My mother's love song

The letter said so.

That’s right… the one who issued this military order to Minamoto no Raikou was none other than the current emperor.

The emperor bypassed her immediate superior, the Left Minister Fujiwara no Michinaga, and personally gave her a secret imperial decree that "he hoped to negotiate peace with Oeyama."

"...Can't understand."

Minamoto no Raikou muttered to himself as he looked at the lights of Heian-kyo slowly rising in the dusk.

"Your Majesty actually wants to negotiate peace with Oeyama... I really can't understand this."

The imperial court hopes to negotiate with the ghosts. This has never happened before and this is the first time.

"What on earth are you thinking about, Your Majesty..."

Minamoto no Raikou has killed countless monsters, demons, and transformed creatures along the way, and has never considered the possibility of coexisting peacefully with non-human creatures.

Of all the monsters living in Japan, oni are the most evil and powerful.

In Minamoto no Raikou's view, humans and demons are like water and fire, and they can never coexist.

Ghosts eat people, people kill ghosts, and there are no exceptions in the relationship between humans and ghosts.

Minamoto no Raikou firmly believed that only dead ghosts were good ghosts.

"The current emperor is really a child, so naive..."

Bubu Jiwu, one of the Four Heavenly Kings who accompanied his lord in the evening as he waited for the arrival of the Emperor's special envoy, spoke.

"Although Emperor Ichijo is said to be a wise ruler at a young age, he is just a child who grew up under the protection of Kaneie-sama and the Left Minister. This is an exaggeration."

Usui Sadamitsu, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, also agreed and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty does not know the suffering and dangers of the world."

Watanabe Tsuna and Sakata Kintoki remained silent with heavy hearts after hearing the imperial edict.

They were surprised by the imperial edict, and at the same time, they began to seriously think about the dream that the emperor had envisioned.

A world where humans and monsters coexist...is it really possible?

"Humph! I don't care about the emperor's special envoy representing His Majesty! If that guy dares to put on airs in the military camp, I will never let him off!"

Ubube Jiwu expressed the thoughts of all the samurai.

Usui Sadamitsu sneered and said, "If that's the case, how about we show the special envoy some power later?"

"Hey, the other party is the envoy of His Majesty the Emperor...don't think of doing anything that would damage the reputation of the Genji." Watanabe Tsuna warned.

"But Mr. Tsuna, do you think we should continue to be looked down upon by the other party like this?"

Usui Sadamichi said angrily.

"They actually said they wanted to negotiate with the demons, so they asked the lord to escort the envoy up the mountain... Don't be ridiculous, Lord Raikou didn't come to Oeyama for this kind of thing! What does the court think of our efforts for peace in Kyoto so far!"

Everyone was silent.

Watanabe Tsuna couldn't find any words to refute, and he also doubted His Majesty's actions.

Most importantly, can the emperor's envoy really understand how cunning and cruel the creatures called ghosts are?

Is it really appropriate to hand over the lives of millions of people so easily to the hands of the ghosts who attacked the capital and the people who sang poetry and made music in the palace all day long?

He couldn't help but think that His Majesty's actions were really inconsiderate.

"My job tonight is to entertain the special envoy. I am aware of your dissatisfaction. Please be patient for now."

After Raiko said this, the Four Heavenly Kings stopped complaining.

The back of Minamoto no Raikou exudes a tense atmosphere. The Four Heavenly Kings, who have fought side by side with their lord for decades, understand that Raikou is in a bad mood.

The five people stood outside the main camp and waited for a while. As night fell, a Pegasus appeared on the distant horizon.

The emperor's special envoy has arrived.

"Only one person? And he was riding a horse, not a bullock cart?"

Watanabe Tsuna frowned in confusion.

After all, when it comes to royal envoys, there must be a magnificent and mighty ceremonial convoy, and the people getting off the ox carts are also nobles in gorgeous clothes and crowns.

But now, there was only one man and one horse coming towards the military camp.

Because of the darkness they could not see the face of the person coming, but Watanabe Tsuna felt a strong aura from the black shadow rushing towards them.

Several others also realized that something was wrong.

All those present were brave warriors who had conquered countless battlefields, yet their hands, feet and bodies were actually shaking, which was the so-called "warrior shock".

Could it be... an enemy attack?

The Four Heavenly Kings looked at each other in silence, then tacitly drew out their swords, axes, spears, and bows at the same time and displayed their weapons.

Although Raikou was the invincible and strongest samurai of Heian, the Four Heavenly Kings, who were his retainers, decisively came to Raikou and protected the general behind them.

After all, they are now in the enemy's hinterland, at the foot of Mount Dajiang, and they cannot afford to be careless at this moment.

Watanabe Tsuna shouted to the figure in the distance: "Stop here! Don't go any further! Stop!"

There was no sign of slowing down, and the sound of horse hooves trampling the ground was getting closer and closer.

"If you don't stop, I'll have to launch an attack!"

The Four Heavenly Kings issued an ultimatum.

However, he was ignored by the other party again.

“There is nothing I can do.”

Everyone took a deep breath, tightened their grip on their weapons, and poured their strength into them.

The Four Heavenly Kings of Raiko are ready to attack.

"Wait! Don't attack!"

The majestic female voice echoed across the wilderness.

Minamoto no Raikou stopped the Four Heavenly Kings.

"That figure...gives me a very familiar feeling..."

She looked from afar and the figure on horseback gradually emerged.

"what!"

Then, I finally saw the face of the person who came.

The tension on the female warrior disappeared, and a beautiful smile as bright as a flower bloomed on her face.

"Lord of Light! Wow, it's Lord of Light!"

Minamoto no Yorimitsu glanced at the Four Heavenly Kings and shouted, "Put away your weapons! The one who came... the special envoy of His Majesty the Emperor is the Lord of Light!

Lord of Light~~~It's Mommy~~~Mommy is here~~~Lord of Light"

Raikou waved his arms gleefully at the other man.

"..."

Seeing this, the Four Heavenly Kings showed surprised expressions and retracted their weapons. At this time, Rhodes also came in front of everyone.

……

……

……

Rhodes took a look at the team that came out from the main camp to greet him, hesitated for a moment and decided to dismount first.

Although I am the Emperor's messenger, there is no need to act so high and mighty.

After returning to the ground, the young man said: "Everyone, I am here to serve the Emperor..."

"Lord of Light!"

Minamoto no Raikou excitedly opened his arms and rushed over, ignoring the gazes of his subordinates around him, and stuffed the boy's face into his tolerant arms.

Ah... I should have stayed on the horse just now, the young man thought secretly.

"Long time no see, Raikou." Rhodes patted her on the back.

"Long time no see, Lord of Light!"

Minamoto no Raikou rubbed his face against Rhode's hair and breathed in his breath as he said, "Recently, Mom has been busy fighting monsters in various places and has no time to accompany the Lord of Light... I really miss you."

"I am the same. Sometimes when I pass by Genji's residence, the servants always say that you are not in the capital. I feel a little lonely too."

“Really? Is the Lord of Light thinking about his mother too? Wow, I’m so happy! I’m so happy that I’m about to cry wow wow wow wow wow…”

"Um, Raikou, can you please let me go first?"

Rhode whispered, "Let's save this kind of thing for when there are only two of us left."

Raikou finally let him go, and at the same time, his neat face was flushed with a delicate blush.

“Hehehe… Lord Light is a shy child, there’s really nothing I can do about you.

Got it, Mom will listen to you, just be patient for now~"

Raikou said with a smile.

"Since the Lord of Light is staying in the military camp tonight, there is still plenty of time... It's just right, let your mother accompany you to sleep tonight!"

Afterwards, the Four Heavenly Kings of Raiko came to Rhodes and apologized for their hostile behavior. Rhodes waved his hand magnanimously and said, "You are all very loyal warriors. You did nothing wrong. Don't take it to heart."

But the Four Heavenly Kings still looked at the boy with great confusion. They could not understand why this boy was the special envoy sent by the Emperor.

The Four Heavenly Kings only knew that Lord Genji had a close relationship with the admiral, but they did not know that he was already a favorite of the emperor.

Unlike Raikou who was completely unprepared, the Four Heavenly Kings maintained a certain degree of vigilance towards Rhodes.

But there was one exception.

"Hey! Long time no see! Guang-ge!"

Jin Shi ran over and put his arm around Rhodes' shoulders: "Have you grown taller recently?"

"Jin Shi, are you looking for trouble?" Rhodes said with a smile.

You are the first person who dares to make fun of my height... After not seeing you for a few days, Jinshi, you have become very brave.

"No, no, no, I'm super serious! Guang brother seems to have grown a little taller than when I first met you a year ago!"

Jintoki said this seriously, then looked at Raikou: "Right, Boss Raikou."

Lai Guang frowned slightly, pinched his chin and looked at Rhode for a while before confirming: "If you put it that way, it seems to be true...

Hmm! Lord of Light has grown a little taller than when I saw him half a month ago, about one hundredth of a foot."

"Your 'point' is too precise! It's scary!" Rhodes complained.

"Hehehe... Even if the Lord of Light changes by only a millimeter [one thousandth of an inch], mother will notice it."

Led by Raikou, Rod walked towards the main camp.

"This is a rare opportunity. Let me cook dinner for you tonight, okay?"

Rhodes said: "Isn't it still a wartime situation? Isn't this a bad idea?"

Lai Guang said: "It's okay, I'm just borrowing the logistics hut... Actually, I've been practicing cooking during my work breaks recently, including Chinese cuisine and Tang snacks that Guang Zhijun likes.

Um, um, if possible... could you please taste it and see if it suits your taste?"

"No problem. I'll leave it to you, Raikou."

"Just leave it to mom! Woohoo... I'm so happy! By the way, is there anything in particular that Light-kun would like to eat?"

Minamoto no Raikou hugged Rod's arm, crying and laughing, talking with a happy face.

Seeing this scene, the Four Heavenly Kings were all shocked.

This was the first time they saw the general with such an expression.

Rather than saying it is a manifestation of overflowing maternal love, it is more like a girl in love.

The loving eyes, the bright smile, the gentle expression of someone listening attentively to what the other person is saying, the ingratiating attitude of trying one's best to please the boy.

All of the above is difficult to associate with the ruthless final weapon of the Genji.

This is a new side of Minamoto no Raikou that the Four Heavenly Kings have never seen before.