Volume 4
Side Story 2
Conspire
Peacefully, Only Talk
Translator : PolterGlast
A two-wheeled cart
carrying a mountain of timber raced by with vigor. Steam-powered vehicles
passed on the side of the road, trampling the dust that was being raised by the
hustle and bustle of the streets.
The once tranquil
Central Capital, which was overrun by the Hyakki Yagyo, was now undergoing a
sudden surge of activity for reconstruction.
Komine Toyohiko,
walking down the rubble-strewn main street that ran east-west through the
Central Capital, spotted the man he was looking for and raised a hand. The
middle-aged man standing in the distance bowed slightly and approached the boy
at a trot.
"It's been a
while, bocchan (young master)."
"Stop calling me
that. If someone hears you, they'll look down on me."
"Should our paths
no longer cross, I shall stop calling you so.
—I've arranged for a steam-powered car. Where are we
going today?"
"There's a
tailor's shop that our Komine family cooperating with.
I'm planning to have
my uniform repaired, so I'll leave it with them after this."
"Right, the
Kannamesai Festival is around the corner, huh?
—It's the only thing that people are talking about
wherever I go."
The man, who was the
branch manager of the Komine Trading Company in the Central Capital, laughed
wryly and walked with Toyohiko towards the waiting steam car. He tapped on the
small window leading to the driver's seat, and soon the sound of the engine
filled the car.
"I heard you were
allowed to open a branch in the Central Capital. I was surprised to hear that
from my father when I went back the other day.
—What are you working on now?"
"The inland salt
distribution is still going strong, and it was a good thing that we were able
to get involved in the Kuga family's railway business.
I didn't expect you to
contact me here, young master."
The man put a
cigarette in his mouth and lit it with a match.
As he gazed at the
fragrant purple smoke, he looked at Toyohiko, whom he had known since
childhood.
The Komine family's
territory was located at a junction on the railway line connecting the Kuga
family's Hasebe territory and Karen.
Therefore, the Komine family
was one of the few territories that benefited from the railway business early
on, despite being a small territory.
The Komine trading
company, which had once been a small-scale grain transporter, was now growing
rapidly. Its influence extended far beyond its province, and the Komine family
became well-versed in the intricacies of Shumon Province's trade
Brushing aside the
lingering greasy smell with his palm, Toyohiko leaned back into the leather
seat.
"I never thought
I'd end up having to navigate these waters as a student.
But I had to do
something since I couldn't just leave things hanging."
"Is it something
troublesome?"
"Well, I don't
even know that yet.
—Does the branch manager have any connections in
Kokuten Province?"
"I wouldn't say
there are none, but it's quite limited.
I can hear about
urgent matters from second-hand sources if that's alright."
"That's
fine."
Toyohiko nodded
slightly in response to the branch manager's reassuring reply.
—He asked something superficial.
Although it was a
casual request, Toyohiko was certain that it wouldn't end there.
Ryōta's words implied
that something was happening.
However, no matter how
hard he tried, he couldn't get any information about the issue from anyone he
knew in Kokuten Province.
At best, he heard
rumors that Ugetsu Souma and his subordinates had been absent for a while. But
with the Kannamesai Festival approaching and other Eight Families also being
absent, it was too trivial to be considered unusual.
"Did you know that
there have been frequent miasma outbreaks in Kokuten Province?"
"I've heard
rumors about it. It was centered on the Samidare territory, so they had a
dispute with Kabeju Province, which is directly connected to the water vein.”
Well, this will be
quick then. With that, the branch manager swept his gaze to the swaying
ceiling.
Although the autumn
sun was high in the sky, the interior of the car, which was speeding down the
street, was dimly lit.
"I heard that
their severance of ties is almost certain.
Apparently, Samidare
cedar, their specialty, has been contaminated by miasma, and they're being
lowballed on prices.
—It seems Kabeju Province is finding fault and trying
to distance themselves."
"What's the
evidence?"
"The plummeting
price of the affected cedar is evidence enough.
Since business with
the Central Capital has increased as a result of the Hyakki Yagyo, the Samidare
territory may be able to breathe a sigh of relief."
"—Is this going
to be a long-term issue?"
Toyohiko had only
heard about the minor squabbles at the Tenryō Academy, so it was the first time
he had heard that the situation was becoming more serious outside.
Relationships between
provinces often soured, but the relationship between Kokuten Province and
Kabeju Province had been relatively good throughout their long history.
Although there might be disputes among commoners, there had never been a case
of it escalating into a war between territories.
"Well, I don't
think Kabeju Province wants to have a bad relationship with Kokuten Province.
It seems they just
want to distance themselves from the Samidare territory.
—oopsie,"
The car jolted as if
it had bounced off a stone, and both men were slightly lifted from their seats.
Toyohiko's gaze intensified as he patted the cigarette ash that had scattered
around his shoulder.
"—Wait a sec. The
Ugetsu family has been growing distant from the Giōin family as well, hasn't
it?
Is Kabeju Province
just jumping on the bandwagon to ostracize the Ugetsu?"
"Who knows~. I
heard that the Ugetsu family has been making very aggressive deals this year.
There were constant
rumors that people were fed up with the situation."
"It's been talked
about at the academy too. Even if it's okay this year, I wonder what they plan
to do next year when the heat dies down."
"Since Samidare
cedar is not the only cedar on the market, people might seek something
else."
Wooden houses and
other timber products are in high demand in Takamagahara. Fast-growing and
sturdy cedar is widely distributed as an inexpensive but high-quality timber. In
particular, the cedar from the Samidare territory in the northern part of
Kokuten Province, which could withstand the harsh winter, was a popular
specialty product known for its large size and uniform quality.
"It's just a
matter of the cedar's brand. As a merchant, it's natural to think that it's
better to be cautious than to attract the attention of Kokuten Province.
That's probably their
weakness if you want to exploit it."
"……With all due
respect, young master. The cedar market is a feeding ground for profiteers.
However, we're still
an unknown trading company outside of the south. Some shady people will
definitely try to take advantage of us."
If they had rushed to
buy the cedar without gathering more information, they might have ended up
wasting money.
As the branch manager
said so, the car came to a sudden stop.
They seemed to have
arrived at their destination. Toyohiko stepped out onto the side of the road.
"We don't have to
make a compromise, just be tough.
It's cedar that has
been tainted by miasma anyway. If they're desperate for a quick buck, they'll
tell us about their information on their own."
"You don't plan
to extend a hand to Kokuten Province through this?"
"Whether I have
the intention or not, there's no reason to be on good terms with the declining
Ugetsu.
After all, the request
came directly from Kuga Ryōta-dono. If I want to make a good impression, it's
only natural to do him a favor."
He pushed open the
all-glass door, which was a rare sight in Karen, and it opened with a light
sound.
—At that moment,
"What's going on
here, shopkeeper?
I went to great
lengths to find this for you! How dare you refuse my request!"
"It's exactly
because you are Shishin-sama, you should have understood that this request is a
difficult one.
No matter what you
say, it's just too difficult."
Toyohiko stopped in
his tracks, dumbfounded by the shouting that greeted him.
The shopkeeper bowed
his head in despair, facing the old man's furious outburst.
Surprisingly, it was
not someone Toyohiko didn't know.
He hesitated for a
moment, wondering if he should step in and mediate.
Impatient with the
endless argument, Toyohiko interjected from the side.
"Excuse me. Are
you Mr. Mikuriya?"
"Hm? Who are you?
Sorry, I don't know you."
"It can't be
helped. We only met briefly, last month. I greeted you once at the garden party
in Central Capital in early August.
—What happened here, Mr. Mikuriya?"
"It's nothing to
worry about.
I asked him to mend my
cloak before the Kannamesai Festival, but he remained unwilling to do so."
Fearing that this
quarrel might reach the ears of the Kuga family, the old man's tone softened at
the mention of Central Capital. Without adding anything further, he glared at
the shopkeeper.
"As we've said
many times, our business is small.
We can only take on a
limited number of requests at a time, and all the slots for the next few days
have been filled by people who made requests in advance."
"Hmph. A simple
repair like this shouldn't be too much to ask.
—You can take care of the haori of a protector, but you
refuse the request of someone who bought this from you?"
He snorted at the
shopkeeper who refused to yield. His dissatisfaction grew, and he looked over
the shopkeeper's head at the haori hanging behind him.
It was a brand new,
plain haori with meticulous tailoring. Seeing that there was no family crest
dyed on it, it was indeed a protector's haori. Toyohikco nodded inwardly,
convinced of this.
Compared to guardians,
most of whom have their own territories, protectors, even if they were nobles,
were often lumped together. Even if a request was made through the proper
means, the circumstances of the guardians should be prioritized. This was an unspoken
understanding that Toyohiko also nodded to.
"As for this, it
was a direct request from a distinguished person.
Even if you've helped
us in the past, I can't neglect the other party."
"You dare to say
that to me, an old family?
I'd like to know the
name of this distinguished person."
The shopkeeper, who
refused to yield, also showed his irritation. Ignoring their exchange, Toyohiko
turned his gaze back to the haori.
—At first glance, the plain haori looked like just a
protector's haori.
But the collar was
adorned with silk, and it seemed to be quite elaborate.
Toyohiko exchanged
glances with the branch manager standing behind him. With a silent nod in
return, Toyohiko made up his mind.
"Mr. Mikuriya,
you won't get anywhere if you keep this up.
Shopkeeper, I'll
cancel my own order. As long as it's the same repair, I think it should be
possible to fill the empty slot, right?"
"Of course.
But are you sure? I
thought Komine-sama also had a request before the Kannamesai Festival."
"It's not
something urgent for me. As a mere student who isn't even one of the Eight
Families, I can't officially participate anyway.
—Mr. Mikuriya, is that okay with you?"
"Of course. Since
you are connected to the Kuga family, I will send you a formal letter of
appreciation later.
Did you say Komine
family? I'll remember that name."
Toyohiko smiled, and
Mikuriya nodded as if it were natural. There was a hint of contempt for the
provincial nobility in the old man's gaze.
"Thank you, Mr.
Mikuriya."
Although he noticed
the obvious insult, Toyohiko's smile did not falter. Perhaps he simply thought
that such a response was normal for this arrogant old man. After offering a
brief thank you, Toyohiko left the shop a step ahead.
♢
In a section of the
Jinrōin mansion in the Central Capital, tension was suddenly rising. Next to
Kagura, who was revealing her nervousness, Yuge Kojō hid his emotions with a
smile.
"Please, have
some sweets."
"Ah, excuse me.
—I'll take some."
On the opposite side
of the table from Kojō and Kagura, a woman with a powerful-looking hand
received the yōkan offered by her attendant. Without bothering with etiquette,
she took a large bite of the yōkan.
"It's delicious.
It's quite sweet, but it goes well with green tea."
"The adzuki beans
from the west are large and have thin skins. They're a standard souvenir for
other provinces."
"I wish my
territory had more sweets. It's so envious."
"But you have
mines.
No matter what
territory it is, there are always pros and cons."
Hōjō Izana laughed
freely, facing Kojō, who replied cautiously.
—This is difficult.
Behind his forced
smile, Kojō muttered to himself.
Izana, who was often
thought to be impulsive, was surprisingly good at negotiations. This was
because her instincts were as sharp as a beast, as most of her goals were
directly related to her desires.
"...So, what can
we do for you?"
"Although I'm not
particularly interested, but it's about that boy named Akira."
"I have no idea
what you're talking about."
With the Kannamesai
Festival approaching, there were not many reasons for the Jinrōin family to be
on edge. When Izana visited the Jinrōin mansion alone, her request was almost
certain.
Kojō reply was quite
natural. With his words perfectly acted, Izana's smile deepened.
"Kojō-dono, you
sure like to joke.
You spent some time
with that boy for a while. You can't say you don't know."
"That's right.
—We're not exactly strangers.
Even though I opened
up to you, Hojo-dono, I realized that we have very different ways of
thinking."
Kojō carefully played
his cards, wondering what value Izana saw in Akira. Even if she was aware of
him being a Kanna-no-Mikura, it was hard to imagine Izana attacking him
directly.
Negotiation is the act
of assigning value to a product without a price tag. Since there's no price
tag, naturally, the more cards you can play, the more advantageous your
position becomes.
However, contrary to
Kojō's expectations, Izana met his statement with a smile.
"If he were just
an ordinary boy, it doesn't really matter, but since he is a Kanna-no-Mikura,
it's a different story."
"I'm no match for
you, Hōj-dono.
So, what do you want?
If you want a straight answer, just ask."
"That's the way
it should be.
I've been asked to
pass on a message from the princess of the Hariin family, asking you to refrain
from interfering."
Though so. Kojō
sighed, thinking that this had become troublesome.
Akira, being a
Kanna-no-Mikura, was like the sweetest nectar to the Divine Pillars. And
because they were Divine Pillars, their instinctive urge to seek the Mikura was
pure.
"We refuse. —As
one of the Eight Families, you should understand why."
"Indeed.
—Now, Yuge-dono, do you know the details of what
happened 400 years ago?"
Of course, he knew the
history of his own territory. Yuge Kojō nodded without hesitation to Izana's
cheerful question.
It said that the
nobles of the small territories, eager for success, waged a civil war, but in
reality, it was so much more than that.
A newborn
Kanna-no-Mikura who was still a baby, was thrown into the middle of the war
without the protection of a Divine Pillar. It all started when people who only
saw the Kanna-no-Mikura as a tool thought that they would rather lose it than
have it stolen by the enemy.
The confused Kanna no
Mikura, still a child, caused a disaster in the entire region. It was a
rampaging demon that could not be sealed, and it wreaked havoc on the Nakiri
territory and its surroundings while continuing its childish tantrum.
It was a truth from
400 years ago that taught people that they didn't need to know anything about
the Kanna-no-Mikura.
"Something like
that could happen again. —And this time, it could be between Kokuten Province
and Shumon Province."
"Quite the
opposite, Akira-kun's situation is..."
Kojō's doubts were
connected by the information Izana cheerfully revealed, including the truth
about Akira, who said he was an orphan, and Saki's position.
"Now you
understand, don't you?
If we don't join
forces this time, it will be a big mess that will involve the Central Capital
as well."
"……I agree. But
we don't have enough information.
I'll have to ask
Hōjō-dono to stay with us a little longer, if that's all right."
Kojō nodded sharply
but without hesitation.
Hōjō Izana watched him
with amusement and raised her teacup slightly.
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