Chapter 20: The Head

The same time Karizome Tenhyo stormed the Tsuchikurenai-ke estate.

The present-day Mineki residence.

Mineki Shian, the head of the house, had locked herself in her room, tormented by a problem.

“Now then…”

This battle with the Tsuchikurenai-ke.

As things stand, they would be forced onto the defensive.

(This battle… it’s a much more vexing problem than I anticipated.)

After all, they’d had no direct contact with the Tsuchikurenai-ke.

It was made to look as if the Tsuchikurenai-ke had attacked Shiga Inui.

For all intents and purposes, the Seven Sorcerer Houses and the Tsuchikurenai-ke weren’t allies, vassals, or anything of the sort.

No such relationship was recorded in the information presented to the Neutrals.

(I checked the combat history with the Neutrals, but there’s no record of the Tsuchikurenai-ke ever waging war…)

An unusual ability known as the Puppetry Arts.

Using this, they bind, dominate, and manipulate multiple sorcerer houses.

Ostensibly, they are unconnected, but they are pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

Therefore, the ones who launched a one-sided attack were the Seven Sorcerer Houses, not the Tsuchikurenai-ke.

She examined the documents further.

(Their Karma Value is an average fifty, and they haven’t done anything to stand out. If we declare war, the Hiryuuin-ke’s Karma Value will skyrocket…)

The Karma Value is a system established by the Neutrals to punish sorcerers.

As a rule, the existence of sorcerers must not be known to the public.

For that reason, various measures are taken in the lands where sorcerers reside to prevent information leaks.

In certain regions, special signals are emitted to prevent the recognition of sorcerers, and things are structured so that information related to them cannot appear on electronic media (with the exception of media exclusive to sorcerers).

If a cell phone or security camera detected a sorcerer using their arts or power, the feed would immediately be cut.

Meticulous secrecy.

A measure meant to preserve the balance of society.

However, sorcerers drunk on power sometimes bare their fangs at the public world.

To deal with such individuals swiftly, the thing called Karma Value was created as a punitive measure to destroy evil.

Simply put, it means that if you repeatedly commit evil deeds, you can be branded a villain and ganged up on by surrounding sorcerers. If a Karma Value exceeds a certain threshold, the punitive measures are activated, and other sorcerer houses are given just cause to persecute you.

Thus, many sorcerer houses publicly adjust their actions so as not to raise their Karma Value, or commit evil deeds where the Neutrals will not discover them.

The Abarabana-ke’s act of turning civilians into sorcerers was seen as problematic, but because Abarabana Tenri reported to the Neutrals with an adjusted Karma Value and altered details, she never exceeded the threshold.

And so, as a rule, if sorcerers wish to initiate a war, they must either make a formal declaration or possess a just cause. She was wrestling with this problem precisely because they lacked both in the current conflict.

(However, if they make the first move, we’ll be in danger… They are a house that turns others into puppets. The longer this drags on, the deeper the corrosion will spread.)

The Tsuchikurenai-ke, living peacefully on the surface.

But they are slowly turning others into their puppets and seizing authority.

Without a doubt, the Hiryuuin-ke is being targeted as well.

The more time that passes, the greater the chance that our own people will be turned into puppets.

If we don’t act quickly, everything will be stolen from us before we even realize it.

An enemy, but a clever one, she thought, though she hated to admit it.

(This must be their strategy from the start. By handling matters out of the sight of the Neutrals, they maintain their standing.)

Meticulous and thorough.

Their capacity for action is astounding.

(If only we had some kind of physical evidence that would raise their Karma Value, we could press them with just cause, but…)

Even if we declare war beforehand, the other side holds the right to negotiate, allowing them to employ delaying tactics.

With a just cause, we could act immediately and go to war, but we don’t have one.

However, thinking that far, a certain person’s face came to her mind.

(…No, wait. There is a victim. Soui Shuryakuma.)

He is a victim whose authority was stolen by the Tsuchikurenai-ke.

If he were to rise up and choose to fight the Tsuchikurenai-ke, there is a provision allowing us to lend a hand as backup, with Soui Shuryakuma as the leader.

(If we make it so the Hiryuuin-ke joins the battle as his backup, with that man as the leader, our Karma Value won’t rise. In fact, it might even be revised downward…)

If we win the war by that method.

Soui Shuryakuma would gain the spoils of war, not the Hiryuuin-ke.

However, considering the evil clutches of the Tsuchikurenai-ke, it would still be a sufficient benefit to the Hiryuuin-ke.

“Once that’s decided…”

She stood up, intending to go to Soui Shuryakuma.

Just then, a maidservant entering the room spoke to her.

It was news that Karizome Tenhyo had started a riot.

“What was that?… A riot at the Tsuchikurenai-ke estate?”

Inwardly, her heart leaped at such a convenient turn of events.

“Sorcerers who were turned into puppets, you say… That’s good.”

If they take advantage of this commotion, they can catch the Tsuchikurenai-ke off guard in the middle of the chaos.

(The victims are gathering. If there are enough witnesses to condemn the Tsuchikurenai-ke, we might be able to prove we have just cause… I want to use this commotion to move things forward, no matter what it takes.)

In that case, she must head to the Tsuchikurenai-ke estate at once.

However, they were still not prepared for war.

She had to dispatch personnel who could move immediately, and his face came to mind.

Turning to the maidservant, she said.

“Summon Inu.”

An individual suited for combat with a small number of people.

Thinking on it, there was no one more suitable than Shiga Inui.

At Mineki Shian’s words, the servant nodded and went to summon Shiga Inui, who was likely in his room for a study session.

Summoned by Mineki Shian, Shiga Inui wondered what was going on.

But he understood as soon as he heard Mineki Shian’s words.

Mineki Shian told Shiga Inui to prepare for battle at once.

“Inu, regarding this castle-toppling, you will go alone.”

She then briefly explained the outline of the current conflict to Shiga Inui.

Anyone else would have refused, calling it reckless to face a war alone.

Some might have steeled their resolve for death and agreed, but Shiga Inui was not like that at all.

Shiga Inui was likely the only subordinate who would agree to Mineki Shian’s words without a moment’s hesitation.

“Ah, I get it, Shian-chan. If there’s a large group, they might get turned into puppets, right?”

Shiga Inui voiced his guess as to why he had to go alone, and Mineki Shian nodded.

“That’s part of it, but this time it’s not the Hiryuuin-ke making a move. We still have no direct history or grievance with the Tsuchikurenai-ke. Declaring war would require negotiations, which means we couldn’t just join the fray while the commotion is happening.”

A declaration of war is a statement of intent to invade an enemy’s territory.

The target of the declaration has the right to negotiate.

So, if the opponent stalls, the opportunity for war is delayed.

That’s why they didn’t take the route of a formal declaration.

“Therefore, our just cause will be vengeance. We will install Soui Shuryakuma as the leader. The Hiryuuin-ke will merely lend a hand, with only you, Inu, participating as backup.”

Only the leader would gain significant spoils of war from a victory.

At first glance, it might seem like a battle with no foreseeable profit for Mineki Shian and her people.

However, by at least participating as backup, their reputation with the central powers would be revised, and they could put the leader in their debt.

Above all, the chance to eliminate a future threat was almost too convenient to be true.

“Jeez… You gotta go through all that trouble just to kick their ass…?”

Shiga Inui’s mind didn’t work that way, so he could only be impressed by Mineki Shian’s methods.

Though it was technically a compliment, this was all perfectly normal for Mineki Shian, so she felt no particular joy in being praised.

More importantly, she had another concern.

It was whether he would agree to stand up and be the leader.

“Right… However, there is one problem… whether Soui Shuryakuma has the will to join the fight.”

If he wasn’t interested, this whole plan would come to nothing.

Mineki Shian would have to go back to the drawing board.

At her words, Shiga Inui nodded as if to say, “I see.”

His face wore a look that said the answer was simple.

“Oh… is that it? In that case, I’ll just drag him out.”

Shiga Inui stated it nonchalantly.

“Drag him out…”

Surely it wouldn’t be that easy.

His own house had been turned into puppets, his family toyed with as slaves.

His emotional wounds had to be deep.

In fact, he had even considered dying.

It would be difficult to get him to become the leader so easily.

As Mineki Shian tried to continue, Shiga Inui cut her off.

“Talking is a waste of time, right? So… I’ll just bring him along. In the end, even if we don’t have his power, as long as I’m there, it’ll work out somehow.”

He boasted that if they just forcibly dragged him to the battlefield as the leader, Shiga Inui would take care of the rest.

It was an overly arrogant and insolent attitude, but considering his track record, Mineki Shian knew it wasn’t entirely impossible.

“…Well, that’s true. Admitting it too much will only make you cockier… but on that point, I have no choice but to agree.”

As Mineki Shian reluctantly admitted his skill, Shiga Inui heard her words and grinned, showing his teeth.

“Well, that’s that… I’m off for a bit.”

Spouting his usual banter, Shiga Inui started walking toward the underground prison.

Hearing his words, Mineki Shian watched his back and prayed.

“May fortune be with you in battle.”

Hearing that, Shiga Inui stopped for a moment and turned back to face Mineki Shian.

He wanted a different kind of reward than words of encouragement.

“Yeah… well, instead of praying for my luck… I’d rather hold you tonight, Shian-chan.”

At Shiga Inui’s request, Mineki Shian almost called him an idiot but held her tongue.

This battle held little benefit for Shiga Inui.

It was her duty as the head of the house to prepare a suitable reward.

“…It can’t be helped. This matter won’t lead to much of an achievement for you. For your compensation, I will let you hold me.”

She declared that she would let him hold her, her face turning red with embarrassment.

In response, Shiga Inui smiled happily.

“Heh heh, worth a shot… I really think you’re the best, Shian-chan.”

(Her body is toned like an athlete’s. It’s firm, yet it has the fluid beauty of a woman’s many curves. If she were to reveal the chest hidden by her clothes, fruit so large they couldn’t be covered by one’s hands would spill forth.)

He recalled their first night together, and she, remembering it as well, covered her chest.

“Is my body the only thing… you bastard!”

Ignoring her embarrassed cry, he turned back and gave a light wave.

“Your body, too, Shian-chan.”

Shiga Inui adored everything about her.

His body felt light, as if to say he was looking forward to tonight, and he walked down the hallway in a cheerful, buoyant mood.

Shiga Inui moved toward the underground prison.

Inside a wooden cage, he saw the face of Soui Shuryakuma, head hanging low.

His expression was still full of despair, and Shiga Inui swallowed the words “you look gloomy.”

“Well, yesterday or the day before, I forget.”

Soui Shuryakuma turned his face in reaction to his voice.

Shiga Inui spoke with a grin that was almost hateful.

“Good news for a big bro who likes to leave things to others.”

His cheerful tone could sometimes be grating.

But right now, Soui Shuryakuma couldn’t even cover his ears.

He was, after all, holding onto a sliver of hope for what the man might say.

“You told me to go destroy the Tsuchikurenai-ke, right?”

A heart that had been on the verge of death began to pound.

Like a breath of fresh air, a small hope emerged.

“Right now, it seems like some guy just launched a raid on the Tsuchikurenai-ke.”

He placed a hand on the wooden cage, leaning in so far he almost seemed to enter the cell.

“We’re going in right after him to destroy the Tsuchikurenai-ke.”

Soui Shuryakuma also drew closer, looking at Shiga Inui’s face.

His decision was what Soui Shuryakuma had longed for.

“But, there’s a problem. To wipe out the Tsuchikurenai-ke, you have to get your ass up and join the fight.”

He pointed a finger at him.

“So for you, it’s both a chance and a crisis.”

The moment he left the dungeon, he’d be on a battlefield.

He might die, but Shiga Inui would eradicate them.

If he stayed in the dungeon, he wouldn’t die, but his fervent wish for the Tsuchikurenai-ke’s destruction would be cut short.

“Are you gonna keep playing the tragic hero, or will you become the hero who crawls up from despair?”

It could go either way, depending on Soui Shuryakuma’s choice.

“Well, whichever you choose, I’m still dragging your ass out of here and heading to the Tsuchikurenai-ke more or less by force.”

At Shiga Inui’s words, Soui Shuryakuma slowly looked at the man’s flippant expression and asked a question.

“…Let me ask you one thing.”

“What is it,” Shiga Inui asked.

“This person who raided the Tsuchikurenai-ke, who are they?”

Shiga Inui frowned.

He didn’t know the name of the person who led the raid.

“Ah… I don’t know his name. Don’t care, either. But does that have something to do with this?”

At his words, Soui Shuryakuma shook his head.

“…No, it doesn’t. Nothing… It has nothing to do with it. I just wanted to ask.”

And then, he approached the wooden cage and, touching the bars, spoke.

“I have nothing left to lose… Still, I couldn’t even strike a single blow in return… because I was afraid my actions would be meaningless.”

He wasn’t afraid of dying.

He was afraid of dying for nothing.

That was something everyone felt.

It was the same for Soui Shuryakuma.

“But, even if I die a meaningless, worthless death in this fight… you will destroy the Tsuchikurenai-ke. You’ll do that for sure, right?”

At his words, Shiga Inui looked him straight in the eye and said.

“Yeah, that much I promise. A worthless house of sorcerers like that… I’ll crush them myself.”

Hearing those words, Soui Shuryakuma nodded deeply.

“…In that case, my death will have meaning.”

He reached out his hand.

Seeking escape from the wooden cage.

Shiga Inui answered his resolve by putting his strength into the wooden cage.

“You ready? Then lead the way, Your Excellency, the Leader. You’re at the front. I’ve got your back. Even if you die, I’ll pick up your bones.”

With those words, he destroyed the cage.

Soui Shuryakuma sluggishly walked out and escaped the underground prison.