Fumiya Jin temporarily pulled his head back, burying it in the back of the seat in front of him.
Yuki Suou adjusted her collar and noticed the fabric on her chest was warm and damp—this was, of course, the condensation from a certain someone breathing with his head buried there.
She couldn't help but shoot Fumiya Jin a glare. "Couldn't you have just buried your face in the seatback?!"
"It's unhygienic, and it wouldn't have completely covered my face," Fumiya Jin said, covering the sides of his face with his hands as he spoke.
"Hmph, such a stubborn mouth," Yuki Suou said with a pout.
Then, she took a deep breath and stood up. She wasn't planning on walking away. Standing just gave her a better view.
She scanned the area and quickly found the two among these unidentified creatures that had black plastic tags. One was farther away, while the other was just three rows ahead in the right-side aisle.
So, she activated her skill...
A purple light emanated from her eyes.
Although she couldn't see the transparent creature, she focused all her effort on locking her gaze onto its clothes.
Then she spoke, "Hey, you smelly fish! Throw me the ticket in your hand! Now!"
At that moment, both the expressionless girl and the young butler were stunned, unable to understand what Yuki Suou was doing.
But as soon as Yuki Suou finished speaking, she could feel her skill had indeed taken effect—her mental energy and stamina began to drain. The rate of consumption wasn't particularly alarming, much slower than when she had used it on Fumiya Jin.
At the same time, she saw the clothes of the unidentified creature she had targeted quickly turn around. The collar was pointed at her; it was clearly looking at her now.
But...
One second...
Two seconds...
Three seconds...
Although the clothes on the unidentified creature moved slightly again.
The small tag at its waist remained completely still.
It showed no intention of moving whatsoever.
Slightly startled, Yuki Suou thought for a moment before issuing a second command: "Throw me the ticket. I'll throw you my ticket in return, don't worry."
Yet still, the other party just stared at her. Its body moved, but it never touched the tag at its waist...
"Ah..."
A sharp pain shot through Yuki Suou's head, and she ended the skill, collapsing back into her chair. Issuing two commands in a row had been too draining for her.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
Fumiya Jin turned his head to look at her. "Did you fail?"
"I can't do it... The skill activates, but the ticket is too important to them... It refuses to carry out my command..." Yuki Suou said, her face slightly pale as she gasped for breath.
"Alright, I guess it's my turn." Fumiya Jin nodded, then released the hands covering his cheeks, pulled his head back, stood up, and stepped into the aisle.
He glanced at the countdown timer above his head. It hadn't changed.
Good.
It seems this is the path I must take to clear this instance.
Without further hesitation, he started walking toward the front of the bus.
In fact, the moment he stepped into the aisle and straightened up, he could already feel several cold, terrifying, and malicious gazes falling upon him.
But this time he didn't hide. Instead, he swaggered to the front of the bus, to a spot where everyone could easily see him, and then... shouted, "All eyes, on me!"
The three people behind him were dumbfounded by this scene.
And the unidentified creatures had obviously noticed Fumiya Jin now.
In an instant, the collars of all nine creatures turned to face him. An immense pressure and chill enveloped him.
The next second, the clothes began to tremble slightly.
Even... one of the unidentified creatures stood up... then another, and another...
He dashed back to the middle of the bus and shouted to Yuki Suou and the other two, "You guys, if you don't want to die, get to the very last row!"
The three of them paused for a moment.
But seeing the unidentified creatures already crowding into the aisle and surging toward Fumiya Jin's position... the young butler was the first to get up and quickly move to the rear of the bus. The expressionless girl followed close behind.
Yuki Suou was the only one who understood what Fumiya Jin was trying to do. After a moment's thought, she also got up and moved back, but she didn't hide in the last row with the other two. Instead, she stood about three meters behind him, ready to provide support at any moment.
As for Fumiya Jin, after warning the three to retreat, he had already turned back around.
Facing the unidentified creatures, he took out his tachi.
The three who had retreated to the back saw the white tachi suddenly appear in Fumiya Jin's hand, and even though it was still sheathed, their gazes were instantly drawn to it...
"So cool!"
"So cool!"
"So cool!"
The three of them exclaimed almost in unison. Afterward, they realized something was strange—it was as if the words had just popped out of their mouths on their own, an uncontrollable urge to cry out in awe.
Even... the unidentified creatures that had already entered the aisle, staring at Fumiya Jin and gradually approaching, paused their steps for a moment, letting out a strange, unintelligible sound in unison.
...
Right foot forward.
Left leg slightly bent.
Waist arched, upper body leaning slightly forward.
Left hand holding the sheath, right hand gripping the hilt.
A mysterious power began to flow continuously into the blade, accumulating steadily...
One second...
Two seconds...
Three seconds...
Ding— A faint light flashed across the tsuba. 1.0 charge complete.
And just then, the unidentified creature in front had trembled its way to a position one meter away from him.
But Fumiya Jin didn't draw his blade immediately. Because he couldn't attack proactively. He had to bait them, to take a hit first.
So while continuing to charge his attack, he waited to receive the first blow, after which he would immediately unleash
He had to bait them, to take a hit first.
So while continuing to charge his attack, he waited to receive the first blow, after which he would immediately unleash his Iai Slash as a counter...
However...
One second...
Two seconds...
Three seconds...
Four seconds...
Five seconds...
The power accumulating in the tachi grew stronger and stronger, as if it were about to break through to the next threshold.
But the anticipated attack never came.
These clothes floated before him, and Fumiya Jin could feel the surging malice and rage, yet he was never attacked.
Why?
Why aren't they hitting me?
Even though they're so angry their clothes are trembling, they're still unwilling to strike me?
You transparent guys...
Wait!
Fumiya Jin suddenly realized a possibility.
Could the three rules the system gave us also apply to this mob of monsters?
Just now, when Yuki Suou used her skill on them, they didn't budge. In a sense, that proves that handing over the ticket is also unacceptable to them. And that just so happens to be stipulated by the third rule. Based on this, if we assume these three rules also apply to them... then if they harm other passengers, will they be punished too?
I see, handing over the ticket is also unacceptable to them. And that just so happens to be stipulated by the third rule. Based on this, if we assume these three rules also apply to them... then if they harm other passengers, will they be punished too?
Is that why, even though they're this furious, they still don't dare to harm him?
Emmmm...
If that's really the case...
Then aren't we at a stalemate?!
______
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