Volume 5 Chapter 22 The Great Villain of the World, Heading to Investigate Kiryou's Town (Part IV)
──Yuuri's Perspective──
A few hours behind Tenhou and the others...
Yuuri's group finally arrived in Kiryou's town.
If anything dangerous happened, they could contact them through Seirei's cats.
"Thanks to Tenhou-sama and the others going ahead, and the Seirei-sama's cats acting as our messenger, we're getting a good picture of Kiryou."
"Even so... I'm surprised that so many martial artists have gathered in Kiryou."
It was true that Moukou was supporting the martial artists.
But even if they flaunted their strength throughout the town, they wouldn't gain Moukou's favor.
"Perhaps they believe that rumor, then."
"'Moukou is seeking a martial artist worthy of his daughter's hand' is what it says, right?"
"'The daughter with crimson hair will be bound to a brave bird, and give birth to a dragon.'"
That was the message Tenhou had sent.
"...It's true that Moukou's daughter has red hair. And the dragon represents a king. In other words, this passage could mean 'Moukou's daughter will give birth to the next king.' Moreover, rumors and folklore have surprising power. It's entirely possible that such a thing could become a massive wave, moving the entire country..."
Calm words echoed inside the carriage.
Fuu Senkou murmured them.
She was sitting in the carriage seat, hugging her knees, eyes closed as if lost in thought.
"They say the Tree that wrote that passage was burned by Moukou-sama. So, why? If we take it at face value, it's to avoid unfounded suspicion. But, if we look at it another way, there's a chance he burned the document on purpose, to make it *look* that way."
Fuu Senkou shook her head, as if to clear it.
"But... this might just be a wild guess. Preconceived notions are dangerous. I think we should look at this logically. If that's the case, then perhaps Moukou-sama is simply trying to stop the rumors from spreading──"
The force of it dislodged her hair ornament, and her neatly arranged hair came undone.
"I'd also like to hear what Senkou-san has to say. Please, tell me what kind of answer Senkou-sama came up with, based on my brother's letter."
It was Ryougen-kun's orders that Fuu Senkou accompanied them on their journey.
Ryougen-kun had said, 'Yuuri will feel safer if someone closer to her age is by her side.'
Senkou herself thought her job was to be Yuuri's companion, help carry her things, and help with changing clothes.
"...If the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' truly believes the prophecy that 'Aika Country will fall,' and is trying to make it happen... I think they would consider taking Moukou-sama in. Moukou's territory is at the far northwest, so it's difficult for the royal family to keep an eye on it. It's also a perfect place for the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' to secretly build up their power."
"But... I don't think the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' has connected with Moukou-sama yet."
"'If the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' was connected to Moukou-sama, they wouldn't need to spread these rumors. It's because their connection is weak... or perhaps they have no connection at all, that they are spreading these rumors.'"
"If those bastards are spreading rumors... I think their goal is to pull Moukou into their camp. 'The crimson-haired maiden shall be bound to a brave bird, and give birth to a dragon'──those words imply that Moukou's daughter will give birth to a 'dragon'──the next king. If that gets back to Aika Country's high-ranking bureaucrats, it'll be dangerous. Some will brush it off, but others will take it seriously. They might even start whispering that 'Moukou is plotting treason.'"
"The rumors are still minor. They're only circulating in Kiryou town and the surrounding area. I doubt the high-ranking bureaucrats would take them seriously..."
"But that's only because Yuuri-sama happened to be visiting Kiryou town at this stage. So, the rumors are still just embers. If Yuuri-sama hadn't been in Kiryou town, the royal family would have heard about this much later. The rumors would have spread like wildfire, becoming an unstoppable blaze..."
"That's right. I wasn't even supposed to be here. So, I heard about the rumors before they really took off, huh?"
"Exactly. If things had gone as planned, Yuuri-sama and His Highness the King's younger brother wouldn't have heard the rumors until they'd spread to more towns. If that had happened..."
"Some of the high-ranking bureaucrats would have started thinking, 'Moukou is suspected of treason.'"
"It's just a possibility, mind you. There's not much evidence to back it up."
Saying this, Senkou clasped his hands in a gesture of respect (Kyōshu).
"Also, Kō's father said something once: 'Never get trapped by preconceptions. The moment you think, "This is the one right answer," that's when you're in the most danger. Always keep a part of yourself that questions your own thinking.'"
"Y-yes... I mean, of course I could never compare to Yuuri-sama's father!"
"No need to be so modest."
Senkou shook her head wildly, practically vibrating.
"I could never! It'd be far too bold! I'm still just a rookie, honestly..."
"Understood, Yuuri-sama!"
"Please relay this to Kou Tenhou-sama: Whoever started those rumors might be trying to back Moukou into a corner──maybe even force Moukou into joining their group. Stress that's only speculation for now, and that we need more information."
"Thank you. Oh──and please tell my brother and Kaou-sama too──meow, hisss!"
She finished with a sharp order in cat-speak, then swung the carriage door open.
The moment Seirei and the others stepped into the inn, it happened.
"Yuuri-sama, a messenger from Moukou-sama has arrived for you."
Her bodyguard, Touri, appeared at her door.
Touri and Raikou had both accompanied Yuuri as her escorts.
They moved in the shadows, keeping watch around the inn.
Not even Touri could sense where Raikou was.
The only people who could pinpoint her location would be a martial artist of equal skill──or one of the Tenhou who could use the "Chaos──Mirror of Shadows Reflection" and track auras with honed precision.
"So... Moukou-sama sent someone after all..."
Officially, Yuuri was here in the town of Kiryou to visit the late Moukou's grave.
They'd rented out several inns so the whole envoy could stay together.
The first reason? If Moukou was *actually* in cahoots with the 'Golden Feather Syndicate', jumping into that mess would be suicide.
The second? she wanted to watch Moukou's moves from a safe distance.
Because... 'It would be a shame to trouble Moukou-sama with my sightseeing trip.' That's what she's going with.
Right now, Yuuri is playing the part of a 'spoiled brat, flaunting her status as the King's younger brother's daughter, off on a lavish journey.'
So of course, the procession is ridiculously extravagant.
They sent an envoy to Yuuri to... what?
Offer an explanation? That's the most logical conclusion.
The current Moukou──whose real name is Mō Etsu──was riding in a carriage, waiting near the inn. That was the plain truth of it.
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