The Crisis World XX

Special Chapter : Holidays! (3)

The show of bathing and cleaning up was over. We all went back to our rooms and were invited to dinner in the main room.

The food is arguably quite luxurious for the size of a bath that has not received visitors for a long time, all thanks to the donor I think.

We all wear kimonos given by the inn and wear them after soaking. And after eating, because there was no work and nothing to do, everyone decided to go back to their rooms.

"Hoaamm .. I'm sleepy but can't sleep."

Ngiig... Ngiig... Ngiig...

The sound of insects tonight accompanied me who could not sleep and just looked at the dark ceiling of this room. After getting bored, I decided to go out.

"Walking around for a while seems to make me drowsy."

I walked around this place and walked around, actually this place is quite nice and beautiful. But the rumors that were spread actually managed to keep them from having any visitors.

Beautiful lights and plants that make it look beautiful. Even if I don't get that free raffle, I would gladly like to visit here.

While I was enjoying the beauty of this inn, I suddenly saw someone standing still while daydreaming. The person wears a blue kimono with a red uwagi. It was Herlin.

"Herlin?"

"Iraya? You haven't slept?"

"I can't."

"I am too."

The silent and awkward atmosphere attacked us for a while. But to deal with that, I was the first to start the conversation.

"Want a little walk around?" take me.

"Can."

Herlin also agreed to my invitation and we also walked casually in this place. A place like a path on the right and left there is a bamboo forest. While walking, we talked a little and talked about what happened earlier.

"How was your first experience? ask me to start the conversation.

"Not bad either, but I think the water's too hot. When I'm inside too long, my skin's all red."

"Well, don't take too long, dong. Oh yeah, Tetsu how? Is he having fun?"

"That's how." Herlin looked towards the necklace of spoons clad in her neck at this moment.

"I think he really enjoyed this. He had run around by the pool and chased by Mei-senpai, he said it was dangerous to run around by the pool."

"Ahahaha .. I can imagine it."

"Then Caramel and Nigiyaka-san, they also had a fight earlier, but fortunately were quickly able to make up."

"If that's the case, I'm not surprised at all. Before they joined us, they fought a lot, didn't they?"

"Yes, I heard that too."

We both stopped walking because we had reached the end of the road and there was only a dead end left. In front of us there is a guardrail and a rock cliff that directly leads to the beach.

"Iraya, I want to ask you something."

"What's that?"

"As for your mother, why didn't you tell me the news of her passing?"

"So-about that .. I don't want to make you all worry about my personal affairs."

"Are you stupid?"

"Ap—?"

"Do you know how upset I was when I heard it from Cecilia back then. 'Is this idiot not trusting me that much?' I thought so."

"Bu-not so! I just don't want to make you all—especially you're worried. That's it."

"Is that right?" asked Herlin to make sure once more.

"I'm not lying! You can check it out yourself if you don't believe."

"Hm ... I assume you can be trusted. But after this you have to promise me something."

"Promised?"

"To trust each other. I trust you, and so do you. If something happens to you and you want to talk about it, you can talk about it with me."

"Speaking ...."

"What's wrong? You're not happy about that? You don't have any friends to talk to but me, do you? Yeah, that's predictable."

"Oi! Have you forgotten Kudou and Hira?"

"Can I promise you that?"

Herlin took out her little finger and wanted to make a little promise with me. I took a breath and hooked my little finger to him.

"All right, I promise."

"Your tone sounds forced, yeah."

"Don't talk to me about tone when you're talking to yourself like a robot!"

Even so, I'm glad that she could be this caring. And because of that, I remembered that I had something to give Herlin a long time ago.

"Oh yes! I finally have a chance to give this to you."

"Hn?"

I took something from inside my kimono and gave it to Herlin, a panda-shaped keychain.

"I know it's been a long time, but I bought this for you."

"It turns out you got it again, huh?"

"Eh? You know this was ever taken by someone?"

"Thank you, I gladly accept." Herlin did not answer my question and still took it.

"I'm getting sleepy, let's go back."

"Huh .. You didn't answer my question, but fine. Let's go back."

"YYYYYYY!!!"

"???!!!"

Just as we were about to return, suddenly a shout sounded from the direction of the inn. What's more, it was a shout from someone we knew.

"Anna-chan!"

We quickly ran back to the inn and wanted to help Anna-san. When I got there, I could see Anna-san who was sitting in fear while dragging her butt back away from a room.

"What's up, Anna-chan?!" ask Herlin.

"There's-there's something inside."

"Something?"

The others also came and followed us.

"What's going on? We heard Anna-chan screaming so we came here" Mei-senpai said.

"I don't know, but he said he saw something in there."

"From inside?"

The room was too dark so we couldn't see it clearly. Herlin tried to approach the room with her sliding door that had already opened slightly.

Zwuush...

"??!!"

Suddenly a head appeared and darted from within the dark room with an extremely long neck that made Herlin reflexively dodge backwards. The head of the woman with the long neck then bit down on Anna-san's kimono and pulled her into the room.

"Eh? Uwaa!!!"

"I won't let it!"

Me and Herlin shouted the same thing and also directly jumped to grab Anna-san's hand to prevent her from entering the room, but our efforts were in vain because he was too strong and it was even the two of us who also went inside.

Zwuush... Blaamm...

The sliding door then closed by itself and three seal papers appeared which instantly formed in front of the sliding door, making the door perfectly closed.

Mei-senpai tried to open the door with all her might, but despite using her aura she still could not open it.

"Th-can't open!"

"Go away, let me do it."

Akihito-san tries to focus her aura and lengthen her nails instantly. Then after that, he tried to attack him with high speed and attack power.

Sryig... Sryig... Sryig... Csh...

But still the door was not open not even scratched one bit. When they were all in despair, suddenly came the female staff.

"It's just that you're doing violence" he said.

"Oi! You know something about this?! How do we save them?!"

"It can't be."

"What?"

"His life they were no longer helped, they had become offerings to him. To Rokurokubi."

When the female staff mentioned the word 'Rokurokubi', the front door of this inn also suddenly formed the same seal as this sliding door. And the room that was comfortable and beautiful turned darker and dirty and the atmosphere became more gripping and terrible.

"Actually ... What's going on here?"

**

While inside the room, it was Herlin and I who were trying to save Anna-san and were brought here to stand up and try to look around.

"Are you okay?" ask Herlin.

"Yes. Did you see anything that attracted Anna-san earlier?"

"I see, but I'm not sure if I saw it wrong or not."

"Me too, because of her own form ...."

Bussh's... Bussh's... Bussh's...

As I was talking, suddenly there were a lot of candles on the edge of the room that lit themselves in relay and when they reached the end, I can clearly see something that drew Anna-san inside here.

"... Inhuman," I continued.

I wasn't sure before, but now I can confirm it. The neck of the creature that drew Anna-san here was indeed very long. His face was pale, his entire teeth were sharp, as well as the terrifying gaze given by him made anyone who saw him goosebumps.

"Food .... Presentation .... There are many ...."

The creature spoke in a strange and horrifying tone. He dropped Anna-san near his body sitting in a traditional Edo-era Japanese kimono.

"To-please help me—Hiikh!!"

Anna-san who wanted to move her body approached us was directly confronted by the creature. His head was able to move freely thanks to his extremely long and flexible neck.

"He's one of the mythical creatures of old, '" I murmured.

"So, he's kind of The Unseen, too" Herlin said.

"Do you have a plan?" my many.

"So, I don't know about his abilities at all. But it looks like we can beat him. His aura was not very strong and nor was his body able to move freely, the only problem here was this room."

As Herlin put it, this room was intentionally designed for his residence. Its terrifying atmosphere seemed to suck our energy and aura. So the longer here will be dangerous for all of us.

"My energy is being sucked slowly" I said.

"It's also one of his abilities, so we have to beat him quickly."

"Food .... Too much talking ...!"

Swuush... Bruukkh...

The creature—Rokurokubi started attacking and its head tried to hit our stomachs, but we quickly managed to avoid it by jumping to the side.

His head hit our entrance. He accidentally destroys it but slowly the wall heals on its own.

"Banshee!"

"You called him?!"

"His opponent is both The Unseen, I should not hesitate to call him."

Banshee then came out after being summoned by Herlin. Quickly Herlin immediately told him to confront Rokurokubi who was aware of Banshee's whereabouts.

"AaaaaaaAaaa !!!"

Banshee's face turned ghastly and began to attack the enraged Rokurokubi upon seeing Banshee.

"Not a show ...? Can't be here ...!"

Swuush... Triiin... Triiin...

They both started fighting. Herlin and I then used the opportunity to get close to Anna-san and save her.

"Anna-san," call me.

"Yafish-san!"

I grabbed her hand and gave it to Herlin to make her feel more comfortable. Anna-san immediately hugged Herlin and almost cried from her fear.

"Herlin-chan! I'm so scared!"

"Already, already, everything is fine, Anna-chan."

Herlin stroked Anna-san's head to calm her down and after being fairly calm, we were intending to get out of here.

"Is it better?" ask Herlin.

"Mrs." Anna-san nodded.

"We have to quickly find a way out while the Banshee keeps him busy" Herlin said.

We both nodded and slowly walked away from Rokurokubi's body. We crept on the wall trying our best not to attract Rokurokubi's attention, but suddenly a strange feeling came over me.

Grebe...

"Ap—?! Herlin, Anna-san, be careful!"

A hand that suddenly grew from the wall strangled me and kept me from walking any further. Herlin and Anna-san who heard the screams instantly realized that, but Herlin was more concerned with Anna-san's safety.

Zii...

With her ability, Herlin flew Anna-san away from the wall to escape the hand that grew from the wall. That way managed to free Anna-san, but not Herlin.

"Herlin-san!"

Herlin was the same as me, strangled and held back. Aside from the wall, that hand also grew from the floor and held our feet together. Lucky for Anna-san he floated thanks to Herlin, the hands couldn't reach him from the floor even though Herlin had to loosen his own defenses.

"D-shit!"

"Don't lose that easily, Iraya!"

"I know!"

Bzztt's... Bzztt's...

The cry from Cecilia provoked my spirit not to give up quickly. I flowed electricity throughout my body and made my body become electrified, as a result of the hand that tried to hold me was electrocuted and its strength decreased.

Bzztt's... Bzztt's... Zwuush...

I approached Herlin and pulled the spoon necklace that Herlin was wearing until it broke up. Since I don't have a sword, I will use this as a weapon, after all there is also a powerful Spirit inside.

"Ready, Tetsu?!"

"Let's get him!"

Bzztt's... Blaaarr...

I poured a green aura over the spoon. Actually the spoon only serves as a conductor so that I can drain my aura for the better, because if without a conductor like my sword before, I can not hold my sword for a long time.

I also made a sword that has a length of about 80 cm. And after that slashed the hand that held Herlin's neck, stomach, thighs, and calves.

Sryig... Sryig... Sryii...

"ArrRrgGghhHhh !!!"

The barrage of slashes I did made the head of Rokurokubi who was fighting with Banshee scream in pain. As if explaining something I just realized.

"Don't ... her body is connected to this whole room?"

"It could be."

"Herlin?"

While taking down Anna-san who had been floating earlier, Herlin explained the relationship of this room with Rokurokubi.

"What do you mean I'm right?"

"Most likely so, his body was no longer just the one that was resting there, but this entire room was his body. That explains the concentrated aura produced by this room from the very beginning we are trapped here."

"So so. That means as long as we don't beat him ...."

"... We won't be able to get out of here" Herlin continued.

Sweat grains of worry fell on my forehead. Moreover, as long as we are here, our energy and aura are also sucked in by it. That's what makes Rokurokubi has not lost against a Banshee who is much stronger than him. It also saps the energy of the Banshee.

"Then what are you gonna do?"

"Eh?"

"Ehehem .. are you going to rely on me and depend on me?"

Suddenly Cecilia spoke inside my head. He laughed and mocked me when I asked him nothing. Huh ... Spirit sucks this one does like not know the place when joking.

But even so, I got challenged by it and my brain managed to come up with an idea that could possibly get us out of here.

I looked into the Banshee fight with Rokurokubi. The two of them exchanged attacks and both seemed to not show that the fight would end, because every time one of them was hit, his body would regenerate again.

Then I smiled seeing that. I managed to do this to The Beast before, but I don't know if this can be done to The Unseen or not, but let's try.

"Herlin, I have a plan. But you have to help me."

"Hn?"

I also told Herlin my plan. It's risky to hurt ourselves, but it's the most reasonable way I think. Then Herlin thought for a while after hearing my plan.

"That can be done. But what do you think is the percentage of success?" ask Herlin.

"God! Of course a thousand percent!" I smiled confidently.

"Huh .. I'm not sure. But let's run the plan. About Anna-chan's safety let me take care of it" Herlin said.

"I'm counting on you."

As Banshee and Rokurokubi were having an endless fight, suddenly from behind he was summoned by Herlin to retreat.

"Banshee!"

"??!!"

"Return back and protect us!"

The banshee obeyed Herlin's order which was currently hovering with Anna-san behind me. Banshee hugged the two of them and did not let them get hit by my attack. Rokurokubi who saw that was confused and asked.

"Have given up ...?"

"Rush up? Surrender, your eyes!" my spoken.

I stuck the spoon that I had poured the aura into the tatami floor.

"You know, because it's a powerful attack you have to name it a cool name" Cecilia said.

"I've thought carefully."

I knelt on one leg and took a lot of breaths and concentrated. I flowed my entire aura to create a powerful attack through the middle of this spoon.

After the preparations were finished, I opened my eyes and released the aura that was inside my body to all corners of the room without anyone missing.

"Hanasaku no Tenrai!"

Blaaaarrr...

"AaaaAaggGggHhh!!"

The room for a few seconds became very bright because of the electricity I was flowing. The agonizing screams from Rokurokubi were heard very clearly in my ears in addition to the sound of electricity snatching.

Bzztt's... Bzztt's... Bruukkh...

Rokurokubi's body became charred from my attack. The aura it produced had also weakened. And he also fell to the ground. In his misery and in his last moments, Rokurokubi still mentioned a few words from his mouth.

"En .. ma ...."

And after that his body started to shine brightly. Appearing a woman with a beautiful face and the appearance of an Edo woman as usual, she smiled with her beautiful face and then disappeared along with her slow radiance also dimmed and disappeared.

"I succeeded."

"Banshee, you can come back."

With her charred and battered body, Banshee then obeys Herlin's orders to return in her invisible mode and heal herself. While Herlin and Anna-san started to descend slowly.

"W-is it over?" ask Anna-san.

"Here you go, just calm down Anna-san," I said.

This room also changed again. The goods have returned and have become like a warehouse in general. The talisman attached to the door had also burned to the ground and disappeared.

I looked at the spoon I was using to drain the electricity. It turned black and into grains and could not be spelled out as a spoon anymore.

"Waahh .. Your attack is really strong, Iraya."

"Hn? Tetsu?"

Because his residence had been destroyed, Tetsu finally came out of the spoon. But something worried me, Tetsu's dirty and burn-filled appearance, even though he still had a big smile as usual.

"Tetsu?! Is your body okay?!"

"Just calm down, take it easy, a wound like this will heal on its own if I sleep."

"Really?"

"Yes, calm sa— ja."

Bruukkh...

Suddenly Tetsu collapses and is unconscious. The panicked me immediately held him back from falling hard on the floor.

"Tetsu?! Oi, you said it's okay!"

"It looks like he's just exhausted, really," Herlin said.

"Eh?"

I also looked at him again. Apparently he was still breathing and so tired, Tetsu even snored. But this is still dangerous because without living inside a host, Tetsu could be lacking in nutrients and then disappear.

I then searched around for items I could use as a substitute for a sword for where he had been sleeping for a while. And I found him too.

**

Meanwhile outside, Mei-senpai was still furious at the female staff of this inn. She kept trying to get them inside anyway, but the female staff said that until the inside event was over, they would not be able to get in.

"Is there no other way but to wait?!"

"Nothing, whatever you did those three people can't survive anymore."

"It can't be ...."

"Then, you will also catch up with them."

Akihito-san then pulled the collar of the female staff and threatened to kill her. But the female staff was not afraid and instead gave her a serious look.

"Please kill me. As long as this inn continues to operate, my life doesn't matter."

"Tch!"

Csh... Csh... Csh...

Their attention was all then distracted by the three talismans on the door that had burned away. The atmosphere from inside the room was no longer gripping like before when the talisman was still there.

"The show is over" the female staff muttered.

The sliding door was open. And out of it came three people who were expected by everyone except the female staff who looked shocked and disbelieving.

I came out carrying a golf club while Herlin picked up Anna-san. We were all greeted with delight by everyone especially Mei-senpai who went straight to Herlin and Anna-san and hugged her.

"Herlin, Anna-chan! You two are okay?!"

"We-we're okay, Mei-senpai. It's just that we're doing it because you're hugging us too hard" Herlin said.

"Eh? Ah, sorry-sorry. You guys are worrying me, anyway."

"Pardon me, because I'm you're all so—"

"No need to apologize, Anna-chan. What matters is that you're okay, that's enough for me."

Mei-senpai stroked the head of Anna-san who looked very guilty. He convinces Anna-san that it is not his fault. Seeing them all so close makes me happy, but I'm also sad that no one asked me how I was.

"Huh .. sad to be me" I murmured.

"Oi." Someone called me and it was Caramel.

"Hn? What's up?"

"Kok you're alive?"

"It's like you're not happy that I'm safe, you know."

Caramel only chuckled when she managed to possess me, while I just looked at her flatly. Then Nigiyaka-san approached me.

"Actually what has happened, Iraya-kun?"

"Ah, if that's ...."

I did not answer Nigiyaka-san's question and instead walked up to the female staff who had been sitting down after being dropped by Akihito-san earlier. He looked surprised and still looked at me with that look.

"Why are you still alive?" tanyakanya.

"We need to talk, Enma-san."

His face was surprised when I found out his name. At first this was just my guess but it turned out to be true. And he told me everything about this inn and The Unseen in the room.

"Actually this inn has been established for a long time, we have always been the main destination for visitors because of the inn and the famous hot spring bath.

But suddenly without me knowing the reason, visitors began to decrease and over time fewer and fewer came here. It began to happen when I was a child and until I was as big as now, this inn had been a few months no visitors and was in danger of bankruptcy.

Then I told my friend that there was a company that wanted to help places that wanted to go bankrupt like us. If it's not wrong, the company's name is Ayakashi Corp."

We were all shocked when Enma-san mentioned the name Ayakashi Corp., it was the company that hired the Assassins and funded Astaroth's research. And they also did something like this to Asamogawa Onsen.

"Open Corp.?" ask Mei-senpai in shock.

"It should go wrong" Herlin murmured.

"Nee, Iraya, what is Ayakashi Corp.?" asked Kudou and it seemed like Hira was also curious as she was also looking towards me.

"He was the company that funded the research of the great creatures that attacked the three great cities some time ago. You remember that?"

"So that Ayakashi Corp. caused everything?" kudou Mumbles.

"When I came to his office I was told by them to take them to the tomb of the person closest to me. Then I took her to my mother's grave. And while I was at Asamogawa Onsen, a mysterious person came and carried a large box.

I asked him what the big box contained and was told it was my mother. He told me to put it in a place where people rarely enter and covered by sunlight. Then I put it in the barn.

After that, they gave me money to hold a lottery to be food for my mother. So that we get visitors and my mom gets her food too.

Surprisingly after we did what the guy told us to do, visitors started to arrive as long as we didn't stop to hold the raffle."

"So the person who won the lottery was the result? How many people were there before us?" ask Nigiyaka-san.

"About five times."

We look at each other. There is nothing more we can do to repay his actions. No one was hurt either from our side and the Rokurokubi was also dead so there was no point in revenge either.

"Then what are you guys after, Enma-san? We defeated that Rokurokubi, you know."

"Okay, I don't know either."

I then walked over to that sad looking Enma-san. He realized that I was approaching him and looked at me.

"I know you care about this place, but don't you think about your mother's feelings?"

"Mother? Don't they have no feelings anymore? The guy from Ayakashi Corp. said that to me."

"When I finished him, he called your name. His gaze looked agonized and sad."

"Ti-impossible .. impossible .. mother ... it is impossible ...."

Tears began to pour out from Enma's eyes and she was knee limp. He thought too much about how to maintain this inn to forget the more important thing than just an inn.

**

After that incident, we stayed at the inn until our time was up. Enma-san and the others apologized to us and were entitled to report them to the police for their actions. But we chose not to.

On the way back to the station, Herlin asked Ishikawa-san why she did not report them.

"Ishikawa-san, why don't you report them?"

"Hmm ... Why, huh? Surely at the ends we will be the witness and the evidence of the victim also does not exist, right? It's too much trouble for me."

"You're this .. Are you really a leader?" nigiyaka-san.

"Ahahaha ..it's okay, it's okay, just assume we don't see anything. Ahahaha !!!"

We all looked flatly at Ishikawa-san who was acting too relaxed. If Oita-san was here, she would be infuriated and punished severely.

Our thrilling and unexpected impromptu vacation was finally completed happily. Although this vacation is not as relaxing as I thought, but I still enjoy it.

"I can't wait to see what it's going to be like in the future" I said.

"Hopefully no more trouble than now," Herlin replied.

Finished

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Yo, Author Shiroikaji here.

Thank you for reading Crisis Word XX until now. Season 1 has reached its end. Although there is a finished writing there but this story is not finished completely because season 2 will be coming soon.

So for those who have read this story until here I thank you and watch the action of Iraya and her friends in season 2 later. Surely it will be more exciting and interesting than before (hopefully).

That's probably what the author said at the end of season 1. Thank you to the faithful readers of this story and see you in season 2.

Author Shiroikaji, Ciao.