Matsuzaka fell silent. The corners of his lips curved into a cruel, almost gleeful smile.
"Who could have guessed the head of the devout Kujou family would think to drain Inazuma's warriors' blood through war, treating soldiers like pawns—countless lives lost, dying in shame for failing the Shogun, like your brother…"
"Enough! I don't want to talk about this. I just want to kill Kujou Takayuki! I will not let him trample the honor of Inazuma's warriors!"
Matsuzaka's roar shook the room. His fist slammed the crude wooden table, snapping it in half; scattered items clattered to the floor.
The noise drew attention immediately. Samurai drew swords, glaring at the Fatui, who activated their elemental gear in response. Tension crackled in the air.
Seizing the moment, Aiden moved toward the hut holding the hostage.
On the way, he found sayu, transformed into a wooden barrel thanks to her Terminal Order training, sliding along the wall.
"Aiden!" sayu reverted, blinking her wide eyes at him. This was their first real mission together.
Aiden, calm from spotting her earlier, remarked casually, "You've refined your hiding skills a lot. Before, you'd just hide as a barrel up in a tree. Clever thinking!"
"Ehehe…" Yuzu scratched her head, embarrassed. "Just trying not to get caught sleeping by Sister Kaneno. I gradually got better at it."
Thanks to Kaneno, she was now a master of stealth, able to evade even a skilled tracker.
"Who's small now, huh?"
By the time they reached the hut, the captive was revealed: a little girl, six or seven years old, guarded by only three. Despite hearing Matsuzaka and the Mirror Maiden arguing, the guards remained disciplined.
"They're not Hilichurls, probably deserters," sayu whispered.
Aiden shook his head. "No. They're not deserters—they're avenging Kujou Takayuki."
"Why? Kujou Takayuki is the current Tensho Magistrate, devoted to the Shogun. Even if the war is bad, it can't all be blamed on him."
Aiden wasn't surprised. This was a common belief among Inazuma's people: the once-esteemed Kujou, so loyal and brave, could fall from grace unseen.
"Later. First, we get the girl out."
Purple lightning erupted from Aiden's palm, condensing into a thousand sharp projectiles.
The lead samurai, sensing danger, drew his blade instinctively, slashing through the air. The sword met the lightning; his face drained of color as the electric current paralyzed him. The other two guards were no match.
Chidori Senbon!
A technique Aiden developed from combining Narukami Shrine magic and his memories of a past life. Originally meant to fell flying shuttles, now it was lethal against humans.
sayu moved with perfect timing, rolling into the hut to free the hostage: a little girl in a white dress, her tears streaming as relief and trust washed over her.
"It's okay. Sister Yuzu will take you away now." Yuzu held her close, speaking in an adult's comforting tone.
The girl clung tightly, nodding, "I… I trust Sister Yuzu!"
Hearing this, Yuzu froze, cheeks aflame, small feet curling beneath her. She had finally become someone trusted, an adult in the eyes of another.
Two seconds later, a hand slammed onto her head, knocking her back to reality.
Still a small fry!
Yuzu glared at Aiden, fuming. Why did protagonists in light novels always treat their childhood friends kindly, but he—he bullied her? Not even gentle… and he wanted to be the hero?
---
Aiden, meeting Yuzu's disdainful gaze, could only smirk. Perhaps some liked being looked at this way by little girls, but he… was firmly an older sister fan, only interested in tall, well-endowed women.
Past flirtations aside, duty called. A silent exchange of glances was enough; both regained composure.
"Next?" Yuzu asked, frowning at the paralyzed samurai. "You didn't just come to rescue, did you?"
"I intended to interrogate for intel, but…" Aiden hesitated, then shook his head. "Forget it. You take her out. I'll handle the rest."
Yuzu, puzzled but trusting, gave a little fist of encouragement, slinging the girl onto her back before vanishing with ninjutsu.
Aiden's lips curved, but his eyes returned to the samurai. The task ahead was far from simple.
The Matsuzaka squad were victims, seeking revenge against Kujou Takayuki to reclaim samurai honor. Yet now, serving the Fatui, they became perpetrators.
Hatred perpetuates itself; this cycle of bloodshed among kin would not end.
'I may not sway Raiden Ei, but eliminating Kujou Takayuki could stabilize things… and take out the Fatui too.'
He could not solve the conflict entirely, but he could remove its instigators.
The Eye Hunt and Seclusion Decrees sharpened tensions, but Kujou's blunders had truly worsened the situation. Take him out, and Inazuma could await the arrival of the blonde savior.
"Alright then…"
Aiden raised his hand, ready to lift the paralysis from the samurai and extract intel to justify his actions—but paused.
Wait… where were the others?
Though he and Yuzu acted during the heated gate-side confrontation, the camp's other huts were too close. With such trained warriors, the intrusion could not have gone unnoticed.
At that moment, a soldier's loud cry rang out, steel clashing against steel—coming from the edge of the camp.
"Enemy attack!"
Aiden tensed. Assuming Yuzu was discovered, he checked—she had long left the camp.
Curious, he dashed toward the source and saw Matsuzaka's patrol clashing with Shogunate soldiers, evenly matched, exchanging blows amid the rain and thunder.
By the time he arrived, Matsuzaka and the Mirror Maiden had reached an agreement.
"As you wish, I will grant you greater power." The Mirror Maiden retrieved a delicate wooden box, placing three Evil Eyes into Matsuzaka's hands. "Though it seems Captain Matsuzaka needs our assistance. Your friend, Inaba Hisakazu, is leading the opposing forces—an expert swordsman in the Shogunate."
"No need. I will settle this myself." Matsuzaka's gaze fixed on the battlefield, on the friend he could entrust his life to. Sighing, he drew his katana, charging Inaba Hisakazu amidst the roar of thunder.
Watching the two forces clash under the storm, the Mirror Maiden, Reina, crossed her arms, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Lady Reina, should we intervene? If Matsuzaka dies, won't our prior setup—" Thunder Hammer hesitated beside her.
---
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