Kenshin no Keishousha:Volume 2 Chapter3
The sun was slowly setting below the mountains.
An orange radiance covered the road. As if a gentle breeze was pushing it across, a small piece of trash rolled along the street.
Kurou and Hinako were walking side by side on the sidewalk.
Starting from the shopping district, they rode the tram for approximately twenty minutes as they exited the Specialized Central Region towards the Outer Human Region.
The street that they were walking on was vastly different from the bustling plaza from before. The place was devoid of people and even the occasionally appearing shops were all closed.
Kurou checked his cellphone screen. The bright dot that was displayed was indeed pointing towards the front of the road. The flashing dot was over a certain building. Was there an issue with the accuracy of the GPS? It was impossible to tell if the cellphone user was still wandering around.
“There’s not really a place to eat.”
Hinako muttered as she walked.
“If it’s here, you won’t get lost as easily at least.”
Kurou was at wits end.
Hinako would always get lost just because there was an indistinct pleasant aroma. It felt like she was enticed by the smell of crepes this time for her to get separated from Sefi.
“Getting lost in this place would be pretty boring.”
“Stop looking for excitement when you’re getting lost! That said, you didn’t have to follow me.”
In truth, she really should not have followed.
Kurou originally wanted Hinako and Sefi to group up. However, she insisted on coming along. Perhaps she thought hanging out with Kurou would be more interesting than shopping.
Furthermore, it was possible that Rinne’s cellphone could not be continually tracked. If for some reason she turned off the power, then the Electronics Operating Division would no longer be able to capture the GPS signal. It would be troublesome if the distance between them was too great.
Since there was no time to waste on arguing, Kurou instead just gave Sefi a call to report that he had found Hinako and the two of them were going to stroll around a bit. After telling her that, they arrived here.
“By the way, who are you trying to chase?”
“So now you ask.”
Should have asked from the start, that was what Kurou thought to himself as he explained the situation.
That situation consisted of him leisurely walking around by himself until he met a girl and splitting up with her after the Sun Cult incident. Moreover, it seemed like————
“That girl is perhaps a Blaze.”
Kurou had not confirmed that, but he felt he was essentially on point with this.
Her movements when she was about to be captured by the Sun Cult were…..
Her hands did not even touch the opposition and when the two cultists were blown away————that was mostly likely her mystic artes.
Just based on intuition it was clear that she was very strong. Sizing up a person’s strength was a necessary skill for a swordsman. Kurou had already thoroughly honed this technique.
Just when Kurou explained up to this point……
“How come you can understand that from just a glance?”
It was a very common question.
“It’s just based on your feeling of your opponent. By looking at their unconscious movements, sensing their aura and such you can tell. When you’ve experienced numerous encounters against other swordsman, you’ll just be able to sense it. For someone like Sefi who is just a first-year in the academy, she would probably still have a hard time doing so due to her limited experience. However, for me and Lars, we are able to judge to a certain extent.”
“Can you just tail her based on an intuition? It just seems like you are stalking a girl……”
“It wouldn’t be bad if my hunch was wrong. However……”
There was no way I could be wrong, Kurou thought to himself. The place Rinne went to was an abandoned neighborhood. It was not a place a girl would particularly want to go to. At the very least, Rinne was not an ordinary girl, that was for certain.
“Hmm? The road ends here?”
Kurou nodded to Hinako’s comment.
The path Kurou and Hinako were currently walking————had a single bicycle lane along with two sidewalks. In front of them, there was a gate with a police checkpoint sort of station. There were also railings blocking out any vehicles and people. In the middle of the street, there was even a sign placed there with the words “do not enter” written clearly in red.
Kurou was going through his cellphone as he checked detailed reports for the nearby area.
“I see……”
Kurou thought as such. Following that, he continued forward and easily went over the railing that was at about waist level.
Hinako took a quick glance at Kurou. Since they had already come this far, she could not just go back by herself. Kurou grabbed her hand to help her over the railing.
“What happened here?”
“This is————a Blaze reservation.”
“Reservation……”
“Yup. The surviving Blazes from the cleansing which occurred after the war were separated here. The reservations, like this one here, act as a prison ground for them. Actually, I should say this used to be a reservation.”
There was a large neighborhood, a closed up shop, and an old tower further up the road. In the distance, one could even see factory buildings of some sort.
Moreover, there did not seem to be anyone here.
In the neighborhoods that Swordies reside in, generally speaking there would be plenty of greenery. Since Swordia was a world covered in vegetation and with their homeworld nostalgia, they would be restless unless the streets were covered with greenery.
Although this district had plenty of lush vegetation————it was completely unkempt. Whether it was the trees or grass, all of it was growing wild. The cars stopped on the side of the road had vines growing all over them. It was pretty much a ghost town.
“Hmm——“
Kurou retrieved the geographical data from his cellphone’s mapping program.
“It appears that the place was shut off when the number of Blazes dwindled. Perhaps they planned on reopening it later.”
Rather, it seemed to be completely set aside. Currently they were in the Outer Human Region, but this was without a doubt still within Tokyo Swordia. However, for it to be only a twenty minute tram ride from that bustling district to a reservation was quite unexpected for Kurou.
“What to do now?”
“What to do? What do you mean?”
Towards Kurou’s statement, Hinako revealed a puzzling expression.
“Rinne is located somewhere within this ghost town. If she is a Blaze, perhaps it could get dangerous.”
“You don’t have to worry about me.”
“No way.”
“I’m not Sefi, so even if you chase this Rinne girl I won’t ridicule you.”
“That’s what you meant!?”
After snarking in response, he regained his focus. Now was not the time to fool around.
“I don’t think Rinne would make a surprise attack, but it can’t be said that there’d be no issues going forward. Plus retreating from here might be an option.”
“However, does Kuro plan on going by himself?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll be fine by myself. Actually, I’d like to try something with that Rinne person.”
“What do you plan on doing if you meet her?”
“If she’s cute, I’ll go report this to Sefi.”
“W-Wait! Hold on a sec! Please keep this a secret from Sefi!”
“If you are requesting me to do so in such a manner, I suppose I’ll back off……”
Hinako revealed a very somber expression. Kurou was currently looking quite pathetic.
“Well, right now it isn’t time to be goofing off.”
“Do you really want to retreat? If you do an investigation, perhaps you might figure out something about the Blazes.”
“It’d probably be best not to know what they are planning. Nothing good comes from knowing your enemy.”
“True, it’s because Kuro is very gentle.”
“Yeah…...huh?”
Kurou unwittingly nodded and then looked towards Hinako again. Did I mishear something just now?
“If you know too much about your enemy, it may be hard to take action.”
“Even so…...that doesn’t mean I’m gentle.”
Although Kurou did not believe that he was heartless, he was not going to obliviously brush it off as being gentle. It was not just Kurou, but all swordsmen were the same. Even though Lars said that Manaka was not emotionless at that time, she was not someone who would hold back against an opponent.
Furthermore, Hinako did not understand how swordsmen think.
“I’m putting an end to this topic. Since we are already here we might as well go further on a bit.”
Kurou glanced at the map to confirm their location. This place was a small park. In order to get closer to the targeted building, he would have to go across the park.
The two of them entered the park.
The park had swings, slides, a climbing wall, and a sandbox. It was a very complete park. However, each facility was quite corroded.
“I had heard the Blazes were segregated, but to think they had a park like this.”
“They were probably only provided with the bare necessities. I feel that this park was just shoved into this narrow space as some sort of entertainment facility for them. Plus this was probably just all a facade and it’s highly probable that the children were denied usage of the park anyways.”
“Kuro sure is pessimistic.”
“I’m just explaining my speculations is all.”
“Really? Well, I suppose I don’t really have any interest towards this Blaze matter.”
“That’s really unfortunate.”
“Right now there is something I wish to say to Kuro.”
“Huh? What is it?”
Right as Kurou questioned her, Hinako headed towards the swingset. After lifting herself up over the wooden swings, she took a seat.
“This is my first time sitting on this type of thing.”
“You’re a tragic story yourself aren’t you……”
While being locked up within the Sun Cult facility for so long, she most likely never had the chance to experience these recreational facilities.
“However, I know how to work these things since I’ve read about them in shoujo mangas. You just swing around like this————and then kick forward.”
“Although you’re on the right track, there’s something wrong with that.”
Before her legs flew up, Hinako did not properly swing herself up. Basically, when it came to anything involving her body strength she was still very inadequate.
“Is there something you wanted to say?”
“There’s nothing I can do for you in this case.”
“Huh?”
Hinako looked towards the distance while swinging.
“I’m always under Kuro’s protection. Even right now that holds true. However, I haven’t been able to repay you in any way.”
“There’s no need to repay me. Protecting Hinako is my job. Plus I get paid by the Sabers.”
“Was using that hard earned reward on me going outside due to your job as well?”
“……We live in the same house. If you aren’t happy, I won’t be either.”
“I’m always depressed regardless if I go out or stay indoors.”
“To have some sort of impression is good enough I suppose…….”
To be precise, it was impossible for Kurou to see eye-to-eye with Hinako. Having been imprisoned till she was fifteen years old, even after leaving that place she was still confined within the academy. If Kurou were to just abandon a girl like that, there was no way he could consider himself a human being.
“To Kuro I’m just someone you guard. Is that why you won’t tease my body like you do with Sefi?”
“Don’t mention such unpleasant words. It’s because I have a very high level of skinship with Sefi……”
“I see.”
“Don’t you think your character has deteriorated more and more?”
“That’s why I want to take advantage of this time before it gets worse to ask you something. Kuro, I won’t say anything. Regardless if it’s Sefi or Lars, I won’t speak a word. So now there won’t be any issues right?”
“No issues……what are you referring to?”
Hinako got off the swing set and casually approached Kurou. After getting to the point where their bodies almost touched, Hinako raised her head and gazed at Kurou
“Sefi selected this for me and the underwear I’m currently wearing is decorated in lovely laces.”
As she was saying this, Hinako began unbuckling the buttons to her jacket. Following that she pulled down the front of her shirt collar and her pure white skin slowly came into sight.
“Hold on! There’s no need for you to do this!”
“It’s best to not do anything huh. Those are such cruel words Kuro.”
“……”
Perhaps so, Kurou could understand her point of view.
“I’m not as cute as Sefi. Therefore, this is the most I can do for you.”
“You’re also very cute————hold on, actually I have no interest in this stuff.”
“It’s ok Kuro……I’ve already made up my mind.”
“Whatever it is, you don’t have to————“
“It’s fine. I……already know what it’s like having my breasts felt.”
“Huh?”
Kurou was dumbstruck. Hinako’s shirt was close to being completely unbuttoned, revealing her cute laced bra. Even her overly ample chest was coming into full view.
“That’s what you were getting at?”
“Eh? Doesn’t Kuro jump at the opportunity to stare at Sefi’s breasts? Don’t you love breasts more than anything else?”
“It’s not like that……”
There was the fear that she was going to let him go much further beyond that. However, Hinako misunderstood and that was partly because of Kurou’s frequent obsession with Sefi’s breasts.
“What I meant to say was————”
At that point, Kurou leaped a couple of times
As if he was swooping in on Hinako’s body, he pushed her down on the ground.
At that moment, an air piercing sound could be heard followed by an explosion.
“Tch……!”
Kurou clicked his tongue. While protecting Hinako, he noticed that there was a red object that flew across him.
A flame snake————!
“Neena!”
“A marvelous dodge. However, that isn’t at all shocking since I know about your strength.”
A girl came in from the entrance of the park. She had pigtails and was wearing a tightly fitted black suit. Furthermore, she was wearing glasses which were rarely seen among Swordies. Behind those lenses were eyes glowing with a red hue.
The light blade grasped in her hand had a faint light enshrouding the thin blade.
“Long time no see……although it hasn’t been that long. Neena, seeing you so full of life is all I could ask for.”
Kurou stood up and then grabbed the hilt of his sword.
“You haven’t changed a bit. You’re clearly still teasing Sefi. Even now you were about to act atrociously to this girl.”
“Just as he was about to act, you stopped him.”
“How impolite of me.”
Neena gracefully bowed. She appeared to be quite serious, yet unexpectedly enjoyed joking around.
“However, it’s perfect that you’re here. I’ve always wanted to burn down this park.”
“You should take advantage of this kids park.”
Kurou was just messing around while gazing at where the flame snake————Neena’s mystic artes directly struck. The wooden swing was already roasted without a trace except the two dangling chains. The area below was also burned. It was quite a tragic sight.
Kurou had already seen Neena’s mystic artes numerous times in the past. Since he was already used to the sound of the snake flying by, he was able to sense it coming.
“Hinako, are you hurt?”
“Since Kurou pushed me down in time, I’m fine.”
Hinako denied the notion. She was just dirtied up a little bit, but there was not even a scratch on her it seemed.
“That’s good. Well then…..why is Neena here?”
“That should be my line. Why are you here? If it wasn’t you, I was originally planning to just overlook this and head back.”
“……Hmm.”
Based on Neena’s words he realized something. She seemed to be hiding out here in this ghost town.
Although he was thinking that could not be all there was to it, if Neena was here then that meant————
“Hey, Neena, don’t be acting so conspicuous since we are prisoners after all.”
“……”
Sure enough, Kurou’s ominous premonition came true.
Another girl appeared from the entrance of the park just like Neena.
She was wearing the Sabers uniform that he was already accustomed to seeing along with a bright red jacket even though it was clearly summer.
“Ah, it’s Kurou-kun and Sakurai Hinako. To think we’d meet up here.”
She was the former Sword General and director of the Sabers. She was also the sister of Kurou’s master and a member of the Blazes who betrayed the Swordie government.
“Manaka, seems like your wounds have completely healed already.”
Kurou felt cold sweat running down his back, but he was already used to that. Those who climbed to the Seven Swords have overwhelming light power. Her light was not to the point where he would shake uncontrollably, but just seeing her made him nearly faint.
“That was all thanks to you, but I’m fully recovered now. On the other hand, I was originally supposed to have slain you but you seem to have healed quite nicely.”
Was this some psychological effect? It felt like Manaka was very excited. Was she delighted from seeing her sister’s enemy?
“I never would have thought I’d see you here. What are you doing here Manaka?”
“Even if you ask, isn’t it just Kurou showing up to where we are currently living.”
“This isn’t normal. Your hideout is within the Blaze reservation?”
Although the hideout seemed to be pretty successful, to choose a location that had some relation to them was perhaps too daring.
“Lifelines still run through here actually. I can watch TV and drink ice cold beer after bathing.”
“How perfect.”
Having electricity in an abandoned neighborhood seemed very odd. However, this doubt was better off being set aside for now.
“Speaking of which Kurou-kun, since I answered a question of yours, can you answer one of mine? Why are you even here? Did the Sabers already discover this place?”
“The Sabers is a highly touted organization. I know you are clearly aware of this.”
“Yeah, it wouldn’t be surprising if they actually did find out. However, it’s quite peculiar that you would be here by yourself. Furthermore, you’re even being so cautious as to bring Sakurai Hinako with you.”
Her words did not seem to be lies. Perhaps it would be best for Manaka to think that the Sabers had already found their location.
“I was hoodwinked by some girl and let her get away. I went in pursuit since I was reluctant to part from her and so I ended up here.
“Ah, so that’s it.”
Manaka indicated as if she had figured out everything.
“I was wondering where that kid went. In that case she brought some extra baggage back with her.”
“I’m considered extra baggage? The kid you are talking about……is that Rinne? Is she here?”
“Is she? I’m not that kid’s guardian so I wouldn’t know.”
In the end it was just due to the GPS signal that he arrived here. Although he was not totally sure, but it seemed this was Rinne’s residence.
In that case, his guess that she was Blaze was correct.
Manaka, Neena, and now Rinne, these three Blazes being here was not particularly interesting.
It appeared that this was not an idle location either. Before the situation continued to worsen, he had to consider some retreating tactics.
“Oh oh Kurou-kun, I have some good news for you.”
“I’m quite interested.”
“There’s no point in thinking about escape.”
“If one always avoids the impossible, then they can’t continue to grow.”
“However————trying to do the impossible is also pointless.”
Just as Manaka displayed a frightening smile, the sound of footsteps could be heard. It was not just one or two people. The sound of those footsteps soon closed in on the park.
“……Heh heh.”
Kurou felt anxious but he was still smiling on the surface. In fact, perhaps a smile was the appropriate response.
There were thirty or so female swordsmen surrounding the park. All of them were wearing the same black suit as Neena, plus they each had their own personalized swords.
Furthermore, each of their eyes emitted a red light. That sort of red glow was the confirmation of a Blaze.
“……Kurou, you mentioned before that you can understand the difference in power from a glance right?”
“I believe right now it’d be best if I didn’t understand.”
Kurou responded with a smile towards Hinako’s quiet muttering.
The swordsmen surrounding the park were all on par with Neena or perhaps even above her. Excluding a monster like Manaka, there still would not be anyone who he could handily win against.
“We are also considered as a race of Swordies so there is no way we’d smash Kurou all at once. Except, we don’t plan on letting you escape either.”
Manaka drew her personalized sword————the Dancer.
“Before we were just concealing ourselves. I was told to be careful and to cease any unnecessary movement. Well, perhaps I did go against that just a bit but there are worse things that can happen you know. Although I can’t guarantee to what extent, but if you don’t resist we won’t take your life.”
“O-Onee-sama!? Why can’t we take advantage of this opportunity to cut him down————“
“Neena, even I will comply with the matter that someone reminded me.”
Despite Manaka speaking very calmly, her words had this cryptic meaning.
Back when he confronted Manaka, he felt as if there was someone even above Manaka in all this. That person must be the leader of the Blazes, that was what Kurou thought. Right now he had other things to contemplate over.
No, there was nothing to think about actually.
After taking a quick glance at Hinako who was right next to him————
Kurou placed the sword by his waist onto the ground and raised both hands.
“Understood, I surrender.”
