Volume 2
Side Story 9
Between the
Swaying Waves, Let the Thoughts Wander
Translator : PolterGlast
―Off the coast of Kamotsu.
Sometime after the
battle had ended,
The three people who
had moved from the ferry to the deck of the [Katarina] breathed a sigh of
relief at the respite they had finally obtained.
The anchor was hoisted
up and the ship, which had regained its freedom, turned its bow toward the open
ocean, billowing out a cloud of black smoke.
"―This
sucks."
"Isn't everything
going as planned?"
"Only 60 %.
It's a great accomplishment
to be able to kick Sorrentino out, but I'm sure he's going to offer up a
scapegoat to save his own skin."
As the sunrise began
to paint the east white, Benedetta leaned her body against the edge of the deck
and let out an involuntary sigh.
The way she answered
Salvatore's question was also somewhat less vigorous.
She grabbed a tuft of
her own blonde hair, which danced in the gentle sea breeze and looked at its
ends.
The shine of her
blonde hair, sticky due to the sea breeze, seemed to be a little duller than
when she was proud of it.
"A~ahh, I was
rejected."
"As someone who
blooms amidst socialites, Benedetta, is this perhaps your first experience of
being rejected?
...... Maybe you ought
to have stayed quiet and decided to stick toward someone closer to you."
"Akira-sama is on
a different level.
The Blessed Child
could be a national treasure in its entirety, and if he were to visit, he could
be a beacon of light against the Iron Age.
...... It can't be
helped."
She moved her body
away from the edge of the deck and turned her gaze toward Paolo Batista, who
was approaching from the other side.
"I see that you
have arrived on time.
―Where is Sir Ambrosio?"
"Unfortunately.
After fulfilling his
wishes, he......"
"I see. ―Right
according to plan, huh?"
"Sadly, yes.
―May his soul be at peace as he returns to the side of
St. Ariadne."
After performing the
holy gesture, several people around them offered a momentary silent prayer.
Everyone standing
there was aware of the blandness of the situation, but they followed Benedetta
in silence, for Ambrosio's loyalty to Vansuir was unquestionable.
"...... Now then,
Captain Batista. Did you succeed in retrieving our cargo?"
"Without a hitch.
―Come this way."
Guided by Batista, the
three of them walked to a room inside the ship.
Beyond the airtight
door, a missionary was standing with his face down in the posture of prayer.
"It is our first
time meeting each other. I am..."
"I know, make
yourself at home, Missionary Koveri.
There is not much I
can do to repay your devotion to Her Holiness and to Takamagahara."
"My apologies,
but I've been having trouble moving around lately.
I am ashamed to say
that age has taken its toll on me."
The man, who was
probably in his fifties, fell down from his standing posture of worship and
smiled.
"Thank you for
your long missionary service.
I heard that you
crossed the sea at the request of my grandmother. How many years has it been
since you left our homeland?"
"Probably about
30 years. I have even attended one Papal Succession.
―I have been living in a foreign country for a little
too long. I hope my language is acceptable."
Perhaps it was because
he had spent so many years in Takamagahara, but his accent sounded a little
thick as he rubbed his throat with a bitter smile.
Benedetta's cheeks
relaxed as she saw the wrinkles etched into the old man's skin.
"No one will
ridicule your proof of loyalty.
Please give me a brief
report."
"My sincere
gratitude.
...... The
dissemination of the high-speed printing press went well. I am sure they are
not aware of our intentions, as they were quite pleased when I proposed to them
to compile the history of the province.
Here are the
results."
*Slip*. Koveri revealed
several books in his hands from behind his long robe.
The books, titled only
[The History of the Province], were as plainly bound as the books themselves.
"That's suffice.
―What about the contents?"
"I have a rough
grasp of it.
I don't know if it will
lead to the things you seek, but there are a few pieces of information that
interest me.
Among them, the most
important one is the description of the Four Sovereigns and the Eight
Families."
"That's the
hierarchy of Takamagahara. Is there anything interesting about that?"
"What is strange
is how the hierarchy is laid out.
Although it is
understandable for the Four Sovereigns since they are descendants of demigods
and demihumans just like our Lady the Saint, it is strangely unclear regarding
the status of the Eight Families.
Spreading the book in
his hand on the tabletop, Koveri stared back at Benedetta's gaze.
"The title of the
Eight Families is given to the noble families that stand at the top of the
hierarchy in the province. According to our information, this knowledge has
been confirmed.
But I could not
ascertain any difference in the correspondence between the Eight Families and
the other feudal nobles that I could understand.
...... In the first
place, it seems that the Four Sovereigns do not interfere much regarding the
activities of these noble families."
"Are you saying
that they are simply left to their own devices? But that would make it
impossible to run a country."
"They seem to be
drawing a clear line in that regard.
Central Province seems
to be pulling the reins of the nobility by taking charge of the Onmyoji, the
military, and the administrative affairs of the household registry.
―Let us return to the topic. Although there is some
preferential treatment between the Eight Families and the other noble families,
there is not so much of a difference as to make people fiercely seek for it.
There are two
differences. The first is that they receive divine artifacts from the divine
pillars of the provinces, and the second is that the generations after they
become one of the eight families are blessed with a powerful high-ranking
spirit."
The Eight Samurai
Families. The symbols of the Takamagahara warrior clans, whose fame extends
beyond the Eastern Tomoe Continent, have been treated in a very humble manner,
despite their fame.
No. Although being
blessed with a divine artifact is a kind of preferential treatment, it is not
enough to be considered as such.
These doubts were
understandable.
"Divine
artifacts, huh? We have confirmed the two that Akira-sama had, but the rest are
in the possession of the Eight Families of Shumon Province."
"......When the
rebels instigated by Tsonma were turned against Kamotsu, we confirmed the sight
of the head of Kuga slaughtering them with a strange weapon in his hand.
That must be a sacred
artifact."
"I wonder if they
are aware of our involvement."
"Very Likely.
However, we did not leave any evidence behind, and even Takamagahara wanted to
keep a trade route to the Western Continent.
As long as it would affect
the delay in the development of their steam technology, Kuga cannot be too
aggressive in their approach to the matter."
"Then, Vansuir
should also decide to dispatch a delegation.
If we offer
compensation, Kuga will surely relent."
"Understood. I will
convey the message through regular communication from Vansuir."
"You have my
thanks."
Upon hearing
Benedetta's decision, Batista, with his eyes fixed on her, nodded his head in
agreement.
They nodded at each
other, and Benedetta returned her gaze to Koveri.
"Looks like we
keep getting sidetracked with new information.
Is that all the
information you have regarding the Eight Families?"
"No. Regarding
the Eight Families, it seems that they have been replaced several times in the
past."
"Family lineages
that have received sacred artifacts from the Divine Pillars have met with a
devastating fate?
......Why?"
Benedetta was
surprised by the unexpected information.
A sacred artifact is
also to be appointed as a representative of a divine pillar.
It was not easy for
her to understand how such a family lineage could be replaced.
"Takeover, war,
decline. ......There are many reasons for that.
We were able to
confirm details in two cases, one 500 years ago and the other 400 years ago. In
this regard, it was easy to trace because there were records of major
interventions by the Four Sovereigns of the Three Imperial Families."
"The decline of
the Eight Families, right? Intervention is only natural."
The first priority of
nobility is to maintain the family lineage.
It is a natural course
of action for a nation to give preferential treatment to vessels that can
harbor high-ranking spirits and maintain them as symbols of military power.
However, from Koveri's
words, she could tell that this was something quite unusual.
"...... I can't
say.
500 years ago, there
was a reshuffle in Kamotsu. The Kuga family, which was supposed to be a branch
of the Shutsuki family, destroyed the main family with the support of Kihoin.
400 years ago, when
the Fuwa family was overthrown by another noble family in Kabeju Province, they
were completely banished, but were eventually reinstated with the intervention
of the Hariin family."
Hariiin even initiated
internal strife with Jinrouin, and even exposed the heads of the members of the
noble families who had successfully usurped the Fuwa family, thereby bringing
the Fuwa family back to its own domain.
Although the damage
was contained through the mediation of Shumon and Central Province, it was
recorded that Kabeju Province was significantly weakened by this incident.
"I thought they
were going to destroy the eight families and give preferential treatment to the
branch families, but they even caused civil unrest to bring back the eight
families. When I asked what the difference was between the two cases, even
local scholars were puzzled.
However, there is one
thing in common between the two cases.
―In both cases, the incidents took place immediately
after the birth of the heir."
――――――――――
After her conversation
with Koveri, Benedetta returned to the deck, which was nothing but a blue
horizon spread out before her.
The information
exchanged in the short time they talked was dense, and she sought a little
peace of mind in the sea breeze to organize her thoughts.
Salvatore called out
from behind the girl, who was combing her long, fluttering blonde hair which
was being fanned by the sea breeze.
"......
Benedetta, what do you think?"
"I can't say for
sure.
...... but I am
certain that Takamagahara has the means to produce the Blessed Child with a
high probability of success.
The sacred artifacts
and the eight families. I don't know which one is more important."
"However, Her
Holiness has not been able to foresee the Blessed Child through the oracle
until now.
Why is that?"
I am not sure. In
response to Salvatore's question, Benedetta turned around and looked at her
knight.
"―In the
scriptures, the Blessed Child undertook a pilgrimage to be recognized as a
descendant of St. Ariadne.
Perhaps there is a
similar ceremony in Takamagahara to be recognized as the Blessed Child."
"Does that mean
that even among the Blessed Child, there are tiers?
...... I see, that
makes sense."
Contrary to Salvatore,
who nodded his head in understanding, Benedetta's expression was downcast.
If that were the case,
a more troubling issue arose.
Because in the
scriptures of the Holy Church of Ariadne, the details about the pilgrimage are
lost.
Even if one traces
back to the oldest scriptures, the details of the pilgrimage have been altered
two or three times.
The ambiguity of the
doctrine has become even more apparent since the establishment of the splinter
factions.
Daring to let her
thoughts wander away from that fact, Benedetta followed the shadow of
Takamagahara's land as it disappeared over the horizon.
...... Once based in
Chintao, it would be necessary to go back to Takamagahara.
It was a conviction.
Intervention regarding
the shutdown of various sacred precincts could not be accomplished without the
cooperation of the Blessed Child.
In the worst-case
scenario, if the knowledge to produce the Blessed Child were to not be brought
back to Vansuir, the Western Continent would come to a complete halt.
After letting out a
sigh, Benedetta manifested the scripture in her hands.
When she chanted the
word [release], the pages that had sealed the Rakuyou Zakuro flew into the air
all at once.
"Was it all right
to release the divine artifact?
...... I don't think
they would repeat the same blunder twice."
"Yeah.
But rather than making
them mad, let's let it go and remove the source of their complaints while we
still have the chance.
We will be going back
to Takamagahara in the not-too-distant future, so it's better to eliminate the
possibility of a root of a feud."
Benedetta looked up at
the azure sky with a somewhat refreshed expression as her eyes followed the
pages that were disappearing in the sea breeze.
A few scattered white
clouds in the blue sky.
The girl recognized
the shadow of a seabird spreading its wings between the clouds and showed only
a smile on her mouth.
――――――――――
"...... Kansuke,
Kansuke!!"
"Hei~.
―Are you calling for me, ma'am?"
Kansuke, who was
wrapping antiquities in oiled paper in the storehouse of a merchant house,
raised his head toward the source of the voice.
Before the voice
turned into a shouting voice, he turned his feet outside the warehouse.
There, the
proprietress of the antique dealer, Kansuke's employer, was standing there in a
daunting pose.
"Why are you just
standing there like a fool!?
We have a lot of work
to do!"
"Sorry."
He was in no way
neglecting his work, but such a rebuttal was not something allowed for Kansuke,
who had only been in apprenticeship for three years.
When it comes to silk
fabrics, one must be very careful about how they are maintained. If they are
not dried and aired out to the extent that they do not get sunburned, they soon
become the food of silverfishes.
The repetition of
taking the fabric to a sunny place and putting it back in the storehouse is nothing
but hard labor for the body of a young boy who has not yet fully grown up.
.....In fact, it was
the proprietress who ordered him to dry out the fabrics in the warehouse.
Kansuke scratched his
shaved head and lowered his head despite the unreasonable yelling of the
proprietress, which made him want to complain.
"Have you
finished drying out the fabrics?
―If so, go around cleaning and watering. Don't be
lazy."
"Understood."
She must have been
watching the progress of his work. Being convinced by the instructions he
received right after he had finished putting away all the fabrics, Kansuke went
outside to fetch water from a jar.
It was late afternoon,
and the heat was intense. While suppressing the urge to complain, Kansuke held
the bucket filled with water in his hand while keeping cool under the shadows
of noren (a traditional Japanese blind curtain).
*Plunk*. The water,
exposed to the boiling heat of the day, surged coolly in Kansuke's hand.
As he was sprinkling
the water with the ladle, grumbling only at the edges of his throat, he caught
sight of Akira walking from across the street in front of him.
"―Yo,
Kansuke."
"Akira. Have you
finished your mission to Kamotsu?"
"Somehow.
...... Any problems
with the garrison?"
"Nothing in
particular. -well, that's what I'd like to say, but we've received some
troublesome requests.
To be honest, I'm glad
you're back."
"Troublesome? Is
it that dangerous?"
Akira tilted his head
and asked in response to Kansuke's unexpected reply.
It hasn't even been a
day since the Hyakki Yagyo, and they were even on a mountain hunt just prior to
that.
The area that Akira
and his team were in charge of should not be filled with a miasma that could
attract medium or higher levels of defiled beasts yet.
"Well, here's the
thing. It's a request from an old hunter who lives at the foot of Mt. Myokaku.
―He said he saw a catfish swimming among the trees
halfway up the mountain."
"A catfish?"
"That's what it
looked like.
I honestly thought the
old man had lost his mind."
Although there are
many different kinds of defiled beasts, their ecology is basically based on
native creatures.
This is because it is
the most ecologically efficient thing.
It is not that there
are no fish defiled beasts, but naturally, the most common place for them to
live is in the water.
Even with Akira's
knowledge, he had never heard of a catfish swimming across the mountains.
Normally, he would
have dismissed it as the ramblings of an old man, but judging from the way
Kansuke spoke, that was not the end of the story.
"Did you
investigate it?"
"Only halfway up
the mountain. I couldn't find any traces of the catfish, but Captain Asogi was
very concerned about it.
There seems to be a
reason for this. He said we would go up to the mountain ridge next week."
"...... Got it.
I'll ask him for the details."
"Please do. The
Captain and the others seem to be having a lot of concerns, but it's hard for
us to ask them.
―Well?"
After a casual chat
about each other's current situation, Kansuke rushed to the main subject.
He was aware that
Akira's business for coming to this place was unrelated to the garrison.
The reason is that
Kansuke's place of work is located in the 3rd district, but close to the 1st
district.
There is basically no
reason for Akira, who lived in the outskirts of the 3rd district, to visit this
place. So Kansuke immediately guessed that Akira had a business with him.
"Right. ―I would
like to consult something.
I'm about to meet with
a woman of higher rank. Do you know of any gifts that wouldn't be
impolite?"
"A gift, huh?
...... Let's see. I
remember the proprietress would always prepare tea cakes to entertain the
nobility.
Well, that's about all
I can think of.
We are in awe even
just looking at such confectionery, are we not?"
"Indeed. ......
Well, let's give it a try.
―Where is that?"
"Hmm......"
―The two of them combined their wisdom, and after a few
moments, Akira disappeared into the crowd.
Kansuke watched his
back as he plunged the nearly dry ladle into the bucket.
"Good luck,
Akira!"
*Splash*. The
sprinkled water momentarily left a trail of black ripples on the dusty ground.
While seeing this,
Kansuke threw his support in a monologue.
――――――――――
In the mountains at
dusk, the sun sets early, even if one is facing the sun.
Four hours' walk from
the downtown area of the 3rd district, Akira was standing in front of the main
gate of Kihouin, located halfway up Mt. Ootoriyama.
Naturally, Akira's
legs cower in repentance at the unkind glances thrown at him by the guards, who
seem to be guarding the place.
The reason for this is
that he was afraid that he might have caused some discomfort by entering the
place right at the last minute, although he did not have to worry about being
kicked out because he had already received a telegram giving him permission to
visit.
After a few minutes of
enduring stares from people who looked at him as if they were looking at a
suspicious person, the main gate opened easily, contrary to Akira's fears.
On the other side, a
woman dressed in Western-style clothing, who must have been at least 30 years
old, could be seen bowing deeply.
"―Nice to meet
you, Akira-san.
My name is Kihouin
Shion, and I am the current head of Kihouin."
"Nice to meet
you, the head of Kihouin. Thank you for allowing me to visit today."
"Now, now, please
don't be so modest.
Akira-san is just like
a member of our family. I'm sure no one will refuse you if you visit us without
reservation.
―Please do forgive us. Originally, we would entrust
Tsuguho to welcome you, but since the vacations are over, we have sent her back
to the Tenryo Academy.
I understand that you
are not satisfied having an older woman accompany you, but I beg your
mercy."
"It is a great
honor for me to be personally welcomed by the head of the family itself."
It has been three
years since he broke off his relationship with the nobility. The woman who
called herself Shion smiled a gracious smile, not bothering to mention the
courtesy that Akira showed her.
―The shadow on her face was similar to that of her
daughter, Tsuguho.
The group proceeded to
the back of the mansion without even a physical inspection, as it should
normally required.
Akira was escorted
into a room in the mansion, where Shion was sitting at a wooden table, which
must have been imported, and he placed in front of her a bamboo package that he
had purchased after discussing it with Kansuke.
"What's
this?"
"Umm, I'm sorry.
I discussed it with my friend, and I'd like to give you a gift.
....... Thank you. I
am able to be here because Kihoin-sama picked me up."
Hearing Akira's words,
the package was unwrapped.
It is a mochi
confectionary with red bean paste on top of the white colored gyuhi.
Oh, it's a reed-shaped
mochi. Shion, peering inside, lowered the corners of her eyes and muttered in a
relaxed tone.
"Tsuguho loves
these, too.
When she was little,
she would beg for it whenever she wanted something sweet.
―I hope that daughter of mine isn't being rude to you,
Akira-san. I've been telling her to show her face a little more often."
"On the contrary,
she's been excessively kind to me."
"I wish that were
the case ....... Because she was born in Kihoin, I didn't teach her much about
love, but she's cute in her own way.
Please take good care of
her for many years to come. Akira-san, ......"
After a few words, she
turned her fixed gaze to Akira.
"Or should I call
you Ugetsu Akira-san?"
"....... So you
knew, huh?"
He was not surprised
that he was called that.
When he understood the
meaning of Kanna-no-Mikura, it was a fact that naturally led him to that
conclusion.
The fact that Akira
used the [Arawakamioroshi] in Kamotsu is already known to Kihouin through
Shuka.
And this was also
proof of the fact that Akira had understood some aspects of Kanna-no-Mikura.
"We guessed it
right away.
After all,
Kanna-no-Mikura is a miracle that is born only to the Eight Families. As long
as that is the case, there are no exemptions.
If we take into
account the fact that Akira-san is from the Kokuten Province, our options are
limited to Ugetsu and Dougyo.
It was easy to confirm
our guess by investigating the past few years' situations in the Kokuten
Province."
After all, the Ugetsu
family had been so intent on hiding Akira that they had neglected everything
else.
Once they became aware
of Akira's existence, the evidence that Ugetsu's eldest son was not Souma was
exposed, as though they would be fools not to have noticed it.
Shion is glad that
Akira has become aware that he is Kanna-no-Mikura. That is why Shion, as the
head of Kihoin, needs to ask Akira about his true feelings.
She wanted to ask him
a question. So Shion straightened her posture and stared directly at Akira.
"...... Do you
hate Gioin?"
"Hate? No, not at
all.
In fact, I would like
to at least say a few words of apology for not being able to offer them in the
past.
That is the only
regret I have for Gioin-sama."
I see. In response to
Akira's reply, Shion's expression shifted to one of exuberance.
There was no
stagnation in Akira's tone of voice, and the content was desirable for Shion as
well.
"Then, as Kihoin,
we have to grant Akira-san's wish.
If you are willing to
wait for a bit, we will be able to arrange a meeting with Gioin."
"Is that all
right?"
"Of course.
―For that purpose, I must tell you about yourself,
Akira-san."
"About
myself?"
"Yes.
About Akira-san. No,
about the history of Kanna-no-Mikura.
―And about your future."
Akira was surprised at
the unexpected words, but Shion, who saw Akira's innocence appropriate for his age,
nodded back at him, holding back a smile.
In the burning glow
just before the shadows of the setting sun covered the outside of the window,
the twin eyes of the head of Kihoin, which refused to reveal their depths,
swayed as they reflected Akira's bewilderment.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
Aiden Elliott
Matthew Shuler
Swagaraga
[Gold]
-
[Silver]
Adrian Betancourt
ArUnInAcTiOn
CoolmanMTD
Glasses Kun
Pristia
Thiago Leite Denedai
Anton Lim
Creris
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Duncan Rodgers
Freyja Bjarnadóttir
Muzic Yasko
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
