Mob Yandere

[Part 2/4]

We exchanged glances. Then, we nodded, determined.

"Well then, everyone, shall we enjoy this...?"

Raising a smoke bomb on one hand, on the verge of detonation, I theatrically declared. Naturally, it was just bravado...

* * *

In the forbidden depths of the forest, consecutive explosions echoed. White smoke spread out one after another. It was the signal.

Immediately after, there were screams of youkai, caused by the stink bombs released following the smoke bombs.

The last of the three stink bombs.

I mentally cursed the rampaging monster that was shouting furiously. I knew the identity of the furious opponent; after all, I had punched a hole in her chest just half an hour ago.

...Even if it couldn't perceive us due to the talisman' effects, that monster had been vigilantly cautious of her surroundings. It seemed to be a patient and adhesive behavior typical of plant youkai. Thanks to that, it had become extremely difficult to time our move.

(Well, there was plenty of time to prepare for this...)

I silently threw kunais. Not at the Flytrap Flowers, but at various small youkai.

I handed over kunais coated with my blood and flesh.

'Zoogoblocotadagaaaaggghh'

In response to the smell of my blood and flesh on the kunais, something massive, deviating from its humanoid form within the white smoke, charged at the point where the kunais had been thrown. Simultaneously, the screams of the small creatures that had been mistakenly targeted rang out.

I had anticipated that it would remember the taste and smell of my blood and flesh when its back was sliced open. That's why I used it to my advantage. Plant youkai were generally patient and took a waiting stance. They had no experience of being ensnared; they were foolish frogs in a well.

(Despite being a calamity youkai, it falls for such a simple diversion...!!)

I threw more kunais in the opposite direction to lure the Flytrap Flowers. Wouldn't it come after me? Unfortunately, I had forcibly applied ointment and filled the wound with medicine. Above all, my body stank of mole rat blood.

...Through the edge of the boundary connected by the talismans, I had intercepted the small youkai and pulled them in with a rope, pretending to slit their throats to spill fresh blood on my clothing. At least, I had managed to deceive the Plant Woman. It seemed like she was falling for it as expected.

'Zoogoblogotadagaaaaaaaaahblrrrrr!!'

Well, it was undoubtedly completely different from the real thing. But it was enough to divert the attention of her dependent and indulge in some easy youkai hunting.

...And if I could thin out the small fry, it would be easier to see the path to salvation.

(We can do this...)

Blocking our view with smoke and luring them with stink bombs, I opened a path. I ran through, ignoring the screams of the monstrous creatures around me.

And then, the field of vision opened up. We emerged from the thicket, and a river came into view. A vast, fast-flowing river stretched out ahead.

(Alright, just as planned...!)

I inwardly applauded my victory in the gamble. I had anticipated this. While tracking the monkey in pursuit of the orders from the court, I had witnessed the presence of the river. When I heard the sound of flowing water, I calculated its location and was fairly certain it was the same river. I just lacked confidence. Hence, the gamble, and I had won that gamble. Perhaps my luck was finally turning...!?

"~Tsu!"

"!"

I patted the shoulders of the loli Gorilla-sama I was holding three times. It was one of the pre-arranged signals. Its meaning was "Hold on tight and hold your breath."

A signal set up for this very moment.

'Aaaaaaah!!!! Diieeee'

"What...!?"

Just as I was about to jump into the river, a deafening roar echoed behind me. The ground was dramatically torn apart, and large trees were flung into the air, scattering earth and sand. The white smoke was forcefully dispersed.

Our presence was exposed.

'I won't forrrrfffffiivveveeee yyooooou!!!!?'

"Ugh!!"

"Servant!!?"

I protected the loli Gorilla-sama from the tendrils that were thrusting at us. In exchange for protection, the flesh around my shoulder was scraped. It was a relief it didn't pierce through; I had deflected the trajectory with my Dagger. The blade was completely destroyed in a single strike.

"Here we go...!!"

I glanced at the approaching calamity youkai with tremendous force, then took a deep breath and dived into the river. Just before diving into the river's surface, I saw a horrifying visage resembling a Hannya mask. Countless tendrils and flesh-eating leaves were coming at us... but the next moment, our vision was dyed blue. I held the loli Gorilla-sama tightly and surrendered to the deep current of the river.

Several tendrils from the river leaped at us, but due to the violent current, there was no one there anymore. It was all in vain to reach for the sky... no, the water.

(As expected, they didn't follow...!)

Many plant youkai were creatures of patience. They never ventured beyond their territory. Once they were in the river's current, it was already ours.

(Farewell...!)

I smiled mockingly at the Plant Woman, who was probably stamping her feet in frustration on the surface. All that was left was to climb out of the river at a suitable location, and that would resolve the situation... What's wrong, loli Gorilla-sama? You're patting my shoulder so desperately. Does your wound hurt that much?

(Yes...?)

When I turned to answer the call, there was a snake. A long river snake. A river snake youkai. It swam swiftly in the river, straight towards us, jaws wide open as if it had found its prey... Are you kidding me?

(No way!!?)

In response to the loli Gorilla-sama's shoulder tap, which meant, "This isn't a joke!", the river snake leaped at us. I fight it with my damaged Dagger. It was just a small youkai, but we were disadvantaged, injured, and running out of breath. A struggle was inevitable—or rather, we were already struggling within ten seconds. Damn it, it's coiling around my limbs... is it planning to drown us!?

(Hurry up and do something...!!)

(What can we do!?)

We communicated through glances and signals while tussling with the snake in the river, which was no peach to begin with. On the surface, it might look ridiculous, but in reality, we were fighting for our lives. It was truly a desperate battle. Wait, it's trying to strangle my neck...!!

"Ugh... ughhh...!"

"Ugh... ugh...?"

Then, as if realizing something, the loli Gorilla-sama signaled more intensely than before. While struggling with the river snake, which was now coiling around my neck, I glanced in the direction she indicated... and inadvertently released the air I had been holding in bubbles.

Up ahead in the river we were being carried by, there was an unmistakably deep waterfall.

(Is this a joke, damn it!!?)

I twisted the river snake's neck without uttering a word. I released the grip on its throat, causing it to slacken. I regained control of my limbs. But it was already too late...!?

(Princess, prepare yourself!!)

I signaled and, together with the loli Gorilla-sama, lifted her body to the surface of the river for a moment to catch her breath. She truly was a genius. I had set up the signal in advance. I hoped she would judge and execute it in an instant.

"Ugh!? Goboo...!?"

Just before plunging down the waterfall, I held the loli Gorilla-sama tightly. My vision swayed. We fell to the bottom of the waterfall. The impact struck my entire body. Bubbles overflowed. My vision spun violently, faded to black, and then, and then, and then...

* * *

'You... You... Don't underestimate me...!!'

How many hours had passed? Amidst the intense stench of death permeating the area, the youkai continued to curse relentlessly towards the fact that it had been left behind.

'How dare you, how dare you... You d*mn brat!!'

Even after slaughtering the riffraff drawn in by the smoke balls, the wrath of the calamity youkai showed no sign of subsiding. In fact, the scent of blood and flesh seemed to further stimulate her monstrous instincts. Creeping vines and roots slithered into the corpses to suck blood, and flesh-eating leaves enveloped and dissolved them whole. Finally satiating her hunger, the monster began to regain her rationality and reflect on the cause of the situation.

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