This website provides a fan translation of the Playstation 2 game Akai Ito.

積極攻勢

Aggressive Tactics

Sakuya: ......Uzuki, can you see it?

As of right now, we stand in the midst of the mountain brush.

Slightly distant from us is a space many times more open, with the moonlight shining down within.

Because of that, even I am able to see the shadow of a person standing there.

Only one. Judging from the body shape, probably a man. At least, it doesn't look like it's Nozomi-chan, the oni who drank my blood.

Kei: ------Ah.

Senba: The mirror------ in all likelihood, it is a lone kugutsu carrying Ryougetsu. I cannot see the two oni anywhere nearby. (TN: Kugutsu - a human made into a puppet by magical means.)

Sakuya: The leaf in the basin's pointing to the mirror he's holding, right?

Senba: Which would mean they are inside it, I suppose.

Tsudzura: Okay then, this is the time for a strategic meeting. To put it bluntly, what should we do?

Kei: Umm...... do something about the mirror?

Tsudzura: It is with regard to that "something" that this meeting is taking place.

Senba: At any rate, whether we decide to seal it as before, or destroy it so it cannot take action again, for either option, we must first secure the mirror.

Senba: And whatever we decide, the other side will most likely resist, so either way will most likely involve fighting.

So it seems we'll be using force, after all.

Well, the enemy didn't stop to listen when they came to attack us, and even if we ran to the police, it's not like they'd believe a word we say------

Ah, but as the Onikiri no Kashira, Tsudzura-chan could muster the police force for our cause, couldn't she?

But, the fact that she hasn't must mean she's decided that it's best to clean it up with the people we have here.

Kei: ......But, you think we can win?

Sakuya: Those two are a pain if they keep coming at us with surprise attacks, but in this situation, it's an easy win.

Sakuya: With those two being mirror oni, the most they'll throw at us'll be suggestions, probably, mostly the kind that make you dizzy.

Senba: Furthermore, they have almost no ability in direct physical attack. It seems they can make people into kugutsu by suggestion, but it is unlikely for the kugutsu to have prowess, by any standard.

Senba: After all, it will only inherit the physical abilities of the body alone, and any sort of skills they had would be completely discarded.

Kei: But still, suggestion is scary, you know.

Like, someone sharpening an axe in front of someone tied down, saying, "I'm gonna chop your head off" with a whole lot of acting, then they hit them in the neck with a wet cloth and they die!------

---I remember seeing a TV program about such a true story that happened in the UK. People can be wounded and killed by belief alone.

Tsudzura: I suppose it will be scary if it affects us. However------

Sakuya: I'll probably be fine.

Senba: I am rather resistant against most types of evil eye.

Tsudzura: I have a feeling that I will also be unaffected. After all, I am possessed by a god˜

Sakuya: Then, whoever thinks it'll be fine if we just rush 'em, raise your hand.

*Ba!* ------ three hands other than mine are raised.

Sakuya: Anyway, seeing as society would generally frown on us hurting a layperson who's just being controlled, I'm gonna go and pin him down, as a fellow layperson.

Senba: ............

Umm, not that I can't understand a want to prod back at that statement, but...

With Senba-san, the oni slayer, Tsudzura-chan, whose noble status only punctuates her being possessed by a god, and even me, having some sort of special blood...

Compared to that, maybe you could say she generally fits into the "layperson" category------ or perhaps that's what Senba-san was thinking, breathing a sigh of reluctant agreement.

Senba: ......In that case, Tsudzura-sama and I will remain on hand to deal with them, in case they escape from the mirror.

Tsudzura: Well then, let the rushing begin˜

Judging from my experience when the snake first appeared, and last night (though by the feel of it, you could say "tonight"?), I was thinking it might be a difficult battle, but------

Just like Sakuya-san first said, you could say it amounted to an easy win.

After first wresting away the mirror, Sakuya-san passes it to Senba-san in a discus toss.

After Senba-san catches it, she hands it to Tsudzura-chan and------

Tsudzura: Fuu! (TN: Seal)

Without even a need for Sakuya-san to hold him down, the manipulated human promptly topples over.

At any rate, that would mean that Tsudzura-chan sealed the connection between the mirror and the outside world, thus cutting off the strings they used to manipulate their kugutsu.

Having fallen under a surprise attack, the twin oni have already been captured, with no time to even take form.

Tsudzura: Now then, as for disposing of the mirror......

Sakuya: Hmm, yeah... I think it'd be best to smash it now, so this all won't go to waste later...

割るのは忍びない
I think we should break it.

割るべきだと思う
Doing that would be too sad.