Chapter 142: Protection and Being Protected – The Terrifying Tomie Hell

(T/N: Inkstone is really testing my patience right now....)

------------

The atmosphere in the banquet hall had reached its peak.

The eyes of the men and women present unconsciously fell on one of the three Tomies, and once they did, they could no longer look away.

Suzuki Tomie and Senzaemon Tomie naturally took their seats at the main position. Even the heads of their respective families were holding up their skirts for them.

As the other two Tomies took their seats, the three of them looked at each other with undisguised disgust. In fact, before this, the three had already attacked each other countless times.

The reason why the financial conglomerates were loosely managed was that a portion of their power had been diverted to these internal conflicts.

The banquet started as scheduled.

However, none of the originally planned proceedings took place. Because everyone's eyes remained fixed on the three Tomies.

The first to step forward was Shinomiya Gan'an.

Before the rulers of Japan's many financial conglomerates, essentially half of the nation's economic power, he declared,

"I announce that Shinomiya Tomie is the legitimate daughter of the Shinomiya family and will henceforth be the successor, taking over as the head of the Shinomiya financial conglomerate!"

Upon hearing this, if it had been under normal circumstances, the many financial heads present would have thought they had misheard.

Handing over one of the Four Great Conglomerates to an adopted daughter of unknown origin? He must be insane.

Or perhaps this was a trap, a ploy by the Shinomiya family to devour the other conglomerates.

However, at this moment, not a single person among the financial leaders showed any signs of surprise. They looked at Tomie and felt that this decision was completely natural.

Meanwhile, most of the women present began to twist their faces in jealousy, displaying expressions of madness as they scanned the surroundings for weapons.

And right after Shinomiya Tomie, the heads of the Suzuki and Senzaemon families made similar announcements. Essentially, their conglomerates would revolve around Tomie from now on, giving her everything.

Like a pack of obedient lapdogs offering their unwavering loyalty.

Once the declarations were made, everyone turned their gazes to Tomie, as if waiting for her to say or announce something.

And at this moment, under everyone's watchful eyes, Shinomiya Tomie stood up first. Pointing at Suzuki Tomie and Senzaemon Tomie, she spoke, her voice as melodious and enchanting as a bell.

"For my sake, kill them!"

Tomie's words were like the trumpet signaling the start of the war. The suffocating atmosphere of the banquet hall erupted completely.

The first to act was Gan'an. As the founder of the Shinomiya financial conglomerate, he had the strongest willpower among those present.

However, he had also been under Tomie's influence the longest. At the entrance of the venue, just over whether or not to attend the banquet, he had already lashed out at Kaguya.

He had even declared that he would abandon all profits if necessary, just to satisfy Tomie's vanity, willing to sacrifice anything for her. From this alone, it was evident that his personality had already been completely distorted.

Despite being middle-aged, Gan'an moved with agility. He swiftly vaulted over the dining table, grabbed a kitchen knife, and charged straight toward the other two Tomies.

His movements were precise and decisive, the knife aimed directly at Suzuki Tomie's throat.

At that moment, the head of the Suzuki family also rushed forward, blocking Suzuki Tomie's path.

He even extended his arm to intercept Gan'an's attack. The knife pierced through the Suzuki patriarch's forearm, tearing through the muscle completely—Gan'an had used his full strength.

However, the Suzuki patriarch seemed unfazed by the pain and smiled at Suzuki Tomie. "Look, Tomie, I blocked the knife for you. I am the person who loves you most in this world!" He spoke with deep affection, as if this act was proof of his devotion.

However—

"You useless idiot! Why didn't you stop him completely? I'm hurt! Can't you see?" Suzuki Tomie clutched her hand in pain.

She had raised her hand to block the attack just now. Even though the knife had pierced through the Suzuki patriarch's arm, it had still slightly grazed Suzuki Tomie's palm.

But compared to his injury, her wound was nothing. All she needed was a simple bandage, yet she still had the audacity to berate the Suzuki patriarch for his incompetence.

The Suzuki patriarch looked somewhat aggrieved. Perhaps this was one of the few times in his life that he had shown such an expression.

But Suzuki Tomie paid no attention to him at all, ignoring the fact that his arm had been pierced through.

"What are you looking at me for? Are you stupid? Someone is trying to kill me! Go kill that bitch! Aren't you always saying that you love me more than anyone in this world? Then why haven't you moved yet?!"

Before she had even finished speaking, the Suzuki patriarch suddenly grabbed the knife still lodged in his arm.

Without hesitation, he yanked the blade out, held it tightly, and lunged at Shinomiya Tomie. Despite blood gushing from his wound—an injury that, if left untreated, would soon lead to shock—he didn't care.

The crowd in the banquet hall watched this bizarre display of violence, yet no one screamed.

On the contrary, many people began to stir, eager to join the battle for "Tomie."

The ones who had arrived at the venue earlier and spent more time gazing at Tomie were now the first to step forward. Even the women shared the same reaction, their eyes brimming with jealousy and hatred as they slowly closed in on one of the three Tomies.

Yet the three Tomies seemed completely oblivious to the eerie atmosphere around them.

They continued to hurl insults at each other, speaking in the most arrogant tones, spitting out venomous words, and harboring the deepest malice for one another.

Haruno clutched her mouth tightly, trying to suppress the overwhelming urge to scream.

She didn't understand how this banquet had turned into such a horrifying nightmare. Even she, someone considered perfect in every way, was now filled with panic and had no idea what to do.

Instinctively, she turned to look at her younger sister. No matter what, she had to at least protect her sister.

When she turned her head, she saw that her sister was staring at the stage with an intense expression, as if she wanted to do something.

Without hesitation, Haruno rushed over to Yukino.

"Yukino, we have to get out of here! They're all going insane!" Haruno grabbed Yukino's hand, trying to pull her away.

But Yukino immediately broke free and exclaimed passionately, "We can't just run away now! We have to do something! If this continues, everything will be ruined!"

Haruno, hearing this, didn't have time to care about Yukino's emotions anymore.

Right now, escaping was far more important than mental well-being, at the very least, they needed to stay alive and leave this twisted place.

"And what can you even do?" Haruno retorted coldly. "You can't do anything!"

Yukino opened her mouth to argue. She was different from her sister! She was… But the words stuck in her throat, unable to come out.

She was a Foundation investigator.

She knew things her sister didn't about anomalous entities. But so what?

She had no standard equipment, no experience in containing anomalies—she was no different from her ignorant sister.

No, perhaps she was even worse.

If it had been her sister in her place, if it had been Yukinoshita Haruno who had joined the Foundation, she surely wouldn't be this helpless.

Thinking this, Yukino's tears started to fall.

In the end, she really was just as powerless as always.

"Yukinoshita Yukino, you really haven't changed at all... you still can't do anything, you can't..." Yukino murmured, blaming her own helplessness.

"Miss Yukinoshita Haruno, go and bring Madam back first, while there's still time," Hayasaka Ai reminded.

Haruno, gripping her mother's hand, was trembling uncontrollably.

Was this still her mother?

Seeing that Mrs. Yukinoshita was about to continue forward, Haruno decided to pull her mother with all her might, attempting to forcibly drag her away.

And at that moment, a sudden change occurred.

The chaos on the stage seemed to have reached a conclusion.

In the midst of the melee, Garan, with great effort, found an opening and finally plunged the knife in his hand into Suzuki Tomie's body.

Blood splattered as if it cost nothing.

The chaos instantly stopped, and everyone seemed to have been hit with a pause button, all eyes turning to the impaled Suzuki Tomie.

Only Garan continued his actions.

Stab after stab, he plunged the knife into the girl's body.

Crack!

This was the sound of Garan stepping on Suzuki TOmie's leg joint, breaking the bone.

After breaking one of Suzuki Tomie's legs, he used the knife to sever it and threw it aside.

Suzuki Tomie's screams echoed through the venue, piercing and sorrowful, enough to evoke pity even in the coldest hearts.

But no one moved.

Everyone's eyes were fixed, watching as Garan continued to dismember Suzuki Tomie's, as if it were some sacred ritual.

Suzuki Tomie's chest was ripped open, blood, shredded flesh, and organs scattered across the floor.

Her limbs were forcibly broken, then peeled off bit by bit with the knife.

From beginning to end, the screams never stopped.

Finally, Garan plunged the knife into Suzuki Tomie's throat, severing her head and holding it up in his hand.

As if seeking approval, he raised the head toward Shinomiya Tomie.

"Look, I killed her! Tomie, I love you the most! No one loves you more than I do!"

However, before Shinomiya Tomie could respond, the next moment, the enraged crowd swallowed him up.

Everyone rushed forward, beginning to fight over and dismember Suzuki Tomie.

Those who couldn't get a piece turned toward Shinomiya Tomie and Senzaemon Tomie, wanting to replicate the scene they had just witnessed.

Haruno, still retaining some sanity, looked at this scene, her legs trembling.

They had to escape.

But she couldn't move.

Her body was completely dominated by fear, unable to take even a single step.

At that moment, a severed hand was thrown out from the scuffle and flew toward Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno.

Mrs. Yukinoshita, seeing the severed hand flying toward her, immediately reached out, her eyes filled with desire.

Haruno, on the other hand, closed her eyes.

Her body couldn't move, but her intuition told her that if she came into contact with that thing, the consequences would be worse than death.

But at that moment, both Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno were yanked backward, falling to the ground.

A tablecloth was flung up in front of them, blocking the flying severed hand and blood.

When Haruno opened her eyes, she saw that the person standing in front of her and her mother was none other than her younger sister, whom she had always protected.

For the first time in her life, Yukino stood in front of her mother and sister, using her own strength to protect them. Even though her body was trembling, her heart racing, and fear threatening to consume her at any moment.

(T/N: W character development.)

Yukino still acted.

Gasping heavily, Yukino threw away the tablecloth, grabbed her mother and sister, and fled toward the back.

The scene behind them had completely turned into hell.

Countless people swarmed forward, their eyes filled with fanaticism, holding knives and forks, dismembering the three Tomie's.

Shinomiya Tomie's scolding and Senzaemon Tomie's wails could still be heard, but they seemed to only excite the crowd further.

The men dismembered Tomie, lifting the corpse pieces, kissing them, devoutly like believers.

The women fought over Tomie, sticking her hair into their own, pasting her flesh onto their bodies, attaching her limbs to their own.

And whether it was limbs, shredded flesh, or even the spilled blood, everything began to squirm slowly.

This scene was nothing short of a Tomie-themed hell.

(T/N: Tomie this, Tomie that, you fucking bitch gave me aneurysm.)

---------------

T/N: Alright, we got something important.

Tomorrow, Translator san have to take an Entrance Exam, so the chapters my come in late. I'll try to translate 5 chapters tomorrow if I get home early.

Xiao~