Chapter 115.4

Chapter 115.4

[Part 4/4]

Partly because she was enduring the pain, Tamaki's trembling murmurs caught the attention of the youkai-beast Shishimai. Her sharp eyes, more beast-like than ever, glared at Tamaki from under her hanging hair. When Tamaki's figure was reflected on her retina, her wide pupils narrowed slightly. That reaction seemed to suggest that some part of her rationality had returned. That was Tamaki's only hope, though it felt too fragile.

'Hmm, I see, I see. You've had a tough job... I remember seeing something like that before. I think there was a similar one when I visited your village.'

After offering Shishimai half-hearted words of consolation, Yuka inspected the remains of the now crumbled 'Houzan Jakuryuu (Mud Dragon),' which had been reduced to mere stone, soil, and wood. Then, seemingly growing bored of it, she spun around and looked at Tamaki, laughing.

"Ahh...!!?"

Without warning, blood spewed from Tamaki's thighs.

'Last time, you suffered a painful fate. Compared to being devoured entirely, this is quite merciful, isn't it?'

In response to Tamaki's anguished cries due to her bleeding thighs, Yuka's words sounded like mocking laughter. It seemed more like an excuse to torment Tamaki than a genuine belief.

'...Hey? If you're dealing with a dangerous entity, isn't it safer to sever her limbs?'

'No, no, that's no good. If I corner her too much, the nasty thing inside might awaken. Whatever I do, I don't her to use her great ape's power. ...Wait, were you planning to sever her limbs when you capture her? That's risky. Make sure to handle her properly.'

Something asks from inside the hibachi carried by the young youkai, and Kamaitachi cries out with a deliberate shrug of his shoulders.

'Well, this should be the end of my work here... Now, let's contact our partner; they're probably getting bored.'

After a slight remark, Yuka took out a talisman from their sleeve. In an instant, it turned into an ugly, misshapen bird and clumsily flew away.

'Hmm, I tried using youkai power on it, but it's still no good. Both the talismans and the shikigami arts are designed for those monkeys, so even if I try to use them, this is what happens.'

Yuka mumbled as they watched the messenger shikigami wobble in the air before flying away.

'Th-That...!?'

'Oh, yes. We'll deal with the ones outside soon, so don't worry. But first, we need to transport these guys. I can count on you to help with that, right?'

Yuka asked the being barely visible inside the hibachi, a hopeful tone in their voice. To an observer, it might seem like Yuka was merely making things up, but the being inside the hibachi seemed to genuinely believe them.

'It's easy! There's precisely a place where the possessor of immense power is located... That's why... Hey!! You, go and bring them here!!'

The being inside the hibachi shouted gleefully. It was directed at Shishimai, who silently headed toward Tamaki. And then, she stopped right in front of her.

"Shishimai-san...!!"

'......'

'Hahaha, you're crying out so adorably. Perhaps you lack the resolve of an exorcist?'

Mocking her, Yuka waved her hand once more. This time, she cut off the strap of Tamaki's left shoulder. Carefully, she didn't cause any wounds on her delicate skin. Not out of kindness, but to avoid turning the pain into hatred.

"No, nooo...!!?"

With her underwear slipping and forced into an awkward hunch to cover herself, Tamaki couldn't help but look ridiculous. Yuka laughed even more at her comical appearance. Upon Yuka's command, the surrounding youkai joined in, barking and growling, creating a chorus of mockery.

"Ugh, uguuuguuuguuu...!!?"

Tamaki's heart was in chaos, torn between anger, embarrassment, and sadness at the reactions of those around her. Her heart's 'darkness' had nowhere to go and dissipated, but she couldn't throw away everything and become reckless. Instead, it simply disintegrated...

(Yes, that's it. Hate, resent, and direct your hostility. Tremble in fear and terror. Retreat into your shell.)

Observing Tamaki in such a state, Yuka chuckled with satisfaction that her plan had worked. Now, one more push, and she focused her attention on something nearby. The presence that had been quietly sulking beside her.

'That's right. You should sneer at her too. Laugh at this idiotic girl who fell for our act! After all, you have the blood of a lion youkai, right? So come on, let's have a hearty laugh together... huh?'

To further humiliate Tamaki, Yuka asked her to laugh heartily, but then she finally noticed something. The lioness woman had turned her gaze away, as if she had sensed something.

'...'

In an instant, the beastly youkai's sixth sense rang an alarm once again. As intensely as before, or perhaps even more so. Without thinking, she followed Shishimai's line of sight and turned around.

And there he was. The man or the servant. With a twist, the fallen man's head lifted, glaring at them with clear hostility.

'Hey, this can't be true, right?'

They hadn't noticed. They had let their guard down. They had focused too much on the young girl. Or perhaps they had underestimated the man's "heart" too much.

...Whatever the reason, there was only one thing they could say: they realized it too late.

'What are you doing?!! Hurry up and...!!'

Yuka's scream was instantly drowned out by a roar that filled the space, followed by a pale purifying flame engulfing everything...

Fan art:

Title: Tamaki and the Bear from Chapter 114

URL: here

Title: Matsushige Botan Illustration Compilation

URL: here