Chapter 21: Inside the Heart

Shirayuki-sensei, who entered Aya-chan’s mind along with me, couldn’t hide her confusion at the sight of the residential area that stretched out before us.

“I thought we would be transferred to the countryside…”

There was nothing familiar about the surrounding buildings.

Moreover, it was a residential area at night, but there were no lights on the street or in any of the buildings, which made it eerie.

Since we were in a mental world, anything could happen, but it would have been nice if it were a bit brighter.

As I was lost in thought, I noticed threads extending from my chest area.

Without exchanging any words, Sensei and I simultaneously aimed for the end of the threads and started walking.

Our pace gradually increased, and we dashed across the darkened pedestrian crossing.

“Itsuki-kun, stop!”

As soon as Shirayuki-sensei said that, two monsters appeared at the intersection, drifting in their vehicles.

“The left lane is scary! We’ll drive in the passing lane!”

“You’re driving so slowly… I’m going to kill you.”

The monsters were riding on cart-like vehicles, scraping the asphalt as they drifted.

However, instead of being pulled by horses, these carts had 2-meter-tall human-like figures with arms and legs growing out of their heads, creating a creepy and eerie appearance.

On the other hand, the one whipping and controlling the cart-like monster was a humanoid skeleton.

“This, the words are strong, and it’s painful!”

“Don’t say random things… I’m going to kill you.”

The cart-like monsters were approaching us at a speed of about 80 km/h on the sidewalk.

I reflexively grabbed Sensei and extended my “Thread Silhouette” towards a nearby building. (TN: previously translated as “thread Silvate”).

I confirmed that it had pierced into the concrete wall and used “Body Enhancement” to forcefully pull the thread.

With a sudden burst of acceleration, Sensei and I were lifted into the air.

In the next moment, two rampaging vehicles passed by the spot where we had been standing.

With an unpleasant crash, they broke through the guardrail and crashed into a convenience store on the first floor of an apartment building.

I manipulated the “Thread Silhouette” with one hand and gently set us down on the ground.

“Thank you, Itsuki-kun.”

“No worries.”

I responded to Sensei without turning to face her.

I then prepared the “Thread Silhouette” in a combat-ready stance.

“The accelerator and brake got mixed up. Sorry…”

As the monsters spoke from the convenience store, a figure emerged from inside, a skeleton, perhaps the one controlling the cart.

Unlike before, it had a human-like appearance and a face that looked exactly like the head of the human who had pulled the cart earlier.

Although the size of the head was now more realistic.

Regardless, it didn’t matter.

“Fury Bee Homurabachi.”

My magic pierced through the monster at the speed of sound.

The one driving the cart, or whatever it was, turned into black mist and disappeared. However, there was still another one.

As I readied my “Thread Silhouette,” a rack with goods flew at me, and I quickly caught it with the net-like thread.

In that moment, another monster descended from above.

“It’s sluggish!”

It appeared as if it teleported, but it wasn’t the case.

I had seen the monster jump in my peripheral vision before. It was just a diversion to distract me while it moved.

Therefore, there was no need to even look at the monster.

I already felt it entangled in the “Thread Silhouette” I had set up in the air, and the moment I sensed it, I blew its head away.

Confirming that it turned into black mist and disappeared into the night, I turned back to Shirayuki-sensei.

“Sensei, let’s find Aya-chan.”

“H-hai.”

Sensei seemed to want to say something, but she swallowed her words and nodded.

As we prepared to head towards Aya-chan, an unpleasant smell hit us.

Following the smell, we found an indescribable creature.

First of all, it had four legs.

Having four legs might make it look like a dog, but it wasn’t a dog.

What made it different was that all of its legs were arms.

And it didn’t have a face.

Instead, its face was made of hands. Like a shadow puppet show, only hands for the face.

Its head, its legs, everything was made of arms.

Such a monster.

While looking at us, the monster spoke.

“I’m looking for people.”

“…Eh?”

“I’m looking for people. An 8-year-old. Normal clothes. Don’t you know?”

How should I respond, or should I even engage in conversation?

While I was trying to figure out what to do, the creature continued.

“A girl. She likes dogs. She doesn’t have anything above her neck. Don’t you know?”

“I-I don’t know.”

Unlike me who remained silent, Shirayuki-sensei spoke up.

As soon as she said that, the hands forming the creature’s head opened.

“Maybe it looked like this,” the creature said, and a white figure peeked through the gap between the hands.

“Ah!”

The moment that scream escaped her lips, I decided that the monster needed to be exorcised.

My “Thread Silhouette” entangled the hands that made up the creature’s head, forcing them to close.

Then, I bound it up and the creature struggled, saying, “I’m looking for people. I’m looking for people.”

“I don’t think you’re really looking for anyone.”

“I just want to say it.”

I replied, dumbfounded, and sliced the monster’s head into pieces.

As it turned into black mist and disappeared into the night, I made sure of its final moments before turning back to Shirayuki-sensei.

“Why are there so many monsters…?”

“I don’t know.”

Taking a deep breath, Sensei continued.

While we were lost in thoughts, a third party interrupted.

“Even Buddha’s patience has its limits… But I am not that tolerant. Intruding into a maiden’s heart with muddy feet and poking around! Furthermore, arrogantly flaunting your arrogance!”

The ambient temperature suddenly dropped.

The girl standing on top of a traffic signal was pure white.

With white hair and blue eyes, she looked like a non-Japanese girl wearing Japanese traditional clothing.

Her appearance was hauntingly ethereal, as if she would disappear if touched by sunlight.

However, her striking feature was not just her appearance.

Snow was falling around her, but only around her.

As if that place was a different world.

“Are you leaving already, Exorcists? Do you know who I am?”

Bang! The feeling of the surrounding area dropped sharply.

Then, the girl’s snow turned into a blizzard, dyeing the world white.

“Get out of here, you Exorcists! I won’t tolerate being disturbed!”

Bang! She stepped on the signal light and roared.

“A Sixth Rank! The ‘Ice Snow Princess’!”

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