Standing beside her were several elderly vassals, all with solemn expressions.
"Report—The Imagawa side has sent another envoy with the same demand as before, for us to hand over 'Kishin Hikaru'."
A messenger knelt below the platform.
Hojo Ujiyasu looked at the fluttering Imagawa banner to the south, her tone cold:
"Kishin Hikaru, Kishin Hikaru... what on earth is that?"
"This is the fifth time. What madness has possessed Imagawa Yoshimoto?"
An elder vassal beside her whispered, "My Lord, I have looked into it... the name 'Kanbe Hikaru' has become quite famous in Suruga recently. It is said to be the name of a yokai—"
"A yokai?"
"Yes. It is said that over half a month ago, the main castle of Suruga was attacked by a Raiju. It was this yokai who slew the beast. Imagawa Yoshimoto even built a shrine in the city to worship him, calling him the 'Thunder-slaying Demon God'."
Hojo Ujiyasu's brows furrowed.
She remembered something.
Over half a month ago, the entire city of Odawara fell into a nightmare.
That nightmare.
That burning city.
That—
The figure with red eyes and white hair that appeared in her dream.
"...It was him?"
She murmured.
That yokai in her dream? The existence that summoned lightning to burn away the scale powder and slay the moth yokai?
She had always thought it was just a dream.
Or rather, she was unwilling to admit it was real.
Because if it were real—it meant she, Hojo Ujiyasu, owed a favor to a yokai.
And she hated owing favors most of all.
But now it seemed that her refusal to acknowledge it wouldn't suffice.
"My Lord?"
The vassal looked at her shifting expression with some concern.
"It's nothing."
Hojo Ujiyasu pulled back her thoughts and cast her gaze south again. "Regardless of who Kishin Hikaru is, he is not here with me. If Imagawa Yoshimoto wants someone, let her find him herself."
"Coming to my territory to make demands—"
Her tone turned cold. "Does she think my Hojo Clan is an easy target?"
...
In the southern camp.
Imagawa Yoshimoto's main camp was starkly different from the Hojo side.
There was no solemn military atmosphere; instead, it felt like an outing.
A sunshade was set up in front of the main tent, with low tables placed beneath it, holding exquisite tea sets and snacks.
Imagawa Yoshimoto herself sat in the tent, her twelve-layered Junihitoe kimono piled up, looking extravagantly luxurious.
Her dark brown hair cascaded like a waterfall onto the brocade cushion behind her, with golden butterfly ornaments pinned in her hair, shimmering in the sunlight.
Her charming and exquisite face held a hint of leisure, as if she were flower-viewing rather than at war.
She picked up a teacup and took a small sip.
"The Hojo side has refused again."
A maid knelt and reported.
"As expected."
Imagawa Yoshimoto set down her teacup, her red lips parting as she spoke with a leisurely air:
"That fellow Hojo Ujiyasu... though she hates taking risks, she hates being told what to do even more. The more I demand, the more she refuses to give."
"However—"
The corners of her mouth curled up into what could be called a cunning smile.
"It doesn't matter."
"My target isn't Hojo anyway."
"It's just that because that person—Onigami Kobe Hikaru—last appeared in Suruga and immediately went to the Hojo Clan's Odawara Castle, I heard that in a single night, he slew demons from all four directions."
Imagawa Yoshimoto's tone was like she was telling an interesting story.
She had heard all of this from traveling merchants who passed through the Imagawa Clan's territory; their information was always the most well-informed.
"The range of his activities is in Musashi Province."
"And Musashi Province is the Hojo Clan's territory."
"So the place he is most likely to appear—is right here."
She picked up a piece of wagashi covered in chestnuts and took a bite. "I only need to make a big enough commotion."
"And there's a high probability I can attract his attention."
There was a sparkle in Imagawa Yoshimoto's eyes.
It wasn't the fanaticism of war.
It was entirely the anticipation of a hunter waiting for the prey to fall into the trap.
Except what she wanted to 'hunt' wasn't Kanbe Hikaru's life, but the person—well, one should say, the yokai.
He was the future of her Imagawa Clan.
"Onigami-sama, Onigami-sama—"
She mumbled to herself while chewing on the sweet.
"Come quickly."
"I've come all this way specifically to fetch you."
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