The Heavenly Knight

Chapter 10 - Gentle Knight

Everyone whose house was near the inn immediately shut their doors after seeing Kenzou Arata and Kanezawa Mitsunari fighting the five members of the Blood Blade Circle.

Kenzou Arata immediately took on three of them at once, one of whom was the man wielding the Sword of the Fengrui Kingdom.

“Feel this attack of mine!” the tattooed man slashed toward Kenzou Arata’s stomach, followed by his two companions who attacked from different directions.

“Roar of the Golden Lion!”

Kenzou Arata gathered his Ki and channeled it into his throat, then roared with all his might.

Roarrr..!!

The powerful burst of energy and incredibly loud sound from his Lion’s Roar immediately knocked back all three.

The three muggers tried to endure the pain in their bodies and the ringing in their ears caused by the roar.

"We’re no match for him. Rather than getting caught, we’d better make a run for it!" said the tattooed man, preparing to flee.

“Don’t think you can escape from me!” Kenzou Arata clicked his tongue in annoyance, then immediately leaped toward the man holding the Fengrui Royal Sword and attacked him with his lion’s claws.

“Lion’s Claws Tear the Prey.”

Kenzou Arata’s claws quickly struck the man’s back, tearing his shirt and leaving four diagonal gashes on his skin.

After successfully incapacitating one of them, Kenzou Arata immediately chased after the other two using his body-lightening technique.

“Damn, he’s so fast!” The tattooed man tried to run as fast as he could, but instead of pulling away, Kenzou Arata was closing in on him.

“Argh, damn it!”

Realizing it was impossible to escape Kenzou Arata’s pursuit, the tattooed man stopped immediately, threw his weapon to the ground, and dropped to his knees.

“Please spare me, Knight, I surrender—please don’t kill me!” said the tattooed man.

Kenzou Arata stood before him and looked toward another man who had briefly stopped, but then ran off again, leaving his companion kneeling and begging for mercy from Kenzou Arata.

“I’m not like you people who rob and kill as you please, but you must come with me to the village chief’s house! If you dare to refuse, I’ll take you there by force,” said Kenzou Arata.

“O-Okay, Knight, I’ll do as you say!” replied the tattooed man.

Kenzou Arata tied the man’s hands together and then took him to where his wounded companion lay.

***

Kanezawa Mitsunari subdued his two opponents. Although it wasn’t easy for him, he still won the fight.

“Come with me and take them to the village chief’s house!” said Kenzou Arata.

“Yes, Master!” replied Kanezawa Mitsunari, who had already tied up the two men he had defeated.

Kenzou Arata and Kanezawa Mitsunari set off, taking their four captives to the village chief’s house, unaware that Shinra Kazan was watching them from inside the inn.

Shinra Kazan deeply regretted Kenzou Arata’s overly gentle and forgiving treatment of them; if he had been in Kenzou Arata’s position, there would have been no hope for those highwaymen to survive.

“Young Master, didn’t you just say you wanted to go back to your room? Then why are you still here?” asked Daigo Renji.

“I just wanted to see the Master, but he’s not here anymore!” replied Shinra Kazan.

“In that case, let’s go to your room, Young Master. It’s too dangerous to be here alone,” suggested Daigo Renji.

Shinra Kazan complied and went into his room, while Daigo Renji followed him.

Daigo Renji didn’t want to be surprised again; at first, he’d just wanted to step out for a quick bathroom break, but Shinra Kazan told him he should go back to his room.

Feeling that the situation inside the inn was safe, Daigo Renji wasn’t worried anymore, so he let Shinra Kazan go back to his own room.

But who would have thought that Shinra Kazan was standing alone at the outer door? Daigo Renji suspected that Shinra Kazan had gone out to look for Kenzou Arata, who had already left.

“If you’re sleepy, Senior, you should just go back to your room!” said Shinra Kazan.

“No, Young Master, let me stay here until the teacher and Kanezawa arrive!” replied Daigo Renji.

Shinra Kazan nodded while yawning, then lay down on the bed and fell asleep without waiting for Kenzou Arata to arrive.

***

“You’re awake, Young Master!” said Kenzou Arata, who was standing by the bedroom window.

Shinra Kazan woke up and looked around; it turned out it was already morning. Ever since he had become a child again, he often fell asleep and wasn’t even aware of anything once he was fast asleep.

In the past, Shinra Kazan rarely slept, and even if he fell asleep, he would remain alert and hear even the slightest sound.

But this time, he truly couldn’t hear a single sound—he hadn’t even stayed awake while asleep.

“Eat this rice ball first; then we’ll leave right away!” said Kenzou Arata.

Shinra Kazan quickly washed his face and rinsed his mouth, then ate the rice ball someone had placed on the table next to his bed.

Shinra Kazan asked nothing about what had happened the night before, but Kenzou Arata told him the story himself.

“Last night turned out to be our lucky night. The village chief gave us money as a reward for capturing the members of the Blood Blade Circle! Unfortunately, one of them escaped,” said Kenzou Arata.

Shinra Kazan simply listened while eating the rice balls, which were mixed with seasonings and meat.

“Young Master, once we arrive at the Sect, I’ll introduce my grandson to you. I hope the two of you can become friends and brothers! Yes… my grandson may still be young, but he’s very cheerful and gets along easily with other children!” said Kenzou Arata, speaking on his own without anyone asking him.

Shinra Kazan just smiled, then finished his meal. “I’m done, Master. Let’s go!” said Shinra Kazan.

“It seems you still have quite an appetite! That’s good—the more you eat, the faster you’ll grow,” said Kenzou Arata, and then he and Shinra Kazan left.

Outside the room, Kanezawa Mitsunari and Daigo Renji were already waiting, sitting in chairs. “Good morning, Young Master!” greeted Daigo Renji.

“Kanezawa, have you paid the room rent to Grandma Chiyo yet?” asked Kenzou Arata.

“I have, Master!” replied Kanezawa Mitsunari.

“In that case, let’s get going!”

The four of them immediately went out, mounted their horses, and continued their journey.