3   Mt. Kaou Girl

"Right." The proprietress popped her head out of the store front with a butaman in one hand, looked at Genrou, and bent her fat neck for a short bit. She suddenly opened her eyes wide and said in a voice that could be heard throughout the city. "Oh my, could it be Kou-san's Shun'u? You've gotten so big. Oh my! And you're dressing flashy like an entertainer. Oh yeah, you worried everyone. Running away from home saying you're gonna make something of yourself in the city to the east... Your mother is emaciated. Her breasts have shrunk down to half their size. Hyaa, so you've made something of yourself and have come home? What did you do over there? A singer? A comedian?"

"A bandit." Genrou plucked the manjuu from the proprietress while saying it would probably get cold and bit into it.

"...A-a...a bandit!?"

Genrou said to the proprietress who was rooted to the spot in shock. "We're bandits but we're different from all those other bandits. Listen up, we help the strong and fight the weak."

"It's the other way around. Stupid ass." From beside them, Kouji plucked a butaman. "Is this the time to be shooting the breeze? Come on, let's go."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"We're gonna go and punish the corrupt Mt. Kaou bandits now. Obachan, give my best to everyone in the village!" Genrou waved with one hand as Kouji dragged him by the arm.
 
 

Pushing aside the crowd, Genrou and Kouji cut through the city of Souun and suddenly stopped in the middle.

"What? Is it a show?"

The middle of the street opened up and a ring of people surrounded that area. From outside the ring the 2 of them peeked inside and exchanged glances with surprised faces.

"Hey, Neechan. Ya think it's OK to palm these things off on people?"

"Hey, take a look. Don't the flowers' thorns make your fingers bleed?"

"Anyway, how 'bout you come to our place for a while and hear us out?"

The 3 men that could be identified at a glance as the city's bullies were pushing around a girl selling flowers who had fallen down in the street.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Come on with us."

When one of the men pulled on the girl's arm, 2 young men elbowed their way through the ring of people.

"Scuse me."

"Who the hell are you?" The bullies glared at them.

"Uh, we help the weak and fight the strong??"

Kouji gave that an alright and an OK sign, and Genrou stuck out his chest and introduced themselves. "We're Mt. Leikaku bandits!"

"Due to our occupation, we can't allow this kind of thing." Just as Kouji said that he struck the punk in front of him with a strong hook.

Then Genrou's kick exploded into the man next to him. Smash Smack Bash Whap Bap!!

In less than 30 seconds the 3 punks scrambled away.

"Are you OK? You weren't hurt?" Kouji was quickly at the girl's side.

"I'm fine, thank you. You saved me. How can I repay you?..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Kouji looked at the girl raise her head as she put a hand through her tousled hair. Hyaa~ she's beautiful. He whistled in his head. She seemed about 20 years old, innocent, and had a lovely scent.

The girl carefully gathered up the flowers scattered in the street one by one. She held the flowers to her chest and smiled at Kouji. "Thanks to that person as well." She also thanked Genrou as he sulkily turned his back on her.

"Ha ha ha. He hates women. I'm really sorry 'bout his rudeness."

"That's OK. Mt. Leikaku bandits...really are brave and wonderful."

"Oh noo, not really. Ha ha ha, hee hee hee, hmf hmf hmf, heh heh heh." Kouji got bashful and started at the rattling sound of a carriage passing through. The people passing by were suddenly prostrating themselves to the ground.

"It's the royal carriage of the Castle Lord."

"It's Ougi-sama."

"And when he rarely comes outside."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
As he heard the people's voices, Genrou was grabbed by his jacket by a man next to him and brought down to his knees. He looked up unimpressed at the carriage that was adorned with extravagant ornaments and pulled by 6 horses.

Rattle Rattle Rattle Rattle. The carriage stopped right in front of Genrou. A servant reverently opened the door. A beautiful silk hem with gold embroidery that decorated the black cloth could be seen. Then the glint of a jeweled crown inlaid with jade stones caught the eye of the people.

"It's the Western Emperor! Ougi-sama has come out!"

To the BGM of the noisy people of the city, the Souun Castle Lord, Ougi, slowly stepped down from the royal carriage. Then, while everyone watched breathlessly, Ougi slowly stepped forward and stood before the florist girl.

"What is your name?" The young lord, who probably wasn't even 20 years old yet, inquired the girl with a calm smile on his face.

"I am Kyouan." Though delicate, the girl answered with a firm tone as she was prostrated on the ground.

"Kyouan? That's a nice name. How long have you been selling flowers?"

"Yes...Ever since I lost my family in a surprise attack by the Kutou Country army several months ago I have been selling flowers and have managed to survive."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"......Managed?..." Ougi didn't know what to say. We should have been at peace with Kutou Country, the neighboring country of Kounan Country, having gone several years with no significant conflicts but... Ougi knitted his brow. "They're beautiful flowers. I'll take them all."

".........Yes."

The girl named Kyouan slowly stood up and presented to Ougi the bundle of red flowers that she had held to her chest. Ougi took them and placed a gentle hand on Kyouan's shoulder.

"Excuse me but I would like for you to arrange these flowers in the castle."

And then a minute later, before the dumbstruck people of the city, Kyouan got on Ougi's carriage and it rattled rhythmically on toward the Souun castle.

"But what the hell was all that about?!" Pushing their way with a rustling through the Mt. Kaou animal path, Genrou cried out in anger. "Weren't we really uncool?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Nothing we could've done. The other guy was the Western Emperor. It was that kind of Cinderella story."

"Hmph. Didn't it end up as the same pattern as those bullies. Their aim was the same."

Kouji looked at Genrou with disdain. "Sii~gh. You'll never be able to seduce a woman, will ya?"

"Oh please, who'd do something like that?" Genrou kicked the trunk of a large tree with a smack.

"But what a nice smell that florist girl had..."

Kouji snapped a twig and absentmindedly swung it about in circles. Seeing that, Genrou cursed in head, Shit. Could a guy madly in love steal Keiron's treasure?

"Get down!" Kouji suddenly pushed Genrou's head down. "We've arrived. That's the Mt. Kaou stronghold."

Over where Kouji indicated with his chin, a deep black roof of a towering living quarters in the middle of the stronghold could be seen.

"But, there's no sight of any guards. These guys are careless, aren't they?..." Genrou yelled out at Kouji's side, who titled his head.

"Genrou. Let's split up from here. Be careful not to get yourself killed by the Mt. Kaou guys."

"You either Aniki. Don't be jealous if I get the treasure."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Kouji and Genrou glared at each other and respectively went right and left until just their shadow's remained and then disappeared.

Having easily clambered up the stronghold, Genrou confirmed no one was around and in a instant stood within the grounds of the living quarters. "What? That was really quick."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
He looked up at the living quarters. There was only one place on the second floor with a light on. Judging by the large size of that room and the location, it had to be the leader, Keiron's room. I'll break the window, tie up Keiron, steal his treasure, and beat it. Piece of cake.

He briskly walked underneath the window and the moment he jumped aiming for the second floor window frame...

"Wah!" Genrou's legs crashed down and he fell head over heels into an abyss.
 
 

"Well now, we've been waiting impatiently for the other half of the blockhead brothers."

Thrown into an underground prison with a thud, Genrou saw Kouji laying on the ground, his entire body tied up with rope the same as himself, and cried out an "ah."

"Idiot! This is all your fault! I thought it was really strange." Kouji turned to Genrou and yelled out. "It's cause you blabbed it out at the butaman shop! They heard it, arrived before us, and set a trap!"

"......Is that what happened?..." Genrou glanced at Aniki as he hung his head. "So Aniki, you fell into the pit too?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"No, a net for wild boars..."

"Hmf hmf hmf hmf hmf... you are a blockhead."

"Shuddup!" Wiggling his body like a caterpillar, Kouji gave Genrou a body blow attack.

"Don't take it out on me! Not being able to see through the trap is the fault of you not being smart enough, Aniki!" Genrou returned Kouji with a head butt.

"What was that?!"

"Oh-h, you're both lively things aren't ya?" That voice suddenly froze both Genrou and Kouji. In front of the prison stood a pudgy, light complexion man dressed in long sparkling gold clothes. The man had even applied thick make-up to his face. "Well now, who would I be? Yes, I'm Keiron. Hmf hmf hmf hmf."

"What're ya hmf hmf hmfing about? Using a dirty trick on us." Genrou turned to the Mt. Kaou leader and spit at him.

"A bandit is supposed to be a dirty occupation after all. We'd get sick if we did things halfway like your leader." Keiron said, narrowed his eyes, and looked at the 2 prisoners as if he would lick them. "You 2 come to punish me? I love punishment."

"Wh...what the? He's a weird old man, isn't he?..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Keiron waved a finger with a tsk tsk at Kouji's words. "Not an old man. I'm still a young 28 year old visual businessman."

Kouji and Genrou both glanced down looking sick.

"Now how should I deal with you 2? Hmf hmf. When I have 2 choices of food, I'm the type who eats the one I prefer." Keiron lightly licked his lips and with a "Later" left the place.

"......What was that? ...That's disgusting..." Kouji and Genrou made eye contact looking sick again.

"Genrou, alright..." Kouji said to Genrou. "Becoming a prisoner is the worst disgrace for us. You understand how much trouble we'll make for the leader...right?..."

Genrou nodded slightly.

"You're ready to die, aren't ya?"

"Die......!?"

"Right."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Genrou looked at Kouji's serious expression.
 
 

The door to the prison was opened.

"Hey, fang boy over there. Come out." One of the bandits roughly dragged Genrou out from the prison.

"......Genrou."

Kouji was staring at Genrou. His eyes saying don't forget what I said before. Genrou clenched his teeth and turned away from Kouji.

"See ya later Aniki."

Winding through the corridors of the premises that were twice as extravagant as Mt. Leikaku's, Genrou was surrounded by 3 bandits as he was brought to Keiron.

"Leader, we've brought him."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Entering Keiron's room, Genrou opened his eyes wide. "Who~a! Gli-gli-glitter glitter glitter glitter~"

"Surprised? Hmf hmf. It's cause this entire room is made of gold..." Keiron spread open both his arms boastfully. The walls, the desk, the bed, and the other furniture all glittered mercilessly a golden color.

"Ya dirty upstart son of a bitch bandit."

Not seeming to mind Genrou's abusive language, Keiron said. "Well now, shall we sleep there, Genrou-kun?"

"Sleep...?"

Keiron's subordinates carried up a blank looking Genrou and threw him down on the gold bed with a thud.

"Wh-what're ya doing?!"

Then the the 3 bandits tied both of Genrou's hands and feet to the bedposts with strangely experienced gestures.

"Hey, dammit, what're ya gonna do to me? Will ya untie me!" Genrou, his arms and legs tied up spread eagle, cried out in a loud voice. The rope cut into his hands and feet making him writhe in pain. Keiron's subordinates split up to 3 sides of the gold room. Holding swords, they stood in perfect formation.

Keiron verified that and then slowly walked to the bed. He suddenly took out a dagger from a gold sheath at his waist. Sparkle... The tip of the dagger shone.

"So, where should I start? An ear? A finger? Or..." Keiron tapped the dagger between Genrou's legs.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"W-w...would ya quit it!" Genrou let out a squeal. He's planning on chopping up my body and torturing me to death. Or maybe half to death and make some kind of unreasonable demand of our leader. "If-if-if you're gonna kill me, would ya do it quick! One stab to the heart."

Keiron grinned. "Oh? Well then as you request." Keiron said and slowly opened Genrou's jacket. Then he thrust the dagger on the boy's bare chest and drew it horizontally with a flick.

"Unh......" Blood oozed out slowly from Genrou's chest.

"Aah, forgive me. It was wrong to tease. That was one stab, right?..." Keiron's eyes began to take on a strange light. And then, he grasp the dagger with both hands and held it right above Genrou's chest again.

Leader...! Please forgive me...

"Eei!"

Genrou squeezed his eyes shut at Keiron's high-pitched shout.

"Ah, that's right. I forgot."

Genrou timidly opened his eyes. Keiron slapped a hand to his head.

"I'm sorry. I just remembered something." Keiron said and turned to his subordinates. "Later, will ya behead Choumei."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Huh?" One of the subordinates said in a puzzled voice. "Leader, isn't Choumei next in line to be leader? And when even you appreciated his skill that much..."

"I don't care. Today he was ogling Reirei. For that alone."

"............That's..."

Keiron turned away from the speechless subordinate with a hmph and again with strange eyes looked down at Genrou. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Genrou gulped.

"Do you have any last words?"

"Last words..."

Oh yeah. If I die I should leave behind some clever line... Genrou shook his head about. H---m, h---m, h---m, h---m, ar---gh, I don't know!

"What's your treasure?!" Was the words that unconsciously came out of his mouth. Right, can I die without knowing what the treasure is?

"Treasure?" Keiron laughed. "You 2 came here to look for treasure? ...Hmf hmf hmf. So, what is it? Since we have plenty of gold, silver, and gems Mt. Kaou is a mountain of treasure."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"What's a thieving butaman leaving out?!" Genrou bared his fangs.

"Butaman?"

"Yeah. You're the lowest butaman bastard whose manhood has rotted off."

"Alright, alright, anything else to say?...I'm all a quiver."

"............!"

Keiron's eyes lit up blazingly and he quickly brandished the dagger.

Uh-oh, this is it. Genrou readied himself. Alright, I'm gonna die. It's pathetic but I'd rather be crushed by Ma's breasts than die.

"......Right, by breasts... by breasts... breasts...... breasts.........Ee~~e." Suddenly opening his eyes, Genrou saw Keiron straddling him and trailing his tongue on his chest. He cried out in a loud voice. "What're ya doing?! Ya pervert!"

"Oh, your breast is bleeding. It must've hurt, forgive me."

"Eeeeeee~ What're ya doing to me? A~~h." Genrou cried out as much as he could. "A-aren't people watching?"

"They make it exciting... Hmf hmf."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Hey, you guys, aren't ya gonna do something 'bout him?!" Genrou shouted at Keiron's subordinates who were averting their eyes.

"You can save your life if you do as he says." One of the men advised Genrou in a subdued voice. "If ya become the leader's lover, you're guaranteed to live in luxury with 3 meals a day and an afternoon nap."

"Wa~h! Stop, that's not funny, I'd rather die."

"What're ya saying? Don't you hate women? I've done research." Keiron, with a delighted face, pressed his cheek against Genrou's. His hand slid between Genrou's legs.

"You got it wrong. I hate men even more~~~!!!!" Genrou's yelp echoed in the gold plated room.
 
 

"What're ya doing Oniichan...?!"

Keiron's obscene actions suddenly stopped just as he heard that voice . Hurriedly getting down from the bed, he put a hand through his dishelved hair and weakly played dumb. "Uh, what? He was struggling so I was restraining him."

".........Liar."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
With big round eyes, a short 13 or 14 year old girl glared at Keiron. She wore peach colored pants that came down to her calves and jacket and her hair was tied up in 2 buns. Is she Keiron's little sister? Genrou wondered as he panted.

"I hate you for doing such a dirty thing Oniichan!"

It was a desperate tone but, being flatly told that by his little sister, he nervously took the girl's hand.

"What're ya saying? Oniichan will die of sorrow if you say that kind of thing..."

"At any rate," The little sister said as she untied Genrou's ropes. "the prisoners will probably be given a sentence of decapitation tomorrow. Having a bias is strictly prohibited."
 
 

With only his hands tied behind him, Genrou faced the prison from behind the girl. Keiron's subordinates weren't with them. Now, inside Genrou's head, he was developing a careful (for Genrou) plan.

"Thanks for earlier."

"What?"

"For saving me."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"......Not really." Keiron's little sister said in a relaxed tone without turning around. "I didn't save ya. Tomorrow morning you 2 will be decapitated."

Going to the front of the prison, the girl silently opened the lock.

"Genrou!" Kouji cried out and edged over. "You OK?"

"Of course. Who'd shamelessly get killed? Far from it..." Genrou glimpsed Kouji's loosen ropes and quickly pushed the iron grating against the girl's body.

"Wh...what're ya doing?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Aniki, hurry, tie her up."

Kouji slipped the ropes off and loosely tied up the girl's arms. With one hand he untied Genrou's ropes.

"Heh, just as I planned it. Sorry Neechan, but it's now your turn to be a prisoner." Genrou grinned.

"You came back a little bit smarter." Kouji also grinned.

"That's right. So, Neechan. Do we have to make you take us to where Keiron's treasure is right now?" Genrou threaten her with those beady eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about." The girl answered clearly without flinching.

Kouji stepped forward. "Alright, Senorita. What would most upset the leader if someone took it. Think it over."

"Don't try to coax it out of  her, dammit." Genrou said and suddenly folded his arms. Come to think of it... Earlier Keiron was saying something. "Hey you. Is the leader here, uh, what is it... where he likes both guys and girls?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Strange. Earlier Keiron mentioned a girl's name. He ordered his number 2's beheading just for ogling her."

"What!? Genrou, she must be Keiron's treasure. Who is she?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"U----m, what was it? Not Hoihoi, or Heihei... um, Reirei, that's it, Reirei."

"Reirei!? That's Keiron's little sister." Kouji answered instantly. "I heard it earlier when the subordinates who came to patrol were talking."

Genrou's beady eyes went round as he looked at the girl before him. "Huh? Then you're..."

"I'm Reirei." Keiron's little sister sighed as if to say at last they've realized it.

Genrou and Kouji opened their mouths wide in an a~h and shouted at the same time. "She's the treasure---!"

As soon as they said that, Kouji heaved Reirei up on his shoulders. "I've got her. Let's go, Genrou."

Having stolen the treasure, the 2 of them ran up the basement stairs at full speed and fled to the outside of the living quarters.

"Uh-oh. It's full of guards now..." Kouji swore under his breath, suddenly hiding in the shadow of the door.

"Well then, let's use her as a shield and force our way through." Genrou interjected and Reirei tugged on his jacket.

"Stop. Isn't that dangerous? There's a secret tunnel there, let's go that way." Over where Reirei pointed was a hole like thing covered by a straw mat.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Oh? That's nice of you."

"Wow, thanks~"

After Genrou and Kouji thanked Reirei, they looked at the girl with an "A~h?" Rather than being carried away by force, Reirei was already riding Kouji's back on her own, big round eyes sparkling, arm flung up in a let's go gesture.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"What? I'm excited. I've always wanted to be kidnapped."