“Deadlock” (
Summary[]
Chihiro arrives at a house with Hakuri and shares the details of his quest to reclaim the Enchanted Blades. Hakuri was moved to tears by Chihiro's story and remarks that it was very samurai-like, as Shiba watches him, slightly confused. Char and Hinao then enter the room, Char warmly welcoming Chihiro and Chihiro greeting her and thanking Hinao for looking after Char. Char mentions she is improving her healing abilities and offers to try to heal Chihiro's injured arm, but he insists that she heal Hakuri's bruised face first, surprising Char as Hakuri's injuries were severe. Shiba asks if it was okay to inform Hakuri about everything, considering he was a Sazanami, but Chihiro reassures him that Hakuri is not a bad person, especially as Hakuri had taken an attack from Hiyuki's Flame Bone on his behalf.
After Char healed his face, Hakuri explains that Shinuchi should be in the Sazanami Clan's storage space, called the "Storehouse" by Kyora Sazanami, the clan's head and Hakuri's father. All of the items to be sold at the Rakuzaichi are kept there, so Shinuchi must be there too. The issue is that no one in the Sazanami family, except for Kyora, knows the actual location of the Storehouse. Even Hakuri may have been there before, but he's unaware of its exact whereabouts.
In Tokyo, Hiyuki and Tafuku are seen walking in a specific area as Hiyuki complains about her headache. Tafuku suggests it was her pride affecting her actions that was at fault, but Hiyuki blames Chihiro instead, calling him cheeky for not fighting properly. When they reach their destination in between four specific objects, they announce their full names, and are teleported into an elevator below the surface which descends down into the Kamunabi Tokyo Headquarters.
When Hiyuki and Tafuku arrive at the meeting area of the Headquarters, the bearded Kamunabi leader remarks that it was unusual for her to return without being summoned. Hiyuki explains that they had encountered Chihiro, but he had escaped, apologising for her failure. The diminutive leader enters and questions how Chihiro had slipped away, especially due to the nature of Tafuku's sorcery, but Tafuku mentions there had been some interference. The bearded leader moves to have them elaborate.
Hiyuki replies they had come to the Headquarters to find out the Kamunabi's plans regarding the Rakuzaichi, as the Kamunabi had been interested in recovering Shinuchi at the auction. The bearded leader claims it is none of their concern, but Hiyuki refutes that she would be going to the auction since Chihiro's target was Shinuchi and he would be attending the auction, thus they needed a joint plan to retrieve it along with the seventh enchanted blade in his possession. However, the bearded leader insists they wouldn't be resorting to violent means at the auction and wouldn't need fighters, as they would simply bid on Shinuchi. The information surprises Hiyuki, and the bearded leader continues, stating as the owner of Shinuchi was under Kamunabi's strict control, they couldn't act hastily and risk jeopardising their advantage.
Hiyuki interrupts him, stating the issue was not jeopardising their advantage but the fact that they weren't trying to destroy the auction. She disagrees with the bearded leader's plan, believing that retrieving Shinuchi would be a perfect opportunity to destroy the Rakuzaichi in the process, ending a loathsome event in which the Sazanami Clan even perpetuated human trafficking. Hiyuki believes attending the auction without intervening would only end up encouraging the Rakuzaichi, her tone growing more and more furious.
The diminutive leader acknowledges Hiyuki's point, recognising its validity and admitting even his fellow leaders had differing opinions. However, he emphasizes that even if they opposed the Sazanami family violently, the Kamunabi would not come out unscathed, and they would take losses they couldn't afford. While the Kamunabi had control over Shinuchi's owner, the criminals possessed the enchanted blade, leaving them at a dead-lock, a stalemate. The Kamunabi had decided given the circumstances that through investing a large sum of money they would indeed be giving in to evil temporarily, but it would be worth it to retrieve Shinuchi without losing a single person. Tafuku, who has been silently listening, considers how the Sazanami family have undergone intensive training since childhood and were prepared to sacrifice themselves to protect the Rakuzaichi. Although the knowledge is frustrating, Tafuku sees the logic in the higher-ups' plan.
Elsewhere, while being driven in a car, Kyora Sazanami speaks on the phone with someone from the Hishaku, mentioning that the Rakuzaichi run-through had been completed without any issues. He then inquires if the person on the other end had the other four sacred blades and inquires whether the only reason for them to auction Shinuchi was to make money, questioning their intentions. The other caller refuses to reveal their plans but assures Kyora that they wouldn't endanger the Rakuzaichi.
The caller brings up their main concern, and Kyora assumes it is the seventh enchanted blade, which the caller confirms. The caller is surprised by Kyora's apparent lack of concern, prompting Kyora to clarify that their ultimate goal will not change regardless of the seventh blade's presence. When asked if they could win a fight against an Enchanted Blade, Kyora immediately confirms he could not, knowing his combat capabilities full well to be subpar to that of an Enchanted Blade. However, Kyora insists that they wouldn't let Shinuchi fall into the hands of dissidents.
After a short while, the car passes by a barrier-generating structure and delivered Kyora at the Sazanami Estate, where he is greeted by three of his children who were dressed in taekwondo outfits, suggesting they had been training. After some brief small talk, he went to meditate and instructs a server to bring him his shisen tea in exactly ten minutes. Upon entering the room, he finds Chihiro and Shiba already waiting for him. He muses that the entire estate was protected by a force field detectable and accessible only to Sazanami clan members, seeming nonchalant about the situation. Shiba, sitting at Kyora's desk, remarked on Kyora's calm demeanor, prompting Kyora to suggest he knew when to give up. Seeing Chihiro's Enchanted Blade, he is surprised, as he had just been discussing that blade, and attempts to engage him in conversation. However, Chihiro silences him, stating Kyora would only answer questions, and demands to know the whereabouts of Shinuchi, as droplets of water dripped upwards from his blade. Kyora, sensing a confrontation, asks if Chihiro would leave if he revealed its location, as a black discolouration surrounded his left eye, a white eyepiece adorning it.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Hakuri reveals information about Shinuchi being in the Sazanami clan's storage space, the "Storehouse," but its exact location is unknown even to him, known only by his father, Kyora Sazanami.
- Hiyuki and Tafuku walk to the Kamunabi Tokyo Headquarters, where they discuss their plans regarding the Rakuzaichi auction.
- A disagreement arises between Hiyuki and the higher-ups regarding their approach to retrieving Shinuchi at the auction, highlighting conflicting viewpoints.
- The higher-ups express concerns about the potential consequences of their actions and the balance of power between the Kamunabi and the Sazanami Clan.
- Kyora engages in a phone conversation with a Hishaku member discussing the Rakuzaichi and the possession of the sacred blades, revealing tensions and strategic considerations.
- Kyora's arrival at the Sazanami Estate leads to a confrontation with Chihiro and Shiba over the whereabouts of Shinuchi.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
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Takeru Hokazono |
Volume 1 is getting a reprint in Japan! Please buy it, read it, and put it on your bookshelf!!!
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