Mob Yandere

[Part 2/5]

If I were to become Yun-shoku or something similar, I would be even more entangled in Onitsuki's conspiracy. In that case, it's better to keep my master as the official superior for now.

"Suggesting to use your master as a human sacrifice, you're quite ruthless."

"I wouldn't say 'sacrifice,' but... I guarantee your safety."

"Can I trust you?"

"No, you can trust the Princess."

"Huh?"

The final words belong to Aoi, directing a condemning gaze towards me.

"Please don't look at me like that. ...As a princess, it's better to have more pawns. Yun-shoku's abilities are much higher than mine, and she is also trusted among the group. I won't lose, you know?"

Aoi doesn't hide her dissatisfaction with my explanation. However, she doesn't outright reject it either. That arrogant and insolent Gorilla-sama. In other words... if I push, I can make it work.

"Princess, please..."

I bow my head and plead. It was a tactic to manipulate her with tears, despite her being younger. A despicable plan that relies on emotion. It was the lowest thing I could do, just based on appearance.

I didn't intend to choose the means. Regarding this matter.

"...I couldn't keep my promise, could I?"

"...Huh?"

"Prepare yourself, as I'm going to make you work hard. Got it?"

As if she muttered something quietly, Aoi unexpectedly accepted my plea without hesitation. It was a concession that was surprisingly easy. To be honest, I was confused. I thought I could negotiate a little more...

"Do you have a problem with something?"

It's the princess who glares at me with a piercing look, as if my attitude doesn't please her. Scary.

"No, nothing... Yun-shoku, please understand that."

"Well, does that mean you’re ignoring my will?"

"There are no choices for a traitorous loser. Well, just give up."

Aoi spits out coldly, as if tightening the noose. My master frowns. Looks at me.

"Don't you think about the fact that you let many subordinates die?"

"Of course, regarding that... was there anything I could do?"

"..."

Her words are, in a sense, harsh, and it's also something she herself has said. My master was powerless. In that position, with that authority, she couldn't have done anything effective. Blaming is easy, accusing is easy, but... it's just self-satisfaction. It's no different from punching a sandbag.

What we needed was not settling the scores of yesterday but thinking about tomorrow's plans. You can't move forward by looking back.

"There are various lingering issues... well, please. Let's start over from scratch?"

I didn't say, because this is the only way to save her... She probably understood that even without it being said.

"..."

Now, my master fell silent. Her words trembled, but were spoken with conviction.

"Truly, you are a disappointment. A terrible disciple."

Though her words were sharp, they were tinged with a hint of trembling. Slowly, the tension in her voice eased, and she seemed to find some relief, slumping her shoulders in resignation.

"Terrible. Truly, terrible..."

Her muttered words of resentment carried a complex emotion, and the sound of suppressed sobbing continued endlessly. I had no choice but to continue accepting and listening.

Perhaps that was the only redemption I could offer.

And so, it was an act of atonement to alleviate this indescribable swirl of emotions that persisted within me...

...

...

...

"I apologize. I've shown you an unsightly sight, haven't I?"

After what felt like hours, a calmness finally returned, and my master wiped away the tears from her eyes. Her eyelids were swollen, and the sound of her sniffing mucus reverberated through the air, her face flushed crimson.

"For someone who is supposed to be an adult, how pathetic."

"Princess..."

"Hmph."

I call out to Aoi in response to her harsh criticism. Aoi snorts in genuine displeasure. She shoots me a gaze filled with dissatisfaction. From the standpoint of someone who almost had their life taken away, it was a natural reaction.

However, from my perspective, I can't help but sympathize even more with the position of my master... It must be the difference in the length of our relationship. I find myself harboring quite unfair thoughts.

"It's okay, Tomobe. I know how I'm seen by the Princess."

"But..."

"More importantly, tea. Would you like a refill?"

My master, with a tearful smile at my persistence, offers the next cup of tea. I quickly understand the intention. She probably didn't want to worsen the relationship between Aoi and me at this point.

"Well, then. I'll take it."

And I agreed with that opinion. Criticizing each other here wouldn't make any sense. It's not constructive. The wounds taken to the heart and the unresolved emotions need time to dilute. At least in this case.

"It's a bit cooler than earlier, but... it's still hot, so be careful."

My master poured tea into the received teacup. And then, she returned the teacup. I receive it. I try to accept it... but the teacup never leaves my master's arm.

"...Yun-shoku?"

"..."

I call out. There is no response. I'm confused. Once again, I call out. I peer into her face. My master's expression, with wide-open eyes and agitation.

Immediately after, my master's "only one eye" peeks at me.

"Yun-shoku?"

"..."

"Yun-shoku?"

"Now, re-lease... it... now!!"

Yun-shoku screamed, and at the same time, the contents of the teacup were splattered on my face. It was a terrible pain to my face. However, without caring about that, I turned my attention to Aoi beside me. I could see the burning firewood being swung, and in an instant, I hugged Aoi, leaped and jumped, and then... immediately, a more severe impact hit my temple than before.

"Gah!?"

For a moment, my consciousness was interrupted, and I immediately woke up with more pain. The burning tip of the firewood pressed into my shin is reflected in my field of vision. Aoi's accusation of "Did you deceive...!?" echoed in my ears.

"No, she didn't...!!"

I immediately denied Aoi's words. I knew my master was not that kind of person. There was no meaning in betraying us here. Above all, my master's previous words, that was...!!

"Could it be...!!"

I raised my head, beating my aching body. And I saw it. The figure of my master looking down on me. Half of her expression distorted in astonishment and agony, the other half cold and indifferent...!!

"Are you really going to show up here, and not care about people's hearts? Seriously!!?"

I directed my hatred towards the "spirit" of Onitsuki Yuusei, the head of the Onitsuki family that had parasitized my master's body...

* * *

'How utterly detestable. I never imagined you would survive this long.'

"What...?"

My master's mouth spat curses in a voice that was not her own. Half of her face filled with astonishment, the remaining half cold and expressionless. It was as if there were two people in one body, a manifestation of the extraordinary power possessed by the head of the Onitsuki family.

'Soul Seizure (Yūtai Ridatsu)'... The power to possess others' bodies by dividing a part of one's own soul. The power to possess and overwrite the original soul. The terror lies in the fact that it is even possible to partially preserve the personality of the original soul. The fact that one cannot even realize that they are being parasitized and consumed...!!

"H-hahaha! This is truly merciless...!!?"

It's just too thorough. How many precautions did he take? How many sacrifices is he willing to make to kill us? It was an incredibly abnormal 'obsession.'

'What are you saying? In reality, you've come this far. Rather, my concerns were correct. It's true that being prepared is never a bad thing.'

"My body...!?"

The burning firewood was lifted without emotion. And it was brought down. I screamed. I was surprised that I could still make such a voice. This guy, of all things, pressed it against my decaying flesh...!!?

'Here, one more time.'

"Aaaaargh...!?"

"Tomobe!!? Stop it!! To impersonate my father and to harm Tomobe...!!"

Aoi screams in response to my third shout. She glares at the assassin with a demon-like expression.

"You coward! You pathetic coward! Your target is me, isn't it?! You even imitate my father's mannerisms!! Brainwashing!? Possession!? Why don't you just introduce yourself properly!?"

'...'

In response to Aoi's provocation and abuse, the man controlling the other half of my master narrows his eyes as if bored. And he swings the wood. Inserted into my wound and make a scream for a fourth time.

"Stop it...!? If you're going to hit Tomobe..., hit me!!"

'I'll deal with you later. Unworthy daughter. Just watch silently there... '

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