NOVPUBThis wasn’t just being at a disadvantage—she was basically about to die!
Even her ghoul form had been dispelled. What strength did she have left to stand against him?
Sure enough, Ye Liusu didn’t let the opportunity slip. He positioned himself and was about to charge forward.
Snowy, on the other hand, spat out blood, leveled her blade horizontally, and readied herself for a fight to the death.
If I didn’t stop them now, it would be too late for anything!
“Wait a damn second—!!!”
I shouted as I sprinted toward Snowy. The two of them both paused at the sound of my scream and turned to look at me.
Especially Snowy—her eyes widened in utter shock when she saw me, and then her face went pale. Even more panicked than when she was the one in danger, she cried out to me.
“No! Run! Get out of here!”
Her voice was much louder than usual. She tried to run over to me, but after just a couple of steps, she stopped, clutching her abdomen—unable to even straighten her back from the pain.
You don’t need to force yourself! I’ll come to you!
“Huh? How did you even get in here? I already set up an isolation barrier—no one should be able to enter this street... Oh~ I get it, you were here before I set it up, weren’t you?”
I kept an eye on his movements while rushing over to Snowy.
I caught her just before she collapsed from exhaustion.
“Why wouldn’t I come when you’re like this?!”
I held her in my arms and checked her wound—stabbed in the side. No wonder she was bleeding so much... God, did it hit her organs? Damn it!
Strangely, Ye Liusu didn’t press the attack. Instead, he watched me with interest and asked:
“Seems like you two have a pretty close relationship, huh? What’s your name, kid?”
“I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
“Oh-ho? A little cocky, aren’t you... I wonder what kind of face you’d make if I killed her right in front of you. Hehe, now I suddenly want to see you cry~”
That bastard... now he was toying with us!
“Get some rest. I’ll think of something.”
There was still one last method...
But I wasn’t even sure if it would work—and even if it did, I had no idea what to do afterward. Still... I had to try!
I gulped hard, lowered my head, and waited.
The moment his foot entered my field of vision, I hugged Snowy tight and shouted with all my strength—
I focused all my energy and yelled his name:
“Ye Liusu!”
“...How do you know my name...?”
Even if it wasn’t his True Name, it should still have some effect!
Complete control was impossible—Kan Tsukiyo had already told me that.
But temporarily restraining him... that should be doable.
I almost raised my hand to say the next command out loud.
But just the first two words were enough—because—
Ye Liusu’s whole body shuddered and froze where he stood, wide-eyed, shaken.
Now what? Of course—attack!
The thought had barely formed before Snowy leapt from my arms!
She instinctively seized the opening, gripped her short blade tight, and drove it straight into Ye Liusu’s heart!
Where the blade struck, blood burst like a fountain.
Ye Liusu’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the blood erupting from his pierced heart. He tried to cover it with his hands, but couldn’t. His body could move now—but only enough to stagger back three or four steps before he collapsed with a heavy thud.
...We did it.
“We... we did it!!!”
We f***ing killed him!
“That was incredible! I didn’t even have time to react before you were already charging in, Snowy!”
I caught her as she swayed unsteadily, lowered her to the ground, and dropped to one knee beside her, awestruck.
“Snowy, don’t move. Let me bandage you up first.”
I gestured for her to lie flat so I could treat the wound on her abdomen. But then—
She opened her mouth again.
“So small...”
...
A voice came from behind!
He’s still alive?!
“I’ll kill you!!!”
I grabbed Snowy and lifted her with everything I had—
But I was too late to dodge!
...Damn it! I should’ve gone over and stabbed him a few more times. He’s a killer—just stabbing his heart doesn’t mean instant death!
And yet—nothing happened.
I turned my head in surprise... I shouldn’t have.
Because that’s when I saw her.
Rainie Bai had somehow gotten between us, throwing herself across my back.
The blade cut without mercy.
I didn’t even get the chance to react before it sliced through my clothes and skin—and left a shallow, uncertain wound on her back.
Face-to-face, Rainie’s brows furrowed—and then she couldn’t help but cough up a mouthful of blood.
It sprayed all over my face, and then she collapsed against me. I turned and held her tight.
...
Seeing the red line spread across her back, my mind went completely blank.
Why...
I couldn’t even lie to myself. I didn’t want to accept it, but I still understood—
It was blood.
Fresh blood ran down Rainie Bai’s back, seeping into the asphalt.
Her blood was smeared across my face, dripping into my eyes. It stung, but I didn’t close them.
“Hm? Taking a blade for someone? You two really are close... But you’re next, boy!”
The bastard’s voice came from ahead, filled with fury. The name hovering above his head had turned blood-red.
I clenched my jaw, lips trembling, as I pressed my hand to Rainie’s wound and hung my head.
I heard Snowy call my name—her voice sounded so far away.
Then Snowy rushed forward and swung her blade, forcing the man back from me. She glanced at me and Rainie cradled in my arms.
Steel clashed with steel, but the sound felt like it was coming from another world—distant and unreal.
A voice slipped from my lips, trembling from deep in my chest, raw with emotion.
“Aaah... ahhhh!!”
This was all... all my fault!
If I’d just—
Damn it...
I hugged Rainie tighter. My eyes welled up with tears.
I didn’t even notice the force of my grip squeezing the tears out of my eyes.
Just as I clenched my eyes shut—trying not to cry—
A cold hand gently touched my face and wiped away the tears.
A faint voice reached my ears.
I immediately opened my eyes and stared down at her.
“Rainie?!”
“Please... don’t cry...”
“I—I’m sorry! You’re still awake?! You’re really too strong for a girl...”
No—this wasn’t the time for jokes!
“Thank god! You didn’t pass out—can you help me bandage the wound?”
“...If this keeps up, I might die.”
She half-opened her eyes and whispered weakly.
“Hang on! I’ll bandage you right now!”
I hurriedly tore her clothes open with a short blade—cut her shirt and bra into strips. Then I tied one strip around her wound and pulled it tight across her back and shoulder.
“Stay with me! You’re going to be okay! I have to... I have to—”
“You don’t need to blame yourself so much...”
Even like this, she was still worried about me—what an idiot...
She smiled faintly, weakly gripping my wrist.
“I’ve stopped the bleeding with my qi... I won’t die for a while—cough...”
“You’re still coughing up blood! Quit trying to act tough!”
“Don’t talk... I’m moving you to the side.”
I lifted Rainie with one arm and carried her to the side of the road.
“It's been so long since I’ve felt something like this...”
“Stop saying dumb things! Don’t fall asleep!”
“What’s so long-lost about being hurt... I still want to be with you longer...”
“Of course. We’ve finally—”
“...If I had to die in your arms like this... I guess that wouldn’t be the worst way to go...”
“I still don’t want you to die...”
“Don’t fall asleep!” But Rainie Bai closed her eyes anyway.
No matter how loudly I screamed—this wound was too deep!
No good. The bleeding won’t stop. I need bandages—anything to treat her with...
If I had a first aid kit, even something basic...
Wait—I do!
What’s the situation now? Ye Liusu—both of them were injured badly, barely standing. It wasn’t about skill or strength anymore, but willpower.
I had to give Snowy a chance!
Maybe it was instinct, maybe it was reflex. I didn’t even think.
I just reached into my pocket, grabbed the magatama, and shouted as I tossed it—
“Snowy! Close your eyes!”
The flame burst into life again. The glowing magatama turned from green to red mid-air, and the sudden flash of fire made Ye Liusu reflexively shield his eyes.
Last time Snowy had backed away the moment she saw this flame—so it had to work on Ye Liusu too!
The magatama hit the ground with a sharp crack.
Ye Liusu was still covering his eyes and swinging blindly—
Snowy didn’t waste the opening. She slashed straight through his weapon—and his wrist.
He stumbled backward, maybe from losing his wrist, maybe just out of reflex.
But Snowy didn’t stop.
She stepped forward, accelerating—
And drove the blade deep into Ye Liusu’s abdomen!
The blade arced through the air in a bloody curve.
A spray of viscera hit the ground before his body even did. Ye Liusu’s face went slack.
Then—he dropped to his knees.
The title above his head ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ vanished.
Finally, he was truly dead.
