Volume 4 Chapter 21 Kou Tenhou, Entrusted
──Tenhou's Perspective──
Crown Prince Rouen was quietly listening to the report.
He didn't raise his voice or show any anger.
We were in one of the military offices in Toukaku of Eastern Town.
Usually, this place is used by Ri Kai-san's direct unit.
Now, Crown Prince Rouen was sitting in the chair where Ri Kai-san usually sits.
In the room, besides Crown Prince Rouen, there were me, Heki Nei-san, and Ri Kai-san.
Behind Crown Prince Rouen were Kei Koshou-san and Han Kei-san from the Wolf Cavalry. They were his bodyguards.
By the way, Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei were waiting in another room.
Since this was related to the internal matters of the Chou Family, it was decided that Crown Prince Rouen and his close aides would hear the story first.
Ri Kai-san had been bowing the whole time.
The ropes that had bound him were now untied.
Crown Prince Rouen wanted it that way.
'If he is still bound, he cannot speak his mind.'
'He should not be treated as a criminal before we even hear him out.'
'First, let him tell everything. After that, we will decide if he is guilty or not.'
──Those were Crown Prince Rouen's words.
So neither I nor Heki Nei-san interrupted.
Actually, Heki Nei-san was really moved.
"...I should have reported directly to Your Royal Highness sooner."
Heki Nei-san was murmuring that next to me.
It seems that Crown Prince Rouen might have become a different person from the King Rouen in the game 'History of Swordmaster.'
I don't know what changed Crown Prince Rouen, but the current Crown Prince Rouen is trustworthy.
He is moving Heki Nei-san with his words.
I think that's really amazing.
"──Captain of the defense, Ri Kai. I understand your story well."
After listening to Ri Kai-san's report, Crown Prince Rouen spoke.
"Chou Shoukatsu was connected to an armed group. They were leaking information about soldiers and the town. These are unforgivable crimes. And... Heki Nei of the 'Six-Person Unit.'"
"Y-Yes. Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Your anger over the murder of your sister and her husband is understandable. If this Rouen lost someone important like Yuuri-neesan... I would surely forget myself in rage. While holding such anger, you have been protecting Toukaku, which is commendable."
"That's too kind of you!"
"This Rouen promises to bring justice to the Chou Family."
Crown Prince Rouen declared while looking at Heki Nei-san.
Heki Nei-san knelt on the floor and bowed deeply.
I also knelt on the floor in the same way.
"I will not leave the armed group alone. I will quickly move the troops and eliminate them."
"...Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, may I speak?"
Suddenly, Ri Kai-san raised his voice.
"The crime of hiding my connection with the armed group deserves the worst punishment. Please, in any way possible..."
"You will atone for your crime through your achievements."
Crown Prince Rouen's response was brief.
"Ryougen-kun──no, my uncle would say that."
"But, Your Royal Highness, I fear that others will not accept that..."
"Then, I will question your crime after everything is over."
"...After everything is over, you say?"
"First, identify those closely related to the Chou Family and bring them before me. I will personally hear their stories. I will question your crime after you have completed all your tasks."
"...Understood! I swear to follow what Your Royal Highness says!"
Ri Kai-san pressed his forehead to the floor.
Maybe he was moved.
I was surprised too.
I didn't think Crown Prince Rouen would execute Ri Kai-san.
But I never expected him to say, 'You can atone for your sins through your achievements.'
So, Crown Prince Rouen has really changed.
If this person becomes king... we might completely avoid the Aika Country Destruction ending.
If that's the case... what I should do is support Crown Prince Rouen.
I don't need to step into the spotlight.
I'll support Crown Prince Rouen and Heki Nei-san to quickly capture the armed group.
That way, Ri Kai-san's punishment should be lighter.
I don't know if Ri Kai-san can continue as captain of the defense, but... he will probably keep some position. Maybe Heki Nei-san will be captain of the defense, and Ri Kai-san will be the support.
That would be the best outcome, right?
If Heki Nei-san becomes captain of the defense for Toukaku, it will completely change the route from the game 'History of Swordmaster.' Heki Nei-san won't be able to take down Toukaku.
I──Kou Tenhou──shouldn't burn Toukaku to the ground either.
Alright. Let's go with that.
First, I think we should share what I've noticed with everyone.
"──If I may, Your Royal Highness Rouen."
With my mind made up, I called out to Crown Prince Rouen.
"I have something to report about the armed group. May I speak frankly?"
"You're Kairyou's brother, right? Fine. Go ahead."
"Thank you very much."
I bowed my head to the floor before speaking.
"When I fought the suspicious person, there were a few enemies outside Toukaku's barrier. I believe there were about 5 of them. Two were archers, and the other 3 were something else. I couldn't tell their genders."
I learned this from the effect of 'Mirror of Shadows Reflection.'
When they shot arrows at the barrier, I felt a strong killing intent. That was for two of them.
I also sensed the presence of 3 others.
I've already shared this information with Heki Nei-san and Ri Kai-san.
However, I wanted to tell Crown Prince Rouen directly as well.
"In other words, there was one suspicious person, and about 5 others assisting them. I believe there were around 6 people at that location."
"I understand. Since they came all the way to Toukaku, they might be the key members of the armed group."
"You're right."
"Kairyou's brother, you found the cave that the armed group was using as their base, correct?"
"Yes. There were some leftover items there."
"I see. But the place was completely empty..."
"That's right. I think they probably escaped to the southwest."
"...What?"
"There were horse tracks left behind."
The horse tracks were found by the black horse 'Sakugetsu.'
He was leading his subordinate horses in battle for the Jinkyo Tribe. It seems he always paid attention to whether his subordinates were following or moving as planned.
Because of that, he probably became more aware of his companions' tracks.
It's possible that the suspicious people left fake tracks to trick us, but... I think that chance is low.
They left behind some belongings. They probably hurried to retreat. It makes more sense to think they didn't have time to erase their tracks.
"Southwest. The problem is where they went after that."
"Yes. So, I plan to borrow the wisdom of someone."
"...What do you mean?"
"They were using a special martial art. I know someone who is familiar with that martial art. That person might know where they could be hiding."
That person is, of course, Master Raikou.
The person who taught the suspicious people martial arts is likely someone from the same school as Master Gyoun.
If that's the case, Master Gyoun and that person must have trained in the same place.
Master Raikou might know that training ground.
After Master Gyoun injured someone from his school, he abandoned martial arts and disappeared into the mountains.
This means that the training ground was no longer used after that.
It's possible that the enemy is using the training ground that Master Gyoun left behind as their base.
The person from my group has been made unable to recover by Master Gyoun. They probably have a hard time moving.
If someone like that is going to teach martial arts, they would likely choose a familiar place.
In other words──
"I think the martial arts training ground in the southwest direction is likely the base of the armed group."
This is just a guess.
But even if I'm wrong, it doesn't really matter. I'll just be embarrassed.
With all the fuss about the Chou Family right now, my embarrassment is probably just a minor detail.
I can't ignore the armed group 'Hidden Five Gods.'
I need to find their location as quickly as possible and catch them.
Also... there's something that bothers me.
The members of the armed group were able to move freely in Toukaku.
They could gather information all over town without any restrictions.
It's possible that this information was passed on to others.
──For example, to the Golden Feather Syndicate.
I've been curious about this for a long time.
How did the Golden Feather Syndicate get information about Aika Country?
Previously, when Crown Prince Rouen and Kairyou-aniue were protecting the people in the north, Zeng Taiga attacked them at just the right moment.
How did they get such detailed information?
Maybe the armed groups are connected, and information was flowing from 'Hidden Five Gods' to the Golden Feather Syndicate.
For now, this is also just a guess.
I won't know the truth until I capture the 'Hidden Five Gods.'
Anyway, I need to find their location with all my strength right now.
I've provided the information for that.
Now, it's up to Crown Prince Rouen to decide how to respond──
"──Lift your head, Kou Tenhou."
After a while, Crown Prince Rouen said.
I raised my head from the floor.
I could see Crown Prince Rouen, who had been sitting in a chair, standing up.
"I understand your thoughts. I can accept them. I will conduct an investigation into the armed group as you suggested."
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"However, I, Rouen, must return to Hokurin."
Crown Prince Rouen looked around at us and said that.
"After I gather testimonies from the soldiers, I must return to Hokurin immediately and settle things with the Chou Family. My battlefield is not in Toukaku, but in Hokurin."
"Understood."
I bowed again.
"We will continue the investigation into the armed group. I promise to do my best to provide a good report to Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"I understand your intentions. I, Rouen, will respond accordingly."
Saying that, Crown Prince Rouen reached for his waist.
"Han Kei, and Kei Koshou. Do you have any opinions?"
"I have none."
"I leave the decision to Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Han Kei-san and Kei Koshou-san, who were standing by the wall, replied.
"Is that alright with you, Ri Kai and Heki Nei?"
"Y-yes. Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Whatever Your Royal Highness Rouen wishes."
Next to me, Ri Kai-san and Heki Nei-san bowed their heads to the floor.
When I tried to do the same, Crown Prince Rouen suddenly shook his head.
Crown Prince Rouen slowly approached me.
His movements were dignified and full of grace.
Crown Prince Rouen stood in front of me, staring intently.
Then, he took out a ring-shaped object from around his waist.
It was a jade ring──what you call a "haigyoku."
Crown Prince Rouen held it out in front of me.
...Wait, why?
"This haigyoku was a gift from my uncle for my birthday. It has a scratch that looks like a wolf on the surface, so he said it suits me, Rouen. At the time, I was angry that they would give a scratched item to the Crown Prince, but now I like it."
Crown Prince Rouen said that.
"If you see the scratch on the jade, you'll know it's mine at a glance. It should also let everyone know that whoever receives this is a representative of Rouen. I will entrust this to Kairyou's younger brother──no, to Kou Tenhou."
"Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
"This Rouen will return to Hokurin. In the meantime, you will conduct the investigation as my representative. Understood?"
...No, this is strange.
I thought I was just supposed to support Heki Nei-san and Ri Kai-san.
Why am I being offered a jade by the Crown Prince?
"Everyone, listen well. Kou Tenhou has repelled the armed group and has now shared his thoughts about their base. His insights should be valued. Therefore, this Rouen will make Kou Tenhou the central figure of the investigation. If anyone has objections, speak up."
"No objections!!"
The first to raise their voice was Heki Nei-san.
"Kou Tenhou-dono is the platoon leader of our 'Six-Person Unit.' If he leads the troops of Toukaku, it is our duty as subordinates to assist him with all our strength!"
"This Ri Kai will also follow Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Ri Kai-san agrees too.
Kei Koshou-san and Han Kei-san from the 'Wolf Cavalry' are nodding in satisfaction.
It seems they also have no objections to me becoming the Crown Prince Rouen's representative.
...I guess there's no helping it.
In any case, for the investigation of the 'Hidden Five Gods,' I will need the help of Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei.
It would be better for me to be in a position to lead the troops to make use of their knowledge.
If I step in, it will be easier to convey their opinions to the soldiers.
If I can borrow the power of Crown Prince Rouen to capture the 'Hidden Five Gods', then I will use it.
However, this is the only time I will rely on Crown Prince Rouen's strength. In the game 'History of Swordmaster', Kou Tenhou abused the authority of King Rouen.
I definitely don't want to follow the same path.
This is just a temporary measure until I defeat the 'Hidden Five Gods'.
Let's keep it that way.
"I understand."
I received the ring from Crown Prince Rouen with both hands.
"By the order of Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Kou Tenhou will do everything possible to eliminate the armed organization!"
I declared this while hiding my nervousness.
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