[Part 3/4]
The 'Onihitokuchi' mocked Tamaki and Suzune's trembling responses behind them, but it soon let out a groan. Its abdomen began to swell like a balloon... and then it burst.
"Huh!!?"
"W-What's happening!?"
Suzune screamed at the splattering guts, and Tamaki was flustered. Formulaic symbols were pouring out of its abdomen. No, it wasn't just its abdomen; a massive number of symbols were spewing forth from the creature's mouth as well. It's hard to tell exactly how many there were; there were likely many more than the number of talismans that had previously restrained the 'Onihitokuchi.' They flew through the air, scattering on the floor...
"Is that... Shirowakamaru-kun's!?"
"What are you talking about...!!?"
Tamaki called out, thinking that Shirowakamaru on the rooftop had come to their aid. She was about to express her gratitude, but her response was unexpected. The former boy was completely preoccupied with a horde of 'Akaname' surrounding her. She was in no position to provide assistance to Tamaki and the others.
"Then, what...!? Huh!? More importantly!!?"
Pushing aside her confusion, Tamaki looked around. Murasaki was still in the midst of exterminating the 'Akaname.' The kidnapper was... there!! Without attempting to flee, the culprit was leisurely watching the events unfold from a higher position in the room, still holding Ezo's princess captive.
"Hehehe..."
"Huh...!? You're kidding!"
Their eyes locked, and a smile was directed at her. Sensing the presence of eye techniques, Tamaki immediately averted her gaze. She spat out her contempt. Despite having caused such chaos, she couldn't fathom how someone who likely wasn't even a youkai could adopt such an attitude.
"Miss..."
"Suzune, step back. I'll finish this quickly...!!"
Tamaki gently reassured her terrified friend, trying to convince her as much as possible, and then turned her attention to the culprit of this situation... or rather, this forbidden art festival. There seemed to be no room for doubt. She was facing off against the troublemaker of the Miyataka clan.
"You're the culprit behind this incident related to the Miyataka, right? This is your final warning, release her... Princess Tamamo."
"And if I refuse?"
In response to Tamaki's warning, laden with killing intent, the kidnapper questioned in a cheeky tone. As she spoke, she pressed her body against the princess. They were in such close proximity that their cheeks were touching. Ezo's princess trembled with a start. Holding back her anger, Tamaki replied to the culprit.
"In that case, I'll take her back by force...!!"
Her tone was unexpectedly sharp, quite unlike her usual mild demeanor. It was only natural. There was no way she could forgive this. Regardless of the reasons, there was no justification for tarnishing the dignity of so many living and deceased. It shouldn't have happened. It was unacceptable. Inconceivable.
"...If you can, then give it a try. Oh, dear young lady."
Pressing her cheek against the princess', Miyataka's curse caster taunted with a mocking tone. The sparrow above the princess' head flapped its wings suddenly. One feather danced through the air. It fluttered down gently, down to the princess...
"This is bad...!?"
"...!!!"
Murasaki shouted while cutting down the 'Akaname'. And Tamaki was already moving. She transformed into a gust of wind, racing forward at literal sonic speed, closing the distance before her.
"Haaah!!"
Her swung sword left even sound behind. It swept away the falling feather. Not just the feather, even the pitch-black sparrow perched above the princess was transformed into meat and then dust in the next moment. Tamaki's skill in achieving this without harming the princess was truly a feat of divine proportions.
"Well done... Now, how about this?"
She uttered a word that appeared to be praise, but it held a mocking tone. At the same time, numerous thin strands pierced Tamaki's body. These tendrils were like extensions of the pipe in Miyataka's hands and the ember tray...
And the real nature of these tendrils is 'Jubokko,' a kind of flesh-eating supernatural creature that preys on human flesh. More accurately, a forbidden art had been cultivated artificially, improved for portability, and embedded in the ember tray. It sprouted from seeds upon ignition and pierced Tamaki's body without any hesitation.
"Miss!!?"
"MIss Tamaki!?"
Suzune, and even Murasaki who had finally finished off the last of the 'Akaname', cried out. The captive princess covered her mouth in shock. Ignoring their reactions, the youkai tree sapling, appearing as if from nowhere, coiled tendrils around Tamaki's body, attempting to suck her blood. But when attempting to do so... the body vanished like a mirage.
"I did say it was your last warning, right?"
A cold voice resounded from behind. Smirking, Miyataka Shinobu turned around. As she did, she raised the pipe in her hand. However, her entire hand, the pipe, and even the sapling were pierced all at once.
"Ugh...!? You really don't hold back!!"
The sword that pierced her hand stuck deep into the tatami. Tamaki released the sword. She then drew a backup wakizashi. Naturally, she thrust it towards Shinobu's throat.
"...That was something like a clone technique, right? An interesting technique. How does it work?"
"Release the Princess. If you do anything strange, I'll cut your throat. This is not a threat!!"
Despite the injury to her hand and beads of sweat forming on her forehead, Shinobu continued her insolent tone. Tamaki coldly ignored her question, focusing solely on delivering her demands with an assertive tone.
"...You're a pretty scary girl, making such threats."
Shining amethyst eyes that celebrated the presence of a youkai-like brilliance stared at Tamaki. But Tamaki gazes at "fate" and remained silent. There was no further worth in arguing. She kept her eyes locked on, cautious not to miss any suspicious movements...
"...really, scary girl."
After a brief silence, Miyataka's curse caster suddenly released the hostage. It seemed she had been holding her in a somewhat supportive manner. The moment she was released, Ezo's princess fell on her behind.
"Miss Tamaki, are you okay...!?"
"Miss...!!"
Suzune rushed forward, confirming that the situation had settled and that there was no further resistance. Murasaki seemed to do the same. Meanwhile, Shirowakamaru appeared to be waiting on the rooftop.
"I'm fine, I don't have a single injury... not a single injury."
In response to her companions' calls, Tamaki started to turn towards them, but immediately admonished herself against letting her guard down and fixed her gaze back on Miyataka's curse caster. She continued to scrutinize her suspicious behavior, maintaining surveillance without missing any details. That was her duty now. She couldn't afford to let her guard down.
"'Shimenawa Snake,' do it... and Miss Tamaki, that's enough. I'll take it from here. More importantly, the princess."
Murasaki stepped forward, revealing one aspect of her youkai blade's power. The blade twisted and transformed. Composed entirely of blades, the snake slithered around Shinobu's body, leaving only the space where it touched him untouched. Even a slight movement would likely cut the skin with its sharp edges. The curse caster was now completely immobilized, unable to move a finger.
"Yeah, thank you." Searᴄh the NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Tamaki expressed her gratitude to Murasaki and finally stepped back. It had been a short yet intense moment. Even though she had no injuries, both physically and mentally, Tamaki was considerably worn out. Slightly unsteady, she headed towards Suzune. As for Suzune, she was pulling Ezo's princess, who had just been a hostage, away from Shinobu.
"I-I'm sorry. My, my legs..."
"I understand, don't worry. Umm... can you walk?"
It seemed the princess couldn't walk due to her legs. Suzune gently placed her arm around the princess and helped her out.
"Suzune... are you hurt?"
"Miss..."
Remembering the awkwardness before this incident, Tamaki hesitated for a moment, but then brushed it aside and approached her friend, offering comfort. Suzune also understood Tamaki's feelings through her actions.
"It must have been tough for you..."
"No, I'm fine. Thank you for earlier. And... you came to help, right?"
Tamaki nodded slightly in response to Suzune's gratitude and confirmation question. Suzune expressed her gratitude deeply to her mistress.
"I feel undeserving. ...I'm sorry. I probably caused you a lot of trouble."
"Don't worry about it. It's mutual."
Mutual understanding... Suzune was momentarily puzzled by those words, and then quickly grasped their meaning. They exchanged glances. Tamaki's expression seemed a bit tense, mixed with embarrassment.
"...Maybe we can talk later?"
"Of course. We're friends, after all."
They exchanged small smiles, quickly regaining their composure. A path to resolve their tensions had been found. Now, they should deal with the current situation.
"...?"
"? What's wrong, Suzune?"
"Oh, no... huh?"
Suzune suddenly realized something and touched her own cheek, looking around. She looked around, tilted her head in confusion. Tamaki asked, but Suzune seemed unable to find the right words to explain what she had noticed, leaving her visibly flustered.
"Why are you both letting your guard down? The danger isn't over...!? ...Is it Ezo's people?"
Seeing Tamaki and the others acting like this, Murasaki was about to scold them, but then she tensed up. She became wary of the approaching presence, which turned out to be Ezo's warriors coming up the stairs into the room... and was immediately relieved.
They had discussed this with their master beforehand. Waiting for slow-footed Ezo soldiers to gather would be too late. They had acted quickly. And they had fulfilled their duty.
Now all that was left was to hand over the princess and interrogate Miyataka's curse caster and the maid. The former genuinely, the latter superficially... or should they first deal with the monsters rampaging in the city? In any case, they had overcome the climax. Murasaki was about to start discussing the handover process with Ezo's warriors when...
"Hehehe."
"? What's so funny?"
In response to the mocking laughter of the suspect who was immobilized, Murasaki changed her focus. She addressed the source of the contempt with maximum disdain, probing.
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