And that was that. The warriors of Aokaze Mura lay bound before me, their weapons discarded, their pride crumpled like leaves in the wind. They had accused me of holding their lord captive—a claim as absurd as their decision to challenge me.
"Well? Speak." My voice cut through the tense silence, sharp and commanding. I stood over them, my katana sheathed but still radiating menace, my gaze locked on the giantess who had given me the most trouble.
She met my eyes with defiance, her shoulders squared despite her restraints. "I've got nothing to say to you," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. Even now, her glare burned with unyielding resolve.
"Is that so?" I murmured, tilting my head slightly. "For someone in chains, you're awfully bold. Or perhaps you think silence will absolve you?"
The woman's lips curled into a faint smirk, though her exhaustion was evident. "You wouldn't understand. Loyalty isn't something you can buy with your power or your fancy tricks."
Her words stirred something in me, though I kept my expression impassive. Loyalty? Is that what this was all about? I crouched down, leveling my gaze with hers. "Then explain it to me. Tell me why you threw your lives away for a lie."
Her smirk faltered, if only for a moment, but she said nothing.
This is starting to get annoying—
"Look, im a really generous lord, I'm trying to spare your lives here—" I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck to somewhat ease my frustration. "If you die, this so called lord you're looking for, won't ever be saved, will he?"
My words clearly had an effect on the group, the three of them staring at me with a thoughtful look to them as if considering my words.
"As you may already know— we're from Aozake mura," the short warrior stated, his voice low as if he's still considering to be silent, yet he continued on. "Not too long ago he was kidnapped by one of your allyed forces…"
Allied forces? We don't have any allied forces yet!
[Notice! I believe he's refering to the past group that called themselves the 'Akai Kiba', who may have made an alliance with them in the past,]
Ahhh! Well it hasn't been long since I took over–so it makes sense people would think that, even now.
"Unknown to us, our nation was infiltrated by an enemy nation under the guise of our own men–" His eyes shut as he remembered the event, anger bubbling up within his words. "They strained us under the veil of war— only to overthrow us from within."
"Hold on, then why attack us?" I pondered, waiting for an answer for their reason, the warrior silencing himself for a mere moment to gather his thoughts, thats where the giantess spoke up.
"There was no way we could've retrieved the lord from our strength alone—." She explained, the whole situation is making my head spin with worry and annoyance. "Desperation makes fools of us all, kid. We thought if we captured you, we could trade you for him. A hostage for a hostage."
Will there be more enemies like this? How long will it be until their allied forces start to suspect something and attack our town because of it?!
[Notice! Helping them find their lord may make considerably powerful allies in the long run]
Really? These fools?
[These 'fools' are a part of a nation greater than our own, to gain a favor from such a nation may prove fruitful. The rescue of a young lord is no small charity.]
fine.
I let out a soft sigh, standing up right as I looked down at the group of captors.
"Okay, here's the deal: I don't know who kidnapped your lord, but if it's the remnants of those fools posing as the Akai Kiba or the Tsukikage, they're not my allies. If anything, they're a nuisance I wouldn't mind dealing with myself." I announced. Staring down the female warrior, matching her intense gaze.
"We will help you find him, though in return I ask for a simple favor."
"And what's that?" She pondered, her voice still filled with aggression.
"I would like to form an allegiance with your nation." I announced.
The tension in the air shifted as my words echoed through the clearing. The captives, though still bound, exchanged glances, their expressions torn between suspicion and reluctant hope. The giantess narrowed her eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"An allegiance? You have some nerve to demand that!" She roared. "A pitiful nation like yours have no right being associated with ours!"
"If I recall your nation isn't exactly yours anymore–" I replied firmly, crossing my arms."And I'm sure I'd get a hefty reward for handing over the refugees of their enemy's nation."
She clicked her tongue to my point, their backs to a wall as they considered my offer.
"Fine…" She said through gritted teeth, her pride a major part of her reluctance.
"Very well, seem's that our hands are tied, on both fronts" The short warrior muttered, the swordsman nodding in agreement to his words.
"Glad we could agree," I grinned, nodding to utsusuki to untie their binds.
Utsusuki moved with measured precision, her blade glinting briefly as she cut through the ropes binding the captives. The warriors remained still, their pride visibly wounded as they flexed their freed wrists. The giantess was the first to rise, towering over the others yet unable to mask the weariness in her stance.
"This doesn't mean we trust you," she said sharply, her voice brimming with warning. "If you so much as step out of line, I'll be the first to make you regret it."
I smirked, brushing off her threat. "Duly noted. But for now, we're on the same side. Let's keep it that way."
"Yeah,yeah whatever you say—" She muttered, "Since we're working together I guess we should give you our names— I'm Rika Tsubaki."
"I'm Lothar Fredrich," The stubby warrior spoke, a soft gentleness to his voice now we're on the same side.
"I'm Natsuki–" The swordsman finally spoke up, his hands crossed and his gaze averting mine.
"Great to meet you all, I'm Mirai Tachibana,"