The museum visit was over and we were on the bus to our next destination.

Next stop, the Asahiyama Zoo.
It's going to be fun!

　The chairman of the committee immediately replied to my casual muttering. Chairman, you are very excited.

"My sister loves animals. When it's time for an animal show, she changes the channel without a second thought.
I see.

　Junna told me secretly while complaining.
　From the museum, Junna and Aru are also seated in front of me, as they are working with the juniors.

'The bus stops at the east gate, so the royal route is to head to the monkey house while looking at the small animal house... but since it's the royal route, everyone should try to see it that way too. That's why it may be a smoother route to avoid the crowds if we pass through the owl house before visiting the Ezo deer forest or the wolf forest.

　The chairperson sitting beside me is carefully planning the visit, looking at a map of the Asahiyama Zoo that he must have printed out himself.
　He must have been looking forward to it for some time, and his eyes are completely different.

'Do we have to have lunch in the park too?
It says so in the schedule. I heard they have venison mince cutlets and stuff!
That's a little brave of you.

　Takigawa, Aihara-san and Ishida are planning their lunch at a seat next to me across the aisle. Since the zoo tour would be interspersed with lunch, each group would have to finish their lunch.

'Oh, I can see it!

　At Aul's words, I looked outside and saw the entrance to the zoo.

'Is that the Asahiyama Zoo?'

　Apparently we have arrived at our destination.


◇


Oh, I can see it!

　Hearing Linh's words, White looked down from Black's back at the scenery below.
　Although there were man-made structures such as roads and bridges, Black and the others could see the vast mountains, the beautiful trees and the powerful river below.

We're here. This is the land of our old friend, Kamui Kotan.
Oh.
Kerr.

　As Lin and White were overwhelmed by the scene, a large number of crows began to fly away from one corner of the forest in unison.

''Mm?''

　Black immediately noticed the discomfort of those crows.
　Despite the fact that we have a ward, the crows have recognized our presence and are coming towards us in a straight line.

''Are they with White?''
Kerr.

　White shakes his head and replies, 'They're crows I don't know. And as the approaching crows become clearer, Black and White's expressions become distorted.

'Something stinks.'

　Some of the crows not only lacked eyes and legs, but also bared bones and organs. They are carcasses, no matter how you look at it, and they are approaching Black and the others while emitting an odor of decay that makes their noses distort.

''Hmm, it's got to look like an attack from someone.
Kerr.

　White agrees with Black's words.

'Let's see how they react first. Lin, can you cut them down?
I can't.

　Nodding at Kuro's words, Lin put his hand on the pure white kotai sword that he was wearing.
　Immediately afterwards, the small fat sword, wielded at a speed exceeding the speed of sound, settled into its scabbard, leaving only a bell-like sound, and the slashed crows fell as they returned to their motionless carcasses.
　The range of the slash only caught the crow swarm, so there was no damage to the forest behind them.

''Abuse! There won't be a single one of them after that!
Idiots, do not speak up.

　Black and White did not miss the voice that came from within the crow swarm after Lin's slash.

''White, can you draw out those who are hiding within that flock?''
"Kaka.

　White replied, 'Of course,' and released sound waves into the army of crows and the forest behind them.

'Kaka, kaka, kaka,'

　'There's one huge man and one big crow in the crowd, and a girl in the forest behind,' White told them, and at the same time, he jumped into the crowd of dead crows.

'It's Rin. After White draws the enemy out, the eagle stops the corpse crows from moving. Can you defeat the corpse crows in the meantime?''
I can do it.
Okay, then.

　Immediately after Black gave the order, a large jet-black crow and a one-eyed giant man appeared from within the group of dead crows. Following them, White also jumped out of the crowd.

''What the hell is that white crow! You blew me away the moment I got close!
It's probably the ability to release a shockwave of psychic energy. It's tricky that even my transmission can't prevent it from happening.

　To the whining jet-black crow, the one-eyed giant replies as he analyzes White's abilities.

'Looks like you were able to pull him out safely. It's time to put the crows' corpses to sleep. ''Pseudo-capture!''
TOBI-slash!

　The swarm of dead crows that had been stopped in their movements by Kuro's 'capture' were shredded by Rin's slash and fell into the forest.
　In the air, Black with Rin on his back and White waiting in the air above him. And only the giant jet black crow and the one-eyed giant man remained.

''Those corpse crows that Sei was controlling, they're useless!
Kolo, stop it. Do not mock our fellow foresters who joined us in death.

　The one-eyed giant admonishes the jet-black crow called Coro for his tirade.

'Now, who are you people? Why are they after us?
'Ha! I could say the same thing. You're invading your sister's territory, giving off a huge hint of nonsense. You are the ones!

　Not paying any attention to Black's words, the jet-black crow transformed each of its own wings into a jet-black sword (vine).

''Hmm, your sister........''

　Black felt caught up in the words spoken by the jet-black crow, and after pondering slightly, he opened his mouth.

'I'll deal with them myself. Will you leave White and Rin out of it?
Kerr.
Okay, okay.

　Thus, the battle between Black and the mysterious assailant had begun.