[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 extre circumstances.
And sothing chuckled, standing behind .
"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 at.'
With a sadistic smile that seed to revel in darkness, the Queen of the flytraps hissed...
* * *
The flytrap grass had achieved its youkai transformation, and it had been quite so ti, 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 ti. They could sotis 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 ca 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 consud over a thousand, even over two thousand, and then one day, they beca 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 so delicious at 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 at, 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?"
Sitting on the ground, I chuckled weakly. There was nothing else to do. This was just too far-fetched.
The calamity youkai, reigning before , was seated as if on the giant leaf of the flytrap, which was opened like a giant jaw. It was as if she was a rmaid waiting inside a clamshell.
She looked like she was in her early teens. With a unique beauty that seed detached from the mortal world or a seductive appearance, and tattoos all over her slightly exposed body. Depending on how poeple looked at them, she might even resemble an Ezo girl... Clearly, organs that weren't typical of humans extended from various parts of her body.
"Of all tis... why did you have to show up here!?"
This was a forbidden land. Since there were several great youkai here, it wouldn't be surprising if there were multiple calamity youkai. That was only natural. However, why did they have to appear right now of all tis!?
'But didn't you get surprised? Escaping from my mouth? That's amazing. Even though you're so weak, you can still escape.'
Contrary to my inner frustration, the calamity youkai announced in a sowhat silly voice. It was a statent that was truly surprising and astonishing. It was a childlike inquiry that was completely out of place in the bizarre atmosphere.
"..."
'Speak, won't you?'
"Aghhh!!"
Silently, I was ruthlessly stepped on, right on the wound where the flesh had been gouged out. Despite the seemingly delicate barefoot appearance, an unbelievable strength emanated from her, and an unpleasant, grating sound filled the air. This was no reward for being trampled by the beautiful girl.
'Oh, so you can speak after all. I thought it was strange. Other ats can talk this much. I'm smart, you know?'
(Keep talking, you monster...!!)
In a bizarre tone that didn't match the atmosphere, the flytrap woman boasted of her intelligence. I had no obligation to listen to her story with any sincerity.
(More importantly...)
I glanced at her, and she looked at while I was still crouching. I anxiously observed the twitching wrist protruding from the gap in the carnivorous leaves. Since when had they been trapped? I needed to help them as soon as possible.
'Distracted, huh?'
Imdiately after, the human-like pupils blocked my view.
"Huh!?"
'Oh? Are you interested in that? It's well-made bait.'
As the vines extending from the carnivorous leaves writhed, the wrist trembled as if convulsing madly. It wriggled and twitched as if to boast of this fact.
"No voice, see? Like this. 'Help, help...' like that!"
Almost as if in response to the monster's explanation, the surrounding vines shivered, producing a pitiful sound of entreaty. It was like playing a grass flute, a cunning mimicry of vocal cords through pseudo-voice box manipulation—typical youkai cleverness.
"...What about the body?"
'Hmm?'
"What happened to the rest of the body, especially that wrist?"
That was crucial. So I asked, staring into the monster's face and inquiring.
'The body? Ah, it was delicious!'
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 at running away with you. But, you see, I've been looking, and there's only you as the at. So, I want you to tell where it's hiding!'
Analyzing the sowhat nonsensical explanation, it probably had sothing to do with Loli-Gorilla-sama. Sohow, even if not directly attacked, it seed that the plant had recognized the existence of Loli-Gorilla-sama. And, by inquiring about its whereabouts...
(Does this have sothing to do with the talisman...)
I glanced briefly at the exit of the flytrap garden. Our eyes t 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 to help you find it?"
'That's right. The at that's hiding must be incredibly delicious. So, finish your nap and help 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 erged from sowhere. 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 find the delicious at, okay?'
She asked again, this ti demanding help in searching for another at while planning to eat . 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 mont of being eaten. Buying ti 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 ti 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 . It was as if she could see through my soul.
If I lied, I was certain I would be rcilessly 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 at understands?'
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