Takekawa Yubear's expression was exceedingly grim at this moment.
He had even begun to resent the city's ruler, Taniwara Danjo.
Just to gain the help of that lord in Kyoto, Taniwara Danjo had sent Xia Ji to meet him simply because he had expressed interest in his daughter.
Although such a thing was perfectly normal in this era... it still shook Takekawa Yubear's loyalty to Valley Plain, since he had always secretly loved Xia Ji.
"Monster!"
As Xia Ji cried out in alarm, a savage monster pounced at them.
On the road leading toward the city where Xia Ji lived, the souls left behind by human wars had become the most suitable nourishment for monsters.
"Get lost!"
Without drawing her blade, Yae Sakura casually waved her hand, and a streak of sword energy severed the monster's head.
"How many has that been? There seem to be a little too many monsters today."
Comforting Xia Ji, who was hiding at her side, Yae Sakura could not bring herself to feel happy as she looked at the monster's corpse on the ground.
Compared to yesterday, there were undoubtedly far more monsters today. But... they had all appeared one at a time, and by now, Yae Sakura had lost count of how many she had slain.
She had not obtained a single Crystal.
So Yae Sakura could not be happy.
Could they not just come at her all at once?
Still... the farther they went, the more monsters they encountered.
And these monsters all seemed to be fleeing, as though... they were avoiding the battle of some terrifying creatures.
Something must have happened ahead.
"Xia Ji, how much longer?"
"Not much longer. We should arrive in about the time it takes to burn an incense stick." Xia Ji clutched Yae Sakura's clothes and thought for a moment before answering. "Then let's keep going..."
Within the territory of Tanihara Castle, all the samurai stood on high alert, while large numbers of mages and priests maintained protective wards.
All because two Great Yokai nearby had clashed...
Great Yokai stood at the very pinnacle of power in this world. Nearly every Great Yokai possessed the strength to destroy a city, natural disasters that humans could not contend against.
"Why are those damn monsters fighting near a human city?"
"Now we have to stay indoors. If we get caught up in it by accident..."
The samurai retainers guarding Tanihara Castle muttered among themselves, filled with extreme displeasure... and fear.
The Great Yokai's battle had driven many lesser monsters to flee in terror, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. This also greatly increased the workload of the mages and priests.
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