"I'll go too! I'll go, okay?!"
At that thought, Hanabishi Warabi sprang up from the ground and stamped her foot hard. Then, as if to bolster her courage, she turned toward the still-bewildered black bear.
"Since everyone's going..."
"Don't think you can get away either!"
With that said,
Hanabishi Warabi grabbed the thick chain around the black bear's neck.
"You're coming with me!"
"If we're going to die, we'll die together!"
"Rooar?!"
At those words, the black bear let out a disbelieving wail.
Its beady black eyes stared at its owner, who, though usually unreliable, had at least been kind to animals.
Its furry face was filled with the despair of Are you out of your mind? and Please spare this poor bear.
It had only come to watch!
Why did it have to get dragged along as cannon fodder too?!
"Whiiine!!"
However,
even though the black bear dug all four paws into the ground, leaving deep furrows as it cried pitifully,
in the end,
it was still helplessly dragged before Haimo.
With that,
the Five Supreme Swords, along with the empress, Sasamori Aya,
had all assembled.
Still,
seeing their expressions of grim resolve, as though they would be marching to the execution grounds any second,
Haimo couldn't help shaking his head in exasperation.
"All right."
"Relax those faces."
"Why does every one of you look like that?"
"I did say it was a world with no turning back."
"But I never said I'd throw you over there to feed the monsters right this second."
"There's no need to act like this is your final farewell."
"Besides, I'm not some unreasonable evil god."
"Since you've made up your minds and placed your lives in my hands,"
"then,"
"naturally, I'll give you some time."
"Go take care of whatever ties you have in this world."
"Whether that means saying goodbye to friends, packing your bags, or having one last meal you've been craving."
"If there's anything you want to bring or can't let go of, hurry up and sort it out."
"Then come with me with nothing weighing you down."
"I won't wait if you're late."
Those words instantly shattered the tragic atmosphere.
The girls, whose nerves had been stretched taut, deflated like punctured balloons and let out long sighs of relief.
"Phew..."
Hanabishi Warabi plopped straight onto the ground and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead without a shred of dignity.
"You scared me to death... I thought we were about to go straight to our deaths..."
Kikakujō Mary swayed as well, then hurriedly picked up the dictionary from the ground and hugged it to her chest.
Even Onigawara Rin, who had truly made up her mind, lost some of the steely resolve in her eyes, a hint of complicated emotion taking its place.
After all,
when it came to leaving everything behind for good, who could truly have no lingering attachments?
And so,
over the next few hours, Aichi Kyosei Academy was thrown into an uproar.
After all,
news traveled fast.
Or rather,
these girls were already the center of attention at the academy.
The moment they made their decision,
the girls who had always followed them quickly learned everything.
Inside the girls' dormitory,
a group waited with varied expressions.
"Rin..."
Mozunoya stood at the front, tightly clutching the white telescopic baton Haimo had returned.
As she watched Onigawara Rin emerge from her room,
Mozunoya, who had always clung to Onigawara Rin like a little shadow, grew so distressed that her eyes reddened and filled with tears.
"Are you... are you really leaving?"
"Then... who'll teach me swordsmanship? Who'll take me on patrol?"
"Without you here, Rin... I can't do it on my own!"
Onigawara Rin stopped and looked at the junior who had always depended on her.
She couldn't help sighing, reaching out to pat Mozunoya's head with a complicated look in her eyes.
"Nono."
"You're not a child anymore."
"You're a swordswoman of Jikishinkage-ryū too."
"A swordswoman can't hide behind someone else forever."
"Since you're already a candidate for the next Five Swords, you need to learn to stand on your own."
"My sword has found a new direction."
"And you,"
"you need to find your own path too."
"I'm leaving the academy in your hands."
"This is both a trial and an opportunity."
Elsewhere,
Ubarazaki Sōchōka had wrapped herself in her long whip like a cocoon, trying to stop Kikakujō Mary from packing.
"Miss Mary! You can't abandon me!"
"Without your elegant guidance, my whip techniques... my whip techniques will become as limp and weak as noodles!"
"Shut up, Sōchōka!"
Kikakujō Mary shouted impatiently as she stuffed all sorts of skincare products and strange fencing sword maintenance oils into her suitcase.
"I'm going to conquer another world! Not take a vacation!"
"Besides, if I don't leave, you'll never be anything but a follower!"
"Stand tall! Don't disgrace me!"
As for
Hanabishi Warabi, she was surrounded by a group.
They were her subordinates-the Three Beast Warriors.
Tōko Tsunemi held an iron fan, her face full of worry.
Kinuie Tanihara had a pencil tucked behind her ear and was absentmindedly tapping the pair of police batons in her hands.
Nico Saruwatari adjusted her goggles and gripped her adjustable wrench tightly.
"Boss..."
"Are you really not taking us with you?"
"We're the Three Beast Warriors! We swore to follow you forever!"
"Idiots!"
"That place is dangerous!"
Hanabishi Warabi corrected them, then pointed at the black bear behind her-Fierce Man-who was holding a fluffy little cub and licking its fur.
"Besides, I'm not going alone."
"Fierce Man is going too!"
"And Fierce Man's baby, this newborn little one, is coming along!"
"With Fierce Man and me gone, someone has to stay here and hold down the fort, right?"
"What if those boys at the academy rebel?"
"You'd better keep a close eye on them!"
"Once I..."
"Once I become a great hero, I'll definitely come back to see you."
Chapter 14: The Five Swords and the empress set out for Orario!
Looking at the three subordinates who had always joined her in her antics,
Hanabishi Warabi sniffled and put on an imposing air befitting their boss.
"Do you understand?!"
"Yes, boss!"
Seeing their boss trying desperately to act cool despite her reddened eyes, the Three Beast Warriors nodded firmly.
Their voices rang out in perfect unison, even carrying a hint of tears.
Meanwhile,
in another secluded corner of the academy,
the old tree's shadow lay thick as impenetrable ink.
Nemumeno Satori crouched beneath its shade, toying with several poisoned blow darts.