Volume 3 Chapter 32 The Great Villain Of The World, Joins Up With His Brother
"Ugh, ughhh!"
The man, poison archer who on the ground is groaning.
It's because Shouou and I cut the tendons in his arms and legs.
He was wearing a grass-colored cloth outfit.
When his armor touched something, it made a hard sound. He hated even that faint noise for hiding. He prioritized hiding over defense. He's really a pro.
"I won't let you kill yourself. You have to tell me everything."
"──Guh!? Mmm..."
I stuffed a gag into the poisoned archer's mouth.
Someone who uses poison might have suicide poison hidden in their mouth.
If I keep his mouth shut, he can't use it.
...Last time, the prisoner Kai Shuujaku killed himself.
I have to make sure that doesn't happen again.
"But... he might not say anything."
"He's a master poisoned archer. He must have trained to keep secrets."
At my words, Shouou nodded.
"I think it's better to leave the interrogation to Tenhou's brother."
"I agree. Plus, there are others we can get information from."
Shouou and I have taken down a dozen or so archers from the Jinkyo Tribe.
We should be able to get testimonies from them.
During the battle at the Bokou Tribe's village, we couldn't get any information from the soldiers.
The soldiers didn't know anything about Kai Shuujaku or the mysterious organization, the 'Golden Feather Syndicate.'
It was because the one commanding the unit was Ren Padu, the general of the Jinkyo Tribe.
Kai Shuujaku had joined the unit as a special participant... in other words, like a guest.
The soldiers were still Ren Padu's subordinates and had almost nothing to do with Kai Shuujaku.
But this time was different.
The archers in the forest were probably direct subordinates of the poison arrow user. They were receiving training from him on how to use poison and were given antidotes as well.
So they must know about the poison arrow user and the person behind him.
"...But this poison arrow user is."
His way of speaking was strange.
He didn't seem used to the language of this country. Was he from a foreign land?
The poison arrow user painted his face black to blend into the darkness.
His hair was the same. Seeing the white roots of his hair, he might really be a foreigner.
In the game 'History of Swordmaster,' there are also people from foreign lands.
There are also skilled archers.
Could this guy be the archer Yagaru who came from the west?
The traveler Yagaru from the west gets angry because the people are suffering because of Kou Tenhou.
So, he joins the protagonist to save the people.
Of course, he doesn't use poison arrows. He's on the side of justice, so he wouldn't do that.
That will happen ten years later.
However, the game doesn't tell what Yagaru was doing until then.
In the original history, Yagaru shouldn't have set foot in this country yet.
So why is Yagaru now a part of the Jinkyo Tribe?
'Four Fiends' is like that, but does that game have an untold backstory...?
"Save Kei Koshou-dono's unit! Eliminate the enemy soldiers!!"
While I was thinking about that, I heard my brother's voice.
It seems the rescue unit has arrived.
My brother's unit avoided the main road and entered from both sides of the forest. Specifically, from behind the enemy archers.
The enemy soldiers have already stopped moving. They are confused because the poison arrow user, Yagaru, has been defeated. In that state, they can't win against my brother's unit.
"Tenhou! Where is Tenhou!! Tenhou!!"
"Here! Brother!!"
"Oh!!"
From behind the trees, my brother in armor came running.
He must have dismounted to approach without alerting the enemy. Impressive.
"I was worried. You just sent a letter and rushed into the forest. You..."
"I was able to fight with peace of mind because I thought you would come, brother."
"I feel the same way. Kou Kairyou-sama."
I and Shouou clasped hands with my brother.
He smiled wryly and said,
"I see. Anyway, I'm glad both of you are safe. It seems we've been helped by Tenhou and Kaou again. So, is this the enemy commander?"
My brother looked at the fallen Yagaru on the ground.
"Yes. He was a dangerous enemy who used poison arrows. Also, Kei Koshou-sama's unit has been affected by the poison arrows. The antidote is with the enemy archers. I will teach you how to use it, so please treat everyone."
"Understood. I'll arrange it right away."
After that, Shouou and I taught my brother's subordinates how to use the antidote.
All the enemy archers had antidote pills and ointments.
They honestly showed us how to use them.
Maybe it was because Shouou and I were looking down at them with poisoned arrows in hand.
They might have thought they would be poisoned if they didn't talk.
"──Captain Kei! Is Captain Kei safe──!?"
After a while, another group of cavalry entered the forest.
They were subordinates of Kei Koshou.
When they found my brother, they got off their horses and rushed over.
And then──
"Kou Kairyou-sama! We apologize for leaving the camp without permission!!"
"Please, punish us."
"But... please forgive Captain Kei. That person... risked his life to protect us..."
──The soldiers all sat down and pressed their foreheads to the ground.
This is called kowtow, the most respectful bow in this world.
The soldiers told us why they had left the camp and what happened afterward.
It all started when a scout found someone who looked like Zeng Taiga.
The person, with one arm, had tied a large spear to a black horse.
Unit leader Kei Koshou and strategist Haku Kan judged that this person was Zeng Taiga himself. Then, strategist Haku Kan persuaded Kei Koshou to pursue that person.
Most of the soldiers in the western camp were sent by Chou Sekimei, the former General of the Devoted Cavalry. Haku Kan was also a close aide of Chou Sekimei.
The soldiers valued Haku Kan's orders more than Kei Koshou's.
If Kei Koshou hesitated to go out, they insisted on chasing Zeng Taiga by themselves.
However, Haku Kan was not a military officer.
Kei Koshou judged that it was dangerous to leave the soldiers in his hands, so he decided to go with them.
When they defeated the fake Zeng Taiga, the unit was in a narrow path surrounded by hills.
They were attacked by enemy soldiers from both sides.
Kei Koshou became the rear guard, blocking the enemy's attacks and helping his subordinates escape.
It was okay if they scattered. Just run and survive.
Because of that, most of the unit was able to survive.
So the cavalry each escaped to a safe place──
──finding Kou Kairyou's unit and following after them.
"If it weren't for Unit Captain Kei, we would have been completely wiped out."
Kei Koshou's subordinates pressed their foreheads to the ground.
"We should have followed Unit Captain Kei's judgment. Leaving the western camp was due to our ignorance. Even though we received secret orders to follow Haku Kan-dono, it was a regrettable mistake."
"The loss of our comrades is our sin."
"──But... Captain Kei risked his life to let us escape. Therefore, I believe we should use our lives to help him. Please, with our lives, help Captain Kei!"
The soldiers shouted in unison.
Kei Koshou was in charge of the western position.
Yet, he left the camp to chase the fake Zeng Taiga.
As a result, he lost the lives of his soldiers. That is a serious crime.
However, it was not Kei Koshou's decision to leave the camp; it was the independent choice of the strategist Haku Kan and the soldiers of the Chou Family. Kei Koshou could not stop them.
Still, to prevent their deaths, Kei Koshou chose to accompany them... is that right?
Amazing... as expected of 'the caring subordinate, Kei Koshou.'
"Brother... no, I must address you, Kou Kairyou-dono."
I clasped my hands and looked at my brother.
"During the battle in the forest, Kei Koshou-sama protected me and the soldiers. While his body was being poisoned, he used his armor as a shield to block the enemy's arrows. If he hadn't been there, I wouldn't have been able to defeat the enemy leader. So, I ask for Kei Koshou-sama──"
"Do not overstep, Tenhou."
My brother spoke in a dignified voice.
"Kei Koshou-dono is a subordinate of 'General Skybear.' It is our father, Kou Eishin, who will decide if he is guilty or not. Also, this is a battlefield. This is not a place to discuss the life of a unit captain. Know your place."
"Y-yes. I'm really sorry. Brother."
"...It's okay. Tenhou and the soldiers will have a chance to express their opinions later."
My brother, who had scolded me, quickly changed his tone.
With a calm expression, he looked at me and the crouching cavalry.
"Father is not the kind of person who ignores the soldiers' opinions. They will definitely be given a chance to speak. Tenhou and Sui Kaou will also be present at that time. Is that alright?"
"Thank you. Brother."
"Understood. Kou Kairyou-sama."
"""Thank you! Kou Kairyou-sama!!"""
Shouou and I bowed to my brother, and the cavalry pressed their foreheads to the ground again.
Kei Koshou is an important person who excels in defense.
He is well-respected and kind enough to protect me.
I don't want him to die here.
Leaving the camp without permission is a crime. But I hope he won't receive a severe punishment.
I want him to continue being the unit captain.
──While we were talking like that, my brother's unit had captured all the enemy archers.
The archers, caught off guard from behind, fell apart easily. It hardly turned into a fight.
The captured enemy archers will be sent to the northern fortress. The poison arrow user, Yagaru, will be sent there too.
I told my brother, "The enemy captain might commit suicide, so please be careful."
If it's Kairyou-aniue, he should handle it appropriately.
And then, Kei Koshou──
"All the sins are mine. Please, allow me to take my own life. Of course, if 'General Skybear' wishes for my execution, I will hold onto this life until then. But, my subordinates only followed my orders. I hope you can forgive them."
──He said this while pressing his forehead to the ground in front of my older brother.
Watching Kei Koshou, my brother said,
"That's why everyone wants to keep you alive, isn't it?"
He helped Kei Koshou up to his feet.
Behind them, the strategist Haku Kan looked stunned.
It seemed hard for him to believe that they had been ambushed and that I and Kairyou-aniue had saved him.
Haku Kan opened his mouth to argue, but──
"It would be better to discuss this in front of 'General Skybear'."
──Overwhelmed by my brother's words, Haku Kan closed his mouth.
And so, the battle in the forest came to an end──
We gathered our troops and headed toward the northern fortress where our father was waiting.
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