The Earth is home to a diverse array of life forms, each with its own unique way of raising their young.
An extraterrestrial being who arrived from another planet.
The monsters created by ancient people are said to be modeled after this—it seems that methods of raising offspring are indeed diverse.
" So this was... a monster..."口内保育種Mousebrooder
The larva was spat out of the mole's mouth and its breath was silenced by Nobunaga and Renzen Ashige.
I thought to myself, glancing sideways at the individual that had fallen completely still.
口内保育種MousebrooderIt is exactly what its name suggests.
These are creatures that raise their young in their mouths until a certain age in order to protect them.
In the world I came from, creatures with these characteristics are mostly fish and amphibians.
It is said that this is a parenting method devised by species that are weaker and are preferentially preyed upon even as eggs or newly hatched, in order to survive the struggle for existence.
Of course, monsters are life forms that are distinct from ordinary creatures.
According to the Water God, it was originally a biological weapon created to resemble a "god" with overwhelming power that came from outer space.
There's no doubt that they are creatures to whom our common sense doesn't apply. But however—
(Monsters kill each other and even try to prey on each other. In that respect, they are no different from ordinary living creatures.)
—I recall that during a falconry hunt in the past, Bontenmaru, also known as Tenkosan, was severely wounded by a hawk.
Considering the nature of hawks, it's almost certain that it was trying to eat that white ball of fur.
Even in the world of monsters, hierarchical relationships can exist under the guise of a food chain.
(So, moles are... a species that ranks somewhere between middle and lower in the monster world, I guess.)
A gigantic mother mole, having lost her offspring, lets out a roar that seems to shake the earth.
As I looked up at her, I realized it once again.
The threat posed by humans is not necessarily the same as the threat posed by monsters.
"Gigi-gigigigigigigigi!"
The rage of a mother whose child, the one she was supposed to protect, was killed will never subside.
According to Taishakutsukimo, moles are monsters that act on instinct, so dialogue is impossible.
However, even if dialogue were possible—at this point, it's too late.
(My brother-in-law said that the phlegm that mole larvae spit out is poisonous... That's why we had no choice but to kill them. If we didn't kill them, many people would die.)
The criteria for judging whether an action is right or wrong will likely vary depending on one's perspective.
If one is a lord, or if one values the peaceful lives of humans, then killing the moles, which are dangerous elements, is an absolute act of justice.
However, if we take the side of the mole and prioritize its circumstances and feelings, then Nobunaga's actions should be absolutely condemned and become evil.
However, in my case, I had to view the current situation using a different set of values.
"Look, brother-in-law."
Nobunaga spoke to me with a calm demeanor.
"That mole's eyes... they're burning with rage and clouded. It seems he can no longer see anything but me and that gray horse."
That's probably true.
Even from my perspective, the mole's gaze was focused solely on Nobunaga and his beloved horse.
This monster has long, beetle-like jaws that it opens and closes violently, while its three gigantic eyes on its head glow red.
Those were the eyes of a mother, filled with sadness, hatred, and anger.
"Gigigigigigigigigigig, gigigigigigigigigigi!!"
The mole opens its mouth wide, takes the lead, and lets out a roar.
The monster, its feet caught in the net, is still unable to regain its balance.
He's probably frustrated that his body isn't moving the way he wants it to.
And perhaps it's because their emotions are running high.
It began violently slamming its long, hairy arms, like those of an ape, against the ground.
"Kyuooooon"
The vibrations were so strong that Taishakutsukimo hastily regained his balance.
The horses of the Takeda family also seem to be in a state of confusion.
Some individuals, along with the soldiers, have lost their balance and fallen over.
The cavalry appears to have halted their attack and chosen to retreat under Katsuyori's command.
The limits of restraint using nets may be approaching.
"Gyuoooooon"
The vibrations were so strong that Taishakutsukimo hastily regained his balance.
The horses of the Takeda family also seem to be in a state of confusion.
Some individuals, along with the soldiers, have lost their balance and fallen over.
The cavalry appears to have halted their attack and chosen to retreat under Katsuyori's command.
The limits of restraint using nets may be approaching.
"Gyuoooooon"
Under those circumstances, Nobunaga's gansen dashige remained perfectly upright, not moving a muscle.
They seemed completely unfazed by the rumbling, and even seemed .嘶Inana
This stallion, who displayed undeniable virginity in the presence of Taishakutsukige, was, on the battlefield, filled with unparalleled majesty.
And Nobunaga, even after directly facing the wrath of the colossal monster, spoke to me with a calm demeanor.
"The mole will soon get up. When that happens, it's inevitable that he'll chase after me, Nobunaga, without looking left or right. While I distract him, I'll conspire with Kazumasu and set a new trap. When the mole gets caught again—that will be his end. The Takeda horses will gouge out his enormous eyeballs and he'll perish."
"You mean... my eyes?"
I had already heard about the mole from Taishakutsukimo, who was in a state of being Yoriko.
I already knew it, but I nodded in agreement.
"That's right, a mole's eyes are also its heart. They're constantly exposing its weaknesses..."
But, Nobunaga said.
"One of the characteristics of that species is that it can continue to live as long as it has even one eye left... Moreover, it will completely return to its original form in just two days. If you just want to drive it away, all you need to do is gouge out one of its eyes."
"If all you're going to do is turn them away"
"Yes, indeed."
"But simply turning them away won't be enough anymore."
Just as I was about to finish speaking, a particularly loud mole's roar erupted.
It violently shook its massive body, covered in brownish fur, and tore the net that was tangled around its legs.
"Gigigigi, gi
The mole's body returns to a forward-leaning, quadrupedal position.
Even from a distance, it was clear that the horses of the Takeda family surrounding the mole were intimidated by the tremendous hatred it was emitting.
(Even horses can get scared... No, if you think about it, that's obvious.)
There's a saying that horses don't kill each other .理rule
Therefore, in a battlefield where people are fighting each other, the possibility of losing one's life is extremely low.
The way you approach things is probably different now compared to when you're facing the risk of losing your life.
Horses are inherently demonic creatures, drawn to Taishakutsuki's coat, willingly entering the harem and continuing to serve even when completely drained dry.
If we look closely, we might find that humans are creatures with a surprisingly wide range of emotions, including joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
"G-Gig
But it seems there's no time to think about such things.
The mole, having adjusted its posture, began to kick the sand with its hind legs, like a wild boar preparing for a run-up.
"Brother-in-law, let's do it."
As I turned Taishakutsukige's head toward the mole, I called out to Nobunaga.
"...What are you planning to do, brother-in-law?"
"Of course... it is, brother-in-law."殺or
I said slowly and clearly.
"I won't say I have no thoughts on the matter. That monster probably has no intention of causing trouble for us humans. She was just going about her life, and before she knew it, her child was killed—she's nothing more than a pathetic mother."
"..."
"However, the fact is—if we leave things as they are, the lives of the people of Mino will undoubtedly be ravaged by the moles. And we can't just let them return to Shinano like this. After all, they are monsters that can change the landscape... If they get out into populated areas, it will be disastrous."
Having said that much, I looked back at Nobunaga.
"There is no justice in this killing spree. The moles are killing each other to avenge the death of their children, and we are killing each other to protect the lives of the people. Since negotiation is impossible, there is no other way... And if we do nothing—my brother-in-law will be killed. That is something we must absolutely avoid, for the sake of the city and for my own sake."
"nothing..."
Nobunaga groaned.
I continued speaking to him.
"I'll do it. If my brother-in-law dies, Ichi will be sad. I don't want to see Ichi's sad face. So I'll kill the mole...that's all."