Volume 2 Chapter 22 The Great Villain Of The World, Becomes An Official Messenger To The Foreign Tribe V
──In the fortress taken by the Jinkyo Tribe──
"Stay quiet here until I talk to your chief, Bokou Tribe."
Saying this, there were about 30 members of the 'Bokou Tribe' locked in a room in the fortress.
All of them were women and children.
They were all relatives of the chief and the captain of the defense, as well as the soldiers.
The Jinkyo Tribe had taken them hostage to break the fighting spirit of the 'Bokou Tribe.'
"Our fortress, which our tribe has protected, is being used like this..."
A girl from the 'Bokou Tribe,' Nona Kiryuu, murmured sadly.
This was a fortress at the foot of a mountain.
It was built by the ancestors of the 'Bokou Tribe' to protect the village from outside enemies.
No one had imagined that this fortress would be taken over by the Jinkyo Tribe.
(I wonder if Father has safely reached Aika Country.)
Nona Kiryuu whispered to herself.
Her father, Gaku Kiryuu, had gone with his subordinates to Aika Country.
He was going to inform them about the Jinkyo Tribe's invasion and borrow soldiers.
Until now, the 'Bokou Tribe' and the Jinkyo Tribe had lived mostly apart.
This was the first time they had come to invade with an army.
They probably intended to completely swallow the 'Bokou Tribe.'
And they were trying to obtain the secret texts that the 'Bokou Tribe' had protected.
Nona Kiryuu moved closer to the window and looked outside.
She could see the fortress gate and the square in front of it.
In front of the gate, there was a watchtower, and a soldier from the Jinkyo Tribe stood there with a bow in hand.
It was dusk now. The gate and the fortress were dyed in a reddish hue.
A day passed without anything happening.
No good news or bad news reached them.
The view of the fortress was the same as it had been yesterday.
The fortress, once guarded by the Bokou Tribe, was now filled with Jinkyo Tribe members.
They were eating the stored food, drinking, and raising their spirits.
Not wanting to see that scene, Nona Kiryuu stepped away from the window.
From here, she couldn't see her comrades.
She had no idea what happened to those who went to call for help.
In this uncertain situation, people were scared.
Feeling frustrated at her inability to do anything, she bites my lip.
(I'm the daughter of the captain of the defense. Just like he protects our tribe, I have to protect people's hearts...)
"...Nona Kiryuu-sama. What will happen to us now?"
A woman holding a baby asked anxiously.
The girl managed to put on a smile and said,
"It's okay. Help will definitely come."
──She said those words.
Outside the room, there was a guard.
Behind the barred door, they were watching them.
She couldn't mention that her father went to call for help from Aika Country.
"My father, Gaku Kiryuu, must be working to rescue us. So, we must not lose hope."
Nona Kiryuu held the woman's hand tightly and continued.
"Our ancestor, the hermit──Suimei Shin-kun──said, 'Even in the unseen chaos, the Bokou people can move forward.' Let's believe and wait, everyone."
"...Y-yes, Nona-sama."
The woman answered Kiryuu Nona with a trembling voice.
"I believe in myself and my friends!"
"Gaku Kiryuu-sama can't lose to the Jinkyo Tribe!"
"Help will come, right, Nona-sama!!"
The women and children in the room raised their voices all at once.
They wouldn't give up hope.
They were a clan that learned from the ancient hermit.
Just as everyone was saying those words──
"Too bad. It seems the ones who ran away from the Bokou Tribe have been caught!!"
The guard soldier said in a mocking tone.
For a moment, the air in the room froze.
The hostages widened their eyes and stiffened.
"Don't lie. My father is strong. There's no way he would be caught by you!"
The girl Nona stood up and glared at the guard soldier.
"Look outside the window. You can see the captured ones."
The guard soldier sneered.
Nona hurried to the window.
As dusk approached, the fortress gates began to open.
The soldiers of the Jinkyo Tribe gathered in the square cheered with joy.
Coming through the open gate were those wearing the armor of the Jinkyo Tribe.
They were the soldiers who had been chasing Gaku Kiryuu and the others.
The Jinkyo Tribe's armored figures stood behind Gaku Kiryuu, who was tied up with ropes along with his soldiers.
The moment Nona Kiryuu saw this, she collapsed to the floor.
"...Ah. Father."
Her father couldn't escape.
He was caught by the Jinkyo Tribe before he could ask Aika Country for help.
No help would come.
Other countries didn't know that the Bokou Tribe was being invaded by the Jinkyo Tribe.
At this rate, the Bokou Tribe would be swallowed up by the Jinkyo Tribe.
Nona Kiryuu──the teachings of the hermit passed down by the miko would end here.
The secret book of 'chaos' would be taken away.
Everything was over.
"...No... Father. Suimei Shin-kun..."
Nona spoke the name of the hermit known in the Bokou Tribe.
The soldiers on guard laughed at her.
"It's over. Give up!"
"The Gaku Kiryuu will become test subjects for the 'Four Fiends' techniques!"
"It's to make an example and to show that person's power!"
The soldiers laughed as they looked at the hostages.
And then──
"""Uoooooohhh!!"""
Suddenly, a shout rang out from the courtyard.
"Gaku Kiryuu, captain of the defense of the Bokou Tribe! I've come to get my family back!!"
Along with the screams of the Jinkyo Tribe soldiers, Gaku Kiryuu's voice echoed.
Nona pressed her face against the window.
Her father was in the courtyard of the fortress. But he was different from just a moment ago.
Somehow, Gaku Kiryuu was now holding a spear.
A large black spear──this was the weapon that Nona's father, Kiryuu, was skilled with.
With it in hand, Gaku Kiryuu was taking down the soldiers of the Jinkyo Tribe one after another.
Surrounding him were his father's subordinates.
They were also armed. At their feet lay the ropes that had bound them. The ropes had no knots.
It was as if they had been made to come undone from the start.
Moreover, fighting alongside Gaku Kiryuu were──
"W-why? The soldiers who took my father away are fighting with him...?"
The answer became clear right away.
Through the open gate, soldiers in armor from Aika Country charged in.
"Aika Country soldiers!? W-why!?"
"No! The first ones to come in were also Aika Country soldiers! Aika Country soldiers disguised themselves as our allies!!"
"Gaku Kiryuu brought Aika Country soldiers with him──!!"
The soldiers of the Jinkyo Tribe were completely confused.
──The ones who had taken Gaku Kiryuu were Aika Country soldiers disguised as the Jinkyo Tribe.
──Gaku Kiryuu and the others had been freed and were now attacking.
──From the open gate, enemies kept pouring in.
All of this was an unexpected situation.
The strength of the Jinkyo Tribe's weapons was their cavalry's breakthrough power.
Inside the fortress, their power cannot be used. Before that, they thought they were welcoming allies. They didn't expect a fight. No one is mounted. Few are armed.
Moreover, this fortress originally belongs to the 'Bokou Tribe.' Gaku Kiryuu and his group know the internal structure. They know the advantageous spots for fighting and the places out of sight of the guards.
On top of that, with the addition of Aika Country's soldiers, their fighting strength is almost equal.
If it turns into close combat without cavalry, Gaku Kiryuu's side should have the advantage.
"...The people from Aika Country came to help. With my father. To disguise themselves as Jinkyo Tribe soldiers and open the gate... that's amazing..."
Gaku Kiryuu is the strongest general of the 'Bokou Tribe.'
The Jinkyo Tribe feared that he would bring reinforcements. Because of that, they were overjoyed to hear the report that Gaku Kiryuu had been captured.
Moreover, it is now dusk. It's the time when it's hardest to distinguish people.
So the guard soldiers, just by seeing someone in Jinkyo Tribe armor, judged them to be allies. Without suspicion, they invited them into the fortress.
"What are you doing? You all join the fight!!"
A voice that sounds like a captain echoed from outside the door.
"B-but. We have to watch the prisoners..."
"Not now. Anyway, push the enemy out of the fortress... W-wait. Where did you come from!?"
The captain's scream echoed.
And then──
"──'Kirin's Horn Thrust'!!"
"──'Byakko's Assault'!!"
The soldiers on the other side of the door were blown away.
After that, there was a clattering sound of metal.
A few seconds later──the door that had trapped Nona and the others opened.
On the other side of the door were 2 boys holding swords.
Nona didn't recognize them. They were probably from Aika Country.
The boys clasped their hands together towards the hostages and said,
"We've come to help. I'm Kou Tenhou. I'm a disciple of Gen Shuuyoku-sensei, a friend of the 'Bokou Tribe.'."
"Same here, I'm Sui Kaou. Let's get out of here quickly!"
Light shone into the dim room.
Nona Kiryuu and the hostages cheered.
Their voices echoed outside the tower, so the soldiers who came to help could hear them.
Then, the hostages were led by them and escaped from the prison.
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