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

ith the previous needle projectiles, at least a hundred youkai were affected by the sacrifice and met their demise.

　”Not exactly a great achievement, huh?”

　The perpetrator of the somewhat cruel self-destruct attack seemed indifferent about it.

　In reality, the casualties of that attack were mostly insignificant small youkai or lower.
While it briefly halted the avalanche of insects, the mindless creatures quickly resumed their advance.

　”They keep coming.
Can't be helped.
'Shiki Soldier (式兵Shikibyou)'”

　Shirowakamaru clicked his tongue and released a new type of shikigami.
They were humanoid dolls wielding swords and spears.
Though they would turn into mere scraps of paper with a single blow, their usefulness depended on how they were utilized.
For now, any additional fighting power was welcomed.
The young boy ordered the dolls to intercept the crawling insects.

　”Ugh!! 'Earth Manipulation (土弄Tsuchi-misao)'!!”

　Sensing the presence, Murasaki quickly unleashed her technique.
The youkai that had silently approached the wall barricade from underground during the ground battle were pulverized by the 'Impact (衝撃Shōgeki)' technique, shattering them before they could jump out onto the surface and turning them into minced meat.

　Unfortunately, she couldn't kill them all.

　'Groarrrrrr!!'

　Several wounded earthworms and centipedes leaped out from the ground near the barricade.
The army soldiers momentarily startled but quickly shot arrows, taking down one of them.
Murasaki followed up by slashing two more in half.

　The last remaining big earthworm was badly hurt and almost dying.
It climbed onto the castle's barricade, where nearby soldiers shot arrows and threw spears at it.

　In its dying moments, the big earthworm tore its head into eight pieces.
And then it spewed forth a rain of miscellaneous insects.

　”Uwaaaah!?”

　A soldier who had approached for an attack screamed as a swarm of insects covered his head.
They gnawed at his flesh, sucked his blood, and tried to crawl into every opening in his body.
Nearby comrades pulled them away, slamming them onto the ground and crushing them underfoot.

　”Are you alright!?”

　”It hurts, it hurts! D*mn it, it's disgusting!”

　A soldier, covered in slime, with his body torn apart and flesh shredded by the insects, cried out in agony.
His comrades tried to lead him away, but a shadow loomed over them in an instant.

　Before they could even scream in response, they were crushed by a newly hatched cicada.
The pulpa of the cicada, which emerged from a hole dug by the giant earthworm, immediately molted into its adult form, took flight, and landed on the barricade.

　”D*mn it, one after another…!!”

　Murasaki, who arrived on the scene, immediately struck the cicada, sending it flying.
The cicada returned to the hole it had come from and perished, crushing the following insects beneath it.

　”Miss MurasakiMurasaki-sama, a new wave is coming!”

　”Huh!? How many!?”

　Muja from the Hidden Group arrived at Murasaki's side, reporting while taking down a few small youkai along the way.
Murasaki widened her eyes and asked.

　”…About a thousand.
The breakdown is almost entirely low-level insect youkai just like the first line.”

　”Disgusting of these small fry to cause such trouble!! If only the calamity youkai were absent…!!”

　Upon hearing Muja's report, Murasaki's expression twisted in anger.
If only there were no calamity youkai, she could have taken the lead and massacred these insects easily.
There was no need to sacrifice army soldiers to fight against such lowly opponents…!!

　”It's shameful that exorcists have to make humans fight like this…!”

　Exorcists are supposed to protect the emperor and the common people from the youkai, but Murasaki's lack of spiritual power makes her rely on humans to fight instead.
She felt helpless and embarrassed, especially since they were backed into a corner and her own efforts seemed pointless.
Ideally, she should have been at the forefront of the battle against the youkai.

　…Even if it meant sacrificing herself like that servant.

　Feeling angry at her own judgement of sending the servant outside without considering her own safety, she tightened her grip on her sword and focused on what she should be doing.

　But then, a wrinkled old woman smiled at her.

　”Wha…!?”

　Startled, Murasaki raised her sword.
Muja, who had been standing next to her, and nearby army soldiers noticed and drew their weapons.
At that moment, the giant old woman raised her arm.

　With a deafening boom, a corner of the fortress wall exploded along with soldiers and youkai…

* * *

　”…!?”

　Hotoya Tamaki, who had been sitting at the gate watching the situation at hand under Murasaki's orders, witnessed the shocking sight of a corner of the wall exploding into dust from the window.
As she recalls, Murasaki was on her way to that area to rescue the victims.

　”Young ladyHime-sama!?!”

　A scream echoed beside her.
It was Yona, Murasaki's personal maid.
She distorted her face with shock and disbelief as she headed towards her master's room through the door of the lower floor.
However, she stopped on the staircase.

　'*Squeaking Sound*!!'

　'*Chirping Sound*!!'