To be honest, what the other party was doing seemed strange to Lancer. Did they think he wouldn't recognize the actual value of what they wanted him to get? No, that shouldn't be the case. Aside from whether the "Wind God's Fan" had hidden abilities, the potential chain reaction after its exposure would be enough for them to abandon such an idea. After all, his strength was right there; they wouldn't let him go get equipment that could overturn his combat power.
So, did it mean they didn't actually expect him to get it back?
Or was the item actually not hard to get, but the Tengu clan couldn't bring themselves to ask the Kappa for it?
After much thought, Lancer felt this was the most likely possibility. For some people, "face" was more important than anything else.
Once Lancer accepted the letter with the drawing of the "Wind God's Fan," he stood up without hesitation.
"Is something wrong?"
"I'm setting off, of course. Or were you planning on treating me to a drink?"
Lancer matter-of-fact tone left the other person speechless for a moment. In their view, whether it was negotiating with the Kappa or seizing it by force, some preparation was necessary. But for Lancer, that wasn't an issue.
Although he still hadn't obtained a "spatial ring"—the "essential equipment for a protagonist"—his weapon case was quite useful for non-combat situations. As for supplies, he simply bought them from the "Shop" whenever he needed them.
Since he carried all his belongings with him, it didn't matter.
"I'll go get the map."
Though he found Lancer a bit odd, he didn't say much more in the end. As "Lady Tenma" said, the other party was asking them for a favor, and they had placed their chips on the table. How to choose and how to act was the other party's business and had nothing to do with them.
The sudden roar in the uninhabited deep mountains made some villagers living at the foot of the mountain nervous. To them, a roar in the mountains for no reason must be some action by the mountain god. But in reality?
A giant black motorcycle, over two meters long, crashed through countless branches like a beast.
Undoubtedly, the one driving the motorcycle was Lancer. The main reason he was riding a motorcycle instead of turning into a raven was the "Tengu."
Though there were many differences between a raven and a crow—the most significant being size—the problem was that youkai weren't zoologists. They wouldn't care about that. Who knew what kind of strange rumors would spread if he was spotted by other youkai after turning into a raven?
Most importantly, the title "Red Oni" had caused unexpected trouble when he entered the Youkai Mountain. Thinking that he was going to the Kappa's territory to retrieve a Tengu item, he felt that some other nonsense might happen. So, he chose the most stable method.
The "motorcycle" certainly looked out of place in this era, but fortunately, because supernatural powers existed, he could just use "Shikigami" as an excuse.
However, even weirder than a motorcycle appearing in an ukiyo-e painting was Lancer current appearance.
When driving, Lancer liked to wear tight clothes to fully feel the thrill of speed, but now he was wearing a jacket, and strangely, the collar was a bit bulging.
In addition, a young girl was sprawled on his head.
"According to the map, we should turn right at the mountain pass toward the mountain on the right."
Holding the special map, "Zero" called out the descriptions while looking around. As she finished speaking, a furry head popped out from Lancer bulging chest.
"Meow meow meow~!"
Undoubtedly, Lancer wasn't directionally challenged, but he paled in comparison to the "versatile" Airou.
There was no satellite navigation or GPS in this era, so Lancer had to rely on maps. Normally, he would ride for a bit, then stop to check the map, but Lancer had found a simpler way.
The Airou couldn't read Japanese characters, but that was fine; Zero would report them. As for Aru, he was responsible for giving Lancer directions based on the route Zero reported.
Speaking of which, it was a bit strange. Lancer had originally thought the serious Jack would help him, but in the end, Aru was pushed forward by his two companions.
Lancer had long discovered that the three cats had clear tendencies and specialties.
Tiger was a supporter and a chef. He was usually the one who dealt with other Airous since he looked very friendly, especially his soft belly... ahem. Anyway, Tiger usually made decisions for his two companions—one who didn't like to talk and one who was too lazy to talk.
Jack was a combat specialist. In terms of combat technique, he was the strongest of the three. But just like when they first met, he didn't like dealing with strangers; he had even scratched Lancer hand. But like most aloof people, Jack was actually very gentle. For example, after scratching him, he had looked embarrassed even while crossing his arms. Later, after being "tamed (petted well)" by Lancer, he would sometimes lick the back of Lancer hand. He was the most trustworthy comrade—strong and gentle.
As for Aru, who always liked to slack off, he was the most versatile. According to Jack's complaints, he was the most excellent Airou among the three but seemed to be a natural slacker. He had learned a bit of almost everything an Airou could use, and his proficiency with bombs was just because he liked them.
Even now, while "working" for Lancer, Aru didn't forget to slack off. As long as Zero wasn't talking, he would curl up in Lancer chest to keep warm. In fact, Lancer knew that he was an elite who had once helped hunters from other guilds hunt down a "Gammoth," so he wasn't afraid of this bit of cold at all.
Because of this, such a bizarre team appeared.
A man on a heavy motorcycle, Zero wearing a helmet (forced by Lancer) sprawled on the man's head, and an Airou slacking off in Lancer chest.
But it had to be said that although the three seemed a bit unreliable, their strength was guaranteed. Especially Lancer, who sped at a speed no slower than on city roads. If the entire motorcycle hadn't been reinforced, it would have exploded long ago.
Lancer had arrived at the Youkai Mountain in the afternoon. After being delayed there for a bit, he set off before dinner. Later, he simply traveled through the night toward his destination, not even stopping to eat. With his physical fitness, not eating for a day wasn't a big deal.
As for "Zero"?
Lancer didn't know that Zero actually had memories from before she was consumed. Even if he knew, he probably wouldn't believe it. After all, a young girl who just wanted to eat snacks and slack off didn't seem to have anything to do with the "One-Eyed Owl" who had once embodied both "intellect" and "madness."
In fact, she only needed Lancer to provide her with mana to survive. Usually, she just slept in the suitcase and didn't need to eat, but for some reason, she was particularly gluttonous.
The two humans and one cat traveled for a whole day and finally approached their destination: a wetland.
Looking at the wetland in the distance, Lancer couldn't help but sigh in relief. At the same time, he called Tiger out to prepare dinner.
The destination was exactly as described on the map, so there was no rush now. After all, it was said that the "Wind God's Fan" had been there for nearly a hundred years. He had rushed before just because he didn't like wasting time, but now that the goal was right in front of him, he didn't mind having a good meal to reward himself.
Lancer remembered a man at the top of the food chain saying that the most important things for survival in the wild were food, water, a place to sleep, and a fire source. But "fire" wasn't always a good thing; it could help you dispel darkness and cold, but it could also expose your presence.
Lancer had considered that he was still several kilometers away from the destination, and even with his "Eagle Eye," he couldn't see everything. But who would have thought of the special nature of the Kappa?
The Tengu's warning range was the entire Youkai Mountain. Lancer had originally thought that even if the Kappa expanded their warning range, it would at most be the nearby water-related areas. But he was in the mountains now. It was this oversight that made him ignore the gazes in the darkness.
Yes, Lancer had long discovered the gazes in the darkness. But along the way, hundreds of small youkai had been scared by the motorcycle's roar. Lancer didn't have the patience to deal with them, assuming it was just some small youkai attracted by the motorcycle's roar, and peacefully ate his feast...
The Oni were the smallest of the three races. Coupled with their worship of the strong, they naturally gathered around powerful Oni Kings. The Tengu were numerous and could be said to be all over Japan, but the strongest and most senior group had all gathered at the Youkai Mountain because of "Tenma."
But the Kappa were different. They were more than ten times as numerous as the Oni and Tengu combined.
If the Tengu's combat power was one super-strong leader with many strong subordinates and followers united together, and the Oni were a nation of soldiers where ordinary Tengu were no match for them and an Oni King led the elites, then the Kappa relied entirely on numbers to produce strong individuals. After all, when there were many of them, some extraordinary talents were bound to appear.
But it was also because of this that while there were several Great Youkai among the Kappa, they lacked a decisive figure. As Great Youkai themselves, they naturally wouldn't listen to their companions. The result was that the Kappa clan was split into several parts. However, the only good news was that although there were many Kappa, the vast majority were not much stronger than ordinary humans and didn't pose much of a threat to them.
But it was also their large numbers that gave them the most convenient information network in the youkai world. For example, a lone Kappa who had planned to go out for a walk at night and steal some cucumbers from a nearby farm happened to see the two humans and three cats having a barbecue by the motorcycle...
The rich aroma made him salivate, but in the end, his reason made him give up. After all, these two humans and three cats were just too bizarre. Having a barbecue in the deep mountains? Who knew what kind of youkai they were?
After some thought, he left for a nearby Kappa settlement, planning to tell his companions about these "strange youkai."
It wasn't that he was helpful, but because weak youkai had to unite to survive...