Mob Yandere

[Part 3/4]

With my instructions, I wedged a folding circular key into the gap of the door. I twisted the blade in, using leverage to lift it. It was heavy, but... I can do this!

"Alright...!!"

I grabbed the edge of the lifted door and, using my enhanced strength, lifted it up in one go. A cold, musty air rushed in. This is...

"...Go."

Hana released the shiki. A shiki resembling a small bird vanished into the darkness. Sharing her vision, Hana closed her eyes and fell silent. I kept my gaze fixed on the spreading darkness, ready to seal the door immediately if needed.

...Time passed in silence.

"...?"

"Is something wrong?"

"...What did you see?"

To help her out, I changed the way I asked. Finally, it seemed like Hana found the words to explain, and she said...

"It's like, just when you think it's time for a showdown, it turns out to be a total letdown, huh?"

It was Kaya's exasperated disappointment in the underground lab. What was in front of us was a mummy. To be precise, it was a mummified corpse.

"What's the autopsy result?"

"No external injuries. Likely died of disease or poisoning."

"Poisoning... did they mess up during an experiment?"

The underground space was divided into sections, like a lab. They must have dabbled in forbidden techniques. There were clearly banned specimen jars lined up. The shelves were crammed with forbidden books and what looked like observation records, and dusty equipment from some kind of experiment was spread out on the table. And at our feet were bottles and the mummy... it was really, really a letdown. After all that buildup, it felt like a punch to the gut.

"Ahaha, poison? What's that? Too ridiculous! Hahaha, haah... haah..."

While I was feeling deflated, Kaya was rolling on the floor, laughing her head off. Being from the Juuyaku family, which is a branch of the Yakushiji family and knows a bit about pharmacology, it must have seemed hilarious to blow yourself up with poison during an experiment. She was laughing so hard she looked like she might hyperventilate. Her quiet partner was patting her back, trying to help her catch her breath. I averted my gaze like a warrior showing mercy. I looked back at the mummy.

"Who knows how many years it's been left here... it's all moldy."

The skin was blackened, corroded, and cracked. The bones were sticking out, and it seemed like all the moisture was gone. It would be pretty hard to recognize the face. Besides, the person might be long gone, or they could be from the streets with no ties to the official exorcist families. We'd have to rely on the lab's leftovers and belongings to figure out who this was.

"Well, anyway, it's best to resolve things peacefully without any bloodshed. So, I guess this case is settled... oh wait, maybe not."

I had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but I turned around at the sense of something amiss. I gripped my spear, ready for action. The two others beside me did the same, their eyes fixed on the heavy iron door at the back of the dimly lit lab.

The door, sealed with multiple locks and plastered with talismans, was now visibly dented.

"──?!"

BOOM! The door, probably several inches thick, was dented so badly that I couldn't help but recoil. The impact echoed roughly underground. Everyone felt tense, like they were about to explode. Hana swallowed nervously, and then there was the noise of someone pulling back a bowstring. Then another impact, and the dent got even bigger. The chains connected by the locks shook too.

"Hana, to the side of the door. Kaya, aim for the head if you can. If they get too close, fall back into the room behind the door."

There was no response. There was no time. The two silently agreed. I would be the decoy and the wall. Kaya would keep shooting arrows, and if 'someone' appeared and approached, I'd hold them off. Hana would ambush them from the side or behind. It was also a strategy to avoid getting wiped out by some unknown power.

Now, a third impact caused one of the chains to break. Then, a fourth impact resulted in two more chains falling off. Several talismans also ripped away. By the fifth impact, one of the locks had finally come loose.

Then, the impact kept coming. Again and again, something slammed into the door, causing dents to appear on its surface. The force of each hit sent chains crashing to the ground and talismans peeling away from the metal. Cracks ran through the iron door. It was at its limit.

"!!!"

Before I could count, the door was surely going to be smashed, so I gripped my spear even tighter. Whatever came out, whatever happened, I'd finish it. I steeled myself. And then, the intense impacts stopped.

"Huh?"

An eerie silence suddenly descended. I was momentarily confused, then relaxed, only to realize it was a flag. Immediately, I understood the 'promise' and started running.

"Hana! Get down!!!"

'Haaaa!!'

Hana crouched just in time, narrowly avoiding the blow. Something pierced through the wall where her head had been. The question was, could she keep surviving? The thing that had pierced the wall continued on its path, straight towards Hana below...!!

"Not on my watch!"

I slid in between them, literally putting my spear in the way. I tried to deflect it, but...

"Deflect it, come on?!"

I realize the shape of this thing is like tentacles, and I feel anxious as the spear I touched seems to be stuck to it and won't come off. Or rather, this is more like...

"A sea star... no, octopus legs!?"

I instinctively know that I must not touch these octopus-like legs that are wrapped around me. I immediately release the spear. The octopus legs snap it and throw it away. The suckers on the wriggling tentacles... search for a moment, and then they swing towards me!

"Ah!"

I hold Hana close and roll on the floor to dodge the octopus legs. I look at the unpleasant sound and see the stone floor with a clean incision. Hana and I quickly stand up and retreat, then turn around to witness the creature.

It's a koromodako, or perhaps a tako-nyudo? Whatever it is, it breaks through the wall and comes out, looking like an octopus. It has 2 legs and an upper body, with an entire octopus attached to it. Its skin is slippery and reddish-black. The octopus legs, which seem to be more than 8, spread out like flower petals. In the center are multiple layers of teeth growing in a chaotic manner. It drips slime and exhales a white breath.

Let me be clear, this is not a normal sight. At the very least, it doesn't look delicious, even if you grilled it like takoyaki.

"What the heck is that?! A spider?!"

"It's an octopus, an octopus?!"

"What's an octopus?!"

"You don't know what an octopus is?!"

Kaya is extremely shaken by the appearance of this monster. Hana is also shaken. That's ridiculous. She can handle watching splatter ones, but she's freaking out over a mere octopus...

"We're in the middle of the country, you know?!"

I dodge the sharply flying octopus leg that comes at me and slice it with my tantō, the one with the cherry blossom design. The octopus leg is cleanly cut. The monster retreats in surprise and pain, writhing. The severed octopus leg writhes on the floor.

"Use the bow!"

"! Yes!"

Kaya snaps back to her senses at my command and draws her bow. Twice, 3 times, 4 times, 5 times. She fires arrows in rapid succession. The arrows pierce what seems to be the octopus head. The powerful bow, enhanced by spiritual power, only manages to shallowly pierce the octopus-like creature's flesh, which is full of elasticity.

'Arrgh!'

The octopus roars, spreading its limbs wide like fully bloomed petals, its fangs bared and jaws gaping. It's clear it's furious. And probably about to do something next...

"Run to the back room!!"

As we turn on our heels and dash away, the octopus charges at the same time. It's coming at us, using its 2 skinny legs and the tentacles sprouting from its upper body to sprint forward. It lets out an indescribable screech while spewing slime from its mouth. Gross, so gross!!

"Shut the door!"

I shout to Hana and Kaya, who got in first. At the same time, I slide in too. The iron door slams shut. As it closes, it bulges in and almost gets pierced through. The tip of a tentacle peeks out.

"Ha!!"

I immediately chop off the end of the tentacle. I offer Teguruma to Hana. She quickly understands what I mean.

"I'll be the decoy!!"

Kaya declares while pulling back 3 bundled arrows. I respond and get into position. I start to pull the thread of Teguruma. The door gets dented as the monster pushes its face through the gap. I can't tell where its eyeballs are, but it's clearly roaring at Kaya, who's right in front.

"Don't look at me with that disgusting face!!"

Kaya hurls insults at the monster, which has its fangs bared from its red-black, flappy mouth. At the same time, she releases her strong bow. The sound of slicing through the air. The arrows pierce in. It makes sense that the inside is softer than the outside.

'Haaaa!!!?'