Mob Yandere

[Part 2/3]

Memories surfaced—yesterday's feeding session, horrific and vile. His stomach twisted. No amount of conditioning ever made it easier. His mind shielded by hypnosis and enhancer masks, yet the trauma always lingered.

"Ugh... Not like complaining changes anything. Curse this job... and curse that pompous family head. Damn bast—"

Plop.

A ripple disturbed the water nearby.

He froze, eyebrows knitting together. Slowly, he turned his head toward the sound.

"Huh...?"

The surface rippled again—closer. He leaned forward, frown deepening──

Splash!

A hand shot out, seizing his head. His world spun as he was slammed into the water. Cold liquid flooded his senses—panic flared. He flailed, but ropes—no, spiritual bindings—wrapped around his limbs, immobilizing him.

"Mmmph—!! Guh—!!"

He gasped reflexively—fatal mistake. Water surged into his throat. He coughed, choked—lungs burning. Panic dissolved into dread... then numbness. His vision darkened at the edges.

And then—

"Resistance is futile. Honestly... you're weaker than expected."

A voice—teasing, mocking—echoed faintly through the haze. His last thought was bitter resignation before darkness consumed him.

* * *

"So, it's time for a strip search."

'(＾ｐ＾) Is it good or bad? Is it good or bad?'

Look, roughing up some Juuyaku family researcher and leaving him in nothing but a loincloth wasn't exactly my hobby. It wasn't like my senior possessed me or anything.

This was purely for disguise purposes. Seriously.

I followed the presence into the underground waterway, spotted the grass dolls doing pest control, and cooked up a plan:

If I temporarily released the Barrier Curse that bound the safe zone and skillfully lured the monsters, I could rebind them and trap them.

I would lead the grass dolls with the blood trail and make them collide.

I also had another monster I guided attack from behind, ensuring that only one would escape injured.

Following that one, I reached a hidden passage and quietly crawled up from the water's surface, waiting for my chance.

I approached a man enjoying a cigarette from his blind spot using stealth.

I lured his attention with the sound of water, and like a beast, I pounced.

The result was one guy, butt-naked, eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth.

And just to be clear—no weird intentions here.

I'm not lying, you know?

Now, normally, I should extract various information before harvesting his consciousness... but unfortunately, it seems that won't be possible.

"A curse to keep you quiet, huh? Yeah... figures."

'(´･ω･) Piccolo?'

"...What? No—not 'Piccolo,' I said 'figures!' How'd you even mess that up? Are you secretly just trying to make me laugh?"

Should I say, as expected?

Observing the body of the man I peeled, the embroidery etched into his skin was proof of a curse.

Even the Onitsuki servant group has been cursed to prevent escape and rebellion, so it makes sense.

It looked like they were clearly making him do dirty work, and it wasn't surprising, nor was I expecting anything different.

I didn't think the Juuyaku family would cut corners in that regard.

Damn it, if you're going to get your hands dirty, at least let them rot.

...It can't be helped.

If torturing him is pointless, then I have no use for him anymore.

He wouldn't even be a hostage; I'll just bind his hands and feet with a rope and gag him.

I need to hide him somewhere suitable before the other guy who left comes back.

"...Well then. Is this about it?"

'(＾ω＾) Are you ready for the cosplay party?'

"I hope so."

I checked the mask I peeled off.

Once I confirmed there were no suspicious curses or traps, I wrapped it around myself.

I could tolerate the manly, smoky smell.

Unfortunately, in this era, the concepts of no smoking and designated smoking areas didn't even exist.

"It's nice to be able to hide my face, though."

I confirmed my reflection in the water through the slightly cloudy glass.

The attire of the Research Division is designed to be protective, covering the entire body without gaps.

As long as I can disguise my voice, I shouldn't be recognized at first glance.

...But I can't keep this up forever.

Unfortunately, I couldn't obtain any maps.

Searching and escaping would be done by feel.

Worst case, it seems better to think of it as a gamble once I get out.

"..." @@novelbin@@

I placed my hand on my chest.

It haven't given birth, but it probably won't be doing so anytime soon.

Please, I really hope for no premature birth.

Just stay calm.

"...Surgical tools, medicine, or something, please?"

Then I headed towards the only door in the room and opened it.

I checked my footing through the glass hole as I climbed the dark, narrow stone stairs leading upward, one step at a time.

Light was shining ahead.

Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be light from outside.

However, I caught a glimpse of a spacious area.

I hesitated slightly, but then I slightly removed the mask...

"Medicine... disinfectant, maybe?"

Confirming the smell drifting from the room, which I cannot discern through the mask, I immediately adjust it and tighten it shut.

I check the normalcy of my senses.

At the same time, my mouth lifts in anticipation.

The space at the top of the stairs was set for my expected use.

This thing... I might have hit the jackpot, considering it's probably something usually retrieved from the sewer──wondering how they handle it afterwards. 𝘳áƝóВΕŜ

"I hope luck is finally on my side..."

I declare with a hint of sarcasm.

Calmly, cautiously, I take one step at a time, yet my chest swells with uncontainable anticipation as I hasten, gradually running up the stairs.

I sincerely wish for something that can lighten the burden in my heart as I push forward.

And then...

"Haha... What the hell is this?"

I coldly scoff at the object I witnessed in the room, and then I vomit...

* * *

"Hmm? A group from Onitsuki, you say?"

Upon receiving the report from the family members stationed for border security through a messenger, Juuyaku Ichishen pauses his work.

"Ah. It's news from the Takemika family. They're trying to cancel their plans and turn back... it seems their side is deploying servants on the road to stop them."

A carnivorous plant... a youkai grass mimicking the pitcher plant, capable of transmitting and amplifying sound through tendrils spread underground, was one of Juuyaku family's secret techniques.

It was prized as a quick and discreet means of communication among key locations in the territory beyond simple messages.

This report exemplified the advantages of that technique perfectly.

However, this is...

"Well then, what should we do now? This is bothersome. Did they forget something?"

'The Takemika family must be perplexed as well. Could it be that they suddenly abandoned their duty... without a hint of contacting us? Such rudeness, even for a noble house!'

The lowest-ranking members of the clan, who knew nothing, are outraged by Onitsuki's arrogant behavior throughout the ceremony.

From their perspective, they had abandoned their duties from the imperial court and was trying to infringe on their territory.

His awareness of their lack of courtesy was understandable.

...The more people who know a secret, the likelier it leaks.

Juuyaku Ichishen hadn't shared his actions with the entire family.

Even those informed didn't know the whole picture—only a select few, including the family head, fully understood the situation.

The master of shikigamis who contacted them suspected there were one or two skeletons in the closet, but that was it.

No one knew the full circumstances between both families—nor was there any benefit in knowing.

"For now, let the Takemika family handle this. It's their territory, and we shouldn't get involved. Stay in close contact and report back if anything happens. Got it?"

'Understood.'

"There could be unexpected developments. I'll send personnel to secure the border. We may also need to notify higher-ups. I'll take care of that."

Without delay, Ichishen ordered his household servants to dispatch the Kakure-gumi and other covert operatives.

'I appreciate the effort.'

"It's nothing. Border defense is under Juuyaku's jurisdiction. Crossing without permission is unacceptable—but resorting to violence is problematic too. We're all court officials here, so do everything you can to avoid escalation. Clear?"

'Yes!'

The communication through the shiki was cut off.

For a moment, the family head stood silent.

After wrapping up his tasks, he put on his custom-made curse-tool glasses and rose from his chair.

He opened a medicine box and took a few pills—formulas to sharpen his memory and strengthen his mind, guarding against mental manipulation and enchantments.

He inhaled a fragrant scent with a salty note, sharpening his senses further.

Setting aside communications with the imperial court and neighboring territories, Ichishen exited the office shed.

He headed toward the underground greenhouse, plucking a fruit from a shinju (spiritual) tree along the way.

It resembled a bitter persimmon but acted as a medicinal tonic, its taste invigorating.

Exiting the greenhouse, he entered a sterile corridor.

He passed by the grass doll of the Research Division, casually raising a hand in acknowledgment—formal greetings here would've just wasted time.

Quickening his pace, he pressed deeper into the fortress.

Down he went... deeper and deeper, until he reached the heart of the structure.

There it stood—a massive gate, guarded by waiting grass doll.

The heavy Reitetsu-forged gate—resilient enough to withstand even the blows of a calamity-class youkai—groaned open as a vine youkai, formally contracted, manipulated its mechanisms.

Crossing the threshold, the air shifted immediately, becoming unnervingly sterile.

This room was no ordinary chamber.

Its walls were crafted from reisei-seki, stones that absorbed the land's reiki (spiritual energy) while cutting off any flow of reiki inside.

No blessing from the earth, no external influence—nothing could seep into this space.

At the center of the room, it sat.

Thick, frayed shimenawa ropes and layers of seals crisscrossed around a heavy iron box.

An opening at the front—just wide enough for a human head—provided access.

Three traditional locks lined the entrance.

Ichishen reached into his pocket, pulled out a key, and paused.

"...That's frustrating. I thought I locked this place down tight... but someone still slipped through."

Whoosh!

A sharp gust cut through the air—

A shadow closed in fast.

A knife-hand strike came for Ichishen's vital spot—

—but with a quick motion, he deflected it.

He grabbed the attacker's arm—

—and a punch flew toward him—

—but stopped short.

"Ngh...!!"

'Whoa, whoa! Easy there! Is that how you treat a maiden's face? C'mon, show a little mercy!'

It all happened in seconds.

Botan, expecting to land the first strike, gasped.

Her face twisted in frustration, sweat forming on her brow as her eyes shook with shock.

Meanwhile, the blue demon who caught Ichishen's punch chuckled.

"Yo, you're the Blue Demon of the Four Disasters, huh? Heard the stories about you surviving all kinds of messes... Never thought I'd see you in person."

'Heh, that glare of yours... reminds me of some real pains from back in the day.'

That sharp gaze?