Volume 4 Chapter 16 Demon World Outer Realm： Mount Ontake Annihilation VII： Barrier Manifestation ‘Azure Sky Thunderclap’
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hey, wait? You’re being mean, come on already.”
”I never got pursued like dis, not enjoyable at all…!”
Laughing, Tsuine chased after him while Naoshi dodged.
The tall youth, over 180 centimeters, grimaced as he escaped from the girl in the sailor uniform trying to hug him, hair and skirt fluttering.
Of course, he wasn’t just playing around.
From an outsider’s perspective, it might seem comical, but for Naoshi, it was a life-or-death game.
And at the same time, he wasn’t just running away.
He continued observing, preparing to counterattack.
He understood that Tsuine’s current physical ability surpassed his, but she wasn’t fully utilizing it, especially her instantaneous speed──likely struggling to maintain it.
Regarding stamina, it seemed she wasn’t completely limitless either.
Just when her movements slowed and she seemed out of breath, she quickly recovered.
It was as if she had a fatigue gauge that reset after a second of rest.
”Dis is some serious cheatin’!”
”Oh, how rude, I’m not cheating at all.”
”But why does dis even make sense, what da──!?”
Tsuine, arms outstretched, surged toward Naoshi with even greater speed, aiming for his chest.
He envisioned a truck barreling at him without brakes and managed to dodge, tripping her in the process.
”──!!”
Just that caused a shock that nearly numbed his strengthened leg from the spirit energy (reiki).
”Kya!”
Though her movements looked clumsy as she seemed to tumble face-first to the ground, she bounced lightly to maintain her balance.
Turning around, she spoke with a resentful tone.
”──Hey Naoshi, if you keep being so mean, I might cry.”
”Cry all ya want. By da way, callin’ me Naoshi so casually when ya just met me, dat’s a bit much for a black-haired gorilla delinquent.”
”Well…”
Tsuine placed her open hand on her mouth, her eyes wide in surprise at his blunt attitude.
Sighing, Naoshi exhaled.
”Actin’ so coy is just too much. How old are ya, anyway?”
”Well? I haven’t counted since it went over a thousand.”
”Ya way past da level of bein’ an old hag.”
In an instant, her torso was pierced by a fist from Naoshi.
It was an action that could be called clearly hostile for the first time.
””──I’m a bit relieved. Ya do have a function to feel bad.”
”Is that why you’re treating me like an old person? Bad boy, Naoshi.”
The young man smirked, lifting the corners of his lips, while the Tsuchigumo woman also chuckled, tilting her head.
”It’s a fact dat ye’re old, right?”
”The truth can be cruel──it’s always like that, you know.”
”Ugh…!”
Naoshi’s smile faltered.
Tsuine, slightly lowering her waist, raised her arm loosely──it was clearly some kind of stance.
(This guy──!)
”Hmph.”
A thrust came with a short exhale.
Despite the impression of being overwhelmed by his physical ability, his movements gained a level of speed that was rational.
A burnt smell rose from the sleeve that deflected Tsuine’s fist, and just grazing it made Naoshi’s arm sting as if it had been burned.
”…Ya were def’nitely playin’ da cat, who taught ya dat ancient martial art?”
Naoshi’s expression was bitter.
The playful banter until just now was merely a trivial game to her.
”Well, I’ve forgotten. But if you live long enough, there will be plenty of opportunities and encounters.”
”I’m filled wit da desire to punch da monster dat taught ya unnecessary tings.”
”Excuse me again. Hey Naoshi, why are you so mean?”
The wind howled.
With a speed completely unbefitting Tsuine, fists and kicks came flying.
”──Ugh!”
Each time, black hair, a red scarf, and a long skirt fluttered, and before they settled, they swayed in the opposite direction.
Naoshi dodged, but he didn’t pull away.
Knowing he wasn’t an amateur overwhelmed by power, he couldn’t choose to create distance.
If this were directed at Yuzura, Kurikoma alone probably wouldn’t be able to defend against it.
A single step behind could be fatal.
”──Ya don’t know? Dese days, if ya good-lookin’, havin’ a bit of a bad personality is an advantage!”
Therefore, he must draw both interest and threat to himself like this.
There was no longer any time to worry about my remaining strength.
(Please hurry, Yuzura──!)
While murmuring to hisself, Naoshi also raised his spirit energy and shifted into another gear.
The air burned, and lightning cracked around us.
”Hmm, so you find me attractive too, huh?”
”Do ya even realize it…?”
”By the way, Naoshi, did you notice? When you get nervous, you talk more── it’s cute.”
”What a terrible personality.”
”Hehe, I’m glad you complimented me.”
”Are ya invincible?”
A shadow fell suddenly amidst the exchange of fists and words.
The eyes of the tsukumogami looked up, sensing the situation reflected in her slightly reduced pupils.
She clung on as much as possible, and just before escaping, Naoshi stepped on Tsuine’s foot── a plain loafer that a schoolgirl might wear.
”Oh my.”
Tsuine, with her mouth agape, vanished under the giant rock that had come flying down.
”C-Could dis possibly be dodged!?”
As it happened, the one who seems to have thrown it, Kurikoma, was up top.
’──Nao, I’ll break the barrier, what do you need?’
Amidst the rising clouds of dust, his long-awaited friend’s voice faintly echoed.
Upon looking, he saw a white humanoid shikigami fluttering by his ear.
”Purge da area as best ya can. I’ll manage da rest my way.”
He didn’t question if that was even possible anymore.
’What a rough request, you have no idea how troublesome that is.’
”And do it quickly.”
’──Forty seconds. Watch over this side.’
”Sounds good. Leave it to me.”
In the next moment, a sound like thunder echoed, and the giant rock split in 2.
From there, a shadow burst out, crushing a small oni that was holding its head.
”Fugyaah!”
”──Ah, my clothes got dirty.”
”What a total mess…”
He never thought this would be enough to take it down, but seeing it without a single visible wound, he couldn’t help but say that.
”Oh no, I really liked that outfit──”
The mud was especially noticeable on the black fabric, and Tsuine’s face, which had pouted, suddenly lost her expression.
Her gaze shifted away from Naoshi and the others.
”O great, revered Izanagi──”
In the place she looked to was the figure of Kanbe Yuzura, chanting a purification spell amidst the shikigami doll’s blizzards.”
”Naughty child, that’s not allowed.”
”Shah──!”
Thunder roared, leaving sound behind as Kazuramichi Naoshi advanced.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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