Writing Love Letters in the Enemy’s Toilet - A Vow of Eternal Love, Even After Rebirth (Transmigration) - Chapter 18

When Kuno came to his senses, he found himself standing in a cloud of white smoke. The smoke slowly began to thin.

In front of him stood a young girl. At that moment, an image flashed in Kuno’s mind — the girl being struck by an arrow. His body reacted on its own, and before he realized it, he had stepped forward to shield her.

Just as the arrow was about to hit, Kuno closed his eyes in resignation. But then, a voice shouted, “Watch out!” When he opened his eyes, the arrow had stopped in midair — and then, with a soft clatter, it dropped to the ground.

“Are you hurt, Hōsensai?” a man called as he ran over.

“Hōsensai…?” Kuno thought. “Now that I think about it, someone used to call me that… something like this happened before, didn’t it…?”

Before he could think further, his mouth moved on its own. “Kippōshi, huh… you saved me.”

Then the memories began to return. “That’s right… I called myself Hōsensai back then. It was an age when this planet was still rich with water and green lands, when the world was filled with chaos and endless wars…”

Meanwhile, in the heavens, Zeus and Lucifer were playing Chatranga — a board game much like chess — as they lamented the strife raging across the world.

Shaking the dice, Zeus said, “I don’t mind humans fighting among themselves, but defiling the earth is another matter.”

Lucifer replied, “True, and yet their numbers keep growing… if only there were someone among them who could lead as you do, Lord Zeus.”

Zeus nodded. “Then choose one worthy of power, and grant it to them.” He picked up three pieces from the board, clasped them in his hand, and handed them to Lucifer.

That same night, under a sky so bright it seemed the stars might fall, three men — Hōsensai, Kippōshi, and Hashiba — shared drinks together.

The three childhood friends sat around a flat stone as wide as a man’s outstretched arms. Every night they gathered in this place to talk of dreams and the future. But lately, endless wars had worn their spirits thin.

“It’s come to this…” Hōsensai sighed. “Even small villages aren’t spared anymore.” Hashiba clenched his fists. “Killing women and children without mercy — unforgivable!”
“If only we had the power to end this war,” Kippōshi muttered.

Kuno — now living the memory — thought, I remember this conversation… Though he was Hōsensai, it felt strange, like he was acting out someone else’s role. Then it came back to him — Right… after this, a man claiming to be a messenger of the gods appears…

“I can grant that wish!” a voice rang out.

Before they knew it, a stranger was sitting between Hashiba and Kippōshi. All three leapt back, hands on their swords.

“Apologies for startling you,” the man said with a polite bow.
“I am Lucifer, a messenger of the gods.”

“Please, put away those dangerous weapons,” he added calmly. Sensing no hostility, Kippōshi asked, “What brings a divine messenger here?”

“Lord Zeus grieves deeply for your long wars,” Lucifer explained.
“To bring them to an end, I have come to grant you the power you desire.”

Hashiba frowned. “Power enough to end this war? What kind of power could that be?”

Lucifer gently placed the three objects he had been holding onto the stone before them. “Take one each. Wish with all your heart for power, and Trinity will surely respond.”

The three exchanged uneasy glances, then each reached out and took one. Together they prayed, Grant us power — power to end this war.

Suddenly, three great bolts of lightning struck the ground before them, and thick black smoke rose into the sky.

As the smoke cleared, enormous shadows took shape — a colossal figure with the head of a bird and wings spread wide, to its left, a beast with a tiger’s head, to its right, a creature like a tusked tortoise.

The men stared in awe, struck dumb by their size. Then they looked to their hands — the objects they had held were gone.

“Huh? Where did Trinity go?” Looking down, they saw golden bracelets shaped like dragons coiled around their wrists, the eyes glittering like blue jewels.

The dragons suddenly moved, biting into their wrists. As they drank the men’s bl00d, their blue eyes turned crimson.

Lucifer smiled. “Trinity will judge you by your bl00d. If it accepts you, it shall serve as your hands and feet, obeying your will.”

“And if it doesn’t?” Kippōshi asked.

Lucifer’s smile faded. “Best not to ask. But for ones such as you, there should be no problem.”

With that, he vanished into thin air.

The next instant, the three were swept up into the enormous beings, and when they opened their eyes, they were standing inside.

So this is the power of Trinity… Kuno thought. Could any weapon on Earth stand against this?

They were stunned by the might now in their grasp. Kippōshi spoke first. “Now… how should we use this power?”

“Perhaps we should consult the king,” Hashiba suggested.

Hōsensai shook his head. “If we tell him, he’ll use it to invade the western and northern kingdoms. Think of the bloodshed that would follow…”

“Then we must find the path of least sacrifice,” Hashiba said grimly.

“In that case,” Kippōshi declared, “we must persuade the southern king to lay down his arms. Only then can peace begin.”

“But that king loves war,” Hōsensai warned. “Even if he agrees, will the western and northern kings accept peace?”

“Then we don’t need to ask,” Hashiba snapped. “We command! We have the power now!”

“Then let us do the same with the other two kingdoms,” Kippōshi said. “Unite all three under one rule — ours.”

“Are you ready for that?” he asked.

“I’m in,” Hashiba said firmly.

“If it will end the war…” Hōsensai nodded. “But we do this with words first. Minimize the bloodshed.”

“Then it’s decided!” Kippōshi grinned.

――――

A few days later, Hōsensai rode the great bird-headed being — Suzaku — to meet the southern king.
The king, out hunting in the mountains, looked up in terror as the massive creature landed before him.

“What is this monster!?” he cried.

Hōsensai dismounted. “Your Majesty, I have a proposal.”

“Speak,” the king said warily.

“I ask that you step down and surrender this land to me.”

“What nonsense!” the king roared. “Move this beast at once!”

“This is no beast,” Hōsensai replied calmly. “It is power granted by the gods.”

“Unacceptable!”

“Then I have no choice but to kill you.”

“You dare threaten me?”

“I don’t wish to harm you,” Hōsensai said quietly. “But I must bring peace.”

The king hesitated. “And if I yield, what becomes of me?”

“You are wise and beloved,” Hōsensai answered. “We would have you aid us in ruling this new land.”

“…‘We’?”

“By now, Kippōshi and Hashiba are doing the same in the west and north.”

“Do you truly believe you can win?” the king asked.

In response, Hōsensai climbed back aboard Suzaku and summoned a mighty whirlwind before his eyes.

The king shielded his face, awed. “So… resistance would only bring death. Very well, I yield.”

――――

At the same time, Hashiba landed his tortoise-headed vessel — Genbu — before the northern castle.

“I come seeking audience with the king!” he called.

The king appeared on the terrace despite his retainers’ protests.
“Who are you? What business do you have here!?”

“I am Hashiba of the South,” he replied. “I have come to take your kingdom.”

“You think I’ll hand it over to a monster’s threat!?”

“I don’t want needless deaths,” Hashiba said. “Surrender peacefully.”

“Never!”

Hashiba sighed, then fired a brilliant arrow of light from Genbu, shattering a distant mountain.

The king froze, speechless. Finally, he said, “You’ve made your point. Take my life, but spare my people.”

His retainers rushed forward, standing between him and Hashiba.

Hashiba shook his head. “I’m not here to kill you. I’m here to end the war and rebuild this land.”

The king lowered his gaze. “Without war, my people will starve — the soil is barren, the water scarce.”

“Then there may be a solution,” Hashiba said.

“Truly!?”

“The soil rests upon pumice, doesn’t it? Line the ground beneath with cotton — it will hold the water.”

“If that works… my people will be saved!” the king exclaimed. “Then I have no regrets. Do as you will!”

“As I said,” Hashiba smiled, “I need your help, not your death. Guide your people — make this land fertile again.”

“I will! Let me serve under you — please!”

――――

Meanwhile, Kippōshi landed his tiger-headed giant — Byakko — before the western castle.

“King! I’ve come to speak with you!”

But shouts rang out: “Run! Run for your lives!” The retainers fled in panic.

“Is no one here!?” Kippōshi bellowed. Silence.

Growing impatient, he ordered Byakko to tear the roof from the castle.

In the corner of a grand chamber, someone cowered, head in hands. The giant tiger leaned close, and when the man looked up and saw its eyes, he yelped in terror.

“You! Are you the king?”

The man frantically shook his head, waving his hands before his face.

“Then where is he!?”

The giant clenched its fist, crushing part of the castle. Trembling, the man pointed toward the center of the room, where a long table stood covered in glittering dishes and lavish food.

“You want me to eat that?” Kippōshi said, glaring. The man shook his head again.

“Something beneath…?”

Byakko lifted the table, revealing a man curled up beneath it.

“You’re the king!” Kippōshi barked.

The man slowly raised his jeweled crown. “Ah! Yes, yes, I am! I wasn’t hiding — I… hit my head and fainted!” The first man shook his head vigorously behind him.

Dressed in finery, gems glittering on his crown, the man looked every inch a king.

“So you’re the ruler of this land,” Kippōshi said. “I am Kippōshi of the South. I have come for your—”

“Take anything you want!” the king cried. “Just spare my life!”

So the rumors were true, Kuno thought bitterly.

Later, when the three met again, they discussed what to do with the deposed kings.

“The southern king was a warrior, but he’s wise and loyal. He’ll help if we ask,” Hōsensai said.

“I agree,” Hashiba nodded.

“Then I’ll speak with him myself,” Kippōshi said.

“What of the northern king?”

“Beloved by his people,” Hashiba replied.

“Then why wage war?”

“The soil’s barren, and the west dams their water.”

“Then he’s essential to rebuilding the west,” Hōsensai said.

“If he’s reasonable, we can trust him,” Kippōshi added.

“And the west…?”

“I’ve heard he’s greedy,” Hashiba said.

“They say he bleeds his people dry,” Kippōshi added.

“No trust can grow from that,” Hōsensai said.

“Then he has no place in our rule,” Hashiba decided.

“We’ll see for ourselves,” Hōsensai concluded.

Kippōshi faced the trembling king.
“I won’t waste words. Leave now, and live. But that crown stays — it belongs to your people.”

“Yes! Right away!” The king stripped off his jeweled crown, set it on the floor, and fled without looking back.

――――

“Hōsensai, wake up.”

He opened his eyes, leaning against a great tree. A gentle voice called again. “It’s getting chilly — let’s go home.”

He turned to see a woman with a kind smile, her presence strangely reminiscent of Haruka.
It was his wife, Myōki.

“Ah… I must’ve dozed off,” Hōsensai said softly.

Kuno felt warmth fill his heart — a deep peace he hadn’t known in ages.

“The war…” he began.

“What are you saying?” Myōki tilted her head. “Thanks to you, the war ended long ago. We’ve lived in peace ever since.”

Ten years had passed since the war’s end.

The bird-headed being was known as Suzaku, Hōsensai’s guardian. The tiger-headed one, Byakko, served Kippōshi. The tusked tortoise, Genbu, followed Hashiba.

To ensure peace endured, Hōsensai watched over the South, Kippōshi guarded the West, and Hashiba kept the North.