Kaguya Princess (3)
The bizarre Jizo statue closes in right up to my face. My heart's pounding like crazy. It's hitting critical levels, burning hot. My pulse races. My instincts are screaming—if I move even a millimeter here, the battle kicks off.
This is it. If this is fate, then I'll roll with it. Guess I gotta show 'em. Natsunashi Yuuki's ultimate technique.
The next moment, I bolt deeper into the bamboo forest. DADADADA! Bouncing like a pro~! Full-on escape mode—!
Not that it's cowardly or anything. The Thirty-Six Stratagems say beat it when you have to—legit tactics.
The Beheaded Jizo chases after me. It's kicking up so much dirt it's practically right on my tail. At this rate, it'll snag me in no time.
No way!! What kinda rock's this fast?!
Rock-types are supposed to be slowpokes by the rules. Damn it.
I spot a slope and veer that way quick. The forest thickens here—fat, dense bamboo everywhere.
Weave between the stalks, dodge like a ninja!
Nice plan... for about five seconds. Then the statue—why'd it stop?—lurches forward on its knees, body leaning back, arm thrusting out.
Whooooosh— A merciless fist rush. BOOM!!
Bamboo explodes like it got steamrolled, splintering everywhere. The area's totaled. Nearly got crushed flat under the debris.
"What the hell?!"
I snatch a jagged bamboo shard and hurl it at the headless Jizo. Tough enough to shatter Buntaro's axe, but it bounces off the spear-tip like nothing. Crunch— Crushes it to dust with one grip. Monster strength.
The statue leaps—boing!—landing right behind me, one leg bent. OH-NO-!
I try to run again, but this time it's faster. Grabs my shoulder.
"Guh! Let go! I said let go!"
The strap on my backpack snaps. The bag dangles loose on me. I thrash, but can't shake it. Numb from the grip—insane power.
The Jizo reaches with its other hand, rough and ready. Slimy goo drips from its neck stump. Like it's hunting for something to stick on.
N-No way? No doubt about it. Incoming... HEAD.
It's gunning for my neck. Ditching the dullahan life already?! Even if Yuuki's got a pretty-boy face, this ain't it.
Why's a romcom spawning monsters like this?! If you're gonna, at least make 'em hot girls.
Do-or-die moment. Time for a gamble.
"Hey, big-headed cripple. Bet you know this one."
I force a grin.
"!"
Hardcore fan, huh? The headless Jizo freezes for a sec.
"The song of man is the song of courage. The song of Yuuki Courage! You'll find out soon enough who ends up losing in the end!"
Humans never, ever lose to quitters!!
I yank the toy sword from my dangling bag with my free arm. The one that sliced Guki-san's watermelon yesterday at Granny's place. Brought it just in case. Kinda wanted to practice swordplay in a quiet bamboo grove—total samurai cliché.
This is all I got left. Please, gimme some OP sword skills!
Bite down, draw the blade. The toy sword gleams. Still can't cut jack, though.
"Gr... ugh."
The headless Jizo spreads wide like it's gonna rip my head off. My hand shakes on the hilt. If it doesn't cleave clean like the melon, I'm done.
Speed's everything. Jizo's hand or my sword—SWISH!! Mine hits first.
Will it cut stone? Unknown. Mouth's bone-dry.
The Jizo locks up like a statue (well, it is one). Its grip on my arm slackens.
CRACK!!
Split clean in half. I did it! Halved the thing.
The Jizo flails its limbs in a pathetic spasm. Like a demon's death throes, clinging to life.
I yell at the loser, beaten in one strike.
"You're toast, monk-boy."
No mouth, so no comeback like "If I'm toast, you're honey?" Pity.
Could go full trashy♡ dick-for-brains♡ mess and cackle, but nah.
"But if there's a next time, let's be pals. Binge some manga together. Arrivederci!"
I flash a wry smile, giving my worthy foe some respect. Smart monster, for a head-hunter.
"!"
Something clicks. Left Jizo and Right Jizo quit flailing. Squeeze out one last burst of energy.
OH NO-! I brace to bolt, but then I get it.
The bisected body strikes the ultimate HIGH pose... both halves!
"Did I win? Did I win? Did I win?"
No revival chant works. No presence left. Legs give out—I collapse.
I survived.
Wasn't my skills... this thing's special, right?
Stare at the plastic sword. Woulda been dead without it.
Maybe a flat-chested sword spirit's bonded to it? Tsundere type—only wakes up in crises.
If it's got a spirit, name it. Excalibur? Muramasa? Sorry-han?
One name pops in my head.
"Yeah. From now on, you're Akameda!"
Akame stays silent. Shy little thing.
Anyway, what was that freak? Plenty of modern VNs mix in fantasy. Some even make battles key to the plot.
—But a Beheaded Jizo's too grotesque for a rural healing romcom, right? Weird.
[Silent Story] is supposed to be a chill pastoral game.
Gotta ask Reika about it later.
Patch up my wrecked bag. Pull out Yuuki-kun's film camera.
Aim at the bisected Jizo for a pic. That's when my eyes bug out.
"Whoa! Where'd you pop from?!"
I blurt without thinking. The golden helmet beetle I'd been chasing.
Vanished when the Jizo showed up, deep in the bamboo.
Porororo— It flutters, lands on nearby bamboo.
After that mess, I deserve a souvenir.
Right in grabbing range. Target locked—adrenaline surges. I spring up, lunge.
You're mine~!
Golden helmet beetle GET!
No fight. What's its food? Bamboo leaves, maybe?
Forget the woes, I'm pumped—then I notice late.
Fog?
Fog's rolling in thick. Can't see shit. Reika's tunnel warning echoes.
Don't enter the mist. One of Utsuromura's six ordinances.
Hot springs mean volcanic gas mixed in—kills folks yearly.
One hill after another. Jizo, now toxic fog!?
No escape this time. Utsuromura's mist writhes like it's alive... and swallows me helpless.
"Ugh..."
Slimy sensation wakes me. Open my eyes—meet glowing red ones.
The golden helmet beetle crawls on my face.
"Kintama-chan. You were waiting for your master? Good boy."
Kin for gold, tama for jewel. Looks like a golden ball—Kintama it is.
But Kintama clink— morphs its horn, pinches me. Flies off.
"Ow! After I gave you a cool name, why the attitude?"
Rub my cheek, grumbling. Follow the beetle anyway.
Mystical place. All pure white. Delicate, sheer fabrics flutter.
Bamboo forest? No bamboo in sight.
Utsuromura's got spots like this too, huh.
Come to think of it, saw folks in traditional clothes. Fabric storage?
Kintama lands. Bows its head like a salute.
"…………"
Someone's there.
A girl. Silver hair, jade eyes. Cute face, but blank expression. Tiny frame draped in flowing kimono.
Kimono girl heroine type. Every rural VN's got one—the perpetual kimono girl.
"How did a human enter hime's cocoon..."
Was gonna greet her friendly, but she glares with pure hate.
Eh? Not the reaction for a flower boy like Yuuki.
"…………!!!"
Creepy crawly creep. Bugs swarm out over the white fabric. Surround me.