The creature moved its head in both directions, as if searching for prey to satisfy its hunger, and when it failed to find anything within its range, it continued on its way, moving farther away.
Haruki let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, feeling a wave of relief wash over him as the creature moved away from their location. His heartbeat rose and fell rapidly, he had gone through plenty of disasters in this world, but things seemed to be getting scarier by the minute.
Noroi slowly lowered his hand from Yamika's mouth, his expression still cautious as he made sure of the creature's whereabouts before shifting his attention back to her.
She was glaring at him, lips curved into a deep frown, her arms crossed tightly under her chest.
Noroi couldn't tell what had made her so irritated, but he didn't need to ask, because she shouted in frustration.
"Why did you stop me? That creature would've made the best grilled meat feast ever!"
She uncrossed her arms and placed both hands on her stomach , she was starving, and her belly was growling.
She hadn't eaten anything since last night, which was far too long for her.
Haruki's jaw dropped open at her words. He shook his head, trying to process what she had just said. She was talking about cooking that creature, while he had nearly wet his pants from fear. Even little Tomoi was hiding in the side pocket of his cloak, every feather on him still trembling.
Noroi waved his hand dismissively behind him, clearly indifferent to her hunger, his expression returning to its usual state ,calm and emotionless ,as he said coldly.
"We'll find you something to fill that black hole of yours."
Yamika furrowed her brows, her lips still twisted into a deep frown as she replied in annoyance.
"You better do."
Yamika watched Noroi's figure as he started moving again to get them back on the right path. Once he was far enough that he couldn't hear them, she nudged Haruki in the side with her elbow and asked in a low whisper so her voice wouldn't reach Noroi's ears.
"Hey, what's a black hole?"
Haruki raised his hand, trying to suppress the laugh that almost escaped him, realizing that Yamika hadn't asked Noroi about the black hole because she didn't want him to think she was stupid and mock her as usual.
A small tear escaped from the corner of his eye from holding back his laughter, and he wiped it away with his finger before answering her question in a low voice.
"It's something in the sky that swallows everything around it."
Yamika's eyes narrowed slightly as she sank into deep thought, then widened again when she realized that Noroi had been insulting her. She muttered under her breath in an irritated tone.
"That da- crow, I'm gonna-"
Her words caught in her throat; she was used to returning punches to anyone who dared insult her, but Noroi had already moved several meters ahead of them.
At that moment, Noroi stopped in front of a dense cluster of intertwined branches forming a large, nearly impenetrable barrier.
His fingers slid along the metal bracer on his wrist, feeling for the button embedded in it.
Once pressed, a sharp-edged blade shot out from it.
With a swift motion of his arm, Noroi sliced through the green branches before him.
The dead plants fell to the ground after being cut, and while he was busy retracting his sword back into its dormant state, his left foot slipped onto a slope that had been completely hidden behind the wall of branches , almost like a trap.
He quickly pulled himself back before he could fall.
His eyes narrowed as he scanned the area, expecting danger, but the tension in his shoulders eased the moment his gaze fully took in the sight before him.
At that moment, both Haruki and Yamika were only a few steps away from him, having seen everything that had just happened to Noroi , though they couldn't see what he was looking at.
The two of them rushed toward him in alarm when they saw him pull back, expecting some kind of danger.But as soon as they reached his side, their eyes widened at the sight before them.
Haruki muttered in a low, astonished voice.
"What …"
____
Thank you for reading! If this moment touched you even a little , please consider adding it to your library.💐