In the end, Shinji didn't leave after all — his curiosity about those monsters in the Land of Claws was far too great.
In a way, Ishikura Yoshiakira had gotten exactly what he wanted by pure chance.
"Do you still remember what the man who came to see you looked like?"
"I have some recollection. He was around thirty years old, very thin and frail, like someone who had never done a day's work in his life. About 170 centimeters tall, ordinary‑looking, with long hair… and oh right — he smelled strongly of ink."
Having already come to regard Shinji as some sort of divine being, and his only hope of survival, Ishikura answered every question in great detail, holding nothing back.
"When he came to you, did he demonstrate how he performed the sacrifices or how he created those monster soldiers?"
Ishikura looked slightly embarrassed. "No… I drove him out before he could even finish speaking."
That was the truth.
Back then, he had assumed the man was nothing more than a swindler. And even if his claims were real, Ishikura would never resort to such cruel and evil methods, so he had simply thrown him out.
Looking back now, it was possible that his rudeness had offended the man, which was why he had chosen to take his revenge later by helping the Land of Claws.
Shinji wasn't disappointed by the answer.
"You told me all this… what exactly do you want? You want me to help you defeat them?"
Ishikura straightened his expression and replied seriously, "I dare not hope for such a thing. Tomorrow, for the sake of my people, I intend to surrender unconditionally — but only on the condition that none of my people are sacrificed like cattle. If they agree, then even if I must die, I will accept it. But I fear their ambition is boundless… or that they might agree to my face, only to go back on their word later."
He paused, took a deep breath, and continued:
"That is why I must ask you — please, find that man and kill him. Destroy his knowledge and methods, so that no more innocent lives will ever suffer this fate."
Even if you hadn't asked, Shinji thought, I was already planning to go make trouble for him anyway.
Since it would cost him nothing extra, he agreed.
"I won't interfere in the conflict between your two countries. But I am very interested in that man you described… and in those monsters, too."
With that, Shinji vanished right before Ishikura's eyes.
Ishikura sighed deeply. He truly had no other options left — otherwise he would never have pinned his hopes on a stranger he had met only once.
He wondered if he had lost his mind.
---
By noon the next day, the army of the Land of Claws had advanced right to their borders.
Left with no choice, Ishikura had to lead his own troops out to confront them.
Normally, this wasn't something the feudal lord needed to do personally. But since he had to announce his final decision, there was no one else who could take his place.
Until now, no one knew exactly what Ishikura was thinking or what choice he had made.
But the fact that he appeared in person strongly suggested he was ready to surrender.
And he wasn't the only one present. Hiramatsu Takehiko, Lord of the Land of Claws, had also come — to witness the final destruction of his enemy.
Something no previous ruler of the Land of Claws had ever achieved… he had finally accomplished.
The pride, satisfaction, and sense of superiority he felt were beyond description.
"Ishikura Yoshiakira! I see you've come after all. Well? Are you ready to surrender?"
Hiramatsu, a man of slightly plump build, shouted in a tone dripping with arrogance.
Despite the open mockery, Ishikura remained calm and unshaken. "I am willing to surrender — but I have only one condition. You must disband all those monster soldiers, and never again use living people as sacrifices!"
Hiramatsu's expression changed instantly. "I have no idea what nonsense you are talking about! If you want to surrender, then do it properly — kneel and bind yourself. Refuse, and I will slaughter every living soul in your country!"
Ishikura laughed loudly. "Do you take me for a fool who knows nothing? That man who creates those monsters… he came to me first! But I drove him away because I believed sacrificing human lives was a crime against nature. I never imagined he would end up hiding here, with you. You have created so many monsters — surely you have offered up countless living people to get them, haven't you?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, shouts and murmurs erupted from both armies.
On the Land of Fangs' side, the soldiers were simply shocked. But on the Land of Claws' side, the shock was mixed with deep unease.
Just recently, a large number of people had mysteriously vanished from the Land of Claws. Hiramatsu had given a completely different explanation at the time.
But who was telling the truth?
Among those who had disappeared were their own relatives, friends, and comrades‑in‑arms.
"Lies and slander! You are just thrashing around in your death throes, trying to shake my soldiers' loyalty!" Hiramatsu roared.
"General Watanabe! The rest is in your hands."
General Watanabe was confused by what he had heard, but obeyed instantly. "Yes sir! Today, the Land of Fangs will be wiped from the map!"
He mounted his horse and signaled his troops to attack.
Ishikura sighed. "So this is how it ends. Very well then… we fight to the last breath!"
Many of Ishikura's generals and soldiers had previously been in favor of surrender — after all, no one could fight against those monsters.
But what their lord had just said planted deep doubts in their minds.
If surrender meant being sacrificed anyway, along with their families left unprotected…
What else is there to think about? Fight them!
Both sides clashed in a fierce, bloody struggle.
It is said that an army fighting for survival fights best.
And that was exactly what happened here. Though fewer in number, the Land of Fangs' soldiers fought with high morale and desperate courage.
Meanwhile, the Land of Claws' men had expected this to be nothing more than a formality, certain their enemy would surrender. Caught completely off guard, they were stunned and disorganized.
On top of that, the shocking revelation they had just heard weighed heavily on their minds, filling them with suspicion and fear — lowering their morale even further.
As the balance shifted, the army of the Land of Fangs — who had lost battle after battle before — suddenly began pushing their enemies back.
Watching from the rear, Hiramatsu could no longer stay seated. He turned to a scholarly‑looking man standing beside him.
"Hurry! Do something! Once we conquer the Land of Fangs, all these worthless peasants are yours to do whatever you want with!"
The man smiled confidently. "Relax. As long as I am here, those useless trash can never turn the tide."
He took out a writing brush and quickly sketched the shape of a door onto a large boulder.
Then, something incredible happened.
Amidst a faint glow of light, he actually pulled that door open.
One by one, strange beast‑like creatures stepped out from behind it. Their eyes were blood‑red, and they panted heavily with savage breaths.
These were the legendary monster soldiers.
Watching everything from a perfect vantage point nearby, Shinji was surprised.
These creatures didn't feel like Cursed Spirits at all.
But that man with the brush… there was definitely something odd about him.
He decided it was time to go over and have a friendly little chat.
____________________
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