Volume 4 Chapter 2 The Great Villain Of The World, Returns To His Master
"I'm back. Master Raikou."
"I've been waiting. Welcome back, Tenhou."
After finishing my report at the royal palace, I visited Master Raikou's lodging.
In the lodging were only Master Raikou and Shouou.
Shuu-sensei should be at my place, reuniting with Touri.
"You really did well, Tenhou."
Master Raikou placed hrt hand on my shoulder and smiled.
"I'm proud of you. You became the liaison officer for the moderate faction of the Jinkyo Tribe, just as I asked. No... it's more than that. You acted as a mediator for peace between Aika Country and the Jinkyo Tribe."
"No, it's thanks to your guidance, Master."
"This is your own virtue. I only taught you martial arts."
Master Raikou chuckled wryly.
"However, I have to scold you for fighting the enemy general one-on-one... even if there was no other choice. As your master, I must say you shouldn't take such reckless actions."
"Yes, Master."
"But... the reason you had to fight one-on-one is because I was inadequate. I should have gone north with you... I should have fought Zeng Taiga in your place. It was my responsibility that you had to take such risks."
"No! The ones to blame are the poison arrow user and that assassin!"
"Ah, I understand that you say that. That's why my feelings are complicated."
"...Master."
"I truly feel proud of you, but I want to scold you for being reckless. However, the reason you had to be reckless is my responsibility. My feelings are complicated. But you see──."
Master Raikou clapped her hands to change the mood.
"I'll think about the difficult stuff later. For now, let's celebrate that you and Kaou came back safely! Thank you for returning safely, Tenhou, Kaou."
"Yes, Master Raikou!"
"It's thanks to Master Raikou's guidance and Tenhou!"
Shouou and I clasped hands with Master Raikou together.
Then, I looked down at Master Raikou's leg.
"By the way, Master, is your poison arrow wound okay?"
"Not a problem at all. Yokumai (younger disciple) is being dramatic."
Master Raikou, sitting in a chair, waved her bandaged leg.
"Well, I've been told to take it easy for another month. She said I should avoid running and jumping. Ugh... my body is getting lazy."
"It's for healing. Please be patient."
It was Shouou who spoke up.
"Master promised to leave the treatment of the 'martial artist killer' poison to Shuu-sensei. I was also told to keep an eye on you to make sure you stay calm. If anything happens, I should call Shuu-sensei."
"I understand. I will behave. I can't cause any more trouble for my disciples."
Master Raikou sighed.
"Really, I still need more training. I misjudged the type of poison I was hit with, and I caused trouble for Yokumai and the others. I even let Tenhou and Kaou handle defeating the poison user enemy."
"That was thanks to your guidance, Master."
That's true.
The reason I was able to defeat the poison arrow user, Yagaru, was because Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei taught me the 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' technique. Because I could use that technique, I was able to pinpoint Yagaru's location.
If it weren't for that, both Shouou and I might have been hit by his poison arrows.
"Thanks to Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei teaching me the 'chaos technique,' I was able to fight the poison arrow user."
"Tenhou also defeated the assassin and the prince of the Jinkyo Tribe, right?"
"Ah, yes. I have a question for Master Raikou about that."
I talked about my battle with Zeng Taiga.
"When I faced Zeng Taiga in a one-on-one fight... for a moment, it felt like time slowed down."
At that moment, I was able to weave between the legs of the black horse──'Sakugetsu' as it charged at me.
I read Zeng Taiga's movements and dodged his attack.
That was the first time I experienced something like that.
Honestly, even if I were asked to do it again, I definitely couldn't.
"Maybe I used the 'Konton technique' second form, 'Shapeless Defense'."
"'Shapeless Defense' is the ultimate defensive technique, right?"
"Yes."
"When you felt time slowing down, what was Tenhou like?"
"I was focusing all my awareness on 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection' I think I used up a lot of 'ki' too."
At that time, I was close to my limit.
I was using a lot of 'ki' to dodge Zeng Taiga's attacks.
I was also bleeding from a wound on my leg.
I gathered the remaining 'ki' and used 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.'
"I was desperate. Then suddenly, my vision changed... I could see Zeng Taiga's movements. Maybe 'Shapeless Defense' only activates when the user is at their limit. So..."
I bowed to Master Raikou and Shouou.
"I have a request for you, Master and Shikei. Could you please train me in a real combat style?"
"Is that to fight against the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' organization?"
Master looked at me seriously.
I had already told Ryougen-kun about the 'Golden Feather Syndicate.'
After leaving the palace hall, I got a little time to meet.
During that time, I talked about the incident as well.
There is a mysterious organization called the 'Golden Feather Syndicate.'
They believe in a prophecy that says, "Aika Country will be destroyed."
To make that prophecy come true, they might have pushed Zeng Taiga to attack. This could be one of the reasons why Zeng Taiga invaded Aika Country.
After Zeng Taiga was defeated, members of the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' escaped.
And── I want to catch them.
If possible, I want to be the one to do it.
──I told Ryougen-kun about this.
Ryougen-kun didn't seem surprised.
He probably heard some information from Tanshi-san.
'I understand how you feel. I will consider it.'
Ryougen-kun said that and nodded.
After our talk, I went home for a bit, then came to see my master.
In that time, my master must have heard from Ryougen-kun.
"I've heard that the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' has users of the 'Four Fiends' techniques. Are you in a hurry to learn the 'chaos techniques' to fight against them?"
"Yes. Because of them... many people have suffered. I can't let this happen again. I want to stop them."
"That's not something only Tenhou should bear."
It was Shouou who said that.
"Tenhou's enemy is my enemy. I'm Tenhou's friend, you know. You can't just rush ahead alone."
"But..."
"Listen, Tenhou."
"Yes. Shouou... I mean, Kaou-shikei."
"Do you know how I felt when you fought Zeng Taiga one-on-one?"
Shouou was staring at me intensely.
"I told you many times during our journey back, right? I said I felt like I was living in fear, didn't I? And yet..."
"Um, I did apologize properly, right...?"
"...Are you really reflecting on this?"
Um, Shouou, your smile is kind of scary.
"Because Tenhou, you came back and immediately tried to learn a new martial art by yourself, right? That means you're trying to fight the enemy alone, doesn't it? You're planning to go to a dangerous place without me, right?"
"...Um, Shikei. That's──."
"Yeah. Kaou is right."
Master said that and nodded.
It seemed like there were no allies for me here.
"Tenhou. I understand that you had to fight Zeng Taiga. So, I can't scold you for that. That's clear, right?"
"Y-yes."
"But... it's something I don't want to think about, but... if you had been killed by Zeng Taiga, I would have lost both of my disciples. Because of my weakness... if I had been hit by a poisoned arrow, I would have lost 2 important disciples. If that had happened, I would have had to cut off these arms to apologize to your families. Of course, I would have given up martial arts too."
"Um, Master."
"What is it?"
"If I get killed by Zeng Taiga, wouldn't you just lose one disciple...?"
"Do you really think Kaou would forgive Zeng Taiga for killing you?"
"...Ah."
"See, you really didn't understand."
Shouou glared at me from the side.
Noticing that, I could only lower my head.
Shouou and I are friends. Friends mean 'friends who live and die together.'
Shouou would never forgive Zeng Taiga for killing me.
If I had been killed by Zeng Taiga, Shouou would have attacked him without hesitation.
But Zeng Taiga is stronger than Shouou.
Especially if I were killed, Shouou would lose control.
In that state, there's no way Shouou could win against Zeng Taiga...
As a result, Master Raikou would lose 2 disciples... that's how it is.
"Tenhou, what you carry is not just your own life."
Master Raikou placed a hand on my shoulder and looked at me seriously.
"Don't forget that there are many people who care about you, like me, your senior Kaou, and your family. Got it?"
"Y-Yes..."
"And also, Ryougen-kun is thinking about how to deal with the Golden Feather Syndicate. That organization is not just your enemy. It's an enemy of Aika Country. I was traveling to catch the tail of that organization in the first place."
Now that I think about it, that's true.
Master Raikou was trying to catch the people spreading the rumor that 'Aika Country will fall.'
On the way, Master Raikou protected Suuki Taiga and shielded them from their pursuers.
As a result, she ended up getting hit by a poisoned arrow.
So, the Golden Feather Syndicate is also an enemy of Master Raikou.
"Listen. You don't need to push yourself too hard. It's unreasonable to jump into real combat training right after just coming back, don't you think? You're too focused on that organization. If you do that, your vision will narrow, and you won't see what's in front of you, okay?"
"...Yes. Master. I'm sorry."
Master Raikou is right.
I might have been rushing things a bit.
I've already involved Ryougen-kun in dealing with the 'Golden Feather Syndicate.' Yet, thinking I could master 'Shapeless Defense' right now to stop them is just too much.
I clasped my hands together and turned to Shouou.
"I'm sorry too, Shikei. I should have thought more about your feelings."
"Uh, yeah. It's fine if you understand."
"Yes. Thank you, Shikei."
"And Tenhou, are you really in a state to do real combat training right now?"
"Huh?"
"You used up your 'ki' in that one-on-one fight with Zeng Taiga, right? You said you would have Shuu-sensei check your meridian condition when you got back to Hokurin."
"That's true, but... I already had Touri-san check me out."
"Even so, you should wait until Shuu-sensei examines you before training."
"Kaou is right. Tenhou, show me your hand."
Master reached out to me.
When I offered my hand, she placed her finger on my wrist and closed her eyes.
Then, for a while, she seemed to be listening carefully──
"I don't think there's a problem... but it feels like your 'ki' is recovering slowly, considering how much time has passed since the fight. You should definitely see Yokumai."
"Okay. I'll go get Shuu-sensei."
Saying that, Shouou bowed.
She quickly walked toward the exit of the dormitory.
"I want Shuu-sensei and Touri-san to take their time, though..."
"Being considerate is one of your strengths. But you're forgetting something important."
Master Raikou smiled slyly.
"When Yokumai and Touri-kun meet again, who do you think they'll talk about first? Why haven't they shown their faces to me yet? Maybe someone is waiting for them to leave the palace?"
"...Does that mean──."
"It didn't even take long to get to the dormitory!"
Shouou, who had left the room, quickly returned.
"Shuu-sensei and Touri-san are already in front of the dormitory."
...Huh?
Why does Shouou have that "See?" look on her face?
"I heard from Ryougen-kun that Tenhou left the palace. So we came here right away──."
"I knew it!"
"Right?"
Looking at each other and nodding, Master Raikou and Shouou.
"Come in, Yokumai, Touri-kun. Tenhou is here."
Master Raikou called them with a voice full of 'ki' energy.
Then she looked at me with a cheerful expression and said,
"Get ready, Tenhou. You will be thoroughly examined by Yokumai. There's no escaping this. Think of it as a punishment for worrying me and Kaou. I was really worried when I heard about the one-on-one fight, you know?"
"Yes, Master. This Sui Kaou also agrees with you!"
Shouou held my hand tightly, as if to say he wouldn't let me escape.
So, I was about to receive a thorough examination from Shuu-sensei and Touri.
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