The hawk is always watching us from the shadows.
Just imagining it sent shivers down my spine.
I picture a hawk with webbed wing talons stuck into a tree trunk, sitting on a branch and observing me like a monkey.
And Hideyoshi says that he is definitely after us.
"How do hawks hunt in the forest?"
As I slowly retreated with the punitive force, I asked Hideyoshi:
Hideyoshi glanced around and replied with only his mouth open, "If you'd like to hear about this monkey's experience..."
"First of all, hawks basically live by crawling on the ground. But as soon as they sense the presence of prey, they immediately take flight and stab their wing talons into the tree trunk... just like monkeys—yes, they cling to the tree like monkeys. And with their eyes shining brightly, they fly silently through the trees, sneaking up above the prey's head..."
It was like—or rather, it was truly horrifying.
Imagine this.
I remember that utterly repulsive creature, in the darkness, with its tongue dangling above my head and its bulging eyes staring at me.
Seeing something like that would definitely be traumatizing, and I wouldn't even be able to go to the bathroom alone in the middle of the night.
For example, imagine this scene: you're using the toilet and suddenly look up at the ceiling, only to come face to face with a hawk perched on it...
This is bad, incredibly terrifying.
Up until now, I'd secretly thought Ichihime was cute for not being able to go to the toilet alone when she needed to go in the middle of the night, thinking, "She's just like a child"—but now I kind of understand how she feels.
From now on, I'll ask Ichihime to come with me whenever I go to the toilet.
"But basically, it means that as long as they don't get close, everything will be fine, right?"
"No, that's not the case."
Hideyoshi responded by clenching the hand holding the fishing net.
"Hawks spit a putrefactive fluid at prey that is far away. They use this to kill or weaken their prey, and then swallow it whole in one gulp—"
"I see, so that's how it is."
That was the first time I understood the meaning behind the formation Nobunaga had laid out.
"So, the reason they're not all clustered together is to prevent them from being wiped out all at once if the hawk's putrefaction fluid is poured on them?"
"That is correct."
Hideyoshi nodded and murmured.
"But it seems Lord Bizen is indeed from Omi. It is said that the population of monsters in the vicinity of Kyoto is small because the emperors have been actively hunting them down—"古Ancient times
"...Yeah, I guess so."
I nodded vaguely, trying to avoid giving a clear answer.
To begin with, since I'm not from this world, I'm overwhelmingly lacking in knowledge about it.
However, I was able to understand why, during my time living in northern Omi, I had never encountered any monsters other than horses.
In other words, to ensure the safety of the rulers living in Kyoto, it seems that monsters, including hawks, were hunted intensively throughout the Kinki region.
As for how many lives were lost as a result, there's really nothing we can do but imagine.
"But in any case, we have to get through this situation now."
"That is correct."
Hideyoshi blinked in response.
"If we leave the hawk unchecked here, many people will be devoured, digested, and then excreted as hawk droppings... As for the horses, they will be raped, impregnated, and eaten. The peace of the people is the peace of the nation, and the number of people is the strength of the nation, so we must not let the hawk go unpunished here."
"Well..."
I opened my mouth while looking Hideyoshi directly in the eye.
"If we let the hawk escape here, it might make its way to Omi. Gifu and Omi are neighboring provinces... there's a good chance it could."
"If that happens, the people of the Asai family will be in dire straits."
"Then I can't let it slide."
I grabbed it as it was bouncing up and down .行燈斑猫Andon Hanmyo
"Hey, Hideyoshi."
"What can I do for you?"
"The hawk is probably hiding among the tall trees, where the light of the lantern cat cannot reach, right?"
"That is correct."
"Then—"
Without hesitation, I threw the lantern-colored cat.
The pathetic insect-like monster, having been thrown aside, glowed and illuminated the darkness above in a parabolic arc.
Indeed, when Hideyoshi and Nobunaga saw what I was doing, their expressions changed completely.
"Hmm! That's a good idea!"
"I see, not bad. Everyone, tell my brother-in-law to use the lantern-patterned cat technique ! Find out the hawk's location!"倣Then投擲Toteki
Indeed, the members of the punitive force began to send the lantern-shaped cats flying through the air one after another.
The lantern-patterned cats surely never expected to be thrown.
Their bodies, suspended in the air, stiffen, and they fall to the ground with a thud, then begin to thrash about.
Since it's a monster, it shouldn't die so easily even if it can't get up.
However, some individuals were exceptionally adept at situational awareness—spreading their wings and flying the moment they were thrown to avoid a direct hit to the ground.
Now that I think about it, if you pick up a beetle crawling under a streetlamp at night and throw it up in the air, some will fall straight down, while others will spread their wings in mid-air and fly away.
"Riflemen, assume your positions."
Maeda Toshiie issued an order, and foot soldiers armed with guns pointed their muzzles between the trees.
They probably intend to provoke the enemy with their guns as soon as they spot the hawk.
(Where are you?)
My heart is beating rapidly, pounding away.
My mouth feels so dry; it's probably because I've been breathing through my mouth more intensely without realizing it.
The search for enemies is steadily progressing in the upper reaches of the forest.
And so it happened—one of the spotted cats flying among the trees finally illuminated the massive body of the hawk.
The gigantic body of a hawk suddenly emerges from the darkness.
A gigantic eyeball bulges and wriggles.
Perhaps startled by the sudden flash of light hitting its retina, its bulging eyes spun around.
But a fluorite sword was deeply embedded in one of its eyes, and a blue bodily fluid was oozing out of it.
Indeed, while it eloquently speaks of the death of Sakuma Nobumori, who faced the hawk to allow me and Nobunaga to go, it was also a testament to his resolve, leaving a lasting mark on his life as a human being.
"Fire!!"
Immediately, Toshiie's roar rang out, and bullets burst forth from the matchlock guns with tremendous force, striking the hawks clinging to the trees.
The outer bark of the trees was gouged out by the lead bullets, and the inner bark, from the cork cambium, was blown away and flew through the air.
Bullets struck the hawk's slimy scales, but none of them penetrated; they simply bounced off.
But even so, they probably succeeded in provoking the hawk's displeasure.
Nobody likes being constantly poked or prodded, even if it doesn't hurt.
The hawk let out an indescribable roar, "Goaaaaaaaaaaaa!!" and with a thud, sank both of its feet into the decaying leaves—then raised its hideous head towards us.
"Alright! Now's the perfect opportunity!"
The moment the hawk landed, Hideyoshi's shout rang out, and several soldiers rushed towards the hawk and threw their nets at it.
Monsters can only be harmed by fluorite or by the monster's own body.
That's how it is in this world .理rule
However, even though they couldn't inflict any physical harm, it seemed entirely possible to restrain its movements.
As the hawk's body wriggles and squirms uncomfortably, trying to escape the net that has caught its wings and head, it looks like a slug sprinkled with salt.
Its wings moved like human arms, and its sharp wing claws wedged into the mesh, tearing through it.
"The net's restraint is too loose! Get out of the way!"
They probably judged that attacking now would result in a counterattack.
Following Nobunaga's orders, the army, along with the punitive force, rapidly retreated out of the forest.
Indeed, outside the forest, it was already evening, and the sunlight was fading.
Even as I heard Nobunaga click his tongue, my gaze was fixed on the figure of a hawk slithering about in the dark forest.
No, it would be more accurate to say that I couldn't take my eyes off it.
However, suddenly, the figure of the hawk, which had been illuminated by the lantern-like lights in the forest, vanished.
"—It disappeared!?"
"No, it flew!"
The moment Nobunaga's voice struck my ears, I instinctively looked up at the sky.
The sunset sky, just as the sun is about to sink. The day .黄昏twilight
Against a backdrop of clouds shimmering golden, reflecting the lingering light of the heavens, a hawk soars with its wings spread wide, looking down upon us in the world below.
"—Musketeers, prepare to attack!"
Toshiie shouted, yelling at Hideyoshi.
"Hideyoshi! Prepare the net! Don't mess up this time!!"
"I understand!"
Whether it was in response to the voice or purely by chance, the hawk lowered its altitude and swooped down towards the group led by Toshiie.
The foot soldiers who were reloading their weapons tried to dodge in a panic, but five of them were grabbed by the legs and carried away into the air.
I can hear their screams, but there's little we humans, who lack the ability to fly, can do.
If you fire a gun, there's a chance you'll hit them.
Or perhaps killing it before it devoured me would have been an act of mercy—
In any case, all I could do was stare blankly as they were shoved one after another into the hawk's stomach.
"Fire!"
Amidst all this, a loud roar of anger from Toshiie was accompanied by a violent explosion.
The musketeers, having regrouped, began firing at the hawks.
Naturally, the bullet would not pierce the hawk.
Or, they barely hit their target, and are absorbed into the twilight sky.
But to the hawk, it's probably nothing but a nuisance.
The sound of the bullet cutting through the air must surely be hitting the hawk's eardrums—it's probably like the buzzing of a mosquito's wings in the dark summer night.
It was inevitable that they would try to eliminate it.
The hawk let out a loud cry, then descended again—and charged towards us on the ground.
"Hideyoshi!"
"I've arrived!"
Toshiie's call and Hideyoshi's response.
Dozens of soldiers, upon receiving the signal, swiftly spread out to the side and cast their nets.
And then—just like a soccer ball being sucked into the goal net—the hawk's body became entangled in the net.
The hawk lost its balance when a net got tangled in its wings, and it plunged headfirst into the ground.
However, with that force, the soldiers holding the fishing nets were also dragged along the ground.
But even so, not a single one of them has let go of the net.
There, you can see the soldiers' unwavering determination to die.
They probably don't want to die either. They probably have wives, just like me, and maybe even children.
However, if the soldiers retreat now, their families could be directly affected.
If they back down now, the small world they cherish may be lost.
"Goaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
The raging hawk thrashed about on the ground, throwing the net-casting soldiers around.
Each time its massive body undulates, soldiers are crushed and pinned underneath, their blood splattering everywhere.
Nevertheless, the soldiers did not let go of the nets they were holding.
Without letting go, they simply die, irrationally.
"Don't mess with me!!"
Seeing their resolve with my own eyes and feeling it with my own skin, I was furious.
Towards the hawk itself, or the situation in which the soldiers had to die—or, to myself, who could do nothing but accept the situation.
As if sharing my emotions, Taishakutsukimo rose high and rushed towards the hawk like a swift wind.嘶Inana
"Alright, follow Lord Bizen-no-kami!"
I thought I heard a voice like that from behind me, but it was mostly irrelevant to me at that moment.
My vision, clouded with anger and hatred, was blurred by the sight of a hawk's long neck poking out from between the netting.
Indeed, the dim surroundings made the hawk's appearance even more eerie.
On its long neck rests a hideous face, with blue blood flowing from its right eye, or perhaps coagulated red blood from when it bit someone, clinging to it.啄peck
And now, in its beak, it held a soldier still clutching a fishing net.
"Let go of him!!"
The hawk's face was expressionless.
However, it probably only perceives that the new bait has come before it, straddling a giant bait-and-masturbation device.
The beak, which a human couldn't break, snapped shut with a loud bang.
The soldier's upper and lower body explode, separate, and fall, fall, following gravity.
However, the hand that was sticking out from his upper body still gripped the net—
That fact mercilessly usurped my reason from my heart.
The hawk's beak is slightly open, and its cheek muscles bulge and protrude significantly.
It almost looked like it was smiling.
—That's exactly like mocking a fool.道化師Kurun
The words "Le Clown de Sang"—the blood-soaked clown—suddenly came to mind, and at that moment, the hawk's beak opened wide.
The inside of its beak is covered in haphazardly arranged, razor-sharp teeth, glistening with sticky saliva and bright red blood.
The sheer absurdity of it sent a chill down my spine.悍Ozo
But the true nature of that chill was probably not just due to the horror, but also to the danger prediction brought about by the development of the reptilian brain.
"Guh... ugh..."
It happened in an instant.
The hawk's tongue, which had sprung out from its open beak, stretched out like that of a frog and struck my left chest as I was riding on Indra's horse.
As I felt my armor fall off, my body separated from Taishakutsukimo and floated in the air.拉Hisha
My eardrums processed the thud as if it were happening to someone else.
Probably because the impact to the head caused a slight shake in the brain.
Fortunately, the land was rich and covered in soft, sprouting grass, which mitigated the impact of being pushed, and he did not die instantly.
However, the tremendous impact of falling from a horse penetrates and disperses throughout the body, causing the air in the lungs to be expelled and lost in an instant.
In the flickering vision, I saw Taishakutsukimo, who had rushed back out of concern.
However, she too was struck in the body by the hawk's tongue and sent flying in a horizontal slash.
"Indra, Tsukige...!"
My beloved horse, which has always helped me, which has saved me in any predicament, is injured and falls.
That was a situation I had never even considered.
—But it happened.
When I rose to my feet, overwhelmed by the shock of the reality before me, I saw my beloved horse lying exhausted on the ground.
I want to rush over to them right now.
However, the situation wasn't so simple that he could focus solely on his feelings for his beloved horse.
The net was torn apart with a ripping sound, and the hawk, now completely free, let out a loud cry.
The strange noises echoing through the twilight sky were indeed the monstrous and imposing presence of a grotesque king—even the generals of the Oda clan hesitated, unable to even approach this monster.
The hawk's beak parted slightly, and its slimy tongue crawled across the ground—and wrapped around my waist.蚯蚓earthworm
A strong, unpleasant smell hit my nostrils, like a trash can crammed full of tissues used for cleaning up after sex.
Against the twilight sky, a gigantic hawk with its enormous wings spread stands on its hind legs.
Its beak was sloppily open, and as its tongue crawled out and was sucked into the hawk's mouth—my body would also be sucked in and disappear into this monster's stomach.
The moment I reached for the handle of Ishiwari Kanemitsu, a tremendous hoof-smacking sound rang out—and a large, leaping figure crossed paths with the hawk's tongue from behind me.
The slimy, dark red tongue was severed with a snapping sound like rubber being cut, and bright blue blood spurted out from the cut surface.
The person who landed in front of me turned around, their cape billowing.
—None other than Oda Nobunaga himself.
"What are you doing, brother-in-law!"
He raised the large sword he carried on his back with both hands, as if to shield me, and shouted.
The scar on her cheek is highlighted by the setting sun.
"You cannot defeat this monster on your own! Run away now , retreat!!"退difference
The hawk, with one eye gouged out, wriggled its tongue and lashed it at Nobunaga as if it were a whip.
Nobunaga moved to get out of the hawk's line of sight, and with superhuman swordsmanship, he sliced the hawk's tongue into tiny pieces as it relentlessly pursued him.
Spilling copious amounts of blood and piling up chunks of flesh, the hawk still did not stop its attack.
—I'm waiting for you to get tired.
Perhaps hawks instinctively know how to deal with humans.
No matter how skilled a warrior or how accomplished a master they may be, they cannot escape fatigue.
Nobunaga's fluid movements inevitably become less graceful as time passes.
Nobunaga's reaction speed began to lag behind as the hawk's tongue attacked from all directions, from above, below, left, and right.
But the sheer intensity of Nobunaga's presence was so overwhelming that no one could intervene.
"...Wasn't it you who said that I couldn't fend off the hawk on my own?!"
I instinctively turned my gaze towards Taishakutsukige.
A grebe huddled beside her, licking her bruises.
Taishakutsukimo looked at me with a weak but genuinely worried expression.
I still don't understand why she's so attached to me, but at least she's alive—that's enough for now.
He stabs his thigh with Ishiwari Kanemitsu, forcibly correcting his blurry vision, and lets out a roar.
He raised his sword and prepared to charge when he noticed the hawk suddenly let out a shriek.
Indeed, bright blue blood was gushing from the hawk's forehead.
I had absolutely no idea how it happened, but the important thing was that the hawk slowly retracted its tongue into its beak.
As the hawk rushed towards Nobunaga, who was completely covered in blue blood, it cried out once again.
Something had pierced the scales on its chest, gouging out the hawk's flesh and delivering an effective blow to this monstrous creature that felt no pain even when its tongue was cut.
If you turn around, you can see Naotsune coming straight towards you, and behind him, Haruhime, aiming her matchlock gun.
She might have come because she was worried about me being late coming home.
Or perhaps an urgent message regarding falconry was delivered from the Oda family.
In any case, although I don't know exactly how it happened, judging from the situation, it seems that Chihime's gunfire damaged Taka.
The hawk probably never imagined it could be hit so effectively.
It spreads its wings wide and rises into the sky.
And just as he was about to run away somewhere—
—Osamu's matchlock gun bullet once again tore through its wing membrane, causing it to lose its balance and crash straight into the ground.
Faced with this unexpected turn of events, Oda's soldiers, who had been mostly bystanders until then, rushed towards the hawk.
They're like a swarm around a ball of candy .蟻Ant
And indeed, in that situation, Naotsune rushed over to where Nobunaga and I were.
"My lord! And Lord Kazusa-no-suke as well... I am so relieved that you are both safe."
As Naotsune helped Nobunaga to his feet, he said:
"There are many things I would like to say to my lord, but for now, I will postpone my advice."
Naotsune glared at me, then turned his gaze towards where the hawk was.
Among the punitive forces participating in the attack are officers who have been loaned fluorite gems, mounted cavalry, and soldiers armed with fishing nets.
However, I can hardly believe that their strategy to capture the hawk has been successful.
Wounded and deprived of its means of escape through its wings, the hawk is a fallen, tyrannical king.
With wings as free as arms, it slashes horses with its wing claws, slaughtering soldiers and pecking at corpses before stuffing them into its belly.
Indeed, it swept away the charging cavalry with a single blow of its tail, let out a particularly loud roar, and then stared intently in a certain direction.
His gaze wasn't directed at me, Nobunaga, or Naotsune—but rather at Haruhime, who had landed a decisive blow on the hawk.
The hawk seemed to be fully aware of the entity that had put it in such a precarious situation.
"Run, Osamu!"