[Part 4/4]
Shirowakamaru accuses the cause of the abnormality. While the youkai are enemies of the human realm, humanity has not only exterminated them in various forms but also utilized them over its long history.
Within that context, some have been altered in nature and form through domestication, resembling the relationship between boars and pigs. Not farming, but breeding youkai.
The Suiko is the same. It's immediately apparent. This one, more bent and massive than those in the wild, appears more violent. Irresponsible exorcists have sometimes released them into the wild due to their unwieldiness. They should have been prohibited from becoming shiki.
'Roarrr!!'
Another roar echoed. The Suiko redirects its gaze toward Tamaki and the others. Finding its prey.
'Roarrr!!'
"Damn, it's indiscriminate!!"
Murasaki curses the monster's actions. The passage connecting the large bath and the open-air bath is built slightly lower. Because of its massive size, the Suiko gets stuck in the passage, but a moment later, it charges and forcibly barges into the large bath. The roof blows off, walls crumble. Moonlight peers through the hole, and a cold breeze dispels the steam. The view of the large bath becomes distinct.
"Whoa!! Youkai!?"
"Why!? Why here of all places!?"
"Run! Run!!"
Most of the guests have already fled, but some who were still unaware of the situation due to steam and darkness rush to the scene. The employees of the public bath, responding to the occurrence of an abnormal event, wide-eyed and in unison, rush out, then immediately flee. Fortunately, most of the monsters were indifferent to them and only approached Tamaki and the others. Simultaneously, this situation aptly demonstrates the motive behind this event.
"They must have targeted us...!!?"
"Someone's pulling the strings. It's gotten quite suspicious...!!?"
Responding to Shirowakamaru's rapid summons of spontant talismans, Murasaki takes action, cutting down the oncoming 'Akaname'. She surveys her surroundings. Are the 'Akaname' finally finished? The newcomers aren't visible. The problem is that Suiko... It probably qualifies as a great youkai, although it's likely a lesser one.
(If I go all out, it won't take much effort, but...!!)
Considering the previous battle and the collateral damage, Tamaki hesitates to use a full-powered technique. In other words, they'll have to resort to minor techniques... It's a hassle.
"Ugh!!? Don't come out...!!?"
As Murasaki contemplates how to deal with the Suiko, Tamaki suddenly shouts, as if realizing something. Her gaze darts around, and she spots someone. As the Suiko pushes aside debris and advances from the water bath room, a small child's figure hides by the edge of the bath. No, it's the figure of a child that should be hiding.
"Ugh, ugh, ehh...!!?"
Where did this child's parents go? The lone child couldn't be more than ten years old. It's a cruel story to tell the child to hold their breath when faced with such a calamitous creature. However, the creatures would certainly not show any consideration.
'Roarrrrr!!'
Its roar drowned out even the child's cries. The Suiko turns its head toward the child and widens its jaws. Gruesomely, its jaws split open. Multiple jaws like those of an insect. Rows of sharp fangs.
"No...!!"
"Tamaki-san!? What are you... this!!?"
Murasaki tries to stop Tamaki from leaving their formation, but she's obstructed by the 'Akaname'. The 'Akaname' attack Tamaki even more fiercely. Of course, that's natural. It's a basic tactic to single out an isolated target and gang up on them.
"You're in my way!!"
Literally slashing through them, Tamaki charges forward. Her intense and rugged swordsmanship is precise yet astonishing, but it still wears her down. Tamaki intuitively comprehends it.
(I won't make it in time...!!)
In an instant, her conviction arrives. It's a despair or cruel reality. A few moments later, the child before Tamaki's eyes will be devoured. It's an inevitable fate. Faced with that truth, and still, this overly innocent girl can't bring herself to give up the life before her...
Never again, not wanting to be a powerless bystander...
"...!!"
...so, what sleeps within Tamaki's heart answers her plea.
"Huh...?"
Murasaki had the clearest view of the entire situation. It was truly a fleeting event.
In essence, Tamaki closed the distance between her and the Suiko. Like the wind. Like a gale. Swift and agile like a weasel.
Like a fleeting gust, much like Kamaitachi...
"Haa!!"
'Roarrr...'
And the attack comes from within its guard, a swing striking from below the throat. The swing was smooth and graceful. Even the Suiko did not sense it. Or perhaps it saw it but couldn't catch up with its thoughts. In other words... the monster's head was severed without the slightest resistance.
After a short pause, the massive body collapses with a loud thud. Tamaki brushes off the flesh and blood clinging to her blade and gazes ahead. She looks down at the crying child at her feet, then up to the child, relief filling her heart.
(Did I make it in time...?)
Tamaki, bewildered by the power that overflowed within her, was purely delighted that she had managed to protect the child before her. She felt that her path as an exorcist had finally been rewarded after walking it, at last...
But it was this momentary lapse that revealed Hotoya Tamaki's inexperience as an exorcist.
"What are you doing, Tamaki-san!? Behind you!!?"
"Huh..."
The angry voice of her senior disciple roared. Tamaki, surprised and trying to turn around instinctively, but she is enveloped halfway through by something.
She was enveloped by living water.
"Guhh...!!?"
She's sinking in the water, and the cold rush fills her mouth. She coughs and fights against it, flailing around. But she can't hold onto anything because there's no way out. So she only twists and turns in desperation.
(Wha... what the hell is this!!!??)
Enveloped in madness and confusion, even so, as Tamaki faintly opens her eyes, what she witnesses is the sight of the decapitated monster half-dissolving her body, enveloping her...
By the window, a noblewoman walks down the corridor of an inn with a view of Shiromoku's Kan city.
"What on earth..."
"The accident from the lower city where the poor gather, I suppose."
"Are they making a fool of themselves? Ugh, how awful."
The maids of the inn were gossiping in a group of three, whispering intimately. As they noticed the noble guest approaching from the other end of the corridor, they hurriedly lined up and bowed.
"..."
The guest in question briefly glanced at the maids without stopping, then quickly returned her gaze to the front and proceeded to the far end of the corridor.
Onitsuki Sumire reached her daughter's borrowed room.
"...Can I open it?"
Sumire inquired in front of the door. There was no response. But she didn't mind. So, she gestured, and the door, sealed by a boundary, was forcefully opened. Quite a audacious move from the perspective of exorcists. Sumire entered the room nonchalantly, paying no attention to such matters.
And then... a puzzled expression appeared on her face.
"…It seems that the lower town has become quite noisy, doesn't it? Don't you have to go to your students, Mother?"
"I have taught what should be taught. If this commotion ends in such a manner, then so be it."
"Well well, you are indeed strict."
Sumire found her daughter's unenthusiastic words from the upper seat of the room to be even more perplexing. She had assumed that Aoi would have broken the rules and left the room. But this...
"Oh my, oh my. To have such a disappointed expression. I wonder what you're thinking, dear mother..."
Aoi ridiculed while covering her mouth with her sleeve. Sumire gazed at her figure. It was clear that this was no mere simple technique. The magnitude of spiritual power she was radiating couldn't possibly be achieved with a simple technique. Even tearing the soul apart and manifesting it as a doppelganger would be difficult.
"...Just in case, prepare for possible skirmishes. Allowing the monsters to rampage in the inn where Onitsuki is staying would be a disgrace to our family."
"And what about you, mother?"
"I must escort the senior officials."
Sumire conveyed her orders with composure and turned on her heel, leaving the room. She exited, and just before the exit, she glanced back once. Aoi sneered at her departing mother. From her shadow emerged the trembling figure of a half-youkai servant...
"..."
Sumire turned back to face forward and left the room... pondering what kind of trick her daughter had concocted.
"Phew."
The woman leaning on the side continued to watch her with a gaze filled with scorn...
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