Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Chapter Sixty Seven

Lacua, a short and stout man with long ears, pointy teeth, and dark circles beneath his purple-tinted eyes, stood frozen in disbelief. His black cap nearly slipped from his head as he took in the sight before him.

"They... they’re farming in the Great Forest of Jura!?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with shock.

Before him, a long line of wyverns, majestic, powerful creatures typically reserved for military use, were now being used to transport goods, farmers, and construction workers deep into eastern Jura.

His bewilderment only grew as he continued walking. Soon, he arrived at the edge of a sparkling lake, its pristine waters reflecting his own astonished face back at him. His jaw clenched as he gnashed his teeth.

"They purified the lake too!?"

Gripping his head in frustration, he groaned. "None of this makes sense! Have I gone mad? These things shouldn’t even be possible!"

His mutterings were cut short when his eyes landed on a gathering of farmers chatting cheerfully. Among them, standing in the center, was Queen Towa, radiant, healthy, and lively. She was protected by her now added Kijin guard, her presence as lovely as ever.

Lacua staggered back. "Wait a minute... The queen... she’s fully recovered!?"

The sheer impossibility of it all sent his mind reeling. His shock was quickly interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice.

"Well, well. If it isn’t Lacua."

He stiffened. Slowly, he turned to see the Prime Minister of Raja, Mobuji, approaching him with an amiable smile.

"O-Oh, Master Mobuji," Lacua stammered, quickly doffing his cap and bowing low. "It’s been quite some time. As always, I have brought a fine selection of goods for your esteemed consideration."

"How wonderful." Mobuji nodded approvingly. "Let us discuss it in detail later. You must be exhausted from your journey."

Lacua chuckled, though there was a nervous edge to his voice. "Of course. Though, I must say... the atmosphere here seems different from when I left." His eyes narrowed slightly.

Mobuji, either oblivious to Lacua’s change in tone or choosing to ignore it, let out a lighthearted chuckle. "Indeed. A lot can change in just two weeks."

Lacua’s grip on his cap tightened, his fingers digging into the fabric in silent frustration.

"We shall speak further this evening," Mobuji continued, his tone still warm and diplomatic. With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Lacua standing alone.

As the Prime Minister disappeared into the distance, Lacua’s gaze darkened. His mind raced with anger and disbelief.@@@@

"This is awful. What in the world happened while I was away?"

---

A Few Hours Later – Inside Lacua’s Merchant Carriage

Seated inside his private carriage, Lacua growled under his breath, his foot tapping incessantly against the wooden floorboards. His frustration was reaching its boiling point.

"It’s worse than I thought," he muttered, his voice low with simmering rage. "All of my carefully laid plans... ruined by a single Kijin survivor and some measly little human."

He slammed his fist against the table before him, causing the entire carriage to tremble from the impact.

"Everything was going perfectly. I had the queen exactly where I needed her. Fulfilling her desires was my only ticket to elevating my status in this wretched world!"

Clink.

His brooding thoughts were interrupted by a faint sound. His eyes flicked toward the source, a small, ominously glowing purple marble had rolled out from his bag and onto the table.

"Tomo, what’s up?" she asked, her tone suddenly serious. A brief pause. Then, she sighed. "I see... That’s unfortunate." Her fists clenched at her sides. "In the end, it always comes down to this."

Towa, confused, turned to her. "What’s wrong?"

Kaede exhaled, then smiled at her. "Looks like Tomo found our Primordial Demon. I’ll be right back."

A Queen's Resolve

Towa’s breath hitched. “They exist? Lady Kaede... You can’t...”

"Don't worry about it," Kaede interrupted, her voice steady. "I’ve already told Kaori to follow your orders while I’m gone."

Before them, a red portal swirled into existence, casting an eerie glow against the moonlit balcony.

Towa’s hands clenched into fists. "But Lady Kaede, it's too dangerous..."

Her words cut off as she suddenly felt Kaede’s hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair. It was warm, reassuring.

"It’s alright, Towa. Just wait for me, okay?" Kaede said with a soft smile. "I’ll be back before you know it."

As she spoke, a flash of light enveloped her, and her attire shifted. Now, she stood clad in her signature black armor, though this time, a dark cape draped over her right shoulder.

Giving one last smile, Kaede stepped into the portal without hesitation.

The swirling vortex collapsed behind her, leaving only the quiet hum of the night. Towa remained frozen in place, her hands slowly lifting to the spot where Kaede had patted her head. She squirmed slightly, cheeks dusted pink.

"She’ll always come back," she murmured, a small, relieved smile forming on her lips.

Just then, a voice echoed in her mind.

(Excuse me, Queen Towa.)

Towa stiffened, eyes darting around the balcony. "Wh-Who’s there?"

(Ah. It is I, Kaori. Lady Kaede left me here to protect you and your people.)

Towa exhaled, composing herself. "Yes, she mentioned that. What do you need?"

(Well... it seems I have found the culprit responsible for poisoning the lake.)

Towa’s entire body tensed. "What?"

(Yes. In fact, he is in the process of poisoning it again as we speak.)

For a brief moment, silence hung between them. Then, a surge of pure, unfiltered rage bubbled up within her.

Towa’s fingers clenched against the marble railing.

(So, Queen of Raja... what would you like me to do?) Kaori’s voice remained calm, waiting for her command.

Towa took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing with resolve.

“Find him,” she ordered, her voice cold as steel. “And make sure he never does it again.”