The Otherworld Was Way Too Brutal – After I Healed the Mutilated Girl, She Turned Into a Completely Obsessed Yandere Guard Dog - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

After Gouki left like a storm.

We just stood there in front of the busted main gate.

The iron doors all smashed in.

That alone screamed how strong the southern Guardian House, the [Kiryu family], really was.

“…That’s insane.”

I rubbed my aching side.

Bones were fixed, but the bruise pain still lingered a bit.

Even with level 4 healing magic, I couldn’t erase the memory of pain.

That fist’s weight, the insane difference in raw power.

“So that’s their top fighter… Makes the head, Gaou, sound like even more of a monster.”

Ray spat, looking pissed.

Probably still felt that sword getting smacked away barehanded in his grip.

“The southern Kiryu family has always made mastering martial arts their absolute top priority.”

Cattleya explained with a heavy look on her face.

“They don’t rely on magic or weapon performance—they push their own bodies to the absolute limit. Their fists can smash rock, their skin can deflect steel, they say. …Worst possible matchup for us.”

Tsugumi bit her lip hard and stared at the ground.

Her fists clenched so tight her knuckles turned white.

“Tsugumi.”

“…Sorry. I couldn’t do anything.”

Her voice shook.

Frustration.

And more than that, rage at her own helplessness for letting me get hurt.

“That’s not true. That one moment you grabbed his attention—if you hadn’t, things could’ve gone way worse for us.”

“Don’t comfort me!”

Tsugumi snapped her head up.

No tears in her eyes.

Just this freezing-cold flame of determination burning there.

“He brushed me off so easy. Said my attacks were light. …That killing intent alone won’t reach.”

She stared at her own short swords.

“Gotta be heavier… deeper… To protect Jin, just being fast isn’t enough.”

“Tsugumi…”

“Ray. I got a request.”

Tsugumi turned straight to Ray.

“Spar with me. Pretend you’re that Gouki guy—teach me how to overpower with strength.”

“…Don’t ask crazy stuff. Our sizes are way too different.”

“That’s exactly why! If I don’t learn how to beat size differences, next time Jin’s the one getting hurt again!”

Ray flinched at her intensity, then glanced at me.

I gave a small nod.

No point stopping her.

What she needed right now was power to get her confidence back.

“…Fine. But don’t complain if you get hurt, okay?”

“Bring it.”

Tsugumi sheathed her short swords and ran straight off toward the back training ground.

Ray shrugged like “what can ya do,” slung his greatsword over his shoulder, and followed.

“…You sure it’s okay to just let her go, Jin?”

“Yeah. She’s strong. Way stronger than we think.”

I turned to Cattleya.

“More important— we gotta prep too. Tell me about the central district.”

“Got it. Back to the office.”

We left the gate repairs to the subordinates and headed inside the mansion.

In the office, a map of this country—the <Toshu Empire>—got spread out on the desk.

This huge city called the <Toshu Empire> was surrounded by massive walls you had to look way up to see.

To keep magic beasts out.

The circular walled area right in the center was the central district.

Four districts stuck out from it like round bumps—east, west, south, north.

We were in the north one.

The district the Sumeragi family ruled until just recently.

And smack in the very middle of the central district, even taller than the surrounding walls, was this black cylindrical wall shooting straight up to the sky.

That was the emperor’s residence—the so-called <Tower of the Conqueror>.

No one had ever seen or even heard the voice of the Toshu emperor, they said. Total secrecy.

Apparently never once left that <Tower of the Conqueror>.

So the ones actually holding real power were the Kagarihi family, who ruled the central district.

“The conference where all five Guardian Houses gather… called the [Five Houses Conference]. It’s the highest decision-making body—happens every few years, or in emergencies like this.”

Cattleya pointed at the center of the map.

“North’s [Sakurai], west’s [Saijo], south’s [Kiryu]… and east’s [Toudou], central’s [Kagarihi]. All five in one place.”

“Toudou and Kagarihi…”

I muttered.

“Right. East’s Toudou family specializes in defense—barrier arts and defensive magic. Their barriers can stop whole armies, they say.”

“Pure defense focus, huh.”

“And central’s Kagarihi family… They’re the top of the five, closest to the emperor. They control fire. The kind that burns everything to purification ashes.”

Cattleya’s voice dropped lower.

“Even the previous Sumeragi head… Genzou… couldn’t go against the Kagarihi. That’s how much power and authority they have.”

I let out a sigh.

Ice bow user, muscle monster, iron-wall defender, and the strongest fire user.

And into that mix jumps some random ex-healer newbie.

My stomach hurt just thinking about it.

“Relax. It’s not like the conference assumes armed conflict… on the surface.”

“Behind the scenes it’s all tripping each other up, right?”

“Yeah. Especially you as the newcomer. To the others, you’re a golden chance to snatch Sumeragi’s interests. Some’ll come at you with force like Kiryu, others with sneaky moves like Saijo… all kinds.”

I looked at my left hand.

Level 4 healing magic.

Limb regeneration, organ repair.

Powerful, sure—but not built for combat.

If someone like Gouki came straight at me, I’d be stuck on defense.

(…I gotta get stronger myself too.)

Just being protected wasn’t enough.

Like Tsugumi going all out, I needed strength too—as head, and as a guy.

“Cattleya. We got a week till departure, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Teach me some self-defense? …No, not just self-defense. Ways to handle attacks and survive.”

Cattleya looked a little surprised at my request.

But then her mouth curved up, happy.

“Good attitude. Can’t have the head healer dropping dead on the front lines. …Alright, I’ll drill every defensive technique I’ve got into you. Brace yourself.”

And so, the seven days until we left for the imperial capital.

Our hardcore training kicked off.

Daytime: head duties and paperwork.

Evenings: covered in dirt and sweat training.

My days got squeezed to the limit.

“Too slow! Don’t track with your eyes—feel the presence!”

Cattleya’s wooden sword slammed my side.

Sharp pain shot through, but I gritted my teeth, rolled, and dodged the next one.

“You rely too much on ‘I can just heal it’ and let yourself get cut to break bones! That won’t work against one-hit-kill types like Gouki! Redirect attacks! Let the force slide off!”

Cattleya’s teaching was brutal.

She smashed my “I can heal anyway” laziness to pieces.

On the other side of the training ground, Tsugumi and Ray kept going at it hard.

“Still no weight! Put your whole body into it!”

“Tch…!”

Tsugumi stopped trying to block Ray’s greatsword head-on.

She changed her short sword’s path, rode along his weapon to slip the force away.

Then the second his power dropped—she slammed her full body weight into a vital spot.

The soft controlling the hard.

The only path for a small girl like her to survive.

Nights, we dragged ourselves to the dining hall like worn-out rags.

But nobody whined.

Tsugumi’s body was covered in bruises, but she wore them like badges.

When I offered to heal, she said no, still good.

Apparently carving the pain into her body helped her remember the moves.

Then, the day before we left.

I stood in front of the mirror.

The formal outfit Cattleya prepared for me as Sakurai head.

White-based, silver embroidery—military-style but fancy.

At my waist, not a ceremonial sword—my usual familiar knife.

“Looks good on you, Jin.”

Tsugumi called from behind.

She was in new gear too.

Black light armor built for movement.

At both hips, two top-quality short swords Ray picked out.

She looked less like a cute girl now and more like a beautiful assassin.

“You too… Look strong.”

“Not just look—I got stronger.”

Tsugumi grinned fearless and stroked the hilt of her short sword.

“Even if Gouki shows up, I won’t lose this time. …At least I’ll buy enough time to be your shield.”

“Don’t be a shield. We’re both surviving.”

I pulled her close by the shoulders.

Her body felt more muscled now, flexible and tough.

Those regenerated limbs were fully her weapons.

“You ready?”

Cattleya and Ray walked in.

Both fully armed.

Some elite from the [Silver Sword] waited outside the mansion too.

For this trip to the central district, ten selected ones were coming as escort.

The rest stayed with Guy and his second-in-command to hold the city.

“Yeah, good to go anytime.”

I turned and looked around the office.

Short time, but I made a ton of decisions here.

No clue what the city would be like when we got back.

But I’d come back with good news, no matter what.

“Let’s go. To the central district.”

We left the mansion.

Early morning cold bit at our skin.

A carriage waited at the main gate.

Next to it, the freshly repaired iron gate gleamed in the sunrise.

Before climbing in, I looked up at the sky.

Level 4.

Limb regeneration.

With this power, I stepped into the den of monsters.

With the comrades I had to protect.

The carriage wheels started rolling.

Heading for the center.

The heart of the empire.

Maybe unknown truths and even deeper despair waited there.

But right now, I wasn’t scared.

Tsugumi was beside me, Ray and Cattleya outside.

Tsugumi’s hand gripping mine felt hot and pulsing.

“…Jin.”

“Yeah?”

“We’ll definitely come back. To this place we made.”

“Yeah. Promise.”

We hooked pinkies.

Kinda like little kids’ promises, but to us right now, it was the heaviest oath ever.

The carriage raced down the road.

I watched the city shrink behind us and quietly stoked my fighting spirit.

Five Houses Conference.

If they wanna size me up, bring it.

I’ll carve it into them that we’re not just prey.

The start of the journey.

That was the real opening of the Sakurai family’s battle.