Volume 5 Chapter 25 The Great Villain of the World, Heading to Investigate Kiryou's Town (Part VII)
──Tenhou's Perspective──
...That 'can't-be-done' Rotaimei showed up!?
I swallowed the words I was about to say, or something.
On Shuu-sensei's orders, I came to Yuuri-sama's lodgings.
I got a message from Seirei: 'Just as your brother suggested, it looks like a martial arts tournament will be held in the town of Kiryou.'
The letter also said this:
'Yuuri-sama will be watching the martial arts tournament.'We'll probably ask Raikou-sama to be the judge.'
──And that's that.
After reading the letter, Shouou, Shuu-sensei, and I put our heads together and talked.
It's good that the martial arts tournament is happening.
It'll help get rid of rumors, and if we're lucky, we can drag the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' out into the open.
I get why Yuuri-sama is watching.
If Yuuri-sama is in the audience at the martial arts tournament, everyone will see that Mō Etsu and Ryougen-kun aren't fighting.
But... if Master Raikou is the judge, Yuuri-sama's protection will be thin.
Sure, Master Raikou is the perfect person to be a judge.
Master Raikou can stop the fighters if the battles get too intense.
Plus, Master Raikou's very presence will act as a deterrent.
But if Master Raikou leaves Yuuri-sama's side, either I, Shouou, or Shuu-sensei should take over as a bodyguard.
That's why I came to Yuuri-sama's lodgings for a meeting.
Of course, I made an appointment through Seirei's cat.
I was let in without any trouble and guided to a separate room.
I was walking politely and quietly in the hallway... when a bald monk-like man appeared at the entrance of the inn.
So that's the character from 'History of Swordmaster,' Rotaimei.
"The 'can't do it' Rotaimei... Was he really a guest of Mō Etsu in this era...?"
In the game, Rotaimei was famous as a tough-as-nails character.
He just wouldn't die.
Even if he took a lethal hit, if he was lucky, he'd survive with just a sliver of health left.
He was a capable antagonist, on par with Kei Koshou.
But the character wasn't very popular.
The reason might be because there were too many scenes where he'd pour cold water on the protagonist's plans with 'can't do it' or 'it's impossible.'
The protagonist, Kai Yougetsu, was an idealist.
He aimed to defeat the great evil of the world and save the people, and he was actually doing it.
In contrast, Rotaimei was a realist.
He'd object to Kai Yougetsu's ideals and present negative opinions with 'can't do it' or 'it's impossible' when it came to tactics.
He was known in the hero's legion as 'the 'can't do it' Rotaimei.'
Because of that, he was a character that wasn't used much.
Then, near the end, Rotaimei leaves the game.
After that, who knows what happened to him.
He doesn't even show up in the game's ending.
...Now that I think about it, Rotaimei left saying 'I shall return to my former master's family.'
That 'former master'... could it possibly be Mō Etsu?
While pondering such things, I was listening carefully.
But, I couldn't make out the conversation.
That's because Rotaimei handed over a letter to Yuuri-sama's guard and left immediately.
After that, Touri came to fetch me──
I was to meet with Yuuri-sama in the reception room.
"Understood. During the martial arts tournament, I'll ask Gen Shuuyoku-sama for protection."
Yuuri-sama nodded.
It was the inner reception room.
So it's me, Yuuri-san, and our bodyguard Touri in the room. Yuuri-san goes,
"Kou Tenhou-sama, could I ask you to pass a message to Gen Shuuyoku-sama?"
"Yes, of course."
"Here's the message: Just now, a messenger from Lord Mō Etsu came to see us──"
Yuuri-sama told us everything written in the letter the Mō Etsu messenger brought.
The messenger's name is Rotaimei.
Lord Mō Etsu is in a huge rush, getting ready for the martial arts tournament.
Looks like it'll take 3 or maybe 4 days before it actually happens.
Some people tried to object, but one of the old retainers from the last generation managed to keep everything under control.
That old retainer's got a ton of authority, apparently.
He ordered his people──including himself──to start snooping around about all the rumors.
And then──
"If possible, he'd also like to see some participants come from among my acquaintances," Yuuri-sama added.
"Wait, you mean Yuuri-sama's acquaintances too?"
"Raikou-sama will be the judge. Still, you never know what'll happen at the tournament. If there's someone trustworthy among the contestants, they can team up with Raikou-sama and help keep chaos in check. I think... that's probably why he's making the request."
"...So that's the reason."
Tons of martial artists are gonna sign up for the tournament.
If things get out of hand, soldiers from Moukou and Master Raikou are supposed to handle it.
Plus, if there are allies among the contestants, they can react way faster.
That's why they want people close to Yuuri-sama to join the tournament too.
Makes sense now.
"Yuuri-sama, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"That messenger... Rotaimei. He seemed like a martial artist. Am I wrong?"
"You nailed it. He's definitely a martial artist. I heard he's a guest of Lord Mō Etsu."
"So is he going to compete in the tournament?"
"Apparently not."
Yuuri-sama shook her head side to side.
"He said something like, 'If I join, I'll just get knocked out in the first round. That'd only embarrass my lord.'"
"One more thing, if you don't mind. Did Rotaimei-sama seem to be for or against the martial arts tournament?"
"He said he's for it. That it's a great move to shut down the rumors."
"Thank you."
I see...
So Rotaimei's okay with the martial arts tournament, huh?
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