Tanuki Rise of the Yokai Clan

Chapter 132: Idiotic woman

Seidoukan Academy's harbor block was wrapped around the campus but separated from it by a large canal-like trench, so it was not usually accessible. Unless one tried to swim across to it, there were normally only three ways in.

The most obvious was to enter via boat. As the harbor block was used to store goods ferried in from the cities on the shores of the lake or brought in from the airport, this was perhaps the most frequently used route.

The next way was to enter abroad one of the many vehicles from the urban areas that were used to move goods around the city.

The last route was an underground passage connected to the center of the academy. Strictly speaking, this was the same route used by the vehicles, but there was an adjoining path that could be entered on foot, too, if need be.

If a student wanted to enter the harbor block, the only practical option available to them was this underground passage. It was also this path used by Claudia to run away from her assailants.

""

"Hmm, this girl's more troublesome than I was expecting," Bujinsai Yabuki, the leader of the Yakuki clan, said after listening to a report from one of his people, whispered to himself.

From his position atop a huge crane overlooking the harbor block, he cast his gaze through the rain and over the gray, hazy scenery that lay before him, the gloom eerily reminiscent of a graveyard.

"Hahaha, then, do you need my little help? I also want to test my new masterpiece."

A gentlemanly middle-aged figure with a neatly trimmed mustache smiled, holding a black umbrella while staring at Bujinsai.

Gustave Malraux.

It was the name of this middle-aged man. At Arlequint Academy, he was relatively famous for being known as the Mage of Primordial Beasts, Echid Nix, who was known for his involvement in the Jade Twilight Incident, the greatest terrorism incident in the Asterisk.

By then, Gustave had become famous in the underworld and took any jobs as long as there was money. With how much Ginga offered him to get to the head of Claudia, how could he not be tempted?

"You don't need to worry. This little girl is as good as dead after being targeted by us." Bujinsai refused the offer without hesitation since accepting the man's offer; it would show that he was inferior.

As an ancient clan that had continuously remained until now, Bujinsai had a pride that he needed to uphold.

"Hahaha, is that so? I will leave everything to you, then. It's also good to receive a reward without doing anything."

For him, it didn't matter who did the job, as he would get the money either way. Nevertheless, he could see that Claudia's life would end sooner or later since she was targeted by the Yabuki clan. He lamented the fate of this stupid girl who dared to provoke the integrated enterprise foundation. Still, he was rather curious about how the Yabuki clan worked since it was his first time seeing one.

Bujinsai no longer put his attention on Gustave, stroked his chin, and just observed Claudia from a distance while cursing his son, Eishirou Yabuki, secretly. He knew that the reason why Claudia could escape them now must be the involvement of his son. Claudia must have been tipped off by his son, as she could anticipate most of their attacks and could escape until now.

The Yabuki clan specialized in espionage and assassination, not military force. It was fair to say that they had committed an irredeemable blunder the moment they had failed to eliminate the target when they had first engaged her.

That said, even if the target wasn't the school's second-ranked fighter, she was still, after all, a student. He had by no means been underestimating her, but he had never expected to be able to fend them off for so long.

Things had been going well up until they had cornered her in the harbor block, but now that he thought back on it, there was something off about how everything had played out. The target seemed to be too well-informed.

The harbor block wasn't the kind of place people frequently stumbled into, but they had nonetheless put up barriers to keep out any unwanted visitors. They had also taken control of the security camera that practically littered the area. One might say that there could be no better field for chasing down one's quarry.

Yet, despite all that, the target managed to evade their net as if she knew the precise location of every single security camera.

She showed no hesitation in selecting her escape route, almost as if she were as familiar with it as her own backyard.

She might have been the student council president, but it was incomprehensible that a student, who ought to have had no connection whatsoever to the harbor block, could be so knowledgeable about its layout.

'Could it be that she led us here?

On top of that, her combat abilities were more advanced than they had imagined.

More troublesome than her physical skills was the precognition offered to her by the Pan-Dora, which she seemed to be able to use at will. Bringing her down was always going to prove difficult.

Yet...

"Ah... it's the end." Gustave sighed with regret, yet his expression was betrayed as he watched this scene in glee.

"Yes, it's over."

No matter how good Claudia was, in the end, she was no match against a group Yabuki clan. She might be a good fighter as she was able to hold on until now, but in the end, that's it.

Claudia was a student, and she was different from a professional like them, who was living by killing.

Their level and determination were just different.

There was no comparison between them.

Yet, Bujinsai could tell that this girl was talented.

'Unfortunately, she'll die soon.'

Yet, similar to Gustave, there was no remorse or regret on Bujinsai's face. All on his face was just the coolness and callousness of the killer. Still, as he thought that everything was going well, his communication device vibrated.

Gustave also saw his communication vibrate.

The two didn't look at each other and answered the call.

---

Claudia didn't expect that everything would become like this. While everything had gone according to the beginning, everything changed at the end. It couldn't be like this, yet in the end, her legs were unable to walk any longer as a single kunai pierced into her white, plump thigh.

The injury slowed down her speed. Even if she could walk and read the future, her speed could no longer support her, and the group of Yabukin clan quickly surrounded her.

Their eyes were cold. Instead of a human, it might be correct to say that they were a machine. The moment they were born, they were adjusted and educated to become a killer.

No... at this rate...

She could feel a sense of panic building up inside her.

Not yet.

She needed just a little more time, yet at the same time, she wondered why she did all of this.

This wish... she really wondered why she did this.

The only thing on her mind at this moment was that everything was pointless. It was meaningless.

What was the point of all of this?

Why should she be tormented with a heavy injury and drenched in the cold rain like this?

Then, all the memories she spent with him appeared like a movie in her head. Everything was slowed down, and she could feel that a second was like an eternity.

'If possible, I want to stay with him a little more...

However, it was impossible as a wave of kunai came hurtling toward her forehead, throat, and heart.

Whatever she could do at this moment was meaningless.

Yet, if possible, she wanted to meet him and tell him how regretful she was with this stupid wish of hers.

It's over.

This was the thought on everyone's minds, yet a figure appeared in front of Claudia and swung something.

All of them were unable to comprehend what was happening and could only disappear into ash and die meaninglessly.

Claudia, who was covered in mud and blood, stared at his figure in astonishment, yet when she saw his cold, inhuman-like expression, she just stayed in silence as she sighed in relief while waiting for her punishment.