Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

At the entrance to the nation of Tempest lay the bustling merchant district, a vibrant hub where merchants and traders from all corners of the region gathered to sell their wares. Whether they were citizens of Tempest or wandering entrepreneurs, all were welcome here under the protection of the city’s trade-friendly policies.

"Hey! Fresh fruit from the Great Forest! Don't miss it!"

The streets were lined with colorful stalls, each decorated to attract attention. Vendors, both monsters and humans, called out to passersby, waving their goods and boasting of quality.

"What the hell is this crap!?"

Children, both monster and human, darted across the cobblestone roads, their laughter filling the air. Parents sat on sleek, well-crafted benches along the sidewalks, chatting and keeping watch with relaxed smiles. Overhead, clean banners fluttered in the wind. The scent of spices, grilled meat, and exotic fabrics mingled in the air.

"This city is even more developed than that trash pile Falmuth!" Shogo yelled, his voice tinged with frustration as he took in the sight before him. "Damn, this doesn't make any sense! Why are a bunch of stupid monsters living better than the three of us?"

He wasn’t alone. Standing beside him was a familiar figure.

"Now, now. Calm down, Shogo," Kyoya said, his voice calm but laced with a quiet edge. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips, though his eyes sharpened as they scanned the city. "Although… I can’t help but think you’re right. It does seem rather unfair."

Shogo scoffed. "Well, if their leader’s just some slime, all we gotta do is squash the damn thing and the whole city would be ours. Right, Kanade?"

Their third companion stood silently between them. Kanade, dressed in his signature red checkered coat and hat, didn’t answer immediately. His expression was unreadable as he gazed ahead, almost as if lost in thought.

Unbeknownst to the others, a clone had recently returned to him, along with it, the memories of everything it had witnessed.

And, of course… of her.

He blinked, and for a moment, a small, genuine smile tugged at his lips.

Shogo raised an eyebrow. “Yo, you good? You’ve been acting off since we got here.”

Kanade finally turned to face them, his voice low and calm. “Yeah, I’m not going back to Falmuth. That place was boring anyway.”

Kyoya's eyes narrowed, his usual composure faltering. “What are you talking about? You and I both know we can’t just walk away. Not as long as that curse binds us. I hate Falmuth too, but unless we kill the old geezer, we’re stuck.”

Shogo nodded. “Yeah, and after Shield Bitch made her great escape, that bastard’s been paranoid as hell. I doubt anyone’s sneaking up on him now.”

Snap.

The sound of Kanade’s fingers clicking together rang out like a spark in the air.

A brief flash of orange light pulsed between his fingers.

Crack!

Both Kyoya and Shogo staggered backward, wincing in unison as if something had been violently ripped from their very souls.

“Wh...” Kyoya blinked, unsteady on his feet.

Shogo recovered faster, eyes flaring with suspicion. “What the hell did you do, you bastard?”

Kanade casually dusted off his hands. “I removed the curse. You’re free now.”

Silence fell.

Utter, absolute silence.

The kind of silence that didn’t belong in a marketplace so lively moments ago. Not a footstep. Not a laugh. Not even the rustle of wind.

For just a moment, it was as if the entire world held its breath.

Then, slowly, the market began to resume its rhythm.

But the air between the three of them remained frozen.

"Oi." Shogo's voice was low. "I'm not in the mood for jokes Kanade. Forget the mission, I'll kill you."

"He's not joking." Kyoya said with wide eyes. "Maybe it's because I'm a swordsman, and I've definitely gotten stronger since the fight with the Kijin, but I can sense it, or rather, I can't sense it anymore."

Shogo stared, his jaw slightly open as his brain struggled to process what he’d just heard. Then, like a switch had been flipped, his expression twisted into a scowl.

“The hell do you mean you removed it?” he snapped, stepping forward. “You’re saying you had the power to break that damn curse this whole time and just didn’t?”

Kanade tilted his head, unfazed by the aggression. 

Kyoya slowly straightened, brushing his coat as his eyes locked onto Kanade’s. “You’ve been planning this. Haven’t you?”

Kanade didn’t deny it. He simply smiled.

“Why?” Kyoya asked, voice low, dangerous. “Why now? Why free us?”

Kanade’s eyes flicked to the busy streets around them. He took a step forward, past both of them, as if admiring the scenery.

Kanade finally faced them again, both hands in his pockets.

“You’re free to do whatever you want,” he said plainly. “Go back to Falmuth. Don’t. I don’t care. But me? I’ve got business here in Tempest.”

“Business?” Shogo echoed.

“I mean, we did lead an army here to slaughter innocent people who’ve done no wrong,” Kanade said casually, a small smile on his lips as a goblina child darted past him, laughing, with a human child close behind in playful pursuit.

“Innocent?” Shogo scoffed, his face twisting in disgust. “They’re monsters, Kanade. Nothing about them is innocent. Just fodder for us to trample underfoot.”

Kanade glanced at him with a deadpan expression. “...Cool,” he muttered with a shrug. “You do you.”

Shogo’s brow twitched in irritation. “Why you...”

“Shogo.” Kyoya’s calm voice cut through the tension, halting Shogo mid-step. “We’re no longer bound to Falmuth,” he said, his tone low and deliberate. “Do you realize what that means?”

A flicker of unease crossed Shogo’s face as he turned to Kyoya, just in time to see the man's expression shift. His usual composed demeanor gave way to something darker. A crooked, mad grin spread across his face, stretching unnaturally until it reached his eyes.

“After being kept as slaves for two years…” Kyoya whispered, his voice trembling with glee, “Now I can finally…”

Shogo’s eyes widened with dawning realization. “Hah! So that’s what you meant.” He let out a short laugh that grew into a maniacal cackle, loud enough that nearby townsfolk quickly gave the group a wide berth. “That’s right…”

He turned to Kanade, a more genuine smile forming on his face. “Sorry about that, dude. I think I know exactly what I’ll be doing now.”

Kanade met his eyes for a moment before his gaze drifted past him, toward something behind. “Well, looks like you’re not the only ones with plans.”

Shogo blinked, confused. “Hmm?” He followed Kanade’s line of sight, and his expression quickly shifted.

A small group of monsters approached them. But unlike the friendly, cheerful crowd that filled the streets, these ones carried themselves with deliberate intent. The atmosphere around them was heavy, thick with pressure. Their auras were nothing like the rest.

Benimaru, Shion, Shuna, Gabiru, and Rigur approached with deliberate steps, their presence exuding authority and confidence. The air around them grew tense, the casual noise of the market beginning to dull as nearby bystanders instinctively kept their distance.

Kyoya's hand drifted subtly toward the hilt of his sword, his instincts alert. "Looks like we have company," he murmured, eyes narrowing.

Benimaru stepped forward, his expression calm but firm. "First of all, I want to welcome you to Tempest."

Shuna followed with a gentle nod, her tone respectful. "We are aware of your identities as otherworlders. Kanade has already explained your situation to us. You have our condolences for what you've endured."

Shogo took a step back, his eyes darting between the speakers. "The hell? What are these monsters even talking about?"

Kanade stepped ahead of him, turning slightly to address both groups. "I already spoke with them. I told you, I had unfinished business in Tempest. And if you’re really planning to take Falmuth down, you’re going to need allies."

"Help?" Shogo scoffed, crossing his arms. "Please. Like I need help from these stupid things."

Shion’s eye twitched, a subtle pulse of irritation escaping her composed demeanor. Benimaru’s diplomatic smile started to strain at the edges as he exchanged a brief glance with Kanade, who simply shrugged.

Without a word, Shion stepped forward, cracking her knuckles with a grin that didn’t reach her eyes.

Shogo smirked. "Oh? You wanna have some fun, sweetheart?"

Shion calmly removed the greatsword slung over her shoulder, stabbing it into the ground beside her with a heavy thud. "If nothing else," she said, voice low and dangerous, "a little beating might knock some sense into you."

Shogo raised his fists, a wide grin on his face. "I'm gonna mop the floor with you."

---

"The world exists to serve the Rozzos," a soft, petite voice echoed within the dimly lit chamber.

"The world exists to serve the Rozzos!" a chorus of voices responded in unison, echoing off the marble walls.

At the center of the room, a young red-haired woman stood with her head slightly bowed in reverence. Before her loomed a wide, circular platform lined with five ornate chairs, each one occupied by an elderly man, cloaked in authority and shadow.

After a beat of silence, the red-haired woman repeated with conviction, "The world exists to serve the Rozzos."

From the largest and most ornate chair, the eldest of the five men leaned forward slightly. His voice, a gravelly baritone, rumbled through the room. "Are you certain about this, Maribel?"

The question was directed not to the woman standing before them, but to the young girl seated calmly on his lap.

She couldn’t have been more than ten years old, with golden blonde hair that glimmered in the faint light. Despite her age, her expression was composed, calculated.

"Yes, Grandfather," Maribel replied, her eyes sharp and focused. "Two years ago, one of Falmuth’s summoned otherworlders managed to resist and break free from the Locking Curse. That’s unheard of. So naturally, I became curious. Who was she? What made her special?" She raised one delicate hand, palm open. "Then I received news she had carved out a nation deep in the Forest of Jura, powerful enough to crush six kingdoms in an instant."

Her gaze turned fully toward the old man. "Grandfather... I want her."

The elderly man, Granbell Rozzo, nodded solemnly. "And you shall have her, Maribel." He then turned his attention to the red-haired woman before him. "You have your mission, Glenda. Two saints are being dispatched to deal with the monsters in the Forest of Jura. You will assist them, as well as locate this 'Kaede', and capture her."

Glenda dropped to one knee, placing her right hand over her heart. "As you command, Lord Granbell." Her voice trembled with devotion, and something deeper, more personal. "I, Glenda Atlee, accept this task. I will not fail. I serve the Rozzo family with my life. I will do whatever it takes... for my freedom."

---

Atop a sleek black stallion, Glenda rode with effortless grace, her long cloak fluttering behind her in the breeze. Beside her, two figures kept pace on their own mounts, fellow members of the revered Ten Great Saints. Their armor glinted faintly under the sun, marking their status and strength.

The trio crested a hill, the sprawling outskirts of Tempest visible in the distance.

Glenda smirked, her eyes narrowing with anticipation. "We're here, boys," she said, her voice calm but laced with excitement. "Let's go hunting."

Her companions said nothing, but the subtle shift in their posture spoke volumes.

The Saints had arrived.