A Blade For Specters

Heh heh...out and about without so much as a weapon. Humans in these parts certainly are careless.

Bad luck for you...I happen to be a little peckish. I'll bring you home and eat you piece by piece!

Nooo! Help meee!

Get down!

Ggh...gaaah!

Are you hurt, miss?

Yes, thank you. You really saved me, sir.

Think nothing of it. The strong have a duty to fight in defense of those weaker than themselves. Especially a lovely woman such as yourself.

Oh...!

But why would there be a specter here in the West...?

I heard someone was attacked by a specter around here. Would that be you?

Ah, you're Komachi from the Unigan Guard, right? So sorry to have you come all this way.

This young samurai saved me. But I'm afraid it's too late...

Huh?! Are you hurt?! We must get you to a doctor!

Oh, do I have to spell it out? I'm dreadfully afflicted... With love, for this young samurai! ♡

I... I see.

...Ahem. Thank you for your assistance.

......Hm.

Um, is there something on my face?

My apologies. No matter how beautiful she may be, it certainly is rude to stare at a woman for so long.

B-beautiful?! (I-I can see why that trader was so strongly affected...)

Yes, you have a fine fire in your eyes. Could I trouble you to spar with me?

Huh?

Ah, how rude of me. I've forgotten to give my name. I am Akane, a samurai of the East, on a journey to hone my martial skills.

I seek to become a worthy match for my betrothed, which I may only do by achieving martial excellence. And to do that, I must match my blade against as many strong opponents as I can on my travels.

So, I could hardly pass up the chance to ask a fine warrior such as yourself to do me this honor.

Ah, I see. You're training to impress your future bride. I understand.

Bride?

Unfortunately, I'm far too busy dealing with these recent reports of specters. so I don't have the time right now.

Then, if I resolve the issue, you'll cross blades with me?

Would you be willing to help?

There is no better teacher than experience. I would consider it a favor from you to me, even.

Having your local expertise on our side would be a huge help, it's true. Why don't we talk business after we see this gentle lady back safely to Unigan?

Thank you again for your help.

I have no more pressing business, really. Now, about our earlier discussion...

What are specters doing here in the West? As far as I was aware, they only ever appear in the Eastern lands.

We're still looking into that.

We've had a real spate of missing persons cases near Serena Coast lately. The specters started appearing in the same area around that same time.

I was hoping that, as someone from the East, you might have more idea of what's going on here.

Hmm...the specter I slew earlier said it would bring the merchant "home" to feast upon him.

So they have a lair somewhere.

From our witness reports, I would guess it's somewhere between Rinde and the Serena Coastline.

To catch a hunter, set a decoy. We can feign defeat, be taken into their home base, then raise the signal and destroy them from both sides. It is one of my honored brother's most clever stratagems.

A decoy...I see. I volunteer.

I would be ashamed of myself as a warrior if I put you in such danger. I will be the decoy.

But...

Fear not. Leading an enemy to strike only where you want them to, and lowering their guard, is a time-honored tactic.

Which is to say, this too is training. In return, I will be counting on you to see my signal and be ready to come to my aid when I call for you.

I understand. Just...be careful.

Of course, and I trust you will be there to aid me if I stumble. Now, back to the Serena Coast.

I can hardly back out now that I've volunteered, but...hmm. How best to portray a weak and defenseless maiden?

They say the Fox of Shin is a woman as bewitching as she is powerful... No, that would hardly work.

The Princess of Ro is a demure and sheltered woman who never leaves her castle...that would be better.

Or, if I mean to portray elegance and beauty, my brother would also do. Quite well, in fact.

Walk with eyes downcast, a pensive look upon my face, as though pondering some mystery of life... Hmm. I am a far cry from him, but I suppose this will work.

Well! You're quite a handsome fellow, aren't you? You sure are.

(My brother would reply...)

Ha...haha... M-May I assist you, sir?

No need to screw up your face like that. Did I do something to scare you?

(...That was intended to be a smile.)

Well, no matter. You're about to see something a lot scarier.

I'll eat you up, just like that woman.

A specter! Then...

(No...no, I can cut it down at any time. For now, I must act the frail maiden.)

(Like my brother... Like my brother...)

(Hm? Wait a moment. My brother is no maiden, though.)

What's the matter, hm? Too scared to even scream? Of course you are. I'm one of the True Three Great Specters, the Iron-Bodied...

Your stance is weak! You should be ashamed to give your name looking like that! You disrespect your foe!

Ghhhk... B-bare...handed...?!

Ah! Whoops! Your form was just so sloppy, I struck without thinking...

(Sir Akane is so powerful! I should train more...)

(...Wait. Weren't we supposed to be finding the specters' hideout?)

(I wonder what the plan is...)

Hmm, well...that specter implied that others were captured, as well. I can hardly imagine they would capture living humans and then leave them wholly unguarded.

In that case...

(What?! There's no way...)

Bro! Bro? Where did he get to...

Hm?

......!

Hm, I can still smell Bro on this one. Guess he put it down and then left it here for whatever reason.

Well, whatever. Let's cart this back to the hideout in Rinde.

...Better change my form first.

...I guess that works too.

I had better follow after...

Man, I'm hungry... But they'll get mad if I start sneaking bites off the provisions. I'll wait for Bro to get back.

This must be their base...

...... ......That should do.

Hey, take it easy... You were unconscious until just a moment ago. Are you sure you should be up?

Fear not, miss. I was only pretending to have lost consciousness.

Now, Komachi should be here...

Akane. Are you alright?

Just fine, yes. How do matters stand outside?

I counted around five people who seem to be transformed specters. None of them seem too powerful... But they outnumber us heavily.

In a situation like this...my brother would recommend thinning their numbers one by one, by luring them out of sight.

That's wise. It will help us guarantee the safety of their captives, too.

Then...

You strike from the outside, and I will strike from the inside. Between us, we will leave no survivors.

Huh? What about your brother's plan to lure them away?!

That is what my brother would do, I said.

However, I am not him, nor do I have his skill for plans and stratagems. I can only charge forward and strike with my all. Besides, if this is the best they have to oppose us with, then defeating them all at once will be much faster.

Or do you lack confidence in the blade and the body you have honed, Komachi?

Don't be ridiculous.

Now that's a fine lady. Come, let us begin.

Now, then. I should begin work on the specters outside, too.

Heh heh...I bet you think you're real clever. But your schemes are nothing before my enlightened third eye!

Ah, I know of your sort. You can read minds, yes?

That's right. Which means that I can see every move you make before, Hey, hey, whoa!

Not even a specter is low enough to attack someone while they're talking!

My apologies. However, I find myself growing sleepy listening to you. Please wrap it up, ideally in one word.

Huh? One word? Uh... Hang on...

May I kill you now?

Enough of this! Die!

Why...why can't I beat you?! I can see every move you make!

The simple answer is that you are weak. I am stronger than you. Even if you can read my mind, there is nothing you can do with that information. Besides, Fugen Itto-Ryu is my life. You can read my thoughts, but I don't even need to think to defeat you.

Observe...

You...freak...

I came all this way... fleeing that beast in the vortex... Only to end up facing... Another damn monster...

Hm. The dying words of my foes mean nothing to me...this fight is over.

Still, it was worth it to face a foe I could wield my father's blade against. Its bite is far too sharp to wield against any mortal enemy, after all.

Akane! How did it go?

Just fine. The battle is over.

Once we see this gentlelady upon her way, the matter will be well and truly settled.

Thank you again for your assistance. As the least member of the Unigan Guard, allow me to offer you our gratitude.

No thanks needed. I did what I did to serve my own goals.

Ah, of course. You wanted to spar with me, right?

As a warrior and a martial artist, I would be honored, Akane.

What would be a suitable spot? I am not familiar with the lay of the land.

The Nuaru Uplands, then.

You truly are a warrior beyond compare, Komachi. I knew it from the moment I set my eyes upon you.

You flatter me, Akane. Your bladework is a thing of beauty.

That's the Fugen Itto-Ryu school, yes? Are you kin to the school?

I was adopted by the Fugen Dojo when I was very young. I lived and breathed swordplay...so I know very little else.

My elder brother and my betrothed are much more capable, and excel in the arts of the brush, verse, and many more...

Please don't speak like that. Your skills are breathtaking. You move like a master in your own right.

Thank you for saying so, but I am still a far cry from my Master.

And...from my betrothed. Only when I surpass him will I be worthy to inherit the school.

I see...

...Hm? Him?

Yes. I did not correct you before, but my betrothed is a man.

I must hone my blade to prove that I'm worthy to join the bloodline of the school.

...There are other reasons too, of course...

Um... Akane... You're...a woman?

I am. Do I not look it?

No, um... It's not that...

It's alright. Lord Shigure sometimes says that I am more strong-willed than he is. I like to reply to him that in that case, perhaps I should take him as my wife instead. We always have a good laugh.

It sounds like you get along well.

To have such a good relationship with your partner in an arranged marriage... I admit, I'm a little envious.

I need to finish my training soon and hurry back home, I think. Strife is man's constant companion anywhere in the world, but I fear a war may begin back home at any time now.

(For there to be specters here... Has something happened in Garulea?)

Is something wrong?

Oh, no...my apologies. Shall we continue?

Of course. You may have scored a point on me before, but I promise you you won't take another.

We shall see.

(I hadn't intended to return until my training was concluded, but...)

(Perhaps I should go take a look.)