Mob Yandere

[Part 3/3]

Her eye sockets were wide open, pupils drained of color.

Female mantis... The thought flashed through my mind.

"Nya ha ha ha. Shall I introduce myself again? I am Juuyaku, a blood relative of the Juuyaku family, outside the family register! Please!!!!"

"Ah, I see...!!"

'(* ^ー゜)ノ Please take care of me!'

With pupils stripped of reason, Kaya charged.

Like an insect drawn to the flame, she moved with inhuman speed, her body an erratic blur. The hellfire around us meant nothing to her. The heat that would melt human skin? Meaningless.

The maggot had awakened.

"Seriously...!!?"

I slip through the gap just in time, dodging the six-legged limbs crashing down from above. My tantō flashes as I sever a leg. Another swings at me—I barely lift my own in time to avoid the slash.

Then, a hook comes straight for my face.

"Whoa, what the hell!? That hurts!!?"

'(；゜∀゜) No way is this a Twister game!?'

"Like hell it is!?"

Despite my complaints, my body twists unnaturally, contorting to avoid being crushed. A foot nearly stomps my skull, forcing me to bend away. Another limb swings low, and I roll just in time, but pain shoots through my side as I graze the floor.

Hey, isn't my anti-cut armor supposed to work?

"Damn it, take this!!"

I spring up like a coiled wire, eyes locking onto the foot aiming to crush me. I sidestep just in time, barely dodging a sweeping strike from my peripheral vision. Then, with one precise swing, I carve through the offending limb.

The blood isn't the sickly green of an insect—it's red. Human.

A mournful roar echoes.

But instead of retreating, she launches an even fiercer attack.

Her torn arm dangles for a second—then splits apart. From the shredded flesh, a hidden blade emerges, gleaming like a scythe.

Four arms. Clawed legs. A storm of slashes in rapid succession.

"What!? And she's skilled...!?"

'(>ω

No matter how many times I deflect, she presses forward, her attacks never ceasing. If I manage to disable one limb, another lashes out, poised to tear me apart. She's not just attacking wildly—she's calculated. Prepared. ȐαŊȱΒÊș

The scythe arms whip toward me with deadly precision. If I grab one, my hand will be shredded. If I don't, I'm as good as dead.

'Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!'

"Screw that! Squeeze it!!"

'(；｀∀´) Good! I'm soooo!'

I barely evade the enormous scythe that nearly takes my arm. My counterattack is instant—a long rope snaps forward, slithering along the floor, catching her ankle.

Focus.

I seize the moment, tighten my grip, and yank. Hard.

'Sha, Sha "Gaa"!!!!? ?'

"This is the final blow!!"

'(* ﾟ∀ﾟ) It's sad, but this is a battle, right!?'

Kaya flails, struggling to regain her balance. I don't give her the chance. Another slash—another leg gone. Two down. One trapped.

This is it.

She swings her scythe arm instinctively—an act of desperation. A fatal mistake.

Her stance crumbles. She stumbles toward the pit. Desperately, she claws at the walls, the floor, twisting her body to avoid the scorching depths below.

...She barely stops herself from falling.

But there are no limbs left to stop me.

'Gugyu"uu"uu"uu"uu"!!'

Her pupils are blown wide. Wild. Unrecognizable. Her once-human jaw hangs open, fangs bared, gums red and raw. The beauty she once had is gone—consumed by the monster she's become.

I should feel disgusted. Maybe even hatred.

Instead, all I feel is pity.

This isn't what she wanted.

"...Sorry. This is my fault."

I know it is. I know exactly how this happened. And I should be the one to take responsibility. But even now—I don't know how.

The hand I reach out is swatted away.

"We'll talk later, alright? For now, just cool your head."

'(. ･з･) Please cool your head a bit!'

'Gya...!!?'

I don't wait for an answer. My tantō flashes again.

A final slash.

Kaya, unable to support herself, plunges into the pit. Her scream vanishes into the crimson inferno below.

"Alright, one more!!"

'(>ω

A shadow lunges from my blind spot. I move first.

My roundhouse kick connects. Hard.

Like Kaya, her clothes burn away in the flames, exposing rotting, charred skin. But unlike Kaya, she doesn't hesitate. She drops to all fours, dashing toward me with terrifying speed.

Her mouth snaps open—jaws massive, crocodilian.

I shove my leg straight into her throat.

'A, Go, Gaa!!?'

The merciless impact triggers her gag reflex. She lurches back, gasping. Her wild hair parts, revealing reptilian eyes, flickering with something beyond rage.

She tries to retreat.

I don't let her.

She tries to intimidate me.

I step forward. @@novelbin@@

She charges in.

I strike.

'A, Ga...!!?'

"Here we go...!!"

Hana panics at my unexpected move. I don't hesitate. My palm slams upward into her chin with enough force to rattle her skull.

A dull thud. A sharp jerk.

I grab her jaw and hold it down.

Crocodile jaws are powerful—but only when closing. Their opening force is weak.

"And now, I push you down...!!"

'Fugoh...!!?'

Her body collapses beneath me. Her footing is already unstable. Her resistance—minimal.

Unlike Kaya, her eyes aren't fully lost. There's still something left in them.

"Don't move. I know you're trying to shed your skin... You wouldn't want me to finish you off, right?"

'(* ﾟ∀ﾟ) Game set!'

My tantō presses lightly against her throat.

She freezes. Her breath shakes.

...Fear.

True, undeniable fear.

She understands that my blade can pierce through her 'abilities.' That I have her completely under control.

And that means—I have complete control over this conversation.

"Hah, hah, hah... Shake your head and answer me. Is Juuyaku Ichishen allied with the monsters?"

'.... ...!'

A moment of silence.

Then, slowly, she shakes her head.

Her ragged breath trembles, thick with terror. This isn't a ploy. Not a trick.

For the first time—this might just be an honest answer.

...Not that it makes any of this any easier.

"Hah, hah... Huh... Next question. Is 'that' sealed here?"

'....'

Next, she slowly nodded in affirmation.

I see. I see.

That's good to know.

So, it is sealed, huh? That's fortunate.

Yes, I want to believe it.

"Hah, hah... Phew... Third question. Is it just you guys? No one else?"

'......'

Hana hesitated, her eyes flickering with doubt before she slowly shook her head.

I'll choose to believe that.

After all, there likely wasn't anything else capable of what they could do.

Was that a relief or another problem entirely? I couldn't tell.

Then, for the final question...

"I see. Then, here's the last question. You all..."

I let the words hang in the air.

Hana's trembling eyes widened, locked onto mine. Silence. Tension. Fear. And—joy. Her lips barely moved, but the answer was clear in her gaze.

She nodded, emotions overwhelming her expression.

I see.

I see....

"...I'll go talk to the head of the family. Don't interfere, got it?"

'(o´: ∀: )o If you're in trouble, just call me!'

I released my hold and stood up.

Hana didn't resist.

My words weren't fangs to her throat.

Naturally.

There was no reason to kill me just for going to talk.

And so, there was no reason for them to stop me....

"When Kaya cools down... please take her away. I did something bad. I cut off three of her legs."

Pressing on my wounded side, I muttered my apology.

Would her limbs heal?

Had I left her with scars she'd carry forever?

If so, I could only offer my regrets.

...After all, throwing her into the flames was hardly a way to cool her down.

'...'

Hana sat slumped, strength drained from her body. Her gaze lingered on me—regretful, hesitant, conflicted.

She said nothing.

Neither did I.

Without another word, I turned and walked away, leaving the burning room behind.

I stepped into the corridor.

A heavy door groaned shut behind me.

Leaning against the wall, I pressed a hand to my side, forcing my breath steady.

Each step was a fight against my own body.

To move forward.

To stay ahead.

To keep going—even if it meant pushing myself past the limit.

...And then, the pain in my chest erupted, sending me to my knees.

"Hah, ha...!! Haha. Is it... finally the limit?!"

'ヽ( ﾟдﾟ)ﾉ Hii hii, what the hell!!?'

"Are you a midwife...?!"

Grimacing, I tore off the black death mask and peeled away my sweat-soaked outfit.

The heat wasn't just from the flames.

Something inside me was wrong.

Beneath my skin, something twisted, writhed.

My entire body burned.

Too hot.

Too much.

"...Hah! Ninth month already? Premature birth?!"

I laughed bitterly.

Not far off from the truth.

I'd been putting this off too long.

But I couldn't wait any longer.

I should have taken care of this before now.

"Damn it...!"

'(>ω

I glanced down at the Tantō in my grip.

There was only one option left.

"Damn it! I will never become a mother...!!?"

Fingers tightening around the handle, I steeled myself.

I couldn't let this thing inside me come to full term.

I couldn't give birth to a monster—one that reflected my own twisted traits.

And certainly not to a child with 'my little sister.'

That was no joke.

'Happy birthday, my granddaughter♪'