On August 21st, Echizen Province was generally experiencing summer-like temperatures.
Autumn is just around the corner, and the weather will gradually become cooler.
Grain harvesting will begin around mid-September, and according to agricultural officials, it is expected to be on the same scale as in previous years.
After hearing their report at Ichijōdani Castle, Asakura Yoshikage, the commander-in-chief of Echizen, then went on to gather information about the Asai family's movements from spies stationed in northern Ōmi.
It is said that the intelligence network of the Takamine clan, which the Asai family recruited from the Rokkaku family, is extremely powerful, and that as many as one-third of the spies that Yoshikage had stationed have already been captured.
The story goes that the Asai family, backed by their authority in Kyoto, established a new biwa (lute) school, and that their allies, the Oda and Tokugawa families, were generally favorable towards it.
It is said that the Biwa sect will be run by the head of the Asai family, who is the representative of the Mizuchi (mythical creature).
Furthermore, Biwaism is an extremely formless faith, and harmony among those who live in Japan is what aligns with the wishes of its guardian deity, the Mizuchi...
Aside from that, they haven't taught anything formal.
That information finally reached Yoshikage.
Up until now, Asai's territory could truly be described as a "spy's paradise" because information was so easily accessible—but it seems things won't be the same anymore.
The reporter says the spy abducted in Omi was not captured for the purpose of obtaining information through torture, but for breeding purposes.
The Takamine clan is a group of zashiki-warashi (house spirits), and it's safe to say that outsiders rarely enter the group of their own accord.
Therefore, if they could just capture the enemy spy, they could bring a child with new blood into the Takamine clan without any complaints from the Asai family.
Yoshikage had heard that the child of a zashiki-warashi was a zashiki-warashi, and that for the Takamine clan, the more spies they captured, the more they could increase their future fighting force.
There is no way to verify the truth of that claim.
However, the fact that many spies had actually been apprehended was true, and it was a fact that could not be ignored.
(That young man has brought quite a troublesome person to Omi... No, perhaps it was the Rokkaku family that was foolish for not being able to make the most of such people...)
The image of the young man on a white horse, which I once saw from Odani Castle, flashes through my mind.
I must say, I've invested quite a lot in him.
This involved confining Hisamasa and his faction, who were rivals of Asai Nagamasa, to Ichijōdani, thereby eliminating their influence from the Asai family.
Then, Hisamasa and others were dispatched to northern Omi under the pretense of conquering Wakasa , and they were to be personally killed by the Asai family to make them realize who the true head of the Asai family was.囮Decoy
There is no doubt that the Asakura family made the greatest contribution to establishing and strengthening the top-down command system within the Asai family.
This investment involves recruiting a large number of mercenaries with enormous funds and deploying them to northern Omi.
For Yoshikage, the supreme commander of the Echizen Asakura clan, this young potential was the greatest investment he could make without incurring opposition from within his own family.
The more proactively that promising young man acted, the more fascinating the situation became for Yoshikage.
However, there were several things that should not be overlooked within that.
One of these, needless to say, concerns the mizuna (a mythical creature) that recently appeared in Lake Biwa, and the Biwa sect, whose priest is the head of the Asai family.
After dismissing everyone, including his pages, Yoshikage sat cross-legged in the center of the room and began to meditate.
From outside, I can hear the loud, noisy sounds of cicadas chirping.
By blocking out the sound and reaching a state of emptiness, Yoshikage slowly and accurately began to sort out the situation.
In the heart of Omi Province lies Lake Biwa, where an ancient monster and legendary demon appeared.
The mythical creature known as the Mizuchi is so well-known that everyone living in Japan knows about it.
However, this legend survives in various forms in different regions, and there is no unified image of it.
While some accounts describe it as the guardian of humanity, others describe it as the very end of humankind...
There are differences in how people in different regions perceive the mythical creature known as the Mizuchi.
In Kyoto, the center of Japan, the mizuha is said to "protect humanity when its mind is at peace, and destroy humanity when its mind is disturbed."
Incidentally, in Echizen, where Yoshikage resided, the mythical dragon is described in a way that is remarkably similar to the legends in Kyoto.
In the castle town of Ichijōdani, with a population of well over 10,000, the story of the dragon was spoken of almost daily—and the hearts of the people were shaken with anxiety.
The long-lasting Warring States period.
Perhaps the dragon, angered by this, revealed itself in order to destroy humanity.
And above all, the fact that the dragon had been wreaking havoc in northern Omi was proof of this, no matter what the dragon said—such anxieties are fueling the people's unrest.
For Yoshikage, a ruler who prioritized the lives of his people above all else, this was a development he simply could not ignore.
(And now we need to think about what to do next.)
Yoshikage's top priority is the well-being of the people living in Echizen.
Considering that, there will be absolutely no need to interfere with Omi in the future.
If we assume that the dragon's anger was directed at the Sengoku period itself, then we should not stir up any more trouble under the influence of that monster.
However, on the other hand—
(But even if things are fine now—what about 100 or 200 years from now?)
—That's what Yoshikage thought.
I'm already 34 years old.
I've already passed the halfway point of my life, and I probably won't be able to carry on for another 30 years .政Festivals and rituals
(As long as it's still while I'm alive...)
If the dragon were to rage and attempt to destroy humanity living in Japan, I would use all my strength and employ every possible strategy to extend the lifespan of my people.
If you're going to face a dragon, it's far better to escape by ship to a land dominated by monsters .唐from
Alternatively, gathering information from the Europeans and establishing a colony in a relatively safe location is also a perfectly viable option.
However, Yoshikage also had a conviction.
As long as that young man is the head of the Asai family, at least the Mizuchi will not try to destroy humanity.
Yoshikage has high expectations of Asai Nagamasa as an individual, but these expectations are solely for Nagamasa as an individual—and not for the Asai family as a whole.
Even if Asai Nagamasa successfully quelled the dragon, there was no guarantee that his successor, the "head of the Asai family," would possess the same determination to quell the dragon.
As is often the case with religious organizations, the founder's ideals are not fully passed down to subsequent generations.
Just like feudal lords, religious organizations are built on extremely complex relationships of vested interests.
And these conflicting interests gradually distort the initial sense of purpose, leading the organization itself in a different direction.
(Of course, the same is true for us ordinary people. As long as an organization is a collection of people, entanglements will arise, and they will bind the members...)
Yes, none other than—just like the Asakura family.
Yoshikage continued his thoughts, the image of his vassals who outwardly obeyed him but inwardly rebelled flashing through his mind.
(And the problem lies in the fact that the dragon decided to make the head of the Asai family its priest.)
That was truly the idea of someone deeply familiar with human society.
Perhaps the dragon knows that in the future, there is a possibility that the direct line of Nagamasa's descendants may become extinct.
To begin with, it can be said that it is an extremely miraculous thing for humans to continue living healthily for generations to come.
People can die unexpectedly from accidents, illnesses, or other causes.諍Isaka脆Moro
For example, if the head of the Asai family were to die along with his relatives while still a child—who would be able to appease the dragon?
(That's probably why they made the head of the Asai 'family' the priest, but...)
It would not be surprising if the head of the Asai family, or someone connected to him, were to misuse that mirage to try and seize control of Japan.
No, it would be strange not to consider that risk.
Even if that young man did not misuse the dragon—what would happen if the next generation, or the generation after that, the head of the Asai family who was unaware of Nagamasa's original intentions, plotted to misuse the dragon?
(At that moment, Japan will come to an end. Either the Asai clan's reign of terror will spread throughout Japan, or Japan will be destroyed by the Mizuchi who reject the Asai. In either case, the people of Echizen who live in the future will suffer.)
Yoshikage always had to look ahead.
No matter what happened, no matter what situation he found himself in, he always had to look ahead—and choose and seize the greatest happiness for his people.
That is his mission as the head of the Asakura family, and it is also the reason for Yoshikage's existence.
(In order to bring about a future where the people can live better lives, a future for the people... the dragon is a little too dangerous.)
For Yoshikage, the term "people" encompassed not only human beings but also zashiki-warashi (house spirits).
Although strong opposition and resistance from conservatives continue to this day, Yoshikage, at least, acknowledges the usefulness of the zashiki-warashi (house spirit) and takes the position that it should be actively utilized.
As long as you live in Echizen, you are a person of Echizen.
If its existence brings any benefit, then failing to actively utilize it would be a sign of incompetence.
For example, Yoshikage has a zashiki-warashi (a type of house spirit) named Tomita Nagashige.
Outwardly, he is merely an "ordinary" retainer, and almost no retainers know that he is a zashiki-warashi (a type of house spirit).
However, despite his various shortcomings in terms of personality and conduct, he possesses usefulness that more than compensates for them.
Since Nagashige came to Ichijōdani, Fukurō, who is his "older sister," "guardian," and " ", has been taking on the responsibility of night watch in Ichijōdani alongside Nagashige.番Pair
There is no one in Ichijōdani who is unaware of that fact.
They don't scream when they see an owl; in fact, if they encounter one on a dark road, they'll even bow and give way.
Nagashige's owl is so ruthless that it will even beat to death other monsters that come to Ichijōdani—even other owls of its own kind—if necessary.
Monsters have their own set of norms and rules, and humans cannot come into contact with them.
However, a Zashiki-warashi (house spirit) can connect with and understand the sense of morality among those supernatural beings.
Because Yoshikage knew this, he kept the fact that Nagashige was a zashiki-warashi (a type of house spirit) a secret and kept him under his wing.
To protect the people from the threat of monsters that humans cannot fight head-on, it is necessary to control the monsters through the Zashiki-warashi (house spirit).
However, Yoshikage did not initially include zashiki-warashi (house spirits) within the category of common people.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they looked down on them, just like any other ordinary person.
However, what changed his mind was an encounter with a zashiki-warashi (a type of house spirit).
Yoshikage slowly opened his eyes and stood up.
I made arrangements to go out and decided to head out to the castle town of Ichijōdani.
(I never imagined that the key to resolving my problem... would be held by that thing. It's truly ironic.)
And so, Yoshikage's feet naturally led him towards the place where the zashiki-warashi (house spirit) lived.
"The ancient dragon of Lake Biwa... it surely won't come to Echizen, right...?"
"No, the moment that monster awakens, the end of Japan will be near."
"But it is said that the head of the Asai family was able to quell the unrest..."
"The question is how long it will last."
Rumors of dragons are rampant in this castle town.
Yoshikage advanced through the crowd, accompanied by over 20 close retainers.
Horses and other vehicles were deliberately avoided.
The further you walk through the castle town, the more radishes and cloths your retainers will be carrying in their arms.
The people keep pestering me with all sorts of items, asking me to give them to Lord Yoshikage.
Objectively speaking, Yoshikage is well-liked by the people.
This was partly because he was showing a willingness to stand as close as possible to the people he was supposed to protect—and partly because he regularly spoke to them as he walked through the castle town.顔見世Kaomise
Or perhaps it's because the people know that Yoshikage puts their own lives first.
Thus, as his attendants began to stumble under the weight of their heavy luggage, Yoshikage turned to them and said:
"From here on, I'll be fine on my own. You guys can rest."
"...Hah"
It was a very shabby mansion.
Beyond the crumbling wall, you can see a clothesline with laundry fluttering in the wind.
It was a poor but vibrant scene, full of everyday life...
Near the clothesline, a woman in simple clothes was diligently working.
He was diligently washing the bandages, which still bore faint traces of blood and pus, in a bucket of water, while wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
Indeed, she was the woman who changed Yoshikage's perception of the zashiki-warashi (house spirit).
"...It's been a long time, Yui."
"Y-Yoshikage-sama...?!"
She was the younger sister given to Asai Masayuki, who had fled from Omi Province.
Born from a zashiki-warashi (house spirit) that his father, Takakage, had impregnated, he is the second generation zashiki-warashi.
His half-sister, Yuihime, was prostrating herself on the ground, not caring that her kimono was getting dirty.