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Chapter 5: The Hiyori Is Actually Princess Hiyori?!
The man who had sobbed silently lifted his head, revealing eyes reddened from tears. "Isn't it enough to kill so many people?" he wondered, sensing an ominous premonition. The same thought crossed the minds of countless onlookers at that time.
As Sukiyaki's body was removed, another figure was secured to the wooden frame. Dressed in an expansive pink Yamato outfit and adorned with numerous accessories, her cyan hair and crystal-like eyes gleamed with the beauty of spring water.
However, her dress and hair appeared much dirtier than usual. A cloth band gagged her, preventing speech. Her brows knitted with sadness and despair; unshed tears glistened in her eyes. This disheveled state only augmented the sympathy and affection from the crowd. Some men, blood racing at the sight of Hiyori's pitiful form, longed to rush forward as heroes and win the heart of this beauty.
"Hiyori?!" someone exclaimed.
"Hiyori-sama?" another whispered.
"Could Kaido truly be capable of executing such a beautiful woman?!"
"Is Wanokuni's fairest lady to face death?"
As despair and fear clung to everyone's heart, lamentations broke out anew. The crowd was filled with regret and sorrow, especially moved by Hiyori's delicate and poignant beauty. They felt as if they themselves were bound, hearts heavy with anguish.
Abruptly, in a fierce struggle against the constraints of the sun and her binding, Hiyori managed to tear the cloth that had gagged her. She gasped, tears streaming, and cried out, "Lord! What have I done to deserve death? Why am I being treated this way?" Her voice quivered with fear. "I am terrified of leaving you, of never seeing you again. That fear is more agonizing than death itself!"
"Lord, I have loved you... Always... I've always loved you! I dreamt of spending my life with you... I long to see you, just once more before I die!"
Hiyori was intelligent. She understood that in this dire moment, only one person could save her—her greatest supporter, the man she bewitched, the Kurozumi serpent. She was taking a gamble that the serpent's affections for her remained strong, hoping that despite her revealed identity, he would still come to her rescue. What she failed to comprehend was the depth of the serpent's terror of Kaido, and that he was no longer the fearsome figure he once was.
Tears cascaded down Hiyori's cheeks, her pink nose and tear-filled eyes staring straight at the live broadcasting Den Den Mushi. Her strong presence before the camera let viewers in distant townships feel the weight of the moment through their light screens. Final goodbyes and thoughts poured from her lips as if a thousand words were left unsaid.
A tragic love tale unfolded there, prompting even hardened onlookers to weep for the Hiyori. "I never imagined the Hiyori to be so deeply in love," someone sobbed. "Damn you, Kaido, for your cruelty!" another shouted. "For the first time, I actually find myself hoping for the serpent to appear..."
Nearby, Jack, who was swathed in bandages, watched as Kurozumi covered his face and wailed into the earth, pounding the ground with his fists. "My dear! It's my fault! I can't save you!" He bemoaned his helplessness, longing to live out an idyllic life with her. Jack observed his distress with a sense of resignation, wondering why such a burden had been placed upon him.
Amidst the commotion, Kaido's voice suddenly pierced the tense atmosphere, his words shattering the illusion. "Enough with these lies and deceit; even pretense has its limits," he scorned. "What of your swindling and abandonment? Do you really think you're beloved because men have shared your bed? How about claiming the bravery of samurai ancestry only to play the victim at your death?"
He voiced his disapproval, "You upset me greatly, Kozuki Hiyori." Kaido was well and truly irritated. None of the Kozuki clan seemed to him to behave normally. From Sukiyaki, who made light of his illness to Oden's erratic behavior, squandering funds and mixing with bad company from a young age, none had acted honorably or with any sense of responsibility for their kingdom. Oden could have crushed his foes in an instant, but instead, he chose graceless indecisiveness, opting to dance for fruit instead of fighting, leaving Kaido to eventually reclaim his strength.
Ultimately, the war failed because it didn't consolidate national combat strength, leading other daimyo to lose their prime opportunity for attack, resulting in their utter destruction while their national combat strength was nearly annihilated. After escaping the boiling pot, deception became a familiar experience, yet faith was restored, and the nine heroes managed to flee, withstanding the ordeal. Oden's final party left a deep impression on everyone, including Kaido's daughter, Yamato. This is how the saying "We all love Kozuki Oden" came about.
The two unfortunate children are not to be overlooked. Hiyori has spent thirteen years disguised, more interested in swindling feelings and enjoying himself than collecting intelligence, something Robin could do in mere minutes. Momonosuke, having traveled twenty years, is as if his parents had just passed away, then, seeking comfort, he capitulates. He truly embodies his father Oden's noble qualities. Some even describe this family with the phrase "lying on a salary to taste the guts."
Even now, the drama continues. If I allow her to die so easily, it would reflect poorly on me, Kaido thinks. And when Kaido uttered Kozuki Hiyori's true name, a wave of shock flooded the hearts of all present, chilling them to the bone.
"Are two members of the Kozuki family going to die today?!"
"The princess is in love with the enemy snake?!"
"The princess has been masquerading?!"
"The princess has changed so much! That's so scandalous!"
"Say what!"
"Uh... just a child, speaking without thought," is offered as an excuse.
Whispers abound as no one anticipated that the perennial beauty parading on the streets was actually Kozuki Hiyori all grown up. Outrageous!
Hiyori stopped in her tracks, her tear-stained cheeks still flushed. She glared at Kaido. Kurozumi had failed to come to her rescue, and after being exposed, her fate seemed sealed. Determined, she summoned her family's pride for one last stand to uphold her dignity.
Kaido, preempting her actions, initiates an unexpected command. "Men are so fond of you, it would be a pity to kill you. Debase her to the most lowly of courtesans! Let her be available to the entire country, day and night! Set the price at the lowest!"
Hiyori's shock quickly turned to panic as she futilely struggled against her restraints. "No! No! Kill me! I am Kozuki Oden's daughter! I shall not endure such disgrace!" she protested, denouncing Kaido.
Kaido, with a scornful laugh, belittled her protestations. "You've lived this way for thirteen years, and now you find it insulting? All because you demand more money?"
Turning to his men, Kaido warned that any attempt at her suicide would cost them their lives. The fighters, intimidated, solemnly agreed.
Among the fearful crowd of Wanokuni's people, Kaido's ruthlessness was a dominant thought. Whispers spread of how death might be preferable to the terror Kaido induced, painfully reminiscent of the cruel regime of the big snake.
In this chilling atmosphere, some, indifferent to the Kozuki family's plight, harbored a twisted pleasure at the unfolding events. Speculations and distasteful, excited conversations were whispered about the fate of the Kozuki family and the infamous beauty that many would now seek out.
Amidst these murmurs, several men discreetly vanished from the crowd, each driven by their hidden agendas. Meanwhile, in the shadows, Kurozumi's serpent stood petrified with shock.
Kaido reviewed the rebellion's decline: a mere 14%, with Hiyori contributing an additional 4%. Frustrated by the slow descent, he wished for a faster conclusion, pondering if an all-at-once approach would be more effective.
"Continue!" he commanded. "Raise the rest!"