Volume 2 Chapter 24 The Great Villain Of The World, Becomes An Official Messenger To The Foreign Tribe Vii
──Gaku Kiryuu of 'Bokou Tribe's Perspective──
The operation was a success.
Together with the soldiers of Aika Country disguised as the Jinkyo Tribe, we approached the fortress.
Pretending to be prisoners, they got them to open the fortress gate.
As soon as they entered, they grabbed the weapons tied to their horses and cut down the enemy soldiers.
They were able to draw the enemy's attention and send Kou Tenhou and Sui Kaou to the tower where the hostages were.
Now, they just have to hold out until those 2 rescue the hostages.
"Gaku Kiryuu-dono! A red cloth is waving from the window of the building with the hostages!"
Tanshi from Aika Country shouted behind me.
Looking up, he saw a red cloth──more precisely, a red scarf──fluttering from the tower window.
It was the signal that the hostages had been rescued.
"All troops! Attack the enemy's left flank! Head straight for the tower!! Join up with those who escaped!!"
"""Oooooooh!!"""
The soldiers of the 'Bokou Tribe' and Aika Country raised their voices.
Even though it was an impromptu joint force, their teamwork was going well.
The people of Aika Country must also have anger towards the Jinkyo Tribe.
He has heard that Aika Country has frequently been invaded by the Jinkyo Tribe.
If the Jinkyo Tribe swallows up the 'Bokou Tribe', Aika Country will face invasions not just from the north, but also from the northwest.
This battle is also to prevent that.
"Thank you for your help, people of Aika Country!!"
While striking the enemy with his spear, Gaku Kiryuu shouted.
"I will repay this debt with my life!!"
"Just having you as an ally of Aika Country is enough."
Tanshi's voice was cheerful.
"Your ability to lead troops is impressive. If His Royal Highness the King's younger brother knew you, he would want to make you a general of Aika Country."
"A general of Aika Country? But I'm a person from a different tribe..."
"His Royal Highness the King's younger brother won't mind. I will tell him about your skills."
"That would be too much praise. Besides, this plan wasn't mine to begin with."
"It was Kou Tenhou-dono who made us realize the strategy of disguising ourselves as the enemy."
"Yes. In reality, that person is like the planner of this operation."
Neither Gaku Kiryuu nor Tanshi had ever thought of wearing the armor of the Jinkyo Tribe.
Kou Tenhou's words, "I will disguise myself as the Jinkyo Tribe and sneak into the fortress," made them realize it.
Disguising oneself as the enemy to catch them off guard is one of the strategies of warfare.
However, Gaku Kiryuu and the others felt resistance to pretending to be the ones who attacked their village.
So, they probably didn't think of that idea.
"I still have a long way to go..."
Kou Tenhou warned Gaku Kiryuu by putting on armor that didn't fit him. Not with words, but with actions.
'This is an emergency. Is this really the time to be picky about methods!?'──he seemed to say.
His actions influenced the soldiers of Aika Country.
The son of the general of Aika Country took the lead and put on the enemy's armor. It was too big for him since he was still young. He announced that he would sneak into the fortress wearing it.
Seeing him go so far to save the hostages must have touched the hearts of the soldiers.
So, Tanshi quickly gave orders to the soldiers of Aika Country.
"Strip the armor off the captured Jinkyo Tribe soldiers and wear it. We will disguise ourselves as the Jinkyo Tribe and make them open the fortress gate!!"
Gaku Kiryuu also made a quick decision.
They would tie their hands together and pretend to be prisoners.
They decided to give up their weapons and expose themselves in a humiliating way, with ropes around their necks and hands.
Because, as Kou Tenhou said, this was not the time to be picky about methods.
The soldiers of Aika Country disguised themselves as the Jinkyo Tribe.
Gaku Kiryuu and the others tied their hands and necks with ropes and followed the soldiers of Aika Country.
This way, it would look like the Jinkyo Tribe soldiers were taking Gaku Kiryuu and the others away.
And then, they got closer to the fortress──and successfully made them open the gate.
"The only concern is... Gen Shuuyoku-dono."
Gen Shuuyoku left the line right after the squad charged into the fortress.
She headed towards a building said to have a user of the 'Four Fiends' technique.
This was to buy time so that she wouldn't interfere with the operation.
So, the user of the 'Four Fiends' hasn't shown themselves.
Gen Shuuyoku is probably still holding them back.
"But that person hates the user of the 'Four Fiends.' I hope she doesn't do anything reckless."
"It should be fine. Tenhou-dono warned her."
"Indeed, she promised with a wry smile, 'I will focus on buying time. She won't lie to my disciple.'"
"We also assigned some soldiers to protect them."
"I heard Gen Shuuyoku-dono is strict, but... it's surprising that she is weak against their disciple."
"Tenhou-dono is special, I suppose."
Tanshi said in a calm tone,
"Tenhou-dono is a mysterious person. He might have the power to connect people."
"The power to connect people... huh."
"I want that person to lead an independent unit. A unit that can move freely based on their own judgment. I want to see what kind of connections he can create with others."
"Yes, I agree."
Gaku Kiryuu cut down a nearby enemy.
The troops began to move. The tower was already in front of them.
Moments later, the tower's door opened, and the hostages appeared.
At the front were Sui Kaou and Gaku Kiryuu's daughter, Nona. Following them were women and children. Bringing up the rear were Kou Tenhou and the chief's daughter, Kaine.
Gaku Kiryuu tried to look at his daughter but held back.
The battle was still ongoing. Reuniting with his child would have to wait.
"Split the troops! A few of you go guard the hostages! The rest stay with me to eliminate the remaining enemies, then head to support Gen Shuuyoku-dono!!"
The number of enemies was decreasing.
It was fine to divide the forces. Just as Gaku Kiryuu made that decision──
"The 'Bokou Tribe' has teamed up with Aika Country!! How sneaky of them!!"
──From deep within the fortress, the enemy commander appeared.
"My name is Ren Padu of the Jinkyo Tribe!! I am the first subordinate of His Royal Highness Zeng Taiga!! I demand a one-on-one duel!"
The enemy commander──Ren Padu, brandished a great sword and shouted.
"I tell the leaders of the 'Bokou Tribe' and Aika Country! Are you all just cowards who can only sneak attack!? Do you not have the courage to stand before me!? If not, then show yourselves!!"
"Don't fall for the provocation! Surround and take him down!!"
The outcome was already decided.
The Jinkyo Tribe had likely moved their small army to avoid detection by other countries.
They had ambushed the 'Bokou Tribe' settlement, taken hostages, and tried to bring the 'Bokou Tribe' under their control.
But that was as far as it went.
The hostages had already been rescued. The fortress would soon be reclaimed.
Moreover, the envoy from Aika Country had already sent messengers to the royal capital.
The king's younger brother is said to be a wise person. Upon hearing the news of the Jinkyo Tribe's invasion, he would immediately move the army.
It seems the Jinkyo Tribe has called for reinforcements, but they probably won't make it in time.
They will just be caught in a pincer attack by the 'Bokou Tribe,' who have taken back the fortress, and the forces from Aika Country coming from the royal capital.
There's no reason to accept a one-on-one duel with the general of the Jinkyo Tribe, but──
"An ordinary soldier is no match for me!! Strong one! Fight me! Fight meee!!"
The enemy commander is strong.
There's no lie in the words that he is the first subordinate of the Jinkyo Tribe prince.
Ren Padu, wielding a great sword, is overwhelming the soldiers of the 'Bokou Tribe.
His subordinates cannot stop him──thinking this, Gaku Kiryuu steps forward with a spear.
(At this rate, I won't be able to support Gen Shuuyoku-dono. I have no choice but to defeat this guy!)
Gaku Kiryuu readies his weapon and focuses on the enemy commander.
"I am Gaku Kiryuu, the captain of the defense of the 'Bokou Tribe.' Ren Padu of the Jinkyo Tribe, I will be your opponent."
"I thought someone who could actually do something had come... but it's the 'Bokou Tribe'! Pathetic!!"
Ren Padu spat out.
"Are the soldiers from Aika Country coming!? Then let me fight my arch-enemy!!"
"Arch-enemy?"
"The man who cut off my lord's arm, Kou Tenhou!! Bring him here!!"
Ren Padu of the Jinkyo Tribe raises his large sword and shouts.
"'The Bokou Tribe' is no match for us!! Bring out Kou Tenhou! If he's not here, then I'll kill all your soldiers!!"
"Shut up!! I'm the one you'll face!!"
Gaku Kiryuu readied his spear.
(This enemy, I will stop him)
Ren Padu was glaring at Kou Tenhou.
He couldn't let anyone harm him.
(I owe a debt to the people of Aika Country. Besides... I won't let someone as talented as him be killed!!)
"I, Gaku Kiryuu, will defeat you!! Come at me, Ren Padu of the Jinkyo Tribe!!"
"Don't mess with me!! You're just a weakling from the Bokou Tribe!!"
Gaku Kiryuu charged forward with his spear.
Ren Padu of the Jinkyo Tribe readied his large sword to counter.
And so, the duel between the leaders of the Bokou Tribe and the Jinkyo Tribe began.
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