At the same time, Ouryou Rikako noticed the commotion. Terrified, she fled desperately, but the hounds swiftly caught up with her.
Izumimiya Toyohisa watched this game of cat and mouse with satisfaction, his playful expression making it seem as though he were enjoying a performance. His gentlemanly attire, retro-style boots, exquisite scarf, and carefully adjusted top hat all looked utterly out of place in this environment.
He took out a pocket watch and narrowed his eyes as he glanced at it.
Ouryou Rikako was petite, so she hid in a narrow gap. The Automated Machine passed by as though it had not noticed her.
Ouryou Rikako's entire attention was focused on escaping. Seeing that the Automated Machine had not discovered her, she let out a long breath. Sweat seemed to cling even to her long curled eyelashes, while a sheen of perspiration covered her smooth, delicate forehead. She intended to flee deeper inside, but accidentally fell into a paradise of bear traps.
A scream of involuntary agony rang out.
The piercing cry was enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
In an instant.
The sharp bear trap severed her tendons.
Her right foot felt as though it had been crushed off in an instant, but Ouryou Rikako had no energy to tend to her injury. Escaping came first. Enduring the pain, she tried to free herself from the bear trap's grip. The pain brought tears to her eyes, but she had to keep going. After freeing herself from the trap, Ouryou Rikako frantically tried to continue fleeing. She helplessly glanced at her phone, only to see that there was no signal. Rescue was impossible; she could only find a way out herself. Meanwhile, the Automated Machine had already found her trail and viciously bit down on her arm.
Her arm snapped