Irrevocably realizing that only a girl can have this enthralling beauty, some boys cried in their hearts, 'she saw us micturate and discharge!' However, Tsukino doesn't care, nor did she dirty her eyes by looking at their embarrassing moments.
Despite being a little flustered, the girl is starting to get used to the situation. No, part of her wants this to happen: after all, heroes are born in hardships!
Unlike most boys who have a corrupt mindset thanks to reading [The Journey of the First Tama-Artist], she is a girl who likes the Moon Empress: the woman who saved the world with her blades, and a heart for people.
Tsukino turns to look at the moon that is yet to set, her expression somewhat tensing.
—I don't know why it turned pink, but as someone with the same name as the [Moon Empress], I promise to do my best as a heroine.
Knotting her shoulder-length, black hair into a bun, the young lady looks at the blue birthmark on her wrist, smiling.
—It's because of this blessing that I don't forget things, from what happened since I was in my mother's womb.
Using her memory, Tsukino takes a stunt her father used to make, when imitating the Moon Empress, with both swords forming an 'X' on her shoulders.
Taking a step forward, she brings the kitanas down in a swift motion, cutting a giraffe cat that was about to sneak attack a helpless teen.
Hot, red blood sprays to her face. However, thinking of it, Tsukino finds it better than the stench of unwashed men, amalgamated with urine and excreta.
Calm and composed, like everything is under control, Tsukino barbarically swings her kitana to the serval next to her, but it gets caught by the beast's teeth.
Clang—!
The beast pulls her, using its meager strength, only to be stabbed by the other kitana.
Thwack!
Not knowing what to do with the corpse, Tsukino looks at the culprit who caused this mayhem, and her fuller lips form an 'O' in amazement.
Lucien, in a deep blue samue, has beasts' blood over him. His red hair is a little dishevelled, indicating he has a long way to go. Also, his silver, claw hammer is swinging around more fluently than the last time she saw him, ending the giraffe cats. Wary of his cold, calm gaze, the servals step inches from him.
—His name is Lucien Derniere Etoile, right?
'If he is that strong, why did he sacrifice that man to surprise attack the cats?'
—Why would someone blessed with such strength use it for selfish deeds?
Tsukino's pupils contract, her suspicion growing. In the past, she met Lucy, and he made a wheelchair for her brother for free.
From her assumption, she viewed him as the second most philanthropic being after the mysterious man —with a pink birthmark similar to hers— who liked to help her, but never admitted he is the same person.
However, something about Lucien killing the mortals in his swings is making Tsukino dubious about his past intentions.
—Was he benevolent because his mother was around?
'Now, that she is gone, he doesn't care about others at all.'
—If so, I need to get stronger, and beat the kindness back to him.
'I can't let such strength be used for evil.'
Less to her anticipation, entertaining her thoughts made her blind to a serval's attack. At that moment, nonetheless, an arrow whispers through the air, piercing the beast on its forehead.
Thwart!
Looking, her lips press into a smile.
—At least someone is not influenced by the First Tama-Artist.
'I hate that Villain Rehabilitator!'
Shrugging, her visage takes a serious turn. Mirroring Lucien's move of kicking the corpses, she throws the dead serval toward a tree, surprising the ones there. Rushing over, Tsukino finishes the beasts in swift moves, leaving a crescent arc of blood in the air.
—Are these beasts weak, or I'm good at this?
Tsukino thought, her hands on her knees, taking deep breaths. Athough resting is essential, the most beautiful woman since Earth's creation like Tsuki isn't cut out for these slave's task of hunting beasts.
After a minute, Tsukino regains some energy. Before she can move, two arrows pass above her head.
Whoosh!! Thwart! The arrows kill the other servals hiding in the tree.
Intrigued, Tsukino turns her head around, ready to see her lifesaver. In a few seconds, she only notices a shifty looking beige-haired scholar in white robs with a bow.
To confirm her irritation, he takes out a shamisen from the dead bodies. Forthwith, he starts playing, while he dances.
"We are thrown in the chaos, let's fight through like lions: fear not this mayhem, but let them fear us in this mayhem! Oh, let's fight men; bring an end to this mayhem..."
As the mortals cheer and gain motivation, Tsukino cringes in dusgust.
—He is acting like he is doing something, but he is just watching; enjoying the blood and violence!
'What a sick bastard!'
"Tch, I can't believe I cursed for the first time."
***
Using the mayhem to his advantage, Ten decides to put serval skin on top of his body —fits perfectly. Crawling on the ground, he snatches his fallen comrade's belonging; if they are alive, he finishes them —such is an act of gratitude, considering how their bodies are transfigured with bite marks... also, he killed the scumbags pretending to be dead.
—This should be enough.
Ten smiles, looking at the sack —the scholar gave him— filled with loot. Swiftly acting, the young man returns to the avocado tree. Cautious, he uses a chain he stole to climb the tree, observing from a better ground.
—The Bushi have been gone for 10 minutes; they must be calling a stage 2 profound beast. I'll know of its arrival when these cats run for their lives.
'Should I help fight it?'
—Eh? I have yet to receive a first kiss —even from a monkey— to think about that.
***
With everyone focused on their battles, Lucy slips back to rest. Looking at his near invisible injuries, alongwith the blood stains on his body, his expression remains tepid.
—I knew this was coming; I blame myself for not doing anything to increase my strength in time... No, if I did that who would've looked after Mama?
He wants to smile, but a cup of water from the well is on his mouth. After the liquid soothes his patched throat, Lucy heads over to settle on a tree branch, replaying the battle with the servals. Analysing his performance, he slightly bites his lips in frustration.
—Putting the strange ability, of getting stronger after every kill, I don't like, because it might corrupt my mind in the future...
'I'm too reckless. If the cats had bigger brains, I would've died. I need to find a way to smooth out my moves and make them flow.'
Running through his none-forgetting mind, Lucy recalls something that would make him a better fighter. Before he can draw it into a battle formula, nevertheless, a sudden movement catches his sight.
The servals scatter about like wheat on a hard surface.
Unlike the others who rush to celebrate, Lucien mystic eyes catch on the newcomer, darkening his visage. Further into the forest, a puma, not your regular puma, but a stage 2 profound beast —it's head shaped like a pumpkin; it's front legs, also used as hands, are thick and wooden, like a tree trunk.
Lucien's eyes narrow, in the next second, they relax. Taking a deep breath, he chases away the queasy growing in his chest, looking at a certain scholar storing away a shamisen.
—What personality is he using now?