Chapter 41.1

Chapter 41.1

From the beginning, it was clear we would not be able to shake off the pursuit. After all, they had three men and were fully armed, while we had no weapons and were outnumbered, and even had a target to guard. The situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable for us...

'That's why you had to make a short battle to get a head start, but this was a mistake from the very beginning.'

The shikigami declares over my shoulder as she hides. The tone of the shikigami voice is indifferent and devoid of emotion, but it makes me feel a little annoyed at this situation. Of course, it's just a reflection of frustration...

For my part, I was facing one of the lackeys, a young man called Iruka. I searched the warehouse for a weapon, but I only found a piece of lumber that I could use, so I reluctantly tried to hit him with it, but... he saw through my attempts at concealment and other deceptions and we were back to hand-to-hand combat.

(I wish I had more time...!!!)

If I had had a little more time to search inside the warehouse, I might have found a saw or a hammer, not to mention a weapon. After all, it seems all the warehouses in this area seem to contain lumber for building materials, and if so, there should have been some tools.

"There is no use in asking for something that is not there. More importantly..."

'What are we going to do with that?'

I turn my attention to the front when the shikigami says this. There is a lackey with a sword in one hand and claws as sharp as a beast's in the other. No, not like a beast. He is literally a beast... with youkai's arms grown out of him.

'It's tricky, but in a way, it's a good match. The strategy... is the 5th one we decided on beforehand, correct?'

"Yes. Please do. I'll leave the timing to you."

'Then, same to you. Play your cards right. If it looks like you're not going to make it, I'll let the girl appear first.'

With these words, the bee shikigami leaves my shoulder without being noticed. Well, it depends on my effort to do well... I never thought I'd use that strategy. If I fail, I'll be beheaded for sure.

"...I don't know how you managed to sneak into the capital looking like that. There should be some kind of boundary around it, right?"

I ask the lackey in front of me, partly to buy time.

The so-called boundary that repels youkai energy in the wall and the entrance/exit gate of the capital, in order to fool it, it is necessary to block youkai energy. In my case, it was a pill that tasted like sh*t, and in the case of Shiro, it was necessary to put a talisman on her whole body every time she went in and out of the place. Of course, the man in front of me should have had his arm caught in the boundary as it was... But then, I don't know how he did it...

(I'd like to hear him say a few things, including about the other two who didn't show...)

"Oops, I'm not going to fall for that trick, okay? I know you're trying to gather information like that!"

As I was thinking such a thing, Iruka jumped on me like a wolf in the next moment. He swung his sword at me from above in a straight line. D*mn, he's so stubborn...!

"Tsk!!"

"Don't run!!"

The movement itself is fast but monotonous, so I can avoid the sword by jumping to the left side. The reason why I avoid it on the left side is to avoid getting caught by a swing of his youkai's arm. I knew that the sword blow was only a diversion.

Now, I got down to avoid the sword and kicked his leg with all my might, aiming at his shin. It was what is known as a "kick to the shin".

"It hurts..!?"

Iruka's posture collapses and he falls down from the shoulder with a mournful cry. I knew that youkai's left arm was still his left arm, but his leg was just like a human's...!!

"Okay, just like this...!!"

"Don't play with me, you little fish!!"

I try to grab his weapon, but it's blocked by a flurry of sword blows in all directions. Without armor or even clothing, I am completely helpless against the sword. Without any other choice, I backed away and keep my distance.

On the other side, Iruka stands up with a pained expression on his face, using the sword as a support. And then he readies his sword... and the claw of his left arm swings out. Oh crap!!

"Tsk..!!!?"

Quickly... in an instant, the claw, as sharp and long as a dagger, is swung. I failed to measure my timing in the heat of the moment and was sliced from my right shoulder to my left side.

"Ggh...!?"

It was so close. Blood spurts out, but in reality, it's just a small cut on the surface of the flesh. No internal organs, no bones, and no aorta were injured. It's literally just a flesh cut. That was close. If I hadn't reacted a little slower, the artery would have... Huh!?

"Ugh, shut up!! You eat this too!"

"Ah... Ggh...!? It hurts!? You b*stard...!!?"

Immediately I snatched the scabbard from around Iruka's waist and swung it fully into his side. Iruka was choked by the blow delivered with my arm strength, which had been strengthened to the utmost limit by my spiritual power, and he vomited up some gastric juices. At the same time, I was caught as Iruka retreated, and his fingernail was pulled out from my wound with a fresh sound. Ggh, it hurts...!!?

"Ugh... W-well, it's better than having the wound widen like that..!"

I spit out while holding the wound on my shoulder. Just at the same time... suddenly a voice echoed through the warehouse district.

"Tomobe-san...!!"

The lovely voice sounded strangely impressive in the darkness. I turned my head to look. Kayo, who had been hiding in one of the warehouses, was leaning forward frantically to reveal herself. I turn toward her, eyes wide open. And as I was about to open my mouth...

"Ggh... Haa! I've got a chance...!!"

"Huh...? Ughh!?"

Iruka did not miss the momentary opening. He opened his big mouth with a snap. His sharp, wolfish double teeth are revealed. I braced myself for the "something" that would come out the next moment.

But it was the wrong decision. In hindsight, it would have been better to go on the offensive.

...a moment later, a roar rang out.

Perhaps it was some kind of a word technique. Or perhaps it was the ability of the implanted youkai. Iruka's roar, which should not have been loud, was as sharp as scissors for me, an invisible weapon that made my brain tremble.

I covered my ears as if my eardrums might be ruptured and blood spurting out, or as if I might have a concussion. Then, as a final blow, Iruka hit me with a roundhouse kick. I avoid the kick, which would have caved in my face if it had hit me directly, just in time, knowing that I would lose my posture.

(This is not good! I have an opening...!?)

I was at a huge disadvantage and was ready for Iruka's onslaught. But... it was also a mistake of judgment.

As my legs wobbled in the shaky vision and my face twisted in anguish, Iruka ran. Not in my direction. Toward Kayo.

"Ghh, cough... Ha~a... Ha~a... Idiot!! I don't give a shit about you. All I need is the brat...!!"

His voice is a little tired and husky, and he seems to move closer to youkai's side by using the technique he just used. Iruka, who had sprouted an iron-colored wolf tail before I knew it, but with a look of delight on his face, he sprinted like a wolf to Kayo with his claws raised.

Apparently, his top priority was the daughter of a merchant family. I follow him, strengthening my legs with my spiritual power while enduring a headache. But I can't get to her in time....!!

"Eek!?"

"Cough, I don't have time for this!! Let's go roughly...!!"

Iruka leaped at Kayo, who let out a small scream, mercilessly with his wolf claws. He probably intends to cut the tendons of his limbs so that he won't get out of control to take Kayo as a hostage or kidnap him. I could tell from the way he jumped. And by then, I couldn't keep up with him...

"Haha, I got you!!!"

The next moment, Iruka swung his sharp claws at Kayo, who held her head down in fear... However, the next moment, Iruka's claws were popped with a spark by an invisible wall.

"...huh?"

Iruka's claws could not hurt the girl in any way before the invisible, but a strong boundary that dispelled evil spirits. If anything, the claw he swung was crushed and blood was splattered all around him.

Iruka did not scream in pain, but... well, he forgot about that and was stunned by the reality that had occurred before his eyes. Still, he did not have time to play the fool forever. After all...

"Haaaaaaa!!!"

"Ah? Gghhh!!?"

The next moment, Iruka turns around at the sound of my yell and is blown away by the sheath of the sword I hit him with, right in the face at the same time. I shouted so blatantly to get his attention and make him turn his head to me. Iruka was knocked headfirst to the ground, unable to defend himself against the sheer force of the situation.

"Haha, you idiot! Suck it up!! Ha~a... Ha~a... Ha~a... That went well...!!?"

I exclaim as if to throw up, covering my ears with one arm. It was a joyful shout of a successful mission...

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