| Author: Eltria | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | |
The towering brick wall blocked our way.
It didn’t take long for the duo—the large man and the potbellied man pursuing Hom—to corner us.
“You fools. If you’d called for help louder, the patrolling police would have rescued you.”
“…Indeed, we should have done that,” I muttered, biting my lip at the sound of their mocking laughter and looking around. The path back to the main street was already blocked by the two large men, leaving no gap for us to escape through.
The only possible escape route was over the wall. Such a move would be impossible for ordinary people, but Hom could scale the wall while carrying Alfe and escape across the roofs of the adjacent houses.
However, if I ordered that, Hom would inevitably come back to retrieve me, as she was programmed to protect me at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing herself. If that happened, the situation would play right into their hands. I couldn’t determine the best course of action.
“Well, there’s no escape now,” one of the men said, closing in on us like predators stalking their prey. The stench of sweat and body odor filled the air, making me grimace.
“Leafa…” Alfe’s voice trembled as she clung to my back, gripping my clothes tightly enough that it hurt, trying to hide her fear.
“…Master, your permission,” Hom requested, ready to fight, but I couldn’t allow it. Given that the criminal organization dealing in homunculi might have more accomplices, it was too risky to act without knowing the enemy’s full strength.
What should I do…?
As various options raced through my mind, none seemed like the right choice. Just as the men stepped into Hom’s range, Alfe gasped behind me.
“Ah!”
Alfe’s voice, mixed with astonishment, reached my ears at the same moment the men’s attention shifted away from us.
“…Wha-?! Who are you!?”
The large man was the first to shout, followed by the potbellied man, who let out a similar cry.
“Ta… Tao Ran…!?”
“Now, what might you be doing here, ‘relatives’?”
The calm voice belonged to an elderly man with a long white beard. Dressed in mustard-colored martial arts attire, he seemed to be a skilled fighter. His deliberate use of the word ‘relatives’ indicated that he had seen through the men’s facade.
“If you know what’s up, don’t get in our way, old man,” the large man snarled, cracking his knuckles menacingly. But the elderly man, unperturbed, looked up at the man nearly twice his size with an air of mild exasperation.
“Is that so? It seems my interference is quite a problem for you,” the old man mused.
“Yeah? You think your tiny sense of justice is worth getting hurt over?” the large man roared, swinging down his raised fist.
“……”
The elderly man whispered something under his breath, and suddenly his body was enveloped in countless arcs of lightning. He himself became a dazzling flash of light, meeting the large man’s descending fist. One moment his palm lightly touched the man’s fist, and the next, he broke through the man’s guard and delivered a sharp elbow to his solar plexus.
“Gaaaaahhhh…!”
Despite the significant difference in their sizes, the large man’s body was sent flying over the wall. The potbellied man, stunned, watched the scene in disbelief before snapping back to reality and scrambling away in a panicked retreat.
“So much aether…” Alfe murmured. The old man before us, who had wielded such powerful lightning magic and sent the large man flying, was clearly no ordinary person. Yet, he wore a gentle smile, checking to ensure we were unharmed.
“Ho ho ho, it seems you are all safe, young ones.”
“Who are you…?” I asked.
The old man narrowed his eyes and straightened his posture, performing a Canado-style greeting by pressing his right fist against the palm of his left hand. I hurriedly bowed my head in response.
“I apologize. I am Leafa, this is Alfe, and this is our attendant, Hom. Thank you for saving us.”
“It was nothing. My name is Tao Ran, an elder of the Tao tribe who practices martial arts,” he replied.
His answer brought to mind stories my father had told me.
The Tao tribe was a minority group living in the northeastern part of the Canado region. They possessed a unique culture known as Huaxia and were considered quite different even among the Canado people. The Tao were particularly skilled in physical arts and were renowned for their distinctive martial arts techniques.
Seeing it firsthand for the first time, I realized that the series of movements Tao Ran had displayed were clearly different from what my father had taught us. It was a blessing in disguise that our visit to Canado Street might fulfill an unexpected purpose.
“Sir Tao Ran, you are clearly a master of martial arts. I have a request. Would you be willing to teach Hom your martial arts?”
“Thank you, Master. I also humbly request this, Lord Tao Ran. Please teach me your martial arts.”
From Tao Ran’s earlier display, Hom had clearly assessed his skill. She bowed deeply, expressing her desire.
“It seems even this old man still has those who wish to become his disciples. But tell me, Hom, was it, why do you wish to become stronger?”
“To protect the people important to me.”
Tao Ran stroked his white beard with his palm, nodding at Hom’s unwavering response.
“Hoh… Indeed, these are dangerous times. It is wise to learn self-defense.”
I worried that he might refuse, but it seemed he was willing to accept our request.
“There is one condition. Climb that wall and look to the south.”
“Understood.”
Hom effortlessly met Tao Ran’s condition, standing atop the wall. The sun still shone high in the southern sky.
“Your physical ability is impressive. Do you see the building with the red round roof?”
“Yes. It appears to be an inn with a signboard.”
Hom shaded her eyes from the sun and squinted, confirming.
“Ho ho ho! You have good eyes as well. Next weekend, come visit me at that inn. Make sure to inform your guardians.”
“““Thank you very much.”””
Our voices—mine, Hom’s, and even Alfe’s—merged in gratitude. Tao Ran laughed heartily at our perfectly synchronized response.
