The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 59

Chapter 59: Schemes (Ozuma’s Side)

“What do you mean we lost!?”

“Yes.”

Youzan’s voice echoed through the main keep of Tendo Castle, while Mudo calmly continued his report.

“As unbelievable as it may sound, Gomon received help from a demon. The battlefield descended into chaos because of the demon’s intervention, and Lord Shion was killed in action.”

“Impossible! There’s no way Shion would lose, demon or not! He, a master of Thunder Jaw and Flame Beak techniques, could not have fallen on the battlefield! Are you telling me he was assassinated amidst the confusion?”

“No, Lord Shion was not assassinated. He lost in a one-on-one duel and was killed.”

“A duel…?”

Youzan slumped into his seat, holding his head in despair. He had placed absolute trust in Shion, so the news of his defeat was a shock too great to bear.

“Shion, defeated in a duel? The one who was said to win a hundred battles out of a hundred? Are you telling me the imperial knight was that strong?”

“…Even I did not anticipate Lord Shion’s loss. We are already taking countermeasures.”

“Countermeasures?”

Youzan glared at Mudo, anger seeping into his voice.

“The news of Shion’s defeat and death will spread like wildfire. There will be countries that align themselves with Gomon and revolt against us. If that happens, the situation will be, at best, evenly matched. No, without Shion, Ozuma may be at a disadvantage… Do you truly have a plan for this?”

“Indeed, this was unforeseen. However, the time Lord Shion bought us has not gone to waste.”

Mudo held out a crystal, and as it gleamed ominously, an image appeared.

“This is…”

What appeared were terrifying creatures—monstrous beings, not only Yomi soldiers but also various grotesque entities. A horde of demons was lined up in formation like a human army.

“These are soldiers summoned through the Yomi curse techniques. Their numbers will soon reach thirty thousand.”

“Thirty thousand!?”

“Furthermore, we are enhancing the most powerful and loyal among them. Ordinary armies will be easily crushed.”

Mudo spoke while gazing at Youzan through the crystal.

“We will not let Lord Shion’s sacrifice be in vain. For the unification of Hizuchi, we will destroy all who oppose you.”

—

(Good grief…)

Mudo sighed internally as he walked through the corridors after returning to the Curse Seal Tower.

(It’s convenient that I no longer have to deal with Shion, but a much more troublesome existence has emerged as a result.)

Mudo had been wary of Shion, who had been investigating him. He had planned to eliminate Shion once his scheme had progressed far enough, but an unexpected entity had appeared.

“The Black Tempest Knight… I never imagined he’d be this formidable.”

As Mudo pondered his next move, a bird-shaped shikigami flew in through the window and landed in his hand, reverting to a talisman.

(Last time, it got shot down.)

When the shikigami had been shot down by Shurin, Mudo had shared its sensory experience and felt the pain of being pierced by an arrow.

So, this time, he modified the shikigami to enable farsight instead of sensory sharing, allowing it to observe the battlefield from a distance. While the information wasn’t instant, it reduced the chances of detection.

(Incredible…)

The scene unfolding showed Berg and Shion engaged in battle, both having transformed. Eventually, Shion was cut down, and Berg removed his armor.

“!?”

Seeing Berg’s form, Mudo was stunned. He crouched down, groaning, and then raised his voice in a furious shout.

“Impossible, impossible, impossible!? Wasn’t that bloodline eradicated!? All traces, aside from Gomon, should have perished!”

Mudo’s shout echoed down the dark, empty corridor, filled with a palpable sense of malice.

“That accursed Kamishiro clan…! Are they once again here to thwart our grand ambition!?”

Mudo’s face, contorted in anger, had one side wrinkled like that of a completely different person.