Misaya and the two maids walked through the dim park, heading home.
She was still thinking about that annoying adult.
She had never seen such a rude person before.
Or rather, given her status, people like him would generally find it difficult to approach her.
Misaya, as the offspring of a Magician, knew she was different from others.
Neon was called a frontier in the world of magic, considered nothing more than a remote, backward place. The Clock Tower had always held contempt and prejudice against the Magicians of the Far East.
But even so, Everbright Manor remained an exception; even the Magicians of the Clock Tower considered it a prestigious family of magic. Its foundation and influence in the entire Far East were unmatched by other magic families.
Calling it the uncrowned king and administrator of Tokyo was not an exaggeration.
Even that rude shop owner was merely one of the countless beings under the protection of Everbright Manor.
He was simply not worth paying too much attention to.
Yes, that's how it should be.
Now, she should speed up and go back; she still had to study magic knowledge in half an hour.
The girl thought so, and the unpleasantness in her heart largely dissipated, her steps quickening involuntarily.
She had no unusual feelings towards the gloomy and quiet park environment under the Gekko.
As the future master of Everbright Manor, Misaya's magic aptitude even surpassed her father's, and she had been placed with high hopes since childhood.
Even though she was still young, she had already been studying magic for a considerable time. She was not as harmless as she appeared on the surface.
In fact, if the shop owner hadn't been an acquaintance, she would never have simply walked away.
For her, who longed to grow up quickly, this was undoubtedly a provocation.
In Misaya's mind, elementary school students of the same age were undoubtedly childish and timid.
Whether it was absurd rumors like the Human-Faced Dog, the Slit-Mouthed Woman, or the Thirteen Steps, they could all make them tremble.
What was there to be afraid of with such things?
If Magicians did nothing, nothing would exist in the darkness, even if rumors sublimated into mystery and became reality.
They would only become objects of study.
Especially in Suginami Ward, the main base of the Everbright Manor family, even if abnormalities and mysteries existed, they had long since been cleaned up.
Therefore, Misaya felt no unease in the deepening night of the park.
Until—
"Roar~"
Ghost-like roars continuously echoed from the surrounding forest, the sounds filled with wild, hungry desires.
By the time Misaya reacted, three "Strange Creatures" had already appeared around her.
They had human bodies, but their figures were twisted, their flesh gory, their pupils pitch black, and saliva dripped from their mouths. They exuded an aura of madness and horror, as if they were a mixture of human malice.
Normal people, merely by looking at these Strange Creatures, would experience a great shock to their minds, their sanity plummeting.
The two maids, who were ordinary people, fainted instantly when the Strange Creatures got close, unable to bear it.
Only Misaya remained standing, her expression stiff as she stared at these menacing, oppressive monsters.
She instinctively activated her Mystic Code to react, keeping her mind clear.
What is this? Evil spirits, Dead Apostles, or newly appeared monsters!
What should she do now, fight? No, she should immediately notify her father through the familiar in the main building. She should try to escape now.
Being young, she was not a qualified Magician, nor did she carry battle-ready Mystic Codes or familiars, so the situation was quite unfavorable.
The young girl tried her best to think calmly, not letting the immediate crisis fluster her.
But before she could act, the Strange Creatures eagerly launched their hunt. Their original hands were rotten and unsightly, revealing pale finger bones, as they pounced on her.
Just by the Strange Creatures getting closer, Misaya felt dizzy and nauseous, and even with the Mystic Code's blessing, it only weakened some of the negative effects.
She couldn't confront them directly in this situation; these were enemies she couldn't fight against at the moment.
The young girl concluded so.
If she were caught, she probably wouldn't even be able to resist before being devoured.
Facing the threat of death, Misaya still made a rational response, strengthening her legs and quickly darting into a gap.
Even so, one Strange Creature attacked Misaya from behind, attempting to tear apart her small body. It was blocked by a suddenly appearing hexagram, which did not truly injure her.
But this immense force undoubtedly transmitted to her body, slamming Misaya into a tree as thick as her waist, leaving her disheveled despite the Mystic Code's protection. This book is compiled by , the copyright of the novel belongs to the original author, the text is for personal study and trial reading only, please delete it within 24 hours after downloading. If you want to read it, please support the subscription to the genuine novel and refuse piracy! If this resource accidentally infringes your rights, please notify us to delete it in time.
Misaya gritted her teeth, enduring the dizziness from the monster's proximity, and fled towards the park exit.
As long as her father arrived, these Strange Creatures would pose no threat.
The young girl's logic was quite clear; her eyes were filled with magic, seeing darkness as daylight. At the same time, she maximized the reinforcement of her legs, desperately fleeing in the direction of Everbright Manor.
Even if attacked by Strange Creatures, the Mystic Code's defense could temporarily withstand it. As a price, Misaya's magic power continuously decreased.
This was not only due to physical attacks but also the consumption of maintaining mental defense to prevent her sanity from being infected by negative emotions.
The strength of these Strange Creatures was not outstanding, but the contamination that clung to them like maggots was the true horror.
The originally very short journey now seemed incredibly long.
She would succeed in escaping, Misaya kept encouraging herself, giving herself confidence.
However, just as she was about to escape the park, her body suddenly stiffened, making it impossible to move.
How could this be?
Only to see that on the path to the exit, dozens of Strange Creatures appeared one after another, exuding extreme malice as they gathered around Misaya.
Let alone fighting, just their continuous approach made the girl unable to move. Her mind was filled with various negative thoughts: fear, retreat, despair... Her thinking was paralyzed, and the girl fell to the ground, looking disheveled.
Am I going to die?
Just thinking of this possibility made Misaya tremble and panic.
Even so, she desperately bit her lip to stay conscious, even facing death, her crimson eyes glaring at these monsters.
Even if she was about to be devoured, about to die in agony.
She refused to show any weakness or retreat.
It was only at this moment of near-death that Misaya suddenly remembered the picture book she had bought not long ago.
Long ago, her mother had read her a story about a prince saving a princess and living happily ever after.
The longing and joy she felt then were hard to forget even now.
It was precisely because of this that she went to the bookstore to buy that fairy tale.
However, the Prince who defeated all terrible things would not appear.
At least, he wouldn't appear before her.
"Roar!"
Even if they couldn't communicate, it was clear that the Strange Creatures' desire to hunt was growing stronger.
They extended their rotten claws and fangs, preparing to crush the girl's throat and devour her flesh and blood.
Whoosh!
As she awaited death, a strong gust of wind arose from the beginning of the road.
A katana was drawn at a strange angle, instantly severing the heads of two Strange Creatures.
It cut open a sliver of hope in this desperate, inescapable encirclement.