"What's wrong?" Setsuka asked after she noticed the change in expression on Tenku's face. She walked beside him, and seeing the face of the man she loved had become a habit for her. Setsuka felt already addicted to it. Because of that, she could understand more about Tenku and tell if he was thinking something from his expression.
"Huh? Did something happen?" Wang Ruyue also asked a question after he heard Setsuka's voice.
"Had the spy done something?" Kirika looked at Tenku and added another question.
On the other hand, Kaede was silent because she didn't dare to express her feelings like them. But her eyes kept on Tenku and waiting for him to speak. Kaede also wanted to know what had happened to him.
"Ah, no. It's not about the spy. When I was checking this area, I found a goblin." Tenku shook his head and replied.
"What!? a goblin!?" Kirika and the others were shocked when they heard that. They looked around them to find the monster that Tenku was referring to. But no matter how hard the girls searched, they couldn't find the goblin.
"Where's that goblin? Why can't I find it?" Setsuka returned his attention to Tenku and asked.
"Yeah, where is the goblin? We have to kill it quickly before the monster attacks the visitors in this place." Kirika urged Tenku to answer.
She couldn't allow a monster to roam freely in a tourist spot because many people had gathered there, most of whom were common people. Kirika was worried that the goblins would attack the visitors.
Kirika becomes very sensitive about the appearance of monsters in Kyoto because it reminds her of her family. She didn't want what happened to her father and mother to happen to anyone else.
"You won't be able to see them since the goblin is pretty far from here. Besides, that monster seems to have quite a bit of intelligence. The goblin hides between the bamboo trees, covering its body with snow." Tenku pointed in a certain direction from the bamboo forest.
"I will go there to kill that monster!" Kirika wanted to go to the goblin's location, but Tenku quickly stopped her.
"Wait a minute, Kirika." Tenku suddenly stood in front of her to block her way. He couldn't hold Kirika's hand because they were under Chizen's men's supervision.
"Why did you stop me? I must go there to kill the goblin before the monsters attack the visitors." Kirika tried to pass by Tenku, but Setsuka grabbed her hand to prevent her from leaving that place.
"Please calm down, Kirika. You should hear Tenku's explanation first. He must have some reason to stop you." Setsuka tried to calm Kirika down. She knew what had happened to her family in the past, so Setsuka understood how she felt now.
Kirika turned her eyes to Tenku and saw the other party nodding at her. Then she took a deep breath and released it slowly to calm her mind.
"I'm sorry that I got carried away by my emotions." Kirika bowed her head to Tenku and said apologetically.
"You don't have to worry about it. I stopped you because the goblin did not intend to approach an area with many visitors. I don't know where the monster came from because I felt no space collapse in this area. Usually, the goblins would appear in hordes, and that one seemed to have gotten separated from the herd and was afraid to approach the crowds of humans." Tenku explained.
"Then where did that goblin come from, and what will we do with that monster?" Setsuka asked, and that represented a question from Kirika and the others. They couldn't let the monster roam around after knowing about it. After all, they were a Realizer.
"I will go to that place in person." Tenku replied. He wanted to check it because he wanted to know where the goblins had appeared from.
Tenku had two guesses in his mind. First, a space collapse occurred without the organization knowing about it. Second, someone deliberately released the monster, and Tenku could only think about the terrorists from the Ghost Nebula organization.
He hoped that both of his thoughts were wrong. If either of his guesses were correct, then Tenku and the girls wouldn't be able to enjoy their winter vacation peacefully.
"I will come with you!"
"I will keep you company!"
Setsuka and Wang Ruyue said simultaneously, but Tenku shook his head in response to their words.
"No. You will continue your vacation in the Arashiyama bamboo grove. After all, I'm only going out for a bit and will be right back." Tenku quickly refused.
"We won't be able to calmly enjoy our vacation after learning that there's a goblin roaming the Arashiyama bamboo forest and let you check it out alone. I know what you're thinking, but we're not weak. We could deal with low-level monsters and fight against high levels. So you don't have to worry about us." Setsuka said seriously.
"Yes. We promise that we won't be a burden to you. We can help you if it's just fighting the goblin hordes. So let us come with you." Wang Ruyue was unwilling to let Tenku fight alone as he had done in Beijing.
"Then, add me too! Kyoto is my hometown, and I can't let those monsters run wild here!" Kirika suddenly said because she didn't want that from the two girls.
As usual, Kaede was silent because she didn't know what to say. She also wanted to join Tenku, but she found it hard to open her mouth after hearing the words of the three girls.
"You guys misunderstood. I never thought that you were weak or would be a burden to me. I decided to check it out alone since it would be too conspicuous if we went together. What's more, we're being watched by spies from Chizen.
They will get suspicious if we suddenly enter the bamboo forest together and will follow us. Besides that, I still don't know why that goblin could appear in the Arashiyama bamboo forest and how many monsters there are.
I've tried checking with my spiritual sense, but I only found one goblin in this area. Thus, I wanted to check it myself to be sure. If there's only one monster, I can quickly return to you guys." Tenku shared his reasons for wanting to act alone and trying to get rid of the bad thoughts in their mind.
"I see. But wouldn't it be fine if you let one of us accompany you? You said we weren't weak and wouldn't be a burden to you, so we should be able to provide some help for you." Setsuka tries to convince Tenku. She wanted to use the opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with him again.
ƥαṇdα- ηθνε|·ƈθm "Yes, she's right. You should bring one of us." Kirika nodded in agreement at her words. She wanted to kill the goblin quickly but also had the same thoughts as Setsuka. Kirika wanted to check out the monster with Tenku and spend time alone with him. But she forgot something important.
"You can't come with me, Kirika." Tenku refused without hesitation.
"Why?" Kirika asked with a disappointed face.
"Have you forgotten the reason you can come with us? If you go with me to check on the goblin, the spies will think we have some relationship and immediately report it to Chizen." Tenku answered.
Kirika finally remembered the reason she had come with them. She had forgotten about it because she was too focused on the goblin that suddenly appeared in the Arashiyama bamboo grove and competed with the girls to be able to go with Tenku. Kirika should dispel Chizen's suspicion of their relationship.
If she went with Tenku to the goblin's location, that would be tantamount to pouring oil on Chizen's jealousy. The spies would report that to him, and Chizen would get angry after knowing about it.
Kirika wanted to use her ability to control the spies Chizen sent, but she didn't know where and who they were because Tenku didn't tell her about them. After all, Kirika wouldn't be able to control them even if she knew about it because those people were watching them from beyond her power range. Chizen had told them about Kirika's strength, so the spies were wary of her. Kirika felt sad when she thought about that and could only accept that she couldn't go with Tenku.
On the other hand, Setsuka and Wang Ruyue were happy when they heard Tenku's rejection of Kirika. They wanted to persuade him again to take one of them, but Tenku opened his mouth first.
"You two can't come with me either. If you insist on me bringing one of you, I'll choose Kaede." Tenku couldn't take Setsuka or Wang Ruyue with her because doing so would create jealousy.
Even though he and the two girls weren't in a romantic relationship, they understood each other's feelings. Thus, Setsuka or Wang Ruyue would be jealous if Tenku only brought one of them, and it might make them fight. He didn't want that to happen. So Tenku thought that choosing Kaede was a safe answer. Wang Ruyue and Setsuka were surprised when they heard his words.
"Me?" Kaede pointed to herself and said in disbelief. She didn't expect that Tenku would choose her. This made Kaede both happy and nervous because she worried Setsuka would be angry with her.
"Yes, I would like to ask you to accompany me to check the goblin. I will go alone if you don't want to come with me." Tenku said softly. Kaede didn't answer immediately but glanced at Setsuka for her opinion.
Setsuka could only sigh when she saw Kaede's eyes on her. She could sense that her best friend wanted to go with Tenku but was worried that it would make her angry.
"Okay, I think Kaede is the best choice." Setsuka smiled and nodded to Kaede.
"Thank You!" Kaede lowered her head slightly to Setsuka. Then she turned his eyes to Tenku.
"Okay, I am willing to accompany you to that place!" Kaede said excitedly, and she smiled broadly.
"That's good. Then, let's go now." Tenku wanted to check the goblin's location as soon as possible and ensure there weren't any other monsters in the area. Kaede nodded in response to his words. After that, the two left the place and entered the bamboo forest.
"Is it okay if you let your best friend go with Tenku? They will be alone and will spend time together. The relationship between the two may be even closer. You already know that your best friend likes Tenku, right?" Kirika asked Setsuka after Tenku and Kaede disappeared from her sight.
"I know, but I'm not worried about it. After all, I'm the one who will win most of his heart." Setsuka smiled at Kirika and said confidently. Then she left the place and continued her tour in the Arashiyama bamboo forest.
"We will not lose to you." Kirika and Wang Ruyue replied simultaneously and followed behind.
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