"Even before we entered the dungeon, my companions and I realized that something strange had happened throughout the southern area of Tentochu. The night before, a colossal-sized Hebigure had attacked the village of Blackborough on the southeast coast," Yoichi recounted, remaining seated.
"A colossal Hebigure? Explain, please," Ryutaro replied. Despite his wisdom, the old gatekeeper seemed genuinely confused, having never heard such a story before. The only thing that mattered to Ryutaro was honesty, and showing himself unprepared before his student was no problem for him.
"A Hebigure and a Yoroichi. My comrade Enatsu explained to me that they are relatively common demons in these neighborhoods. However, after coming into contact with that mysterious Blackblood, their size had more than tripled, as had their powers. The Blackblood had granted them the immortality of Gonshiro's power, Ryutaro-Sensei."
Yoichi looked into his master's eyes, though the dark veil of his headdress hid them. A second of silence followed that sentence. "You were right all along, Sensei. Gonshiro is alive and is trying to conquer Tentochu in an underhanded way."
Shioko still remained silent, waiting for the reaction of the one who was formerly known as the strongest warrior in the faction's capital. Ryutaro fueled his own silence, holding both wicker chests in his large hands and placing them on his crossed legs.
"Shioko told me that you defeated a sorcerer who called himself Ogai and that he told you about a woman named Lady Tamiko. Is that correct?" the gatekeeper asked as if Yoichi's words should approve those of his teammate.
"Yes. Correct. It was Ogai who told us about the Blackblood, that is, the substance he was able to summon thanks to the drop of the Emperor's blood flowing in his veins," Yoichi reported, catching his breath between sentences. "That's not all. According to Ogai, Gonshiro wants to subjugate Tentochu's strongest warriors with the Blackblood, bend them to his will, and then form the most fearsome army Kamakiri has ever deploy."
Ryutaro continued to remain silent, storing up all that new information bit by bit. His hands clutched the boxes containing the medical equipment tighter and tighter.
"Supreme Ryutaro," Shioko interrupted. "The Blackblood is capable of exterminating entire plantations of Crimson Lotus, putting villages and, in the worst case, entire cities at risk. In all my career as a professional tamer, I've never seen such material," the archer confessed. Her gaze was downcast as a sign of respect.
"Besides, another aspect needs to be clarified. Enatsu and his Moruba have the same type of wound. Still, Rokuro is not his Oracle," Shioko added, exposing her concern.
Before he could answer that weird statement, the gatekeeper turned to Enatsu as if he had just sensed something coming from his direction. The merchant's eyes opened wide in the next instant, and he contracted his chest muscles, leaning forward in exertion.
"Aaargh!" Enatsu gasped, his neck veins bulging and his face red as if he was about to explode. Shioko and Ryutaro, who were closest to him, grabbed both of his shoulders, bringing him back to lying down and trying to hold back his panic attack.
"Enatsu! Brother, can you hear me?!" Yoichi asked, moving both his legs on the mat and trying to call his friend.
"Help! Please help me! It hurts! My chest hurts! Aaargh!" - As if he could only speak between contractions of his muscles, Enatsu tried to communicate something with his team. His bloodshot eyes managed to let the light through for a few moments only.
The vision of Ryutaro, the faceless monk, disturbed his mood even more. The fear generated by the gatekeeper so close to him caused his senses to shut down immediately.
Enatsu's outburst lasted a total of about ten seconds. Soon after, the tamer merchant passed out once again, slumping down on his mat soiled by the yellowish ointment on his chest.
"Fuck! Enatsu! Ryutaro-sensei! Will my friend... will my friend recover?" Yoichi inquired worriedly. Due to the sudden movement, the pain in his arms and in the center of his chest amplified, forcing him to lean forward and take deep breaths.
"His wounds are not normal. Hundreds of tiny cuts are concentrated in one spot. Whatever magical attack has affected him, it is something I have never seen. Anyway, my special ointment will ease his pain, but I'm afraid it won't be necessary to heal his wounds completely," Ryutaro explained coldly. His hands grasped the two boxes again.
The gatekeeper stood up from the grassy ground. With usual slow and gentle movements, as if his four limbs moved only by the action of the wind, he placed both wicker chests inside the carriage.
"Ryutaro-Sensei!" - this time, the gatekeeper's name was spoken by Yoichi very loudly, almost shouting. When the old gatekeeper turned towards him, the young tamer was kneeling with his arms and hands stretched out on the mat.
His forehead was resting on the ground as if in a prayer position. "Ryutaro-Sensei, we absolutely must find a cure for Enatsu. He is my trusted friend, I need your help!" exclaimed Yoichi all in one breath.
Shioko's blond eyebrows raised and curved slightly in an expression of astonishment. The red-haired archer marveled at the tenacity with which such an inexperienced warrior, barely able to move, wanted to save his comrade's life.
By virtue of the recent events, knowing that if Enatsu was in that state it was mostly because of her, Shioko felt a strong empathy towards her comrade.
Unlike other more famous and trained tamers, Yoichi was a good and selfless young man. To him, the health of his friends and the pursuit of their common causes were far more important than any personal enrichment.
That Bronzeforest farmer had inherited the most extraordinary and oldest power the modern world of Lumya had ever seen. Still, he had not hesitated for a second to kneel before his master, begging for his help and asking to save Enatsu.
Making a totally unexpected gesture, Shioko put aside her bitter and selfish nature. The tamer leaned her torso forward and rested her forehead on the soft grass. With her arms, she emulated Yoichi's stance, increasing the credibility of his plea.
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