And in the blink of an eye, all Haruki saw was this: the girl gripping her axe with both hands above her head in a striking stance,but her body froze completely.

  The edge of Noroi's sword was pressed against the center of her forehead, leaving a shallow cut from its sharpness, a single drop of blood trailing from her brow down to her chin.

  Noroi's eyes held no mercy, no hint of warmth,only a cold, threatening glare. His words ignited the air with danger as he spoke.

  "Touch him, and say goodbye to your life."

  His warning was as clear as daylight; he would show no leniency to anyone who laid a hand on his mechanical companion.

  The girl clenched her jaw, her eyes blazing with defiance and irritation.

  She wasn't the least bit frightened by his threat. Instead, she opened her mouth and spoke in a lofty tone, a dangerous gleam flashing in her gaze.

  "Watch your tone, skinny boy… I take threats very personally."

  Noroi ground his teeth at the condescending tone in her voice.

  He already disliked this girl, and he didn't mind getting into a fierce fight with her now,after all, she didn't matter to him.

  But Haruki rushed between them, placing a hand on each of them and pushing them apart, forming a barrier to prevent them from killing each other.

  He shouted at them.

  "Stop! We're not enemies here! We should be friends!"

  Both of them looked at Haruki with annoyance, wearing the same expressions of disgust and disdain toward each other.

  "No! I will never be friends with him/her!"

  They spoke simultaneously, staring at each other for a moment with scowls.

  The girl returned her axe to her back, and when Noroi sensed some hesitation from her, he pressed a button to return his sword to its safe position.

  Haruki smiled brightly, thrilled that they had listened to him, feeling more confident. He stepped toward the girl, extending his hand in a friendly gesture, introducing himself.

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  "I'm Haruki, and this is my friend Noroi."

  Noroi crossed his arms over his chest and turned his gaze away from them in response to Haruki introducing the girl.

  Meanwhile, the corners of the girl's lips lifted into a smile as she clasped Haruki's hand in a firm handshake, so strong it nearly crushed his hand in her tight grip.

  She replied to his introduction by saying.

  "Nice to meet you, I'm Yamka."

  A strained squeak escaped Haruki from the force of her grip, and he quickly pulled his hand back as soon as the handshake ended.

  He held his injured hand with the other, trying to ease the throbbing pain, before letting out a nervous laugh and saying.

  "You've got quite the grip… Yami."

  Yamka furrowed her brows in confusion, glancing around as if trying to find the person he was speaking to. But she saw no one else, only the four of them.

  Her hand rose to her head, scratching it slightly in puzzlement, before she turned her gaze back to Haruki and asked.

  "Who's Yami? Is she here with us?"

  "You're Yami."

  Haruki answered her question simply, without a second thought.

  But Yamka did not like his answer.

  A frown returned to her lips, and her brows knitted together. She pulled the axe from her back and raised it high, her voice rising in irritation.

  "I am Yamka, the name my father gave me and I will accept no other!"

  "But Yami suits you more."

  Yamka narrowed her eyes as she slowly lowered her axe in response to Haruki's simple words.

  She thought for a moment before turning back to him and asking.

  "Do you really think so?"

  Haruki nodded eagerly, a wide and bright smile spreading across his face.

  Yamka hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a low voice after a brief pause.

  "Well… if you think so."

  Haruki stepped a little closer to her, placing his hand on the wolf fur draped over her shoulders, gazing at her with a confident smile as if he were a man of great knowledge.

  "Yami… it has a beautiful ring to it, and it also means mystery."

  Something lit up in Yamka's mind upon hearing the meaning of the name, and Haruki's convincing words only fed her vanity.

  Her confusion shifted into clear arrogance, and she nodded in approval.

  "Mystery…yes, it suits me. Well done, Himroy!"

  She then slammed the palm of her hand against Haruki's back with force, making him stumble and crash to the ground once again, his features trembling in pain.

  "It's Haruki."

  Yamka waved her hand in the air dismissively, as if to say, "Whatever," before stepping toward Noroi once again.

  She pointed at Mini, who was still hovering beside him, ready for any act of betrayal.

  Yet, Yamka made no sudden moves. Instead, curiosity slipped across her features, shaping her expression into one of inquiry as she asked.

  "What is this creature?"

  One of Noroi's eyebrows rose in puzzlement at her question, and he remained silent for a few moments before replying calmly.

  "he's a robot… a metal device powered by electricity."

  Haruki and Noroi exchanged a quick glance before turning their focus back to Yamka, who showed no sign of understanding the word. Instead, she began tapping on Mini's screen with curiosity, as if testing its sturdiness.

  Haruki suddenly gasped when a strange realization flashed in his mind.

  His hand flew to his mouth to stifle a cry, but his voice slipped out in a whisper to Noroi.

  "She must be a ghoul disguised as a human… that explains her strength!"