Survive in Azure Files

Chapter 93: Those who do not believe in the existence of ninjas are fools

Those brief words were like a heavy hammer, hitting the sensitive and fragile heart of the hidden listener.

Izumi couldn't help but recall the brief time she spent with her master. The laughter at that time seemed to still echo in her ears; the warm feeling at that time is still remembered to this day.

For the first time, she had a gentle master who supported her dream, accompanied her in ninja training, and possibly a lord worthy of her lifelong service. The two joys overlapped, and this double joy brought even more joy.

I should have had a dreamlike happy time, but why, it turned out like this.

Isn't it like the hero and heroine in "Yuban Tofuden", who, after the fateful confrontation in the valley of destiny, can end their opposing positions and live happily together from then on?

Tried Izuna? What does that mean? Was it all a disguise? Was it the same as Izuna's initial suspicion? Was there an ulterior motive from the moment he approached Izuna?

...That's right. How could a legendary ninja easily accept her as his disciple?

He must be trying to find a breakthrough from Izuna in order to complete the mission.

I thought I had finally found someone who was willing to understand my dreams.

Izuna smiled self-deprecatingly, and because of his low mood, his fox ears drooped listlessly. He felt that in this narrow and cramped ventilation duct that lacked light and was made of a material that lacked bright metals, all he could see was a dark gray.

As for the fact that her employer had actually been deceiving her, and was a fake ninja, although it was a bit surprising, it didn't seem like a big deal in comparison.

It can't get any worse than this, Izuna thought to herself.

However, the conversation in the room was not over yet.

"I lied to Izuna and said that I was also a ninja. In this respect, I am indeed just like you."

"Oh? As expected? She believed it so easily! Hahaha, so this guy is so easy to fool!"

Eh? He lied to Izuna and said he was a ninja... which means... a master...

Not actually a ninja?

The shocking truth made Izumi's ears buzz and his brain went blank. It took him a while to come back to his senses.

Strangely, Izunai found that after knowing this, she not only did not become more depressed, but instead rekindled some inexplicable expectation -

The teacher’s teachings, first of all.

Listen, feel, and think, only in this way can you get the right answer for yourself.

Calm down and think about it...

The master did ask Izuna about the information of the employer, but he did it openly. Moreover, after seeing Izuna's resistance, he let Izuna do what he wanted, and if she didn't want to reveal the identity of the employer, she didn't have to say it.

The teacher’s teachings, part two.

In life, everyone has different stances. Regardless of right or wrong, we should keep moving forward. Only in this way can we understand our own true heart.

So, what is the original intention of a master?

Could a gentle man who could say such words to Izuna when they were on opposite sides really have any ill will towards Izuna?

Could it be that... No, there must be some hidden secret that Izuna doesn't know about.

For a ninja, it is too early to start grieving before knowing the full picture.

In order to seize the treasure that she deserves, Izuna, like the best ninja in her dreams, began to think selflessly.

inside the room.

I am also thinking about a question.

The description of the [Lion's Majesty] obtained by conquering Serika clearly states that the intensity of the pressure released is proportional to the degree of my anger.

However, this special effect never seemed to be directly reflected in use. Perhaps it was because I was not angry enough at that time.

So... now, what?

"Have you laughed enough?"

I coldly looked at the villain who was mocking my important student, aimed at him, and released the [Majesty of the Lion] without reservation.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Miao Tianwan's pupils dilated, the hairs on his tail stood on end, and he even took several steps back out of fear, opening his mouth helplessly but not daring to breathe.

He should be thankful that I don't have enough strength to sustain it for too long, and I have to leave enough for the battle that may break out later.

Then, the invisible pressure dissipated, and Miao Tianwan stood there in a daze. After a long time, he snorted coldly and pretended to be calm and continued the previous topic:

"Hmph, anyway, you who also deceived that brat Izumi Nai, what qualifications do you have to laugh at me? The only difference between you and me is that you failed to use her successfully!"

As Miao Tianwan accused him, he secretly broke into a cold sweat.

Fortunately, he was in danger. What had happened to him? He was frightened by a young man who was no longer a threat. Fortunately, he reacted in time, otherwise he would have been embarrassed.

I shook my head at the obviously timid Miao Tianwan, with a mocking arc on my lips:

"You seem to have misunderstood something. I just chose to give up."

"……what?"

"The essential difference between you and me has never been in the means. For me, whether it was deceiving and using Izuna in the beginning, or giving up on this idea later, it was all out of the same original intention."

I took a deep breath and said firmly, "I will guide that child in the right direction!"

"It is precisely because of people like you who do not hesitate to use despicable means for your own benefit that Izuna was lured into the wrong path and even had to be mocked and belittled by you, the culprit, behind her back.

"Izuna's innocence and her dreams are what I, as a teacher, must protect. Even if I have to use the same despicable means, I must do it.

"In order for Izuna to become the best ninja in all of Kivotos as she dreams of, I will do my best to support her.

“If she is deceived by a bad person, then I will expose the bad person’s true face after gaining her trust; if she still has doubts because of kindness and principles, then I will give her affirmation and then complete my duties as a teacher.

“Nyan Tenmaru, you want to put yourself above the dreams of others, but I hope to carry the dreams of others.

"This is the biggest difference between you and me."

My passionate words echoed in the closed room, and the echoes lingered for a long time.

Miao Tianwan looked me up and down, amazed, but his cold expression betrayed his true emotions:

"So you're also someone who believes in these things that only kids would believe, you idiot."

I mocked back, "Romance and fantasy have always been what men pursue. Those who don't want to believe that there are ninjas, gods, and giant robots in this world are the real fools, right?"

"That's a very high-sounding statement. But no matter what, it's not me who is now a helpless prisoner."

Miao Tianwan loudly declared: "This round is my victory!"

I was about to continue arguing and stalling for time when suddenly, there was a loud bang from above my head, followed by smoke and dust that blocked my vision, and even the outside of the house was shaken.

The two demons who were keeping watch outside rushed in anxiously:

"My lord, what happened?!"

The smoke and dust cleared, and the ninja girl appeared on the stage in a dashing manner.

Ignoring the looks from her former employer and former companion, it seemed as if I was the only one left in Izuna's eyes.

My expression changed slightly. When did she start listening?

"Master... No, you can no longer use this title. From now on, I, Izuna, will rescue you."

Izuna's face was calm, and she used a name that was familiar yet strange to me:

"teacher."

Chapter 94: Izuna's Enlightenment

I was suddenly rescued by a deus ex machina, but I was not happy but shocked.

Looking at Izuna's back, I was hesitant to speak.

Fortunately, someone asked the questions that I was not convenient to ask in person.

Nyanakamaru almost broke his voice: "Izuna! Why did it fall from the ceiling...!? And when...!?"

"I heard it all. What my employer said... and what my teacher said."

Izuna looked determined: "I now understand everything. I'm sorry, employer. I've decided to follow the teacher's teachings and act according to my true thoughts!"

"...Are you going to betray me?"

Facing Nyanaka's questioning, Izuna no longer felt any guilt:

"It was the employer's fault for mocking Izuna's dream first. Whether it was that as a ninja, you had to complete any mission, or that as long as you work hard, you would meet a lord worthy of loyalty, all of these were just lies to make Izuna perform the mission wholeheartedly. Such an employer is not worthy of Izuna's service."

Izumi's tone was calm and indifferent, her logic was clear and meticulous, which made me worry whether she had been stimulated by something.

"Now that you've heard everything, you should know that this guy is also lying to you, right?"

Meow Tenmaru pointed at me behind Izumi Nai and began to divert the blame: "Don't be fooled by his nice words. He actually just wants to get information from you. Don't be fooled by his nice words just to anger me!"

He even dared to sow discord between me and Izumi. This old man deserves his death!

However, when I met Izuna's deep gaze when she looked back, I suddenly found myself unable to refute.

Although Nyanakamaru's words were exaggerated, he was telling the truth on the most core issue of "Did I lie to Izuna?"

I can certainly refute the part that is untrue, but that is only my one-sided opinion. Will Izuna really believe my words when she has already betrayed my trust?

In this situation, it is not surprising that no matter how much you explain yourself, it will be used as an excuse to get away with it.

Due to the guilt over my own behavior, the panic of being discovered unexpectedly, and the uneasiness caused by Izumi's unusual reaction, my thinking pattern tended to be negative.

I lowered my eyes, avoiding Izuna's eyes that contained no emotion. "I'm sorry."

Miao Tianwan was still trying hard, and he slowed down his tone and persuaded:

"I know that I did something wrong, and it is understandable that you betrayed me. But even if you no longer work for me, you won't turn around and join my enemy, or the guy who was also not honest with you, right?"

At this point, Meowtenmaru, who knows that Izuna doesn't value material things but feelings more, has realized that it is impossible to win Izuna back, so he turns his efforts to making her not help either of them.

If Nyanmaru's wish comes true, for me, it would just mean returning to a situation that is slightly worse than before Izuna suddenly appeared. The result would at most make it more difficult to delay time, which is not unacceptable.

In fact, I found that if it really happened, I would be more relaxed.

So I kept silent.

Izuna blinked, turned back and stared at Meow Tenmaru, and spoke in a slightly lower tone than before:

"The teacher did deceive Izuna. The teacher is not the legendary ninja. He did trick Izuna into revealing the identity of his employer and he also sent people to attack Izuna... These are indisputable facts."

The last one is not true... Even though I have admitted it in public in order to protect Ruo Zao's reputation...

A look of joy appeared on Miao Tianwan's face. "That's right, Your Highness Izuna, please don't associate with such a despicable villain. Just don't interfere with the rest of the matter and leave here. And as a token of my apology, I will still pay you the mission reward... No, I will double it! As long as you don't pay any more attention to this guy!"

"but."

Izuna ignored Meow Tenmaru's inducement and changed the subject:

"This is all between Izuna and the teacher. Izuna will resolve it with the teacher alone after this is over."

"……Eh?"

"Now, there is only one thing Izuna has to do." Izuna solemnly announced to Meow Tenmaru, who had an expression of disbelief on his face, "Izuna and the teacher will work together to get rid of you, the employer who is using Izuna's dream to destroy Izuna's favorite Sakura Festival."

Izuna is unusually sensible.

However, even Izuna has already come to this realization...

From this perspective, I am not a good teacher. It is such a simple truth, but I still need Izuna to enlighten me.

I took a deep breath, along with the negative emotions that were only a burden at the moment:

"Izuna, do it."

"As ordered."

The ninja girl raised the gun and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Miao Tianwan jumped to the side in a panic, but only dodged a small part of the bullets.

If he had not been in good health and the two demons had not launched a timely counterattack, Miao Tianwan would have fallen into a coma under the bombardment of dozens of mysterious 8mm machine gun bullets per second.

"Damn you, you treacherous fellow!"

Miao Tianwan endured the pain and anger, maintaining the most basic rationality, enough to make a relatively correct judgment -