(I'll be in your care from here on out too! Ruler-sama!)
『…I shall firmly accept your reverence, Master. Relying upon my person—I acknowledge that as proper respect.』
Holding favorable impressions of each other's presence and stance, they ride their horse hard across the land.
"Waaaay! The sky is so blue and pretty! It's super fast, and then, and then…!"
As Onui excitement overflows while looking up at the sky atop the sprinting horse, desperately trying to put the thoughts and marvels surging in her heart into words—
"Ah…"
[…] 『—』
The sky turns murky. Changing into a gloomy expanse that forebodes an ill omen—
[[[—!]]]
Obstructing their path are armored samurai ghosts. Evil spirits and monsters appearing out of nowhere block the trail leading to the village.
[And we were having such a nice stroll… You monsters really don't know how to read the room, do you, Tasuke-kun?]
"Awoo!!"
[Is it okay if I beat them up? Tasuke-kun?]
"Daaai!"
[I see. You're saying to thoroughly beat them to death. Well, if it's a request from none other than Tasuke-kun, I have no choice.]
Dismounting from the horse, the Master stands firm on the earth to shelter Tasuke and Onui.
"My goodness, you can understand Tasuke's words too, Ryujin-sama?!"
[More or less, just kinda-sorta. …Ruler-sama!]
Rikka offers a prayer to Ruler with two bows, two CLAPs, and one final bow. Accompanied by tremors and wind, an armored warrior clad in jet-black and gold materializes into physical form.
[If you please. Take out the enemies trying to block Onui-chan and Tasuke-kun!]
『Your petition is heard. Do not leave the side of those two, Master.』
Nodding to each other, Rikka quickly shields the two children.
[(This time it's not a battle to defeat, but a battle to protect, huh?)]
As long as there are people behind her to protect, people who must not be harmed, someone has to stay by their side and keep watch to safeguard them. Rather than displaying martial prowess, protecting the two right now is the most crucial battle.
(Mother's assistance isn't here either, so I have to be careful.)
Therefore, she relies on her Servant—her trusty partner. Leaving the fighting to him rather than charging in herself is also… a Master's way of being.
From the monsters' perspective, just when they thought they were ambushing a woman and children, a guardian deity of Hinomoto manifests out of thin air, leaving them intimidated and overwhelmed. He snorts at their pathetic state.
『Mere rabble, utterly unworthy of such a noble prayer. Disperse swiftly.』
He slowly lifts a foot.
『You are unfit to tread upon my domain.』
He lightly brings his foot down onto the earth. With just that single action—
[[[[!!!]]]]
The earth cracks. Fissures split and race across the ground. Before the half-dozen intruders can even move, the armored samurai are swiftly caught in the collapse and fall into the abyss. He stomps lightly once more. The shattered earth swiftly restores itself, crushing them out of existence—literally crushed to pieces.
He lets out a faint breath. That exhale becomes wind, turns into a storm, transforms into a tornado—a divine gale that sweeps up the formless specters and blows them into the heavens.
『Disperse.』
Looking up, he solemnly summons a massive golden bow. The storm gathers, the wind swirls, coalescing into a single arrow charged with divine authority and power enough to pierce through several average Heroic Spirits—
He draws it back and fires.
The result goes without saying. A nameless shot capable of blowing away armies and shattering castles, used on mere wandering ghosts, leaves behind a single outcome: total annihilation. The golden tornado pierces not only the spirits, but tears through the darkness-stained sky itself.
The match is decided; speaking of the outcome is utterly pointless. A clear, radiant sky, darkness dispersed, the shadow blown away without fail. Before the pacifier who guards Hinomoto, the intruders have no place to stand.
『I took a bit of time. Let us hurry ahead.』
"Yaaaaay! Samurai-sama is so strong!"
"Dau dau! Kyaii!"
At that bizarre sight, the two toddlers rejoice with pure admiration, raising their hands in delight.
"Alright! Let's go, let's go!"
Summoning the [Dragon Knight], she quickly loads everyone up and sets off.
"Ryujin-sama, Samurai-sama is incredible! So cool!"
[Right, right? I might be one thing, but the Servants are all amazing. They all became Servants because they're incredible, after all!]
"Can I and Tasuke become one too? A Ryujin-sama or a Servant!"
[You can. If you wish to live that kind of life, I'm sure you can.]
"Kyaii! Awoo!"
『…Advance through your days without faltering. That alone is the truth to living a life without regrets.』
Talking, conversing, the group charges forward.
At a speed that not even a military unit could match, it took only about an hour of riding to reach Onui's village—
Human Village
"Father, Mother! We're back!"
"Onui! Tasuke! Ah, where on earth did you go?!"
"We got this fixed! Ryujin-sama and Samurai-sama protected us!"
"Ryujin-sama? Samurai-sama… do you mean people from the Yagyu clan…?"
"Right, Tasuke!"
"Dau~, kyaii!"
"A-Ah… anyway, I'm just glad you're safe…"
"We must express our thanks. Where are those people?"
"Umm, you see, the two of them are…"
Outskirts of the Village
『—』
Concentrating, he constructs a barrier infused with his own divine spirit energy, making security foolproof. Rikka watches over the process.
"They say monsters don't come near the village, but you can never be too careful, right, Ruler-sama!"
『Indeed. …Fujimaru.』
"?"
『We should be able to return tomorrow. Trust in me, and enjoy the peace without worry.』
"Yes! It'll be fine! If things get dicey, I trust they'll come to us from the other side anyway!"
『…Mm. Now then, as for our next destination—』
Just as they were looking at each other, wondering where to go next—
"Excuse me. Might you be travelers?"
Rikka snaps her head up and turns around. Ruler gazes over with a solemn expression.
"Mother…?!"
A graceful woman with long, flowing hair, wearing an indigo kimono and a traveling straw hat. Her long, long hair and extraordinary bust immediately draw the eye.
『—…』
"My, calling me Mother? My name is Yori, a simple traveler. Umm… forgive me for being so rude, but…"
The woman speaks. Lowering her brows with a timid look, she offers a plea.
"Could you… take me to the castle town? To the foot of Toke Castle in Shimousa…?"
…Suddenly appearing before them, a mysterious beauty. What will she tell Rikka and the others…?
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