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I stand in front of the gate of a magnificent Japanese house.
In the forest, which has an eerie, or rather, unsettling atmosphere, it's a rather out-of-place presence.
The roof itself has a certain charm.茅葺thatched roof
It was indeed a magnificent wooden building, completely different in nature from the mud-walled houses I had seen in the rural areas up to this point.
It's possible that a prominent family in this village lives here, but according to Yohachi earlier, this house is inhabited by a Zashiki-warashi—a being of the discriminated class, a half-human, half-demon.
(Something's not right...)
For some reason, a scene from that famous fairy tale came to mind.
That story about a young gentleman dressed in British attire who gets lost deep in the mountains, visits a finely dressed Western restaurant, and almost gets eaten by a monstrous cat.
However, I also have Taishakutsukimo by my side, so I'm not trapped like those gentlemen in the fairy tale.
However, if there's one thing I have in common with the characters in fairy tales, it's that there's a presence peeking out from the slightly ajar sliding door in front of me, observing what's happening.
"...Hi"
I smiled and waved, gazing at the eyes in the gap between the sliding doors.
"I'm not a suspicious person. I just want to talk, if possible."
"...Who is it?"
I could hear a strong voice, clearly indicating a sense of caution .誰何watermelon
I acknowledged their voice, and responded with a smile.
"Asai Bizen-no-kami Nagamasa—"
Having said that much, I suddenly became serious and stopped talking.
I didn't know how to introduce myself—because my existence, as merely a person from another world, felt so unstable and wavering.
"Asai... Ah!"
However, regardless of my inner self, my outer self—is extremely cohesive.
The sliding door immediately swung open, and a small figure tumbled out onto the ground, trembling as it desperately bowed its head.
There was another figure inside the room, who was hastily running towards the back of the room.
"I...I have been terribly rude...please...please forgive me..."
He looked like a boy of about 10 years old.
Although her face is not visible, her arms and legs, extending from her linen kimono, are brown.
It reminded me of people of Latin American descent.
And even more striking is the beautiful silver thread that flows smoothly from his head down to the ground.
In addition, pointed ears protrude from between the silver threads.
But there's no surprise about that.
Rather, it was something I had somewhat expected, ever since I heard that a zashiki-warashi (a type of house spirit) lived there.
According to the "Illustrated Guide to Monsters" that I borrowed from Princess Osamu, a Zashiki-warashi is a child or descendant born between a monster and a human, and they often resemble the appearance of the monster they were born to.
In other words, this hair color and ear shape must surely be of monster origin.
"It's alright. Now, lift your head... We don't think you've been rude at all."
"It's ultimately just a matter of interpretation," I said to the trembling boy.
"If anything, I should be the one apologizing for my rudeness... After all, it was I who suddenly appeared without warning."
Then, the boy cautiously and slowly raised his head, as if to observe.
Her still innocent face—but now adorned with the wary look characteristic of the oppressed, a mixture of fear and a glimmer of hope.
When I see that, I suddenly feel a sense of frustration and regret.
—It's not the kind of face a child with a long future ahead of them should be making.
—And the fact that a boy with that kind of face is living in my territory.
"..."
My intense staring must have made them feel more fear than suspicion.
The silver-haired boy was stiff and trembling with fear.
"No, you don't have to be so wary."
Even though I knew it would be difficult for him, I had no choice but to say it.
"I just happened to stop by here. I never intended to visit the Todo family in the first place. But by chance... yes, by chance, I heard that you were 'Zashiki-warashi' (house spirits), so I felt I absolutely had to talk to you."
He then stiffened in shock.
Those blue eyes were fixed on the sword hanging at my waist—Ishiwari Kanemitsu.
"Don't worry, I haven't come to persecute you because you're a 'Zashiki-warashi'. Quite the opposite."
"Gya... Gya?"
The boy asked, trembling.
I took a deep breath before speaking.
"Yes, I came here to understand you all."
I glanced at Taishakutsukimo and stretched out my hand.
Then she gently accepted my hand.嘶Inana
"...Can I really... trust you...?"
The trembling had now stopped, and the boy looked at me and Taishakutsukimo and asked a question.
His eyes held a color that seemed to say, "I am seeing something unbelievable."
"That's what I need to do now—to prepare myself mentally for tomorrow."
I extend my hand to the boy and ask him.
He stared at my hand in a daze, and then, after some time had passed, he finally looked me straight in the face for the first time.
"Tell me your name. Tell me about your existence."
The boy hesitantly reaches out his small hand towards mine.
I gripped his hand tightly, bent down, and met his gaze.
"Yokichi... Todo, Yokichi."
"—That's a good name."
I ruffle his beautiful silver hair.
"I want to talk to you—or your family, including you."
The boy, who introduced himself as Todo Yokichi, glanced at Taishaku Tsukimo.
His sky-blue eyes and Indra's light-green eyes gazed into each other's eyes.
Then, when Taishakutsukimo let out a small neigh, Yokichi finally looked relieved and nodded.
◆
(Zashiki-warashi is not necessarily a term that refers to a child.)
I proceeded into the mansion where Yokichi lived, organizing the knowledge and information I possessed in my mind.
(This refers to children born between monsters and humans, or their descendants...and also to a discriminated class.)
As I took off my shoes, I smiled at Taishakutsukimo, who was waiting outside the house.
(As for why the word "child" was used, there's no choice but to speculate—)
I gave a small wave to Yokichi, who was looking at me with a tense expression, then straightened my shoes and stepped into the alcove.
(If it was the offspring of a monster, then it couldn't be seen by humans. There was no other option but to confine it to his mansion, to a room, and keep it there, keeping it hidden from public view.)
Therefore, it's possible that the term "zashiki-warashi" (house spirit) became established in the Sengoku period as a way to describe a creature that is a hybrid of a human and a demon.
It was completely unfounded, just a guess, but my intuition told me it wasn't entirely off the mark.
"P-please go ahead..."
When Yokichi opened the sliding door, he saw a slender woman sitting up on a woven mat and a young girl of about eight years old.藁straw茣蓙Mat
The girl's appearance was similar to Yokichi's, with silver hair, tan skin, and elf ears.
And the woman who appeared to be the mother, holding the girl, was the same.
"H...hiuu...!"
As expected, when the sliding door opened, their gazes focused on me.
The girl, clinging to her mother, seemed to glance back and forth between me and the sword at her waist—and then, suddenly, tears welled up in her beautiful blue eyes.
Indeed, the next moment, a high-pitched cry characteristic of girls of this age rang out—causing the mother to turn pale, hastily get up, and prostrate herself.
"Oh... Samurai, I am terribly, terribly sorry! I will stop her crying immediately, so please be lenient with me...!"
My mother was coughing and pleading in a faint voice.
I immediately shook my head, approached my mother, and grabbed her shoulders.
Her slender body stiffened with a jolt, and then—it relaxed as if she had given up on everything.
"Please, I beg you... At least... at least somewhere where my sons aren't around, please..."
"...No, I'd be in trouble if you weren't here."
As I pushed my mother's body, which showed signs of despair, onto the mat, I threw off the jacket I was wearing.
The girl's cries grew even more intense.
"I'm sorry it's mine, but it's better than nothing—I'll give it to you."
"a..."
After covering his bewildered mother with his jacket, he sat cross-legged by her pillow.
Perhaps it was because she had been watching her, or perhaps because her brother Yokichi had hugged her, but the girl had stopped crying without anyone noticing.
(Is the fire properly burning in the hearth...?)
However, perhaps because there wasn't enough firewood, the fire was barely burning.
My gaze naturally shifted from the hearth to the entire room.
In contrast to the exterior of the mansion, the interior is damaged in places, or broken and torn.
Even so, considering the historical context of the Sengoku period, they were probably quite fortunate.
This is despite the fact that both mother and child belong to the discriminated class of Zashiki-warashi (house spirits).
"Madam, first I would like to apologize for my rudeness. It's understandable that you're confused, given that I appeared out of nowhere."
I took my sword from my waist and placed it on the floor, then looked at the girl being held by her mother and Yokichi.
"Let me introduce myself first. I am Asai Nagamasa, lord of northern Omi. You can call me Nagamasa, Bizen-no-kami, Master, or Lord, whatever you like."
"B-Lord Bizen-no-kami...?!"
I thought I was being humorous in my own way, but I guess they didn't have the mental capacity to pay attention to that at all.
I shook my head slightly, holding onto my mother's shoulder as she tried to get up in a panic.
"You can stay in bed. From the looks of it... you must be ill, right? Then leave it as it is—if anyone were to criticize you for something like this, I would question their character as a person."
After smiling at the mother, who had a dazed look on her face, I turned my attention to the girl being held by Yokichi.
"Please rest assured."
Looking at the girl's face, which was clearly wary and full of hostility, I said without losing my smile:
"I can't trust things unless I see them with my own eyes , and I can't rest easy until I understand the reality and true state of my territory."性質Tachi
However, initially, there was absolutely no such objective.
The reason he rode Taishakutsukimo to his territory was simply because he could no longer bear the shame in front of Ichihime and Haruhime.
But in a way, that was a good thing.
The threat from the Asakura family is still present, but now that the Rokkaku family's influence is waning, it's the perfect opportunity to focus on domestic affairs.
Needless to say, in order to govern domestically, one must be aware of the situation in one's territory firsthand.
Perhaps Taishakutsukimo led me here for three reasons. That is to say—
—The reality of rural areas, which form the production base for people's livelihoods.
—And the reality of the people who live there.
—In addition, the reality of the Zashiki-warashi, a discriminated class even within the common people.
She likely intends for people to observe these three realities firsthand and then govern based on that understanding.
"...So, what do you think of us?"
"That's right."
I nodded in response to Yokichi's reply.
"A nation cannot be preserved without understanding its people."
"--!"
My words seemed to have had quite an impact on the mother and child.
That was perhaps to be expected.
Even though it was a limited region called Kita-Omi, I, the leader of an independent administrative group, was the one who categorized those girls, who were from a discriminated class and were essentially zashiki-warashi (house spirits), as "commoners."
"Is that... true...?"
"The head of the Asai family would never lie."
"But...! You must know who we are—"
I looked into my mother's eyes as she sat up.
She had beautiful eyes. A deep blue that seemed to draw you in endlessly.
"I will dismiss such injustice on my own accord."
The mother and son of the Todo family gasped at those words.
Or perhaps—it was because I spoke too forcefully.
"In order for me to enrich this land of Omi, I need everyone's strength. All kinds of knowledge and labor are absolutely essential. At that time, would it really be beneficial to leave you all alone? I don't think so. Creating an environment where you Zashiki-warashi can make the most of your own abilities—that is what a lord who considers the development of the entire territory needs to do."
So I took a breath and looked at Yokichi.
Maintaining a voice while speaking is quite tiring and difficult.
"That is precisely why I came to meet you when I heard there was a zashiki-warashi (house spirit) in this land. If you act selfishly without knowing the true situation of your people, it could lead to the complete loss of my territory."Festivals and rituals
Yokichi and the others' eyes were wide open, as if they could only express their astonishment.
"That's what the dialogue is for. To determine the future of Omi."
◆
I won't deny that there was some ulterior motive in my mind after seeing the nameplate that read "Todo family."
And I won't deny that the moment I heard the name Yokichi, a wicked thought arose in my mind that I absolutely had to make him my own .虜()
This is because Todo Yokichi is none other than the childhood name of Todo Takatora, a feudal lord from Omi Province during the Edo period.
Given the current situation where there is an imbalance in talent, it's perhaps understandable that they would want to somehow secure his services, considering his historically exceptional abilities.
I'm not a saint to behave without any ulterior motives in everything I do.
(But being able to speak directly with the family of the zashiki-warashi was a significant experience.)
I thought this as I sat atop my horse, Taishakutsukige, glancing sideways at Lake Biwa.
From what I've heard, the Todo family was originally a powerful local clan that included Todo Village.
However, several generations ago, the only daughter of the head of the household was raped by a demon and gave birth to a child, after which the house became the home of a zashiki-warashi (a type of house spirit), and due to rumors and other factors, it fell into decline.
(And it turns out that old man who was the village headman was a good person after all...)
In short, the Todo family, who should have been ostracized by the village and starved to death, are somehow managing to survive thanks to the support of the Mitsui family, who have served as village headmen for generations.
The Mitsui family is apparently related to the Todo family, and in particular, the current head of the family, Yohachi, seems to be very kind and helpful in raising the mother and child of the Todo family.
I'll probably need to apologize to that old man somehow next time. However—
(—Even so, the mother is selling herself.)
The words that slipped out of my mouth when I laid my hands on her keep echoing in my mind.
It's just a rural village, after all.
Even if the village headman offers assistance, it's probably not going to amount to much.
(I guess I'll have to sell my spring to get what I need...)
However, in a sense, that was the norm for widows during the Sengoku period.
A powerless widow has no choice but to offer her body to men and extort money, goods, and food to support her family.
In a sense, it was a universal phenomenon that had been observed everywhere since the dawn of history.
Yokichi's mother—she was called Moriko—must have had to do the same to survive.
(Perhaps, although the family name Todo still exists—it's likely that neither Yokichi nor his sister know who their father is.)
Feeling helpless, I tightened my grip on Taishakutsukimo.
Perhaps sensing my feelings, she continued running without saying a word.
(But even so—the Todo family is probably too fortunate.)
It's probably best to assume that this is the highest standard of living possible for a zashiki-warashi (house spirit) in Japan.
In times like these, it's probably safe to assume that most zashiki-warashi (house spirits) are struggling to make ends meet and suffering from hunger.
(And now that I understand that, I have a pretty good idea of how much acceptance is appropriate... The only thing left to do is—)
The sunset reflects on Lake Biwa, dyeing it crimson.
Beside the sparkling surface of the water, one could see Nagahama, the site of the new castle construction that Masamoto and his men were currently working on.
(I have to do something to rescue that mother and child.)
My feelings towards the mother and child of the Todo family are not solely based on ulterior motives.
Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, now that I know about it—I simply cannot ignore it.
"Kyuoooon"
"...Haha, so you think so too, Taishakutsukimo?"
However, what needed to be done was clear.
First, we must urgently construct covered accommodations for the Takamine Party, who are expected to arrive in the next few days.
And along with that, with the caveat that if the mother and daughter of the Todo family wish it, I will take them in.
(That's all.)
In particular, Yokichi's mother, Moriko, is suffering from an illness.
We'll have to move it to the best possible environment and make sure it gets plenty of nutrients.
In this world where medicine and other such technologies are underdeveloped, it's impossible to properly cure illnesses. All we can do is nourish ourselves and let our own immune systems heal.
"The lord has returned!!"
While I had been lost in my own thoughts, I suddenly heard that voice.
Indeed, in the distance, there was the gate of Sugawa Castle, brightly lit by bonfires, and the figures of soldiers standing atop it.
They must have been worried about me not coming back anytime soon.
After all, the original lord of Sugawa Castle, Naotsune, is currently absent.
It's understandable that they would feel uneasy if I were to disappear as well.
(If you focus on one, the other becomes like this, and vice versa.)
As I hastily passed through the castle gates, I was once again struck by the difficulty of governing people.