Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Lacua, a short and stout man with long ears, pointy teeth, and dark circles beneath his purple-tinted eyes, stood frozen in disbelief. His black cap nearly slipped from his head as he took in the sight before him.

"They… they're farming in the Great Forest of Jura!?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with shock.

Before him, a long line of wyverns, majestic, powerful creatures typically reserved for military use, were now being used to transport goods, farmers, and construction workers deep into eastern Jura.

His bewilderment only grew as he continued walking. Soon, he arrived at the edge of a sparkling lake, its pristine waters reflecting his own astonished face back at him. His jaw clenched as he gnashed his teeth.

"They purified the lake too!?"

Gripping his head in frustration, he groaned. "None of this makes sense! Have I gone mad? These things shouldn't even be possible!"

His mutterings were cut short when his eyes landed on a gathering of farmers chatting cheerfully. Among them, standing in the center, was Queen Towa, radiant, healthy, and lively. She was protected by her now added Kijin guard, her presence as lovely as ever.

Lacua staggered back. "Wait a minute… The queen… she's fully recovered!?"

The sheer impossibility of it all sent his mind reeling. His shock was quickly interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice.

"Well, well. If it isn't Lacua."

He stiffened. Slowly, he turned to see the Prime Minister of Raja, Mobuji, approaching him with an amiable smile.

"O-Oh, Master Mobuji," Lacua stammered, quickly doffing his cap and bowing low. "It's been quite some time. As always, I have brought a fine selection of goods for your esteemed consideration."

"How wonderful." Mobuji nodded approvingly. "Let us discuss it in detail later. You must be exhausted from your journey."

Lacua chuckled, though there was a nervous edge to his voice. "Of course. Though, I must say… the atmosphere here seems different from when I left." His eyes narrowed slightly.

Mobuji, either oblivious to Lacua's change in tone or choosing to ignore it, let out a lighthearted chuckle. "Indeed. A lot can change in just two weeks."

Lacua's grip on his cap tightened, his fingers digging into the fabric in silent frustration.

"We shall speak further this evening," Mobuji continued, his tone still warm and diplomatic. With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Lacua standing alone.

As the Prime Minister disappeared into the distance, Lacua's gaze darkened. His mind raced with anger and disbelief.

"This is awful. What in the world happened while I was away?"

---

A Few Hours Later – Inside Lacua's Merchant Carriage

Seated inside his private carriage, Lacua growled under his breath, his foot tapping incessantly against the wooden floorboards. His frustration was reaching its boiling point.

"It's worse than I thought," he muttered, his voice low with simmering rage. "All of my carefully laid plans… ruined by a single Kijin survivor and some measly little human."

He slammed his fist against the table before him, causing the entire carriage to tremble from the impact.

"Everything was going perfectly. I had the queen exactly where I needed her. Fulfilling her desires was my only ticket to elevating my status in this wretched world!"

Clink.

His brooding thoughts were interrupted by a faint sound. His eyes flicked toward the source, a small, ominously glowing purple marble had rolled out from his bag and onto the table.

For a moment, silence filled the carriage. Then, a slow, wicked grin stretched across Lacua's face.

"That's it… I can still fix this."

His fingers curled around the marble, its eerie glow reflecting in his darkening eyes.

"All we need is a little chaos… and some tragedy."

---

That night, within the grand palace of Queen Towa, two figures stood on the balcony of the massive mansion, overlooking the serene landscape bathed in moonlight.

"So?" Kaede turned to Towa, her expression calm yet expectant. "How are you feeling?"

"Hmm?" Towa blinked in confusion, then her eyes widened slightly as realization set in. "Oh… I don't know what to say, honestly." She sighed, walking over to the marble bench on the side before sitting down. "These past two weeks have been like a dream. For the first time, my people can hope for a brighter tomorrow. And it's all thanks to you." Her voice softened. "How am I feeling? I am happy… so very happy."

Yet, her words trailed off, hesitation creeping into her tone.

Kaede, still standing, tilted her head slightly. "But?"

Towa exhaled, gathering her thoughts before speaking again. "I… I wish I was like you, Lady Kaede. You're everything I'm not. We're both rulers of our own nations, and yet, you can be so open with your companions."

Kaede groaned internally. 'It's the head pats, isn't it? I should probably stop doing those in public. And then there's Ari, who's starting to get a little headstrong… I should punish her. But she's my daughter, I don't want to hurt her. Ugh, what's a mother to do?'

Unaware of Kaede's internal dilemma, Towa continued, her voice quieter now. "When I first laid eyes on Hiiro, fighting with everything he had to protect his comrades, I… I hoped that he could be someone I could trust. I thought that if I saved him, maybe… maybe he'd stay."

Kaede raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Towa lowered her gaze, shoulders shrinking slightly. "I'm the worst. That was a selfish, calculated decision… Even when I asked to meet you, it wasn't out of pure curiosity or goodwill. It was all part of a plan."

Kaede sighed and waved a hand in front of Towa. "Alright, I'm stopping you right there. You're overthinking it."

Resting her back against the balcony railing, Kaede gave Towa a reassuring smile. "So you think I'm a better ruler than you, huh? Well, you're dead wrong."

Towa's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected statement.

Kaede chuckled. "You say you're selfish. Well, guess what? So is everyone else. Including me. Everyone I know is selfish. With the state your kingdom has been in, even before you became queen, you've had nothing but bad options. And yet, you managed to keep your nation from collapsing with your 'selfish calculations.' If anything, that just proves you're a much better queen than I am."

Kaede folded her arms. "The only difference between us is that I can brute-force my way through my problems. You don't have that luxury. But being calculating isn't a bad thing, Towa. You gave Hiiro a name, it's not like you bound his soul or anything. At least… I don't think that's how it works."

Towa blinked, absorbing Kaede's words. "Oh."

Kaede leaned her head back, gazing at the sky. "If there's one piece of advice I can give you, it's this, lighten up and be more honest with your feelings. Especially with your companions. I've seen the way they adore you. Don't be afraid to rely on your friends."

For a moment, silence settled between them. Towa watched Kaede closely, noticing the distant look in her eyes.

My friends… Kaede thought to herself. Risa, Kuromu, Iz, Kanade, Kasumi, Yui, Mai, Mii, Payne… What are the chances that any of you are here? I wonder what you'd all think if you saw what I've accomplished…

Towa smiled warmly. "You're a kind person, Lady Kaede."

"Nah." Kaede chuckled. "I'm just as selfish as you. And just as calculating, too, if it means protecting my people."

Suddenly, her expression shifted. Her eyes sharpened, and she pressed a hand to her ear, listening intently.

"Tomo, what's up?" she asked, her tone suddenly serious. A brief pause. Then, she sighed. "I see… That's unfortunate." Her fists clenched at her sides. "In the end, it always comes down to this."

Towa, confused, turned to her. "What's wrong?"

Kaede exhaled, then smiled at her. "Looks like Tomo found our Primordial Demon. I'll be right back."

A Queen's Resolve

Towa's breath hitched. "They exist? Lady Kaede… You can't..."

"Don't worry about it," Kaede interrupted, her voice steady. "I've already told Kaori to follow your orders while I'm gone."

Before them, a red portal swirled into existence, casting an eerie glow against the moonlit balcony.

Towa's hands clenched into fists. "But Lady Kaede, it's too dangerous..."

Her words cut off as she suddenly felt Kaede's hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair. It was warm, reassuring.

"It's alright, Towa. Just wait for me, okay?" Kaede said with a soft smile. "I'll be back before you know it."

As she spoke, a flash of light enveloped her, and her attire shifted. Now, she stood clad in her signature black armor, though this time, a dark cape draped over her right shoulder.

Giving one last smile, Kaede stepped into the portal without hesitation.

The swirling vortex collapsed behind her, leaving only the quiet hum of the night. Towa remained frozen in place, her hands slowly lifting to the spot where Kaede had patted her head. She squirmed slightly, cheeks dusted pink.

"She'll always come back," she murmured, a small, relieved smile forming on her lips.

Just then, a voice echoed in her mind.

(Excuse me, Queen Towa.)

Towa stiffened, eyes darting around the balcony. "Wh-Who's there?"

(Ah. It is I, Kaori. Lady Kaede left me here to protect you and your people.)

Towa exhaled, composing herself. "Yes, she mentioned that. What do you need?"

(Well… it seems I have found the culprit responsible for poisoning the lake.)

Towa's entire body tensed. "What?"

(Yes. In fact, he is in the process of poisoning it again as we speak.)

For a brief moment, silence hung between them. Then, a surge of pure, unfiltered rage bubbled up within her.

Towa's fingers clenched against the marble railing.

(So, Queen of Raja… what would you like me to do?) Kaori's voice remained calm, waiting for her command.

Towa took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing with resolve.

"Find him," she ordered, her voice cold as steel. "And make sure he never does it again."