The wind swept across the grassland, rustling the blood-red blades of grass that stubbornly clung to their crimson hue, swaying defiantly under the breeze. No matter how fiercely the wind blew, the scarlet tint refused to fade—instead, it seemed to darken further.
Though the Tatarigami had turned this place into a forbidden zone for living creatures, the vegetation thrived unnaturally, displaying a vitality far beyond its usual limits.
The red-clad wanderer emerged with heavy steps, a sword in one hand and a bundle in the other.
"Mr. Himura!"
The resistance soldiers guarding the area brightened at the sight of Bai Luo.
After descending into the gorge, all contact with the surface had been severed—not only could those below no longer see above, but those above could no longer observe what was happening beneath. The Tatarigami's power had completely isolated Musoujin Gorge from the outside world, even muffling sound.
Fearing the worst, Gorou had stationed soldiers at every possible exit, ready to assist Bai Luo upon his return.
"Where is General Gorou?"
The bundle in Bai Luo's hand appeared unremarkable, like the luggage of a refugee miner fleeing from Tatarasuna.
Though curious, the soldier answered dutifully, "General Gorou was worried about you, so he stationed us at all exits while he waited at the entrance you used."
"Take me to him. I have questions."
The Sakabato transformed back into a crimson oil-paper umbrella, its once-unshakable plum blossom fragrance now overpowered by the metallic scent of blood.
The two clashing aromas—like the red figure against the gloomy sky—were jarring, yet bound by an unspoken resignation.
Which is more terrifying—the Tatarigami, or humans?
Did the Tatarigami corrupt mankind, or did mankind unleash the Tatarigami?
The malevolent energy drove people to madness, to the point of committing unspeakable acts in the name of faith and ritual.
Yet this very corruption had been released by human hands.
When the Shogunate learned of the Tatarigami, their first thought wasn't to eradicate it—but to use it as leverage against Watatsumi.
And when Watatsumi discovered the Tatarigami, their priority wasn't to eliminate it—but to deny responsibility.
No wonder Nathan, acting alone, had played both sides so effortlessly.
Humans... truly are terrifying creatures.
"Mr. Himura, I'm relieved to see you unharmed."
Gorou met Bai Luo halfway, rushing over the moment he heard of his safe return.
Bai Luo was crucial—more so than even Gorou himself, the resistance's general.
He could afford to fall—but not Bai Luo.
"This is...?"
Gorou's canine instincts immediately sensed what the bundle contained.
"Something I brought back from the gorge. Give it a proper burial."
Bai Luo glanced at the nearby soldiers, choosing not to unwrap it.
"Understood."
Gorou was no fool. He accepted the bag of bones solemnly, whispering instructions to a trusted subordinate.
The man's eyes widened briefly, but he nodded and hurried off.
"General Gorou, is there a village nearby?"
Having dealt with the remains, Bai Luo pressed on.
His time in the gorge hadn't been idle—he'd gathered information. Many of the afflicted had come from a nearby settlement.
"A village...? Yes, across the gorge. It's called Higi Village."
Gorou's expression darkened slightly at the mention of it.
The place was a headache—one he had no solution for.
"What's wrong with it? You seem... troubled."
Dogs were terrible at hiding their emotions. His drooping tail and flattened ears betrayed his unease.
"Higi Village used to coexist peacefully with us. But after the Mikage Furnace explosion—caused by the Shogunate's negligence—miners fled there. Since then, the villagers have turned against us. They'd rather trade with pirates than trust the resistance."
War always claimed soldiers, burdened civilians, and enriched those who feigned indifference.
"Come with me. The Tatarigami's influence runs deep there."
Bai Luo glanced at the still-overcast sky.
What he'd witnessed in the gorge had unsettled even him—a man who'd seen horrors under Il Dottore's hand.
Back then, all he could offer was a sliver of hope. Only K423 and little Collei had truly survived.
But now... Bai Luo had the power to act.
And he wouldn't stand by.
A good man?
No. Bai Luo had never been one, nor did he claim to be.
In Snezhnaya, calling The Instructor "good" would earn nothing but laughter.
He was the nightmare that kept nobles and officials awake at night.
Yet whether good or evil, Bai Luo still considered himself human.
At the very least... a stab from the Sakabato wouldn't kill him.
But some things—even without skills—could still be cut down by its blade.
Higi Village, located west of Yashiori Island, stood opposite Fort Fujitou to the north. A single crossing over Musoujin Gorge separated them.
After the Mikage Furnace disaster, tensions between Higi Village and the resistance had already been strained by the refugee crisis. Then came the destruction of the Tatarigami wards—and the Shogunate's relentless propaganda—plunging relations into ice.
Once, rope bridges and log crossings had spanned the gorge.
But after the Tatarigami incident, Higi Village severed them unilaterally, cutting all ties with the resistance.
Fortunately, neither Bai Luo nor Gorou were ordinary men. With the aid of One-Winged Angel, Bai Luo's leaping ability far surpassed human limits—clearing the gorge was trivial.
Gorou, leveraging his canine agility, crossed with a running start.
As for the rank-and-file soldiers? Neither had planned to bring them.
The depth of Higi Village's resentment was clear from Gorou's account alone.
Bringing troops wouldn't resolve anything—only invite complications.
Besides, there were matters only he and Gorou could know.
"Speaking of which, Mr. Himura... what's in that bundle you've been carrying? It doesn't seem heavy—almost weightless?"
Gorou eyed the package curiously.
After deciding to visit Higi Village, he'd naturally returned to camp to issue orders—learning from the ward-destruction incident.
Upon returning, he'd found Bai Luo with this mysterious addition.
"A secret weapon."
Shielding the bundle carefully under his umbrella, Bai Luo smiled cryptically.
"A... secret weapon?"
Gorou's confusion only deepened.