kscans

Chapter 33 - The Proclamation

The Eastern Capital passed its time as usual, and summer was about to come to a close. In the surrounding countryside, autumn was just around the corner. In the towns, merchants, and in the fields, farmers were beginning to work desperately to pay their taxes. In Shintaro's hometown, as similar activities began to appear, a villager rushed into a private house. He was the village's caretaker, a man of sixty.

"Tae-san, have you seen the proclamation?!" The woman called Tae was Shintaro's mother. She was in the middle of some mending. Her husband was out in the fields. Thanks to the money Shintaro had been sending lately, her kimono, though inexpensive, was new, and her hair was neatly tied up, making her look tidy. She was in her mid-forties, but the subtle beauty she possessed hadn't changed since she was young.

"Is something the matter?"

"Something the matter? They're gathering swordsmen to decide the best in the East! Why don't you put Shintaro up for it?" Tae frowned at the excitedly speaking caretaker.

"...A proclamation means the Tower's got a hand in it, doesn't it?"

"Oh? Uh, yeah."

"Then I'm afraid not."

"Now, now, don't say that. It's such a waste."

"Shintaro is doing well for himself elsewhere."

"Tae-san."

"That boy is not coming back." The caretaker stared at Tae, who had declared it so firmly, his eyes wide.

"That's what he wrote in his letter. He needs to stay away, I'm sure."

"Needs to? What for?"

"He can't forgive them. But if he's far away, he feels like he might be able to. I'm sure that's what it is."

"What's this? If that's the case, he should just enter the tournament and take first place, shouldn't he? If he shows them that strength of his..."

"You think he can get his revenge?"

"You bet." Tae lowered her eyes slightly.

"It may be presumptuous for me, his mother, to say, but he's not that petty a child. Taking and being taken from is a common story, and even if he gets revenge, the one he gets revenge on will just resent him in turn. I think he understands well that it's just a vicious cycle. Besides, I've taught him that truly strong people are those who can forgive others." The caretaker looked up at the sky pensively.

"That's true. If he got his revenge with that strength of his, they'd drop dead. It's safer to say that. But hey, what if he just can't forgive them?"

Tae lifted her lowered eyes. "Then he'd probably get his revenge. But it wouldn't do any good to just charge ahead on emotion. It would have to be done in a proper way."

"Oh, and what way would that be?"

"Who knows? But maybe forgiving is the greatest revenge. There are probably some who would rather be hit. If he were retaliated against, he could scoff at them for being so obsessed. But if he were to be forgiven, it would be a true defeat. Of course, there's a big difference in meaning between him not forgiving and me not forgiving, so I won't forgive them, you know." As Tae shrugged and smiled a little mischievously, the caretaker was drawn into a laugh as well, then crossed his arms.

"I see. All right. I won't say any more. But hey, if he changes his mind, we'll back him up, so write back and tell him he can come home anytime."

"Yes, yes."

*

Around the time the two finished their conversation, the inside of the Tower was bustling with activity. It was for the construction of a tournament arena. Razan had issued the proclamation because a letter had arrived from the Emperor. It said:

"Gather the renowned swordsmen of the East and arrange a tournament. Send the one who stands at the pinnacle to Kyo." It was an unprecedented event, so Razan tilted his head, but considering Miyake's age, he had an idea. Perhaps they were struggling to decide on the next Imperial Court Chief within the court and had extended a hand to the East. But there weren't many who had the makings of an Imperial Court Chief. Even if one became the best swordsman in the East and served the court, the most they could hope for was to become a general. Nevertheless, it was a proposition worth taking.

If I can arrange for a swordsman to serve the court, it will add prestige to us against both Kyo and the West. It will also make things more convenient in various ways.

With that thought, Razan immediately summoned Hokura Saimon.

"Your dojo is now the property of the Tower. If you produce someone who can stand at the pinnacle, it will look good to the Emperor. You too would be proud. Select your strongest swordsmen and have them compete in the tournament."

"Y-Yes, sir." Saimon bowed deeply, a feeling of unease stirring in a corner of his heart.

Saimon's heart was in turmoil. The strongest swordsman at the Hokura dojo had been driven out of the capital by none other than the Tower Master, Razan. To be told so simply to select a swordsman who could conquer the peak of the East was an impossible task. Just recently, one of his promising swordsmen had quit. Ogura Shozaburo. The only option left was to train his high-ranking members until the deadline and send them.

Just in case, Saimon went around to investigate the various dojos. Since his dojo would be investigated by others anyway, there was no need for him to hold back. As a result, he found that every dojo had settled on sending their seventh-dan members, so he decided to do the same at Hokura. However, just because someone's rank was low didn't mean they would necessarily lose. Some had the ability of a seventh-dan but simply hadn't been practicing long enough. Therefore, he also included those who were effectively at the seventh-dan level.

"It should be enough if just one of them manages to save face." Even if they couldn't take the top spot, it would be fine if they made it to the finals or semi-finals.

"Even if Shintaro were here, it's not like he's absolutely the strongest. There must be other swordsmen like him out there. The world is a wide place." Saimon said aloud, dispelling his anxiety. When he thought about what would happen if he couldn't meet Razan's expectations, he couldn't sit still. He was already aware that Mana was not loved. Therefore, he had to avoid anything that would displease him. He couldn't make his daughter any more unhappy.

It was the day he had spoken of going to Kyo. Mana hadn't said it out loud, but her sorrowful eyes and deathly pale complexion had said it all. Saimon realized that his daughter was not loved. Though they had been married for only a short time, her cold lips let out sighs of regret. It was unbearable to see his daughter like that. No matter who he asked, they all said, "I would choose the Tower Master." It should have been the right choice without a doubt. And yet...

But there was no guarantee she would have been happy if she had been with Shintaro either. Saimon told himself this as he headed to the training grounds to inform the selected members, and convinced himself. The hot summer passed, and it was the month of Kannazuki, when the mountains began to be dyed in autumn colors.