Bab 131: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [131]
"They're from the Shogunate! Everyone, get them!"
With just a few words, Gorou had come to a conclusion.
The two people in front of him were definitely from the Shogunate—and judging by their attire, they seemed to be of some rank.
If they could capture them, it might serve as leverage in negotiations, or at the very least, they could exchange them for some of their own captured comrades.
At his command, the elite resistance fighters surged forward, spears raised, surrounding Luo Qing and Theresa.
From their perspective, Luo Qing looked like an official—dressed in a kimono with no visible weapons. Clearly, he was no warrior.
"Hey, isn't it a bit rude to just attack like that, General of the Resistance?"
Luo Qing didn't seem to mind the soldiers encircling him, his gaze drifting lazily to Gorou.
"Hmph! We can talk about manners once you're captured! Attack!"
Gorou had no intention of showing mercy on the battlefield. The moment he confirmed that the two were with the Shogunate, they were his enemies.
And he would not go easy on an enemy.
At his signal, the resistance soldiers charged at Luo Qing.
But in the next instant, their spears vanished from their hands, flung away, and their stomachs were struck with a force that sent them to the ground. They cried out in pain as they collapsed.
Watching his subordinates drop to the floor, Gorou tightened his grip on his shortbow, eyes fixed coldly on Luo Qing.
Everything had happened too fast—before he could even react, his soldiers were downed.
This is a powerful foe. I can't take him head-on, Gorou thought, sizing up Luo Qing.
He whistled sharply, and the scattered resistance fighters regrouped around him. In moments, the elite force of about eighty men completed their encirclement, tightening the formation around Luo Qing and Theresa.
With so many elite fighters, he refused to believe this "Luo Qing" could handle them as effortlessly as before.
"Did you only bring this many people for an attack?"
Luo Qing looked around, counting their numbers. Including the soldiers he had just defeated, there were no more than eighty in total.
This is what they call a resistance?
Oh, right—this was Inazuma, where the population was smaller.
"Charge!"
Gorou ignored Luo Qing's taunts, drawing back his bow and firing several Geo arrows in quick succession. The other fighters readied their formation and lunged at Luo Qing.
"Well, since the main force is still on its way, I might as well have some fun with you,"
Luo Qing mused with a faint smile, a plan already forming in his mind.
In the next moment, his figure vanished.
Then, just like before, all the resistance fighters collapsed simultaneously, each writhing on the ground in agony, just like the initial wave.
Only Gorou remained standing, staring in disbelief.
"You... how..."
Gorou's eyes were wide, stunned beyond words.
How had this man named Luo Qing managed to down his entire force in an instant?
"Well, you're the only one left. Do you have any reinforcements?"
Luo Qing asked casually.
Not that it mattered to him—more reinforcements just meant more Frustration Value to collect.
"Hmph! I'll take you down myself!"
Gorou roared, drawing his bow and releasing a barrage of Geo arrows, then charging forward in a desperate rush, hoping to catch Luo Qing off guard.
But the next moment, Luo Qing appeared directly in front of him.
"Alright, little doggy, no more struggling now~"
"You..."
Before Gorou could react, he felt a sudden weight in his eyelids. His vision went dark, and he lost consciousness.
...
When Gorou awoke, he found himself tied up along with the rest of his captured fighters, dumped behind the Shogunate's defensive line. Shogunate soldiers patrolled back and forth, keeping a close watch on them.
He attempted to manipulate the Geo element and break his bonds, but despite still having his Vision, he found himself completely powerless.
"Lord Gorou, you're awake?"
"Lord Gorou, what should we do now?"
"Should we make a break for it?!"
The resistance fighters, seeing their general awake, began to murmur anxiously.
"Don't act rashly. Let's assess the situation first."
Gorou spoke quietly, studying his surroundings.
Soon after, Luo Qing approached them, a casual smile on his face.
"Well, well, looks like everyone's awake."
He stood before the prisoners, eyes locking with Gorou's.
"Do you want to go home? I can give you a chance~"
"Hmph, as if I'd believe you! The Shogunate is full of liars!"
Gorou spat.
Luo Qing's smile didn't falter. Instead, he chuckled lightly.
"These men are some of your finest, aren't they? If they die here, how heartbroken would your Lady Sangonomiya be? Would you really make her watch you all perish?"
"What do you want?"
Gorou's voice was tense.
"Just a small favor~ If you cooperate, all of you can go home. You can keep resisting the Shogunate if you like."
Luo Qing's tone was teasing.
"Never! I won't make a deal with you!"
Gorou's rejection was firm.
"Tsk, well, don't blame me for what happens next."
Luo Qing signaled to a nearby guard.
The guard barked orders, forcing the captured resistance fighters to their feet, arranging them into a neat formation.
Theresa stepped forward, dragging out a large gramophone with clear reluctance. She pressed the play button, then positioned herself in front of the prisoners.
A familiar, catchy tune began to play.
"Dun-dun-dun-dun, dun-dun-dun-dun-dun! In the vast expanse of the world, flowers bloom beneath the mountains..."
Luo Qing's eyes gleamed as he spoke.
"Alright, everyone, follow her and dance! Those who refuse will face severe punishment~"
"..."
The resistance fighters fell silent, their expressions incredulous. Who on earth would dance for you?
"What kind of joke is this?! I'm not dancing to some ridiculous song!"
One of the soldiers yelled, but his defiance was short-lived. A pale yellow rock pillar struck him square on the forehead, knocking him out cold.
Luo Qing continued to smile at the rest, his expression seeming to say, This is what happens when you don't dance~
"Lord Gorou..."
Helpless, the other fighters looked to Gorou for guidance.
"..."
[Frustration Value from Gorou +1]
Gorou's face twisted in reluctant frustration. Finally, he ground out,
"Everyone... just dance. We need to preserve our strength if we're to continue fighting the Shogunate..."
With a stiff, awkward motion, he began to mimic Theresa's dance steps.
The others had no choice but to follow, joining in the humiliating routine.
For a brief moment, the Shogunate's defensive line was filled with a bizarrely cheerful dance, though the expressions of the dancers were nothing short of mortified.
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Bab 132: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [132] [DDD!]
December Double Drop!
---
Two, two, three, four—again!
By the end of the day, the resistance soldiers had spent nearly every waking moment either dancing to plaza music or practicing the moves. By dusk, including Gorou, every single one of them had almost been brainwashed by the relentless tunes coming from the gramophone.
Even in their sleep, they dreamed of Luo Qing's booming voice echoing in their minds.
The resistance had fought the Shogunate countless times before. Captured prisoners were usually subjected to harsh interrogations or thrown into the most secure prisons. This was the first time they had encountered a punishment that involved dancing.
Luo Qing was... a peculiar man, to say the least.
But Luo Qing didn't care about what the resistance thought of him. His sole goal was to collect Frustration Value.
With every round of plaza dancing, the resistance soldiers added dozens of Frustration Points to his total. In just one day, he had already accumulated 540 points.
With the main forces still several days away from reaching the defensive line, he was determined to make the most of the time.
By the end of the day, under Theresa's careful instruction, all eighty of the captured resistance fighters had mastered the basics of plaza dancing. They could now follow the music without needing Theresa to lead.
As night fell, Luo Qing decided to show a rare bit of mercy.
For the evening, the resistance soldiers were allowed to rest—no more dancing until morning. They needed to conserve their energy to continue the next day.
Late into the night—
As the Shogunate's patrols shifted guards, Gorou awoke from his light slumber.
As a Vision bearer, he retained enough strength even after a day of dancing, while most of the others were utterly exhausted.
Gorou carefully surveyed his surroundings, confirming that Luo Qing was nowhere to be seen within the defensive perimeter.
Exchanging a glance with a few nearby resistance fighters, they slowly began to rouse each other while keeping a close eye on the Shogunate sentries.
Within moments, they quietly worked to free themselves from the ropes binding their hands.
By now, it was the dead of night, and the Shogunate guards were already drowsy. They didn't notice the movements among the prisoners.
Within minutes, Gorou's bindings and handcuffs were undone.
He cautiously manipulated his Geo power, summoning several makeshift stone weapons, which he distributed to the nearby resistance fighters.
Just as the Shogunate's patrol completed their shift change and the new guards were still half-asleep, Gorou led his team in a swift, silent assault.
In a matter of seconds, they had taken down the guards without making a sound.
They had never feared the Shogunate soldiers—only Luo Qing. With him absent, these guards posed little threat to elite fighters like them.
"Lord Gorou, what are your orders?"
One of the resistance soldiers whispered urgently.
"We retreat. We have to report everything to Lady Sangonomiya. That man, Luo Qing, is incredibly dangerous. We must be cautious!"
Gorou replied in a low voice. Leading the resistance fighters, they moved under the cover of darkness, aiming to escape from Tatarasuna and return to the camp at Nazuchi Beach.
Within a short time, the group slipped past the Shogunate's defenses. Just two more hours of walking, and they would be back at the resistance camp.
But just as Gorou and his men thought they had successfully escaped, several pillars of stone suddenly erupted from the ground, blocking their path.
"Hey, now..."
Luo Qing's figure emerged from the shadows, standing in their way.
"Leaving without saying goodbye? How rude."
"How did you...?"
Gorou's face darkened, his mind racing for a solution.
Luo Qing was far too dangerous. With him supporting the Shogunate, their forces would be at a severe disadvantage. It was imperative to get someone back to report to Lady Sangonomiya so she could prepare a counter-strategy.
"Go back to your sleeping bags now, and I'll pretend this never happened,"
Luo Qing said calmly.
To him, these people were walking sources of Frustration Value. There was no need to kill them—but they did need a reminder of who was in charge.
"Hmph! We won't go back!"
Gorou's eyes flashed with defiance. He turned to his comrades, his voice ringing out clearly.
"Everyone, scatter! Someone must make it back to Lady Sangonomiya with the information!"
At his command, the resistance fighters hesitated for just a second before splitting up, running in all directions under the cover of darkness.
There were eighty of them. No matter how fast Luo Qing was, Gorou didn't believe he could catch them all.
As long as one person made it back, their sacrifice would be worth it.
Eighty people scattered in all directions, and Gorou, the only Vision holder, stayed behind to cover their retreat.
He watched as Luo Qing slowly closed his eyes.
Confused, Gorou wondered what Luo Qing was doing. Then, in the next moment, Luo Qing's eyes snapped open, glowing like molten gold—fierce and unyielding. Then he vanished.
What followed was a blur of movement—a ghostly figure darting among the fleeing resistance fighters.
In less than a minute, all but Gorou were down on the ground, clutching their stomachs in agony, groaning in pain.
"..."
This time, Gorou was genuinely shaken.
Such strength... it seemed only Lady Sangonomiya could match him.
But she wasn't here at the frontlines. What could they do?
"Well, it's just you left. Will you return on your own, or do I have to make you?"
Luo Qing said, standing directly in front of Gorou, eyeing his fluffy ears and tail with an expression that made him want to tug on them.
Too bad he's not a Southerner.
"I'll never... surrender..."
But before Gorou could finish, his vision faded to black.
...
When he opened his eyes again, the sky was lightening. The now-familiar music from yesterday played in the background, jolting him fully awake.
Looking around, Gorou realized he was at the edge of Nazuchi Beach, just an hour's walk from the resistance camp. The weather was clear, and he could even make out the distant outline of the tents.
"Oh, you're up."
Luo Qing's voice came from nearby.
Turning his head, Gorou saw his men standing in formation, just like the previous day, stripped to the waist, wearing only large shorts and staring back at him with expressions of solemn determination.
Is he planning to execute them?!
Panic surged within Gorou, and he was about to beg for mercy—
But then Luo Qing's voice rang out again.
"Gentlemen, if you don't want your precious Lord Gorou sold off to be a host, completely exposed and having his ears and tail toyed with, then you'd better put on a good performance~"
Gorou froze as if struck by lightning.
[Frustration Value from Gorou +1]
Sell him off to be a host?!
There was no way he would agree to something like that!
But the somber expressions of his subordinates suggested that Luo Qing might be very, very serious...
"What exactly do you want?!"
Gorou snarled, never having felt so humiliated in his life.
"Well, isn't it obvious?"
Luo Qing gestured to the assembled soldiers.
In the next moment, the resistance fighters turned to face the camp on the far side of Nazuchi Beach, wearing only their shorts as they began to dance.
The infectious music blared once more from the massive gramophone.
The previously lonely beach was suddenly filled with cheerful and lively dance steps.
---
Enjoy my Triple D's!
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
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