Mob Yandere

Chapter 191-1

[Part 1/4]

"Here I come...!!"

The spear (spare) and axe clash violently.

The blades collide and bounce off each other.

We regain their stance and glare at each other.

The sharp-eyed, muscular wolf woman grins defiantly. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Did I almost break through your stance? So close!"

"Do you think I would crumble from such a weak attack?"

I lightly brushes off Iruka's comment while licking my lips.

Silence... and then another clash!

Bang. Bang. Bang.

With the sound of bursting, a fierce collision followed.

An exchange filled with layers of deceit, as both enhanced our bodies in a clash so intense that those untrained in martial arts couldn't even hope to follow it with their eyes.

"Take this!"

"I can read you!"

I swing my cloak to counter the typical dirt-kicking blinding attack.

The wind blown in the opposite direction by Tengu's Hagoromo pushes the dirt back.

It was Iruka who lost visibility.

"Whoa!!? That's sneaky!?"

"Thanks for the compliment! Now, I'm coming from the right!!"

"You liar!!"

While declaring this, I swing my spear at Iruka, who is groaning with her eyes covered by her arm.

While cursing, the Ezo wolf positions the axe on the left side to block the spear's horizontal slash.

It was the best response, instantly seeing through my diversion with sharp senses.

"Just as I aimed!"

"Ugh!?"

But that was also within expectations.

I run my spear along the opponent's grip and hook the tip onto the axe blade.

Then, I easily pull the weapon from her hands.

"With this...!"

"It's the second stage!!"

With the weapon I took, Iruka charges in.

She instantly closes the distance within the spear's range, knocking me down and wrestling with me.

I am mounted.

A heavy yet firm weight presses down on me.

And then a blow comes to my face.

"Whoa!?"

I instinctively evade.

There was a terrifying sound that made me think my eardrum would burst.

A hairy arm passed right beside me, creating a faint hole in the ground.

"Go easy on me, you idiot!!"

"If I don't avoid it, I'll stop you...kyain!!?"

Long weapons are difficult to handle at this stage.

So, I throw away the spear and grab Iruka's wolf ears and pull, she will lose her balance with teary eyes.

I push her down instead.

But I'm being pushed down again.

I draw the imitation dagger (tantō).

Iruka's youkai arm grabs my wrist, diverting the blade's trajectory as I try to shake it off.

A sharp pain shoots through my grip.

Just as my consciousness wavers, a headbutt comes.

In return, I roughly grab and pull the long, excited wolf tail that swings back and forth.

A high-pitched scream rises again.

"Wow!? Hey, where are you touching!?"

"It's not your butt, is it!?"

"The butt would be better!!"

"Is that so!!?"

A battle of insults while grappling happened.

I remember that for youkai foxes, that was a sensitive area.

Well, in a situation like this, it's actually convenient, so I don't mind.

"What do you mean convenient!! I'm going to kill you!!"

"Ouch!? Ouch!!? Hey, wait!? You little bastard, are you serious!?"

"──Wait, wait, wait!!? Both of you! That's enough! We should stop there! You'll seriously get hurt!?"

As the grappling escalates into a fight, Tamaki, acting as a referee or rather a mediator, intervenes to stop it.

At the same time, my servants join in and lift me and Iruka apart.

As for me and Iruka, we exchange a few more insults and call it a truce.

Then, I tidy myself up and catch my breath before addressing the spectators.

"Ah, as you can see, the physical abilities of a half-youkai are powerful. Especially in the case of capture, it can be dangerous, so never let your guard down. It's best to approach with at least 2 or 3 people, as there's a chance of escaping if you go solo. Please use curse tools as much as possible. If it turns into a grappling match like just now, it can be dangerous."

I calmly explain, trying to mask my own struggles.

After all, what just happened was just to show an example, right?

It's not a lie, okay?

...It's a lie, damn it.

This is one of the training grounds of the Juuyaku family estate.

What took place was a demonstration of the exercises.

The scenario was to subdue and capture an armed half-youkai... Unfortunately, I, the executor, couldn't fulfill it and it ended up a mess.

"...So, any questions?"

Even though I'm technically considered an exorcist, I call out to cover up the fact that I couldn't win, and immediately several hands go up.

I point to one of them and ask for their question.

"This was a training exercise, but what about the use of drugs in actual combat?"

The question comes from someone who is probably affiliated with the Hidden Group based on their appearance.

Wow, they don't hold back right from the start.

...Well, I guess they are from the Yakushiji lineage.

"It's not that I don't recommend it, but you can't be overconfident. The tricky part about half-youkai is the significant individual differences. You can't tell their drug resistance just by appearance. If you need to capture them alive, it's better not to expect too much."

If you're just going to dispose of them, you can prepare your best weapons.

If they don't work, then just go all out to kill them.

But capturing them alive is different.

There's a possibility of being insufficient based on human standards, or excessive based on youkai standards.

Though they are called half-youkai, it doesn't mean they are exactly half human and half youkai.

Moreover, you can't tell just by appearance, and the type of youkai factors also affects their resistance.

It's best to avoid relying on it carelessly.

"Any other questions?"

"Earlier it was just a training exercise, so it didn't turn into a blade incident, but if necessary, would it be required to cut off one or 2 limbs? At what stage do you think a judgment is needed?"

"O-oh"

I was slightly taken aback by the bloody question from the Juuyaku family's exorcists, but I had to answer it nonetheless.

Therefore, I assert.

"It would depend on the abilities of the personnel at that time, but if you feel a threat to your own or your ally's life, you should cut immediately. Yes, legs should be prioritized."

This was appropriate to prevent escape and to create distance after the severing to avoid counterattacks.

Legs can be replaced with prosthetics at worst, but hands cannot, which is also a reason.

"I see, that certainly makes sense."

"If preventing escape is the top priority, then cutting off the legs is rational."

The questioner and those around them nod in complete agreement with my cruel and cold response.

It's a proper exorcist's reaction.

Internally, I feel a bit disgusted.

Iruka, who was my opponent, shrugs in disbelief, while Tamaki has an indescribable expression...

"Ah, what's the next question?"

Lots of hands went up, way too eager.

The questions that came from the nominations were indeed tiresome, and in the end, it continued for nearly a quarter of an hour....

* * *

The day after the incident at the outlaw exorcist's hidden research facility, the patrols in the Juuyaku family's jurisdiction continued for 4 days according to the scheduled allocation.

To be precise, it was the dispatched members like me and Tamaki who were actively moving around, while the support staff like Magoroku remained on standby at the Juuyaku family estate.

During that time, the support from the Juuyaku family was truly more than sufficient.

To be honest, it made me feel a bit guilty as the recipient.

In the end, there were no significant issues to point out, and no major youkai subjugations, so it felt like I was just enjoying free meals at an inn paid for by the Juuyaku family.

Ultimately, there were so few problems that we finished patrolling the jurisdiction in 3 days, and returned to the Juuyaku estate early on the 4th day.

The reports were easily completed since there were no issues at all.

However, since there were preparations to welcome the next destination, we couldn't move up the schedule.

In other words, it meant we had some free time....

"Since we have this opportunity, how about we train together to learn each other's skills while also working up an appetite?"

This suggestion from Juuyaku Ichishen, who was dressed in pure white training attire, came around the time we finished lunch, and it would have been rude to decline, especially since there was no reason to refuse.

Thus, a joint training session, sparring, and skill exchange took place between the combat personnel of the Onitsuki dispatch and those of the Juuyaku family.

The scene of the exercise between me and Iruka was also one of those.

The concept could be described as "how to capture a half-youkai perpetrator skilled in martial arts and cunning."

Although we couldn't actually restrain anyone as proposed, it was surprisingly well-received.

...It felt more like the chaotic brawl aspect was what was appreciated rather than the original purpose.

"There are few opportunities to see half-youkai in the Center region, especially those with martial skills. It will be a good experience and learning opportunity."

It was the cheerful opinion of the head of the Juuyaku family while we were engaged in a spar.

Despite the cheerful tone, the techniques he unleashed were sharp enough to make me think he intended to kill.

Hey, stop it.

Don't just aim for the vital spots.

"That's true! You don't see half-youkai in the Center region!"

As I responded, I deflected punches aimed at my eyes, throat, neck, and sides with backfists and knife-hand strikes.

Aside from the orphanage run by the former head of the Omnyouji Bureau, it's rare to see wild half-youkai in the Center region.

Simply put, the opportunities for contact with youkai are few, making cases of impregnation or mixed factors rare, and above all, there's no means of sustenance.

Even now, when overt oppression has been prohibited, it's only in this area that half-youkai are hired.

Whether as bodyguards or for manual labor, many end up falling into a life of crime.

Or they might quietly cultivate fields in the outskirts... In any case, it's rare to see large half-youkai in the Center region, and even rarer to have conflicts with them.

...Still, it's hard to believe that a martial arts family like the Juuyaku family has no opportunities to fight half-youkai.

(Did he come to probe? That guy is a wanted criminal after all)

Thanks to Kayo's intervention, it's been swept under the rug, but they're one of those who tried to cause trouble in the capital.

Even if they're hired, they're a kind of enemy of the state.

It's only natural to be cautious.

There's probably no need for a warning...

(Even with that attitude, he seems to be quite self-aware...!?)

"Sparring while lost in thought is impure!"

Noticing that my attention was elsewhere, the head of the family launched a fierce attack, causing me to almost lose my balance.

Swish, swish.

I deflected.

But I couldn't deflect it all.

"Fall back for a moment!"

I quickly created distance with a backflip.

Next, what came into view was a flying knee strike.

Whoa, that was close!?

"Damn!?"

"Well done!"

I had anticipated a sword strike coming from the side after dodging, so I braced myself to catch it.