On the mountain road.
Mitsuri carried Kotetsu downhill.
Actually, the guesthouse isn't located at a particularly high altitude, only about 200 meters.
Unfortunately, there's no good road up the mountain; the villagers have to follow a winding mountain road, which greatly increases the distance between the two sides.
When I have plenty of time, I don't feel anything, but now, when I'm being attacked by a ghost, every minute and every second is crucial.
Mitsuri wished the guesthouse were built on flat ground, since every single moment now was being dragged down by Mr. Uzui.
After running for a while, the foot of the mountain finally came into Mitsuri's view.
A hint of joy appeared in Mitsuri's eyes as she carried Kotetsu on her back and quickly arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Carrying Kotetsu on her back, she continued running forward for a while, but at the fork in the road, Mitsuri's forward momentum suddenly stopped.
"Big Sister Mitsuri, what's wrong?" Kotetsu asked, somewhat puzzled.
Mitsuri frowned her beautiful brows and said with some distress:
"I don't know if the team delivering the knife will come from the workshop or the residential area! If I just run off randomly and end up in the wrong place, it'll be troublesome!"
"Ah... this..."
Kotetsu opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Having spent all his time with Mitsuri, he also had no idea which side the team member delivering the knife would come from.
"So... shall we just wait here?" Kotetsu asked.
Mitsuri frowned, thought for a moment, and then nodded.
"Okay! Let's wait here for a bit and see!"
She could understand why the team members hadn't arrived when she got to the foot of the mountain.
After all, he only sent the Kasugai Crow to inform the team members after they had reached the halfway point of the mountain.
Moreover, as a pillar, his leg strength is naturally faster than that of ordinary team members.
However, she still didn't dare to wait there indefinitely.
She only planned to wait here for a while.
After all, now that Doma has arrived, it's hard to guarantee that other demons won't come as well.
If I just wait here and the other team members get held up by other ghosts, then things will get complicated!
Time passed second by second.
After waiting for a while, Mitsuri's heart gradually grew anxious, and her brows furrowed.
Mr. Uzui was currently using both hands to support the Doma, and he simply didn't have the time to just sit there waiting.
She turned her head and looked at the two roads in front of her.
One road leads to the workshop, and the other leads to the residential area.
It's nighttime now, and there are more people in the residential area at night, so the team members are more likely to come from that direction.
On the other hand, it's not late at night yet, so there are still people forging at the workshop, and team members are still there watching over it. Moreover, the workshop specializes in forging Nichirin Blade, so it's also possible that team members will bring Nichirin Blade from there and deliver them here.
After hesitating for a moment, Mitsuri gritted her teeth and headed towards the residential area.
If the team members haven't arrived yet, they're probably being held back by a ghost.
If other ghosts come, I will definitely head towards the Swordsmith Village where there are more people!
Mitsuri lifted her foot and ran towards the residential area. She had only run a few steps when a figure appeared in the forest ahead, also running towards her.
Looking at the figure ahead, a hint of joy flashed in Mitsuri's eyes, and the two quickly approached and met.
" Lady Kanroji, here are the swords you requested!" Yamamoto handed over two Nichirin Blade.
Mitsuri put Kotetsu down, took a Nichirin Blade from him, and asked:
Have other ghosts been encountered in the village?
"Huh?" Yamamoto paused for a moment, then shook his head and replied, "No!"
These words surprised Mitsuri. She had already prepared herself to decide where to go based on the ghosts her teammates mentioned!
So it was because he was running too slowly... Mitsuri glanced at Yamamoto quietly, then quickly came to her senses and gave instructions:
"That's good. Then take Kotetsu and go to safety quickly. I'll take the knife and go up!"
"Yes!" Yamamoto replied.
Mitsuri reached out and took the other knife from Yamamoto's hand, then turned to run up the mountain, just then...
Boom!
A loud noise suddenly came from afar, and even though they were far away, Mitsuri could feel the place where they were standing tremble slightly.
"What... what happened?" Kotetsu asked, somewhat frightened.
Mitsuri instinctively looked in the direction from which the sound came, but the layers of trees blocked her view.
"Wait a moment, I'll go up and check!"
Mitsuri gave Yamamoto and Kotetsu a few instructions, then pushed off with her feet and leaped into the air.
A gentle breeze blew, causing the treetops to sway slightly. Mitsuri adjusted her posture to maintain her balance on the treetop, then looked up.
In the endless forest, a huge ice crystal statue stood silently, and a gentle breeze seemed to carry the chill from the ice crystal statue.
Mitsuri's lips parted slightly, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Is this Doma's... Water Lily Bodhisattva?" Mitsuri murmured to herself in disbelief.
Although it was a question, she had already given the answer in her heart.
This is Doma's Water Lily Bodhisattva!
Can...
Doesn't this mean...?
"Did Mr. Uzui... sacrifice himself?" Mitsuri asked, her voice trembling slightly.
She had witnessed team members sacrifice their lives, but only when she went to provide support herself.
This was the first time she had ever witnessed a teammate sacrifice themselves, especially to cover her retreat...
meet...
Sadness, like a pebble dropped into water, created ripples in Mitsuri's heart.
Just then, a series of rumbling sounds rang out, and Mitsuri subconsciously looked over.
The ice sculpture of the Bodhisattva slowly adjusted its facing direction, then roared off in one direction.
Mitsuri looked in the direction the ice sculpture of the Bodhisattva was moving.
That area is the residential area of Swordsmith Village, and it's also the busiest place at night.
There was no time to grieve for Mr. Uzui's passing. Mitsuri took a deep breath, calmed herself, and then quickly jumped down from the treetop.
Seeing that Lady Kanroji had jumped down, Yamamoto quickly asked:
" Lady Kanroji, what has happened?"
Mitsuri nodded and looked at them, saying:
"Okay, Doma has headed towards the Swordsmith Village. I'll go there and intercept him. You guys head towards the workshop and see if there are any villagers who haven't been evacuated yet. Evacuate them quickly!"