Chapter 10: Takekawa Kuma

The basic sword technique at the heart of the Gyakushinn Miko is the Falling Cherry Blossoms Style, with all other skills evolving from this foundation.

Therefore, mastering this fundamental swordsmanship is crucial for Yae Sakura, akin to second nature.

Since she was just practicing, Yae Sakura didn't use any spiritual blades or void weapons. Instead, she opted for an ordinary Muramasa blade—the prestigious Musashi Muramasa!

After finishing her sword practice, Yae put away her blade.

She took a deep breath; if it weren't for her unique constitution, such prolonged training would have been impossible.

By now, the sun in the sky was high and blazing hot.

"Yae-sama, it's time to eat!"

Yae had just finished her training when Natsuki emerged wearing a traditional Japanese kimono.

Although her clothes and hair were slightly disheveled, it was still easy to see how beautiful she was.

"Mm-hmm." Yae put away her sword and walked over.

The so-called meal was really just some dry food made from who knows what, carried by Kikyo at all times.

Don't expect it to taste good either.

"We should rest for a bit longer before we set off!"

Yae ate a little of the food absent-mindedly, thinking... Why don't I take out the instant noodles and mooncakes the Valkyries gave me?

But these things were supposed to be collectibles... She'd never been able to bring herself to use them before. Now if she ate them... it would feel like...

Wasn't it pointless to keep them all this time?

"Yes," Natsuki nodded obediently.

After breakfast... or at least I think it was breakfast...

Yae Sakura bid farewell to Natsuki and Kikyo.

With their task done, Kikyo was also heading back to her own village.

As Yae Sakura prepared to escort Natsuki home, in another part of town ruled by Yuhara...

"You useless idiots! It's been a whole day, and you still haven't found Princess Natsuki? If anything happens to her, I'll make all of you commit seppuku!"

A heavily armored general with a long sword at his waist glared down at more than a dozen samurai below him, his face darkening.

Takekawa Kuma was the chief general under Lord Yuhara, capable of battling monsters. He could hold his own against any monster except for the truly massive ones.

Natsuki had been attacked by a monster halfway home from Kyoto, and there were no clues yet. This made Takekawa Kuma, who had always liked Natsuki, very angry.

"We don't know either, Lord Takekawa Kuma," one of the samurai replied.

"We've been searching for Princess Natsuki as hard as we can. Who could have predicted a monster attack?"

The dozen or so warriors searching for Natsuki couldn't help but wail in despair.

They could handle bandits, but when it came to monsters? Who knew how terrifying those creatures might be?

Few ordinary warriors had any chance against such horrors. Only those who'd cultivated sword energy stood a shot at facing them head-on.

"Damn you, monster," Takekawa Kuma thought bitterly. "I hope Princess Natsuki is unharmed."

If she was harmed, he'd make these warriors pay with their lives as her final escort to the grave.

To him, common soldiers were expendable; killing this batch would hardly affect his forces.

Even Yuhara, the great lord of the region, wouldn't say a word—certainly not enough to upset someone like Takekawa Kuma over mere warriors lost to monsters.

Takekawa Kuma's face darkened with gloom.

He even began to resent Yuhara Daisuke, the ruler of this city.

Daisuke had sent Natsuki to meet with a powerful lord from Kyoto just because that man showed interest in his daughter. All it took was one word from him!

Though such actions were common in those times... it still shook Takekawa Kuma's loyalty to Yuhara. He had secretly loved Natsuki for so long.

-

"Monster!" Natsuki cried out in alarm.

A vicious creature lunged towards them with terrifying speed.

As they approached the city where Natsuki lived, the souls left behind by human wars had become the perfect sustenance for monsters.

"Get lost!"

Without drawing her sword, Yae Sakura waved her hand, sending a blade of energy that severed the monster's head.

"How many is this now? There seem to be more monsters today than usual."

Yae consoled Natsuki, who was hiding beside her, but even as she looked at the monster's corpse on the ground, she couldn't feel happy.

Compared to yesterday, there were undoubtedly more monsters today, but...they kept appearing one after another, leaving Yae unsure how many she'd slain already.

And not a single crystal to show for it.

No wonder she wasn't feeling joyful.

Can't they all attack at once?

But...the further they walked, the more monsters they encountered.

Moreover, these creatures seemed intent on fleeing, as if...they were trying to escape some horrifying battle.

Something must have happened up ahead.

"Natsuki, how much longer?"

"Not too long. About the time it takes to burn an incense stick," Natsuki replied, clutching Yae's clothes tightly. "Let's keep going..."

-

In Yuhara Castle town, all the samurai were on high alert, while large numbers of mages and priests stood guard.

All because two great monsters nearby had collided...

In this world, great monsters essentially reigned supreme. Each one possessed enough power to destroy a city, making them natural disasters humans couldn't hope to combat.

"Those damned monsters," someone grumbled. "Why can't they fight somewhere away from human towns?"

"It forces us to stay indoors, and if we accidentally get caught in the crossfire..."

The samurai guarding Yuhara Castle muttered among themselves, their hearts filled with extreme annoyance... and fear.

The battle between great monsters also drove many smaller ones to flee, fearing they'd be caught up in the conflict. This only increased the workload for the mages and priests.