Chapter 476

“Taiga-dono, there were trails of blood found on that hill and a piece of cloth . However, we recovered nothing but that . ” Arakaki stood behind Tora who was watching two samurais par . Their swords clashed, satisfying enough for leaders like them to have as a warrior .

After the blow he received from the strongest general he had ever known, Arakaki took quite a few minutes to snap back to reality . Hence, he was lost when Tora left and shot an arrow . The thing he only witnessed was Tora shooting an arrow to a specific area .

He then hastily headed to the tower where she stood . Upon reaching it, he saw her hand dripping with blood as she had a deep wound . Therefore, he insisted on treating her wound, which she agreed after he persisted .

“Arakaki, continue strengthening your base and tighten your patrol . ” Without turning her gaze away from the two warriors parring, Tora ordered . “Task a small group of soldiers to thoroughly conduct an investigation regarding the incident but don’t let your guard down . ” 

“Yes, Taiga-dono . ” Bowing his head, Arakaki heeds her orders .

“Whoever the person behind it, he/she sought for a distraction of this base by implanting doubts within your people . Fortunately, their cheap trick won’t work on me . ” Slowly, a smirk formed on the side of her lips .

Indeed, it was a good thing that Tora was present when it happened . Or else, Arakaki would also think that a rat managed to sneak inside the base . After all, the arrow though seemed it came from the top of the archery tower, it actually came further behind it .

Still, that was more alarming because it meant that someone has a terrifying skill in shooting an arrow from an extended distance . It could be considered that he was as good as Tora in terms of archery .

“I’ll be heading back to the capital tomorrow at dawn . I can entrust the affairs here to you, can I?” Tora turned, her hands were held behind .

“I wish for your safe return to the Capital, Taiga-dono . ” Saluting with his fist on his chest, Arakaki bowed his head before his commander .

It has been a month since Tora arrived on the northern border . She initially planned to stay for several days only, but after the incident, it prolonged her stay in the town . However, since the envoy of the emperor came to request for her presence in the capital, they mandated her to return to join the court .

“Arakaki, our enemy…” She paused as Tora scanned her eyes around the surrounding . “I have a feeling that they won’t come from outside because they were already inside . ” With that said remark, Tora set her eyes to Arakaki, who knitted his brows before his pair of eyes widened and sharpened .

“Taiga-dono, are you implying that there would an uprising?”

“Let’s not think that far yet but, let’s also let’s keep that possibility in mind . ” Shaking her head sideways, Tora took a step forward and soon brushed past Arakaki . Stopping on his side, she whispered . “Never let your guard down, Arakaki . They were trying to cripple me — don’t let that happen . ” With that, Tora resumed on her strides .

“Yes, my king . ” Arakaki offered her another salute as he lowly muttered .

An uprising meant that another blood bath would take place to fight for the throne . Although the current emperor was just a mere figurehead, Tora was mandated to fight on the frontline to protect him .

After all, the emperor was still sitting on his throne because Tora let him . But, that didn’t mean he was the true ruler . Everyone secretly acknowledged the general as the real ruler of the kingdom . Hence, a revolt was to challenge the one true king: Tora .

****

The next day: DAWN .

“Churu, are you certain you’re prepared to return to the Capital?” Squatting down, Tora asked Churu for the last time . Tora thought hard about it if Churu should go back to the capital with her or she would leave her here under Arakaki’s protection . However, although she decided to choose the latter, Churu cried her heart out .

Therefore, Tora was rendered helpless before this little girl . She didn’t know what kind of magic Churu has to bend her decision and be helpless before her requests . In the end, Tora decided to take her along with her .

“Yamada-san is with me, so I am not afraid!” Churu smiled brightly, nodding her head determined to go back to her host’s birthplace where she was born and died .

“Tora, that’s my real name . ” Tora corrected . She realized that Churu still didn’t know her real name and still addressed her using the false name she gave to Aki . “Call me that when it’s just the two of us, alright?” She smiled, which made Churu smiled .

“Hmm!” It was not surprising that Churu didn’t press on the reason why she used a false name as she has been like that . After all, Churu knew Tora from the day she was born . Meanwhile, Tora completely assumed that because Churu was a former slave, she had a habit of not probing .

“Let’s go,” Tora grinned . She lifted Churu up on Kaze’s back before she hopped on it after she jumped . Churu swayed sideways, but because Tora stilled her little frail body, she didn’t fall . “Our journey will take a few rough days but endure it . ” Tora reminded her as they would travel back to the capital without a carriage .

Hence, it would surely be rough on Churu . Regardless, Churu was prepared to go to the ends of the world if she was with her .

“Kaze, head forth . ” Pleased with the enthusiasm of Churu, Tora commanded her ride before it neighed and sped away from the northern town .

****

Three days later, Tora and Churu weren’t even halfway to the Capital when they saw an empty carriage ahead . Slowing down, Kaze came into a full halt several steps away from the carriage . By the looks of it, a group of bandits ambushed the carriage as some rotten vegetables, squashed fruits scattered around .

“How unfortunate…” Tora murmured as she felt bad for this group who were robbed . Merchants usually faced this kind of danger whenever they travel to deliver their goods .

Hence, Tora didn’t take this route as it was a long road to take and she didn’t want unnecessary trouble . If not because she has a little girl with her, she wouldn’t take this smooth road and go to the rough yet short route .

Just as Tora was about to command Kaze to continue on their journey, she caught a figure on the side of her eyes .

Turning to the figure, Kaze trotted forth near the figure who was sitting, almost on the brink of his death . Tora hopped out of Kaze and sprinted to the elderly man sitting while leaning on the tree .

“Mister, what happened?” Tora asked as she immediately offered him water to drink . Just then, she heard Churu screamed, which made her turn her head .

“Yamada-san!” Churu screamed as she was being taken away by an unknown man on a horse as he dragged her inside the forest on the side of the road . On the other hand, Kaze followed their tracks despite not having a rider .

“Hehe,” The elderly man chuckled but the next second, Tora’s pair of devilish eyes met his — momentarily taking him aback . She lifted him by his neck as her grip around him slowly tightened .

“Bring me to her!” She said through her gritted teeth as it was obvious this man was the abductor’s accomplice .