Mob Yandere - Chapter 163-2

[Part 2/4]

‘Don’t let your guard down!! In other words, the only ones left are troublesome guys who won’t die with these little tricks!!’

A rude Tengu in black clothes, perched high in the sky, shouted loudly. Surrounding them were countless Tengu troops, also armed with weapons, guarding against the murky currents and white smoke below. The Tengu who had flown and avoided the boiling water were now keeping the head of the snake god and its servants in check, while maintaining their altitude.

‘They’re here!! Let’s meet them!’

And then, monsters greater than the average youkai emerged from the steam, even a few steps away from being visible. The Tengu troops immediately began to counterattack with projectiles, following the commander’s urging.

While comfortably soaking in the scalding water where many Servants had been boiled to death, the snake thought to itself. How foolish their choices were.

They should already know that just flying around won’t help them escape. Are they simply too foolish to remember the heat once it’s gone past their throats? Very well, then let’s turn all of them who are leisurely enjoying your sightseeing flight into Yakitori.

(Did you think you had everything planned out, monkey?)

“Oops! You caught me!!”

In the steam, the snake stared as the Tengu flew very low over the water, trying not to be noticed, along with the human imitator clinging to them. It glared, mocked, and opened its jaw. The snake god knew their intentions. Furthermore, snakes can sense heat, so the Tengu must have tried to deceive it with hot water and hot air. Was hiding the immediate discovery the plan? Were the other Tengu flying higher to distract attention?

However, the snake god had already anticipated this. It deliberately let them ride until this moment.

It did so because it sought the moment when hope turns into despair.

“Tchhh!!?”

The female Tengu quickly spun around. A sudden gust of wind followed. Feathers sliced through the air with a whoosh. A beam of light shot past her, narrowly missing. The hot water evaporated instantly from the heat ray, creating a thick cloud of steam. It was scorching hot; merely touching it could cause blisters. Aka-bouchou, who was carrying the fragile human, had no choice but to fly higher to escape. And that was exactly what the snake god wanted – a good target.

“Second strike, it’s coming…!”

“I know, okay!!”

The warning from the embracing person was met with a shout-like response. It was almost miraculous to evade the second strike. Just this alone proved the outstanding flying skills of this female Tengu.

“Do it!”

“I don’t need to be told!!”

The assassin, under the command of the female Tengu, responded. What they threw in response were multiple Tantō. The fact that the rays of light passed through also meant that attacks from the other side would also pass through paradoxically. Of course, this level of attack originally had no meaning for the snake god.

‘Wuoohh!!’

The demon (oni), bursting out vigorously from the steam, still brushed off everything. Protecting the snake god, they vigorously swung their wild hair and brutal sword, knocking down the intent to kill in the shape of Tantō approaching the snake one after another while roaring. They displayed the one-armed Tengu they captured on their one arm. As a hostage.

“Don’t bother!! Push through!!”

“Damn!!”

Aka-bouchou grimaced at the man’s shout and rushed forward. demon was momentarily puzzled but immediately leaped in front of the snake god.

(Don’t abandon the hostage, okay? It’s just for show.)

A warning conveyed from the snake god to demon. The snake had already seen through it. The hardline approach wasn’t about abandoning the hostage. It was just a bluff in the negotiations.

‘Ooohhh!!!!’

Demon emitted a roar of affirmation as it approached the Tengu and the humans. It stood in their path, swinging a barbaric sword.

“We’re going to take the same hit!!”

If it had been their first encounter, Kaede would have had the confidence to completely avoid demon’s blow with a surprise attack, but in reality, she did avoid it. She narrowly dodged the blow swung at her. …Immediately after, the shockwave caused her posture to falter.

“No way, …such brute strength!!”

Due to the surrounding airflow being forcibly disrupted, Kaede found herself in a situation where she was staggering in flight. She was falling, but it didn’t end there.

“Tch, do it quickly!”

“I understand!”

After a brief exchange, the assassin, held by the Tengu, threw a Tanto once more toward the snake god. And this time, it’s not just a throw. It was guided.

The assassin threw several Tanto, all of which were tied with a long rope. The curse tool of long rope stretches towards the target, consuming the man’s spiritual power. If the man were to describe it, he would call it a wired missile.

However…

(Boring.)

The snake spits towards the approaching blade, and the demon stands in front and cuts it down with their barbaric sword. Among the Tengu who have faced similar situations, there have been those who have shown entertaining fighting styles. The snake was expecting something exciting, but it’s disappointed now.

Furthermore, the torn ropes that entangle the demon are useless.

If one wants to absorb and grow their spiritual power and youkai power, all they have to do is cut them off. An ancient demon can manipulate the flow of their own body and youkai energy to some extent. If there is no youkai energy to extract, the rope is just a rope, and the strength of the demon far exceeds that of a human even without physical enhancement. They easily tear apart the entangling rope, with a smirk and a mocking expression on their face.

“I know. Just as I expected!”

The cry of the Tengu woman was fierce, not just for show, and her fierce expression was twisted with joy. The demon looked puzzled by her expression.

…And then a rope was extending from the Tengu’s sleeve. The demon looked in that direction. A Tantō was thrust into the thigh of the hostage held in their hand, tied with a rope. Along with the Tantō, there were feathers tied.

“‘Feathered Return (Kin Kanhane)’!!”

A clap echoed, and the hostage in the demon’s grasp disappeared. Then, the fingers that the demon had clenched were cut off.

In the demon’s arms, the human who was embraced by the Tengu was swinging a Teguruma at them.

* * *

The ‘Feathered Return’ ability possessed by Kaede, the Aka-bouchou of the Tengu, is somewhat simple and straightforward in its effect.

Assuming one’s own feathers as a part of oneself, and swapping places with oneself. Swapping places… with a simple signal of a clap, this ability was the reason why Kaede and I were able to escape from the initial attack.

Just as I, who was held in Kaede’s arms, was also within the scope of the supernatural power, she used that power, which seems to be flexible to a certain extent by interpreting it as a ‘feather accessory’, to help the Tengu guys take back their ‘mother’.

The throwing of the Tantō served as a diversion. Amidst the throws towards the snake and the demon, the main throw was directed towards the Tengu’s honored mother with the wings embraced, piercing and adding to the range of the supernatural effect. Then, we switched places. At the moment of the switch, I deployed my Teguruma.

The divine-spun spider thread had severed several fingers of the estimated calamity youkai-level demon. Startled by the sudden turn of events, the demon hastily released their clenched fist. Kaede seized the opportunity to escape in one swift motion.

“Pochi, catch her!!”

‘Ke-te-ri!!’

Kaede shouted as if in anger, giving a signal. Responding to it, Pochi, who had been waiting on the water’s surface, leaped out. We switched places, and Pochi cushioned the fall of the Tengu’s honored mother into the hot spring. After catching her, they immediately began their escape. The hot spring attack (Kosui) was also part of the plan. It was to allow the disguised slime that had been wearing my black outfit to remain hidden in the hot spring.

“Though I must say, it was a failed attempt at blinding it!!”

Kaede watched from a prime seat as she swiftly dodged the beam released right after escaping from demon’s grasp. Snakes have a pit organ that detects temperature in addition to their five senses. I thought that by filling the field of vision with hot spring water and steam, we could go unnoticed, but it seems that the gods are not so easily fooled…!!

“Well, there’s no other choice, right? It’s a win just to be alive! …Let’s change our strategy to Plan C!!”

We will pretend to surrender and then launch a surprise attack as Plan A, and we will use the cover of the steam to launch an ambush as Plan B. The plan to disrupt the Snake Liquor Brewing Project is transitioning into a series of brilliant plans.

“This is the main event, but to be honest, I didn’t really want to do it!!”

“Well, of course, those are my lines!! Grrr!!?”

The area is filled with light, accompanied by applause. The field of vision changes as Kaede lands on a rocky outcrop protruding from the hot spring. All the feathers are attached to the thrown Tantō. One of them seems to have been stuck in the rocks, and appearing as if it was Kaede and me. When I turned towards the loud noise and light, a gigantic snake was spewing a light into the empty space. If we had been even a moment slower, we would have surely been toast.

(Once again, is this some kind of fun magic trick?)

After spitting out the light, the giant eyeball glared at us while spitting out light and white smoke. It felt really uncomfortable, like it was hitting our brains directly.

(It’s tricky when the preparations are simple. But… did you really think I wouldn’t have a plan in place?)

“Whoa! It’s flying!!”

Kaede shouted as bubbles emerged from the water’s surface. Simultaneously, a countless swarm of sea snakes leapt out, their jaws wide open as they charged. Then, they burst.

“…!?”

Kaede instinctively flapped her wings, creating a gust of wind to repel the burst snake flesh and bodily fluids.

Chunks of flesh splattered on the water’s surface, releasing a steamy and pungent smell. It was the smell of sulfur or something vile that had been stored inside. It was no ordinary bomb!

“Ugh, they’re really doing this!”

“The demon is coming!”

“D*mn!?”