The Emperor and the Shogun
"…"
"Will you really keep your lips shut, Director of the Crows?"
"What you said earlier… is that true?"
"Yes. Your master is currently under our custody. Though we have done all that we can to keep him well-fed and clean, he has asked only one thing to be brought to his jail cell."
"…What is that?"
"Sake. Lots of it."
After the hideout of the two leaders of Vega was raided and Iwasawa Hiroshi was taken by the Shogunate forces, his subordinates quickly prepared a plan to bust their master out of his prison.
However, a representative of the Shogunate arrived right on their doorstep and strangely enough requested a peaceful conversation with the de facto leader of the Kirin Lord' subordinates, Akizuki Minori.
"Lady Chiasa, right?"
"Yes, the last time we met, it was still Higuchi Chiasa, but now, I am Amanogawa Chiasa."
After saying that, the young lady showed a ring on her left hand's ring finger, stating that she has married the Shogun and adopted his name after their last meeting.
"…Is Iwasawa-sama… alright?"
"As I said, we've been trying our best to make sure that he will not lack anything while we are holding him. But as I also said before, he has been constantly gulping down alcohol since his arrest… I have told the servants to withhold his intake, but whenever he isn't drunk, he keeps on wailing and shouting like a madman."
"…Damn it."
"Don't worry. It's not like we're shaming him or something. But at this point, if he doesn't stop, he will either die from alcohol poisoning or worse-"
"We need to see him now!"
"Woah! No quick movements there, boy… or else-"
After the Shogun's wife said what Hiroshi might do if he truly loses his mind, Minori stood up from his seat and asked her to let them see their master.
*Pyak-!*
"O-Ow!"
"Don't aggravate the situation, soldier. You might be my bodyguard but threatening someone during a negotiation is not something that we do!"
"I-I apologize, Your Majesty…"
She hit her bodyguard's hand with her folding fan and he apologized to his master aptly.
"Now, now… Please calm down first, Minori-dono. Time is not against us. That is exactly the reason why I came here personally to convince all of you, his subordinates, to surrender and be reunited with your master."
"…Everyone."
Minori looked behind him where all of his fellow retainers are sitting while holding their weapons, ready to attack if ever the negotiations might become a fight.
"I will be honest, boy… This is already a difficult situation."
"I say the same, Minori-dono. They have Iwasawa-sama on their hands."
"It is regrettable but surrendering is our best option."
Old man Namikaze, Ayato and Kotori all said the same things after analyzing their situation and the fact that Hiroshi is held by the other side.
"As for the fox lady and the tanuki young lady… you will be held as honored guests unlike them."
"W-What?"
"Y-You know about us-mujina?!"
"Of course. After all…"
The Shogun's wife turned to Kurumi and Reiha and showed the embroidered crest on the back of her kimono.
"T-That-!"
"The Inazuma clan's crest… huh?"
"Yes. Being someone who Strayed here, I needed a noble title to even be considered as a viable bride candidate for the Shogun. Thankfully, the Inazuma clan adopted me, and the rest is history."
"Then I take that you have seen our true forms before?"
"Of course. Even if I am not connected the Inazuma clan through blood, I was still given this spell to at least be considered as a Shrine Maiden."
Chiasa waved her hand, and in an instant, the spell that hides Kurumi and Reiha's ears and tails was dispersed, making their animal-like appendages appear for everyone to see.
"A-A Kitsune?! And a Tanuki!"
"Haah… why did you have to do that, Lady Amanogawa?"
"Your prank is not funny-mujina…"
"Ufufu~! Sorry, sorry… I was just trying to make a point."
While the Shogunate soldiers was astonished to see the change that happened to Kurumi and Reiha, the two re-casted the spells and lightly complained to her who simply giggled after her prank.
"Lady Chiaki… we have decided."
"What would it be, Minori-dono?"
"We surrender to you. But we have some request that we ask from you as at least, a condolence for our cooperation."
"What would it be? I will try all that I can under the limits of my power to fulfill it."
"We want to be able to regularly visit our master's cell… and to not be imprisoned as prisoners of war, but instead, political hostages."
"…I see. I will allow it. Well, even if you have not requested the second one, you don't really have to fear being forced to work or being assaulted in your prison cells."
"W-Wait… really?"
Even Minori can hardly believe his ears. To him, he thought that the Shogunate would treat them like slaves since he gathered the information regarding the brainwashed prisoners. But strangely enough, the woman in front of him assured their safety and wellness.
"Of course. We know that you have gathered a large amount of information regarding our secretive activities. But that is not how we treat peaceful and reasonable people like all of you."
"…"
"My husband will explain everything once the right time comes. For now, please come with us peacefully and we will bring you to the place where you will be held under house arrest."
"Thank you, Lady Chiaki."
"You are welcome, Minori-dono."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Why… why, why, why, why, why…
"Sake…"
"…"
"I said bring me Sake!!!"
Why the hell is this happening…?
"Sake! Sake!! Sake!!!"
"Please restrain yourself, Daimyo Iwasawa! We have been forbidden to give you any more than that today!"
"Sake!!!"
Where did I go wrong…? When did I stop being on the right side and became…
"Sake!!!"
…a monster?
"Bring it in."
"Yes, sir."
I don't know how long has it been since I was brought here… perhaps because my cell was under the ground… or because there wasn't a time of the day when I am not drunk or regretting that I am not yet drunk.
"Glug! Glargh!"
"Come on. Take the empty Sake vessels and change his chamber pot."
"Y-yes, mam!"
"Glagh! Hak-! Kaa!"
"Aaah!"
"Oh, he vomited again!"
I don't know anymore what is happening… and as much as I can, I don't want to care anymore.
"Some visitors?"
"Yes. Lady Amanogawa has arranged for it everyday after lunchtime. He will be having two or three visitors that will stay at the cell beside his' for half an hour. They can also enter his cell, but given his current situation…"
"Yes… he's been a wreck since he first got here."
"…It's up to the visitors, but if ever they do request to enter his cell, keep an eye on them so they will not be harmed by any of his sudden outbursts."
"Yes, General Furutani!"
"…Poor young man… So revered as a leader, but too fragile in mind and body."
I don't care anymore… I don't want to believe anything anymore…
Everything that I am hearing… everything that I am being told or made to believe in…
"It's all lies in the end…"
May it be those people whom I thought were my friends yet betrayed my trust… or those who said that I shouldn't trust those friends but turned their backs on me when I needed them…
They are all liars… I hate them…
"Sake…"
I hate them.
"SAKE!!!"
I hate them!
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
While Iwasawa Hiroshi is slowly deteriorating himself in his prison cell, and his subordinates are being kept under house arrest for a few days before being allowed to visit their master, the person that they assumed to be their true enemy is handling the mess that happened because of Vega.
"Kameko, Yoichi and Kisho… I am truly thankful for your help in infiltrating and neutralizing Vega. Many people owe their lives to you three."
"It has always been an honor to be of help to you, Sora-sama."
"It was you who gave our new lives a purpose. We have done nothing but do what is best for our people."
"If you really wish to thank me, can I invite you to a private show then, Sora-sama~?"
"You flirty little brat… You better thank your lucky stars that Chiasa isn't here, or she'll strangle you to death."
"Muu… I'm just teasing you, geez."
"That's a not a good joke then, Kameko…"
Before I left my room to head to the meeting place of the Imperial Palace, I first thanked my three subordinates who was instrumental in bringing down that terrorist group named Vega.
"Has there been any news regarding that half-foreigner named Luke and the man named Taka?"
"There were records about them leaving Mikoto shortly after the raid in Michi and Risako's hideout. It seems like they used Luke's train to escape quickly back to the northern provinces."
"…I see. I should've told Endou-kun to close off the railway too."
"But we did confirm that the two are members of the green hoods. After all, it was Taka-san's chemistry expertise that allowed him to make the bomb that caused last month's harbor bombing incident. And Luke-san's train allowed them to quickly move their men and equipment before and after the arsons that Vega blamed on us."
"That devil in human skin… he has really pushed his luck this time."
"Master?"
"...You three should rest for now and return to Endou-kun's command. Now that your time with Vega is over, you have to lay low so you can preserve your identities and infiltrate more enemy groups next time."
"""As you command, Amanogawa-Uesama…"""
After the three left the room, the young Shogun hung his head over the headrest of his seat and began to sigh deeply.
"If only that fool actually listened and understood what I told him last time…"
He looked at his face on the mirror, but through the way his eyes squinted, it was apparent that he cannot see his reflection clearly.
"…I wouldn't have to pound all of it into his head now… And he wouldn't be so much of a mess."
The Shogun stood up and left his room, walking to the meeting room while being followed by a trail of servants that showed how important his position is.
"Amanogawa-Uesama… It is a pleasure to have you come here personally."
"Spare me of your pleasantries, Imai Lord. I am aware that such words aren't the ones you wish to speak towards me."
"…"
"Now that I and my faction, and the Emperor and your faction are all in the throne room, let us start our proceedings."
From behind a silk blind, the Emperor who is seated on his throne raised his hand to signal for the room to be sealed and the meeting to begin.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"We should all be aware of how your group of nobles has caused a great disturbance in the natural order of things, not only in Mikoto province but much of the central lands past the Onnoki gulf!"
"…"
"What kind of country do you wish to create by allowing commoners to enter educational institutions, to sit beside your own noble children and attain the same or maybe even greater prestigious positions than them?"
"I believe I have already spoken about this before, but I and my faction has set this rule to give everyone a chance to cultivate and make use of their skills and talents regardless of their birth hierarchy."
"Insolence!"
"Do you think the heavens will simply allow you to break how things has been done for uncountable thousands of years already, Shogun Amanogawa?"
After being asked that question, I didn't care if anyone else in the chamber will hear my reply.
"The heavens can kiss my foot if they won't accept it. What kind of backward way of life do you want everyone to suffer through just because you got lucky with the womb you got born with?"
"Why, you-!?"
"Heresy! How dare you speak such words in front of the Emperor!"
"…"
I am aware that pushing modern notions of equality and lack of prejudice has been regarded as meaningless by many fantasy or Isekai novels and mangas in my past world, but unlike the powerless main characters or the heroes who can only make others accept that notion by beating up everyone who goes against it, I am not like them.
"Well then, if for instance, I order for all of you to be killed right now and in your next reincarnation, you become the commoners, or worse, the slaves that you so sorely wish to undermine right now, will you still speak the same words?"
"Haha… Bwahahahaha!!!"
"Are you really threatening us with such a pitiful example, you fool?"
"Ahahahaha!!! We'll be reborn as commoners, he say!"
"…"
I looked around and watched the face of the Imperial guards and the servants around the room. They all had the expression that I expected them to have.
"Uesama…"
"Calm down, everyone. I told you already that they will do this. I have been given those same responses again and again before."
I cleared my throat and began to speak to the Imperial faction again.
"Since you seem to believe that you will not be reincarnating as commoners or slaves, I take it that you are not afraid of dying, gentlemen?"
"Ahahaha! Of course we are!"
"Well then. With my power as the Shogun of this country, anyone in the Imperial Guards or Imperial Servants who have heard these nobles deny you the rights and rewards that I have given and will give you for your service can kill them on the spot, and I will pardon them with no hesitation."
"W-What?!"
"How dare you!"
"Do you think that anyone of these peons will be brave enough to- Hak-!"
*TA-RAK!*
"Kyaaa!!!"
"L-lord Imai!"
"…"
Suddenly, an Imperial Guard officer walked down from his post and plunged a wakizashi blade to the back of the Imperial faction leader.
"W-What… who dares to-?!"
*BYAK-!*
"Agh-!"
"How dare you!"
"…!"
"How-! Hrgh!"
And shot the fief on the back of his head which caused the other nobles to stand up, but he pointed his handgun to them as well.
"Imperial Guard Captain Musashi… please enlighten us about the reason of your decision…"
"…I am sick, Your Majesties."
"…"
"I am sick of bowing down, staying silent and bottling up all of my frustration and hatred for these filthy sows who calls themselves "Venerable people of noble lineage", yet does not deserve even a single lick of praise or prestige…"
"Captain…"
"I am sick of pretending that I am willing to die for them or let my men die in their meaningless and selfish battles… being tricked to believe that their death has a meaning or it was for a noble purpose when none of it really changed anything meaningful."
"How dare you speak to us like that! Who do you think allowed you to insult us like-"
"Shut you filthy mouth, you spineless son of a bitch!"
"-!!!"
In the midst of the throne room, the captain of the Imperial Guards showed what I have made the common people and the sympathetic nobles of my faction to realize.
"You! You! All of you used us again and again as if we are worthless dogs who only exists to die in your wars! You forced us into poverty so we will join your armies and throw our lives into battles just so we can barely live like a human should live!"
"…"
"And for what? I have been in the military for 20 damn years! Where's my recognition?! Where's my damn medal?! Where is the respect and admiration that you stole from us?!"
"Captain…"
"Musashi… I'm sorry for not speaking up first…"
From all around the throne room, his subordinates and seniors alike felt every bit of hatred that he poured out with his words.
"And now that the Shogun has promised us a peaceful and comfortable life… you're going to reform the exact same rotten system that made our lives a living hell? How about I just bring all of you demons back to the hell where you crawled out of?!?!"
"NO-!"
"PROTECT ME!"
"Enough!"
"Argh!"
As Captain Musashi raised his hand that has his gun to shoot them, the Imperial nobles backed away or grabbed a servant to shield them. Fearing collateral deaths, I hit his wrist and snatched the firearm out of his hold.
"S-Shogun-sama…"
"…That's enough, Captain… A single death is enough of an example."
"…I apologize."
I signaled to some Imperial guards to take their captain outside of the room for a while to calm everyone down and take away the dead Imai fief as well.
"You rotten bastard! Never think that you will be able to walk away from here alive!"
"You've killed Imai-sama! This is enough for us to start a war against the Shogunate!"
The Imperial faction who felt that they were safe already began to threaten me about them starting a civil war due to their faction leader's death. However, I have already attained my goal in this meeting.
"Just you wait! You will dread the day when you challenged us and gave us a reason to muster our forces! We will decimate your lands! Your people will be our slaves! You will not stand a chance against our army-"
"What army?"
"""-!!!"""
"Are you so naïve to not know when you have basically ran out of people who will take your side?"
The Imperial nobles looked around them and the Imperial Guards, servants and even their own soldiers have already turned around against them after they heard Captain Musashi's words earlier.
"You filthy dogs! So even you are betraying us now?!"
"…"
With even their own men going against them, the Imperial nobles turned to their ace-in-the-hole.
"Y-Your Imperial Majesty… You have seen the repeated insolences of this man and his lot! They have stained the honor of your divine lineage! Spilled blood in your throne room! And they even made your own men to turn their backs on you!"
"…"
"With your divine authority, order all of them to commit seppuku, for all of these misdeeds against you!!!"
"""We implore you, Imperial Majesty!"""
They bowed down and requested the Emperor to order us all to die. Given that the Emperor is still effectively the highest power in the country, we cannot officially deny his words.
But that is not necessary anymore…
"Do speak, Imperial Majesty. I will leave the decision to you just like how I did it two years ago."
The ever-silent man behind the silk blind kept his mouth shut, which the Imperial nobles twisted as some kind of denial of our side's statements.
"The Emperor's voice is too valuable to be heard by peons and traitors like you! But His Imperial Majesty's decision is clear from his silence! He is against you! Against all of you and what you are fighting for!"
"That's enough out of you lot!"
"""-?!?!?!"""
Finally. As I have expected, he finally made the decision that he told me he wasn't so sure about doing before when we first met personally.
"Raise my blinds, chief eunuch."
"As you command, Your Imperial Majesty."
As the silk blinds was raised and he turned from being just a silhouette into a visible person, everyone in the room bowed down till their faces touched the ground…
"Your Imperial Majesty!"
"You bless us with your visage!"
"…"
All… except for me.
"So, you finally decided to take that decision… my friend?"
"It was only thanks to you that I have come to this realization and decision, Sora…"
"W-What…?"
"How did-!?"
"The Emperor and the Shogun…? They already know each other?!"
After hearing me casually refer to him as a friend and him calling me by name, everyone in the room was astonished.
"My country… the land that was given to me to rule over, nurture and protect… I regret that I have neither the courage nor power to actually change it unlike you."
"Don't sell yourself short like that, my friend… The fact that you have let go of the formalities that limited your ability to understand the suffering of your people is already enough… let me lead and do the rest of it, just like how I promised you back then."
"…"
The Emperor and I used to be enemies, not because we have mutual hatred for each other, but because the self-serving and power-hungry nobles of his court has used his position and prestige as the Emperor to rally every loyalist against me and the changes that I am doing to the country that none of them liked.
"This is preposterous! We gave our entire lives for you! We have served the Imperial family ever since the day we were born! How dare you turn your backs against us!"
"You shame us, Your Imperial Majesty!"
"Sora… let me borrow your sword."
"…Here."
Suddenly, he asked for my sword which I gave to him before he turned around and addressed the Imperial nobles.
"Did I shame you? Well then…"
"-!"
"If your shame is too much for you to handle, take this sword and commit seppuku in front of me!"
"-?!"
"Show me your resolve to your so-called noble purpose and prove to me that you have really done everything for me and my country's well-being!"
"…Tch!"
Having them cornered by the Emperor's own commands and knowing that they have no honor to protect or loyalty to prove, none of them can even reach out for the blade in fear of being called hypocrites.
"This farce has run for too long. I have laid in wait for two years, reading newspapers and listening to the public radio segment about all of the things that has ripped my country apart. If I was an ignorant and foolish puppet leader before, I am no longer like that today."
"…"
"Sora, kneel down for I will give you my blessing and authority to rule in my stead."
"As you wish, Your Imperial Majesty!"
"Wait!"
"Dear Emperor! This is a mistake!"
"You are the mistakes in here!"
"""!!!"""
"Imperial Guards! Take them out of my palace and lock them in the cellar! I do not wish to see their faces or hear their voices again in my presence!"
"As you command, Your Imperial Majesty!"
"Wait! No!"
"Your Majesty! Please listen to us!"
"Don't side with him! He is poisoning your mind!"
"This is a mistake, Emperor!"
Their voices faded away as they were taken away from the throne room and I knelt down in front of his throne.
"Shogun Amanogawa Sora of the Amanogawa Bakufu… With my divine authority over this country, I render unto you the right to rule directly beside me, to pass laws on the same authority as mine, to raise armies for my country and people's sake and end this era of war and bloodshed under my direct order!"
"I wholeheartedly accept, Your Imperial Majesty!"
"Well then, arise and do what you must do! Prove that my trust on you isn't for naught!"
That day, I finally attained the last of the necessary steps in order for me to do what I have planned to do all this time.
"Thank you for trusting me… my friend."
"No… I should be the one thanking you for opening my eyes and bearing all of this pain for me, Sora."
"…"
"Thank you. Thank you for saving all of us…"
Now, all that I am left to do is to prepare the next person in line to continue this.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Sake… Give me sake…"
"Where have we failed you, Iwasawa-sama…?"
"What mistake have we done for you to suffer like this?"
"…Hik-!"
"Give me… sake…"
In the underground prison of the Shogun's estate, a hoarse and deeply drunk Iwasawa Hiroshi is being watched pitifully by his subordinates Minori, Ayato and Kotori.
"How is he?"
"Has he been like this all this time…?"
"…Yes."
"Why?!"
"…"
When Amanogawa Chiasa went down to check on them, Kotori took her by the collar after learning that their master has been in such a pitiful state ever since he was imprisoned.
"Why did you let him become like this?! Why do you still keep on giving him alcohol and letting him live like a pig?!"
"…"
"Answer me, damn it!"
"Because he will kill himself if he's not drunk!"
"-!"
"W-what?"
"Iwasawa Hiroshi… both I and my husband know about medicine… and in his mental state right now, if we don't give him what he wants, he will just commit suicide."
"No… No! Hik-! Please… please tell me that you're lying!"
"…"
Even if she has told her master that she hated him before, deep inside, Kotori still deeply loved her master that she cried from the bottom of her heart when she saw his current state.
"Uesama!"
"Why are you here, Shogun-sama?"
"I am here to talk to him."
From upstairs, the iron gates were opened, and the guards addressed someone which made Hiroshi's subordinates to stand up if ever he will do something dangerous.
"Chi-chan, what are you doing here?"
"…I was checking if he has talked to his retainers… but as you can see…"
Without a doubt, it was the Shogun himself who just came back from his meeting in the Imperial palace.
"The Shogun…"
"Why is he here…?"
"No need to be so wary about me, former prince of Kiko and former generals of Haguro."
With the way he addressed them, it made the three aware that the Shogun knows them well enough to call them as such.
"I am only here to try and convince your master to return to sanity."
"…"
Even if his cell was filthy, the Shogun opened the door and sat in front of the drunk Hiroshi who is sprawled on the floor that has his piss and vomit.
"Hey there, buddy."
"You…"
"Quit with the "I give up on everything" act of asking us for Sake and intoxicating yourself and tell me what you actually want."
"You… Urgh…"
"Iwasawa-sama…"
The drunk young man tried his best to sit up which the Shogun helped him with by lending him and arm.
"Alright… now tell me what you-"
"YOU-!"
"Urk-!"
"Shogun-sama!"
"Unhand him, you-"
"STOP!"
Hiroshi suddenly took him by the collar and the soldiers were about to stab him through the bars when Sora raised his hand to command them to stop.
"You…"
"Say it, Hiroshi… what is it that you want?"
Even if he was drunk to his soul, Iwasawa Hiroshi's single and most powerful desire pushed him to ask the question that has been weighing on him ever since they last met… no, even before that…
"You tell me right here and right now…!"
The question… about who…
"Who am I really and why am I here?!"