Mob Yandere

Chapter 195-3

[Part 3/3]

The blue demon knew it well—

The eyes of a man who didn't believe in "forbidden moves," who saw fights as do-or-die.

Nostalgic... and annoying.

The blue demon clenched Ichishen's fist tighter—

Crack...!

Bone creaked under the pressure.

"Hey, cut it out! You trying to kill him?"

"If someone's dying, I'd prefer it's just you, thanks."

Another voice.

From behind the blue demon—where no one should've been—someone spoke.

Ichishen turned—

—and in a blink, they were there.

One was a kyuubi (nine-tailed fox), leaning on a parasol with a hand to her cheek, looking amused.

The other? A hebi no kami (snake god), tails sprawled out like a throne, smirking.

"Well now... things got interesting. I'm impressed."

Foxes? Masters of illusions.

Snakes? Born for stealth.

These weren't some random thugs.

They oozed Shinki (divine energy).

Calamity youkai.

Or worse.

Ichishen clenched his jaw.

They broke into the Juuyaku family's fortress—undetected.

Shame burned in his chest.

Even with their full force... could his family even take down one of them?

'What's with that face? Don't go acting like you tried. That trap of yours was a joke.'

It was like the blue demon was reading his mind.

Letting go of Ichishen's fist, she stepped back—twice—raising her guard.

Even now, he didn't drop his guard.

Because he knew—

He couldn't kill her.

But she could.

That tension... that crazy calm in the face of monsters?

Infuriating.

'Geez... Demons are all hotheads. Makes talking a pain.'

Then—

A hummingbird shikigami flitted down, landing neatly on Botan's head.

'Juuyaku Ichishen-dono, right? Been a while.'

Ichishen sighed.

"Elder Matsuhige... It has. Tea?"

'No need. I'd rather not risk you poisoning me.'

"Fair enough."

He glanced at the monsters.

"Didn't expect you to be rolling with this crew... bit surprising."

'Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not here making friends.'

"Yeah? Takes guts though... I wouldn't share a room with these guys for five minutes."

He meant it.

The youki (demonic aura) pouring off them was suffocating.

He couldn't believe anyone could stand it.

'Reckless, huh? Hoho... How modest.'

'Personally, I think it's crazier to live near these guys. Doesn't seem sane at all.'

The shikigami let out a cheerful laugh, brushing off the tension.

That's what she expected—

—until Ichishen spoke.

"Very well. I'll accept."

"...Huh!?"

Botan froze, speechless.

It took her a few beats to process.

Wait—seriously?

After all that, especially now that she'd set foot in this fortress and observed so many things.... he's just agreeing?!

Unbelievable.

"Why...?"

"Why? That's strange. No—actually, it's perfectly logical. And more than that... it's a great honor."

Ichishen answered her unspoken doubts with a carefree smile.

And he meant it.

This request—this opportunity—was a blessing in disguise.

His sheer delight only deepened Botan's confusion.

'Hey—?'

"Hmm. Right. Let's handle your request first."

The hebi no kami (snake god) and kyuubi (nine-tailed fox) seemed indifferent—

—but the impatient blue demon was clearly done waiting.

Ichishen acknowledged the silent pressure and reached into his robes.

He pulled out—

—a vine doll.

It was a compact hybrid of a straw doll—small, delicate, but intricately woven.

In its tiny hand, it held a key.

The puppet twitched—

Then sprang to life.

It scurried across the floor—

—leapt onto the metal chest—

—and climbed up with practiced ease.

One click.

Two.

The locks unlatched and clattered to the ground.

The sound echoed in the heavy silence.

Click.

The third lock fell away—

—BANG!

The peephole cover burst open—

—and worms spilled out, writhing!

'Wha—!?'

The vine puppet struggled—only for a moment.

Then it was swallowed, dragged down into the squirming mass.

The sound that followed— crunch-crunch—like someone biting into pickles—

—was unsettling.

Silence fell.

A suffocating stillness blanketed the room.

An icy chill crept in, coiling like a shadow.

And then—

—from beyond the darkness—

'Oh my, oh my! So many precious children here! And—oh! My darling grandchild too! Hehehe, come give grandma a big hug, won't you?♪'

Emerging from the depths of the chest—

—the fallen mother goddess spoke in a cheerful, drawn-out tone—

—completely at odds with the ominous atmosphere.