บท 31: 31. The Role Of Kozuki Sukiyaki
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Looking at the inexplicable expression in Kozuki Sukiyaki's eyes, Alex could sense just how much this old man had endured. After all, Sukiyaki was someone who had hidden in this secret room for years, entirely cut off from the outside world.
Reaching out, Alex slapped Kurozumi Orochi on the head, saying, "Now, you're going to explain what happened after his death. Stick to the facts and don't waste my time!"
The slap seemed to jolt Orochi, as if it brought back the memory of his own decapitation. He began explaining to Sukiyaki what had befallen Wanokuni in the years he'd been absent.
As he spoke, his childhood experiences seemed to bubble up to the surface. What started as a forced explanation under Alex's command soon became laced with bitterness and malice, each word brimming with his own grudges and personal hatred.
The atmosphere was tense, almost surreal, yet Sukiyaki listened to everything Kurozumi said in a daze.
Then, at the mention of recent tragedies, Sukiyaki trembled, taking a step back. "What did you say?! Oden... Oden is dead?!"
His words were filled with disbelief, quickly followed by a father's fury. "Orochi! You despicable, shameless b*****d! Oden showed you nothing but kindness!"
With that, he surged forward and struck Orochi hard across the face.
Normally, Orochi would plead and cry for mercy, but now, his face twisted with hatred as if he were facing a mortal enemy.
"I am Kurozumi! Don't forget how the Kozuki clan condemned our clan to extinction! Anyone with the name Kurozumi was marked for death!"
"When I was a child, I vowed that if I survived those nightmares, I would exact revenge on the Kozuki family! And now I have!"
"But that wasn't enough—I want revenge on all of Wanokuni! Every soul here will be enslaved under my rule!"
"It's a pity I couldn't capture Kozuki Oden alive, to publicly execute him and satisfy the rage in my heart!"
Orochi sneered viciously, his expression a dark satisfaction. To him, Kozuki Sukiyaki was a symbol of the beginning of the Kurozumi clan's suffering.
At this, Sukiyaki drew a blade from somewhere and slashed at Orochi in a blind fury.
Orochi, who had been sneering seconds before, looked panicked as he saw the blade descending.
––Clang!
Alex intercepted the blow.
"Hey, old man, they're all valuable hostages." he said coolly.
Hearing this, Sukiyaki looked at Alex, still unsure of who this man was, but knowing one thing clearly: "How could I not execute this villain with my own hands?!"
Alex, evidently expecting this reaction, pointed his red-tinted blade, Akazakura, at Kurozumi's head. Orochi broke into a nervous sweat under Alex's cold gaze.
"Right now, he's the shogun of Wanokuni. Even if he gained it unjustly, he holds power," Alex remarked.
"If you want his life, then you must pay the appropriate price."
Alex turned to Sukiyaki, keeping his tone short and direct. "Let's not waste time, Sukiyaki. My name is Alex. You don't need to know anything more. I came here for one purpose—to use your name and help me become the next shogun of Wanokuni!"
Alex laid out all the requirements clearly.
There were two ways for an outsider to claim the title of Shogun of Wanokuni.
The first was brute force—simple but limited. This method, however, was unsuitable for Alex, who sought long-term rule and control over the powerful samurai forces of Wanokuni.
The second option was succession, a direct claim endorsed by the current shogun. This would provide legitimacy and align perfectly with the traditions of Wanokuni, a country that had remained isolated for years.
If Alex hadn't discovered Kozuki Sukiyaki was still alive, he would have used Kurozumi Orochi as a mere puppet, leveraging his position to secure control. But with Sukiyaki's return, Orochi's current status as shogun became meaningless; to Alex, the only remaining use for Orochi was as a tool in his plans.
"You want to become the Shogun of Wanokuni?!" Sukiyaki's face tensed as he frowned, then shook his head. "Impossible. The ironclad edicts passed down through generations cannot simply be handed to an outsider."
Hearing this, Alex's expression darkened. "Don't mistake me discussing terms with you as an indication that we're on equal footing here."
"Kozuki Oden is dead, and you've spent years hiding here, feigning death. Do you think anyone else is suited to inherit the Kozuki legacy? That vanished kid?"
"If I truly wanted to rule Wanokuni, no one could stand in my way."
"Even Kaido backed down from Wanokuni because of me. If I wasn't pursuing the best solution, do you think I'd seek out a relic like you, hiding in the shadows? Or is Wanokuni's tragic future something you wish to see?"
Alex's aura flared, emanating a force that filled the room.
Using his heightened perception of emotions, much like the empathy of Otohime from Fish-Man Island, Alex voiced every one of Sukiyaki's fears, laying them bare. The intensity of his presence made him seem almost demonic, forcing Sukiyaki to step back, his face pale and uncertain.
"Alex—no, Lord Alex! I am the rightful shogun of Wanokuni!" Orochi stammered, sensing the shift in power. He fell back into his groveling tone, practically begging. "That man is already dead! If you wish, I'll proclaim you as the Shogun of Wanokuni across the entire nation!"
Orochi's words seemed to pierce through Sukiyaki's resistance, reminding him of the legacy that Orochi had already destroyed. The so-called sacred traditions had been shattered since Orochi's betrayal, and under his tyranny, the people of Wanokuni had suffered unspeakable misery.
A painful realization settled over Sukiyaki's heart.
Anger surged as he recalled Oden's murder, the long years of Orochi's ruthless reign, and his own helplessness. Sukiyaki gripped his blade and took a step forward.
This time, Alex didn't intervene—he already knew Sukiyaki's decision in his heart.
Orochi, realizing the shift, redirected his pleas to Sukiyaki, his voice frantic. But this time, the blade came down without hesitation.
––Shuh!
Blood splattered as Kurozumi Orochi's final expression, a mask of terror and resentment, remained frozen on his severed head as it tumbled to the ground.
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