Mob Yandere

[Part 2/5]

...

...

"Oh? You are... If you're a companion, they went that way."

...'Corpse' pointed in that direction, addressing the late arrival.

* * *

"...So, somehow or another, we managed to escape."

"That's for sure. But I never expected he'd end up coming back again... Humans really are curious creatures, huh?"

In a medical tent set up at a corner of the encirclement around 'Mayoiga,' the laborers explained the situation.

The laborers had been brought here about two hours ago. Besides them, around ten others had been brought here as well. They underwent thorough examinations, including treatment for injuries, investigation of curses and brainwashing, and checking for youkai parasites in their bodies.

In fact, they spent more time on that part than on rescuing them. It was only natural that various suspicions arose, given the rarity of successfully escaping from 'Mayoiga' in such a short time with this many people.

However, it seemed that the suspicions had been cleared up by now...

Being protected near confinement, that was the treatment awaiting those who had successfully escaped from the labyrinth. The reason for Shiro's visit to this tent, set up in a particularly safe area, was clear; she wanted to hear the story from them about the servant who had led them out of the depths of the labyrinth and returned once again.

Well, she was supposed to ask about their injuries and the reason for their return, but what she ended up hearing were tales of heroics.

"Hey, old man. Don't exaggerate the story. You didn't do anything impressive, did you? You were crying the whole time with an arrow stuck in your arm."

"Who are you calling old man, you brat? I'm not even in my thirties yet!! And I wasn't crying!"

"You were complaining though, right?"

The one retorting with a sharp gaze to the tales of heroics was a servant-in-training, also known as Izayoi, who had escaped from 'Mayoiga' alongside them. In fact, everyone in the group stared at the laborer with the same look. Sukemaru had a somewhat indescribable expression on his face.

"I owe a lot to Yun-shoku. It's no wonder, considering he's from the prestigious Onitsuki family. I'm guessing he returned by the princess's order... But still with almost no equipment and without proper treatment for his injuries is a bit..."

Continuing the conversation, another servant from a different family, whose entire body was wrapped in bandages, answered. Was it Sakuama family's servant?

"Hey, watch your mouth, Sakuama's servant. This white servant here is the princess's attendant, you know?... I apologize. I have been indebted to Yun-shoku, so I have some reservations about that order, big or small."

Reprimanding Sakuama's servant, the leader of the servant group from Asakuma family spoke. He offered his apology in place of his injured companion.

"I see... Well, thank you for sharing your valuable story."

Shiro bowed politely in response to their accounts. In truth, she hadn't heard the full story from her master yet, and before that, she had disappeared somewhere. She wasn't certain, but she didn't think that his return to hell was a result of her master's command. She would never say it aloud though...

"If you want to hear more, feel free to come anytime. However... it's about time, two hours have passed."

The leader of Asakuma's servant group accepted Shiro's gratitude gracefully, but after a moment, he murmured heavily. The other survivors around also wore complex expressions in response.

It was assumed that anyone trapped in 'Mayoiga' would perish if they didn't escape within a day... To continue waiting with hope for the survivors would be a waste of time, especially if the goal of this expedition was not just investigation but complete extermination. Moreover, the two hours limit was already approaching.

"...I'm sorry. Then, I'll take my leave now."

Shiro didn't respond to the murmur and bowed again before leaving the tent. No one stopped her.

"..."

Outside the tent, with a gloomy expression, Shiro walked through the camp in silence. The laborers going about their business glanced at the half-youkai girl but quickly returned to their tasks. Initially, they were taken aback by her half-youkai nature, but by now they had grown accustomed to her presence, and some even showed perplexed expressions at her despondent appearance.

The person in question, however, was not interested in their reactions.

"Tomobe-san..."

Wandering aimlessly, she arrived at the tent of that particular servant. The last time they had exchanged words was here. When they ate the bento received from their master together. That had been their final meal. Right now, she didn't feel like eating anything...

She entered the tent. There was simplicity and hardly any personal belongings, and even the few items were devoid of playfulness. Only the essential items for survival were present. In a sense, it was typical of a servant, an austere space...

"It's lonely..."

Perhaps because he was not here, she felt it even more strongly. The same appearance, but the presence of that person would have made a significant difference. Now, just by looking at it, it was difficult to tell that it was his tent.

...Surely, if he doesn't return, all these belongings will be distributed to the other servants for reuse.

"...!!"

Without thinking, she reached out to the spare clothes hanging there. Embracing it tightly, despite its weight with the metallic thread, she buried her face and took a deep breath through her nose. She could still sense his lingering scent even after washing it.

"Suuhh... Haa"

And then, she continued to repeat the action of embracing and sniffing the clothing. It was more of a childlike behavior rather than an expression of affection. As a half-youkai, Shiro had excellent senses, especially her sense of smell. The loneliness of her companions' absence combined with the sensitivity to the scent, driving her impulse to seek comfort through the familiar scent.

On the other hand, it wasn't solely driven by affection...

"…?"

How long had she been doing this? She suddenly felt her fox ears on the top of her head twitching. She couldn't fathom the reason but felt an ominous presence. For a moment, she hesitated in her judgment, but then returned the clothing gently and quietly left the tent.

"Huh? What happened...?"

Everything she saw appeared white. She couldn't comprehend what was happening, but as she realized that the white mist creeping throughout the camp had a clear intention and purpose, she involuntarily gasped. After all, it would make sense, wouldn't it? The phenomenon was unfolding with distinct purpose, as if disguising itself as a natural occurrence. It couldn't possibly be benign.

"Why? Why do I...?"

Her thoughts were interrupted, and she was perplexed. How did she know? How could she assert such things? It was as if she had experienced it before...? But before she could ponder further, her thoughts were interrupted again, this time by a piercing scream.

"Gyaaaahhhh!!"

"Huh?"

A grotesque sound as if something was being torn apart, followed by screams, and then the sounds of crunching and flesh being torn apart, echoed through the deep fog. In the midst of the opaque fog, panic, fear, and despair were intermingled, and Shiro trembled in fright. Although she didn't know exactly what was happening, she understood one thing clearly.

They were under attack.

"…!!"

Immediately, Shiro tried to make the best decision. She knew that she would be defenseless and vulnerable if she stayed exposed like this in the open field. If they were under attack, there was no use just waiting to be assaulted and eventually killed.

She turned toward the tent she was in earlier, intending to hide inside and take cover, when...

"Oh my, oh my, oh my? Shiroki-san, where are you heading?"

"Huh...?"

Suddenly, a carefree and playful voice resounded, and Shiro stopped in her tracks. She was dumbfounded as she slowly turned around and caught sight of a petite and slender figure standing behind her.

'Ahahaha, long time no see, Shiraki-san. How many days has it been? Have you been preparing something with this group? In that case, my apologies.'

The woman, dressed in ceremonial attire reminiscent of the people on the continent, spoke cheerfully in a light tone. She appeared to be no older than twenty. With amber hair cascading down and almond-shaped eyes glistening with a bluish light, she possessed an enchanting and youthful beauty, one that was both alluring and bewitching, as if she was sculpted solely to captivate men.

"You are..."

'Oh my, but since we have this opportunity to talk without any pretense, wouldn't it be nice for you to be more cooperative? After all, you've been warned by Kurorei Big Sister that such an uncooperative attitude is not good!'

Who was she? What was her purpose? Before Shiro could entertain her doubts, the woman continued, incessantly and one-sidedly, without giving her any chance to speak. Shiro struggled to understand her words, trying to process the information being presented to her.

This person knew about her, and she mentioned the black fox. Could this person possibly be someone she or her sister knew...?

"......"

'Ah, I see. You seem to be taken aback. That's a bit sad. Haven't we played together a few times before? At the human games in Atsuya? It was quite an exciting match, wasn't it? I was surprised. You were quite bold to do that for the first time. Everyone's scores were so close, and in the end, big sister had to be the judge, right?'

What was she talking about? Atsuya? Human games? Wait, she felt some familiarity with those words. Certain memories and images flashed through her mind. She grasped at the fragments of her memory, but it overwhelmed her, causing a wave of nausea. Shiro instinctively covered her mouth with her small hands, her face turned pale as she gasped for air, feeling tremors all over her body. She couldn't care about the mud beneath her knees; she knelt to the ground, shaking and wide-eyed, trying to comprehend.

It was remnants of memories buried deep within her consciousness. A fragment. The white half-youkai fox, a servant to the second princess of the Onitsuki family, was born as a part of the abominable calamity youkai, a manifestation of her evil nature, gathering the human-like elements and naive traits to be discarded as a defective fragment... However, it was undoubtedly still a part of the calamity youkai, Korishiraki.

The evil youkai fox, Korishiraki, had committed countless atrocities, and she couldn't possibly be ignorant of them.

"Ah-ah-ah-ah! Blaargh...!"

Since the lunch earlier, she hadn't eaten much, and fortunately, only stomach acid was expelled from her mouth. She continued to gag, vomit, and shed tears, huddled on the ground. Sweat poured down her forehead as her heart pounded fiercely.

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