Chapter 11:King Of Crows
It's been 3 years since my Father died.Since Rida died.Sosu,Maku and I have been gathering information about these cursed crows such as where their base is,what they can do and who their master is.
We've travelled 2 hours on our horses because Sosu didn't have the energy to teleport us.
There in the distance,lied the forbidden castle.It smelt of burning dead bodies.The thought of the castle just existing haunted me.
We got off our horses and knocked on the wooden door.2 guards opened the door as it creaked loudly.
"What are you doing here?"
"Kraven is expecting us."Sosu spoke deeply.
The guards stood silent for a few seconds.They looked at each other then looked back at us as if we were some outlaws.
"What's your race?Can't see your face under that hood of yours."
"Demon Sorcerer."
"Uhhh,come on in."Sosu chuckled softly as we stepped into the castle.The guards were shaking heavily.I guess people really feared demon sorcerers.
We walked on a velvet carpet into a dining room.On the side,there were candles lit.Next to the candles were guards with speared covered in dark manipulation.
At least 10 of them.
The table had scrumptious food including,sushi,ramen,curry rice and udon.
"Welcome my guests.Have a seat."We all sat down in the soft comfy chairs.Kraven was wearing a plague doctor suit.On his back was a staff which looked dangerous.
"2 humans and a demon sorcerer.How on earth did you manage to maintain one?"
"My family owned him for about 2 generations."
"What's your last name,samurai?"
"I don't think I have to tell you that."
"I think I know your family.So tell me,what's your last name?"
"Korenzu."
"I know your Uncle,Aizakku.He's the current emperor of Japan.Am I wrong?"
"No,you're not.How did you even meet him?"
"That's a story for another day.Now eat up.All of you must be very hungry."Sosu glanced at the food and ate all the meat there with ease.
"Kraven took off his mask.And to my surprise,he wasn't a human wearing a mask.He was a human sized crow.
Maku already devoured the onigiri and sushi.His stomach finally stopped growling after the long journey.
"So,why have you chosen my castle out of all the ones in Tokyo?Do you have an offer?"
"Actually we do."I cleared my throat before leaning forward.
"We were wondering if you could sell your slaves to us."Kraven spat his food back onto his plate and looked at all of us with a smirk on his face.
"Well.I have 400 slaves-"
"I don't care how many you have,I just wanna buy them."
"1000 yen for every slave.That means you need 400,000 yen in total to buy all my slaves."
"We don't have that kind of money."
"I thought royalty blood showers you with infinite money…"
"Couldn't you do something cheaper?"
Maku stood up for me after realizing this conversation might get into a fight.
"I don't increase the price or decrease it.I just leave it as it is."
"Please,isn't there an alternative?"
"There's one exception.One of you would have to beat me in a duel."
"Oh that's easy,let's just get Sosu to do it."
"No.I can't beat a demon sorcerer and I can see your friend here is almost at my strength so i'll need you to fight me."
"Kraven.Irai has only had 3 years of training and he's barely moved up any ranks.Standing at tier seven,he has a slim chance against you."
"Exactly.That's why I chose him.The weaker the opponent,the more likely I'll win."
"You're a greedy crow,Kraven."Maku sighed and stood up from his seat before walking over to the restroom.I looked over at Sosu who was half asleep with his plate still full.
"If you wanna stay for the duel,there's bedrooms on the right corridor.By the way,I didn't catch your name."
"My name is Irai."
"I address myself as Kraven."
"That's nice to know."
"You should take your friend and that sorcerer to the bedrooms,you guys need rest.I mean who knows how long you've been in that terrible rumbling blizzard."
"Sosu come on."Sluggishly,Sosu crawled out of his chair all the way to the bedrooms with Maku following us from behind.
Inside,was an emerald carpet with candles on the side.A window acted as a barrier,protecting us from the rain,snow and other hazards outside.
Winter was just about to end so it would be good to have some heat.
Luckily,there was a fire place in the bedroom along with a bookshelf full of medicine information.Beside the window were 3 beds with green blankets.
"It's like this room was specifically designed for us huh Irai?"
"Maku it's just a coincidence.I don't know about you but i'm going to sleep.Goodnight."
"Goodnight Irai."We all turned off the candles and fell asleep.
I wasn't sure if what i was doing was right.That guy,Kraven.He seems strong.
400 slaves are on the line here.If I lose,I've let them down.I've let myself down.Not to mention,I made the promise to free them for 3 years.
So what would all that training be for?For nothing?I just do all that work to fail and I don't even get a second chance?
I can't lose this fight.
My Dad died because of these cursed crows.So I just need to focus on winning for him,the slaves and myself.
But,overthinking will waste energy.I'll just head to sleep…
"Wake up Irai.It's time for our duel."Kraven stood before my eyes,narrowing down at me.
"Want a chance to save those peasants or not?"Yawning in despair,I hopped out of bed immediately to prepare for the duel.
"I'll be waiting."Kraven turned around and walked out of the room.Maku was trying to wake up Sosu who was a deep sleeper while I hopped into a nice warm bath with sakura leaves to cleanse my body.
The steam filled up the room and so did the heat.I felt so refreshed it felt like I was being treated as a King.
After the bath,I got dressed in my normal closed and headed outside to my horse which Kraven addressed me to.
"Where are we going?"
"To a colosseum.We'll have some...supporters."
As I mentioned before,I hate most people in general.I just need to be calm around Kraven because he could kill me any minute he wanted to.People from all sorts of villages watched us travel through the valley.
We had to stop multiple times for food and water or to rest.
I asked Kraven about his childhood.He grew up from a poor background and became an orphan at the age of 16 before learning jujutsu.
It made sense to learn defense after having a rough childhood.Might be why he made this whole empire of slaves as well.
I couldn't say for sure.This guy didn't talk a lot and was very modest when he did.
Sosu seemed REALLY tired for some reason.He had to ride at the back of Cooper(Maku's horse.)
We stood in front of the colosseum,admiring it.Except for Kraven.
"Come on in,we don't have all day do we foe?"
Referring to me as a foe meant we were going to have loads of problems.
Which was the opposite of what I want with a 6 foot tall cursed crow who wears a plague doctor outfit with a dark manipulated staff and a corrupt empire of slaves and guards.
But maybe I was overthinking again.The two of us got into the center of the field,shaking hands before getting into our stances.
"3."The referee began to count with a gun in his hand he was going to shoot into the sky.
"2."Kraven wasn't going to hold back.I knew it from the look in his dead eyes.
"1."This was the moment to prove I am worthy to my family.
"BEGIN."He shot a bullet into the air which caused me to be provoked.
I began shaking for some reason but Kraven had already pulled out his weapon and was charging at me like an angry bull.I pulled out my tanto out and blocked his blade.Kraven turned around quickly,slicing my leg.
I jumped back a few meters knowing there wasn't much time to react.
"Stop playing passive and hit ME!"Kraven bolted towards me,swinging his blade left and right before striking it directly towards my chest which made me lose my balance.
I got light headed with blurry vision.
Sosu was looking at me with a straight face.He was watching,everybody was watching me!I couldn't let some filthy crow jump in and take the spotlight.A loud BANG echoed through the field after our sword it.I went round
Kraven to stab him with a flash strike and it worked.I cut his forearm.The cut was about 6 inches long which meant he was going to bleed rapidly.
"CURSED SPARROW,BLIND HIS SIGHT!"
A bird made out of pure dark energy gilded towards my direction,blocking my view of almost everything.I had no time to react.The sparrow was going to hit me.
The last thing I saw before impact were it's ruby red eyes glaring at me with a sign of death.I shut my eyes quickly to brace for it-SLICE!Right through my chest.It cut my heart in half.
My blood stopped pumping blood because all of it spat out onto the field.
"Looks like you're not getting that empire."Kraven took a few steps back,looking mildly disgusted but not too surprised.It's as if he's done this before.That's not the point.
The point was I felt excruciating pain for about 30 seconds before my body couldn't take it and I just fainted.Was I conscious?Not sure.But I blacked out for a while.It was strange because I could see a nurse placing bandages on me.
"What-What the hell happened?Where am I?Where is everybody?"
"Don't worry.You're in the hands of Nurse Juliet.I've been doing this job for 25 years and I can say I've been taking good care of you."
"Where are my friends,Maku and Sosu?"
"Not sure about their appearances.Everybody got evacuated and Kraven got sent back to his castle.Anyways,I had to stitch your heart and veins in order for the blood to stay in.That was a pretty bad hit you took if you ask me."
"I know.The real question here is how long am I supposed to be stuck in this facility for huh?How long are you going to keep me contained here?"
"It will take 3 hours for your heart to fully regenerate."
"Just find my friend Sosu to regenerate me,he's a demon sorcerer!"
"Like I said,everybody got evacuated.And I know damn well I'm not finding a demon sorcerer."
"They're staying at Kraven's castle last time I checked,just go over there and get him!"
"Irai,rest.I'll try contacting your friends to get them to visit you.Have this in the meantime."
Juliet gave me a green tea to drink which was good for your skin and lungs.I drank it with ease since I was very dehydrated.
"It seems you haven't drank in a while."
"Yeah,I've been going to loads of places lately."
"Well,rest here traveller.I'll go send a letter to Kraven's castle."
"Wait a minute."
"What is it my dear?"
"Kraven should be arrested for assaulting me,right?"
"He's high status so it would be bad for his profile.And he already paid one thousand yen to you for damages."
"He did?"
"Yes.All in cash but I'll give you the bags when you are in good health."
"Sounds good to me."
"I shall write that letter now.Rest here."
"Alright Nurse Juliet."Back at Kraven's castle,Kraven was in his bed drinking grape juice.
Maku and Sosu had already left the castle and were headed back to the forest.Kraven sighed as he drank from the bottle.Suddenly,somebody knocked on his door.
"Come in."Karasu,Kraven's son, walked into the room with his mask on his belt.
"Father.I heard about an…incident."
"Karasu don't worry about it.You shouldn't be concerned."
"But I am.Somebody got injured again because of your actions.Why would you hurt that man?What did he do to you?"Kraven looked at the floor and sat there in silence.
"No response huh?Not surprised considering you're a deadbeat Father."
"Don't use that language on my property."
"That's the exact same words you said to Mother right before slaughtering her.I saw it with my own 2 eyes!Then you shoved her body into a barrel and pushed it off into the sea.Her remains probably still lie there,rotting in the depths of the sea.I feel sorry that the last thing she had to see was your face.You should feel ashamed-"
"SILENCE!"Kraven grabbed the bottle firmly and smashed it in Karasu's head.
"AGH!"He slammed his head onto the wooden floor,knocking him out cold.Blood splattered all over the room,some even got into Kraven's mouth before he spat it onto the unconscious body of his son.
"Tsk.Ashamed.Who does this boy think he is to speak to his Father like that?I'm a Tier 3 with one of the largest empires in Japan and out of all the things he could say,not even a pint of respect."
Kraven kept yapping as he dragged Karasu's body out of the room and down the stairs with a trail of blood following them.After ordering the guards to open the gate,he threw Karasu's body outside.
"You're not eating tonight boy and you will be sleeping out here until you learn to respect me!"
Kraven stomped back into his castle menacingly,ordering a butler to clean up the broken glass that was in his room.
Kraven took a seat at the fireplace for a long nap because clearly he couldn't get a break from all the mess going on.
Back at the forest,Maku and Sosu were sitting in their cabin,reading the note Nurse Juliet sent.
"The hospital isn't far from here.It's like a 10 minute walk.Sosu?"
Maku turned to see Sosu falling asleep once again.It wasn't easy for demon sorcerers to stay awake because using too much energy in a short time would be bad for them mentally and physically.
Maku sighed in disbelief of how much Sosu sleeps for.Since he had nobody to talk to,Maku decided to take a nap since he hasn't slept in a while.