Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 119

　"Uwaa!? Uguu!!? ...U-unbelievable!? Tomobe-kun!!?"

　Tamaki, who dashed out energetically from Mayoiga's gate, immediately fell vertically and rolled, landing on her backside. As she rolled, she let out a scream that was almost a cry of confusion.

　"No, no way...! Can't believe this happened!"

　She couldn't believe that this had happened. She didn't want to believe it. Such an ending was too much to bear...!?

　"Wait... No, Tomobe-kun, wait!! I'll help you! I'll come over there right now..."

　"Tamaki, don't move over there!!"

　"...!!?"

　As Tamaki, with an unsteady gait, started walking towards Mayoiga's entrance, a shouting voice echoed. Startled, Tamaki turned around, and as she did, splatters of blood flew up. There was a sound of something collapsing. And then, a figure embraced her.

　The half-youkai, Iruka, tried to carry Tamaki away from that spot. The wolf-girl ran with leaps and bounds.

　"Don't stand there like an idiot!! You'll get killed!!"

　"Iruka...? Are you okay? ...No! Iruka, we can't go! Tomobe-kun is still in there! We have to save him...!!"

　For a moment, Tamaki was stunned, but then she shouted desperately. However, Iruka's reply was cold.

　"No, it's impossible!"

　"Why!?"

　"It's already too late!! Look, the mansion is collapsing. If you go back in, you'll get crushed!!"

　In response to Iruka's words, Tamaki looked towards Mayoiga's main entrance. The mansion itself was spasming, collapsing, and about to die. Indeed, going back inside there would be madness. However...

　"But, but Tomobe-kun...!!"

　"Think about your own safety!! I don't know what happened, but he's a servant. He'll take care of himself! We're also under attack. We needs to go to Suzune's place quickly...!!"

　"Attack!? Right! The ones from earlier...!!?"

　"Yeah. Those bastards seem to be using some kind of trick to stay invisible. It's chaos everywhere. What the hell are those Onitsuki monsters doing...!!?"

　Tamaki was shocked by Iruka's words, and Iruka yelled them out as if spitting. Well, she knew she couldn't say anything about others since even with her keen senses like smell, she still had to be careful not to miss their stealth ability. In fact, she had taken a hit. She was lucky it was just a charge. One of the guys nearby had their head bitten off on the first strike.

　"That's...but, but!! Even so, Tomobe-kun is in danger, right!? If he escapes but gets attacked by someone he can't see...! Iruka, I'm okay! You go to Suzune's place alone...!!"

　"You're annoying, just shut up! If something happens to you, Suzune won't stand a chance against them, understand!? She's in a bad state after saying something stupid, you know...?"

　While saying that much, Iruka unintentionally fell silent. Then, she realized her mistake. Driven by momentum and anger, she had said something she shouldn't have.

　"Huh...? Iruka, what does that mean?"

　Tamaki, held in Iruka's arms, looked at her. Confused, shocked, and confused, her eyes wide open, she trembled with a premonition of some terrible truth. She stared at Iruka with frightened eyes.

　"Iruka, what did Suzune say?"

　"That...well..."

　Iruka hesitated, unable to give an immediate answer to her master and best friend's question.