Volume 2 Chapter 30 (2/2)

With trembling breaths, she stands from the cabinet and grips the knife in both of her hands.

She was surprised at her own killing intent.

“Don’t come any closer than that.”

“………….”

The man remained silent.

“If you’re looking for food, I can give you everything we have.  Once you have received everything, go back to where ever you were before.  We will not be here tomorrow.  You can come back then and use this place as you wish.”

If the man was listening to her, he didn’t show any signs of it.  He just silently looked around the office.

(Is it no good?)

Mizuki bites her lip.

The previous time she was attacked, she could do nothing but tremble at the situation.

However, this time is different.

The current her had a goal, a purpose.  The four of them would build a life together in the mountains.  Someday, they would be living their days quietly in the mountains.

It was her reason to live.

Seeing the man take a step forward, Mizuki points her knife at him.

“…..I’m not… bluffing.”

“……………”

The man stops.

Dropping his gaze to the hammer in his right hand, he pats it with his left hand, then looks back up.

“Ah……”

He begins coughing.

“……….I understand.”

While saying this, his hand loosens on the hammer and it falls.

Careful not to let her guard down, Mizuki keeps her stance and waits for the man to speak.

“……..And?”

The man opens his mouth.

“……..Are the only other people here those two?”

At those words, Mizuki unintentionally looked back.  Her brothers were peeking out from a door within the office, looking at them with worried expressions.

“Don’t!  Go bac…..”

With a body cras.h.i.+ng into something, Mizuki’s words were interrupted.  A desk had been pushed over and pens, scissors, and other office supplies were scattered all over the floor.  At the center of the mess was the man rus.h.i.+ng towards her while holding a hammer.

Twisting her body, she swings the knife blindly.  She feels the knife cut through something, and at the same time, feels a dull pain in her side.

“Kafu…..”

Falling to the floor, she grips herself in pain.

While holding her side, she crawls away from the man, trying to put distance between them.  Her transceiver had been knocked from her neck and was lying on the ground nearby.

She could feel something wet with her right hand holding the knife.  The lantern was far away and she couldn’t see very well in the darkness, but it seemed to be blood.

If she looked intently, she could see the man holding his arm, staring at them.  There was a lot of liquid dripping down from were he was holding.  With that amount of blood, the cut appeared to be deep.

The man’s eyes were lit with anger.

“…………!”

Gripping his hammer, the man drew close with great strides.

Still gripping her side, Mizuki gets on her feet and turns to yell at her brothers.

“Close the door!  It’s dangerous to come out!”

Saying what she needed, as if leaving the room her brothers were in behind, she presses forward into the desk’s surroundings.

Her forehead was wet with sweat, and the pain in her side was getting worse.  The hammer seemed to have hit her in the ribs.  Holding her side with her left hand, she grips the knife tightly with her right.

She was afraid.

However, she was dominated by an anger even stronger than her fear.

(By this kind of person…..!)

A despicable kind of person that preys on the weak.

Were they just toys to him?

Waiting for the right moment to strike, they glare at each other.

“…….hear…. me?  ……………there……….”

Suddenly something could be heard at the man’s feet.  It was the receiving sound of the transceiver.  Surprised, the man comes to a stop and drops his gaze.

Not letting that opening pa.s.s, Mizuki runs towards the entrance.

(Takemura-san!)

Yusuke would be there soon.

With that encouragement, she is able to run through the mess of supplies around the desk despite her clumsy footing.  Just when she was about to enter the hallway, an intense pain ran through her calf.  Her posture breaks and she crashes into the cabinets next to her, collapsing on the floor.

“It….. hurts…..”

Gripping her shoulder that hit the cabinet, she sits up from lying on her back.

The hammer was lying next to her.  It had been thrown, and hit her leg.

She had let go of her knife at some point during the fall and it had disappeared.

Suddenly she feels a presence at her back and before she is able to turn around, she is kicked.

With the wind knocked out of her, Mizuki twists her body in pain.  Writhing in pain on the floor, her thoughts start to scatter.  She is unable to think straight.

Grabbed by her hair, she is pulled up from the floor.

Above her was the man, breathing like a beast.  The stench of his breath hit her in the face.  a.s.saulted by the smell of rot, the black silhouette of the man comes over her.

“N…….no…….!”

Mortified, tears begin forming in her eyes.

The man’s hand stretches out and hits her in the face.  Her mind goes blank for a moment, and then she sees the man’s silhouette standing over her, holding the hammer.

“Onee-chan!”

Yuu’s crying voice called out.  A small figure rushed over and crashes into the man’s back.  The man staggers, but doesn’t fall; and directs his attention towards the younger brother.  Behind him, Takes.h.i.+ could be seen as well.  While frightened, they had jumped out to help their sister.  The man shakes them off with one arm and swings his hammer.

“Damee!!”  (TL: “Don’t!!”)

Mizuki grabs onto the man’s legs, but is unable to stop his movements.  The weapon swings, and blood flies through the air.

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