Volume 4 Chapter 22 Kou Tenhou, Raikou, And Gen Shuuyoku, Making A Plan
I never thought I would become the main person in the investigation.
Sure, I was the only one who fought the suspicious person.
After that, I found the cave and made some guesses in front of Crown Prince Rouen.
But... is this really okay?
It's different from leading Heki Nei-san and Shuu-san's 'Six-Person Unit.'
Can I really lead the soldiers of Toukaku?
Well, Crown Prince Rouen did give me the jade for that reason.
He wants me to use his authority to find the base of the suspicious people.
Anyway, I have no choice but to try.
I need to make a solid plan so I don't embarrass Crown Prince Rouen.
Also, I want to return the jade as soon as possible.
I feel like it's dangerous for me and Crown Prince Rouen to get too close.
We might end up in a relationship like in the game 'History of Swordmaster.'
I should finish this job quickly and return the jade.
Thinking about that, I headed to Master Raikou.
"──So, that's why I'm going to be the one leading the investigation of the 'Hidden Five Gods.'."
This is one of the mansions in Toukaku.
In that room, I was facing Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei.
Next to me was Touri.
She probably wanted to meet Shuu-sensei too, so I had her join us.
"I would like to ask for your help with this. Please lend us your strength."
"No, no, that way of saying it is strange, Tenhou."
Master Raikou waved his hand with a wry smile.
"We came here to investigate the 'Hidden Five Gods,' right? And His Royal Highness the Crown Prince made you the key person in this investigation, didn't he? So, that means we are your subordinates, doesn't it?"
"No matter what my position is, a master is still a master."
"Well, that's true."
"And... people change when they have power."
I stared at my master and said,
"I might accidentally think 'I'm important' and neglect my master. To prevent that, I want you to keep an eye on me. I don't want to get arrogant and go down the wrong path."
"I can't believe Tenhou would get arrogant!?"
"But, there's always a chance, right?"
"Is that something you should say with such a serious face!?"
"So, please cooperate with me, Master Raikou!"
"Okay, okay, just stop with those desperate eyes. You're overthinking it. You can be a bit softer...?"
"So, my senior disciple and I will be your advisors, right?"
It was Shuu-sensei who spoke up.
"My senior sister and I have come here with Ryougen-kun's permission. Ryougen-kun is the Prime Minister of Aika Country, so we can help His Royal Highness Rouen as equals. Similarly, we should become equal advisors and consultants to Kou Tenhou. That's what you want to say, right?"
"Yes. That's about the gist of it."
"I see. I understand how Tenhou feels."
Shuu-sensei nodded as if he agreed.
"You keep changing your position. Just when you thought you were appointed as the Vice Captain of Toukaku's defense, now you're the head of the 'Hidden Five Gods' investigation. Plus, you've been entrusted with a jade from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. It's only natural to feel confused if you make me and your senior sister your subordinates. So, you want us to be equal advisors, right?"
"Ah... I see what you mean."
Master Raikou sighed.
"Okay. I understand. Yokumai and I will support Tenhou as advisors."
"Thank you, Master Raikou. Shuu-sensei."
If those 2 become my advisors, I can relax.
I──Kou Tenhou──prefer not to hold too much power.
Crown Prince Rouen's representative, Kou Tenhou, along with Ryougen-kun's representative, Master Raikou, and Shuu-sensei, want to work together to handle the situation... I want it to be like that.
That way, my presence will be less noticeable.
"Now then, I would like to ask Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei again."
I straightened my posture and faced the two of them.
Then I told them that I found the 'Hidden Five Gods' relics in a cave south of Toukaku.
There were horse tracks leading southwest from the cave.
And then──
"I think a martial artist from Master Gyoun's dojo is involved with the suspicious person. That person is──"
"Bakkai."
Master Raikou said.
"The woman from Master Gyoun's dojo is named Bakkai."
"I understand."
I clasped my hands together in front of my master and said,
"If Bakkai-san is the leader of the suspicious person, then they might be using Master Gyoun and Bakkai-san's training grounds as their base. Do you have any idea where such a place might be?"
"...Well, yes."
Master Raikou thought for a moment and then said,
"If it's southwest of Toukaku... I have 2 places in mind."
"Really!?"
"Yeah. One place is where Master Gyoun and Bakkai have been using as a training ground for a long time. The other place is where Master Gyoun defeated Bakkai."
During Master Raikou's training days, it is said that Master Gyoun once talked about a certain place.
The first time, she shared happy memories.
The second time, she spoke with painful regret.
Master Gyoun and Bakkai's training ground was a small cabin in a certain forest.
There, the two of them continued their training, following the teachings of their late master.
Master Gyoun defeated Bakkai near a waterfall on the mountain.
While training to increase his 'ki', Bakkai suddenly attacked Master Gyoun.
Focused on his guidance, Master Gyoun instinctively deflected Bakkai's attack and countered.
Unconsciously activated... the technique without holding back, Bakkai was slammed against the rock wall.
Her arms and legs were broken, and she was in terrible condition.
Coming to his senses, Master Gyoun tried to help Bakkai. However, she refused.
Bakkai jumped into the waterfall pool with her injured body and disappeared from Master Gyoun's sight, clinging to a piece of driftwood.
Since then, Master Gyoun has not seen Bakkai.
He searched downstream, but he could not find her.
After leaving Bakkai unable to recover, Master Gyoun decided to give up martial arts.
Still, he took Master Raikou as a disciple to pass on the 'Five Divine Swordsmanship' and 'Five Divine Steps' to future generations.
Later, after Master Raikou learned all the techniques, Master Gyoun abandoned martial arts.
He learned medical techniques, and after mastering them, he met Shuu-sensei.
After teaching Shuu-sensei about medicine, he went into the mountains to become a hermit.
"I think the enemy's base is the training ground in the forest."
After finishing her explanation, Master Raikou said.
"That place was where the two of them trained. It's perfect for Bakkai to teach her disciples. Plus, it's hard to believe that the physically weak Bakkai would use the mountain facilities."
"You're right, sister disciple. But... there could be unexpected situations."
Shuu-sensei said.
"We should be extra careful. We should send troops to the mountain facilities as well. The enemy might be split into 2 locations. If they are communicating with smoke signals or something, while we attack one place, others might escape."
"That's true. Yokumai is right."
"The enemy has infiltrated Toukaku and must have gathered various information. If we let them escape now, it will leave a future problem. We should cut off the root of the disaster all at once."
"...I see."
"I understand the discussion."
At the moment when Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei's conversation paused, I spoke up.
"We need to secure both the forest training ground and the mountain facilities at the same time."
"That's right. But the main target is probably the forest training ground."
Master Raikou nodded seriously.
"If Bakkai is there, I have to settle things myself."
"Tenhou. I'm going with senior disciple. She's not at her best yet, so as a doctor, I should be with her. Also..."
Shuu-sensei hesitated.
I understood what she wanted to say.
Master Raikou still had the effects of the 'martial artist killer' poison lingering.
Right now, Master Raikou couldn't use the 'Five Divine Steps' in its complete form.
So, Master Raikou shouldn't go to the mountain.
The 'Five Divine Steps' would be necessary to fight in the mountains.
If the opponent was an average martial artist, Master Raikou could easily defeat them now.
But the opponent was from the 'Hidden Five Gods'──a user of a similar technique to the 'Five Divine Swordsmanship.'
It would be better to avoid fighting them in an unfavorable location.
Of course, it wouldn't just be Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei going.
The soldiers from Toukaku would also accompany them.
Still, Master Raikou's strength would be needed in the fight against the Bakukai.
We should fight in the most advantageous situation possible.
So, I wanted Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei to go to the training ground in the forest.
That meant──
"I'll go to the mountain training ground."
"...Tenhou."
"Don't worry. I'm not going alone."
If we went to the mountain with a large group, we wouldn't be able to move freely.
It would be a small elite group, including Heki Nei-san.
And it would be better to have me, who can use the 'Five Divine Steps,' in the mountains.
The main training ground would be with Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei.
There are me and the 'Six-Person Unit' at the mountain facility, where it's unclear if there are any enemies.
I think this is the best option.
"Let's trust Tenhou. Sister Disciple."
"...Yokumai."
"Of course, we'll assign an assistant to Tenhou. Right, Touri?"
Suddenly, Shuu-sensei turned her gaze towards Touri.
Touri, who was standing next to me, nodded.
Shuu-sensei continued.
"We, mother and daughter, owe a debt of gratitude to Tenhou. It was Tenhou who found us, and thanks to Tenhou and Ouka, Seirei-kun participating in the secret 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique,' Touri's body was healed. That's why..."
"It's okay, Mother."
Touri bowed to Shuu-sensei and then to me.
"Touri's body has fully recovered. Since the day I could move freely, I have never missed a day of practicing the technique of Pressure Point Technique──'Finger Control Art.' Touri will protect Tenhou-sama with this body."
"Well said, Touri."
"Touri's life is something that was given to me by Tenhou-sama. Also... anything related to Gyoun-sama is also Touri's problem."
"That's right. The problem of the 'Hidden Five Gods' is something we... the successors of Master Gyoun's teachings must solve."
Shuu-sensei nodded.
Master Raikou clenched her fist,
Touri looked at me and nodded.
Master Raikou, Shuu-sensei, me, Touri, Shouou, and Seirei all follow the teachings of Master Gyoun.
'Beast Body Guidance' 'Heaven-Earth Guidance Technique' 'Five Divine Steps' 'Five Divine Swordsmanship'──and the medical skills that Shuu-sensei learned.
Even though what we inherited is different, we are all disciples and grand-disciples of Master Gyoun.
And Bakkai and the 'Hidden Five Gods' are like the 'regrets' left by Master Gyoun.
It's only natural that we would do our best to resolve this.
Also... if we capture them, I should be able to avoid the fate of burning Toukaku.
That should also help me avoid the Destruction ending.
"I understand. I will go to the mountain facility with you, Touri-san."
I clasped hands with Master Raikou, Shuu-sensei, and Touri.
"Master Raikou and Shuu-sensei, please work with the soldiers at the main... training ground in the forest. Let's join forces to stop the 'Hidden Five Gods'."
And so, we began our operation.
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