Chapter 141.3

Chapter 141.3

[Part 3/4]

"Eh, what!?"

I looked around and, when I found a suitable rocky area, I placed Loli Gorilla-sama there. I activated a protective boundary to keep the remaining youkai away, sticking it to the rocky crevice where she was hiding.

"You're not seriously...!?"

"Of course I am!"

I replied instantly to Loli Gorilla-sama's dumbfounded words, and then I sprinted towards that outstretched hand as if my life depended on it.

"I'm coming now...!!"

I ran. I ran. I ran. As I got closer, I could even hear a faint, desperate voice. I hurried even more in response.

"It's going to be okay!! Don't give up!! I'll rescue you right now...!!"

I rushed desperately. I rushed without a second thought. I completely forgot about the possibility of a trap.

Looking back now, it was a truly foolish decision. It was the result of youthful recklessness, a rash action taken in extreme circumstances.

And something chuckled, standing behind me.

"What... Aaaaagghhh!?"

Before I could realize what it was, I let out a scream as an excruciating pain, like being licked, erupted from my back. Loli gorilla-sama, peeking out from the shadows of the rocks, also had a look of shock on her face. I turned, my face contorted in pain, and then I saw it. The flytrap leaf that had sliced into my back.

'Trying to escape, huh? I won't allow that, oh my meat.'

With a sadistic smile that seemed to revel in darkness, the Queen of the flytraps hissed...

* * *

The flytrap grass had achieved its youkai transformation, and it had been quite some time, at least not within a hundred or two hundred years. In human terms, it was an incredibly long period, but even among youkai with extended lifespans, the plant-based ones had an even more leisurely sense of time. They could sometimes patiently wait for prey for years. In the scorched lands, there were youkai who waited for lost prey for a hundred years and, once caught, took another hundred years to gradually drain them of nutrients. It was rumored that the density of youkai in this forbidden area was abnormally high, and as a result, they never faced a shortage of prey, but rather had an excess of it. While normal flytrap grass would wither if prey came too frequently, that wasn't the case with youkai.

They simply devoured and devoured and devoured, and they had even increased their minions, which were essentially subservient creatures nourished with surplus nutrients.

They had consumed over a thousand, even over two thousand, and then one day, they became aware. Aware of their own consciousness. They had acquired a clear intelligence, a form of self-awareness, approximately fifty years after becoming youkai.

'Oh, it looks like some delicious meat again...!!'

However, such matters were inconsequential to them. The flytrap grass that had risen to the status of a calamity youkai continued to devour the prey lured into their nests.

And they never, ever let their prey escape...

...

...

'But seriously, this is quite unusual meat, isn't it? It has less fur, and the taste is different, isn't it?'

Licking the blood and flesh clinging to the carnivorous leaves, the calamity youkai expressed her thoughts. It was a bizarre contrast to her seductive aura, or perhaps it was a childish tone that matched her appearance.

"You... Are you joking?"

With pride, the calamity youkai responded with a carefree smile. It was in the past tense. Past perfect. I see. I see...

'Oh, right, right. I almost forgot. You see, you see? There should be one more meat running away with you. But, you see, I've been looking, and there's only you as the meat. So, I want you to tell me where it's hiding!'

Analyzing the somewhat nonsensical explanation, it probably had something to do with Loli-Gorilla-sama. Somehow, even if not directly attacked, it seemed that the plant had recognized the existence of Loli-Gorilla-sama. And, by inquiring about its whereabouts...

(Does this have something to do with the talisman...)

I glanced briefly at the exit of the flytrap garden. Our eyes met through the cracks in the rocks. It was tense and anxious. The emotions in those eyes were complex and difficult to put into words.

At least, there was impatience...

"Are you asking me to help you find it?"

'That's right. The meat that's hiding must be incredibly delicious. So, finish your nap and help me find the tasty one first.'

She wants to eat strawberries first... Wait, what's that expression?

'Everyone.'

As she clapped her hands, they appeared with a rumble. The bosses of the passing flowers emerged from somewhere. Great youkai, serving the queen like attendants. All five of them.

"This is... again."

Impressive. The worst. Despair. The difficulty level of getting out of this situation had skyrocketed.

'Alright, alright, help me find the delicious meat, okay?'

She asked me again, this time demanding help in searching for another meat while planning to eat me. There was no hesitation or reluctance, just a matter-of-fact request. Of course.

Typical youkai self-centeredness...

(No matter how long I stall...)

I thought hard, spinning my thoughts. Saying no was not an option. If I gave a response she didn't like, I'd be killed. Even if I accepted the request, it would only delay the inevitable moment of being eaten. Buying time wouldn't help, and even if I did, she might get bored.

(...And if I stay silent until the talisman expires, what then?)

I was truly cornered. No matter which path I chose, the situation was at its worst.

...In other words, it was time for a showdown.

"If that's the case, then I... know where it is."

'Huh!? Is that true?'

She reacted to my words, spoken with difficulty as I struggled to breathe. She moved closer, looking into my face. Scrutinizing me. It was as if she could see through my soul.

If I lied, I was certain I would be mercilessly killed.

"With the talisman, youkai's recognition is inhibited... So, it would be difficult to find it just by searching, you know?"

In reality, you wouldn't even recognize it even if it were right in front of you, right?

'Does the meat understands?'