Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Maze, Prologue

much...)
    Whenever the man moved, Taiki's wrists would be jerked at. It was so painful, he felt like his whole  body was going to be ripped apart.
    "Damn it! And I thought you were a kirin. I spent all this time and I end up with a little brat and a  nin'you following me!"
    Sanshi lunged at the man again, but met only his sword as he swung it at her. More blood droplets  splattered onto the ground. Sanshi backed up as the man moved forward a few steps, causing Taiki to be  dragged along again, the sharp rocks scratching up his body.
    "How did a nin'you like you get into Mt. Hou? Let me teach you a thing or two!"

    He cut Sanshi again with the point of the blade, which hit the rocks.
    (Sanshi...)
    Sanshi's white body was already spotted with blood.
    (Sanshi, run away...)
    He really wanted to call this out, but he could not say anything...

    "Stop this immediately!"
    Suddenly hearing a loud sharp voice, Taiki opened his eyes.
    "How...could this happen!?"
    "Taiki!"
    He heard a mass of footsteps running in his direction as pale-faced nyosen entered his line of sight.
    "This...is too much! Taiki!"
    When the nyosen ran over and reached out their hands, Taiki broke out in tears. Warm hands picked  him up and he smelled the pleasant fragrance of a nyosen, making him feel like he could sleep forever.
    "What is going on here? Sanshi, stop!"
    "Is she your pet dog? Quickly, take her away!"
    "You're the one who should go away, you horrible person!"
    Hearing a loud shouting, Taiki lifted up his head.
    It had been Teiei's voice. This was the first time he had seen her so agitated. The man was also looking  at her with surprise, while Sanshi hatefully glowered at the man.
    "Sanshi, that's enough. If you bleed any more you won't be able to be by Taiki's side. If you don't want  that to happen, then you should cool down a little bit."
    After saying this to Sanshi, Teiei glared at the man.
    "How dare you come to Mt. Hou and treat Taiki in this vulgar manner!"
    "Taiki?" The man looked at the child who was being tightly embraced by a nyosen.
    "You're saying that this brat... no, this child is Taiki?"
    "Correct! Since ancient times, the only children that appear on Mt. Hou are the Mt. Hou Kou. And you  perform these treacherous actions upon Mt. Hou Kou! I would like to hear an explanation now."
    An expression of joy piled upon the man's entire face.
    "Taiki! I can't believe I caught him." After saying this, he strode forward a step.
    Teiei extended her hand to block him. "What is your answer? You are not to get one step closer to Mt.  Hou Kou! I want to hear your explanation first."
    "I've caught Taiki! It was me!"
    "You still won't answer me? Is it possible that you want to experience the power of the nyosen?"
    The man had a hateful grin upon his face. "I am the Shikou Daibu of the Bakou in Tai Kingdom. I am  called Goson. I heard that the kirin had returned to Mt. Hou, so I came."
    "Hoto Palace has not permitted anyone by the name of Goson to climb the mountain."
    "Ah... Regarding this, I am very sorry. I was too eager to see Houro Palace, and consequently, I did not  go to Hoto Palace beforehand to tell them. However, I've caught the kirin!"
    "You've caught him? What do you mean by ‘caught him'?"
    The man widened his eyes. "I've caught the kirin. Though my hasty rush up the mountain is my  mistake, for which I apologize, but I hope that you can grant Taiki to me."
    After saying this, the man laughed. "I am the King of Tai!"
    Taiki felt the body of the nyosen who was embracing him begin to shake with anger. And as if it had  been contagious, Teiei's shoulders also started to shake a little.
    "You ignorant fool!"
    Hearing Teiei's angry yell, the man couldn't help but take a half-step back.
    "Who would have thought that the Bakou of Tai Kingdom would actually have allowed such a foolish  person to become the Shikou Daibu!"
    The man retreated another half-step backward.
    "What did you think Taiki was? Did you think that the honorable Mt. Hou Kou was the same as the  youju that you catch in the Yellow Sea? Don't kid yourself! You, the King of Tai? I advise you to get off this  mountain before lightning strikes you as a punishment from the Heavens!"
    "But..."
    "Be quiet! If more nonsense comes out of your mouth, even if the Heavens don't punish you, I will tear  you into pieces!"
    The man could no longer speak, his mouth simply opening and closing.
    The nyosen who was holding Taiki stood up and carefully helped Taiki