"Phantoms" ("
Summary[]
Within the Archives of Kamunabi Headquarters, a Kamunabi member opens the Hishaku dossier, flipping to a recent addendum detailing the Hishaku is comprised of ten members led by an individual named Yura, with his goal being to kill the Master Swordsman and wield Shinuchi. The overall dossier is extremely brief; the Hishaku have members not in family registries, sorcery outside the dominant bloodlines, a wide age range and the skills to assassinate Kunishige Rokuhira. The members' backgrounds and connection to each other are all generally unknown, as if they are phantoms.
On Level 1, at the Threat Elimination Grounds, Azami stands over the bloody, defeated form of the Hishaku member in samurai-like attire. Despite his victory, Azami suspects something is wrong, knowing the other four Hishaku entrants have not entered the Grounds despite them being the only entryway to the lower floors. Brow creasing, Azami realises they must have another plan of entry.
At Level 5, where Uruha and Hakuri are, Uruha is disgusted as he scopes the two traitorous Kamunabi elites before him, stating with loathing that the Hishaku are once again just sending in subordinates to wear down their enemies before moving in at the end.
Outside the Threat Elimination Grounds, four Hishaku sorcerers sit at a table. One, Bingo, is a bald man with his tie over his face as he lies back half-asleep, another is the member who had helped Hiruhiko recover his arm, the third, Yukisada, is a younger man that is yawning and the fourth, Uran, is the woman who had participated in the Hishaku's attack on the Rokuhira residence three years ago. Uran casually asks if Yukisada is nervous, as he had yawned, which she interpreted as him being nervous. Yukisada brushes it aside, noting Bingo was also yawning, but Uran responds Bingo was actually sleepy, prompting him to half-consciously agree.
The medic then notes Yura is arriving, the leader casually strolling to the seats. Uran tells Yura that Yukisada is nervous, and Yukisada snaps back that he is not. Turning to the side, Yura notices an elderly clerk nearby, and asks him where the restroom is, confirming he is Kamunabi staff. He notes there were others the Hishaku had noticed on the way in, but they had hid, and the old man states they had been advised to. When asked why he did not, the old man replies he wanted to see Kunishige's murderers with his own eyes, but was disappointed; he had expected monsters, but merely saw above-average crooks, nothing like phantoms. He maintains that he would say nothing, and tells them to proceed to the Threat Elimination Grounds.
Yura proposes an idea: he would flip a coin. If Yura won, the old man would point him to the restaurant. If the old man won, he could kill Yura. The old man is confused as Yura lays a knife on the desk, and Yura tells the old man he was the mastermind behind Kunishige's assassination; if the old man won, he would be famed in history. Sweat rolls down the old man's face as he wonders why Yura would propose such a gambit and Yura nonchalantly states they are about to risk their lives, so he would like to relieve himself first. The old man tells him to find the restroom himself but Yura flips the coin anyways. As it lands and Yura covers it, the old man calls 'tails'.
"I knew it. Today... the gods are on my side."
Yura unveils the coin to show he has won; but the old man is shocked as a vision of a shrine with darkness within appears before his eyes. Shadows fade in over Yura's eyes as he comments that as he thought, the gods were on his side. Thoroughly unnerved, the old man points where the bathroom is, and wonders what is up with Yura. Yura asks if he is living up to the old man's expectations now, before turning to leave. Yukisada joins him.
At the bathroom, Yura asks Yukisada if he is nervous. Disgruntled, Yukisada snarks Yura clearly doesn't get nervous. Yura replies that he does, especially today; they could die, after all. He wasn't against the feeling of nervousness, though, as nervousness preceded victory; and in any case, there wasn't anything to worry about as Yukisada was the strongest fighter among the Hishaku.
The two return to the seats where the other three are, where the Hishaku medic is preparing a spell circle. He reports the Kamunabi barrier system is ironclad; even in the chaos they have sparked, he would only be able to use a tiny opening, and there would be no way for them to choose their location; it was highly likely they would confront the enemy. Bingo comments to bring it on.
In the Core Station on Level 6, Izaru affirms that after they deal with the ambush, they can sweep through their ranks in detail. On Level 1, Yura begins counting down from 10. In the Core Station, one of the supporting sorcerers anxiously looks at the clock as it ticks closer to 10:00 o'clock. Izaru clues on immediately and asks what's wrong. The sorcerer immediately responds nothing, but Izaru's eyes narrow as he wonders why the sorcerer is worried about time in the situation. As Yura counts down to five, the sorcerer realises he has to act early and interferes with a portion of the barrier around the Threat Elimination Grounds. Izaru immediately uses his sorcery, beads manifesting and slamming the sorcerer into the wall, pinning him there.
Izaru asks the Core Station Vessel if anything is wrong and he reports there was only a blip, but he had restored it; however, the Hishaku presences outside the Grounds were gone. In Level 5, behind Uruha and Hakuri, the five Hishaku sorcerers appear, ready for combat. The Hishaku medic is slightly panicked at having to move earlier than anticipated, but Uran praises his adaptability. The medic concludes they need to pick up their pace, while Yura watches on stoically. Uruha turns and Hakuri identifies them as Hishaku, concerned at their number. Uruha reassures Hakuri with the fact that he is armed now. He notes while it has been nearly 20 years, he could finally participate in the fight properly, and readies his sorcery.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Azami is revealed to have defeated the armoured Hishaku entrant, though he suspects something is wrong.
- Outside the Threat Elimination Grounds, four Hishaku members sit in chairs as Yura approaches them.
- With two of the members being new, all ten Hishaku members have now been seen.
- Yura sees a nearby elderly Kamunabi clerk who wished to see Kunishige's killers with his own eyes rather than run, but views them as little more special than ordinary criminals.
- Yura makes a wager on a coin toss with the old man; if Yura wins, the old man shows him where the restroom is. If the old man wins, he can kill Yura.
- Yura wins the coin toss and the old man is thoroughly unnerved.
- As Yura leaves for the restroom, Yukisada follows him. After Yura asks if he is nervous, Yukisada wonders if Yura gets nervous. Yura says he does, but it doesn't bother him.
- The two return and wait by a spell circle one of their colleagues has prepared on the ground.
- In the Core Station on Level 6, one of the supporting sorcerers takes down a portion of the barrier. Izaru immediately incapacitates him and the Core Station Vessel restores the barrier moments after.
- The five Hishaku sorcerers pass down to Level 5, where they confront Uruha and Hakuri.
- Uruha readies his sorcery.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author Comment | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
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