Chapter 142.2


    [Part 2/4]


    We exchanged nces. 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 dered. 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.


    Thest of the three stink bombs.


    ''Zozogoblogogocarrgh!''


    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 vigntly cautious of her surroundings. It seemed to be a patient and adhesive behavior typical of nt youkai. Thanks to that, it had be 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. nt 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 cmity youkai, it falls for such a simple diversion...!!)


    I threw more kunais in the opposite direction to lure the Flytrap Flowers. Wouldn''t ite 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 nt Woman. It seemed like she was falling for it as expected.


    ''Zoogoblogotadagaaaaaaaaahblrrrrr!!''


    Well, it was undoubtedlypletely 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 nned...!)


    I inwardly apuded 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 calcted its location and was fairly certain it was the same river. I justcked confidence. Hence, the gamble, and I had won that gamble. Perhaps my luck was finally turning...!?


    "~Tsu!"


    "!"


    I patted the shoulders of the loli Gori-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, andrge 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 Gori-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 de waspletely destroyed in a single strike.


    "Here we go...!!"


    I nced at the approaching cmity 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 wereing at us... but the next moment, our vision was dyed blue. I held the loli Gori-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 nt 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 nt 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 Gori-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 Gori-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 nning to drown us!?


    (Hurry up and do something...!!)


    (What can we do!?)


    Wemunicated through nces 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 Gori-sama signaled more intensely than before. While struggling with the river snake, which was now coiling around my neck, I nced 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 cken. I regained control of my limbs. But it was already toote...!?


    (Princess, prepare yourself!!)


    I signaled and, together with the loli Gori-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 Gori-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 ck, 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 ughtering the riffraff drawn in by the smoke balls, the wrath of the cmity youkai showed no sign of subsiding. In fact, the scent of blood and flesh seemed to further stimte 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.