Volume 2
Side Story 3
Singing "Tōryanse" at the
Narrow Passage in the Twilight
Translator : PolterGlast
"―Did you find
Akira-sama!?"
"............Yes,
most likely."
Kaede's voice echoed
with excitement at the good news that finally came in the branch manager's
office of Chidjiwa Lumber Company.
However, Sonomi, who
brought back the information, only gave an ambiguous affirmative answer with a
weary expression on her face.
"Sonomi-san, you
went to visit the upper-class junior high school, right? Did you find his trace
there?"
If so, that's a step
or two forward.
After all, they could
definitely trace his whereabouts immediately before he left.
For both of them, this
could not have been better news.
However, Sonomi shook
her head helplessly and denied Kaede's expectations.
"Then, is it in
an upper-class elementary school?"
"............ Not
exactly the case. I found it at the ordinary elementary school located at the
foot of Mt. Rengyo."
"―Eh?"
The answer was
unexpected, and Kaede's expression hardened into a stiff one.
――――――――――――――――
Even though it was
quiet during the summer vacation, the gate of the ordinary elementary school
was fortunately open.
The reason for this
was that even though there were no children to be seen due to the vacation, it
did not mean that the teachers were relieved of their jobs.
More than half of the
teachers were present for some kind of work, and it was Somomi's good fortune
that among them was the teacher who used to be Akira's homeroom teacher four
years ago.
"Akira-kun, you
ask? ―Yes. I remember him. He was a very intelligent child. He seemed to have
studied to a very advanced level and was very good at exercising his body.
......"
The middle-aged,
good-natured female teacher nodded repeatedly as she responded, and Sonomi
jumped up and down with glee.
"That's him! Can
I see the records?"
"'There are
indeed some records, but they're from three years ago, so it'll take some time
to find them."
"Three years ago?
... No way, didn't he graduate last year? As long as you have the most recent
records, that would be fine."
The female teacher
shook her head with a dubious expression at Sonomi's request.
"The most recent
one is three years ago. ―Akira-kun dropped out of school midway through."
――――――――――――――――
"...... Pardon
me!?"
Kaede's eyebrows
furrowed as the report went in the opposite direction of what she had expected.
Sonomi, who had
already gotten over the same emotion, proceeded with her report without waiting
for Kaede's reaction.
"......I've
extracted all the information about the child who dropped out of school three
years ago.
His name was Fuwa
Akira.
His guardian was Fuwa
Naotoshi, a member of a noble family in the Eastern Kabeju, who was married off
to Ugetsu as his son-in-law.
The teacher explained
that Fuwa Akira was the child of a distant relative of a wealthy farmer, and
that he was placed in their custody for a reason.
"............
Wait, wait-wait. I don't understand. Fuwa of Kabeju Province, you say? One of
the Eight Families?"
Shocked by the name,
which she had not even expected, Kaede fell back on the couch.
"Why would such a
person come here? Is he on a business trip?"
"............
That's not surprising. It was quite a topic of conversation that a direct
descendant of Fuwa was married off to a relative of Ugetsu. But the problem is
that Akira-sama was surnamed Fuwa."
Although ordinary
elementary schools are attended by commoners, they are often attended by those
who come from noble families.
Many were sent by
fallen noblemen or children who had problems attending upper-class elementary
schools, and in those cases, they were often given either their subordinates or
fictitious surnames.
―In other words, Ugetsu had at least deemed that Akira
was unqualified to be a Ugetsu by the time he entered elementary school.
No, there is another
possibility.
"............
They might have colluded with Fuwa and sold Akira-sama to Kabeju
Province."
With an uncertain
future in sight, Kaede took a leap of logic and came up with a conspiracy
theory, but Sonomi shook her head and denied it.
"I wouldn't go so
far as to say that it's impossible, but I don't think it's likely.
―The Fuwa of Kabeju Province is the family that gave
birth to Kanna-no-Mikura which caused the civil war 400 years ago. I'm sure
they'll be more careful than others when it comes to Kanna-no-Mikura. ...... And
I think the same is true for Ugetsu. There is no price that is equivalent to
Kanna-no-Mikura, and what does it bring to them by selling out their own
future?"
Even if the scheme to
sell Akira to Kabeju succeeded, there was no way that Gioin would simply back
down.
If all that remained
was Ugetsu, who had lost their insurance in the form of Akira, the punishment
would be so severe that they would have to be prepared to have their heads cut
off.
―If so,
"If we simply
look at the evidence, it seems that Ugetsu disliked Akira-sama. At the very
least, they did not recognize him as their direct descendant."
"But, why?"
Kaede replied to
Sonomi's conclusion with a roundabout question.
It can't be helped. In
the end, it all went back to that.
"........................I
have no idea. That's exactly why I came back here, expecting some information
from Kaede-san. Did you find any information on your part?"
"I'm sorry.
Nothing helpful here...... A~a, but there is one piece of information that I'm
curious about."
The information about
the banquet that Ugetsu was hosting caused a furrow to appear between Sonomi's
brows.
"A banquet? At a
time like this?"
"Yes. According
to the branch manager, the scale of the banquet is quite large for a private
event."
"I would like to
know the reason. If today's report is not satisfactory to Shizumi-sama, I
thought that a little bit of forceful measures could be an option."
"―I knew you
would say so, that's why I already asked the branch manager if we could sneak
in."
"As expected of
Kaede-san. But I think it would be better for us to refrain from doing so,
given the possibility of us being found out."
The two of them, who
often appear in public as Shizumi's close confidants, are not suited for
undercover work.
Although it would be a
heavy responsibility, it would be appropriate to have the branch manager step
forward.
Kaede turned her mischievous
gaze on Sonomi, who mumbled something boring.
"Ara~. I thought
you were going to invite me for a little more extreme activities."
"............Wanna
do it then?"
Realizing what they
were about to engage in, Sonomi met Kaede's gaze in a probing manner.
If they succeed, they
will be able to obtain information of an unprecedented level of freshness and
certainty.
However, if something
were to happen, regardless of whether it succeeded or failed, they would have
to quickly escape from the Samidare territory.
Since they were
ordered to remain covert, they had to avoid this as much as possible.
"Yeah. ―In any
case, even if we persisted any longer, the amount of information we could
obtain would be limited. If so, taking a gamble is worth a try, isn't it?"
"―Indeed. I won't
deny it."
"As expected of
Sonomi-sani. You're very reliable."
Kaede grinned as she
clapped her palms together.
"Shall we choose
a gentleman with whom to play with?"
*Fwump*. A document
listing people's names was spread out on the table.
In it, one could find
the names of Ugetsu's retainers, listed in order of rank.
"...... Ideally,
it would be easier to start from the bottom of the list. Their ability is
mediocre, but their ambition is greater than anyone else's. ―Kaede-san, how
many people would be good enough for you?"
"Although we are
relying on our spiritual power, three of us can persevere in a battle of
endurance. What's your opinion, Sonomi-san?"
"You know me,
don't you? When it comes to water technique, such a retainer would be no match
for me."
"Prove it to me
with your skill. Now, it will be your obstacle, and you should eliminate
it."
Kaede's provocative
words were met with a nod of affirmation from Sonomi, who showed no sign of
agitation.
The two's words
unexpectedly overlapped as they picked out a suitable person from the list of
names.
""Well then,
let's decide where we'll do it.""
――――――――――――――――
―Three days later, at midnight.
Kanou Housuke, a
retainer of Ugetsu, was on his way home from a banquet held at Ugetsu, in a
buoyant mood after spending a little too much time drinking.
Amid the chirping of
summer insects, the light of a lantern illuminated his steps as he walked along
the footpath between rice paddies at dusk, with only rice fields on either
side.
"Kanou-sama, you
sure spent an unusually long time enjoying sake."
"Ha, haha. As a
loyal retainer of Ugetsu, I don't like to show this side of me to my
colleagues."
He responded with a
wry smile to the half-teasing banter from his subordinates who had also
attended the banquet.
In fact, Kanou did not
usually enjoy drinking, but today's banquet was special.
After all, the
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs had finally approved Ugetsu Souma as the
legitimate heir, something that had been a matter of concern to him for several
years.
"The Lord must be
relieved of some of his burdens now. ...... That pseudo-Kegare was so
persistent clinging on to us like a stain."
"You could say
that again, sir!"
Kanou comfortably
nodded his head at his subordinates' blatant follow-up.
Not only Kanou, but
there was no doubt a considerable number of his subordinates who were relieved.
As for Akira's
banishment three years ago, there were a small but significant number of people
in Ugetsu who expressed great disapproval about it.
The first to express
particular opposition was Fuwa Naotoshi.
Although he married
into the Ugetsu family, he was not allowed to call himself Ugetsu, but he was
still a direct descendant of the eight families, and even Ugetsu Tenzan had to
be cautious about him.
Besides that, there
were some of the vassals who had not yet decided on a definite stance, out of
consideration for Gioin, so there was a time when Ugetsu Tenzan could not take
a forceful stance.
Under such obscure
circumstances, Kanou and other low-ranking vassals moved quickly to get rid of
Akira.
They actively engaged
in private punishment during Akira's training in swordsmanship, and they showed
their unrelenting cooperation in spreading bad reputation.
Kanou and the others'
concern was not based on their consideration for Ugetsu.
If Akira were to come
of age as he was, unable to become the head of the family, he would be reduced
to an associate member of the family.
In such a case,
Akira's position would prioritized in order to maintain Ugetsu's prestige. In
other words, there would be a possibility that the ranks of Ugetsu's vassals
would be lowered one by one from the top.
The maximum number of
seats available for Ugetsu vassals is 12. If Akira were to step down, a battle
for the chair among the vassals would ensue.
A mere pseudo-Kegare
who did not possess a spirit, and who was below the level of an ordinary person
without ability.
The low-ranked vassals
were outraged because they did not want to have to fight a power struggle under
such a person in order to kick others down the ladder.
As long as Akira
survived, this danger would always befall them.
The news of Akira's
death was good news for them as well as for Ugetsu Tenzan.
"Phew.
Sakou-dono. I can see that you are feeling good about the news as well. It was
worth my while to join early to get rid of that thing. Thanks to it, I received
a word of praise from the Lord."
"Kanou-sama sure
is a man who is quick to see an opportunity."
"Ha-ha-ha."
The flattery of the
subordinates becomes pleasant now after having had a few drinks.
Yes. Kanou was in a
good mood.
Kanou's rank is 10th.
As a result, he felt dissatisfied with the fact that he had been a vassal for
so long, and yet he was still a low-ranking vassal.
Therefore, Kanou was
secretly aiming to move up the ranks by taking advantage of being among the
first to eliminate Akira.
―No, not yet! My time is still yet to come!
Fueled by alcohol and
burning with ambition, he took a step forward, his feet illuminated by the
lanterns,
―Then, he stopped when he noticed something standing
beyond his dark vision without a light.
''Hmm." "Who
are you?''
His men also stopped
in bewilderment.
It was difficult to
catch a glimpse of the appearance of the person, as s/he was standing behind
unlit darkness.
The only thing that
Kanou and the others could distinguish was that the person was holding a
naginata as tall as s/he was.
Kanou and the others
wore a serious atmosphere because of their opponent's appearance, which seemed
to be somewhat suspicious.
"Kanou-sama."
"Umu. ―Answer me,
who are you!? Do you know who I am!?"
His sharp tongue that
seemed to split the night air still failed to upset the other party.
Not only that, the
person shook his or her shoulders slightly, giving a hint of mockery.
"A woman,
huh?"
From the sound of her
chuckle, the men involuntarily let their guard down as they realized that they
were dealing with a young woman.
However, the next
words that came back to them made everyone freeze.
"Yes, yes. Of
course, I do this fully aware of what I'm doing. Ugetsu's vassal, 10th-ranked,
Kanou-dono. --I would like to ask for your guidance on a single move."
"~! What a rude
lass!" "You bastard!"
Hearing the blatant
taunts contained in the woman's words, all of Kanou's subordinates suddenly
became pale.
Without any delay,
they pulled out their spirit vessels from their waists, and a tense atmosphere
prevailed.
"...... A female
robber, huh? I never thought that in this day and age, there would be people
who would resort to such foolishness."
"You must be very
confident of yourself, huh?"
The hot-blooded young
man was easily agitated by the woman's words, but Kanou and the two old-timers
calmly checked out the situation.
Although they didn't
know the identity of the other party, she must have a certain amount of
confidence in her abilities since she decided to engage in such an aggressive
maneuver.
A rather wide path,
flanked by rice paddies on both sides.
If they stepped into a
rice field filled with water, they would surely get their feet caught in the mud.
It was as if they were
lured into a narrow passage with no place to escape.
Glace. They checked
behind them.
―As I expected, another woman was standing there
blocking their way out before they knew it.
She already had her
tachi at the ready and was ready to fight.
Not only that, but one
could see a glimmer of spiritual power rising from her tachi.
They were good at
choosing the right place and the right time to attack.
Although slightly
naive, they were able to silently convey their skills through the seamless
nature of their stance, which belies their fake carelessness.
This is not
good.
Kanou gritted his
teeth inwardly.
He could only guess
from the way they behaved that they were equal to or better than his
subordinates.
It was impossible to
guarantee a sure win.
If so, what
should we do? Kanou stopped his drunken thoughts and quickly organized his forces.
"Yoshinaga,
Komaki, and Hatano. Work together and keep the naginata user at bay. Yanagi,
you handle the tachi user behind us."
"""Yes,
sir!"""
"As soon as I
sober up after activating my spiritual power, I'll crush the tachi user. ......
They are at least as good as you guys. Don't fall behind!"
"""Understood!"""
Everyone's voices
overlapped in high spirits.
Their fighting spirits
swirled around the area.
―In response to their slow response, the
naginata-wielding woman shrugged her shoulders.
The lanterns were
tossed to the side of the rice paddies and set ablaze, leaving a bright glow
over the area.
Following that, the
sound of several slashing strikes colored the corner where the sun was setting.
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