Mob Yandere

[Part 1/4]

In the dimly lit tent, illuminated only by the light of a candle stand (Shokudai), a woman solemnly unrolled a scroll.

She appeared to be in her prime, a beautiful woman.

Yet, there was something about her that seemed detached from the world, as if she had shadows, seemed irritable, nervous, and even gave off a sense of sanctity.

Her long, shimmering hair, like silver threads, was tied up behind her.

Her deep blue eyes held hidden worries.

Her unblemished, radiant white skin reminded one of a crane on a snowy plain.

Her clothes revealed a slender, tight figure, but it was by no means meager; rather, it seemed as if she had chosen to be both slender and voluptuous.

Even though she wasn't revealing much skin, the way her clothes clung to her body was tantalizing to men.

Such a captivating, enchanting, and even fantastical woman was, however, reading her scroll in silence within a dull and unpopular tent.

She kept glancing at a message she had just received, rereading it, and finally let out a small sigh.

"Hah..."

"Hey? What's wrong, getting all damp in a place like this? If you've got some troubles, I can lend an ear, you know?"

Responding to her sigh, the woman shifted her half-lidded gaze from the paper to the front.

A bearded man stood at the entrance of the tent.

With a wine bottle in one hand and a reddish face, the man's appearance was the polar opposite of the woman, giving a rough, reckless, and carefree impression.

He seemed unrefined and casual.

Despite their contrasting appearances, the two were partners for this mission and colleagues belonging to the same department.

They were members of the Fusō-kuni Omnyouji Bureau, former court bureaucrats, and the leaders of the exorcism unit known as the 'Seven Demon-Sealing Warriors' – the 3rd seat, 'Spear Saint of Frozen Demon (Oni)', and the 4th seat, 'Twin Dragon Conjuror'.

"...It seems there was an incident in the central region."

After a brief silence, the 3rd seat responded to the scroll's contents in a calm tone.

"An incident? What kind?"

"A Spiritual Vein exploded."

"Hah?"

With a casual curiosity, the 4th seat asked, but the answer that came back made them sober up instantly.

They stopped drinking and stepped closer.

Receiving a scroll from the 3rd seat, they began to read its contents.

"Well now... The government is in a real tizzy, huh? Right?"

After reading through it all, the 4th seat summarized everything they could find out about the situation.

One of the inspection teams from the center region felt something was off.

But doubts quickly vanished, and it seemed too risky to dig up the mountains due to the contamination danger.

Even with suspicious doubts lingering, everything was shrouded in darkness... At least until the contamination is purified, it looked like a proper investigation was nearly impossible.

"I've heard the local questioning hasn't gone well."

"Well, no surprise there. The ones in the know probably bolted all together, huh? Wow, they sure seem determined."

The questioning of those stationed at the Juuyaku family estate after the incident didn't seem to yield much result either.

The seized goods were nothing impressive.

Probably, everything was blown away in one sweep.

The evidence was completely destroyed.

"Punishing the doubtful... Yeah, that's impossible in this case. This is heading towards a vague ending."

Most of the exorcist families would respond accordingly.

Who knows what exactly Juuyaku family did?

But exorcist families who haven't done anything wrong are rare, so they wouldn't welcome examples of punishment based solely on suspicion.

Especially since the initial doubt came from just one Household Member Coordinator, who's now missing.

"And the Coordinator's main family agrees too, huh? It stinks. Aren't they acting a bit too nice? Right?"

While stroking their unshaven jaw, the 4th seat declared with a piercing gaze.

When it comes to the Seven Demon-Sealing Warriors, gossip inevitably comes floating in from everywhere.

Speaking of Onitsuki, that family has been rumored to be in contention for the next head.

"I really hate it. It's such a shame for promising young talent to get wrapped up in trouble. This industry is always in a chronic shortage of people... Don't you think so too, 3rd seat? Ouch!?"

While chatting and complaining, a man's hand reaches for the firm, curvy backside, but it gets slapped away.

4th seat shrugs, blowing on his sore palm.

"You're still so serious. I know it's not my place to say, but... you should be a bit more flexible. That's why you keep drawing the short straw, you know?"

"...What brings you here?"

Clearing her throat, 3rd seat cut off the topic and asked.

It was a warning to stop talking about politics.

The Aioi family, like the Ako family, was known for their loyalty to their duties and keeping a distance from politics as experts in exorcism.

It meant they didn't want to get involved in troublesome matters.

"Oh, right, right... There was a report from the scout who returned. It seems many guests have gathered. Two were killed, and one was dealt with."

"...I wanted that report sooner."

At the news from his colleague, 3rd seat stood up, grabbing the spear beside her.

She confidently passed by her colleague and exited the tent.

4th seat lazily followed, tucking the scroll into his pocket.

They lifted the curtain and stepped outside.

At the same time, a slightly cold breeze blew.

The scene before them was bustling with people.

People, people, people... a crowd moving here and there.

If you looked closely, you would see that most of them were armed.

Soldiers, warriors, and servants from the Hidden Group.

Countless tents, fences, stakes, and watchtowers.

It was the fortress and the army of the daimyo stationed there.

Last month, there was a report of a large-scale breeding of Kappa in the deeper parts of the outskirts of Fusō-kuni.

There were suspicions of some human involvement, and it couldn't be ignored.

Even though the beast path was sparsely populated and the imperial court's influence might not reach there, the extermination force was prioritized for quality and included over 30 exorcists, totaling 5 thousand.

It was assumed that they would need enough manpower for the extensive extermination work, especially since they couldn't expect reinforcements in an emergency.

"Is everyone here? ...Then let's start the meeting."

A fort surrounded by fences on a hill with a great view.

When 2 of the exorcists arrived at the large tent on top, the meeting began right away, as if they had been waiting for them.

The shogun leading the expedition was accompanied by a young official.

Representatives from each army, group, and warrior leader gathered to share information.

"You have already heard the summary of the report. Finally, we have made contact with them."

The scout team found thousands of Kappa in the deep forest ahead.

They were clearly waiting for the right moment, and this weighed heavily on the minds of those present.

"They will likely attack when they see an opening. Especially at night, it's dangerous. They can see well in the dark... According to the divination, it will be cloudy starting tomorrow, right?"

"Yes. We cannot expect moonlight. If we are to hold our position, we must light the area with bonfires."

The military commander, experienced from battles with the stubborn Ezo, asked a question, and one of the exorcists replied.

They had already researched the geography, climate, and weather by all means before building the fort.

"We know their hiding range. A long battle will tire our soldiers. Should we strike decisively?"

"It's not just about defeating them. This is just the opening act. The reported nest is further ahead. We cannot afford heavy losses; we must protect our main base."

"This area seems to have poor drainage. Movement will be hindered for our troops. They say they can swim through mud like it's water. The advantage is with them. Crossing the mud and clearing the forest ahead will be a hassle."

The proposal from the middle-aged warrior leading the group was met with opposition from others.

The clear disadvantage of the terrain and the unknown scale of the lurking Mōryō (youkai and etc) made them fearful of losses.

"Hmm. Then what about using poison? It was very effective in the Northern region, right?"

"The situation is different from that time. The poison handled by the research division is delicate. The amount we can safely bring from this distance is limited. Moreover, spreading it required the help of someone skilled in Shikigami techniques."

"Indeed. We cannot replenish it. Then we should use it to pour into the nest, not in the open."

"But if I don't defeat these monsters in front of me, I won't even have a chance..."

The arguments showed their disadvantages in every way.

They had no advantage in the land, supplies were low, and they were simply outmatched by the monsters' strength.

Not to mention, they didn't even know how many enemies they faced... It was clear to everyone that, based on military strategy, defeat was almost certain.

...It was all expected, just a confirmation of the situation.

It seemed like a tough spot, but everything was within their plans, which is why the extermination team had joined them.

This was not a war between humans.

"...Alright, I understand. We've debated enough. You should know what to do. Leave it to the experts. The monsters won't wait for our discussions."

After a moment, the shogun ended the endless debate with those words.

The discussions up to this point were just a formality.

Preparations and arrangements for this situation had already been made.

The secretary recorded all the conversations, and the minor counselor was a witness.

"So, to the 3rd seat and the 4th seat, I kindly ask you to proceed as we discussed earlier... Is that alright?"

The 3rd seat nodded silently at the shogun's call, while the 4th seat waved casually in response.

When they checked with the other commanders, everyone was indeed ready.

That was to be expected.

That's why they had set up their camp on an easily visible hill.

This military meeting was, in a way, just a show.

It was an unspoken agreement between the Ministry of Military Affairs, the samurai, and the exorcists.

It was a kind of ritual to save face for everyone involved.

...After the military meeting, about an hour passed.

It was around midday.

The soldiers finished their meals, took a break, and finally, the extermination work began.

'!!!!!!'

A roaring sound echoed.

Suddenly, lightning struck from the clear sky.

It was a literal bolt from the blue.

In the distance, a dragon's roar resounded.

The deep forest of the enemy land began to be scorched by the thunder of Shinki (Divine Energy).

'Kikikiki!!?'

'Kiki!!'

With the thunder crashing down, the forest burned fiercely, and the Kappa were forced out into the open.

The divine lightning and flames had little effect on the Kappa.

However, losing their hidden lair meant they had no choice but to show themselves.

Emerging from the divine fire, the Kappa looked towards the fortress.

They glared intensely.

Like frogs, they croaked in unison, growling, and then, as if drawn by a magnet, the green monsters began to charge forward.

"Th-they're coming...!?"

The soldiers, fortified behind the fenced fortress, were shaken by the approaching Kappa horde.

They were not being careless.

But the Kappa's physical abilities surpassed those of humans.

Their leg strength was beyond that of trained runners.

Their jumping power exceeded that of leopards.

Their arm strength was like that of great heroes.

It was clear from past records that triple fences and stakes would only buy them time.

And the Kappa's infectious nature was well known.

"Calm down! Everyone, get ready! Draw the monsters in!!"

The leaders shouted orders to control the panic.

The well-trained soldiers instinctively readied their bows, crossbows, and Hinawajuu (matchlock guns).

If they were untrained, they would have started firing wildly out of fear, wasting their shots.

In that sense, they were excellent.

"So, let's stick to the plan... okay?"

Without waiting for a response, she jumped out, asking the leaders.

"Huh...!?"

The Hinawajuu (matchlock gun) team, lined up, was stunned.

A shadow passed by them.

She leaped over the triple fence and then the stakes, bursting out of the fortress.

Landing alone in front of the Kappa, like an army of ants.

"W-wait, is that... 3rd Seat-dono!?"