The blood flowing downward was not like something spilled from a cup; it was as if the life inside Rex had sworn itself to the earth, pouring out without pause.

  Kurumi and Hu were still carrying him.

  Hu’s breathing was broken. His shoulders burned, his arms numb. Moments ago, he had fought Karhan’s gang members, and for the last five minutes he had been hauling a thirty-five-year-old man who was nearly lifeless from blood loss. Standing upright at all was a miracle.

  Kurumi’s mind, meanwhile, was trapped in another hell.

  She thought of Katori.

  Of Ai.

  And of the emptiness that would be left behind if Rex died.

  She had made a promise to Katori. No matter what happened, she would get Rex to the healing house alive.

  Just as she was drowning in that thought, a voice behind her made her flinch.

  — “Kurumi!”

  When Kurumi turned, she saw Ai and Katori running toward them. Their steps were frantic; fear and hope were tangled together on their faces. Kurumi hesitated without realizing it.

  Katori grabbed Rex’s arm. His small hands trembled as he shook him, his voice breaking with tears.

  — “Dad… Dad, wake up…”

  Kurumi watched as Katori clung to his father. They had to keep moving. She knew that.

  But her feet would not move.

  Then she looked ahead.

  And something inside her broke.

  Ten members of Karhan’s cult were walking straight toward them. They were talking among themselves, laughing casually. They hadn’t noticed them yet—but that was only a matter of seconds.

  Kurumi immediately signaled Hu. They lowered Rex to the ground. Ai dropped to her knees, placing Rex’s head on her thigh. Her fingers trembled as she stroked his hair.

  — “You’ll be fine… we’ll heal you… don’t worry…”

  She was saying it more for herself than for Rex.

  Kurumi swallowed. The men across from them still hadn’t noticed.

  What could she do?

  Beside her were:

  Rex, dying from blood loss,

  Hu, too exhausted to stand,

  Katori, who had barely ever left the cult house,

  and Ai, crying—someone with no experience of battle at all.

  The only one who could fight… was her.

  And she was weak.

  Hu noticed Kurumi’s hands shaking and quietly took her hand.

  — “What’s going on, Kurumi?”

  Kurumi couldn’t answer. The sound of footsteps was getting closer.

  Hu saw them too. He swallowed. The men stood directly on the road to the healing house. They had to get through.

  The gang members finally noticed them and stopped in front of them.

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  The man at the front was large, with a disgusting grin on his face.

  — “Hadem,” someone said. That was his name.

  Hadem laughed.

  — “Hahaha… so Rex isn’t dead yet. Good. If I finish what was left undone, I’ll get a nice reward.”

  The gang’s laughter echoed inside Kurumi’s head.

  — “It’s over…” she whispered.

  She took a step back. She wanted to run.

  She couldn’t do anything against ten men. But if she ran… at least she would live. Why had she even gotten involved in this in the first place? She could have lived quietly with Amy, never touching cult missions at all.

  As she wrestled with these cowardly thoughts, a voice spoke.

  — “Kurumi.”

  It was Rex.

  Kurumi turned sharply. Despite the massive blood loss, Rex had opened his eyes. Ai placed a hand on his shoulder.

  — “You can’t stand. Your condition is too severe.”

  Holding his stomach, Rex looked at Kurumi. It was hard to tell whether he smiled or if pain twisted his face.

  — “Thank you… you did everything you could. Take Ai, Katori… take everyone and leave. I’ll handle this.”

  Kurumi’s voice trembled.

  — “Run away…?”

  Rex had noticed. He knew she wanted to flee—and he accepted it.

  — “You have to be fast,” Rex said between labored breaths.

  Ai shook her head, tears filling her eyes.

  — “No… don’t say that… if you stay, you’ll die.”

  Kurumi couldn’t breathe.

  Running made sense.

  And then—

  — “Sis!”

  Kurumi turned.

  Amy was running toward them. Her hair was soaked, her face streaked with tears. She dropped straight down beside Rex.

  — “Uncle Rex… don’t leave us…”

  That was the moment Kurumi understood.

  Why she was here.

  Why she had joined this cult.

  To protect those she loved.

  To live safely with Amy.

  She clenched her fist and turned to the gang members.

  Hu touched her shoulder.

  — “Hey… wait. Are you really going to fight?”

  Kurumi looked at Hu. She was afraid. But despite the fear—

  — “Yes,” she said.

  — “I will fight. If I have to, I’ll kill.”

  Hu was stunned. Hearing those words from this girl—who hated the sight of blood, who always sought compromise—was surreal.

  Kurumi stepped forward.

  Hadem tilted his head, looking down at her.

  — “What is it, runt? You want to die?”

  Laughter erupted.

  Kurumi ignored them.

  — “Run away?” she said calmly.

  — “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll deliver what was entrusted to me—safe and alive.”

  Sae was on her mind.

  Don’t worry, she thought.

  No matter the cost, I’ll get Master Rex to the healing house alive.

  She glanced at the dagger in her pocket. She remembered how Sae had handed it to her—his last weapon, even in battle.

  — “One on one. Unarmed,” Kurumi said.

  — “Are you in? Or are you afraid of a girl?”

  Hadem’s expression darkened.

  — “One on one? Don’t be stupid.”

  Rex’s voice cut in.

  — “I’ve seen many battles. Demons, creatures from other dimensions, and more. I can tell who will win by their eyes. Kurumi will win.”

  Ai, Katori, Amy, and Hu all spoke at once.

  — “Yes… Kurumi will win!”

  Hadem laughed.

  — “You’ve all lost your minds.”

  Rex spat.

  — “Shut your mouth, you son of a bitch. Kurumi will win.”

  Kurumi lunged forward, throwing a punch.

  But Hadem drew his knife.

  Steel buried itself in Kurumi’s arm.

  — “AAAAAA!”

  Hu’s scream echoed.

  Laughter followed.

  — “Lucky,” Hadem said. “I thought you were dead.”

  As Kurumi screamed in pain, she drove Sae’s dagger into the man’s groin.

  With all her strength, she pulled upward.

  Hadem screamed, collapsing to his knees.

  Kurumi didn’t stop. She plunged the dagger into his neck.

  Both of them fell to the ground.

  Hu rushed to her side.

  — “You won… you won!”

  But it wasn’t over.

  The remaining gang members looked down at Hadem’s corpse.

  — “What a loser,” one of them said. “Getting beaten by a girl.”

  Then they turned to Kurumi.

  — “Don’t think you’re leaving this place.”

  Hu pulled Kurumi to her feet, dulling the pain in her arm with magic.

  — “You should’ve attacked before getting stabbed,” Hu said. “That sense of justice of yours is going to get us killed.”

  Kurumi smiled.

  Amy hugged her from behind.

  — “Sis…”

  — “Don’t worry,” Kurumi said. “I’ll handle it.”

  The gang members charged.

  And then a voice rang out.

  — “I truly respect you, soldier.”

  Someone appeared in front of them in an instant.

  Long crimson hair danced in the wind. A sword was in his hand.

  — “Master Raikan…” Hu whispered.

  — “Don’t worry,” Raikan said. “The healers are here.”

  He raised his sword.

  One strike.

  Flames.

  The gang members were split in two.

  The healers rushed to Rex’s side.

  Kurumi collapsed to her knees.

  — “We did it…”

  But Rex’s complexion… was still pale.

  He had lost too much blood.

  From here on—

  His life was no longer in their hands.

  It was in the healers’.