Volume 1 Chapter 33 The Prince Of The Jinkyo Tribe Returns Home
──Around the Northern Border──
The main force of the Jinkyo Tribe was preparing to head south.
Their goal was to raid the town north of Aika Country. If possible, they wanted to take down the fortress protecting the north.
To achieve this, the Jinkyo Tribe sent their elite unit and the strongest warrior, Zeng Taiga.
They learned from an informant that the Crown Prince of Aika Country was in the north.
With Zeng Taiga and the elite unit, they might be able to capture the Crown Prince.
Of course, it wasn't guaranteed that they would run into the Crown Prince.
If that happened, they would attack the people and soldiers of Aika Country instead.
If they kept provoking around the fortress, eventually 'General Skybear' Kou Eishin would show up.
If they could defeat him, it would shake Aika Country.
The Crown Prince's inability to prevent that would also be a blow to Aika Country.
"...It was a member of the organization called 'Golden Feather Syndicate' who told our king that 'Aika Country will fall.'."
The Jinkyo Tribe values information highly.
They move around, raising sheep and horses, and sometimes raid towns and villages in Aika Country.
Changes in the weather, wind patterns, and the growth of grass are all directly linked to their survival.
Changes in the stars and divination are also valuable sources of information for them.
A few months ago, a member of the organization Golden Feather Syndicate came to the king of the Jinkyo Tribe.
They said.
'The position of the stars. Turtle Divination. Trigram Divination. The flow of the wind. Everything indicates the downfall of Aika Country,' they said.
It seems that the Golden Feather Syndicate has members from the Central Plains.
They gather information while doing various jobs.
Enki is one of them.
There are others who collect information as fortune tellers, and some who are connected to the royal palace and the inner court.
From these people, one piece of information was brought forth.
'In a fortune-telling held at the royal palace, results showing a crisis for the royal family came out. The royal family is hiding it,' they said.
Furthermore, someone who knows the situation of the inner court said,
'All the boys except Crown Prince Rouen are weak. The king has many favored concubines, but no new children are being born. This might indicate the decline of the royal family,' they said.
It was as if all the signs were 'predetermined', showing the decline and 'downfall' of Aika Country.
Because of this, the king of the Jinkyo Tribe decided to ally with Golden Feather Syndicate.
If Aika Country is going to fall in the near future, the Jinkyo Tribe will accelerate it.
They will leave the barren grasslands and take the fertile lands ruled by Aika Country.
To achieve this, they will cooperate with Golden Feather Syndicate.
That was the decision of the king of the Jinkyo Tribe.
"If it's His Royal Highness, he should be able to capture the Crown Prince of Aika Country. Even if there are guards, he should be able to kill them all."
Remembering the figure of the red-haired prince, a chill ran down the commander's back.
Zeng-ouji is 'something else'.
It feels like the god of the Jinkyo Tribe has given him the power to destroy Aika Country.
At just 15 years old, he has the strength to overwhelm all the generals of the Jinkyo Tribe.
He is truly a One Man Army.
No one can stop his advance.
The very existence of Zeng-ouji is believed by the Jinkyo Tribe to be proof that Aika Country will fall.
They think that heaven has sent the prince as a force for that purpose.
That's why everyone agreed to let Zeng-ouji cross the border.
His goal is to sneak into Aika Country with a small group without being noticed by 'General Skybear' and capture the Crown Prince. Or to lure out 'General Skybear'.
After that, the army waiting at the border will charge into Aika Country all at once.
They will take down the northern fortress and control the surrounding towns.
That was the plan this time.
"Ren Padu-dono! The prince has returned!!"
Suddenly, the voice of a messenger echoed.
The commander, whose name was called, turned around with a big smile and said,
"Oh, he's back! So the prince has captured the Crown Prince of Aika Country!?"
"...Well, that's the thing..."
The messenger hesitated.
Commander Ren Padu looked ahead at the camp.
He saw Zeng-ouji and his black horse.
The prince, who had lost his right arm and looked like he might fall off his horse, was covered in blood.
"P-Prince!? W-What happened!?"
Commander Ren Padu rushed over in a panic.
Zeng-ouji stared at him and said,
"...Retreat immediately. Ren Padu."
"Your Royal Highness?"
"Did you not hear me!? We must fall back!! We need to return to the king!!"
"I-I don't understand. What happened!? Your Royal Highness!!"
"I've driven off the pursuers. I couldn't kill them all, but... I've beaten them down so they can't move..."
Zeng-ouji gripped the blood-stained spear tightly.
"But if they are chasing us, it's over. In Aika Country... there are enemies strong enough to catch me, this Zeng Taiga!!"
It was as if he didn't feel the pain of his lost arm.
No, in fact, he probably didn't feel it at all.
Zeng Taiga was exceptional. He was born to destroy Aika Country and establish the Jinkyo Tribe's nation.
He knew nothing else.
He had no friends. No loved ones. The only thing he believed in was strength.
That is who Zeng Taiga, the prince of the Jinkyo Tribe, was.
"......Kou Tenhou. To think someone like that is in Aika Country."
Zeng Taiga muttered with the eyes of a hungry beast.
"He, who have wounded me, I will recognize him as a strong enemy. As long as he is in my way, I cannot destroy Aika Country. Then... I will definitely kill him! So what if I have one arm!? I just need to gain the strength of 2 arms with my left arm alone!!"
"Z, Zeng-ouji!?"
"What are you dawdling for? Ren Padu!!"
Zeng Taiga shouted.
"Retreat immediately!! The army of 'General Skybear' is coming!!"
"That's impossible!"
"Don't underestimate our enemies! You fools!!"
"B-but..."
Ren Padu had a question in his mind.
──Is it impossible that Zeng Taiga was defeated?
──Or is it that the army of 'General Skybear' is coming?
Probably both.
Even seeing him with one arm, it was hard to believe that Zeng Taiga had been defeated.
The arrival of 'General Skybear's' army was also hard to believe.
It would take time for information to reach the northern fortress. They couldn't possibly show up right away.
"First, please enter the tent. We need to treat your wounds."
"Stop nagging!!"
"Prince!!"
"I command all troops!! We will retreat immediately. The positions can stay as they are. Those who are late will be left behind!! In the name of Jinkyo Tribe Prince, Zeng Taiga, I order you!!"
Just as Zeng Taiga shouted desperately――
"Enemies from the south! It's the army of 'General Skybear'!!"
Suddenly, the shout of a scout echoed.
When Ren Padu looked to the south, there were those flying the flag of 'General Skybear'.
"────All troops retreat! Retreat now──!!"
They can't win.
This operation was based on Zeng Taiga rampaging through the border area and capturing the Crown Prince. That had completely failed.
On top of that, Zeng Taiga had lost his right arm.
The prince, who was revered as a war god, was shaking the soldiers.
He was already in no condition to fight.
"......Kou Tenhou... 'General Skybear's' child."
Holding the reins of a black horse with one hand, Zeng Taiga spoke the name of his enemy.
"My enemy, Kou Tenhou!! Destroying Aika Country will come after I kill you. I swear by the god of the winds that cross the plains. Until I kill you, my heart will not find peace!! Remember this well, my enemy!!"
With that, the Jinkyo Tribe's forces quickly packed up and left.
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