Volume 3
Chapter 12
Part 4
Intentions
Collide, Schemes Spark and Scatter 4
Translator : PolterGlast
A steam-powered car
was driving down one of the main roads that traverse the Central Capital,
making a loud, roaring sound.
The small steam engine
heated up, and the scale indicating its internal pressure always showed the
critical level.
When the driver opened
the engine's safety valve, which began to scream, a puff of steam ejected and
flowed backward.
Catching the steam
disappearing at the edge of her vision, Hariin Homare let her gaze wander
backward.
There was no sign of
Ugetsu Souma's group, which she had permitted to follow.
It would be easy to
catch up by sprinting, but considering the current situation and the future,
there was no doubt that they prioritized the conservation of their spirit
power.
And even if they had
prepared a steam car or a horse-drawn carriage for transportation, nearly a
dozen people in total were in his group.
Unlike Homare, who had
only two people with her, it was inevitable that there would be delays in their
movements.
Ugetsu Souma. When she
thought about it that far, Homare felt a twitch in her eyes.
Most of the Kabeju
Province's swordsmen led by Hariin Homare were trained in Hariin-school.
However, Ugetsu
Souma's faction was naturally of the Gioin-school.
Homare herself did not
think much of it, but basically, the factional schools did not get along very
well with each other.
From back-to-back
rivalries over who is stronger, to factional strife, it is not difficult to
find anecdotes about their bad relations.
The heirs of the Eight
Families even involved all of their retainers in such a conflict.
Although she had given
her permission ......, Homare's true feelings were that she was not happy with
her own decision.
She returned her gaze
back to Houjou Izana, who had encouraged her to make this decision.
The person in
question, whose intentions were still unclear, smiled back at her with a hint
of ruggedness.
"What's the
matter? You seem quite troubled.
Since I can catch the
Princess by surprise, perhaps my instincts are not so bad after all."
"......Although
it was all due to Lord Hōjō's advice, the decision was mine to make. I have no
intention of questioning you about it now, but I'd like to ask you a question.
―What do you have in mind?"
"Oh my, looks
like I'm not being trusted.
Of course, I made that
advice with Princess' best interest in mind."
Although her
expression showed no sign of disappointment, she was mildly saddened.
Seeing this, Homare
spat out a question inwardly.
Although Izana is
often thought of as a muscle-brain who is devoted to martial arts, in reality,
she also has a strong political reputation.
In particular, when
choosing between multiple similar options, her ability to immediately select
the best choice has never been rivaled by anyone else.
―She said she could smell it when things smelled fishy,
but the opposite was also true, she had not pursued her political career out of
instinct as well.
Doubts must have
flashed across Homare's face. Shrugging lightly under Homare's gaze, Izana
looked up at the ceiling of the car.
"Hime-sama, you
seem to be favoring Ugetsu Souma out of kindness, and I'm sure Midori-sama
hasn't passed on any bad information to you regarding that.
―But, well, all I can say for sure is that this is the
end for Ugetsu."
"What did you
say?"
For a moment, Homare
was stunned upon hearing these words, and immediately afterward, blood drained
from her face.
She didn't know what
they had done, but had the Ugetsu family been completely rejected by the Gioin
family, and by extension, by the Kokuten Province?
The fact that the
Gioin family, which is known for its gentle nature, has made such a decision
indicates that the details behind the decision must be very serious.
It was a foolish
decision to let him join Kebju Province's forces, even if she did so without
being aware of the consequences.
More than anything
else, the promise of assisting Souma based on his achievements was very bad.
Even if the forces that
Souma had brought with him were a motley crew, Souma himself was of a superior
caliber.
At the age of 12, he
has already been recognized as Okuden-rank, and this year, it is rumored that
even the divine artifact of Ugetsu is in his hands.
His ability to
single-handedly subdue demons is unquestionable, and if he were to join the
frontline, he could easily gain all the achievements he wanted.
―Although it depended on the scale of the Hyakki Yagyo,
the biggest problem was the fact that the total amount of Kegare was finite.
If the achievements of
the battle were monopolized by hasty reinforcements from other provinces, the
reputation of the mobilized guardians and protectors would be damaged.
If this were to
happen, the blame would surely be pointed at Hariin Homare.
Homare's gaze turned
hostile when she realized that Izana intended to sacrifice her.
It was no wonder that
a low murmur escaped from her throat.
"Lord Houjou. Do
you intend to use me as a sacrifice to rebel against my family?"
"Oh, so scary. I
hope you trust my loyalty a little more.
―You see, I'd rather for Ugetsu, who has been
struggling to stay alive, to sell their labor cheaply at this point than beg
for a loan. It's in our best interest to take advantage of it."
"Labors? Even if
it were Hyakki Yagyo, it would still only have limited demons.
If Souma-kun were to
use his divine artifact...... the outcome would be the exact opposite."
Having told that much,
Homare noticed the fierce joy in Izana's eyes.
―Her gaze was not focusing on Homare.
"......Don't
worry, everyone, including us, will all get participation prizes.
After all, I'm the one
who's going to wipe most of them out."
"Lord Houjou. Did
you plan this all along?
―Driver. It doesn't matter if the steam engine is burnt
out, just speed it up!"
Homare turned pale as
she followed the direction of Izana's gaze. Smoke was rising from the mountain
where they were headed, signaling an emergency.
―North-northeast, metamorph, many.
"By the time the
heir of Ugetsu arrives at the battlefield, most of the battle will be over.
All that is left is a
participation prize in a leisure battle. Then it will be easy for the Princess
to refuse to give him the promised assistance."
Souma was essentially
just like giving away money for free. Even if the plan failed, they could claim
that they had gained safety with Souma's help.
In other words, Hariin
will not lose anything.
*Smirk*. A sneer
appeared on Izana's face, and without hesitation, she opened the door from
inside the car.
Amidst the moving
scenery, her well-trained physique leaned forward.
"Lord
Houjou!"
"......It would
be faster to run by myself at this distance.
Princess, after you
descend Ao-sama and head down the mountain, I will leave some cleaning for
you."
"Are you planning
to monopolize all the credits!?"
Izana's real intention
was probably to make an excuse to monopolize the Hyakki Yagyo battlefield.
It was a
behind-the-scenes maneuver, based on the fact that the complaints of those
around them would not become public if they were to say that most of the battle
had concluded before Ugetsu's arrival.
"I don't need it.
I'll compensate it with my own discretion and achievement.
Well then. I believe
Yuge Kojou's greatest achievement was to defeat Hyakki Yagyo single-handedly,
was it not?
―It's difficult, but if it's a short battle, I, Houjou
Izana, still have a chance."
A tiger-like smirk
colored her mouth.
Without a shred of
hesitation, Izana stepped onto the edge of the car and leaped onto the main
street.
Hariin-style
Spirit Technique, Shoden, ―Unari Nekoyanagi
Using her unrivaled
physical ability as a foundation, her body gained a burst of acceleration.
The figure of Houjou
Izana disappeared beyond the street in an instant, easily surpassing the speed
of 70 km/h of a steam car emitting burning heat.
"―, ...... good
grief!!"
She tapped on the
small window leading to the driver's seat impatiently, despite understanding
that she was taking it out on it.
Exhaling with
uncontrollable exasperation, Homare sat back deeper in her seat.
―This is why I don't like her.
Even though she ran
her politics with nothing but instinct, she always made moves with the utmost
deftness and subtlety that she could never understand.
She is the least
comprehensible, the one who is always one step ahead of Hariin Homare in the
area in which she excels in.
This was the
evaluation of a woman named Houjou Izana from Homare's point of view.
♢
―Fast. Not extremely fast, but certainly quite fast.
As Saki caught sight
of the retreating ancient warrior, she inwardly evaluated Yamamoto Gorozaemon's
skills.
He was facing two
guardians who were exercising Aragamioroshi, so a slight difference in strength
was not worth mentioning.
Saki and Sonomi were
running across the roof in pursuit of the master swordsman, and since the
historical record said that he could not use spirit techniques, catching up
with him was not a difficult task in itself.
―The problem was what came next.
Not only were they
unable to capture him, but they were also unable to deliver a single blow.
While gritting her
teeth, Saki channeled more of her spirit power into Aragamioroshi.
Her body, accelerating
instantly, immediately moved toward Gorozaemon's side, and her thrusting
naginata drew a perfect trajectory that was sure to land.
However, Gorozaemon's
legs kicked the roof at the same time, and the slight drop in speed caused the
naginata to miss without even grazing his clothes.
―Sonomi slashed horizontally at his torso.
However, the slash
only slashed through empty air as his body was bent over.
Before the initial
slash could finish, the master swordsman resumed his sprint, and in the blink
of an eye, the distance between them opened slightly.
There was no doubt
that Saki and Sonomi were faster than their opponent, who had not used physical
reinforcement.
However, the master
swordsman in front of them was,
"―His gait was abnormal!!"
"Certainly."
They had to admit it.
This stranger, who called himself Yamamoto Gorozaemon, had honed his skills to
a level beyond Saki and Sonomi's reach, at least in fields where the quality of
one's spirit is not called into question.
Catching up with him
in a straight line was easy enough for Saki and Sonomi. However, the moment
they delivered a blow, this master swordsman was able to read and evade their
attacks precisely.
In the split second
after their attack failed, it allowed their opponent to gain a few steps.
The thought of using a
spirit technique crossed Saki's mind, but if her opponent were able to dodge it
again, it would only backfire.
It was a wisdom that
Genji had warned her about repeatedly.
―A normal blow is faster than a spirit technique.
But their opponent is
a monster who called himself Yamamoto Gorozaemon.
A two-man team, which
should have been advantageous, had become a burden to them.
But even so, the
opportunity to win existed right in front of Saki and Sonomi.
This was because the
physical capabilities of an opponent who could not use Aragamioroshi would
never exceed those of an ordinary person.
As long as this is the
case, it would be impossible for them to lose sight of the master swordsman in
front of them.
Furthermore, the
sparkle of vermillion gold that began to dance at the edge of their vision
supported the judgment of Saki and the others.
The divine energy of
Shuka was beginning to fill the barrier.
Whatever the nature of
the master swordsman in front of them, no miasma, let alone any Kegare, will be
spared in this place for a long time.
Then, his destination
was definitely,
"Toward the Five
Elemental Barrier! The moment we reach the outskirts, I will crush him with
water!"
"I will
completely exterminate him with fire first.
I'll reduce him to
ashes no matter what!"
"―Women sure are
surprisingly strong and scary when no one is watching them. In a battlefield,
it's no wonder that some of them tend to follow the path of destruction."
""Shut up,
you fake swordsman!!""
With the sound of
kicking tiles, Yamamoto Gorozaemon ran across the roof with a light body
proficiency. Shortly after, two shadows danced in the air in pursuit of him.
While glaring at the
swordsman's back, determined not to let him escape, Saki wondered inwardly.
The place where Saki
and Yamamoto Gorozaemon came into contact with was located in the northern part
of the Central Capital. Therefore, it would be understandable if he turned
toward the north, which is the closest to the outside of the barrier.
―However, there is no doubt that it is still in the
Central Capital.
Considering the
distance to the outskirts of the Central Capital, which is a considerable
distance, is it possible to maintain one's stamina at full speed without hesitation?
No matter how she
thinks about it, it does not add up. Based on his speed, he is not thinking of
escaping.
No. If she thinks that
far, the location where he attacked her is also incomprehensible.
After this, Saki, the
Eight Families of Shumon Province, was planning to go to Kugatachi Mountain,
which is located in the southeast.
In other words, even
if he stayed out of sight, she would be heading for the outskirts of the
Central Capital.
In the end, there was
little point for Yamamoto Gorozaemon to make a move there.
―Let's worry about that later!
Inspiring her
thoughts, which were almost dulled by doubts, Saki tightened her grip on the
Shojinbina (her spirit vessel).
She admits it. In
terms of swordsmanship, there is a gap in skill between her and her opponent.
But Saki does not
thrive by swordsmanship alone, she also by spirit techniques.
Especially when it
comes to fire elements. Kuhoin-school, which is praised for its mastery of the
finishing moves, is unrivaled among other schools in the variety of its
offensive techniques.
In the center of the
Central Capital, where a row of houses stand side by side. Fearing that fire
might spread, she has been refraining from using spirit techniques as much as
possible, but in a flat suburb, she would no longer be restrained by such
restrictions.
If Saki could use the
maximum firepower she could muster at that moment to scorch and exterminate the
swordsman along with the surrounding area, there would be no more obstacles to
victory, no matter how formidable the enemy might be.
However, the only
thing Saki could do at the moment was to enhance her spirit power in
preparation for the moment when she would wield the spirit technique.
It is hard to admit,
but Sonomi, who conserves her spirit power, probably thinks the same way.
Defeating the great
swordsman would be the first step to demonstrate their prowess.
Just as Saki's spirit
power rose with even greater resolve, Yamamoto Gorozaemon kicked the roof and
leaped into the air.
Just beyond Saki's
field of vision, the view opened up slightly.
A small, old shrine
stood below, surrounded by trees.
With Yamamoto
Gorozaemon at the center, a vermilion-gold glow swirled around the shrine.
Saki's twin eyes
opened in shock.
Yamamoto’s mouth,
split into a crescent moon, sneered from the depths of his foggy memory.
Wood, Fire, Earth,
Metal, and Water are the symbols of the order of this real world. The Five
Elemental Barrier, with its representative Divine Pillars, is probably the most
powerful barrier in the world.
It boasts a wide
variety of effects that match the level of difficulty, and the only end granted
to the miasma that distorts the order is purification and destruction.
―Even if one were to disguise it using a divine artifact,
it would be impossible to strengthen one's inside.
But on the other hand,
if one were to disguise the authority of the Nine Treasures, it would be
possible to fully utilize one's physical abilities.
Yes. For Yamamoto
Gorozaemon, who had honed his skills in swordsmanship to the level of a master
swordsman without relying on spirits, there would be no obstacles at all even
if he were inside the Five Elemental Barrier.
All Nurarihyon wanted
was to reach his destination.
If only that could be
achieved―,
With a sneer from the
bottom of his heart, Yamamoto Gorozaemon pulled out a talisman from his pocket.
It was a mantra
reversal spell that disguised the divine artifact (Pārijāta).
A sacred artifact is a
forged myth of a divine pillar itself.
The Pārijāta, in
particular, is the world's most numerous divine artifact, consisting of 28
stakes of 14 pairs.
This divine artifact,
which is intended to be used simultaneously, has little meaning to be
contracted by an individual.
After all, the
weakness of the Pārijāta is that if it is used by a righteous person, it is
possible to exercise its authority without regard to the will of the divine
pillars.
This is the reason why
he pulled out the stake brought from Bharatush and seized the divine artifact
that was about to be linked to Saki.
The starting point and
the ending point were connected, and the scheme turned into a gigantic spear
and scattered sparks.
A divine pillar in a
distant foreign land noticed the infidel (Yamamoto Gorozaemon) interfering with
her stake and cried out in bewilderment.
―But it was too late.
Even though Yamamoto
Gorozaemon is not a righteous person, he has followed the proper procedure.
Once he has been
pardoned, the divine pillar is obligated to respond to Nurarihyon's request
with a sincere response.
Vermillion gold
brilliance swirled in Yamamoto Gorozaemon's hands.
―Shuka's divine power.
The divine power of
one of the five elements is naturally unhindered by the Five Elemental Barrier.
Without hesitation,
the cunning swordsman thrust his vast authority, which he could only dream of
when he was still a righteous man, into the shrine below.
―The name of the shrine was Kanoe.
Although small, it is
a pivotal shrine belonging to the elder brother of the Metal Element.
Shuka's divine energy
shot out from the surface of the shrine to the sacred area in one go, aimed at
the only vital point that has nothing to do with the fire element.
The sorrowful screams
of the local deity echoed deep into one's heart.
At the moment when the
shrine and the spiritual path of the Five Elemental Barrier fell, the guardian
of the Central Capital ended its 4,000-year role, leaving behind the barrier of
the Cornerstone Mountains.
―――――
TIPS: About Yamamoto
Gorozaemon.
He was born a
commoner. The current belief is that he was the illegitimate son of a noble
family, but there are many who are skeptical.
It is said that he
reached the pinnacle of his swordsmanship at a young age and fought in numerous
battles between fiefdoms.
He is said to have
been undefeated in all the duels he fought against the guardians by knocking on
the door of each faction's school.
He is the only
swordsman who has ever been able to hold his ground against guardians with his
overwhelmingly refined physical abilities.
Many swordsmen have
come to his door to learn swordsmanship, but none of them have been able to
master the art.
He established his own
school of swordsmanship, which was not a factional school, in his lifetime, but
without being able to pass it on, the nameless school died out.
Although the
circumstances are unknown, he met Nurarihyon and had his soul completely carved
into the Nine Dharma Treasures.
The soul was
replicated into a body that reproduced the peak of its human life. It was the
true identity of the swordsman who appeared before Saki and Sonomi.
Precisely because
Yamamoto Gorozaemon remains in the realm of ordinary humans (even in terms of
miasma), even the Five Elemental Barrier, where Kegare cannot perform their
activities, does not become an obstacle to his ferocious power.
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