Hidden Sister

Chapter 17: Berserk Power

~Three days later~

On a trail, a group of soldiers and an officer are riding on horses with a large cart carrying food and medicine.

"You, officers over there! Stop right there!" They look up to see a group of people standing on the cliff.

"Who are you?!"

"This land has become our territory! Hand over all of your money if ya value your lives!" One of the group, Yona shouts, sounding like a pirate.

"Bandits?"

"They don't seem to be big in number."

"Hey, do away with them, quickly!"

"Well spoken, scum! Keep your eyes peeled and look carefully! We are the fierce Ankokuryuu and the Happy Hungry Bunch!"

~Afterwards~

"Wh... What do you want?! Who are you people?!"

"From now on, the village in this area are the territories of the Ankokuryuu and the Happy Hungry Bunch. I'm thinking we should all greet you for a bit."

For them to play the role of bandits, they at least let the villagers know beforehand. That way they can say that their belongings are now theirs, and then the villagers will be able to say it's our fault when the officers say something.

They have given the villagers back their taxes to buy more food, and give out candy to the children.

"Yoon, which village shall we go next?" Yona asks him while playing with Ao on her shoulder.

"Let's see. At this time, officers are supposed to go to Shuu village too." He answers.

"Is that far?" Hak questions, wearing a straw hat to hide his face in case the soldiers recognize him.

"Yeah, a little. What should we do? Officers might come to Katan village again too."

"Then I'll go guard Katan village at once." Jea-Ha volunteers.

"Oh, that would be a big help." Yoon says. Yona will wait here."

"Huh? Why? I'm going too-"

"The place is far. We don't know if officers will come." Yoon cuts Yona off. "For our fighting force, Raijuu and Kija will do fine. As long as these two power boasters are around, it should generally go all right."

"But Yoon..."

"Yoon." Mana speaks up. "I can stay here and guard the village. Yona should go with Jea-Ha to the Katan village. Also, some of the soldiers will remember her and run off."

"Hmmm... You're right."

"Then Zeno will hold down the fort with Mana." Zeno says pointing to himself when Kija holds him with his dragon hand.

"Don't you just run around in the middle of battle? This time I will teach you the ways of fighting like one of the Four Dragons. Come." Kija says.

"E–h?"

Kija then turns to Shin-Ah. "Shin-Ah will stay behind with Mana-sama."

Shin-Ah nods and the others start leaving to the other villages, leaving just Mana, Shin-Ah and Ao behind.

For a while, Shin-Ah and Mana sit on the ground as an awkward silence comes over them. Mana then moves her eyes to Shin-Ah's sword.

"Hey, Shin-Ah. Why did you learn to sword fight? You already have the power of the dragon eyes." Mana asks but Shin-Ah didn't speak. "S-Sorry. You don't have to talk about it of you don't want to..."