I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

Takekawa Yubear's expression was incredibly grim at this moment.

He even felt a pang of resentment towards the ruler of this city, Tanihara.

To gain the help of that lord in Kyoto, Tanihara had sent Xia Ji to meet him simply because the lord expressed interest in his daughter.

While such actions were quite normal in this era, it caused Takekawa Yubear, who had been secretly in love with Xia Ji, to waver in his loyalty to Tanihara.

"A yokai!"

Xia Ji let out a startled cry as a ferocious yokai lunged at her.

On the path leading to Xia Ji's city, the lingering souls from human wars had become the most suitable nourishment for the yokai.

"Begone!"

Without drawing his sword, he casually swung his hand, and a blade of energy severed the yokai's head.

"How many is that now? There are quite a lot of yokai today."

While comforting Xia Ji, who was hiding beside him, Yae Sakura looked at the yokai corpses on the ground and couldn't bring herself to be happy.

Compared to yesterday, there were undeniably many more yokai today, but they appeared one by one. As a result, Yae Sakura had lost count of how many she had cut down.

She hadn't obtained a single Crystal.

That's why Yae Sakura couldn't be happy.

Couldn't they have just come all at once?

However, the further they walked, the more yokai they encountered.

Moreover, these yokai showed signs of fleeing, as if they were... escaping the battle of some terrifying monster.

Something must have happened ahead.

"Xia Ji, how much longer?"

"Not much longer, maybe the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn," Xia Ji replied, clutching Yae Sakura's clothes. After a moment's thought, she added, "Then let's keep moving..."

Within the city limits of Tanihara, all the samurai were on high alert, with numerous mages and priests providing protection.

This was due to the clash between two Great Yokai in the vicinity...

Great Yokai were essentially at the apex of power in this world. Nearly every Great Yokai possessed the power to destroy a city, representing an uncontrollable natural disaster for humanity.

"Why are those damnable yokai fighting near a human city?"

"It's forcing us to stay indoors. If we're caught in the crossfire..."

The samurai serving Tanihara, who were guarding Tanihara City, grumbled at this moment, filled with extreme displeasure... and fear.

The battle between the Great Yokai had caused many smaller yokai to scatter, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire. This, in turn, increased the workload for the mages and priests.