Chapter 36
NO WAY!
"AAAHNGG… AH HA!"
Mitsuni kept glancing left and right while staring at Taro. Suddenly, an old family trick she'd once learned came to mind. She dramatically tore open her shirt, baring her chest, and locked eyes with Taro. He was completely drained, gasping for air.
Taro: "D-don't… Ugh… If someone ever stabs a hand into me… don't cut it off…"
Mitsuni grinned.
Mitsuni: "As you wish, sir."
In reality, the shelter wasn't nearly as full as it should have been. There was no sign of the twins, and no word from Guki. Mitsuni was deeply worried, but she hid it so Taro wouldn't notice. The shelter held only 10 assistants, 4 injured hunters, and 3 hunters still fit to fight. She sighed heavily, turned back to Taro, and said:
Prof. Mitsuni: "Just rest a little, okay? I'll be right back…"
Haruto continued scanning the surroundings when his eyes suddenly met Kaito's. Kaito was silently pointing with his gaze to the aura wrapped around Tina's neck.
Haruto nodded in understanding and turned to Norita.
Haruto: "First things first… Where are Norita-san and Ren?"
Norita burst into laughter. (Tina and Yoshi were smirking as they eavesdropped.)
Norita: "Hahaha… They've been right beside you this whole time."
Everyone froze in shock.
Sora: "What?"
Norita: "They're actually down in the headquarters basement, knocked out cold. Same goes for…" (glancing at Daichi) "Ren and you."
Haruto, alarmed: "But—?"
Yoshi interrupted.
Yoshi: "Allow me to explain, my dear mademoiselle." (Tina chuckles and nods.)
Yoshi: "We simply borrowed their energy so we could transform. That's all."
Everyone except Kaito stood stunned.
Kaito: "Ohhh, really? You filthy bastards."
Suddenly, Noa clenched his fist. Everyone who had been frozen cried out in pain.
"Ahh!"
Norita's expression turned deadly serious.
"I TOLD YOU TO GIVE US THE KID! WHERE THE HELL DID THEY VANISH TO WHILE WE WERE AT HEADQUARTERS?!"
Haruto swallowed hard.
Haruto: "How did you…"
Tina: "Heh, we infiltrated you long ago. I'm sure everyone except that kid has already turned."
Sora's eyes widened. Daichi gritted his teeth.
Daichi: "HOW CAN YOU BE SUCH FUCKING BASTARDS?!"
In a fit of rage, Haruto blew onto his dry Elif Ki cards. A massive explosion erupted instantly. Norita leaped backward; Tina and Yoshi tried to do the same.
In that moment, Tina felt a vise-like grip around her neck. On the other side, someone had seized Yoshi by the throat too—Sora and Daichi.
Haruto, voice cold as ice:
Haruto: "HOW DARE YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?!"
The explosion grew even stronger. Haruto glanced at Kaito and Daichi.
Haruto: "NOW!"
Daichi and Kaito slashed through the black aura simultaneously. Yoshi and Tina screamed in agony as their bodies slowly began to disintegrate.
Norita swallowed in terror.
Norita: "H-how did you…"
He suddenly sensed someone behind him, closing in fast.
Haruto, deadly calm:
"Leave the people at headquarters alone… Leave the kid alone… (gritting his teeth, leaping forward with his dry Elif Ki cards) YOU WON'T LAY A FINGER ON YUKI, UNDERSTOOD?!"
He flung the cards straight at Norita.
BAMMM!
Norita's head rolled across the ground and started crumbling apart. His eyes remained wide open, twitching.
Kaito looked at Haruto.
Kaito: "It's been a long time since I've seen you like this, huh?"
Haruto said nothing. He stared down at Norita's whispering head.
Norita, with a weak, eerie laugh:
Norita: "He… he'll find you… heehee… ah ha…"