Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Maze, Chapter 7

you run into one, will you catch it and take it back with you?"

    Risai laughed. "That's my plan. Before I came, of course I very much anticipated meeting you, but I
    also looked forward to a chance to capture and take back a sugu."
    "Oh..."
    "If I dared to spend money, I could probably buy a sugu to take home, but it would be very  embarrassing to buy a youju. No, I should actually say that for something like a kiju, I would like to rely on  my own strength to tame it."
    "I see."
    Risai smiled as she nodded, and then called out to the tent next to which the sugu was tied up,  "Forgive me for inquiring, but is the master of this sugu available?"
    "If you're asking about Keito, he is my mount."
    They suddenly heard a voice from behind them. Risai looked surprised as her reflexes put her into a  defensive stance.
    "Sir Gyousou..."
    It was that man. Today, he wasn't wearing that armor from before, but his sword was still at his waist.
    It had been hard to forget his ice-like hair and his eyes that were like rubies.
    After Risai looked at Taiki and Gyousou, she stood up straight. "This is the first time we have met. I  am--"
    "You are Madam Risai of the Jou Provincial Army, are you not?" smiled Gyousou. Risai looked  pleased.
    "Why do you...?"
    "General, your name is known far and wide. There are few that do not know of you."
    "Just as I thought!" Taiki blurted out. Risai and Gyousou both turned to look at him. "Ah... Excuse  me."
    Gyousou was very interested in Taiki's response. "As you thought?"
    "It's like this... I had previously said to Madam Risai that she was a very exceptional general. It  seems as if I'm not the only one who thinks so..."
    Risai's face reddened a little bit as she turned to Gyousou. "The Kou speaks too highly of me."
    "Not at all," said Gyousou with a smile.
    "Kou, you have very good insight. It's just as you said. The people exalted when Madam Risai was  promoted into the Jou Provincial Army."
    "Please don't listen to him, Kou."
    Risai became shy, which was unusual for her, so it made her feel awkward.
    Gyousou noticed her slight distress and could not hold in a smile. Taiki stood on the side and, seeing  Gyousou's smile, realized that he wasn't the scary person that he had originally thought him to be.
    "That's right. I don't know if it was Madam Risai or the Kou that had a question about Keito."
    Gyousou looked at Taiki and Risai.
    "The Kou said that he would like to get a good look at him."

    "If it is the Kou, then I do not think Keito will have any objections." Gyousou showed them to the  sugu.
    Observing it from so closely, Taiki discovered that its eyes left a deeper impression than its  appearance. He was stunned by the complicated and beautiful colors in it.
    "Might I ask...if Sir Gyousou captured this sugu with his own hands?"
    "Yes, because I don't like to buy kiju."
    "Why is that? Isn't capturing youju really dangerous?"
    Suddenly, Gyousou raised the corners of his lips. Taiki flinched at seeing this intense sort of smile,  and it scared him.
    "These youju originally come from the wild and become kiju when people rein in and restrain them.  For us to become their masters, if we didn't risk our lives as payment to them, wouldn't that be unfair to  them?"
    "Oh...yeah..."
    Gyousou stroked Keito fondly, as the frightening smile that was previously on his face disappeared.
    "I captured him with my own hands, and trained him myself. This sugu and my sword are both my  treasures."
    Risai was very astonished and asked, "You trained Keito on your own?"
    "Essentially. The trainer had not done a good job. He does not listen to anyone but me," said  Gyousou as he smiled. He leaned his head and looked at Taiki. "Normally, people say that doing this is not  smart, because a dangerous accident could happen in a second."
    "Oh..."
    "Oh, that's right." Risai looked at Gyousou. "Is Sir Gyousou's sword the one bestowed upon you by  the previous King Tai?"
    "Yes."
    "It must be an exceptionally fine sword."
    "It is most definitely a very sharp blade."
    The sword is a weapon, not a simple accessory. When this thought entered Taiki's head, he couldn't  help but quiver with fright.
    Since Gyousou was a military man, fierce combat was unavoidable for him. He probably received  this sword through some great military achievement, and carried it to do battle with.
    "So what was the achievement?"
    In response to Taiki's question, Gyousou shook his head.
    "It wasn't because of some great