The Otherworld Was Way Too Brutal – After I Healed the Mutilated Girl, She Turned Into a Completely Obsessed Yandere Guard Dog - Chapter 37

Chapter 37

A few hours had passed since we left the northern district.

The carriage carrying us kept rolling straight down the single road through the wilderness.

Outside the window, the scenery slowly shifted—from lush green plains to dry, rocky stretches.

As we got closer to the central district, the magic density in the ground ramped up so much that even the plants looked twisted and wrong.

“…So that’s the <Tower of the Conqueror>.”

I stuck my head out the window and stared up at the black shadow way off in the distance.

Even from the horizon, you could see it clear—a massive tower stabbing straight into the sky.

It looked like a giant spear jammed into the earth.

“Yeah. That’s the center of the world, the heart of the Toshu Empire.”

Cattleya, sitting across from me, nodded with a grim face.

She apparently did her Imperial Guard knight training there back in the day.

“The emperor’s inside. And around him, inside those circular castle walls, is the assembly hall where the Five Houses Conference happens.”

“Total fortress.”

“Exactly. The central district itself is one giant fortified city. The Toudou family’s eastern barriers make it so tight not even an ant gets through.”

Eastern Toudou family.

One of the ones we’d meet at this conference.

Defense specialists.

A family that excelled at protection in a completely different way from my healing magic.

Next to me, Tsugumi was sharpening her short swords.

Even with the carriage rocking, her hands didn’t shake at all.

Her regenerated left hand moved the cloth smooth like it had a mind of its own.

“Tsugumi, you okay? Not getting motion sick?”

“I’m fine. This much shaking—I can just match my body to it.”

Tsugumi answered without looking up.

Match her body to it, huh.

Her body awareness seemed way beyond anything I could imagine now.

Right then—

Hiiiin!!

The horses suddenly screamed, and the carriage slammed to a stop like someone hit the brakes hard.

Our bodies lurched forward from the momentum.

“What the hell!”

Cattleya instantly grabbed her sword and threw the window open.

A tense shout came from the driver’s seat—the escort knight.

“Enemy attack! The road’s blocked!”

Enemy attack.

Yeah, figured it’d come.

If it was someone straightforward like Gouki, fine—but I already expected guys who’d ambush us on the way.

“How many!?”

“About thirty! Armed! No banners—probably bandits or ex-mercs!”

Thirty.

Too many for regular bandits, and attacking a carriage with a Guardian House crest? Not something sane people do.

Either someone sent them, or some reckless idiots trying to cash in on the current chaos.

“Jin, your call.”

Cattleya looked at me.

Tsugumi sheathed her short swords and waited for my word too.

Outside, I could sense Ray and the others who’d been riding alongside already fanning out.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself.

First real command as head.

“Take ’em out. Can’t let them think our strength’s a joke.”

When I said it, both of them grinned sharp.

“As you wish.”

“Got it.”

The door flew open.

We jumped out into the battlefield.

The second we stepped outside, the murderous air hit my skin.

A big fallen tree blocked the road, and behind it, filthy guys held bows and swords like shields.

Their eyes were sharp.

Not just thugs—these were eyes that had killed people before.

“Heh heh, they came out. Drop your stuff and we’ll let ya keep your lives.”

The one-eyed guy who looked like the boss smirked nasty.

But his stare wasn’t on us—it was sliding slow and gross over Tsugumi and Cattleya.

Gross.

“I’m warning you. We’re the northern Guardian House, Sakurai family. Clear the road or we treat this as rebellion and handle it accordingly.”

Cattleya drew her sword and announced it in a clear, steady voice.

But the guys just looked at each other and laughed.

“Sakurai family? Never heard of ’em!”

“Heard Sumeragi got crushed, came to check—and it’s some kid and chicks playing house!”

“This is our lucky day! Just like that guy said!”

That guy.

So there was a puppet master.

“No more talk. —Ray!”

“Right!”

At my signal, Ray burst out from behind the carriage.

Greatsword raised high, he charged straight at the barricade tree.

“Get the hell outta the wayyyyy!!”

BOOOOM!!

Huge crash.

Ray’s full-power swing snapped the blocking tree clean in half from the middle.

Wood chips flew like shotgun pellets, blasting the hiding guys back.

“Wh-what the hell!?”

“Both arms—it’s Ray! The info was wrong!?”

Panic swept their side.

They knew about the one-armed swordsman, but nobody told ’em the arms grew back.

“Opening.”

A white shadow slipped into the chaos.

Tsugumi.

She darted low like a flying swallow, slicing tendons as she passed.

“Gyaah!?”

“My leg…!”

She didn’t kill.

But she made damn sure they couldn’t fight anymore.

Tsugumi spun like she was dancing in the center of the battlefield, disabling one after another.

“Damn it, surround ’em! Crush with numbers!”

The boss yelled.

The rest rushed us all at once.

Target: me, the leader.

“Dieeee!”

Three guys swung swords high and came at me.

Fast.

But after Cattleya’s training, I could see their paths clear.

—Feel the presence.

Cattleya’s voice echoed in my head.

I drew my knife and shifted half a step.

Whoosh.

Sword grazed right past my nose.

No fear.

Just calm math.

I grabbed the guy’s arm, used his momentum, and flipped him over my shoulder.

“Gubeh!?”

He flew back and rolled into the other two.

I stepped right in and slammed the knife hilt into the fallen guy’s shoulder.

Dislocated it.

“Don’t think I’m just some healer.”

When I looked up, the rest froze like they’d seen a ghost.

The elite escorts didn’t miss that opening.

“Don’t underestimate the Sakurai family!”

They charged in together and mopped up the rest fast.

From start to finish—few minutes.

The road was full of groaning guys.

Our side? Barely scratched. Couple people with grazes, that’s it.

“Tie ’em all up! Make ’em talk.”

Cattleya barked orders.

I went over to the injured escorts and held my hand out.

“Don’t move. Fixing you now.”

“M-Master!? It’s just a scratch, I can—”

“No holding back. I need you guys at full strength or I’m screwed.”

Soft light glowed, and the cuts sealed right up.

The attackers watching shook like they couldn’t believe their eyes.

“Wh-what the…”

“Wounds gone in a second… monster…”

I finished healing and walked up to the tied-up boss.

“So. Who hired you?”

I asked quiet.

The guy turned his face away.

“Don’t know. Just got paid to hit any carriage coming through here.”

“Liar.”

Tsugumi cut in from the side.

Her short sword tip pressed right against his throat.

“Your eyes are darting. …You like pain? Want me to take your fingers one by one?”

“Hii!?”

Her ice-cold killing intent made the guy’s face go ashen.

The way she said it—you knew she’d actually do it.

“F-fine, I’ll talk! I’ll talk, just stop! …They didn’t say names! Just showed me a crest!”

“Crest?”

“Yeah… deep crimson flame crest! They said if it worked, I’d get whatever reward I wanted…!”

Deep crimson flame.

Me and Cattleya locked eyes.

“…Kagarihi family.”

Central, top of the five houses.

Hard to believe they’d dirty their hands directly—but maybe using pawns, or someone faking their name.

“Got it. Take ’em away.”

I ordered the guys bound and handed over to the nearest vigilante group.

Dragging them along would slow us too much, and I didn’t want more delays.

“Rough start.”

“Yeah. But good enough as a hello.”

Ray slung his greatsword back over his shoulder and grinned fearless.

We climbed back in the carriage and pushed on.

A few hours later.

Sun high overhead—we finally reached our destination.

“So this is… the imperial capital’s main gate.”

Right in front towered a wall so huge you had to crane your neck.

Way beyond the northern district’s.

Black shiny stone like obsidian, built into walls that shimmered with barriers that repelled not just physical hits but magic too.

And smack in the middle—a giant gate.

Countless guards stood there, running strict checks.

“From here on is central district. Under eastern Toudou family control.”

Cattleya said it tense.

The carriage joined the line.

When our turn came, a guy who looked like the commander walked up.

Blue armor, monocle, smart-looking.

“Halt. Show identification.”

He said it flat and businesslike.

I opened the window and handed over the document with the Sakurai crest.

“Northern Guardian House, Sakurai family head, Jin Sakurai. Here responding to the conference summons.”

The guy took it, checked carefully.

Then looked me over through that monocle like he was pricing me.

“Sakurai family… ah, the one that supposedly took over Sumeragi.”

“Watch your words.”

Cattleya growled low.

But the guy didn’t flinch.

“My apologies. …But this alone isn’t enough to pass.”

“What?”

“The imperial capital’s on high alert right now. Entry’s strictly limited for anyone suspicious—even nobles. Especially a brand-new house like yours.”

Harassment.

Clearly trying to stall us here.

A long line stretched behind.

If this turned into a scene, it’d hurt Sakurai’s rep.

“…What do I have to do to get through?”

“Simple. Touch that barrier crystal there and prove no ill intent. However…”

The guy smirked.

“This crystal sometimes gives nasty burns to people with low-quality magic. Might be a bit much for nouveau riche types.”

He pointed at a huge transparent crystal about person-height.

Blue sparks crackled inside.

A test.

The fight started before we even entered.

“Jin, let me.”

“I can smash it if you want?”

Cattleya and Ray got that murderous vibe, but I held up a hand.

“Nah, I’ll do it.”

I stepped out of the carriage.

If the head backed down here, we’d look weak forever.

I stood in front of the crystal.

Crackle crackle—the sound threatened.

(Quality of magic, huh…)

My magic was for healing people.

But it also destroyed chimera cores and rebuilt bodies.

I held my right hand out to the crystal.

“I warned you.”

The guy mocked.

I ignored him and touched it.

BZZT!!

Intense shock hit.

Rejection.

Aggressive magic trying to burn the intruder—my hand.

—It hurts.

But to me now, this level of pain felt like a mosquito bite.

“<Repair Evolve>”

I whispered it in my head.

Not healing.

Image of reading the crystal’s magic structure and tuning mine to match.

Level 4 let me understand and optimize a target’s structure too.

My magic soaked into the crystal.

The wild blue sparks slowly calmed into gentle green light.

Suuu…

The crystal rang clear, then started glowing soft from inside.

Rejection gone—replaced by welcoming warm waves.

“Wh… impossible!? You tuned the Toudou family’s barrier stone in one go!?”

The commander guy’s eyes popped, he stumbled back.

Soldiers around murmured shocked.

I slowly pulled my hand away and turned to him.

“That good enough?”

Sweat beaded on his forehead, voice shaking.

“…P-passage granted! Open the gate!!”

Grrrrrr…

Heavy rumble, and the massive gate started opening slow.

Through the gap, imperial capital scenery poured in.

Neat stone paving, solid stone buildings lined up, and way back—the towering <Tower of the Conqueror>.

Way more polished than the northern district, but the air felt somehow cold.

“Let’s go, everyone.”

I got back in the carriage.

Tsugumi grabbed my hand, face worried.

“Jin, your hand…”

“I’m good. Just got a little hot.”

When I smiled, Tsugumi pressed her cheek to my hand.

The carriage rolled forward.

Through the gate—we finally stepped into the central district.

Five Houses Conference.

The monsters were waiting.

My left hand tingled faintly, I swear.