Volume 4
Side Story 1
After the
Storm Passed, the Old Man Returned to the Noisy Chasm
Translator : PolterGlast
—Central Province, Central Capital, Tenryō Station.
With the distant sound
of a train whistle behind him, a man of a certain age, likely well into his
twilight years, passed through the ticket gate.
A mountain gale,
deepening its winter colors, ruffled the hair at the nape of his dry neck.
The nostalgic cold
deepened the wrinkles around his mouth, and the old man squinted his eyes at
the bustling crowd.
Central Capital, a
city that changed slowly, was marked by significant ups and downs, especially
in the bustling red-light district. Several brand-new shops, which had not been
there before, were haphazardly lined up in the old man's field of vision.
They were not made of
wood but of brick, imported from overseas. Through the clear, transparent
glass, he could glimpse the interior of the shop.
"...Hmph. Even
Central Capital is eager for novelty, it seems."
He sneered
sarcastically and took a step forward. The old man stepped into the crowd,
which was busier than usual. The heat of the bustling crowd immediately
engulfed the old man's body.
A large cart loaded
with piles of lumber overtook the old man, its wheels squeaking.
A cloud of dust kicked
up. He patted his shoulder in exasperation and covered his nostrils with a
handkerchief he had pulled out of his pocket.
"For commoners to
strut about Takamikura's lap, the decline of the Colored Corps is clear. When I
take control of the city, I will not tolerate such disgrace in the
slightest."
Driven by irritation,
he quickened his pace slightly. His Inverness coat flapped, and the
well-trained back, visible even over his kimono, soon disappeared into the
waves of the crowd.
—One of the old families of the Central Capital's
nobility. Mikuriya Shishin, the former head of the Mikuriya family, had
returned home for the first time in several years.
High above the main
road of Central Capital, in a section towards the mountain peak, stood the
Mikuriya family mansion.
Far removed from the
clamor of the main road, Shishin walked leisurely along the familiar pathway.
Avoiding the main
gate, he went through the back, following the black-painted wooden walls.
As the sound of the
gate creaking reached his ears, an elderly servant peered out.
"Sir, at what
time did you arrive?"
"Just now.
Arisuke, is there any change in the mansion?"
"Everything is
quiet here. ...If you had informed us, we would have arranged for someone to
pick you up."
Surprised by the
sudden return of his former master, the elderly servant hurriedly followed
behind the old man heading towards the mansion.
The old man took off
his hat and coat. His body was then freed from the weight of the Inverness coat
and heaped the weight onto Arisuke's arm.
"I don't like
steam engines. I'll ride one if I have to, but I prefer walking.
—Where's Hirotada?"
"Perfect timing.
His only schedule for today is the evening gathering, so he's in his
room."
"Hmph."
Instead of replying,
he snorted and took large strides into the depths of the mansion. Passing
through a dimly lit corridor, he entered the main hall.
The sliding door
opened with a smooth sound, and Hirotada looked up in astonishment.
Glancing at the papers
scattered from his hand, they seemed to be some sort of petition.
Showing little
interest, he sat down forcefully on the tatami mat next to the upper seat in
the hall.
Arisuke, standing
behind him, took the Inverness coat and left the main hall.
"Father, looks
like you are wearing Western attire, even if it's just an Inverness coat, —have
you decided to change your beliefs?"
"When it comes to
skilled tailors in Central Capital, there are only specialists in Western
clothing. So I had no choice.
—I was urgently called back by Kuga-dono, who was
worried about the Hyakki Yagyo invading the Central Capital. He wants to focus
on the academy for a while before the Kannamesai Festival."
"That's
admirable. —Haha. Judging from your appearance, have you seen the devastation
in the main street?"
Without waiting for a
response from his father, Hirotada returned his gaze to the documents. Only the
sound of paper being turned filled the room. For a while, the minute hand of
the wall clock ticked away.
"—I could see the
entire western street from across the street. How despicable it was to see the
commoners swarming over the rubble."
"It's necessary
for the cleanup. They won't complain about the menial work we're giving
them."
"You're too soft,
Hirotada! Your foolish decision to overlook the collapse of the Five Elemental
Barrier. If left unchecked, the city will eventually be devoured from
within."
Hirotada looked back
at his furious father emotionlessly.
He understood what his
father wanted to say. As a common understanding among old families, the role of
the main street was to support the travel of the nobility.
It was common
knowledge that the reason the commoners used the main street was that the old
families graciously allowed them to pass through while carrying their luggage.
Among the old families
whose descendants are mostly divine messengers and shrine maidens, the
Mikuriyake family has been producing guardians for generations.
In the old days, they
were guardians who protected the northern frontier, and they were also known as
the foremost samurai of the Tsukinomiya-style.
For Shishin, who had
suffered the misfortune of decline due to political struggles, regaining power
in the Central Capital was one of his lifelong ambitions.
"The decline of
the Imperial Guard and the Central Capital garrison is obvious.
Especially the
Imperial Guard. I hear they abandoned the protection of Mt. Shōrō (the
Cornerstone Mountain of the Earth-element) under the pretext of guarding the
Santenryō. I also heard that some of the Colored Corps have retreated into the
interior of Central Capital."
"Damn. I allowed
those self-serving commoners to have their way, and it was my mistake.
Who is the
commander-in-chief of the garrison?"
"I believe he is
the direct second son of Nikuruwa-dono."
"A descendant of
a petty branch that abandoned the pride of the old family and fawned over the
West. It is a shame that someone from an old family would abandon his duty.
—But he can be useful..."
Stroking his beard,
Shishin suppressed his dissatisfaction.
If he could skillfully
exploit the blunders of the old families, the Mikuriyake family's revival could
be realized.
Shishin's perspective
naturally coincided with that of his son, Hirotada.
"I thought you
would say so, that's why I intend to speak about it to the Three Imperial
Families during the Kannamesai Festival."
"...Hmm, I see.
That's interesting."
Glancing at the bundle
of papers handed to him, Shishin's mouth twisted into a sneer.
Every item listed in
the documents pointed out the incompetence of the garrison.
In a place where
merits and demerits were discussed, it would be equivalent to questioning the
garrison's, and by extension, the commander-in-chief, Nikuruwa Akiyoshi's
authority to supervise the garrison.
Nikuruma would
probably try to deny it, but it was easy to imagine that it would be difficult
to do so under the watchful eye of the Three Imperial Families.
"As a first step
in regaining our military power, we will take back the Central Capital garrison
from the Nikuruwa family."
"It's a pity that
we can't kill that weed, but it's a good start if we can cut down his
followers.
—It's been a long time since I've met the Three
Imperial Families. Well, maybe I should pay them a visit."
"Father, are you
serious?"
Hirotada's tone was
laced with genuine surprise.
It had been several
years since Mikuriya Shishin, who had insisted on the importance of ties with
the provinces for the restoration of Central Province, had attended the
Kannamesai Festival.
It was difficult for
Hirotada to predict how the court sparrow, which had laughed at Shishin's
attitude, would respond.
Nevertheless, Shishin
insisted on attending the court, more determined than usual.
"I, the previous
head of the Mikuriya family, am not to be forgotten by the Lords of the Three
Imperial Families.
Besides, it wouldn't
be so unusual for me, who has connections with the Ugetsu family (the first of
the Eight Families) and the Kuga family (the second of the Eight Families), to
attend the Kannamesai Festival."
"That's true,
but..."
Imagining Shishin
exchanging greetings with them, was indeed a promising performance. However,
although it held considerable potential as a performance, it was unclear to
what extent it could be fully appreciated.
But, rather than not
doing it and losing something, it was better to try.
With that thought in
mind, Hirotada nodded in agreement.
"...I understand.
I will report to the Imperial Families that father will be attending."
"Make sure to do
it without any mistakes, Hirotada."
Hirotada's father was
in an unusually good mood, perhaps because of his optimistic view of the
future.
Considering that,
Hirotada nodded deeply, thinking that even the labor would be minimal.
---
After finishing the
formalities of their plan to bring down the old families, Shishin (the father)
and Hirotada (the son) had a late lunch.
On a black-lacquered
tray, sour pickles and charcoal-roasted sweetfish were lined up. The thin,
shiny skin of the sweetfish was crunched with a satisfying sound.
As the father and son
enjoyed the seasonal fish with its rich fat, their conversation eventually
turned to the damage caused by the Hyakki Yagyo.
"I've seen the
western street, but was the eighth district also destroyed?"
"Yes. Because
they were so confident in the protection of the Five Elemental Barrier, the
damage seems to have spread even further."
"—With all the
large stores damaged, when can we expect the main street to be restored?"
"Since winter is
approaching, they say they will prioritize the homes of the commoners. Even if
all the carpenters are mobilized, it will take until next year to restore the
eaves."
Hirotada's response,
which could be seen as pessimistic, was close to tarnishing Shishin's ideal
image of Central Capital.
Perhaps out of dissatisfaction,
the old man twisted his mouth.
"So the lowly
creatures crawling on the ground take priority. I wish they would be grateful
that we old families are merciful enough to allow them to breathe in Central
Capital."
"I understand how
you feel, but I wish you to bear with it here.
Even those weeds
protested, but Fujinomorimiya-sama refused to yield."
Since the decision was
made by Fujinomorimiya, the supreme leader of military authority, the old
families had no right to express their dissatisfaction.
After all,
Fujinomorimiya was undoubtedly one of the highest authorities in Takamagahara.
"It is more than
understandable that the Imperial Families feels sympathy, extending their
benevolence even to the commoners.
However, it is not
appropriate to direct it towards such creatures who cannot even understand its
value."
"Father's opinion
is correct, but there is nothing we can do about it.
—The outcome of the Hyakki Yagyo seems to have been
diverted by the Cornerstone Mountains of the five elements. As a result, they
managed to prevent the invasion of Santenryō."
"So, the Imperial
Guard who abandoned the protection of the Cornerstone Mountains has completely
lost face?"
"Exactly. Not
only the Central Corps, but even the Colored Corps ended up trembling on
Santenryō when they heard the news of the end of the battle."
The Imperial Guard,
which Central Capital was proud of, was divided into the Central Corps, the
elite of Central Province, and the Colored Corps, composed of elites from each
province.
Until a few decades
ago, when Shishin was in charge, the Imperial Guard had a quality that lived up
to its reputation.
—However, hearing about the current state of affairs,
it was enough to conclude that the tyranny of the Ishibuki family, which
currently commanded the Imperial Guard, was the root of all sorts of misdeeds.
"Because of this
incident, Tsukuba has lost a great deal of credibility.
We must reclaim the
Imperial Guard as soon as possible and begin to rectify the situation."
"I'm sure Ugetsu
Tenzan-dono will be relieved to hear of father's lofty spirit.
—I met him the other day when he ascended to Gioin's
Temple, and he often expressed his dismay."
"I must meet him
at the Kannamesai Festival. I hope he would focus more on my grandson, Souma,
who will be joining the Giōin family."
"That's more than
enough. It was my first time meeting him, but Souma's demeanor as a young
warrior was very impressive."
"I see, I
see!"
Shishin's frowning
expression softened into a benevolent smile at Hirotada's response.
The rumors he had
heard were more praiseworthy than anything happening over a hundred years.
It was the
crystallization of Takamagahara, where the bloodlines of the Eight Families and
the old families were intertwined.
—With each confirmation of the rumor, Shishin could not
help but be delighted.
If the marriage with
the Giōin family went well, it would be made public at this year's Kannamesai
Festival.
It was the fruition of
the efforts he had continued to make, spreading rumors among the old families.
Because the old
families, whose only interest is the struggle for power in the Central Capital,
were particularly fond of these kinds of popular rumors.
Hirotada, to whom he
had reluctantly handed over the family head, had proven to be quite capable in
politics, although his martial arts skills were still in need of improvement.
"Thanks to that,
regaining the actual power of the Imperial Guard from Ishibuki is now within
sight."
As the old man neared
the end of his life, with the prospect of turning the tide within reach, a hope
he had almost given up on, Shishin took a large mouthful of white rice.
He savored the rich
flavor of the fresh ayu fish together with the sweetness of the new rice.
His chopsticks danced
with an appetite that belied his age, and he reached for the pickled mountain
vegetables.
Suddenly, a lingering
worry stopped Shishin's chopsticks.
"...Speaking of
which, Hirotada. How is the secret agreement you were working on to transfer
water rights?
I haven't heard about
any progress on that lately."
"As you've
pointed out, it's not going well," Hirotada frowned, his secret worries
exposed. "We made a secret agreement with Ijitsu-dono. In exchange for
supporting him to become the head of the Provincial Council, he would cede the
water vein leading to the Central Capital.
—But lately, no matter how many times I try to contact
him, it's like throwing pebbles into a pond. The spies I've planted in Nanatsuo
are also slow to respond."
Sighing in
dissatisfaction with the answer, Shishin pondered.
"He's just a
commoner from the outskirts after all... Could it be that our plans have
already been exposed?"
"Your concerns
are reasonable. However, I don't think that is the case.
Because Kokuten
Province isn't making a move, it's just that they're focusing on the benefits
of the water rights."
Hirotada smiled at
Shishin's deep and bitter concerns.
Ijitsu Narikane has
nothing but the ability to take advantage of immediate benefits.
—Even if their plans were exposed by chance, Ijitsu
would not have hesitated to sell the water vein to Central Capital.
For him, the water
vein was of little value, and he could only see the glittering summit of the
Provincial Council.
Central PRovince
lacked water veins, and the monopoly of a stable water vein had long been a
cherished dream of the Central Capital nobility.
That was certainly
true to a certain extent. —However, for the Mikuriya family, there was another
side to it.
"—Will it take a
little longer to tamper with the water dragon vein?"
"Please be
patient for a little while longer. If we succeed, we will be able to control
the Ministry of Onmyou."
It was true that the
water vein was a water vein. But behind it, the fact was that the water vein
also served as a dragon vein of water element.
Earth overcomes Water.
Central Capital (the dragon's lair of earth elements) has very few water dragon
veins as it is overwhelmed by the earth elements.
By drilling a hole in
the water vein they've obtained, they'll build a well (an artificial wind hole)
in Central Capital.
A personal water
dragon vein. It's a coveted item sought after by onmyōji in the Central
Capital.
That was the real goal
of Mikuriya Hirotada, who wanted the water rights.
Once his plan is
succeeded, even the Ishibuki family would have no choice but to show some
consideration to Hirohada.
With a sense of
relief, he put a pickled vegetable in his mouth.
The unique bitterness
spread with the spiciness of the mustard greens. Disliking the taste, Shishin's
mouth twisted unhappily.
"—It's not very
tasty."
"The meaning is
more important, so I've deliberately toned down the flavor. If you put it that
way, you might find it more flavorful."
Following Hirotada's
suggestion, Shishin looked at the pickles again.
Amidst the mustard
greens, he saw a dark green vegetable.
—He realized what it was.
"I see. In that
case, it's delicious..."
Clearing his throat, Shishin
ground the pickles between his molars.
A strong, bitter smell
remained in his throat. Driven purely by hatred, he swallowed the pickled
Tsuwabuki and mustard greens without a second thought.
"...Thanks to
Souma-kun's marriage, we have more leeway for our plans.
Even in the worst-case
scenario, we can delay the completion of the well until Souma-kun
graduates."
"That's my
grandson for you!
Naturally, Ugetsu will
also see this as proof of the Mikuriya family's worth.
—Have you been informed about the outcome of the Hyakki
Yagyo?"
Perhaps still holding
on to the pride as the former commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard,
Shinshin asked a sharp question. Hirotada bowed his head in response.
"Two Hyakki Yagyo
invaded Mt. Shōrō. Their intentions are not clear, but it is obvious that they
were acting under some kind of scheme."
"Are they heading
straight for Mt. Kayanowa (the Cornerstone Mountain of the Water element) and
Mt. Kugatachi (the Cornerstone Mountain of the Fire element)? If the Imperial
Guard has retreated, then all that remains are the troops from each province.
Can't we at least find
out how things are proceeding in Kokuten Province?"
"I apologize, but
they seem to be in confusion as well. ...However, a distant relative I left in
the Imperial Guard heard a rumor.
—It seems that there is a guardian who protected Giōin
at the Water-element Cornerstone Mountain and stopped the metamorph at the last
moment..."
Shishin cleared his
throat pleasantly at his son's news.
The number of those who
are allowed to stay by the Gioin family is very limited to two attendants.
Since the task was not
officially conveyed, the only remaining possibility was that Giōin Shizumi had
allowed someone else to stay near her.
For Shishin, there was
only one person who would fit the category.
"Is Souma doing
well? Hmm. It wouldn't do to be laughed at by the Giōin family when we first
meet at the Kannamesai Festival. Hirotada, can we ask Tenryō Academy directly
to arrange an advance meeting?"
"That's too
hasty, Father. —Let's at least put in a request, as they must be busy."
"That's fine.
It's unthinkable for a noble to refuse the words of an old family.
It is only natural for
them to do as requested, even if it is a bit unreasonable."
With a brisk nod, the
conversation in the Mikuriya family ended.
The remaining
conversations were mundane, everyday things.
—In mid-October, Central Capital.
It was a chilly day,
just before the Kannamesai Festival.
It was a peaceful
afternoon, the first time in several years that the Mikuriya father and son had
exchanged words.
Mikuriya Hirotada
undoubtedly sent a request to the academy that very day.
Normally, it would
have been an easy request to grant.
However, contrary to
expectations, there was no reply to that seemingly trivial request.
Several days passed
mercilessly, and the Kannamesai Festival arrived without any change in the
situation.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
Aiden Elliott
MaxKne
Swagaraga
[Gold]
B random
DavidA
[Silver]
CoolmanMTD
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Pristia
Anton Lim
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
