly!
The sacred aura lingering on it could not possibly belong to a yokai! Even a One-Bite Yokai could tell that!
What to do? If things continued like this, her identity as a deity might be directly exposed. At this moment, Miketsu appeared calm on the surface, but was actually in a complete panic. She had to find a way to cover this up!
"We apologize for inadvertently offending you this time. If you have any requests for compensation, please state them. If they are reasonable, we will certainly fulfill them."
Torin had finished his previous words but received no response from the other party. He then added another sentence, showing sincerity, hoping to salvage the other party's attitude.
Hearing this, Miketsu suddenly had a flash of inspiration, an idea.
The crimson single eye beneath the black robe turned towards the burly leopard cat yokai beside Torin. A bandaged hand reached out, pointing at the other party's burned hand. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Miketsu spoke in a low, hoarse voice.
"Leave the hand..."
"Very reasonable."
Torin said calmly. Then, before anyone could react, he drew the tachi from his waist with incredible speed. With a flash of the blade, the leopard cat yokai's burned hand was severed from his body in his disbelieving astonishment and fell to the ground. A layer of frost quickly formed on the two severed ends, stopping the blood flow.
The yokai in the izakaya watched this scene, and except for those without eyes, every single one of them widened their eyes.
To sever an arm merely for being offended... This mysterious yokai is not only powerful but also a ruthless character...
Rate on N.U.
