章節 119: The Consuming Fire of Rebellion
"Your Imperial Majesty! We implore you!"
"We implore you! Please return to the throne!"
The day when our first action of resistance finally came.
"Are those nobles from Kanae?"
"Yes. I heard they are here to convince the Emperor to return to power."
All of the male nobles in the Imperial faction came to voice out their appeal to the Imperial Palace where the Emperor and his family is living. With them being allowed only at the outer courtyard, these nobles were seen by those who just passed by or gathered to see what was happening.
"Hey! Why aren't the soldiers dispersing them yet?"
"Yeah! They're just making noise here, geez…"
"I wish that you can understand these, citizens."
"H-huh?"
"Even though their intention is clearly against Shogun Amanogawa, we were given strict orders to not harm them and instead, guard them inside the courtyard."
The captain of the Imperial Guards spoke after a group of men complained about the nobles and said that it was the nobles' enemy himself who ordered for their safety to be guaranteed.
"W-Why would the Shogun do this…?"
"M-maybe he isn't bothered by them?"
"That's hard to believe. But… If it's Shogun Sora…"
"Yeah. If it's Shogun Sora…"
"We implore you! Return to the throne!"
"Your Imperial Majesty! We implore you!"
As much as this might seem like a success for our cause, it somehow did the opposite of what we expected.
"Michi… this isn't how we planned this."
"I know. But don't worry Risako…"
"Oh… I see…"
"We've already expected this, so Taka has done what he should do."
Whenever I remember this time, I wished that I could go back and tell myself that all of this would be a mistake later on… but if not for this, I will not be able to understand… what it means to be a leader that understands and treasures his people.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
While the other members of Vega is out to set up the first stage of the public demonstrations in Hitachi, I was told to remain in Kanae due to my identity being well-known in these parts already.
Because of that, I decided to do some work for the team and came to the palace of the Imai clan to oversee the fitting process of the template clothing that we recently received.
"Master Miyazaki, it's a pleasure to see you today."
"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Imai."
"Are you here for the fittings of my wedding kimono?"
"Yes, my group has received the template clothing from our designer. Here it is."
With the help of her servants, the princess of the Imai clan changed into the plain, white kimono in the changing room and came out to show her appearance to her family.
"Oh-ho!"
"You're very graceful in that, dear…"
"Master Miyazaki surely kept his word… this kimono really befits a woman of your beauty, Shizuka."
"Thank you, mother…"
Although she looked very captivating in the kimono, I still can't unsee the defeated expression on her face… an expression that carried a sense of weariness and fragility that I do not like to just pretend that I didn't see or know about.
"I am very delighted with your product, Master Miyazaki. I don't have enough words to praise your people's craftsmanship that will allow my daughter to look so beautiful on her special day."
"Your praises are well received, Imai-kou-sama. My team will be glad to hear such praises from you."
"Well then, I do not wish to put pressure on your group since the wedding will be held months before, but is it possible for us to see the design that you will embroider to the clothing?"
"Ah. Well… I have done the designs that will be placed onto Shizuka-sama's sleeves. My team said that they will handle the other ones. Let me show it to you, then."
I opened my sketch pad and showed the white crane and wheat fields on each of the sleeves. It made the other members of the Imai family satisfied which I took properly.
"I will return next week to show the progress of our work. We are honored that you have spared some of your time to entertain our presentation, Your Highnesses."
"The honor is all ours, Master Miyazaki. To tell the truth, being one of the families who was graced with your people's exquisite craftsmanship has been a delight to us."
"Well then, I would be taking my leave now."
However, before I can leave for the door, someone beckoned my name.
"Master Miyazaki…"
"Oh, Lord Imai. Have you forgotten to mention something?"
"…Can I ask for you to stay for a while. I would like to consult you about something that might concern you."
"Well, I would be glad to."
The elderly man told his wives and children to return to what they were doing and left with me to the uppermost floor of his palace where an open-air tea room is located.
"This is…"
"Marvelous, isn't it? This is my private area whenever I wish to escape from the hustle and bustle of the world… my vantage point in this land…"
"…"
He sat in front of a low table and invited me which I obeyed. After which, a servant took a tea pot and poured the two of us freshly brewed tea.
"Haah…"
"Is something bothering you, Lord Imai?"
"…Yes."
Well, this is something…
"Can I ask what it is about, Your Highness?"
"…It's about Shizuka's wedding and our agreement with the Handa clan."
"…"
"Since you seem to have been going around in Kanae to hawk your wares, I believe that you have heard of the new coalition that is forming to back up the Imperial faction in Hitachi?"
"I have heard of rumors and such, but I really have no clue about it."
"Well, you are no politician, so let me simplify things… There are two factions in Kanae's huge pool of nobles and ever since the Shogunate's take over and the Emperor's handover of his power to the Shogun two years ago, this web of noble lineages has been halved into two factions… The Imperial faction that aims to return the Emperor to power instead of being just a figurehead and the Shogunate faction that aims to squash any group that may desire to break the Shogun's hold over the country."
"How does this weigh on your mind, sir?"
"Because the Handa clan seems to be turning away from being a leading figure in the Imperial faction and transitioning to a Shogunate-supporting clan. My concern is that if they will really side with the Shogunate, my daughter will already be a member of their family and we will have to fight on opposing sides."
As much as I wanted to me touched by his concern as a father, I am still reminded of the things be did to those four women under his old estate house.
"So, you are thinking about breaking the engagement and abandoning the plan of having a political agreement with them?"
"Yes… Yes, I do."
I weighed my choices and racked my brain to find a way into probing more of his inner thoughts.
"But wouldn't that gather ire from the other clans in Kanae?"
"I know that. In the world of the nobility, engagements are like treaties between families and breaking them is alike declaring war with the other side. But whenever I think of the consequences that will come with cutting off our ties with the Handa clan and comparing that with letting things to happen as how they will happen, I feel like I am making a mistake."
"…"
"Shizuka is very special to me… I do not want to hand her over to someone who cannot guarantee her safety and wellness."
I almost choked on my tea after he said those words. He seems genuinely concerned for his child when that child looks like she has given up on life after everything that he did without considering what she actually wanted to do.
"Pardon me for saying this frankly, Imai-sama… But I believe that this shouldn't be something that you have to treat as a dilemma."
"Huh?"
"As the merchandise ambassador of the Kashima Merchant Alliance, I have met so many people that belong to a diverse set of backgrounds during my work. Some of them are affluent merchants, some are powerful daimyos or fiefs, and some are people who can barely make it alive in everyday that they manage to live through…"
"What are you trying to say, Master Miyazaki?"
"I am saying that as a noble, your concern for your child is very admirable, but it also something that hinders you to do what a noble should do."
"…"
"I usually only speak as a merchant for I am a merchant. But just for this rare case, I will speak as human who has heard and understood your situation…"
I looked out of the terrace, casting my gaze on the rice fields outside of the fiefdom's capital town.
"If you desire to keep Shizuka-ojou-sama safe and secure, then cancel the marriage and endure the consequences… but if you desire to strengthen your family, continue the marriage and after that, side with the Shogunate faction."
"-!"
"It is a bitter pill to swallow, but the fact remains that you desire for Shizuka-sama's well-being while also desiring for your family's honor and prestige to not be tarnished."
With my analysis of him, the Imai lord isn't someone who can actually decide on something too large that it will affect everything that he has his hands on. Citing that he should abandon their longstanding stance of being in the Imperial faction will surely only make him cling to it more.
"But that would mean-"
"Yes, it would damage the Imai clan's reputation. But it will mean that you will not be fighting against your daughter's family and you can start over in the Shogunate faction."
"…"
"It is still your choice, Your Highness. I have only cited the decisions you can take as how I see things on my perspective."
I heard a loud and successive trail of footsteps from the door and after it opened, I knew that I have said what I should say at the right time as we planned.
"I apologize for this, Your Highness… But I bear urgent news…"
"Alright. Let me hear it."
The male servant whispered the news to his master and after this, the Imai lord was slightly bewildered as he stood up quickly.
"I apologize for cutting our meeting short, Master Miyazaki. But I have somewhere else to go right now."
"It is understandable, Your Highness."
"You, prepare my horse! And you, call my sons! We shall not be late for this gathering!"
""Yes, master!""
"…It's happening."
As I drank the rest of my tea, I whispered those words with a smile.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Are they still going?"
"They're growing in numbers too…"
"Geez… they've been begging the Emperor to come out, but nothing has happened yet."
"Hey, soldier! Aren't those nobles tired yet?"
"Seems like they still aren't. Just let them be, it's not like they are directly harming anyone."
"I know that but still… this is pretty obnoxious…"
At the Imperial palace, the numbers of the nobles in the outer courtyard grew larger and larger as time went by. From the very beginning, they kept on speaking the same words."
"Please hearken to our words, Imperial Majesty!"
"""Please listen to your humble servants!"""
The crowd of onlookers increased and dwindled from time to time. All of them seeming to be distraught with the activity that they think was meaningless or wasn't needed by anyone else but those nobles.
"Captain. I'm here with my platoon to relieve yours."
"Ah, thank goodness… our ears have been sick with their begging already."
"I know that… Come on, we'll take over now."
The soldiers guarding the outer courtyard was changed for the third time that day. The soldiers, although officially serving in the Imperial army, didn't seem to be so positive with having to listen to these nobles asking for an audience with the Emperor.
"You smoke too?"
"Yep. Maybe a stick or two will keep me patient enough to look after these people."
"Let me light that then."
"Oh, thanks."
The two soldiers conversed and lit their cigarettes while standing guard by the courtyard gate.
"Quite ironic that it was the Shogun who ordered us to look after his political enemies."
"Well, that's just how Shogun Sora is. It's not like they are slandering him so he's not that concerned about this."
"Still, I feel pity for these people who thinks that the Emperor would really rise up to power again after he himself gave the Shogun control of the country."
"Well, you never know. Even I am wondering if the Emperor will really act now of all times."
By past noon, the last batch of Imperial faction nobles arrived with plain clothes and a straw mat to join the others who are begging for an audience with the Emperor.
"…"
"Woah, woah… stop right there, kiddo. Where do you think you're going?"
"The area is closed off for anyone except nobles. If you're just here to watch, go do it outside of the courtyard."
The two guards crossed their spears to stop a young man and a woman with a staunch expression on her face from entering into the courtyard.
"We're here with the Imperial Faction."
"And how will you prove that?"
"They're with us."
"Oh, Lord Imai. It is a pleasure to see you here."
"I know… These young people are with me."
"And they are…?"
"Consultants. They are consultants of the Imperial faction."
As it was explained by the Imai fief, the guards looked at each other and opened the way towards the courtyard.
"Can we know your names so we can let you in again next time?"
"Michi… My name is Motoyasu Michi. And this is Risako, we are in the Imperial faction."
"…"
"Keep note of our name. I assure you that you will be attaching honorifics to it soon."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"And we suddenly saw this huge guy and he looked so scary!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! But the funny thing is that he has such a small and high-pitched voice! Ahahaha!!! It was hilarious to hear if you were there!"
With more of our demonstrations and sabotages needing to happen to drive public perception to our side, I offered my carriage to bring Kameko, Kisho, Taka and Yoichi to Hitachi while Luke carried our equipment and other supplies using his train.
"So, Vega has been active for a long time, huh?"
"Yep! We've been kicking Shogunate soldier butts ever since we became a group with Michi-san, Risako-san and Yoichi-kun as the founders."
"I was quite puzzled with this… are there really only seven Otherworlders in Hitachi?"
"Nope. There are about a hundred or so that are staying in Kyoga Sanctum. It was only because we asked for it that we seven was brought to Old lady Risa's house and stayed there."
"A hundred… wait…"
"Hm? What's wrong, Hiro-kun?"
"I thought that summoning Otherworlders only happen every five years. Why are there a hundred in Kyoga Sanctum?"
After I asked that question, everyone seemed like they are very confused about my question.
"Err… I don't really know. I didn't care enough to ask the shrine maidens in there."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. It just seemed natural to us to see the Chief Shrine Priestess waving her metal torch and dancing the Kagura dance to summon more people from our side. I think she's been doing it every week based on the time I stayed there."
"E-every week?"
"Yeah. D-Does that sound really bad? Why do you seem alarmed, Hiro-kun?"
Of course, I would be! From how I understood it from Reiha's words, summoning Otherworlders only happens every five years to keep things in balance. Why is the priestess in that temple doing it every week?!
"I… I think I should ask around once we are there. I am quite interested in it now."
"R-really? Well, it's up to you, Hiro-kun."
"Yep! We may join you sometime after we're done with our tasks. We have some acquaintances in there after all."
We stopped at the checkpoint to Hitachi and things would've gone well if not for something that literally shook the ground.
*Byug-! Ka-boooom!!!*
"W-What the-?!"
"Explosion! Explosion in the port!"
The ground shook for a moment as a large plume of smoke appeared from the port area of the city.
"Argh! Get that carriage in and lock the city gates!"
"Yes sir! Sound the alarm horn!"
"W-What is happening…?"
Our carriage was allowed to enter the city before the gates was closed.
"Hey! Head for the port first before we go to the Imperial palace."
"Yes, sir!"
The carriage driver drove our vehicle to the road leading to the port as I sat back down in my chair with the anxious-looking members of Vega.
"What's wrong? You seem like you're bothered about something."
"W-well… there was an explosion. C-Can't blame us for feeling a bit shaken, right?"
"Well… yeah. I guess you are right."
"Y-yeah… that's why we're a bit… shaken…"
We arrived at the seaside avenue and there, saw a ship split in half while soldiers are lifting survivors away from the site or putting down fires caused by the explosion.
"What happened here?"
"It's a bomb, boy…"
"Bomb? In a ship?"
"Yes. That merchant ship was ferrying supporters of the Imperial faction of nobles when someone seemed to have pulled out a box of some kind that exploded and took the lives of many of the ship's passengers."
The old man who saw everything that happened answered my question as I looked around and saw what he described.
"U-Urk!"
The bodies of the dead were laid on the sand. Most of them are either charred or had missing appendages.
"Hiro-kun. Let's get away from here."
"…"
"Come on, Michi-san and the others have to know about this."
Before I entered the carriage, I saw a familiar silhouette crossing the road from the beach.
"-!"
"Wait! Hiro-kun!"
I knew it… I knew it!
"Kh-!"
"Get back here!"
I knew that they are involved in this again! That unmistakable green hood! I know that far too well!
"…!"
"Stop or I will shoot!"
I drew my revolver from my side holster and warned the person to stop.
"…"
"Turn around…"
"…"
"I said turn-"
*Byak-!*
"Darn!"
Even though he did stop, he drew a gun and shot towards my direction which instinctively made me seek cover and let him run away.
"Kh! Damn it! Not again!"
"Hiro-kun!"
As I lost tract of my target in the narrow alleyways of the city, I can only curse towards myself and hit a wall in frustration.
"Hiro-kun… are you alright…""
"I lost him."
"Huh?"
"That guy with the green hood! He's responsible for that bombing!"
"Woah, woah! Calm down first!"
"Argh!!!"
In the end, I don't know what to think anymore. Surely, those greenhoods are working for him and they killed those people because it will weaken his grip on power… but somehow, there is something in my heart that didn't feel that this was right.
"Everyone! Lower your faces and shout praises! The Emperor will come to grace you with his presence!"
"Finally…"
"Our voice has reached the Emperor!"
But… things are just getting started. There are still a few more things that should happen before I realize what is truly happening in this horrible place.
創作者的想法 
Ephraim_Chronia
Ephraim_Chronia "Here we go! The gray area of rebellions."
-Editor ZERO
"Sure interests me of who might be the real evil in here."
-Editor KEY
"It's quite tiring to write these parts without siding too much with one group."
-Author Rai
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票