Seeker 327

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Chapter 327. The Shogun And The Princess

Kushinosuke, also known as Princess Kushina, is the only daughter of Shogun Tokuyama.

Two days after the night when she broke into Echigoya with Daichi and the others, she was now in the inner chambers of the Oedo Castle, located in the capital city of the Yamatai Kingdom, Oedo.

The central hall of the Oedo Castle's main palace is a large tatami-floored room, approximately one hundred mats in size.

Not only is it wide, but it is especially deep.

The hall, with three tiers of elevation, is called the lower tier, middle tier, and upper tier from the front.

Shogun Tokuyama Nadzuchi sits in the innermost part of the hall, in the upper tier.

On the other hand, Kushina, who had returned from her journey, knelt in the frontmost lower tier.

"Father, I have returned."

Kushina reported her return to her father, bowing on the tatami mats.

The shogun nodded magnanimously.

"Yes. My daughter Kushina, raise your head."

"Yes, Father."

When Kushina finally raised her face, she was slightly surprised at the sight of her father's face.

Although the upper tier was somewhat far from the lower tier, it was still clear.

Her father's face looked somehow very exhausted.

This exhaustion told of the shogun's anguish over his daughter's future, but such truths were unknown to Kushina.

The shogun, with a tired face, smiled and asked his daughter.

"Kushina, I believed you would surely return. How was your journey?"

"It was a very meaningful journey, Father. I am deeply grateful for allowing me my final wish."

Final wish──Kushina said those words without much weight.

She is the eighth "Miko" to be offered to the monster Yamata no Orochi.

Seven "Miko" have already been sacrificed as offerings.

With Kushina's offering, Yamata no Orochi will go back to its hundred-year slumber.

Kushina did not strongly resist being the sacrifice.

Knowing that it was a role only she could fulfill, she experienced some conflict but eventually decided to offer her life for the people of the country.

Kushina had one small wish.

Before her final day, she wanted to leave the castle and go on a small journey.

The shogun granted that wish and allowed Kushina to go out.

And today, the shogun's daughter had returned from that journey.

After that, she brought up another topic as if it was more important.

"By the way, Father, there is something I need to report about what happened during my journey."

"What is it? Speak without reservation."

"Yes. It concerns the misdeeds of the magistrate of a town two days west of here, Ohara Tsugumasa."

"The misdeeds of Tsugumasa? Explain in detail."

"Understood. This is the truth without any falsehood──"

Kushina told the shogun about what she had seen and heard the night before last.

Hearing the story, the shogun showed a slight hint of anger on his face.

"I understand the situation. I do not think you are lying. I will select a trustworthy retainer and send them as the new magistrate. I will personally deal with Tsugumasa. Is that satisfactory?"

"Yes. Thank you, Father."

"It was my failure from the start. I did not think Tsugumasa would be so foolish.──But Kushina, was it alright for you to be involved in such matters? Was there not something else you wanted to do?"

"No, Father. It seems to me that such matters are what I truly wanted to do. I also met some pleasant adventurers who were traveling from a foreign land to the west. Though it may be improper to say this──I had fun."

"Is that so? So that is what you truly desired to do. Then, I will say no more."

The shogun closed his eyes.

He fell silent as if lost in thought, and after a while, he spoke again.

"You depart tomorrow morning. Spend your last night without any regrets."

"Yes, Father."

When Kushina answered, the shogun lowered his eyes and then slowly stood up.

To his surprised daughter, the shogun walked down to the lower tier and stood before her.

He knelt and embraced his beloved child.

"I'm sorry, Kushina. All this time, while you were away, I kept thinking... why does it have to be you..."

"Father... I appreciate your concern. But that is favoritism. Seven 'Miko' have already been offered to Orochi. If I am the only one meeting the conditions for the eighth 'Miko,' it cannot be helped. It is not right to treat me specially just because I was born the daughter of the shogun."

"I know. That is why I only say this in front of you. Before being a shogun, I am your father, and I cannot help but curse this fate."

"I am happy to be loved. So please, do not worry any further. I am prepared."

Father and daughter embraced for a while.

After that, Kushina left the great hall.

＊＊＊

After her audience with the shogun.

Kushina was walking alone in the corridors of the main palace.

Then, from the opposite direction, an older female warrior, Mononofu, approached.

Noticing Kushina, the person gave a gentle smile.

"Kushina-sama. You have returned. I, Mikoto, believed you would surely come back."

"I'm back, Mikoto. Everyone says that. Did so many people think I pretended to go on a journey but was actually planning to escape somewhere?"

"Not everyone is as familiar with your character as the shogun and I are. Before your departure, the number of retainers who directly appealed to the shogun was more than I can count on one hand. They all insisted that the princess must not be allowed to leave the castle."

"I did not know that. Yet, Father granted me temporary freedom. I cannot thank him enough. Thanks to him, I had a lot of fun."

"That is good to hear. The shogun must have felt it was worth dismissing the retainers' appeals.──Lady Kushina, where are you heading now?"

When Kushina tried to pass by the female warrior Mononofu──the Sword Saint Mikoto, Mikoto matched her pace and walked beside the princess.

"Well, what should I do? I am tired from the journey, so maybe a bath first."

"Then, Kushina-sama, please allow me to accompany you. Since you were a child, we have not bathed together. Let me see how much you have grown."

Mikoto moved her fingers like a standing bear or a man attacking a woman.

Seeing that, Kushina smiled wryly.

"You're scary, Mikoto... But, alright. It's been a while since I took a bath with you."

"Then, let's do so. No matter how beautiful your body has grown, I will refrain from attacking you."

"That really is scary... If you seriously attacked me, I couldn't stand a chance. Spare me."

"I cannot guarantee that."

"No, please do. Wait, will I really be attacked by Mikoto? Is my chastity in danger?"

"Fufufu, I will make you feel as if you are floating in the heavens."

"Scary..."

Laughing and joking, the two headed towards the bath.

Though they seemed cheerful, an observer might have noticed a certain fear and consideration in avoiding deeper topics.