Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master

"………… Well, then……."

""Staaaaaare~~~""

"…I, I'll explain properly later…"

The moment I finished my conversation with Paripi and took a breather, Espie and Slayer glared at me with pouting faces.

Apparently, they were quite annoyed that I hadn't told them about Paripi.

"Koujiro, you too… I mean ……."

"Haha… My goodness…… So you're telling me Onii-san was out there defeating Paripi, Norja, and Gouda behind the scenes…… in all honesty, I'd need to sit down with a bottle of sake to process this……."

Even Koujiro, who was usually calm and collected, was at his wits' end.

"…… Shinobu, did you know?"

I'm sorry, but this really wasn't the time for lengthy explanations, but before I could continue……

"Huh?! The magic power in the air is…… hmm!"

"Lal?"

At that moment. Larou'iph stood up with a tense expression on her face and rushed outside.

We didn't know what had happened, but we just went outside.

And then……

"Ah……."

"…… The sky is ……."

Looking up at the sky outside the house, I see something different than usual floating there.

Patterns were streaking across the sky, weaving something around.

"That's a barrier… and moreover… on a massive scale…… at least enough to cover the entire country…."

"Hmm…… In terms of scale, it covers the continent…… at least the territory of the Kingdom of Japone… it's an even larger version of the barrier that Jamdi'el used in Cacretale. Well, since it's so large, it's thin, so if we focus our efforts on destroying one point, this group should be able to…"

A wall of magical power flowed through the sky.

It is a manifestation of the will to prevent anyone inside the barrier from escaping.

"Oh my…… so this is what Shitnei was talking about. But covering the entire continent … that would be impossible for just one person. It would probably take dozens, maybe hundreds of mages ……."

"I suppose so, but…… someone'samplifyingand channeling all that collective magic…"

Then, looking up at the sky, Espie and Koujiro squinted their eyes as they pieced it together.

Of course, me too.

"In any case, as Ani-ja had made such a declaration, I no longer had any intention of fleeing the country…… I can't back down now."

"Right~. So, the question is… how far should we go… and the key to that is……."

Although Kagerou doesn't say it out loud, the meaning of her words was conveyed.

How far will it go?

Until the barrier is broken?

Until we rescue Uncle Ben and the others?

Or until we take down the king of this country……

"Urgent news! In the royal capital…… Something is happening in the royal capital!!"

""Huh!??"

At that moment, the ninja warriors under Outei's command who had been keeping an eye on the royal capital rushed in frantically..

"Throughout the capital… a group known as the 'Tax Enforcement Unit'…… is conducting forced collections throughout the royal capital! Not only are they mercilessly seizing assets, but… um……."

"…… What's wrong?"

"W, well, they're imposing penalties on households that can't pay taxes…… and they seize all household belongings, and…… um…… households with y, young daughters… they demand the girls be handed over… in lieu of taxes……"

"Huh!??."

Upon receiving the news, Mr. Outei slammed his fist on the ground, his expression turning red with rage.

It was disgusting just to hear about it.

In addition……

"But, that's not all… that's…."

"What? Is there something else?!"

The story wasn't over yet.

That is……

"That Tax Enforcement Unit…… it was made up of many ninja warriors who had voluntarily retired from service… but the one in command was… and among that unit there were a few…."

"Why? What? Who's there?"

"…… an ogre ……"

"Huh!?"

"For some reason, there are Ogres among the troops…… and they gave orders to the traitorous ninja warriors, who……."

"Wh, why……?"

"The King claims…… it's a collaboration between humans and demons…… that …… it's about globalization or something."

Ogres.

Those words took Espie, Slayer, and Larou'iph and me all by surprise.

No, if Hakuki is involved in this, it's not impossible… but……

"Really, I wish you'd stop doing things that ruin the demons' reputation, Big brother."

"Exactly, but…… Demons and ninjas come together to torment the people of Japone…… just what ……?"

"But~, didn't the ninja warriors who left Japone join Shitnei's company? I'm not surprised that Hakuki is connected to Shitnei now, but didn't Shitnei say that he wouldn't be involved in Japone matters anymore? Was that a lie after all?"

"Oh, come to think of it……."

From the course of the conversation, I thought that the Tax Enforcement Unit and the others were the demons related to Hakuki and the ninja warriors who joined Shitnei's company, but as Espie said, Shitnei stated that they would not be involved in this matter anymore.

I could just say that he was lying, but……

[Hihahaha, Paripi here to save the day. Man, this Shitnei guy's got real scummy tactics, huh~.]

"Whoa!?"

The elusive Paripi suddenly burst out laughing from the magic crystal.

This is bad for my heart… I want to get rid of this magic crystal as soon as possible.

"Explain, Paripi. Now,"

[You see, as Koujiro and the others know, that idiot king has caused many ninjas to resign en masse. Those guys were all 'generously' hired by Shitnei's company…… but Shitnei sold them off wholesale yesterday…… contracts and all…… yes, to Hakuki.]

"…… What?"

[Which means~ that 'Tax Enforcement Unit' is exclusively Hakuki's operation now…… so technically, Shitnei's hands are clean ~…… I mean, it's just the ninjas who are no longer affiliated with his company are now operating independently under another organization.]

That theory sounded too much like a flimsy excuse.

Even though they were in his company, they belonged to another organization, so it doesn't concern him anymore……

"But wait…… that doesn't make sense. Even if there are such twists and turns…… no matter how desperate they were for money… it would be incomprehensible for the Japone warriors to willingly join an organization made up of Hakuki and the remnants of the Demon King Army…… I doubt Hakuki and the others would trust and accept ninja warriors who joined them in such a way."

Yes, I don't know what kind of deal was made between Shitnei and Hakuki, but as Koujiro said, would the warriors who left Japone really join the organization of the remnants of the Demon King Army so easily?

But, in response to the question, Paripi ……

[Hahahaha, who needs trust…… look…… just like our cute Norja there…… All it takes is a little something planted in the brain panay ♪.]

"""""Eeehhh!!???"""""

At that moment, a chill ran down all our spines.

"Kon kon, lick lick smooch smooch♡Amu amu lick lick♡"

The whole situation was giving me such a headache that I didn't even mind Norja affectionately rubbing up against me.

Author's Note

Yesterday, the latest chapter of the manga adaptation was updated, and the author is delighted with the appearance of Shinobu. Please check it out by clicking the link below.

Also, I have now finished revising and reposting the "Buru Buru" novel that I previously deleted after being warned by the admins, and was unable to make the edits in time, so please check it out if you have the time. The ones that I gave up on editing and just went ahead and did it are now available on Nocta.

Special Thanks to all my Patrons for the Overwhelming Support! Tier rewards up on the PATREON Page soon…

Forbidden Master – Part 5/Chapter 20821st May 2022In "Forbidden Master"

Forbidden Master – Part 5/Chapter 2114th Jun 2022In "Forbidden Master"

Forbidden Master – Part 5/Chapter 2128th Jun 2022In "Forbidden Master"