"Fuhaaah~! So cold..."
The day after the necessary negotiations, I sneaked out of the castle and went into town to survey the land. I was wearing normal clothes in order to not attract unnecessary attention.
I first went by a farming village outside of Naka. While walking through the fields, an old farmer recignized me and bid his greetings.
"Ah! Good morning, Lord Iwasawa."
"Oh... Good morning too. Out on the fields in this hour already?"
"Yes, my lord... If I don't work to the bone, my family won't have anything to eat today."
I took a look at his plow and the scythe hanging by his waist... noticing that both of them, even if sharpened carefully, cannot hide the rust, dings and wear and tear that extensive use has brought through the years.
"How much do you receive after harvesting your crops?"
"Umm... about 30 kan after paying my debts and taxes..."
Hearing this, I looked at the field he just tended to and saw that he planted so many crops in so little amount of land.
"L-lord Iwasawa?!"
I cupped the dirt and used my hands like a sieve. When I tossed it up lightly, what's left after catching it back is just a small amount of humus... the ground is now just dust... it might be wrong to call this as a farmland.
"Say, if I asked you farmers to change your farming methods, will it also be hard to sell your produce?"
"It depends on what method you'll ask us to do... I know what you want to do, even we are bothered that the soil in here is almost echausted and we want to bring it back... but even if it happens, it will be hard to bring back the land to its original state."
"But even so, it is worth trying... after all, I am your lord now... and it's my job to look after my subjects. And one of those responsibilities is to make sure that everyone is fed."
"Y-yes..."
"Well then, I'll send someone one of these days to teach you guys about it. Good bye for now."
"Y-yes, Lord Iwasawa."
I walked away and arrived at a huge house where a band of children is clumping near a window.
"What are you doing?"
"Eh? It's the lord! B-bow down everyone!"
The eldest-looking one turned around and bowed at me. Seeing him do it, the other children also bowed to me.
"What are you doing here? Is something going on inside the house?"
Hearing me, a little girl went in front of the crowd and looked at the ground as she answered my question.
"This is the house of Shindo-sensei... he teaches the children about language and mathematics..."
"Why don't you stay inside? You can hear his lectures better that way."
As I finished speaking, I saw them hiding something behind their backs.
"What are you hiding? Why do you guys look so nervous?"
"Umm... We can't..."
I thought about forcing them to show it to me. But they are just children so I thought about being docile to them instead of being agressive.
"Come on, I won't be angry. Just show it to me."
After handing it to me, they bowed down to the ground which surprised me.
"Please don't hurt the little kids Lord Iwasawa! We beg for your understanding! Spare them and just punish me!"
The eldest boy begged and spread out his arms to protect the younger children.
"I don't think that's necessary... If anything, I should give you a reward rather than punishment."
"What?"
I looked at the thing that they placed on my hand... It was a dirty piece of paper where hiragana and kanji is written crudely using a pointed piece of charcoal.
Looking at the house, I knew why they were sneaking glances inside and sticking around on the windows.
This Shindo-sensei is a private tutor. And asking for his lessons costs money, it seems.
"Say, do you guys want to learn how to write, read and count?"
"Ah! R-Really?!"
"Yeah. Really."
"W-we do!!!"
They shouted and hopped while celebrating. Their messy appearance and clothes showed their real social standing, but I believe that one day, if I give these guys a chance to study, they'll be great people.
"Well then,Good bye for now."
"Mm! Thanks a lot, Lord Iwasawa!"
After telling the children to come to the castle tomorrow afternoon so I can teach them personally, I went forward to the trading place near the port of the neighbouring town. Although it's quite far, they said that it was still part of Naka.
"Oh? Lord Iwasawa! What are you doing here without any soldiers?! Someone might harm you in this kind of place!"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
A random shopper spoke loudly after he saw me strolling around the port town.
"You see that man? His daughter was kidnapped by bandits while they are crossing the border of the Yamaguchi clan. He's been going door to door at every nobleman's house to beg for their help."
"Hmm... Do you know his name?"
"Toshinori. Kurogawa Toshinori."
"Mmp. I'll deal with him."
I approached the troubled old man and tapped his shoulder. It made him shiver and turn around.
"W-who are you?!"
"The lord of Kiko province. Iwasawa Hiroshi. What's the rush about?"
"L-lord?! I-I-I beg you! Please lend me your help!!!"
He instantly bowed to the ground and held my foot as he began to beg for my help.
For such a man to bow down... It wrecks my heart to see it.
"You there. Get my horse and another one and take it to the home of the Misanagi clan."
I commanded a soldier nearby patroling the market.
"Y-yes, sir!"
I then turned to the man again and took him by his hand.
"Stand up. Nothing will happen if you just go around to ask for every random person's help. Follow me."
"Y-yes!"
We went to the mansion of the Misanagi clan in the town. I heard that old man Jirou's back has ached terribly before he was able to get out of the city, so he went to stay in his abode in Naka until it subsided.
"Is that all? You want me to lend you a hand in rescuing this moron's daughter?"
"M-moron?"
Kurogawa-san was surprised to be called that by the old man.
"Just let it go. He can't speak without saying any insults, you know."
It wasn't right to complain since I'm the one who wanted to do this after all, I have to endure his insults if I want to get his help.
"I know that your military force is still under rebuilding, but even I don't have enough soldiers to lend you... I apologize if you really hoped that I can help but I already entrusted my soldiers to Takeshi-kun."
"It's alright. We-"
"However, I happen to know someone who can lend some soldiers for this job. I'm sure that they would readily help if you tell them my name... Hey! You there!"
He shouted and one of his men came inside the room before bowing down to him.
"Lead them to the Nagisa clan. Assist them if needed."
"Yes, sir!"
"Thank you Misanagi-sama, we'll take our leave now."
As we left the mansion, I noticed that the soldier's armor and weapon is already damaged and rusty. Seeing that he also wanted to talk but feels giddy to start it, I proceeded to start the conversation.
"Hey, how long have you been serving the Misanagi clan?"
"Hm? Since I was 13 years old.... 16 years I think..."
"Your weapon speaks the same... and it seems that they are already near their retirement age."
"Well yes... Even I am aware that it will only take a few more hits before it will eventually break."
"Everything has its time... our belongings are just as same."
"You are oddly perceptive Lord Iwasawa. Its hard to believe that you are only a young man."
"Haha! There's more about me than what meets the eye."
In just the span of several minutes, we arrived at a dojo with the nameplate of "Edge of Earth, Shrine of the Sword Saints." Here, the soldier left us and I knocked at the gates of the place.
"Who's there? If it's the loan collector, Nagisa-sama is away!"
A feminine voice came from the other side of the large wooden gate.
"This is Iwasawa Hiroshi! I came with Misanagi-sama's request!"
After I announced my name, the locks of the door was taken off and it creaked open.
"Apologies for my rude tone earlier Iwasawa-kou-sama... Please enter our abode and make yourself like home. I am Nagisa Masami, interim household leader of the Nagisa clan. "
As the door opened,a young woman with magenta-colored hair and brown irises greeted me. One thing that stood out is her thick glasses thay seems out of place in this feudal japan setting.
"Thanks for the offer, but the request is too urgent to be settled with tea."
"Is that so? Can I ask what brings the lord to our abode?"
"Misanagi-sama said that you can lend your men for a hunt."
"What battle are you speaking of, Kou-sama?"
"This man's daughter was kidnapped by bandits. I want help in retrieving her. Can your clan lend its help?"
After a bit of thinking, she looked at me again and told her response.
"Understood, I'll arrange for the best men that we have. Please give me a few moments."
We stepped inside the garden while she closed the gate behind and walked to the courtyard of the dojo. I sat at a bench beside the pond where several koi of different colors and sizes are swimming freely.
"That fish reminds me of Aki... I wish she's alright..."
The old man mumbled as he sighed and watched a small orange-colored koi swimming behind a bigger koi of the same color.
"Say, Toshinori-san... why did you moved at such a rural province if merchants like you are given a safe place to trade at Kise Province's Kingo seaport?"
"Because Kise province is currently held by the Amagi clan... former vassals of my clan, the Kurogawa clan."
Hearing his statement, I can't help but be bewildered.
"A merchant clan having a clan of lords as their vassals? Is that even possible?"
"In a way, merchants are a lifeline of every province in this era... For example, a farmer can produce food, but without anyone who knows how to buy and sell this product to the public, it would just be a waste."
"I think I read something like that back when I was still studying." I murmured to myself.
"As for the lords, a merchant's trading activities are taxed by the lords, which will in turn, give them profit that will be used to construct structures, train soldiers and give their retainers rewards for their service."
"Now I remember... Precepts of Capitalist Economy..." I spoke to myself again and giggled a bit.
"It used to be like that ever since I can remember... back when I was just a kid, my grandfather controls the Amagi lord like a puppet, it helped to spread our clan's power through the monopoly of steel and rice. Vital resources for any province..."
"What happened then?"
"The heir of the Amagi clan did the logical decision and married the first princess of the Daigo clan... In only a few days, they used the Daigo ninjas to assasinate my clan members one-by-one... only I and my daughter was able to escape from Kise..."
Something didn't quite connect with his story...
"If you have a daughter, where is your wife?"
"She went back to her family to take care of my father-in-law. She'll be alright, I just know it."
As I laid back at the bench and reclined on the stone wall behind me, I sighed as I watched the koi jumping out of the pond water and a cicada chirping at a nearby tree.
"To trust someone enough that even when you are apart, you don't fear for each other..."
"W-what is it, my lord?"
"...Nothing, just mumbling to myself."
Several minutes later, Nagisa-san came out while being followed by lightly armored men wearing sheated katanas on their hips. Their attire slightly resembles a shinsengumi uniform but instead of being light sky blue, theirs is deep azure with white highlights. They also tie their hair into a low ponytail rather than a top knot. It reminds me of Rurouni Kenshin.
"Kou-sama, these are the best disciples of our dojo. I wish you luck in your quest lord Iwasawa."
"Thank you. Everyone, we need to move out as soon as possible. Prepare yourselves for battle."
"Yes, sir!"
Just in time, the soldier I asked to take Shinzuke came by and told me that a soldier from Misanagi-sama's house pointed where we are.
"Good work. Everyone! We'll start our pursuit! Get ready!"
I shouted as the rest of the troops mounted their horses and we began our rescue mission.
"This is the border with Fuku province, we were ambushed at that ruined village. They were hiding in the burned houses and jumped out when we are in the middle of passing through."
"Hey, I just noticed this... Didn't you do anything to fight or atleast get your daughter back?"
"The truth is, they grabbed my daughter before we even noticed that they were there... It seems like they are already experts..."
Hearing this, I held my chin in thought as I tried to visualize how it unfolded.
"Kou-sama... We found something."
One of the men spoke and handed me a piece of paper where the face of a girl is drawn. It must have been Kurogawa-san's daughter.
"They aren't bandits... they are hired men... this evidence is enough to prove that. Did you find anything that will point to their whereabouts?"
"We found one Kou-sama!"
I trotted my horse to his position and he showed me several pieces of hair on the ground. It's as long as the hair of the girl in the picture.
"Iwasawa-kou-sama... That's definitely from my daughter. She must have left a trail of her hair and stepped on it so it won't be carried by the wind."
"Then let's hurry up and follow it then. I don't want the little lady to go bald before we get to save her."
"Haha! I second that lord Iwasawa!"
The soldier rode his horse and led the way while we followed behind.
Once we crossed the group of huge cherry blossom trees in the middle of the plains, we are officially in the lands of an another lord. I asked them to be careful and look out if somebody is following us.
"The trail of hair stopped here... she must have been caught doing it or-"
"Don't say it. I don't want to even imagine it."
I interjected as I tried to not imagine the girl going bald or something.
"No... she was taken away using a cart... look at this."
One of the soldiers pointed at the ground where a continuous trail left by a wheel is still intact. By the looks of it, she must have been prepared for long-distance travel.
"I'm convinced now that this is not the works of ordinary bandits or brigands... they are proffesionals..."
"W-what?!"
"Their motive and how they focused on getting your daughter rather than killing you is enough for proof... someone wants your daughter and that person knows where you are going..."
"But... It's..."
I trotted forward to a cliff and looked at the horizon where a small town is located.
"Everyone! We're not following the trail! Follow me!"
"Huh?! But Kou-sama, this is-"
"Do you want to save your daughter?"
"Y-yes..."
"Then follow me."
Sunset came and the cold air crept around the forest where we are staying.
"Movement. They're here."
Right now, we are hanging at the higher tree branches like monkeys, waiting for our supposed enemies to pass by in order to ambush them.
"That looks like the cart... Get ready."
They nodded and began to take out their swords.
"3...2...1...Get them!!!"
"YAH!!!"
"W-what?!"
"Enemies- Gah!"
In one fell swoop, our soldiers fell down on them with slashes and thrusts and they all dropped dead. The men held their hands in front of their chest and chanted a sort-of prayer or something.
"Um... Kou-sama, we have a problem."
"What is it?"
"Who among them is the lady?"
I took off the tarp that covered the cart and saw several children tied up and gagged. They sat motionlessly there with eyes filled with terror.
"Cut the ropes and gags. Ask them if they are from Kiko or Fuku."
"Yes sir."
After being freed, the children stood up from the cart and walked clumsily towards me before gripping my clothes and crying.
"There, there... Don't hold it in, just cry out everything..."
I gave them a smile and patted their heads one-by-one. They eventually let go of me and told the soldiers that they were all from Kiko.
The thought that children from my lands are being taken away like this into slavery...
It make my blood boil.
"You know what to do. Bring them back."
"Yes sir! 1st squadron! Follow me!"
They detached a small group and went away after making the children ride on their horses. I then turned around and saw Toshinori-san crying silently behind a tree.
"Kurogawa-san... no need to cry. I finally saw her."
"R-r-really?! W-where's my Aki?!"
From behind me, a small girl of about 10 years old with short black hair and fragile appearance came out with teary eyes.
"P-Papa?"
"Aki!!!"
He quickly snatched her and covered her into an embrace while crying with a smile.
"Thank the gods! I'm finally here Aki! Papa is here!"
"Papa!!!"
Seeing them cry like this while hugging each other makes me emotional as well... but right now, I have some feelings that won't let me smile or cry out tears of joy for the father and daughter.
"They're here Kou-sama... They hid below the cart..."
2 of the men walked towards me with their arms bound by rope behind them. Seeing them filled my mind with disgust.
"Take the father and daughter away from here. I don't want to make them see what I'll do."
"Yes sir! Kurogawa-sama... we have to go now."
"O-okay... Kou-sama... Thank you."
"Thank me a later. I'm not finished with this yet."
"Y-yes..."
I spoke without looking at him. Because I know that if I did so, they would probably be horrified of me.
"..."
After I knew that they are no longer in the field of vision, I took a stool from the cart and sat there to begin questioning the kidnappers.
"So, let's begin shall we?"
"Go to hell!"
They simultaneously shouted at me.
"Now, now... I won't go to hell like the two of you... so tell me, who sent you and why?"
"Kiss my ass!"
After one answered me obscenely, they both laughed and I too, laughed...
But not for long.
"Gurk! Argh!!! Guh-"
"!!!"
I drew my tanto blade and stabbed the one who answered at his chest before slashing his neck in one single motion. His blood showered around before he dropped from his kneeling position and bled out, croaking until death.
"AAAAHHHH!!!!"
There was a look of absolute terror at the one left alive. His eyes looked at me in fright and anger like I'm some kind of monster.
"Now... do you like to follow your friends at hell?"
"You!!! I'll kill- GAH!!!"
I stabbed his shoulder and twisted it which made a satisfactory crunch in his flesh and probably some broken shoulder bones.
"I'm the only one who can give threats... you wuss will just answer."
"O-okay!"
"So tell me, who sent you and why?"
He spilled everything. Names, dates, news about the place they came from and even future kidnapping transactions that they took on.
"Well then, time to dispose of you."
"W-what...?"
I took my tanto blade from his shoulder and forcibly pulled it out, causing unbearable pain for him.
"B-b-but why?! I told you everything, right?!"
"Yeah. But let me tell you something. You spent your life selling human lives like they are just cheap merchandise, now that you are my captive, your life is just cheap merchandise to me too. You live by the blade, you die by the blade. It is what is, boy."
"N-no...! Stop! Get away from me, you monster!"
Monster... that word reminds me of... that time back then...
"You see me as a monster, huh?" I spoke to myself as he continued to wail for his life.
"Yeah! Get away from me!"
"A monster..."
What else can describe me best than that?
"Good. Let me show you why I am such."
The day ended and I went back to the castle. The men from the Nagisa clan's dojo went back as well.
While trying to sleep, I can't help but be worried about what the bandit told me.
"A noble family from Kise ordered us to do it! They said that they need her alive and well!"
"Who exactly asked for this?"
"Kurogawa... Asuka!"
Her family name confirmed my suspicion... It's got to be Toshinori-san's wife. Yes, this case is far from over... but right now, I have something of greater importance to do before solving it.
There are still changes that I need to complete before I step into the battles of the Sengoku era.
Prep work for reformation would take months. Completing the more elaborate one would take years. So I only have one wish... I wish that I'll be able to fulfill and turn those plans into reality.
"Speaking of which... I should get to work and do this thing already."
I spoke and took out a rolled piece of paper from my chest pocket.
"I'm sorry, Sir Thomas Savery. I'll be copying your design for what I'll be making."
I want to give credit where it is due. Even if the guy doesn't exist in this world.
Because in my hand, is the designs for the first practical steam engine.