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Inside the Koutetsujou…

Having learned the general situation from Ayame, Horobi never imagined she would be saved—by that man she'd briefly seen, the one who draped his jacket over her. The fact that he had somehow returned her from a state of hyperactive virus infection to being fully human was more than enough to astound her.

At the same time, Horobi was also taken aback that the one who requested Rei Ao (the man who saved her) to do so had been Mumei.

"Why would she save me?"

Horobi couldn't comprehend it. She had sacrificed herself for the young master's plan, and as a member of the Hunters, she was fully resolved to carry out every one of his orders—even if it meant giving up her life. She believed Mumei, as the young master's loyal 'claw,' would do the same, even though Mumei might be unaware of how the young master was using her. Yet Mumei's actions directly undermined Biba's plan and might have cost him everything.

"Why would Mumei do something like this?" Horobi muttered, deeply perplexed. Of course, Ayame and the others couldn't answer for Mumei; the only one who could was Mumei herself.

Just then, Mumei returned with Rei Ao. In Horobi's disbelieving eyes, they appeared out of nowhere inside the carriage. She stared at them silently, no idea what sort of power could accomplish such a sudden teleportation. One thing was certain: it was definitely not the work of Kabane or Kabaneri. Words like sorcery or witchcraft sprung to her mind—perhaps even the label god, given how talk of a "god and priestess" had spread through the Koutetsujou.

Rei Ao gave Horobi a once-over.

"Looks like you're doing well. There aren't any side effects, right? I'm pretty confident in my methods."

Horobi shook her head gently.

"No… No discomfort at all."

She bowed her head in gratitude.

"I don't know how you managed to restore my humanity, but… thank you."

"Don't thank me too soon," Rei Ao cut in.

"Your dear 'young master' just got wiped out by me."

"What?!"

Horobi shot to her feet, eyes wide with disbelief, and glanced toward Mumei. The other girl's expression was complicated, but she nodded.

"My brother has… lost in the challenge against Rei Ao-sama."

Mumei tactfully chose the word lost rather than outright died. It was her last small gesture of respect for Biba in Horobi's eyes.

"..."

Horobi fell into a dazed silence. She knew little about the exact details, but she could guess the broad strokes: the so-called 'god in the Koutetsujou' was the man Biba had wanted to test by turning her into a Black Smoke. Judging by the result—she was alive while Biba, her young master, was dead—his plan had failed catastrophically.

It was over. Everything Biba had worked toward was for nothing.

A bitter yet liberated smile flickered across Horobi's lips.

"…So now I'm your captive. Do with me as you will."

To her mind, any enemy would naturally kill off loose ends. She was ready to die.

"Do you want to die?" Rei Ao asked, brow raised.

"I…don't know." Horobi's response was surprisingly honest. On one hand, she wanted to live. On the other, with Biba gone, she had no purpose. She'd lived to fulfill Biba's plan, and now that plan had crumbled.

"You're pretty straightforward." Rei Ao gave a thoughtful nod, then turned to Mumei. "Anyway, I only saved her because of your request. Whatever happens next is up to you two to talk out."

He then motioned for Ayame, Kajika, and Yukina to follow him out.

"The rest of you, come with me."

Leaving the space to Horobi and Mumei.

They locked eyes a moment.

Horobi spoke first, "Did the young master give any final orders before he… left?"

"No," Mumei answered with a shake of her head.

"I see…"

Horobi didn't probe further about Biba. Instead, her gaze drifted to the ribbon on Mumei's neck. Then she asked softly, "Mumei, do you…want to become human again?"

"Me?"

Mumei froze. She had never considered it. Until now, she was Biba's 'claw', a Kabaneri whose sole purpose was to kill Kabane. Human or not, that was all she had cared about. But now she was no longer bound to Biba. Did being Kabaneri matter anymore? If anyone could restore a Kabaneri to being fully human, it would be Rei Ao.

Mumei's mind spun. Horobi just observed her expression and silently made up her own conclusions.

Meanwhile, Rei Ao hadn't spared a thought for Ayame and Kajika; instead, his gaze rested on Yukina, making her squirm in discomfort.

"Rei Ao-sama, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?" she asked hesitantly.

"No," Rei Ao replied. "But I heard from Ayame and Kajika that you, too, wished to become a 'priestess'? Like they are?"

"Ah?"

Yukina spun around to see Ayame and Kajika giving her little thumbs-up gestures of encouragement.

"!!!"

That was when she realized she'd been set up by those two.

From their expressions and gestures, Rei Ao also pieced it together—they had secretly told him about Yukina being shy, wanting to ask but never daring.

"So it seems, Yukina, that you weren't entirely aware of this?" Rei Ao said with a small smile. "Ayame, Kajika, that trick of yours might warrant some punishment."

"Eek!"

Both women stiffened—not from fear but excitement. Their breathing quickened. For them, so-called punishment from Rei Ao was the greatest reward.

"…Sigh."

Rei Ao could only roll his eyes at their reactions. Pampering them too much clearly had its downsides.

"Anyway, if it was all a misunderstanding, let's just forget it," he said, unwilling to force the issue.

But Yukina suddenly found her voice.

"I—I do want to become your priestess, Rei Ao-sama, just like Ayame and Kajika. I want those amazing powers as well."

Yet her expression was still uncertain, as though something weighed heavily on her mind.

Sensing her worry, Rei Ao asked gently, "You seem anxious. Want to tell me what's wrong?"

After a long pause, Yukina finally mustered courage:

"Rei Ao-sama… I'm afraid that someone like me isn't someone you'd ever want."

"Oh?" Rei Ao was intrigued. "And what sort of person do you think you are?"

Biting her lip, Yukina lifted her shirt slightly, revealing the slender lines of her toned stomach and a faint outline of abs.

She murmured self-consciously:

"I'm…a total gearhead who loves machinery. I'm 'muscley'—not womanly or graceful, nothing like Ayame-sama's beauty or Kajika's sweet empathy. I'm the opposite of a ladylike princess."

Indeed, she'd never asked for a trade before because she assumed her more athletic physique would put Rei Ao off, that he'd find her unattractive. But that was where she was mistaken. Not only did Rei Ao accept all sorts of "special" women, but her body was hardly unfeminine. She was trim, her muscles simply lean and tight. Her toned midriff possessed a subtle definition that Rei Ao found rather appealing.

"Mmph!"

Yukina, bracing for rejection, suddenly let out a yelp as Rei Ao leaned down and placed a slow, warm kiss upon her abs—so swiftly that she only managed a tiny squeak before slapping a hand over her mouth.

Her eyes went wide with alarm. She could feel his breath gliding over her skin—even circling her navel briefly—making her head spin.

Moments later, Rei Ao straightened and pulled her into his arms.

"I find this quite appetizing, actually. Do you think that's a sign of dislike?" he teased.

"Ugh—!"

Yukina's face blazed scarlet. She was certain she had never felt so embarrassed in her entire life. Meanwhile, Ayame and Kajika watched enviously from the side. Yukina, in her mortification, felt something else, too: relief. The insecurities she had about being "too tomboyish" ebbed away.

Relaxing into Rei Ao's embrace, she whispered, "Rei Ao-sama…please let me become your priestess. I'm ready to give you everything."

[Ding! Yukina has initiated a Trade Request!]

[Trade Details]: She's willing to devote herself to Rei Ao.

[Ding! Please set the Trade Terms!]

Having come this far, Rei Ao obviously wouldn't leave anything out. A new trade alert appeared:

[Ding! Trade initiated!]

[Trade Partner]: Yukina

[Trade Details]: She dedicates herself to Rei Ao.

[Trade Terms]: "Unlimited Body Usage Rights."

[Duration]: 24 hours