Volume 8 Chapter 9 Water And Wood
The Witchs Hour, Ouma Toki, has long been spoken of as the time when "Mystery" begins to stir, carrying a sense of caution.
In modern times, 18:00 is not considered a particularly late hour.
Nevertheless, the surrounding area is already dark due to the season, making it an ideal location to encounter supernatural beings.
This place is normally off-limits to people, akin to a hole in consciousness.
With little foot traffic on the road, there it stood—a humanoid figure.
It's Hitogata.
It must have been nearly three meters tall, with an unusually large upper body and a small lower body, forming a triangular shape. The entire body was black, and on the head, three white lights floated, resembling human faces.
From the rooftop, Ayaka observed the humanoid figure.
"Well, it looks like a close-range power type at first glance. Seems not very smart."
"Don't let your guard down, Kagami. Another similar figure took three Anti-Demon Officials on the third floor to defeat."
"I know, that's why I called you."
Ayaka said, sighing in response to Koresawa, the third-ranked Anti-Demon Official assigned to the Special Anti-Demon Headquarters.
Despite being someone from the headquarters that Ayaka dislikes, Koresawa is her colleague and they have been friends since childhood.
When the conversation turned to who they could rely on outside of the Seijo Branch, he was the first person that came to mind.
In fact, even though Koresawa must be busy himself, he came immediately when Ayaka called him.
"I'm not that free, you know."
"Even so, I appreciate you coming."
"...What nonsense are you talking about?"
Ayaka pouted her lips, saying that it was rare for her to give lip service, and Koresawa resisted the urge to smirk as he bit his own lips.
The reason Koresawa is a trusted ally for Ayaka is simple, but she herself doesn't realize it. She is the type to strictly separate work and personal life.
Koresawa regained his focus and looked at the figure in front of him.
It hasn't noticed them yet. It's just wandering around without any purpose.
Still, the opponent is a formidable enemy.
They will use this advantage to ensure their purification. Or if there is a magician behind the scenes, they will expose their true identity.
"Well, shall we go?"
"Yes, let's not be reckless."
Saying so, Koresawa placed his hand on the roof.
His magic power spread through his hand like roots.
Koresawa Rendai's magic is Kidoraku.
His magic, which controls trees, is not highly offensive. It is more of a support-type spell.
Moreover, this is a concrete jungle. Even the city's trees are not in decent shape here, so he cannot fully demonstrate his abilities.
That's how it is often assumed.
A magician who cannot give their all in the city would never be recruited into the headquarters.
When the magic powers of the amber placed in various locations in advance and Koresawa connect, the magic will be activated.
"En'en jujyu!"
As the amber emitted light, it swelled up as if it had exploded. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a giant tree and stretched towards the target.
Did Hitogata notice it and try to escape backward? But even there, arms were reaching out.
There wasn't just one amber that was prepared. Multiple giant trees entwined around the Hitogata, binding it.
When he fought against the previous oni, it ended here. But since then, Koresawa has continued training.
He can't show such a disgraceful appearance ever again.
With this in mind, between the fingers of both hands, there is origami that he crafted himself.
He then throws it at Hitogata.
"'Kamikiri mushi'!"
The scissors, which should have been made of paper, made a sharp sound as it flew towards the silhouette and cut through its black body.
Moreover, the kamikiri mushi doesn't end with just one attack. It changes its trajectory midway, returning like a boomerang, and bites further into the Hitogata.
Hitogata doesn't make a sound and tries to struggle against the restraints, but the kamikiri mushi won't allow it.
While watching that, Koresawa's complexion was not good.
"As I suspected, it has the regeneration ability..."
The Hitogata does not bleed or feel pain no matter how many times it is cut. Even the wounds inflicted by the kamikiri mushi heal within seconds, far from being fatal.
Based on the records of previous battles, it was expected that the Hitogata possessed the ability to regenerate.
No matter how many attack methods Koresawa tries to employ, it is impossible to defeat it.
That is something that is already understood.
"Don't get injured..."
Muttering so, Koresawa continued to restrain the Hitogata.
The stage has already been set.
These trees are not just restraining it.
With a thud, Ayaka appeared in front of the Hitogata. And with her palms together, she unleashed a palm strike.
Ayaka's specialty is "wave motion" magic. A magic that emits waves and destroys enemies from within.
Ayaka directed it not at the Hitogata, but at the En'en Jujyu that restrains the Hitogata.
In her hands, she held water imbued with magic power.
The water that was struck with waves immediately permeated into the trees, pulsating with heat.
In the Five Elements philosophy, water nurtures wood. It fills the trees, encouraging their growth.
The trees that bound the Hitogata rose powerfully and changed their form.
The entwined branches thickened and sharpened, penetrating the black body.
"Devour it. - 'Aomizuchi (Blue Thunder Dragon).'"
The tree's fangs, clad in waves, bit into the humanoid figure, resonating with the sound of destruction.
The body of the Hitogata, now without a destination, swelled unevenly, and the light on its head began to fade.
Upon seeing this, Ayaka exhaled.
Taking advantage of the element of surprise, Koresawa and Ayaka delivered their strongest blow. Thanks to the successful execution of their plan, they were able to defeat it.
Since Hitogata had the ability to regenerate, prolonging the battle was not a wise move.
With such a formidable enemy, there should be some traces left if there is a spellcaster. All they had to do was investigate from there.
In that moment of thought, their eyes met with the Hitogata.
"Huh――?"
The light that should have disappeared a moment ago was now shining once again.
In front of the frozen Ayaka, Hitogata twisted its upper body.
Immediately, a violent storm was born.
A fist, as big as a person's head, swung at an incomprehensible speed.
Just a slight touch would surely shatter Ayaka's head into pieces. Amidst the impossible-to-see spectacle, Ayaka felt a clear image of death.
"Kagami!"
Just barely in time.
Koresawa threw a cushion-like paper balloon that intervened between Ayaka and Hitogata, expanding.
"Gah!"
An impact pierced through the cushion and struck Ayaka.
Koresawa caught Ayaka, who was about to be blown away.
"Kagami, are you alright?!"
"Wha... what..."
Ayaka replied intermittently, with an unstable breath.
At the same time as Koresawa's magic, Kagami also released a wave to cancel out the impact.
If either of them had failed, it would have been a fatal blow.
The sound of "mishimishimi" echoed, and Hitogata breaking through obstructing trees. Its body seemed completely restored, without any visible signs of damage.
"This is more troublesome than I imagined."
"For now, leave me... and escape."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I won't get killed, right?"
Ayaka said, grimacing in pain.
In this situation, there is no choice but to run away.
Carrying baggage alone, even Korekawa wouldn't be able to escape. Betting on the fact that Hitogata won't kill people, leaving Ayaka behind was the best option.
However, Korekawa shook his head.
"I refuse."
"You're being stubborn, aren't you?"
"Besides..."
Korekawa said, looking up.
"It looks like reinforcements have arrived."
The thunder roared. Lightning struck down towards the humanoid, cutting through the night.
A woman landed on top of the spear that pierced through Hitogata from its head.
Her hair and eyes were even darker and glossier than the night. Surrounding her were golden sparks.
Isumi Tsukiko appeared on the battlefield, transforming her anger into thunder and lightning.
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