"…Remarkable."
A beautiful woman clad in a white kimono floated in midair, observing the battle below. An ornate red katana rested at her side, its hilt bearing the crest of Kinzoku.
She was Master Iaiashin of the Kinzoku. She had been a Martial Master for decades, serving the Kinzoku by training the future seedlings.
Other figures floated nearby as well—each wielding weapons marked with the same golden crest.
"I know, right, Master?" a short-haired girl with red eyes said, wearing a loose kimono with her chest bandaged. Dual katanas were strapped across her back. "Hideyoshi has grown even stronger in the short time he was away! I wonder when he'll ascend and become a Senior."
"He seems really close," a man with wild purple-black hair replied, his eyes hidden beneath it. A long, slender spear rested at his side. "...If you want my opinion."
"Bah. You all give him too much credit," a bald, burly man snorted, a wrapped greatsword strapped to his back. "We were that strong when we were Squires."
"Stop being jealous, Sakuma," a woman said lazily. She wore a traditional black kimono, her lips painted a deep purple. She appeared unarmed. "It's not a good look."
"Me? Jealous? of what?" the burly man growled.
the short haired girl laughed "His handsome face? Powerful bloodline? Long, flowing hair? Soothing voice? Likeable personality?"
The burly man looked visibly stunned. "...Do I not have any of those at all?"
"Nope", All three other martial artist said in unison.
A vein popped on his forehead, alongside a single tear dropping from his eye, he unsheathed his greatsword—It looked like a hollow crystal with liquid flame burning inside, it had razor sharp edges that had a faint orange hue. "You bastards must be forgetting who the strongest of us here..."
The woman in the black kimono laughed as she dodged a sword swing, "Stop being a baby, Sakuma, it's just a joke."
"RAAAAAAH" He couldn't hold it anymore and started indiscriminately swinging, forcing the others to scatter.
Master Iaiashin sighed.
Her Martial Seniors couldn't stop bickering. Couldn't they act their realm and status, at least a little?
At the very least, save face.
The Mizunori Clan's Seniors and Master were well within sight—dressed in their signature blue and orange garb, floating and observing the battlefield below.
She supposed this was what happened when her people weren't allowed to let loose and fight. On small, state-sanctioned wars such as villages and small towns, only Martial Apprentices and Squires were permitted to participate.
For large towns and other large settlements, it was the domain of Squires and Seniors.
For cities and entire regions—
Masters alone.
This segregation preserved the prestige of the higher realms… but more importantly, it forced clans to care for all their martial artists, not just the ones at the top.
Thankfully, Sages aren't permitted to just indiscriminately take over regions on their own... She was grateful that at the very least, these old monsters still respected clan history and old bonds... otherwise Kinzoku would have been wiped off Sekigahara without a Sage many years ago.
Iaiashin's gaze returned to the battlefield.
One boy.
The one with the tail.
Merun, wasn't it?
Her Seniors assumed she was watching Hideyoshi. She didn't bother correcting them.
Hideyoshi was exceptional—one of the strongest contenders to the seat of clan head to ever wield the Divine Arsenal. She openly admitted he had surpassed her at the same age and realm.
He was her favorite student.
But he lacked depth.
Something essential in his martial drive was missing.
Of course to help with that, as his Master, she had personally and through proxy, searched for his mother many times.
But still, there was nothing.
No hints. No traces.
If something ever surfaced… how would that affect him?
Her attention shifted back to the boy.
His mother claimed he was eleven years old.
Ridiculous.
Physically, he looked closer to sixteen—maybe eighteen.
More importantly...
He possessed strength, speed, and durability nearing that of a Martial Squire… despite having never left Owari.
He should never have had the opportunity to ascend to Squirehood.
Yet the day before, he had knocked out two of her own pupils.
She had even subjected him to her killing intent.
And still—
He pushed through using sheer willpower. Even going so far as to deny his own instinct.
She sensed it clearly. He was incomplete. He didn't even have a Martial Path!
An impossibility. A monster.
Her smile widen into a creepy grin.
A diamond in the rough.
The potential was obscene.
Most importantly, He could use the Divine Arsenal. Without formal training!
His aura was a deep, rich maroon—deceptively powerful.
But the true rage within... I sense is very shallow. But it's not an issue, such things can be cultivated.
It seems his father was the one who trained him.
It's a shame, that Furutsu boy had so much potential. If only he'd listened obediently when commanded.
Peasant-born disregarding Noble orders? No matter what talent one has, if they lack the social awareness and political backing... they're nothing.
Following the law, he should be sent to the labor camps for leaking clan exclusive martial arts.
Maybe this will strengthen this kid's hatred.
Yes, I'll send someone for that.
Yesterday, while using the Divine Arsenal, he could pass as a mid-tier Martial Squire.
Today, after being beaten again and again... somehow, he could contend with a Squire without it.
Growth that bordered on absurd. Growth that even put Hideyoshi to shame.
She had to bring him into the clan.
No—
She had to make him family.
Luckily, she still had unmarried daughters—
…Tch. Right. He was still just a peasant.
Then he would climb.
Prove himself.
It was unbefitting for a noble master of her status to train a peasant who isn't even a Martial Apprentice yet.
She would just give him a gentle nudge instead.
It was near impossible.
But—
What if this child could restore the Kinzoku's lost prestige? lost respect? lost power?
If he could one day restore the Divine Arsenal...
Her hand tightened on her katana as she unsheathed it with her thumb, just enough to catch a glimpse of the glowing deathly blade.
"Perhaps," she murmured, "we still have a chance to ascend together… old friend."
She had been knowingly been pushing away the Sage realm for decades, waiting until the time came when a Divine Arsenal user could strengthen her beloved Katana so they could join each other into Sagehood.
For a person born into Kinzoku, a weapon was no mere tool—especially at high realms. These were your partners, comrades, brothers, some even regarded it as a true part of their own body and soul.
They cherished them too much that they refuse to leave it behind.
———
How many times have I been knocked out lately?
Thankfully, the war was already over this time.
Apparently, these small-scale conflicts only lasted two days and we'd arrived a whole day late.
Still, Hideyoshi was strong enough to turn the tide in a single day.
My brother is fucking awesome!
Another blessing, No full moon tonight!
Transforming into a giant ape in the middle of an army seemed like a fantastic way to die.
Sitting by the fire, I couldn't help noticing a few glances aimed my way.
Some wary.
Some… oddly friendly.
The wary ones made sense. I'd been dragged into this war unconscious and fought as a complete outsider. I was constantly getting my ass beat too.
But the chill ones?
Like that female Martial Artist who kept switching with me—
She's cool.. and pretty... hehe.
What was her name?
Others nodded at me as they passed.
Comrades.
Finally, I felt like I had time to get my head back together.
So much had happened in such a short time that I felt overwhelmed—like everything was spiraling beyond my control.
My capsule was stolen. Or got lost. I dunno, the former seems more probable.
Which might mean my cover was blown.
But… thinking clearly, there was nothing tying me directly to the pod.
Aside from my tail, there was nothing that separated me from a normal human.
And if my cover was blown, at the very least, It clearly wasn't the Kinzoku.
They'd thrown me into a war. Fought alongside me.
Did that mean they trusted me?
Or... was this a test?
To see if I'd obey?
To see if I could become a useful dog.
…Fuck.
I'm getting paranoid.
I'm still too weak to do anything about it anyway.
Does overthinking change anything? Probably not.
I'll just... go with the flow.
Things happen when they happen, after all.
Back on Earth, I just let things happen when they happen without worrying too much.
I think I'll do the same here. Things will end up well in the end. I believe it.
I was lost in thought when someone across the fire cleared his throat.
"So," a man with slit eyes and short brown hair said, staring directly at me, "who are you?"
Every Squire around the fire turned their attention toward me.
All except Hideyoshi. He went off somewhere to his Master.
Damn it.
Thirty Martial Squires are looking at me expectantly...
This feels like school all over again.