CH 158.1

Chapter 158.1. New Year’s Eve Maid Security

-Kazuta’s POV-

The ninjas of Tasukaru swiftly raced through the forest, leaving no footprints on the freshly fallen snow, and making their way towards the mansion.

However, suddenly, lightning struck one of the leading members, without giving them a chance to dodge. The other got hit by lightning and fell to the ground.

“Damn, it’s a trap!”

Kazuta noticed the hidden signs attached to the tree trunks among the branches and quickly warned his subordinates.

It’s a trap set near the ground. Some ran on the ground and tried to jump and move on the branches to avoid it.

“No!”

He tried to stop them, but it was too late. Everyone was suspended mid-air during their jump, their bodies entangled in translucent spider silk-like threads.

“Ah! It’s a trap!”

“It’s the [Spider Silk Binding] Sign!”

“This forest is filled with traps!”

Someone who drew their sword to help got struck by lightning from the side and fell.

“We should have a magic barrier… but…”

Despite the deployed magic barriers, seeing his comrades get knocked down by lightning, Kazuta noticed his fallen subordinate’s barrier had been slightly penetrated, and the enemy activated other magic. He saw through the mechanism and conveyed the information to his frightened subordinates.

“The magic barriers are active. It’s only slightly penetrated us. It inflicts [Paralysis] with the lightning, immobilizing us! It’s because the lightning has penetrating power that it’s effective.”

“[Paralysis] with lightning? Are you saying there are such complex signs set up? I’ve never heard of it!”

He clicked his tongue at the shocked subordinates, which was understandable. It requires advanced skills to layer multiple techniques on a symbol. Moreover, adding a status effect to offensive magic, it’s impossible for an amateur Onmyoji.

If Kazuta hadn’t happened to know about it, it would have been difficult to see through.

“It seems someone used it during the previous generation. Before that person went missing. That person was known as the strongest Onmyoji,”

He explained to his shaken subordinates. He’s using a sharp tone of voice to regain his composure.

“But this is a remote automatic sign. The one who set it up is probably not present! Stay calm and deal with it. Leave three people behind to assist!”

“Yes! Understood.”

The highly skilled ninjas regained their composure upon seeing Kazuta’s calm demeanor. The 5 of them fell into the trap. They left 3 behind to rescue them and proceeded with the remaining seven.

“There’s a possibility that an Onmyoji is waiting for us, right?”

“There are still 7 of us. Dealing with the enemy should be easy. Move forward, move forward!”

Despite not believing in himself, Kazuta shouted confidently and quickened his pace.

Regardless, they were already able to pass through the forest. It wasn’t their intention to retaliate, but retreating without being able to enter the mansion would tarnish the name of Tasukaru.

The snowfall intensified, lightly dusting Kazuta’s magical armor, and their breath turned white. Feeling a sense of responsibility as a high-ranking ninja, he couldn’t help but act, thinking that they should at least clear the minimum requirement.

That was Kazuta’s turning point.

“I can see the mansion!”

If they were already get discovered, the target would likely flee and gather guards. Strangely, the thought of escaping didn’t come to his mind. Instead, he felt a slight thrill as Kazuta swung open the front entrance door.

Under normal circumstances, the real Kazuta would have escaped when a formidable samurai appeared.

The top priority for a ninja is to avoid being captured by the enemy.

If his true identity is exposed, there is a possibility the enemy will reveal the village. It was Kazuta’s nature to be cautious, to the point of being overly cautious.

However, he made a mistake in his judgment like a clumsy and mediocre boss who worries about responsibility. Without questioning why his behavior was strange, he felt a mysterious sense of excitement welling up as he entered the mansion.

Without feeling discomfort about entering through the front entrance despite intending to enter through the back door. And without anyone around paying attention to Kazuta’s unusual behavior.

The blizzard had already started, and a fierce wind that made it difficult to see even a short distance was blowing, but he didn’t mind.

The mansion was dominated by a silent stillness, at the back of the open front hall that extended to the second floor. There was a staircase with a deep red carpet, and the darkness dominated as there were no lights.

For the Tasukaru ninjas who possessed the ability of [Dark Vision], this level of darkness was the same as daylight. Ichita and his comrades lightly brushed off the snow that accumulated on their bodies, exhaled their breath, and stepped inside.

“… Is there no security here?”

Something felt off. Despite already being discovered, there was no security. The ninjas had expected security guards to be on alert.

No, that wasn’t it. The ninjas felt an extremely strong sense of unease.

“Why are we entering through the front entrance?”

“Well… why indeed?”

The subordinates looked at each other with bewildered expressions, but no one had an answer.

A sense of confusion covered them slightly. However, they couldn’t afford to ponder on it any further.

“The world of snow is said to be a different world. It absorbs sound, bringing forth silence and tranquility, covering everything in a white world.”

They hear a cool voice resound from the upper floor of the hall.

“Everyone thinks the same. Ah, this world is a different world.”

“Who are you?”

Kazuta and his comrades readied their weapons and said to the source of the voice with stern faces.

“When entering the mansion in the blizzard, be cautious. In Japan, it’s the Snow Woman, and in England, the Snow Sprite, that awaits.”

A woman draped in a pure white robe, resembling snow, descends the stairs with a steady rhythm.

She had beautiful blue hair that was mesmerizing. The calm and composed expression on her dignified face reflected in Kazuta and his comrades’ eyes, like a tranquil and undulating water surface.

“My name is Nimue Mizuno, the guard protecting Miu-sama. Do you have an appointment to visit?”

Nimue lifts the hem of her robe and takes a curtsey, while Kazuta glares at her with hatred.

Lifting the hem of her robe slightly, Nimue curtseys. Ichita glares at her with a resentful look.

She performs such graceful manners as if attending a party, but the intensity of mana emanating from her body reveals that this woman is a powerful magician.

“…We don’t have time! Let’s use our trump card!”

“Yes!”

Kazuta’s decision was swift. They couldn’t waste any more time.