Threat!! (
Summary[]
Hakuri energetically asks how he can help. Kudo tells him to calm down before introducing himself, and Hakuri begins to enthusiastically ask again, Kudo telling him to calm down again. Hakuri and Kudo leave the room and as Kudo brings up the people attacking headquarters Hakuri asks if the attackers were the Hishaku, Kudo responding it was probable. He adds that Chihiro was busy dealing with Samura.
Kudo states that if they were present, the Hishaku's targets would be Shinuchi and the Master Swordsman, and if they attained both the country would be finished. However, that would be where Hakuri could help; Kudo tells Hakuri they want him to transport Shinuchi into the Storehouse. While Hakuri was unconscious, Shinuchi had been resealed once again as it was prior to the Rakuzaichi. Kudo states if they can isolate Shinuchi within the Storehouse, the Hishaku would be unable to access it.
Kudo reveals that Hakuri's overused Storehouse sorcery had result in his access to it rapidly dwindling and almost gone, and thus they had transplanted a portion of his nervous system in charge of Isou in order to save it. Hence, both Isou and the Storehouse had slightly reduced in potency, but they would be unable to gauge how much until they tested it. He reminds Hakuri that if he were to overuse his sorcery he could lose both abilities for good. With regret, Kudo comments it was their fault for putting Hakuri in that position so soon after the Rakuzaichi, but Hakuri replies he is okay with it as he can still be useful now, thinking back to his inability to save Uruha at Senkutsuji. Kudo tells him to take it easy as they keep walking, and when Hakuri panics given the enemy was already there, it is revealed that their current position is far underground.
At Level 1's west entrance, an elevator opens and three individuals step out onto the walkway between small pools of water, the one in the middle bearing the insignia of the Hishaku and wearing attire resembling that of a samurai. The two others, a set of brothers, discuss how there had been no opposition to their entry and no one waiting in ambush, questioning the reasoning behind such actions. The younger notes it must be a trap but the older does not care. Above them, behind grates, the west entrance platoon keeps watch via TVs connected to cameras.
Their commander recalls he has worked as the west entrance commander since the Kamunabi's founding, for 18 years. Before the Kamunabi was the Counter-Sorcery Army, which had shifted into the Kamunabi over the course of the Seitei War as a response to the threat of the island nation. The Counter-Sorcery Army had used the standard army's ranking system, but the Kamunabi currently did not, though an agent's former CSA rank was indicative of their abilities. The commander notes he had made second lieutenant, meaning he had notable combat experience, as did everyone on the floor, given their need to be prepared for enemy attack. He thinks back to earlier when the Surveillance Sorcerer had informed them via floating lantern that three attackers were arriving and stated 'Code Mouse'.
The Surveillance Sorcerer had the ability to sense the threat levels of individuals within headquarters including enemies, and Code Mouse indicated that the defence forces were insufficient for dealing with the intruders in question. The Surveillance Sorcerer had added that they were sending backup to Level 1's Central Area, and the commander notes their mission was to avoid engaging the intruders in combat and let them through to the central area, in order to avoid excess casualties. The commander spots the Hishaku insignia on one of the intruders, but then recognises the other two in shock as the Shigyu Brothers, a duo who came from an ordinary family but once murdered 11 Kamunabi sorcerers, including officers.
Below, the older brother tells the Hishaku sorcerer that payment was irrelevant. The younger brother adds that they didn't care about Shinuchi or the Master Swordsman; only the opportunity to rampage. Above, the commander wondered if not all the Hishaku were fighters and the brothers were there to compensate, noting they more than fit the bill in that case. He notes the west entrance platoon currently had their presence shielded by a barrier set in the grates, and so long as they didn't make noise or emit hostile energy they would stay undetected and could avoid a battle. The commander then stares at a portrait of his nephew on his desk and feels a sense of loathing, remembering how his nephew, who had strived to join the Kamunabi and protect the nation like his uncle, was one of the 11 killed.
Despite rage on his expression, the commander reminds himself that their role is to protect the nation and that he can't risk lives based on his personal feelings. He exhales and calms his expression down, trying to focus on his expression. The older Shigyu brother then notes there are people nearby, and the commander panics internally as he wonders whether the brother had detected his subtle rage from earlier. The younger brother is awed by his brother's detection abilities as the older brother carefully identifies 24 sorcerers nearby. The younger brother asks if they should eliminate them and the Hishaku member voices that they can do as they like.
The commander is startled at the older brother's precise detection of their exact numbers, preparing a hand sign and being convinced they had to engage. The older brother, however, tells his brother that they weren't worth their time, and they should simply proceed. Shaking, the commander sets his hand down, feeling relief and shame that his nephew's murderer had spared his life. The older brother comments Kamunabi headquarters had been pathetic so far, and voices his desire for some proper entertainment.
Azami enters the Threat Elimination Grounds
Outside one entrance to the central area of Level 1, Azami arrives and a nearby Kamunabi member informs him that three of the seven intruders had entered. The Kamunabi member offers gloves but Azami refuses, wanting to take on the situation bare-handed. He enters the doors of the Threat Elimination Grounds, located at the centre of Level 1, where the Hishaku member and the Shigyu brothers stand on the opposite side. Azami is formally introduced as 'Executioner' Soshiro Azami, who had achieved the rank of colonel within the Counter-Sorcery Army at the age of only 18 years old. Above the grounds on Azami's side, five individuals stand beside four massive speakers and several large taiko drums. Four of them beat regular-sized taiko drums in rhythm while the fifth sits and plays a shamisen.
The younger brother activates his sorcery and summons spikes mid-air and sarcastically wonders if the loud music is meant to intimidate them. The older brother recognises Azami as someone worth their time, knowing Azami was quite skilled. Behind them, the Hishaku member simply watches and moves a hand to his chin. The older brother promptly activates his sorcery Yellow Chains, summoning chains mid-air which rapidly wrap around Azami and the younger flings the spikes at Azami. Neutrally noting the two are quite fast, Azami leaps over the spikes, only for the chains to pull taut as the two brothers advance into melee, the older with an outstretched hand and the younger with a barrage of spikes at the ready.
Beneath his calm exterior, cold fury reigns within Azami. Having questioned Chihiro in depth about the incident, he recognised the Hishaku member's sandal as matching one of the Hishaku members who had attacked the Rokuhira residence and killed Kunishige. In an instant, Azami breaks the chains holding him back and slams his right fist into the older brother's face, slamming him into a wall and destroying his head, denting part of the wall behind in the process. Music rings out as the younger brother screams as he sees his brother's death, but Azami is already above him, and slams his head into the ground, a large crack visible on the ground. It is revealed that Azami's fighting style focuses primarily on hand-to-hand combat, overpowering tricks through sheer power.
The Hishaku member walks forward, still with a hand held to their chin as they observe the situation. Azami sees his hand tattoo and remembers him as one of Kunishige's attackers. He recalls when Shiba had detected the attack, he had arrived in ten seconds but the Hishaku were already gone by then, their work complete. Azami consolidates that the three who attacked Kunishige were the best of the best; the Shigyu Brothers were nowhere close to them.
Azami turns and says to the Hishaku member that they are finally meeting. It is stated that the rule of the Threat Elimination Grounds is that threats die here.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Kudo's name is revealed.
- Kudo tells Hakuri that his mission is to advance to Shinuchi's room and transport Shinuchi into the Storehouse.
- It is revealed that the Kamunabi transplanted part of Hakuri's nervous system governing Isou in order to reinforce the Storehouse; hence, both powers were weakened.
- It is revealed Kudo and Hakuri are deep underground, already in the lowest sections of the headquarters.
- A Hishaku member in samurai-like attire and the Shigyu Brothers enter through the west entrance.
- The west entrance commander had previously been informed by the Surveillance Sorcerer of the three intruders, stating to let them pass to Level 1's Central Area where reinforcements would be dispatched.
- It is revealed that the Shigyu Brothers have killed 11 Kamunabi sorcerers including officers and the west entrance commander's nephew.
- The Shigyu Brothers detect the 24 members of the west entrance platoon but do not consider them worth engaging.
- The three invaders enter the central area of Level 1: the Threat Elimination Grounds. Azami enters to face them and kills the brothers in one hit each.
- It is revealed that Azami fights primarily through hand-to-hand combat and sheer force.
- Azami recognises the Hishaku member as being one of the three sorcerers who attacked the Rokuhira residence and prepares to confront him.
- It is revealed that Shiba arrived at the residence ten seconds after detecting the attack, but the Hishaku had already disappeared by then.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
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