Moving through the dirt road was a convoy carrying a special delegate, originating from the western island of Nishinoa. There were two carriages pulled by drakolisks. Guarding the perimeter were soldiers in armor riding their own drakolisks, highly skilled warriors, fitting to guard one of the most important people on their island. No harm must come to her, after all.

  The drakolisks ridden by the warriors were brought here from their own island, as they couldn’t just use any other drakolisks but their own. Which had to be carried here along on their ship. Sailing the waters didn’t seem to bother the creatures much. As for these two carriages, it was prepared by the local lord of the island to meet with the delegates and deliver them safely to the Hokunoa island’s capital city of Hokugo.

  And the most important person in this delegation was a beautiful young woman in her late teens. She wore light armor above the sleeved shirt; the armor going to her sleeves. Along with it were dark pants protected by leather armor and metal plating. Her dark boots were designed to help her move smoothly without any obstacle. And lying on her lap was her sheathed katana.

  She had long pale blue hair tied in a ponytail, fair light skin, purple eyes, and a beautiful and soft face. A beautiful blue jewel hung on her earrings.

  She looked out through the window with clasped hands on her lap. She was feeling a bit tense and bizarre. It was the first time she had come here, the first time she went this far from home. It was even her first time to ride a ship. Which, she had to admit, was not a smooth experience. For the first few hours floating, she felt a bit sick. But thankfully, she got over it.

  However, going out to new places was an interesting and fun experience. That being said, she still felt nervous about this journey. More on because of the destination. She was to represent her island in the assembly of clan lords.

  She took a deep breath. Normally, it was supposed to be her father to do this. However, he was currently ill. There was no choice but for her to take his place. And it was an annual assembly, it wasn’t something they should miss. She was afraid of making a mistake, and the people she was to meet were not to be taken lightly at all. They were frightening men. Absolute warriors.

  She was Miyako Taira, daughter of Nishinoa island’s lord.

  “Is something the matter, milady?”

  Miyako slowly turned a nervous look at the woman sitting in front of her. Her personal security guard. She was in her mid-twenties, short brown hair that reached her shoulders, and dark orange narrow eyes. She had a light brown complexion, and she was pretty, but she had that sharp and stern look on her face that might drive away any potential suitors. Such an attitude that came with her job.

  She wore her dark combat outfit, metal plated armor, armored pants, and boots, quite straightforward overall. On her ears were round silver earrings, which she seemed to love very much. Her hands were also covered in gloves. Placed beside her were a couple of katanas.

  She was Satomi Aoki.

  Miyako forced a smile. “Nothing. Just nervous.”

  “You should try to relax, we’re still a fair distance away.”

  “Yes. But still… Not like I couldn’t imagine how it will be when I arrive.”

  “I’m sure you fear making a mistake. But, eventually, you’ll still get to this kind of thing, anyway.”

  Miyako lowered her head. She was right. In the end, she would still end up in this kind of situation. Delaying it further would be pointless.

  “But you don’t have to deal with it alone,” Satomi continued. “I’m here to assist you, even in your meetings.”

  “This is also your first time, right? To be out here.”

  “Yes.”

  I suppose that’s how it would be when you are always with me to guard me.

  “Are you feeling nervous too?”

  Satomi blinked her eyes a few times before looking out the window. “I am on edge, especially in these foreign lands. All are unfamiliar to me, there could be danger that could appear out of nowhere and at any moment.”

  Miyako wryly smiled. “Indeed, it is bizarre to be on a different island.”

  “Although, I am most worried about the people that we do not know.”

  Miyako tilted her head. “Why?”

  “This land is technically enemy territory. They might assassinate us when given the chance.”

  “I quite doubt that. This always happens every year, and no such incident ever occurred. This is a formal diplomatic event. Having us assassinated would cause an outright war.”

  This was an assembly that occurs every year on Hokunoa, which its lord was kind enough to let take place. It was a good way to maintain the balance, despite the tensions. Although, for some reason, recently, things became more tense, with Hokunoa tightening their sea between here and Nishinoa. It would seem they noticed Nishinoa’s time of weakness, with its lord becoming ill.

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  Still, it was unlikely that someone would attempt to assassinate them here. It could cause other clan lords to lose trust in Hokunoa, and this annual assembly would come to a halt.

  “If you say so, milady. However, please don’t trust anyone on this island but our own. It is better that way.”

  Miyako nodded. “... I understand.”

  Well, if anything were to happen, not like Miyako was completely defenseless.

  “Still have a long way to go, huh?” Miyako said.

  “Yes. Better have some shuteye.”

  “... Not really feeling sleepy right now.”

  “... I understand.”

  Miyako stared out at the window, looking at the barren landscape. It was no different from her island. It was the same dead land. It was heartbreaking, really. She heard stories about this archipelago’s far past, that was once thriving with nature. It was so long ago that it was almost a myth itself.

  How could such lands fall like this?

  How beautiful is a place full of nature?

  Lands beyond the archipelago had such things. Unfortunately, it was impossible for her to go to such faraway places. No matter how curious she may be. Still, there was more important matter than thinking about the dead lands.

  “When will all our islands stop fighting?”

  “Milady?”

  “It is regrettable… that we are so divided. Why can’t we just work together completely? To trust in each other. Just like how it was in the stories.”

  “They seek power over the islands.”

  “I don’t get it… What’s so special about it? Becoming the shogun… It just makes things harder for all of us fighting like this. Aren’t the people more important than our own personal ambitions?”

  Satomi smiled softly. “If only everyone else thinks like you, things might have been better.”

  Miyako lowered her head with a sad expression. “I just want us to unite and stop this conflict. It has been like this for centuries.”

  But changing the status quo, to change it into what she wished, was basically impossible. She just couldn’t force all the lords to follow the path she wanted. Doing so would only inflict irreparable damage on her own home island and people. The cost would be too great.

  Still, it is tiring.

  Nothing ever changes.

  “Personally,” Satomi said. “What’s important is our own island. That we live well.”

  “Then it’s all the same as usual.”

  “I don’t see what’s wrong with that. If it is well, all is well.”

  Miyako softly smiled. “Maybe, sometimes, that is enough.”

  It was then that their carriage suddenly came to a stop.

  “We got incoming!” one of the guards shouted.

  Miyako quickly picked up her katana, the same for Satomi. The guards outside got off their steeds and drew out their weapons. And there was a loud howl from nearby, from what Miyako could guess, it must be monsters.

  One of the guards rushed towards their carriage.

  “What’s going on?” Satomi asked.

  “It’s a herd of Ironbulls!”

  “We got caught up in their path?”

  “It would seem so.”

  Miyako had killed plenty of ironbulls. When you get in their path, they’d make sure to trample you. They were not peaceful creatures at all. At any rate, they should help to settle this matter more quickly. And not like they’d be better in a carriage, anyway. In fact, it might put them in a more dangerous position, considering that a carriage was a big target.

  Miyako got out of the carriage, followed by Satomi.

  They were named as ironbulls because of their sheer strength. Their muscles were so dense that driving a sword into them would be a bit difficult — normally, anyway. Not to mention the power of their attacks, they charge towards you, and you would be in one hell of a pain if hit by their body. Otherwise, if you fell to the ground, you’d be crushed beneath their massive hooves.

  The ironbulls were around twice as big as an average human. Dark brown fur, muscles bulging on their limbs, massive tough hooves, and a pair of sharp horns going outward. They usually travel around with more or less ten. From the looks of it, there were only eight.

  “Let’s help, Satomi.”

  “Yes.”

  Satomi rushed to one of the bulls that was distracted by a warrior. It was a good window to attack. She unsheathed both swords from the scabbards hanging on both sides of her hips. Unveiling finely made katanas glimmering faintly on the blades. She cast magic unto them, and the blades let out a faint glow.

  Once her target was within reach of her attacks, she swung her swords. In that brief moment, several magical slashes were unleashed all at once, shredding the monster apart. Tearing the flesh like paper, blood splashing in the air like water hit by stone.

  The warriors were in awe at the incredible speed she unleashed those attacks. No one here could ever hope to keep up with those, nor could they even follow them with their eyes. Her speed in swinging the sword, and unleashing magical attacks, made her one of the powerful warriors on their home island.

  The ironbull fell to the ground, crying. It was still alive, but in critical condition. They were a sturdy bunch, still it should die shortly, but there was no time to wait for that. One of the soldiers slashed its neck to put it out of its misery.

  Meanwhile, Miyako noticed a bull coming at her. Holding her sheathed sword in her left hand, calmly, she grasped the hilt and slowly pulled out her katana with her right hand. Her sword had a beautifully designed hilt, mostly colored like her hair. The blade of her sword had countless dust that glimmered under the light like the starry sky on a dark night.

  She poured mana into her weapon, and a pale blue flame then engulfed her blade.

  The ironbull huffed and charged towards her, leaving small craters on the soil and making the ground shake slightly. Once it got near, Miyako leaped over it. At the same time, she swung the katana in her right hand as she turned in the air. A powerful blazing magical slash crashed against the beast, carving and burning a good chunk of its flesh.

  Miyako elegantly landed back on the ground while the bull cried, stomping its legs violently. She swiftly thrust her sword towards it, firing a dangerous stream of blue fire. The smell of burnt flesh permeated the air as the monster fell to the ground.

  Miyako gracefully and swiftly, pushed her katana back into its sheath with an audible click. With a nod, satisfied with her performance, she looked around. It would seem all the bulls were taken care of. They were not particularly hard to defeat, as long as you were not overwhelmed. And they weren’t as mobile as other monsters.

  Satomi returned to Miyako’s side. “Are you injured?”

  “No. At any rate, good thing we didn’t suffer any casualties. We should clear the path and be on our way.”

  “Yes—”

  It was then that they noticed a group of people approaching them. They were fully geared. There were six men and one woman. Miyako and Satomi raised their guards, having their weapons at the ready. They had no idea who they were, but in these lands, strangers were not your allies. For the most part, they were your enemies.

  “Aaaw, told you those monsters aren’t strong enough,” said the woman.

  “Well, it was a nice try,” added one man.

  The strange group stopped and lined up, staring at Miyako’s entourage.

  Miyako gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. “Who are you people?”

  One man, who was standing in the middle, stepped forward. He had a scar right down his left eye, blinding him. He slowly extended his sword towards them. “What a pointless question spoken by dead people.”

  Hearing that, Miyako frowned.

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