Takakai's breathing slowed.
His heartbeat dragged.
Every hair on his body stood on end as a bone-deep chill locked his muscles in place.
Don't face it.
Even without seeing it, he knew—this thing was death incarnate.
Whatever lurked beyond that door hadn't even entered his line of sight yet, and already, his instincts screamed:
Run. Hide. Do not engage.
Could I use a sealing bullet?
His gaze flicked to the pistol in his hand.
But he hadn't seen the entity yet. He didn't know its form, its history, its rules—whether this was its core domain or its death site.
The only certainty?
The moment they locked eyes, its rule would activate, and he'd meet the first condition for a sealing shot.
As for the sixth condition—whether it had harmed the innocent—that was a gamble.
This thing radiated Crimson Moon-level pressure. Even if it wasn't a core grudge, it was undoubtedly a key component of this dungeon.
Attempting to seal it blind was suicide.
But… entering the cage?
This wasn't the first time his Blessing of Safe Zones had guided him. Fragmented memories surfaced—shattering something, triggering a rule, surviving.
This Blessing came from Hirano Sousuke. It wouldn't betray him.
Yet stepping into that cage meant triggering another rule—one that would likely turn him into just another dog trapped inside.
What a mess…
Thoughts raced in the span of a heartbeat.
Action had to be faster.
Takakai ripped the Rescue Team Badge from his chest, bending its pin into a crude hook.
Then—
He stabbed it through his own tongue.
Blood gushed. Agony seared his nerves.
But he didn't flinch. Didn't make a sound.
With the badge lodged in his tongue, he dove headfirst into the open cage.
Thud.
A towering, blood-soaked figure stepped into the kennel.
It moved silently, stopping where Takakai had stood moments before.
Only a few bloodstains remained.
The thing's hollow gaze swept the cages, lingering on the golden retriever and a newcomer—a muscular black German shepherd that hadn't been there before.
After a long pause, it turned and lumbered away, the door creaking shut behind it.
The golden retriever whipped its head toward the German shepherd, eyes wide with human-like shock.
From another cage, the husky let out a whimper, almost like a sob.
In response, the German shepherd opened its mouth.
Blood dripped.
The Rescue Team Badge glinted on its tongue.
A figure in firefighter gear materialized in the kennel.
It opened the cage, lifting the German shepherd—no, Takakai—out and setting him on the floor.
He stood, shaking off the disorienting remnants of his brief transformation.
That was… awful.
If he'd kept the badge on his chest, it would've fallen during the shift, leaving him trapped as a dog forever.
He yanked the pin from his tongue, reattached the badge to his chest, and let its healing energy mend the wound.
Then—
He freed the golden retriever.
The other dogs erupted into barks, but a sharp "Quiet" silenced them.
His eyes locked onto the husky.
Another transformed human?
Without hesitation, he pulled it out too.
The golden retriever nuzzled the husky affectionately as Takakai retreated to the door, prying it open with the toilet brush he'd wedged earlier.
He ushered both dogs out, then summoned his third rescuer.
A policeman, clad in a dark uniform, materialized—gun in hand.
Unlike the previous two, this one exuded Crimson moon-level pressure, its presence cold and lethal.
Takakai's orders were simple:
"Free all the dogs. They're cursed humans. Kill anyone who tries to stop you."
Then he fled, the golden retriever and husky at his heels.
Behind him, the rescuer ripped open cages, releasing a flood of small mutts that surged past Takakai, scattering through the halls.
He herded them toward the auditorium, kicking aside the blurry humanoids trying to block the hallway.
Finally, he locked himself, the golden retriever, and the husky inside the fairy-tale bedroom, barricading the door with furniture.
"Stay quiet. We're hiding here," he muttered, sinking to the floor.
The golden retriever curled up obediently.
The husky fidgeted before awkwardly mimicking the pose—like a human pretending to be a dog for the first time.
THUD. THUD. THUD—
Heavy footsteps shook the floor.
BANG! BANG!
Gunfire. A crash as something—no, two things—tumbled down the stairs.
The sounds of battle raged outside, shifting toward the auditorium.
Takakai exhaled slowly.
Safe. For now.
He reached out, stroking the golden retriever's head—then turned to the husky.
"Shinomiya."
The husky—no, Kaguya—blinked up at him.
"Huh? I—wait, I'm human again?!"
Her voice was hers again, laced with shock.
"Yeah. But your gear's been wiped."
Takakai kept his tone deliberately neutral, staring straight ahead.
"Wiped…?"
It took her a second.
Then—
The chill of air on skin.
The lack of fabric.
The horrifying realization.
Kaguya: "...!!"
A strangled gasp escaped her, her face flaming red as she clamped her hands over her mouth, suppressing a scream.
Takakai couldn't help but admire her restraint.
Truly, a lady of composure.
(And though her upper half was… modest, her lower half—well, like Maki, she had a nice backside.)