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Chapter 38

Tengen was clearly annoyed, turning to shout at her.
"You little brat!"

Quickly, I moved the water out of the washtub nearby and froze his feet, jumping up and blowing a strong gust of wind in his face, confusing him as he dropped the girls.

The small ones and Kanao quickly got off and ran behind me, but he somehow got away and jumped atop the fence, Aoi still over his shoulder and Naho in his hand.

"Idiot! I am Tengen Uzui, a former ninja. I'm well known in that world. Did you think I'd fall for your stupid little move, Avatar?"

The two girls screamed alongside me, hiding behind me.
"What's the big idea?!"

"Let go of them, you kidnapper!"

"Pervert!"

He seemed offended.
"You talkin' to me?! Why you...! I'm your superior officer! I'm a Hashira, you brats!"

I held my hands on my hips, shouting back.
"Well I don't recognize you as a Hashira! Hmph!"
I crossed my arms.

"Don't "Hmph!" me!! So what if you don't recognize me?! You're still an underling, has your brain turned to mush?! I need a Corps member for a mission, so I'm taking her! She isn't a Tsuguko, so I don't need Kocho's permission!"

Kiyo screamed at him.
"Naho isn't a Corps member! She's not wearing a uniform, is she?!"

Tengen stared for a moment at her, then threw her off carelessly, leaving me to catch her.
"Then I don't need her."

"What are you doing, you brute?!"
I shout.
Naho cried in my arms from the sudden drop, sniffling.

"I'm taking this one on a mission. She doesn't look useful, but she's basically a Corps member."

I set Naho down.
"People have different needs and abilities! You can't use them however you like, you cabbage slug! Let Aoi go!"

"C-CABBAGE SLUG-?!!"
He blew up at me.
"YOU'RE JUST A PUNY, HALF-BAKED BENDER! YOU'RE TEPID! LUKEWARM! IT'S BECAUSE OF NEW MEMBERS LIKE YOU THAT THE CORPS IS GETTING WEAKER!"

"Take me instead! I'll go in her place!"

By now, Inosuke, Tanjiro and Zenitsu gathered at the scene of the commotion, Inosuke threw a few pebbles at me, but agreed as well.

"I'm not tired! I don't mind going!"

Zenitsu nearly foamed at the mouth, growling viciously at Tengen.
"Let go of Aoi, you-! Grrr! Even if you're a muscle-bound monster I won't back up a single step!"

"I'm coming, too!"
Tanjiro declared, standing by my side.

Tengen thought for a moment, but rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Whatever. You guys come with me, then. You too, Avatar."

I blink a few times to process this.
That was... so easy? Did a Hashira really just cave in like that?

With a smack to Aoi's behind, he tossed her down like Naho into my arms, and I set her down gently.
"But you better not let me down! I'm expecting you at the gate in twenty minutes tops!"

I huff, crossing my arms as I watched him leave.
"What a brute."
Just as quickly, however, I turn my attention to the girls.

"Are you okay? Did he do anything else before I got here?"

The small three hugged at my legs, being the highest they really reached.
"Thank you, Miss Y/N!"

Aoi nodded.
"Thanks. I'm okay."

I smile at them.
"Of course! Better than training with Inosuke, to be fair."

At this, pebbles were thrown at my head, harder than before.
"Ow, Hey! Inosuke!"

"YOUR EARTHBENDING STILL SUCKS! I'M GONNA BEAT IT INTO YOU AFTER THIS MISSION, M/N!"

"OH, GIVE ME A BREAK, PIGHEAD!"
After a bit more bickering, I eventually left to get ready, getting my sword and new glider, meeting the others at the gates.

"So, where are we headed exactly?"
I question as we start to walk behind Tengen, just now taking in how tall his brute of a man really was.

"To the flashiest place in all of Japan, of course. High in lust and riches."
He turned his head to us with a coy smile.

"To the entertainment district where demons dwell."

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● Chapter 38 : ●
● "Kidnapper" ●