Volume 3 Chapter 46 Jinkyo Tribe's Unit Learns Of Their Lord's Death
──Around the Northern Fortress──
"Don't hesitate! Keep shooting arrows!!"
The Jinkyo Tribe's unit was attacking the Aika Country's position.
They were firing arrows to provoke the soldiers of Aika Country.
The elite soldiers' arrows were strong. But Aika Country's defenses were also tough.
On the other side of the surrounding fence, the soldiers were holding wooden shields.
The arrows just stuck into them, but it didn't matter.
The Jinkyo Tribe's goal was to keep the enemy's attention until Prince Zeng arrived.
"...The prince's strength is still useful."
"What did you say, Ko Eison-dono?"
A faint voice made the military commander next to him react.
The military commander was the vice captain of Zeng Taiga. He was also the leader of this unit.
Ko Eison was one of the commanders too, but he was a guest commander.
He wasn't trusted by the soldiers.
That's why Zeng Taiga had placed his own vice captain as an equal commander.
(This guy is skilled, but also annoying.)
Ko Eison muttered silently.
(But he is a useful person. When Zeng Taiga raises the flag again, he will bring soldiers with him.)
To Ko Eison, Zeng Taiga was like a legendary famous sword.
When used, it cuts well.
It can also gather people because of its reputation.
A defeat or 2 is like a scratch on a famous sword. There's no need to worry about it.
If it gets scratched, just give it a name or a legend instead.
For example, the name of defeating the military commander of Aika Country.
Then, it will serve as a famous sword again.
"The arrow battle ends here."
Ko Eison said, looking at the battlefield.
"Let's charge the troops into the enemy position. If we do it right, we might break through the fence."
"Ko Eison-dono!? Our goal is not to draw the enemy's attention..."
"That's exactly why. We need to make them think we are attacking seriously."
"But! That puts our soldiers in too much danger!"
"If they realize our ambush plan, Prince Zeng will be in danger! Don't you understand?!"
The famous sword named Zeng Taiga is still usable.
For Ko Eison, this battle is to show the value of the famous sword.
Even if soldiers from the Jinkyo Tribe become sacrifices, it doesn't matter.
But he can't say that out loud.
"...Then, I will go with the soldiers."
Ko Eison drew his sword.
"We will attack the position with all our strength and draw the enemy's attention. Prince Zeng will arrive soon. If His Royal Highness ambushes from the side──"
"The enemy general's head will be taken, right?"
"Exactly. Will you join us?"
"Of course!!"
The vice captain readied his spear.
"Opening the way for His Royal Highness Zeng is the true calling of a warrior! Let's go!!"
"Ah, His Royal Highness will surely be pleased!!"
Ko Eison and the vice captain spur their horses forward.
The soldiers behind them also start to run.
With a roar, they head towards the position defended by Kou Kairyou.
"──That's the commander──Aim!!"
A young military commander shouted from the enemy lines.
Soldiers from Aika Country readied their bows beyond the fence.
Right after that, a rain of arrows flew towards Ko Eison and the vice captain.
(They're aiming for the commander. Good decision.)
Ko Eison let go of the reins and drew his second sword.
He controlled the horse with his legs while holding both swords up in the air.
(My friend──Shuujaku. Watch this! I will carve out Heaven's Fate!!)
And then──
"Dual Sword Technique──'Whirlwind Fang Claw'!"
The sword technique, filled with 'ki' energy, slashed through the incoming arrows.
Not just one. Two... three. A dozen.
Ko Eison kept swinging his dual swords.
He even cut arrows that were out of reach.
(Did you see that? This is the power of one who has gained Heaven's Fate!!)
Leaving the severed arrows behind, Ko Eison's unit continued to charge forward.
Only a few dozen steps left to the enemy lines.
On the other side of the fence, enemy soldiers readied their spears.
But it didn't matter to Ko Eison.
He planned to turn his horse before reaching the fence.
The soldiers of the Jinkyo Tribe charged forward, showing their breakthrough power.
Their goal of drawing the enemy general's attention should be accomplished.
If they really break through the position, Ko Eison can take Kou Kairyou's head.
He'll give Zeng Taiga the head of the eastern position's general──Gaku Kiryuu.
That way, his fame will rise even more.
Even with one arm, he breaks through the eastern and western positions and disappears to make a comeback as a hero.
That's exactly what Ko Eison's 'true lord' deserves to handle.
"Brave warriors of the Jinkyo Tribe! Break through the formation!! For the glory of the War God!!"
"""Uoooooohhh!!"""
Ko Eison and the soldiers shouted, urging their horses to go faster──at that moment.
"Pull back the troops!! His Royal Highness Zeng has fallen!! Continuing this battle is pointless!!"
The echoing shout stopped everything on the battlefield.
The charging unit of the Jinkyo Tribe.
The soldiers of the western position who were about to intercept the enemy.
What they all looked at was the rocky high ground.
There stood a tall young man.
It was Tougen Shimei, the leader of the Shimei clan.
He is an important figure of the moderate faction in the Jinkyo Tribe.
On his left and right were soldiers of the Jinkyo Tribe.
However, they were not from the moderate faction. Their armor was different.
The armor, made especially strong, belonged to 'Zeng Taiga''s direct unit.
"...Why is someone from Prince Zeng's unit with Tougen?"
Ko Eison understands the reason.
If Tougen's words are true, it's natural for him to be with Zeng Taiga's subordinate.
Zeng Taiga was defeated, and his followers probably surrendered to the moderates.
(But... that can't be true! Zeng Taiga is a war god. He should be the strongest!)
Ko Eison desperately denies Tougen's words.
"His Royal Highness Zeng fought against the unit of Aika Country and lost his life in battle. It was a defeat under honorable circumstances."
But Tougen's words continued.
"Victory and defeat are common in war! There should be no lingering resentment!! Now, let us quietly withdraw our troops and return to our country. And we shall mourn for His Royal Highness!!"
"Don't listen!!"
Without thinking, Ko Eison shouted.
"It's a lie from the moderates! There's no way the war god His Royal Highness Zeng could be defeated!! It's impossible for him to be killed!! They are lying!!"
"B-but, the ones with Tougen are from His Royal Highness Zeng's unit..."
"Armor can be faked!!"
"I... I know those people!!"
"Then it's betrayal!! Don't listen!!"
"Look! This is a relic of His Royal Highness Zeng!!"
It was as if he could hear Ko Eison and the vice captain's voices.
Tougen Shimei raised both arms, showing what he held to everyone around.
The Jinkyo Tribe are people of the grasslands. They have good eyesight.
In their eyes, what Tougen held was clearly visible.
"...The sword of His Royal Highness Zeng and the bracelet, Tougen has."
"...No way."
"...Is it true that His Royal Highness has died?"
"Don't ask!! It's all a lie!! That future is impossible!!"
Ko Eison raised his twin swords and shouted.
The Aika Country's camp was silent.
For them, it must have been an unexpected situation.
Now, if they attack, they could wipe out the Jinkyo Tribe's unit.
But if they strike a mourning army, they would earn the Jinkyo Tribe's hatred.
From now on, the fighting would continue without end.
Then it would be better to let Tougen talk and make the Jinkyo Tribe retreat.
Kou Kairyou must be thinking that way.
(If that's the case, he's too soft. This is a great chance for us to attack.)
Right now, if the whole army charges, they could break through the camp.
They could take Kou Kairyou's head, break through the eastern camp, and defeat Gaku Kiryuu──
(...What will we do after we defeat him?)
A question crossed Ko Eison's mind.
This battle is based on the assumption that Zeng Taiga is alive.
Defeating Kou Kairyou is also to raise Zeng Taiga's name.
Zeng Taiga is dead now, and it means nothing.
"Prince Zeng is not dead!! The bracelet and the sword can be faked! For the moderates who know Prince Zeng well, it's an easy thing!"
So, to deny everything, Ko Eison shouts.
"Can you tell if it's real from this distance!? Can you say it with confidence!? What if His Royal Highness Zeng is still alive!?"
"..."
"The one who led the operation to failure will be punished! Prince Zeng will be furious! 'To be fooled by the enemy's plan is foolish.' Aren't you afraid of the wrath of the War God!?"
"......Ko Eison-dono."
"Follow me, elite warriors of the Jinkyo Tribe! Break through the western position!!"
"Ko Eison-dono!!"
"Shut up! Are you scared too!?"
"His Royal Highness Zeng has... passed away!"
"Impossible!! The sword and bracelet are fake!! The soldiers next to Tougen are traitors..."
"Look over there!!"
The vice captain, with trembling hands, points behind Tougen.
There, they see a horse they know well.
A pitch-black horse. With noble features and a flowing mane.
Its large body has always supported the War God.
Though it has excellent abilities, its temperament is wild, and it only trusted the War God. Only those permitted by the War God could hold its reins.
Once on the battlefield, it would charge like a black whirlwind across a thousand miles.
Leading the Jinkyo Tribe, it was their banner.
The members of the Jinkyo Tribe could never mistake it.
That was Zeng Taiga's beloved horse, 'Sakugetsu.'
"Are you saying that horse is a fake, Ko Eison-dono!? Do you want to claim that we are mistaking the beloved steed of our Prince Zeng, the War God!?"
'Sakugetsu' means new moon.
The horse's body reflected the darkness of a moonless night, and the sight of Prince Zeng riding it was burned into the minds of the Jinkyo Tribe.
They were truly one with the horse.
Prince Zeng and Sakugetsu showed unmatched strength as they led the Jinkyo Tribe.
But now, the reins of Sakugetsu were held by a boy from Aika Country.
He had a pale face, straightened his back, and stared at them intently.
Next to him was another boy, looking worried, supporting the boy holding the reins.
Such a scene was impossible.
It should be unthinkable for Prince Zeng to let someone from Aika Country take the reins of Sakugetsu, or for Sakugetsu to allow it.
"...Something that shouldn't happen is happening."
The vice captain's words might have expressed the feelings of everyone present.
Soon, the members of the Jinkyo Tribe began to drop their weapons.
They knelt on the ground and spoke words of mourning for the War God Zeng Taiga.
──The sight of Zeng Taiga's beloved horse allowing a boy from Aika Country to take the reins.
It clearly showed that Zeng Taiga was no longer in this world.
"Let's retreat. No... maybe we should call for a ceasefire with the people of Aika Country."
The vice captain said.
"We can no longer fight. We have been defeated..."
"──That's ridiculous!!"
"The war is over... As Tougen Shimei said, right now... we should mourn for the war god, His Royal Highness Zeng..."
The war is over. They can't fight anymore.
The vice captain's words are true.
All the soldiers have stopped moving.
The cavalry dismounts, and the infantry drops their weapons, just sitting there in shock.
Those here are the ones who followed Prince Zeng until the end.
The shock of losing him must be great.
"It is the duty of a commander. I will offer my head in exchange for the soldiers' lives. If the moderate Tougen stands between us and Aika Country, it might not turn out badly."
Saying this, the vice captain placed his hand on his own neck.
"It is our responsibility. Let's go, Ko Eison-dono."
"...Guh!!"
It happened in an instant.
The vice captain's wrist, reaching out toward Ko Eison, fell.
When the vice captain opened his eyes wide, Ko Eison's horse was already running away.
The Jinkyo Tribe soldiers couldn't react to such a sudden event.
No one expected the prince's aide to run away like this.
A few seconds later, blood gushed from the vice captain's severed wrist.
The soldiers hurriedly ran to the vice captain. By that time, Ko Eison had already broken away from the group.
He must have cut the vice captain's hand to shock the soldiers.
That's why they couldn't stop Ko Eison.
Several soldiers stood in his way.
But they couldn't stop Ko Eison.
Every time his twin swords moved, soldiers screamed and fell.
"──Capture that man!! Don't let him escape!!"
Tougen Shimei shouted from the rocky area.
But Ko Eison broke through the encirclement and moved away from the unit.
A boy from Aika Country──the one holding the reins of the Sakugetsu──tried to run.
After taking a few steps, he fell to his knees.
It seemed he had reached his physical limit and collapsed. A boy next to him, pale-faced, supported him.
They must have tried to stop Ko Eison.
But the distance was too great. The boys were also at their limit.
Their hands couldn't reach Ko Eison.
Still, they managed to stop the fight.
The soldiers of the Jinkyo Tribe dropped their weapons, and the injured vice captain of the Jinkyo Tribe moved toward Aika Country's territory.
The vice captain spoke to the commander of the western territory, Kou Kairyou.
"I surrender. With my life, I ask for the mercy of my subordinates."
Hearing those words, Kou Kairyou appeared in front of the territory.
Tougen also came down from the rocky mountain to join the two.
They gathered to discuss the ceasefire and what would happen next.
This was to announce the death of Zeng Taiga, which had continued to disrupt the borders──
Aika Country and the Jinkyo Tribe took the first step to make a peace agreement.
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