Chapter 121

It should clearly be a protective knife.

"What is Aruji...?"

The white-haired child tilted his head and asked Fuyuki this question.

Dongshu froze, then changed direction and rushed forward to catch Wuhu Tui.

“Tuitui, Aruji… is the one who will take you home.” She closed her eyes. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember me.”

It doesn't matter if this memory is never restored, it doesn't matter if I completely and utterly regard her as an enemy, it doesn't matter if everything is stripped away by the data fluid...

Fuyuki, she is the Saniwa (Master).

On the other end of that contract was Wu Hu Tui.

Undoubtedly.

She will not give up her knife.

No matter how things change, none of this has happened before or now.

She could accept even the worst possible outcome, so nothing had happened yet... nothing was certain...

"I am Aruki." Fuyuki tried to keep her voice steady. She tilted her head, but looked at the familiar yet disgusting data fluid behind her head.

Still there—uh!

【Little Winter Tree—! Let go of him! He…】

The little stray dog ​​was so anxious that it didn't know what to do, and the crumpled piece of paper jumped around on the ground.

A sharp pain shot through his abdomen, but Dongshu had no time to pay attention to it. It was an undeniable fact that Goko had not broken free of control.

This time, however, the knife that belonged to her pierced her body.

Dongshu held on tightly, not offering any more, feeling the blade continue to pierce deeper and deeper.

I'm fine.

She stared at the fluid of data.

[I want to make the thing that just came devour this thing... Is that possible?]

Kusaka Nae's system began trying to break free the moment she faked her death, but it was firmly held in the hands of this clever colleague, and her escape attempt failed.

And now, this pain remains in the hands of the winter tree.

"Step back, be quiet." Fuyuki said, his spiritual power conveyed through the contract, the absolute command of the Saniwa falling on the Tsukumogami.

Wu Hu Tui's entire body stopped instantly.

【Can. 】

Dongshu breathed a long sigh of relief.

Her feet moved backward in pain. She looked at the dagger stained with her own blood and reached out to grasp the blade.

The skin was cut open, and blood struggled to flow from between the torn flesh.

Dense spiritual energy surged from the crimson liquid, following the will of its owner, and gradually climbed onto Goko's body.

At the same time, the section of data fluid that was completely under control also climbed upwards along with the spiritual energy.

Be careful. The little stray dog ​​was a bit worried.

The parasitic nature of these special technological creations is so alarming and so difficult to guard against.

"It's okay," Fuyuki comforted him, "Anyway, there's a first time for everything."

The spiritual power controlled the defeated data fluid to devour its own kind. The system controlling the Five Tigers Retreat was confused and tried to struggle, but lacking intelligence, it could only act on instinct. When faced with overly complicated situations, it completely lost the possibility of resistance.

Looking at Gokotai, who seemed to have completely lost his soul, Fuyuki raised his hand and skillfully touched his short white hair.

It's okay if you can't feel it.

To be able to endure for so long without getting hurt while facing her... that's amazing. Her Five Tiger Retreats are incredible.

Poor child, does he need some praise? Let me pat his head... When he gets back, I'll pat his head as many times and for as long as I want, no problem at all...

She lowered her eyes, and her spiritual energy began to heal the wound.

only.

If only... I could come back soon...

She was very tired.

I'm extremely tired right now.

From the moment we are born into this world, we never have a chance to stop.

From Osamu Dazai in his red scarf to the ubiquitous data flow nowadays... Fuyuki doesn't understand; she can't handle everything on her own.

She can't do it.

The pain in her abdomen kept stimulating her brain, making her more and more awake, but her vision became blurry. She continued to clench her fists, but this time, she found that the dagger refused to let her continue to harm herself.

It has become dull.

It cannot even pierce the delicate palm of a child.

"……Owner."

Wu Hu Tui's lips moved slightly.

His golden eyes remained lifeless; he had not regained his senses. But suddenly, looking at the target that had been set before him, he cried out.

Why address the person in front of you in this way?

Fuyuki looked at him and felt a slight rubbing against her palm.

Do you like it?

"Um."

He likes it; he likes the person in front of him.

"Master...why are you injured?"

Why are you injured? Why are you here? Who am I?

The confused little dagger kept making sounds, weakly asking himself everything he wanted to know.

"Because I want to hug you."

"Because I hugged it too tightly."

"Because I want to see you."

"You are my knife."

Dongshu answered each question one by one.

She is very patient.

Looking into those dim golden eyes, it felt as if a pair of large hands were gripping his heart tightly in his chest.

"Retreat, you are my blade..."

"knife?"

Goko raised his left hand and touched the dagger in his right hand, which was covered in blood and trembling.

Is this it?

He continued to ask questions, but suddenly became agitated, "Did it hurt you? I am it... so it was me who hurt you."

Wu Hu Tui raised his eyes, and tears suddenly welled up in his golden eyes. His eyes became moist, and he suddenly collapsed.

"I hurt you..."

The blue fluid of data quietly crept up his wrist, seeping into his bones little by little, and reaching into the body given to him by the winter tree.

The short sword approached the Saniwa, whose hands trembled, and the sharp sword trembled along with them.

"It doesn't matter."

Fuyuki didn't blame him.

She has the ability to control all the attacks of the spirits, and may even be able to forcibly deny any harmful actions taken against her by the swords. As long as she wants, no sword that has formed a contract with her can harm her.

"Really?"

Wu Hu Tui's voice changed, and a glint of data flashed in his bright golden eyes.

"You don't blame me, so—"

He suddenly swung his short sword, all the colors on his body disappeared, the timid and confused look on his lips vanished, and his whole being exuded a mechanical aura.

"Then let's do it again, you won't blame me, will you?"

Dongshu stared at him expressionlessly. Her hand, which had been touching the top of her head, was flung away. Her arms felt empty, as if she couldn't hold onto anything.

Her tone was icy: "Stop."

The blade paused, pressing against the Saniwa's neck, just a hair's breadth away from piercing the flesh and tearing it apart.

"You really make me angry."

Fuyuki raised his hand and took the short sword from Goko's hand.

Ignoring the desperate roars from behind her as the struggling technological creation roared, she said calmly, "I have never... hated an existence this much before."

Her fingers traced the blade, but the sharp weapon did not harm her in the slightest.

Her hands gripped the knife hilt tightly, a clear tremor emanating from them, revealing the genuine fear and anxiety of the Five Tigers Retreat.

He was afraid that he would hurt his master again.

He was worried that his owner would be hurt again.

And I myself am already a sinner.

It doesn't matter.

The master should also protect the sword.

Winter Tree killed Data Fluid with Data Fluid.

She succeeded.

The Saniwa embraces the sword that has been reshaped into a human form.

Wu Hu Tui trembled all over. The little tiger at his feet was eager yet hesitant, its furry paws slowly touching Dong Shu's skin.

"I'm so sorry, your blood is on the blade..." He didn't dare to hug Dongshu back, his eyes were hidden by his hair, and his voice choked with sobs, "I promised to protect you."

The dagger is the master's protective weapon.

"Okay. Continue." Fuyuki just hugged him tighter, his tired body pressing all its weight onto the short sword.

Caught off guard, Wu Hu retreated, bracing himself, his fingertips gripping Dong Shu's clothes tightly, shallow tears welling up in his golden eyes.

"I clearly heard your call, I clearly knew everything... but the swords still..."

The little tiger at the foot suddenly patted the Saniwa's instep with its paw pad, so lightly that it was almost imperceptible.

"Please, please continue to command me... I must not hurt anyone, absolutely not do anything like that, I beg you..."

He was terrified.

No one knows what would have happened if the knife that pierced the Saniwa's abdomen had been thrust upwards, into his heart.

Unbearable consequences.

"It's alright." After Gokotai's voice completely disappeared, Fuyuki coughed weakly twice. "Gokotai-chan is a good boy."

Goko suddenly buried his head in the side of Fuyuki's neck, pressing his nose tightly against the clear throbbing there.

"Aruki's body temperature is dropping..."

He suddenly bit his lip, almost drawing blood.

"Please don't treat me so gently anymore. Don't forgive those who offend you so easily..."

He suppressed his trembling breaths, and the tsukumogami tried his best to calm himself down.

Tears continued to fall, pattering down onto Dongshu's clothes.

Soon, the piece of fabric became soaked and turned dark.

Dongshu opened her eyes, her gaze still dark and devoid of any weariness. Her voice was hoarse: "I'm willing."

Goko continued, "Even if the master allows it—"

"Please don't blame yourself. Even when you were being controlled, you were trying your best not to hurt me and to fight back against the enemy, weren't you?"

Fuyuki suddenly realized something and frowned.

Suddenly, the tiger cubs' tails all wrapped around the winter tree, and the furry creatures jostled each other, bringing the two people even closer together.

Dongshu looked at them helplessly, but then realized that he was already a little taller than Gokotai.

...Huh?

When exactly did they start spending so much time together?

"...The master's aura is emanating from his heart." The strange aura grew stronger, and Goko's voice carried a hint of excitement. "Look, it's begging for your forgiveness and punishment. Please don't be so gentle."

"From now on, the scabbard that restrains me, the hilt that controls me... will all be made of the master's flesh and blood, okay?"

He didn't realize he had said something terrible.

Fuyuki sighed.

She sat up and patted his head: "Mmm."

"I will always be with Tai. As a Saniwa who has the ability to awaken the thoughts and hearts of sleeping artifacts, we will work together to fulfill the mission of protecting history."

Wu Hu Tui suddenly froze, the red in his golden pupils faded, and he whispered, "History... will never change, and it will remember your gentleness, it will be happy, you will always be happy..."

He was rambling incoherently.

However, there will never again be swords like his to harm their master.

Yes, it will.

Fuyuki's gaze was intense as he suppressed the sudden appearance of the corrupted aura and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As expected... this level of injury and darkness is enough to corrupt the spirit.

"Huh? What are you two doing in a place like this?"

[Author's Note]

Little Tuitui is such an adorable child, pretending to be a little tiger...

Who's here? [question mark]