After many twists and turns, Shinji and his party finally arrived at the Land of Vegetables.
But as they saw the scene before them, expressions of shock and heaviness appeared on every face.
"This... this is the Land of Vegetables?"
In Shinji's mind, this country should have been a beautiful place with simple, honest people, where fields of rice and wheat stretched as far as the eye could see.
Yet what lay before them now was scorched earth, broken bodies, and bloodstains that had not yet dried.
"Impossible... it can't be..."
Princess Haruna muttered to herself, her eyes glazed over. Suddenly, she pushed past everyone and ran forward without stopping.
Clearly, something had happened here that none of them knew about during their journey.
Even a civil war or internal strife could never have caused this level of destruction.
Because this was their home!
No one would be foolish enough to burn their own fields or slaughter their own people.
If anyone dared to do such a thing, they wouldn't just lose any chance of becoming the ruler — their own followers would be the first to turn on them and kill them.
When Shinji and the others finally caught up, Haruna had already stopped. She was holding tightly onto a young boy who looked terrified and was trying desperately to run away.
She was so desperate to find out exactly what had happened to her country that she didn't notice how terrified and unstable the child was.
"AHH!"
The boy bit down hard on her hand, forcing Haruna to let go.
But he still didn't manage to escape.
Shinji easily caught and lifted him up, then spoke softly: "Calm."
Under the effect of Cursed Speech, the boy — who had been struggling wildly — instantly became peaceful and still.
Shinji handed him over to Haruna and the others to question.
He had only stepped in out of curiosity anyway.
A short while later, after revealing her identity, Haruna managed to get part of the story from the now-calm boy.
The tragedy they had just seen wasn't only caused by the civil war, but the conflict had played a part.
A group of monsters had suddenly invaded the Land of Vegetables from out of nowhere.
At that time, the country was already torn by internal fighting. Each faction wanted to preserve their own strength, so none of them fought together with full force to drive the invaders away.
By the time they realized how powerful these "enemies" really were and tried to unite, it was already too late.
Countless ordinary people were killed, farmland destroyed, and the armies they had been using as bargaining chips against each other proved completely useless.
In just two or three days, the Land of Vegetables had completely collapsed.
Hundreds of people were captured and taken away by those monsters.
Everything happened so fast that news hadn't even had time to spread outside the country.
On top of that, Princess Haruna had been traveling in disguise, hiding from the Three Evil Ninjas — so she had no idea this disaster had even occurred.
Even the Three Evil Ninjas probably never imagined that just while they were out on a simple assassination job, their whole "home" had been completely ransacked.
Upon hearing this terrible news, Haruna's face turned deathly pale.
All her previous grand ambitions and confidence vanished instantly. She stood there completely dazed and lost.
No matter how much she talked or pretended, she was still only a young woman in her early twenties.
Faced with such catastrophe, it was natural for her to feel helpless and overwhelmed.
Shinji, however, couldn't care less about her feelings. His attention was fixed entirely on those "monsters" the boy spoke of.
If this was true... he might just have another chance to earn some —
...meaning, another chance to rid the world of evil and do a good deed for the people.
He had no other flaws, really — he was just kind-hearted by nature, and couldn't bear to see innocent people suffer.
Especially these vile Cursed Spirits! Committing such monstrous atrocities... every decent person — every decent Akagi Shinji — had a duty to destroy them!
Tamamo Hotaru tried her best to comfort Haruna, seeing how crushed and spiritless she had become.
Then she turned to Shinji again and asked, "Weren't you all traveling around hunting these kinds of monsters? Couldn't you please save those innocent people who were captured?"
"If it happens along the way, sure, no problem. But do you even know where these monsters are hiding?"
Shinji's simple question left Tamamo Hotaru speechless.
She realized the truth: they didn't even know where the prisoners had been taken. How could they possibly rescue anyone?
Besides, facing so many powerful enemies at once... she couldn't exactly guilt-trip or force anyone to risk their lives for her sake.
Yet her heart ached. She truly wanted to help, and she felt torn and conflicted.
Seeing her distress, Shinji said, "Let's go get what we came for first. Once I have it, I'll see if I can find a way to track these monsters down."
"But don't get your hopes too high. If I can't find them, I'll take my people and leave. Don't expect me to stay here forever protecting anyone."
"That is more than enough. Thank you, Mr. Akagi. I've always known you're actually a good person at heart."
Tamamo Hotaru spoke with great excitement.
Dammit! I haven't even done anything yet and I've already been given the 'Good Person' label.
Shinji's expression instantly turned dark and gloomy.
Tamamo Hotaru noticed and asked nervously, "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
Shinji took a deep breath and said very seriously, "Where I come from, calling someone a 'good person' is actually an insult. I am NOT a good person. I'm a ruthless, cold-blooded bastard who kills without blinking. Remember that, understood?"
"No one talks about themselves like that! Fine... I'll remember."
Sasuke, standing nearby listening to their conversation, nodded his head repeatedly in agreement.
"Exactly! Being a 'good person' gets you nowhere! As long as you possess absolute power, there's nothing wrong with being a 'bastard' instead!"
"Brother Shinji... is this what you wanted me to learn? I finally understand!"
Understand my ass!
It felt like Itachi was probably already rushing here with a sword in hand to set his little brother straight.
"Sister Haruna... we really should go now."
Tamamo Hotaru went over and gently pulled Haruna by the hand.
"Go? Go where?"
Haruna's eyes were blank and lifeless.
The belief and purpose that had sustained her all this way had completely crumbled. Her entire country was on the brink of destruction. What more could she possibly do?
In a situation like this, was there even any point in fighting to become Daimyō anymore?
No... there was nothing left to fight for. Nothing at all.
No matter how much Tamamo Hotaru tried to persuade or encourage her, Haruna remained completely lifeless and defeated.
Eventually, Tamamo Hotaru could only sigh helplessly, and led Shinji and the others away first.
After they left, one of the guards hesitated for a moment, then spoke up: "Princess... are we really going to give up just like this?"
"Don't call me 'Princess' anymore. Our country is almost gone... what need is there for a princess?"
"On the contrary! I believe it is exactly at times like this that this country needs you to stand up and lead! If you give up on the country and on the people, then the Land of Vegetables truly has no hope left! Princess!"
"Yes, Your Highness! This country cannot survive without you right now!"
"If anyone can save us, it is you — only you, Princess!"
"Princess... please bring Mama and Papa back... I want my parents..."
Haruna looked at her loyal guards, and then at the young boy's hopeful, pleading eyes.
Suddenly, she felt a burning, surging heat rising inside her chest, spreading through her whole body.
____________________
For more advance chapters visit my patreon
patreon.com/kane45
Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter
20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter
40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter
Update: "Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day"
"Saturday and Sunday - Off"