[Part 3/4]
"Yes, Princess."
Ignoring the laborer, the princess called over the representative of the Hidden Group. When she called, a moment later, the representative kneeled respectfully behind her and bowed. It was a response with minimal inflection.
"Hey, can you guys, with your skills, make it from here to Minami-kan (Southern frontier pass) alone as messengers?"
"Normally, it would be impossible, but for this time, it might be."
In response to Aoi's question, the Hidden Group's representative answered without lies, exaggerations, or falsehoods. They should not underestimate the forbidden territory. However, considering how many youkai Aoi had dealt with on her way here, the situation on the outer fringes of the forest was close to being uninhabited, not to mention youkai-free. It would take some time for the youkai deeper inside to be pushed out toward the outskirts. Furthermore, the "stains" of the youkai she had dealt with so boldly on her way here would likely serve as markers for the Hidden Group. By following those traces, the time needed to reach the checkpoint should be minimized.
"I see. That's good."
Aoi's response, and she handed the peach fruit to the Hidden Group.
"Huh?"
"Take this to the checkpoint. Understood?"
"Princess, what...!?"
The Hidden Group's representative, who understood her intent, half-raised his voice. It was more of an accusation of whether they understood the meaning of her statement.
"It's not irresponsible. Rather, it's wise. Didn't you say it? It will take time for the youkai from the depths to be pushed out."
"What on earth... Can it be!?"
The Hidden Group's representative, now understanding her intent, stared in astonishment. After releasing the messenger bird-shaped signal towards the direction of the checkpoint, Aoi finally turned to face the Hidden Group's representative.
"We're heading deeper inside. As a diversion. ...Since we're supporting you, you can do this, right?"
With a smile sweeter than the peach and more irritating than the youkai, the young princess ordered the Hidden Group's representative with an overly condescending attitude. And...
'Click, click, click!!!!'
"You pests!!"
Eyes with multiple facets emerged from the darkness of the night. The youkai mantis spread its scythes wide, menacing, but I swung my spear without mercy. From behind. The green monster that tried to attack, slashing its belly open hurriedly.
"Senpai!!"
"Now, do it!!"
I shout towards Hisame, who took on the role of decoy. Without a moment's pause, three arrows are released in rapid succession. The right, then left scythe of the mantis, which is as big as a grown man, and finally, its head, all dance through the air. It signifies the neutralization of the biggest threat in this place.
"Isn't it a bit early for that!?"
From the torn abdomen of the mantis, which is now armless and headless but still thrashing wildly, emerges an oversized hairworm. It seems to have caught its attention and is coming straight at me, or more specifically, probably aiming for my rear end. Gross, seriously!?
"This is no joke!"
I use my spear to strike the hairworm that charged towards me, changing its trajectory. Then, I swing the tip of the spear vertically, cleaving it in two.
'Hoo hoo haa!!'
"A monkey?!!"
I hurl the rear half of the hairworm that was originally aimed at me with the spear at an approaching monkey from the side. Unfortunately, the hairworm is torn to shreds by the monkey's claws. As usual, these guys lack camaraderie!
"Dangerous!!?"
I prepare my spear to receive the attack of the agile monkey youkai that swiftly closes in with a precise movement. The claws and the spear's tip collide with a sharp clang. This guy is strong...!?
"Ugh...!?"
'Hoo hoo haa!!!!'
The standoff in our blade-locking contest gradually starts tilting in his favor. The youkai monkey, now with its jaws wide open, menacingly right in front of my face.
"Don't underestimate me...!!?"
I instinctively kick up, destabilizing the monkey's posture. I then retreat and put some distance between us.
"Haah, haah... Hisame, shoot now!!"
"Y-Yes!!"
As I retreat, Hisame releases the arrow. The arrowhead, which barely missed me, swiftly pierced through the throat of a small youkai that had just stood up. The monkey youkai collapses on its back, with its head pierced through the back of its head.
"Wait, three more from the side!!"
"...!!?"
Hisame had already moved before my shout. Two small youkai and a young one emerged from the nearby bushes. Immediately, another barrage of three arrows was unleashed at them, just like before. Without delay, one arrow pierced the throat of a small youkai, and another left the young one with a damaged head.
'Click, click, click!!!!'
The two beast youkai were taken care of. The problem was the insect youkai. Even though a third of its head was crushed, it clicked its mandibles unflinchingly. It was an oversized locust, about as big as a large dog, and it seemed to have taken a liking to its new host, as it came straight at me. Or more precisely, probably aiming for my rear end again. Ugh, seriously!?
"I won't let you get away with that!"
Realizing that the spear wouldn't be in time, I launched a stone with my slingshot. The fist-sized stone, just as the head of the locust that Hisame's arrow had split, slammed into it. Even though it had lost a third of its head, the oversized locust still clicked its mandibles menacingly. However, my stone had hit the right spot this time. The headless locust, with its momentum, crashed into a tree trunk behind me. It must have had too much momentum; its limbs were torn off, and it spun while its body slammed into the ground. Its headless torso twitched and writhed with its remaining limbs.
"Senpai, it's still...!"
"Hisame!!"
In response to Hisame's shout, I charged forward with my spear. Simultaneously, she also shot an arrow in my direction. The arrow, released at the speed of a crossbow, was drawn into my vicinity... narrowly grazed my cheek and struck down a mole youkai coming from behind.
'Gggii!?'
"And then!"
Simultaneously, my spear thrust gouged out the jaws of a wolf youkai attacking from behind.
'Groarr...!?'
"Ugh...!"
I pressed forward and toppled the wolf youkai. I pushed the impaled spear deeper into its skull, crushing it. A nasty sound of bones and flesh being crushed echoed. By the side, in what appeared to be a finishing move, Hisame released another arrow at the mole youkai. The two small youkai let out a final cry, convulsed, and then fell silent. There were no longer signs of hostility around.
No, wait. Not yet.
"It was still here!!"
I pointed my spear at the mantis that had been dancing around with half of its body missing. As it had been decapitated and fell to the ground.
"Should I take care of that one too, Senpai?"
"...I'll handle it, so don't interfere."
I ordered Hisame, pointing at the hairworm that had lost half of its body and was still convulsing on the ground. The scenario seemed to be heading towards a confrontation with a tentacle-based creature, but unfortunately, there was no service scene in store.
'...!!!!'
"I knew it!"
As soon as I approached, the hairworm, which had sensed my presence, leaped towards me. I struck its tip with my spear and then stomped on it. I repeatedly thrust my spear into it and cut it to pieces. Unless it's a planaria, it should definitely die like this. Or rather, it should die.
"Haah, haah, haah... Is it over now?"
As I gained confidence in our safety, the tension in me snapped, and I plopped down on the spot. I repeated rough and heavy breaths.
Dealing with so many small and young youkai alone would have been no joke. It felt like a miracle that we were still alive. Somehow, my body had been in good shape for a while now.
"I never expected to encounter a group of youkai on a city road like this..."
The newly recruited servant, who was also drenched in sweat, wasted a perfectly good bath by collecting the arrows. The city roads connecting the cities and villages of Fusō-kuni are regularly patrolled by the imperial army. While it's not uncommon for a single or a few youkai to appear, it's quite rare for nearly ten youkai to suddenly appear.
"Did they follow the scent left behind by the Princess's passage? Or is it simply the negligence of the army..."
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)