When the White Snake Sage described Ren as "very, very, very interesting," the image Tainoshin-jō and the other sages formed in their minds was simple:
A young man—still somewhat immature—yet overflowing with potential, someone whose future felt limitless.
It was strange that Manda had brought him back. After all, even among Ryūchi Cave's ferocious summon snakes, Manda's temperament sat firmly at the very bottom of the barrel.
But if he could earn that kind of praise from the White Snake Sage, then perhaps he possessed a rare sort of audacity—something others lacked—that made even Manda bend.
That thought persisted until the moment they actually saw him.
Ren stood relaxed atop Manda's head, as if riding him like a mount.
And even more shamelessly, he was directing Manda forward like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Tainoshin-jō, Tagitsuhime, and Ichikishimahime fell into a long, heavy silence.
They were high-ranking sages who had achieved human form, attendants allowed to serve beside the White Snake Sage.
But in pure combat ability, Manda was stronger than any of them.
Which meant—
If Manda now looked battered, subdued, and obedient, then the young man sitting on his head was almost certainly the one who had beaten him into submission.
A monster that strong, and that young…
Did he really need to be tested by them?
"Mm?"
Sensing the three sages nearby, Manda halted, head tilting in confusion.
"Tainoshin-jō. Tagitsuhime. Ichikishimahime."
He hissed, voice low.
"What are you three doing? Why are you blocking my path all of a sudden?"
"Watch your words, Manda." Tainoshin-jō frowned. "You brought a human back to Ryūchi Cave, and you don't seem intent on eating him. So why we're here—shouldn't it be obvious?"
"Human?" Manda's face twisted into an almost comically human look of disbelief. He lowered his head until he was inches from Tainoshin-jō and roared.
"You're calling the thing on my head a human!? The White Snake Sage actually told you three to test whether that monster is qualified to learn senjutsu? Has the old hag finally lost her mind, or gone blind!? How can she do something this ridiculous!?"
Ichikishimahime had been about to scold Manda for his insolence—
Until Ren, who had been resting with eyes closed, hopped down from Manda's head and walked toward her.
Then he extended his hand.
The instant she took it, Ichikishimahime understood.
She finally understood why even a creature as vile-tempered as Manda was behaving like a docile pet.
Because the life force and chakra pouring from Ren's body—
To a sage sensitive to energy—
Was like staring into the sun.
So bright it felt as if it would scorch the eyes of anyone foolish enough to look directly.
"Kaguya Ren," Ren greeted, voice smooth. "A seeker of the natural energy that permeates all things."
He looked at the three women, polite enough—yet his presence itself felt like a pressure.
"How should I address the three of you?"
"I am Ichikishimahime," she replied quickly, forcing her tone steady. "These two are Tainoshin-jō and Tagitsuhime."
"We are sages who serve beside the White Snake Sage, and we have come—by her will—to conduct the trial for those who seek Ryūchi Cave's senjutsu."
Even as she spoke, Ichikishimahime instinctively maintained her transformation technique at its most flawless state. To Ren's eyes, she looked no different from a human woman.
"Oh?" Ren's brows rose slightly as he studied their appearances. "So Ryūchi Cave has sages in human form?"
His interest brightened.
"Honestly, that's a pleasant surprise."
He nodded as if confirming something to himself.
Choosing Ryūchi Cave instead of Myōboku's prophecy and toad sages…
It was proving to be an excellent decision.
At the very least, the fact that Ryūchi Cave sages could maintain elegant human forms at high levels—
Already put them far above a sanctuary where the main cast were toads.
"So, three sages," Ren said, voice calm, "can the trial begin now?"
"I'm quite curious about Ryūchi Cave's senjutsu."
The three sages exchanged glances.
In each other's eyes, they found the same difficulty.
Tainoshin-jō's trial was meant for exhausted travelers who had chased rumors of Ryūchi Cave until they were starving and drained. She would offer food, and if the trial-taker ate, they would fail—body and chakra becoming her meal.
But Ren had come here via summoning contract.
He hadn't walked through hell.
He wasn't hungry.
No matter how real Tainoshin-jō's illusions were, they couldn't force an already-fed man to feel desperate starvation.
The others faced similar issues.
Ichikishimahime's trial involved draining the candidate's chakra while forcing them to search a cave for crystals to fill a wall's missing slots—a test of analysis under pressure.
But Ren's chakra reserves were so absurdly vast, and his recovery so strong, that even if she drained him for an entire day, at most he'd feel mildly burdened.
What pressure could that create?
As for Tagitsuhime—mind illusions and "heart questioning"—
Would it truly work on a genius who, at fifteen, already had the power to contend for a Kage seat, and who had self-taught fragments of senjutsu?
After a brief, quiet discussion, the three sages turned back and smiled.
"We have discussed Ren-sama's situation," Tainoshin-jō said gently, "and all agree that one who has made Manda submit already possesses the qualities to pass every trial."
"Therefore, we will cancel the meaningless trials."
"Ren-sama only needs to follow us and proceed directly to meet the White Snake Sage."
Ren's gaze flicked toward Manda with visible disdain.
Manda looked away, pretending not to see.
"Ren-sama?"
"Mm. I'm coming."
Ren strode to them without hesitation and followed the three sages deeper into Ryūchi Cave.
Only after they vanished completely did Manda finally unleash the emotion he had been forcing down.
He slammed his tail against the ground and howled with unrestrained laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Tainoshin-jō! Tagitsuhime! Ichikishimahime!"
"You idiots always love putting on that superior act in front of humans, don't you? You love suddenly showing your snake faces just to drink in their fear and terror like it's entertainment!"
"So why didn't any of you dare do it this time?"
"Why were you all trying so hard to keep your transformation techniques perfect?"
"And you even dared look at me with mocking eyes…"
Manda's laughter grew cruel.
"In front of Kaguya Ren—the monster wearing human skin—weren't you the same?"
"Cowards who didn't even have the guts to start the trial!"
"Hah…"
"Just wait. I'm spreading this across all of Ryūchi Cave."
"I'll make sure every snake knows exactly how pathetic you three looked!"
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