A vast space opened up before Tetsu no Sosuke. Torches lit the surroundings, revealing an enormous plaza deep within the mountain.
Judging by the rock walls, it had not been carved out by human hands. Was this actually a natural cavern inside the mountain?
Tetsu no Sosuke was astonished, but what was happening in the plaza before him astonished him even more.
The villagers lay prostrate on the ground, bowing toward a raised platform at the very center of the plaza.
Gauze curtains hung over the platform. Through them, he could vaguely make out what seemed to be a mass of darkness churning within, but he could not see it clearly.
As the villagers bowed and recited their prayers, the dark shape swelled and contracted, as though breathing.
"That's him."
Tetsu no Sosuke could already clearly feel that stirring deep within him—the sensation that always arose whenever he encountered a demon.
His palm grew faintly warm as he considered what to do next.
There were too many villagers. If he tried to kill the demon, it would undoubtedly use them against him.
Without a suitable plan, he would find himself at a severe disadvantage.
And there was nowhere near enough water in this cavern. Otherwise, clearing their minds would have been troublesome, but not necessarily impossible.
But now...
He pondered for a long time without coming up with a good solution. At that moment, he began to miss Shinobu Kocho.
In certain respects, that girl was indeed far more capable than he was.
If she were in his place, she would surely find an easy way to resolve the problem.
Shaking his head, Tetsu no Sosuke considered simply launching a frontal assault if nothing else worked.
Just then, the crowd suddenly parted, and a procession of people carrying trays made