Takeru and Feina moved through the crowded line of stalls, the warm glow of lanterns reflecting softly off their faces.
The air here was richer—filled with the scent of grilled meat, sweet pastries, and fried snacks. Laughter and chatter overlapped as villagers and visitors gathered around food stands, exchanging coins and smiles.
Feina stood near one of the stalls, holding a sandwich wrapped in thin paper.
She took another bite—
A bit too eagerly.
Crumbs clung to the corner of her mouth.
Takeru glanced at her.
Paused.
Then reached over and gently wiped it away with his thumb.
"…We are in public, Feina," he said quietly. "You need to have a little… manner management."
Feina blinked.
Then puffed her cheeks slightly.
"…Fine."
She turned her head away a little, still chewing.
"…This sandwich is tasty after all."
Takeru let out a small laugh under his breath.
"Yeah, I can see that."
Feina swallowed, then glanced around again, her earlier mood already shifting back to excitement.
Her eyes landed on something across the path.
Bright lights.
A small crowd gathered around a stall.
Wooden rifles lined up neatly on a counter.
Teddy bears of different sizes hung behind it as prizes.
She pointed.
"After we finish…"
Her voice carried a hint of eagerness.
"I want to play that shooting thing."
Takeru followed her gaze.
Then looked back at her.
A small, amused smile formed.
"…As you please, my lady."
Feina giggled softly, clearly pleased.
And without realizing—
Takeru's tail gave a small, satisfied wag behind him as the festival carried on around them.
Feina finished the last bite of her sandwich, brushing the crumbs from her fingers.
"Alright," she said, looking back toward the stall with the rifles. "Let's go."
Takeru nodded, and the two of them walked through the crowd again, weaving between people holding lanterns and trays of food.
They stopped just a short distance from the shooting stall.
Before Takeru could say anything—
His ears twitched.
A subtle sound.
Out of place.
He stilled.
"…Feina," he said quietly.
She looked at him. "Hm?"
"You stay here first."
Her expression shifted slightly. "What's wrong?"
Takeru forced a small, casual look.
"…I want to go to the bathroom."
Feina blinked.
Then sighed lightly. "Fine."
She crossed her arms slightly.
"Be quick."
Takeru nodded once—
Then turned and walked away, his pace calm at first.
But once he moved past the crowd—
It changed.
Quieter steps.
Focused.
He followed the faint sound—rustling… movement… something struggling.
The festival noise faded behind him as he moved toward a darker edge of the area, where stalls thinned out and shadows stretched longer between buildings.
The bushes ahead shifted again.
Takeru stopped near a wall.
Then moved behind it, lowering his presence.
Listening.
A voice.
Muffled.
A woman.
Trying to speak—but something was covering her mouth.
Takeru's eyes sharpened.
He leaned slightly and looked.
Three men.
Rough. Unfamiliar.
One held the woman tightly from behind.
Tape covered her mouth. Her movements were weak, struggling.
Takeru stepped out.
"Hey."
All three turned instantly.
"…Crap," one muttered. "We're exposed."
Another man clicked his tongue, stepping forward slightly.
"Hey, wolf guy," he said casually, like this was nothing. "How about you leave… and act like you didn't see anything?"
Takeru didn't move.
"…Let her go."
The man's expression soured.
"…Tch."
Without warning—
He slammed his palm onto the ground.
Auris surged.
The earth cracked.
Then—
A wave of jagged rocks burst forward, tearing through the ground straight toward Takeru.
Takeru's body shifted instantly—
He dodged to the side.
The attack roared past him—
CRASH!
It slammed into the nearby stalls.
Wood shattered.
Lanterns fell.
People screamed.
Panic spread instantly through the festival as the sudden destruction broke the atmosphere apart.
"AHH—!"
"What's happening?!"
The crowd scattered, fear replacing laughter in seconds.
Takeru straightened, eyes locked on them.
Another man stepped forward, pushing the first one aside.
"Move."
He cracked his neck slightly.
"Let me handle this."
Takeru's gaze hardened.
"…Who are you all?"
The man at the center—the one holding the woman—tilted his head slightly.
Then smiled.
"…Come find out."
Near the performer stage—
Saito, Kaito, and Tina stood by one of the food stalls, each holding something to eat. The warmth of the firelight reflected off their faces as laughter and cheers still echoed from the earlier performance.
Tina took another bite, smiling happily.
"This is really good!"
Saito nodded slightly, relaxed.
"…Yeah."
Kaito leaned lightly against the stall, calm as ever.
Then—
A scream.
Another.
Footsteps—fast, uneven.
People began rushing past them.
"Move!"
"Something's happening!"
Saito's eyes narrowed immediately as he turned toward the direction of the disturbance.
"…What happened there?"
The atmosphere shifted in seconds.
Calm—into chaos.
—
Not far away—
The man drew a large sword from behind his back.
Steel gleamed under the lantern light.
Without hesitation—
He lunged.
Fast.
The blade cut straight toward Takeru.
Clang!
Takeru raised his claw just in time, blocking the strike. The impact sent a sharp vibration through his arm.
Before he could counter—
Another man swung his hand.
Auris surged.
Nearby rocks ripped from the ground—
Then shot toward Takeru.
He turned—
Too late to fully avoid it.
BAM!
The rocks slammed into his side, forcing him back a step.
"…Tch."
The man smirked.
"You should've left when I told you."
He raised his sword again—
Swinging down toward Takeru.
But—
A burst of fire shot in.
BOOM!
The attack was deflected mid-swing, forcing the man to pull back.
Takeru glanced to the side.
John stood there.
One hand extended.
Flames flickering around his palm.
His expression wasn't cheerful anymore.
"…You just ruined our carnival."
The man narrowed his eyes.
"…Another invoker?"
He stepped back slightly.
At the same time—
The man with the sword scoffed.
"Don't get too confident."
He lunged again—
Blade cutting forward.
But—
Clang!
Saito stepped in.
His sword blocked the strike cleanly.
The force pushed both of them back a step.
Saito slid his foot slightly to stabilize himself—
Then stepped back.
"…Well…"
He exhaled lightly.
"Looks like we have a problem here."
He glanced sideways.
"…You okay, Takeru?"
Takeru straightened, brushing off the impact.
"…Yeah."
A sudden shift in presence—
Kaito appeared behind Saito.
Silent.
Effortless.
The unconscious woman rested securely in his arm.
The man who had been holding her froze.
"…How did you—"
Another one beside him muttered immediately,
"…He's an assassin."
Panic flickered across their faces.
"…What should we do?"
The man with the sword clicked his tongue, glaring at Saito, then at Kaito.
"…Tch."
"Our plan's failed."
He stepped back.
"Retreat."
Without hesitation—
They turned—
And fell back into the shadows, disappearing into the chaos of the fleeing crowd.
John stood still for a moment, eyes scanning the broken stalls, the scattered lanterns, the shaken crowd.
He let out a quiet sigh.
Then turned to face the people.
He raised his voice—firm, steady.
"Everyone, it's alright!"
The noise slowly lowered.
"The threat has been handled—"
He gestured slightly toward Saito and the others.
"—with the help of the protector of Lorum Village."
A brief pause—
Then cheers rose again.
Relief replaced panic.
Some clapped. Others smiled, nodding toward Saito and his group.
Saito scratched the back of his head, giving an awkward smile.
"…Yeah… no big deal."
John turned toward the nearby guards.
"Make sure the threat has fully retreated."
His tone sharpened slightly.
"Don't let them linger."
The guards straightened immediately.
"Yes, sir!"
They moved out, following the direction the attackers had escaped, disappearing quickly into the outskirts of the village.
John looked back at Saito.
"…Sorry about this, Sir Saito."
Saito shook his head lightly.
"…It's fine."
He glanced around at the crowd, making sure no one was seriously hurt.
"Everyone's safe. That's what matters."
Footsteps rushed in—
"TAKERU!"
Feina pushed through the crowd, her eyes wide.
She ran straight to him—
And hugged him tightly.
"You said you were going to the bathroom!"
Takeru blinked—
Then let out a small, helpless smile.
"…Sorry."
He gently placed a hand on her head, patting her softly.
"I got a bit… distracted."
Feina didn't let go immediately, clearly still shaken.
John watched them briefly, then turned back toward the villagers.
He raised his voice again, lighter this time.
"Alright everyone!"
"Please continue enjoying your time in Bypass Village!"
A small pause—
Then energy returned.
Cheers followed.
People slowly went back to their stalls, picking things up, relighting lanterns, restoring what had been disturbed.
The festival began moving again—
Not as perfect as before—
But alive.
Still burning.