Volume 3 Chapter 4 The Great Villain Of The World, Catches The Stalker
Touri-san and I were walking through the town of Toushun.
The stalker was still following us.
I didn't know who it was.
If I turned around to check, they might run away.
The stalker had been asking the staff about the document I wrote.
There was no doubt they were reacting to that document.
I decided to make contact in a less crowded area and see what they wanted.
"Touri-san."
"Yes, Tenhou-sama."
"We're going to turn at the next corner and go into an alley. After that, please cling to me."
"Ah... okay! I understand!"
Touri-san nodded vigorously.
It seemed she understood my intention.
Without changing our pace, we turned the corner.
In a spot where the stalker couldn't see us, Touri-san hugged me tightly.
Right after that, I activated my 'Five Divine Steps' technique.
"'Storm of the Lurking Dragon King'"
"──W-what!?"
I circulated my 'ki' throughout my body and kicked off the ground.
Then, while holding onto Touri-san, I jumped up onto the roof of a house.
The 'Storm of the Lurking Dragon King' from 'Five Divine Steps' is a jumping technique.
I've used it to leap over rivers, and I once jumped from a tower to a tree branch while carrying Kaine Kiryuu.
Jumping up to the roof while carrying someone is pretty easy for me.
"Well then, who has been following us...?"
The follower stopped at the corner.
They seemed surprised that we had disappeared.
There were 2 followers, a boy and a girl. When I caught a glimpse of them earlier, I thought they were small.
But──
"...They're kids."
"...Yes. They are kids."
The ones following us were a boy and a girl.
The girl was about the same size as Seirei.
The boy looked to be a little over ten years old. He was holding a long stick while protecting the girl behind him.
"What should we do, Tenhou-sama?"
"First, let's listen to what they have to say."
"Understood. Can you leave this to Touri?"
"To Touri-san?"
"Touri is used to dealing with kids. I have been helping my mother... the doctor. It was Touri's job to calm down kids during treatments."
Touri-san blushed a little and said,
"And... I also want to help you, Tenhou-sama."
"Got it. Please do."
"I'll go now. Then, 'Beast Body Guidance'──'Silent Cat Landing (the cat lands silently on the ground)'."
With a whoosh, Touri-san jumped down from the roof.
She moved like a cat.
Touri-san landed silently behind the boy and girl.
Then, she took a few steps forward, making a soft sound.
""────!?""
The boy and girl reacted to the sound.
The boy turned around and aimed his stick at Touri-san.
But Touri-san had already moved out of reach.
She faced the two of them and performed a clasped hand (Kyōshu) gesture.
The clasped hand means to stack your hands together, which is a form of etiquette in this world.
By stacking both hands, you show that you are not in a position to attack, indicating that you mean no harm.
Seeing Touri-san in that stance, the boy lowered the stick he was holding towards the ground.
...Wow, Touri-san is amazing.
She is completely reading her opponent's movements and responding accordingly.
──After landing, she deliberately made noise with her footsteps so that they would notice her.
──When the opponent was about to raise their stick, she stepped back, creating distance.
──Just before the boy raised his stick, she performed the clasped hand gesture, showing that she meant no harm.
By doing this, she managed to lower the opponent's guard.
This technique can only be done if you perfectly understand the opponent's breathing and distance. It's really impressive.
If Touri-san learns martial arts, she might become even more skilled than Shuu-sensei.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Gen Touri."
Touri-san introduced herself to the boy and girl.
"I noticed someone following me since I left the tea house, so I thought I'd say hello. Sorry for surprising you."
"...Oh, uh."
"Do you need something from us?"
Touri-san spoke slowly.
She was probably trying not to scare the boy and girl.
The boy, who had been holding his stick ready, relaxed his stance. It seemed like he was no longer in a fighting position.
But... I feel like I've seen that stance before.
"If you need something, please let me know."
Touri-san continued.
"Touri's misunderstanding, if that's the case, I'm going home. What will you do?"
"...I, I want to ask you something."
"Yes."
"...I want to ask you something."
"──That's not okay. Reki. You shouldn't speak like that to the people in this town."
Suddenly, the girl opened her mouth.
"Nice to meet you. Thank you for your polite greeting."
The girl lightly bowed her head towards Touri-san.
"We were following you to find a chance to talk. Also, I wanted to see what kind of people you are."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Looking at you, I realized you are not a dangerous person."
"I see. Then please tell me your story."
"...Um."
The girl closed her eyes as if searching for words.
"The person you were with was writing something in the tea house, right?"
"Yes. What about that writing?"
"There was a word in it that caught my interest. Please tell me one."
"Go ahead."
"Do you know a person named Shin U──Raikou? Also, what about Kou Tenhou and Sui Kaou?"
I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
I expected Master Raikou's name to come up.
But I never thought my name and Shouou's would be mentioned too.
"Before I answer your question, can I ask you one thing?"
Touri-san narrowed her eyes and asked.
"Do you know where Raikou-sama is?"
"Yes. That person is our benefactor."
"Benefactor?"
"Reki and I owe my life to that person, thanks to her. But... that person got hurt protecting us. So, we have to repay her..."
"Miss! That's enough──."
"Please, tell me. Do you know Kou Tenhou-sama or Sui Kaou-sama? We have something we want to tell them! Could it be that the man who was with you is one of them? Where is he...?"
"Calm down."
As the girl's words trailed off, Touri-san spoke.
Touri-san stopped talking and took a slow, deep breath.
Maybe because of that, the girl also let out a long sigh and relaxed her shoulders.
Then Touri-san said,
"So, you are looking for Kou Tenhou-sama?"
"Yes. We were planning to go to the capital of Aika Country. We were looking for guards at the tea house. But then we found that document, and that's why──"
"Miss, that's enough!"
The boy interrupted the girl.
"You're saying too much. We don't even know if this person is on our side!"
"They're not an enemy."
Touri-san looked at me over the shoulders of the boy and girl.
When I nodded back, Touri-san smiled gently and said,
"If you have business with Kou Tenhou-sama, you should speak to him directly. He is right there."
""...Huh?""
The boy and girl turned around. Then, their eyes widened.
Yeah, well, it's surprising. If someone was standing behind you without you knowing.
While Touri-san was distracting the two, I moved along the roof.
After that, I landed on the ground using the same 'Cat Silent Landing' technique as Touri-san.
This way, I was behind the two of them.
Just in case these two decided to attack, I wanted to protect Touri-san.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kou Tenhou."
I clasped my hands together, just like Touri-san, and faced the two.
"If you have something to say, I'm listening."
"...Before that, is it okay?"
The girl pressed her chest and looked at me.
Her gaze was filled with fear. Well, I couldn't blame her.
"I was told to ask questions for identity verification."
"I'm listening."
"Um... 'Snake, cat, and turtle. What's the 4th one?'"
"It's a chicken."
"'The submerged dragon king'?"
"It looks up to the heavens."
"'The sword given by the thunder martial artist'!?"
"'The sword that holds the power of the white kirin'... right?"
"──────Ah."
The girl plopped down on the ground.
It was as if she relaxed in relief.
The first question was a fill-in-the-blank from 'Beast Body Guidance.'
The next was about the names of techniques from 'Five Divine Swordsmanship - Footwork.'
The last was about 'the sword given by the thunder martial artist'──in other words, the 'White Kirin Sword' that Master Raikou gave me.
Only I, Shouou, Master Raikou, and Shuu-sensei know this information.
So, this girl has definitely met Master Raikou.
"Please let me know if you can confirm your identity. Master Raikou is injured, right? Is she in this town?"
I asked.
Earlier, the girl said, "That person protected us and got hurt"──and so on.
Master Raikou loves children.
It's possible she got hurt protecting these two.
But Master Raikou is a master. She can easily fend off ordinary opponents.
The fact that she got injured means the enemy must be an incredible master... or it was a large army that even he couldn't handle.
This boy and girl must be important enough to be attacked by such people.
And──
"Please tell me one more thing. Are you related to the Jinkyo Tribe?"
At my words, the boy and girl froze.
They were wearing clothes from Aika Country. Maybe Master prepared them.
Because of that, they looked just like people from Aika Country.
Still, I thought they were related to the Jinkyo Tribe because of the boy's stance.
His pose with the stick resembled that of Prince Zeng Taiga from the Jinkyo Tribe.
That was probably a martial arts stance used by the Jinkyo Tribe.
The boy had mastered it. That's why I thought he was from the Jinkyo Tribe or related to them.
"...I was careless."
The boy muttered.
"Kou Tenhou... as expected, you are someone who survived fighting the prince."
"Knowing that means... could it be?"
"...I am Reki Soukaku of the Jinkyo Tribe."
The boy placed the stick on the ground.
"I'm... Suuki Taiga."
The girl introduced herself.
She had the same family name as Zeng Taiga, the prince of the Jinkyo Tribe.
"Since your family name is Taiga, you are related to Zeng-sama──"
"Zeng-sama is my cousin. My father is the younger brother of the current king."
"I came here on my father's orders to ask for support from Aika Country."
"The younger brother of the king of the Jinkyo Tribe? Asking for help from Aika Country?"
"My father is known as a moderate within the tribe. He has always opposed the war with Aika Country."
The girl──Suuki Taiga──said with a trembling voice.
"My father... said he could trust Aika Country now and gave me a letter to deliver to a high official there."
"A person from the Jinkyo Tribe has a letter for Aika Country?"
"We were attacked by pursuers on our journey, and we were saved by Raikou-sama. Our horse was killed, and Raikou-sama protected us, getting hit in the leg by an arrow. Still... we managed to escape to this town."
I could somewhat imagine what happened.
Since it was my master, she probably thought, "A child is in danger. I must help!" and offered her assistance without hesitation.
"But why is a person from the Jinkyo Tribe trying to ask for help from Aika Country?"
"...To stop my cousin, who has become a tyrant."
Suuki Taiga said with a trembling voice.
"My cousin Zeng lost his dominant arm and... started to persecute others. He began gathering horses and food to prepare for war... and anyone who opposes him is being purged. My father... has almost been killed so many times."
Zeng Taiga has become a tyrant?
No... it's true he killed prisoners without mercy in the game.
Is that coldness now directed at the Jinkyo Tribe? Even though it's still ten years before the game starts?
"My father has always opposed fighting Aika Country. Cousin Zeng looked down on him as a coward. But after losing an arm, he started to hate my father fiercely."
The girl Suuki Taiga continued speaking in a strained voice.
"Now, the Jinkyo Tribe is split in 2. There are the militant faction aiming to invade other countries and the moderate faction, like my father, trying to avoid war. But... if my father is killed, the moderates in the Jinkyo Tribe will lose their power. Saving my father should also benefit Aika Country. Please... I ask the officials of Aika Country to help us..."
"I understand the situation."
I said.
"First, let me meet Master Raikou. Whether we cooperate or not will be decided after that."
The Jinkyo Tribe has always been our enemy.
Zeng Taiga was trying to kill Kairyou-aniue.
The unit led by General Ren Padu attacked the Bokou Tribe's village.
Even if they say there are moderates in the Jinkyo Tribe... I can't believe it right away.
Just... I think it's a possible story.
Aika Country is a major power.
I have knowledge from the game 'History of Swordmaster,' so I believe Aika Country will collapse in ten years, but others don't think so.
Right now, Aika Country is stable and strong. Plus, by gaining the trust of neighboring countries like Souma Country and the Bokou Tribe, they are getting even more powerful.
It's not surprising that some people in the Jinkyo Tribe feel uneasy about opposing Aika Country.
Zeng Taiga has already failed in his invasion of Aika Country, and there have been casualties. With his strongest reputation now in doubt, it's possible that opposition will arise.
...That said, jumping to conclusions is dangerous.
First, I need to meet Master Raikou and hear what she has to say.
When she helped these kids──Suuki Taiga and Reki Soukaku──what was the situation like? What did Master think after hearing their story?
At this stage, there's just too little information.
"...But if by any chance, we could find allies within the Jinkyo Tribe..."
Zeng Taiga wouldn't be able to mobilize his entire army against Aika Country.
While they are away, opposing forces might start a rebellion.
If that happens, Zeng Taiga would lose his place to return to. Worst case, he would be attacked from the north by the rebels and from the south by Aika Country. He would be caught in a pincer attack from both sides.
No matter how strong he is, the soldiers around him probably wouldn't be able to hold out.
If we can make allies within the Jinkyo Tribe, we can stop the invasion of Aika Country. We can erase one of the bad endings that will happen in ten years.
Of course, it's not guaranteed to go well.
I'm not sure what the moderates are thinking... or if they even exist. But I believe it's worth finding out.
While thinking about this, we followed Suuki Taiga's lead to where Master Raikou was.
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