[Part 3/4]
'Hoshimono no ma (The Drying Room)'... True to its na, the vast space was filled with rows of shelves. On these shelves, various items were preserved as dried goods. The naplates on each shelf bore nas like 'herring,' 'cod,' 'mackerel,' representing dried fish. There were also dried crops such as 'shiitake mushrooms,' 'dried gourds,' 'sweet potatoes.' 'Boar,' 'bear,' 'beef' represented dried ats... all within the realm of common sense.
When you consider that things like "earthworms," "centipedes," "lizards," "cinnamon," "turric," "saffron," and "dried tangerine peel" are also stored on the sa shelves, it becos sowhat forgivable. In the Continental Pharmacopoeia, even bizarre creatures are used in concoctions. The Onitsuki family's dicine cabinet is filled with various items, and I have no idea what kind of pills are prepared to suppress my transformation into a youkai.
But understandably, one would be taken aback if they saw labels on the shelves like 'youkai liver,' 'youkai eyes,' or even 'human hearts' and 'human souls.' 'Despair,' 'secrets,' 'holand,' 'family' were words that no longer made any sense. So labels were in languages that couldn't even be identified. Certain shelves emitted a blatantly ominous aura, warning not to approach them. They were jinxed. It seed more like Pandora's shelf than Pandora's box. Sotis, it's better not to touch what shouldn't be touched out of curiosity.
"On the other hand, it also clearly indicates danger."
Considering the countless traps and chanisms in the various rooms of 'Mayoiga,' this room was quite reasonable. As long as one avoided the obviously dangerous shelves, there were no youkai or other traps to worry about, guaranteeing safety. In fact, it could even be called a "helpful room" when considering the supply of food, dicine, and other items. And...
(If we've co this far, we can see the path to escape...!!)
As the cost of the abilities in 'Mayoiga' and based on the regulations and the authors' preferences, each room had, to so extent, a designated strategy for those items with established settings. And the thod to escape from 'Mayoiga' itself... Considering the characteristics of each room players had gone through and past records, the information was reliable enough.
"All right, this place is safe. Let's rest for a while and then—Hide behind sothing!!"
'w(ﾟДﾟ)w Whoa!?'
In the instant I was about to give the kids the instruction to rest, I tensed up at a presence from the back of the room. Shortly after, two kunais flew towards us!!
"D*mn it!?"
I used my short spear to knock the thrown kunais aside. I could have dodged, but since the kids were behind , I chose to intercept.
(Is this a joke!? At this point, the original story and the situation are mismatched...!?)
Montarily caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, I stole a glance at the back. Izayoi and the others had already hidden behind the shadows of the shelves. Good kids...!!?
"Flash ball!?"
Understanding what the ball flying towards us from the depths of the dim darkness was, I deflected it. At the sa ti, I leaped into the gap between two adjacent shelves.
"Kuh!"
'(＞Д＜) It's bright!?'
With a burst of sound, the flash ball exploded, illuminating the room with a dazzling light resulting from the chemical reaction of its contents. Squinting my eyes, I endured the flash, realizing what it was...!!
"This is getting a bit troubleso...!! Izayoi! Tell everyone not to move!"
To avoid friendly fire, I issued the command, simultaneously moving around to the back of the shelves and running stealthily, muffling my footsteps.
"!? No good! He is coming from behind!"
"Intercept him! Quickly!! Hurry!!"
As the enemy noticed my movents, they shouted in response. Imdiately, soone moved within the dim darkness. Shortly after, a shot is fired...!!
'(ﾟﾛﾟ)!! What's happening!?'
"Crossbow!! Uwoah!"
A spider's scream echoed in my mind. Just in ti, I evaded the arrow aid at my head. Following that, several individuals ard with swords and daggers lunged at .
"D*mn it!? Take this!"
"Uwoah!? Guwah!!?"
"Gyahh!"
As the leader swung a club toward my head, I sidestepped and stepped on the club, preventing their counterattack. I delivered a blow to their jaw, rendering them unconscious. Another attacker approached from the side, but I deflected their strike with my drawn dagger and slamd the handle of my short spear against their neck, sending them flying. Both sides lacked finesse in their movents. In other words, these guys were the opening act, a diversion...!!
"Haah!!"
"The reaction is quick!?"
A figure in black attire, who had circled behind using stealth, thrust their dagger toward my spine. I clashed my own dagger against theirs, deflecting the attack. Realizing the imdiate disadvantage, the opponent quickly retreated backward. And...
"They're coming from this side too!"
A dual ambush. It seed they planned to strike at while I was focused on the diversion caused by the hidden group. An old man's mask, who had been waiting among the shelves, slashed at with his sword. However, dealing with this level of threat...!!
"I've experienced this countless tis!"
"Kuh... Foolish!!?"
The old man's mask displayed astonishnt. After all, it's an unexpected situation when soone grabs your sword with their bare hand. The gloves woven with spider silk were indeed convenient. '( •̀ ω •́ )✧) Ehehe, they're useful for Papa, and there's nothing he can't do.' Yes, don't worry, I'm not expecting that. But more importantly...
"Those are my lines, aren't they? I didn't expect to be attacked with the weapons I provided as assistance... Not asking for a favor, but please don't repay with revenge, Sakuama's servant."
"Huh? Could it be...!? Stop, everyone! Cease fire!!"
Upon hearing my words, the lingering hostility in the room finally dispersed...
...
..
In the safe room known as the 'Drying Room,' there were a total of six individuals stationed. Among them, four were mbers of the current extermination team. The breakdown was as follows: one servant from the Sakuama family, one mber of the Hidden Group from the Naio family, and two hired laborers for the extermination team. Only the mbers of the Hidden Group had fallen into this room from the beginning, while the rest had reached it after passing through several other rooms. Moreover, for so individuals, it took quite so 'ti.'
"Within the belly of this monster, ti becos chaotic. I felt like I spent seven days, while the Naio family mber there claims it was a whole day, and those laborers wandered for over two months. Since we don't have watches, the exact number of days is unknown."
The servant from the Sakuama family explained, and the mbers of the Hidden Group and the laborers nodded in agreent. Then, I looked at the two remaining mbers of the Hidden Group, and they continued to explain.
"According to what I've heard, this servant had participated in a previous extermination operation, and this man here was apparently a bandit around this area."
"I'm a servant from the Asakuma family, and my na is Yashima."
"...I'm Gonzo."
Yashima, the self-proclaid servant, had a rather outdated attire. As for Gonzo, he resembled a vagabond. The forr wielded a spear, while the latter held a crossbow.
"I am Tomobe, a Yun-shoku servant of the Onitsuki family—'(ﾟ∀ﾟ;) And I'm everyone's idol'—Although it's impolite of to ask, do you know the current emperor's na or the era?"
I spoke to dispel the playful thoughts swirling in my mind. Yeah, so shut up for a second.
"..."
"What's the matter? Don't know the answer?"
"No... It's the third year of the Shuyou Emperor's reign."
For a mont, I widened my eyes upon hearing the era na uttered by the self-proclaid servant, Yashima. I briefly responded with a short "I see" and fell silent. I had assud as much from the na of the family serving here... It wasn't an impossible story, I suppose.
"Very well... And how about you?"
"Don't know... Can you read this?"
Gonzo, with a slightly exasperated attitude, took out a copper coin from his pocket and showed it to . The coin, which appeared relatively new, had the inscription of 'Gyokurou Copper Coin' (玉楼銅銭).
"I see."
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