Volume 3 Chapter 40 Zeng Taiga Moves
──Zeng Taiga's Perspective──
"Your Royal Highness Zeng. We should plan our comeback in a place far from Aika Country."
Zeng Taiga listened to those words in silence.
The speaker's name is Ko Eison.
He is a close aide assigned to Zeng Taiga by the Golden Feather Syndicate and is skilled with dual swords.
He is knowledgeable and excels in military strategy. Most importantly, he brings the words of the miko.
The miko and her companion, a boy, have already left the Jinkyo Tribe.
They said it was to make Zeng Taiga the king of the continent, but after that, their whereabouts became unknown. Now, there is no contact at all.
Still, Ko Eison says, "We must believe."
──I know the future.
──Aika Country will fall, and a new era will come.
──To hasten that future, Prince Zeng must rise.
But──
(Is that really my wish...?)
The image of his rival flashes through Zeng Taiga's mind.
The boy who cut off his right arm, Kou Tenhou.
That figure is burned into Zeng Taiga's memory along with the pain.
Kou Tenhou didn't look strong.
He was thin and not very tall.
But he toyed with Zeng Taiga using unexpected moves.
As a result, Zeng Taiga received an irreversible blow and lost his position as the strongest.
(...Am I going to run away? This Zeng Taiga? Throwing away the chance to settle things with my arch-enemy?)
He plans to recover far from Aika Country.
He knows that this is the right thing to do.
So why can't he accept it──
"Are you listening? Your Royal Highness Zeng!?"
"...I am listening. I don't mind leaving this place..."
Hearing Ko Eison's voice, Zeng Taiga comes back to his senses.
He answers as if squeezing the words out.
"But I can't stand running away without fighting even once. The battle I desire is──."
"I see. As expected of Your Royal Highness Zeng."
"...What?"
"Before leaving this place, strike a blow against Aika Country's army. By doing so, you will show that Your Royal Highness Zeng's strength is still intact."
Ko Eison begins to speak in a smooth tone.
"Then, those who admire that strength will gather soldiers once again. It's necessary for your recovery. As expected of Your Royal Highness Zeng."
"Ko Eison. You..."
"You want a fight, right? Then, isn't that good enough?"
With a satisfied expression, Ko Eison nods.
"Is the target 'General Skybear' or his child? Or maybe Gaku Kiryuu. If we can take down one of them, Your Royal Highness Zeng's fame will rise even higher. Isn't that right? The prophesied prince, Your Royal Highness Zeng Taiga."
"Fame...?"
"And Your Royal Highness will become the king of the continent."
'King of the continent.'
Those words made Zeng Taiga's blood boil.
"There is no one who has won every battle. Every hero has faced defeat at least once or twice."
Ko Eison continued.
"Rather, rising again after a defeat is proof of being chosen by fate. Your Royal Highness Zeng. You are chosen by fate. That is why we, the 'Golden Feather Syndicate,' will lend our strength."
The words shook Zeng Taiga's heart.
──Zeng Taiga is the prince promised by fate.
──Aika Country will fall.
──To rise again, he must show his strength now.
Such thoughts filled Zeng Taiga's mind.
(I'm──the prophesied prince. Personal grudges...)
Such things should not be desired.
Now is the time to plan a comeback.
For that, Zeng Taiga must show everyone that his strength is still intact.
"Then Ko Eison will lead the troops to the fortress of Aika Country. The attack can be minimal. Just draw the enemy's attention."
Zeng Taiga made up his mind and raised his voice.
"During that time, I will lead my elite soldiers to attack the enemy from the back. After dealing a heavy blow to the enemy, we will retreat. Then, we will escape to the west and plan our comeback."
"That is a wise decision, Your Royal Highness."
Ko Eison knelt down and deeply bowed his head.
Then, Zeng Taiga set out toward the border with the soldiers who would follow him until the end.
"──My friend, Zeng Taiga may not return from this."
While preparing for the deployment, Ko Eison murmured.
He had 2 swords at his waist.
He drew one of them and looked at the hilt.
There, the name taken from his deceased friend was engraved.
──'Black Sparrow Sword (Ko Kujakuto).'
"My friend, Kai Shuujaku. I am proud of you for following your destiny."
Aika Country must be destroyed.
The prophecy says so. Sacrifices have been made for that.
That country is the enemy of Ko Eison's friend.
Kai Shuujaku, who was captured by Aika Country, was killed immediately.
There was no time to rescue him.
Victory and defeat are common in war. It is natural for the defeated to lose their lives.
Still, the frustration and anger do not fade away.
"Shuujaku, I swear on the 'Black Sparrow Sword.' I will make sure your child becomes king."
──'Aika Country will fall.'
──'The black horse herd from the north will destroy Aika Country.'
──'After that, the continent will be engulfed in war.'
──'Eventually, a hero will appear to lead the people and control all disasters.'
──'That person will spread their great wings and become a beloved king.'
The king with great wings──there can be no one else but Kai Yougetsu, who bears the name of the 'Hawk (鷹(You).'
The miko, who delivers the prophecy, has chosen Kai Yougetsu.
"The miko have hastened the situation, but... was it too soon?"
It is still too early for Zeng Taiga to fall.
They must survive and plan a comeback.
After that, they will invade Aika Country again.
Kai Yougetsu will defeat Zeng Taiga, who has become the enemy of the people.
This is the way to end the chaotic times with the least sacrifice.
"I will simply fulfill my role."
Ko Eison strikes the 'Black Sparrow Sword.'
Then, he headed towards the soldiers to fulfill his duty.
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