Survive in Azure Files

"To prevent the festival from being ruined! To maintain peace in the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons! To enforce justice of love and truth! A trio of adorable and charming beautiful girls...!"

The cherry-haired girl was a beat slower: "San-Sanmori."

The girl holding the shield yawned: "Tsubaki..."

"We are the training club that shuttles through the streets! Sakura! A sakura-pink tomorrow is waiting for us!"

Feng exhaled and concluded with satisfaction: "That's it!"

"That's it……"

“Eh… that’s what I meant…”

The originally noisy battlefield was now silent.

"Wow, that's amazing!" The Shiba Inu next to me exclaimed, talking to himself with interest, "So what's the name of this TV series? When will it be released? Where is the camera hidden?"

Shizuko poked her head out from behind the cover, her cheek twitched, and she couldn't help but shout in my direction: "Didn't I tell you? They are a group of weirdos."

I was speechless, covered my forehead and sighed, unable to bear to watch any more.

The appearance of the training department attracted the attention of everyone present.

Feng was bathed in countless gazes, and proudly put his hands on his hips: "Hehe~! What a perfect debut performance! Right, Tsubaki-senpai!"

Tsubaki was sleepy and confused, "Huh... Really?"

Sansen looked shy: "Um... Feng-chan, everyone seems to be looking at us..."

The demon who was leading the group, wearing a Tengu mask, finally came to his senses at this moment:

“Huh!? No, I was stunned accidentally. Who are you?!”

Feng proudly introduced herself, "We are the training club that practices every day to become perfect ladies!"

"Feng is the only one who has that goal, right?"

Tsubaki complained, "I haven't done that kind of training either... Anyway, it's good to be able to sleep."

As she was talking, Chun yawned again and rubbed her sleepy eyes: "Oh... I'm so sleepy. Can I sleep here?"

"Tsubaki-senpai, who remained calm even when confronting Chimei-ichi, is so handsome...! Ah, but Tsubaki-senpai! You can't sleep here...!"

Sansen spoke softly, trying to smooth things over: "Ahaha...but I think it's a good thing to have a goal."

Feng nodded vigorously: "That's right, Senior Sansen! This is not only necessary training to become a perfect lady, but it can also maintain the law and order of the streets! So, it's our turn to come on stage here!"

At this point, Feng pointed at the leader of Chimeizuzu and said loudly: "Chimeizuzuzuzu, Lululiu, wake up!"

"Well, wake up~"

I don't know if it was my illusion, but from where I was looking, Chun's eyes were completely closed. But at the same time, she still raised her gun, which made it hard to tell whether she was secretly sleeping.

"Well, then, please wake up!"

As expected of the gentle Mimori who aims to be a Yamato Nadeshiko.

...Can she really read minds?

I thought about this question, continued to watch the battle, and gave orders at specific moments.

Previously, Shizuko alone was able to fight the demon group back and forth. Although reinforcements are constantly coming from all directions, after the training department joins, the balance of victory still irreversibly tilts towards us.

"Damn it!"

One demon roared unwillingly: "You stupid guys! How dare you block that master's great plan!"

"Gu! So you are being ordered around by someone!"

Shizuka said angrily: "No matter who sent you here, no matter what conspiracy you have, give up as soon as possible! We have Xia Lai's teacher here, and we will never let you succeed!"

"What do you know!" Another demon retorted dissatisfiedly, "So what if he is Xia Lai's teacher? With that master here, even if he is Xia Lai's teacher, there is nothing to be afraid of!"

Feng couldn't help but interrupt: "You're talking nonsense! You don't know how powerful the teacher is!"

Another demon sneered, "Haha! You don't even know the great achievements that adult has made hidden in the shadows! If it were me, that adult would definitely defeat Teacher Xia Lai in seconds!"

Feng put down his gun and puffed up his face: "You are talking nonsense! The teacher will never lose to anyone! And who is the 'adult' you are talking about!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

"You are talking nonsense!"

Just when this elementary school-style debate was about to start an endless nesting doll, another demon joined in and smiled in an unfathomable way: "Haha, you are not worthy of knowing the name of that adult."

Another demon echoed, "That's right! That sir is the root of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. Only we, the most loyal followers, know his true identity!"

Feng said angrily: "What! You are just cheating, it's not fair!"

The two sides started arguing fiercely about "Who is more powerful, Teacher Xia Lai or that adult?", but before they knew it, the exchange of fire had completely stopped.

I listened to the argument between the bad guys and our students, and I couldn't help but frown and think deeply. I became very interested in the "that adult" mentioned by the enemy.

According to Chimeizuzu, the person who ordered the destruction of the Sakura Festival is most likely a big shot with great power and fame. At the same time, according to the information from the Minister of the Onmyoji Department, he is also a member of the Hundred Demons Night Parade.

The range of possible candidates became increasingly narrow.

By this time, the argument had intensified to the point where they were about to start fighting again.

The leader of the demons wearing a Tengu mask rolled up his sleeves and said impatiently, "Okay! Since both of us have our own opinions and neither of us can convince the other, let's use a duel to decide the winner!"

Feng, who had just debated with the group of scholars, nodded heavily and agreed readily: "Okay! That's exactly what I want!"

"...It might as well be said that it was just a normal battle at the beginning, why did it suddenly become like this?" Shizuka couldn't help but complain, suddenly feeling tired.

Just when the battle was about to break out, another clear shout rang through the battlefield, a black shadow fell from the sky, and at the same time, something was thrown fiercely to the ground:

"Izuna-ryu Ninjutsu! A technique that makes thick smoke billow in all directions!"

Along with the explosion, a large amount of thick smoke was released and spread throughout the street.

"Hmm! I can't see anything! By the way, will this smoke stain the food?"

I turned my head, and in the pitch-dark environment, I couldn't see the face of the Shiba Inu who said this. Soon, I heard the sound of gunfire again.

When the smoke faded slightly, a dark shadow vaguely appeared in front of me.

There is also a big dangling tail, which makes me want to grab it and pull a few handfuls.

The little ninja fox turned his back to me and said:

"DOMO, Master=SAN! Izumina DESU, come as promised!"

"...Izuna, what are you doing?"

"Master, Izuna thought about it later."

Izuna took a few steps back, disappearing into the swirling smoke. Only her extremely bright yellow eyes were clearly visible, looking at me seriously:

“Even if the master is a handsome man who recognizes Izuna’s dream and is willing to teach him the Ninja Way, since we meet as enemies on the battlefield... Izuna must complete the task perfectly, defeat and convince the master! This is Izuna’s Ninja Way! It is also the destiny of Izuna and the master as ninjas!”

…But I’m not a ninja.

I have always been flexible when it comes to identity.

“Be prepared! Master! Izuna will defeat the master! Eeeeeeeeeee!”

Before I could reply, Izuna rushed towards me, talking to herself.

Then, accompanied by several gunshots, Izuna screamed and fell to the ground.

In short, as we can see from the previous text, the straight-line distance between me and Shizuko and the others was very close, so close that even without using my power, I could easily hear their arguments. At the same time, I was standing on the street.

Well, it goes without saying what will happen to Izumi who retreats to the center of the street.

"...So, does she really think we are deaf?" Shizuka sighed, lowered the muzzle of the shotgun, and fired another blind shot in the direction where the scream came from.

But this time it was in vain.

Izuna had already rolled to the side and angrily accused, "This is too much! You actually interfered with the sacred ninja battle between me and my master without even saying hello first!"

"Haaa!? Holy? You dropped a smoke bomb to attack the teacher and you're still saying that!"

Izuna refuted Shizuko's accusations one by one: "This is not a smokescreen! This is Izuna's ninjutsu! And it's not a sneak attack! Izuna greeted the master first! And this is a battle between ninjas, so it is naturally sacred!"

The smoke has mostly cleared.

Izumi looked at the enemy who were almost all intact, and glanced at the Chimei Izu who was still standing. Relying on the excellent eyesight of a ninja, he quickly estimated the remaining combat power of both sides.

The advantage is mine!

"I understand, I need to defeat you before I can become the Master!"

The fox ears twitched, the girl was full of fighting spirit, and her eyes seemed to be burning with flames: "Take it! Ea ...

The remaining demons looked at each other and followed Izunai to fight the enemy together.

And he and Izuna were quickly defeated.

“Eh!?”

The little fox staggered and fell to the ground. Although he quickly got up, he still had a sad face and said in disbelief: "Izumi, Izumi lost again!? I came here with more thorough preparations than before...! And I still couldn't fight...!? Is it because I haven't practiced enough...!?"

...So what on earth is going on?

Suddenly I felt that the attitude of the Minister of Yin and Yang Department was particularly understandable.

The group of demons had already had members who could still walk supporting their companions who could not move, and the few who still had the ability to fight were responsible for holding back the rear, and a major strategic shift had begun.

But Izunai hadn't given up yet. She stood in front of me and looked at me with a determined expression:

"Master, even though I failed this time, I will definitely remember this pain and come back as soon as possible! I will defeat you, Master!"

I was speechless for a moment, and after thinking for a long time, I finally managed to say: "... Then, I wish you good luck?"

I never thought that one day I would become like Alu. It's really unpredictable and sad.

Izuna narrowed her eyes happily: "Yeah! Izuna will try her best~be patient~"

"So, Izuna, are you still carrying out your employer's mission?"

"Yes. It was not Izuna's intention to be an enemy of the master... But no matter what the mission is, as long as it is an order, it must be executed perfectly. This is what a ninja should do! Now that things have come to this, we can only decide right and wrong through fighting, so that the master can wake up!"

"Oh, okay." I nodded in agreement with Izuna's decision, "Then don't forget the ninja training we agreed to tomorrow."

"...Huh?" Izuna shuddered and opened his eyes wide in surprise, "But, but aren't Izuna and the Master still enemies now?"

"Hostile does not mean breach of contract. As a ninja, you must also abide by your promises, right?"

Besides, if I don’t ask Izuna out alone, how can I find a chance to ask her something?

Izuna's eyes lit up, and he was so excited that he couldn't say anything more: "Wow, Master is indeed worthy of being a legendary ninja. This kind of demeanor is simply a hero among ninjas! I understand. Izuna will definitely come to the appointment tomorrow, in a non-work mode~"

I looked at Izuna's fox ears swinging back and forth, and tried my best to resist the urge to reach out and touch them.

I looked at the demons that had almost completely evacuated, Shizuko and Kaede who were chasing them, Tsubaki who was standing still, and Mimori who was standing ten steps away and looking over here, and I kindly gave a reminder:

"Are you still not leaving? Almost all the people in the Demon House have fled, right?"

Izuna finally realized the current situation and said quickly: "Hmm! Izuna is a ninja who knows the situation. I will retreat this time...! When we meet next time... No, when we meet the next time, please be prepared! Izuna will definitely defeat the master!"

"That's exactly the line a third-rate villain would say when running away..."

The little fox instantly revealed a cute embarrassed expression: "Izumi, Izumi is not a third-rate villain! Izumi is a ninja! Although, although she is not mature enough compared to her master... the so-called ninja is to execute strategically..."

“Strategic shift.”

"Yes! Strategic shift, yes, strategic shift. Very good."

Izuna frowned again, whispered it several times, and nodded her head in satisfaction. I sincerely hope that she can remember this word smoothly.

"After turning in, he continued to challenge persistently. That's what a ninja is! Right?"

...Why did you ask me in the end? And why did you ask me when I was the one being challenged?

"Well, that's right."

I thought it over again and again, and facing the little fox's expectant gaze, I finally expressed my agreement with difficulty.

There's nothing I can do, she's just so cute.

“Hehehe~” Izuna smiled sheepishly, “Anyway~ I definitely won’t lose again next time, Master, please stay tuned! Just be patient!”

After saying that, Izuna threw another smoke bomb onto the ground, and disappeared under the cover of thick smoke.