Volume 5 Chapter 30 The People Of Kiryou's Town (Part II)
──At Mō Etsu's villa──
"Haku, it seems Taimei will join the martial arts tournament."
This is Mō Etsu's villa in Kiryou's town.
It's where Haku, the illegitimate child, the maids, and the bodyguards live.
In one room, Mō Etsu talked with his daughter, Haku.
"He said, 'I want to show my strength as your guest, Mō Etsu-sama.' It seems he truly wishes this. I can only respect his decision."
"...Father."
"Even though he's not a great martial artist, he wants to prove his courage is strong. He told me this. I don't feel the same way, though..."
"It's about Uncle Ro. He must have a good reason for this."
A small girl whispered these words.
She had dull red hair and short arms and legs.
She held a brush in her hand.
On the paper on the table, she had written many things.
──Strange rumors are spreading in Kiryou's town.
──A martial arts tournament will happen.
──Many fighters will join this event.
As she wrote, the girl──Haku asked her father.
"Uncle must believe he can do something, which is why he's joining the tournament."
Then, Haku looked up.
"Could it be... Father already knows why?"
"Haku, you think too highly of me."
Mō Etsu nodded with a sad look.
His daughter Haku was right.
Rotaimei is joining the tournament to find enemies.
Mō Etsu knew this plan because Rotaimei told him.
──In the tournament, Rotaimei will lose to a young fighter.
──Mō Etsu will get angry, insult Rotaimei, and send him away.
──The exiled Rotaimei will then lure out those causing trouble in Kiryou.
That's the plan.
When Mō Etsu heard it, he tried to stop Rotaimei.
If the plan works, Rotaimei will face great danger.
He'll be right in the middle of the enemy.
If it fails, Mō Etsu will lose a trusted follower.
Someone he could always rely on.
Rotaimei said, "I'll leave your side for a while. I'll grow my hair, come back as someone else."
Mō Etsu believed him.
But returning soon would be impossible.
Even if he changed his look, if people recognized him as 'Rotaimei,' it would be useless.
Rotaimei's name must be forgotten... This would take many years.
During that time, Mō Etsu would lose Rotaimei.
This was very hard for him.
That's why he tried to stop him.
To this, Rotaimei bowed deeply and replied.
'Even someone like me can do something. Please let me do this.'
And so.
Just those words showed his determination.
A fighter, willing to give up his fame, wanted to serve Mō Etsu.
He couldn't stop him.
Mō Etsu nodded and agreed to Rotaimei's plan.
He decided not to tell anyone.
"Haku."
Thinking about this, Mō Etsu spoke to his daughter.
"I have a request for you."
"A request?"
"If I do something foolish, will you call me 'a dark, misguided father' and tell me?"
"Like Mother threw stones at Father?"
"Yes."
"I won't do that. Instead, Haku will write history."
Haku put down her brush and bowed to her father.
"Mother showed her anger by throwing a stone, but there are other ways to criticize a leader. Haku will choose that way."
"I see. You want to be a historian, right?"
"Yes, Father."
"Is what you're writing now practice for that?"
Mō Etsu looked at Haku's hands.
On the desk was the paper where Haku wrote about past events.
She called it 'Haku's historical account.'
A personal history book she'd never show anyone, she said.
"Writing history on paper can last for the future."
"Ah... that's true."
"If read, future generations will learn from the nobles' mistakes. This will be stronger than just criticizing them."
Haku looked up and told her father.
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