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

nformed us that they have available goods stored in Shiro'oku's warehouse.
They claim that by utilizing the river, we can transport the necessary supplies to the county within three days…
Princess Aoi, I am grateful for your intervention.”

　This time, all eyes turned towards the peach-colored princess in response to Shisui's statement.
The princess herself smiled silently behind her fan, concealing her mouth.

　”Well, with this, we might be able to manage somehow.”

　Tōuya sensed that the atmosphere in the meeting quickly shifted to optimism.
He also noticed the relief on the face of the archer girl standing nearby.
At the same time, he clicked his tongue.
Unlike her, Tōuya understood that this resolution didn't mean everything was resolved.

　”Now, the question is who will take command on the field.”

　”I have acquaintances among the Kagaku family, so I could…”

　”No, no, I should take the lead here.”

　”Hold on.
Sneaking ahead is not admirable.
In times like this, we should listen to everyone's opinions, shouldn't we?”

　People who had been engaged in futile arguments, pointing fingers at each other, suddenly tried to seize the mission, one after another.
It was even more grotesque than before.
Tōuya couldn't help but sigh in exasperation, resting his cheek on his hand.
Ayaka next to him wore a similarly perplexed expression.
He wished they would finally recognize what kind of family they were.
And the discussions in the room gradually heated up…

　”Silence, everyone.”

　Those words echoed surprisingly well in the spacious room.
The room, which had been filled with noise, fell silent all at once in response to the head of the family's statement.

　”First and foremost, I commend you, Head of the Servants, for your negotiations.
And Aoi, you have been a great help to the Hidden Group.”

　In response to the family head's words of praise, Shisui replied quietly, Uemon arrogantly, and Aoi calmly—each in their own way.

　”Now then, everyone.
With the situation having changed like this, it seems we have no choice but to dispatch our clan members to handle the situation.
Any objections?”

　The members's response to the clan head's question was silence, an affirmative one.
The family head nodded slightly and continued.

　”In this case, other families will also mobilize an appropriate number of personnel.
Therefore, it will require the coordination of a large group of people.
…Head of the Servants, with your experience, you should be capable of leading a large number of people.
You are also the one who negotiated this matter.
Will you take on this task?”

　Some of those present in the meeting were mildly surprised by the family head's command.
Given the relationship between the family head and Shisui, it was unexpected for such an order to be given in this situation.
All eyes then turned to Shisui, observing his reaction with anticipation and tension.

　”…I humbly accept.”

　Shisui's voice was devoid of any agitation or tremor.
It was a calm and indifferent response, like the surface of a still water.

　”Very well.
Shisui, you shall represent our family and state your requirements.
Whether it be people or resources, we intend to fulfill them to the best of our abilities.”

　The family head continued the conversation without paying any attention to Shisui's reaction and he still requested Shisui's demands.
To those who were unaware of the circumstances, it seemed like an ordinary request.
However, to those who understood the situation, it was an extremely unusual sight.

　…By the way, Ayaka represented the former group among the young members, while Tōuya represented the latter group.
Having heard various stories from his father about the past, Tōuya had started to seriously doubt whether the family head was just playing dumb or wearing a mask of a monster based on the events of the past few months.

　”Understood.
Then, without hesitation…”

　And so, unaware of Tōuya's inner thoughts, the situation before him continued to unfold one after another.
Shisui responded to the family head's words and began stating one, then another request.
Tōuya, on the other hand, observed the attendees in the meeting, scanning their reactions with his gaze.

　”And the young one wish to have Touya-dono accompany them.”

　”…Huh?”

　At the sudden mention of his name in the meeting, Tōuya unintentionally let out a voice that lacked any enthusiasm…

* * *

　In the 13th year of Emperor Seiri's reign, on the seventh day of December.
The sky was clear, as if the heavy snowstorm from the previous day had been a lie.

　”Alright, everyone got the necessary supplies? Anything left behind?”

　'( •̀ ω •́ )✧I'm good!'

　”I wasn't asking you, okay?”

　Or rather, don't talk to me inside my head.
It might seem like I'm talking to myself.

　”What are you doing?”

　”Just talking to myself, don't mind it.”

　Giving Hikorokurō a puzzled look, I muttered so to dismiss the matter and continued with the task at hand.
I threw the torch towards the main building of the station.
With oil and straw prepared in advance, the fire quickly spread throughout the building.

　Setting fire to the station wasn't an act of madness or venting frustration.
It was a perfectly natural task for someone who undertakes the duty of exorcism.

　The remains of youkai can become food for other youkai.
Therefore, when I stepped into the station and encountered the corpses of youkai, it was only appropriate to gather them, douse them in oil, and burn down the main building along with them.

　By the way, the soldiers who died in the recent battle were buried separately.
No matter how greedy and pragmatic the people in this world may be, there are taboos.
In this country, treating dead humans alongside youkai was considered the ultimate insult.

　”…Well then, let's go.”

　As the main building of the station burned brightly, and with the confidence that it would thoroughly carbonize the youkai packed inside, I pulled the reins of the conspicuously blue-maned dark horse in the snowy field and made the declaration.

　”Well, we'll take our leave then,” I announced, my voice carrying an air of authority.

　”Fire commander, you are a very curious one, huh?” the soldier commented, his tone laced with a hint of amusement to Hikorokurō behind me.
“But for us, we didn't have enough lives to spare for joining in the search for monsters,” he added, his voice betraying a hint of weariness.

　Following the prior agreement, two of the soldiers army we encountered at the station chose to return to the county capital, leading their horses and heading east.
They cowered at the decision of their remaining colleagues, partly because their hometown was not on the route that Namahage was expected to take.

　Anyway, after saying goodbye to the two who went their separate ways, Hikorokurō and other soldiers, myself, Shiro, and Iruka—'(＾ω＾) Don't forget about me!!'—embarked on a northern route from the station.
We now had a total of five horses, including the original two.
With supplies borrowed from the station's storehouse, we made our way through the snowy path, keeping a watchful eye on our surroundings with our improved visibility.

　”Stay alert in the vicinity! We don't stand a chance in a fight.
Find them before they find us!”

　”Yes!”

　Only Shiro obediently responded to my orders, while the others gave casual replies like “Sure, sure” or “Okay, okay.” Although their replies were casual, they were indeed maintaining a level of vigilance in their surroundings…
but it wasn't very tight.
'(´･ω･｀) Hey, you are in the same situation, right?'

　Ignoring the spider's word, the march continued for a little over two hours.
By the time the sun had risen directly overhead—around noon—I declared a rest at the entrance of a suitable forest.