"That won't do."
Felt's words had barely fallen when the woman's voice rang out, instantly crushing Felt's expectations.
"Just as an assassin only has one chance to strike, not everything can be done a second time."
"Besides, you don't need this chance anymore, do you?"
Don't need this chance anymore?
Felt froze.
You're not me, how would you know I don't need it?
Felt was about to retort, but in that exact split second, an unprecedented sense of crisis suddenly washed over her entire body.
The sensation was hair-raising, like falling into an icy crevasse; her entire being was enveloped by a bone-chilling, piercing killing intent. She could even clearly feel every single hair on her exposed skin standing on end!
Danger!
Her brain had entered a state of gridlock due to the extreme peril. Only her physical instincts issued a desperate warning to flee for her life. Driven by this instinct, Felt subconsciously tried to lung to the side to dodge an attack of unknown origin and method.
However, just as she began to move, she felt the ground vanish beneath her, and she fell into a state of total weightlessness.
What's... going on?
Felt's mind went blank. For such a thing to happen at the precipice of life and death, her demise seemed a certainty. In her current state, even with her Divine Protection, it was impossible to find leverage in mid-air to dodge an incoming strike.
Just as Felt's thoughts were muddled and she believed she was done for, Satoru Gojo's voice, laced with a hint of amusement and teasing, rang out.
"What's wrong? You look so tense, your fur is standing up."
Felt blinked. Coming back to her senses, she found Satoru Gojo's face right in front of her, wearing a mischievous grin and winking at her. As for the attack she had instinctively sensed and tried to flee from—it never arrived.
Regaining her composure, Felt looked at the irritating expression on Satoru's handsome face and finally realized that, at some point, she had once again been hoisted up by the collar like a little pet. No wonder she felt weightless; that was the cause.
Having found the culprit, the previous sense of danger rapidly receded, and Felt glared at Satoru in annoyance.
"What the hell are you doing so suddenly!"
Being lifted up so easily like a little pet—didn't she have any dignity to maintain? Besides, she was the creditor! How could this debtor treat his creditor like this!
"Hurry up and put me down—"
"Sure thing."
Without warning, just as she had been hoisted up, Satoru suddenly let go.
Thud.
Caught off guard, Felt stumbled, failed to find her footing, and fell directly onto her backside.
"You bastard, couldn't you wait until I finished speaking—"
Felt scrambled up from the ground, speaking indignantly. But before she could finish, she sensed the atmosphere was off. She instinctively raised her eyes, and the scene before her caused her pupils to shrink abruptly.
There, standing right in front of her, was a figure—who else but her wealthy client? However, in the woman's hand, there was now a uniquely shaped purple kukri-style blade. Under the warehouse lights, one could clearly see the chilling, sharp glint on the edge of that ornately decorated purple blade.
Standing before her, Satoru Gojo's palm blocked the blade. Just as she had seen in the alleyway before, it simply could not draw closer.
Seeing this, Felt suddenly felt a shiver. She realized exactly where that sense of crisis had come from, and why it had suddenly vanished. If not for Satoru Gojo, the spot where that blade would have fallen was exactly where she had been standing!
In other words, if Satoru hadn't made a move just now, she would likely have been...
"Ah-le. What a pity. I was so close to succeeding."
The seductive woman suddenly retracted her blade and retreated, nimbly putting distance between herself and Satoru. The curve of her lips remained, her expression a mix of a smile yet not a smile, as if the person who had just made a violent attempt at murder wasn't her at all.
"If the creditor dies, it's quite a headache for us debtors, you know," Satoru Gojo said as he watched her back off, his smile unchanging as he shrugged casually.
"A headache...? That's completely the opposite of how it works..."
Even though the atmosphere had become tense, Subaru Natsuki couldn't help but quip from the side.
"Eh, is that so?" Satoru looked enlightened, appearing almost regretful. He gave Felt a little nudge toward the woman and winked. "How about I entrust my debt to you then, beautiful lady?"
Hearing Satoru's words, Felt gnashed her little fangs and kicked him. Entrust it to this guy? You bastard!
"Truly sorry, but I don't have the habit of interfering in others' private affairs."
"However, if everyone is dead, then debts won't exist anymore, will they?"
As the woman spoke, her pink tongue flicked out like a viper, licking her bright red lips.
"Hrah!"
Old Man Rom, who had been staying behind the bar, finally reacted. Gripping a wooden club thicker than a normal man's thigh—essentially a giant-sized baseball bat—he roared and charged at the woman. Since they were enemies, there was nothing left to say.
"A member of the Giant kin? It's my first time encountering one."
The heavy wooden club swung down with a whistling sound. The woman's form was light and agile; with a simple step back, she easily dodged Rom's assault. Framed by her fluttering cloak, she moved like a poisonous snake slithering through the darkness—dangerous and perceptive, yet capable of erupting with staggering lethality at any moment.
The wooden club, having lost its target, slammed heavily into the floor, smashing the wooden planks and sending splinters flying, a testament to its terrifying power.
However, Old Man Rom didn't pause for a second. The club, which an ordinary person couldn't even lift with full effort, was like a child's toy in his hands, swinging with a fierce wind.
The continuous barrage of attacks seemed to force the woman back repeatedly, as if she had no power to retaliate.
"Wow... amazing," Subaru Natsuki said, stunned by the destructive power Rom displayed.
"Why do you think I chose to meet here?" Felt said, staring intently at the combatants. "With Old Man Rom here, there definitely won't be any problems..."