Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 56

A sudden and violent thunderous boom echoed through the cave, and it was obvious what it meant.

　The humans began to attack... and in response, the spider youkai monster that had been scattered throughout the vast cave began to move in unison. At the command of their lord, transmitted through the vibrations of their threads, they gather one after another toward one of the tunnels into which the humans are invading.

　The spider, which is the size of a human, was also moving through the den to intercept the humans, like countless of its brethren. The next moment, however, the spider stops at the presence.

　'......?'

　The spider, sensing the faint presence of spiritual power with its sixth sense as a youkai, tilted its head first. It was because it was unnatural.

　Spiritual energy... it is not strange to feel it. This cave is located at the edge of the spiritual vein of this land, so there is a thin spiritual atmosphere in the air. Therefore, it is not unnatural in itself. However, is this spiritual power somehow different from that of this land?

　The spider slowly moves toward the source of the presence with its eight legs. The presence came from behind a membrane of spider silk threads attached to the rock surface. The spider deftly uses its paws to peel away the membrane. But then...

　"Sorry, that's enough. You'll scare the brats away."

　The next moment, a voice echoes from the side, and the spider tries to turn around as quickly as possible. But it was too late. The spider was grabbed from above and its face was crushed, unable to resist. It could not struggle or even wriggle.

　If it had been an ordinary small knife (kogatana), it would have been neutralized so easily. However, the Dagger (tantō) with a cherry blossom pattern engraved on its handle was a little... well, quite unusual.

　That pattern was a curse which seeped out of the dagger's suspiciously gleaming blade and invaded the spider's entire body. A curse that had been carefully concocted, layered, and mixed with the resentment of the many monsters who had reaped the lives of others... It bound not only the body of the target, but also the soul.

　"All right, you guys. Let's drag this guy to the hiding place!"

　The spider, still conscious though its body was convulsing, looked on. It was a human thrusting a dagger into itself. A man in all black with a Hannya mask. It rolled up the membrane of spider threads and commanded the smaller humans who were hiding on the other side of the membrane.

　"Intruders? I have to tell my friends, I have to tell my master..." But the spider's attempts are crushed. Its paralyzed and restrained body could not communicate the situation to its brethren through the vibrations of its threads, nor could it produce a pheromone-laden secretion.

　The spider is dragged in like an object. The two small human figures hiding in the cave seemed to be intimidated by the sight. On the other hand, the man with a Hannya mask pulls out a dagger (tantō) that is still stuck in the spider's head.