The Spirit of the Myogomyogoshugo (Fake)

Perhaps it was their own way of rebelling against fate.

......The Myogomyogoshugo captured in Emi's basket woke up all at once and began to scream.

◇ ◇ ◇

““What was that!?””

The thieves all look toward the bushes simultaneously.

Ah...... aaaaah~~~! I'm busted! I'm totally busted! Oh no!

I SCREWED UUUUP!! I should've just run away immediately!

They kept going on about some red-haired brat, so I got curious and ended up hanging around too long! Dammit!

And those damn Myogomyogoshugo!

This was no time to be worrying about freshness!

If I'd just killed them properly before putting them in the basket, this wouldn't have happened!

W-what do I do!? What do I do, Omake-sama!!

<Calm yourself, Emi! All they've noticed is the presence of the Myogomyogoshugo! They don't know you're here yet!>

“......Haah, damn, gave me a scare. Just some Myogomyogoshugo, huh.”

The square-faced thief lets down his guard and sighs.

<See! Let's just stay still right here.>

Y-yeah, you're right, Omake-sama!

Once they let their guard down again, I'll sneak away from here......!

“No, wait, Tappa. It's too early to relax.”

Eeeh!?

But the long-faced thief doesn't relax his guard!

“Myogomyogoshugo have a strong sense of territory; they're monsters that don't usually swarm like that. A whole bunch of Myogomyogoshugo gathered in those bushes?...... That's clearly weird. I'm a Myogomyogoshugo maniac, so I know.”

A Myogomyogoshugo maniac!!??

Why is a maniac this inconvenient for me sitting right here, of all places!?

My bad luck has truly peaked!!

“......Hey. Is someone there? If you are, come out right now.”

The biggest, beardiest thief...... their Boss, threatens in a low, menacing voice.

W-what do I do!? What do I do!!?

<C-calm down, Emi! Let's bluff! Please, somehow bluff your way out of this!!>

Eeeh!? Omake-sama, that's asking too much! Uhm, uhhhhh......!?

......I take a deep breath, imagine the most solemn voice possible, and speak to the thieves......!

Somehow I've got to convince them there are no humans here......!

“..................I am...... the Spirit...... of the Myogomyogoshugo......”

““The Spirit of the Myogomyogoshugo!!?””

<IDIOOOOOOOT!! What kind of bluff is thaaaaat!!! No matter how stupid those thieves are! There's no way they'd believe words like thoooooose!!!>

But! Buuuuuut!!

I couldn't think of any other way to bluff!! It couldn't be helped!!

If you've got complaints, Omake-sama, you should've just given me more specific adviiiiiiiice!!

“H-hey, Ander! It says it's the Spirit of the Myogomyogoshugo!?”

“Ah, Tappa......! To think it actually exists......!!?”

THEY BELIEVED IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!???

These guys are IDIOOOOOOOOOOOOOTS!!!!!

And what's with that “to think it actually exists”!?

Are there actually legends about that!!?

Alright! But for now, OK!

I'm the Spirit of the Myogomyogoshugo!

I'll keep bluffing along this line!

“......Thieves...... unto you, the Myogomyogoshugo...... I shall bestow......”

“The Myogomyogoshugo!?”

“Why!?”

“I don't even want them!!”

The two underlings are confused!

“............Grill them well, and eat them......!”

I open the mouth of the basket and, with all my might, send the Myogomyogoshugo at the thieves...... flying!

“““MYOGOOO!! MYOGOMYOGOMYOGO!! SHUGOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”””

““We ain't eatin' those...... uwaah!!?””

Pelted with a mass of Myogomyogoshugo suddenly screaming at full volume, the thieves throw their arms up over their faces.

......Now! They've looked away!

I leap out from the bushes.

To escape from the thieves.

I turn my back to them and look up, ready to start running.

And then I notice.

Their Boss has circled around and is already blocking my path.

“ORAAH!!”

“Guh......!”

The Boss kicks me away without a shred of hesitation!

What is this, this isn't a kick you should be throwing at a 5-year-old girl!? This!

If I hadn't used 【Body Strengthening】, several bones would have definitely broken.

......No, in the first place, you shouldn't be using violence on a 5-year-old!?

“......You're a pretty filthy spirit, aren't you? Hey.”

The Boss sneers as he looks down at me sprawled on the ground.

Filthy, he says!? Look in a mirror, a MIRROR!

“Ah!?”

“What's with this brat!?”

The two underlings also notice me.

“I mean...... I already thought you two were idiots, but...... I didn't think you were stupid enough to fall for a farce like this......”

The Boss scowls in disbelief as he glares at the underlings.

Under his glare, the two tremble, afraid of another beating.

Seeing this, the Boss grins.

“But...... well, whatever. I'll forgive you. You're lucky you were picked up by such a kind-hearted Boss, huh? Be grateful, ya hear?”

““YES SIR!! Thank you very much!!””

And still wearing that nasty, creepy smile, the Boss turns back to me and says:

“......You lot are also frustrated from being pushed around by that red-haired brat, right?...... This brat, she's yours. Kill her however you like.”