章節 160: The Product of a Cruel Hatred
"General Shimura… we have received the call from our covert agent."
"What does it say?"
"…The bombing will commence shortly before daybreak. We have about two hours before they receive the news, and the Coalition leaders seeks shelter deep in their castles."
"…"
"The time frame will be narrow, but if we move quickly and make as little mistakes and delays as we possibly can, we can possibly take over the capital before the news comes."
"Alright… inform everyone. We will move through the river by midnight."
"Yes, sir!"
In one of the intricate cave systems of Kisaragi province, Shimura Nobisuke received the report of his insider in the airfield. After learning that a critical mission that will affect the entire war is about to happen, he chose to follow the advice of his subordinate and ordered to have everyone else prepare for the attack that will happen.
"Finally… I can finally rid myself of that woman's curse. Once all of this is over…"
The embers of his hatred had sparked once again, setting his heart aflame and showing that he is prepared to do everything to see all of this through.
"Aoyama Natsuki… you will soon learn how it feels to be killed by the one whose life you have ruined since his earliest of memories."
Later that night, all of the lightbulbs of the cave was turned off and it was sealed off from the outside with two boulders. With their secret base secured, the 300-strong men whose loyalty to Nobisuke is second only to their homeland of Kiko descended from the mountains and boarded the bamboo rafts that they have hid amongst the shrubbery.
"…"
"Warf! BWARF!!!"
"Oi, oi, pooch! Stop barking randomly in there and get over here already!"
"Yauuuu…"
"…That was a close one, sir."
"It is… Mind the gap with the shore. We can't have their patrols see us passing by like this in such an ungodly hour."
The river was already hard to navigate through at day, and in such a night like this when it is a new moon, it is nearly impossible… except of course if the rafts are being driven by highly skilled people who already memorized all the possible behaviors of the river.
"Man… it really is handy to us to have the Manchiyo Shinobi clan on our side. If not for you guys, none of General Shimura's battles would've worked this deep behind enemy lines."
"It's our pleasure, sirs. We have no love for the new Coalition leaders… we were thinking of aiding them too, but we soon realized that they are nowhere near the ones that Amanogawa-sama once led."
"Does the other Shinobi clans think the same as you guys?"
"Not really… Some have decided to be neutral whilst a few remained to be loyal to the Coalition. Behind the darkness of the night, my fellow ninjas are battling against those ones and so far, has been able to push them out of the major cities where they can hamper the invasion force of the alliance later on."
"That's good… We all owe you one."
"We indeed do… Manchiyo Ninja, say this to your master once you come back to give your report."
"What is it, my liege?"
"…Tell them that once Kisaragi province is liberated, your families can return to their fields and leave this life of being saboteurs and assassins behind."
"-!"
"We will make this province peaceful… there is no more need for your bunch to remain in this line of work anymore."
"I-I will convey your words perfectly, my liege! I am sure that my comrades will be highly pleased with this!"
Finally, the forces of Nobisuke landed at the outskirts of the capital of Kisaragi province where the stronghold of its female daimyo stands above the heads of its subjects and slaves alike.
Since it was night, the mostly male slaves that carry out menial labor in the city has already been replaced by female slaves in the main and extended pleasure quarter. With their lives and even their femininity, a property of both their masters and those that rent them out, the sense of sensuality in the city is only matched by the sense of hopelessness in the eyes of every woman being displayed at the viewing areas of each brothel.
"As expected of her… truly a woman devoid of any shame or honor to create this disgusting place."
Split into various groups and disguises, the armed men of Nobisuke meandered the roads into the center of the city, all agreeing to meet around there for the surprise attack.
"Sir… we are being trailed."
"I know. They've been staring a hole on my back already for a while."
"…Should I dispose of them?"
His subordinate spoke with a deep voice while flashing his handgun towards Nobisuke. However, he gestured him to stop and instead, brought him to a detour towards a building at the main road.
"S-Sir…?"
"Let's make them lose their interest first…"
"This is…"
"Don't worry, this is just a bar. I made sure not to enter one of those shops…"
After both of them took a seat, Nobisuke asked for a bottle of Naka Sake which the bartender quickly brought and asked for an exorbitant fee for.
"Naka Sake? This far-off in the north?"
"It's normal. Reputable merchants that are registered in our guilds usually sell it off in either Hitachi or Yamato where it is passed on again and again until it reaches a point that we can no longer track. This is all normal."
Nobisuke poured the alcohol on his subordinate's cup and then his'. His subordinate savored the pleasant smell of the familiar liquor first before knocking it back, tasting the ever so gladdening taste of his native land's renowned rice wine.
"S-Sir?"
"…"
However, unlike him who has already drank his alcohol, Nobisuke simply stared at his filled cup and wordlessly sat there. His subordinate tried to call out to him, but he never showed any sign of responding back.
"…"
"You know, I have avoided drinking Naka Sake ever since that day when I lost my innocence and faith towards other people."
"Sir…?"
"Whenever I smell the unique odor of this alcohol, I keep on being reminded of that day when I lost those parts of me… I didn't just lose those… I think I may have never been able to reclaim it anymore either."
Nobisuke took the Sake bottle and sealed it with its cork before placing it inside of his pocket.
"Let's go. We can't keep the others waiting for us."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
After confirming that their pursuers are nowhere to be seen, the two continued towards the castle outskirts where they radioed out to their other comrades if everyone is in their respective positions.
"…Sir, all of us are in position. We'll be waiting for the signal."
"You don't have to wait for long."
*FWIIII-! SHWUG!!!*
Out of his coat pocket, Nobisuke took out his flare gun and fired it upwards, signaling the start of the attack.
"I-Intruders!"
"KILL THEM!!!"
And thus, the child who promised to slay his very own mother has begun his vendetta…
"I'll be there soon, woman…"
Such was the cursed promise of he named Shimura Nobisuke.
"I will make sure that you will regret everything that you have done."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
To Aoyama Natsuki, living by the tenets and cultural practices of Kiko province was a fate worse than death. Although others may see her social position as one that is favored in all possible angles, the truth is that none of it matters to her.
Although she belongs to inarguably the richest and most influential family not only in her province but in the entire region, is seen by the populace as a woman of high birth and honor, destined for greatness as a leading figure of her homeland and most of all, a woman that will be highly sought after by any man that sees her, all of it doesn't mean anything to her.
Instead, what she desires is something that anyone would see as utterly selfish, disgusting and probably even heretic… because for her who was born into a life that anyone else would see as being utterly blessed by the heavens, the bright and good side of things no longer bring any happiness, but instead, should be stained by the filth of all that is evil.
Nothing else exemplifies this trait of hers other than the day when all of her evil was poured out to the knowledge of everyone… and she brought ruin not only to herself but also to her birth and wedded families.
"Lady Natsuki… I'm nearly there~!"
"Do it! Do it~!!!"
Her husband, Shimura Shido, is in no ways a man who neglected his wife. Although there do are times when he has to leave the house for a few days to train or lead the Asura horsemen alongside his brother-in-law, Aoyama Takeshi, he is a man known by many of Aoya domain's residents as a caring and loving person when he is not in the battlefield.
The greatness of their wedding was said to be enough to be written down in history and be celebrated for a long time. After all, rice wine and all kinds of food was served in Aoya and it is even said that the Daimyo of Shinka, Kusanagi Kenji, sent a letter of congratulations to Shido even though just half a year ago, these two men met in battle and almost ended up having a duel to the death.
"I'm home! Is anyone-"
"Come back here, you wretch! I will silence you once and for all!"
Alas… the love of this man would be for naught… for instead of the loving greetings of his wife or her warm embrace as they are about to celebrate their wedding anniversary, he saw her half-naked and about to stab a knife through their son's throat.
By reflex, he dashed towards them and pushed his wife away from their frightened young son. He then slapped the weapon out of her hand and took it away…
"S-S-Shido…"
"N-Natsuki… what is the meaning of this…?"
That day, Shimura Shido's heart was broken into thousands of pieces… never to return to how it was before.
"YOU-! BASTARD!!!"
"UGWA-!"
"I TRUSTED YOU! YOU DAMNED ANIMAL!!!"
"S-STOP! STOOOOOOOP-!!!"
"RAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
In his pure and unbridled hatred, the knife that he himself forged and gifted to his wife to aid her in kitchen work was repeatedly plunged into the chest of his dear friend who betrayed him by laying with his wife. A dear friend who himself, was just a victim of the vixen that seduced him.
The bedroom that was once the nest of Shido and Natsuki's honorable love… was stained for one last time… but now, not by her adultery, but instead, the rightful outcome of her adultery.
"Natsuki… how can you do this…?"
"I… I…!"
"I trusted you… Takeshi-sama did too…"
"-!!!"
"How could you… not even just for my sake but for our son's…"
Deep inside, Shido knew that he is ready to accept if she would betray him, so long as she would leave his home and family afterwards… but the one thing that he cannot accept at all is the fact that this became known to their young son.
"Mother… you-"
"N-None of you can understand me! Absolutely none of you do!"
"-!?"
"I… I just wanted to do as I want to! D-Don't I have the right to do that?! I- I am in the right here!"
"Natsuki! You-"
"You shut up, you damned idiot! I won't let you control me anymore!"
To Natsuki, even if she already had attained everything that one would ever wish to have in a lifetime, it is still not enough for her.
To her, there is something even greater than what she already has… and for her to not have it is unforgiveable, no, it is unallowable.
And yet, the cruelest side of this belief of hers isn't only the fact that she is prepared to do anything, even sacrifice those around her, just to attain it… there is also the fact that she will not let reality itself to hamper that pursuit.
This cannot be more exemplified than the words that she gave to her husband that she totally betrayed and even caused to kill her lover.
"I want to be loved! But I don't want it to only be you! I want more!"
"More…?"
"I don't want to be trapped in this kind of relationship! I want more, no, not just that! I desire to be loved as someone more supreme than anyone else!"
She may have hidden her true intentions with those words, but it all boiled down to one truth that she wanted to speak out but cannot without sounding utterly wrong.
Put simply, Aoyama Natsuki wanted to attain everything, even absolute freedom… completely evading the truth that in reality, every freedom has its own kind of responsibilities that it entails.
Just like how one must be responsible for their words when they have the freedom to speak, and one has to take part in a job in order to justifiably earn their wages, "that act" too, must be withheld between two lovers alone as per the agreement in their marriage… and for them to be responsible of the product of such an act.
Alas, Natsuki wishes for even that to be no longer held against her…
"I…"
"N-Nobisuke…"
"I will…"
"S-son! Get ahold of yourself! Your mother and I are just-"
And for the young and innocent yet intuitive Nobisuke, hearing all of that brought out a side of him that would forever haunt both his parents.
"I WILL KILL YOU!!!"
"-!!!"
"I WILL TEAR YOU APART, YOU WITCH!!!"
"Ich! Son! Nobisuke! Stop!!!"
Even at the young age of seven, the strength that Nobisuke bore as he shouted those curses towards Natsuki was almost enough to even topple his father. It was only because of their difference in size that Shido was able to barely hold him back.
"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!!! I WILL CURSE YOU FOREVER!!!"
"Eeek!"
"I PROMISE YOU!!!"
"R-Run already! RUN!!!"
"Kh-!"
"I WILL KILL YOU, MOTHER!!!"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"AAAAAHHHH!!!"
Inside her luxurious bedroom in the inner walls of Hirano Castle, the exact same nightmare has awoken her yet again tonight.
"Haah… haah…"
Naked as the day she was born and surrounded by five men whom she had just pleased herself with, even the exhilaration and fatigue that she received from that wild night wasn't enough to bury that nightmare inside of her mind.
"Darn it… Dammit!"
Taking out her opium pipe from under one of her large pillows, she continuously cursed beneath her breath until she was able to stuff it properly and light it up.
"Shhh… Fwooo~"
After dressing up herself with a thin silk robe, she walked towards the window of her luxurious castle and looked down on the bright and still lively nightscape of Kisaragi province's capital.
"Everyone seems to be lively even tonight… it was my mistake to drain myself too early when the night is still young."
A site of brutally manual slave labor by day and a morally deprived city of lust by night, the words "city of sin" is the most apt way to describe this place that she snapped back from the hands of the rightfully instated Daimyo by the Shogun.
"Hmm… I am scaring myself too much. I haven't heard much about that brat ever since I came back to my throne, but what could he do against me? If everything went to plan, the discord between the Ayanami and Aoyama clans would lead to their shared demise, and Shido would never be able to reclaim any kind of influence as a Samurai."
Even after her husband's last act of mercy towards her of not immediately killing her nor letting their enraged son to do the same thing, there wasn't even a corner in Natsuki's heart that regretted what she had done.
Not only did she ruin their lives by staining their reputation and honor, but she has also left problems that she was sure would lead to a conflict and ensure that no one would be coming after her once she has made her escape.
"Everything was cleanly done… and I am now here. I have nothing else to think about other than getting to my next goal."
At this point in time, she has everything that one would ever desire… including even the greatest of the immoral and sickening vices that hides in the heart of humans… and yet, her goals are still way beyond her reach for her.
"I still have more work to do… I still have a lot of pawns to use to get to where I desire to be. No one can stop me… absolutely no one!"
She shouted out those words, declaring her intent to never back down from reaching another height in her avaricious and lustful ambition… until she heard the whistling of a lone firework that was too plain to seem like an intentional pyrotechnic display.
"W-What the-"
*KA-BYAG!*
"-!!!"
"Push! PUSH!!!"
"Fire at will!"
In not even a fraction of a second, several explosions rang out throughout the castle, beckoning the attention of everyone who noticed far too late the fact that there are enemies who have already infiltrated the castle town and is now using the element of surprise and speed to push into the castle itself.
"W-Who are those?! Don't tell me that that wretch really planned to bring me down… No, this isn't something that Irido will do… that braggart's ego is too big for a covert attack… then is it…"
The enraged face of her child whom she has never seen for almost two decades reemerged in her mind, making her quiver in fear yet again as she finally understood why she has been having that dream for a long time.
"N-no… it can't possibly be that brat… He's powerless… He can't possibly-"
"You laggards! Get yourself down there and defend the castle!"
Outside her bedroom, she heard her head overseer with her whip shouting out to the male slaves and soldiers to arm themselves and meet their intruders. With that, she was reminded that she is still in her home turf.
"R-Right! I am still the daimyo of this land! I am still the highest power here! I am in control!"
Once she has reassured herself, Natsuki took out her whip and made it whir through the air violently to wake up the five men who was lying on her bed.
"You louts! Arm yourselves and protect your lady! This is an order from me!"
And thus, the ignorant belief of Aoyama Natsuki that she is invincible in her castle invigorated her enough to stay put like this.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
At the outer battlements of the castle, Nobisuke and a portion of his men casually walked in and gunned down anyone who pointed weapons towards them.
"Archer, 10 o'clock."
*Pyuu! Tik-!*
An archer fired towards Nobisuke, but his arrow was blocked with a shield, and he was soon put down by a rifle bullet to the head.
"Fire the RPG on the gate in advance."
"Yes, general! Back blast, clear!"
"Clear!"
*FWOOOSH! KA-BYAG!!!*
An act that would've taken thousands of men to do just six years ago… is now being done by only 300 men. Armed with the best armaments that exists and training that no one else in the world has, there was little to no chance for the castle defenders to stop their advance.
"Finish off the stragglers! Don't let anyone who can put up a fight block our reinforcements!"
"Soldier, duck!"
"-!"
Unlike anyone else who leads a battle, Nobisuke was at the forefront, shooting with his men and putting himself in danger.
"Sir! They seem to be regrouping inside the inner battlements!"
"Then blow them into bits without remorse! We're not here to care about what's left of them afterwards."
"Yes, General!"
"You there! Hand me your other Ryuujin rifle!"
"Here, sir!"
Unlike official operations where needs to mind how Hiroshi and their other allies see this battle's aftermath, this mission that is completely out of records and classified beyond any recognition is something that he can afford to give the most brutal orders.
"Bullseye on the battlements! It's all crashing down!"
"Push forward! Fire back and don't leave anyone alive!"
"URAAA!"
In not even ten minutes, the main castle gate was breached, and they can finally begin the systematic clearing of the place.
"General! What should we do when we find the Daimyo-"
"Leave her to me."
"-!"
"Her life is mine to claim."
Deep inside the castle Keep, hundreds of soldiers, mercenaries and slaves are armed and placed in strategically advantageous positions, ready to fire upon and kill anyone that would break through the gates.
"You louts! Don't disappoint your master! Anyone who gets to kill even one of them would be greatly rewarded!"
In Kisaragi province, there is only one way to be rewarded when it comes to one's social standing. A soldier can be promoted to higher rank, a mercenary can gain money, women and even a noble title and a slave can be transferred to a kind of work that is less grueling.
Here, everyone is a slave of something and that is why everything works… but for he who seeks revenge and has his heart devoured by it, this never mattered for him.
*Ting! Clang-kang!*
"What the…"
"What is that can for?"
*BYAG-! PYIIIII-!*
"Ah! My eyes!"
"My ears!!!"
"Open fire! Don't let any of them fire back!"
After the shock grenade that was thrown over the wall detonated, it was followed by a group of Nobisuke's soldiers who rained bullets into the formation of their enemies and even brought down a bunch of riflemen on the far wall of the gatehouse.
"Move, move, move! Clear the area and find the commanders of the enemies!"
"Yes, sir!"
As his men moved in to secure high-ranking enemy officers or people in power who was left stuck in the castle, Nobisuke walked into the main palace with a calm pace that struck more fear into the hearts of those who saw him.
"…"
{"Son… I know that it is difficult for you to forget what you saw and erase that hatred in your heart. But I will say this once and I will say it again… It will do you no good to foster that hatred anymore."}
The words of his father repeated in his mind… reminding him of the day when even though he was allowed to keep their noble title, they permanently lost all figment of respect and reverence from not only the people of Aoya but also all across Kiko.
{"It is regrettable… She is my only child, but now, I have to hand Chiyo over to pay back the debts and shame that Natsuki left to our family. The female Ayanami clan leader at least guaranteed her safety… but as a father who won't see his child for a long time again… this is…"}
"…"
{"Nobisuke-kun… please don't continue down this road of hatred anymore. Stop while you still can change things."}
The very rare sight of seeing his uncle cry after having to give his only child to the clan that his mother also tricked, made his chest sting in pain. For a fearless warrior to show this kind of expression and even shed tears just to clean up after his half-sister that he is still forced to consider as family is something that would haunt him for a long time.
{"You know, Nobi-nii… I didn't get to spend much time with dear mother before she died, but every memory that I had with her was a beautiful and joyous one. Even if she had to leave everyone behind because of her illness, I don't think I would ever hate her about that… so about Auntie Natsuki…"}
"…"
{"Please, Nobi-nii… forgive auntie already."}
Even Chiyo, who was the one who was most hurt by his mother's actions and selfishness asked him to do that same thing as his father and uncle did.
And yet, none of them ever helped to singe off the flames of hatred and the embers of revenge in his heart… for unlike they who either loved this woman too much or still holds onto her because of their blood relation, Nobisuke's personal reason for wishing to take her life is something that he can never erase or simply forget.
"Nothing in this world is perfect. Everything ages and fades. Everything is temporal and will one day either break up or dissipate into the wind…"
Even as a child, Nobisuke was sharp-minded and understood that one day, his joyous family would face strife and may even lose some of its members. Such is a truth in life…
His uncle Takeshi's wife and Chiyo's mother died because of an illness, and everyone wept for her except for Nobisuke… for him, her aunt died honorably and left nothing but joyous memories for those around her, enough for them to weep just like they did during her funeral. It was an end that he at least wanted everyone around him to have… an honorable and just death.
And yet, that was forever gone after he learned of his mother's infidelity…
That goal… was forever extinguished.
"This is where we would be living now, son… Our former house is… too large now for only two people to live in."
He wouldn't have cared if he lost his noble title.
"Is that the son of that daft woman?"
"Are we sure that he's actually his father's real child then?"
"Who knows? He might be a bastard passed off by that woman as legitimate if ever."
He wouldn't have cared what other people would say about him personally.
*Ka-byag!*
"Mind your place, maggot! You think a dishonored noble like you can actually step into this dojo and learn from our honorable master?"
"Kh!"
"Everyone! Let's teach him a lesson! No one learns from the Nagisa dojo who doesn't deserve it!"
"Alright! Break his arms!"
"RAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
"W-What the hell is this guy- Abag-!"
"You-! ITAAAA-!!!"
He wouldn't even have cared if he has the entire world against him…
So long as he can protect those that he holds dear and he can enjoy life with them till the bittersweet end, all of this is alright to him.
"For you to beat up all of my disciples… I don't know how it works, but it seems like Takeshi can finally pass down his moniker to someone like you."
"Haah… haah… haah…"
"Hmph! Use this to wipe the blood off your face and fists! Starting today, you will be my disciple and I will be your master! Prepare your body and soul, child… You will face all of the trials that your uncle have faced!"
But… it is all now for naught…
Because instead of an outside enemy that he can fight in order to protect what is important to him, what he was made to face was one of the people that he held dear…
The dream was shattered, and its dreamer was broken.
The Shimura Nobisuke who had such a valiant and noble dream back then… was dead.
"…Father…"
And now, as he strolled into castle, his deadliest weapon are not the two guns on his hands.
"Uncle… Chiyo… everyone…"
Instead, it was the desire in his heart to finally clean up the shards of hope and his very dreams that was shattered.
"All of this ends today…"
"Stop right there!"
*TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK! TAK!*
"GYAAAA-!!!"
"All of this… will finally be done."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票