Chapter 77: Unescapable Fates
In the forest by the border where the army of the Nachi clan is staying at to guard it, a small celebration was being held a few days after the tide of infection was overturned and brought to halt.
"Banzai!"
"Iwasawa-san! Banzai!"
"W-Woah!"
This was a celebration formed by the men who was saved by the young doctor. They swept him off his feet and threw him up into the air in celebration of his deeds.
"H-Hey! Let me go! I just ate, you numbskulls!"
"Oh! Everyone, stop!"
The joyous throwing was stopped though after he looked pale on the face, probably suffering from an upset stomach after all of that sudden movement.
"W-We're sorry, Iwasawa-san! A-Are you okay?"
"No…Not much…"
Today was a busy day for the army. It has already been a week and a half since they initial spike of infections has been met with medical action and after a few days since they were given medicine or had their insides drained of excess fluids due to the disease, Iwasawa Hiroshi, the doctor of the camp, has declared the disease to be eradicated in their force.
"Take care of those. That instrument is fragile so keep it inside the padded box."
"Y-Yes, sir."
Although they are still recovering their health and regaining their strength, the leader of the army, Himeji Kotori, under the orders of Prince Nachi Tozen, ordered the camp to be deconstructed in order to move it further into the enemy's territory.
Many of the soldiers were confused with it since even they knew that the forest must be barricaded as it is an access way to Inaba, their capital. But after an explanation from Kotori, who said that reinforcements armed with guns and carrying stronger palisades and barricades are coming, they were turned into an assault force whose job is to drive the enemy back as much as they can to give way to an incoming Spring Offensive by the Nachi clan.
"Forward march!"
And today, they assaulted the fortress that acts as the foremost defensive structure in their way to the official capital of Haguro province, Myoko city.
"Archers! Light your arrows and fire at will!"
"Burn the Keep! Don't let the enemy use it as a firing tower!"
The defenders, who were caught unprepared as the cease-fire agreement is still in place, desperately kept them at bay. They blockaded the castle's gates, manned the archer platforms and climbed their watchtowers as the Nachi army gave it their all to take the stronghold.
"Y-Your Highness! They have raised the white flag! They are surrendering!"
"Bwahahaha! Just as what you would expect from a great man like me!"
"Lord Tozen! Banzai!"
"""BANZAI!!!"""
As his men cheered, Kotori was the only one who looked past the horizon to see that her master wasn't the person responsible for the fall of the enemy.
"Wait… that is…"
It was another person who unfortunately, didn't receive the right praise for his actions.
"I yield. You have won, prince of the Nachi clan."
"Hmph! As you should have done way before."
After the enemy general presented his sword as a sign of unconditional surrender to the prince, the prince looked around to ask one thing.
"Who has brought me this victory? Speak up and I shall give you whatever reward you wish."
One man raised his hand and walked out of the crowd. After recognizing him, the prince's face became sour as his smile turned into a grimace.
"It was me who made him surrender. I have the sworn testimony of a hundred soldiers who entered the castle's keep with me."
"This is preposterous! Who would believe that a doctor like you entered a battlefield and made the enemy general yield to you?!"
"Yeah! Off with your lies! We have had enough of your crap!"
"Your Highness! Please order me to cut off this snake's tongue! He means to dishonor your victory!"
Hiroshi's statement was unsurprisingly met with the bitter remarks and even threats of death from the prince's retainers who had always looked at him as hindrance or unwelcome individual.
"I said that I am a doctor, but I didn't mention that I also have an experience with fighting in wars. I am a travelling doctor after all, I have to know how to fight against hostile armies and bandits."
"Silence! Your words mean nothing, outsider! You are no warrior!"
"Says the one who had his attack parried by this doctor."
After his sharp rebuttal, a few samurai officers strained their selves to stop their chuckles and giggles. It was at this time that the samurai's lid blew off and he drew his sword to cut off Hiroshi's head.
"I've had enough of you!"
"…"
One thing he didn't understand is that even though Hiroshi came from a fairly peaceful world of origin, he has supplanted it with an almost body-breaking training regimen in order to become a warrior worthy of being a Daimyo.
"Hyaup!"
"Argh!"
He took the samurai who was about to do a downward slash by the wrist, dashed behind him, and kicked his leg down to make him fall down to the ground.
"AGGGGHHHH!!!"
"…"
He then knelt on his back while still holding his arm which creaked audibly along with a painful screech. It was an armlock previously taught to him by Minori that if given the right amount of strength, can permanently dislocate someone's shoulder joint or snap their collarbone to half.
"Hey! Unhand him!"
"…Are you willing to listen to me now, Your Highness?"
"…You."
He let go of his retainer and stood up as the other samurai still had their blades and spears pointed at his neck as he fearlessly talked to Tozen.
"Well then… I am not ungracious enough to deny a reward to you… What do you wish, Outsider?"
"I will be taking in the enemy general as one of my men."
"WHAT?!"
"What is this guy asking for?!"
His demands caused a great confusion among the samurai who heard it. But his demands are not yet over.
"He will be absolved of his crimes. He will not be ordered to commit Seppuku and lastly, no one is allowed to harm him after he is integrated to my group."
"This is insane!"
"Your Highness! Never accept the request of this man!"
"He will surely bring harm to us if you allow him to do as he wills!"
Now, it wasn't only his personal retainers but every samurai officer in the tent were asking him to not do it. It was illogical after all to allow a former enemy who might try to make an attempt on your life to live near you.
In a sense, it is like a living in a house with a poisonous snake.
"…And how will you make sure that this man will not bring harm to my army?"
"If he does then I will take responsibility and be executed alongside him."
"…"
It was a fair deal. But not without some risk as well.
"Your Highness! Don't be snared with his words!"
"He must be working with the enemy! I knew it! He is just a spy!"
The prince sure hates him. But one thing makes him think twice about the current situation.
"I will allow it."
"My lord!"
"With all due respect, Your Highness! I wish you to reconsider your decision!"
"…"
He was looking at the female general of this army and he knew what the consequences would be if he will just waive the agreement between her and the stranger.
"Everyone. My decision is made as a way to not incur the dismay of the daimyo of the land where this stranger came from. I believe that you know about the land of Kiko at the South?"
"Why, yes, My lord…"
"We were beside you at the time when they invaded Yukonami. Although we had to escape before they arrived."
"Then, do you know what happens when you break an oath made under the patronage of the Kirin Lord?"
"That is…"
"I'm pleased that you are aware."
According to traditions and history, all of the Kirin Lords were described as individuals who strongly implemented the rule of law and maintaining of order. To make a promise under their name is to bind your entire being in that agreement that would even make Bushido look like a simple childish joke.
"General Himeji has signed an agreement with this man, and I wish to keep her dignity and honorable word intact. It is also a way for us to look good in front of such a strong and influential leader. Perhaps, we can even acquire the good favor of the Kirin Lord if we keep our word with this man."
Hearing their prince's words, the samurai officers around him looked in awe of the wise decision he made.
"Don't worry. I also carry the honor and dignity of my people. One thing that I cannot allow is to break my end of the deal. You have my word. This request is something that I have thought about in all angles."
"Enough talking. I give you the life of this man. Take him away and do as you wish, stranger."
After the bindings of the defeated enemy general was cut loose, he walked with his head down to follow the man who asked for his freedom.
"What a strange man… who the hell would ask for something like that?"
His men were still confused, but one thing they didn't gave any thought is who this man was to ask for something like that.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Do you believe me now?"
"Y-Yes… I am honored to be seated in your presence, oh great Kirin Lord!"
A few hours ago, inside the burning Keep of the border fortress that the Nachi army was laying siege on, a promise was made shortly after an introduction between Iwasawa Hiroshi and the commander of this fortress' force named Ayasaki Ayato.
"Surrender now and I will ask for your life once the Nachi prince will decide to reward the one who defeated you. I promise upon my name and title that you will live through this."
"Thank you, Iwasawa-sama… I pledge my loyalty to you from today henceforward."
"If you want to thank me, spill the beans… Who are sending these men after my life and why are they fanatically following that goal?"
Hiroshi might happily spare his life, but he too has an agenda to fulfill after sparing him from death.
"I… I lack enough information, my lord… I apologize for my incompetence."
"I see… It's fine. Let's go and finish this madness."
The young man sighed deeply before standing up to leave the collapsing structure with his captive.
Later that night, in his personal tent where the defeated Fujita commander marveled on the sight of the complicated instruments on the medicine table and the taste of the strange yet delectable dishes that was presented to him by the Kirin Lord's men, they resumed their conversation over some warm cups of tea.
"Even if you lack the specific information, I believe someone entrusted with the frontlines like you do at least has some things to say that might help me out."
"If I can, I would speak it… Just ask a specific question and I'll try to scrounge up my memories about it…"
Hiroshi thought up of something and then turned to his new subordinate with a question.
"Do you know of someone named Kitaro?"
"Kitaro? Kitaro… I think I have heard about him from rumors…"
"What kind of rumors?"
"They said that defectors from Nachi's army heard about his assassination during last year's winter. Apparently, he was killed while hunting at the border, probably from a roaming border guard of the Kusanagi army. But it was later proved wrong when he appeared during the deployment of soldiers to guard the forest trail nearby."
"What else?"
"Apparently, there were some differences after the two rumored events. He is known as a mild-mannered man who would even greet those of lower stature than him and would sometimes be seen helping out peasants who had their cart's wheels stuck in the mud. But after being deployed, he became more vicious and unfeeling for the commoners, sometimes even kicking them around for no important reason. The cause for the change in behavior is unexplainable…"
After hearing this, Hiroshi looked at his right-hand man, Minori who nodded silently.
"I see, that would explain some things…"
Hiroshi sipped his tea before asking another question.
"Is there another person in power who is helping out the Fujita clan?"
"Yes. This, I am aware of."
What Ayato spoke next made everyone in the tent to look at him in shock.
"The Shogun is currently in Myoko city. His Majesty, Amanogawa Sora."
"What?"
"Here of all places, huh?"
The news was something that rattled all of their expectations and thoughts. They were prepared to handle the few people that would slip by to make attempts on their master, but when the person that they suspect to be responsible for all of this is here himself, they only have two options on what to do.
"We can either talk to him or dispose of him."
"Don't make me do that decision, Minori."
It was a hard choice.
If they will talk to the mastermind himself, they run the risk of being entrapped or raising the amount of people chasing after their lives by a dozen.
But the other choice was no better. If they will come after the life of the Shogun, they can either kill him when he is innocent of it all which will make them the enemy of all Japan or kill the man responsible for all the assassination attempts that they experienced and still, make themselves the enemy of all Japan.
It was a conundrum. Anything they choose to do will all end in their losses.
"What can you suggest, Minori?"
"I suggest that we do nothing for now. Observe the enemy and look for a way to stop or minimize the opportunities that they can use to go after us."
"I am fine with that course of action."
With his approval, Hiroshi asked one last question to Ayato.
"Who is the man calling himself as the True Kirin Lord?"
Hearing this, Ayato's eyes lit up and he opened his mouth to say one thing.
"Niijima… I believe that the only one who has mentioned that title is a man from the northern province of Niijima."
With that, their next objective was clear.
"Once we arrive at the capital and judge it by our own selves, we must return to Kiko to prepare the advancement to the capital and instate Young Lady Misanagi as the Shogun… If destiny will allow it, maybe we can even topple all of our enemy's power once we retake the capital."
"I know. But we still have to move to Niijima. That is the only way for us to stop all of this madness."
"I understand, My lord."
Tomorrow morning, the army moved again further inland. They passed by villages who welcomed them, some still loyal to the Nachi clan while some decided to side with them in order to be spare from an attack.
Nevertheless, another week passed by and the 5,500 men from the assaulting army has finally reached the valley pass that they placed as their objective.
"It's another bottleneck, huh?"
"It is. These chokepoints are the main contested regions in the battlefields of Haguro. It is fortunate that we met much of the enemy force from the border fortress or else, we would have lesser men to field."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Lady Himeji."
Along with another defensive position that had to be protected was another illness to be caught by the men and cured by Hiroshi.
"Bacterial Flu… probably Pfeiffer's bacillus."
"Fife-what?"
"It's a bacteria named after a foreign physician named Richard Pfeiffer. If my microscopic examinations and medical knowledge isn't tricking me, this is bacterial influenza."
Hiroshi quickly went to his medicine table and turned pages after pages in a book written in some strange language that Kotori cannot understand.
"Uhuh… Antibiotics… Tamiflu would be the best bet."
"Wow…"
Himeji Kotori cannot understand what Hiroshi says and does when he is doing his job. It seems like he is just flipping the pages of a book, placing his eyes over tubes that has a crystalline lens and mixing powders and fluids together, but when he approaches his patients, all of them would cheer up, knowing that they are being relieved from their ails.
"Minori, can you please grind this for me? Take this one too, it needs to be boiled over the alcohol lamp."
"Yes sir."
He worked with absolute efficiency and with as minimal error as possible.
"I am still amazed of the level of technology that your province of origin possesses, Iwasawa-san. If not for it, many of my men would already be dead."
"Hm? It's nothing. I'm just doing my job as stipulated by our agreement."
Kotori, having nothing to do as their army was placed in a defensive area yet again, decided to kill time by talking to him instead.
"Can you tell me about Kiko?"
"Hmm… I don't really know what to say. The people are nice, they can be easily befriended and are polite. Each domain is unique on its own way and has cultural differences. I once visited Hikigaya-sama's domain and felt ashamed after a 6 year old kid was better at horse riding than me."
"Ahahaha!"
"There was also a time when I tried silk-spooling at the Fumikage domain, only to tangle some of it and making it lose some of its value as it can't be treated as fine silk anymore."
Through his words, Kotori can imagine the place. A place that she can never find in her homeland ravaged by war.
"I feel a bit jealous after you said all of that…"
"…"
"If in my next life, the heavens would decide to reincarnate me, I would choose to be a normal girl unlike now."
"Do you look at the future so drearily, Lady Himeji?"
"What do you mean?"
"After this war, there would surely be a time of peace. Why are your dreams of peace in the next life already?"
After being asked that, Kotori suddenly remembered that Hiroshi didn't know about the fate of female generals in Haguro after they retired from the battlefield or peace comes back and their service will no longer be needed.
"…I would probably be wedded to someone after we win the war. Probably to an influential family or some rich clan that will be important for the continued existence of my clan."
"Are you unhappy with that kind of destiny or future?"
"Yes."
The young woman hung her head and sighed with a wry smile.
"That is the fate that I would surely fall down to… That is just how all of this works."
She knew that it is unavoidable. She is far too insignificant for any great goal and she is bound by her destiny as an aristocratic woman.
"As a doctor, our job is not only to cure the illness of my patient but also what hurts them."
"What?"
"The true spirit of being a physician is ridding humanity of the things that hurt them."
Hiroshi spoke as he firmly grinded the medicine he is making using a mortar and pestle.
"But may I ask you, Lady Himeji. If people get used to not feeling pain anymore… when they live is such comfort that they cannot find a reason to improve themselves anymore… What would happen to them?"
"I…"
"They will become weak. So weak that even the simplest problems become a herculean labor for them."
Hiroshi looked at her and spoke.
"I once saw people breaking up their own families because they cannot accept that the other person has a different opinion than them. They cannot understand that the only thing they had to do to solve it is to lay down their pride, get out of their comfort zones and create a compromise that both sides can agree on."
"They sound fickle and… sensitive."
"They are. They lived lives so pampered and lacking in hardship that when they meet other people, they push their ideals on others, not willing to understand and respect each other."
Hiroshi's expression was somber yet solid.
"The only fitting end to those kinds of people is an end that denies them any kind of comfort. Even someone like me who is supposed to give people comfort grew weary and sometimes even lacking mercy for them."
Kotori slightly shivered from the tone and words that he used to speak.
"Still, I have to do my job even if I hate it. Perhaps, it's my only way to not become like them. I hate doing this, but this gives my life a purpose. It is better to live an inconvenient life than a life that doesn't have a point."
"That…"
"Did you understand what I am trying to say?"
Kotori read between his words. All that he wanted to say is that even if it isn't the life that she wants, she must live a life that has a purpose. She might be confused and lacking in direction right now, but she didn't have to limit herself to a life that someone decided for her.
"Don't listen to your heart. The human heart says a lot of conflicting and self-serving things. Look upon what you have already done and what more you can do. In that way, you can continue to give yourself a goal to work for."
As Kotori hung her head to give his words some thought, she also wondered what kind of life the young man has lived in order to say such things.
He is still young, probably still in his late teens. But according to his profession, he must've traveled from one place to another and acquired wisdom from those places and experiences.
"What is the purpose of your life then, Iwasawa-san?"
"Me? I just want to protect and provide for the people who believe and cherishes me. Nothing more, nothing less."
"That sounds like a boring and uneventful life."
"It is. But compared to a life of emotional reclusion and drifting life objectives, a life not centered around yourself will keep you sane longer than this life of petty pleasures and materialism."
"Is that the reason why you always strive to save everyone who comes to ask for your help?"
"Exactly."
Their conversation was cut abruptly when the war drum sounded, signaling an incoming attack.
"Duty calls. I'll have to leave for the battle."
"Mm. May the heavens keep you safe, Lady Himeji."
"Thank you for the blessings."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
I arrived at the frontlines where our able-bodied men are lined up. Having some experience in battles and with their ill comrades behind them, their morale was high and their resolve was unshaken.
I, however, wasn't like them.
"No… It can't be…"
Because in front of me was an absurdity that I cannot easily accept to be happening.
"Lady Himeji… that clan banner belongs to them, isn't it?"
"Y-Yes… But why? I thought she and her sister wouldn't have to fight anymore!"
Indeed, why is this happening?
"Tsuna… why are you leading an army here?"
Destiny is playing against us again. And now, it was my turn to suffer.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"You imbeciles!!!"
A shout from the stout lord of the Fujita lordship echoed inside the castle hall as the news that their border forces has been defeated by the Nachi clan meant that his favor with the Shogun will be endangered.
"What to do… what to do… What should I do?!"
As his forehead was dotted with cold sweat and his hands turned clammy and sweaty from anxiety, the chuckling of a woman was heard as she entered the hall. It was Higuchi Chiasa, one of the Shogun's retainers.
"L-Lady Higuchi… I beg for your mercy, please do not inform His Majesty about this. I swear that I can still fix this before it becomes a problem!"
Even though he was the Daimyo of this land, he still bowed down to beg for the mercy of the woman who heard about his misfortune.
"Don't be worried, Lord Fujita. My lord has known about this and are pleased with it."
"W-What?"
"It might look like a lost to you, but according to Amanogawa-Uesama, this might be our chance to defeat the Nachi clan and finally silence them."
"I-I see… What does His Majesty plans? Please inform me so I can help out!"
"Ufufufu…"
The woman's subtle giggles hidden by her folding paper fan was pleasant to the ears. But once she spoke about her master's plan, that giggles turned grim and terrifying.
"There are a lot of traitorous people in Haguro… If they cannot submit to Uesama's rule, then it would be better to dispose of them earlier than planned."
She turned to one of the soldiers and gave him an order.
"Take the carts that we left in the courtyard. They are filled with barrels. Pour them at the river at our frontlines, it will certainly make us win the war with the enemy."
"A-As you command."
"Ufufufu…"
As the stout lord looked up from his bow, the woman's face wasn't the same captivating beauty as before…
"Ah, this takes me back… the feeling of ecstasy… the face of those mongrels as they suffer…"
"W-w-w-w-what…?"
"Ah~! This will surely be a sight to behold!"
Now, it looked like the face of a goddess of death happily claiming the lives of whoever she wishes to kill.
And as for the contents of the barrel, let's just say that there are things in the old world that shouldn't have been brought to this new world.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Ephraim_Chronia
Ephraim_Chronia Next chapter would hit like truck. Not just personally to the characters, but also for you, the readers.
- Editor KEY.
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