Chapter 20

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“Welcome back, Karin? What’s wrong?”

As they returned to the tents, Izumi sensed something off with Tanno’s behaviour, and questioned her.

“No, it’s…nothing. I’ll go check our bags.”

Replying while with her head down, Tanno went inside the tent with hastened steps.

“Did something happen?”

Izumi asked Ritsu.

“Well, we did encounter two ogres.”

As he answered with a troubled look, Izumi furrowed her eyebrows and started stroking her chin.

“Ogres aren’t something one would get agitated about.”

Saijou told Ritsu, implying he could relax.

“Yeah, Tanno wouldn’t lose it in front of some ogres.”

Kuroi added to that.

“I wonder why.”

Ritsu sat down in his breakfast chair, confused.

“The only time Karin would act like that would be in regards to ‘home’. Did you bring up her family at any point?”

“No, I really only defeated the ogres…”

“I’m sure she just recalled her ‘home’ and started acting all restless, don’t you think?”

Saijou shrugged, while asking Izumi.

“Don’t say that…Karin has a lot going on. But her ‘home’, huh. Yozakura? Mm…? Does Yozakura-san have any prior martial-arts experience?”

Izumi leaned forward and asked, as if she had overlooked something important.

“Captain, that…no way.”

“If that’s the case, then this isn’t any small matter…”

Saijou and Kuroi both widened their eyes and also start looked towards Ritsu.

“I do, but is there something wrong with that?”

Ritsu felt there was something deeper based on their actions, and grimly awaited their reply.

“Out of curiosity, which school of martial-arts was that?”

“Yozakura style.”

“Captain, isn’t it already done and dusted?”

Saijou turned towards the sky, with his hand on his forehead.

“No wonder a person could survive 50 years outside the sanctuary.”

“What do you all mean?”

Ritsu asked perplexed at everyone’s reactions.

“We apologize. Lastly, could I ask you the name of your grandfather?”

Izumi raised her index finger, and awaited Ritsu’s reply, to her final question.

“My grandfather’s name, is Yozakura Ryuugen. He is the grandmaster of Yozakura style.”

Hearing Ritsu’s reply, the three collectively turn towards the sky, and sigh.

“I understand…so that’s what it was.”

Izumi stood up while looking straight at Ritsu, lifted up the sword beside her, and bowed her head.

“Yozakura style 8th Dan, Assistant Instructor, Izumi Honoka. I extend my humble greetings to the Ousei, Yozakura Ritsu-sama. Please forgive any rudeness on our part till now.”

“Eh.”

While with not as much ferver as Izumi, the other two also gave their respects to Ritsu.

“Wait, what does this mean? I would really like an explanation…”

“In the Yozakura School hierarchy, Yozakura-sama belongs to the rank of Ousei, which is second from top.”

Izumi started her explanation, which seemed like it would be long.

“Approximately 50 years ago, the people who were suddenly transferred to the sanctuary separated themselves into communities, and worked together in order to survive the turmoil. To secure food, there was a need to defeat monsters, so the voices of policemen and experienced fighters naturally started to hold more weight.

Amongst that, our Oushuu, Yozakura Ryuugen-sama has lead a number of communities under him, along with the police whom he was working with since before. Thanks to him, the sanctuary remains generally peaceful. Putting it simply, the Yozakura School has become a conglomerate of warrior-colors.”

Izumi shoots him a look which asked if he understood till now. When Ritsu nodded, she continued.

“Of course, there are schools and factions apart from the Yozakura school. As a part of the appeal to maintain peace, a system of hierarchies was created. There is 1 Oushuu, 4 Ouseis, and 8 Ouchous, below which are Sakurabito, Ouka, Hatsuzakura, Instructors, Assistant Instructors, Disciples and so on. The Oushuu is also called Ouson respectfully.”

“While deciding upon Ouseis, Oushuu asserted that one frame of that rank will go to his grandson, left in the outside world. There were voices of protest at first, but he declared that if a person was judged by him to be of greater skill than his own grandson, Oushuu would yield that vacant frame to them. Since then till now, the faces of Ousei have remained unchanged.”

“Does that mean, grandpa is still alive?”

Ritsu asked Izumi excitedly.

“Yes, very much so. He is one of the strongest in the sanctuary, and can even be called a cornerstone of its defense.”

Izumi said, slightly proudly.

“I’m surprised. To think something like this would happen here.”

The usually silent Kuroi muttered that while sighing.

“The Ouseis, also known as the peak of mankind. It’s a group of monsters. I’d say our safe return is guaranteed at this point.”

Saijou smiled widely and made a victory pose.

“Saijou. That’s disrespectful to Ousei-dono.”

Izumi stood up, while glaring at Saijou.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m not a disciple of the Yozakura school so it’s fine, right?”

“Please don’t hesitate around me. You can act the same as before.”

As Ritsu said that smilingly, Saijou laughed back, saying same as before it is then.

“By the way, how does that relate to Tanno-san’s behavior from before?”

“Ah, about that, apparently the Tanno family had connections to the Oushuu since the time of the transfer, so Karin’s father is currently serving as an Ouchou-ranked person.”

After hesitating a little, Izumi continues:

“But Karin has no talent for the Yozakura style, so she remains stuck on the 5th Dan of Disciple.”

“Most likely, seeing Ousei-dono’s fighting style must have reminded her of her situation at home.”

Saijou said while making a bitter face, and looking at Tanno’s tent while shaking his head.

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Oushuu=Sakura Lord

Ouson=Respected Sakura

Ousei=Sakura Saint

Ouchou=Sakura Butterfly(?)

Sakurabito=Sakura Person

Ouka=Lower Sakura

Hatsuzakura=Beginner Sakura

I’m keeping the japanese names for these, otherwise it would sound ridiculous as you would expect.

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