Chapter 92. A tsukuma
"This place is done for," Shin muttered as he cast a glance at the smoldering ruins around them. "I think it’s time we moved on to the next phase."
The wind howled low outside the cracked windowpanes, scattering ash across the bloodstained floor. Lilian straightened and gave a short bow, her long hair swaying.
"Anything you say, Master!" she said loyally. Then her eyes dropped to the oozing wound on Shin’s shoulder. "But... will you be able to move? Your, um..." She hesitated, her throat tightening at the sight. "Your shoulder looks bad."
The wound was worse than it had looked before. Shin’s shoulder was split open, a jagged crack of torn flesh glistening with blood and it reeked faintly of rot and ozone.
Sylvia snorted and jabbed a thumb toward the tiny figure nestled in her front dungaree pocket. "And it’s all because of her!"
Gegee barely peeked out over the edge of the pocket, her miniature hands clutching the rim. Her face was pale, lips pressed tight. The guilt etched into her tiny expression was almost comical, if the situation weren’t so grim.
Shin’s breathing was ragged. The pain was getting to him. His body was a machine of war, yes, but even machines needed maintenance.
Gegee’s eyes suddenly caught a glint of something beneath a collapsed shelf—glass, perhaps. Her tiny finger shot out. "There! That bottle—pick it up and bring it here!"
Sylvia’s brow rose. "A toy giving orders to its master?" she scoffed, folding her arms.
Gegee clenched her teeth, her tiny fists trembling with fury. If she’d been in her full-sized body, she would’ve socked Sylvia across the face with no hesitation.
"That ’toy’ is trying to help! So get your ass up and bring me the bottle!" Gegee snapped.