Toasteful: Chapter 159, Part 2

[Part 2/4]

"Yes?"

'(*＞∇＜) Bye, bye!'

When I reacted to Botan's words, she had disappeared. Without any warning, it was probably a concealment technique using Magatama that I overlooked. And...a creaking sound comes from behind, and the sliding door is pulled open.

"...!?"

'(>ω<.) Awawawa! Papa!?'

I turn my head in surprise. Inaba-hime, with slightly disheveled attire and half-opened eyes, appears from behind. Whether she had a bad sleeping position or was still half-asleep, I casually push the foolish spider into the insect cage and turn my attention to her.

"Ah, ...good morning, I suppose?"

"...it's still night though?"

Inaba-hime sharply retorted to my half-hearted greeting, with a sleepy expression. Well, yes, it's definitely still night, huh?

"Did you...talk to someone?"

Inaba-hime looked around, puzzled, and questioned me.

"Did you...hear something?"

"Just a hunch?"

"A hunch, huh..."

Is she referring to a woman's intuition? ...Should I deny it completely and raise suspicion?

"Just talking to myself...well, it's just a complaint."

"A complaint?"

"Yes, a complaint."

"..."

Inaba-hime furrowed her brows with half-closed eyes. She clearly had an unpleasant expression. Did she think I was making fun of her?

"...I see."

Though it was hard to believe she understood anything, Inaba-hime cut the conversation short. I also didn't want to ramble on any further and risk exposing the flaws in the story, so I went along with it.

"..."

"Hey, could you move back a bit?"

"Yes."

There was a moment of silence as we faced each other, and in response to Inaba-hime's request, I moved to the side of the passage. She briskly passed through.

"To where?"

"..."

"Hmm?"

"...Bathroom."

"...I'm terribly sorry."

While maintaining a stoic expression, I sincerely apologized to her, who seemed genuinely uncomfortable as she answered.

After all, it's harassment...

* * *

"What on earth is he doing..."

Through the window, she glimpsed the young man's disgrace, who was to her a pawn, a collaborator, a junior disciple, and reluctantly, a father. Then, with a sense of disbelief, she left. Concealing her own figure in the world's blind spot...

'Hey. Do you have anything to eat? I'm so hungry.'

'Again? Here, have some of this.'

'Pickled peaches, huh... It's still a bit sour.'

"..."

Botan passed directly through the nearby Tengu, who were patrolling, using free fall. The Tengu flying and chatting did not notice Botan. They couldn't have noticed.

These are imitations one of the three sacred treasures, Magatama. Although they are imitations, they are considerably valuable curse-tools. And by adding other infiltration curse-tools here, as well as Botan's stealth technique and her characteristics as a half-youkai, everything will be perfectly completed.

Just like "If you want to hide a tree, do it in the forest." By converting her inner spiritual power into youkai power, Botan's presence blends in with the countless Tengu. Dream demons are relatively skilled in illusion magic.

(And besides, they... surprisingly rely on their vision. Despite having sharp eyes, they are foolish.)

Botan, who despises non-humans, quickly shakes off her carelessness. It may be part of the plan to underestimate her, considering their impressive performance during the attack on the envoy.

(Reflecting on the matter... there are quite a few differences from the contents passed down in the legends, aren't there?)

As Botan glided over the Tengu's village, she couldn't help but question. Even for Botan, who knew more than the general public, the Tengu's village she had come to visit this time had significant differences from the knowledge she possessed.

What could this possibly mean? Were the recorders of the legends incomplete, or did they change over time, or perhaps...

(And what about the snake incident... Is the information being manipulated?)

As she pondered this, a disturbing figure came to mind, her loathsome enemy and her mentor. If it were him, would it really be so surprising if he was up to something?

(...! Anyway, next I should head to the Middle Counselor's place.)

Following her grandfather's instructions, Botan suppressed her frustration and ascended to a higher altitude.

Distinct from the Tengu, her large wings extending from her waist seemed to have slightly different flight habits from the numerous bird youkai. In order to conserve energy, Botan tried to glide as much as possible. Unfortunately, compared to monsters specialized in this field, Botan, who had undergone an incomplete transformation, was lacking in flying skills.

...If it comes to it, she has means to enhance her abilities, but she didn't want to use them in various ways.

"If it turns into a battle in the air, running away is the only choice, right? It's convenient for moving though."

She said a self-deprecating whisper. Even though it's incomplete, it would be exactly her own existence. Her family, her existence, her actions, everything...

'Are you being sarcastic?'

"Huh!?"

Botan noticed the fading sound that echoed quietly, a result of intense malice and hostility. Botan turned around at the faint presence, and it wasn't with sight but with knowledge and perception that she saw through its true nature.

And she understood. That she was trapped in a 'window'.

"What?! Illusion...!?"

Realizing that her stealth, curse tools, and illusions were all suddenly undone, and that her own figure was exposed in broad daylight, Botan immediately plunged into the forest. Desperately flying so as not to expose herself to the Tengu. While flying, she scanned her surroundings. Searching for the one who set the 'window' on her. But... she couldn't find them!

“Damn, you disgusting beast!! Huh!?”

Botan rushes through the forest, but what emerges from the shadows of the trees on this side are gigantic insect monsters. They wake up to the presence of their prey and attack Botan one after another.

"Tsk...!?"

All of them are great youkai level. Due to the difference in size, numbers, and situation, it would be a bad idea to subjugate them one by one. Escape is the only option...!!

“Kuuuu!!?”

Fly, fly, and fly. Avoid, avoid, and avoid. Like passing through the eye of a needle, she slips through the gap between the strange creatures that attack her.

“There were a lot of them!! I was ambushed…!?”

Botan throws the prepared kunai at the insect that approaches from the side. When it cowers, she crushes it with a kick, and finally uses it as a foothold.

But then, a giant dragonfly youkai appears from the front...!!

(When their technique is activated, my exact location will be detected?? If this happens...!!)

It was a tough decision. She picked up one of the bags that was hanging around her waist. Then, she took the bag, which was sagging and trembling, into her mouth, and bit into it.

The warm taste of iron spread in my mouth. And... Botan twisted her mouth deeply.

The dragonfly certainly saw a smile of delight, a wicked smile. Right in front of it.

'Ki...!?'

A third of dragonfly's face was gouged out. The youkai fell to the ground without understanding what had happened. The thick carapace of the biting insect that was approaching without a moment's delay was shattered by the impact. The shockwave reverberated. The sight that the frightened cicada saw at the last moment was the figure of an evil Oni with wings wearing a yin-yang robe.

"Haa, haa, haa...!! This is quite something, it really hits you!!"

Immediately distancing herself from the battlefield, Botan landed on the trunk of a large tree and gasped for breath. Large drops of sweat were pouring out of her whole body, and she repeatedly shook her shoulders up and down. It was a physical confrontation without using spiritual youkai arts. It was all about the physical violence through simple physical enhancement.

She knew it was probably possible. However... to fight while maintaining her reason and not being swayed by this power, it seemed that considerable mental strength was required.

"I don't like hand-to-hand combat...!!?"

Just as Botan is able to catch his breath, a shadow spreads out before Botan's eyes as he tries to leave the scene.

'Tekeriii'

"That’s a familiar barking sound from somewhere, I don't like it...!!!!?"

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