Chapter 17: Don't point a gun at me

"..."

Body usage rights again!

Sakurajima Mai and Kato Megumi both turned to look at Rei Ao. Unable to hold back, Sakurajima Mai asked directly, "Ayame Yomogawa... she's a woman too, isn't she?"

Rei Ao rolled his eyes. "Of course, I'm not into men."

"Tch, being a pervert isn't much better than that!"

She snapped back, her tone filled with frustration.

What bothered her was Rei Ao's promiscuous behavior—ready to engage in *that* kind of thing again. Even though she already knew about Saeko Busujima, suddenly having another person in the mix irritated her. After all, a pervert is still a pervert!

"Ugh, I'm not arguing with you. You two do whatever you want. I'll be back soon."

And with a quick *whoosh*, he vanished.

"He really disappeared!"

Kato Megumi waved her hand where Rei Ao had just been, but only felt empty air.

Sakurajima Mai, seeing world-hopping for the first time, was curious for a moment, but then she sneered.

"Hmph, rushing off like that... his mind's probably full of dirty thoughts."

Kato Megumi glanced over at Mai, her calm gaze seemingly seeing right through her.

Suddenly, she asked, "Sakurajima Mai, do you... like Rei Ao?"

"Eh?"

…

Iwato Station:

"Ayame-sama, we can't protect these people any longer. You must escape first."

Kurusu, the young and powerful samurai, spoke. He was highly valued by the Yomogawa family and close to Ayame Yomogawa herself.

However, making such a statement in front of everyone was putting Ayame in a difficult position.

The crowd immediately erupted in panic. "What are you saying? Is Ayame-sama going to abandon us?!"

Panic spread among the people.

"Everyone, I have never intended to abandon you. It is the duty of the Yomogawa family to protect the people of Iwato Station," Ayame quickly reassured them, stepping forward to calm the situation.

"But, Ayame-sama..."

Kurusu was about to protest again, but Ayame silenced him with a sharp glare.

Ayame was disappointed. If Kurusu continued down this path, he could drag everyone into despair. She couldn't understand why someone as wise as Kurusu would suggest such a thing. Now, more than ever, they needed unity, not discord.

She could only hope that the trade she made would indeed bring help.

They wouldn't last much longer.

Just then, a spirited girl wielding two steam rifles stepped forward.

"I'll clear the way for you."

"Mumei?" Ayame blinked in surprise.

This girl had been a guest of her father's and was known only by the name "Mumei." Beyond that, Ayame knew little about her.

"Save your strength; this is my battlefield now," said a voice, disrupting Mumei's preparations.

The crowd turned to see a man, dressed in oddly out-of-place clothing, casually walking toward Ayame.

Kurusu immediately pointed his steam rifle at him, demanding, "Who are you? Who allowed you to approach Ayame-sama?"

But before he could finish speaking, *boom!*

A powerful gust of wind sent Kurusu flying. He crashed into a wooden post, breaking it and falling to the ground, bleeding profusely and losing consciousness.

Rei Ao calmly withdrew his foot and glanced at Kurusu with cold indifference, as though the samurai were nothing more than a bothersome bird.

"I hate it when people point guns at me. If it happens again, you'll die."

"!!!"

Everyone behind him was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

Mumei's pupils contracted. Even after unlocking her Kabaneri restraints, she hadn't been able to catch his movements.

'Is he also a Kabaneri?' she thought.

"Your man insulted me. So, before completing the trade, I'll take a little interest first."

Ayame Yomogawa was still reeling from shock when Rei Ao suddenly grabbed her chin and kissed her forcefully.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

That was Ayame-sama! How dare he?

"Ayame-sama!!!" one of the samurai shouted, raising his gun.

But Ayame quickly raised her hand to stop him.

She could sense that Rei Ao would not hesitate to kill anyone who pointed a gun at him again. The samurai were essential for their defense; she couldn't afford to lose them over something like this.

It was just a kiss, after all.

She had already traded away the usage of her body, so she had mentally prepared herself.

But… the next moment, her eyes widened.

This wasn't a simple kiss—it was deep and intense.

A few moments later, Rei Ao released her, leaving her panting and flushed.

He licked his lips and smirked. "Interest collected. Time to get to work."

…

[Ding! Trade initiated, live broadcast now starting!]

Rei Ao walked to the front of the group, ignoring their stunned expressions.

Looking down the street ahead of them, the path was chaotic, filled with Kabane feasting on the bodies of the dead.

"Hey, do you need my help?" Mumei asked, guessing that Rei Ao might be a Kabaneri. After all, even Kabaneri were stronger than normal humans, but she doubted he could handle that many Kabane alone.

"Heh."

Rei Ao let out a laugh of disdain.

"If I need help with trash like this, my power is worthless."

He slammed his right foot into the ground.

*Crack!*

The others barely registered the sound of something breaking.

The next second, an overwhelming wave of cold air burst out, spreading rapidly from one end of the street to the other.

"Huff..."

Everyone gasped in shock, their breath visible as it condensed into mist.

They stood there, mouths agape, staring at the sudden transformation—an entire street turned into a world of ice.

~~~

Patreon(.)com/Bleam

— 50 Advance Chapters!