Unmatched Lovely Princess: Formatting the Three Kingdom

by Normama

What if Kazuto wasn't the only one sent to the Koihime Universe? Will he still be able to unite the land and create his Harem? Lots of action and love...please read. Plenty of OCs too, some with very recognizable by name !

11. Chapter 010: Arriving at an Empty Capita

Unmatched † Lovely Princess ~Maidenly Romance of Three Kingdoms~

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Chapter 010: Arriving at an Empty Capital

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Disclaimer: I do not own Koihime Musou. ANY version of it! My intention for writing this story is only to show another way how the story could go, nothing more!

Only one OC will be properly introduced this time around. A character that had been hinted before (About four chapters before) and now properly brought to light in more than one way.

Also, for anyone that has notice, many lines in the story are cropped from many different versions of not only the Koihime Musou series but also from various versions of the Three Kingdom story, such as from Dynasty Warrior 7 (game) or Three Kingdoms (2012 TV Series). They were lines that I thought were too hardcore and impossible to put into my own words or replace. So don't go suing me for those too please~!

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In the palace office room of Raku-You…

Crash! Smash! Sounds of thrown work utensils and chairs could be heard as Chou-Jou went on in a violet frustrated rage.

"What a failure!" Chou-Jou shouted in frustration as the other nine Eunuchs cowered and panic among each other, "All you, shut your traps-!"

"Oh, my~! You seem rather upset~," A woman speaking in a southern accent enter the room from the shadow. She had gray mischievous eyes that seem to be able to stare anyone down and had gray bundled hair despite being so young. She also wore a white Taoist Gown, "Did something happen~?"

"…! O-In! I just receive report that Kou-Ran Pass has fallen!"

"Ah~! I know that already~," O-In Shishi waved it off as if it was no big deal.

"How can you be indifferent about this!? The Coalition Army will be here soon without Kou-Ran Gate! They will murder us easily since there are only Royal Guards here!"

"You need not to worry about that~…"

"…?"

"According to reports, despite successfully taking Kou-Ran Pass, the Coalition has stopped there now to celebrate their 'great achievement'~. It would appear they are going to celebrate all night~…"

"…! … …Is that so?"

"Yes~! That is plenty of time for you to make preparation~…"

"…Yeah~!" Chou-Jou smirked evilly as she began humming in thought, "Now then, I believe those fools still do not know I am behind this?"

"They still call themselves the 'Anti-Tou-Taku Coalition'~…"

"Excellent! Let them keep thinking that! Once they arrive, we the Ten Eunuchs shall personally present Tou-Taku to them and-…"

Just then, a royal guard burst into the room. "R-Reporting! We had just discovered the prison where we left Tou-Taku in is empty!"

"…! W-What did you say~!?"

"A-Also! Ka-Ku is also missing! We searched the palace, but we cannot find a trace of them anywhere!"

"…! You useless fool!" Chou-Jou exclaimed in rage as she threw an ink-stone at the royal guard, who barely dodged it, "Get out of my sight!"

"Y-Yes!" the guard managed before running out.

"Damn it! I screwed up! To think Ka-Ku would dare take away Tou-Taku while I was not looking!"

"Sigh~! How troublesome those two are~!" O-In cross her arms behind her neck with a smug expression, "I was so busy, I did not keep an eye on them either~…"

"…! How can you be so relax? Tou-Taku got away!"

"Who cares~? The Crucial Keys has amassed all the energy it can from here, so there is no need for Tou-Taku anymore~…"

"What!? Then…"

"If she ran away, that saves you the trouble of killing her…"

"But then what can I use for a scapegoat then!?"

"No need to find another scapegoat~…"

"Eh?"

"…Let me see~! How did that children's song go again~? 'A Kan in the west, a Kan in the East~! Move to Chou-Ann, and you will worry least~!'…"

"…! Ah~! I see!" A smile of understanding flashed across Chou-Jou face, "Very good, what it says is very good!"

"Indeed~! Raku-You has been the capital in the east for 200 hundred years; its days are over~. I have been observing the celestial signs at night~. I saw that the Imperial Aura has settled on Chou-Ann~…"

"…Very well. We have no choice. In order to protect the Emperor, we shall escort the Emperor westward and move the capital city to Chou-Ann…"

"…I advise you take all the Lords and Ministers as well, have them hurry and make the necessary preparations~…"

"That is a given," Chou-Jou huffed before humming in thought, "And if I remember correctly, our funds are rather low right now…"

"Yes~! I am certain the richer Nobles would just hide their wealth and secretly move it somewhere else during this move, instead of putting it to good use~. There are also plenty of funds found in a place no commoners can reach~…"

"…? … … … …What!? You are asking me to defy the Tombs of the Former Emperors?"

"I did not say that~! But I suppose that is one such method~…"

Chou-Jou staggered a bit at the idea as the other eunuchs whispered tensely amongst themselves. "But…! To defile the Tombs of all places…"

"So Chou-Jou is saying that you should allow the Coalition to soiled the Tomb instead~? They too would need funds to continue pursuit should they discover the truth…"

Chou-Jou stared at O-In in shock of the possibility; realizing she was right she nodded wearily. "Yes, you are correct…"

"Ah~, also, take the civilians as well~…"

"…? But the commoners are worth as much as dirt!"

"You may not care whether they live or die~, but at least use them as nice meat-shield should another crisis arise~!"

"Hmm… … …True~! Alright, hey you all!" Chou-Jou suddenly called to the other nine Eunuchs. "Beginning making preparation!"

"Y-Yes!" They all nodded and set off.

---

"Listen up men!" A high-ranking soldier called over the scrabbling of feet of his underlings, "The royal court needs money to finance not only for the continuing war with the Coalition, but also to finance the relocation to Chou-Ann! Thus, we shall confiscate the assets of rich in Raku-You!"

"Sir!" Following the orders, both lieutenant and soldiers scatter throughout the capital, swiping riches in all form possible, for days to come.

While all this is happen, in the confusion, houses were burned down, citizens injured or trampled, women of all age and background were captured, and lives were destroyed. Even the Ancestral Tomb of the Emperors had been thoroughly stripped of goods.

By the end of those days, Chou-Jou has acquired enough valuables to move. Heeding the advice made by O-In, she also took the civilians by forces. And, as if to deliver the finishing blow, she ordered the palace to be burned.

---

Meanwhile, back at Kou-Ran Pass…

The Coalition had successfully penetrated the fortress and continued onward to Raku-You. Soon within a matter of days, they would have found the Capital being plundered and looted.

… …Or at least that is how it should have been. En-Shou, being so full of herself for 'capturing' the impregnable Kou-Ran Pass, decided that instead of moving forward as soon as possible…

"…Our forces had work so ever hard for me already," En-Shou declared, "They did so well to follow my—Yes, mine, the most distinctive warlord of the land, En-Shou Honsho, the Supreme Commander of the Anti-Tou-Taku Coalition—orders. Therefore, I shall allow them—out of my noble generosity for their faithful servitude for me—to rest and give all of us the chance to celebrate my glorious victory! Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho…"

…Is what she said. Since the battle was pretty exhausting, and since no one could convince En-Shou to change her mind anyhow, everyone tiredly accepted it.

…Well, not everyone.

"…Honestly~!" Kan-U huffed as she watched all the soldiers drinking, eating, and enjoying themselves to the fullness, "How can we just stop!? Should we not focus on hurrying to Raku-You and eliminate Tou-Taku already?"

"Most logically, yes," Shokatsu-Ryou sighed, "But En-Shou is firm on this decision. We cannot argue back otherwise…"

"Well," Ryuu-Bi sighed, "The soldiers are grateful at the very least…"

"Of course they are. Unlike us, the soldiers find this celebration a gift to them. The majority of them are here only because they are brought here, not to be concern about the Kan Dynasty…"

"Boo~!" Chou-Hi booed as she puffed her cheek in anger, "We are wasting time here~!"

"… …Ha-Ha, I most certainly agree with you, little one!" A voice called out as some distinctive looking people in red armor came over.

"…!? Who art thou?" Kan-U demanded, "Wander in other's camp-!"

"Aisha, calm down!" Ryuu-Bi soothed Kan-U's hostility before turning to the new arrival, "I am sorry about that! Welcome to the Yuu-Shu Army's Camp…"

"…Oh~!" the leading figure hummed as she scan Ryuu-Bi from top to bottom, "What a distinctive person. You could only be the Messenger from Heaven of Yuu-Shu or the Descendant of Imperial Royalty, no?"

"Uh, yes," Ryuu-Bi nodded, "Ryuu-Bi Gentoku, the Descendant of Imperial Royalty…um…?"

"Son-Saku Hakufu," the leading lady informed, "Leader of the Kou-Tou Army…"

"Ah, yes! We met occasionally in the Coalition Meeting, though not officially…"

"Son-Saku?" Shokatsu-Ryou blinked in awe, "Could it be that you are the Little Conquer of Kou-Tou?"

"That is correct," one of the companies of Son-Saku confirmed, "And I would advise you remember that from now on, Shokatsu Koumei…"

"Hawa!?" Shokatsu-Ryou yelped, "You know who I am?"

"Naturally…"

"… …Could it be that you are the Kou-Tou Army's main strategist, Shuu-Yu the Fair?"

"…Humph. I expect that much at least from you, Koumei-dono…"

Shokatsu-Ryou giggled. "…Unlike I, Shuu-Yu-san is much more well known, desu. I am honor to meet you, desu…"

"…As am I…"

"This is the first time Meirin has spoken such words of respect to anyone outside our faction…" Son-Saku claimed as she and Ryuu-Bi giggled at the exchange.

"Well," Ryuu-Bi smiled, "At least they are getting along, as fellow strategists…"

"Nyah-ha!" Chou-Hi grinned, "For now at least, until Shuri notice the biggest difference between them~…"

Shokatsu-Ryou blinked at the comment Chou-Hi made before looking at Shuu-Yu and then down on herself. After about three seconds, she turned with angry frown at Chou-Hi.

"Rinrin-chan~…" Shokatsu-Ryou growled, doing her best to control her voice level from exploding, "…What exactly are you implying~?"

"Rinrin is not implying anything~!"

"If that is the case than why are hiding behind me?" Kan-U asked with a sweat drop as Chou-Hi cowered behind her.

"Just in case…"

Son-Saku giggled. "My, what an interesting child…"

"…Son-Saku-sama," the third member of Son-Saku group whispered to her, "That is Chou-Hi Yokutoku; I have seen her on the battlefield…"

"Is she now~?"

"Yes she is," Ryuu-Bi confirmed, before pointing to Kan-U, "She and Aisha here are my sworn sisters…"

"…!" the last member of Son-Saku group noted Kan-U, who was still holding her weapon, "A Green Dragon Crescent Blade? Could she be Kan-U Unchou; the same one to capture Ka-Yuu back at Shi-Sui Pass?"

"I am!" Kan-U nodded, "And you are…?"

"Ah, she is my sister," Son-Saku identified her last companion.

"Oh~!" Shokatsu-Ryou awed, "Then that means she is Son-Ken Chuubou, the Son Princess of Tranquility?"

"Ugh," Son-Ken hiccupped with a sweat drop, "Are rumors about me as such?"

Son-Saku laughed. "Well, it is not exactly untrue…"

"Nee-sama!"

Ryuu-Bi chuckled at the exchange until another voice spoke up.

"Humph, such a friendly atmosphere…" a voice full of arrogant spoke. Everyone turn to see four people enter the camp.

"…! Sou-Sou-san!" Ryuu-Bi greeted the short blond in surprise.

"It is Sou-Sou-sama to you!" The one-eyed general with Sou-Sou hollered at Ryuu-Bi.

"Hey!" Chou-Hi growled as she and Kan-U instinctively put themselves between Sou-Sou group and Ryuu-Bi, "You cannot talk to Touka-nee-chan like that! … …Wait, who are you again?"

The one-eyed general caught herself from falling in shock. "What-!? Do not tell me you do not remember me!"

"Let Rinrin see," Chou-Hi racked her brain to see if she can remember her, "…Rinrin thinking Rinrin saw you somewhere, but Rinrin does not remember well…"

"…Ugh! Thou dare make a fool of me!?" the one-eye general growled as everyone else on the scene sweat dropped, with Son-Saku the only trying to suppress her chuckle, "How bad-mannered of thee to forget this Kakou Genjou!"

"… … …Ah! Come to think of it, you look like that Onee-chan that was with Sou-Sou before!"

"I do not just simply look like; I am the person you speak of! And it is Sou-Sou-sama to you!"

"Is that right? …But, Onee-chan, what happened to your eye?"

"I ate it…"

"Oh, you ate it…"

A moment of silence passes before Son-Ken, Ryuu-Bi, Shokatsu-Ryou, and Chou-Hi exclaimed, "You ATE it!?"

"Of course," Kakou-Ton huffed proudly, "I receive this body from my parents. I cannot let even a single bit of it go to waste, damage or undamaged!"

"Whoa!" Ryuu-Bi managed, "So instead of discarding your damage eye, you ate it so it would not go to waste? That is amazing…"

"It is nothing special~…"

"So the youngster says," the third companion of Son-Saku huffed as she watches Kakou-Ton flush in embarrassment, "Yet your reaction says otherwise…"

"Indeed," Sou-Sou second General sighed, "Sister, stop getting drawn into their pace…"

"Oh!? That is right," Kakou-Ton straighten herself out immediately, "that was close. I was about to go along with this idly conversation!"

"That is NOT the problem here," Sou-Sou final group member sweat dropped.

"Hah~," Sou-Sou sighed in exasperation, "It cannot be help, Keifa. It is Shunran, after all…"

"True…"

"Jun-Iku!" Kakou-Ton frowned, "It is not as if this is the battlefield! What I do now would not happen then!"

"…Nyah-ha," Chou-Hi giggled, "this Onee-chan is amusing…"

"Rinrin," Kan-U sweat dropped, "No need to go that far…"

"I am in agreement with General Chou-Hi though," Son-Saku giggled.

"Son-Saku-sama," the third, still unidentified, member of Son-Saku group sighed, "Please remember your position…"

"Mou~, Kou-Gai-dono is being mean~!"

"Sheren," Shuu-Yu sighed as well, "please~!"

"Alright, alright, I get it~! … … …By the way, Sou-Sou," Son-Saku turned to Sou-Sou, "I heard that you and Yuu-Shu do not get along. Why are you here then?"

"Oh~? And I suppose you have been friendly with the Yuu-Shu Army?" Sou-Sou countered.

"No, but at least I was not making an enemy out of them…"

"…Umm," Ryuu-Bi sweat dropped as she watch sparks fly between Sou-Sou and Son-Saku, "So, may I ask why you two are here?"

"… …Humph," Sou-Sou huffed, breaking away from Son-Saku, "I am here to retrieve one of my subordinate, and she has rumor to have been seen here after the battle of Kou-Ran…"

"…! Oh?" Son-Saku blinked in surprise, "You as well?"

"…'you as well'? Are you here to pick up someone too, Son-Saku?"

"Yes. Kou-Gai-dono said there was nothing to worry about, but when he did not return I began to worry. So when I heard that he was seen around the Yuu-Shu Army's camp…"

"…Oh!" Ryuu-Bi thumped her palm, "Sou-Sou-san must be here for Shiba-san, and Son-Saku-san must be here for Taiki…"

"Well," Son-Ken nervously chuckled, "We know for certain now that Taiki had met the Generals of the Yuu-Shu Army, at least…"

"Well, leaving my Sister's comment aside," Son-Saku laughed, "Yes, is Taiki here?"

"…Well, he was, but then he went off somewhere with Kazuto-kun and Shiba-san…"

"…HUH!?" Sou-Sou frowned, "Shiba Izumi is with that Ugly Man?"

"…Y-Yes," Ryuu-Bi sweat dropped, "I do not know the circumstances, but they all seem to know each other…very well, in fact…"

"… … …HUH!?" Son-Saku, Son-Ken, and Sou-Sou exclaimed.

---

Elsewhere not too far from the Coalition camp…

"…PHEW~!" Taiki puffed after downing his sixteenth cup of wine, while holding a chicken leg in one hand, "That is good~! Kazuto! I'm envious~! Your camp got some nice refreshment~!"

"…As barbaric on the table as always, I see," Izumi sighed as she properly picked up her food with her chopsticks and place it in her mouth.

"And I see you still act like a proper lady~…"

"I don't just act; I am a proper lady…at least on the table…"

"Boring~! Come on; eat some chicken like you mean!" Taiki proceed to try shoving his chicken leg into Izumi's mouth.

"…!? STOP, YOU IDIOT! CUT IT OUT!" Izumi desperately resisted as she use her chopsticks to keep the chicken leg away.

"…Taiki, stop it," Kazuto sweat dropped, eating not nearly as proper as Izumi but not nearly as improper as Taiki, "You know that she doesn't like unmannerly things like that…"

"You're too soft, Kazuto!" Taiki finally stop playing with Izumi and got down to start devouring his chicken leg.

"At least he has some common sense," Izumi sighed in relief with an irritated expression.

"…Somehow, when Shiba-san say it like that, it doesn't sound like a compliment," Kazuto nervously laughed, "Though I'm used to it by now…"

"Seriously, Kazuto," Taiki huffed, "You need to man up! You're so submissive…"

"…You can hardly blame Hongou-san for that, Sonoma-senpai," Izumi huffed as she continued to eat, "Against the two of us, geniuses of our own rights, what ground can he stand on…"

"You make it sound as if he's worthless," Taiki laughed.

"He hasn't drop to that degree…fortunately for him…"

"Hey," Kazuto sweat dropped with a comically nauseous expression, "Don't talk about me like I'm not here…"

"Whoops~!" Taiki chuckled nervously, "I screwed up…"

"…Imbecile," Izumi huffed as she continues eating.

"Hey, you were the one badmouthing him…"

"I've only stated the truth…"

"Ouch," Kazuto comically sulked.

---

"By the way," Taiki smirked at Kazuto, once they had stopped eating (but still drinking), "I heard that you're now the Messenger from Heaven, Kazuto~…"

"Yeah~," Kazuto nervously laughed, "But, as I guess, you two already notice that it's a fraud…"

"A fraud perhaps," Izumi hummed, "But a good one to obtain quick power and reputation. Not to mention, that is your only advantage in this world…"

"Yeah. To be honest, I'm only doing this so I can help my comrades…"

"Well, there couldn't be any other reason," Taiki laughed, "You are Kazuto…"

"…Is that supposes to mean something?"

"It just means you're an idiot," Izumi coldly translated, causing Kazuto to comically sulk, "But, to honest, I didn't think it would have such a great impact on how people view you…"

"You'll be surprise," Taiki bitterly laughed, "As soon as everyone in Kou-Tou thought I was the Messenger as well, they desperately try to recruit me…"

"… …Eh!?" Kazuto blinked, "People thought you are a Messenger from Heaven too?"

"…? Yeah…"

"…I was called that once as well," Izumi informed.

"Seriously!?"

"Yes, but unlike Hongou-san or you, I obtain my ranking through my own power; not by relying on some random rumor…"

"Once upon a time, I would call it a random rumor," Kazuto sighed, "but after hearing the prophecy, where the rumor originated from, I believed it…"

"…The Prophecy?"

"Yeah, a famous oracle told both Ai—I mean, Kan-U and Chou-Hi that they will meet the Messenger from Heaven when they meet the Descendant of Imperial Royalty that goes by the common name of Gentoku who lived in a house that rest under a 'sacred withering mulberry tree'…"

Izumi and Taiki sweat dropped. "… … … …That's, um, very…detailed…"

"The funny part is that it was all completely like how this oracle said it would, though I don't know about the part about the 'helping put an end to the chaos' part…"

"…This oracle," Taiki hummed, "By the chance you got the name?"

"…? Um, I think Kan-U had called him Kan-Ro…"

"So it was him…"

"…?" Izumi raised an eyebrow, "You've heard the name as well, Sonoma-senpai?"

"Yeah… …Wait, you heard of the guy too!?"

"Sou-Sou-sama mentioned it when she first addressed me as a Messenger from Heaven…"

"Whoa, fancy that," Kazuto frowned uncomfortably, "We all got named, at least once, as a 'Messenger from Heaven' by the same person…"

"Yeah," Taiki nodded, "If I remember correctly, Sher—I mean, Son-Saku and her company heard about this prophecy when the Oracle guy predicted her death and told her how to overcome it…"

"…Really~?" Izumi hummed, "Please continue. I didn't get to hear the prophecy in detail…"

"You didn't!?" Kazuto and Taiki gasped in surprise.

"… …I'll ignore that…Sonoma-senpai, continue…!"

"Right~!" Taiki sweat dropped, "Anyway, according to Renf—I mean, Son-Ken, the prophecy about the Messenger from Heaven went like this: 'The end of the Kan Dynasty; once it has come to light, chaos will begin to shroud the land and the world would destroy itself in the confusion. But all will not be lost. For it will be during this time of great need that the Heaven shall send down three messengers, each inheriting the soul of one of the Three Sovereigns of the great past, to quell the chaos and restore order to the world. Each Messenger shall have different fate, as one shall meet in the great plains of the north a person by the common name of Gentoku a Descendant of Imperial Royalty, another shall prove their worth and brilliancy in the mountains of the west, and the final one shall heal the wounds of the wetland of the southeast which was created by the fall of their mighty Tiger'…is how it went…"

"…You have a surprising astounding memory, Sonoma-senpai," Izumi replied with an overwhelmed expression.

"…Three Messengers from Heaven," Kazuto hummed, "Each supposedly inheriting the soul of one of the Three Sovereign. One will meet the Descendant of Imperial Royalty. One will prove her worth and brilliancy. And one will heal the wounds of the wetlands with the passing of Son-Ken Bundai…"

"… …A perfect match…"

"…Taiki. Did the oracle say who will have who?"

"If you're talking about the souls of the Three Sovereign," Taiki noted, "there are the 'Moon Healing Tiger', the 'Sea Nourishing Dragon', and the 'Sun Inspiring Phoenix'. From what the guy told Son-Saku, I got the soul of the Moon Healing Tiger Sovereign…"

"Going by the clues in the prophecy and characteristic," Izumi hummed, "That makes me the holder of the Sun Inspiring Phoenix Sovereign's soul…"

"Well," Kazuto hummed, "I can see that. Taiki always had that sort of reliable feeling to him, with a 'healing-like' quality that seems to brighten people's spirits in any case. And Shiba-san has been known to inspire others to do better than they had before…"

"Well," Taiki laughed, "If you put it that way…"

"Still, Hongou-san with the soul of the Sea Nourishing Dragon Sovereign, huh," Izumi hummed before chuckling knowingly, "It certainly fits him…"

"Eh? You think so?" I blinked.

"Think so?" Taiki laughed, "We know so! You're kind to everyone, won't abandon a friend in need, and place others before yourself…you're the most ideal candidate for having that kind of soul in you…"

"Really? I never thought of it like that…"

"You really are an Imbecile…" Izumi exasperated.

"Ouch…"

"I guess it's true that people notice things about others better than they do themselves," Taiki chuckled.

"…You're one to talk," Izumi rolled her eyes.

---

"…Ahem! …Anyway," Kazuto coughed, ready to move the subject into a different direction, "Uh, what about you two?"

"…? What about us?" Taiki asked stupidly.

"…Ignoring Sonoma-senpai and his rather pathetic question," Izumi sighed.

"Hey-!"

"I managed to work my way into Sou-Sou-sama's favor," Izumi continued without missing a beat, "And had become one of Sou-Sou-sama's strategist…"

"Is that…so…?" Kazuto frowned a bit when he heard this.

"…? Why are you making such a face, Hongou-san?"

"Well, if Shiba-san really was one of the Kyo-Shou Army's strategists, I'm confused as to why you made such a mistake…"

"… …I beg your pardon? Are you implying I made a mistake~!?"

"…Oi~, Kazuto," Taiki sweat dropped with an uncomfortable frown, "It's not a good idea to say such a lie, and you know it…"

"No, I'm serious. You two remember Shi-Sui Pass, right?"

"…? … …Ah~! You are speaking about how we left the Yuu-Shu Army as the vanguard?" Izumi muttered.

"That! If Shiba-san really was the strategist, I would have expected that kind of move during the Battle of Kou-Ran Gate instead…"

"…Ah~, I see. Well, I cannot fully blame Hongou-san then…"

"Eh?"

"That strategy was not my doing, though I did try to prevent it…"

"Oh~!"

"Oh, that explains it!" Taiki nodded to himself, "Since I found out that Izumi-chan-…"

"Shiba-san!" Izumi hissed.

"Okay~, Shiba-san…was part of Kyo-Shou; I was wondering why she would take such a despicable plan, taking the credit of a success while using others and all…"

"I would have used such a plan during Kou-Ran Gate, had it not been for the fact the Kyo-Shou Army done it during the Shi-Sui Pass…"

"Oi, seriously?"

Kazuto laughed. "Well, even if you did, Shiba-san, I bet it would have been in a way that everyone that participate in the takeover have equal amount of recognition for the gate's capture…"

Izumi grumbled as turned away with a blush.

---

"Well~," Taiki began, "As for me, I became one of the General of the Kou-Tou Army. I even got a fancy new title…"

"Let me guess," Izumi rolled her eyes knowingly, "It has the word 'Tiger' in it?"

"Oh~! As expected of I-…" Taiki stopped when he notice Izumi's glare, "… …Shiba-san! You guess it right away!"

"It's not too hard, Taiki," Kazuto sweat dropped, "You always end up with that kind of name, like the 'Tiger of Kyoto' or the 'Devouring Tiger of Pizza H*t' or something…"

"Oh, I see," Taiki nodded in understanding, "Well, now I'm called the 'Young Tiger of Kou-Tou', in honor of Son-Ken Bundai…"

"…In honor?" Izumi gave a confused face, before widening her eyes as if she finally recalled something, "Ah, that's right. Son-Ken Bundai passed away already…"

"…Yeah," Taiki frowned.

"…About that, what's going on!?" Kazuto exclaimed, "Son-Ken Bundai isn't supposed to die…at least not until after the Campaign against Tou-Taku…"

"I thought so too. You can imagine how shock I was when I found out about this. I really wanted to meet her, even if it's just once…"

"Yes, I was shock about this too," Izumi admitted, "…Do you know what happen?"

"From what Sai—I mean, Kou-Gai told me, she was critically injured when she rescued Son-Saku from an ambush during a campaign…"

"I see," Kazuto sighed, "I bet she would have been amazing…"

"Yeah~! Damn it all!"

---

"Indeed," Izumi sighed, "This alternate version of the Three Kingdoms is just full of surprise…"

"Speaking of which," Kazuto noted, "Why is it so different? How come some of the famous figure of the Three Kingdom era all girls, for instant…?"

"Now that you mention it, yeah," Taiki added, "Could you imagine how it was like rescuing Son-Saku when complete oblivious about it and then to discover Son-Saku is also a chick? I'd screamed my head off!"

"I was startled by this fact as well," Izumi informed, "But not as much as to the fact that we came to this world. It is obviously this is not our own world or timeline…"

"Yeah~, how did that happen anyway? How did we end up here?"

"I have no explanation. My only guess is…"

"It had to do something about that thief and the destroyed mirror?" Kazuto muttered.

"Yes, considering I had just recently fought someone that had used sorcery, it is likely that breaking the mirror was some sort of trigger that brought us into this world…"

"Yeah," Taiki nodded, "But I don't get it. Why back to the Era of the Three Kingdoms? Why into a world that sounds like something that Oikawa twisted up?"

Izumi sweat dropped in discomfort. "Why must you bring him up?"

"Because this is exactly the kind the plot Oikawa would come up with. All the famous Generals and Warlords of the Three Kingdoms become sexy girls and started to-…"

"Ugh, enough! I do not need to hear anymore!" Izumi quickly intervened with a sicken expression before Taiki can get in more depth of details.

"Eh? You're not going to deny it?"

"Unfortunately, there's a lot of girls getting all pink eye for Sou-Sou-sama, so…"

"Pink eye?"

"…Meaning there are girls among Sou-Sou-sama's General who wish to make the beast with two backs…"

"… …Huh?"

Izumi sweat dropped uncomfortably. "Simply speaking, the female Generals don't mind making love to Sou-Sou-sama…"

"Eh!? … … …Oh~! I see. Wait, does that mean-…?"

"NO! I do NOT swing that way!"

"Okay~! Sorry…"

---

"… …Taiki," Kazuto suddenly voiced sadly, "Shiba-san… …I'm sorry…"

"Hmm?" Taiki blinked, "Where did that come from, Kazuto?"

"I'm talking about that thief incident…"

"…? … … …Oh, that!"

"It was my fault that you all are stuck here in this world with me. I didn't heed Shiba-san's warning and went off to stop the thief out of my own self-righteous. I even got you two into my fight, saving me for that matter. I was the one who tackle the thief, which cause the mirror to break. It was my fault…"

"You bet it was!" Izumi stood up, towering over Kazuto like an angry parent lecturing a misbehaving child, "Don't think I have forgotten about it, you Imbecile!"

"…Sorry…"

"You're an Idiot!"

"…Yeah…"

"Because of what you did, we all end up getting dragged into this surreal mess…"

"…I know…"

"And now we are part of one of the most bloodiest period of human history, where it's killed or be killed!"

"…I know…"

"And as if that wasn't bad enough, you're still carrying a wooden sword and fighting battles of sports and honor! Such a thing could have gotten us all killed during the fight with Ryo-Fu and yet you put yourself in her path, forcing the two of us to risk our lives to fix your mistake!"

"…Sorry…"

"H-Hey, Izumi-chan," Taiki sweat dropped, "Don't you think you're going too far? Kazuto's life points are already dangerously low…"

"SHIBA-SAN, for the last time! And no! Hongou-san needs to be told up straight in order to realize his mistake-!"

"Even if you do that, you'll know Kazuto would do it again if he needs to. He is Kazuto…"

"… …Well, that is true…"

"And it not like he was the only doing something wrong that night…"

Izumi flinched a bit. "I don't know what you're talking about…"

"Come on, Izumi-chan, Kazuto would've been the only one in this mess if we didn't went to the museum that night as well, since we both couldn't put aside the fact we knew it was going to happen…"

Izumi was the silent one this time.

"Well~?"

"… …Oh alright, fine…" Izumi turned back to Kazuto, "… … …Apology accepted…"

"Same here," Taiki laughed as he patted heartily on Kazuto's back, "And it's not like I hate being here…"

"Eh?" Kazuto blinked in confusion.

"Really, not at all. Since if I wasn't here, Son-Saku would be sure to have died and everyone I know in Kou-Tou would be very sad…"

"…And I finally putting my intellect to good use at last," Izumi coughed in addition, "here in this world, in Kyo-Shou, I mean. Beside, you were the one that indirectly saved us when we became incapable of fight or flight due to that's thief's killing aura and all…"

"Yeah! You were pretty cool back then, speaking of which. I was impressed! So don't go beating yourself up about it anymore, okay?"

Kazuto blinked at his friends' words before smiling in relief. "Thanks you two…"

---

"Well~!" Taiki sighed, "Now that that's clear up, what are we going to do now?"

"You mean about how are we going to get home?" Izumi asked, "Or how are we going to deal with the situation at hand?"

"A bit of both, actually…"

"Yeah," Kazuto nodded, "I mean, I want to go home too, but I don't just want to just leave my new comrades either…"

"Kind as ever I see, Hongou-san," Izumi huffed, "Well, I don't like leaving a task undone anyhow, so I shall let that slide without too much comment…"

Taiki laughed. "So all in all, you've grown attached to this world too, huh~?"

"I've spoken nothing of the sort! Anyhow, about the method to get home, I believe we should start from the sources of it…"

"The sources?" Taiki and Kazuto repeated in confusion.

"… …Must I really spell it out?"

Taiki and Kazuto nodded in unison.

"…Sigh~…We must start by locating that Oracle person, Kan-Ro, to begin with…"

"Why?" Taiki asked.

"Obviously because it was he who predicted our coming into this world. It stands to reason that he can foretell a method for us to return back to our world…"

"Oh~!" Taiki thumped his palm in understanding.

"But he's a traveling oracle," Kazuto pointed out, "Finding him will be harder than finding a needle in a haystack, considering the fact at least with the needle and the haystack they aren't moving…"

"Indeed," Izumi sighed, "That will be the most challenging part of our quest to return…The worse possible scenario would be the fact that once we wasted precious manpower we find that the oracle has no information to give…"

"T-That's also a problem…" Taiki sweat dropped, "I didn't even get to see the oracle…"

"And I cannot waste Sou-Sou-sama's manpower for something like this. Even the mere mention of its purpose would get me a death sentence, considering Jun-Iku-dono doesn't seem to fancy me…"

"…? You got someone giving you the cold shoulders too?"

"Judging from your sentence, I presume you as well?"

"Yeah, Meirin—that is Shuu-Yu—seem not trust me that well. But I'm sure she'll warm up to me eventually…"

"Optimistic as always I see," Izumi huffed before turning to Kazuto, "I presume you have such problems as well, Hongou-san?"

Kazuto considered Izumi's guess for a moment before shaking his head. "…Not really, no…"

"… … …What?"

"I don't really have such a problem. Everyone I met and join me so far has treated me warmly…"

Izumi stared at Kazuto for a good minute before sighing. "It appears that your dumb luck got you into a stress-free environment…"

"Not exactly. I still dread the day I return to Yuu-Shu to continue my paperwork…"

"Seriously?" Taiki sweat dropped.

"I wouldn't put it as exaggeration if I said there are mountains of paper to work with everyday…"

"…You never did favor homework that involves lots of research," Izumi sighed.

"Well, yeah I guess. Anyway, putting that aside. About finding the oracle…"

"Yeah?" Taiki noted, "What about it?"

"…For now, I think it is best not to look for him. If he really is an oracle, than it stands to reason that we'll only find him when he allows us to find him. And that's perhaps only when he has an answer for us…"

Izumi and Taiki hummed in thought for a moment before nodding.

"I suppose you're right," Taiki agreed, "I suppose even if we do find him, it's not like we can force the guy to tell us something that he doesn't know yet…"

"Indeed," Izumi sighed before staring at Kazuto, "As usual, despite your usually vacant head, you've actually hit where it hurts without you even realizing it…"

"Huh?" Kazuto frowned, "You make it sound as if I'm stupid, Shiba-san…"

"To a certain extent, fortunately, and thank god not as far as Sonoma-senpai…"

"Yeah!" Taiki nodded before Izumi's words finally register in his mind, "Hey~!"

---

"Now," Izumi continued, "As for the situation at hand…"

"We all know what's going to happen after this Coalition, right?" Kazuto noted.

"Yeah~," Taiki sighed as he took a sip from his cup, "I heard it from Sai—I mean, Kou-Gai. The warlords will soon be fighting over each other for dominance…"

"And in the end, there will only be three major powers. Sou-Gi, Son-Go, and Sho-Ku…"

"Meaning eventually, we'll be fighting each other…"

"That is where you are all wrong," Izumi simply informed as she too took a sip from her cup.

"…? Isn't that how history said it would be?"

"Did history state that Ka-Yuu, Ryo-Fu, and Chin-Kyuu-dono would be capture in this event? Did history state that Son-Ken Bundai would be dead before the formation of the Coalition? Did history state that all the famous figure of the Three Kingdom Era would be girls?"

"… …Uh, no?"

"Exactly, history for this world is still in the making, yet to be written in stone. I'm sure you two had realized that by now, no?"

"I did," Kazuto nodded.

"Same here," Taiki nodded as well.

"History will only repeat itself if we allow it to repeat," Izumi coolly stated, "And I for one am aiming for a different future…"

"And what future is that?"

"Where Sou-Gi dominates over the land…"

"Oh, so that's how you see it happening, huh?"

"That is right. I believe Sou-Sou-sama's path for dominancy is the correct one. A path where if people desire a better life, as long as they work for it, it is possible to obtain it with their own hands. It is how things would be in future, would it not?"

Taiki laughed. "Maybe, but unfortunately that means you're against the Son Family's idea then…"

"Oh? How so?"

"If the future really hasn't been decided yet, than there still a chance to restore the Kan Dynasty that the Son Family solely believe in. They're not interested in domination, but if they must they will definitely fight anyone who is against the Kan Dynasty. That is what Son-Ken Bundai left behind for them…"

"And you really think that they can bring back a dying Dynasty?"

"Yeah…"

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I'm helping them…"

"How typical," Izumi rolled her eyes, before glancing at the silent Kazuto, "And what about you, Hongou-san. Surely you know that the ideas of Sho-Ku are too unrealistic…"

"…This has nothing to do with what history said about what Sho-Ku's aim is," Kazuto began, "All I want is to repay the kindness that the people in this world have given to me, a complete stranger. And I find that Ryuu-Bi, Kan-U, and Chou-Hi idea about creating a benevolent world is the best way to do so. That's all; we don't want to hurt or dominate anyone, we only want to make a better world for everyone and protect them and their peace, nothing more…"

"… … …That's a pretty honest and naïve answer," Izumi sighed with a bitter smile, "So typical of you…"

"Maybe it is naïve, but that's the path I've chosen to follow…"

Taiki nodded. "Well, I sure can respect that…"

"But then," Izumi huffed, "You all know that means, no?"

"Yeah," Kazuto sighed, "Even if we don't want to, we'll cross path each other as rivals…"

Taiki laughed. "Yeah, but that doesn't mean we can't still be friends, still looking for a way home, right?"

"…For once, I suppose," Izumi smiled, "we are in agreement…"

"You're right," Kazuto smiled as well before raising his cup, "So no matter what happens from now on, as a rival and as a friend, I won't back down so easily…"

"Neither will I," Izumi huffed, raising her cup in the process, "I have no plans on yield to either of you two…"

"Same here," Taiki smirked and raised his cup join the other two, "I'll take what I can, and give nothing back!"

Izumi sweat dropped with a deadpanned expression. "That quote has no significant purpose here!"

"Aw, come Izumi-chan, give me a break, I'm on a roll! Let me stay in character-…"

"Shiba-san! Is this concept too hard for you to understand!?"

Kazuto nervously laughed as Izumi and Taiki continue to argue.

---

Kazuto's P.O.V.

The next day, Touka-chan and I received an order to move our camp forward towards Raku-You, the Imperial Capital. After marching for about two days, the Anti-Tou-Taku Coalition finally began to settle down and we took a big break before heading onwards to the final battle.

"Finally another break," I sighed.

"…Do you think we can really keep pushing onwards and take down Raku-You, Shuri?" Touka-chan wondered in concern.

"I do not know," Shuri informed with a frown, "We still do not know how many troops are defending Raku-You…"

"Did you not send scouts?" Aisha wondered.

"Yes," Shuri frown deepened when she said that, "But they have not returned yet, desu…"

"Do you think they were compromised?" Rinrin wondered sadly.

"That is a likely guess," Aisha sighed, "…I wonder if either Sou-Sou or Son-Saku has obtained any information…"

"Doubtful," Shuri sighed, "Right now, I think it is best to assume we have no way of knowing about Raku-You…"

"Yeah," I sighed, "I check with Shiba-san and Taiki the other day. They too don't have any leads…"

"So we have to fight without knowing anything about opponent," Touka-chan summarized, "…That is tough…"

"Yeah, and with Raku-You only a matter of days march away…"

"Another dangerous battle awaits us then…"

"Especially with En-Shou leading us…"

Everyone sigh in displeasure until the soldier from the Ki-Shuu Army, who has been our messenger since the start, came up to us.

"I have orders from the Supreme Commander," the messenger soldier stated, "All important members of each camps are to report to the Main Camp for a meeting…"

"…Is this really an order from En-Shou?" I asked, suspicious of the uncharacteristic order that was made by En-Shou.

"… …Actually, the order was called forth by Sou-Sou, with En-Shou-sama agreeing to do so only after being nagged to do so…"

"…I see. Tell them we're on our way…"

The soldier nodded before leaving to the next camp.

"Sou-Sou-san called for the meeting?" Touka-chan blinked.

"I guess even Sou-Sou knew that the lack of information is no small matter," Aisha nodded, "The meeting is probably to gain any information anyone may have on the Hei-Shuu Army…"

"Well," Touka-chan sighed, "We do not have anything to lose this around, at least…"

---

A few minutes later, we found ourselves within the Coalition Meeting Area, which was this time held outside to accommodate the extra people that up to this point hadn't attended.

En-Shou, however, did not look pleased.

"…Everyone," En-Shou began as soon as everyone is accounted for, "I want everyone to know that the one who set up this irrelevant meeting today was not me. I would not be so foolish as to set something like this up at such a crucial time-…"

"That is right," Sou-Sou huffed, "I called all of you warlords here, after lecturing my mouth off to finally get En-Shou here to cooperate properly…"

"We heard you loud and clear," Son-Saku chuckled.

"Well," Hakukei huffed, "If it is Sou-Sou who arrange this meeting, then it should not be a waste of time…"

"Agreed," I huffed.

"What-? Hey now!" En-Shou exclaimed in surprise, "What are all of you implying!?"

"It means you cannot do your job," Sou-Sou cruelly informed.

"What-!? How dare you, claiming such a lie!"

"…I don't see anyone else disagreeing with the statement Sou-Sou gave," Taiki jumped in, causing the majority to chuckle in agreement.

"What-!? How dare you-! Who are you to dare insult me!?"

"Taiki Sonoma, nice to meet you~!"

"Nice to meet-! Ah-hey! What are you making me say!?"

"Nothing really…"

"Taiki," Son-Ken interjected with a worried expression and a sweat drop, "that's enough now…"

"Yes," Son-Saku chuckled, "Please stop before you make En-Shou join you in a comedy joke…"

"I wouldn't mind seeing that," En-Jutsu slipped in.

"Miu-chan!" En-Shou exclaimed.

"ANYWAY~!" Shiba-san cleared her throat loudly, enough to silent everyone, "Sou-Sou-sama, you may continue now…"

"Thank you," Sou-Sou smirked at Shiba-san's timing, "Well then, there is a purpose to this, as General Kouson-San pointed out. I am sure all of we can all agree that no matter how many scouts are sent out to scout out Raku-You, none of them return, correct?"

Everyone hesitated for a moment before nodding their heads.

"I thought so…That is why, considering we are about to head off to what we presume to be the final battle, I believe it is high pass time that we got serious and really begin cooperating…"

"We have been cooperating, midget," En-Shou huffed, unimpressed, "That is why we are all here, no?"

"…Sou-Sou-sama wouldn't have so much problem just getting this meeting set up had it we were cooperating, En-Shou," Shiba-san informed.

"…! Who are you?"

"I take pride in my name, normally I don't give it to Imbeciles like you," Shiba-san coldly informed. En-Shou began to argue back until Shiba-san quickly continues, "But for the sake of cooperation, the name is Shiba Izumi. End of discussion. Anyhow, the purpose of this meeting is for all of you warlords and generals to freely share any possible information about the Hei-Shuu Army that you may possibly have that you did not share before…"

"…That is correct," Jun-Iku agreed after a bit of hesitation. That's probably what Shiba-san meant when she said that Jun-Iku gave her 'cold shoulders'. "Any information at this point would be helpful…if anything to prevent any more disastrous casualties like the previous battles…"

En-Shou grumbled. "… …I had nothing to do with that…"

"Ignoring that pathetic excuse from En-Shou…"

"Hey-!"

"Does anyone have any leads?"

"You're free to say your piece now," Shiba-san informed, "Any bit would help now; I'm sure no one wants to have their army damaged any more than they already have, correct?"

With Shiba-san's final words, everyone began to gossip amongst their own group, wondering if anyone had any information.

"… …Um," At last, Ba-Chou stepped forward, "I am not sure this is any bit useful but…"

"…You're Ba-Chou the Splendid, no?" Shiba-san inquired.

"Yes…"

"Please tell us what you know. Anything concerning the Hei-Shuu Army is fine…"

"Well, okay," Ba-Chou inhaled before beginning, "It's about Tou-Taku…"

"Oh?"

"Well, to be honest, when we from the Sei-Ryou District heard that Tou-Taku was terrorizing Raku-You, some of us had a hard time believing that…"

"…?"

"The Hei-Shuu Province and the Sei-Ryou District are practically neighbors so we usually know what they are like and all. But from what we heard, the governing under Tou-Taku did not match that of what is happening in Raku-You. In fact, rumor was that Tou-Taku was a benevolent ruler, loved by everyone in Hei-Shuu…"

"What!?" En-Shou spoke everyone's mind, "How dare you speak in favor of a traitor-!"

"Putting the comment by En-Shou aside~," Taiki comically gestured his remark by making movements similar to how you would pick up a box to move somewhere else, earning some giggles and chuckles, "So, Ba-Chou, you found that to be odd…"

"Yes," Ba-Chou nodded, "There are even some people of Sei-Ryou who still doubt that the rumor of Tou-Taku tyranny in Raku-You are true…"

"… …I see," Shiba-san nodded to herself in thought, she must have made some sort of conclusion, "Thank you for the information, Ba-Chou-dono…"

Ba-Chou nodded before returning to her group.

Another person then stepped forward, this time it was En-Jutsu.

"I got something to say too!" En-Jutsu proclaimed.

"Oh~!" Taiki became excited, "Miu has something to contribute?"

"…! Hey you~!" En-Shou exclaimed loudly in disgust, "How dare you call my cousin by her true name!"

"Lighten up, Reiha-nee-sama," En-Jutsu sighed, "I gave Taiki-onii-chan permission to call me by my true name…"

"…! What-!?"

"It's, unfortunately, true," Shuu-Yu sighed as she gave Taiki a quick glare. I guess this is what Taiki meant when he said that Shuu-Yu gave him cold shoulders.

"Anyway," En-Jutsu continued, "This is what I want to say. While I may not have heard any rumors about Tou-Taku until now, and have not personally met her myself, I do know that my cousin, Reiha-nee-sama, does not like her one bit…"

"Ah-Hey!" En-Shou suddenly exclaimed, realizing where her cousin is getting to, "Miu-chan, what are you-!?"

"She would keep rambling on about how, in quote, 'Tou-Taku try to deceive everyone she meet' and how 'ignorant peasant and nobles would willingly fall for the fraud', how Tou-Taku would 'throw away her dignity by mingling with the commoners' to 'steal information so that she can further deceive them', and how Tou-Taku 'rob her of the fame she should have instead in the west'. That's how much I know how much Reiha-nee-sama would hate her…"

Everyone sweat dropped once En-Jutsu was finished.

"Humph," Sou-Sou huffed with a smirk, "For this bride thief to belittle someone so much, Tou-Taku must be quite a remarkable person…"

"…No offence," Hakukei sighed, "But the way En-Jutsu state it, it sounds as if Tou-Taku is popular with people of all status, a very benevolent person, and someone who has more reason to have more fame than En-Shou-san…"

"Hey!" En-Shou exclaimed.

"…But," Son-Ken hummed to herself, "This doesn't make any sense then. Judging from the information given so far, Tou-Taku is not such an evil person. Why would that change when she enter Raku-You?"

"I am confused by that too," Son-Saku nodded, "Pity that we do not have any other information…"

As everyone else was beginning to mumble in agreement, Rinrin suddenly began humming to herself.

"…? What's wrong, Rinrin?" I asked, catching everyone's attention.

"Hmm…You know, maybe Ryo-Fu knows something…" Rinrin suggested. Upon stating that, everyone began to mutter amongst themselves again.

"Oh~," Aisha nodded, "You are right…"

"Indeed," Shiba-san nodded as well, "She's a General under Tou-Taku, so it stands to reason that she should know something…"

"If we're going that far," Taiki noted, "The Yuu-Shu Army also have Chin-Kyuu and Ka-Yuu, right? We can ask them too…"

"Ah, no," Aisha frowned, "You are mistaken. Currently, En-Shou and her Ki-Shuu army possess Ka-Yuu-san…"

"…Huh?" En-Jutsu blinked as she glared at En-Shou, who is now fidgeting nervously, "this is the first time I have heard of that!"

"I was on the process of taking Ka-Yuu in, but the Ki-Shuu Army then came and insists that they handle Ka-Yuu-san. I thought that the Supreme Commander was going to interrogate herself, and I saw no reason at the time to refuse an ally, so…"

"…Is that right~," Sou-Sou hummed as she glared at En-Shou, "Is this true, oh great Supreme Commander~?"

En-Shou nervously advert her gaze as everyone glared at her for a moment.

"…So what if I did, hmm?" En-Shou suddenly came back arrogantly.

"When were you planning on telling us this!?" Kouson-San grumbled.

"If you had such an important piece of information in your reach," Sou-Sou hissed, "why have you not shared anything with the rest of us?"

"Do not assume things now, midget!" En-Shou defended herself, "I did interrogate her! It is just that… … …well, she was uncooperative…"

"So you got nothing…"

"Shut up!"

"Well, nevertheless," Shiba-san interjected before Sou-Sou and En-Shou began arguing nonstop, "Interrogating them now is an idea. En-Shou, please have your men fetched her…"

"Now why would I do that!?"

"So I can interrogate her myself, that's why…"

Taiki and I shuddered when she said that. Believe me when I said: being interrogated by Shiba-san is scary~!

"If that is the case," Son-Saku turn to Sou-Sou, "Your new additional General, Chou-Ryou, can help too, no?"

"…Ah yes," Sou-Sou nodded before turning to Jun-Iku, "Go get Chou-Ryou, Keifa…"

"Yes!" Jun-Iku bowed before heading off.

"…We might as well bring Chin-Kyuu and Ryo-Fu then too," I nodded, "…How are Chin-Kyuu and Ryo-Fu doing?"

"Surprisingly," Shuri answered, "they are being quiet. Would you like me to bring them here, My Lord?"

"Yeah, please…"

As soon as I said that, everyone became tense and started to whisper worryingly amongst themselves. Even Shiba-san glared at me as if I went insane.

"P-Please wait," Aisha halted Shuri before she could proceed and turn back to me, "We are talking about Ryo-Fu here! Just because she and Chin-Kyuu are quiet now does not guarantee she will stay quiet. If she becomes violent, she will be out of our control!"

Many others began to voice their agreement.

"If she does," Rinrin chimed, "Aisha and Rinrin will stop her…"

"That is right," Touka-chan nodded, "And even if we cannot, Kazuto-kun, Shiba-san, and Taiki are here. They stopped Ryo-Fu so easily before, with Red Hound even, they can do it again…"

"…Oh~!" Ba-Chou exclaimed, "So the rumors were true that Ryo-Fu was taken down by those three!"

Everyone in the meeting was now gossiping among themselves, giving the three of us (Shiba-san, Taiki, and me) a glance every now and then. Since the majority of them weren't at the front, it was only naturally that my battle alongside Shiba-san and Taiki against Ryo-Fu and Red Hound were only known firsthand by the few of those who were there.

"Those three stopped both Ryo-Fu and Red Hound at the same time!?" one general muttered in awe.

"It is possible," another stated, "I heard that the Young Tiger of Kou-Tou was the one who made Ryo-Fu retreat from attacking the Coalition Headquarters…"

"I also heard that there was a strategist amongst the Kyo-Shou Army was the one that single-handedly lead the round up the Yellow Scarves in Ei-Sen without losing a single soldier! She could be the one…"

"And that man from Yuu-Shu. He is the Messenger from Heaven…"

"I heard that all three of them are Heavenly Messengers…"

"Seriously!?"

"Yeah, I heard the famous Oracle Kan-Ro foretold their arrival…"

"Damn~, no wonder they could defeat Ryo-Fu and Red Hound together…"

"…Oh boy," I sighed, "Touka-chan, I think you set off a [time bomb]…"

"…? Tie-me boo-m-b? What is that?"

"Uh," I hiccupped, cursing myself for saying a word that didn't exist yet, "What I meant is you started a chain of event that we shouldn't start…"

"Oh~! … … …Oops…"

"Anyway," I turned back to Aisha, "Until we are needed, I'm counting on you, Aisha…"

"…Ugh," Aisha grimaced, "I am glad that you are counting on me, but I think it is too dangerous for us to interrogate her here, My Lord…"

"But unless we gather intelligence about Raku-You, our soldiers will be in danger…"

"That is true, but…"

"Then I'll do it. Shuri…?"

"… …Okay," Shuri gave me a tense nod and headed to the tent where Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu were being held. I guess even she was worry.

"… …Good grief," Aisha huffed to herself.

"Hmm? What?" I wondered.

"Once My Lord is determined, you would not listen to any of my admonitions…"

"That's not true," I claimed despite her pouting, "…I just think this is the best thing to do…"

"Maybe it is the best thing to do, but it is still very dangerous!"

"I know… …But I can only do things like this because I trust you all…"

"I thank My Lord for trusting me, but…"

"Yep, I trust you. So… …please?"

"…Ugh… …Fine. If My Lord says so, then I will protect My Lord with my life…"

"Sigh~," Rinrin sighed knowingly, "You know this is how things always turn out, so why do you even bother objecting?"

"…! S-S-S-S-S-Shut up, Rinrin!"

"Nyah-ha! Turning beet red is only going to show you are being bashful~!"

"…! Rinrin, you are asking for it!" Aisha balled her fist in anger.

"Rinrin is not scared~!"

"… …Then stop hiding behind me," I sweat dropped as Rinrin hid behind me.

"It is just in case…"

"In case of what…?" Just as I was arguing with Rinrin, Touka-chan spoke up nervously.

"Um, everyone," Touka-chan began with a sweat dropped, "We are still in the meeting…"

"Ah-!" It was only then did I notice that everyone was staring at us. Some, like Taiki, were chuckling at the live comedy drama in amusement. Some, like Shiba-san, were just glared at our bizarre live comedy drama, as if we were crazy. The rest, like Hakukei, sweat dropped or had a blank expression on their face, as if they had no idea how to react to our live comedy drama. "… …Oops…"

"Ugh," Aisha shrank in embarrassment.

"… ..Is it always like this, Hongou-san?" Shiba-san asked.

"Yeah~, pretty much," I admitted.

"Heh," Taiki smirked, "You all got some nice [chemistry] going on…"

"…!? Sonoma-senpai!" Shiba-san growled in agitation, "That is the wrong kind of remark to make!"

"…? Cam-as-tree?" Son-Ken repeated in confusion, "Taiki, what does that word mean?"

"Well," Taiki began, "I think it means-…"

"DON'T GO EXPLAINING THINGS AS IF YOU KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN!" Shiba-san and I exclaimed

"What~? It not like I'm explaining out a word like-…"

"STOP RIGHT THERE!"

"My goodness~!" En-Shou sighed, "What a bunch of children…"

"How ironic that you of all people are to say that," Sou-Sou grumbled.

"What-! How dare you little midget!"

"For the last time, do you want die!? Enough with the 'midget', you bride thief!"

"I redirect those words right back at you! I am no bride thief!"

"Another childish argue broke out," En-Jutsu chuckled nervously, "Though they are all fun to watch…"

"Indeed," Son-Saku chuckled.

"Hey~, Son-Saku, En-Jutsu," Hakukei sweat dropped, "They can hear you…"

"Oops, did I say out loud~?"

"Hey now~…!"

"Karin-sama, please stop," Kakou-Ton managed, "There is no need to argue with En-Shou!"

"The one-eye general is right, En-Shou-sama," one of En-Shou guard, Bun-Shuu I think, exclaimed, "We should not be argue like kids now…"

"…! I am sorry, Bun-Shuu-san! Do you have a problem with my missing eye!?"

"Bun-Shuu-san," En-Shou glared, "Are you saying that I argue like a child~?"

"Ah~!" Bun-Shuu exclaimed in shock, "En-Shou-sama, why are you teaming up with Kakou-Ton to attack me like this!?"

"…!? O-Oh dear that was close! I nearly did something unthinkable…"

"…!? O-Oh dear that was close! I nearly team up with En-Shou in conversation," Kakou-Ton exclaimed.

"Had you did," Sou-Sou glared, obviously disturbed, "I would kick you out instantly…!"

"Ah-! Karin-sama~!"

"This really is amusing," Son-Saku laughed.

"Sheren," Shuu-Yu sweat dropped, "Please do not get involve, in this…"

"Why not, I am feeling left out. Why not join them?"

"Sheren!"

"You got involve anyway," Taiki pointed out bluntly.

"…!? Shut up, Taiki Sonoma!"

"…Dear god," Shiba-san palmed her face in exasperation, "Look what you and your group started, Hongou-san…"

"Sorry," I sighed as I watch the spreading comedy as practically everyone began to get dragged in.

---

Finally, after a few minutes, everything quiet down again. And not a moment too soon as Jun-Iku return with a person I presume to be Chou-Ryou, Shuri return with Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu, and another bodyguard of En-Shou, Gan-Ryou I think, returning with Ka-Yuu.

"I have return!" Jun-Iku, Shuri, and Gan-Ryou called.

I heard several footsteps accompanying Shuri's voice. Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu came in, with Ryo-Fu surrounded by a few dozen robust soldiers.

"Hi," I greet the two, "Has everything been okay for you two in our camp?"

Ryo-Fu nodded, as mutely as ever.

"I'm glad to hear it…"

"I am…shocked. You really are an idiot," Chin-Kyuu pouted with a disbelief expression, "All you did was take away our weapons. You did not even tie us up…"

Everyone from outside our camp gave us an odd and startled look. They were wondering why Ryo-Fu wasn't tied up as like how Ka-Yuu was.

"…Anyway," I continued, ignoring everyone's stare, "There is something we want to ask you…"

"I would not speak even a word," Ka-Yuu suddenly hissed.

"…Those were the words she had ever willingly stated," Gan-Ryou informed.

"Still as stubborn as always I see," Chou-Ryou sighed.

"Silence, Chou-Ryou!" Ka-Yuu exclaimed, "How could you and Ryo-Fu lose like this?"

"You lost first, Ka-Yuu!" Chin-Kyuu huffed, "And it is because you went and did your own thing against the plan! All because of your stupid pride!"

"…! How dare you, Chin-Kyuu!"

"I warned you, didn't I?"

"What warrior would not at least show off their prowess even once on the battlefield!?"

"What kind of General who lose on the battlefield for the sake of showing off?"

"Enough!" Shiba-san ordered harshly, "Argue all you want later! Right now, you all will answer…"

"I refuse!" Ka-Yuu huffed.

"You will not get anything out of me!" Chin-Kyuu huffed as well.

"…Uh, Ryo-Fu," I began.

"… …?" Ryo-Fu tilted her head in confusion.

"I want to ask you about Tou-Taku and Raku-You. I'd appreciate it if you answered me honestly…"

"As if Ryo-Fu-dono would answer to you!" Chin-Kyuu growled.

I ignored Chin-Kyuu and waited for Ryo-Fu's responses. She looked at me for a moment before humming in thought.

"…Is that a no?" I asked.

"… …It is fine…" Ryo-Fu finally nodded.

"…!? Ryo-Fu-dono!?" Chin-Kyuu exclaimed in shock.

"Ryo-Fu!" Ka-Yuu exclaimed in the same manner, "Do not share information with the enemy!"

"Silent you two," Shiba-san simply ordered before turning to me, "It looks like you got on Ryo-Fu's good side somehow, Hongou-san. I'll leave her to you then…"

I nodded. In an interrogation, unlike one in the past such as this time period, it is important for the interrogator and the one he/she is working with to establish a connection. A familiar connection. It a trick that experts, such as police and investigator, use to get a truthful confession from a criminal.

"Okay," I began again, "…So you'll tell me what I want to know?"

Ryo-Fu nodded.

"Thanks…"

---

Taiki's P.O.V.

"…What is he doing?" Meirin sweat dropped, "This does not sound like an interrogation…"

"Indeed," Renfa nodded, "Hongou-san is talking to Ryo-Fu as if they are having idling conversation…"

"That's what makes a good one," I informed, "We're trying to get information as a friend, not as an enemy…"

"What?"

"People can naturally tell other people about things if they are friendly and not as an enemy…"

"… … …Ah~! I see~!" Sheren nodded in understanding, "Though it feels like we are tricking her…"

"Not really…"

---

Izumi's P.O.V.

"Why are you letting Hongou do this," Jun-Iku-dono whispered grudgingly to me, "I thought you were going to do it…"

"Why should I waste my effort," I countered, "True I am able to interrogate her too, but Hongou already establish a connection with Ryo-Fu, so I'll let him do all the work…"

"I see," Sou-Sou-sama smirked, "So you really would use your own friend to your own end…"

"Of course. I'm not kind enough to not do what is needed, Sou-Sou-sama, even if has been a friend…"

Sou-Sou-sama huffed in amusement as Jun-Iku just gave me a death glare.

---

Kazuto's P.O.V.

"…Here is the first question," I began, "How many soldiers are in Raku-You?"

"… …A lot," Ryo-Fu replied.

"A-A lot is too abstract…" Aisha sweat dropped. Her mutter was filled with a mix of anger and amazement, but quieted her with a glance.

"A lot, huh?" I continued to interrogate her, as pleasantly as possible, "Then what kind of General is leading so many troops?"

"… …Ei," Ryo-Fu answered.

"Ei?"

"… …Ka-Ku…"

"The two generals, Ka-Ku and Ei?"

Ryo-Fu shook her head.

"…?"

"… …Same person…"

"Same person? Umm…"

"…Could it be that," Taiki jumped in, "Ei is the true name of this Ka-Ku?"

Ryo-Fu nodded after a moment.

"…Ka-Ku," Shiba-san noted, "…As in Ka-Ku Bunwa?"

Ryo-Fu nodded again after a moment.

"Shiba-san," I noted, "You know who she's talking about?"

"…In a way," Shiba-san hesitantly nodded before coming over and whispering in my ear, "She is supposed to one day become a strategist of Sou-Gi, and before that mastermind the death of Ten-I…"

"Oh~!" I whispered back as I followed Shiba-san's eyes to the one I presume to be Ten-I.

"…I have never heard of such a General," Gan-Ryou claimed.

"Neither have I," Shuri frowned.

"Nor I," Shuu-Yu admitted.

"Maybe," the aid of En-Jutsu, Chou-Kun I believe, noted, "it is because she just not someone significant…"

"How dare thou!" Chin-Kyuu suddenly exclaimed, "Do not insult Nenene's teacher like that!"

"Teacher?" Shiba-san questioned.

"That is right! Ka-Ku-sensei taught me everything I know!"

"… …I see," Shiba-san stroked her chin in consideration, "Considering how well you did at Kou-Ran Gate, Ka-Ku-dono is very capable…"

"…Chin-Kyuu," Ka-Yuu muttered, "Why did you give them information?"

"Ugh-! Damn it-!" Chin-Kyuu cried in alarmed

"…And judging from Ka-Yuu-dono's remark and action at Shi-Sui Pass, had it not been for Ka-Yuu-dono's pride, we would have been defeated. Ka-Ku-dono is not to be underestimated…"

"…Now you gave her information, Ka-Yuu…"

"Ugh," Ka-Yuu grimaced.

"…Scary as always during interrogation, huh, Izumi-chan?" Taiki staggered a bit, disturbed.

"Shiba-san…" Shiba-san hissed.

"…So~," I continued with Ryo-Fu, "Can you tell me something about Ka-Ku?"

Ryo-Fu shook her head with a sad smile.

"Hmm? You don't know?"

Ryo-Fu nodded. She really didn't know anything more.

"…You expect us to believe that?" En-Shou muttered.

"En-Shou," I interjected tiredly, "Let me handle this. You just sit there and look pretty and important…"

"Ah, okay… … … …Hey, wait a minute!"

"Alright, next question," I continued as some of the other people suppress their giggle, "Could you tell me about Tou-Taku?"

"… …Yue," Ryo-Fu suddenly stated.

"Yue? Uh…"

"… …True name…"

"The true name of Tou-Taku is Yue, is that right?"

"Ah, I can vouched that," En-Shou suddenly stated.

"… …Eh?" Gan-Ryou spoke everyone's mind, "You can, En-Shou-sama?"

"Yea~! That arrogant girl and I once met, as my cousin pointed out. She was such a fool, trying to smooth talk with me. She even went and gave me her true name. Now I can humiliate her honor whenever I want now~!"

"…Judging from that and how even Ryo-Fu knows that name," Shiba-san hummed, "Tou-Taku is a kind person just as Ba-Chou-dono described…"

"…I'll say it again, scary~!" Taiki commented.

"…Yue, huh?" I noted, "What an elegant name for someone who is known as a diabolical despot…"

"… …No," Ryo-Fu suddenly denied.

"What?"

"Yue is kind…"

"Like I thought," Shiba-san noted.

"Kind," Aisha suddenly exclaimed, "She is a dictator who tyrannizes and suck the sweat, blood, and taxes from people!"

"… …Not her…"

"Hmm? Not her," Shiba-san suddenly noted, "…Since you are not denying Kan-U-dono's claim, the tyranny really is happening. But you're saying it is someone else's handiwork?"

"… …Chou-Jou…"

"Eh-?"

"…!? C-Chou-Jou!?" En-Shou and En-Jutsu exclaimed.

"Whoa," Taiki exclaimed in shock, "Miu, what's wrong?"

"I know her, the one that Ryo-Fu mention!" En-Jutsu exclaimed, "She is the Head of the Ten Eunuchs!"

When En-Jutsu stated that, everyone began to trade worry glances.

"Indeed~!" En-Shou face contrasted in anger, "So she is still alive!"

"You know her?" Sou-Sou blinked in surprise.

"Know her!? Let me tell you something, Sou-Sou! She is the worse! She and my good friend Ka-Shin have been political enemies since time began! It was on her orders that Ka-Shin-san was assassinated! When I heard that Tou-Taku took over afterwards, I glee at the rumor that Chou-Jou and her Eunuchs had been dispose of! … … …! I see~!"

"Eh? Now what!?"

"This was all Chou-Jou idea! She has always been talking about doing some unsightly things like raising the taxes and controlling business! But she never did so because Ka-Shin-san was there! I thought those horrific rumors about Raku-You had a strange and unpleasant nostalgic ring to it!"

"Ah! Now that you mention," Hakukei suddenly exclaimed, "I remember now. It was Chou-Jou who delayed reinforcement to me on my request. My messenger was practically beaten up for insisting the matter even further…"

"I got something to say as well," Touka-chan added, "When I and Kazuto-kun here became the Chief Magistrate of Yuu-Shu, Chou-Jou sent us an 'inspector' not long after the Yellow Scarves Rebellion was quelled. The inspector told us that if we want to remain as Magistrate, we need to 'pay up'. When we refuse, Chou-Jou sent a messenger to have us 'legally dispose' by placing crimes that we did not commit on our heads…"

"Yeah!" Rinrin confirmed, "Rinrin beat him up for that! He went crying back to the capital…"

"…I too had a run in with Chou-Jou," Son-Saku stated in disgust, "Whenever my mother answered her call at the palace. I did NOT like her; that is all that is need to be said…"

"…Judging from everyone's claims," Izumi hummed, "Chou-Jou is indeed a despicable person. This whole event is starting to look grimmer than I thought it would be…"

"So Chou-Jou is the one behind this?" I asked Ryo-Fu.

Ryo-Fu nodded. "… …More…"

"Eh?"

"… …There are…strange people…working with…Chou-Jou…"

"Strange people?"

"… …White people… …bad ones too…"

"White people?" Taiki face etched with confusion, "As in [Caucasian]?"

"…? Call-Kay-ion?" En-Jutsu blinked at the English word, "What's that?"

"Uh, people from the very far west, I guess…"

"…Shuri," I called, "Do you understand what Ryo-Fu means?"

"… …No, I do not," Shuri frowned, "But maybe we are misunderstanding something here…"

"I agree," Shiba-san joined, with an uneasy strain in her voice, "Something about this situation stinks…"

"What do you mean?" I wondered.

"We are trying to reach Raku-You to defeat the Tyrant, Tou-Taku," Shuri stated.

"But now, Ryo-Fu-dono says that Chou-Jou is the tyrant," Shiba-san hummed, "And now there are mysterious white people…"

"However, I assume nobody in the Coalition knows about those white people, yes?"

Upon hearing Shuri's question, people began nodding in agreement.

"Something is not right about this… …which makes me think we are misunderstanding something here…"

"Hmm," Shuu-Yu nodded, "Something about all this does seem off…"

"If it was simply Tou-Taku joining up and covering for Chou-Jou," Jun-Iku added, "Some answers can be found. But if Tou-Taku is anything but a tyrant yet Raku-You City is in turmoil, Chou-Jou is still alive but not taking any blame, and a mysterious army is included but never heard of even in rumors…"

"I get it," Chou-Kun began, "If Chou-Jou is behind this, Tou-Taku, having the standing army, would have put a stop to it due to her nature. That in turn would mean even if Chou-Jou does fight back with this mysterious army, rumors should still make their way to the outside, confirming both of their existence. Yet…"

"All this time," Gan-Ryou hummed, "We have only been hearing that Tou-Taku was causing the chaos in Raku-You…"

"That should have been impossible," Sou-Sou muttered, "False rumors about Tou-Taku, and no rumors about Chou-Jou or this army? It would be like seeing the ant in a bear coat without seeing the bear!"

"Yeah~," Hakukei sighed, "This is getting weird…"

"So," I return my attention back to Ryo-Fu, "Can you tell us anything about these white people?"

Ryo-Fu shook her head, but it was Chin-Kyuu who spoke. "They are freaks. They wear nothing but white clothing, all over their body; you can barely see their faces!"

"Yeah," Chou-Ryou sighed, "We have no clue about their numbers either. Every time I thought I could place a number, I find even more! We have no idea how they are even working for Chou-Jou…"

"What do you mean?" Kakou-Ton questioned.

"We think they are working for Chou-Jou, but we do not even see them in action. Whenever Chou-Jou claims to want them to do something, somehow everyone think it was Yue-chin who did it. Even Ryo-Fu has a hard time just keeping track of them…"

"I…see," Shiba-san responded skeptically; it was the first time I saw Shiba-san so unsure, "It is vexing that I cannot draw any proper conclusion from that…"

"Don't worry," Taiki smirked, "Knowing you, you'll figure it out eventually…"

"I appreciate your confidence in me. However, I feel more appreciated from results rather than sentiments…"

---

"So," En-Shou began, "In the end, we still have no leads on the upcoming battle, yes? Then that would only mean this meeting was rather-…"

"It wasn't pointless," Taiki chimed, "We now know that Tou-Taku isn't the one we should really be after, but rather this Chou-Jou person…"

"…According to the captives. We do not have any way to verify most of their claims…"

"Aw, come on, En-Shou. You know that Chou-Jou, don't you?"

"…Well, she was an enemy of my friend, so yes I know how she would work…"

"Then you should have possibly known that only Chou-Jou could be the one who's truly behind this, right?"

"Right-Hey! Do not twist up my thought!"

"I'm not doing that. I'm just saying that if ask me, anyone can see that Chou-Jou has more guts to make a mess in front of the Noble En Family than Tou-Taku, right? You said so yourself that Tou-Taku is a fool; she can't possibly think up something this confusing right?"

"Why, yes…that is true…"

"So, are we going to keep chasing Tou-Taku and let Chou-Jou get away?"

"O-Of course, we shall…um, chase both!"

"Huh?"

"Well, even if Tou-Taku is not the perpetrator she still had a hand in this somehow, like blocking the Coalition attempt to get to Raku-You to know about Chou-Jou…"

"Hmm…make sense, so Chou-Jou is just a secondary target?"

"Yes-Uh, no! Chou-Jou the primary target!"

"Okay~…"

"What the-?" Sou-Sou blinked in confusion, "How did this stupid conversation end with En-Shou switching targets?"

"That is Sonoma-senpai for you, Sou-Sou-sama," Shiba-san sighed, "Even though talking isn't his specialty his idiocy allows him to divert one's path…"

"Huh?" Aisha blinked and turned to me in confusion.

"She just means Taiki can divert people's direction of thought rather causally," I answered.

"Ah~…"

"Very well, everyone!" En-Shou declared, "Let us return to our camps and prepare to move out! We shall capture Chou-Jou and restore the Imperial Kan as it should be!"

With those final words, everyone began to make their way back to their own camp.

---

Izumi's P.O.V.

"… …Well, with that being said," En-Shou smirked as I and Sou-Sou-sama were about to leave, "Ka-Yuu-san…?"

"…? What do you want?" Ka-Yuu-dono wondered in agitation.

"Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho~! No need to be so hostile, Ka-Yuu-san. I am just simply offering you a chance of a lifetime~!"

"A chance… …of a lifetime?"

"That is right! You see, during your time in my camp, I notice that you insisting heavily on your warrior's pride and prowess…"

"Naturally! My skill as a warrior is unparalleled! My prowess is peerless! Kan-U was only lucky, daring to insult my warrior spirit as such!"

"Oh~? Then I am to presume you see yourself as a greater warrior than Ryo-Fu?"

"Naturally! Ryo-Fu is but a loose animal! Chou-Ryou is all talk! I, on the other hand, am a General more capable than Ryo-Fu and talk with my blade!"

"Ah-! That is harsh, Ka-Yuu!" Chou-Ryou pouted.

"It is the truth! Given the chance, I shall prove it!"

"That is good!" En-Shou smirked, "That is exactly what I am giving you…"

"What?"

"I like how you eagerly take pride in your skills. If you remain as a mere prisoner of war, that would be far too pitiful. Therefore, why do you not catapult and serve the Noble En Family instead, hmm? I can use someone such as yourself…"

"Of course~," Sou-Sou-sama huffed suddenly, "Considering it is you, anyone could be a big help for you…"

"…! What is that supposed to mean!?"

"Just as it sounds like. You are incapable of using subordinates efficiently, so to accommodate that you would need anyone that can take care of themselves. Considering your inability to take care of yourself, anyone would suffice…"

"I do not accept just anyone, brat! I only accept the best of the best the world has to offer for me!"

"It is because of that selfishness that you are incompetent…"

"Oh bite me! Anyhow," En-Shou turned back to Ka-Yuu, "Ignoring the little eunuch's child, what do you say, Ka-Yuu-san? Glory and fame for your warrior's pride awaits you once you join?"

"…Hmm," Ka-Yuu-dono thought about it for a moment, "…Do have any other choice?"

"Why of course~! You can simply rot away as a war prisoner. If you do not serve me, then I obviously do not want you serving others~…"

I glared suspiciously at En-Shou. All this time, from just the rumor I have heard from everyone around me, I had thought En-Shou was just a sorry excuse for a warlord. But it would appear those rumors have not been entirely accurate. If one is to take care and look deeper into the meaning in the words spoken by En-Shou, one would understand. En-Shou is quite a cunning warlord, able to scheme methods that will allow the best results for her with the minimum amount of work require doing so. She did hail from a prestige family line after all; cunningness should have run in the family's blood. That cunningness, however, is hidden within her childish selflessness and pride. Remove that, and En-Shou, despite who she is and what history has proclaimed her to be, can be a formidable adversary even for Sou-Sou-sama.

"…Humph, I see," Ka-Yuu-dono smirked, "So I am that serious of a threat to you?"

"Naturally~!" En-Shou huffed, "After all, you did try to stab me in the back~…"

"That I did," Ka-Yuu-dono laughed, "Very well; I have no plan to die as a war prisoner. I shall accept your offer and use my prowess to your disposure…"

"Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho~! That is what I want to hear…"

"Wait a moment-!" Jun-Iku-dono began, before being cut off by Sou-Sou-sama.

"No need to, Keifa," Sou-Sou-sama huffed, "Let En-Shou have this one. I do not need her…"

"…Karin-sama…"

"Let us get going now," Sou-Sou-sama began to leave, "I want to be ready to depart for Raku-You as soon as possible…"

"Yes!" Everyone else answered.

---

Kazuto's P.O.V.

"…Sigh~," Touka-chan sighed, "What a hectic meeting, though it was also the most serious meeting we have ever attended…"

"Agreed," Aisha nodded, "But I am left with more question then answers…"

"Rinrin did not get anything," Rinrin admitted with a weak smile.

"Sorry everyone," Shuri sighed, "I am still working out the detail myself, so I cannot explain it just yet…"

"No, that's okay," I stated before turning to Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu. Instead of having Shuri escort them back to their tents, I had ask that they accompany us back to our tent, "Anyway, is there anything you want to ask further from Ryo-Fu or Chin-Kyuu?"

"I have plenty of questions," Aisha admitted, "But I do not think we shall receive the kind of answer we are looking for from them…"

"Ryo-Fu only says one word at a time," Rinrin sweat dropped, "And the little girl does not answer without shouting or being prideful…"

"Hey!" Chin-Kyuu exclaimed angrily, "Who is the little girl!? If Nenene is one, you are no different!"

"Rinrin is strong so Rinrin does count…"

"Anyone can be strong!" Chin-Kyuu pouted, "Nenene is smarter than you shall ever be, so Nenene is not the child!"

"Nyah-!? What did you say~!?"

"C-Calm down Rinrin," Touka-chan sweat dropped.

"But she called Rinrin a child~!"

"Rinrin, you are a child," Aisha rolled her eyes, "An incredibly strong one for that matter…"

"Boo~! Aisha betrayed Rinrin…"

"I cannot betray what is true now…"

"Boo~~!"

"Alright, settle down everyone," I chuckled, "Okay then, I'm pretty much done with any further interrogation. So…" I turn back to Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu. "…I have a suggestion for both Ryou-Fu and Chin-Kyuu…"

"…?" Ryo-Fu tilted her head out of curiosity.

"Huh?" Chin-Kyuu frowned, "What do you want to say now?"

"Well," I began, "if it's alright with you two… …would you become one of us?"

"…! W-What are you saying, My Lord!?" Aisha exclaimed.

"…!? W-What did you say!?" Chin-Kyuu exclaimed in shock.

"Huh?" I noted, "Well, isn't it better to have more people on our side? We could really benefit from having someone as strong as Ryo-Fu and as clever as Chin-Kyuu join us…"

"…!? F-F-F-Flattery will not achieve anything, you know!"

"I'm not flattering you, I'm telling the truth. You are clever…"

"…!? D-D-Do not sweat talk Nenene~!"

Touka-chan chuckled as Chin-Kyuu flustered on the spot. "Oh~! What a cute clever girl…"

"…!? D-D-Do not join in on saying stuff like that~!"

"You may be right about having them being on our side would increase our strength," Aisha began, "but she has killed many of our soldiers. She is our bitter enemy!"

"Yes," I nodded, "I was well aware of that when I asked…"

"Well," Rinrin began, "Rinrin is not opposing Ryo-Fu. Rinrin thinks it is good thing to have strong comrades… …Rinrin does not know about the little girl, though…"

"Nenene is NOT a little girl~!" Chin-Kyuu exclaimed.

"Well," Shuri smiled, "I do not object either on having Ryo-Fu-san and Chin-Kyuu-san joining us. But will they agree to that?"

Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu hummed when Shuri stated that.

"Why would they!?" Aisha exclaimed, "Even if they did, how could we trust them!?"

"That is something to think about, but…" I admitted. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the name of Ryo-Fu was synonymous with betrayal, with the name of Chin-Kyuu as an encourager. Ryo-Fu, mostly under the suggestion of Chin-Kyuu, betrayed many that would become his lord, and in the end, they basically destroyed themselves. But…

"…?" Ryo-Fu tilted her head from side to side in confusion.

"Nenene would not lose to you!" Chin-Kyuu pouted comically at Rinrin, "Return Nenene's weapon and Nenene would prove it!"

"Nyah-Ha!" Rinrin chimed, "You actually need a weapon! Rinrin does not! Rinrin need not know anymore how much of a child you are~!"

"…! What did you say~~~~!?"

…I don't get that feeling at all from the Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu who are standing here now. Besides, while Touka-chan, Aisha, and Rinrin are the similar to the Ryuu-Bi, Kan-U, and Chou-Hi in the story, they aren't the same… …Even more so with Shuri and Hinari with their character, Shokatsu-Ryou and Hou-Tou.

"… …She should be okay," I answered to Aisha and turn to Touka for support, "Don't you think so too, Touka-chan?"

"Huh? Uh…" Touka-chan hummed for a bit, took a quick glance at Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu, hummed again before nodding with a smile, "Yes, I do. They do not seem like bad people, so…"

When Touka-chan finally stated that, Aisha frowned and bowed her head. "… …If both My Lord and Lady say so, I would not protest anymore. But I still would not agree…"

"Aisha, it not good to be so stubborn…"

"But still…"

"… …Aisha," I began glance around the camp where the soldiers are hurryingly preparing to move out, "When we joined the Coalition, I realized how powerful the other forces are. With that in mind, I don't think we're capable of protecting the people in Yuu-Shu. We must become even stronger to be able to protect the people who believe in us…"

"…Is that why My Lord is inviting Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu to join us?"

"Yes, I think we need her…"

"… …I understand…"

"Do you?"

"Yes. If it is to protect the people, I cannot object…"

"… …But Aisha, you do not look like you are agreeing," Touka-chan sadly pointed out.

"Of course not, My Lady," Aisha continued to be spiteful, "Normally, when you capture an enemy General, you decapitate them when given the chance. Especially a General like Ryo-Fu, who dealt so many casualties to us…"

"D-Decapitate!?" Touka-chan shivered in horror.

"…!? Y-Y-Y-You heartless woman!" Chin-Kyuu screamed in astonishment and horror, "I-I can understand if you are talking about an Enemy General in general, but how dare you single out Ryo-Fu-dono! You are the worse!"

"Am I wrong?" Aisha argued back, "Ryo-Fu had dealt our forces many casualties-!"

"You did so yourself too! Chou-Hi, Ryuu-Bi, and even Shokatsu-Ryou! Even if it is not always directly, you caused many deaths too!"

"…!? H-How dare you-!"

"I would have to agree with Chin-Kyuu on that one," I stated firmly.

"…!? My Lord-!"

"We're in a war, Aisha. One person can't be blame or take all the blame for the number of casualties. As someone leading an army, I know how that feels…"

"B-But…"

"Aisha," Touka-chan began softly, "If you think about it, Kazuto-kun is right. The large number of casualties cannot be used as an excuse to execute Ryo-Fu-san…"

"Thanks, Touka-chan," I smiled before turning back to Aisha, "Besides, who would benefit from her death?"

"It is not a matter of loss or benefit," Aisha stated, "Decapitating Ryo—A General is a way to avenge those who were slain…"

"Yes," Shuri noted hesitantly, "That is a common practice during times of war. That is the only known way to calm the anger of the soldiers-…"

"No," I suddenly interrupted loudly and firmly, full of determination. Everyone jointed when they felt that determination. "That's NOT acceptable. Retaliation leads to retaliation, and that builds up hatred! Once that hatred reaches critical mass, it explodes and that results in brutality…!"

That's what history, all history, teaches us.

"…Look at what your words are doing, Aisha," I pointed to the startled Chin-Kyuu, "To us, Ryo-Fu was an enemy. But to Chin-Kyuu, Ryo-Fu is someone dear to her. The mere mention of executing Ryo-Fu caused her to lash out at you! If we kill Ryo-Fu, Chin-Kyuu will exact vengeance on you! After that, maybe Rinrin will deal with Chin-Kyuu! Don't you see? It doesn't stop! Even if you think you can, it doesn't! Do you want that, Aisha!?"

Aisha, by then, had shrunk in shame from my usually harsh lecture and remained silent, listening to my words.

I exhaled in order to calm down before continuing. "…I can't tell you to forget about it, I don't have the right to, but… …while you hold a grudge, I don't think you can truly protect anyone…"

"A-Aisha," Touka-chan began as well, "your dream…our dream…of a benevolent world where everyone can smile is stronger than this, I know. If you remember that, then please consider what Kazuto-kun had stated…"

"… …My Lord and Lady…may be right," Aisha began after a short moment of consideration, "…But I am not sure…if the soldiers will be able to see it the way My Lord does, My Lady…"

"Well, for that, all we can do is to try our best to explain Kazuto-kun's wisdom to them… …He is counting on us in that area as well…"

"… …Okay," Aisha finally gave a full smile and turn to me, "If My Lord feel so strongly about it, then I shall say not say no…"

"Sorry for being so selfish, but I think this is the right thing to do," I thanked Aisha with a bow for finally agreeing. Deep down, Aisha is a gentle and kind person. She just worries about us too much that she doesn't show it. I then turn to Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu, who continue to stand there either confused or awed by my earlier words. "Well… …what do you two think?"

"Huh!? Uh," Chin-Kyuu managed before glancing at the humming Ryo-Fu.

"Would you like to join us?"

"… …Seriously?" Ryo-Fu asked.

"Yes, I am. If you join us, we will be even stronger. If we are stronger, then we can protect more people. Considering what will happen once the war is over, my invitation for you two was inevitable…"

Touka-chan nodded. "We wish that you two lend us your strength. For the sake of people who get involved in war, whether they like it or not as well…"

"… …Why?" Ryo-Fu questioned.

"Huh?"

"… …Protect weak…why?"

Touka-chan and I looked at each other for a moment before smiling and turning back to Ryo-Fu.

"… …To return a favor, I guess," I answered, "We want to return the favor to those who accepted us, who acknowledge us… …and also to those who became our friends…"

"… …Friends?" Ryo-Fu quoted as if she did not expect that, or is unfamiliar with the word.

"Yes," Touka-chan nodded, "If the people are suffering and we are capable of helping them… …do you not think we should help them?"

Ryo-Fu hummed in thought at our answer.

"But an era of rivalry of local warlords will come soon. When that time comes, we fear we would not be able to protect those we call friends…"

"That's why we want powerful people to join us," I added.

"… …To protect…friends?" Ryo-Fu wondered.

"That's right… …What do you think?"

"… …Okay…"

"Eh!? Ryo-Fu-dono," Chin-Kyuu exclaimed, "You are saying you are willing to join them?"

Ryo-Fu nodded. "… …Conditions…"

"Eh?"

"… …Condition…for joining…"

"If I accept them, will you join us?" I asked.

Ryo-Fu nodded.

"Alright… …Could you tell us what those conditions are?"

"… …Two… …Nenene and Ren's residence…no…destroyed…"

"Your residence? Are you telling me not to destroy your residence in Raku-You?"

Ryo-Fu nodded before giving us an honest smile. "… …Friends are there…"

"Ah-! That is right!" Chin-Kyuu thumped her palm in shock, "All of our friends are waiting for us there. The Coalition would destroy them otherwise…"

"I see," I nodded in understanding. So Ryo-Fu does have friends. "Okay, I accept that one. We'll secure your residence before anyone else in the Coalition can…"

"… …One more," Ryo-Fu informed.

"Okay…"

"… …I want money…"

"Money? …Huh?" Touka-chan sweat dropped, "Umm… …Do you mean you want money to join us?"

"… …Lots…"

"Y-You want lots of money?"

Ryo-Fu nodded, but before we could continue Aisha stepped in. She was mad.

"Curse thou," Aisha exclaimed in rage, "Thou wilt sell thy prowess for money and still call thyself a warrior!?"

"Hey!" Chin-Kyuu quickly came to Ryo-Fu defense, "You do not know anything! So do not go assuming things!"

"What is there to assume-!?"

"Wait, wait, Aisha," Touka-chan tried to ease Aisha's anger, "Do not get angry until after you have heard Ryo-Fu-san's reasoning…"

"But-!"

"Look, just calm down," I voiced before returning my attention back to Ryo-Fu, "Ryo-Fu, can I ask you how much money do you want?"

"… …Enough…to eat…with everyone…" Ryo-Fu answered.

"Everyone…?"

"… …Friends…"

"Oh, I see," Touka-chan sighed in relief, seeing that Aisha had calmed down a bit from hearing Ryo-Fu's answer, "You wish to have enough money to eat meals with your friends, yes?"

Ryo-Fu nodded.

"See~!" Chin-Kyuu sneered knowingly at Aisha, who grumbled on the spot.

"Okay now," I quiet the two before turning back to Ryo-Fu, "By the way, how many friends do you have?"

Ryo-Fu thought about it for a long~ while before answering. "…Fifty Animals…Red Hound too…one human…Chin-Kyuu…"

"Ah! Ryo-Fu-dono!" Chin-Kyuu exclaimed in embarrassment, "You need not include Nenene~!"

"… …Huh?" I sweat dropped.

"… …Fifty… …Animals?" Touka-chan gawked, "and Chin-Kyuu-chan?"

Ryo-Fu nodded.

"… …How much does it cost to feed animals?" I questioned Shuri.

"I do not know," Shuri informed after some mental calculation, "I do not think it would be that expensive though…"

"That's what I thought. Do you think a soldier's salary will be enough to keep them?"

"I think so…"

"But even if it is not," Touka-chan chimed, "I do not think it shall be a big expenditure, yes?"

Shuri nodded.

"I see," I nodded, "In that case, I shall accept both of your conditions…"

Ryo-Fu then just stared at me.

"…You don't have to stare at me like that. Do I look like I'm lying?"

"… …No…"

"Rather," Chin-Kyuu mumbled, "Even if you did, you are too much of an idiot to hide it…"

I nervously laughed at that comment. "That's good. So, are you going two going to join us?"

Ryo-Fu looked into my eyes for a while to judge my sincerity. Finally, after a long~ while, she finally nodded in agreement with a child-like innocence.

"Great," I nodded excitedly before turning to Chin-Kyuu, "And what about you?"

Chin-Kyuu staggered a bit before pouting. "… …Nenene shall follow Ryo-Fu-dono…"

"… …Look," Touka-chan began, "You do not have to force yourself, Chin-Kyuu-chan. If anything, you can just simply support Ryo-Fu-san as a civilian…"

"… …No, Nenene is Ryo-Fu-dono's personal strategist! Nenene want to be with Ryo-Fu-dono wherever she goes! So… … …Nenene will also join the Yuu-Shu Army…"

"…I see," Touka smiled in understanding.

"Great!" I cheered, "Thank you, you two. Now we're one step stronger!"

"… …That easily?" Ryo-Fu noted.

"Hmm?"

"… …Why trust?"

"Are you asking me why I trust you two?"

"That is right," Chin-Kyuu pouted, "Ryo-Fu and Nenene lost. We could be lying so that we can escape, you know…"

"…Well, are you two lying?"

"Eh!?" Chin-Kyuu staggered, apparently not expecting that question, "Uh… ..Um, no! Of course not!"

Ryo-Fu replied by shaking her head.

"See," I concluded, "No problem…"

Touka-chan sweat dropped. "… …J-Just…like that, Kazuto-kun?"

"Yeah…"

"… …Strange," Ryo-Fu suddenly noted.

"Am I strange? No way… …I'm not strange at all. Right, everyone?"

"… …Uh~," Touka-chan sweat dropped nervously.

"No," Aisha huffed exasperatedly, "Under normal terms, My Lord is strange…"

"…I think you are soft-hearted," Shuri admitted with an innocent smile.

"Onii-chan is a fool," Rinrin chimed in, "But that is what makes Onii-chan special…"

"Hey," I comically cried, "You're supposed to deny it with me~…"

"…Uh," Touka-chan hesitantly began, "Unfortunately, Kazuto-kun, I am afraid we can hardly deny that you are…a bit…strange…"

"I must agree," Aisha sighed.

"B-But, however," Shuri interjected quickly, attempting to ease my concern, "just like Rinrin-chan said, that naïveté is one of My Lord's good points…"

"Uh-huh! Onii-chan can just stay a fool!" And Rinrin shot me down with a smile.

"Wow," I sulked comically, "I feel like I'm being consoled. This is making me depressed… …"

"…If you are not an idiot," Chin-Kyuu chimed in, "Then I would label you strange too…"

"… …Strange is strange," Ryo-Fu added.

"Stop~…" I sighed in my comical depression, hanging my head in disappointment, "I don't need you two to finish me off… …"

I didn't think all six of them would agree that I'm strange.

Ryo-Fu and Chin-Kyuu stared at me, being depress, for a moment before they began to giggle in amusement.

Laughter soon erupted around me, in honor of my comical depression. The tension and anxiety suddenly evaporated, and a relaxing mood filled the air. I was happy about that, but I still held a foreboding anxiety so I left to get away from their smiles.

---

A few hours later, once the Anti-Tou-Taku (En-Shou is too lazy to change the name) Coalition ended their break, we began marching onwards to Raku-You. It wasn't long before the city came into view.

"Here we are! That's the capital, Raku-You," I exclaimed, before I contracted my face in suspicion, "But…"

"Something is wrong," Touka-chan managed as nervously survey the palace that is quite visible even from where we stand, "Why are there dark clouds looming over the Royal Palace?'

"… …That's not the only thing wrong…"

"Yes," Aisha managed after perking her ears, "It is far too quiet…"

"I do not see any people," Rinrin added in worry, "let alone any enemy…"

"This is weird," Chin-Kyuu exclaimed, "I thought Chou-Jou would have at least set up some sort of defense, or us hearing the sounds of panicking civilian at least. But this…?"

"What is going on?" Shuri hummed, "Did Chou-Jou abandon Raku-You?"

"I do not know," Touka-chan fidgeted, "Did we receive anything from En-Shou-san?"

"No, nothing yet. I am sure even En-Shou-san is taken aback by the emptiness aura that emits from Raku-You. She probably suspects some kind of strategy…"

"So that Supreme Commander of yours is not as daft after all," Chin-Kyuu pouted.

"It appears so," I nervously gave a chuckle.

"Considering there is no resistance in the enemy's stronghold, anyone would become suspicious," Aisha sighed, "I do not blame her for being so if she could…"

"What is the point of thinking about it?" Rinrin shrugged, "Let us attack, and the castle will fall…"

"It can't be that easy," I sweat dropped.

"Considering even the careless En-Shou-san did not even consider that yet and is refraining from attack," Touka-chan mumbled, "Perhaps it would not be so simple…"

Rinrin sweat dropped. "Nyah~! When you say it like that, Touka-nee-chan, it is dangerous…"

"Anything that careless En-Shou doesn't do personally is dangerous," I added with a nod.

"… …Strange," Ryo-Fu suddenly voiced.

"Ryo-Fu-dono?" Chin-Kyuu replied.

"Is something wrong, Ryo-Fu?" I asked.

"… …Ren is fine," Ryo-Fu informed.

"…!? Ryo-Fu-dono!" Chin-Kyuu exclaimed in shock, "That is your true name! Are you sure you want this idiot to use it?"

Ryo-Fu nodded, at which Chin-Kyuu hung her head in defeat.

"Thanks," I smiled, "Let me try again. Ren, what's wrong?"

"… …Not sensing…anyone…"

"What do you mean?" Aisha wondered, "I can see that there are no soldiers but…"

"… …Their presence…gone…"

"Who are you talking about?" Rinrin questioned, "Are you talking about those white people?"

Ren nodded.

"Hmm~," Chin-Kyuu hummed in thought, "Ryo-Fu-dono's intuitions about these things are usually spot on. She can sense just about anyone's presence in her range…"

"Then," Shuri frowned, "What does that mean? Did they run away…?"

"… …No," Ren informed, "Hiding…maybe…"

"Hiding?" Touka-chan pondered, "What do you mean?"

"It means Ryo-Fu-dono knows that they are there because she can vaguely feel them," Chin-Kyuu explained, "But they are concealing themselves so well, even Ryo-Fu-dono cannot tell exactly if they are there or not…"

"… …My Lord and My Lady," Ryo-Fu began, "Caution…"

"Yeah, I know," I smiled, "thanks…"

Ryo-Fu nodded.

"But," Shuri hummed, "What Ryo-Fu-san said bothers me-…"

"… …Everyone…call me Ren…"

"Eh!? Ah… …Then, please call me Shuri too…"

"You can call Rinrin, Rinrin," Rinrin chimed, "You too, kid…"

"Nenene is NOT a kid!" Chin-Kyuu angrily pouted.

"Please call me Touka then, Ren-san, Chin-Kyuu-chan," Touka-chan smiled to which they nodded.

"…Call me whatever you want," Aisha simply stated.

"… …Can't you be a little more friendly, Aisha?" I sweat dropped; I can still sense the animosity she has for Ren in her words.

"Leave me alone, please…"

Ren looked at Aisha as she was pouting.

"… …Aisha," Ren mumbled Aisha's true name as if testing its sound.

"W-What?" Aisha blinked.

"… …Best regards…" Ren gave a small smile.

"… …F-Fine! Best regards to you as well…"

"Come on, Aisha," Touka-chan sweat dropped, "This is not a duel. Can you not be a little nicer?"

"How rude, My Lady… …I was being nice…"

"It sure didn't sound nice," I sighed.

"…I…I am, really!"

"I doubt that," Chin-Kyuu huffed.

"… …Chin-Kyuu," Ren suddenly addressed, "True name…"

"…Huh~!? Nenene also has to entrust her true name~!?"

"… …Everyone…get along…trust…"

Chin-Kyuu grumbled on the spot, conflicted on what to do. "…Nenene knows that, but…"

"…Look, Chin-Kyuu," I decided to step in, "You don't have to. We can wait until you trust us…"

"… …Well," Chin-Kyuu peeked over to Ren, who silently waited, "… …Oh~, fine! Nenene shall entrust it to you all then…"

"No, you don't-…"

"Shut up! Do not make Nenene change her mind!"

"Sorry, uh, go ahead…"

"… …My family name is Chin, first name Kyuu, and given name Koudai! My true name is… … …Nenene…"

"Huh? Uh, Nenene-Nenene?"

"Nenene-Nenene?" Touka-chan tried as well.

"Nenene-Nenene-Nenene-Nenene?" Rinrin also tried.

"It is NE-NE-NE~!" Nenene exclaimed, obviously offended, "Mistaking someone's true name is beyond rude!"

"S-Sorry," I apologized, ashamedly, "But…how do you write it?"

"Three 'NE', as in the character 'sound' or 'tone'! So it is Nenene!"

"I see," Touka-chan nodded in understanding, "That is why it is Nenene?"

Ren nodded in response.

"I see…Pleased to meet you then, Nenene-chan…"

"Heh," Nenene huffed, "I will have you be pleased…"

Nenene, getting full of herself with her small body was somehow cute.

"Ahem," Aisha coughed, "A-Anyway! Our priority right now is investigating this hushed Raku-You! My Lord, your orders?"

"Yeah, yeah," I nodded, "…Well for now let's wait for orders from En-Shou…"

"Good idea," Shuri nodded, "There is nothing our army can do at this point. We should rest up…"

"I wish we would hurry up and get the command to attack," Rinrin smirked, "Once we do, Rinrin can really show off!"

"Can you be any more NOT patient," Nenene rolled her eyes, "It is too dangerous to attack until we know what is going on in Raku-You…"

"What? Are you scared?"

"Nenene is NOT scared! Nenene is thinking as a strategist!"

"Unfortunately," Aisha sighed, "I do not think En-Shou is thinking that far… …I would not be surprised if she gave the order for us to go in first just like she did at Kou-Ran Pass…"

"I hate to say it," I sighed, "but I can't deny that possibility… …"

"… …It is very possible," Shuri frowned, "Since we do not have much power, we wind up being used by the bigger factions…"

"You guys are weak," Nenene sighed.

"But you lost to us," Rinrin chimed, causing Nenene to comically backtrack.

"Ugh… …Nenene should not have said anything…"

"Yeah," I sighed, "After this battle is over, we have to think about doing something about that…"

"Indeed," Shuri nodded, "Once we get back, Hinari and I shall think of a few plans…"

"… …Nenene definitely do not want to be part of a weak force," Nenene mumbled, "So Nenene shall help out too…"

"Please do…" I smiled gratefully to Nenene, who turned away with a blush.

Just then, the messenger from Ki-Shuu we gotten to know came up to us. "I have a message from Headquarters!"

"Okay!" Rinrin cheered.

"The Yuu-Shu Army is to charge into the city of Raku-You! The Ryou-Sei Army and the Sei-Ryou Army will support your charge from both flanks! You are to depart shortly! Be ready! That is all!"

As soon as he was done, he began running towards another camp.

"… …As we expected," Touka-chan comically cried.

"We are being completely looked down upon. When we become stronger, I shall make sure En-Shou pays for this," Aisha declared before letting her evil chuckle escape her throat.

"…You're right," I managed as everyone else, even Nenene who hasn't hesitate to backlash at Aisha, shivered under her evil chuckle, "but we can only obey her for now. What should we do, Shuri?"

"Let me see," Shuri hummed, "…Why do we not send a small troop to force open the gate and scout out the inside? After that, the main force will go in…"

"Nenene thinks that is the only safe way for us," Nenene added.

"Have a small troop take a look first, huh?" I pondered on it for a moment before nodding, "Good, we'll do that…"

"Then Rinrin will take care of the castle gate!" Rinrin volunteered.

"… …Be careful, okay?"

"Sure! See you all later then," Rinrin nodded and headed off to the castle gate with her unit.

---

"Is she going to be okay…?" I wondered.

"No matter what happens," Aisha smiled, "Rinrin will fulfill her duty…"

"You trust her, don't you?"

"Of course. Rinrin is my pride and joy…"

"…A-Aisha," Touka-chan sweat dropped, "That kind of phrase is use when you are speaking of your child mostly…"

Instead of clamming up, like I thought she would, Aisha smile only widen. "But the phrase can also be used to describe a little sister. She and I have been as close as sisters since we have known each other, so I am proud of her…"

"If you think so," I pondered, "why don't you tell her that?"

"I cannot do that," Aisha grimaced, "She tends to let compliments go to her head and get carried away…"

"A-Ah~," Touka-chan sweat dropped in understanding, "That is true…"

"Yeah," I huff a small chuckle, "I can see that. I'll have to be careful too…"

The three of us were having fun talking about Rinrin when…

"My Lord!" Shuri called for my attention, and gave us the report as she gazed in Rinrin's direction, "It is the signal from Rinrin. There does not appear to be any enemies…."

"Good," I acknowledged, "Let's move in the main force. Aisha, you take command…"

"But do not forget to secure Ren-san's residence right after you break through the castle gate, okay?" Touka-chan reminded for me.

"As you wish," Aisha nodded, "Then after we go in, I shall set up our camp at Ryo-Fu-san's house…"

"Please make sure you secure an escape route as well," Shuri also added.

"Of course," Aisha nodded before turning to Nenene, "I assume you can lead me to your residence?"

"Of course," Nenene nodded confidently.

"Alright, lead the way," Aisha nodded and turned to the soldiers, "Soldiers of the Yuu-Shu Army, we charge through the castle gate! Follow my flag!"

---

Izumi's P.O.V.

The Yuu-Shu Army charged into the surprisingly quiet Raku-You. Evidence from the silent, there should be no danger to compromise them. However, I was more concern about why the palace is shrouded in black smoke. Actually, the palace even from this distant looks pretty damage.

Could Chou-Jou had escape and burned the palace? Did it all played out like how history stated the Coalition's attempt would yield? I knew no answer. So I had sent scouts to check out the city and its surroundings.

Finally, the scouts return and they each gave me a report. Once I heard it, I went to find Sou-Sou-sama immediately to inform her of my finding. Fortunately, Sou-Sou-sama wasn't occupying herself with any "bed-actions"; she was in the main tent discussing with the other Generals.

"Sou-Sou-sama," I called, alerting everyone to my coming.

"Ah, Shiba Izumi," Sou-Sou-sama greeted, "How goes with the investigation…"

"Good…and bad…"

"Good and bad?" Jun-Iku-dono frowned, "How can it be both?"

"Good because I have completed my investigation and orchestrate a conclusion. Bad because the conclusion is a frustrating one…"

"What does Shiba-san mean?" Ten-I-dono questioned.

"From the information I receive from the scouts," I began, "Chou-Jou has fled, 'moving' the capital west to Chou-Ann. The palace of Raku-You was reduced to ashes and rubble. The properties of the rich in city were confiscated. Even the temple and imperial tombs were thoroughly pillaged. There is hardly anything left in this place, and judging from the tracks, they left hours ago…"

"What!?" Sou-Sou-sama exclaimed, "Are you telling me we have arrived late?"

"That is given considering En-Shou delayed our arrival…"

"No way!" Kakou-Ton-dono hissed, "We fought so hard yet we gain absolutely nothing!?"

"Chou-Jou does not miss a thing," Kakou-En-dono huffed, mildly impressed, before turning to Sou-Sou-sama, "What shall we do now, Karin-sama?"

Sou-Sou-sama actually went deep in thought, until Jun-Iku-dono stepped forward.

"Shiba Izumi," Jun-Iku-dono began as if talking to was poisonous to her, "Is the capital truly deprive of all civilians…"

"According to the reports," I answered, "And also, the scouts describe many foot-tracks heading west, deep wheel tracks which obviously carries people's belonging or treasures Chou-Jou may have confiscated…"

"Then it stands to reason that despite leaving hours ago, they have yet to gone far…"

"That is true…"

Jun-Iku-dono immediately turned back to Sou-Sou-sama. "Karin-sama, we must give chase then! If we leave now, we can attack them from behind!"

"But if we do that, Chou-Jou will no doubt use the civilians as meat shields. That is the only reason Chou-Jou didn't leave them here…"

"Yes, and under normal circumstances, that is a hassle…"

"… 'Under normal circumstances'?"

"That is right! It is a power that Chou-Jou needs to justify herself and a good reason to continue the chase…"

"…You speak of the Emperor, do you, Jun-Iku-dono?"

"That is right…"

"The Emperor," Kakou-Ton-dono exclaimed, "That is right! We have yet to retrieve the Emperor!"

"Certainly, rescuing the Emperor is a huge accomplishment!" Kakou-En-dono added.

"Agreed," Sou-Sou-sama nodded before getting, "But I cannot do it alone. As much as it pains to say, I need to inform En-Shou about this…"

"Eh~!?" Kyo-Cho-dono whined, "Do we have to?"

"We need some sort of aid after all…"

---

"What did you say!?" En-Shou exclaimed in horror, nearly jumping out of her seat in the process, "Chou-Jou had fled to Chou-Ann!?

"That is right," Sou-Sou-sama nodded, "However, her retreat to Chou-Ann would be slow; we can still reach them within a couple hours if we all leave now! We must give chase while she is still on the move!"

En-Shou thought about it for a moment before shaking her head. "No…"

"… … …What!?"

"Now, look, just wait a moment, midget! Our forces, both soldiers and horses are exhausted from all the fighting and marching. It would be best to rest here in Raku-You for two to three days before pursuing her again…"

"Are you stupid!? Once Chou-Jou reaches Chou-Ann, she shall reorganize an army again! Plus the Emperor may be with her! We have to retrieve her while the opportunity presents itself! That is the whole reason we are here!"

"…! Silent, Sou Moutoku!"

"…!?" It was a given that Sou-Sou-sama was startled; En-Shou didn't address her rudely.

"You did not complain when I became the Supreme Commander, so you must obediently follow my orders! I shall give the orders to pursue Chou-Jou, and Tou-Taku if she is with them, within due time!"

"…But," Jun-Iku-dono stepped in, "in every battle, there is a limited time frame for success. To let it pass us would be equivalent to letting victory pass by!"

"Resting our troops is our immediate priority!"

"What!? Is it not retrieving the Emperor the top priority!?"

"Top! But not immediate! I see no gain in continuing!"

Sou-Sou-sama grunted. "To think that we have to let this golden opportunity slip by! I simply cannot understand the reasoning at all!"

"Nor do I!" Jun-Iku-dono joined.

"… …Then it is settled!" Sou-Sou-sama turned to leave.

"…!? Sou-Sou!" En-Shou called after, "Where do you think you are going before I can dismiss you!?"

"I shall pursue Chou-Jou alone!"

---

Taiki's P.O.V.

"…It would appear Chou-Jou has long since left Raku-You," Meirin noted in disappointment after reading Shishun's report about what has become of Raku-You and the palace.

"…Intolerable," Son-Saku sighed.

"To think she would burn the very Palace of the Imperial Kan itself!" Renfa frowned in agony.

"Chou-Jou did a despicable deed," Sai added.

"…But a logical one, I suppose," Meirin sighed.

"…!? What do you mean?"

"Chou-Jou left us with hardly anything to obtain. Not the Imperial House, not the cheers of joy from the civilians, not even anything valuable we can use to fund the continuation of the Coalition…"

"Chou-Jou basically took our reward, morality, and funding with her," Non sighed sadly.

"That she did. I do not think the Coalition will last much longer…"

Sheren hummed to herself until a soldier came into the meeting tent. "Sou-Sou Moutoku of the Kyo-Shou Army is here to you, My Ladyship!"

"…! She is!?" Sheren exclaimed, just as Sou-Sou, Izumi-chan, and other high ranking Generals came in.

"I have!" Sou-Sou replied tiredly, "Son-Saku Hakufu!"

"Oh~! Sou-Sou! Listen here, Chou-Jou-…"

"Has taken the Emperor and fled west, to Chou-Ann. Yes, I have been aware…"

"What? But then why are you here? Should you not report this to En-Shou? If you have not, then I-…"

"Do not bother, Hakufu! I have just been there myself, along with visiting the other warlords not busy with checking out the empty Raku-You. They will not move! As we speak, leaving aside those checking Raku-You, they are getting ready to settle down and celebrate…"

"…!? What!?"

"Such foolishness!" Meirin exclaimed.

"Why does En-Shou not seize this opportunity to push forward!?" Sai exclaimed, "As the Supreme Commander, on her orders-!"

"En-Shou worries about our soldiers' tiredness," Jun-Iku motioned in disgust, "En-Jutsu, or rather Chou-Kun, worries that Chou-Jou has laid an ambush…"

"The rest of them would only look at each other," Kakou-Ton hissed, "and none of them would take the initiative!"

"For the sake of a few troops, supplies, and land," Kakou-En sighed, "They would not move…"

"W-What about the Yuu-Shu Army," Renfa suggested, "The Sei-Ryou Army, the Ryou-Sei!?"

"They are securing the city of Raku-You under the direct orders of En-Shou," Izumi-chan began, "Even if they are willing to help, they cannot otherwise risk En-Shou ordering their annihilation. They were the forces hit the hardest at both Shi-Sui and Kou-Ran Pass after all. I do not think they have the strength to help or defend themselves from the Coalition…"

"Only I," Sou-Sou began again, "leading my Ten Thousand elite cavalry, find myself willing to ride after them so far…"

Sheren sighed heavily and tiredly. "Our Coalition leader is really missing out on this prime opportunity…"

"Hakufu, you are really giving too much credit to En-Shou. How many times have she made one good decision as the Supreme Commander? She did not even perceive this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How can she be missing out on it?"

"That's true," I shrugged, "We shouldn't have made her Supreme Commander…"

"There is no point saying that now," Meirin huffed.

"Moutoku," Sheren addressed, "what is your opinion?"

"Hakufu," Sou-Sou began, "here is a superb piece of glory placed in front of our eyes. Now, the palace of Raku-You City is virtually empty, and the true traitor Chou-Jou is in flight. Why do we not spit up into two forces?"

"Two forces?" I blinked in confusion.

"That is right. One will take all the foot soldiers and secure the Royal House of Kan, and the other will take all the cavalry and ride in pursuit of Chou-Jou. Son-Saku, which of these two forces you will take…?"

Sheren thought about it for a moment before turning to Meirin. "What is our army's mostly composed of?"

"I believe we are mostly infantrymen," Meirin informed.

"And fewer than Three Thousand cavalry units," Non added sadly.

"Whereas I have mostly Elite horsemen," Sou-Sou informed, "with only say Three Thousand, at most, that are infantrymen. Hakufu, would you give me your Three Thousand horsemen, while I provide you my infantry units. I will lead them in person to chase after Chou-Jou and you will lead the infantry into the palace of Raku-You…"

"…! Seriously?" Sheren blinked.

"I am dead serious!"

Sou-Sou and Sheren glared into each other's eyes for a while before Sheren smiled, full of admiration. "In that case, I thank you kindly. You shall destroy the traitor, while I shall secure foundation of the Kan!"

"There is no need," Sou-Sou smiled back in gratitude, "We are in it together to save our realm. Hakufu, why do we not act immediately?"

"Agreed!" Sheren nodded before turning to Shishun, "Shishun!"

"At your command!" Shishun stood in attention.

"Give all our horsemen to Sou-Sou and her Kyo-Shou Army…"

"Aye!"

"…Shunran, Shuuran, Kii," Sou-Sou called.

"Yes My Lady?" Kakou-Ton, Kakou-En, and Kyo-Cho sounded.

"Remain with the army of Kou-Tou and assist them in securing the Imperial Palace!"

"As you wish!" all three saluted.

"…Hakufu," Sou-Sou smiled, giving Sheren a clasped fist salute, "Take care!"

"Farewell," Sheren nodded back, presenting her own clasped fist salute.

---

"…Sigh~," Sheren sighed once Sou-Sou and her lackeys left, "Sou-Sou really is a sly one, is she not?"

"…? What do you mean, Nee-sama," Renfa wondered.

"She left us in charge of securing a burned down ruin while she gets to go rescue the Emperor…"

"WHAT!?" Everyone else exclaimed.

"Did no one catch that?"

"…No, not at all," Meirin admitted.

"…Well apparently someone did, is that not right, Taiki?"

"Was I that obvious?" I chuckled in embarrassment.

"You were…"

"What!?" Meirin exclaimed, "You saw through Sou-Sou and did nothing!?"

"I only saw through it because I've known Izumi-chan, uh one of Sou-Sou strategist, for quite some time," I admitted, "And as for why I didn't do anything is because I didn't need to…"

"What!?"

"Taiki is right," Sheren backed me up, "I was able to handle Sou-Sou on my own…"

"It did not sound like you did," Renfa nodded.

"That is right~," Non hummed, "Sou-Sou-san will be able to retrieve the Emperor…"

"While we will be able to secure the one place that the Emperor will return to," Sheren pointed out.

"…Huh?"

"Say that Sou-Sou did succeed, where will she bring the Emperor back to?"

"…Um~… …Oh right! Raku-You!"

"It may have been burn down a bit, but I still think with a few repairs it can be habitable for the Emperor again. If the Emperor is a precious flower, then the Imperial House of the Kan is the soil that nourished it, and is just as valuable. We must clear it of any traps or straggler that may have been left behind…"

"Still, when you think about," Meirin began, "Is it not more important to retrieve the Emperor? Sou-Sou will be the only one that gets the most credit and favor from the Emperor at this rate…"

"Perhaps, but there is something else…"

"Oh? And that would be?"

"Strength," I answered.

"…!? What the hell!? What kind of an-!?"

"Exactly," Sheren smiled halting Meirin's lecturing, "Sou-Sou is far too ambitious; the Emperor will come to realize that once the Emperor gets to know Sou-Sou during the rescue. En-Shou is no different, except with the additional misplace pride. Either way, the Emperor will not turn to them to request strength from…"

"Then there is only one strong army left in the Coalition," I smirked.

"… …! Us from Kou-Tou!" Son-Ken gasped.

"That is right," Sheren smirked, "Putting aside the Kyo-Shou and Ki-Shuu Army our force from Kou-Tou had remain virtually unharmed. Once the Emperor sees this, would not the Emperor think 'should I ever need strength, I can rely on the Kou-Tou Force of the south'?"

"Oh~!" Non wowed, "Now I see~!"

"But would it not be better to show that strength by rescuing the Emperor?" Renfa blinked.

"Renfa," Sheren smiled, "Tell me, which is more disastrous: securing the palace with perhaps only some small casualty and still have a force to show, or giving chase, not knowing whether you succeed or fail, and risk losing lots of soldiers and becoming a weak army in the eyes of the Emperor?"

"…! I see now…"

"Indeed, we have more to gain from a simple task such as securing some ruins than chasing. Now then, if everyone understands, let us get going!"

"As you wish!" We all saluted.

---

Izumi's P.O.V.

Once we left the tent, we immediately began to pursue Chou-Jou with Seven Thousand Horseman at our disposal.

"…Sou-Sou-sama," Ten-I-dono voiced suddenly, "Shiba-san, why must we let the armies of Kou-Tou and Yuu-Shu take Raku-You Palace and City and take the task of pursuing Chou-Jou?"

Sou-Sou-sama chuckled knowingly. "Before I answer your question, Ruru-chan, ask yourself this. Is a piece of ruins more important, or is the Emperor more important?"

"The Emperor, of course…"

"Raku-You Palace has been reduced to ruins, a useless object. The Emperor, though, is the treasure among treasures. If we manage to take the Emperor back, it would be a first-class service to the Kan Imperial Court. From then on, all the warlords will look at us in a new light. With the reward at bare minimum an extra piece of province or two, we will be able to achieve my ambitions…"

"I understand now," Ten-I-dono smiled in recognition, before frowning again, "However, Sou-Sou-sama, we really only have Four-Thousand cavalrymen in this pursuit. Why did Sou-Sou-sama tell the Son-Saku that we have Ten-Thousand elite horsemen?"

"If Sou-Sou-sama did not state that," I replied, "would the Son-Saku ever given us her cavalry, Ten-I-dono?"

Ten-I-dono thought about for a moment, before giving a nervous chuckled with a nod.

"However, Sou-Sou-sama," I redirected my conversation to Sou-Sou-sama, "We are pursuing alone deep into enemy territory. Even with the Hei-Shuu army lost to her, we have no knowledge of strange enemies that Ryo-Fu-dono and her associate spoke of. We do not even possess the knowledge of their numbers…"

Sou-Sou-sama gave me a confident smirk. "A victorious pursuer worries not about her numbers being few; a routed enemy has no strength despite being unknowingly numerous. They are as weak as an arrow at the end of its fight; our army is few, but we ride on the momentum of victory. One is at its zenith, the other its nadir. The outcome is obvious…"

"Not everything is as absolute as you think, Sou-Sou-sama. Confidence is a gift but overconfidence is poison. The battle is not over until it is over; we must not overstep our capability or underestimate our fleeing foes, Sou-Sou-sama. Even a cornered rat would bite at a chasing cat…"

At that, Sou-Sou-sama laughed. "You worry too much, Shiba Izumi, not that I blame you…"

"Indeed," Jun-Iku-dono huffed in mockery, "despite your seemingly endless knowledge, if you act as a sage that holds good will but not venture beyond your doors, you go no place…"

"… … …There is…truth in that," I must acknowledge, "But…"

"Listen, everyone," Sou-Sou-sama began again, "When we close in on the enemy, you all need not fight hard. Deploy our troops to mislead the enemy as to our true strength. All we must do is to scare them out of their minds. Charge forward no matter what, and retrieve the Emperor for me!"

"Yes, Sou-Sou-sama," Ten-I-dono and Jun-Iku-dono nodded determinedly.

I, on the other hand, sighed deeply before simply nodding.

---

One more chapter complete, though it is not as exciting as the last one.

Still no new common names, but the shadowy figure is finally revealed. O-In Shishi, Japanese for Wang Yun Zishi the adopted father of Diaochan and the one who orchestrate the successful assassination of Dong Zhuo in service of the Imperial Han. In my story, she is now a member of the White Clothes Taoist.

Next time, Sou-Sou and Izumi gives chase to Chou-Jou, Son-Saku and Taiki went to secure the palace, while Ryuu-Bi and Kazuto secure Ryo-Fu's house. despite being in three different location, they all happen upon the same enemies waiting in ambush for them. Will they survive their encounter? Find out in the next exciting chapter…where another character from the Koihime Musou series enters the scene.