Mob Yandere

[Part 3/4]

Anyway, I decided to stop entertaining this unserious mentor of mine and instead join in the corpse-kicking fest. I used my spear as a staff and turned on my heels. I walked towards the carcass of the struggling deer. I grumbled a few words of complaint, which was the least I could do.

"Are you okay? You don't have to push yourself..."

"Yeah. Don't worry about me. It's better than dealing with Yun-shoku."

As Yahiro noticed me approaching slowly, he expressed concern and I responded with a light tease. He was my benefactor and mentor, but even in familiar relationships, there's a level of politeness to maintain. I didn't want to be scolded like this.

"Right. Could you at least show a bit more dignity and seriousness—"

I muttered this almost to myself, right before it happened. It occurred suddenly, without any warning.

"Huh...!?"

"...What's this...?"

The ground shook. Roaring echoed. We all turned around simultaneously. Looked up. In astonishment, we all looked up.

"...Huh?"

There was a deer. There was a monster shaped like the deer we had just exterminated. It seemed to be about twice as long though.

'Roarrrrrrr!!!'

The deer roared fiercely. Its eight eyes looked at the deer we had killed earlier, then at us. It was clearly enraged.

...Ah, must be its parent.

"Yun-shoku..."

"...Shirato, and Kuchinasi, I'm counting on you both."

Amidst the tense silence filled with killing intent, Shirato's whispered question sounded. I saw Yun-shoku giving sharp orders. Due to the angle, I couldn't see her face. However, she had drawn a wakizashi as a backup from her hip. Behind her, several people slowly pulled out explosive balls from their pockets...

"Now!! Evacuate!! Everyone, evacuate!!"

'Roarrrrr!!!'

Suddenly, Yun-shoku shouts. It was an order. Several servants assumed throwing positions in response. Almost simultaneously, the monster also roared with its jaws wide open... and the ground was torn apart.

"...!!?"

I successfully escaped the spot just in time, and I shuddered at the scene of devastation where I had been standing a moment ago.

Presumably, it had raised its head. Perhaps it had dug with its horn. It seemed like a crater had formed. The trees and rocks had been completely overturned. It was a hole big enough to fit two or three small houses. I looked around. Luckily, it seemed that no one had been caught in the aftermath...?

"D*mn it! Look up! Be careful!!"

"Wha...!?"

Yun-shoku commands. I instinctively looked up at the sky and cursed myself for my lack of judgment. Until now, I hadn't thought about where the torn object had disappeared to.

It fell. Not just dirt and sand. Trees, pebbles, even chunks of rock. It was like a heavy rain.

"D*mn it...!!?"

I had been standing right in the center of the impact zone. I immediately tried to move away from the spot again. But in that moment, it was too late!?

Countless pieces of soil blurred my vision. Pebbles hit me, causing pain. I didn't care. The real problem was the larger rocks and big chunks of wood. I sprinted, and twisted my body. I realized a massive tree was falling right next to me and someone's scream reached my ears. But I didn't pay any attention and focused solely on escaping.

"Over here!!"

"Whoa!!?"

Yun-shoku's voice rang out. She grabbed my hand and pulled me along. A rock had fallen in the direction I was heading. Upon impact with the ground, it shattered into fragments that scattered in all directions.

"They caught us off guard!? What are you doing!? Smoke screen!! Quickly!!"

The surroundings were a flurry of movement, too chaotic for my senses to keep up. I could only feel being pulled close and recognize the sound of those shouts. And a white smoke drifted into the edge of my vision...

"Come on!! Don't just stand there!! We're running...!!"

"Whoa, wai...!!?"

Guided by Yun-shoku, who was leading the way, I ran through the smoke. I moved my legs forcefully, even as they threatened to trip me up. It was a literal race against being a deadweight, so I ran with all my might.

"Ugh, gah, aah..."

...Right after, a strained moan reverberated through my eardrums.

"Yun-shoku, the voice now...!?"

"Voice? ...Kuchinasi!?"

Yun-shoku understood the meaning of my observation a moment after I pointed it out. At the end of her gaze was the massive tree that had fallen earlier. And beneath it were one... no, two shadows!!

"Hisame!? Explain the situation...!!"

Yun-shoku shouted towards the area beside the fallen tree.

"Yun-shoku...!! Ah, his leg's trapped by the wood...!!?"

A young, or rather a childlike voice responded, trembling. Immediately, I remembered the newbie who had just joined Kuchinasi's team.

"It hurts... d*mn it, hurts!!"

I could hear the voice, more of a curse, coming from where the old man was groaning. His one leg was pinned by the fallen tree, and the dark red blood was seeping into the ground, spreading.

"Kuchinasi...! Ugh!? Tomobe, help! Hisame, pull Kuchinasi out...!"

Yun-shoku ordered as she wedged her wakizashi along with its sheath into the gap between Kuchinasi's foot and the large tree trunk. Her intention was clear. I also twisted the tip of my spear into the gap and then used my spiritual energy to harden the spear, enhancing my own body as well. Following the principle of leverage, I strained to lift the massive tree.

"Ugh... damn it, you b*stard. That's why I didn't want to be with this jinx...!!"

Kuchinasi muttered almost deliriously. I at least understood whom he was addressing, if nothing else.

"..."

"Tomobe, now is..."

"I understand... ugh, is this... enough!?"

I realized Yun-shoku was calling out as I focused on my task.

"Leader, we're almost there! Just a bit more...!"

With Yun-shoku and me creating a gap in the space, Hisame grabbed Kuchinasi's side and quickly pulled his out from under the fallen tree.

"This..."

Kuchinasi's right leg was literally crushed. The torn flesh, shattered bone—though not reduced to splinters—and the inner damage was significant. At least at this moment, even with a staff or a shoulder to support him, it seemed impossible for him to walk.

"Ugh..."

"Kuchinasi, are you okay!? Can you guys...?"

Given Kuchinasi's relatively large build, both Hisame and I found it difficult to carry him. Yun-shoku tried to shoulder the burden, but Kuchinasi himself prevented that.

"I don't need it... ugh, jus-just leave me... it's impossible. I'm done for. Either way, I won't make it."

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