Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Butterfly Mansion
**Chapter 34: The Butterfly Mansion**
Kintaro lay on his back, the cold, soft snow slowly accumulating on his body and the ground around him. The snowfall was gentle, almost delicate, as if the heavens were being cautious not to disturb the tranquil silence of the snow-covered forest. His purple eyes, once fierce and sharp, now reflected a serene calmness as he gazed upward. Each breath he exhaled sent small puffs of warm air into the frigid atmosphere, dissipating into the vast, open sky. The coldness of the snow beneath him seeped through his body, a sharp contrast to the warmth of his breath, but he couldn't move. His muscles were frozen, not by the cold, but by the aftermath of pushing his Electro Breathing to its limits.
He thought to himself, *Cold...* The sensation was more of a dull ache rather than a biting chill, a sign that his body had been pushed to the edge of its endurance. The snowflakes continued to fall, some landing on his face, melting slightly before they could gather in the crevices of his skin. His mind wandered as he stared at the sky, the stark white clouds rolling slowly across the blue expanse. He was helpless, his limbs unresponsive, and he knew that even if a polar bear were to appear and attack, he would be utterly defenseless.
*So, this is the weakness of Electro Breathing,* he mused, feeling a strange numbness in his body. *It's like my entire body is paralyzed, as if I've been struck by lightning and can't move a single muscle. I just hope nothing unexpected happens before I regain control.*
Minutes passed, marked only by the steady fall of snow, until finally, he could move his fingers again. He noticed this but chose not to act on it immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift into a light slumber, taking advantage of the calmness that surrounded him. The snow fell quietly, the only sound being the soft whisper of the wind weaving through the trees. Time moved slowly in this wintry world, where hours could pass unnoticed under the thickening blanket of white.
As Kintaro slept, the snow continued to fall, covering him more and more until only a small mound of white marked where he lay. The gentle wind occasionally stirred the snow, creating a serene dance of snowflakes in the air. Deer, with their delicate steps, wandered near, their breaths visible in the cold as they foraged for food. Occasionally, a bird would land on the mound, its tiny feet pressing into the snow as it curiously inspected the scene before flying off again, leaving small tracks that would soon be covered by more falling snow.
Time became a blur as Kintaro remained in his peaceful slumber. Hours passed, and the sun moved across the sky, rising to its zenith, casting a faint glow through the clouds. The forest was alive with the subtle sounds of nature—the rustling of leaves under the snow, the distant calls of animals—but all of this was muted, softened by the thick snow. Kintaro, undisturbed, slept on, recovering from his exhaustion.
But as noon approached, the peace was broken by the arrival of a large, white-furred tiger. Its blue eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the landscape, drawn to the mound of snow where Kintaro lay hidden. The tiger sniffed the air, sensing something beneath the snow. It approached cautiously, its predatory instincts flaring as it caught the scent of Kintaro. The tiger's lips curled back, revealing sharp teeth as it prepared to strike, its powerful claws extended, ready to dig into the snow and flesh beneath.
Just as the tiger leaped, its claws aiming for the snow-covered mound, a flash of silver cut through the air. Kintaro's sword, held firmly in his hand, met the tiger's attack, deflecting the lethal strike. Snow exploded into the air as Kintaro rose from his resting place, his movements swift and precise despite the lingering numbness in his limbs. He stood tall, his expression calm, but his eyes betrayed a sense of alertness and readiness. The battle-hardened instincts within him had roused him just in time.
The tiger, momentarily stunned by the sudden resistance, growled fiercely, its blue eyes narrowing as it tried to clamp its jaws around Kintaro's blade. Saliva dripped from its fangs as it fought to overpower him. Kintaro, however, remained unfazed, a small smile playing on his lips as he spoke.
"Not bad, my friend. I'm not sure whether I should thank you for waking me up or not. But either way, you should reconsider your options—running might be a better one."
The tiger snarled, refusing to back down. It bit down harder on Kintaro's sword, its muscles tensing as it tried to wrest the weapon from his grasp. But then, small sparks of purple electricity began to flicker around Kintaro's right leg, the air around him crackling with energy.
"You should know," Kintaro said, his voice steady, "that sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted."
*Zap!*
*Bash!*
In an instant, Kintaro's knee shot upward, striking the tiger under its jaw with incredible force. The sound of the impact echoed through the forest as the tiger's eyes rolled back, its body collapsing into the snow, unconscious. Kintaro stood over the fallen beast, breathing steadily, his expression unchanged. The tiger, once a fearsome predator, now lay motionless at his feet.
A gentle breeze stirred Kintaro's black hair, and he looked up slowly, his gaze turning toward the sky. The sun, now higher in the sky, cast a warm glow on his skin, a brief respite from the cold that surrounded him. He took a deep breath, savoring the fresh, crisp air, before setting off into the forest once more.
Time passed as Kintaro wandered through the snowy landscape, his stomach growling with hunger. He placed a hand on his abdomen, feeling the emptiness within.
"I haven't seen a single herbivore around here. Maybe I should try hunting some birds..."
He continued walking, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of life. The forest, while beautiful, offered little in the way of sustenance. An hour and a half later, as he trudged along a snowy village path, he finally saw something promising.
In the distance, standing majestically among the snow-covered trees, was a grand mansion. The building was unlike any other in the area, with its elegant architecture and snow-covered rooftops that added to its charm. Kintaro stopped in his tracks, taking in the sight with a mix of awe and curiosity.
"What a luxurious home compared to the other houses in this village," he murmured to himself as he observed the mansion, noting the way the snow clung to its roof, creating a picturesque scene. He found himself lost in thought, admiring the beauty of the place, when he suddenly felt the presence of someone nearby.
Turning to his right, Kintaro found himself face-to-face with a young girl. She had long black hair tied into twin tails and striking blue eyes that held a mixture of irritation and suspicion. She was beautiful, no doubt, but her demeanor was far from welcoming. This girl was none other than Aoi Kanzaki, a resident of the Butterfly Mansion. Her hair was adorned with butterfly-shaped hairpins, matching the motif of the mansion behind her.
"What do you think you're staring at for so long?" Aoi's voice was stern, her blue eyes narrowing as she glared at Kintaro. She stood her ground, clearly unimpressed by the stranger before her.
Kintaro, still captivated by the intensity of her gaze, remained silent, though internally he was admiring the striking color of her eyes. Her expression grew more impatient, and she repeated her question, this time with more force.
"Didn't you hear me? What do you want with the Butterfly Mansion?"
*The Butterfly Mansion.* The name struck a chord in Kintaro's mind. This was the place he had heard about, the place that could potentially change the course of his journey. And now, as he stood before it, faced with a girl who seemed ready to challenge him, he realized that the next chapter of his life was about to unfold.
This was the beginning of a new arc, one that would alter the trajectory of his story in ways he could never have anticipated.
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