Volume 2 Chapter 23 The Great Villain Of The World, Becomes An Official Messenger To The Foreign Tribe Vi
──Tenhou's Perspective──
"...Did it somehow go well?"
I feel like I crossed a pretty dangerous bridge.
Well, I didn't come up with the plan, though.
A few days ago, after we drove back the Jinkyo Tribe's pursuit team, Shuu-sensei interrogated the enemy soldier.
The enemy soldier was scared of Shuu-sensei.
I can't blame him. During the battle, the enemy soldier had been hit one after another by Shuu-sensei's Pressure Point Technique. There are probably people who don't know about a technique that can numb your body just by hitting pressure points on your arms and legs.
To the enemy soldier, it must have looked like some kind of suspicious sorcery.
The terrified enemy soldier honestly shared what he knew.
──The number of soldiers occupying the fortress.
──The building where the hostages are locked up.
And, the location of the user of the 'Four Fiends Technique.'
After hearing this, Tanshi-san and Gaku Kiryuu decided to head to the fortress.
But attacking the fortress head-on is too risky.
So, I suggested something.
'I'll disguise myself as a member of the Jinkyo Tribe and sneak into the fortress.'
──I said.
The 'Four Fiends Technique' can't be ignored.
Plus, if I use the 'Five Divine Steps,' I can probably get over the fortress walls.
If I wear the Jinkyo Tribe's armor and helmet, I can manage even if I get caught.
I proposed that I would sneak in and open the gate from the inside...
...Well, it got rejected, though.
Tanshi-san said, "I can't let Tenhou do something so dangerous!"
Shuu-sensei replied, "Then I should go."
Shouou got really mad and said, "You told Shuu-sensei not to do anything reckless, so why are you being reckless yourself!"
Even Gaku Kiryuu from the Bokou Tribe calmly pointed out, "With your build, isn't adult armor too big for you?" Honestly, it was embarrassing.
Moreover, after hearing my opinion, Tanshi-san, Shuu-sensei, and Gaku Kiryuu all looked deep in thought. Maybe they were shocked by what I said.
Then, after the adults talked it over──
For some reason, the soldiers from Aika Country were going to disguise themselves as soldiers from the Jinkyo Tribe.
Gaku Kiryuu and the others would pretend to be prisoners.
They would tie ropes around their necks and hands, but it would be easy to untie.
In that disguise, they would get close to the fortress and make the guards open the gate.
Once the gate was open, Gaku Kiryuu and the others would grab their weapons and charge into the enemy camp.
That was the plan decided by Shuu-sensei and the others.
The fortress is at the foot of a mountain. It's on the west side. The sun sets early.
If we approach at twilight, it will be hard to tell people apart. The watch soldiers will be easier to fool.
The chances of success were quite high.
My and Shouou's job is to rescue the hostages.
'Five Divine Steps' allows us to climb the outer walls of a building using the footholds. We can sneak in from the upper floors without the enemy noticing.
Meanwhile, Gaku Kiryuu's team will keep the enemy distracted.
We will take down the guards and free the hostages.
That was the plan for this operation.
And now, we are inside the tower.
The prison doors are open, and all the hostages are coming out.
All that's left is to get down to the ground and join up with our allies.
"Let's hurry and get out of here. I'm worried about Shuu-sensei."
"Yeah, I don't think she'll do anything reckless, but..."
Shouou and I exchanged glances and nodded.
Shuu-sensei is acting separately to stop the user of the 'Four Fiends Technique.'
The uncertain factor in this operation was the user of the 'Four Fiends Technique.'
We needed to keep them from moving until we rescued the hostages.
Shuu-sensei volunteered for that role.
Right now, she should be breaking into the building where the user of the 'Four Fiends Technique' is located, along with the soldiers.
I actually intended to go myself, but that was rejected.
The user of the 'Four Fiends Technique' is Shuu-sensei's arch-nemesis.
It seemed Shuu-sensei had no intention of giving up the chance to confront them.
"Shuu-sensei said, 'I won't fight directly. I'll just buy time.' We have to trust that."
"I understand. Shikei."
I nodded and looked over at the hostages.
Everyone is women and children.
In the center is Nona Kiryuu. She is the daughter of Gaku Kiryuu.
It seems she was calming everyone down as the leader. Impressive.
"The Gaku Kiryuu-san group should be outside the tower. We need to leave here."
"Wait!!"
Suddenly, Nona Kiryuu raised her voice.
"There's one person who was moved to a different tower. We have to help that person..."
"...Huh?"
Is there a mistake in the information?
All the hostages should be trapped in this tower...
"This morning, that person was moved to the next tower. It's the chief's daughter, Kaine Shurt-sama! We can't leave her behind."
"The chief's daughter!?"
"The Jinkyo Tribe separated Kaine and us to use us as hostages against each other. To get information about that book... no, something specific. That's why only Kaine was moved to a different place..."
That book──the secret manual of the 'Four Fiends Technique.'
So, the Jinkyo Tribe separated the hostages to get information about it.
They moved the chief's daughter, who might know something, to isolate her and make her talk. That's the worst tactic. Seriously.
"The tower where the chief's daughter is... is it that one?"
I pointed out the window.
There's a big window in the hallway. From there, I could see a tower at the same height as this one.
"Yes. It's designed symmetrically with this one."
"Got it. So, I have a question for Shikei."
"Yeah. Tenhou."
Shouou nodded immediately.
"I know what you want to ask. Who's going to go?"
"My way is better, I think. There are trees in between, and this place is more suited for the 'Seiryuu dragon' than the 'Suzaku bird,' don't you think?"
"I hate to admit it... but yeah. The distance is fine, but this height. If something goes wrong, Tenhou would be more reliable."
"For now, I should raise my 'ki'."
"I'll use 'Beast Body Guidance' with the 'Form of the Snake,' the 'Prey Entangling Snake Form.' There's no time, so just my arms."
"Please."
I take a deep breath.
I focus on the 'Divine Energy' inside me and change the 'ki' energy to wood type.
Then, Shouou and I close the distance and intertwine our arms.
The 'Beast Body Guidance' in the 'Form of the Snake' takes the shape of the Seiryuu dragon.
Using this guidance method, the wood type 'ki' energy becomes stronger.
The walking technique of the Seiryuu dragon should also be enhanced.
"Alright, I'm off. Shikei."
"Yeah. If something happens, I'll catch you with the 'Suzaku bird' technique. Just go for it."
"Please!"
I take a light run-up and──jump out of the window.
"'Five Divine Steps,' 'Storm of the Lurking Dragon King'!!"
I jumped high.
I leaped toward the tower I was aiming for.
The distance was about ten meters (≈ 32.8 feet), I guessed. There were tall trees in between.
I got close to one of the branches and jumped again with 'Storm of the Lurking Dragon King.'
The other tower was getting closer.
I confirmed that the window was open. Beyond it was a hallway. I couldn't see any guards. They must have gone to support the battle on the ground.
If that's the case──
"'Cat's Sphere!!'."
I curled my body and transformed into the 'form of the cat' using 'Beast Body Guidance.'
I jumped right into the window and did a spin in the hallway.
I slowed down and somehow managed to stop.
"...Alright, that worked."
I thought I could make that jump.
When I took Master Raikou's test, I jumped over a river wider than this using 'Storm of the Lurking Dragon King.'
But this is a tower. It would be dangerous if I fell.
So, I used Shouou and 'Beast Body Guidance' to boost my 'ki' energy.
Shouou's Suzaku bird technique and my Seiryuu dragon technique── I have a longer jump distance.
That's why I decided to jump.
I guess it worked thanks to Master Raikou's training.
...I wonder how my master is doing.
It's been a while; I want to see her.
I want her to see if my skills have really improved....
"Right now, I need to rescue the chief's daughter first."
In the hallway, there was a door with a grid pattern. It was the same as the one in the tower over there.
The key was hanging on the wall.
I took it and unlocked the door.
Then, when I opened the door──
"I'm Kou Tenhou, a disciple of Gen Shuuyoku-sensei. I've come to help you, Kaine Shurt-sama."
"...Hmm."
The girl lying on the floor looked at me.
She was really small... or rather, she could be called a little girl.
She looked about ten years old.
They were trying to confine such a child and make her obey.
The Jinkyo Tribe is really terrible.
"Are you... a disciple of Shuuyoku-sama?"
"Yes, Kaine Shurt-sama. Are you okay?"
"I'm... fine... yeah. I'm okay."
"Let's get out of here right away."
I reached out and helped the chief's daughter──Kaine Shurt──stand up.
She was light.
I could probably carry her and run without any problem.
"What about Nona and the others...?"
"I rescued them. They're in the next tower."
"...That's good."
Kaine Shurt pressed her chest and sighed in relief.
"Thank you... very much. I want to repay you."
"Don't worry about it."
"No... it's the custom of the Bokou Tribe to properly repay a favor."
"...Is that so?"
Suddenly, a question popped into my head.
"Then, can I ask you one question?"
"Yeah. What is it...?"
"Isn't it possible to dispose of the secret book?"
That was what I had been wanting to ask all along.
Gaku Kiryuu had said.
The hermit who gave the secret book to the 'Bokou Tribe' sealed it without reading it and ordered them to protect it.
But it's strange.
If you just seal it without reading, it's useless.
It's like holding onto a treasure chest that can't be opened.
In fact, just having it can be dangerous.
There are people who would want an ancient secret book like that.
Right now, the Jinkyo Tribe is attacking.
It would be better to just burn the secret book──
"I'm sorry for saying something strange, outsider."
I bowed my head while carrying Kainé Shurt on my back.
"If you can't answer, just ignore me. I apologize if I made you feel bad. Just to be clear, I don't really want the secret book. Once I leave here, I'll forget about it. It's just... I couldn't help but be curious."
"...There's a legend."
"Huh?"
"...There's a legend."
Kainé Shurt murmured softly on my back.
"Among the 'Four Fiends', chaos was the last one created. If used correctly, it can be a trump card against the other 3. If a bad person uses it, it can make the other 3 violent. That's the legend."
"...Is that so?"
"Chaos has no fixed form. If a foolish or wicked person touches it, Konton will reach the realm of death. The opposite is also true."
Kainé Shurt whispered like singing.
"These are the words of Suimei Shin-kun. Kainé hasn't told anyone this."
"I understand. I haven't heard anything."
"I wanted to talk to you. It's strange..."
After that, Kaine Shurt fell silent.
Quietly, she clung to my back.
"We'll be getting out from here. After descending about two floors, we'll jump out of the window. From that height, even if I fail the technique, we should be able to land safely."
Kaine Shurt nodded at my words.
"Gaku Kiryuu-san is outside. Shuu-sensei──Gen Shuuyoku-sensei is also there. You'll be able to reunite with your comrades soon. Just hold on a little longer."
"...Mm."
"Alright then, hold on tight!"
With my sword in hand, I began to run.
The sounds of battle and the soldiers' shouts could be heard from outside.
They drowned out my presence and footsteps.
The enemy hadn't realized I had intruded.
So I succeeded in surprising the enemy from the upper floors and safely descended the height of two floors of the tower──
"There are piles of firewood on the lower floor. And even oil...?"
It was the worst-case scenario.
Had the Jinkyo Tribe intended to burn Kaine Shurt alive?
Or was it just a threat?
Whether it was to force Kaine Shurt to reveal the location of the secret book or to make Nonna Kiryuu and the others comply, it was nothing good.
"We're jumping out now. You mustn't let go of me, okay?"
"...Okay."
Once we reached a safe height, I used the 'Storm of the Lurking Dragon King' to leap out of the window.
Then, using the branches as footholds, I returned to the tower where Shouou was waiting.
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