[Part 4/4]
"Don't be an idiot. Do you have such an easy-to-give-up attitude? Just lean on us. Experienced members like you, who are quick on their feet, are valuable!"
"Hmph, you intend to exploit me even when I'm in tatters..."
Yun-shoku retorted to Kuchinasi's words. Ignoring his groans and complaints, Yun-shoku resumed the task of carrying him. Hisame and I were about to shift our attention to our surroundings... when our eyes met the monster's eyes.
"Yun, shoku..."
"What? D*mn it..."
I managed to convey something to Yun-shoku. She turned to look, and I could see the bitterness in her expression. After quickly assessing the surroundings, she raised her wakizashi and stepped forward in front of us.
"Tomobe, Hisame. You two retreat."
"But..."
"You won't even be able to slow it down."
Yun-shoku's words said it all. Hisame and I might be able to buy some time at best. Kuchinasi was already beyond escaping. Only Yun-shoku could hinder it. While Yun-shoku engaged, Hisame and I would withdraw. That was the best course of action in this situation...
"But..."
"Understood."
Replacing the shaken Hisame, I replied immediately. Hisame shot me a slightly scornful look. Thankfully, I was accustomed to that kind of treatment by now.
Every time, I was the one left alive in the team. It was as if I was the grim reaper. At this point, it was hardly surprising.
"That's right. Tomobe, take the lead. ...It's coming!!?"
Yun-shoku assigned me the task of looking after the new recruit, then shifted into a battle stance. The roar of the deer youkai echoed. The great youkai charged towards us, heading straight for this direction.
...In an instant, a swift gust of wind severed the deer's head.
"Ah...?"
Everyone present, including me, stared in astonishment. The head, larger than a cabin, fell to the ground, spattering fresh blood. The body collapsed beside it, twitching as it lay sideways. The fall of the massive monster raised a cloud of dust into the air.
As the dust settled, I focused on the figure before us. It was a member of the detested family I knew well... or rather, knew of in a one-sided manner.
"Well, well. Taking so long to deal with such small fry..."
The silhouette was that of a young girl. She wore an opulent kimono that hardly seemed suitable for rough work. She appeared to be around ten, a child with beauty alongside her youth. With cherry-colored hair and eyes more vibrant than the full moon...
Onitsuki family's main branch's second daughter, Onitsuki Aoi. A prodigy who had obtained everything despite her arrogance and haughtiness. She looked down on us with a mocking gaze, seemingly relishing it.
"Y-you..."
"So haughty."
"Whoa...!?"
For a moment, I stood in a daze as my gazes locked with the young girl's. At the same time, a cold voice sounded, and I found my body forced into a prostrating position. I immediately recognized it as a technique involving spoken words. No, it hurt!? It hurt!? Was I pressing my forehead into the ground...!?
"O-Only me...!?"
Upon closer inspection, Kuchinasi was sprawled on the ground, but it was only me who was being forced into this awkward bowing posture. Yun-shoku and Hisame simply knelt. Perhaps because I had been the only one standing around foolishly during that earlier conversation, I was being punished... was that it? No, no, my neck and forehead hurt from this position...!?
"Ugh..."
Unaware of my inner questions and grievances... though she probably wouldn't care even if she knew... the young girl groaned. She held a folding fan to her lips and scanned her surroundings.
"...But, it seems none of these losers are dead? How disappointing, this is a wasted trip."
Perhaps due to her heightened senses from spiritual power, she could sense the situation around her and the surviving servants. Her proclamation was undeniably cruel.
(Maybe because she can't brag to that psycho father?)
That was what flashed in my mind—an established setting. The past setting of the so-called "Violence-Prone Pink Gorilla." She probably wanted to brag about it to her father. She must have thought that since she had eliminated the threat without much damage, she wouldn't be able to convey the significance of her actions. People in general tend to underestimate prevention and overestimate their ability to clean up after things have gone awry.
(Really, Gorilla-sama can say whatever she wants...!!)
I knew that was the setting, and given the many events befalling her, there might be a sense of pity in a way. Nonetheless... even so, her speech and attitude were extremely displeasing to someone like me, who had danced on the edge of death so many times.
"..."
I unconsciously clenched my teeth. Even though irrationality was commonplace in this world, it still took patience to endure it.
"Thank you very much for your help, Princess."
"You're the leader of these guys? Oh, right, you're the servant of the Yun-shoku group, aren't you?"
As Yun-shoku expressed gratitude, the Loli Gorilla grumbled irritably and tilted her head as if trying to recall. Finally, it seemed she remembered who we were. Unfortunately, unless one was from the Onitsuki family, they were treated as outsiders, even if they were household members.
"Make sure you explain properly to your superiors, okay? If I hadn't lent a hand, all of you would have been done for. You do realize I can take credit for your achievements, right?"
"Haha, of course."
In response to the young girl's cold threat, Yun-shoku bowed even deeper, maintaining her calm demeanor. Strangely, the Loli Gorilla appeared less bothered by her attitude. She seemed to lose interest, almost like she was staring at a random stone by the road. Then she looked up at the sky.
From a distance, a few household members were approaching, riding simple shikigami.
"They're so slow. They're quite inadequate as my escorts. Don't you think?"
Mockingly looking at the sky, Aoi spoke. According to the established setting, she shouldn't have officially taken on any roles yet. If she was acting on her own without any orders, it was likely because she had sensed a presence nearby during her outing or return. Could it be that simple?
"We understand our limitations..."
"...Huh. So audacious, not explicitly admitting it, huh?"
Even the lowest-ranked household member was still above the third-ranking servant. When Yun-shoku humbly mentioned her ignorance, the Loli Gorilla spat back in dissatisfaction. It seemed that responding to her was only possible with total submission.
"Whatever. Just take care of disposing of this corpse, okay? You can at least manage that, right?"
Kicking the deer youkai's remains at her feet, Aoi issued the order. Before Yun-shoku could respond, she had already disappeared from the scene. The young girl flies away with a look of self-importance, riding on a simple device that resembles a giant dragon. The household members who had caught up earlier were left dumbfounded, then hurriedly followed suit in a fluster.
"...She's gone."
"Heh... huff... d*mn princess, doing as she pleases...!!"
Confirming that the noble had vanished into the distance, Yun-shoku got to her feet. Kuchinasi, who had been ignored, breathed heavily, muttering softly and resentfully. It was only natural for him to be furious; he had wasted precious time while left lying there.
"Yeah, no kidding. ...Wait here. After I take some painkillers and do some first aid, I'll help you up. Hisame, go gather the scattered members. There are people around."
"U-Understood...!!"
Yun-shoku responded with an indescribable wry smile. With a determined expression, she started administering first aid, while she instructed Hisame. Hisame nodded respectfully and dashed off.
"Hmm? Wait a second. Is her word technique still in effect?"
After a while, when the Pink Loli Gorilla had left and I tried to move to assist Yun-shoku, I finally realized the situation. My body remained frozen in the prostrating position...!?
By the way, this word technique would be lifted around half an hour later. By that time, I would have been suffering from muscle pain and joint pain to the point where moving would be quite difficult. Let me add this to the story.
Ugh, spare me...
This is the beginning of volume 10. It seems about the past.
Fan art:
Title: The end of Volume 9 featuring Botan.
URL: [Link]
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