Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 29

As soon as I plunged my dagger into the monster's face, my consciousness was fully awakened. Whether it was the youkai-effect jutsu or my confused memory, I regained my senses despite feeling dizzy and nauseous, and I strengthened my arm holding the dagger.

"Ugghh...!!!"

I twisted the dagger's handle in my hand and yanked it out. But as I pull it out, blood splatters onto my face from the impact.

(Ouch... Shit, did I just get some in my eye...?)

The corner of my eyes is tearing up in a different way from the mental attack I've just had. Maybe because I pulled it out a little too violently... However, I don't regret it. It was all necessary.

Nevertheless, despite having a gorilla-sama's dagger, which was far superior to my own spear, it was clear that it would not be enough to kill this bug-like creature. But, the reason why I stabbed the dagger as deeply as possible was not to kill the monster, but to buy time. Yes, to buy time to escape...

"Shit...!! Hurry... quickly... cut it off!!"

I use my free right hand to cut through the mass of flesh that is restraining my body while holding back the vomiting in my stomach. And once my left hand is free, I use my spear, which is nearby, to forcibly break the binding.

"Uhhh... Uh... my eyes... My dear boy, why are you...?"

The dagger thrust deeply and gougingly into the chest near her throat and then into the left eyeball, had neutralized the creature in front of me, albeit only for a short time. In the present state, 'youkai mother' is holding the left side of her face, bending over, and moaning.

Meanwhile, all the surrounding youkai were confused. After all, youkai are just youkai, and most of them are small youkai created from creatures living in low-grade underground tunnels... They are unintelligent and unable to move in an organized manner without the control and orders of the 'youkai mother'. However...

(That level of wound will revive soon anyway...!! We have to get out of here before that happens...!)

Somehow I managed to break free from the restraints of the mass of flesh, and I ran, ignoring the "youkai mother" who was approaching me and the confused and rampaging youkai in the hive. My destination is not the exit of this naturally ugly hall... but rather, the place where I find Ako Murasaki, who is also restrained and unable to move.

"Murasaki-sama! I'll release your restraints now, please help me...!!"

With this yell, I thrust my dagger into the lump of flesh that held her dominant hand and cut it open. By the way, this is not done out of the goodness of my heart. Instead, I am not so optimistic as to think that I can escape from this place without her, who is the best combatant in this place, and even if I could escape from the underground tunnels by myself, it would not be a good idea, considering the trouble I would have to go through later. In such a situation, the weakest person at the scene is always the sacrificial lamb. So, her survival was a prerequisite for my survival. The only problem is that...

"Murasaki-sama!? What are you doing!!? Pull yourself together!!"

"Eh... Ah...? Y-Yes!?"

I ask the stunned girl as I yell at her, desperately trying to release her restraints. I guess she's patient enough not to stick her tongue out at me. ...No, even though I know it's a bit harsh for a little girl in her early teens. However, I can't take a lenient attitude because my life is at stake.

On the other hand, Murasaki, who came to her senses at my loud voice, hurriedly pulls out the sword on her waist and stabs and slashes at the lump of flesh that restrains her. Once she joins in the work, she uses the sword in her hand to cut apart the flesh in a deceptively brilliant and efficient way. Who says she's the least talented swordsman in the family?