Shizuru seems to be aiming for a fait accompli.
By a strange coincidence, or rather, by the arrangement of a malicious and bored God, I’ve found myself helping the Yashi family with their revival.
I’m already used to the trouble that happens every time I go out, but it’s so often it’s almost amusing.
“What’s so funny, Lord?”
“Shizuru-san, we agreed that the matter of the head of the family would be discussed after the family revival is accomplished, right? So please don’t call me Lord. Kanata is fine.”
“It is awkward to call you Provisional Lord, so I simply omitted it. I am by no means trying to make it a fait accompli, so please do not worry about it.”
No, no, you’re totally aiming for it! Right? You’ve got the eyes of a bird of prey spotting its prey!
As I opened my mouth to protest, I noticed a silhouette illuminated by the moonlight projected onto the *shoji* screen facing the veranda.
“Shizuru-sama, the rebels’ hideout has been located.”
The silhouette on the *shoji* reported to Shizuru-san while kneeling on one knee. It’s just like a historical drama.
“Well done. Did you send scouts?”
“Yes. What shall we do?”
“It’s obvious. We’ll send them to the underworld so they can never cause trouble again. Give the order to the White Wolf Group.”
“Yes!”
The silhouette, having received the order, ran off.
“White Wolf Group?”
“They are the elite among the Yashi’s kin who use the Mugen Ittouryu.”
“The ones in white who were fighting with Shizuru-san earlier? They were indeed skilled.”
Even pitted against the Hyahhaa, they won completely without allowing them to do anything. The White Wolf Group are probably elites comparable to the Asura Unit.
“I’ll go too.”
“It’s alright, Lord, it’s not something you need to attend to.”
“No, I want those Hyahhaa to be a human sacrifice. Shizuru-san, you have the *kaiden* of Mugen Ittouryu, right?”
“Yes. I have mastered all the techniques passed down in the branch family.”
“I want Shizuru-san to watch my Mugen Ittouryu. Then, please tell me what needs to be corrected or any tips. And please stop calling me Lord.”
“Understood, Lord.”
You only understood half of that, didn’t you? … … Your expression tells me you’re doing it on purpose, Shizuru-san.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Yes! Head of the family, you go forth!”
“I saiiddddd! I’m not the head of the family!”
After re-wrapping my bandages, I, with a cheerful Shizuru-san in my *tasuki*, left the mansion and headed towards the hut where Natsume and Rick were.
“… … Mommy No. 1. It’s fine to crush the Hyahhaa, but we have a mission. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
Natsume, who usually acts on impulse, is dedicated to her mission.
“There’s no change to the plan to leave here tomorrow morning. It’s a bit tight on sleep, but…”
Shizuru-san, who had overheard our conversation, made a suggestion.
“Seeing as you were on hoverbikes, you’re likely heading somewhere through the Great Marsh. In that case, I can provide the village’s large hovercraft and crew. You can rest while crossing the marsh.”
“… … Can I trust you?”
Natsume, being a ninja, is naturally cautious. She doesn’t know the circumstances of me and Shizuru-san, so it’s only natural to be wary, but…
“You can trust me. I’ll explain the situation later.”
“Alright. Rick, are you ready?”
“You bet.”
Rick nodded, reassembling the pole parts of the polearm, which had been disassembled into three sections.
“There’s no reason to let the Hyahhaa live. We’ll send them all to hell, leaving no loose ends.”
The other two nodded in silence. Despite being teenagers, they show no hesitation in annihilating outlaws.
They understand the sad reality of this world. That cockroaches wearing human skin swarm the wasteland.
Accompanied by Shizuru-san and twenty members of the White Wolf Group, we proceeded through the night in vehicles across the wasteland.
Along the way, White Wolf Group scouts rejoined us, bringing information about the enemy’s numbers and their leader.
Apparently, there was a single mohawk on top of a double mohawk.
He seemed to be boasting and intended to just take the spoils without participating in the attack. What an idiot. Concentrate your forces when operating. You never know what might happen in a life-or-death situation. He was probably looking forward to the sake and women the attackers were supposed to bring back, without getting his own hands dirty, but too bad for him. Instead of sake and women, he’ll be getting lead bullets and steel.
The Hyahhaa were camping in makeshift tents between the ravines. Two Hyahhaa on guard duty. They’re being cautious, I guess. It’s only natural, though. Hyahhaa must be cautious of other Hyahhaa too. Outlaws are enemies to each other.
“Mommy No. 2, look the other way. White Wolf Group, please do the same.”
Rick immediately complied, and Shizuru-san signaled the White Wolf Group to look away. Natsume shed her clothes, activated her mirror camouflage, and blended in with the surroundings.
“I’m going.”
She whispered so only I could hear, and the invisible assassin crept towards the unfortunate victims. Natsume’s beloved swords, Kikken and Yabai, with their mirrored surfaces, sliced through the darkness and the throats of the two victims. The victims fell without even being able to scream… no, they didn’t. Natsume had grabbed them by the collar before they fell. Natsume gently laid the dead bodies, with her eyes still wide open, on the ground, and then deactivated the camouflage on her arms, giving a clear signal with sign language.
“She’s skilled. I’ll have the White Wolf Group positioned at the exit of the shacks. Then, let’s fire arrows.”
An ambush. Shizuru-san is also experienced in combat. Fighting Hyahhaa must be her daily routine.
“Understood. That large shack is probably the single mohawk’s sleeping quarters. I’ll lie in wait there. No. 2, come with me.”
I led Rick to a particularly large shack and crept up to it, holding my breath. The dim moonlight was joined by the flames that erupted, illuminating the ravine brightly. The Hyahhaa who burst out of the shack were mercilessly cut down by the White Wolf Group in a single stroke. Accompanied by Rick, I waited for the leader, the single mohawk, to appear. A spiked ball attached to a chain suddenly flew from inside the tent, aiming for my head. I drew my sword, deflected the spiked ball, and called out to the leader inside.
“The curtain has risen. Don’t be shy, come out. The audience is waiting!”
“It sounds like screams, not applause?” The leader slowly emerged from the tent. Should I welcome him with applause? The single mohawk, wrapped in fur, lounged with two half-naked women like accessories.
“Now, that’s an obvious villain. I can kill him without hesitation.”
“You don’t have the eyes to hesitate. Same as me. Hey, you two, kill the kid with the long weapon.”
“This shrimp is no threat for the boss to kill. We’ll kill both of you.”
Don’t call yourselves “Atai” like some lowlife women. Even together, you wouldn’t be a match for Marika-san’s fingernail clippings.
“This brat is capable. So is the long weapon kid. … … Finish them.”
Unlike the double mohawk, the single mohawk seems to have what it takes to be the leader of a group.
“No. 2, I’ll leave the two women to you.”
“Roger. I don’t want to kill women, but not when they’re cockroaches wearing human skin.”
The two women split up and swung their whips at us. Rick, while deflecting the whips with his polearm, looked for an opening to close the distance. Fighting an opponent with a longer reach than himself will be good experience for him.
(Natsume, if it looks bad, cover for Rick.)
(Wouldn’t it be faster if I killed them?)
(I think so, but I want him to gain some experience.)
(Understood.)
Now then, my opponent, the single mohawk, uses a chain and sickle, huh? Spinning the spiked ball around his head and preparing his sickle against my sword, huh? His movements are fluid, not wild. If it’s not wild, he has talent approaching Tozen-san, but such geniuses are rare. He looks like a weakling, but he’s skilled.
“What’s wrong? Not coming? Then… I’ll come to you!”
I ducked to avoid the spiked ball that flew towards my head.
“Foolish!”
The spiked ball I dodged returned as if alive, coiling around me. I jumped to avoid it at the last second. If I had been even a moment late, the chain would have constricted my body like a snake.
“With such skill, and you’re a Hyahhaa boss? Your master must be ashamed.”
“He probably is. Because I killed him.”
“Why did you kill your master?”
“Because he removed me from succession for not being a Ha-jin! Can you forgive that? I endured harsh training for over ten years!”
The single mohawk spat out words of resentment along with foam from his mouth. But I couldn’t bring myself to sympathize.
“Did your master tell you? That he removed you from succession because you weren’t a Ha-jin?”
“I didn’t hear it, but it must be true! I was the strongest among the disciples! So why couldn’t I become the successor?”
“You couldn’t become the successor not because you weren’t a Ha-jin? No, it’s because you are impatient, shallow, and unfit, drunk on power. Your master had good judgment. His only mistake was taking you as a disciple.”
“Shut up! What do you know!”
I took off my bandages and revealed my face. Then, I took my stance and announced myself.
“Mugen Ittouryu, Kanata Amakake. Nickname: Kenrou.”
“… … Okumura Fuujin Ryu, Cid Baikem. Nickname: Outlaw Sickle.”
Cid Baikem, huh. Even for a fictional character, Shishido Baiken was the leader of a band of chain and sickle users…
Baikem, the Outlaw Sickle. He’s a worthy opponent. Let’s fight!
