"Just now, Erni seemed to have gone to the room where Cyan was bathing."
Chen Xiaoxue whispered into Ai Asama's ear, watching Erni's gloomy expression. It was clear from the frustration on Erni's face that her attempt at seduction had not been successful.
"Eh?"
Ai Asama's eyes widened, and she looked at Erni with a flushed face, her voice trembling slightly. "That... that bold?"
"What are you two whispering about?"
Erni looked at Chen Xiaoxue and Ai Asama with a dark expression.
"Nothing at all~!"
Ai Asama shook her head frantically, and Chen Xiaoxue followed suit.
"Hmph! You're just jealous. If you've got the guts, don't go begging Cyan to protect you!" Erni huffed and walked away quickly.
...
Ai Asama and Chen Xiaoxue exchanged a look.
Given the current situation, if they wanted to survive peacefully, they truly had to rely on Cyan's strength. However, even Erni—who had such a great figure and was so beautiful—had been rejected.
Unless it was absolutely necessary, they didn't want to trade their bodies for a way to survive. Besides, with someone already serving as a cautionary tale, going there would only be asking for humiliation.
"Could Cyan... have a problem in that department?"
Ai Asama whispered in Chen Xiaoxue's ear. She really couldn't imagine how someone could reject a bombshell like Erni unless there was a functional issue. Besides, Cyan only looked to be about seventeen or eighteen.
"May... maybe..." Chen Xiaoxue felt that discussing such things behind Cyan's back was a bit inappropriate; it would be over for them if she heard.
Cyan, who was skillfully drying her hair with a towel, suddenly sneezed several times in a row. She rubbed her itchy nose, her face full of confusion.
Is someone talking bad about me behind my back?
Wait? Why would I think that?
After drying off, Cyan changed into the clothes Kagaribi had prepared for her—they seemed to be new clothes originally intended for Basara.
Was I human before?
After getting dressed, Cyan realized that putting on clothes felt like an instinct carved into her body. This sense of familiarity left her slightly puzzled and bewildered.
Stepping out of the room in her new clothes, Cyan felt an odd look in the eyes of Ai Asama and Chen Xiaoxue as they watched her.
"?"
Cyan looked at them, and they immediately avoided her gaze. Sensing no malice, she didn't pay it any mind. She walked into the courtyard, drew the demonic blade, and began practicing the Mugenryu swordsmanship.
She practiced again and again, fully immersing herself in the style.
Watching Cyan train, Ai Asama and Chen Xiaoxue could feel a palpable aura of slaughter radiating toward them.
"In the real world, could he be some kind of legendary master swordsman who hasn't revealed himself yet?"
Ai Asama watched Cyan's practice without blinking. At some point, Erni also joined them, standing to the side and watching in silence.
-----
Late at night, Kagaribi woke up from a dream with a start, her hands covering her face as sweat mixed with tears flowed down.
Her head rested on her knees, her shoulders trembling slightly. After an unknown amount of time, Kagaribi wiped her tears. Looking around at the home filled with memories, she knew she had to make a choice: stay in the empty Cloud Hunt Village or leave for somewhere else.
In the room Kagaribi had assigned her, Cyan was lying in the bedding on the floor. Her closed eyes suddenly snapped open. She sat up, looking toward the shadow standing outside the door.
"Is... something... wrong...?"
Kagaribi opened the door and walked in. She sat beside Cyan and looked into those silver-white eyes. "I'm leaving this village. Will you come with me?"
Every moment in this village brought back memories of the past—happy times that could never return. Everything was gone...
"Okay."
Cyan didn't hesitate; she gave Kagaribi an affirmative answer without even thinking about it. As she moved, the oversized sleepwear slipped from her shoulder, revealing a chest with two slight, pouch-like swells.
"Cyan, you don't want to... eh?"
Kagaribi had expected Cyan to refuse. After all, they weren't related, and even though Cyan had promised Basara to protect her, she was safe now. The promise had been fulfilled; there was no need to accompany her on a dangerous journey. To her surprise, Cyan had agreed instantly.
When she saw Cyan's chest exposed by the slipping garment, Kagaribi gasped, covering her mouth with both hands, her beautiful eyes wide with shock.
"Cy... Cyan... you, you're a girl?!"
"Ah...?"
Following Kagaribi's gaze, Cyan noticed her clothes had slipped and reached out to adjust them.
"Cyan, thank you."
Kagaribi knelt on the bedding and hugged Cyan. If she hadn't known Cyan's true gender, she certainly wouldn't have initiated a hug. Even if they hadn't consummated the marriage, she was already Basara's wife; how could she engage in such intimacy with the opposite sex so soon after her husband's death?
"Mm..."
Feeling the dampness on her neck, Cyan gently patted Kagaribi's back.
The next day, Kagaribi informed Erni, Ai Asama, and Chen Xiaoxue of her decision to leave.
When Erni learned of Kagaribi's plan, she was adamantly against it. There were only nine days left until they could leave this world; leaving the village was far too dangerous for her.
"If you want to stay in Cloud Hunt Village, you may. Cyan and I are leaving," Kagaribi said calmly. She began gathering the money from the villagers' homes. They were dead; if the money wasn't taken, it would only be snatched up by whatever random person happened upon the village.
Thinking this way allowed Kagaribi to proceed without a heavy heart.
"Hey! Are you really leaving with that woman? We can leave this place in eight days. Are you sure you want to go on an adventure with her?"
Erni found Cyan, attempting to convince her to stay.
"Yes."
Cyan gave a firm answer.
"Are you an idiot?"
Erni was so angry she didn't know what else to say. Left with no choice, she dragged Ai Asama and Chen Xiaoxue along to help Kagaribi pack. They searched through the houses for anything useful, and Erni actually managed to find an accessory that increased attributes.
[Sandalwood Hairpin]
[Type: Accessory]
[Attribute: Agility +1, Intelligence +1.]
[Requirement: None]
[Note: Hanamiko deeply cherished this hairpin given to her by her husband.]
Seeing a piece of equipment that could increase attributes made Erni overjoyed, giving her more motivation to search. Ai Asama and Chen Xiaoxue also found equipment that boosted their stats.
[Hunting Knife]
[Type: Weapon]
[Attribute: Attack Power 8~16, Agility +1.]
[Requirement: None]
[Note: Whether it's cutting or skinning, it's a breeze!]
Ai Asama found a hunting knife, while Chen Xiaoxue found a wood-cutting cleaver.
[Ryugu's Cleaver]
[Type: Weapon]
[Attribute: 12~21, Strength +1, Agility +1.]
[Special Effect: Reduces Stamina consumption by 10%.]
[Requirement: None]
[Note: Do not underestimate this cleaver; it can do things beyond your imagination.]
Looking at this cleaver, Chen Xiaoxue felt a powerful sense of déjà vu. Connecting the name of the cleaver to the final note, the image of a certain girl known as "The Cleaver Girl" and her blackened smile flashed through her mind.
Beyond these, the three also took hunting bows and quivers. At the very least, if they encountered ronin again, the bows in their hands would serve as a deterrent.