Volume 2
Side Story 7
Torn by
Drizzle, Weeping in the Dawn 1
Translator : PolterGlast
―Before mid-August, in Kokuten Province, the Capital
City of Nanatsuo.
In the midst of a
light drizzle, Ugetsu Tenzan and his eldest son, Souma, settled down at the
Ugetsu villa in Nanatsuo, which is located at the periphery of Gioin, just as
darkness was fast approaching.
"―Behold,
Souma."
"Yes."
Tenzan, who had
summoned Souma to the hall where he could view the scenery after finishing a
more luxurious dinner than usual, proudly pointed to the hillside of Mt. Reimei
shrouded in the haze of evening darkness and rain.
"I have brought
you to this mansion several times, so as you probably already know, that is Mt.
Reimei. That's the residence of the Gioin, to whom we, the Ugetsu, owe our loyalty.
It is also the
residence of the one to whom you must devote yourself as a spouse.
―It will be a harsh future. Are you prepared?"
"Yes, I am fully
aware of it!"
Soma's lively reply
showed not a trace of hesitation about his future.
Tenzan, too, was
pleased to hear his son's mission-driven response, and he nodded his head in
satisfaction.
He is proud of his
only son.
It has been so since
he was a senior elementary school student, and even now that he has entered the
middle school of Tenryo Academy, he shows no signs of losing his reputation in
terms of both his literary and military skills.
No. Instead of
dimming, his brilliance seems to be growing.
Especially in the
talent to lead others, Souma's talent is said to be in a league of its own
compared to others of the same age.
The fact that he was
selected as the top student at the middle school with a higher grade than the
second place or lower helped to deepen Tenzan's confidence.
"......I felt
sorry for the trouble I put Sanae through.
Since we cannot
completely vacate the territory, I had to ask her to stay in Haraku, but I wish
I could have shown her this scene at least once."
"I believe Mother
is fully understand.
I made sure she saw me
before I departed, and I am sure she has no regrets."
His heart warmed as he
nodded several times at Souma's comforting words.
Sanae is a woman who
was pregnant with a defective pseudo-kegare. The fact that there had been so
much criticism and negative opinions from the maternal family, as well as from
the retainers, was more heartbreaking than anything else for Tenzan.
Right after she gave
birth to that thing, she was so distraught to the point of frenzy, so it was
understandable how much she doted on Souma.
Although Tenzan was
worried that his mother's excessive expectations might crush him, Souma lived
up to her expectations well enough.
Finally, negotiations
with the authorities and the approval of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs
were completed the other day.
All that remained was
to have Souma recognized as Ugetsu's legitimate heir and their marriage
officially accepted by Gioin, which Tenzan believed would be smooth sailing.
Because, although
replacing a legitimate heir is considered a scandalous practice, it is
surprisingly common among all noble families.
It is not guaranteed
that the first-born son will be outstanding. Therefore, nipping in the bud the
seeds that are not excellent is a responsibility and a consideration for future
generations.
Hence, the formality
of the marriage agreement is that the name of the individual is not to be
included in the form, but instead their relationship.
As long as the
person's name is not clearly stated, it is common knowledge among the nobility
that, surprisingly, the authenticity of the person in question will not be
questioned.
In that sense, the
timing of his death was perfect, albeit just barely. Tenzan praised Akira in
the corner of his mind, acknowledging that he could at least appreciate this.
Tenzan's deception in
response to Gioin's request had reached its limit, and his mind had been driven
to the point where he would eventually have to burn down the village of the
mountain dwellers where Akira might be living in hiding in order to eliminate
Akira.
"Hm, I suppose
so.
...... Shizumi-sama is
a kind person. I'm sure she will understand my decision to banish that filthy
imitation, but I'm sure she will mourn its death as well.
―Souma. Once she accepts you as her spouse, you must
sincerely offer your consolation to Shizumi-sama's grief."
"Yes. I will take
Father's words to heart and serve the Gioin family."
Tenzan felt a heat
rising in the depths of his eyes as he listened to his son's reliable response.
However, he kept his
mouth shut, perhaps out of embarrassment, and returned a nod of the head to
cover up the heat in his eyelids.
"My Lord. The
promised guests have arrived."
"I see. I'll be
on my way. Please let them wait for me in the reception hall.
―The people you are about to meet are those who have
worked so hard to make you the head of the family.
After your generation,
the Ugetsu family will continue to be associated with them for many years to
come. This may be a good opportunity for you to meet them, and you may share a
seat with them."
Tenzan, who had been
enjoying a pleasant chat with Souma for a while, responded to the news from one
of the female attendants at the end of the outer corridor.
Even though he may
have acknowledged Souma as his legitimate heir, Tenzan had never allowed Souma
to accompany him to important private meetings until now.
However, now that he
is about to become Gioin's consort, which he had hoped for for a long time
despite never expressing it, Tenzan has decided to have Souma attend this
meeting, considering his future.
To think that his
father, the head of the prestigious Ugetsu family, would be so attentive, the
people he was about to meet must be people of great importance.
Tenzan left the room
with Souma, who was tense and nervous, at his back.
"It keeps
drizzling, doesn't it?"
"The weather in
Nanatsuo has been unpredictable over the past few days......"
The reception hall is
basically a room used for pleasantries with close friends and acquaintances.
As Souma approached
the room, despite his nervousness, he noticed that the tone of the conversation
was friendly and calm.
"Sorry to keep
you waiting, Ijitsu-dono, Mikuriya-dono."
"No, it's
likewise.
I feel bad for
interrupting the conversation between a father and son who are about to embark
on a great endeavor.
Is everything ready
now?"
"Haha, this is
not the end, you know? There will be many opportunities to come."
*Clatter*. When Tenzan
opened the wooden sliding door leading to the reception hall, a soft orange
light illuminated the room and two men over the age of 20 stopped their
conversation and looked at Tenzan.
In the damp, humid
room typical of light summer rain, Tenzan and the two men each faced each other
across the table.
"Now then, allow
me to apologize for taking up so much of your busy time.
This will be the first
time for you to meet my eldest son, Souma.
―Souma. This is Ijitsu Gyouken-dono, who is a member of
the provincial council. And this is Mikuriya Hirotada-dono, a member of the
Central Province nobility, as well as the elder brother of your mother,
Sanae."
"I am Ugetsu
Souma, officially recognized as a legitimate heir of the Ugetsu family by the
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs the other day.
Pleased to meet you,
Ijitsu-sama and Mikuriya-sama."
"Ou. I have
visited your father and requested to meet with you many times, and he finally
agreed.
―You speak very well for your age, Ugetsu-dono must be
greatly relieved."
The letters my sister
sometimes sends me contain nothing but boastful stories about you. To be
honest, for me, it doesn't feel like it's the first time we've met.
But you are such a
young warrior. My sister must be pleased with Souma-kun's growth."
"I feel
embarrassed of your praise."
The three, Tenzan and
the others, looked at Souma, whose cheeks were flushed with red from the embarrassment
of being praised, in a hopeful and smiling manner.
Tenzan and the two's
relationship dates back quite a considerable number of years.
Mikuriya Hirotada has
been a friend of Tenzan's for many years, even before Tenzan's reign, and
Tenzan's relationship with Ijitsu Gyouken, dated back to when he was struggling
to solidify his position as a councilor, was formed through Mikuriya's
introduction.
Although they each
pursued their own goals, their objectives never conflicted with each other,
which was probably a good thing in the end.
The relationship
between the three of them has been nurtured peacefully without any major
disruptions.
"Ijitsu-dono, I
heard that you are going to run for the representative election for the
provincial council soon, who will be your opponents?"
"Rikiyama,
Nishina ....... There are signs that those people are going to campaign.
Although their
abilities are comparable to mine, they are leading figures who have supported
the Congress for a long time.
I cannot let my guard
down."
"If you need our
help, let us know.
I would like to repay
you for all the hard work you did for me when that thing was born."
"That would be
very helpful. When the time comes, by all means."
"Hahaha. What a
sneaky move, Ugetsu-dono.
Do not forget that
this Mikuriya Hirotada is also behind you."
"Of course, of
course.
I am grateful to you,
Mikuriya-dono."
Even in the midst of
their friendly banter, they tried to guess what the other party wanted and
interjected a hand every now and then.
Have you guessed the
relationship between the Ugetsu family and the two of them? Tenzan glanced at
Souma, but was relieved to see no sign of confusion on his face.
The fact that an
abominable child without a spirit was born into the Ugetsu family was a stain
that could never be disclosed, not only to Gioin, but also to the surrounding
people.
However, Tenzan
understood that even though he was a member of one of the eight families, he
did not have the authority to erase an individual who had been registered with
the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and who had even been desired by the Gioin
family.
For this reason,
Tenzan asked for outside help from both Ijitsu and Mikuriya.
To have Ugetsu's
reputation tarnished could have been fatal to both Ijitsu, with whom he had
developed a close relationship, and Mikuriya, with whom he had formed a
marriage relationship.
Therefore, they were
helping Tenzan behind the scenes to make sure that Akira's existence was not
noticed by the others, as well as the fact that Akira's true nature would not
be revealed to Gioin.
Sometimes, they would
delay their response to Gioin, and at other times, they would keep the contact
between Gioin and Akira to a minimum.
They acted to keep
Akira out of the public eye in their interactions with other families, and
actively promoted Souma so that he would stand out.
Thanks to them, Tenzan
was able to make it this far.
Tenzan was deeply
moved and leaned his back against the back of the comfy chair in which he was
sitting.
If one were to ask
whether he could have done such a reckless thing without the help of Ijitsu
Gyouken, who had extensive experience as a member of the council, and Mikuriya
Hirotada, who still maintained his power as a member of the Central Province
nobility, even though it was on the verge of decline, Tenzan would have to
answer no.
Even for the two of
them, this cooperation must have cost them a considerable amount of money.
The debt owed by the
Ugetsu family is also considerable.
However, there was no
mistake in the judgment they had made.
Tenzan was convinced
of this, even as he chatted with them.
"Tomorrow would
be the appointed day for you to accompany Souma-kun to the shrine, right?
...... This would be
the moment when all your hard work will be rewarded, Ugetsu-dono."
"Haha. With
everyone's help, my hard work was not so hard.
......Now that I think
about it, where is Shishin-dono now?
I was sure he would be
visiting Nanatsuo today."
He smiled in reply to
Mikuriya Hirotada's words of congratulations, but then a question suddenly came
to his mind.
Mikuriya Shishin, the
previous head of the Mikuriya family and Tenzan's father-in-law, is a man who
is fiercely ambitious to restore the Mikuriya family to power in Central
Province.
Although the Mikuriya
family still maintains a strong influence in the Central Provincial Council, it
is clear that the Mikuriya family is in decline compared to its power in the
past, and once it sinks, it will take a lot of luck and effort to rise again.
To revive the Mikuriya
family, he sent his own daughter to the Ugetsu family, but her first child was
Akira, a spiritless child, which caused considerable disappointment and anger
among the Mikuriya family at the time.
She was a
"tainted" woman. He viciously spat at her and at one point even asked
Ugetsu to punish Sanae, but Souma's reputation was enough to put his mind at
ease.
Souma is my direct
grandson. Many had heard that he had been loudly announcing this in his own
voice even in Central Province, so at least he must not harbor any
dissatisfaction.
Tenzan, who had
expected to meet him at least on this day before the big day, couldn't hide his
confusion.
"For the past few
years, Father has been staying in Shumon Province.
He could not cross the
province for personal business in front of the other families who reside there.
In his letter, he
expressed great regret that he could not visit you on this occasion."
"That is
unfortunate.
Nevertheless, they are
surprisingly bold to invite Shishin-dono there.
May I ask what
business they have with him?"
"......Yeah. He
was invited by the Kuga family of the Hasebe territory as a teacher of the
Tsukinomiya-style.
The Kuga family's
eldest son was blessed with the spirit of Dogyou, so Father offered his hand to
teach him."
"Hou."
Perhaps wondering what
he should say in response, he paused for a moment. Although he was a bit
hesitant, Tenzan was deeply satisfied by Mikuriya Hirotada's response.
"Father-in-law
taught him?
I see. It seems that
his skill is certain."
Kuga's child prodigy.
A young genius who ranked second among the eight families. Although Tenzan had
heard that he attacked Souma in a fit of anger at Tenryou Academy, he had not
expected that his name would be mentioned here.
When he glanced at
Souma for confirmation, Souma lowered his gaze and returned his affirmation.
"I had a match
with Kuga-kun three months ago.
I won a narrow victory
due to the difference in divine and spiritual power, but he was indeed a formidable
opponent.
...... I see, so it
was the result of grandfather's guidance."
"I am flattered
to hear you say so."
In reality, he heard
that Souma achieved a clean victory in almost a matter of seconds.
The expression on
Mikuriya Hirotada's face was clearly relieved by Souma's somewhat flattering
reply.
Tenzan's expression
softened upon hearing Souma's tactful response.
There is no doubt that
it is important to be skilled in both literary and military arts, but it takes
a different kind of talent to be able to communicate in such a way that
captures people's hearts.
All these things.
Although his many talents could be a hindrance to his growth, they were still
well within the capacity of Souma's capabilities.
"Speaking of
which, it seems that Gioin has been in a state of turmoil lately."
"Any
concerns?"
After some pleasant
conversation, in the reception hall where Souma had left early to go to bed,
the topic of conversation turned to Gioin's recent situation in anticipation of
the upcoming visit tomorrow.
"Well? I have not
received any information from the State Council, so as I am not the chairman, I
do not have the authority to reach out to them.
―But, since information control was beginning to take
effect in early July, the decision should have been made around that
time."
The information
provided by Ijitsu was also vague enough that one could only nod one's head.
Tenzan folded his arms
and sank into thought, trying to fill in the information from the surroundings.
Even if the other
provinces were to meddle with them, the timing would not be right to do so in
the height of summer, before the harvest.
And it would be
meaningless for Gioin to make a move as well.
―Come to think of it,
Something suddenly
appeared in his mind like a revelation.
But the answer was so
impossible that he shook his head and let his thoughts drift away.
"Do you have any
guesses?"
"No, it's
probably just my imagination.
What about you,
Mikuriya-dono?"
"......No idea.
There should be no
reason for Gioin to be displeased with us, since we were not discussing water
supplies to the Central Province at that time.
―Any influence from other provinces? I heard through my
father that, as I recall, Hyakki Yagyo attacked the capital of Shumon Province.
It's a weak reason,
but the timing is reasonable."
".......It is
possible.
Well, I'll ask them
tomorrow upon my visit to the shrine, if they can spare the time."
"That would be
wonderful."
Tenzan believed that
this matter had nothing to do with him.
Although the
information was of some concern to him, he did not think too much about it, and
he answered in a casual manner.
Eventually, at the end
of the conversation, before going to bed, Tenzan once again recalled the words
that had popped into his head.
―Come to think of it, it was also around that time when
that "pseudo-kegare" perished.
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