Page 16

Old man: “I see… You’re not the type to add up damage little by little. You’re the kind that piles it all on in one big blow!!”

Yuuka: Haa… haa…

Tsurugi: Yuuka?

Old man: Are you out of breath?

Page 17

SFX: ドチュ (Dochu – stab / thrust sound)

Tsurugi: Yuuka!!

SFX: ドサッ (Dosa – thud, body hitting the ground)

Old man: Heh… You underestimated my transformation skill.

Page 18

Old man: The essence of transformation… …is to use a human’s skin as material.

If you stuff a guardian spirit’s body inside, it can be used in all sorts of ways.

Tsurugi: …Haa. How boring.

Tsurugi: In the end, maybe there really is something to be gained… …through killing each other.

Old man: I’m still short a few counters for my abacus set. Guess I’ll have to find some more before heading home.

Page 19

Old man: …Maru? …? What… is that?

SFX: パチ… (pachi… — faint flicker / spark of an eye opening)

Tsurugi: “…!!”

Editor Note: What on earth happened to Maru──!?