The Kokugoku Steam Squad (
Summary[]
Hakuri and Uruha sit down as Chihiro reports he had arranged for the passengers to move to a different car, and they would get off on the next station, leaving only the three of them plus the conductor. He tells Uruha they are headed towards Senkutsuji Temple, and Uruha acknowledges this as he refers to Chihiro as 'Mr. Rokuhira', his politeness baffling Chihiro. Chihiro mentally consolidates that the man in front of him is the former wielder of Kumeyuri he had only seen in portraits within his house; Yoji Uruha.
Uruha asks if he can hold Enten, and Chihiro is fine with it although wonders why Uruha is not taking greater steps to verify his identity. Uruha excitedly replies Chihiro gives off the same vibes as his father, as if he were his father himself, his energy slightly surprising Hakuri and Chihiro. Calming down, Uruha smiles as he states it was like meeting him again after 18 years, before adding that Chihiro's possession of a seventh Enchanted Blade was physical proof as he carries it.
Expression turning serious, Uruha notes that after the war's conclusion, several members of the Kamunabi became more vocal in their opposition for Kunishige and the blades, and so his vanishing and going into hiding made sense; though he was happy Kunishige hadn't been alone. Chihiro agrees they had a good life, before thinking to the events of three years ago. He summarises the Hishaku's actions, noting their covert operations, deals with Sojo and the Sazanami Clan and their current goal of killing the contracted wielders; Uruha included.
Chihiro then discusses the weapon they had used, knowing it to be a series of semi-stabilised Datenseki pieces created by Sojo. He reveals to Uruha that wielders can gain power on par with Enchanted Blades temporarily but will die shortly after. Uruha realises Chihiro seems acquainted with them and Chihiro states he had seen one in action, but never this many; obviously the Hishaku would be using these Datenseki-wielding hired sorcerers to barrage the four Sanso at once. Uruha notes the Hishaku themselves were still acting behind the scenes; while one member had appeared at Kokugoku to lead the sorcerers, he was only there briefly.
Based on their knowledge that the Hishaku avoided personal involvement, Chihiro speculates the Hishaku have a plentiful if finite supply, but enough to attack the Sanso. Hakuri asks how many they have, to which Chihiro replies they only have his Enten and Hiyuki's Flame Bone. Hakuri is concerned, but Uruha brushes it off as he is still alive and the Hishaku have already failed; plus, he holds confidence in the squad at Kokugoku. He states if the Hishaku merely hired average sorcerers, the Kamunabi squad could outmanoeuvre their strength through skill, experience and teamwork; thus he holds faith in them.
Flashing back to after Fushimi ushers Uruha away, Fushimi runs into the building and asks a clerk for the status. The clerk replies the building is heavily damaged, four guards are severely injured and the rest are mostly fine, and Fushimi asks for tag 108, plugging it into a mechanism that generates a specific smoke signal. Recognising it, the guards outside realise Uruha has escaped, and know their new mission is to stall the enemies and defeat them if possible.
Fushimi eliminates a sorcerer
The Datenseki-wielding sorcerers demonstrate the destructive potential of their amplified abilities, but the Kamunabi guards rout them and restrain one for Fushimi to slash at him using his sorcery Smoke Axe. The remaining attackers succumb to the Datenseki's explosions and the Kamunabi guards regroup. Having heard Uruha had reached his new bodyguards and was headed to Senkutsuji, the group plan to move there and welcome him.
With Chihiro, Hakuri and Uruha, their train moves into a station only to see nobody present. The group are shocked to see a certain sight. Elsewhere on the platform, two Hishaku sorcerers converse near a vending machine, the younger-looking one Hiruhiko choosing and consuming a drink. Hiruhiko comments the ordinary sorcerers clearly weren't enough to defeat individuals like the Kokugoku Steam Squad, but the Datenseki helped damage their forces.
Hiruhiko talks with his colleague
The excitement in his voice is noticed by his colleague, and Hiruhiko comments that Yura has finally approved for the Hishaku to start acting in earnest after preparing for three years, which Hiruhiko finds boring. His colleague reminds him the attackers have an Enchanted Blade, and wonders how Hiruhiko could be excited in the face of such a threat. Hiruhiko replies that engaging with Enten wasn't necessary to kill Uruha; pointing out the four bloodied corpses from the Kokugoku Steam Squad on a nearby bench.
While Hiruhiko is expecting Uruha to lose his composure and charge in recklessly, Uruha's reaction is coolly neutral; instead, as Hiruhiko walks into the train car, Chihiro faces him with Enten drawn, a black goldfish at the ready around him. A shocked Hakuri is surprised by Uruha knowing how important his life is, knowing he would freak out if he were in Uruha's situation. Hiruhiko is impressed by Uruha's restraint, before readying himself to begin fighting as glass shatters around them.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Chihiro reveals the train is headed to another Sanso, Senkutsuji Temple.
- Chihiro and Uruha reminisce over Kunishige before discussing the status quo.
- Chihiro notes the weapons the sorcerers had been using were semi-stabilised pieces of Datenseki constructed by Sojo, and reason the Hishaku must have enough to attack the four Sanso.
- Hakuri is concerned but Uruha notes the Hishaku have already failed to kill him.
- Following Uruha's escape from Kokugoku, the Kokugoku Steam Squad handily hold off and eliminate the Datenseki-wielding sorcerers, either by killing them outright or delaying them long enough for the Datenseki to kill them.
- They plan to head to Senkutsuji.
- At a train station, Uruha, Hakuri and Chihiro see the bodies of four of the steam squad. Uruha keeps his expression neutral.
- Also on the train platform are two Hishaku sorcerers. The younger of the two, Hiruhiko, enters the train car and prepares to engage. Chihiro stands in front of him with Enten drawn and Kuro readied.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
 |
Takeru Hokazono |
| |