Vol. 5 Ch. 2 Ep. 13: In the Serpent's Mouth

...What are we even doing?

Yukari... Where is Yukari?

Ayame sent her to the library, remember?

Kikyou, what's going on?

This is a trap. We need to rally up and evacuate now.

We need to save Sensei!

Why are you so worked up?

The Artifact Spirits!

They're swarming!

Renge, you know what to do, right?

We can't shoot them into submission, but we can subdue them. Aim low.

Got it!

"They found us."

"I didn't think they'd go for us first..."

...Artifact Spirits? And no Hyakkaryouran to help?

Sensei, get behind me. I'll protect you!

Hah. Haha...

Hahaha, hahaha...

HAHAHAHAHA!!

You see? Miss Kokuriko thinks of everything!

She knew you idiots would seek the Mansion of the Beyond, and now you're all the way out here with no Hundred Lotus!

And you fell for my waterworks, Sensei! You let me isolate you!

You thought you could outsmart Nature's Beauty?

Stupid! You stupid idiot! You fell for it. You stuck your so-called helping hand right in the serpent's mouth!

What is it, Sensei? You want to try your hand at begging?

It's too late. Time's up!

Get ready to join the spirit realm. I'll make sure to send your students in right after!

Tch...!

What did I just say? You think I'm lying?

Oh, Sensei...so noble, so empathetic, so drippy and weak. You make me want to puke! Now, my beloved Artifact Spirits: eat them!

What are you doing? Attack the Sensei!

Wh-Why...?

Why are you stupid umbrellas attacking me? Don't you know who I am?

No, something's wrong. Unless Miss Kokuriko abandoned me, but...

W-Waah...

"What's going on...?"

"Why are they attacking Shuro?"

I'm unsure. There must be some internal friction in Nature's Beauty.

Anyway, will she be all right? She seems to have no control over them...

Without a tome, she's liable to be consumed...

Shuro will fall to the spirit realm...

Of course, perhaps it's what she deserves.

Are you out of your mind?

The Artifact Spirits are distracted, and this place is unsafe.

We have no idea what's happening inside the Mansion of the Beyond...

And you're willing to risk your life to save the child that tried to kill you?

Unbelievable...

"She's just a kid."

"It's not too late for her."

Hah. Haha...

Exquisite. You are so utterly predictable, Sensei.

*huff* *huff* *huff*

("No way, no way, no way, no way...")

("Was I... Could she really abandon me?")

("I blew it twice. Miss Kokuriko can't trust me anymore.")

("That's why she had the Artifact Spirits attack me.")

("She doesn't want me anymore. She doesn't love me. All because I...")

No... Please...

I... I don't want to go!

...Stop!

...Huh?

...Schale's Sensei?

Why did you throw me behind you?

But...

I...tried to kill you. You idiot!

I'm not even one of your pathetic students! Are you delusional?

What, you think I owe you now? That I'll devote my life to doing good and being lame?

That's so stupid...

You're not like us, Sensei! One stray bullet could kill you!

And you would...risk your stupid pathetic life for me? After everything I did?

You're hopeless! You're such...an idiot!

Who are you calling "dear"?

...Oh?

...Sensei!

The Hyakkaryouran. You made it!

The Artifact Spirits swarmed the grounds!

...We know.

More importantly, is Sensei safe?

Well, um...

Shuro fled from some aggressive Artifact Spirits, so Sensei ran off to save her.

I tried to stop them, but they were so hard-headed!

Wait! You just stood here and watched Sensei run off?

And you didn't try to block them? Hold them back?

Kikyou?!

Yes, I was scolding her, but you don't have to aim your gun...

My focus was so trained on President Ayame that I failed to see what was right in front of me.

I knew a Nature's Beauty member was close. I knew they were using a tome.

But I did not expect for her to be directly under our noses.

Aha... Hahaha...

...Isn't this exquisite?