There are many renown names in the echelons of Kiko's governmental and military circles.
The strict and precise Internal Government Minister named Nagisa Masami.
The Trade and Industries Minister called by the merchants as the "Golden Dragon" named Kurogawa Toshinori.
The Defender of Kiko and Commander of the Provincial Defense force named Ishida Takeo.
The sharp-witted and deadly General of the Army named Shimura Nobisuke.
The elusive yet highly decorated intelligence department chief named Kuro.
And of course, the leader of all the aforementioned people, the Lord of Kiko and the one who received the prestigious title of the Kirin Lord… Iwasawa Hiroshi.
Compared to all of them, I am but a mud on the road. A common face in an army that even if it highly regards the lives of its soldiers, is still an army that is prepared to deploy us to what ever hell we have to be sent to.
I was alright with that. For me, the career of being a soldier is a dangerous and laborious one that I am prepared to take just to provide for my family. It was never a bad thing for me. I expected nothing but to spend my days in this corner of the country that is away from the chaos of the central provinces.
But… things don't always go to where you want it to go…
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Earlier at that day… I was just a normal Land Guard stuck in his assistance desk work at the central wharf's patrol station in a day with moderate rain.
"Ugh… Why did we have to be stuck here, Eichi…?"
"Don't say it like that. The chief is gonna hear you and scold you again."
"Argh… whatever…"
The one beside me who is groaning from boredom is my buddy and fellow land guard named Masuyo. Both of us belong to the same class in the training school and relied on each other to pass the tests to finally be one of the highly respected Land Guards.
Kiko Land Guards is a relatively new type of work. Sure, there used to be village sentries and army patrols in the past, but this is the first time when a unified sentry agency was made to protect the entirety of the province.
"Hey, want to get out for a bit and grab a juice at the snack place?"
"Oh, shut it… If you're tempting me, I'll have to decline."
"Hey, hey… this isn't like the past you. Back in the training school, you used to be the one who always invited us to skip training and go hang around somewhere."
"And because of that, all of us got held back and we got teased for being three semesters older than our batchmates! I've already learned my lesson, alright?"
Hearing me, he looked away and placed his hand under his chin.
"I guess… people really change when they make a life decision, huh?"
"This? Yeah… I have to stop being a child. After all, Ume needs me and so is Kotaro."
I spoke softly and smiled as I tightened my wedding ring on my left ring finger. It reminded me of the two people who became the reason for me to finally be matured.
"Speaking of which, I haven't given little Kotaro his newborn gift, huh? I feel a bit embarrassed to Ume-chan now."
"Ume already knows that you're such an irresponsible kid. She'd probably forgive you for forgetting to attend our wedding and Kotaro's christening just because you're like that."
"Hey, don't make it sound like I actually wanted to avoid the events. I just forgot alright, I just forgot the time."
"Whatever you say, man…"
I shrugged to show that I am not complying which made him sigh in embarrassment.
"Still… You and Ume converted to that new religion, huh? What was that again? Kuri… Kure?"
"The katakana would be "kirisutokyou", but for the sake of simplicity, we call it "Kikyou"."
"Yeah, Christianity… The nun who teaches it sure is hot, if I converted, would she start to notice me?"
"Oh please, of all women that you'll go after, please spare Sister Camilla…"
"Alright, alright… I was just joking, okay?"
While we were talking, a foreign looking man with a drenched straw raincoat approached the station and stood before our outpost table.
"U-um excuse me… I am from the mainland and this is my first time here. The ship captain said that I should go here to receive a map. Is this the right place?"
"Oh, yes sir. You are in the right place. What map would you want to have? If you are trying to find trading circles, I can give the east harbor's map to you. If you'll want to rent an inn for the night, the western district map would be provided."
"Uhh? Can I just have both?"
"Sorry sir, due to shortages in the printed maps, we can only provide one per visitor."
"I-Is that so? Hmm… then, I'll have the map with the trading spots."
"Affirmative sir… here it is."
I opened the drawer of my table and took a rolled sheet of paper from the stack and gave it to the foreign merchant.
"Ho-ho… what a detailed map…"
"Now sir, it would have been given to you when you disembarked from your ship, so can I kindly ask for your passport for an inspection."
"Passport? Oh! That little booklet given at the harbor area… wait… here it is."
He handed me a small booklet with a cardboard cover and inside is the merchant's name and country of origin alongside the stamp and signature of the border officer who provided it.
"Alright. Thank you for your cooperation, sir. Enjoy your stay and profit in Naka harbor!"
"Thank you very much. I'll be away now."
As he walked away from our station, my buddy chuckled a little beside me.
"What the hell are you laughing for, Ma-kun?"
"Nothing, nothing… it's just that you're too good in this kind of work."
"Oh, shut up."
However, as we were enjoying the busy yet peaceful day in our work, our station chief made a ruckus inside the station's rest area.
"Did the chief fall from his bed again?"
"Old man sure is a restless sleeper… Should we lift him back to his bed?"
"Sure. It's better than being reprimanded for not covering up for him again…"
We went to the inner room of the station thinking that our chief fell out of his bed while sleeping after a long night shift earlier. But when we opened the door, it was a different scene back there.
"This is Central Wharf Land Guard Station seven… Identify yourself, unknown caller."
[*Bzzzttt!!! *Ku-kruuuu!*]
"What the… I could've sworn that this is our channel with the coastal defense bunkers…"
He was listening in the communications radio and we asked him what was wrong.
"Hey Chief… is something the problem?"
"Yeah. I was awakened by the ringing in the radio and thinking that it is an emergency, I fell down from there… But then, everything went to static again…"
"Hmm… Weird… Hey Eichi-kun, you're the one who took communications classes, right? Can you try to look if this is broken?"
"Wow… way to go in passing the tiresome stuff to me, Masuyo…"
I can't help but say that as he seemed to be happy with pushing another work to me.
"I'll be requesting it then, lad. Can you help me out here? I don't really know how this works…"
"Well, anything you say, chief."
I replied and looked at the radio box.
"Let's see… there is rain so the signal might be weak… no, that's not the case here… the frequency is alright but… oh! The amplitude was the wrong one."
I turned the amplitude knob and slowly, the static sound went off and we heard a few words that made us jump to work mode.
"Pirate attack incoming. *bzzztt!* Coastal defenses compromised! Protect the city!"
The three of us looked at each other and immediately burst out of the station with the news.
"Everyone! Please evacuate!"
"I'll call the other land guards! Prioritize the evacuation of the people!"
The chief shouted his order and rode his horse to where our other workmates are patrolling. Meanwhile, the people around were confused with our evacuation instruction.
"Everyone! Please calmly evacuate to the inner city! Walk briskly in an orderly manner."
"Huh?"
"Why are the land guards evacuating us?"
"Did something happen? Is this just a drill?"
But the answer came not from us but from the noise that echoed in the harbor.
*Ka-Kyag!!!*
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"
"R-RUUNNNN!!!"
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
The panic set in as a few cannon fires resounded and the buildings in front of the port was destroyed.
"Everyone! Please avoid pushing others out of the way!"
"Keep the evacuation in an orderly manner!"
But the crowd was too panicked to do as we wish them to do. Everyone went up the stairs to hide on the other side of the inner city away from the port area.
"Argh! These people are too panicked!"
"Yeah! It's like they suddenly flew away after being told to stay in where they were."
With what he said, I remembered something.
"What did you say?"
"Huh?"
"That last thing, what did you say?"
"It's like they suddenly flew away after being told to stay in where they are? Why do you ask that?"
"-!!!"
Damn it! How can I forget?!!
"O-Oi! Where are you going?!"
"Ume and Kotaro are in the port area! They can't escape!"
I ran to my horse and rode it to get to the port city as soon as possible.
Why…? Why did this have to happen…?
The gray clouds rolled over the hills bringing darkness above the city.
The walls kept tumbling down in the city that we all loved. Each battered by a cannonball shot.
"Ume! Kotaro! Where are you?!"
I kept my eyes open as I shouted in the now empty streets.
"Ume! Ume!!!"
I shouted my wife's name over and over, trying to find where she might be after she said that she'd be bringing our son to the tailor nearby to buy him some new clothes.
"Ume! Answer me! Where are you?!"
Soon, I got to the tailor shop and found it almost collapsing from the damage it sustained.
"Ume? Ume!!! Are you here?!"
"D-Darling…"
"Ume!"
I finally found her. But as I approached her position, I was horrified with the scene.
"Ume! Your-"
"It was crushed by the pillar… I can't… feel my other half anymore…"
Her legs were hit by a broken pillar. It fell and crushed her lower half.
"Ume! Everything is alright now! I am-"
"I'm sorry…"
"Huh?"
After apologizing, she took out our newborn son from under her… but the baby is… it was now lifeless with his ears bleeding out.
"Kotaro… Nooo!!!"
"He cried earlier when the explosions happened… then he went silent while we were hiding. I only noticed earlier but… his ears must've popped due to the crashing around us."
I held my lifeless son in my arms and tried to hold back my tears, but as I was about to speak again, my wife placed something on my hand and spoke.
"I'm sorry, Darling… I… I'll wait for you in paradise."
"Huh?"
Not even hearing my confused response, Ume's breath ceased, and her hand slipped down.
"No… No… NOOOOO!!!"
This isn't real! None of this is real!!!
"Ume! Wake up! I can still save you! I will still be able to-"
But before I can speak more, another cannon shot went through the corner of the building and it collapsed over my head.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"There's a survivor!"
"Get a stretcher here! This guy is still alive!"
My senses came back and I felt a massive amount of weight over my body. From all around me, the smell of concrete and bamboo wood wafted my nose and made me sneeze it out.
"Here, here! The dog is barking over here!"
There were voices outside that are shouting things that I was too disoriented to understand.
"One, two, lift!"
But once the voices became closer and closer, light finally seeped into the darkness and I saw their faces.
"A Land Guard?"
"There's two corpses around him. Call for a mortician's help here too."
I can't move my body… every part of my body felt painful, but it seems like I was still alive.
"It's alright, buddy. We'll bring you to a doctor."
"T-thanks…"
They laid a stretcher near me and lifted me atop it carefully.
"One, two! Lift!"
I moved my eyes around and saw that Naka harbor was in shambles. Many of the foremost buildings in the port was flattened to the ground.
"You're just lightly wounded. Give thanks to the heavens for sparing your life."
"Y-yes…"
The doctor spoke and placed a cold piece of cloth over my swollen face as a nurse wrapped a bandage on the wounds on my legs and arms.
"You can get back on your feet by tomorrow. You should eat some vegetables or snack on some fruits to make the recovery a bit less taxing on yourself."
"I guess I have to ask my wife for her rabbit stew again, huh? She'd probably understand it…"
When I said that, a bandage fell from the nurse's hand and the doctor looked worried.
"Is something wrong, sir?"
"…Nurse, bring a wheelchair here."
"Y-yes sir…"
A wheelchair was brought in and I was asked to sit on it as the doctor pushed me out of the medical tent.
"N-No… No…!"
"I'm sorry, Officer Eichi…"
Those are the only words that he can say as I fell on the ground to crawl towards the other remaining half of my deceased wife and my son that was already cremated and placed in an urn.
"AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!"
I was given a bed in the city hospital, a place where I can recover both of my body and my mind after what I just went through.
"Eichi-kun… I send my condolences…"
"…"
My station chief came and sat on the chair beside my bed and looked at me with pain and pity.
"Your buddy Masuyo… he left the force earlier."
"Ma-kun? Why?"
I was surprised with the news that my buddy left the Land Guard force. I didn't know why he would do that.
"He just asked to immediately be dismissed from service… I asked for permission from the city superintendent, and he approved of his leaving. But I knew that he's not chickening out."
"How can you say so? That guy is as irresponsible as can be. I bet he didn't expect that this is how dangerous our job can be and just opted to leave and hide out somewhere."
"That's where you're wrong."
"Huh?"
"He asked me for a recommendation letter. He's joining the army."
"-?!"
I was honestly surprised with that news. He? Joining the army?
"The people that I commanded the two of you to evacuate out was hit by a stray cannonball from the enemy ships. Most of them didn't make it. That kid… no, that man felt responsible and begged me to write a recommendation letter to let him take the officer course after he becomes a legitimate soldier."
"Are you on your right mind, chief?! We're talking about Masuyo here! That guy can't even keep his attention in one thing for five seconds and you're telling me that he wants to become an army officer?!"
Before I can say anymore else, my chief stood up and punched me on the face.
"You have no right to badmouth a man who is trying to change his self! How about you, hah?! Are you planning to just waste around in here, drowning your sorrows in alcohol while shaming those who are trying to change their lives?!"
"S-sir! Please stop! The patient is still recovering!"
"Get off me!"
"Ah!"
A nurse attempted to stop him, but he shrugged off her arms lightly as he pointed straight to my face with a warning.
"If your wife is still alive, she will never let you speak about others in that way! Unless you're prepared to avenge her or continue with your life, never show your face in the station!"
"Ich-!"
He shouted and threw something that bounced from my forehead and into my hand.
"This is…"
It was Ume's ring. The thing she placed on my hand before she lost her life.
"Kh-! Auuuugggghhh! Hah…"
My tears flowed again, and my sobs echoed in the room as the other patients in the ward sent their silent condolences after hearing my story…
I was discharged three days after the attack. I heard that Lord Iwasawa is meeting with the Nobles today, so Misao Pavilion was closed down.
"I… I need some clarity of mind…"
I limped with my crutch to the western residential district and entered the Chapel of St. John the Divine where a prayer meeting is being held.
"Misericordiarum Pater et Deus totius consolationis, qui nos aeterno amore prosequeris, qui umbram mortis in vitae vertis auroram, respice, quae sumus, famulos tuos in tribulatione genmentes."
In the midst of the mumbling crowd who are repeating Latin prayers, Sister Camilla and the two church orphans are the only ones who are speaking the prayer that they their selves composed.
"O God, who brought us to birth, and in whose arms we die, in our grief and shock, contain and comfort us. Embrace us with your love, give us hope in our confusion and grace to let go into new life, through Jesus Christ. Amen…"
"Sister…"
"Eichi. I… I send my condolences… I also want to apologize for not being able to give Ms.Ume and little Kotaro a funeral service. You see, everyone is in dire need for one and I-"
"I understand, Sister. No need to apologize for something that can't really be helped."
I simply replied and held my crutch as I asked her something.
"Can I… ask you some things, Sister?"
"You sure can… come, let's talk about it over some cookies and tea."
She led me to the kitchen where the children took out a fresh batch of cookies from the oven and poured tea for us.
"Thank you, Chito and Yukari. Join the parishioners for a moment. We have to talk in private here."
"Mm. Eichi-san. Stay strong."
"Don't be sad. Always smile."
The two tried to cheer me up and I smiled at them in response before they left.
"Now… I heard that you were there when your wife and son died… The shock and pain must be strong. Is that why you came here?"
"Yes. And… I want to ask for your opinion about something that has been going on in my mind for a while."
"And that is?"
"Revenge."
As she heard what I said, Sister Camilla looked worried and stared at her teacup.
"…I am a nun, Eichi. You should expect that I already don't have a good outlook on that idea of yours."
"I know. That's why I wanted to ask for a better direction."
Sister Camilla took a book from the table. A familiar black book with a leather cover. A Bible.
"In Deuteronomy 32:35, God said "to me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste." This verse was written when the people of God was crossing the dangerous road to the land given to them. Here, they experienced both miracles and tragedy. From bread that came from the dew in the morning to water that came from striking a rock, God had provided them miracles, yet He also passed judgement on the times when the people rebelled and forsook Him. Opening up the earth to swallow them at the time when they praised a golden calf, thinking that God has forgotten about them."
"What does that mean, Sister?"
"God knows about our heartbreaks and pain. He knows that we are fragile humans who break when we lose those that we love. Yet He asks us to not take revenge with our hands but rather, let him take them with His justice at a point most befitting for it."
"Does that mean that…?"
"I and the Word implore you, please don't take matters upon your own hand."
When Sister Camilla spoke those words, my heart churned again in pain. Knowing that I cannot gain her approval in what I am thinking to do.
"But…"
"Huh?"
"There is a chance that you can appease both your thirst for revenge and follow the instruction given to you."
She said those words and I immediately rose from my seat.
"How?!"
"…God almost always uses a vessel when He does something. The Prophets and Disciples wrote the Holy Bible with their own hands but with the leading of the Holy Spirit. He used the flaming bush to talk to Moses when He asked him to free His people. He sat upon the Ark of the Covenant and filled the temple with His presence that is described to look like a cloud. God almost always take the form or uses someone to extend his will upon the world."
"Then, can I-"
"But I doubt that it will happen for you."
"Why…?"
"Because just as I said, the human heart is fragile and fickle. Being a vessel of His revenge and taking revenge by yourself is a very thin line, Eichi. Your emotions are bound to get ahead of your desire to be an instrument of God. So, I apologize. I cannot give you my approval.
Hearing that, Eichi hung his head and sobbed as the nun embraced him lightly to comfort him.
"Thank you… Sister. I feel less worried now."
"You're welcome, Eichi. And remember, you can always ask for my words when you are in pain."
After their talks, Eichi went out of the chapel and walked back to the harbor to look at the sea right in front of the tailor shop where his wife and son died.
"Ume… Kotaro… I'm sorry."
He mumbled and took out his wife's ring from his pocket and his identification tag that came from the Land Guard Force. He took off the tag and placed his and his wife's ring's on it to wear it as a necklace.
"Hey you!"
"Huh?"
"Yeah, you. Help me out in here!"
Suddenly, a young man shouted at him from quite a distance, and he unknowingly complied by limping towards him.
"You're from the Land Guards, huh?"
"Y-Yes… why do you ask?"
"I need your help in transporting these prisoners from the castle jail. They were the pirates from three days ago. The one who is supposed to handle this went after one who tried to escape and is yet to return."
"Who are you to make me work under you, anyway?"
"Oh, where are my manners… General of the Kiko Combined armed forces, Shimura Nobisuke. Would that suffice?"
"Y-Y-Yes sir!"
The general? Is this guy bluffing?! Wait… he really is the general!
"Come on! We don't have all day to wait for you!"
He pulled out a bumbling man from the covered cart who looked so out of a normal state of mind.
"Finally…"
I spoke and trailed the two while reaching out for my knife at my haori.
"…Are you prepared to do that?"
"-?!!""
He asked and pulled out my hand from my coat which made the knife to fall down.
"Land Guard Officer Eichi… lost his wife and child in the attack. After recovering, he desires to release his wrath on those who has taken his family away from him and avenge their deaths."
"How…?"
"I just know."
He spoke and asked me one thing as he made the prisoner, we are transferring to lean on the sea wall.
"Are you sure that you want to do this?"
"Yes."
"You might lose a part of yourself. Or even all of it."
"It doesn't matter to me. This life has no one else to protect anymore."
"…Good. Prepare yourself."
"Huh?"
*Byak-!*
"ARGH!!!"
*Piyak-! Pyak-!*
"Ack-!"
He suddenly drew his pistol and shot me on the shoulder before hitting two headshots on the prisoner holding unto the railing.
"And… here you go. Hyup!"
"Agh!!!"
*Splosh!*
He then kicked him away and made him fall into the sea water.
"Why?"
"While assisting me under my own request, the prisoner took my gun and fired on Officer Eichi. With my sword, I was able to slash the perpetrator and the two of them fell to the sea, never to be seen again."
"Huh?"
"Let's go with that story. It fits for a hero's death."
I was very confused, but he then explained it in simpler terms.
"Starting from now on, Officer Eichi is dead. He died protecting me from the attacking prisoner and fell to the sea with no traces. The person standing in front of me now is a no one. A nameless being, a person that no one knows. A person that no one can hold responsible for exacting revenge on his enemies."
"Are you saying that…?"
"You want blood? I'll give you as much as you want. Follow my lead and I'll let you slaughter the people who sent them and subsequently killed your family."
He knelt and binded my shoulder wound with a bandage.
"You and I are almost the same, Officer. I also have someone that I want to dispose off one day… but before that happens, I want you to do your part as well."
"I understand. I will never stop until I make them pay!"
As I let anger and hatred to pour out of me and fill me with the push I need to find those who had wronged me, General Shimura spoke softly.
"I was already a problem for our enemies… but you… you will be worst."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
I was in the strategy room the night before we set out for the alliance meeting when someone loudly knocked on the door.
"Come-"
But before I can even give my permission, he already entered the room.
"What is the meaning of this, Shimura?"
He spoke with a seething voice that is audible even from behind his mask.
"It's a student that I want you to shape into the most effective soldier possible."
"This is too much already!"
He shouted and threw the folder to the table which toppled the strategy board that I've spent an hour on making.
"What are you talking about?"
"This is wrong, Shimura! I cannot accept this request!"
"You teach him to kill so he can serve us and himself, what is so hard to understand in that?!"
The general and intelligence officer's voices clashed in the room as both didn't want to back down in front of the other.
"I did my part when we tamed and tricked that swindler because I know that he deserves that treatment after all that he has done. But this man… this man who is just an honest and peaceful man who lost his family… don't you feel any remorse with weaponizing his anger?!"
"I have no remorse at all, captain Kuro. I have none!"
Nobisuke replied twice to place weight on his words.
"That man, lost his family to our enemies. His heart would naturally be filled with hatred against them that would either consume him as he hides it or make him feel useless as he represses it. What we are doing is nothing more but giving him a means to release that anger and be of use for the greater good."
"Quit giving me your rhetoric, Shimura!"
The ninja shouted as he cannot accept this thing.
"…If you wouldn't take him, others will be more than willing to do it. Remember this, Captain. You are not the only gifted killer in Kiko. This land's people might be peaceful, but it possesses a few people who has been bathing in their enemies' blood since they were but a child."
Nobisuke spoke and poured some wine for himself.
"You-! Just what are you planning to do?!"
"It is simple, Captain Kuro."
Nobisuke spoke and drank his wine.
"I am acquiring and making as many talented people as possible to gather around Iwasawa-sama and protect him on his way ahead."
"What?"
"The Fox Disciple of Inari… that swindler named Kaminari Tatsu was of great use to Iwasawa-sama during the affairs of toppling the Fuku ministry. He was useful, wouldn't you say?"
At that mention, Kuro finally understood his point and looked away to calm himself down.
"This man is just the same. Right now, his enemy is our enemy. His goal is aligned with Iwasawa-sama's goal. He needs someone to teach him how to fight in order to reach that goal and I want it to be you as much as possible."
"But… using someone who has a personal reason…"
"That is no longer our part to think of, Captain. We cannot remove his feelings from the equation. So rather than focusing on the means, I want to focus on the end product… the only part of this that would be of any use to us."
Kuro slowly calmed down and took a seat to think about it thoroughly.
"You yourself told Iwasawa-sama earlier in your report. Our enemies are attempting to finish us before we become bigger problems for them. So, with that, I want you to think of the best thing to do. Will we let someone who is dedicated to his cause to just waste away? Or should we foster that desire and make him of use?"
Kuro finally gave up and stood from his seat.
"I will accept to teach that man. But promise me, Shimura… don't make him do something that he shouldn't do."
"Rest assured. I am not a monster to ask something like that from him."
The two exchanged nods and Kuro left the room.
"Revenge, huh?"
He mumbled and took the file of Eichi from the folder thrown on the table.
"Did Captain Kuro just give a premonition about your arrival into this war?"
He spoke and looked at the mess that happened when the pieces were scattered on the slightly crumpled board.
"A single man who destroys entire armies… how I wished to be someone like that whenever I remember the woman who owns the wretched womb that gave birth to me…"
Nobisuke spoke and emptied the remaining wine in the glass into his mouth.
"For not being faithful to father… for leaving when your wrong acts are asking you to fix them… for making uncle to bear your shame as his sister… for making Chiyo to suffer at the hands of the Ayanami clan just to pay back your debts to them…"
Today, two cursed promises were set in stone.
One was the promise of revenge by the now unnamed man who lost his family.
"Mother… let the act of killing you be the first and last act of filial piety that I can do for you."
And the other one, is a promise of finishing what someone else has started.
"Just wait for me. Your son will one day come and end your sins."