Chương 164: The Storm and the Guardian

The sky was a blanket of thick, dark clouds, and rain poured relentlessly. Droplets pattered against the leaves, creating a symphony of sounds as they cascaded in a rhythmic downpour. The monstrous Tree Guardian hesitated, its roots severed by Shibahime's sharp blade. Akatani Makoto stepped closer to her, trying to catch her words over the rain's roar.

"Shibahime, glad you made it—" he began, but his words trailed off as he noticed her drenched clothing clinging to her frame. 

From his vantage point above her, there was no avoiding the inadvertent view. Guilt prickled at him. *This is an emergency. Focus, Makoto. Now isn't the time for this!*

Shibahime, unaware or unimpressed by his adolescent inner turmoil, spoke dryly. "You have a talent for being at the center of trouble, don't you? Like a detective who can't go anywhere without stumbling across a murder."

"Who's the grim reaper here?" Makoto shot back. "I don't cause the trouble—it just finds me."