Chapter Ten: Akitoki Hojo and Gowi

“Lord, the yokai has retreated!”

Although Akechi Mitsuhide did not witness the reverse-haired Kiroro turning back toward Maple Village with his own eyes, as a warrior, he could discern the weakening of the invisible hair-sea assault. Whether it was the state of the firewalls in the ravine or the frequency of the Kiroro’s hair-sea attacks at the sole gap in the ravine, all signs pointed to a diminished threat. This all indicated to the entire Hojo army that the yokai attacking the camp covertly had seemingly withdrawn.

“Hm.”

Hojo Akitoki nodded, watching Mitsuhide’s confident face illuminated by the firelight and observing the excited state of the Hojo samurai within the camp. Then, shifting his tone, Akitoki prudently tempered the enthusiasm of those who had faced the yokai for the first time and temporarily gained the upper hand.

“It’s still uncertain whether the yokai has truly retreated, and we have not dealt a decisive blow to it,” he warned. “Let’s not celebrate prematurely.”

Moreover...

He paused for a moment, gazing toward the faintly visible Maple Village not far beyond the firewall. Then, lightly raising his sheathed long sword to point, Akitoki offered a thought-provoking reminder.

“With all this commotion here, aren’t you curious about that village?”

“Eh?”

Upon hearing this, Mitsuhide’s eyes flickered. At first, he had paid little attention to the state of Maple Village. To him, a mere village of civilians posed no threat to the Hojo army and was of no strategic use against the yokai. Why waste effort on it?

Yet, he was well aware of his lord Hojo Akitoki’s character—not that his lord would necessarily concern himself with villagers’ safety in such circumstances. After all, though Akitoki’s reputation for mercy was widespread, it was selective!

“Are you suggesting...?”

Mitsuhide weighed several possibilities in his mind.

“That the yokai, unable to breach our defenses, might vent its rage by slaughtering villagers?”

“Or more likely, that the yokai might use violence to coerce the villagers, making them think the attack on our camp is a precursor?”

“Hmm.”

Akitoki smiled approvingly, pleased with Mitsuhide’s analysis grounded in the present situation. After all, Mitsuhide was a renowned warrior from history, and his strategic insight was commendable.

Regrettably, Akitoki thought with a tinge of dissatisfaction, his knowledge of the Sengoku history of Japan was limited to what he had gleaned from certain games. Currently, Mitsuhide was the only person he could turn to. Others either had become daimyo or had yet to appear.

“So, my lord, what shall we do?”

Encouraged by Akitoki’s agreement, Mitsuhide’s eyes flashed coldly. He made a downward chopping gesture, implying that if the villagers were indeed manipulated by the yokai to attack the camp, harsh measures would have to follow. A mere Maple Village could be sacrificed if necessary.

Akitoki cast a sideways glance at the fierce Mitsuhide. While the plan was sound and standard in Sengoku Japan, that village was a sanctuary for the protagonists, and there were the long-term consequences and the matter of the Four Souls Jewel to consider...

Before Akitoki could dismiss the idea outright, a sudden shout echoed from the ravine’s gap.

“Scatter Soul Iron Claw!”

A vibrant roar resembling Inuyasha’s burst forth. Five gleaming beams of light tore through the scant hair-sea controlled by Kiroro. The residual force of Inuyasha’s assault cut through the hair-sea and nearly reached the Hojo samurai battling the hair-sea at the front. The unprepared samurai were startled, narrowly avoiding injury.

“Prepare the gunners! Fire!”

A mid-level commander behind the samurai quickly ordered the troops to scatter and summoned the musketeers who had been ready to fire.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The gunpowder exploded as bullets sprayed toward Inuyasha, who had just hoped to give the Hojo army a severe lesson.

“What?”

Inuyasha’s smug expression faded. Having been sealed fifty years ago, he was unfamiliar with firearms, which were rare or nonexistent in his prime. Thus, he was unprepared and suffered a heavy blow upon facing the Hojo musketeers.

If not for raising his arm in time to shield his head and face, he would have been gravely wounded or worse.

Though his fire rat jacket was stronger than most armor, the impact of the bullets was excruciating.

In an instant, blood and flesh flew from his body as he tumbled heavily to the ground.

“Inuyasha!”

Goh and Granny Kaede shouted desperately, rushing out from the night to his side.

“Lord Hojo Akitoki, Inuyasha is not our enemy! Please, cease the attack!”

Despite their cries, the Hojo soldiers would not halt without Akitoki’s order. For them, without their lord’s command, not even a line of women could sto