Lively Again

'Goo-hoo! Goo-hoo!'

The Forbidden Forest at night was a carnival ground for nocturnal animals. From time to time, cries from some unknown creature drifted through the trees. For anyone who had never entered a forest in the dead of night, the instinctive, genetic fear of darkness and the unknown was enough to make them hesitate.

"Tell me, do we really have to do this tonight? Wouldn't it be fine to come back tomorrow morning?"

Though Kagura herself had long since lost count of how many evil spirits she had slain since childhood, she still disliked this kind of dark, eerie environment.

Darkness not only gave evil spirits a natural layer of protection, but also imposed psychological pressure on humans, weakening their senses and reaction speed. One careless mistake could turn the tables, reversing the strong and weak.

"What? Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark?"

Bell wore an infuriatingly smug grin.

Ever since the enhancement of his eyes had crossed a certain threshold and granted him something akin to night vision, Bell had declared that he was no longer afraid of the dark!

Which meant he could now mock Kagura to his heart's content.

"W-Who's afraid of the dark!? Hmph! You have no idea how many evil spirits I've cut down in the night. You could pile them into a mountain!"

As she spoke, Kagura rested her right hand on her sword hilt, her gaze sweeping over Bell with ill intent as though she were studying where to cut him first.

"Enough, you two. Why do you always start bickering the moment you meet? Can't you behave yourselves for once?"

Yomi grabbed Kagura's hand and shot them both an annoyed glare.

"But Bell, there's really no need to rush this. Can't we rest for the night and perform the