Chapter 148.2

Chapter 148.2

[Part 2/4]

If one were to listen closely, there is a diverse chorus of youkai in the distance. Thanks to Takaragen burning the keystone of the boundary from the inside, there was a chance to strangle him from behind.

"...Ugh, damn! Sh*t! ...Fine, I get it. I understand. I surrender. So, hurry up, and help me!"

Faced with the impending fate, Takaragen's desire for live seemed to kick in. There was a momentary struggle, but this sh*tty boss quickly accepted defeat and begged for help.

"Yeah, understood."

I calmly accepted the boss's words. At the same time, the kubire-oni, which had entwined around our bodies due to Takaragen's surrender, disappeared like smoke. Still, the curse's binding force seemed unchanged, just invisible.

"Now, first..."

I managed to obtain the spoils of our recent battle from the captive Takaragen. It was a Furoshiki, a wrapping cloth used for sealing. As I held it, I could feel the texture of the wrapped fruit through the fabric. Though its spiritual energy was contained, the sheer presence of it overwhelmed me. Even the arm that captured Takaragen seemed to react slightly to its presence. ...But I shouldn't unfold this Furoshiki here. We need to retreat quickly.

"...By the way, should I take this coat too?"

I casually grabbed the advanced perception inhibiting coat as if it were just an extra. Internally, I sneered at how it felt like I was robbing someone. In reality, it seemed to be quite humiliating for Takaragen, as his face turned red with embarrassment.

"You d*mn... arrogant bastard... just because you won, you're getting cocky...!! Stop fooling around and hurry up, help me!!"

"Yeah, I got it. Here."

While being shouted at and demanded, I reluctantly placed it in front of him.

Earlier, I gently placed the hidden blade from the geta sandals that had been stabbed into his chest.

"...Huh?"

"Great youkai and a horde of miscellaneous youkai, there's no way I can defeat them, right? And I didn't make a contract with a curse. This is the extent of my sincerity in being able to 'help'."

With a hint of sarcasm, I sneered with malice. Takaragen widened his eyes, alternating his gaze between the blade and me. Understanding that he had been set up, he widened his eyes.

"Wha, wha-wha-wha!?"

"...Then."

Leaving behind the bewildered boss, I walked away, and in that moment, a flash of light passed by gracefully. The sharp blade passed through the empty air without harming anything. I turned around and mocked.

"Forgetting the effect of the curse, are we? You won't be able to harm me anymore, right?"

Normally, there was no way it would miss. The prohibition of harmful acts through curses had dulled his throwing arm.

"You basst*rd!! How dare you mock meeee!!??"

"...I suddenly found a way to pass away comfortably."

With a fierce look in his eyes, like a demon, he roared like a beast relentlessly. In response, I uttered just one word in a completely indifferent tone. From then on, I ignored him completely. Curses, no longer reached me.

He brought this upon himself... his fate was sealed.

"I'll kill you!! I'll definitely... Ugh! You b*stards... I'll kill you!! Remember that... Get lost!! Don't forget!! I'll definitely... Ugh, I'll completely destroy you!!"

"...Are you sure about this, Princess?"

I asked Aoi again. It was a repeated confirmation. After all, what I'm about to use is the miraculous spiritual fruit requested by the imperial court. It's a top-secret order from the country entrusted to a fake request. It could potentially be a big problem.

However, there's no other choice but to use this to save Hisame with what I have on hand. That's also a fact.

"...I'll accept the stain on my name. Fortunately, there's a way to cover it up."

Reluctantly, but with a serious expression as if she remembered something, Aoi accepted my request in the end, accompanied by a sigh.

"Thank you very much. ...So, I just need to feed it a fragment, right?"

"Yes, but it must be small, very small. Be careful not to ingest too much spiritual energy, or she might burst. Pay attention."

"...Understood."

I nodded, my expression contorting at Aoi's warning. It was no joking matter to try and help someone only to have them explode.

"...Well, we don't have much time to fool around. Hisame, this will help you. It's tough, but try to eat it without vomiting."

I offered words of encouragement and then held the tip of the spear I had retrieved, treating it like a tantō dagger, and spread out the furoshiki wrapping cloth. I unfolded the wrapped fabric, one piece at a time. I did this eight times in total. With each unfolding, the presence before my eyes grew stronger, leaving me breathless. Even the tension in the air was palpable. I steadied my trembling hand and continued to unfold.

"Alright, this is the last one..."

I reached for the final volume. I suppressed the feeling of fear and began to unfold it...and finally, I witnessed it. The miraculous spiritual fruit.

"...Huh?"

That was my first reaction. Dumbfounded, shocked, unable to grasp the situation."

"Ugh!!"

And in an instant, I immediately pierced the peach with the tip of the spear. No way, it didn't pierce. The tip broke with a metallic sound, as if it had been repelled by a thick metal plate.

"Shit!? Are you kidding me!? Don't mess around!!?"

I couldn't accept the truth and repeatedly thrust the tip. Thrust, thrust, and thrust.

"Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Stop kidding around!? Hey!!?"

I swung, swung, and Swung. But it chipped and shattered the weapon. I tried to peel off the spell with my bare hands, but my fingernails tore immediately and blood gushed out. Without care, I take on the seal. Still, it didn't even flinch.

"Kai (Open)! Kai (Open)! What's with this 'Kai (Open)'...!?"

"Tomobe!? No, stop!!"

Seeing the sorry state of my fingers, Aoi yelled words of restraint, almost like a scream. But I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. I couldn't afford to stop.

"Why!? Why on earth!? Why like this!? This is no joke!"

I panicked and yelled. I slammed the fruit onto the ground. A loud thud echoed as it collided with the hard surface. The boundary attached to the peach, tracing its surface as if mocking me, remained resilient, protecting its contents perfectly. It was infuriating.

"Really, truly... I can't believe it! Aoi, what in the world is this?"