When Ordyntsev descended downstairs, a scene both frightening and amusing unfolded before him.
Kensei demonstratively settled on the only table, all the while keeping his hand on the sheath of his odachi. Also, if there were three or four warmasters in the hallway initially, now there were about ten. And each of them watched for the slightest movements of the ronin's hands.
At the same time, Igisaka was too afraid to even breathe, frozen in the ridiculous pose, half-crouching, with bulging eyes.[1]
With an imperceptible gesture from Hanzo, the surrounding Shadow Stone members orderly dispersed to the sides, clearing the space.
"Good to see you, healer," Uramasa smirked. "I was starting to think those swine's children had slit your throat and now have the audacity to lie to me, claiming I can't go up to see you."
"Thank you, Kensei-san, for your concern," Stas smiled genuinely, perhaps for the first time that day. The earthling was touched by the concern of the ronin, ready to die but trying to break through to him upstairs. "But we won't be staying here any longer. I got what I wanted."
"Good, because I'm about to vomit from seeing all these sorry faces," Kensei said loudly and clearly so that everyone could hear him, not only on this floor but also above.
'After all, there is something good in this world,' Stanislav thought warmly. 'If I were some noble, I would live much more peacefully if I were guarded by people ready to lay down their lives to save their master. Only I'm a former peasant, and according to local laws, if a samurai would kill me, they wouldn't even be punished.'
In this world so similar to ancient Japan, there was an official law that allowed a samurai who had just bought a new sword to cut down any peasant encountered on the road outside the village.
Remembering that peasants faced punishment for leaving the roads and navigating through the forests made the situation even more dismal.
Needless to say, after all of Kensei's words, they were sent off from the estate's territory with anything but friendly glances. Although, the spies in the yard also continued to maintain inscrutable expressions.
Once again, their trio moved through the streets, this time heading towards the palace.
Ordyntsev was completely absorbed in his thoughts. The earthling's mind was carefully calculating where Naito could have set them up.
Such an ally worried the earthling. Too murky and powerful. Stanislav, in his manipulation of others, disliked interacting with those whom he couldn't fully grasp or control.
Yet, the actions of the head of the spies were driven not only by Stas's own words but by something else.
The agreement was reached too quickly. One might even say unnaturally fast. Ordyntsev was ready to continue the argument when Naito raised the white flag without even exchanging a volley of arguments.
However, the earthling's reasoning was not destined to reach any conclusion, as he was distracted by Kensei's attention-grabbing cough.
"Enemies?" Stas tensed, quickly surveying the surroundings. But it was empty around them.
"No," Kensei hesitated, and Ordyntsev was surprised to notice that he was almost imperceptibly embarrassed.
"Then what's the matter?" Stas voiced the obvious question, but Uramasa did not answer, turning to the third person present.
"Hey, Igisaka, I can take the healer to the palace on my own from here. You might be cowardly, but you're not a lost cause. So, could you buzz off?" It was clear that Kensei tried to soften his usual manner of speech, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.
Ordyntsev carefully looked at the motionless ronin, who apparently was not planning to add anything else. This was clearly an unusual situation to which he was unaccustomed.
'Should I send away the only witness? On the other hand, if he wanted to do something, he would have done it regardless of Igisaka's presence, which means he wants to talk about something privately.'
"Kensei is right, Igisaka-kun," Stas addressed the nervous craftsman. "He can escort me to the palace just fine. Today, you've assisted me in the best way possible. I'll make sure Roku knows that."
"Really?" the lad exhaled in relief. "I thought, master, that I had done something wrong. It was an honor to work with you, Kensei-sama and healer-sama."
Without looking back, the craftsman walked briskly ahead and then turned down one of the side streets.
"So, Kensei-san? What did you want to talk to me about?" after a few minutes of silent walking, Ordyntsev irritably realized that the ronin was not going to start the conversation first.
"Tell me, healer, will there be warmasters among your enemies?"
'Why such a question?' Stas barely refrained from responding with a question.
"Suppose there will be," he chose a polite yet vague reply.
"Then, will the Sansa clan be among your enemies? Am I correct in understanding that they are far from your friends?"
Now, Stas looked at Uramasa with genuine suspicion. Could Kensei have somehow managed to overhear their entire conversation upstairs? If so, why would he admit to it?
"Healer…"
"Shiro," Stas interjected quickly. He saw no point in playing spy games anymore. Revealing his name might score him points in the ronin's eyes.
"Shiro," Uramasa nodded in satisfaction. "I worked with the yoriki, and I was well aware that besides the outcasts hiding in the city, we occasionally search for and encounter the Sumada's vast spy network. It doesn't take a sage to figure out who all those silent people were."
Stas did not interrupt the ronin's reasoning, trying to understand where he was leading.
"Moreover, the whole city heard that Nobunoro-sama brought back a captive prince of Sumada from his last campaign. You came from the palace, and Akiro-sama secretly vouched for you. It's not hard to figure out what you want to do."
"I must admit," Stas hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Your appearance can be misleading. No offense meant."
"Ha! Rather, you know how to flatter, healer," Kensei grinned with a gap-toothed smile, covering his only eye.
"Suppose, just suppose, you're right. What are you going to do with this information? You didn't just tell me what you know for nothing." Stas needed to get straight to the point immediately.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Indeed, not for nothing," the ronin became serious again. "Shiro-san, you already know that I became a ronin after the death of my master."
Stas nodded cautiously. The change to a more respectful form of address did not go unnoticed.
"Those who killed my master and nearly finished me were from the Sansa clan," Kensei's voice filled with barely contained fury and hatred. "They managed to bribe their way out or whatever they did to get off scot-free. But I haven't forgotten anything. If I openly attack the Sansa, as the samurai code requires, I'll die before I can do anything. At the same time, I can't sneak around like a thief, picking them off one by one and killing them secretly."
Uramasa took a deep breath, struggling with his emotions. Finally, he managed to rein in his rage.
"However, you, Shiro-san, along with the prince and the Sumada warmasters, will inevitably clash with the Sansa, and then I will have a chance at a fair fight. Facing them along with you. That's what I want."
"There's something I didn't get, Kensei-san," Stas frowned. "You mentioned your daughter and that you only refrained from harakiri because of her. What has changed now? Are you ready to abandon her for your revenge? I warn you right away, the road will be tough, and it's no place for a child."
Stas was not about to risk the life and health of a little girl because of a vengeance-crazed man.
"It's true. However, I have already found those who will take care of her," the man's face was as if carved from stone, so little emotion it showed. "Working with the yoriki and hunting renegade warmasters, I've managed to save enough money for my daughter's life and dowry. An old friend of mine agreed to take her into his family."
"And you're ready to leave your daughter to him?"
"Yes," the ronin sighed heavily. "With my lifestyle, I could die any day, leaving my Ayami an orphan. She'll be better off with them. They will take care of her better than I can. While I want revenge for my master."
"And it doesn't bother you that if we succeed, and you and I survive, you'll have to serve warmasters or me, a former peasant? Will your honor allow that…"
"As long as the Sansa walk this earth carefree, I have no honor!" Kensei hissed angrily but immediately calmed down. "Yes, I'm ready for that, too. Let even the belly of Shinigami await me after death, but I will have my revenge. At any cost."
Stas said nothing. At that moment, he was intently reflecting, simultaneously analyzing the ronin's words.
Ordyntsev could be called many things, but "trusting" was never one of them.
First of all, Stanislav thought about the possibility that Uramasa might be a plant by Akiro. Why and for what purpose? That remained to be discovered.
However, there were several things that didn't fit this theory, starting with the character and ending with the emotions of the ronin.
Too plausible. All-consuming hatred for warmasters, contempt for the Sansa, thirst for revenge – the compelling display of each of these emotions deserved a pat on the back from Stanislavski himself.[2]
Such skills you'd expect from a great actor, not a samurai.
"I didn't just say you'd have to obey me for no reason," Stas finally began slowly, watching the reaction of his interlocutor. "I truly act on behalf of the Sumada prince, but if you do join us, you will only be loyal to me. Not Sumada, not the Prince, or anyone else. This means that if necessary, you will die for me. In turn, I promise to try to give you as many Sansa as you can kill and to assist your revenge in every way possible. Are you willing... To serve me on these terms? To serve a former peasant?"
Ordyntsev posed the question as sharply as possible, not caring about the ronin's feelings.
It would be better if he refused now, rather than these contradictions surfacing later.
Why did the cautious earthling even decide to accept the clearly unstable Uramasa's offer? His hatred could cost Ordyntsev's plans dearly.
Things would have been simpler if the earthling had rejected him and continued moving as he had originally planned.
The answer was simple – Stas needed someone who would work for him not just because of blackmail, threats, or bribery, but of their own volition.
Such a person Ordyntsev could at least partially trust, unlike everyone else.
And besides, Kensei was an incredibly valuable combat unit, a real killing machine against ordinary people.
Ordyntsev was sure that the local crime bosses would give their right hand, or at least a finger, for such a subordinate.
"I agree... Shiro-sama." Stas could only imagine what those words cost the ronin. But there was no time to hesitate.
"Then it's decided. You will join us, but try not to address me so respectfully from now on. 'San' will suffice, no need to draw any unnecessary attention."
"As you say, Shiro-san," Kensei smiled with relief, and Stas mentally nodded to himself.
Apparently, Uramasa feared that Shiro, having the opportunity to place himself above the ronin, would immediately start taking advantage of it. However, the unchanged attitude towards him reassured the former samurai.
"Don't consider me a fool, Shiro-san," Uramasa's sudden words made Stas look at him attentively.
"What do you mean, Kensei-san?"
"You can be anyone, but I'll never believe you were a peasant. Yes, there are no calluses from a sword or any other weapon on your hands, but a peasant would never have been able to stand up to three bandits, defeat them, and then finish off an enfeebled but still a warmaster. I respect your desire to keep your secret, but I would be grateful if you stop lying to me about it."
"Agreed." Stas snorted, as the ronin's words genuinely amused him.
Neither of them said anything more to each other, as the most important things had already been spoken.
However, approaching the entrance to the palace complex, Stas still gave his final instructions.
"Kensei-san, please prepare for departure carefully and without drawing attention. It's still unknown when we'll move out, so don't give people a reason to speculate. Only tell those you absolutely trust."
"Thank you, Shiro-san. I will do just that."
Both men nodded respectfully to each other and went their separate ways to attend to their affairs.
*****
"So, Naito agreed to help us," the prince concluded, thoughtfully looking at the earthling sprawled relaxed on the cushions.
The returned Stas was physically and emotionally exhausted. If during his interaction with Kensei he still managed to hold on, probably using his internal reserves, now his strength had completely drained.
His chest hurt incredibly, but thankfully, it was only a bruise, not a fracture. Now Ordyntsev was counting on the saying that winners heal much faster.
As for the hangover after the fight and two tense negotiations, that was more complicated.
Once again, Ordyntsev thanked his character. The killing of four people and dancing on the edge of the blade in a conversation with the leader of the spies only made his hands tremble slightly for a couple of hours after returning to the palace.
Another person in his place would have already succumbed to hysteria, but Stas was made of sterner stuff.
Yet he did not like this feeling. It seemed that he was in perfect order, but his hands continued to tremble whatever he did. Fortunately, it didn't last long.
As Ordyntsev recounted his successes to the prince, the latter simply nodded in satisfaction. Confined within four walls, Jishin greatly missed vivid impressions.
Therefore, he received the tale of Stas's battle like an alcoholic accepting a new bottle after prolonged abstinence.
"I'm glad that our training has borne such magnificent fruits," pride could be felt in Jishin's voice. Though he seemed to be proud rather of his teaching skills, as his next words confirmed. "As a sensei, I turned out to be much better than my teacher said."
"And my own skills and intelligence don't count?" Stas snorted at such a framing of the situation.
"No," Sumada dismissed. "As my teacher said, students are an extension of their sensei. And if the sensei is lacking, then the students will never grow into dragons from snakes. By the way, speaking of snakes, yours looks and behaves strangely. Hasn't she fallen ill?" Concern was evident in the prince's voice, which also affected Ordyntsev.
The man also remembered that, unlike usual, Levi hadn't greeted him this time.
Casting aside weakness, Stas resolutely stood up and trudged into the corner of the room where Leviathan usually "sunbathed" in the light coming from the window.
Carefully scattering the rags of her lair, Stas exhaled in relief.
Cloudy eyes and peeling scales were sure signs of the beginning of shedding. Leviathan's disgruntled look, whose refuge had been so rudely rummaged, only confirmed his suspicion.
"Oh, my beauty," Stas gently stroked Levi's head, running his fingers along the horn plates and scratching them slightly. "You're shedding, my dear, and I was already starting to worry. With all these events, your shedding has been delayed a bit. It seems the magical restructuring has affected this aspect too."
Leviathan responded nothing, expressing her entire attitude with just one gloomy look.
"I understand, it's an unpleasant sensation. Moreover, I don't remember it happening so quickly. But don't worry, soon you will be even more beautiful than before!"
Leviathan listlessly lowered her head onto the rags, deciding to sleep some more. However, Stas knew that this would soon change when her entire body began to itch unbearably.
Then, she would become very, very active.
Considering how much she had grown already, it was going to be "fun" for everyone.
[1] Translator's note: here, the author referenced a pose of a "defecating hedgehog" from some anecdote, but I'm unfamiliar with it and failed to find it on the internet.
[2] Translator's note: the developer of a famous acting system, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislavski%27s_system.