Volume 5 Chapter 23 The Great Villain of the World, Heading to Investigate Kiryou's Town (Part V)
"I bear no dissent towards His Excellency Mō Etsu!"
The pale man declared before Yuuri.
It was unexpected.
Never did she think that Mō Etsu himself, the Moukou, would show up at my inn.
This is a room within the inn.
Perhaps because nobles use it, there's a hidden chamber for discreet conversations.
It's well-soundproofed.
Not a sound leaks outside.
Inside are Yuuri, Seirei, and the Moukou alone.
Outside the door, 2 of Mō Etsu's guards and Yuuri's guards, including Touri, stand watch.
Though unseen, Raikou should be nearby as well.
Even if Mō Etsu is an enemy, he'll surely protect Yuuri without a hitch.
(...Still, it's unimaginable that His Excellency Mō Etsu would ever harm me.)
Mō Etsu knelt before Yuuri, bowing his head repeatedly.
He kept his distance from her.
To avoid making her feel threatened, perhaps?
Mō Etsu was a slender man.
Perhaps from overexertion?
Dark shadows hung under his eyes.
"I've... heard the rumors circulating the streets. But they're mere trivialities of the people. Indeed, I am burning every suspicious Tree-Form I come across! There's not a shred of rebellion towards the royal family. Yet... for His Highness the King's younger brother's own daughter to be investigating..."
Mō Etsu spoke with a quivering voice.
"I've merely come on a leisurely sightseeing trip, haven't I?"
Yuuri replied in a calm tone.
The Moukou stared at Yuuri with a dumbfounded expression.
He seems to be doubting whether her words are true.
(The current Moukou... Mō Etsu-sama... he was quite the character, wasn't he?)
The previous Moukou──Mō Boku Etsu──was said to be a modest person.
And also a brilliant warrior, known as 'General White Crane.'
Compared to him, the current Moukou, Mō Etsu, is a few steps down──or so I've heard from Ryougen-kun's patrons.
Yuuri has heard such talk by her father's side before.
Upon inheriting the marquisate, turmoil immediately broke out in Mō Etsu's territory.
The newly minted Mō Etsu couldn't stop it.
The town was laid waste, the fields turned to ashes.
Held responsible, Mō Etsu was reassigned to this remote corner of the northwest──Kiryou.
His old territory now falls under Yuuri's father's rule.
But Yuuri has heard there are some among his retainers who think, 'The king's younger brother stole our land.'
Moukou can't seem to suppress such thoughts.
Whether he can't or won't suppress them... who knows.
If it's the latter, it would mean Mō Etsu harbors ill will towards Ryougen-kun.
So, Yuuri was on guard against Mō Etsu──but...
(...somehow, I can't see this man holding a grudge against my Father.)
Before Yuuri, Mō Etsu seems to have shrunk, trembling.
His face is pale, his complexion waning.
With hands clasped, he's visibly scratching his palm, the sound of it grating.
(Mō Etsu-sama... it seems he's just a man frightened by groundless rumors. The weight of those rumors must be crushing.)
Yuuri has seen many people under her father's care.
Even from her perspective, Mō Etsu doesn't strike her as someone with rebellious intentions.
(...If that's the case, then who's really behind these rumors?)
If Mō Etsu's not involved, then who's the one with ties to the "Golden Feather Syndicate"──?
(Does that mean... someone close to Mō Etsu-sama is pulling the strings?)
Among Mō Etsu's current subordinates, plenty have served the family since the days of the previous lord──Mō Boku Etsu.
Is it one of them, spreading rumors for some twisted reason...?
"As for the rumors in town, I'll see to a thorough investigation, no matter what it takes."
Mō Etsu lifted his face, pale as a ghost, and spoke.
"If any of the people... are heard voicing that rumor, they'll be severely punished. So please... Yuuri-sama, could you──could you relay that to His Highness the King's younger brother...?"
"Is... is it really wise to punish the people so harshly for this?"
Yuuri took a moment to think, then answered.
"There's a saying: silencing the people is harder than holding back a great river. If you clamp down on them with punishment, you'll only spark resentment──and if that blows up, the damage to Aika Country could be even worse."
"But... we can't just ignore it, either. What are we supposed to do...?"
Mō Etsu raked his hands through his hair.
Not exactly proper behavior for a noble, but he didn't seem to care.
That's how desperate he was.
"There are already some tough thugs lurking around town. If the rumors keep spreading, even more dangerous types will start pouring in. But... if we try to lock the town down, it'll mess with trade to the west. So what should we do...?"
"...May I offer a suggestion?"
Yuuri glanced at the Seirei waiting silently at her side.
Seirei's eyes flew wide open.
Maybe they've figured out what Yuuri's about to suggest.
It all started just 15 minutes ago, when the Seirei's cat delivered something to us.
Hidden inside its collar was a letter──a plan Tenhou dreamed up, written out in careful strokes.
Whatever she'd braced for, neither Yuuri, Seirei, nor even Senkou could have guessed what was inside.
Still, one thing was clear: this could actually work.
If they pulled this off, there's a real chance Mō Etsu's worries would finally be laid to rest.
Tenhou wrote in the letter, 'This is our last resort.'
There were also lines like, 'Not that I like this kind of thing,' and, 'It's not because I think it's cool or want to see it, or anything like that.'
...She had no idea what he meant by those.
"I have a plan. If we do this... all those rumors swirling around Kiryou town──gone. Like they never mattered in the first place."
Yuuri chose each word carefully, turning to Mō Etsu and speaking up.
"There's... actually a way?"
Mō Etsu's eyes went wide.
"P-please. Tell me. What can we do──how do we make those rumors disappear?"
"What if we hosted a martial arts tournament, right here in Kiryou town?"
What Yuuri said was exactly what Tenhou had written in his letter.
Right now, there's been a certain kind of rumor drifting all around Kiryou town.
'Moukou is planning to take the strongest martial artist as her daughter's husband.'
'And that's why he's inviting all those fighters as guests.'
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