Yokai? Fujiwara no Kanehira, a high-ranking official of the Fujiwara clan and the Director of the Onmyoryo's Spirit Tool Bureau, is with a yokai? Is his conspiracy related to this yokai?
Hiding behind a tree, Miketsu quietly observed everything in front of her. She hadn't expected Fujiwara no Kanehira's conspiracy to involve a yokai.
What are they plotting together? Where is Yura now? Although Miketsu had many questions in her heart at this moment, she did not act rashly. Instead, she began to secretly observe them, listening to what they were saying.
...
"So... I think at this stage of the process, it should be quenched one more time..."
"Hmm, I have the same idea, but to further strengthen the evil essence in the Rakshasa Iron, the water used for quenching needs to be carefully selected..."
"Indeed, I think Mount Osore's spring water is a good choice..."
...
After listening for a long time, after half a day of eavesdropping, Miketsu's mind was in a complete mess. The reason was simple: she couldn't understand what they were discussing. There were too many professional terms she didn't grasp, and the logic of their conversation was completely unclear.
Miketsu felt like an amateur listening to two professionals discuss an academic report, only able to vaguely deduce that they were talking about blacksmithing or something similar.
What exactly are they doing?
Facing the current situation, Miketsu was utterly bewildered. She had originally intended to gather some useful intelligence to rescue Yura, but now she couldn't understand anything they were saying. This left Miketsu at a loss for what to do.
After much thought, Miketsu decided to continue eavesdropping. If it came to it, she would launch a direct assault. She was currently hidden while they were in the open, so a surprise attack had a good chance of success. The problem was that her attacks were too destructive, making it difficult to incapacitate them without causing fatalities.
With renewed patience, Miketsu continued to listen.
...
"Alas, after all that talk... it's still just discussing alternative solutions. The optimal solution remains the one from before." Saying this, Fujiwara no Kanehira sighed as he unfurled a blueprint in front of him.
"Indeed, no matter how excellent the alternative solutions are, theoretically they can never achieve the strongest and most perfect state," said the old yokai with wide-open eyes. A deep worry was evident in his expression.
"After all, this concerns the main material for forging. After much thought, there is no other object from the demon realm in this world that possesses such strong inclusiveness and malleability as the dog yokai's fang," Fujiwara no Kanehira said, looking up at the sky, his voice old and filled with regret.
"It's truly a pity that the strongest dog yokai's fang, which we should have obtained, encountered such an unexpected turn of events..."
"There's nothing we can do about it. Who would have thought that General Oyakata would intercept my letter? Now we can only pray that the General is safe and sound."
"Yes... after all, we let... Who is it!!"
Just as Fujiwara no Kanehira was about to say something, he suddenly sensed a slight disturbance. He sharply turned his head, seeing a mysterious figure completely shrouded in a black robe, with crimson light glowing from within the shadow of their hood.
A yokai? The moment he saw the figure, Fujiwara no Kanehira instinctively made a judgment. After all, wisps of demonic energy emanated from the black robe.
Fujiwara no Kanehira heightened his vigilance. He knew very well that he had set up countless binding and alarm traps and mechanisms in this area. Whether human or yokai, he would immediately know if anyone approached this area, even from the sky. How did this person get in so silently?
"Oh... it's a yokai. Although I don't know why you're here, you're quite capable, managing to sneak in completely unnoticed." The old yokai also turned his gaze towards Miketsu. He picked up a long iron hammer from under the stone table, seemingly ready for battle.
Shrouded in the black robe, Miketsu silently watched the man and the yokai before her. Then she raised her bandaged hand, first pointing to the human, and spoke in Owl's deep voice.
"Fujiwara no Kanehira, a high-ranking member of the Fujiwara clan, Director of the Onmyoryo's Spirit Tool Bureau."
Hearing her identify him, Fujiwara no Kanehira wasn't overly surprised. He clasped his hands behind his back, straightened his chest, and stared directly at the mysterious uninvited guest.
"Indeed, this old man is Fujiwara no Kanehira."
Seeing Fujiwara no Kanehira confirm his identity, Miketsu didn't say anything further to him. Instead, she pointed her hand at the yokai beside him.
"Totosai, a retainer of Toga, the dog yokai general of Harima, and a demon sword craftsman."
Seeing his own identity revealed, the yokai named Totosai was greatly surprised. He hadn't expected the other party to know who he was; this wasn't Harima, after all.
"Oh, oh, oh... Your Excellency is truly omniscient, to even know who I am."
Watching the two opposite her confirm their identities with astonished faces, Miketsu secretly let out a breath, her previously anxious heart significantly relieved.
She had initially expected some conflict, but it seemed unnecessary now.
"I know where Toga is."
As Miketsu finished speaking, she immediately saw the man and the yokai opposite her widen their eyes and exchange glances.
"You, you know where the General is!?" Totosai turned his head, looking at Miketsu with an urgent tone, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"I can tell you where Toga is, and I can even bring him here, but you must agree to one condition." Miketsu slowly said, looking at Totosai and Fujiwara no Kanehira. She truly hadn't expected things to unfold this way before she arrived—that Toga's retainer would be here.
"What condition? Please state it clearly, Your Excellency," Totosai slowly opened his mouth and said, looking at Miketsu.
"I'm looking for..."
"Hey! Blacksmith!"
Just as Miketsu was about to say the name, an unexpected voice suddenly rang out. She sharply turned her face and saw the familiar girl riding a large Stag Shikigami emerging from the woods. Behind the stag, a large stack of dark, bundled wood was being dragged.
"Oh, oh, it's little Yura. Have you returned already?" Totosai turned his head, looking at Yura riding on the stag, and they seemed to be acquainted.
"As you requested, all wood steeped in yin energy. By the way, can this stuff really burn?"
"Excellent, excellent. As expected of Master Doman's disciple, I certainly wasn't mistaken," Totosai said, examining the wood Yura had brought.
"Of course! So, next we... Huh! When did another yokai arrive!" Yura turned her gaze to the dark figure not far away, startled.
"This mysterious guest entered at some point, but he doesn't seem to bear any ill will. By the way, Your Excellency, you haven't stated your condition yet. Please continue." Totosai gave a brief introduction before turning his head to Miketsu, awaiting her reply.
However, to their slight surprise, the mysterious figure in the black shadow stood still for a long while, her mind seemingly elsewhere. After a good moment, she finally spoke again.
"Heh, let's save that for later..."
Rate on N.U.
