Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 52

It was a sudden event. The countless hordes of kappa that appeared out of the forest, however, were unlikely to exist in the first place since they were almost all dead in this area, and at the same time, it should have been difficult for them to get through the surveillance network of the Shikigami scouting in the vicinity.

　Therefore, it was a surprise for both of us, and we had no choice but to stop thinking when we saw the figure. Of course, there was no time for us to do such a leisurely thing...

　"Wha...!?"

　One of the stray exorcists was so shocked that he was surrounded by dozens of kappa and screamed, which brought us all back to our senses.

　"W-whaaa!!?"

　"Why are these guys here?!"

　Then, one of the men ran away in fright, and another quickly readied his spear in a panic, in front of the hordes of kappa that sprinted out of the forest... literally dashing at full speed, swinging their arms and legs so wildly that they seemed to be some kind of fools. However, both choices were wrong.

　"Aaaaaaaah!!?"

　The kappa caught up with the slender, stray exorcist who had run away at an animal-like sprint and jumped on him from behind with great force. The man screams and flails his body as he is held from behind with both arms and legs, but the next moment he is bitten on the neck.

　"Gghhaaaa!!?"

　The man screams as blood spurts out of his body. As if in response, several kappas leap onto the man and bite him, tearing off his armor as they do so.

　"Hey, stop it!!? D*mn you! What the... Stop... D*mn it!!?"

　The man whose entire body was enveloped by the green body let out an indescribable shriek as soon as he was out of sight. There is nothing more to say about this man.

　"Tsk!? D*mn it! Come here you monster!!"

　A big obese man shouts half in desperation, holding a big spear. Several kappas, who saw it, open their mouths and leap at him while spraying drool.

　"Haaaaa!!"

　He swung his spear at one of them, cutting off its head, then slashed the one behind it diagonally from its side to the opposite shoulder, and pointed his spear at the one that came charging at him from right next to him. These kappas are pierced by the spear through the belly with the force of their own sprint. But...

　'Ki... Kiki!!'

　"Wha!?"

　The kappa keeps moving forward even though the spear pierces its belly. Without minding that the tip of the spear is pierced into its belly, and that the shaft of the spear is engulfed by the spear, causing it to shed greenish bodily fluids, the kappa simply keeps going, waving its hands, claws raised, and tries to attack the man. This unusual persistence frightens the big man.