Mob Yandere

Chapter 158.2

[Part 2/5]

She roughly grabs her hair. Mari's startled scream. Shirowakamaru silently watches her. The face of the female filled with perplexity and confusion. It's unclear whether she understands that malice is being directed at her. She looks up at her with invisible eyes... Ah, how detestable.

(Shall I throw her to random youkai?!)

It would be good if she all become as impure as her. That way, she will be superior to this person. Clean. Meaningful. Surely, even Big Bro...!!

"Huh!? This presence...!"

The presence of an intruder calmed down the surging emotions on the verge of going berserk. Outside the tent, the voices of people shouting could be heard, "The Tengu has arrived!"

"...We will set up a boundary around this tent. Don't go out on your own. Even if called from outside!"

It was a warning against the cunning youkai's common tactic of begging the opponent to invite them in or taking them outside. For this girl who finds it difficult to walk blindly, doing nothing and not allowing anything is the best choice for self-protection.

"Yes, um...!?"

"Hmph!!"

With a snort at Mari's incomprehensible response, Shirowakamaru turned on her heel and left the tent.

And shortly after, she chewed on the bitter pill of the declaration from the Tengu, who appeared as a "messenger"...

* * *

In Japanese mythology, the 'Yamata no Orochi' is one of the most popular monsters. Simply put, it's an eight-headed serpent that was intoxicated by Susanoo and had its heads cut off. It's also said that a sword comes out from its tail.

Although it doesn't appear in the main game scenario, its existence in this world is suggested in later novel versions, spin-offs, and setting collections. It's mentioned that there was a connection with the early days of the Fus-kuni nation. However, it's treated as a past existence at the same time.

...But it seems that it's not just a past existence after all.

"A serpent, you say...?"

I furrowed my brows at the unexpected word spoken by the Tengu.

"Has the information about it already been eradicated by you monkeys? Or, because of you, hasn't it spread even to the lower ranks? ...It's a shame, but it's not completely dead. Only seven-eighths, okay?"

"Seven-eighths."

"Because it's a first-class deity, isn't it natural?"

I was stunned by the sudden story and the fact that I was caught up in it...The Tengu woman saw my stupid side and laughed at me as she continued her explanation.

"I mean, his authority is troublesome, okay?"

The Tengu explained what kind of deity the "Yamata no Orochi" was.

Each of its eight heads serves as a remaining life. Even if one head is destroyed, the snake will revive by regenerating a new head. Each time this happens, its divine status as a whole diminishes by one-eighth... but even so , it was originally a colossal deity. Even if it's only one-eighth, it cannot be compared to an ordinary calamity youkai.

What makes it even more troublesome is that the lost heads themselves possess divinity. They remain in a state of death, and accordingly, calamity and divine punishment befall upon them.

In past subjugations, it is said that they caused the demise of entire provinces as a plague, sank lands as floods, became nightmares that manipulated nobles and became the catalyst for warfare, and even gave birth to an Oni general from an egg spat out by a severed head, which then ravaged the land of Fusou. This is what it means to haunt even in death.

The consequence of stopping is a side effect of its authority. It seems that reviving by discarding a part of the soul even changes the way of its existence. The attributes change with each revival, and it seems that what can be called a weakness also changes. The tactics that were effective last time may not be effective this time... it seems they have even turned into a trap.

"That's a terrible story. So, what? Are you telling me to subdue that snake? Isn't it so sudden?"

It's a really confusing story. Did they create the current situation for that purpose? To confront Fus-kuni? The story is still unreadable.

"Why are you bothering a troublesome deity? Do you even want its remains? Are you planning to make sake from the great snake's divine sake, like with the pit viper sake?"

Spitting it out with a touch of resignation, what suddenly comes to mind is Princess Kaguya's request to the suitors, full of unreasonable demands. The other side is just a mere MacGuffin (an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself), but in this case, its actual existence has come full circle and become troublesome.

"Oh, quite an interesting idea you have there. Shall we give it a try once we're done? However... it's not like I have any interest or craziness to do such things. Didn't I tell you? Originally, it was your matter."

"Ours."

"Yes. Yours."

Aka-bouchou speaks. She talks about the circumstances that led to such a request.

Having died seven times, revived seven times, the snake, who had only one remaining lifespan, threatened the Tengu village. Crawling out from the ground and devouring a hundred Tengu, it is an unknown fact to the outside world, but apparently, half of Anma's forbidden land has been lost to its existence. The snake is cunning. It now commands a multitude of youkai in the forbidden land, accumulating power... but without a doubt, it had revenge in mind.

"The attack on the village, as well as the assault on you guys, was just a pastime. It's bothering us, you know? Unintentionally and insensitively, it keeps provoking that damn snake. Let me make it clear, it's not an event that concerns me."

Deeply exhausted, Tengu speaks. Of course, I sensed the hidden meaning behind her words. Even if I didn't offer any support, I didn't make any effort to prevent it either.

At least for Tengu, the attack on the village must have been a godsend. And now that they are no longer needed, the snakes...

"If possible, why not subjugate it?"

"We tried. But there are a couple of problems. One, as you can see, is the curse."

God curses those who have defeated themselves. Without countermeasures, there is no escape from it, no matter what form it takes.

"...I'm starting to understand the situation."

These guys are requesting a 'human' sacrifice.

"Don't look at me like that. By the way, can you even be called 'human' with what's under that skin?"

"..."

I become silent when asked directly. I can't confidently answer that question now. However, these guys... have quite good powers of observation.

"...Why me?"

"That damn snake, it has a troublesome characteristic right at the end. Without divine power, you wouldn't be able to harm it."

"Is that the result of your experiment?"

"We had a divine artifact. It had an effect. But it got eaten along with its owner."

"My condolences. What about a substitute?"

"If there were plenty of them, you wouldn't be appreciated, okay?"

"True."

It is absolutely true. ...I wish things had gone smoothly.

"At any rate, it's beyond us to resolve this on our own. There was a possibility, but... then you guys showed up. And on top of that, there's a perfect condition for killing that damn snake... You get it, right?"

"You don't think I'll say no?"

"Isn't that what the hostage is for?"

"You stupid bird...!"

Even though I knew the opponent was a youkai in the same category as the youkai foxes, I couldn't hold back the abuse. What the hell is that all about? It's like they're trying to blame my very existence...!!

"You're saying such absurd things with such a nonchalant expression."

"That's terrible, monkey. I thought even your aesthetic sensibilities were kind of nice."

"Who would trust the face of a youkai?"

The transformation of hideous monsters into beautiful men and women, followed by man-eating, is a well-known story even among ignorant countryfolk. Moreover, in the case of the Tengu, it's common knowledge that their true form has a bird's face. If one were to believe the appearance of the woman before them, that would surpass being a complete fool.

"You're such a cruel person. Those who insult women's faces should be cursed."

"Is it something that someone who appointed me as a sacrifice can say..."

It's truly a story of "which mouth is saying this?" Or perhaps, "which beak?"

"...sigh"

Now, I sigh after finishing the information sharing. While looking around, numerous gazes directed towards me. Masks, robes, cloaks, their faces hidden, but the intense emotions can be felt. The only thing clear is the black determination piercing through their skin.

There's no escape. There's no way out. There are no choices. There's only a well-paved, malicious one-way road there.

"If I fail, what will happen to the hostages?"

'I won't harm them. I promise.'

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