"The Fatui? Them again." Muramasa didn't know how many times he had heard the name of this organization, but he still had a bad impression of them.
"They are very famous on the continent…" The blue-haired young man didn't go into detail, but from Muramasa's feeling, it was probably in an annoying way.
"And, a while ago they were trying to recruit me, and now they want to annihilate me?" The thought of them trying to recruit him not long ago made him feel it was somewhat amusing. "If you can't have it, destroy it. Is that what it is?"
"Perhaps not entirely." Ayato shook his head, negating his idea. "Although they are happy to recruit more talented individuals, they are not so ruthless. At least, not in such a direct way."
Direct, meaning they would use other, indirect means to make that person submit to them? Muramasa made a preconceived judgment.
"Then what would be the purpose?" Since it wasn't an annihilation out of anger, there must be another reason. "My identity?" He had revealed his unusual nature many times, and some of those revelations were indeed due to their inducement.
"I'm afraid so. For example, that so-called 'Vision detection' device." Ayato had also been paying close attention to the situation with the Vision Hunt Decree. "I have checked the accounts with the Kanjou Commission. There is no such item. The only possibility is that it was obtained from the Fatui." His relationship with the Kanjou Commission had eased recently. In the next resolution meeting, there would probably be some items that would be approved by both of them.
"But, no matter how you think about it, that's not something that can be easily found out…" It wasn't that he didn't trust the ninjas of the 'Shuumatsuban', but it was just a reasonable speculation—the visitors were two Fatui Harbingers. In his eyes, those two were high-ranking officials. Could their conversation really be so easily overheard?
"We also have our suspicions. I'm afraid one of the two deliberately leaked it." Ayato stroked his chin thoughtfully, a constant smile on his face. "There are several possibilities. One is that he has a grudge against the other party and wants to set them up. The second is that it's a deliberate trap to lure you into action—if you were in Inazuma City, I doubt they would dare to act so recklessly, no matter how bold they are. As for the third..." He paused, looking somewhat helpless. "Or perhaps one of them simply wants to make things more interesting, at least in his perception of interesting."
'How could such a thing be possible,' Muramasa had wanted to say, but unfortunately, he really did know people like that, so he swallowed the words and said something else. "Their location, is there any lead?"
"At least, there are no similar areas on Narukami Island or Ritou." Ayato said this with unusual certainty. "If they built a similar facility nearby, I would have discovered it immediately."
Quite confident… Muramasa thought to himself.
"So the most likely places are Yashiori Island, where the battlefield is, and Watatsumi Island," Ayato added. Muramasa nodded in agreement.
"Understood. Though I don't know what their purpose is." He stood up slowly without much thought, his face showing neither a smile nor anger, as if he were just planning tomorrow's breakfast. "But anyway, as long as I cut them in two, there won't be any more trouble. It's not my intention, but I've done this kind of thing a lot in my work."
The man across the table had no objection to his proposal. He was just a little surprised by his calm demeanor, but he didn't ask about it. "Many places over there are now battlefields. It might be difficult to move around freely. However, I can talk to the Tenryou Commission. As for Watatsumi Island… I'm afraid you'll have to negotiate on your own."
A gentle smile still played on his face, but it gave off a feeling that everything was within his expectations and plans, which was a little unsettling.
"You didn't plan this from the beginning, did you?" He thought back to how it was this man who had made him do a favor for Watatsumi Island in the beginning. Though it was small, it had sent a certain signal. Although the cost was covered by the Yashiro Commission and he had just done a favor, he hadn't expected it to be useful one day.
"As expected, just like that fox said." A corner of Muramasa's mouth quirked up in a感慨 smile.
"Hm?" He just let out a noncommittal "hmm," showing a little curiosity.
"You, you really are an annoying fellow."
…
On Nazuchi Beach
The tidal flat, not in the midst of battle, was very quiet. Occasionally, one could see birds flying by, some aiming for the small creatures on the beach, others for the un-cleared remains.
"We will escort you this far." Kujou Sara was still with her few elite trusted subordinates, but the original four were now missing one, a certain cool blue light. After receiving their orders, they were very confused—why would someone want to go deep into enemy territory during a war? Weren't they afraid of him collaborating with the enemy? But they chose to obey the order.
"What about the other one?" From the beginning, Muramasa had been looking for the guy he had fought with. Though he had a guess, he couldn't help but ask. It can't be what I think it is, can it?
"He was bravely injured in battle and has since handed over his Vision and retired," one of Sara's attendants said. The general did not stop him.
"Handed over…" For these guys who knew about the Vision Hunt Decree and still stayed, handing over their Vision was an unshirkable duty. But in his eyes, it was a bit like killing the donkey after it's done its work at the mill.
Muramasa was noncommittal. The others didn't press the matter. The war had already taken too much of their energy. After a nod, they were led away by Sara. But on the way back, one of them muttered, "It's so far. How does he plan to get there… there isn't even a boat or anything."
These mutters did not draw a reprimand, but no one responded. Muramasa just watched them disappear at the end of Nazuchi Beach.
"Well then." After confirming no one was around, he turned around, raised the only demon blade he wore, and thought to himself, I really don't want to do this to this fellow, but I have no choice—
He straightened his arm, getting into a stance like an athlete about to throw a javelin, and then threw the sword into the sky with all his might. The sound of it tearing through the air only reached him a few seconds after it had left his hand. At that moment, his body also turned into a spirit form and disappeared.
The sword drew a huge arc in the sky, flying directly over the sea and accurately aiming for the coast of Watatsumi Island. Just as the scabbard was inches from the ground, an invisible hand steadily caught it in mid-air, and Muramasa's strong body materialized.
-------
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