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

the east, extending to the horizon.
In other words…

　”Toward the county capital.
Do you think we should go?”

　”Well, who knows.
But we can't rule out the possibility, right?”

　”Indeed.”

　At the very least, there were two villages involved now.
For the Namahage, who had long deviated from its usual route, there was no reason not to head toward densely populated areas.
However…

　(What is this unsettling feeling?)

　Something was bothering me.
An inexplicable sense of unease that I had been feeling since the other day.
It felt like I was forgetting something, overlooking something, making a crucial mistake…
D*mn it, I can't remember.

　”Well, let's go after it then.”

　”…Yeah.”

　In response to Iruka's calmly proposed plan, I hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed with the decision.
Regardless, now that we had discovered footprints resembling those of the Namahage, we couldn't just let it go.

　I released a shikigami as a messenger.
It would head to the representative of the surveillance team, Murasaki, informing her of the destruction of Yori Village and the discovery of footprints resembling the Namahage in the vicinity.

　”What about the bodies?”

　”Sorry, but we don't have time to bury them.
With this cold, I don't think most of them will rot, as they'll likely freeze…”

　Immediately after releasing the shikigami, Hikorokurō, who had rushed over upon hearing our conversation, asked about the treatment of the village.
I answered him.
Ideally, we should have taken care of the bodies to prevent them from becoming prey for stray youkai, but the situation was urgent.
We didn't have the luxury of time to dig graves.
As someone involved in exorcism, our priority was to quickly leave the village.
If Sakui Station had been safe, we could have requested them to handle the burials.

　”I see.”

　”Is that a problem?”

　”No, I understand.
It was the same at the station.
We can't just leave things like this…
It's a priority to keep the living safe.
The footprints lead east, right?”

　”Yeah.”

　As Hikorokurō surveyed the devastated village and posed his question, I responded briefly.
Hikorokurō murmured quietly, “I see,” and silently gazed at the destroyed village…

　”I can't really criticize others.
Honestly, I feel a bit relieved.
It's…
not heading north, but east, right?”

　I understand the meaning behind Hikorokurō's confirmation.
He was relieved that his family's village in the north would likely be spared from the attack.

　”Do you think it's a self-centered thought?” Hikorokurō chuckled and asked, to which I responded curtly, “Stop with the self-deprecation.
Humans are like that, aren't they?”

　I mean, everyone values themselves and their loved ones.
I can't say anything different in that regard.
Ultimately, even I was prepared to accept that several villages might be destroyed as long as the protagonist was safe.

　”What will you do? That monster don't seem to be heading towards your place, but will you go back?”

　”Don't be stupid.
Do you think I can just say, 'Oh, well, it doesn't seem like they'll attack my place,' and go back? I'm not that much of a scumbag.
…I don't intend to risk my life, though.”

　I shrugged my shoulders while smirking at Hikorokurō's click of the tongue and declaration.

　”Don't worry.
I don't have any intention like that either.
Alright, everyone gather around! Is everyone present? We'll start the pursuit from here.
Be careful, if we're noticed, we'll all die!”

　With that warning, I called everyone together.
Ignoring the inexplicable feeling in my heart, I focused on the immediate mission.

　…Looking back, it was a mistake.
I should have been more careful and taken into account the circumstances around me.
I would repeatedly feel sorry for that moment, grieving for the outcome and its effects.
All I could do was regret.

　And at that time, I had misunderstood everything completely…

　'…'

* * *

　As the servants began tracking the footprints, the two soldiers who had separated from them continued towards the capital, stopping by Shinkaki Village along the way.