"What the heck! If I'm going to be bait, I'll be bait, but why did you hit me?"
Ayumi rubbed the bump on her head that had just subsided, saying indignantly. A closer look revealed a tiny wireless earphone in her ear.
"If the opponent didn't kill you once, they might come again next time. Be careful. Although it would be better if you, this sow, died, please do not disgrace Your Highness Hairsaizu."
On the other end of the earphone, Sera calmly drank her tea and spoke disdainfully to Ayumi, who was alone. She had just relayed the news that Yuu could control spirit words to the village, and unexpectedly, upon returning, she had to accept this 'cruel' task. If she could, she would still prefer to be by Kurumi-sama's side, quietly observing Kurumi-sama's every move, which would be ten thousand times better than listening to this sow's voice. But this was Kurumi-sama's order. If possible, she truly wished this sow would disappear.
"Compared to me, you're more worried about being embarrassed. Sera's sharp tongue has become even more refined lately."
Tearfully, Ayumi complained into the earphone. Her current mood was like the ice in the eighth layer of hell, the freezing hell, both cold and…
"Ayumi-san is truly an interesting person."
"But she's a big idiot."
"Hmm! A big idiot who is both naive and a little silly."
Ayumi, who was complaining into her earphone, didn't notice the three figures not far from her who were amusingly watching her helpless behavior. These three were Ellie El, Kurumi, and Yuu, who had been following Ayumi from the start. They dared not let Haruna come, as her personality was too impulsive.
"You truly are mean-spirited, Kurumi-tan. You knew Kyoko placed a tracking spell on Ayumi-san but didn't tell her. Don't you think Ayumi-san would be very surprised if she were suddenly cut by a knife?"
"Speaking of which, aren't you the same, Ellie El? You could easily dispel such a small thing, so why didn't you do it? That's also a question, Great Teacher."
Hearing Ellie El's teasing, Kurumi replied with a gentle smile.
"How could that be? Isn't this all preparation to lure Kyoko out? Look, Ayumi has happily accepted it, hasn't she? (Ayumi: Which of your eyes saw me happy?)"
"Ah la, ah la, it seems our little fish is about to bite the hook."
Just as she was about to continue teasing this twin-tailed Great Teacher, a familiar presence suddenly approached rapidly within her perception, which brought a hint of joyful smile to Kurumi's face.
"Coming? So fast."
Ellie El also sensed it. Her and Kurumi's expressions instantly synchronized, which made the silently observing Yuu a little puzzled. These two's personalities were truly suited to be sisters.
"So I said, don't call me an idiot. If possible, please call me by my name, Aikawa Ayumi. I would be immensely grateful, Sera-sama."
Ayumi complained helplessly into the earphone with a put-upon expression. Even so, it didn't stop her from heading towards the grave designated by Ellie El. According to Haruna and the others, Great Teacher Ellie El (who was rambling) said that a huge magic circle had already been set up at the grave. If Ayumi transformed into a Magical Girl there and unleashed a huge amount of magic, the opponent might perceive it as a challenge and then come to this trap location.
"Shut up, you mere sow. You want me to utter such a filthy name? Do you want my mouth to rot? I would never!"
"What a sharp tongue, you almost made me cry."
You're about to cry from being scolded, yet you keep looking for trouble. Are you sick? And what's with that expression of being 'healed'? These were the simultaneous thoughts of the three observers. They hadn't expected Ayumi to show such a side of herself in an unknown (to Ayumi, at least) situation, which greatly surprised Kurumi and the others.
Ayumi, who was in the midst of seeking an S-rank experience, suddenly felt a hint of malice. She instinctively rolled on the ground, dodging a decapitating blow. However, her movement was a beat too slow, and her left hand was severed.
"What's going on?! Don't you only sense it when magic power erupts?"
Ayumi, completely unaware that Ellie El was messing with her, now looked with a solemn expression at the girl holding the samurai sword. She hadn't expected her opponent to ambush her so quickly.
"Oh my! I missed again. Why? Dead people can be resurrected, Aikawa-san."
Kyoko had an innocent, harmless expression. If one ignored the blood-dripping samurai sword in her hand, people would never believe this girl was the serial killer.
"You know my name? It seems you're the real culprit (chest) who killed so many people."
Hearing her name, Ayumi said in surprise. She hadn't expected her opponent to have investigated her.
"That's right. One of the sacrificed souls was suddenly missing, and I occasionally saw a face that had died by my hand appear before me. Anyone would be curious to know more."
Shaking the blood from the samurai sword in her hand, Kyoko said with a smile.
"What?! Let me kill you again, Aikawa-san!"
Raising the samurai sword and pointing its tip at Ayumi, Kyoko's smile turned exceptionally cruel.
"Oh my, oh! Haha, if you kill her like that, it will make things very difficult for me."
"Who?!"
The sudden appearance of a third person's voice made Kyoko instantly alert. Could this be a trap? No! She had to run. Just as she was about to fly away, a black shadow suddenly appeared on the ground, wriggling unusually. From within it came sounds of joyful laughter, which made Kyoko feel a little scared.
"How could I let you escape?"
Such a voice suddenly came from behind her. Kyoko, like a startled cat, leaped away. Unfortunately, before she could land, the shadow on the ground instantly expanded, and dozens of pale hands reached out from within, quickly seizing Kyoko.
"Let... let me go!"
"It's no use. Don't waste your energy."
Kyoko struggled in a panic, but these hands were much stronger than she had imagined. Although she wanted to self-destruct and then revive with a Life Orb, these hands firmly pressed on her dead pulse, preventing her from mobilizing any magic power. It was utterly dreadful. But as two pale hands gripped her neck, it was accompanied by a weakening of her breath, and her strength slowly disappeared. It formally symbolized the hunter finally capturing its prey.
"Oh my, oh! Look what I've caught? A big-breasted girl! If you remove the head, it's five times the nutrition of beef. She can provide us with several days of energy. We absolutely cannot let her go."
"Ya... Yame-te."
Hearing Kurumi's chilling words and her approaching figure, she looked up in horror and finally saw the person who had captured her. She saw the other party wearing a black and red Gothic outfit, with an enchanting aura, a beauty that could topple nations, and night-like charming black hair tied into one long and one short twin-tail. There were also those malicious, heterochromatic eyes. She was utterly captivated by her.
In an instant, Kyoko was drawn in by Kurumi's aura. She wanted to be tormented by her!
"What's wrong with her?"
"What? Who knows? Maybe she's sick."
Eucliwood, who slowly walked over, looked at the flushed Kyoko and curiously asked Kurumi. Kurumi spread her hands, indicating she didn't know either. As the saying goes, sadists attract sadists, and a small yandere will be attracted to a big yandere, meaning Kyoko had already fallen for Kurumi.
"I'll take her for interrogation first. I'll come find you after I have some results."
Ellie El, who had been accompanying Eucliwood the whole time, slapped Kyoko unconscious and said to Kurumi. Kurumi nodded, telling the clone in the shadow to release Kyoko. Ellie El then teleported away with Kyoko.
"Easily resolved. Let's go home!"
She stretched lazily, showcasing her curvaceous figure, which made Ayumi's eyes go wide.
"Hey! Can you pay attention to me? Can you help me pick up my arm first?"
"Oh my~! You're still here! Ayumi, go pick it up yourself."
"Yes, Lady Kurumi."
And so, the three happily bickered and played their way home. Before leaving, Kurumi cast a meaningful glance at the shadows, where a person had been watching since Kurumi dealt with Kyoko. It was likely the Night King. It seemed Kyoko had become cannon fodder.
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