"Hoo-ch, hoo-ch~"
In the misty hot spring, heavy but extremely faint, almost imperceptible sounds of breathing could be heard.
"Hmm?!"
Just as Maki Saori was teasing Kana Ienaga, Torii Natsumi suddenly stood up and looked toward the wall of the bath. With just one glance, the girl was completely stunned and froze in place, wrapped in a towel.
"What's wrong? Is someone watching us?!"
Seeing her friend in that state, Maki Saori frowned, tightly wrapped her towel around herself, and prepared to stand up, intending to scold someone. However, when she turned around, she saw three enormous, disgusting yokai heads peering from the wall, their crimson eyes constantly watching them, as if observing a meal!
Seeing those yokai, Maki Saori froze just like Torii Natsumi, not moving a muscle.
"What's happening?"
Seeing the two of them acting strangely, Kana Ienaga turned her head in confusion, but when she saw the three monsters, her eyes suddenly narrowed.
Monsters really exist in this place!
"Run!"
Kana Ienaga reacted first, grabbed the two in front of her, and ran toward the exit of the hot spring.
"Don't let them escape!"
Seeing that, Mezumaru shouted coldly, and the three monsters immediately broke through the wall and chased after them.
At the crucial moment, a paper talisman flew through the air and then transformed into a huge stag, in no way weaker than the three monsters!
"Rokuson!"
Immediately after, Yura Keikain's shout rang out.
As the sound faded, the giant stag collided with the three monsters and, in a single charge, Rokuson threw them back!
"Shikigami?! Why is an Onmyoji here?"
Seeing the giant stag, Mezumaru flinched, and before he could react, a furious girl's scream reached his ears:
"You disgusting monsters, attacking girls while they're bathing!"
"Yura!"
Seeing Yura Keikain, the group that had thought they were about to be eaten by the monsters immediately found support and quickly hid behind her at her glance.
"Do not be afraid! Eat them and take credit with Lord Ushi Oni!"
Mezumaru, seeing the Shikigami, jumped back onto a tree branch and waved his hand, giving orders to all the monsters.
The two monsters waiting on the side also joined the battle. Three monsters charged at Rokuson, while the other two leapt at Yura Keikain.
"Mukyoku!"
Yura Keikain did not hesitate. She waved her hand and threw another Shikigami talisman, summoning a tall armored Shikigami wielding a naginata.
As soon as Mukyoku appeared, he swung his weapon and repelled the two monsters that were attacking.
"Damn! I hate those who use Shikigami the most! I was still thinking I'd take credit with Lord Ushi Oni before Tengumaru!"
Seeing that the girl could control two Shikigami, Mezumaru immediately frowned, with a worried expression.
Two Shikigami, huh? Although they could be dealt with, it would still take too much time.
Just as Mezumaru was considering whether to retreat, the sound of a sword echoed through the night sky:
"Om!!!"
As the sword's sound rang out, a golden light already cut through the darkness. In the blink of an eye, the golden light became a series of golden lines. The monsters whose heads were sliced by the lines fell to the ground, blood splattering everywhere.
"What? What?! What happened?!"
Mezumaru's face was filled with terror, while the group of girls next to the hot spring looked confused and stunned, except for Yura Keikain!
She saw that sword sound and golden light! And they were incredibly familiar to her!
Immediately, Yura Keikain began searching constantly with her gaze, wanting to find that young man who acted like a god.
"Yo, I didn't expect to meet you in a place like this. I thought you'd come to this rundown hole in a few days or half a month."
Sitting on the roof of the inn, Nakano Yu waved and called Joyeuse back, greeting Yura Keikain below him.
Hearing the voice, Yura Keikain immediately looked up, and when she saw Nakano Yu, her eyes shone as she replied:
"Master Nakano!"
"Tsk! Another human Onmyoji?! And so strong, all at once…"
Seeing that, Mezumaru clicked his tongue and was already preparing to flee, but just as he thought of retreating, Nakano Yu's voice reached his ears:
"Hey, you there, how about taking me to Ushi Oni?"
"Ha?! Man! Who allowed you to call Lord Ushi Oni by name?!"
Mezumaru turned and shouted angrily at Nakano Yu.
Seeing him so brazen, Nakano Yu stood up, his figure flickered, and in the next moment, he appeared beside Mezumaru.
"Let me tell you, even Ushi Oni wouldn't dare to be so rude to me here."
Grabbing Mezumaru by the shoulder, Nakano Yu applied force suddenly. The terrifying strength immediately threw him off balance and forced him to kneel directly.
"You disgusting man!"
Mezumaru tried to resist, but his strength was insignificant compared to Nakano Yu, leaving him no choice but to verbally insult him.
"Hey, get out, take me up the mountain."
Ignoring Mezumaru's curses, Nakano Yu shouted toward the mountain forest.
The blue bull-headed yokai indeed came out of the forest, looking at Nakano Yu timidly.
"Yes, yes, master."
After the humble reply, the bull-headed yokai bowed, giving Nakano Yu a signal to climb on.
Nakano Yu didn't waste time. He lifted Mezumaru and jumped onto the bull-headed yokai's back.
"All right then, Keikain girls, see you later."
As he left, the young man waved at the astonished Yura and her group, then kicked the monster beneath him. The yokai understood the command and hurried toward Meiryōji Temple at the top of the mountain with its spider-like strides.
"Hey, Yura… who was that?"
Only when Nakano Yu disappeared into the distance did the group regain their senses. Maki Saori immediately approached Yura and curiously asked.
Yura Keikain, however, was looking toward the top of the mountain. After a short while, she shook her head and said:
"I don't know either."
…
"Hmm… it seems a guest has arrived at the mountain."
At the top of the mountain, inside Meiryōji Temple, a middle-aged man in an elegant kimono, with long hair covering the right side of his face, who was sitting on a cushion with closed eyes, opened them and murmured softly.
"Boom!"
Barely finishing the sentence, the bull-headed yokai broke through the temple wall and rushed inside, immediately followed by the piercing screams of Mezumaru:
"Lord Ushi Oni! This guy dared to address you without respect! Teach him a lesson quickly!"
"Mezumaru, silence!"
Ushi Oni shouted coldly, stood up, and faced the uninvited guest who had arrived at Meiryōji Temple.
"Who are you… Onmyoji? What a strong aura, even Seimei a thousand years ago couldn't have made my heart race like this."
"I wonder how Mezumaru offended you."
Looking at Nakano Yu, who was casually dressed and seemed completely relaxed, Ushi Oni's expression was serious.
"I'm not exactly an Onmyoji. If you're talking about strength… I'd say I'm pretty strong. As for this guy, he suddenly attacked the inn I was staying at and even shouted at me, almost hurting my friend."
Nakano Yu said, casting a glance at Mezumaru. The coldness in his eyes immediately silenced the previously chatty yokai.
"So, your meaning is…"
Hearing that, Ushi Oni's gaze became icy, and he slowly drew his sword from its sash.
"You're really protective, aren't you? But, do you really want to fight even though you know you can't win?"
Nakano Yu said, tossing Mezumaru behind him. With a twist of his hand, the sacred sword Joyeuse appeared in his grip.
"I just want to see how strong people are today."
Ushi Oni snorted coldly. After that, his figure flickered, and he charged at Nakano Yu.
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