After using a Healing Art to stabilize Kensei Muguruma's injuries, Ailin carried Kensei Muguruma back to the cave where they had been hiding.
"Captain Ailin, you're back."
Outside the cave, Kyunnanbyaku, the Ninth Division's Vice-Captain, came hopping over to greet them. The smile on her face gave no hint that she had faced a life-threatening crisis only days ago.
But the next moment, the lively girl's face went pale.
"Captain..."
"Captain, what happened to you?"
Seeing Kensei Muguruma being carried by Ailin, Kyunnanbyaku was nearly frightened senseless.
Kensei Muguruma's current state was truly terrifying.
Although Ailin's Healing Art had stabilized his injuries, Kensei Muguruma had lost a great deal of blood in his battle against Murakumo-no-Tsurugi. He had especially taken a Prison Dragon Break head-on before being stabbed by Murakumo-no-Tsurugi. Without Ailin, he would probably have died from excessive blood loss.
Thus, Kensei Muguruma was now practically a "bloody man."
Thinking Kensei Muguruma was dead, Kyunnanbyaku ran up to Ailin, hugged Kensei Muguruma's head as he dangled from Ailin's grip, and shook it frantically back and forth.
"Captain, don't scare me! Wake up, Captain..."
"Waaah, Captain, wake up already! I'll never call you an idiot again..."
"Waaaah..."
"Captain..."
Ailin's brow twitched. Seeing that Kensei Muguruma's freshly treated wounds were on the verge of splitting open again, he had no choice but to grab the back of Kyunnanbyaku's clothes and lift her up.
"Vice-Captain Kyunnanbyaku, I know you're worried about Captain Muguruma, but if you keep shaking him like that, Captain Muguruma may never wake up again."
"Ah?"
Kyunnanbyaku froze at Ailin's words, then understood what he meant.
—Captain Kensei Muguruma wasn't dead yet, but if she kept shaking his head, he really might die.
In an instant, Kyunnanbyaku's face turned bright red. "Sorry, sorry, Captain Ailin. I thought..."
"I know.