Volume 5 Chapter 26-3 Tenho and Ouka, Confirming Each Other's Strength
"Anyway, let's continue training. Shouou."
"Yeah. I'll put in as much effort as Tenhou, if not more!"
"Got it."
"I'll show Tenhou all my power!"
Once again, Shouou's 'Phantom Flame' is born.
The scarlet 'ki' flames engulf her body, and the faintly visible crimson flames... wait, what?
...The crimson flames are 'Phoenix Flames', right?
It's not an illusion; these are real flames that can burn things.
It's burning in Shouou's lower abdomen, near her navel.
Shouou doesn't notice and kicks off the floor, jumping.
She flips in mid-air, elegantly executing a spinning kick──
Spoon!
Shouou's pants fell off.
They flew off with force... and landed right in front of me.
".........Ah."
".........Shouou."
The pants that fell on the ground... Ah, I knew it, the waistband's burned off.
That's why they came off during the spinning kick.
".........Um..."
Shouou landed in front of me.
".........U-uh, Tenhou. This is..."
".........It's fine. I'm looking away."
".........Okay."
".........Yes."
".........Mmm..."
".........Huh?"
"A-anyway, bring it on! Tenhou!!"
"Don't try to continue like this!!"
"Yes. I expected something like this, so I have spare clothes ready."
Shuu-sensei clapped her hands.
This was the weakness of Shouou's 'Phoenix Flames'.
The solidified flames end up burning her clothes.
When she first mastered it, she would scorch her clothes or put holes in them.
Recently, she had been able to control it, though.
But burning off the waistband is a first. Her 'Phoenix Flames' must've powered up.
Shouou's flames are created by 'Ki'.
And the lower abdomen, where 'ki' gathers, is the source.
If she's careless, real flames──'Phoenix Flames'──can form there.
Of course, if she controls it, there's no problem.
She can release it from her palm, or even imbue a steel sword with flames.
Time to use it is so brief, it doesn't matter much
But if a flame forms in your energy center, your waist cord will burn through.
And then, your pants will just fall right down...
"It's better not to use this in real combat yet..."
"Y-yeah, that's right..."
After changing, Shouou pressed her reddened cheeks and
"I'll only use this move during training with Tenhou from now on!"
She declared that firmly.
When we finished training and left the estate──
"Excuse me. I believe you are martial artists connected to Yuuri-sama, correct?"
A bald man with a long beard was waiting for us.
He clasped his hands in a gesture of greeting.
"Nice to meet you. I am Rotaimei, a subordinate of Mō Etsu-sama."
"...Could it be, the person who visited Yuuri-sama yesterday?"
Shuu-sensei asked.
It's already known to Shuu-sensei that a messenger from Mō Etsu-sama visited Yuuri-sama.
And that this person is named Rotaimei.
But I didn't say anything about who he was.
That would be suspicious if I knew that much. But──
"I see. So you are Rotaimei, the stickfighter. I've heard rumors."
Shuu-sensei knew about Rotaimei.
...Impressive.
As expected of the traveling doctor who toured the entire Riku.
"I am a merchant... no, if I am a subordinate of Mō Etsu-sama, I have nothing to hide. I am Gen Shuuyoku, a traveling doctor. These 2 are my disciples."
"So this is where I get to meet the master of the Pressure Point Technique, Gen-dono!"
"I used to be a martial artist long ago. Now, I'm just a doctor."
"But that doesn't matter."
Rotaimei bowed to Shuu-sensei.
"I want to speak with a martial artist who works under Yuuri-sama. Could you please spare some time? I won't push. If you say it's impossible, I will give up."
"That's fine."
Shuu-sensei nodded.
Then, as she looked back at us, she quietly spoke.
I finally understood. When Yuuri-sama looked for a training hall, telling Mō Etsu-sama "Please rely only on truly trustworthy subordinates," this was why.
Shuu-sensei, seeming impressed, said,
"Yuuri-sama was trying to connect us, his trusted aides, with Mō Etsu-sama's inner circle. But secretly, without others knowing."
"So that's what it was."
"...Yeah, I see."
So that's how it was.
Mō Etsu assigned his trusted subordinates to search for the training hall used by Yuuri-sama's people.
In other words, Mō Etsu's 'trustworthy subordinate' would know that Yuuri-sama has martial artists and where they are.
This information isn't shared with untrustworthy people.
Only those Mō Etsu-sama truly trusts can come here.
Yuuri-sama probably wanted to guide Mō Etsu's trusted subordinates here.
So she could talk to us privately.
Maybe Yuuri-sama wanted to tell us something like this.
'You are trusted subordinates of mine, and also trusted by Mō Etsu-sama. You can speak openly with each other.'
──That's what I think.
So, let's hear what Rotaimei, the Staff user, has to say.
"That kind of nickname feels a bit awkward. I am a second-rate martial artist."
"Then, what should I call you?"
"Rotaimei the Unreachable."
Rotaimei smiled with a grin.
"I'm currently spreading this nickname. When you go back to Hokurin, please tell everyone. There's a martial artist there with a bald head and white beard who only does what he's capable of──just a lazy guy."
"You're an interesting person. You are."
Shuu-sensei said, laughing.
"Well then, Rotaimei the Unreachable, please come in. I want to hear only what you *can* do."
And with that, Shuu-sensei led Rotaimei into the training hall.
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