Taking the fabric stained with blood, I pleaded further. Although I intended to attempt the dangerous youkai transformation alone, even if it meant the risk of failure, I wanted to increase the success rate.
"...That was an unpleasant way to put it, huh? There's no point in refusing in this situation. There's no choice, is there?"
"Well, I mean... you're right. There really isn't any other option. Sorry. It's an order, cooperate."
Izayoi grumbled unhappily but agreed once he realized it was a valid point. I apologized and gave him the order to cooperate, explaining the plan.
So, shall we set it up?
* * *
It happened at the moment the fourth shikigami was crushed. The hare shikigami, torn apart by the Blue Dragon Sword, released a massive cloud of smoke.
It was the smoke bomb I had prepared within the shikigami.
'What?! This is...!'
The giant frog youkai sensed something different and became alert. It detected the scent of human blood within the smoke. The fresh aroma of blood as a youkai excited it slightly, but it immediately cut off the approaching presence from behind!
'No, this is not it!!'
The torn paper doll of a simple shikigami returned to being a piece of paper. The only thing fluttering around was the blood-stained bandage that had been inserted into it.
'Oh... this way!?'
The frog youkai spat out its tongue at the figure leaping from above. However, the figure it pierced turned out to be another shikigami, torn to shreds, with scraps of cloth and talismans floating down.
'What?!'
As the figure with no scent of blood jumped from the side, the frog instinctively punched it, thinking it was the real threat. But it was wrong; it was just an ordinary shikigami without blood on it.
'Grrr!? You cunning bastard!'
The frog youkai retaliated, swelling its belly and mouth as if it was going to burst. Then, it expelled a massive breath.
The gust of wind-like breath blew away the smoke screen instantly. Its vision cleared, and the frog spotted a Hannya-masked man trying to hide among the piles of treasure. He noticed me.
"D*mn it!"
'I've seen you...!!'
The frog youkai leaped forward immediately. I quickly changed direction to dodge it. The frog passed through where I had been standing and dove into the piles of coins, sending them flying into the air as it approached me.
(I've lured it in! Now...)
I glanced around, searching for an opportunity to execute my plan. However...
'You're taking your eyes off me, huh?!'
"...!!?"
A muffled roar echoed a moment later. At the same time, the frog that had approached me swung the Blue Dragon Sword horizontally. I bent my knees and narrowly avoided the strike. I used that moment to slip into the frog's bosom.
'You're so naive!!'
The massive mouth opened wide, and its tongue struck. It grazed my left shoulder. Ouch! Did it manage to take a bit of my flesh?
"Ugh, aaargh!!?"
'(・`ω・´) Let's go!!'
Despite the pain, I pressed on, trying to get closer. But...
'Hmph!'
"Gaah...!!?"
'(. >д<)Kyaaan!?'
The giant frog swung its tongue like a whip. Struck by the thick, powerful muscles resembling rough ropes, I was sent flying instantly. I was slammed onto the floor several times, bouncing back up and rotating as I landed on the other side, buried within the piles of coins.
"Damn it!! Take this!!"
Still buried in the mountain of coins, I grabbed a nearby slingshot, its shadows obscured. I decided to fight back. There were plenty of stones there, even gemstones, to use!
'Child's play with stones, huh!'
Annoyed by the stones, gems, and gold seals being hurled at it, the giant frog complained. Unfortunately, the speed at which I could launch the stones with the slingshot seemed inadequate against a great youkai like it, with its ample fat and slime protection. D*mn it! Gorilla-sama's shot would be a lethal blow, but this...!?
"Unfair!! ...Izayoi, now!! Do it!!"
'(･｀ω´･) Bring it on!!'
'What?! Ugh!!?'
As I shouted, the spider's nonsense, and the frog turned to look at my back. It was then that Izayou struck with the slingshot, throwing a bag filled with salt. The curse tool hit the frog's face, scattering its contents. The frog flinched due to the curse's effect, showing signs of discomfort and pain.
'Grrrrrrr!!'
By the way, this act have the same theory as sprinkling salt on a slug. Salt exerts an osmotic effect on a creature with mucous membranes on its surface. The salt draws out the water from the surface of the body, dehydrating the creature. The creatures hit by the salt seemed to have particularly sore eyeballs, and they grunted and clutched their faces. However, the amount of salt used was too insufficient to have a decisive effect.
"You did well!! Now, run!!"
Praising Izayoi for stopping the frog momentarily, I immediately gave the order to flee. As I stood up, I grabbed the slingshot and charged at the frog again, hurling gemstones at it. I closed in on the frog.
Momentarily blinded, the giant frog was immobilized. But it seemed to sense the vibrations in the air, as it used its arm to block the projectiles, knocking away the stones with its tongue, and finally catching and crushing them in its mouth.
'w(ﾟДﾟ)w Is it too hard!?'
"Tsk!"
While charging forward, I throw the crystal ball. The frog's tongue intercepted it, and as it tried to catch the ball, I grabbed an excessively decorated sword nearby and threw it. Seizing the opportunity that arose, I hurled the next attack. The object made its way into the frog's mouth, but the creature calmly swallowed it, laughing mockingly as it continued to advance. It seemed that the effects of the salt were now almost completely neutralized.
"D*mn it"
I drew my trump card, the Dagger (tantō), and lunged at the formidable opponent. If Teguruma failed to slice through, then perhaps a thrust could work...!! As the Blue Dragon Sword was swatted away, I swiftly retracted it and aimed for the frog's neck.
"Take this!!"
'I'll give it back!!'
"...!!?"
From its wide-open mouth, the frog retaliated with crystals and large coins. The slime-covered projectiles were shot with bullet-like speed. I managed to block some with the Dagger (tantō) I had thrown earlier, while others I dodged. However, this was all within the frog's expected range of action.
'(＃°Д°) Lick lick, it's coming!'
"What?! Gguaah!!?"
I failed to respond quickly to the White Spider's warning. A thick, peach-colored tongue struck me from the side, sending me flying despite my efforts to avoid a piercing attack. It was fortunate that it wasn't a stab. Otherwise, I could have ended up like Hidden Group.
However, even that was more than enough to deal with.
"Ugh... gah!!?"
Struggling to regain my shaken vision and consciousness, I tried to get up. But the frog's slippery arms prevented me from doing so. Its webbed arm gripped me, and its large frog-like eyes stared at me, narrowing slightly with interest.
'You won't be able to escape, huh? Mmm?'
"I wonder about that!?"
'(・`ω・´) Come on!!'
I quickly formed the seal, and two large crow shikigami sprang out from the pile of treasures behind me, their claws ready to attack the frog's eyes. At the same time, Asakuma's servant, who had been hidden as an ambush, also aimed a blade from another direction. This ambush attack was just as I had planned...!!
'That's why I'm telling you it's naive!!'
The flung tongue entangled both Great Crows. The moment the frog twisted its neck towards the Asakuma's servant, the servant is blown away as it is struck, and the Shikigami disappears in a cloud of white smoke. The ambush failed.
'ε=( o｀ω′)ノDarn!!'
(Too noisy. D*mn, this isn't working either!!)
I felt the shock of White Spider's disappointment flooding into my mind. I hadn't expected much from this plan either, but I couldn't hide my disappointment.
"Gghh...!!?"
The frog's tightening grip increased, and I let out a pained scream. The frog breathed deeply, visible white breath, and pressed harder.
'Fuhahhahhahha!! With this, it's a true checkmate, you humans... Ugh!!?'
Suddenly, the frog groaned and released its hold on the servant it had been holding. It clutched its abdomen, bewildered.
'Th-this is... what on earth!!?'
"Finally got you, huh?"
The Great Toad muttered in confusion, while I fell face-first into the pile of coins, muttered sarcastically. Slowly, I got back on my feet and looked at the startled frog with a smug expression. Finally, my plan had hit the mark.
'B-Blarghhhh!!?'
The frog vomited with a groan, spewing out vomit, stomach acid, and a reddish-black "stomach."
