Amid the Blue-Ink Color Reishi were streaks of vivid blood, like the blood on a dead fish in the azure sea—cold, with an absurd sort of beauty.
With a "plop," a still-wriggling tongue fell to the ground. After landing, it bounced a few times, and once it was covered in dirt, it looked like a dead earthworm. After a few final struggles, it went completely still.
Yet as the tongue fell silent, heart-wrenching cries came from Yamada Unko's blood-filled mouth.
Without his tongue, and with his mouth full of blood, Yamada Unko's screams were exceedingly strange and muffled. As though someone had strangled him by the throat, he could only make hoarse, wheezing sounds like a broken bellows.
There was not a trace of pity on Asano Kiyoshi's face at the sight of Yamada Unko. He continued using Tsuriboshi to bind him in place, letting him scream at the side without any intention of paying him attention.
Then Asano Kiyoshi turned around. With a slight ripple of Reishi, he thoroughly wiped the bloodstains from his hands clean. Smiling, he handed two thousand Kan to the hairpin shop owner.
The owner took the money. Her aged face bore a mixture of shock and concern. After thinking for a moment, she finally drew a long breath and said to Asano Kiyoshi, "Um, you should leave quickly. Even though you're very strong, this man's background is far from simple. You should leave before the Police Patrol Team arrives! Otherwise, if you and him are arrested together, no matter how many of us are willing to testify for you, you won't escape death. After all, a commoner laying hands on a noble..."
Hearing the shop owner's words, the surrounding onlookers also began urging Asano Kiyoshi, "That's right. We all feel satisfied watching this, but