Il Cielo dei Tre Regni
by Lunar Wave
Disclaimer: This story borrows the setting and characters of the Koihime†Musou series and borrows multiple elements from Katekyo Hitman Reborn. I own neither series as they both belong to their respective owners. Also, considering Koihime†Musou could be considered a fanfic of the Three Kingdoms, I'd like to say I don't own anything related to the stories of the Three Kingdoms.
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Predetermined Verdict
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Enshou growled as she was manhandled into one of the rooms. "How brutish. I suppose that is to be expected of-"
"Shut up. Your army killed one of my brothers. The only reason you live is because Ryuubi-sama is kinder than anyone under heaven." The soldier snarled. "However, the only order is to ensure you live. And we have a general capable of healing wounds. If you do not wish to lose your tongue, drop the act."
"How da-"
"Enough, soldier."
"Kousonsan-sama."
"Oh, if it isn't Pairen-san." Enshou huffed. The soldier snarled a bit.
"…" Pairen frowned before turning to the soldier, "Remember, soldier. This Enshou has already lost her army, her territory, and her riches. The only thing left to deliberate is whether she loses her life, or she loses her dignity. And personally, I'd prefer her to lose the last thing that she values above all others."
"… It is still infuriating that she gets to live whi-"
"Her life is not for you to decide but the Emperor's. At the same time, you were not the only one to lose brothers in this mess. My Kouson Clan was not left unscathed when this woman took control of Yuushuu." Pairen shook her head, "… All of us have lost something from this woman's mess."
"However, I'm aware that Ryuubi-sama is considering allowing this woman to live. Why?"
"As you said, Touka-chan is kinder than anyone under heaven. At the same time, Master does not believe her death is justified as payment for her crimes. He considers death a mercy to her. Choose either."
"… A mercy?"
"They will explain everything at the trial." Pairen replied, "… In the meantime, your job is to guard the hallway. Don't lose sight of yourself due to anger. This woman may have been the root source of your brother's death, but that is how war works. I killed quite a few soldiers in the war as well. There's a chance that they had brothers as well. There are also soldiers on their side that feel the same as you. The only difference is that we won and they lost."
"… Understood." The man nodded, but it's clear that he wasn't happy about it.
"If it wasn't for Karin-san," Enshou raised her voice to argue but Pairen interrupted her quickly.
"But you lost." Pairen replied. "We won. You lost. There is no argument. You lost, Reiha. Now act like the noblewoman you claim to be and accept your defeat with grace."
"Grr…"
"Now, then. Before the trial tomorrow, these two requested a bit of time to talk with you." Pairen stood aside, "… Come in, Ganryou, Bunshuu."
"What!?"
And so entered Enshou's most loyal subordinates: Ganryou and Bunshuu, stripped of their armors. Their clothes are relatively clean all told, but their hands were bound, and their legs are tied so that it would be impossible to run.
"Reiha-sama!" Ganryou called out, "You're… okay…" Ganryou gave a smile that was slightly sobbing.
"Reiha-sama!" Bunshuu grinned, "As you can see, we're not dead yet!"
"Toshi? Iishe!?" Enshou blinked, "What's the meaning of this, Pairen-san!?"
"The two of them refused to leave you to your fate, so they will share your fate." Pairen replied. "If you get executed, the two of them would too. That was their sentiment when we asked if they would like to join our army instead of dying. So we brought them to share your fate in this trial."
"Don't you dare touch my-"
"We're wasting time, so I'll leave." Pairen turned around as the soldiers fastened the two generals to opposing sides of the room, away from Enshou, "… I imagine the three of you have a lot to talk about. We'll be outside."
Pairen left, and the soldiers came with her. The door is then shut. All that's left is an awkward silence between three childhood friends.
The room had no windows, nor other entrances save for the door. It's guaranteed to get stuffy in a while, but it's better safe than sorry.
"… Did Sousou-san hurt you, Reiha-sama?"
"She won't dare touch my face."
"I see…" Ganryou sighed in relief, "… So…"
"… Do you two have a plan of escape?"
"Nope." Bunshuu shrugged.
Ganryou shook her head as well.
"… Then think of one!"
"… The entire city is prepared to intercept us if we run." Ganryou shook her head. "… There will be generals at every exit. The only reason we escaped from Kahi before is because the soldiers were distracted by Machi-san surrendering to the Ryuubi Army."
"And where is Machi?" Enshou frowned.
"… She wasn't involved in our invasion of Joshuu." Ganryou shook her head. "… So while she was associated with us, she got off lightly. She now works as a scribe for the Ryuubi Army."
"She betrayed me?" Enshou said, dismayed.
"… She didn't." Ganryou replied, "… She never once told them anything about our army." Ganryou smiled, "Machi-san was our ally even after she left. She simply just joined up with Ryuubi to survive."
"… I see." Enshou took Ganryou's words at face value. "Then she should be able to get us o-"
"… Machi-san already used up her goodwill by not telling them anything about our army." Ganryou raised her voice. For the first time in her memory, she interrupted her lord.
"Toshi… you…"
"… Anyone who joins the Ryuubi Army has the ability to ask for a single favor. I… in exchange for joining them, asked them to not execute you." Ganryou bowed her head, "… So… please… live, Reiha-sama!"
"Toshi…" Enshou grit her teeth.
"The Ryuubi Army said they can't guarantee your life!" Ganryou replied. "If you start insulting everyone again, and disregarding the Emperor, Ryuubi, Sousou, and the Heavenly Messenger's words, you might actually be executed even so! So please, all I ask is for you to listen to them!"
"Toshi…"
"Sheesh, let's calm down." Bunshuu laughed, "I mean, we share fates, remember? Let's take it easy. If we live then there's tomorrow. Then there's the day after. As long as we're alive, we have a chance to come back stronger!"
"… Right… as long as we're alive…"
Ganryou sighed as the two had their moment. It wasn't so easy anymore. The Ryuubi Army will likely be left as the trio's supervisors. After all, it was their idea to spare Enshou. Second, the riches of the En Clan, have already been all stripped, including the treasury in Kahoku. There's nothing for them to use to grow. They will have to start from zero. And with the decisive handicap that… if the Ryuubi Army notices…
"… I feel like all that will happen is Ryuubi's Army figuring us out and executing us on the spot for treason." Ganryou muttered. The two aren't exactly the most subtle people in the world.
"What was that, Toshi?"
"… Please don't get us actually executed for treason. Please?" Ganryou replied.
"OH HO HO HO HO! Have faith in me, Toshi-san!"
Ganryou sighed, wondering just how much her purity would be worth if she were to give it to the heavenly messenger. Would it be enough to offset the high chance that her dear friends would cause trouble? It's not like the two of them care that much about the sacrifices she had to make to support their lifestyles.
A sharp rap was then heard from the door. Pairen then entered, "… I heard Reiha's laugh. I assume that means you're done."
"Wait, what!?" Enshou blinked, "H-how rude! I'm just…"
"We'll split the three of you up." Pairen continued without paying attention to her. "We promised to give you time to talk to each other before the trial, and if you're wasting it on thinking of how to mess with us, then we're just ending this."
"You were listening in!?" Enshou frowned.
"… I don't need to. I told you I was directly outside the door. You were all so loud that it wasn't hard to overhear anything." Pairen dryly replied.
Ganryou sighed. While that was true, they were also tied in different corners of the room. They can't exactly whisper to each other. And the three of them don't exactly have a secret sign language they can use between them, let alone one that doesn't use their still tied-up hands. Likely speaking, this is deliberate.
"… So if all you three are doing is discussing how to escape from us, or find a way to attack Kentei-sama again… I'll ask all three of you to end this meeting. All three of you." Pairen sighed.
"We still have something to talk about!" Ganryou shook her head.
"… You only get one second chance." Pairen replied. "… If we hear more escape plans or plans to rebel against the Empire again, you are done."
Pairen said in the harshest way she could. Which wasn't as harsh as she wanted it to be, but it gets the point across.
Pairen left the room.
"Toshi!" Bunshuu whispered. Which means Ganryou could still hear it, but so does anyone who's standing at the door.
Ganryou shook her head. "… Bun-chan, just talk normally. The Ryuubi Army definitely put us here to let us talk but still be able to hear what we have to say."
"How rude. Was this not supposed to be a private conversation?" Enshou scoffed.
"Yeah!" Bunshuu nodded.
"It's not worth the risk!" Pairen's voice called from the hall. "You three literally plotted to kill the emperor, who is the cherished little sister of the one you called emperor. There was never any chance that you three will get any form of privacy that lets you plan things out. The Ryuubi Army will advocate for letting Reiha live, but we're not advocating for your freedom." They were not their defense. "So unless you want Reiha to eat the scraps of food from the table of the servants, start talking about what actual excuses you do have that will let your sentences be lessened. We already told Ganryou all of your crimes. You will be tried for each of them. Now start thinking of a way to make said crimes not worth execution. Combined."
Ganryou sighed, "… Right, the crimes."
"And how sure are we that you aren't just going to use what we plan here against us!?" Enshou bit back at the door, where Pairen stood behind.
"A word of warning, Kazuto will see through lies, and Kazuto will definitely call you out once you start making things up. Don't bother trying to lie."
"You're bluffing."
"You can try it if you feel lucky, but that won't do you favors when negotiating what kind of punishment you'll get."
"… So going down the list." Ganryou sighed, "… Treason. Staging a rebellion. Disrespecting the Emperor…"
-()-
"… and finally, being a self-deluded idiot who couldn't realize how stupid she really is." Sousou finished listing the crimes.
"The last one isn't a crime." Kazuto told Sousou.
"It should be."
"We're not punishing a two-year-old for not knowing how to multiply fourteen to seventeen, Sousou. Focus on the actual crimes of the warmongering tyrant of a woman whose face spends more time tilted upwards that she can't see what's in front of her past the tip of her nose."
"… Weren't we supposed to be keeping her alive?" Josho muttered from beside him.
"Very well." Sousou shrugged, "… How do you plead, En Honsho?"
"How rude!"
"… How do you plead, Enshou?" Sousou repeated.
Enshou refused to answer.
"… Wha, her pride's still intact." Kazuto praised, "… So… Did you find someone to represent you, or will you still self-represent?"
"I will speak for myself." Enshou huffed.
"Very well." Kazuto nodded, "Kindly, Enshou, explain to the court everything that happened from your perspective. Be wary that if we encounter a contradiction with the given evidence, we will disregard your testimony."
"Hmph."
"So… let's start from the beginning. In this case, when Empress Ka and the Great General Kashin came into your protection."
"I was in the capital when suddenly, the Eunuchs plotted to kill the Great General. I took Kashin-dono and Kataigou-dono into my protection. However, the Reitei-sama was nowhere to be found. Fearing the Emperor fell into the hands of the treacherous Eunuchs, I brought my army to Rakuyou to take her back, only for that Toutaku to assault my army! So I retreated and called forth the other Lords to take back the capital."
"I see." Kazuto spoke, in a way to interrupt Enshou from continuing. "Sousou-san?"
"Wouldn't the Lady Emperor be more familiar with this matter?" Sousou asked.
Paitan nodded, "… The eunuchs did in fact plot to oust the Great General and the Empress. My sister then fled as well, although I am still unaware of her reasons for doing so…"
"Is she not here?" Sousou frowned.
"Fan?" Kazuto turned to the aide of Kuutan, "… You were a Eunuch yourself. Why did you and the Empress, alongside Kouhosuu and Roshoku run?" Of course, this was already something the Ryuubi Army knew, so Kazuto was asking for the sake of the entire court.
"The other Eunuchs had plans against the Emperor, and it seems to have infected many of the servants." Fan replied. "So we left."
"Without Kentei-sama?" Sousou asked, with a frown.
"There was no time to find the then-Ryuukyou-sama." Fan replied. "As long as the Emperor is safe, isn't that how things work?"
Sousou nodded, "The safety of the Emperor is the most important. More than a younger sister. If Kentei-sama was the daughter, rather than the sister, that wouldn't be an argument." Sousou then frowned, "Why, then, did Emperor Rei not return to Rakuyou as soon as the Eunuch Rebellion was quelled?"
"That is not important to this trial." Fan replied.
"Basically, Reitei-sama grew curious of the world outside the Palace and wished to explore the place which she ruled." Kazuto replied for her.
Sousou nodded.
"If she merely asked, I would've been glad to escort them myself." Enshou sighed. "I would've shown her all the things that the Empire has to offer her!"
"But she didn't." Kazuto nodded. "So… Enshou. Continue."
"… The Anti-Toutaku Coalition." Enshou frowned, "You know what happened there better than anyone, right, Hongou?"
"This is your testimony, Enshou. Didn't you want to prove that you did everything right, and did nothing wrong?"
"Very well." Enshou huffed, "I formed the coalition, but was then rudely made subordinate to a foreigner."
"We voted. You lost." Kazuto smiled, "It was all above board."
"Ch."
"Then?"
"And as proven, your foreign blood proved that you were a worthless leader, as the coalition failed at what it set out to do!" Enshou glared at him.
"Failed? In what way?" Kazuto smiled.
"In what… Toutaku escaped! Have you forgotten that!? The coalition was formed against Toutaku and yet we have no body to show for it!"
"Question, Enshou?" Sousou smirked, "Was Toutaku truly a tyrant that deserved the formation of a coalition to destroy?"
"Hah!?"
"We moved according to your information, as a reminder." Sousou smirked.
"The information I got was trustworthy!"
"Is that so? Kentei-sama?"
"No." Kentei shook her head, "Toutaku was no tyrant."
"Hah!?" Enshou said, flabbergasted.
"Another count for disrespecting the Emperor." Sousou smirked.
"Urgh."
Kentei smiled ruefully, "After my sister disappeared from the palace, leaving me in charge, I had to take over the position of Emperor. But without the Eunuchs, and many officials having died due to the Eunuch Rebellion, I found myself short-handed by quite a bit. So I asked Toutaku to serve as my Prime Minister to aid me in my affairs." Kentei then sighed, "… Then Choujou appeared and used sorcery to make me sick. With my life a hostage, Choujou then used Toutaku's name to commit horrible acts."
"You are no longer sick?"
"Kazuto-san used his sorcery to remove Choujou's influence from my body. However, it took a while… I recall becoming completely healthy by the time of Sousou's invasion of Joshuu."
Sousou nodded.
"Considering that happened, why are y-"
"Sousou is not on trial; her offense is against Touken, and Touken has expressly stated to not wish to pursue the matter." Kazuto immediately dropped that argument.
"Do you not realize how much of a snake that woman is!?"
"Compared to what you did during that time?" Kazuto dryly said, "Why don't you tell us the events that happened after the coalition?"
"Are we truly done with the matter of the coalition?" Sousou asked.
"As damning as it is for Enshou to have launched a coalition of lords against the one supporter of Kentei-sama, every lord there is complicit with the crime of ignorance. And regardless, the coalition, while it looked like a failure, was a success. After all, us, the Ryuubi Army, was able to safely recover the Emperor and apprehend Toutaku and her officials, aside from Kayuu and Enshou."
"Who you harbored and did not announce." Sousou remarked.
"Considering what Enshou did when she merely thought that Reitei was in our territory? I feel that was the correct choice." Kazuto pointed out.
"Her illness was caused by sorcery?"
"Swamp Flames. Causes decay on contact. Choujou also likely used it on the palace. That damage wasn't due to being burned, after all."
"Can you use it?"
"I'm a strictly Sky Flame user." Kazuto replied. "Compared to other types of flame, it's the best at flight."
"Why is it that you all seem to use flames rather than other mediums? Like ice, for instance?"
Kentei opened her mouth to try and put this down, but Kazuto was one step ahead of her. They cannot simply brush this question aside. Sorcery is a risky business. If they come off as too tight-lipped regarding the practice, their silence could be used against them. When it comes to these sorts of things, it's better to evade than shut down. "That is both a good question and a pointless one. Sorcery is an annoying topic in its entirety because it's a nebulous term that literally refers to someone doing something incomprehensible. You remember the leaves that were used against us during the coalition, right?"
"… You referred to those as flames as well."
"Forest Flames. Did they look like flames, however?"
"No, but you have a reason for calling them flames, then?"
"Convention, mostly." Kazuto replied. "You'll understand if you… say… join my Family?" Kazuto smirked.
"… Are you asking me to marry you, Hongou?" Sousou asked.
Kazuto smiled, "We've gone off-track, Sousou." Kazuto could already imagine the ear-twisting he'll receive from the disturbed future Shoku members.
Sousou nodded, a bit annoyed at getting cut off for the sake of returning to tedium. This is literally already territory that everyone, save for the commoners who don't pay attention to country politics, would know. "So after the coalition, Enshou. What happened?"
"Did I not already tell you?" Enshou huffed, "It bears no repeating."
"Ah of course." Sousou shrugged, "According to your own testimony when you brought in front of the court at Kahi, you've gained insight on Reitei's approach to Yuushuu. You then invaded Yuushuu to secure it as a safe haven for Reitei's approach, not knowing that Reitei had already joined with the Ryuubi Army when they fled south towards Joshuu… Is there anything else you would like to say about the matter?"
"Nothing." Enshou shrugged.
"Were you not in contact with any other lords during the time?" Sousou sharply asked.
"None of the sort."
"Hoh? Then what's this?" Sousou pulled out a paper scroll. "This is a letter of alliance to Choubaku… with your personal seal."
"Hah?" Enshou looked at her incredulously.
"It's an invitation for Choubaku to invade my Kyoshou while I was fighting Touken." Sousou growled. "You then reneged on your deal and invaded Yuushuu, abandoning Choubaku. What a trustworthy ally."
"Can I see that, Sousou?" Kazuto asked.
Sousou shrugged and handed it to Kazuto. Enshou in turn…
"I don't remember signing an alliance with any backwater noble!" Enshou scowled.
"Convenient excuse."
Kazuto frowned a bit, "Does anyone here have a letter personally written by Enshou beforehand? I want to do a handwriting comparison."
"Don't bother." Sousou rolled her eyes. "For these sorts of things, while it would make sense to write your own letters, it's perfectly reasonable for someone else to have written it for her, and she simply stamped it with her seal."
"Ganryou, Bunshuu?"
"I… we don't remember that letter, at all!" Ganryou shook her head.
Bunshuu frowned, "… Yeah. Were we allied with Choubaku ever?"
"Machi?" Kazuto turned to his scribe. She shook her head, having no recollection of the letter as well.
"Kazuto-sama." Shuri walked over, "The… letter of declaration of war from Enshou." She handed a scroll.
"… When did this happen?" Kazuto blinked.
"Two weeks after you left Joshuu."
"… Why is the scroll quality different?" Kazuto blinked.
Sousou blinked. "… What?"
"Look. The declaration of war has much thicker paper used than this alliance letter." Kazuto frowned.
"Does it matter?"
"No." Kazuto shook his head, returning the declaration of war to Shuri. "Thank you, Sousou." As he returned the other scroll to Sousou.
Sousou nodded dryly. "So you found nothing to disprove this letter?"
"… Both the seals on the alliance letter and the war declaration letter were the same." Kazuto sighed, "It must've gone through Enshou's table. Unless the seal was stolen for a spell." Kazuto turned to Ganryou, "This seal is Enshou's personal seal, correct?"
"… Yes." Ganryou nodded.
"Only one such seal was ever made?"
"… Yes."
"This seal must be important enough that you use it every day, correct?"
"Yes…"
"Do you recall an event where the seal missing one day, but conveniently reappearing the next?"
"… No."
"Then, that is truly damning evidence, if I ever heard it." Kazuto sighed. Sousou nodded with a smirk. "What is your plea on this, Enshou?"
"I don't know anything!"
"A reminder, Reiha." Sousou dryly grinned, "Were you not listening to Hongou's little speech at the start of this trial? Lying in court will either get you kicked out, or sentence you. I have evidence. You've produced none." Sousou turned to Kazuto, "Speaking of? Hongou?"
"Enshou didn't lie." Kazuto replied. "Of course, that doesn't mean either of you are wrong." Kazuto shrugged, "She's either truly convinced that that Alliance Letter is utterly fake, or she's already forgotten about that letter so thoroughly that she's actually clueless about it."
"Hoh?"
"Lying requires someone to be telling a story they don't believe to be true. That is all it is. As long as you believe it's true, then you aren't lying, even if you are saying untrue statements…"
"So you're saying Enshou here has gone mad?"
"I don't know. All the times I've met her, she's been pretty consistent. You know her better than me. You decide if she's gone mad."
Sousou frowned.
"Anyway, I called it damning evidence. Just another crime we could add to her pile." Kazuto replied.
"Reiha-sama isn't the type of person to renege on things like alliances!" Ganryou spoke up. "So that letter can't be real!"
"Is that so?" Sousou dryly remarked, "Why don't you prove it, then? Produce your own evidence."
"Th-that's…"
"Demanding evidence from them is just mean, Sousou; you didn't tell anyone that you were going to produce this letter as evidence." Kazuto sighed, "Anyway, I'm inclined to agree that Enshou is not the type to renege on alliances."
"Really?" Sousou frowned.
"… During the coalition, Enshou was passed over for the role of leader of the coalition. And yet she remained part of the coalition."
"She spent most of the time trying to argue that you aren't a suitable leader for the coalition." Sousou dryly replied.
"But she could've departed when everyone was showing her no signs of agreeing." Kazuto pointed out. "Besides. She's right. I'm not a suitable leader for the coalition. I'm a foreigner. I should never have been made the leader of some glorious quest to retake the capital from a supposed tyrant. That's a role that should've been done by a local. Her words aren't wrong."
"But that doesn't mean they were right, either." Sousou and Ryuubi said at the same time. They then looked at each other in surprise before proceeding to ignore this.
"Thank you for the vote of confidence, but the two of you don't need to act so weirdly about it." Kazuto said, taken aback. "Anyway, Ganryou-san, is there a chance that the letter was faked, then? I told you, the seal is real. I recognize that seal as the same as the declaration of war."
"… There has to be." Ganryou grimaced.
"… Then I'm sorry, but that's not enough. But in the end… this alliance and then breaking it… isn't a crime that we can prosecute either way." Kazuto shrugged, "After all, the only wronged party, Choubaku, is not here."
"And if she was here?" Sousou asked.
"Then naturally, as it's the business of the Imperial Government to look into matters of national importance, an alliance between a lord of Kishuu and the Imperial Protector of Enshuu, if Choubaku arrived to us, complaining about Enshou's betrayal, then we would naturally have looked into it and sentenced her for it. Enshou reneging on her promised alliance is honestly secondary to this. All it proves is that Enshou cannot be trusted to have alliances."
"How dare…"
"Sousou has proven the alliance as real. She has done her due diligence in proving it so. It is now your turn to prove it fake."
"Dammit…"
"… Haah." Kazuto sighed. In the end, there was no Phoenix Wright here to defend this woman. While Kazuto can be sure she wasn't lying, his Hyper Intution cannot be accepted as evidence.
"If I had access to my office…" Enshou growled.
"Then you should've hired a proper scholar to defend you." Kazuto dryly replied, "You're the one who jumped at the chance to defend yourself when you're stuck in prison."
"You… you entrapped me!"
"All I said was that there were little odds that a smart scholar would let themselves be hired by you at this point." Kazuto frowned, "But that doesn't mean it's impossible. I mean… just hire someone. I mean… people will do many things as long as they get paid."
"… Didn't we take all her money?"
"Legally speaking, all the money of Enshou's and the En Family's is confiscated, not repossessed." Kazuto shrugged, "The Emperor holds the money hostage, but it's still the En Family's. They just simply can't use it so freely."
"Why was I not told!?"
"I asked you if you had someone in mind to defend you." Kazuto frowned. "… Maybe the way I asked was misleading?" Kazuto winced, "Yeah, my bad."
"My bad!? That's all you have to say!?"
"Listen, woman, you set an army against me and my Family. You actively threatened the lives of the people I love! I'm not some saint that will forgive you so easily! I'm as invested in your life as you are invested in mine!" Kazuto glared, "So? How invested are you in my life or death, Enshou?"
"Urgh…"
"NOW! Let us move on! This matter with Choubaku has gone long enough!" Kazuto sighed, trying to calm down, "So Enshou? Tell me. What happened with the events in Kishuu after you took control of Yuushuu?"
"The matter with Enjutsu, correct?" Sousou smirked. "Did we not already discuss this at length before? Her claim was that Enjutsu did not inform her of her plans, and Sonken had claimed that Enjutsu has explicitly ordered that Enshou be made unaware of the matter."
"Do you have anything to add regarding that, Enshou?" Kazuto asked.
"None."
"Good. Then we can get to the important part, Enshou."
"… What…?"
"Tell me how Kanhyoku died, Enshou." Kazuto glared. "Tell the Emperor how she failed to protect one of her allies from an invasion due to your machinations?"
"That's not…"
"You hired Kayuu to invade Kishuu's Capital. Kanhyoku escaped, but died of sorrow for the death of her most valued vassal."
"That is the cutest way of saying suicide I've heard." Sousou muttered.
"… Tell me, Enshou. How did that story come about?"
"I thought you said you wouldn't criminalize her for that?" Sousou asked. She didn't prepare for it.
"I said I won't criminalize her, but I didn't say I wouldn't suspect her." Kazuto replied, "Now then… Enshou."
"I don't know." Enshou huffed.
"Huh?"
"Kayuu showed up one day, asking me to hire her and her men. I told her that she wasn't good enough, since she lost to Ryuubi's General."
"… Idiot." Sousou dully said, "Kayuu's strength rivals the Tiger of Koutou. She's not weak by any means. Kan'u is just strong."
Enshou flinched. "If she's so strong, then why attach herself to…"
"Because she can afford to." Sousou replied. "Because she's strong enough that joining a weak force wouldn't be a detriment to her future."
"Aisha isn't a machine that you can generalize like that." Kazuto scolded the two, "How she does things is her own choice. As long as she's human, she will make her own choices. Are you familiar with the phrase: a man chooses, a slave obeys?"
"An interesting idea." Sousou hummed. In other words, if you're truly a human being, you should make your own choices, and not blindly follow orders.
"Now then, about Kayuu. Continue. No more delaying. If we haven't started talking about the war between Joshuu and you, we'll judge you based on Sousou's report. Cause right now, you haven't exactly lowered your sentence below 'might as well be executed to get it over with' yet."
"How rude!"
"You need to convince us your crimes are either non-existent or light enough that a heavy punishment isn't necessary. That's what you are doing here. That's what the scholar who you were supposed to hire to defend you should be doing here…" Kazuto sighed.
"Then I'll hire one now, as long as you pay them with the money you stole from me!"
"Stupid." Kazuto replied. "That's not any better than hiring some rascal on the street. They might know law, but they don't know all the facts. A proper lawyer needs all the details from their client, and you don't have that time. You are in the presence of the court of the Empire, with representatives from across the nation. Stop wasting our time and talk. You hired Kayuu, right?"
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"I sent her away! That's what I said!"
"Hoh?"
"Then I received news that she took control of Kishuu's capital as proof of her strength. That's when I hired her as my General!" Enshou replied.
"… I see." Kazuto frowned. "… Kayuu. Your response? Enshou just claimed that the entire debacle with Enshou is your fault."
"It's true that she sent me away." Kayuu replied, "But then I received a letter ordering for me to take the rest of Kishuu for Enshou. I needed money to feed my men, so I naturally accepted."
"This letter?"
"I burned it." Kayuu replied, with ridicule in her face, "That is only natural for these sorts of transactions. I kept it on me until Enshou hired me, but once she did, I naturally burned it."
"Ganryou, Bunshuu, Denhou. Confirm this for me?" Kazuto turned.
"Seems right to me."
"Just so…"
"I know what happened." Denhou sighed.
"Machi?" Kazuto turned to the girl.
"A few hours after Kayuu left, I encountered a scribe who was carrying a message. That was then sent via courier to Kayuu before she left, I presume. At the time, I did not know the circumstances, but now that I've heard the story, it's obvious now."
"Who is this scribe?" Kazuto asked.
"I do not know their name, but I do know that said scribe was in the back pocket of the former Empress Ka."
"So Reichen-san did it?" Paitan confirmed.
"Kataigou was rather annoyed by the lower benefits she's receiving in Kahoku."
"Kahoku should have the highest benefits in the country at the time." Kazuto blinked, "Richest in the nation and all that nonsense."
"Yes, but it's still lower quality compared to her time as Empress." Denhou winced, "So she must've plotted for Enshou-sama to take control of Kishuu in its entirety, hoping the increase in prestige would raise her quality of life."
"Is this an accusation made due to malice?" Sousou asked. "A reminder that Empress Ka, while no longer of that stature, was the wife of former Emperor Rei. Such an accusation must not be made lightly."
Machi flinched, her stomach aching as anxiety begins sinking in, but Kazuto merely nodded, "… Go on, Machi. If you have proof, say it. As long as you say the truth, then even the gods above won't be able to harm you while under my protection."
Machi nodded slowly as she worked up her courage, "T-thank you, Kazuto-sama… I-I've heard it from the Empress's mouth herself. She came to me demanding why I refused to raise her standards of living. She used the fact that Kishuu was now completely in Kahoku's control to justify so, and thus have more resources. She did not realize just how much of a headache that it actually caused instead, as I already had to work with Yuushuu and then needed to work on Kishuu? That… should've been the catalyst of when Kataigou started actively damaging my reputation in Enshou's court."
"That… happened?" Enshou blinked, "… That… butcher's sister… How dare she touch my strategist!? I was merely showing her courtesy and she plotted against my own!? Make no mistake, Machi! If I find her, I will show her the power of the En Clan! OH-HOHOHO!"
Machi blinked at the show of power. She was naturally touched but… it was a bit too late. Machi has already complained about this before, so why show this now… If she showed it before maybe she would've stayed…
"With what power, idiot in handcuffs?" Sousou dryly said. "You failed to realize your own vassal's plight when it was most necessary. Get off your high horse and lower your head in the dirt instead. Maybe that will be enough to earn her forgiveness." She didn't just imagine the fact that Kazuto called the girl by True Name, nor did she miss the fact that the strategist referred to him by the honorific -sama. It seems that Denhou has already left Enshou's loyalty, and has sworn her services to Ryuubi. Likely since before the war.
"… Choukou. Do you accept this?" Kazuto turned to the General. "… This explanation?"
"… That my grudge should not to Enshou but to Kataigou, correct?" Choukou asked. "… Fine. I accept this explanation as truth."
"Sousou?" Kazuto turned to her.
Sousou nodded, and turned to the former Kanhyoku general, "Choukou."
"Yes?"
"After your duel with Kayuu, drop this matter entirely."
"… Understood."
"If so, then, I, Sou Moutoku, as representative of this court's justice, accept this testimony as truth, as long as no future evidence disprove it so. A warning, however, since it's now accepted as truth, you better not contradict yourselves down the line, Reiha." Sousou smirked.
"… Then the matter of Kanhyoku is closed. Thank you Kayuu."
"Hmph. You already swore to me that chance to live or die through showing my strength. That is more than I could ask for as a warrior."
"What is this about?" Touka asked.
"Choukou wishes to personally execute Kayuu through a duel." Kazuto replied. "Sousou accepted it to cure the knot in Choukou's heart."
"That's!"
"Touka. This is her choice. So drop it." Kazuto replied. "You are the regent of Joshuu; it's not your place to meddle in the affairs of Sousou's governance." Kazuto knew Touka would object to this. To allow a duel to the death as a cure… Either Choukou or Kayuu will die. Even Kazuto was unclear as to who of the two would live, but from what Kazuto remembered of the two's skills, Kayuu has the edge.
"Still!"
"Still your tongue, Ryuubi." Sousou barked, "Kanhyoku's old territory is now mine; it's natural that I get to decide how this affair is managed."
"That doesn't make it right!" Ryuubi turned to Kan'u, but…
"… Let us not disrespect their wills." Kan'u told her sworn sister.
"I…"
"From what I can tell, the two of you have accepted this arrangement, correct?"
"Yes."
"Of course."
"Then as a warrior, I can only pray for you two to reach a satisfying conclusion."
"Aisha-chan…" Touka grimaced. "… Very well. I will say no more."
"You should've said nothing from the start." Sousou icily remarked. "Now, Enshou. We've finally reached the actual starting line of your crimes. Your invasion of Joshuu."
"I've heard news of my dear friend Kuutan-sama's appearance in Joshuu alongside her sister, Kentei. However, since the Emperor is still alive, shouldn't it be Kuutan-sama at the seat of Emperor? Such a thing, how could anyone accept Kentei as Emperor when Kuutan-sama is available! There can only be one reason, isn't there!? That you curs of Joshuu placed the younger Kentei into the position of Emperor as a puppet to control her!" Enshou declared, "So, as the friend and loyal subject of the rightful Emperor, how was it wrong for me to march!"
"Why the hell did you even march? Can't you go the same route everyone else did and send a messenger?" Kazuto replied, "You were not the only regional lord that sent messages questioning Paitan-sama's placement as emperor."
"What is the point to do so!? And the incident when I visited Kahi, where you besieged me on all sides! Isn't your tyranny clear!?"
"HA! HA! HA!" Kazuto sarcastically laughed, "We literally called you to Kahi to discuss the matter! Or have you also forgotten? Did we arrest you upon setting foot in Joshuu? Or even upon stepping foot in Kahi? Just so we're clear, the more things you conveniently forget for your own sake, the more it hurts your case. I will personally grill you over it."
"Kazuto-kun!"
"Touka, you made your request to save her; but like it or not, it's more convenient for everyone here that she dies. Everyone and their cats know that if she dies, we're all better off for it!"
"H-how dare…"
"Tell me, Enshou, what do we gain from your death? A lot. With your death, you won't be able to rise up and attack us again. You won't be a big headache for everyone involved. Hell, if you somehow manage to escape to a random village that once had your life earnings stored away, you might make a militia to once more attempt to kill Kentei, to sink us through more war. You are a ticking time bomb of a woman that letting you live is significantly more difficult than letting you die. Now! Explain exactly how this government wronged you. Cause I'll tell you what you did in Kahi. You came up and demanded an audience with the Emperor. Then when you got it, you spit in our faces and denounced Kentei. You declared the En Family the enemy of the government! Is it wrong for us to act against someone who had done so!?" Kazuto remarked. "It was EN HONSHO who made the En Family the enemy of the Empire! Your only mistake is believing that you can't be defeated!"
"… I…"
"Tell me I'm wrong!" Kazuto demanded, "Tell me that you didn't immediately insult all of us upon your arrival in the room! Tell me that your first words were not: Greetings to the dear sister of the Emperor! You insulted Kentei in her face!"
"Urgh…"
"So, tell me Enshou! Why should we not just kill you right here and now!? To make someone that actively antagonized us for a good chunk of two years disappear and no longer be a threat." Kazuto turned to Kentei, "Because I will execute you on the spot, if you can't come up with a good excuse. I've only killed one person before, but I will give you the honor of being the second."
"Y… you won't touch me…"
"Kentei, permission to draw my blade." Kazuto replied.
"… Granted." Paitan nodded.
"Paitan-chan!?" Touka yelled, "Kazuto-kun! Stop!"
Kazuto nodded, and pulled out his wooden sword from seeming nowhere, and stepped forward. "So." He placed the wooden blade to her neck, "Tell me Enshou." And with a twist, the bokken turned into a steel blade in front of Enshou's eyes. "Why should you live, while we suffer from your mere existence?" Flames burst from the blade, finishing the image.
""Reiha-sama!"" Ganryou and Bunshuu yelled. Sousou's guards rushed before them to prevent their interference.
"Kazuto-k-"
"Ryuubi!" Sousou barked, "The Emperor has granted him permission! If you stand here, you will violate her orders and be removed from this court!"
"That's!"
"I…"
None of this made sense.
Weren't they supposed to be keeping her alive? Toshi promised them her service so that she can live! So why!?
Enshou was practically shaking as the ropes tying her down refused to break apart. She can't even move, as Hongou glared at her with glowing orange eyes, as though it, too, was burning with the flames of his blade. She felt entrapped, suffocated. She…
"I-" Her voice came out but she realized the tip of the blade is just at her throat, stinging her with the slightest movement of her vocal chords. She is minutely aware of this, she…
"You threatened my friends, my family, the people I love. You want mercy? Act like you DESERVE IT first!"
"I…" She looked in the eyes of this man, who she once derided, she once scorned, and saw a burning fury that she didn't think was in this herbivore of a man, who catered to the whims of the girls around him, who didn't assert himself during the coalition… she saw it, a stell will, and the willingness to kill her if she says the wrong words.
"Go on! I know you know the words! Is this the first time you're saying them, you insufferable brat of a noblewoman!?"
"I'm… I'm SORRY!" Enshou yelled uncontrollably as she lowered her head in apology. She was in full supplication, one she never once thought she'd ever show, and only shown. Her eyes freely bled tears, not able to hide the sheer fear that she felt at that moment.
She only belatedly remembered the blade that had been moments ago at her neck. It had been moved away from the instant she was bowing.
"… Finally. She said it." Kazuto muttered. "Finally…" Kazuto put away his blade, returning to Kentei's side.
"In all my life, I've never seen this woman apologize. I'm impressed Hongou." Sousou praised.
"Don't be daft." Kazuto rolled his eyes, "Everyone who fears for their life will be like that. She doesn't mean it yet. She needs to show her sincerity with her punishment."
"Kazuto-kun!" Ryuubi frowned.
"… Now then. Since our criminal mastermind no longer has anything left to say… I guess that concludes her testimony. Now everyone, has anybody heard any proof of this woman's innocence beyond all shadow of a doubt?" Kazuto looked at the court. He no longer had his blade, but the fact that it just disappeared without their noticing is worrisome in itself. How he even brought it in was a question no one could be certain.
No one raised an objection.
"… Then?"
"… I pronounce the En Clan's Head representative, Enshou Honsho, guilty of all charges." Kentei declared. "… As for her punishment, Sousou-san?"
"Since you showed your sincerity, we won't execute you immediately. However, a single sign of treachery… well…" Sousou smirked evilly, while moving her thumb across her throat.
Enshou flinched, still feeling the sting of a prick on her neck.
Kazuto nodded, "… Now when it comes to options… we could put you in prison for life. You're in one room, under guard and key, and will never step out forever."
"Problem with that is… well we'll be using taxes to keep you fed." Sousou scoffed. "We could go cheap and, as Hongou suggested, give you the scraps off the servant's plates. I have a feeling you'd sooner bite your tongue off."
Enshou shook a bit in instinctual disgust, but she kept her head lowered, not looking at anyone.
"If she's really annoying about it, she can always eat day-old leftovers." Kazuto remarked.
"Kazuto-kun." Ryuubi reproached, "Isn't it enough?"
"Fine." Kazuto sighed, before turning to Enshou, "… Honestly, you wouldn't really learn much from life imprisonment." Kazuto sighed, "And there's a goodly chance of you being broken out by sympathizers. Someone as famous as you is bound to have a few in places we least suspect."
"That's always a risk, regardless of punishment. As long as the idiot's alive, of course."
"Sousou-san." Ryuubi glared.
"… So?" Sousou turned to Hongou, opting to ignore the woman. "Give your verdict. The woman's guilty. The issue is her punishment. We have more important things to do than waste on this one."
Kazuto nodded, before turning to Paitan.
"… Ryuubi Gentoku. Since it was you who wanted the life of this woman, then we will leave it to you to oversee her punishment." Kentei raised her voice. "… En Honsho. You will be stripped of all your titles, and access to all your riches. You will serve as a servant of the house of Ryuubi. However, if you were to be found scheming against anyone of the Empire, whether they be myself, Ryuubi, Sousou, or even a mere servant, there will be no warning; you will be immediately executed. No second chances."
Kazuto smirked, "If we order you to go to the farm and help the farmers, you will. If we order you to clean the stables, you will."
"What?"
"The only things you are allowed to complain about are commands that put your life at risk. Such as telling you to jump off a cliff." Kazuto shrugged, "… Bluntly speaking, I want you to experience the lives of commoners. Those you look down on, and gain a new perspective."
"Y-you!"
"Would you rather be executed?" Kazuto smiled. "That is always an option." His sword was once more in his hand.
"Urgh…"
"If you believe your pride in your bloodline is worth more than your life, then I won't deny you the right to have your head cut off." Kazuto replied. "We might even display it somewhere. 'Here is the fool who attacked the beloved sister of the one she calls Emperor'." Kazuto grandly waved. "That sounds like a nice epitaph, don't you agree?"
Enshou grimaced, lowering her head again.
"Then… does anyone have any complaints on Enshou's punishment?" Kazuto put away his blade once more.
"Who will ensure that she doesn't run away?" Sousou asked.
"Good question. I'll let the one who decided to even let her live to answer that." Kazuto pushed the responsibility to Touka.
Touka nodded, while keeping her pout internal. "… Ganryou has agreed to join our army as a logistical officer in exchange for Enshou's life. We intend to hold both her and Denhou responsible for Enshou's rehabilitation. If Enshou were to cause trouble that neither of them stops, then they will receive punishment as well. Including escape."
"Enshou's living quarters will be a cell in the prison. She will work for us, but she will not receive payment. Any payment she's due will go to paying the bail for all her crimes."
"Which is not a small amount." Kazuto added, "Bail for treason and attempting a coup is not exactly well-documented, but it will take at least three times the amount that was in the En Clan's treasury. We'll get an exact amount later."
"Fortunately, she's already paid off one portion then." Sousou snidely added.
"Hold up!" Enshou stood up, "Are you justifying your blatant robbery by saying it's my payment!?"
"I don't really want to hear that from the one who attacked one of the farms in Joshuu during the war." Kazuto pointed out. "And it's doubtful you'll be able to raise the original amount in your lifetime."
"And I could if you take it?"
"You know more than I the contents of the En Clan's treasury; you know how impossible that is." Kazuto barked in laughter. "If you thought the contents of your treasury is enough to bail you out of your combined crimes against the Empire, you're deluded. I hope you get well soon."
"Ch…"
"Treason, coup d'etat, inciting a civil war, lese majeste, rebellion. All crimes of the highest order. Do you deny that you did any of these?"
This was a rhetorical question. They already got this far in the discussion. The entire court already heard the evidence of Enshou's guilt. They were literally discussing Enshou's punishment. Denying anything was pointless.
"… Do you think it's an exaggeration to say that all the money in the En Treasury couldn't pay off a person with that many crimes against the Empire then?"
"… I… I am not a rebel… I just…"
"You were a rebel, no matter how noble your intentions are." Kazuto rolled his eyes, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Have you ever heard of that phrase?"
Touka grimaced. She's heard that phrase multiple times in her time with Kazuto and Reborn. No matter how virtuous you are, you must make sure that your virtue doesn't lead you to do horrible things in the name of doing good. For a benevolent tyrant will do horrible things to people for their own good. She has to make sure she doesn't fall into the trap of believing good intentions lead to good outcomes.
Enshou grimaced, "… So you just want me to treat me like a slave?" Her words have finally lost all trace of pride. She's exhausted and simply wanted to get this over with. Seeing that, Kazuto gave a hidden tap to Kentei.
"Ryuubi Gentoku, I presume you will handle the rest? I doubt that more needs be said on the matter?"
"It was my faction who asked for this one's life, so naturally it will be us who will ensure that she will no longer pose a threat to the Kan Dynasty." Touka nodded.
"Make sure you do." Sousou dryly replied, "We don't want her starting another war because she escaped you. Again."
"Then… court is adjourned." Kentei remarked, and with a strike of a gavel (that Kazuto had made for this trial specifically), Enshou's fate is sealed.
-()-
"… Was that necessary?" Touka asked Shuri, as they sat in a waiting room, preparing to enter Kentei's office.
"What?" Shuri asked, a bit startled by the sudden topic. She had been busy going over the potential topics of discussion in their soon-to-be meeting with Sousou to discuss the two army's future. Aisha stood at the door. It's just the three of them this time. The others had already been sent back to their residence, alongside Ganryou and Bunshuu. Enshou was returned to her jail cell. Her punishment doesn't start immediately.
"… Kazuto-kun threatening Enshou-san."
Shuri frowned, but Aisha spoke first.
"… When it comes to proud people like Enshou, it's only when their lives are on the line that they realize just how much they would lose. A test of will. If I had been in Enshou's place, I would've kept my head high, refusing to bow."
"But Enshou-san isn't you…" Touka remarked.
"She's not a proud warrior like me." Aisha nodded. "And she doesn't have the same character as you, Touka-sama. I do not believe for one second that you would've lowered your head merely because someone threatened your life."
"Thank you." Touka smiled, a bit unsure as to the truth of that. She hasn't been put in the same position yet, and she has no desire to be in said position. Would she break down if her life had been put at swordpoint like Enshou?
"It's extreme, but I don't think Master wanted to kill Enshou, just cause her to realize that. That she was an inch away from death. And while Enshou has a lot of pride, there's no steel backing her pride, so she bent and begged for her life."
"… It's also twofold." Shuri remarked, "It didn't just show Enshou her place, it also showed everyone in court her place. Enshou's image as a stalwart pillar of nobility, of having an unshakable pride in herself… That was broken then. Now everyone there will remember Enshou's lowered head as she begged for her life at the feet of the Emperor. The Prestigious En Clan, the nobility second only to the Imperial Family in value in the kingdom, has begged for her life to the current Emperor. It paints Paitan-sama as strong, and that it's not wrong for people to ask for her backing."
"I see…"
"Still, Kazuto-sama should've discussed this with us." Aisha frowned, "We wouldn't have been so caught off-guard if he did."
"… I believe it's time to restart the Kazuto Escort Service?" Shuri smiled. "I have a feeling this was probably spontaneous as well…"
"Isn't that why Josho was with him?"
"Genchoku-chan was probably too busy supervising Paitan-sama." Shuri winced, "But at the same time, Kazuto-sama has a way with words to make it seem like what he says is a good idea. They probably discussed this matter among themselves and did that show specifically so that they can assert such skill. Especially since Master asked Paitan-sama permission to draw his weapon, and it was granted immediately." It was illegal to bear arms in front of the reigning Emperor without permission. Only the guards are really expected to have them. So a weapon suddenly appearing in the court would be discomforting for most.
"… So he talked them into it?" Touka sighed.
"Probably." Shuri nodded.
"… Still… I'm glad Enshou-san apologized, even if it was forced. That means there's a chance for her to become better… to no longer hurt people just because she could." Touka smiled.
"It'll be our job to make it stick, however." Aisha frowned, "After all, we've been left babysitting her."
"Ahaha." Touka winced, "Yeah, I suppose so."
"… We'll have to assign a bunch of soldiers to ensure she doesn't run." Shuri nodded, "And we must make sure that neither Ganryou nor Bunshuu can approach her unsupervised."
"That's…"
"This entire Enshou business is such a nightmare to navigate." Aisha sighed. "If we're being blunt, the easy route is always just executing her."
"… There are times when one has to choose between doing what is easy and what is right." Touka replied. "And I won't choose the easy route if I don't believe it to be the right route…"
"And we follow you because so." Aisha smiled.
Touka smiled before turning to "Shuri."
"Yes?"
"Is… everything ready?"
"… Kentei-sama's decision… if you were to say something, I'm sure she would be willing to accommodate you, Touka-sama."
"… No. This is the first time Paitan-chan wanted something selfish from me. Even if it's difficult, I will do it." Touka smiled, "After all, I'm her Touka-neechan, after all."
This is how Ryuubi Gentoku is.
-()-
Inside Kentei's assigned office, gathered Kazuto, Paitan, Touka, Aisha, Shuri, Sousou, Kakouen, and Jun'iku. Chinkei is also present, to serve as scribe. For this last conversation, it will be up to them to decide things. At the corner stood Reborn, observing events as per usual.
Kazuto looked at Sousou. "… So?"
"So what?"
"How are we ending this? Should we go our separate ways, or should we turn this minor alliance against Enshou into a proper alliance?" Kazuto asked.
"Depends." Sousou shrugged, "Will the Emperor stay here?" Her eyes gleamed.
"That will be up to Paitan-chan." Touka remarked. Touka turned to Paitan. Sousou too looked towards the little Emperor.
Paitan breathed in, steeling her nerves from the expectations that both Sousou and Touka wanted from her. "… You've been very good to me the past few months, Sousou-san, but I can't help but feel suffocated by remaining here."
"I see." Sousou nodded, not showing emotion.
"… However, I am the Emperor of this country. The central location of your territory is much more ideal as the location of the capital of the country than Kahi is. I recognize this as truth as well."
"But Kahi is still suitable, considering, while it's not as central a location, it's still a useful one." Kazuto pointed out.
"Fool." Sousou rolled her eyes, "Kahi is prone to floods due to its location. Being situated at the place where two rivers join is not as ideal as you'd think."
"… Sousou-san." Kentei turned to Sousou, "… What do you want from me?"
"Hmm?"
"While you have been swamping Kazuto-san and myself with work, but it's not as if you actually took advantage of it during the war. You barely visited, for anything other than work."
"I would have thought you preferred so?" Sousou shrugged, "You've made no secret as to how you feel about me."
"However, by doing so, Paitan is significantly more isolated than when we were back in Joshuu." Kazuto chuckled. "For one, back in Joshuu, I and Touka shared the same office space. Here, her office space can only seat her. It took a bit of finagling to put in the additional workstation for Josho." It's not really a desk, more the tea table for greeting guests converted into a place for Josho to work on.
"That room is fairly comfortable, however? And, bluntly speaking, isn't it a bit odd for the Emperor to work in the same space as Joshuu's Regent?"
Kazuto shrugged and nodded. "Still, it's a different workflow compared to back home."
"Then what do you suggest? Do you wish to serve as the new generation of Eunuchs that manipulate the Emperor from below, while pretending to be above?"
"Sousou-san!" Kentei yelled, "That's!"
"It's a legitimate question." Sousou remarked.
"We already said it, right?" Kazuto sighed, "It is up to Paitan what we do. You can make speculations, all you want. Right as we are, while I know everyone and their dog refers to us as the Ryuubi Faction, we are the Imperial Faction. While we do give Kentei lots of advice, ultimately, we move according to Kentei's benefit. As amusing an idea as it is to assume that we have intentions to puppeteer Paitan, there are limits to self-projection, Sousou." Kazuto replied.
"Self-pro… what?" Sousou glared.
"Self-projection. Where you put yourself in our shoes and then think of what you would do in our place, and then assuming that it is exactly what we are doing. A logical fallacy."
"I know what self-projection means, Hongou." Sousou continued glaring.
"Then stop assuming everyone thinks like you and Jun'iku." Kazuto sighed.
"Hongou!" Jun'iku glared, "Why me!?"
"You know why, and if you try to degrade anyone in this room, I will spill." Kazuto replied nonchalantly.
Jun'iku glared.
"Kazuto-kun?" Touka asked.
"… What did you do, Keifa?" Sousou sighed. This is not what she wanted to start on.
"I did nothing." Jun'iku replied.
"That's probably the only thing we can agree on." Kazuto dryly replied.
""… That doesn't sound like nothing."" Touka and Sousou, in eerie synchronicity, said at the same time. The two blinked and turned their head to their counterpart before returning their eyes to their respective lovers in inquiry.
"I am not recounting Jun'iku's attempt to discredit me by doing absolutely nothing." Kazuto replied.
"I wasn't even trying." Jun'iku dismissed.
"Of course, you weren't trying. If you were, I'd be shouting at the rooftops about it." Kazuto dryly replied.
"Kazuto-kun?"
"We settled it out of court." Kazuto replied. "It's of no concern to the court anymore."
"What the monkey said." Jun'iku replied.
Sousou frowned, "… We will talk about this later."
"… Yes, Karin-sama."
"… Will this incident you both insist to keep between the two of you affect these negotiations?" Sousou turned to Kazuto.
"It could, but only if Jun'iku doesn't behave. Because I will be bringing it up if she tries to mouth off."
"Shameless prat."
"That's you." Kazuto replied.
"Kazuto-sama." Aisha impatiently spoke up. "Please stop derailing the conversation. Again."
"… So Paitan. What's your idea?"
"… Touka-neesama." Paitan turned to Touka. "… You… aren't interested in keeping the position of Joshuu's regent, correct?"
"Yes, but I've been entrusted to take care of it by Touken, until his child could grow up enough to inherit." Touka replied.
"Then it shouldn't be a concern to leave Touken to resume Joshuu matters?"
"It shouldn't, but I still have a responsibility, especially to those who evacuated with us from Yuushuu."
"Yuushuu has been freed from Enshou. It should be safe for all people to return to their old homes."
"That's not how the border works, Paitan-sama." Touka shook her head, "… At the border, constant bandit attacks from the northern nomadic tribes are prevalent. If the people who evacuated with us had a choice, they'd never return. It's simply unsafe. For better or for worse, they now are Joshuu citizens."
Kentei nodded. This was asked for the sake of Sousou more than anything. Sousou, who doesn't have the same familiarity with the northern border of the Empire as Touka or Pairen, merely rolled her eyes at the act. "… I would like to remain here in Kyoshou." Kentei finally stated, "… but only if you are willing to serve as my Imperial Guardian."
"Hold it." Sousou sharply spoke, "Imperial Guardian? Isn't that a position for protecting the heirs of the Emperor? You don't have children, Kentei-sama."
"Strictly speaking, I am the Imperial Heir, for as long as my sister lives." Kentei smiled, "She did abdicate, so it's sophistry, but this is a position I'd like to give to the one who has taken care of me for so long. I would've like to assign the position of Prime Minister…" There's a stigma against Prime Minister as a position. A mere two years ago, this position was uniquely empty for a long time, for it gives too much power to one person. They essentially fulfill the roles of the Emperor without being the Emperor, after all. Then there's the first time said position was finally assigned. Toutaku Chuuei. The First Prime Minister of the Empire for a long time, and immediately after her assignment, rumors of her tyranny sprouted. If Touka were to take up the position now, she would be tarred with a similar stigma.
"Then why not assign it to me?" Sousou smiled. She did not care for the stigma.
"That is still too much, Sousou-san." Kentei shook her head. "The position of Prime Minister is not one so lightly given. I've learned that lesson already."
"Fair." Sousou sighed. "So what rank will you assign me, then? Considering that my achievements in this war are no worse than Ryuubi's? You are aware of the prestige of the Imperial Guardian, correct?"
Kentei nodded. Imperial Guardian. The highest civil rank in the country. Nominally, the position is to guard the heir of the country. But as a caveat, they have a high ability to choose the Emperor. They are advisors.
"… Then I will assign you, in turn, the position of Great General." Kentei conceded.
Sousou blinked and grinned, "… That is more than I can hope for." If Imperial Guardian is the highest civil rank, then Great General is the highest military rank. Formerly occupied by Reitei's sister-in-law, Kashin. With said position, even though Kashin had been incompetent, she managed to move armies at her whim.
"… However, I would like the Ryuubi Army to remain largely independent of the command structure of the army." Kentei shook her head, "… Alongside the Imperial Guardian, I would like them to become my Imperial Guards. In turn, you will be the commander of the Imperial Army."
Sousou laughed. This was simply the Ryuubi Army giving her face. She can't complain about being talked over and arbitrarily assigned a role; she lost the race. But she can complain if the role is not worth taking. By giving her a position this high, they cut off any recourse for complaints, while at the same time, actively befriending her by bringing her into their inner circle. And the position of Great General is Inner Circle; they cannot so easily ignore her or remove her from important discussions.
But their ultimate goal is to keep the Ryuubi Army independent of Sousou. And by assigning Ryuubi and her Army the position of Imperial Guards, they succeeded in doing so. From here on out…
"Then… from here on out, Sousou-san…" Ryuubi turned to her, "… We will be allies."
"For the foreseeable future, yes." Sousou smirked. "But do you think I'll be so easily bribed?"
"Who disrupted our strategy then proceeded to lose the race?" Kazuto smirked, "Just be happy with what you're getting."
"By doing things like this, I'll be forced to accept a force within my own borders. You realize this, yes?"
"We don't want to be your enemy, Sousou." Kazuto shrugged, "That is a scary thought for anyone. If we could be friends, then we'd prefer to be friends."
"You don't make it easy."
"Neither do you, so fair's fair." Kazuto smiled. "Which is why we proposed this race. We both know that this war can only end in the unison of our two armies or us at war. As the army who is against war, I doubt it wasn't blatantly obvious what we would've chosen." They did discuss it heavily, even though they went with the obvious route. "So the race is to decide…"
"How the two armies will work together." Sousou finished with a smirk.
That's right. From the beginning, the war's ending was decided the moment Sousou had inserted herself into their war. The moment she showed support for Kentei's Forces. Bluntly speaking, while Enshou's forces were large and impressive, the moment Sousou and Ryuubi joined forces, Enshou was destined to lose. However, regardless of why Sousou joined them, or for whatever reason, the Emperor has to reward Sousou in some way. If she does not, she loses face, and Sousou can denounce her on the premise of blatant favoritism. Sousou has already received an empty title. She will not willingly accept another one. So the next reward above is either treasures or a title with some worth.
This was why the race was important to win for both Ryuubi and Sousou. If Sousou won, then she can demand her title. Kentei already had a history for assigning the position of Prime Minister to someone. If Sousou had won, then… as the one who actually led the Imperial Forces and won the war, then Sousou can demand the position of Prime Minister, and it will take some impressive haggling on the Ryuubi Army's part to lower it from their position. And with the position second only to the emperor, Sousou would be able to merge the Ryuubi Army into her own forces. She will gain all of the talent that Ryuubi has gathered in one place.
However, the reality is that Ryuubi won. And since they won, Touka and the others could decide their own fates. Logically, they could also have demanded to return to Joshuu, alongside the Emperor. But Sousou still needed a reward. The Ryuubi Army did not have a lot of leeway with the treasury. They can't willingly give away the power of sorcery either. So the only thing they could give was a title.
Kentei's decision to remain in Kyoshou to attempt to control the fractured Empire was her own choice. And the Ryuubi Army, having been informed earlier, accepted that. This is another thing that they'll have to give face to Sousou for. And a reason to remain in Kyoshou, even with the war ended.
"The position of Great General." Sousou smirked, "I accept." She raised no complaint. She raised no criticism. She merely smirked as everyone from Ryuubi Army stoically nodded.
"Then pleasure working with you from here on out, Sousou-san." Touka bowed. Sousou returned it.
-()-
Sonsaku tapped the desk as she listened to Shuuyu. She awkwardly had to be dragged here earlier, and she was slightly impatient. Fortunately, the contents were worth paying some attention to.
"Ryuubi as the Imperial Guardian, Sousou as the Great General. I'm surprised Sousou allowed it at all." Sonsaku remarked.
"Ryuubi's achievement in defeating Enshou cannot be denied." Shuuyu shrugged.
"And Enshou wasn't executed, but her future is pretty much crippled."
"Do you believe she could rise up again if she manages to escape?" Son Chuubou asked.
"Nothing is impossible. But if she does escape a second time, then we can simply denounce the Emperor and her army for inability to follow through." Shuuyu shrugged, "It's not a big deal for us. Even if Enshou gathers an army, whatever army she gets will die to any of the forces that exist now. Even a small-time lord can probably muster enough forces to topple Enshou as she is now."
"So? How will our relationship with the Ryuubi Army be?" Sonken asked.
"Let's maintain our current relationship." Sonsaku remarked. "As interesting as this scenario is… one mountain cannot contain two tigers." Sonsaku laughed, "One of the two will have to give way. And considering Sousou's personality? It won't be her."
"You assume that…"
"One either has to bend or break. You've talked to both of them. What do you think, Renfa?"
"… Logically? It will be Ryuubi. As for whether she bends or breaks…" Sonken grimaced, "… It could go either way with her."
"Hoh?"
"… Ryuubi is soft-hearted. But her soft-heartedness is uncompromising. She'll bend if there's nothing wrong with bending, but she'll stand firm when something goes against her ideals. I wouldn't be surprised if the reason Enshou lives on is because Ryuubi asked them to be lenient. In any other person's hands, Enshou will be dead."
"True." Sonsaku shrugged.
"Might be because Hongou wasn't next to her when she made her decision." Shuuyu remarked. "If Hongou had remained by Ryuubi's side at the time…"
"The boy folds to Ryuubi when it comes to matters like these." Sonsaku waved off Shuuyu's concern. "Not to mention that Enshou, while her personality is rotten, isn't bad-looking elsewhere."
"Hongou doesn't strike me as the type to care for that." Sonken frowned.
Sonsaku shrugged, "And while Enshou is rotten inside, her subordinates aren't bad. Not elites, but Ganryou is an unpolished gem limited by her environment. As for Bunshuu, she's probably better than most elites, and only losing to genuine monsters."
"Like yourself?" Shuuyu teased.
"If Bunshuu challenged me, I will send her flying." Sonsaku waved off the insult, "If we're going by our inner circle, then from what I remember from the coalition, Minmei can probably defeat her but barely, while Ashe will lose in under a few minutes"
"Ashe, who focuses more on tactics than combat." Sonken frowned.
"However Ashe's skill with her sword isn't ordinary either." Shuuyu shrugged. "I see. You evaluate Bunshuu rather highly."
"I believe Bunshuu will defeat my own sisters if push comes to shove. She's strong, but not unbeatably strong." Sonsaku shrugged. Sonken looked slightly dismayed by her own sister's put down, but she knew that she wasn't that strong either. "Recruiting the two of them is worth letting Enshou live. Even just Ganryou, it would be worth it. As long as Enshou remains in your captivity, the two will prove to be useful."
"Which means Ryuubi's portfolio of impressive subordinates has increased yet again." Shuuyu frowned. "She's blessed to have so many."
"And with Sousou's group…" Sonken winced, "They're basically double ours now, right?"
Sonsaku grimaced. This is true. Subordinates with such godly talents aren't so easily gathered.
"At the same time, having that many subordinates could prove detrimental in the long run." Shuuyu remarked, "Talented individuals are very individualistic. So if Ryuubi starts accidentally favoring one over the others, it might lead to a schism in their group. Especially since they have two… no, four lords." Kentei, Ryuubi, Kazuto, Sousou. "With four lords, and each individual either being loyal to one or loyal to self, coordination will be key."
"So will it be a problem, Meirin?" Sonsaku smiled.
"If it comes to camaraderie, there is and will never be an army greater than our Son Go." Shuuyu declared, "Our bonds are generations strong, and our dream is united."
"I see." Sonsaku smiled, "Then there's nothing for us to fear?"
"Raw power is something we're lacking." Shuuyu grimaced, "We should start training up our troops."
"Then I'll leave it to you." Sonsaku smiled, "Then, shall we go?"
"Oh no, you don't!"
Choushou Shifu slammed the door open, revealing a mountain of paperwork, "You're not running off until you sign all this!"
"Raika-san!" Sonsaku greeted, "That's!"
"Meirin! Keep her in her seat! Tie her up if you have to."
"Understood." Shuuyu pulled out her whip, "Renfa-sama, the rope."
"Hold it, hold it! I'm still the leader of this family! Wh-"
"Good luck, Neesama." Sonken smiled, pulling out the rope. "We knew it would be hard to bring you to your office aside from news from the capital, so…"
"Tricksters! Cheaters! Bring me my sword and I'll cut you all up!"
"All according to plan." Shuuyu smiled.
-()-
"Was this part of your plans too, Ukitsu?"
"No." Ukitsu frowned, "Now it'll be twice as difficult to manipulate Sousou. The boy's little investigation has started to patch in some of the holes that I carefully have been poking in her heart. It'll be difficult to manipulate a woman with strong convictions."
"Then how about manipulating the En brat? The one that got away."
"Sousou is the winner of this era. I fail to see why I should waste time on any other pawn. Regardless, Enjutsu does not have the wherewithal to accomplish what we require of Sousou."
"Have you found out how to melt the ice just yet?"
"According to investigations, this ice was wielded by the first head of the Vongola Family. As for how to melt it, that is a closely guarded secret of the Vongola. However, I did manage to contact this group, the Cervello. They claim that they should be able to bring us a set of treasures that could melt this ice."
"Really?"
"All they ask is that we give them time."
"Time. Which is exactly what we do not have."
"On the contrary, we have plenty."
"Why do you insist on these nonsensical delays!?"
"Saji, Saji, Saji. I'm looking at the big picture. Hongou's presence helps us more than it hurts. While he'll inevitably have to die, we don't need to do it immediately. I'm merely indulging your little revenge fantasy."
"… You swear that he'll die?"
"… Hah. Very well. If I spot a chance for you to kill Hongou, I will immediately inform you. Now stop wasting your time. Only one of your feet is trapped; just train your fists so that if I do send you, you won't flunk it."
"And what of the girl?"
"Her?"
"She's next to Hongou, correct? Would the girl not be compromised the moment the asshole sees her face?"
"That is for her to solve herself. It was not my idea for her to hire herself to Sousou, nor was it my idea for her to pretend to be Shibai."
"And if she's found?"
"She could escape; it's not beyond her means. If she's captured then she can be executed, which is not a problem for us. If she's not executed, then it changes nothing."
"You're really willing to sacrifice the girl who introduced Deathperation to us?"
"She made the mistake of giving it to us in the first place. At this point, her only use to us is that she is the only one with access to Earth Flames."
"So the moment we find another…"
"We already have."
"So we don't need her."
"We do not."
"And if she tattles?"
"She will not get the chance."
"You are confident in that? What if Chousen interferes? That freak of nature is the one that brought that girl up."
"Huh… I didn't account for that."
"… Admitting you didn't account for something? What are you up to, you shrewd bastard."
"… I am now wondering if it will be more useful for us if she does reveal herself to Hongou. That way, we kill two birds with one stone."
"… I see."
"However, I am not one for impromptu plans. I will carefully consider the implications of this idea. It will not do if Sousou becomes too guarded." Ukitsu nodded, "Now then, since you've confirmed my intentions with Hongou, will you please leave? These are delicate procedures. Unless you want me to cut your foot off and experiment on regrowing it…"
"Don't you dare touch my body, you perverted bastard!"
-()-
Enshou War Arc End
-()-
Chapter Release Date: July 15, 2022
-()-
Beta Reader: Seraphius
Haah, and with that, it's done! In a sense, this is the first actual peace time for the group. And so, we're back in writing hiatus! As a reminder, I write these stories in arcs, and only post them once said arc is finished. The next arc is not finished, so even if I have a Chapter 60 ready (which I do, and it's the only chapter of the arc I've finished writing), I'm not posting it until I'm absolutely done with the entire arc.
However, that does mean I'm prepared for an idea bucket. The next arc will be with Sousou and Ryuubi basically ruling the country together. And that means the Shoku Cast and the Gi Cast will be forging quite a few bonds, or have conflicts in the middle. However, I am one man. I can't, no matter how hard I try, juggle two dozen characters and hope to get it right. Some characters will fall by the wayside. I don't want it to happen, but it will.
So, take care everyone! See you next time.
