"Does this look good, Iwasawa-sama?"
"Mmm… Yeah, it's perfect!"
"Yes!"
Today, my coronation will be held in Kise. After receiving the graces of Princess-Priestess Daigo Reika, I am about to be given an official title by one of the highest religious powers in the country.
"Still, showing up there with non-traditional clothes is a bit embarrassing. It makes me feel like I won't fit in there later…"
I spoke while Chiyo is busily taking care of my attire's look and fittings. She's been very particular that even a minor crease gets straightened up by her. I was wearing this when I crowned the young lord of Fuku too, but with everything around me having an oriental-motif, I can't help but feel awkward wearing my trench coat and trousers to the royal hall.
"Well, Princess Reika did say that you should wear your formal military attire. After all, you're about to be given that mythical beast's title."
"The Kirin? Why do I have to wear a military uniform then?"
Nobisuke, who was also here, spoke in response to my question.
"Even though attributed to the coming of peace time, A Kirin is also known to bring that period of peace by punishing the wicked. As you are a man… I think that is how Lady Daigo wishes to portray your coronation…"
"A PR trick, huh? She's one shrewd woman."
"I think so too."
Given that they are about to show me off to the country, I began thinking of possible ways for me to gain something out of this ordeal as well.
"Nagisa-san, are you there?"
"Yes, what would you want me to do, my lord?"
I asked without moving since Chiyo is still tidying me up. When I asked, my minister spoke up from the nearby chair.
"Try to spread out our people in the crowd. We'll profit off this event as much as we can too."
"Understood, my lord. Should I tell them to aim for the rich merchants and local ministers?"
"Yep… Hey, Kaminari-san didn't come with us, did he?"
"The Auditor's consultant? I don't think so. He went back to Naka after we left."
"I see…"
I know that guy isn't doing those stuff anymore, but as I've always reminded myself… Old habits die hard. Being in a place where there are rich people around him, he might reawaken his scammer nature.
"There, Iwasawa-sama! You're all set!"
As she said that, I stepped down from the platform and walked to the bronze mirror in the room. Although the color is tampered and the reflection wasn't that good, the fact that I can see myself looking sharp and respectable in my military attire made me happy that I went with this design.
"My lord, your hat and gloves."
"Thanks."
Nobisuke gave me my peaked cap and white silk gloves and I wore both as the finishing touches of my look.
"Looking sharp, aren't we?"
"Hehe…"
I spoke to myself in the mirror and gave myself a salute which earned the giggling of my companions.
"Well then, let's prepare for the event!"
After an hour of waiting in my room, a knocking of a servant came from the door and I opened it.
"Lord Iwasawa, your presence is being requested. The event would be starting soon."
"Mm. Are my retainers in there now too?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Lady Aoyama, General Shimura and Minister Nagisa are now waiting for you by the gates of the main palace."
I turned around to place my katana on my hip belt and I spoke.
"Understood. Let's go."
Although the place we stayed yesterday and the place where she received us was the main palace itself, it was another building in the mountain that acts as the reception building of Kingo castle.
"I'll be honest, you look good."
"Likewise. I haven't seen you in a Juunihitoe for a while."
When I arrived there, Kyoko and her officers are also present. She saw me and complimented my looks, and I did the same with genuine intentions.
"Shesh… Quit looking at me, perv."
"Haah… I knew you're going to say that…"
"Kuku… You're so forgiving. Teasing you might turn into a habit of mine."
"Yeah, yeah… Feel free. It's a grown-up's responsibility to spoil brats, anyway."
I just sighed after her nasty replies and when I got the right place to drop a counterattack, it blew her fuse in a single second.
"Grrr… Thank the heavens that I have to keep my looks spotless or else, I'll bury your head into the soil!"
"Che! Like I'm scared of you and your threats. It was one thing when you were my employer but we're on equal grounds now."
Before our bantering escalated more, the gate crier shouted the announcement and we recomposed ourselves as the reception building's doors was opened.
"Lord of Shinka, Kusanagi Kyoko! Enters the royal hall!"
With her introductions given, Kyoko and her entourage entered the plaza and was welcomed first by the common folk that visited the castle for the event and then the nobles who was invited to witness our coronation in the hall.
"Lord of Kiko, Iwasawa Hiroshi! Enters the royal hall!"
When my turn came, I walked straight with my eyes steady and behind me was Shimura-kun wearing his own uniform and wearing two katanas at his hip. Meanwhile, Chiyo and Masami were wearing vibrant kimonos under a black haori. The black coat over the fancy clothes was to show that we maintained a uniformity in our group's general theme while also not making it look like they're here to attend a funeral. Besides that, a few soldiers (from the Crows) were wearing their formal uniform and even though I asked them to not bring arms in the hall, insisted on bringing their holstered handguns if ever something does happen and they had to protect us.
"Lord Iwasawa!"
"Congratulations! Lord Iwasawa!"
The cheering of the common people brought a smile on my face and feeling that I shouldn't be too cold in such a lively area, I raised my hand slightly and waved at them gently to return their cheering.
Once we've entered the hall and sat on a floor pillow beside Kyoko that is in front of Reika's throne, I removed my cap and placed my katana on my side.
"…"
Princess Reika gestured from behind her translucent silk screen and the guards closed the doors of the hall, shutting the outside world out as those that remained in the hall are just the nobles and elites.
"Hear ye! Hear ye! People of Kise and Guests from far away! Listen, Listen! To the words of the Divine Phoenix Priestess! On our presence, Her Highness and Holiness shall commence the coronation ceremony and bestowing of titles!"
After the head monk announced the start of the event, the veil was removed and there stood Daigo Reika in her formal Shrine Maiden attire. Unlike the one that their family members usually wear, this one is the version that the first Otherworlder, Narukami Ayaka, didn't tamper with.
"Lady Kusanagi Kyoko. Please step near my throne."
"Yes!"
Kyoko responded as we practiced, and she stood up from her seat to walk up the three steps of stairs with her head kept down and knelt before the Priestess.
"For your prowess in the art of governance and prioritizing your people over any kind of personal gain, I bestow upon you the title of the Mountain Kujaku (peacock). As you've always did, keep your people's safety as your priority and never fail to save them out of unnecessary suffering."
"I wholeheartedly accept, Your Holiness!"
As she replied, Reika reached for a box that a monk gave and opened it to take a flag that she draped over Kyoko's shoulders. On it, is a symbol of a Peacock with its tail unfurled, showing its very beautiful design.
"Now, you may return to your subjects."
As Kyoko stood up and held the tips of the flag to keep it from falling off of her back, she walked down from the platform and I waited patiently for our turn.
"Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi. Please step near my throne."
"Yes!"
I responded with vigor and carefully stood up to walk slowly into the front of her throne.
"For your excellent performance in reviving your land into the successful province that it is now, you have proved to me three vital qualities that only a true leader can possess. Honor! For enacting fair laws that aims to regulate than constrain both local and foreign people. Compassion! For aiming to develop your country not for the benefit of your personal ego, but to bring your people out of poverty. And lastly, Bravery! For protecting both those that serve you and those that deserve your help even in the face of possible harm."
Reika's words for me was more grandiose, after all, this ceremony is actually for me even though Kyoko also did something worthy of praise to earn her own title here.
"For this, I have chosen to give you the highest possible title that a Sanctum Priestess can give. Iwasawa Hiroshi! Accept your new title that you shall carry upon your name and flag, I give you the title of the Kirin Lord of Kiko!"
The hall was filled with audible gasps. Even my own men were shocked as I kept the truth about this a secret. And their surprise is not unfounded, the title of the Kirin Lord is after all, a really, really high honor.
"I wholeheartedly accept, Your Holiness!"
I spoke and gestured with my hand towards Shimura-kun.
"I request to aid my lord in the officiation of the clan insignia, Your Holiness!"
"Accepted, you may now bring the flagpole, General Shimura."
As the soldiers behind us hurriedly handed a long and slender length of bamboo to Shimura-kun, he stood up and brought it to the front of the hall while staying only a step behind me to not break the rules of the event.
"As I hand you your formal insignia, I present a question to you, Lord Iwasawa. To whom do you dedicate your service?"
"No one but to my people who gave me the honor of serving them. As they have given me this power, I shall use it for the benefit of them! I shall offer my life, labor and legacy to their children and never let anyone to drag their dignity through the mud!"
"Well spoken, Lord Iwasawa."
As she said that, the monk brought the box and she opened it to present to us the flag that she showed me yesterday.
"As the symbol of the Kirin is your clan and province army, I look forward to a future where you shall fill it with more honor and meaning."
Once the flag was attached to the bamboo pole, Shimura raised it and began to lightly wave it.
"Now, the coronation is over! With my authority as the Lord of Kise and the Chief Priestess of Kingo no Shiseijo, I now formally recognize, Kusanagi Kyoko and Iwasawa Hiroshi, an ally of Kise and its people!"
This announcement sent cheering inside the hall. The noblemen and even our own retainers cheered and chanted our names.
"Now! Present these honorable leaders unto the people!"
However, before the doors of the hall can be opened to let the citizens outside of the place to see us, two gunshots rang and the guards on the door fell down in their own blood puddles.
"-!!!"
"KYAAAAAA!!!!!"
In a single second, the hall was filled with panicked screams as the Kise soldiers ran to their master to protect her, Ishigawa-san undid his feminine kimono sash and coat and grabbed Kyoko before drawing his sword and my soldiers brought Masami, Chiyo and Me to the front of the hall and drew their handguns.
"Ara-ara~ How uncouth of us now, is it?"
"That voice! Kh-! How…?!"
A woman's voice resounded in the hall as the guests fell into cold silence just from it. Even Reika-sama looked shocked of the scene.
"Kuku… Long time no see, isn't it? Reika-chan…?"
"You! How dare you show your face here!"
"Ara? Is it that bad for a child to return to her home?"
The woman entered the hall, and one look was enough for me to know that she's not here to visit kindly or congratulate us.
The woman was wearing a miko uniform, but this one was short and loose, as if it was a geisha's garb. She has long black hair tied into an elaborate hair loop at the peak of her head and her eyes are sharp and dark-color irises adorns it, giving it a more shaper gaze. The last thing I noticed was that the three inner fingers on her hands has sharp, gold-plated steel talons and she uses them to deftly hold her smoking pipe.
"Master Aiko, we've searched the palace and we found nothing… I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize… If I can't find it myself, I just have to force the one who knows where it is to tell me its location."
She stepped inside and in an instant, the hall became as cold as winter. Not in the literal sense, but the aura she brought in made almost all of us to feel that familiar coldness of fear.
I said almost all of us… because some people here didn't even flinch in front of her.
"My lord, what are your orders?"
"Stay here and protect Chiyo and Masami. Let's continue to observe what happens for now."
"As you command."
There was me and Nobisuke who whispered questions and commands to each other.
"Lord Iwasawa, I know that this would be selfish of me, but please take Lady Kusanagi out of here if hostilities towards us starts. I can't-"
"Don't underestimate me, Ishigawa. I'm not going to let myself be saved by this guy again at my own coronation day of all times."
"Then please stay safe beside me, Princess."
And there was Kyoko and her commander that is dressed in female clothes.
"You've been banished from Kise long ago, Aiko. As I said then and will still say now… You are no longer welcome in here."
"Well, aren't you one hell of an iron ingrate… Sitting on a throne that is meant for me, living in a palace that belongs to me, assuming the name that is mine and mine alone!"
"Kuh-!"
"The real master of Kise has returned, Reika… Hand over the lordship of Kise and go back to writing poems at that sad shrine where you and your family belongs."
"That's enough out of you! Guards-! Make her-"
***BYAK-!!!***
However, before her soldiers can fire their guns, the men that came with the mysterious Aiko woman raised theirs' first and shot the royal guards around her.
"What the-?!"
"I've already warned you…"
"-!"
The woman too shot to Reika's front and pulled her hand back, charging it in order to pierce Reika with her talons.
*BUK-!*
"TCH-!!!"
"…"
But I pushed my way out of my soldier's blockade and fired my pistol towards the space between her and Reika. Because of her quick movement towards Reika, the warning shot hit her pointer finger's talon and it grazed her nail inside the taloned gloves slightly.
"You…"
"How dare you!"
"Men! I don't care who that guy is! Reload and aim for him!"
Knowing that the men following her is about to shoot me, I pressed the magazine release of my pistol to reload it with a fresh and fully-loaded magazine and spoke to my soldiers.
"Shimura, Hachi, Ichi…"
I spoke to them as my handgun clicked into place and the bold slid forward, chambering a new bullet in the barrel.
"Fire at will."
That single command that I gave was enough for the three Kiko officers in the group to know that I now mean business.
"Affirmative, my lord."
And that reply, was the last that I heard before the hall was drowned in the noise of gunshots from both sides.
"Chiyo, Masami! Hide!"
"Y-yes!"
The guests cowered on the corners of the hall as my soldiers agilely ran around to and fro and stopped at points where they can secure a shot on their pistols that can instantly kill their enemies.
"Tch-!"
"Nobisuke! Catch!"
I looked back and Shimura, who was guarding the two women, had his gun jam on the last shot. I threw my gun towards him and grabbed my katana that was on the floor near the pillow that I sat at.
"You-?! Why the?!"
"Shut up! You started this!"
I drew it out of its scabbard and ran to the woman who started this.
"Lady Aiko!!!"
"RAAAHHH!!!"
There were no doubts on my mind at that point. I went for her neck and slashed towards it. But my sword was met with a dull metallic sound and my sword hand stiffened as if the sword hit something hard.
"…"
"I'm sorry, lad… But I can't let you harm her."
The one who blocked my cut was a man a little older than me. He placed himself on where his master stood before and blocked my attack with his sheathed sword.
"Kukuku! As expected of you, Imagami-kun!"
"Though I am honored to be thanked, I wish you'll end your questioning soon before these guys go serious on us."
He looked at me and when I stared on his eyes, I read his emotions…
"Hey, you…"
"?"
"Feeling hopeless? You seem like you're carrying something heavy."
"…None of your business, brat."
He spoke and pushed me away with the sword that blocked my slash earlier and he drew it completely, showing the mirror-like metal on his katana.
"I'm not that good, so if I may kindly ask, don't go too hard on me."
"Don't worry, I won't cut your face so your corpse would still be recognizable. Except for that, I'll dice the rest."
When I heard his retort, I motioned to Hachi who was wounded with a musket ball and he threw his gun towards me. I caught it and pointed it towards him.
"Who are you kidding? That man already fired it, I didn't see him reloading it so-"
*PAK-!*
"Nah, man… you should've studied about us a little bit more."
I fired straight between his eyes and the bullet went out of the other side of his head.
"EEEEEEKKKKK!!!"
The nobles shrieked as the swordsman that was clearly more powerful than me fell on his knees towards the floor and looked at them with his lifeless eyes.
"Hey! I didn't give you guys the order to fire at will for nothing! Stop holding back and put those ruffians down!"
The soldiers on my side looked dumbfounded for a moment and after processing my words, snickered at each other before reloading their guns and getting out of the places where they were taking cover behind.
"Men… don't shame the master on his special day. Everyone! Don't let the enemy to fire back at you! Kill them on sight!"
"Yeeeeeeaaahhh!!!"
The Crows shouted and hopped from place to place, evading the speeding musket shots and fired at any moment when the enemy is still busy with reloading their muskets.
"Now then…"
I turned around and saw that Reika and the Aiko woman was nowhere to be found. I looked around and saw that the door at the back was opened and entered through there.
"Kuh-! You…!"
"Where is it? Tell me where it is?!!"
I heard their voices as I entered the hallway that is probably used as an escape route. I continued inside and soon, saw the Aiko lady holding Reika against the wall as her talons not only choked but placed thin cuts on her neck.
"I… will never betray…Kuh-! The Daigo clan… and its purpose to exist!"
"Stop resisting already! All I want is to get the Great Priestess's Scroll! Give it to me and I will let you live!"
"You… I will never tell you where it is!"
"Why you-?!"
"STOP!"
I shouted and pointed the gun towards her.
"You… how did you get past-"
"Let go of Reika-sama… Now!"
As my finger placed more and more pressure on the trigger, the woman wore an unpleasant expression and slowly put down the wounded Reika's feet down to the floor.
"Get your hands up and place them on where I can see them…"
I was trying to disable her abilities to harm us but that is when I was reminded that I can't be too careless in dealing with others that has ill intentions against us.
"Eat this!"
"Wha?!"
She shouted and spread the ashes on her smoking pipe to my face which staggered me and made me step back a little.
"Uwaaaaagggghhh!!!"
"Reika-dono!"
"This is for making everything hard for me again! You… you're always getting in my way!"
"Arghhh!!!"
"Remember this! I will not stop until I get to the truth and take back everything that you took from me! Mark my words!"
When I got to clear my eyes from the cloud of ash in front of me, I saw Reika's stomach pierced by her talons before she ran deeper into the cave to escape from us.
"Reika-sama!"
"Iwasawa-dono! Ack-!"
She held her wounded stomach and vomited blood.
"Kuh-! Don't move too much! Shimura-kun! Get in here!"
I took off my trench coat and bundled it into a proper form where I can tie it around her waist to use it as a bandage.
"My lord!"
"Shimura! Help me get her out! She's severely wounded! I'll perform an emergency surgery!"
"Aye! Lieutenant Hachi! Get a table! Chiyo! Please get Iwasawa-sama's surgery kit at the carriage!"
"As you command!"
"I'll be back soon!"
Me and Shimura brought the bleeding princess out of the escape tunnel and placed her over the table prepared by Hachi.
"Come on, just keep that cloth down. Don't press too much or you'll dig too deep on her organs!"
"Y-yes!"
"Iwasawa-sama! Your tools!"
"Nice! Give it here!"
I soon went to work and took out a pair of forceps and a suturing needle.
"I apologize in advance, Daigo-sama… but this will hurt a lot. Just bite down on this…"
I spoke and placed a piece of clean cloth on her mouth as she looked at me worriedly. In one quick move, I pulled out the talons out of her flesh and it spurted out blood.
"Ummrrrr!!!"
"Hime-sama!"
"Please endure, Hime-sama!"
The monks who were watching us shouted after seeing their lord in pain.
"Tch! It hit her intestines!"
I cursed under my breath and knowing this situation, I gave the appropriate directions.
"Ichi, get a few strands of hair from her head. Hachi, take out the antiseptic and coagulant fluids from the surgery kit. Nobisuke, take the hair that Ichi took and place them in the eye of the needle."
"""Yes!"""
We worked flawlessly and, in a few minutes, Hachi was wiping the coagulation medicine on the wounds using a patch of cloth doused with it after I stitched the holes in her small intestine and Ichi was using the antiseptic to clean the wounds that I already stitched.
"Iwasawa-sama… We-"
"Shut it for a minute! I'm not done in here yet!"
"Y-yes!"
I shouted at the monks as they stepped near which made them step back in fear.
"Chiyo. Watch over Daigo-sama once she gets back to her room. Monitor her temperature and blood pressure for me and report to me thrice a day about her status."
"As you command."
"Hime-sama. Please turn your head, there are also some lesions on your neck."
"O-okay…"
She turned and I saw that they were just minor. Still, I made Ichi to wipe some disinfectant on it to avoid any extra infections.
"Alright, take her to the palace and change her clothes before laying her on a bed. I'll let Chiyo handle the post-surgery care… Chiyo…"
"Understood. I'll follow them, my lord."
Chiyo obediently replied and turned around to follow the Kise soldiers who lifted the table where Reika was laying down.
"Fuhaa… Damn it… why now of all times…?"
As I said that, two people emerged from the escape door. It was Kyoko and Ishigawa who took it upon their selves to follow the perpetrator while me and my men was performing the operation earlier.
"Did you get her?"
"No. The tunnel leads to a cave at the foot of the mountain and the river behind it hid her tracks."
"I see…"
After hearing the news, I fell down to the ground.
"I-Iwasawa-sama!"
"My lord!"
My soldiers flocked around me and raised my head from the floor.
"That-! His Highness is wounded!"
"Get some bandages here!"
Ah. They finally caught on, huh?
"You dummy! Why are you going around and healing others while you're wounded yourself?!"
It was just a minor flesh wound. I got it when that guy from earlier pushed me away from our sword lock and made a quick stab that slightly grazed my side.
"Don't act like it's something deadly. Compared to Reika's wound, this is nothing…"
I spoke as Kyoko raised me and raised my shirt to see the small, bleeding cut.
"Come on, let me do it."
"Pour some povidone-iodine solution on it first."
"Povi-what?"
"Medicine… place some on it first and-"
"Give it!"
The soldier who had the bandage showed the bottle and Kyoko grabbed it and poured all of it on such a small cut.
"T-that's too much!"
"Argh! Shut up and let me do this!"
With sloppy and hasty moves, she wrapped the bandage around my waist and when the bandage is almost out, she simply tucked it under the others than properly tying it.
"There! Are you alright now?"
"I'd be alright even if I just placed a cloth on it. It's not like I was stabbed deeply…"
When I said that, she first looked angry but then, her eyes drooped and she looked more like disappointed about something.
"But still… thanks."
"Ah… Y-yeah…"
And when I appreciated her effort, her lips curled up to a small smile before she turned around.
"Now, now… how are we going to handle this?"
"I don't really know… My soldiers said that these guys are mercenaries… but that guy that I shot was someone unknown."
"Killers-for-hire?"
"Looks like it. But the way they operated earlier…"
"Yeah, they acted like that woman with talons was their master. Not a client."
When things were supposed to be peaceful, this is what happened… This really is the Sengoku era.
Later that night, I was alone in my room when someone knocked on the door and I allowed him to enter.
"Lord Iwasawa. I've radioed our situation back to Naka castle. Minister Toshinori said that they can handle Kiko for a while until you get back, but they can't do the ones that need your official permission."
"It's alright. We'll stay for one and a half weeks and after that, we're going back."
"As you wish."
I stared out to the sea and a question popped out of my mind.
"Shimura-kun… Do you know who is that woman?"
His answer was something that I half-expected to not be the case.
"I do, my lord. That woman's name is Daigo Aiko. I have to note though, that her family name is not set in stone."
"What do you mean?"
"The simplest way to explain it is that she's claiming to belong to the main family of the Daigo clan."
Main family? Isn't Reika's line…
"Lady Reika's family line came from the Great Priestess's line. So, in a way, the current Daigo family didn't really came from the blood lineage, but rather, on an adoptive lineage."
"That… that makes sense… But then, if they came from the Great Priestess's line, what happened to the main line?"
"They all died 20 years ago during the Shouri clan uprising. Executed alongside the members of the Shouri clan for not batting an eye during a famine and plague season which caused dissent amongst the peasants."
"What?"
"The current Daigo clan, or to properly call it, Narukami clan, assumed their position in the Kingo Sanctum and Kingo Castle as both Daimyo and Miko of Kise since then. To get back to your first question, this Aiko woman claims to be a child from the original bloodline and thus, pushed to reclaim her position and power back."
"If so, why did she spoke earlier about having the Daimyo's power and letting Reika to still be the priestess?"
"It's as you've seen, my lord. That lunatic is more interested with the deal that the original Daigo clan formed with the Shouri clan where they will marry off their children to combine the influence of the State and the Sanctum to gain more power over the people. In short, she wants the lordship that she claims is destined for her, but none of the responsibilities in the Shrine."
"I see…"
With all of that in mind, I was now able to think more broadly about our situation.
"Now that the quad-alliance has been formed, we can formally start the defensive plans before moving further north to either ally with more provinces or make them submit to us… but until then, this order must persist… Kuro, are you there?"
"I apologize, my lord. The captain is away to chase after the tracks of the woman earlier. But I shall covey your words to him once he gets back."
Hachi spoke as he appeared from outside of the window while dressed in his usual ninja garb.
"Okay… tell him that we will be broadening our espionage activities. I'm giving you guys more freedom this time since we need as much information about the central provinces than ever before."
"I am listening, my lord."
"Gather information about the provinces beyond the western forests of Shinka. If anything interesting comes us, radio it to the embassy in Shinka and they'll tell us your reports. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
As he disappeared, Nobisuke asked something that I didn't expect him to ask.
"Will we have to go to battle again, my lord?"
Of all the people that I know, I didn't expect that question to come from my battle thirsty general.
"Of course. It cannot be exempted from our possible actions for the future. But as I've always said, claim lives when it is needed and nurture them when they don't wish any fight."
"I understand, my lord."
And so, the disastrous coronation day came to a close as I found myself sleepless that night, thinking about what to do now that things are getting more and more complicated.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
This, is how a simple young man who lived a terrible and aimless quasi-life in his past world, wanted to live a meaningful life in this new one he found himself in.
But just like the past one, it seems like this world, also wanted to break him into pieces.
"This is the story of how I Became a Sengoku Lord."