The Tangled Crowd

Just as Bell had predicted, Sakamoto and the others were now on the verge of tears.

Rather, if it weren't for those guys in the Countermeasures Office keeping an eye on them, they would have been crying long ago.

For a long time now (according to Sakamoto and the others' senses), there has been no movement coming from where their Young Master was.

What was the final result?

Did our Young Master win or lose?

Or rather, are they alive or dead?

The thought that Bell might die in Japan made Sakamoto and the others feel as if the sky had fallen and the future was bleak.

That family would surely skin them alive!

However, their previous orders were to block the people in the Countermeasures Office and prevent them from approaching the battle site.

These guys on the other side are being persistent and refuse to leave, so they have no choice but to stand here with them.

As time went by, their hearts were itching as if a cat was scratching at them!

Half a day has passed, and there's still no sign of it.

Logically speaking, if the Young Master had won, they should have been notified.

If Isayama Yomi wins, he'll probably rush over and chop them up, right?

Could it be that they've both been severely injured and are now unable to move?

Shouldn't they rush over to help their Young Master now?

Thinking of this, the members of the Menethil Family all turned their gazes to Sakamoto.

Feeling the gazes of the crowd, a bead of sweat slowly slid down Sakamoto's forehead.

He realized for the first time that the position of branch manager was actually quite difficult.

Iwahata Koji looked at the several Onmyoji had appeared out of nowhere in front of him, his heart filled with conflict.

As the oldest and most senior member of the Countermeasures Office, he is usually in charge of on-site command during battles.

At this moment, the pressure he felt was no less than that of Sakamoto.

To be honest, if he could, he would love to take his old buddies and get away from this dangerous forest immediately.

But he couldn't do that.

Even setting aside the duties of the Countermeasures Office, Kagura is still fighting hard in the distance.

He could never abandon his teammates and run away alone.

To be honest, when those unidentified Onmyoji suddenly jumped out and blocked their way, Iwahata Koji felt a sense of relief.

Because the fighting ahead was just too intense!

His years of combat experience told him that the battles ahead were simply beyond the reach of someone of his caliber.

Otherwise, he might not even last a second before dying from an unknown AOE (area of effect) attack.

Furthermore, they discovered that Kagura's Shikigami, Byakuei, had appeared in the sky above another battlefield.

In other words, Kagura was not involved in the terrifying battle ahead.

This relieved them, but also removed their reason to force a breakthrough.

Perhaps waiting here, awaiting the victor in the battle to deliver the final judgment, is the best option they can currently choose.

But no one likes the feeling of having their life in someone else's hands, and the people in the Countermeasures Office are no exception.

Therefore, every minute and every second of waiting is an ordeal for them.

Especially after the fighting at the front lines ceased, this torment intensified several times over.

As a result, one minute passed... ten minutes passed...

No one appeared in the woods yet.

This left Iwahata Koji and the others in a very difficult situation, unable to advance or retreat!

Feeling the gazes of his companions behind him, a bead of sweat slowly slid down Iwahata Koji's forehead.

He gritted his teeth and decided not to wait any longer!

A head injury is just a big scar, nothing serious, it's better than suffering here.

then...

"Come with me!" *2

"..." *2

Sakamoto and Iwabata looked at each other in bewilderment.

Just now, the two of them gritted their teeth and stomped their feet at the same time, and made the same decision in tacit understanding.

This made the atmosphere inexplicably awkward for a moment.

Where are you planning to go?

The questioning voice came from the woods. Bell looked at the two groups of people facing off with a puzzled expression, wondering where these guys were planning to go.

Could it be that in this short period of time, these guys hit it off and formed a deep friendship?

So now, the group is planning to find an izakaya (Japanese pub), sit down, have a few drinks, chat about life, and talk about their ideals.

Unaware of the complex thoughts running through everyone's minds, Bell, upon hearing Sakamoto and the middle-aged man's synchronized words, assumed that these guys were planning to get together somewhere.

"Young Master! Are you alright!?"

Seeing that Bell's limbs were intact and his head was still there, Sakamoto couldn't help but shout out excitedly.

Thank goodness, the Young Master is alright, and their lives are saved as well.

"Kagura, are you alright?"

Seeing Kagura following behind that Young Master, looking slightly disheveled but not missing any limbs, Iwabata couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Moreover, what made Iwabata even more relieved was that since the other party hadn't attacked Kagura, they probably wouldn't make things difficult for them either.

It seems their lives are spared today.

The way you're saying it makes it sound like you'd really like something to happen to me?

Bell glared at Sakamoto speechlessly.

This guy, does he even know how to talk?!

"Uncle Iwabata, I'm fine. I'm sorry to have worried you."

Kagura politely bowed and apologized to Iwabata and the others.

His impeccable manners and humble attitude contrasted sharply with someone else present, making it immediately clear who was superior.

"No, no! How could I possibly want anything to happen to you!"

Sakamoto hurriedly waved his hands.

He also realized that he had indeed used some inappropriate words when he lost control of his emotions.

"!?" *N

Just as Sakamoto was about to continue his explanation in an attempt to salvage his image in the Young Master's eyes, the appearance of a third figure emerging from the woods made him swallow back the words he was about to say.

Yomi, whose injuries had been healed by Bell on the way and whose Yomi had been removed by Cleaning Charm, followed Kagura as they slowly walked out of the woods.

Her elegant gait and languid demeanor made her seem less like someone who had just experienced a life-or-death battle and more like a young lady enjoying a leisurely outing.

"Young Master, watch out behind you!"

"Kagura, watch out behind you!"

Everyone either summoned their Shikigami or took out their Cursed Tool, all on edge, looking warily at Yomi.

If Bell and Kagura hadn't been standing right in front of Yomi, the tense crowd would probably have launched an attack without a second thought.

"Put away the Shikigami and weapons. Sister Yomi is one of us now."

Bell calmly gave the instructions.

He knew that Sakamoto and the others would be extremely nervous upon seeing Yomi. That's why he deliberately didn't tell them the outcome of the battle beforehand.