Chapter 109 The Iron Will of the Timid Imperial Guard A Cruel Interview and Shocking Master’s Secret
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Summary:
Following a perilous mission, Ichimatsu’s Imperial Guard, Natsume-san, faces a brutal psychological interview disguised as a formal tea ceremony. Amidst the master’s cruel, veiled questions about shame, loyalty, and ‘useless’ Psionic Power, the Protagonist intervenes, offering an ultimate sacrifice to save her. But Natsume-san’s defiant loyalty—a surprising display of female resolve against the male power structure—forces an unexpected turn, revealing a master’s secret about the deceased Imperial Guards.
—
The following day.
Ichimatsu’s attendant was waiting for me at the entrance of the mansion where I’d been staying.
Maggot-san had tended to my dressing. From where I stood, I had to look up at her from under her chin, since my gaze was right at her height.
Cult Slut-san also helped me tighten my sash. When we were about to leave, they both acted just like young mothers.
”Isn’t this too tight, my lord?” Maggot-san murmured with gentle concern.
”I’m fine, totally fine.” I assured her.
”I apologize that an old woman like me is doing the care; the circumstances were unavoidable. Truly, a young female who hasn’t finished her monthly cycle shouldn’t be helping with your dressing,” Cult Slut-san whispered, tying the sash with an air of apology.
She was constantly concerned for my future, always trying to tighten my sometimes-loosening chastity values at the same time.
”I’ve heard that so many times already. For you two, isn’t it a bit late for that?” I sighed.
”It’s never too late, my lord, no matter how many times you hear it! Understand this: touching a young male’s skin is an act of deep shamelessness that shouldn’t be taken lightly. A girl of marriageable age isn’t like a busybody caretaker. Even if a frivolous fellow tries to stir up desire, she should never easily show a willing heart—Your Lordship should be the one to administer the scolding!”
”Oh, Maggot-san, fix my bedhead,” I requested, purposefully interrupting.
”At once, my lord.” she agreed simply.
”Hey! Maggot too! Don’t distract him from the lecture!” Cult Slut-san chided, thoroughly exasperated.
Maggot-san, standing on my other side, ran a comb through my hair. Even while scolding me, the faint, gentle warmth of happiness emanated from the two of them as they tended to me, sandwiching me between their care.
Cult Slut-san was reserved in her affection, while Maggot-san had no hesitation in indulging me.
”Please take care on your outing, my lord. We will be anxiously awaiting your return.” Cult Slut-san offered.
”If you get scared, come right back home! We’ll write the letter of apology here, so don’t concern yourself. Please be careful!” Maggot-san urged.
”They aren’t going to devour me, you know. Okay, I’m off then.”
As I stepped out of the entrance, the sky this morning was a clear winter blue. Looking back, the two of them were sending me off with bright smiles, though their faces still showed the trails of a fresh weep.
The Imperial Guards on the other side had permitted my bodyguard’s attendance. The recent joint combat operation had cleared away the ill will between both parties’ Imperial Guards. Besides, unlike the last invitation, there was no chance of me being alone with anyone.
All that remained was the concern that Ichimatsu personally bore me no malice, but that confirmation had already been secured, thanks to Vocal Slut-san’s reliable premonition.
I departed the mansion, bringing only Sow-san and Vocal Slut-san with me.
* * *
We arrived at a large, old family home. It was the same sort of mansion I was staying in—a noble family’s seized property, requisitioned to accommodate Ichimatsu during his sudden visit to isumi town.
Stepping down from the palanquin and heading inside, I noted that the guest room was sufficiently warm. A maid slid open the paper sliding door and I entered the room. My two bodyguards remained in the adjacent room, separated by a sliding door.
The morning sun shone brightly, illuminating the entire room, and in the central government style, a brazier, half-buried in ash, softly *clacked* with the sound of the burning coals.
With the wind still and the snow clouds gone, it was a perfectly clear, pleasant morning scene in the countryside tatami room. For the first time in a long time, I could hear the song of a small bird from somewhere—a melody I had never heard in the dungeon.
”Please pardon my interference in your morning,” I offered formally.
”Indeed. Take a seat,” a hoarse voice commanded.
Guided by that voice, I bowed, made my formal greeting, and settled onto the cushion.
Ichimatsu was already there, back perfectly straight, gripping the charcoal tongs. Tea utensils were laid out beside him. It was a more casual arrangement than the formal tea room he’d invited me to before, but the selection of brought-in tea utensils kept the setting properly arranged and harmonious.
A male is a professional host who has been educated to prepare an instant tea seat in any town facility. In that respect, Ichimatsu’s skill was truly remarkable.
”I apologize for visiting without an invitation, but I became concerned that you might do something terrible to Natsume-san. We have a bond, you see, and I consider her a close acquaintance, so I came directly to ask you not to push her too hard.”
Interfering in another Imperial Guard’s affairs is fundamentally discouraged. Moreover, inserting myself into a situation whose purpose I didn’t know and trying to intervene was utterly non-common sense.
That’s why I started with an apology and spoke my piece frankly. The words were perhaps too blunt, but I wanted to make my intentions perfectly clear. I had also followed the usual conventions for a tea gathering, presenting a proper gift of higashi
¹ (dried sweets) upon arrival.
Surprisingly, Ichimatsu didn’t seem particularly bothered.
”It matters little. I was planning to speak of you in any case. More to the point, how about some light tea?” he offered, his voice dry.
”I’ll gladly accept.” I agreed.
”Ah, I shall prepare it for you now.”
He didn’t seem inclined to reject me outright.
For a while, we both simply sipped the thin tea.
We enjoyed the sound of the charcoal cracking, the chirping of the birds, and the sight of icicles on the eaves, glistening in the morning sun as they dripped into water.
The good thing about the tea ceremony is that it allows even incompatible people to share a minimum amount of emotion. Anyone incapable of sharing this simple seating cannot, in the end, have any meaningful discussion at all. That’s why tea is so important in every social situation of this era, and to refuse it without cause is considered a great disrespect.
”She’s late… Natsume-san, is she alright?” I wondered aloud.
The main actor of today, Natsume-san, did not appear, even after a significant delay. The maid reported that Natsume-san had gotten stuck on her way here. Even in a town without clocks, the time had been properly communicated. I didn’t want to think that she had gotten high on a mystical object just today of all days.
Though, with her, that wasn’t entirely outside the realm of possibility.
”It’s been thirty minutes past the agreed time. I hope nothing happened.” I spoke, my worry mounting.
Tardiness after being summoned by name to face an apparently angery master, and breaking an appointment with two males, is not something even a high-ranking female could easily do.
Finally, long after the appointed hour, a shadow appeared behind the paper sliding door.
”Enter,” Ichimatsu commanded.
”P-p-pardon m-me… I-I b-beg your leave…” a voice, taut with tension and trembling, was heard.
The paper sliding door slid open, and Natsume-san entered, prostrating herself on the tatami mat. She had tearfully declared that she would do anything for Ichimatsu, but now, in his presence, her entire body was shaking with fear, unable to even lift her face.
She was a small, adorable female. I hadn’t seen her in about ten days, but how long had it been since she had spoken to her own master, Ichimatsu? Natsume-san hadn’t changed. Her capture as a prisoner had weighed heavily on my concern. I was glad she had survived.
”I apologize for the wait. I-I was… um…” she stammered.
”It matters little. It is likely one can become lost in the unfamiliar town scenery,” Ichimatsu stated, granting her permission.
Since opening the paper sliding door, Natsume-san had remained in a dogeza (full bow), still unable to show her face. She was rubbing her forehead against the tatami out of sheer dread.
”I am truly, deeply sorry,” she choked out.
”I shall not blame you for a necessary delay. However, I hear your village has newly become a part of Kujukuri
². Was the snowscape beautiful?” Ichimatsu asked, a thin layer of false kindness coating his voice.
”That is… well…” Natsume-san whispered.
Ichimatsu’s tone seemed friendly on the surface, sounding only like he was concerned about her being lost, but the reality was quite different. His lenient words were, in fact, purely passive-aggressive sarcasm.
If she affirmed it, she’d be admitting to delaying her arrival to look at the scenery. If she carelessly said, ‘It was beautiful,’ she would instantly be asked why she was sight-seeing when she was late.
Conversely, if she denied it, she would be engaging in politics by criticizing the scenery of this new land that had just become Kujukuri Town.
The person being questioned could neither affirm nor deny. It was a vicious question designed to leave her in an unbearable feeling of shame, face cast down.
Well, this sort of exchange is common as a greeting in the tea ceremony. You could even say that his willingness to give her a veiled insult for her tardiness meant he was at least willing to engage with her. A male who is truly disgusted will offer nothing but excessive praise and not even bother with sarcasm.
As expected, Natsume-san was unable to reply, only continuing to bow her head deeply.
However, Ichimatsu said nothing in the meantime. He was simply waiting for her to state the reason for her lateness. His earlier phrase, ‘I shall not blame you for a necessary delay,’ had effectively cut off her escape. The awkward silence would continue until she explained the reason.
In essence, he was demanding she explain her excuse for keeping her own master waiting, with a reason he would find satisfactory—an excuse that, of course, did not exist in this world. The conversation of males at a tea seat can pack this much hidden meaning into a single phrase.
”I… I-I was, ah…” she whispered.
The air felt impossibly heavy.
The sound of the charcoal cracking in the brazier echoed loudly in my ears. The space, so peaceful moments ago, was now filled with a crushing pressure that made me feel sick.
Breaking the long silence, a faint, wispy voice finally emerged.
”…I was… afraid that I would receive a scolding… that is why…” she confessed, her voice barely audible.
She was about to vanish. She said only that, and then fell silent again.
Natsume-san’s back was trembling. I could even hear the sound of a suppressed sob.
She really was afraid. She dreaded being scolded by Ichimatsu above all else. Judging from the circumstances, it seemed she had tried to run away out of fear right before the meeting, and then reluctantly dragged herself back, resulting in the late arrival.
”…Is that your reason?” Ichimatsu drawled, sounding thoroughly disappointed.
Natsume-san’s defense wasn’t even an excuse, but it was clearly the honest truth. He looked down on her silently, and I felt no warmth in his gaze.
I interceded from the side.
”She was just nervous because I’m here. Natsume-san isn’t as used to males as my Imperial Guards, so thank you for allowing my attendance today.”
”Ah! No… not a-at all…” she squeaked, trying to squeeze out a reply.
But Ichimatsu’s words cut off our conversation.
”Raise your face, now. It must be difficult to converse with the boy while you’re like that. The two of you seem to be quite close, wouldn’t you say?”
Implicitly, he was saying, *You barely answered my question, but you’re quick to chat with him.*
My defense had helped her, but the air in the room remained utterly poisonous.
”She’s struggling to lift her face because of me. I’m sorry for scaring you, Natsume-san.”
What I said was a fairly straight-out complaint: *You are the reason Natsume-san is afraid.*
Furthermore, my earlier line about her ‘not being used to males’ was a direct reproach that the lack of progress was his own fault—because he hadn’t properly faced his own Imperial Guard in years, she hadn’t gained the necessary experience with men.
He simply brushed it aside, however.
”Do not concern yourself; there is no dust on my tea room’s tatami,” Ichimatsu said, letting out a large, theatrical sigh.
At this, Natsume-san hesitantly raised her face.
Her large, round eyes—the eyes of a faint-hearted, dreamy, peace-loving female—were clouded with fear. Her eyelids twitched nervously.
She was part of the Exploration Squad and wasn’t used to this kind of setting. The stifling atmosphere of a rigid tea seat is unique. She had never received the education necessary to deftly dodge the veiled insults and subtle attacks, stuck between two high-status males. She was like a commoner sandwiched between two nobles.
Natsume-san took one look at Ichimatsu’s face, and her eyelids seemed to spasm. Then, large tears spilled over.
”Was something on my face?” he asked.
”N-no, my lord. I-I was just so happy to see Ichimatsu-sama’s face after so long!” she cried out.
”Is that sarcasm?” he snapped.
”I apologize! No, it isn’t. And you look so much thinner; it is truly pitiful…”
I didn’t know how long it had been since she had truly looked at his face. Ichimatsu often wore a male’s eye-covering mask. He wore one even at the joint meeting with my Imperial Guards before the infiltration mission. Escaping into the pleasure of his mystical objects, he had likely deteriorated significantly since the appearance Natsume-san was familiar with.
”Oh, why are you in such a miserable state?” Natsume-san wept.
”It is not your fault. It is my own lack of virtue. Cease your worrying.”
A master’s ill-health is always the servant’s fault, no matter what. That was the hidden meaning of his statement. Natsume-san was visibly shocked by his brusque dismissal.
”The conversation seems to be flowing nicely. Was I an interference after all?” I asked, trying to prompt him to move past the sarcasm and psychological torment and get to the actual business of the meeting.
Ichimatsu glanced at me, his face showing mild dissatisfaction.
”Why, no. Today is a long-awaited tea ceremony with a female. They say there are also tales of great battle功名 to tell. Let us both relax and enjoy the occasion.” he rebuked, without seeming to have lost his temper.
Did he truly have no personal thoughts on the matter, despite having neglected his own Exploration Squad for so long? Regardless of his inner feelings, he certainly had no intention of rewarding or thanking Natsume-san for her patched-up, poor-quality service that was nonetheless full of genuine sincerity.
”Now, commence your report.”
With that single command, the explanation of Natsume-san’s infiltration mission began.
* * *
Her story was disjointed and hard to follow, a reflection of her fragile mind state.
The gist was that she had been captured by the enemy midway through the infiltration and held as a prisoner. She was made to recount the events in detail, in chronological order. Of course, the formal report had already been compiled by my Imperial Guards, and Ichimatsu had read it. This was merely a storytelling session, a performance to satisfy the master’s demands, with him already knowing the contents.
She mentioned her own failures along the way: the impact of her addiction to the mystical object on their strategy, the incident where she fired on her own comrades, and the final moments of Kaede-san and Kiri-san.
Her subjective account often differed from the objective report, but overall, it aligned with my own experience. I could see the signs of her muddled head and her repeated efforts to rework the narrative of her report.
Ichimatsu listened silently.
The most glaring fault was her repeated behavior of prioritizing her comrades’ lives over the strategy. Ichimatsu, who usually rages easily, should have been furious, but he neither shouted nor interrupted with a question. His calmness was unbelievable, considering his usual attitude toward females.
”…That is all,” Natsume-san concluded.
Having recounted everything, she could not hide her anxiety before the unmoving face of Ichimatsu.
”Kaede and Kiri died… and I alone survived, my lord. I deeply apologize for failing to meet your expectations. I will accept any punishment.” she pleaded.
Natsume-san bowed her head deep into the tatami. She was like a criminal before a judge, no longer offering any excuses, simply awaiting the sentence of her master, having given up hope.
”Well now, I understand the circumstances. The matter of the report is concluded. No punishment will be given.”
Ichimatsu’s expression did not change.
”It is sufficient,” he stated, giving a single nod of his chin.
That was all Ichimatsu had to say about the grueling course of the war and everything that had transpired. I knew he wouldn’t offer a single word of appreciation, even though people who served him had faced death and died for him.
But I hadn’t expected him to refrain from even a scolding—not from a man who would strike his attendant with a cane.
”But ‘expectations’? That’s a strange thing to say, isn’t it? Do you know what I truly expected of you?”
Natsume-san’s body flinched.
”Society celebrates only the boy—in comparison, the rest of us, master and servant, are but a tattered paper sliding door. Have you never heard what the males at the town tea parties call me?” he asked.
”No, my lord. I apologize, I am not familiar with those rumors.” she replied.
”So you know nothing of the east or the west, not even how to boil a potato? In that case, it cannot be helped.” he mocked.
”To live in shame is my fate, my lord. I am truly sorry.” Natsume-san bowed.
”Do not misunderstand. I am happy that you survived.”
…It was becoming truly pathetic to watch.
People who had dedicated their lives to supporting him had died, yet his tone implied that Natsume-san was somehow wrong for having survived. He must think that a retainer who cannot fulfill his wishes is not worth the emotional effort. While correct for a master in this era, he was too cruel. I didn’t even believe he had ever had faith in the infiltration strategy’s success.
First, he sent the three of them—Kaede-san and the others—into an enemy dungeon where success was unlikely, and then he simply gave up control over the second joint strategy, telling them to do as they pleased.
I decided to defend Natsume-san. If he truly wished her dead, and if she was going to be fired as an Imperial Guard, I would take her myself.
”Ichimatsu, did you really come to this town just to say such things? You never even try to meet with her normally. You should try to be a little kinder.” I protested directly.
”You seem to know me well. If so, do you know this as well? I do not welcome interference from outsiders. There was something I wished to confirm with her directly.” A voice like dry leaves scraping together answered me.
”I never expected battle results, in any case. My real business lies elsewhere. The report was secondary,” he stated flatly, shooting back the words like arrows.
It was as I’d suspected all along: Ichimatsu was indifferent to the success or failure of the mission—even though he feared the mocking laughter it caused at the tea party.
Ichimatsu frowned, chastising my interference again.
”…I am constantly humbled by your concern for your females. You must have received fine instruction from a young age.” he drawled.
”It’s nothing grand. I can teach you how to do it. Why don’t you try putting it into practice now?” I countered, offering a challenge.
”An interesting notion. I shall be sure to ask for your help when the time is right.”
That meant, *This is utterly useless, and I shall never ask you for this again*.
Ichimatsu turned to Natsume-san and asked,
”You are quite cherished by him. Do you like the boy? Do you hold any favorable feelings toward him? Tell me the truth.”
”No…” she began.
This was a terrible question for Natsume-san. She couldn’t affirm it in front of her master, but denying it would trample on my feelings, which had shown her exceptional favor. A male’s consideration is precious, and she couldn’t easily reject it.
I wouldn’t have minded being rejected, personally.
Natsume-san could only kneel, pale-faced and sweating cold sweat. The more I championed her, the stronger the backlash against her became.
”Now, allow me to say a thing or two about the boy…”
Ichimatsu changed the subject. Since the master of the house had spoken, we were obliged to listen quietly.
After all, he had gone to the trouble of coming to this dangerous place to arrange a meeting with Natsume-san. It’s not normal for a master to come to the servant. And I was still concerned about what else he wanted to ask her.
”This boy here has acquired a most valuable Psionic Power. At the earlier tea party, the gentlemen couldn’t stop talking about it. The boy, however, seems not to understand the gravity of his power, as he would send his Imperial Guards onto the battlefield…”
Unnecessary care, that was. He must be referring to Trash-san. Her Psionic Power was the envy of many.
Regardless of his opinion of me, he was at least willing to acknowledge Trash-san’s value.
”But, look here, it is what one might call the ideal of the master-servant relationship.”
Ichimatsu’s way of speaking, for once, was not distorted by his usual cynicism.
”It has been rightly said that as a person is the mirror of another, so too is a Psionic Power the mirror of the master-servant relationship. It is through the grace bestowed by the master that the female gains true loyalty. It is only by remembering the noble sacrifice of the male that she strives even harder to grant his wish.”
His voice had taken on the tone of delivering an edict.
”That is, of course, assuming the servant possesses the sincerity to wish for her master’s happiness.”
Ichimatsu addressed us both.
Psionic Power is the metric used to gauge the quality of the master-servant relationship. That is why the compatibility between master and Imperial Guard is given such importance. Ichimatsu now turned his gaze toward Natsume-san, who was still pale-faced and submissive.
”Use it,” he ordered.
His hollow, ghost-like eyes were fixed upon her form.
”What is the matter? You haven’t forgotten how to use the thing I gave you, have you? It should be a valuable Psionic Power, filled with gratitude and a desire to repay your debt.”
Natsume-san could not offer a single word in return. She merely curled her back a little more, shrinking away.
”Surely, you would not have me believe there are ulterior motives at play. Not from an Imperial Guard whom I have shown such favor to, even renaming her!”
All of Ichimatsu’s Imperial Guards possessed useless Psionic Powers. They were neither a fighting force nor a source of money, truly neither a toxin nor a medicine. For years, he had been mocked for this, becoming a source of ridicule in the male-dominated society.
Of course, Ichimatsu knew Natsume-san’s Psionic Power.
I had only seen her Psionic Power once. She could make any characters she liked float on the surface of her body. That was all. She couldn’t even use it as camouflage to blend into the scenery. It had no room for development.
The color had drained from Natsume-san’s face.
”I beg your forgiveness!” she pleaded.
”Why? Use it. Show me your belly!” he pressed.
”Please, have mercy!” she begged.
Ichimatsu was the one who had given her that Psionic Power. To refuse, saying it wasn’t worth displaying, would be an insult to him.
Was this man trying to make Natsume-san commit seppuku (cut her belly)?
If he pressed her like this, a female would surely die. My own Imperial Guard, Sow-san, had attempted suicide once. So had Cult Slut-san. Females take the words of a male far more heavily than one might think. They are genuinely, deeply hurt, like innocent, small children.
”Ichimatsu, if you don’t want her, I’ll take her.”
I spoke up, aggressively, as if ready to bite at him. I couldn’t remain silent anymore. I knew he told me not to interfere, but I couldn’t bear it.
”It will not be granted. I am asking her strongly for a purpose. It is a matter of confirmation.” he refuted.
”Then tell me the purpose! Pointlessly tormenting her like this achieves nothing. She can’t choose what kind of Psionic Power she gets!”
For the first time, Ichimatsu’s face showed a slight hint of displeasure. Though his tone had been harsh all along, he hadn’t displayed any actual anger until now.
”She is my Imperial Guard. Hold your tongue now.” he commanded.
”Yes, she is Ichimatsu’s Imperial Guard. But she’s not a toy. She’s a human being. If the price is money, I will gather it, no matter how many years it takes.”
Ichimatsu pressed a hand to his mouth and slowly reverberated on my words.
”A toy… A toy…”
After a strange, brief moment of silence, he returned to his usual sarcastic demeanor.
”I will consider it if you offer one of your own Imperial Guards in exchange. With your nature, can you do that? If you cannot, then stay out of it.”
Natsume-san had undergone the Oath of Fealty Ritual, making a transfer usually impossible. But he was saying he would consider it if I offered one of my useful Psionic Power users in exchange.
I thought about it.
”I can’t do that, but I’ll give you one of my fingers instead. My nerves will surely generate a useful Psionic Power user for whoever uses them.”
”Hmph. For this old woman?” Ichimatsu questioned.
”I’ll exchange my finger for Natsume-san. You can use it for whatever woman you like. After all, you have no attachment to Natsume-san herself.”
Ichimatsu stroked his chin, seemingly impressed.
With my finger, I could somewhat guarantee the quality of the Psionic Power that would manifest. Everyone in town knew that the Psionic Power users born from me were never failures. If he took it, Ichimatsu could frame it as a favor he did for me.
Exchanging my finger for Natsume-san would make all the males in town mock me, saying I was a man who didn’t know value. My Imperial Guards would also be saddened, but I had decided to live with them through that sadness.
”I refuse.”
A clear, slightly raspy voice rang out in the room.
Natsume-san had raised her face and flatly rejected my proposal.
I was stunned. I hadn’t expected her to have the courage to interrupt a conversation between two males.
Her face was lightly stained with tears and snot, yet she spoke with a strong tone I had never heard from her before.
”No! I will not leave. Ichimatsu-sama is my only master!” she declared, trembling but resolute.
She was standing up to both Ichimatsu and me.
”Even if I am useless, even if my presence is a nuisance to you, my master will be Ichimatsu-sama for life. I will never serve another!” she cried out.
Her large eyes pierced me straightly. They held the light of an unyielding will. She seemed like a completely different person, utterly unlike the peace-loving, frail female I knew.
For a moment, I was speechless, overwhelmed by the intensity of her resolve. I could say nothing to Natsume-san.
This was the first time I had ever experienced a female emotionally overwhelming a male. My mind had gone blank.
”Ichimatsu-sama, that was extremely rude of me. I am ashamed that I hesitated to use the Psionic Power Your Lordship bestowed upon me. Please forgive me for fearing the punishment I myself offered to take. I will show you my Psionic Power now!” she announced.
”Hmm…. …Is that so?” Ichimatsu muttered.
Natsume-san moved to loosen the hem of her kimono and expose her shoulder, ready to display the characters that floated on her skin.
She was ashamed of her moment of hesitation and regret, and she stopped trying to protect herself. She was prepared to accept her destiny, flawed Psionic Power and all. She had found this resolve because she was about to be separated from Ichimatsu; the possibility of their bond being severed was what cemented her will.
However, just as she was about to use her Psionic Power, a hoarse word caught our ears.
The tone of his voice was unlike anything I had heard from him before.
”Natsume. I remember now.”
Natsume-san immediately froze in place.
Ichimatsu, oblivious to her, frowned and groaned, casting his ghost-like, bulging eyes up at the ceiling. He seemed perplexed, unlike his usual self.
Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, he spoke to the bewildered female.
”Natsume, I apologize, but we must change location. Bring the boy with you, and follow me.”
”Eh? I-Ichimatsu-sama! Did you just call me by my name?” she gasped.
”Hurry. Do not tell me you have forgotten how to walk, too.” he admonished.
Ichimatsu abruptly stood up. Then, he quickly left the room.
Confused, we followed him out of the room. Natsume-san and I exchanged glances, neither of us understanding what was happening. We were both utterly confused.
My bodyguards, who had been waiting and listening outside the room, Ichimatsu’s attendants, and everyone else was just as confused. We all followed his frail figure, which wobbled slightly as he pushed himself to the front of the main hallway.
The unheated hallway felt cold underfoot. The floorboards creaked under our weight, and the mansion became colder the further we went inward.
”Where are you going, my lord?” Natsume-san asked timidly from behind him.
His body was weak, and I felt he shouldn’t be left alone. He should have used a cane even indoors, but his pride would not allow it.
Ichimatsu didn’t answer her question, instead posing a different one.
”There was a time when you and that boy over there indulged in some foolish amusement, was there not? It was at the farewell party, before I gave you the mission. Do you recall it?”
It was a brief greeting with Ichimatsu and our respective Imperial Guards before the joint strategy, where Kaede-san and the others had shown off their Psionic Power to me. I remembered Ichimatsu suddenly becoming agitated and leaving as if he were fleeing.
What was he talking about?
”I remember. We displayed our Psionic Power so that you would be familiar with our abilities.” Natsume-san confirmed.
”It was more than just a display. Why did you think to use your Psionic Power for such a childish game?” he pressed.
”We thought that our Psionic Power was best suited for the amusement of a young lord, my lord.” she explained.
The three of them performed acts that were like street theater to entertain me. We spent a short, pleasant time together, thinking of ways to use their Psionic Power. Remembering that time still caused a pain in my chest.
”I-It was my arbitrary decision! Did it cause you displeasure, my lord?” Natsume-san asked, her anxiety returning.
”It did not. Seeing it, I remembered a very distant past,” Ichimatsu answered, a rare breach of etiquette as he continued speaking while walking away, his back to us.
”You must think of me as a troublesome man who only causes grief to others. And you would be perfectly right. I was planning to die soon, rejecting society entirely.”
At his words, the females let out small, stifled screams.
He had been planning to commit suicide.
This was a complete shock to his Imperial Guards as well. I had no idea either, though I had suspected he was wastefully spending his accumulated money and contributions to the town.
”Even in death, I could not stomach being enshrined as ‘the tragedy of the town’ or some such thing, but it was unavoidable, given the custom.” Ichimatsu continued, his voice raspy as he pressed on.
So his selfishness was just a final act of spite before his suicide? I was surprised by this fact, and even more confused that he was holding a conversation with a female without getting angry.
Ignoring the Imperial Guards who were trying desperately to cling to him, he stepped down onto the earthen floor of the mansion, pulling on his snow sandals.
”I finally understand the reason I could never let go of you people, who possess such worthless Psionic Power, even while I hated you all in my heart.”
We had arrived at the back of this old house. There, two coffins stood.
Inside were the bodies of Kaede-san and Kiri-san. Both bodies were surrounded by ceremonial flowers.
Ichimatsu had truly retrieved their bodies to mourn them. That was utterly unexpected.
—
Notes and Insights
* 1 [Higashi (干菓子) are traditional Japanese dry confections, often served during the tea ceremony, typically made from sugar and flours like rice or soy. They serve as a perfect counterpoint to the bitter matcha (green tea). It’s a key part of the formal gift-giving etiquette. Think of them as fancy, molded shortbread.] ↩
* 2 [Kujukuri (九十九里) is a famous coastal area in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, known for its long, beautiful beach. The text suggests that the surrounding town area has been politically incorporated into the region, adding a layer of contemporary political reality to the feudal-like world-building.] ↩
Notes:
• Ichimatsu – A high-ranking figure associated with the Imperial Guard, mentioned as having spineless guards around him, with no further details provided.
• Natsume – A female companion and younger sister of Kaede-san, cared for by Kaede-san during their journey through the dangerous valley, at risk of infection from the parasitic creatures.
• Psionic Power – Mental energy concept in Chapter 35’s lecture. Trash-san teaches it to strengthen the protagonist’s mind after dungeon ordeals.
• Kaede – A female psionic explorer known as Necksplitter, is a veteran assassin and messenger of Lord Ichimatsu. Her appearance is both young and old, with gray hair streaked through black and vibrant, unlined skin. She is graceful yet carries the fatigue of a long life in war, resembling an old hunting dog. Her psionic ability is mysterious and potentially dangerous.
• Kiri – A female sniper and member of Kaede-san’s team, white-haired with sleepy eyes, wielding a disguised sniper rifle, known for her quick hands and slow speech, often joking in dire situations.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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