Volume 3 Chapter 45 The Great Villain Of The World Reunites With A Friend
The 'White Kirin Sword' cuts through Zeng Taiga's armor.
The blade reaches his body.
Then, bright red blood sprays out──Zeng Taiga falls.
...Did I win?
I... defeated Zeng Taiga?
Zeng Taiga lies still, not moving.
I'm at my limit too.
A dull pain spreads from my leg where he cut me.
I've almost used up all my 'ki' energy.
But... it's not over yet.
The battle is still going on in the side path.
Shouou and the others are fighting to protect the defense unit.
...I have to end this.
I slowly take a deep breath.
Then, I shout with all the 'ki' energy I have left.
"Prince Zeng Taiga of the Jinkyo Tribe has been defeated by Kou Tenhou of Aika Country!!"
My voice echoes around me.
"Further fighting is pointless!! I repeat, Zeng Taiga has fallen!! Those of the Jinkyo Tribe, put down your weapons! Zeng Taiga has fallen!! The battle is over!!"
The strength leaves my body.
I drop to my knees on the ground.
Listening closely... I can hear voices in the distance.
They sound restless and uneasy.
Soon... the sounds of battle start to fade.
Next, I hear footsteps and the sound of horses.
It must be Shouou and the others.
But, the direction... seems off.
Ah... no good. My body... is about to fall...
"Tenhou──────!!"
Just before my body hits the ground, someone catches me.
A soft and warm body. This is...
"Shouou...?"
"Yeah! Yeah!! You idiot, Tenhou!!"
"...idiot, you say."
"We're supposed to live or die together! You go and do something reckless all by yourself! I... didn't even feel alive!!"
"I can't help it... someone has to keep Zeng Taiga distracted."
"I get it. Tenhou, you're not wrong. But whether I'm angry or not is a different story!!"
"... that's too complicated, Shouou."
"I'll tell you slowly later. How I felt. Always, how I feel... okay?"
"Okay."
I take a deep breath.
With Shouou by my side, I feel at ease.
I feel like I can still move.
"What happened in the battle?"
"It's over. The Jinkyo Tribe also stopped fighting."
Shouou explains in a calm tone.
"Originally, it wasn't a fierce battle. Without Zeng Taiga, they couldn't attack our base. The fact that he didn't come back made the Jinkyo Tribe uneasy. Plus, Zeng Taiga was still chasing after Tenhou and didn't return..."
"Did the soldiers of the Jinkyo Tribe... get surprised that the war god was having trouble with me?"
"I think so. And since I heard Tenhou's shout... they must have realized that Zeng Taiga was defeated too."
"...It's over, isn't it?"
Zeng Taiga has fallen.
Now, the Jinkyo Tribe has no reason to fight Aika Country.
Even ten years later──during the 'History of Swordmaster' era, the Jinkyo Tribe's invasion will not happen.
One reason for Aika Country's collapse has disappeared.
"More importantly, Tenhou. Are you okay? Let me see your wounds!"
"...Please wait a moment, Shouou."
I stopped Shouou, who kept talking.
The sound of hooves was getting closer.
It was definitely coming from a different direction than where Haku-san and the others were.
Maybe Shouou noticed it too, as she drew her sword and stood in front of me.
Soon, the figure of a cavalry appeared.
That is──
"...Tougen Shimei-sama?"
"Long time no see, Kou Tenhou-dono."
The one who appeared was a tall young man──Tougen Shimei.
The cavalry behind him... they must be the moderates.
"Tougen-sama, what brings you here?"
"We were going around the nearby villages to gather more allies."
Tougen got off his horse and bowed.
"During that time, I learned that Prince Zeng had moved. So, I gathered the troops. Although few in number, I thought that if we attacked from behind, we could shake Prince Zeng's forces. When I moved the unit... I heard Kou Tenhou-dono's voice."
"I see... is that so?"
"I'm sorry for being late. But we have a request for you, Kou Tenhou-dono."
Suddenly──Tougen Shimei sat on the ground and deeply bowed his head.
The people behind him did the same.
Everyone was bowing down at once. Why...?
"Please, we ask you. Could you hand over Prince Zeng's body to us?"
Tougen Shimei said this in a serious voice.
"We... couldn't stop Prince Zeng. We know it's selfish of us to ask for such a thing."
"Selfish? That's not true."
I shook my head.
"Tougen-sama and the others have worked hard for peace with Aika Country. It was thanks to you that we were able to corner Zeng Taiga."
"Thank you. But we didn't have enough strength."
Tougen replied in a trembling voice.
"Honestly, it was our duty to stop Prince Zeng's rampage. We should have combined our strength with the Jinkyo Tribe to do so. Yet... we couldn't do that, and in the end, we had to rely on the strength of the people from Aika Country... especially, Kou Tenhou-dono."
Tougen pressed his forehead against the ground.
"Kou Tenhou-dono has the right to take Prince Zeng's head. That's only natural."
"...Tougen-sama."
"For us, Prince Zeng was a tyrant. He took food and livestock from the people and dragged the young ones to the battlefield. On top of that, he attacked the prince of Aika Country... and caused this invasion. This man is... an enemy to Aika Country. We understand that."
Then, Tougen Shimei lifted his face.
"However! This man was the prince of the Jinkyo Tribe──our prince. If possible, we would like to bury him in the land of the Jinkyo Tribe. To unite the divided Jinkyo Tribe, the Zeng faction and the moderate faction..."
"...To unite the Jinkyo Tribe, you say?"
"Of course, the people of Aika Country will not forgive Prince Zeng. It is only natural for Kou Tenhou-dono to take Prince Zeng's head. But..."
Tougen Shimei's shoulders were shaking.
"This man... made a mistake. As a result, this is what happened. I believe we should tell everyone in the Jinkyo Tribe about this fact and use it as a lesson. For that reason, we want to take his body and hold a funeral in the Jinkyo Tribe. And..."
"I'm worried that if I take Zeng Taiga's head, the people of the Jinkyo Tribe will start to hate Aika Country... right?"
I said.
Tougen Shimei quietly nodded.
Zeng Taiga is the prince of the Jinkyo Tribe and a war god that people respect.
It's only recently that he has become a tyrant.
He was a hero for much longer than he has been a tyrant.
It's normal for a hero to be defeated in battle.
But if someone from Aika Country takes his head and displays his body... the people of the Jinkyo Tribe might start to hate Aika Country.
This could spark a new war.
Even now, there are still people in the Jinkyo Tribe who respect Zeng Taiga.
Even if they hate him as a tyrant, they still have respect for the king's son.
If we turn those people into enemies, it could affect the peace between Aika Country and the Jinkyo Tribe.
──That's what Tougen explained to me.
"...I understand the story."
I replied to Tougen.
"But... at the northern fortress, my father's army is fighting against the Jinkyo Tribe's army. To stop it... we need proof that Zeng Taiga has been defeated."
"I understand. Then..."
Tougen nodded to his subordinate.
A soldier standing behind him got up, approached Zeng Taiga, and removed a stone bracelet from his arm. He also took away the sword that Zeng Taiga had.
After that, I cut Zeng Taiga's hair and held it along with the hair ornament.
"That bracelet and sword are the treasures of the Jinkyo Tribe. Only royalty can possess them, and they will never let go of them until death. With the bracelet, sword, Prince Zeng's hair, and hair ornament... it will prove that you defeated that person."
"Will that stop the war?"
"I will also head to the northern fortress. As a member of the moderates, I will call upon the Jinkyo Tribe's forces. Prince Zeng has fallen."
"...Is that so?"
My goal is to stop the Jinkyo Tribe's invasion.
Zeng Taiga's head... I don't really care.
Rather, it's the first time I've dealt a fatal blow to someone. My hands are still shaking.
Maybe, I can't do any more than this... not right now.
I can't rely on others... especially not on Shouou. I don't want to.
Then...
"I understand. I trust you, Tougen-sama."
"Thank you! Kou Tenhou-dono!!"
"""Thank you!!"""
The people of the Jinkyo Tribe, including Tougen, are bowing their heads to the ground.
"As long as we live, we promise not to oppose Kou Tenhou-dono... no, Aika Country! We swear to the God of the Plains. If this vow is broken, Tougen Shimei's body and soul will be shattered, and his spirit will suffer eternal torment in the depths of the earth..."
"Tougen-sama. You don't have to go that far."
"Kou Tenhou-dono is my friend."
Tougen laughed and said,
"My friend listened to our selfish wishes. I will also bet my life on this. The wandering habit... is over now."
Suddenly, in a lonely tone, Tougen continued,
"I will spend my life uniting the Jinkyo Tribe and maintaining peace with Aika Country. That is also one of my vows."
"We too... vow to use this life for peace with Aika Country and to help Kou Tenhou-dono, in front of the God of the Plains!!"
The moderates echoed Tougen's words.
I leaned on Shouou's shoulder to stand up.
The battle at the fortress must still be going on. I have to go stop it.
But my horse was already at its limit.
My 'ki' was running low. I can't run with 'Five Divine Steps' anymore.
"Excuse me. Someone get a horse..."
'Neigh'
──A black horse approached.
It was bigger than the other horses.
The black horse confidently came close to me, nudging me with its nose.
Its dark eyes quietly watched me.
It was the black horse that Zeng Taiga rode.
"...Are you telling me to ride?"
'Neigh. Neigh'
"Is it okay? I was the one who cut down your master──."
'Neighhh!'
I got scolded.
The black horse shook its head as if to say 'I understand.'
It seemed like it was urging me to hurry.
"...Is it really okay? Zeng Taiga?"
I looked over at Zeng Taiga.
His body was already wrapped in cloth.
Zeng Taiga, carried by the moderates, no longer says anything.
'Neighhh!'
"I understand. Let me borrow your back."
Later, I'll have Seirei talk to the black horse.
I want to know why it decided to lend me its strength and what its name is.
But that can wait until after the battle is over.
"Let's go, Shouou. First, we'll meet up with Haku-san, and then... to see Father and Brother!"
"Okay, Tenhou!"
"We'll join you too. The Jinkyo Tribe soldiers will hold them back for us!"
So, Shouou, Tougen, and I started running to stop the fight.
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