Volume 5 Chapter 24 The Great Villain of the World, Heading to Investigate Kiryou's Town (Part VI)
──After that, in Kiryou's town──
"──For the aforementioned reasons, I have decided to hold a martial arts tournament in this town."
Mō Etsu declared to his retainers.
It was in the main hall of the mansion.
Mō Etsu sat in a chair at the back of the hall, looking down at his retainers.
Behind him stood a guest martial artist.
A person Mō Etsu himself had chosen, serving as his bodyguard.
One of the few trusted subordinates Mō Etsu had.
"Moreover, Princess Yuuri-sama, the niece of His Highness the King's younger brother, has also expressed her intention to attend the martial arts tournament."
Mō Etsu scanned his retainers as he continued.
"Holding the martial arts tournament will quell rumors and help maintain the peace of Kiryou. Everyone must promptly proceed with the preparations."
"With all due respect..."
One retainer stepped forward in front of Mō Etsu.
"You mentioned holding the tournament to dispel rumors... but that might lead people to believe you fear the rumors, Mō Etsu-sama. I believe we should avoid such an impression."
"I share the same opinion."
Another person spoke up.
"Furthermore, the fact that the princess's advice was sought is also problematic. People might think, 'Is Moukou once again borrowing the power of Ryougen-kun?'"
"The previous Moukou-sama──Mō Boku Etsu-sama──was also not swayed by trivial matters and always maintained a solid stance."
"Even surrounded by enemies, he never feared and always inspired his subordinates. We all believed that he was the one who showed us our dreams."
"I wish for you, Lord Mō Etsu, to be a person like the late Lord Mō Boku Etsu!"
The vassals began speaking one after another.
They had all served under the previous lord.
Even now, after Lord Mō Boku Etsu's passing, they still held him in deep respect.
And they couldn't help but compare him to his son, Mō Etsu.
This was a scene Mō Etsu had grown used to.
"So... are you all saying you oppose holding the martial arts tournament?"
Mō Etsu took a deep breath, then looked around at his vassals, his voice firm.
But his subordinates shook their heads.
"It's not what we meant, Lord Mō Etsu!"
"We are simply offering you our advice!"
"What we wish for is to protect the glorious name of Moukou. That is all."
They clasped their hands and bowed deeply before Mō Etsu.
"...I see."
Mō Etsu nodded quietly.
The vassals had said 'the glorious name of Moukou.'
Not 'Mō Etsu'──but 'Moukou.'
That word was likely referring to the late Lord Mō Boku Etsu.
(...I suppose it can't be helped.)
Mō Etsu knew he wasn't yet worthy of his father.
The moment he inherited the title of 'Kou,' a rebellion broke out in his territory.
Mō Etsu couldn't suppress it.
As a result, his land was moved to the far northwest──here, to Kiryou.
The vassals here remembered that.
They would often murmur about it in the shadows.
'Ryougen-kun took our land from us.'
But they weren't criticizing Ryougen-kun.
What they really meant was this:
'It's because the current Moukou is weak that Ryougen-kun took our land.'
The old retainers... they still remember when they lived near the capital.
Back then, they served the great General White Crane──Mō Boku Etsu. People in the city looked up to them, respected them. So, they're always comparing him to his father.
He know they are. To them, it's only natural.
(But huh... It's strange. Being compared to Father... it doesn't sting like it used to.)
Yesterday, it was different.
Every time the retainers brought up his father, it hurt.
A dull ache. Every time he heard, "Ryougen-kun snatched our lands away," it got hard to breathe.
He just felt useless. And, honestly, he had a little grudge toward Ryougen-kun. That pain kept poking at his heart.
It's been like that for so long──until now.
(But His Highness the King's younger brother... he doesn't look down on me. Not at all.)
That's what he realized when he met Yuuri.
Yuuri──Ryougen-kun's daughter──met with him.
She actually listened.
She even gave him honest advice.
Good advice, too.
And that's not all.
She said she wanted to see the martial arts tournament.
His tournament.
Yuuri, Ryougen-kun's own daughter, coming to his tournament... It shows everyone that their families──the Moukou and Ryougen──are on good terms.
That's what people will think.
"Ryougen-kun trusts the current Moukou," they'll say.
"Ryougen-kun doesn't buy into those rumors──the one about the red-haired girl marrying a brave bird and giving birth to a dragon."
Yuuri attending his tournament... it really means that much.
(Yuuri-sama and His Highness... They helped me. In that case... I just have to live up to their trust. Maybe I'll never reach my father, but──there are things I need to do. So I'll do them.)
"...I've heard all your opinions."
Mō Etsu waited for the room to fall quiet before speaking up.
"But for now... our top priority is keeping the people safe. That's what matters most."
"──It's the method that's the problem."
"──How about borrowing the power of His Highness the King's younger brother's daughter?"
"──By acting on rumors, there's a fear that the Moukou will be underestimated."
Again, the retainers raise their voices.
"I understand. But holding a martial arts tournament will have a good effect."
Mō Etsu replied in a calm tone.
"By letting them participate in the martial arts tournament, we can calm down the martial artists and ruffians. If they want to show their strength, let them do it in the tournament. They'll behave until it starts. During the event, we can keep them under control."
Silence falls over the hall at his words.
The retainers seem surprised by Mō Etsu's confident statement.
"It's my duty to protect the town's security. I want to do what I can. It doesn't matter whose suggestion it is. Being underestimated... it's not a big deal. Right?"
"""Your words, Mō Etsu-sama, are truly noble!"""
In the back of the hall, the retainers clasps their hands.
Those around them follow suit.
They are the retainers hired by Mō Etsu since coming to Kiryou.
Their tenure is still short.
They are looked down upon as newcomers by the retainers serving the Moukou generation after generation.
That's why they are pushed to the back of the hall.
The new retainers are from Kiryou and the surrounding towns.
For them, the town's security is not someone else's problem.
"──Leave the preparations for the martial arts tournament to us!"
"──Let's make it something we can all be proud of!"
"──Kiryou is our homeland! For its security, we won't hesitate to work hard!"
The new retainers step forward and kneel before Mō Etsu.
"──Don't interrupt, newcomers."
"──We know Master Moukou best of all."
"──How dare you speak as if you understand the era of Mō Boku Etsu-sama!"
The veteran retainers glare down the newcomers.
The hall fills with the sound of raised voices.
Mō Etsu closes his eyes and regulates his breathing.
He musters his strength and calm the retainers somehow.
That's when──
"...I believe it's a good idea. The martial arts tournament."
The voice comes from the very front row of the hall.
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