As Kaguya watched the figure of Esdeath slowly disappear into the distance, her brows furrowed slightly. She had initially thought that Esdeath was sent by Minister Honest to deal with her. However, Esdeath's actions seemed more directed at Night Raid than at herself. Could there be some hidden plot?
Kaguya considered chasing after her to get a clear answer, but she ultimately decided against it.
She still didn't know where Kurome was, and with Kurome wandering alone, she might run into trouble if she encountered Imperial forces or Night Raid. Although Kurome was strong, being alone made her vulnerable, especially in the harsh winter, which further limited her abilities.
With these thoughts in mind, Kaguya turned and headed east.
Being targeted by a sadist like Esdeath was definitely not a pleasant experience. If it had been a gentle beauty like Sayo, Kaguya might have been more accepting, but she was definitely not into that kind of thing. She was not someone who would allow herself to be restrained by anyone.
However, the situation was becoming increasingly complicated. It felt like the era of the Three Kingdoms at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The young emperor was an ineffectual Xian of Han, Minister Honest was a brutal Dong Zhuo, and Esdeath was the unparalleled warrior Lu Bu.
But then, who was Diao Chan?
Kaguya's face stiffened. Could it be...?
At the thought, Kaguya shuddered, and goosebumps rose all over her body. It was just too absurd.
As Kaguya's thoughts wandered, a figure appeared, walking unsteadily toward her. The girl had black, shoulder-length hair, with delicate features and a gentle, elegant demeanor. However, she looked rather disheveled, her thin clothing covered in scratches, and her body marked with wounds, some of which were oozing blood that had frozen into crystals. She appeared extremely weak, barely able to walk.
Kaguya's eyes narrowed, and she quickly rushed over to support the trembling black-haired girl. This girl was none other than Kurome.
Kurome was barely conscious and collapsed into Kaguya's arms. Perhaps sensing the familiar presence, she didn't resist and instead clutched tightly to Kaguya's clothes with her small, pale hands.
Kaguya was startled and quickly examined Kurome's body, only to breathe a sigh of relief.
Kurome had no fatal injuries; the small cuts were mostly caused by ice shards and were not serious. She was just exhausted, and wearing too little had led to a cold.
Kaguya had initially planned to scold her thoroughly once she found her, determined to teach her a lesson and perhaps give her a good spanking. But seeing the little girl in such a pitiful state now, Kaguya couldn't help but feel pity.
She took off her own plush coat and draped it over Kurome. It seemed Kurome was freezing; she was trembling all over and shivering uncontrollably, which made Kaguya chuckle.
Such self-inflicted suffering—why couldn't she just stay somewhere warm instead of venturing out into the cold? Kaguya didn't know whether to laugh or scold her.
Being in the wilderness, there were no houses around, just desolate land with sparse trees and white snow. Occasionally, small animals like rabbits could be seen, but they quickly disappeared from sight.
The snow had completely covered the roads, making it impossible to tell which path led to the town. Even more dangerously, the snow concealed many pits and holes; what looked like solid ground might give way underfoot, and a person could easily fall through. If the pit wasn't deep, it wouldn't be too bad, but falling into an ice-covered hole connected to an underground river would mean certain death.
With Kurome on her back, Kaguya walked lightly forward, seemingly unaffected by the snow. Her steps left only faint impressions in the snow, barely noticeable. Any martial arts enthusiast witnessing this would have undoubtedly shouted, "Walking on snow without leaving a trace!"
Kurome was light as a feather, her soft body feeling like that of a small cat, almost weightless as she clung to Kaguya's back, making her seem even more delicate and cute.
However, as Kaguya continued walking, she noticed something was wrong. She set Kurome down and felt her forehead, only to find it burning hot. Kurome's face was flushed unnaturally, and though it was freezing outside, she was sweating.
Kurome was running a fever.
This was no trivial matter, especially in the freezing wilderness. Although Kaguya could treat minor injuries, the icy environment made it difficult to provide proper care. Kaguya quickened her pace, moving like a flash of light, speeding toward the distant horizon.
Perhaps by luck, it wasn't long before Kaguya came across a small village in the snowy landscape. The village was tiny, with only a few dozen houses, neatly arranged and exuding a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
Without hesitation, Kaguya ran toward one of the houses with Kurome on her back. She knocked on the door and called out, "Excuse me, is anyone there?"
The sounds inside the house fell silent, followed by a series of footsteps approaching the door. Someone asked from behind the door, "Who is it?"
"Sorry to bother you, I'm a traveler passing through. My friend has a fever; could we stay for the night?" Kaguya replied.
After a moment, the door opened, and a person stepped out. Holding Kurome, Kaguya was momentarily stunned when she saw the person.
"It's you."
"It's you."