Forbidden Master – Part 8/Chapter 426

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Chapter 426 – The Great Catch

I was teased quite a bit, but the dango were absolutely delicious.

We had some wrapped up as souvenirs for Amicus and the others, and we were now leisurely sipping Japone tea.

It was different from the Empire’s tea too. It had a certain astringency, but it was actually pretty good.

And while relaxing like that……

　

“Huh~…… wait, prying open a magic hole with needles!? Is that even possible!? You made Big brother do something so dangerous!?”

“I had no idea such a trick existed… and sparring with Mr. Tre’ainar…… I see. That explains Brother’s sudden progress.”

“Yeah. Starting with Magical Ladder Training, he taught me all sorts of things and trained me while I was in the Empire.”

　

We were talking about the lingering questions they had because they hadn’t known about Tre’ainar’s existence until then, about what had happened since I met him, what he taught me, what we did together—that sort of thing.

　

『Oi… should we not wrap up this conversation soon? Surely you have not forgotten our original objective, have you? I would like to enjoy more of the scenery as well.”

“Ah… right. Yeah, um, Tre’ainar was saying maybe it’s about time we saw more of the city. We can pick up the dango souvenirs later, okay?”

　

But, as Traina said, it was probably best to wrap things up soon.

The plan was for us to just explore and play around in Japone.

But……

　

“Eeeeh~~~, I want to hear more about Big brother and Tre’ainar~!”

“That’s true…… Once we’re back at the settlement, with everyone else around, it’ll be harder to talk about Mr. Tre’ainar……”

“No, but you guys… honestly, if we just go back with only dango and say we spent the whole time chatting at the dango shop… that’d be bad, right?”

“True… that wouldn’t be good… we’d probably get scolded by Norja and the others…”

“Well… yeah… maybe we should learn a bit more about the Japone military’s movements and the people’s lives……”

　

Somehow, Espie and Slayer seemed more interested in talking about me and Tre’ainar, like they had endless questions.

They still looked disappointed, but there was still work to be done.

Besides, when I paused the conversation for a moment and pricked up my ears to listen to our surroundings……

　

“Hey, did you hear? About that incident with the tax unit the other day… I heard they took the girl from the candy shop too…….”

“Yeah. And the greengrocer got taken ’cause he was badmouthing the King… His Majesty… behind his back and got caught… Awful, just awful… Can’t somethin’ be done? Even for the King, this is too much…….”

“Hush! Who knows where… those ninja guys might be watchin’…… Didn’t they crush that peasant uprising yesterday before it even started?”

“Ah, with Outei-sama, Mikado-sama, Koujiro-sama, and others gone, it’s getting even worse…….”

　

A little distance from where we were sitting, some old guys were talking in hushed tones while eating dango.

They seemed pretty careful about keeping their talk secret, glancing around, but they were amateurs.

Well, if we just strain our ears a little, we can hear everything……

　

“…… I couldn’t tell at first glance, but the people really do hold some strong resentment, huh.”

“Well, that makes sense… Naturally, there are probably people among the common folk who want to rebel too.”

“Still, I see…… The King’s side has Ninja Warriors watching the city…… You never know where they’re listening. Is that the situation?”

『Reveal even the slightest sign of rebellion or resistance, and you will be purged…… without knowing where the information might leak from…… they can do nothing…….huh?』

　

When we first set foot in Japone, we couldn’t tell just by looking, but of course that’s how it would be.

Well, we did rescue all those women who were taken and are protecting them in the old elven village.

But, even if we sent them back now, the Japone Royal Army would find out instantly and cause trouble… No, we’re already causing trouble……

　

　

“NOW, SIEZE THEEEEEEEEEEEEEMMM!!”

“””””OUUUUUU!!!!”””””

　

――――― Eeh!??

　

At that moment, a completely unexpected voice came from outside the store.

　

“Huh? What!?”

“It’s… not us, right?”

“Ah, yeah… it’s from outside……”

『Hmm?』

　

We were shocked. Not just us, but also the dango shop lady and the old men who’d been whispering earlier turned pale as ghosts, thinking it was about them, and nearly fell off their chairs.

But apparently, it wasn’t about us here.

Outside?

We got up from our seats and went outside.

And then,

　

“Wow, what’s going on!”

“Some commoners… caught someone… maybe?”

“And, wait, those commoners… no, they’re dressed like commoners… but their builds, and hidden weapons visible under their clothes… those are Ninja Warriors!”

『It appears Ninja Warriors in plainclothes on patrol have apprehended someone……』

　

Looking outside, there was a large crowd.

At the center of it all, Ninja Warriors disguised as commoners had caught someone?

　

“Stay still!”

“Ha, hahahaha! I never thought you guys would come back!”

“But this is a great achievement! Just wait! We’ve already called for the Samurai Warrior Corps.”

“We might be able to expect a special bonus for this.”

“Yeah… and maybe those stuck-up samurai will change their opinion of us a bit too.”

　

The ninja warriors are visibly happy to have caught the criminal(?).

For ninja warriors who feel neglected, achieving great feats must be a source of joy.

But, just who have they caught……

　

“Kuso… how careless… how could I have.”

　

Are those three men being held down?

One of them sounded frustrated… Hmm? That voice… I’ve heard it somewhere……

　

『Ah…… Child, look closely. That one is…』

“Hmm?”

　

There were three men wearing straw hats like the one Koujiro had worn. One of them had his hat ripped off, revealing his face.

And……

　

“Ah! That guy……!

“Big brother, you know him?”

　

A black-haired man with a well-groomed face wearing an eyepatch.

I remember. That guy was definitely……

　

“Ho~…… So the rumors of your return were true, I see. Still… Kuku, how does it feel to be captured by a former colleague?”

　

Just then, over a dozen Samurai Warriors appeared on the main street.

Each of them had stern looks on their faces and exuded an aura that was comparable to that of the Imperial Knights.

　

“Makushita-taichou! We’ve secured this fellow—”

“Ninjas still have their uses, I see. With this achievement, I might just get promoted again! Papa will be overjoyed! After all, I captured this man—one of the most important figures around right now!”

“…… Um, well… We were the ones who captured him…”

“Hmm~? …… Thank you very much♪.”

“Huh!?”

　

The man at the front of the group was particularly large, with his black hair tied up on top of his head.

But, just like his tone of voice, his facial expression seems a little childish. Also, that lecherous smirk was infuriating.

　

“Y, you’re …….”

“It’s been a while, Fuuma Stoke!!”

　

The huge samurai called out the name of the captured man, and the next moment, the other villagers began to stir.

Yes, that man! He once bullied Mr. Aka…… No, not that……

　

“…The one who’s been caught… is Shinobu’s older brother.”

“Huh, really!?”

“What……”

　

Yes, Shinobu’s older brother. He’d come back to Japone. And he got captured… Also, the people with him were Iga and Kouga……

　

“You are… Makushita Rikishi… the son of the Samurai Shogun, Juryo Rikishi…… you’ve risen in the ranks to become a Captain, I see…”

“Gufufufufu, and look how far you’ve fallen. A renegade ninja, and your father and mother…… Pupupupu”

“…… Shut up…… you bastard riding on the Shogun’s coattails.”

“Ah~ h, the whining of a loser doesn’t sting at all. And as for me… hmph!”

　

They seem to know each other, but their relationship doesn’t look particularly friendly.

In addition, the man named Makshita took off the outer layer of his Samurai Warrior uniform, revealing his physique.

　

“Behold! I am no longer the man you once knew! I now boast top-tier power among all warriors in Japone!”

　

Fat… no, well, he has fairly solid-looking muscles, but……

　

“Hmm~……”

“After seeing so many Ogres……

“He kind of pales in comparison……”

『A stocky build…… yet even the muscle definition looks weak.』

　

To be honest, it doesn’t seem like anything to be proud of… just as I thought that, Espie, Slayer, and Tre’ainar also gave him harsh assessments.

But, that confident guy, Makushita, barked even more.

　

“Furthermore, I won the recent Under-18 Japone Go Tournament!”

　

That’s pretty amazing! Wait, but what does that have to do with……

　

『…… Hmm.』

　

Huh? Wait, did Tre’ainar react to that part?

　

“Hmph… Probably just because Shinobu wasn’t there……”

“…… Gufufufu, I knew you’d say that… After I won the tournament, everyone around me said the same thing. So today, I specifically had my subordinate bring a Go Tournament board to settle that score… Wait, hey! Where’s Shinobu!”

　

Then, in response to Shinobu’s brother’s comment, Makushita looked around in surprise.

Shinobu? Shinobu was……

　

“Where’s Shinobu?! Wasn’t she with you? You were supposed to have deserted together! Shinobu… my bride! I’ve become far stronger than her, both as a warrior and a Go competitor! I was going to make her submit and make her mine! And yet… she ran away!”

　

…… Wh, what? Hey, what is this……

　

“Oh, what an unexpected turn of events. Pfft, sorry, Big brother… it was just, pfft, ufufu.”

“Hehehe, the situation should be serious…… hehe, maybe Brother has a rival now?”

　

For some reason, Espie and Slayer were laughing like crazy.

Wait, what should I do… No, I can’t just leave Shinobu’s big brother alone……

　

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