"The Idea of a Woman Stealing Someone Else's Partner is Ridiculous," I laughed. But After Being Reborn, I Became a Victim of Such a Woman. However, My New Fiancée was Absolutely Amazing. - Episode 38

The following week, in the month of Hazuki, just after early summer had passed.

I arrived at the shared carriage station at 7 a.m., just as I was told.

I brought a bento, so my bag felt heavy.

It was actually for Kouga-san, but since I made it yesterday and kept it in the fridge, the taste might not be as fresh.

Well, I had already tested it and confirmed that even after a day in the fridge, the spiritual energy inside wouldn’t completely disappear.

So, my own bento was yesterday’s leftover.

The one for Kouga-san, which I prepared fresh this morning, was packed with plenty of spiritual energy.

I also made ten ‘Self Defense’ talismans. Everything should be perfect!

“Passengers taking the shared carriage from Station No. 3 to Barrier No. 50, please come this way!”

“Oh, okay! I’m getting on!”

The shared carriage was already quite full.

There were even a few young noble ladies who had their engagements broken off at school.

Since I had asked Sayuri-san to let them know in advance that the subjugation team recommended wearing plain and comfortable clothes, those girls dressed very modestly.

Still, going to an unfamiliar place made me a little nervous.

We left town and headed towards a forest near the central capital.

Come to think of it… this might be my first time leaving the central capital.

Actually, no, it really is my first time.

The central capital itself is ridiculously large, and without the protection of the barrier, you’d need to hire mercenary escorts just to travel to the eastern or western capitals.

As I gazed out the window, taking in the sights outside the capital for the first time, the carriage finally arrived at an old building.

“Those participating in the barrier repair, please come this way.”

A female guide appeared and led us inside.

The entrance of the building was sturdier than I had expected, and I was shocked to see it covered in countless talismans.

They were all barrier talismans.

“Uh, um… about the number of talismans on the entrance…”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one curious. One of the participants asked the guide.

She turned back with a blank expression and muttered, slightly looking away, “This year, a Shokuen appeared.”

A… Shokuen?

To us noble ladies and town-dwelling women, all Makaiyō (cursed creatures) were just that—Makaiyō. But apparently, they had different names and categories based on their shape and abilities.

One of the young ladies asked, “What is a Shokuen?”

The guide’s expression darkened even more.

“A… Shokuen is a Makaiyō that looks like a monkey but eats both humans and other Makaiyō. Although it resembles a monkey, it is clearly something entirely different. It eats living creatures alive. And when it gets bored, it tears the bodies apart or throws them around like toys. It even eats other Makaiyō, meaning it possesses a certain level of intelligence. In any case… it is an extremely dangerous Makaiyō.

Women are physically weaker, have softer flesh, and possess high spiritual energy. If the repair work takes until late afternoon, we will ask you to leave before 3 p.m. because Shokuen tend to appear around dusk…”

Hearing that, no one could say another word.

W-What the heck, that’s terrifying.

Now that I think about it, in my past life, there were real-life horror stories about children going into the mountains and seeing their pet dog get eaten. After making it home safely, their grandfather, upon hearing the story, rushed to get a spiritual medium, and their mother even prepared to sacrifice herself to protect them…

Stories where dogs die always stick with me.

Stories where dogs die are never okay.

There was another one about an unknown monkey-like creature that would impale small animals on the fence spikes of a kindergarten…

What was it called again?

A… baboon? A monkey? No, it’s been too long—I can’t remember.

But I’m pretty sure its other name was Oni-zaru or Shokuen…

… Shokuen.

Wait, could it be… that?

I had never felt such a deep chill run down my spine in my entire life.

So, the things Kouga-san and the others fight… are those kinds of creatures…?

“Please wait in this large hall. The head of the Ichijou no Go family will arrive shortly.

That is all.”

The guide bowed and left the room.

The noble ladies and married women remaining behind looked uneasy.

“I’ve never experienced such a tense repair session before. I can’t believe such a dangerous Makaiyō is roaming around…”

“Mother, I’m scared…”

“The subjugation team will be guarding the area during the repair, so we should be fine. But… I’ve never heard of a Makaiyō like this before…”

Some people were here with their mothers.

The vice-captain mentioned there were three different locations for barrier repairs… Is Sayuri-san at one of the others?

As I looked around, I heard a lively group approaching.

A group of about ten noble ladies entered, and among them were Sayuri-san and—ugh…!?

Shirakubo Yuuna!?

“Thank you all for gathering early this morning.

Now, does anyone have any questions? If so, ask now.”

The person giving almost the same explanation as the guide was Misumi-sama from the Ichijou no Go family.

As always, she wore a beautiful kimono.