[Part 5/5]
"All your struggling is in vain!"
Takaragen sneered at the obvious reckless charge in light armor. With inferior skill and spiritual power, charging in recklessly with just a spear is nothing but a suicide mission. Has he finally become a cornered rat? Unfortunately, he won't even be able to bite. First, he'll cut off the arm holding that spear...!!?
"Eat this!!"
"!!?"
It was executed just before Takaragen entered the range. The servant kicked up from the base of a tree. An eye gouge? No, that's not it. Immediately after, a dagger was throwed.
It was the spirit dagger (tantō) "Toumigi Lake" that came diving into the trunk of the tree while rotating. Its characteristic is that it can pass through plants and objects derived from them without any resistance.
In advance, the dagger (tantō) was hidden inside the trunk of the tree, with only the hilt peeking out. It was kicked up and struck unexpectedly...!!
"This is dangerous!!?"
Just in the nick of time, Takaragen knocked down the Dagger (tantō). It was the curse-tool that he had lent to Hisame for this mission. Although it was relatively low-level, being a curse-tool passed down through the Onitsuki family, he had always been concerned about its whereabouts. From Hisame' appearance as a servant, he was confident that she did not possess it. However, he never expected her to lent it to this servant in such a daring manner...!!
"Now!!"
"Don't be so naive!!"
In the split second when his posture faltered, Takaragen swiftly intercepted the spear thrust towards him. The clash between the spear shafts was imminent. It wasn't a clash of guards, but a clash of shafts. However, it was ultimately a brief moment. The difference in strength was evident!!
"You damn brat!! I'll teach you a lesson!! Just die already!!"
"Who's going to die!?"
After pushing back, he destabilized his opponent's stance and swung down the spear. Though the servant tried to defend with the shaft, the spear itself couldn't withstand the blow. It snapped. Immediately after, he stepped back and avoided being sliced from behind. However, Takaragen swiftly changed his posture and tried to thrust the spear he held towards her heart. He aimed for a vital spot...!!
"Here, take this...!!"
The servant grasped the broken tip of the spear as if in desperation and threw it. However, Takaragen, completely unfazed by the approaching blade, understood. He knew that what was being thrown was not directed at him.
The tip grazed right next to his cheek, not even scratching his thin skin. It was a miss. He sneered.
"You're terrible!! Aim better!!"
"I did aim!!"
"Oh!?"
Almost simultaneously with his words, an unpleasant premonition struck him. He quickly turned around. The thrown spear's tip was sucked into something hidden among the trees. The tip had been cut by a thread. A clicking sound was heard. Takaragen instinctively used his spiritual power to enhance his body to the maximum...!!
Countless lead balls were showered upon Takaragen from the front...
The trap was not set specifically targeting Takaragen. It was set up against the following assassins who would come. It was a request made to the curse-tool master's old friend for a close-range attack with explosives. Two were made, one as a spare, and the other was already used against the flycatcher youkai... that is the true nature of the trap.
Originally, it was supposed to be manually triggered, but it was fixed to the trees so that it would explode when the following assassins made contact, cutting the thread with the throw. It was set with the purpose of reducing the pursuing forces with the countless iron pellets that would scatter from the explosion and also to create an escape route. However, he missed the opportunity to use it.
The reason why the servant reused the trap was because Takaragen was in a perfect position after the battle against the modified youkai. Servant did not know that Takaragen had anticipated everything and had guided the modified youkai using the scent of incense. Servant believed it was a coincidence.
In any case, Onitsuki Takaragen suffered a serious injury. No matter how hard he tried to strengthen his body just before, there was a limit to turning the Kubire-oni into a meat shield at such close range. Hundreds of iron pellets exploded at high speed, and the iron plates on the lid turned into dozens of blades that flew in. The terror of gunpowder weapons lies in their killing power. The uneven iron pellets that penetrated the flesh twisted their trajectories inside and crushed cell tissues.
Now, a total of thirty-five fragmentary iron pellets rushed towards him, and he managed to block twenty-eight of them with Kubire-oni and body enhancement. In other words, seven fragmentary iron pellets pierced him. He avoided a fatal injury, but the damage was still severe. As far as he knew, this was the most serious injury he had ever suffered.
And then...
"Don't underestimate me, you damn brat!!!"
"Ugh!?"
Immediately, a beastly scream and a demonic appearance. And the entire area was engulfed in ashes. The purifying flames of crimson devoured everything. The figure of the servant was quickly extinguished by the flames.
That's right. Onitsuki Takaragen was certainly tricked. He fell into the trap like a fool. He got injured, seriously injured. But so what?
Thinking that this brat can defeat Onitsuki Takaragen with just that was a naive perspective.
"Die! Die! Rot in hell!! Drop dead, you filthy rat!!!!"
He repeatedly unleashes flames in the direction where the servant was. If necessary, burning everything around. Cutting down. Purging. Thoroughly incinerating.
It was truly an inferno that no one could survive. There was no escape. There was no time to run away. Even cunning bones must have turned to charcoal.
"Huff, huff, huff... Hahaha! You got what you deserved!"
Onitsuki Takaragen boasts while catching his breath. The nuisance has now disappeared. The promise to protect Onitsuki's insolent princess should also be null and void. That damn brat had arrogantly rejected the proposal... well, it doesn't matter. If hope is crushed, then she might as well change her mind. He could even let those youkai over there break her self-esteem.
No matter what, whether it's boiling or grilling, it's up to him to decide.
"Hehe. But... before that, shouldn't I take care of my injuries?"
Holding his hand over the wounds and bleeding holes caused by the iron balls, Takaragen muttered. He wouldn't die immediately, but it would be dangerous if left untreated. The wound needed to be treated as soon as possible...
"Ah?"
Takaragen let out a bewildered voice as he looked at the bloodstained dagger. He couldn't understand the meaning of the scene before him. Yes, the dagger that stabbed into his chest.
Like a hidden secret in his straw sandals, a thin, concealed weapon blade...
"You... you b*stard...?"
Takaragen realized too late as he looked at the figure in front of him, the servant who had momentarily turned invisible in the 'world'. No, he recognized him. The man carrying the 'girl' on his back.
"Why...?"
His voice trembled. Takaragen, who was confused while blood flowed from his chest, quickly resolved his doubts. He understood everything through the figure of the 'girl' carried on the servant's back.
"Heh... this must be karma, right?"
The servant, who was supposed to be mortally wounded by a charred black wound, was only 'barely burned' thanks to the girl, and he threw out his response to Takaragen's doubts with disdain...
Onitsuki Hisame possesses a unique ability known as "Shiroku Benrei." The effect of this ability is the "transparency of existence from the world." When the ability is activated, all sensory organs, including vision, and the perception through spells, are rejected (even boundaries cannot recognize the presence of the subject, allowing for passage through, and magical attacks are also ineffective).
However, physical obstacles and attacks still affect Onitsuki Hisame. Additionally, if she acknowledges an object she touches, they can gain its effects at will. From the perspective of a third party, she suddenly disappears from their field of vision. The effect is similar to the mythical beast "Chameleon" but with a time limit.
It can be activated within 24 hours, with a maximum time limit of 46 seconds. It is possible to divide the activation time into multiple intervals, such as two activations of 23 seconds each. Due to her low spiritual power and attack strength, and the requirement for continuous contact for others to benefit, Onitsuki Hisame is not suitable for hunting higher-ranking youkai. Her abilities are primarily utilized for infiltration, espionage, and assassination purposes targeting humans.
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