Volume 4
Chapter 7 Part
1
Headwinds and Nostalgia
1
Translator : PolterGlast
Northern Kokuten
Province, Samidare Territory, the Provincial Capital of Tsudzura. Renkyo
Mountain, late at night.
A gust of wind howled
down from the mountaintop, sweeping through the mountain path that led to the
middle of the mountain.
Crunch, crunch. The
gravel neatly laid out on the slope let out dull, regular cries.
A shadowy figure
hurried along the path overlooked by a row of cedar trees. A man covered in a
black sailcloth ran past, as though even his breath would be torn apart by the
descending wind.
Large raindrops, mixed
with sleet, struck the sailcloth. By the time the raindrops ran down its
surface, which had been dyed with soft wax, the man had reached the front gate
of the mansion.
Huffing, drenched to
the bone, he looked up at the closed gate with relief. Showing no signs of
being distressed, a flicker of spirit light leaked from the gap in the
sailcloth.
Normally, he should
have been welcomed inside and the gate opened without question. But due to his
current circumstances, where he had to live in hiding, he should be the one to
suppress his dissatisfaction, and the other party should also consider his
situation.
"Good grief. It
can't be helped, though..."
Muttering to himself,
he knocked on the side gate. After a brief silence, a night watchman appeared,
his face alert. The man lifted the sailcloth, revealing his face.
♢
It was late at night
when Ugetsu Tenzan, sipping sake with the sound of splashing rain as a relish,
unexpectedly welcomed a rare visitor.
Cup after cup was
poured, yet there was no sign of intoxication. As he spent his time idly in his
room, Tenzan sharply turned his gaze towards the sound of footsteps in the
corridor.
"—What is
it?"
"I apologize for
disturbing your rest.
A guest has arrived.
He requests an urgent meeting with the lord."
"Who comes at
this hour?"
The clock on the wall
had already passed 10 pm. Tenzan
furrowed his brow at the hesitant voice from behind the shoji screen.
"Since he's
sneaking around, he won't reveal his family name.
He just said that he
came with a message from Satsuki."
"Hmm... Show them
to the guest room. I'll be right there."
A few seconds of
silence passed as he pondered over the enigmatic message.
There were limited
connections he had with people who could send a message through Satsuki. And
since the message mentioned Satsuki, there was only one possibility left.
Once he realized that
Satsuki was another way of saying Sanae, he could easily imagine who the
visitor was.
Tenzan, having come to
his senses, reached for the sake cup containing a clear water.
♢
Drip, drip. Heavy, wet
drops of water lingered under the raincoat hanging in the guest room. The
visitor, who seemed to be from the West Continent, was relaxing his body warmed
by the fireplace on a couch.
"—I apologize for
the wait.
So it was
father-in-law (Mikuriya Shishin) after all."
"If it was Lord
Tenzan, I was confident you would be able to decipher it."
"What flattery.
Though I must admit, it took me a while to figure it out."
"No need to rush.
Even for an old family, it would be natural to ponder over such a riddle for a
while."
A kind-looking old man
smiled at Tenzan, who had opened the sliding door. Tenzan sat down opposite him
as suggested, facing the old man he had been eager to meet a month ago.
"How long has it
been since we last met?"
"It's been a
while. This reunion should have been a joyous occasion, with Souma in
attendance.
...But because of this
situation, it's truly a shame."
"It can't be
helped, but have you heard about the situation in the Central Capital?"
"The spies I had
stationed in the Central Capital have retreated to Samidare Territory. Ugetsu
is currently preoccupied."
"To allow a
horsefly like Yotsurugi to become the head of the Eight Families is a disgrace
to the Ugetsu family. I saw his succession, and it was truly shameful."
"………………"
Bitter memories
surfaced, causing Shishin's molars to grind.
The back of a boy
flipping his brand new haori, which clearly looked like a makeshift replacement.
The discussion of the merits and demerits of the upper class of the nobility,
which is left in the background, progresses in an indifferent manner.
To Shishin, it looked
nothing more than a poor dinner that would bring shame to future generations.
That was why he had decided to extend a favor to Tenzan, even though he had
once considered cutting ties.
Tenzan was at a loss
for words as he listened to the detailed account of the banquet.
Tenzan still harbored
the ambition of returning to the Eight Families. The conditions for that were
strict, and he could not afford even the slightest flaw.
The knowledge of the
Kanna-no-Mikura, the fatal flaw that the Ugetsu had made, was an oral tradition
passed down only among the direct descendants of the Eight Families. Even if it
was his father-in-law, if it were revealed that he had passed on that knowledge
to someone outside the Eight Families, the Ugetsu would be doomed.
"The Central
Capital is in a terrible state. It's satisfying that the Ishibuki family and
their retainers have fallen from power, but it seems that the old families have
lost their positions."
"The old families
have lost the favor of the Three Imperial Families!?"
"That's right. I
don't think he was directly involved, but... he certainly seems like the kind
of person who brings misfortune."
It was an incident
that had occurred after Tenzan and the others had left. Shishin snorted as he
looked at Tenzan, who was dumbfounded.
"And what of Lord
Hirotada?"
"I've left him in
the capital. There's no way we can move the head of the Mikuriya family from
under the Three Imperial Families' nose in the midst of this trouble."
"A wise decision,
I believe."
The impatience of
Shishin, who had been kicked out of the old families' ladder just before he could
make a comeback, was clearly evident. Tenzan was secretly relieved by the old
man's cautious attitude.
Shishin was his
father-in-law, and Tenzan couldn't simply ignore him. If Shishin didn't
interfere, it would reduce one of his worries.
"I've come to
discuss the aftermath of the Kannamesai Festival, but you seem to know about it
already. Through whose connections?"
"The head of the
Fuwa family informed me personally. His younger brother has a deep connection
with the Ugetsu, having apprenticed here. He was able to tell me about the
Three Imperial Families' consideration for the Ugetsu."
"So you
knew."
Shishin's throat made
a satisfying sound in response to Tenzan's reply.
"For the sake of
the Three Imperial Families' reputation, we will make him the head of the
Ugetsu. But we will re-educate him to his limits. Once he realizes he cannot
support the family, he will not dare to refuse to yield the position of head to
Souma."
"Is there a
possibility he will refuse?"
"If he still has
any common sense, it won't even be an option."
Shishin nodded in
agreement at Tenzan's confident voice. Indeed, it was a natural reaction from
the perspective of the nobility.
The value of a noble
was determined by the rank of the spirit they could possess. And the rank of a
spirit was basically determined by bloodline.
The upper nobility was
proof that they had maintained bloodlines capable of possessing high-ranked
spirits. The Ugetsu family, with its history spanning four thousand years, had
long held the position of the first of the Eight Families.
It was obvious that if
a new family like the Yotsurugi were to occupy the position of the first of the
Eight Families, they would be devoured within a few years.
To counter this, the
Ugetsu would stand in as Akira's representative. The Ugetsu family would lend
its historical power to Akira, and in return, Akira would reconcile with Ugetsu
and the Gioin family would be relieved.
It was an ideal
situation for Tenzan and the others, where no one would lose.
"It's laughable,
but where is this Yotsurugi now?"
"He should be
enjoying the hospitality of the Fuwa family's villa in Suzuyashiro, Kabeju
Province, right now. Lord Fuwa Noriyori has arranged for a provincial train to
send him. If everything goes well, we will receive a telegram soon."
"I thought the
Fuwa family, being at the bottom of the Eight Families' hierarchy, was on the
decline.
It seems they are
quite a useful pawn."
"While others
ignore us, they are willing to go beyond the obligations of kinship. I would
like to hear a word from you, father-in-law, when this matter is
resolved."
Of course. Shishin
nodded generously to Tenzan and sank deep into the sofa.
By placing Akira back
on the throne of the Ugetsu, they would ensure the survival of the Ugetsu.
Tenzan's desperate gamble was only a few days away from fruition.
The firewood in the
fireplace popped, filling the room with warmth. By then, the water dripping
from the sailcloth was merely swaying at the edge of the fabric.
♢
The steam locomotive
sped into a tunnel without slowing down.
Unaccustomed to the
ringing in his ears, one of the passengers let out a breath.
In an instant, the
view outside the window turned dark, and the windowpanes rattled as they passed
from front to back.
"Don't open the
window in the tunnel. The soot will get all over your clothes."
"I'm not a
child."
"Who was it who
watched silently as a child did just that?"
A few months ago,
Rindou Saki teased Akira about a commotion on their trip to Kamotsu. The changing
scenery as they passed through tunnels was never boring for children. The soot
that filled the carriage every time a child opened a window was a common
occurrence on trains.
"That was quite a
mess. ...One painful experience is enough."
"Fufu. It's only
been a few months, but you've come a long way."
As if rewarding
Akira's wry smile, the girl's fingers swam towards the window. A tangerine,
with a hint of green remaining, was placed on the edge of the rattling
windowpane.
"The mountains
north of Suzuyashiro are famous for their tangerines. They're said to be sweet
because they receive the sea breeze directly from the inner bay."
"Even so, it
still looks quite green."
Akira grabbed the
tangerine before it fell and examined it closely. It looked less like it had a
lack of yellowness than it was still green.
Akira, who implied
that they should wait for it to ripen, watched as Saki immediately put a piece
of the tangerine into her mouth without hesitation.
"Don't worry. The
head of the Fuwa family said they were still sweet, eh... it's sour."
"If it's this
green, of course it is."
Saki snorted
disdainfully, and Akira smiled wryly as he bit into the tangerine with its
peel. A strong sourness spread through his mouth, and a refreshing aftertaste
lingered in his nose.
Unripe green
tangerines were considered a type of medicinal fruit rather than a regular
fruit. It was an inexpensive universal medicine that supported the lives of
people living in tenements, where doctors and medicine were precious.
"Are you
okay?"
"It's not poison,
and there are plenty of things that are even more sour than this."
Seeing Akira calmly
eating the tangerine with its peel, Saki also picked one up. Whether she didn't
like the sourness or not, it was endearing how the girl's cheeks twitched every
time she put it in her mouth.
For a while, their
leisurely conversation softened the journey on the shaky train.
"Kyokuden
(Ultimate technique), huh? It sounds a bit far-fetched, but it's something
you'd dream about at least once."
"You too,
Saki?"
The topic of
conversation gradually shifted to a conversation they had with Yuge Kojou in
the Central Capital.
Kyokuden (the ultimate
technique). It was said to be the pinnacle of spirit techniques that
transcended the five elements, something no one had ever achieved.
"It's natural for
any guardian to wonder what it means to transcend the five elements."
"Yuge-sama's
Tenrai and Ugetsu's Kagetsu Kouko seem to be the closest to the Kyokuden."
Tenrai, which
reproduced a localized typhoon by connecting the cyclic chain of the five
elements, undoubtedly had the power to overwhelm even the five elements.
Perhaps the most frightening thing was that this spirit technique did not
require a significant amount of spirit power.
What was needed was an
extraordinary ability to control the five elements in order to connect them.
Controlling the five elements, even if only to a limited extent, was a unique
ability granted only to Yuge Kojou.
His precise control of
sixteen talismans was a record that no one had ever broken.
"Tenrai seemed
like it was already at the realm of the ultimate technique."
"But from the
principle of the ultimate technique, I don't think so. It's just reproducing
the interaction of the five elements. To transcend them, it would need to
reproduce them individually."
Responding to Akira's
murmur, Saki looked down at her palm. There were two tangerines left. Although
she was tired of the sourness, she put one in her mouth boldly.
"Then why was
Kagetsu Kouko considered close to the ultimate technique?"
"Because the
weight of the water element was something that no one other than Ugetsu could
surpass. That's why Kagetsu Kouko, which overturned that premise, was said to
be able to transcend the principles of the water element."
Water-element spirit
techniques are inherently heavy, and acceleration is always involved in their
use. Therefore, water-element spirit techniques require a pause to be executed.
While answering
Akira's question, Saki took a mouthful of water from a bamboo tube. The clear
water drawn from the inner bay filled the back of her throat with a gentle hint
of salt.
"Even though it
was rumored to have reached the ultimate level, in the end, it seems they were
all off the mark."
"The problem is
that the definition of the ultimate technique is ambiguous. Without a concrete
example, it's impossible to imagine what it means to transcend the five
elements."
"That's true. ...
For example, could it be something like reproducing the water element using the
metal element?"
Saki tilted her head
as she answered, perhaps aware that it was still vague.
"Well, like the
Hototogisu of the Kihoin-school or the Hototogisu-kusa of the Hariin-school. If
you combine them, you can create an explosive firepower. That's why the current
theory is that the starting point for reaching the ultimate level is to
reproduce symbiosis."
"So that's why
Tenrai and the combined use of talismans reproduce symbiosis?"
"Seeking maximum
firepower with a small amount of spirit power is the basic tactic. The combined
use of talismans has been around for a long time."
While Akira pondered,
Saki casually looked out the window. The scenery flowed past behind them, and
eventually, the train slowed down and stopped just before the station.
Ignoring the cold wind,
the girl opened the window and leaned out. Beyond her gaze, she saw station
workers filling the train with water from a water tower.
"Soot will get on
your clothes."
"Only inside a
tunnel. ...What's the next station?"
"Marumeshuku.
Once we pass that, we'll be in Kokuten Province."
A tension that
couldn't be hidden appeared in Akira's tone. Worried, Saki pretended not to
notice and returned to her seat.
"Akira-kun, you
only passed through here once, three years ago. Do you remember?"
"I just followed
the map I got from Lord Fuwa. ...Three years ago, I was just counting the wood
grains on the floor endlessly, so I don't remember."
Without asking many
questions, Saki leaned her cheek against the window. Her breath was warm and
turned white on the window surface.
"It's strange,
isn't it?"
"What is?"
"Didn't you learn
in school, Akira-kun?
The breath we exhale
and the steam engine, they're both water vapor, but they're so different."
That was true. Akira
was about to answer that, when a question suddenly popped into his head. The
amount of heat was different, and the pressure from the amount of water was
different. But it was a contradiction that they were indeed the same thing.
The steam locomotive,
having finished refueling, sounded its whistle loudly. The scenery outside the
window slowly began to move along with the sound of the creaking of heavy iron.
Akira watched idly as
the Marumeshuku station disappeared into the twilight. One more station to pass
and then that's where they would stay for the night today.
There were only a few
more stops left until Tsuzura Station. He didn't feel any particular emotion.
It was only then that
Akira realized they had crossed the border into Kokuten Province.
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