Slander and Arson

A week passed after the bombing in Hitachi city's port area that killed 41 people and injured a hundred more.

"A notice to everyone in the capital! The curfew will commence in half an hour! Please disassemble your stalls and return to your houses immediately."

"Come on, child. Gather our goods and lift them to the cart."

"Yes, mother."

"You can leave the parts of your stall at the designated sidewalks. Our patrols will assure that they will not be stolen."

The entire city was locked down after the bombing. Prompting a curfew that starts during the seventh hour of the evening until the sixth hour of the morning. These were done to secure the safety of the public and assist investigators in finding the perpetrators of the crime.

"Your Imperial Majesty… We are delighted to learn of your decision."

"…"

"We shall do as you have spoken and work to realize your dreams."

Things have gone quickly in the city after the bombing. There are even rumors that the political figurehead, the Emperor of Japan, has been talking with the noble faction that supports him regarding the reformation of an Imperial court and reaffirmation of Imperial rule as it was two years ago.

"…We have heard your faction's statements and discussed its requests."

"Then what is your faction's decision, Shogunate ambassador?"

"It is as how we have stated it before. Shogun Amanogawa will not let go of his rule in the province of Mikoto and Mutsuki. The same goes to the Imperial Army. Votes in the forces have shown that Imperial soldiers do not wish to side with the Imperial Faction but has promised to protect the Emperor with their very lives."

"W-Wha-?!"

"Shogun Amanogawa is not convinced that your accusations that this is a plot done by the Shogunate faction is legitimate, and unless definitive evidence is shown to us, we will not back out from Mikoto province."

"You filthy traitors!"

"You call yourself Imperial soldiers, but you would side with those dogs?!"

"You're nothing but traitors! Peons bought by sugarcoated words!"

Over the course of the three-day negotiations between the two noble factions, the Shogunate faction made it clear that they will not leave Hitachi. The news of the Imperial army siding with the Shogunate surprised me greatly… but somehow, I noticed that none of the public seemed optimistic with the notion of being ruled by the Imperial faction.

"Michi-san… what are our next moves?"

"All of you should've read the newspapers by now… The bastards ain't backing down and even got the Imperial army on their side."

Back in Kanae, my meetings with Vega became so frequent that I told my group that I will stay over in there to manage the situation while everyone else should just keep up with what I told them to do.

"That bombing in the harbor…"

"I heard from the others. You ordered your driver to take a trip there first?"

"Yes… I saw everything up close. The halved ship. The injured and dead people… It's horrible."

"Calm it down, Hiro-kun. We don't want you popping your veins again."

"I know… I know…"

With the Imperial Army taking the side of the Shogunate, the Imperial faction lacked the leverage that they needed to threaten or even just meet the amount of force that the Shogun has on his side.

"Lord Imai and the others are thinking about sending a message to the lower nobles on the countryside and the Southern triad. They said that if we can convince them to join our side, we will be able to wage a short yet decisive uprising to remove the Shogun's control over Mikoto."

"I heard about them from our merchant connections. The Southern Quartet alliance or something, right?"

"Yep. The five large provinces in the south that has been gathering the attention of nobles because of their sudden rise in wealth and prestige. There are even rumors that someone from the alliance's lands made a huge impact in Hashidate province, the mercantile capital of the south."

"I see… that's amazing."

I felt a bit bashful after my land and activities in Hashidate was mentioned. For some reason, it was somehow amazing that it already reached this far in the country.

Still, I had to pretend that this was something new to me. Even if I trust them fully, the members of Vega may not like to have someone of great power too near to them.

"If things will go well, I believe that we can pressure the Shogunate into giving up their control here. And if even by then, they will decline our terms, then war is the only answer."

"Yeah… if they will be so stubborn, that is."

"As inhuman as it may sound, I actually prefer it more if the Shogunate declines our terms."

"What? Why do you say so, Taka-san?"

"If a civil war happens, we can gain more support from the people, and it would invite more people on our side."

Taka-san was sitting in front of a table that has wine on it. Wine from Akebono winery of Kiko. His face that was a bit flushed is visible through his light tan.

"Taka-san's words are cruel…"

"Yes, but you can't say that he doesn't have a point, Kameko-san."

"I know… That's why I hate it, Kisho."

Vega has been recognized by the Imperial faction as its consultation group and we've been given a pseudo-noble rank as we can enter any meeting or speak to other nobles with no fear of being dismissed and such.

Still, if we want to maintain our positions of importance, we have to show that we are useful to them.

"If a civil war does happen… who do you think will win?"

I asked that question simply to see if my groupmates are confident with our progress so far. But instead of a positive one, what I got was quite the negative reply.

"You don't need to hold your breath, Hiro-kun… Unless you haven't heard about the subjugation of Mutsuki, you will know that no army in this Sengoku age stand a chance against the Shogunate's army."

"Wait. I don't understand… Is the Imperial army different from the Shogunate's army?"

"Why are you asking that, Kisho? Hiro-kun is newer and you're the clueless one in here?"

"Ahh… Ehehe… Sorry, I think I forgot about it or something, Kameko-san."

"Haah… Forget that I raised my voice. Well then, listen up."

Kameko-san, being a theater actress and all, stood up and waved her hands around as if she is in a play.

"Long, long ago… even before the Great Unifier has come to claim his power."

She moved her feet across the tatami mat, and waved her hand to make a shape that looks like a halo.

"When Amanogawa Sora was still a Takamori prince, the northern provinces was a land of war in the permafrost since."

Everyone's attention went to Kameko-san as she continued her act while narrating a poetic iteration of the Shogun's story.

"Twenty-eight circles around the sun, was enough for him to make his plans. And lo, as he ascended to his throne, order in the icy wastes and songs of peace was all the tone."

From the side, the usually silent Yoichi took out a pair of small drums and after giving a nod to Kameko-san, let her turn her poem into a song.

"♫ -The Prince of the north swept across the lands, giving to them prosperity and lands -♩"

"♫- Though to the peasants he seemed new, But in his promises their doubts they threw! -♩"

"♫- Years passed by and his lands bore fruit! His promises did come, and it was true! -♩"

"♫- Progress and peace that they once missed, was brought back by the Takamori Prince! -♩"

From another corner of the room, old lady Risa took out a Shamisen and began playing to the tone, making the show livelier as Kameko-san danced around the room.

"♫- But for the young man, this was not enough. He spoke of a country where war can be snuffed -♩"

"♫- Sharing such dream, his army fought with heart! And before long, his rule did start. -♩"

"♫- His rule though accepted, faced adversary. From highborn nobles, and merchants greedy -♩"

"♫- And as the story goes, he did those. Silencing and killing those who oppose. -♩"

"♫- And in this day where his rule faced test, the people will know whose side they'll bless-♩"

"♫- Will it be the tyrant in his throne? Or will freedom again be flown? -♩"

Kameko-san bowed elegantly as her performance ended and we gave her an applause. Even I found myself entranced with both her song and her dance.

"So, it really is about whose side the people will take… I kinda hate that this has to happen."

"Get used to it, kid… It's the only way for us to actually topple his rule."

"O-okay… I guess you are right…"

Hearing that story, I somehow found a right moment to rethread everything that I thought about him.

He is definitely a tyrant. He sets up opposing sides to finish each other before taking over. He imposes his rule in a way that does not tolerate anyone, sometimes even ordering for them to be killed in broad day light.

I am a ruler as well. And I cannot deny that I have ordered my soldiers to commit murder for my own ends. But I still believe that the way he does it and that way I do it is different.

"But…"

But where does that line actually start and end? How are the killings that I order to be done justified against his killings whose reasons are usually unknown or obscure to me?

He is a tyrant… but I don't understand why such a tyrant is being accepted by his people. Why does no one in the general populace seem to actually dislike him when he is undoubtedly doing such horrible things like killing his rivals and silencing those that speak against him?

"Hiro-kun…?"

"Yes?"

I don't know.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-yes… just a bit tired."

I don't understand it at all.

"Is that so? Should I ask Risa-baa-san to prepare your room?"

"No, no… I can handle it myself."

"Is that so? Well, sweet dreams, Hiro-kun. See you tomorrow."

"Mm. See you tomorrow too, Kameko-san."

Am I actually in the right in here? Is Vega…

"Hiro."

"Ah. What is it, Taka-san?"

"Rest properly. Tomorrow will be a busy day."

"I got it. You too, Taka-san. Don't drink too much."

"I know, I know…"

…actually doing the right thing for everyone?

Tomorrow quickly came as Vega and I climbed to our carriages and went to the palace of the Umigoshi clan which became the headquarters of the Imperial faction.

"Those Shogunate scum must know their place!"

"The only way to force them out is through war! We must send our messages now."

"Right! Even if they are nothing but low-bred nobles, the people of the South are well known in their military power! If we have them on our side, we can surely drive the Shogunate away from Mikoto and the surrounding provinces!"

The meeting hall was crowded with nobles that kept on shouting that the only way ahead for our movement was through war.

"Order… Please, fellow nobles. I request order in the meeting hall."

"""…"""

"Ahem… As you already know, the Shogunate faction has already stated their answer. They will not retreat from Hitachi, nor will they listen more to our demand in the Imperial faction."

The Imai lord, who is the leading figure of the faction now, spoke towards the other members of the faction.

"The Emperor has promised to rule… but only on the condition that we drive the Shogunate away from Mikoto province and prove that he will be able to confidently lead the nation under a strong military… I believe that I don't have to remind any of you about the reason why the Shogunate conquered Mikoto in the first place, yes?"

"Yes…"

"We will not forget such humiliation…"

I was informed about this when I was going around with Yoichi-kun. He said that the reason why the Shogunate was able to conquer the Imperial capital in the first place is because the nobles in Kanae who was supposed to support the Imperial army was locked in a civil dispute and ended up halving their military power, basically making the province powerless against the Shogun's army.

"The time has come, my dear gentlemen. Though much of us in Kanae has come to side with the Shogunate, we are still numerous and powerful. Add to that the fact that the Emperor has acknowledged our uprising as acceptable, you can say that the heaven's has already chose to take our side!"

"Yeah!"

"That's right!"

"Well then. Even if they will be nothing but a simple display of brute power, we will have to send a message to the people of the south and request their aid."

As he said those words, a servant stood up and showed five scrolls that bore the Imperial seal. The highest honorable symbol in the country.

"These letters that are penned by me and sealed by the Imperial clerk bears the orders for the lowlanders to come and aid their rightful master. If they decline or even come late, it will be a sign of rebellion and disregard for the Emperor's orders."

"…"

"We will delay their activities for now using diplomacy, but once the southern provinces' armies had arrived, we will declare war."

"Yes!"

"Rightfully so!"

"Let them know who they are messing with!"

Vega simply watched the gathered nobles as they discussed the upcoming war. For us, our real concern is simply just drive away our enemy from the capital.

"Michi-san. Things are getting off rails."

"…"

"What are our next actions?"

"Nothing."

"H-huh?"

"We will do nothing for now. We will await how things will fare and act accordingly."

"I see… I can accept that."

I asked Michi-san what we will be doing now that the Imperial faction is aiming to start a war and he said that he will decide it at another time. It somehow calmed me, since I was assured that we will not be joining the fight yet.

However, things have escalated further than we expected by that time.

"L-Lord Umigoshi!"

"W-what is it?"

"The town! The town is on fire!"

"W-what?!"

Everyone who was shocked with the news that the male soldier brought went out of the meeting chamber and looked at the town through the pagoda's terrace.

"H-How…? Who can have done this?!"

"What are you waiting for?! Gather the soldier and kill that fire!"

"Y-Yes, my lord!"

From three different points of the Umigoshi clan's capital town, large fires consumed the wooden and paper panel houses and spread building to building quickly.

"My lord! I brought evidence from where the arsonist started the fires!"

"W-Wait… is this?"

"A green hood… and a badge from the Shogunate's police force."

"T-Those bastards!"

"Are they threatening us?! This will not go unanswered!"

The Umigoshi fief ran to the stairs and after a while, exited his palace alongside a retinue of mounted horsemen.

"Wait! Is Lord Umigoshi-"

"He has said what he said. He is going after the Shogunate men who burned his town."

We were shocked of the events that happened so far. But little did we know that this was just the start of it all.

"Hitachi is being locked down. Another assassination against an Imperial faction noble failed… the assassin killed himself before being interrogated, but he is undoubtedly from the Shogunate side."

"Damn it… Why are these pesky highfalutins ruining our peaceful lives?!"

"Yeah. These nobles are doing nothing but bring more trouble to us than good."

The news bulletin boards and newspapers informed everyone of the lockdown that will happen in the Imperial capital following a string of failed assassination attempts on both sides of the noble camps.

"Has the Shogun said anything else other than the things regarding the lockdown?"

"He did. He said that he asks all of us to hold on and stay safe. The discord among the nobles will pass after negotiations and concessions are made and peace will surely return."

"I wish the Shogun's words will come true."

"Shogun Sora. Please help us…"

The commoners can only follow the guidelines that they have been given and wish that the Shogun's assurance will do come quickly.

"Extinguish the fire!"

"Help the residents out!"

"The flames are spreading quickly!"

As for the events that lasted for a whole month, it would be enough to state that it was full of fire, destruction and political infighting.

"Risako-san… Please just hold on."

"Urgh!!! Ahhh! It stings!"

"Hold her down! Her stitches might become undone!"

"Y-yes!"

"Has someone checked Michi-san yet? Is he still bleeding out?"

"Y-yes! His bandages are still leaking!"

"Argh! Damn it!"

Michi-san and Risako-san, being the ones in the most direct front of Vega, also faced some of these assassination attempts.

"There… they should be safe for now…"

"Haah… Good thing you have medical knowledge, Hiro-kun…"

"You saved them."

"Yeah… That's good."

I have been living with my Vega teammates for the past month. Rarely ever coming back to my men in our estate house.

"Iwasawa-sama…"

"…I'm home."

"…Are you actually home, my lord?"

"Tch! Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it!"

"…"

I usually only come back to either take some money to fund Vega's activities or bring back some packages that I ordered back from Kiko.

"Money… clothes… the sand that Taka-san was asking to get…"

"Iwasawa-sama…"

"…"

"Don't pretend that you didn't hear me, my lord. I wish to speak to you."

"Leave it for later, Kotori… I am busy."

"With what?"

"…"

"Continuing your childish rebelling?"

"-!"

"-!!!"

I shot a glare to Kotori, but I was the one who backed down after she gave it back with a stronger intensity.

"Tch!"

"I know that you are wise enough to understand this, my lord… I know that you are aware that Vega is not bringing in any kind of progress."

"Shut…"

"Your rag-tag group has done nothing but aggravate the previously prim and proper balance between the two noble factions."

"Shut up…"

"Admit it already, Kou-sama… Vega will achieve nothing in the end."

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

"…"

"I ORDER YOU TO SHUT UP!!!"

After being told off by Kotori, I found myself consumed by my anger as I shouted, telling her to stop slandering my friends.

"Vega is still getting ready… it is still preparing to achieve something that no one has done before!"

"And what is that specifically, my lord?"

"…It is…"

"…"

I found myself backed into a corner. Unable to say exactly what we are trying to obtain as a group in Vega.

"When I first met you, you were such an honorable and admirable man, my lord…"

"Huh?"

"When you fought alongside my army, rescued much of my soldiers from their illnesses and later on, found a way to free me from the only life that I knew, I saw you as someone worthy enough to serve and devote all of my being to."

"W-Wait… Kotori. Are you saying that-"

"But look at you now… Look at how low you have fallen."

"…"

As I stood there, my mouth wide open in utter shock and disbelief after hearing the things she has said, Kotori gave me the final blow.

"You aren't even half the man I swore loyalty to, Iwasawa Hiroshi."

"-!"

"Take whatever you want here and bring it to your playmates…"

"W-wait, Kotori-!"

"You have been consumed by your delusion that they will actually create any difference once they topple the Shogun."

As he went back inside the estate house, I hit the carriage's floor, frustrated that even though I really wanted to protect Vega's legitimacy as a group fighting for freedom, I cannot erase the unease that has been growing in my chest.

"Is this really the right way…?"

Later that night after I gave the funds and supplies to Vega, I found it hard to sleep and ended up sitting at the exterior hallway and watching the moonlight reflecting off the courtyard's pond.

"Not yet sleepy, young Hiro?"

"Granny Risa?"

"Ohoho… It is indeed me."

The old lady sat beside me after lowering her lantern between us. She kept her silence, probably sensing that I was thinking deeply about something. With that, I spoke up first, wishing to receive words of wisdom from her.

"Granny Risa… I have some questions."

"What is it, dear?"

"What does it mean to be told by a woman that you are half the man she knew?"

The old lady looked at me, and I diverted my gaze away to at least hide the fact that it was something that happened to me.

"Well… as a woman, I think I understand that one pretty well."

"Huh?"

"When we call someone as "half the man that we know", we usually want to criticize the decisions he made lately or the conviction that he gave to those decisions."

"…"

"I do not know who this girl might be or who she meant to give those words to… but what I can say is that she must've deeply respected or even loved that person greatly before such words escaped her lips."

After hearing her explanation, the sense of pain in my chest emerged again and I grit my teeth in frustration about it.

"Let's not lie to each other here, Hiro-kun. I know that whoever this woman is to you, she must've hurt you deeply after giving you those words."

"You… You got me, granny Risa. The one who gave me that is a subordinate of mine back at my estate house."

"I see… then that makes this a little bit worse, Hiro-kun."

"W-what?"

"If she is your subordinate, then that would mean that she has looked up to you and revered you enough to place herself lower than you."

"…"

"There could also be the possibility that she has some kind of deeper respect and affection for you that what you think of."

"You mean…"

"Yes. That she might've bore a romantic affection for you."

"…"

I am not dense. I am not stupid. I knew that except for Chiyo, I have given some women that I met along my journey some kind of hope that they can go after me in a romantic way… Kotori is among them. I already knew ever since that time she asked me at the ship while we're crossing the Onnoki gulf.

"You must be regretting it or thinking back on it. But what can that achieve other than remind you that instead of placing the line immediately and making them stop their hope that you will reciprocate their feelings, you lacked the courage to do such a thing."

"Urk…"

"You are a mess, young Hiro. And now that your worse side has become visible, the consequence of showing that has gained the ire of someone who have long respected you."

"…"

"I say that you sort it out quickly… before that person loses every piece of respect for you and your words become less and less trustworthy for her."

"I want to do that, Granny Risa… but… I can't."

"Why?"

"Because if I do, it will hinder my goal of giving Hitachi the freedom it was deprived of."

"…"

The old lady took her lantern and to my surprise, extinguished its flame. It made the hallway dim as only the moonlight shone the courtyard.

"I know that this might sound wrong, Hiro… but let me ask you a question. What does freedom mean?"

"Freedom is… being able to do things without being afraid of what others may say. If you are free, then you can say things that some people may not agree with and do things without asking everyone's acceptance for it."

After I gave my reply, the old lady went silent for a moment as she closed her eyes and heaved a deep sigh.

"Is that so?"

"Is that what freedom means?"

"W-well… I think so."

"…I asked that question not because I have something else to say or I wanted to refute it. I simply didn't know what freedom really meant."

"Granny…"

The old lady looked at the pond and followed the movement of the three koi fishes that are swimming there.

"You know, before I was tasked to look after all of them, I actually had children. Five of them to be exact."

"T-that's wonderful…"

"I wouldn't say that, Hiro-kun."

"Huh?"

The old lady spoke softly as the wind gently blew across the yard.

"My first husband was the captain of the Imperial guards and he and I had two sons. The two of them were born only a year apart as the two of us didn't have any fear regarding our finances as he receives a great pay from the Imperial court. I reared my sons according to my husband's wish. Strong, loyal and steadfast in serving the Imperial family. Before long, they have also joined the Imperial guards as captains of their platoons… just in time for the great battle that gripped the capital fourteen years ago."

"…"

"I and his father were adamant with our decision regarding that battle. It was a scuffle between local Daimyos that the Imperial army isn't connected with. But my eldest son reasoned to us that if he won't side with the Daimyo of Mutsuki, the Daimyo of Kaga will take our freedom once he gains enough military power. Against our will, he marched to Mutsuki and after the battle, we received his battered and mutilated body…"

"That's horrible."

"…What he said did happen, but what it entailed didn't. After the Daimyo of Mutsuki conquered Kaga, he requested the acceptance of the Emperor regarding his victory, but instead of a letter of recognition, the Emperor sent the Imperial army to recover the province and give it back to its rightful ruling family. And even in this ridiculously convoluted battle, the very things I thought them became the things that deprived me of my children."

"…"

"My second son sided with the Daimyo of Mutsuki. Stating that he wanted to show the Emperor that has made a mistake by not recognizing the ruler's right to rule the land he conquered. He said that he will be fighting for the ruler's freedom. My husband appealed and appealed again and again to be sent to rescue his son who has basically committed treason, but he was instead sent to subdue him. My son would later die in battle, and after learning that he wasn't the one who killed his son, my husband was ordered to commit seppuku. I became a childless widow."

Granny Risa leaned on the supporting pillar before continuing with her story.

"Through the heaven's grace, I was still of marriageable age and before long, was married to a rich merchant here in Kanae. We had three children. Two girls and one son."

"Since you said that you used to have children… did they also-"

Instead of answering me, the old lady ignored my question and narrated her story.

"My eldest daughter was a very beautiful woman. Since we were well-off, she received the best education and was regarded as a very delightful girl whom many noblemen sought to have as their wife… but again, that word became the catalyst of my lost."

"Word?"

"She told us that she wanted to be a courtesan and work in a geisha's house in the capital. Of course, knowing that such a place will not be beneficial to her well-being, I adamantly refused… but in the end, she still followed her way. She said that it is her life, and she has the freedom to choose how she will lead it."

"Oh…"

"I later learned that she contracted a severe illness that crippled her body's ability to protect itself from diseases… Before long, she began to have the most terrible experiences of catching a simple Cold or a rash and just last year, she finally died and was buried away from our family cemetery because of her work that basically disowned her."

"…"

"My third son was caught up with the battle between the Imperial faction and Shogunate faction of nobles. He was walking alongside a Shogunate-leaning nobleman when both of them were stabbed… the Imperial faction will later call his death "a small sacrifice in comparison to the value of our freedom.". As much as it pained me, I can do nothing but accept it."

"Then what about your last daughter?"

"…Because of the death of our daughter and son, my husband decided to send our last child to Kyoga Sanctum to keep her safe. He didn't blame me for any of it, but I knew that he was deeply hurt with his loss and seeing me with our last child made him fear more and more for her… She was only seven months when she left our house two years ago… she didn't even know me… didn't know that her mother is still alive."

After all of that, I asked the old lady what was the purpose of everything she just said.

"Nothing."

"Huh?"

"I already told you before. I didn't understand the meaning of freedom and I told you my story to show exactly that."

She might've said that it was for nothing, but it was clear as day for me… Granny Risa said those words for a reason.

"I don't believe that, granny… I know that you have a reason to say that."

"…My first son died after saying that he will protect the people's freedom. My second son died after saying that he will protect a ruler's freedom. My first daughter died after choosing a dangerous path by stating her freedom. And my third son died after some nobles called him a sacrifice for freedom…"

"-!"

"Do you finally understand why I said it was for nothing, young Hiro?"

"No… No way…"

"Their deaths… the losses that I had after that very word was spoken… it was for nothing. Nothing, I say."

"Freedom is not like that! It is-!"

"Then what is freedom really about, child?!"

"T-that-"

"Is freedom so precious that my children have to die when in the end, none of it matters?!"

"…"

"Is freedom so delightful, beautiful and desirable that I have to lose all of them and I would still not understand anything about it?!"

The old lady's shouts was mingled with tears and sobs as she looked at me with a pained expression.

"If freedom lets everyone to do things as they wish, with no regard for their or other's safety or desire… with no true purpose other than the fulfillment of what they want to do… then I don't need freedom… I will never desire freedom…"

"Granny…"

"You said that Freedom is being able to do things without being afraid of what others may say. But I know that even the Emperor, the most powerful man in this country, knows that he cannot simply speak anything that he wishes or he will lose his prestige and the people's reverence."

"But that is a different case-"

"You also said that if you are free, then you can say things that some people may not agree with and do things without asking everyone's acceptance for it… if so, then look around the city tomorrow morning, young Hiro… Look at what your desire for freedom has done for the people of Hitachi."

After leaving those words, the old lady stood up as I remained there with my mouth ajar and my mind boggled with conflicting thoughts.

"Argh! Damn it!"

I don't know what I should believe anymore… I don't know what is right and wrong anymore.

Please… someone tell me…

"Am I really doing the right thing…?"