Chronicles of the Great Tiger Kingdom: The Legend of Kasen
The Crossbow of the Tiger, Kasen Shuri. The youngest of Fuuga’s commanders and an expert bowman who led the mounted archers. Because he was a celestial like Fuuga, and that they had all known each other for a long time, Fuuga and Shuukin treated him like a little brother. He had the potential to become a wise and powerful commander like Shuukin, but the other commanders treated him like he was still not fully one of them yet.
On the night of the banquet after they finished defending the Duchy of Chima from the threat of the demon wave, he was grumbling to Tomoe and Ichiha for some reason...
“Lord Fuuga and Lord Shuukin still treat me like I’m just a kid. I lead the mounted archers, you know? It sets a poor example for the men.”
“R-Right...”
“I-I see.”
Tomoe and Ichiha smiled politely and nodded along as Kasen complained, his face perhaps a little red from drinking. The people invited to this event were all important figures from other countries, so the average age was on the higher end. It was only natural that the younger guests would cluster together, and that’s how Tomoe and Ichiha had been caught by Kasen.
“Pwah! Besides, I’m in a boring position,” Kasen grumbled, knocking back his drink. “I’m confident in my ability to shoot while riding a horse or temsbock. But Lord Fuuga’s a powerful archer himself, and if our feet are on the ground, he’s better than me. And when we’re mounted, he rides that super strong mystery tiger, Durga, which puts him on another level entirely from other mounted archers.”
“Yeah...you’re right, Yuriga’s brother did seem strong,” Ichiha said. Kasen nodded emphatically.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s it. I’m no match for Lord Fuuga martially, so I try my best in other ways. But we’ve got a lot of really distinct guys around. Sir Shuukin is both wise and brave, and I can’t compete with Sir Gaifuku’s experience. And Sir Moumei looks like a berserker but is actually a learned man. It’s not fair. I could try to stand out on the battlefield, but with a guy as showy as Gaten around, I’ll always be plain by comparison.”
“They sure are a lot of different people in Malmkhitan, huh?” Tomoe said, sounding impressed. Having seen the way Souma obsessed about finding talented people to recruit, Tomoe could see how many capable people were gathered around Fuuga, even if their talents were slanted towards the military side of things.
Kasen let out a long sigh. “Well... If there’s one thing we’re missing, it’s a strategist or a military advisor, but honestly, I’m not cut out for that kind of scheming... I just want to find some way to make myself useful, have a little more presence, and stop being treated like everyone’s little brother...”
Tomoe cocked her head to the side. “Is being treated like a little brother so bad?”
“Huh?”
“I was adopted by the former king and queen and became Big Sister Liscia’s stepsister, which also makes me her future husband’s sister-in-law. She and Big Brother Souma both treat me like a little sister, and so do big brother’s other fiancées. It makes me happy, and I don’t think I deserve it, but...I’ve never been upset about it,” Tomoe explained, and this time it was Ichiha’s turn to nod.
“I’m the youngest of eight brothers and sisters, and I get bullied by two of my older brothers for being weak. It’s only Big Sister Mutsumi who’s nice to me. I’m their real sibling and they treat me like this, so maybe you should just be glad everyone doesn’t mistreat you.”
“Urkh...” Kasen was unsure how to follow up Ichiha’s story, which was heavier than he’d expected. “Uh...sorry. I guess you’ve got it hard too, huh?”
“Ichiha...”
“Ah ha ha... I’m already used to it. And besides...” Ichiha smiled at Tomoe. “I’ve met people who recognize me for who I am now. I’m going to try to do my best in a new environment from here on.”
“Yeah! That’s right, Ichiha!” Tomoe grinned at Ichiha’s positive attitude.
“Ohh...you’re such good kids.” Kasen cried manly tears as he watched the two of them. “I’m embarrassed at myself for having complained.”
“Oh, no, please don’t cry.”
“Um, um, um...” Kasen raised a glass to the two of them as they got all flustered. “I’m going to do my best where I am now, just like you both! I’ll strive to make Lord Fuuga and all the others I respect recognize me not as a little brother, but as a man!”
“G-Good luck with that.”
“We’ll be cheering for you!”
Ichiha and Tomoe offered words of encouragement as Kasen knocked back his drink again, tears streaming down his face.
“What’re you guys doing...?”
This went on until Yuriga came along and exasperatedly put an end to it.
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