They were a young sister and brother who had been traveling to a secluded hermitage on an errand, hoping to get their parents' hair ornament and cooking pot repaired.
(Did I get cursed because I left without telling Papa and Mama…?)
Though on the verge of tears herself, the brave girl bit her lip and held them back, continuing to comfort Tasuke.
[—…!]
Yet, wicked monsters possessed no hearts to comprehend the value of precious life. They turned their foul, bloodthirsty intent toward the two children without hesitation.
"Uugh, I'm scared… but I have to be strong…"
As the girl trembled, desperately trying to summon her courage, was there no one to reach out a hand? Was there no one to shield these young lives? Were there no gods, no Buddhas to save them?
"P-Please… just spare Tasuke… please let Tasuke go…"
She bowed her head low, pleading for mercy, but her words fell on deaf ears. These creatures crawling from the dark night were nothing more than beasts.
[ [ [ — !!! ] ] ]
"Ah…!"
The armored samurai lunged in unison. To those who reap lives indiscriminately, age and gender mattered not.
"Waaaah! Waaaah!"
"Shh, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, Tasuke… it's all Onui's fault for sneaking out… I'm sorry…"
As the young girl held her brother close, expecting the worst, the deadly blades swept down upon them—
Clang!
A flash of steel split the air. An ugly, blood-soaked slaughter had dared approach these treasures of the future—
Was there no one to stop them? No one to stand in their way?
If there are no gods or Buddhas in this place…
"PUNISHMENT EXECUTED—!!!!"
"Eh… Ah…"
…Then let a roaring dragon of humanity strike down all evil!
"…A Dragon God…?"
Standing before the children, the figure slashed through the monstrous beasts. A fierce, protective rage surged to shield those fragile young lives.
[ [ [ !? ] ] ]
Eight writhing shadows surrounded them. Stepping in front of the children, Rikka let out a low growl.
"I'm telling you right now—targeting me is one thing, but going after children is a whole different story!"
Her voice was low, heavy with quiet, deadly anger.
"Lord Ruler, lend me your strength! I want to protect these two!"
"Indeed. Such is the righteous fury a human ought to harbor; I have no reason to withhold my strength from such valor!"
As Rikka stood close to the children, Ruler stepped forward like a guardian deity, placing his massive frame between the three of them and the enemy.
"Oh my… an armor-clad samurai too…?"
"Kyakya! Auu~!"
"There, there. You did so well hanging in there. We're complete strangers, but please let us meddle a little!"
Rikka gently patted their heads… just as her mother always used to do for her.
"T-Thank you! Dragon God…!"
"I'm not a god, you know! The god is over there!"
"—"
Ruler stood with arms crossed, facing the horde with imposing calm. Before his overwhelming majesty, the armored samurai were frozen, unable to take a single step.
"To commit such villainy upon my land, my children, my future, and my treasure—even the gallows are too lenient a fate. I shall cast thy lingering malice out of the cycle of rebirth and into the void of nothingness!"
He drew his great sword. A radiant light burst from the blade, purifying every demon, vengeful spirit, and wicked entity in sight, instantly executing them with absolute judgment.
"Perish—!"
With a single fluid strike from overhead to the lowest guard, he cut through the air. With just that single swing, everything before him was cleaved in two.
"WHAT THE—?!"
A blinding light stretched to the heavens and illuminated the earth. It seemed as though the devastating flash had bisected the very world itself… yet, with surgical precision, it had cut down only the armored samurai.
"Wherever my majesty reaches, all falls within my domain. This is proof that the Eastern Realm may be judged with ease."
In short, within the domain he swore to protect, he was invincible. He was one who struck down all foes and quelled all turmoil. That very aura and majesty were the true source of his power—the reason he was a true Guardian.
With that single slash, even the dark clouds were blown away, leaving behind a clear, brilliant sky—as if to proclaim that nothing could obscure his light.
"—Art thou unharmed, young ones? And thou, Fujimaru?"
"Yes! Thank you so much, Lord Ruler!"
"Whoa…! The samurai mister is glowing…!"
"Kyakya~! Da~! Da~!"
Confirming the safety of those protected behind his back, Ruler quietly relaxed his battle stance.
"…"
"Um, Lord Ruler…"
"Say no more."
Ruler gave a quiet nod. In that moment, their minds were in perfect sync.
"Waaah~! So high! It's so high…!"
"…—"
Ruler carried the young girl on his shoulders, and she squealed with delight at the view from nearly two meters up.
"Dadda~! Kyau~!"
"There, there! You're so tiny. Babies really are the cutest…"
"Kyau~! Oooh~!"
Rikka cradled the baby, comforting him as she and Ruler redirected their path toward the destination the children had been heading for.
"Before we head back, please let us make a quick detour, Lord Ruler!"
"If we must make haste, then let us tread this path. My spirit whispers that this very detour shall forge a meaningful bond."
"The samurai mister is so strong! And the Dragon God is so, so kind…!"
"Ehehe, that's right! The Dragon God is super kind!"
"Dadda~! Kyau~!"
"…Is this the correct direction?"
"Yep! Grandpa's hermitage is over that way!"
"Grandpa, huh… I wonder what kind of person he is?"
"Auu~!"
No matter where she found herself, Rikka's principles never changed.
She would spare no effort and shirk no trouble if it meant saving someone in need.
"…—"
And because Ruler harbored no objections to her way of life, every last trace of doubt in Rikka's heart had completely vanished.
Side by side, the two journeyed together toward the home of the children's guardian…
"—Hah!!"
At a secluded hermitage some distance away, a red-haired craftsman was mindlessly hammering away at an anvil.
"—Tch, another failure! What's the point of chasing sharp edges if the blade's useless for anything else?!"
Realizing the blade was far from what he sought without even examining the finished piece, he promptly cast it aside.
"…They said they were coming, but I hope they're alright. They'd better have their parents with 'em…"
Washing his face, the craftsman muttered to himself, his voice laced with concern.
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