I Was Reincarnated as a Nameless Combatant in a Japanese-style Fantasy Depressive Erotic Game, but the Women Around Me Are All Dangerous, and I Have a Bad Feeling about It

he was a half-youkai, she forced her way into the boundary.
It felt like her whole body was scalded with hot water, but she managed to escape the youkai's pursuit.

 

　With her body in ruins, Iruka wandered through the boundary.
Her body ached all over, and her hunger and cold had taken her to the limit.
She felt like she was about to die.

 

　Then, she found a small hut.
There was nothing more to say.
Even if someone was inside, she didn't care.

 

　She broke into the hut and was relieved to find no one there.
If there had been someone in there, she might have gotten her ass kicked.
Now, she searched the inside and found dried fish and rice.
The color and smell were a little suspicious, but it didn't matter anymore.
She devoured it all without a second thought.

 

　Sure enough, she got a stomach ache and kept groaning inside the hut.
Fortunately, she was able to survive the rain and dew, and was lucky that youkai did not attack.
In any other place, she would have died for sure.

 

　For two whole days Iruka groaned, and then, in her dazed state of consciousness, she heard a voice.

 

　”Really?” she heard a voice say, the words drawing out in skepticism.
“I heard some weird noises lately.
They say it might be a ghost.”

 

　”Miss, do you plan on investigating it?” the other person asked with curiosity.
“Why don't you just ask someone to do it? It's not something you would personally go in on, is it, Miss?”

 

　It was a woman's voice.
She's talking to someone.
The voice was getting closer.
But Iruka does not run or fight anymore.
She was running out of energy.
Her body was at its limit, her mind notwithstanding.
She cannot move even a finger.
In short, she can't do anything…

 

　Now, as the door of the hut creaks open slowly, she thought it was time to pay her tribute.
It's a shame, but there's nothing she can do.
At least she hope to go to an easy death, but how much more can she hope for?

 

　”What!? There's a person here!? Why!? Wait, is this…
food poisoning!?”

 

　The intruder shouted in a silly voice as she picked up the leftover food lying at her feet…

 

　…

 

　…

 

　(Well, it was a terrible mess, wasn't it?…)

 

　Iruka chuckled bitterly at the memory of their haphazard encounter.
At the same time, she was stunned by the girl's lack of caution in assisting the wounded half-youkai stranger who had collapsed without hesitation.
It should have been a case where they would immediately call armed men for help…

 

　(Well, the rest of it was just as surprising.)

 

　Iruka couldn't believe that they hadn't turned in the unknown half-youkai to the court and even let her live there.
It was a reckless and naive village, she thought.
Although her status was that of a slave, it was a mere formality unlike the one in her hometown.
It was easy.
It was pleasant.
It was fun…

 

　(Why am I even thinking about this now…?)

 

　Iruka wonders as she realizes that she is remembering such things.
Her body was strangely heavy, and she couldn't describe the exhaustion she felt.
But as she looked around absentmindedly, she found it.
She found the girl who was leaning on her.
The owner of the divine shrine maiden costume with blackish-blue hair.
Her benefactor.
Her friend…
and she noticed that she was crying.

 

　(Huh? What? Wh-why are you crying…? And what is this blood?)

 

　Then Iruka remembers everything when she noticed the red stains on her supposedly pure white and expensive outfit.

 

　She jerks, and stretches out her arms.
The young lady who is looking down in front of her trembles nervously.
With a wry smile, Iruka wiped away the blood that had stuck to her cheek.

 

　”I…
ru…
ka…?” Tamaki said with a shocked tone.

 

　”Your expensive outfit has become quite dirty, hasn't it?” Iruka quipped, her words dripping with biting wit.
“Should I make you a new one?”

 

　At Iruka's broken jokes, the girl in front of her just cries and laughs in relief.

 

* * *

 

　(It has somehow been resolved…?)

 

　After observing their interaction, I sit down on the spot and calm down.
Concealing the intense pain in my body, I think over the situation.

 

　'It's not settled, is it? After all, you've only postponed the problem.
They will come after you in the near future too.
Can you escape with your body?' The hummingbird perched on my shoulder says calmly.

 

　She confronts me with reality and all I can do is to remain in a grim silence.

 

　I have exhausted my strength.
Escape is almost impossible.
Perhaps the same is true for Iruka.
We will be captured and beheaded together…
No, this is how it is for her.
As for me, I might be a specimen.
At any rate, it's not a pleasant future.

 

　(I've been delaying this and that for a while now…
but it's a problem.
Depending on the outcome, she might fall into darkness right away.
I wonder if Yukine, and her family can counsel the protagonist…)

 

　This is really troublesome.
To awaken to supernatural abilities, especially to that blackness, even in the original work, it was the worst Tamaki's condition that awakened to it, but I never thought she would awaken to it in such a situation…

 

　”Ah, yes, that's right! Tomobe-san, was it?” Tamaki suddenly speaks up, interrupting my thoughts..

 

　She had come over, leaving Iruka lying in the shade of a tree.
After a few moments, she looks at me and bows her head.

 

　”Well, thank you for everything.
Um…
I just…” Tamaki's voice trails off, uncertainty evident in her tone.

 

　She's clearly struggling to find the right words to express her gratitude.
But that was natural.
There were too many things happening tonight, and she didn't know the reasons or meanings behind them.

 

　…And now, the fate that awaited me and Iruka.

 

　”…I understand your feelings.
Please thank that spider first.” I try to ease the tension in the air with my words.

 

　”Huh? Ah, yes…!” Tamaki quickly kneels down to the white spider and thanks it profusely, her voice filled with relief.