Surrounded

I have a bad feeling about it. I ran for the smoke I saw from the town. With a bag containing a bunch of boxes of cakes being carried in my hands, and I ran through the mountains. I might run a little roughly and the cake might lose its shape, but let’s have Aka put up with it.

I ask, “Hey, what do you think, Enuma? The story just before.”

Enuma cited, "A team of hunters from Insei. What about it?"

I mention, “That woman do you think she has anything to do with the Hunter team?”

Enuma agreed, "Well, the possibility is high."

Going through the possibilities, “If she was a hunter, too. what happens if Aka is found?”

Enuma explained it, "Who could say. Even after the war, I know not what the reaction will be. As for how they may react. Undoubtedly, not much has changed from before and now."

The first thing my instincts told me about the woman from Insei and the old man called Kouga who was by her side. From the way they talked, it seemed to be with some others as large group of warriors from Insei. 

Enuma said, "Aka, that ogre, he was kind to you, but if you fight... I do not think you should worry, your power will probably-"

Surely, it’s also difficult to move quickly while carrying delicate cargo in both hands that can’t be handled roughly. “Ah, I don’t know. But, I have a bad feeling. If Aka is safe, that’s fine.”

Read the obstacles one step ahead and proceed with the shortest, safest course. Last night, Enuma taught me Magical Parkour, but I can’t take advantage of it. 

Enuma requested, "Oi, even in a rush, be more aware of the peripheral vision for Magical Parkour and read further ahead as you would in a game of Go."

I groan, “I’m sorry. But, last time I hit my head.”

Enuma said, "Do not let your mind wonder by simply reading two or three obstacles and avoiding them. If you avoid one, you will always need to read it until the next one, else you will crash into other obstacles such as trees!"

I replied, “Well, that’s why I can’t do it very well because I’m holding cake!”

Enuma scolded me, "Do not dynamically push forward with reckless abandon. Especially as you take the trouble to carry something delicate while moving, handle with both grace and prudence."

If you hurry too fast, you’ll run into a tree. If you are too conscious of trees, you will be late. If you are considerate of the cake, you’ll be halfway there. I can’t use my body well. 

I said “It’s pretty difficult!”

Enuma mentioned, "Well, the landing is called a four-point landing. Simply put, by landing with both hands and feet, it is the basic technique to disperse the impact of falling into four. Then, rolling is a technique in which impact is dispersed by rolling forward when landing. This is known that safe landing is more essential than the way you run before learning parkour."

I replied, “Now you tell me!”

Enuma scolded me again with condescending tone, "I believed this was something that would naturally be learned while playing outside and running around in the mountains as a child. Then again, you are a city life spoiled brat."

I replied, “Ah, again!? Fine, I take on the task! Roughly, with the cake, the four-point thing is impossible. So I’ll throw it away”

Apparently, I don’t have the basics or the essentials necessary for learning parkour. It was then.

All of a sudden, I heard a very calm, nonchalant voice in my ear. “Ah, you’re quite loud, young one. In the depths of the mountains like this, what’s with the luggage you’re holding?”

I involuntarily stop and turn my body toward the voice. There was someone sitting cross-legged on the branch of the next tree.

The whole body is wrapped in black clothing, and the head is covered with a black hood and the mouth is covered with a black mask. And on his back, he carries what appears to be a small, short sword. No matter how you look at it, they’re suspicious.

I asked, “Hey, who are you?”

The tone is calm, with no feeling of hostility. Even so, I don’t know how they look because the face is hidden. The black clothed man said “I’m a hunter.”

I said calmly, “Hmm. Well, I’m sorry, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

I want to get a little response, and the moment I said that, as expected, he stopped me. “Oh, can’t you wait a minute? No, I’m really sorry if you’re in a hurry.”

Saying it politely, but in short, it seems that you want for me not to interfere because you’re in a special training session. The man said, “Presently, me and my comrades are soon to participate in some stern special training just beyond this point. I’m sorry to bother you, but can you take a detour? If you’re in such a hurry, I could guide you right away.”

I asked, “Are you a hunter from Insei?”

The man replied, “Oh? Have you heard of it in town? Indeed, my people are from Insei, and I’m a freelance hunter.”

Just as I thought. Enuma confirmed my thoughts, "Boy! Be careful."

I asked Enuma, “what is it?”

Enuma said "This one talking about freelance hunters and such. It seems too generous, and possibly a distraction"

It seems Enuma notice something in the hunter in front of us. Certainly, however you look at it, it doesn’t look normal, and it’s suspicious.

I told the masked man, “Well, I don’t care which hunter you are, but I’d like to get this cake to my friend soon. I’ll be going ahead.”

However, there are things that I am concerned about. It is not to worry about anything if these guys are not related to Aka at all, and it is only training in the place where Aka happens, and it is not noticed the presence of Aka.

It’s because they’re just training where Aka is. No matter what they’re doing, if they’re unaware of Aka’s existence, then I wouldn’t care. So, it’s a bit of a roundabout inquiry, but how does he react to me is important. 

Enuma alerted me, "Boy get your wits up and be wary. Pay attention without showing it on your face. Right now, you surrounded."

Ah, I didn’t notice. You’re pretty good at hide and seek. In other words, there are three of them, including the one before us. 

Enuma said, "One person diagonally left to the rear, one to the right from behind."

The masked man said, “Hah~ I wanted to be careful. Okay, I have to be honest with you.”

Then the man in front of me raised his hands to show that there was no hostility, as he thought. 

The masked man then said, “In fact, a dangerous existence happened to be found by my fellow people during special training.”

I replied, “Dangerous existence?”

The man said it “An atrocious monster, an Ogre. A dangerous species that brought death and tragedy to tens of thousands of human beings in the great war of the past before leaving it to harm the people of the world, my leader and colleagues are now trying to subdue it with all their might. Therefore, this mountain and the forest are very dangerous now. And so, I have to keep an eye out for my people so that no one approaches. Please, can’t you listen to us here?”

And, it is unavoidable then. I nodded, “I see. There’s an atrocious monster. I didn’t know that. Well, it really should be subdued.”

The man replied, “Um, I’m sorry you’re in a hurry, but thank you for your understanding.”

Yes, Aka is different. He’s kinder than anyone else, and he’s so fragile. He’s not someone to be called cruel and outrageous. However, not only the people of the Imperial City, but also those of other countries all see any ogre as a monster!

I said, “If it is only one ogre, I think I will be fine and continue on."

The masked man grabbed my shoulder to stop me and said, "Oh, no. young people these days, when it came to common sense. It is just ignored. 

I replied, “Hey jerk, that’s enough.”

I put the cake I had on the tree and jump in and one shot! I drove my right straight into his face.

I demanded, "What do you bastards trying to hide?”

Masked man said, “Huh?! So fast!?”

The man took my fist and fell to the ground?! However, man’s appearance became a log at that moment.

I hit a man in the face without a doubt now. I said, “What? A Log!?”

Enuma said, "This is a Transformation art."

Right after I reacted to Enuma’s words, I heard a familiar voice from behind me. Enuma warned, "Behind you. Here they come!"

An old man said, “I was surprised that you showed up, but I’ll give an explanation afterwards.”

A blow with a sword handle to the head. The vibration causes paralysis all over my body, and my body falls to the ground. 

The masked man said, “One step slower and I would have been beaten. He is no mere man is he young lady’s acquaintance?”

Old man Kouga said, “That young man was in town a little while ago. He was playing Go with young lady. What happened.”

Ah, I was stunned but did not lose consciousness, I knew I was in really dangerous. At Enuma’s warning, if I hadn’t responded and displaced the area where I was hit a little bit, I would be out cold.

I sat up and said, “Good grief, I wasn’t expecting you.“

Three of them looked astonished at me when I got up. 

One of them was called Iga, the masked man that tried to stop me. The other is an old man I met in the city called Kouga. The third one was in fact... 

I turned to her and said, “I was a little surprised. What are you doing here? Vin was it?”

Vin replied, “You. How can you get up now? What the hell are you?”

Even if Vin seemed nice and did give me cash for besting her in Go. But if you’re going to get in the way, there’s only one thing to do. I take a quick step with my Flicker technique.

I declared, “I’ll go on ahead! For now, you bastards and comrades should stop getting in my way right now. If you can’t do that, if I have to put the three of you down together!”