War and the Filth of Humanity.

"Alright. We're here. Let's rest up now."

The march to the border between Shinka province and Yukonami province has been quite smooth to us.

"The carts for the Raikiri artillery didn't sink their wheels into the soft ground, yes?"

"Yes, my lord. There wasn't as much trouble transporting the heavy cannons with us."

A young man dressed in a lighter and less traditional-looking samurai armor walked towards me and answered my question.

"Good. If they got here a little later, we would be wasting our time."

"Indeed."

Before everything else, let me introduce myself again.

My name is Iwasawa Hiroshi. A year ago, I would just be a travelling doctor who goes wherever his feet can bring him. However, after being involved in a battle between two rival provinces and being pushed by the rebelling nobles of one of those provinces into power…

I became a sengoku lord.

At first, I cannot accept it. After all, who in their right mind would take on such a stupidly huge responsibility especially in this age of this country where a human's life is just as important as a housefly zooming around a horse stable.

However, after I came to terms with the reality that there must be a reason why they insisted on making me the daimyo of the province, I accepted the request and officially became the lord of Kiko.

There was a lot of advancements that I had to do in order to make sure that this land that I now lead will be able to protect and preserve itself in the engulfing chaos of the country. I created sustainable farming methods, centralized irrigations, trade laws that benefited everyone, basic electrical infrastructures, roads and even railways but of all of this, one thing that I especially take pride on implementing is no other than that one…

Education.

Even though I like to see the people's faces filled with amazement and wonder with the things that I made that I show them, I knew that I cannot let things be this way and keep them ignorant of innovation and technological advancement. Thus, I immediately set out to educate both children and adults about things that can help them be more knowledgeable and open to new developments to make life more convenient.

A lot of things happened between the past and the present. With my province secure in both finances and resources, I looked into modernizing my army that is far too little than any other on the region I was in. With that, I was asked to participate on an upcoming war which I accepted both as a sign of camaraderie and to test the ability of the soldiers that came under the terms of my training.

And now, we're here. In one of the three hill forts at the southwest of Yukonami province where it is predicted that the enemy soldiers will pass through.

"Set up the machineguns and plant the cannon land spikes and counter-weights. We can't dabble here for too long or we'll be caught unprepared!"

"Yes! General!"

"You there, take the rifle ammunition cases to the storage area of the fortress. Tell the armorer to keep them away from any fires."

"Roger that, General!"

Noticing my general's words and commands, I can't help but compliment him.

"You're good at managing them now."

"It's just how I do my job, Kou-sama."

Nobisuke sure grew up good from being a stuck-up and textbook-led samurai to this state where he can efficiently lead our troops like an experienced modern day commanding officer.

"Well then, I'll leave it to you for now, Nobisuke. Tell everyone to not stay up late too."

"As you wish."

I walked into the inner Keep of the fortress and took off my light armor at the room designated for me.

While changing to more comfortable clothes, I felt something odd in the room.

"…"

"Hey there."

"It's been quite a while…"

I spoke and turned to the window where the person I expected was sitting.

"Phantom of Kiko."

The mysterious man worshipped by many Kiko citizens as the guardian of the lands. A masked person whom I once met after her saved me from an assassin.

"I'm glad that you're actually calling me in that way."

"What else can I call you?"

"You have a point."

He snickered for a bit before looking at me dead in the eye.

"Do you know what you are doing?"

"Of course, I do."

"…"

"I don't care who you are and what kind of influence you have over my people. I won't back down from this decision that I made."

"…You…"

I inhaled for a bit and spoke to him the vision that I believe on.

"Starting from now on, the people of Kiko will have to learn how to protect their selves and their livelihoods. I don't believe that we can just leave it forever to the "Spirits of Justice" like you and your band of vigilantes."

"Kh-!"

"Kiko will rule on its own, run on its own and protect on its own."

And that is it.

"So, you can just go away and watch us from the back."

I don't want to believe in something that I cannot understand.

The moment I became the leader of Kiko, I understood well that the affairs of this land must be left on the hands of those who live in it.

This "Phantom", as he is called, is an unidentified person who does whatever he wants by calling it an act of justice.

I cannot let him do this now that I am leading the province.

"You do know that I know about your hidden actions, don't you?"

"I do. Do you know that I know yours?"

"You-!"

I clapped my hands and out of the window where he is sitting on, two ninjas jumped down and threw knives at him that planted themselves on his back.

"Kyak-!"

"Good job."

"It's an honor, Kou-sama!"

With the Phantom now laying down on the floor with his back bleeding terribly, I knelt beside him to uncover his masked face.

"You… YOU!!!"

He shouted as he continued to reach out for my face. But it was simply too far for him to reach while laying down.

"You can have this back. It doesn't mean anything anymore after all."

I took off the necklace he gave me last time. It fell on the floor and rolled until it stopped on the puddle of blood beside him.

"It took a while for me to understand your words, but it sure pissed me off when I did. You laid a path that will let me rise up to a Daimyo, ally myself with the neighboring provinces and create the force needed to conquer the Capital and unite this ruined country."

"Hgh! Raaa-!"

"What I will be doing right now may look like an act of betrayal of a subordinate to his master…"

I spoke and drew my pistol to charge it and load a bullet on the chamber.

"That's right! I… I made you! Everything you are today is because of what I did! You… You ungrateful wretch!"

"Sorry, Mister Phantom." I spoke and pointed the gun on his head. "I never regarded you as my master. Nor did I achieve things because of your actions. If I will have to be grateful to someone…"

"YOOOOOUUUUU!!!!"

"I will be thanking my people."

In a single gunshot, I ended it. I ended the shadow that has long been bothering me. Right now, there are no more thorns on my side that I have to bring around.

"Hmm… Status report."

"Yes, Kou-sama! The three hill forts at the border have been manned and armed. The Engineering detachment of the Rifle Infantry divisions has prepared the front and rear trenches overnight and has laid down sufficient defenses and equipment throughout the line."

"Did our stock equipment meet the required amount we have to defend this area?"

"Yes, Kou-sama! We even have spares when the provided ones breaks or in need of maintenance!"

"Good. Send for a message runner. I want to give the troops some words before we start."

The soldier heeded my order and grabbed a piece of paper and some ink and brush to write my words.

"Ahem…"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Brave men of Kiko, we gather here today in the name of camaraderie and loyalty to our allied province. I know that you are still wary of your competence. I know that you are still wondering if you really are prepared to do what a soldier must do. Being in this unfamiliar land, fighting an unfamiliar enemy and dealing with an unfamiliar feeling of dread, I am aware that no one can simply shove it away and not be bothered with it. And so, I want you to remember my words as you hear the first gunshot that will ring out in the battlefield to the last dying groan of our enemies.

Fight on so you can go home to the people that matters to you. Fight with your comrades beside you. Fight with the knowledge that your instructors have taught you. Fight with the weapons that was given to you.

Fight on for a tomorrow that is waiting for you.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Once the commanding officer of a trench line shouted my message, an atmosphere of relief spread on the battle line as everyone stood in attention and pointed their guns to the field before them.

"Kou-sama. Your telescope. The western fortress seem to be sending flag signals to you."

I looked at the fortress on my right through the telescope and there, I saw a soldier waving a flag on each of his hands.

"Answer back with the flag."

"Yes, sir!"

"Enemies… spotted… by… scouts… end of word… Numbers follow… One… by… four… Section… A… seven… Requesting… permission… for… free… orders… end of word."

Hmm… Scouts. Nobisuke is commanding the western fort so he must've taken initiative and sent out scouts out to the enemy land.

"Send this message. I give him permission to initiate hostilities. However, he has to do it in his line to maximize our defensive ability. I will not let him waste our technical and terrain advantage."

The soldier waved the flags to the other fort and they replied that it has been received and there are no more words to say.

"Good. Let's get this going."

A dust trail appeared on the field by noon. It was a sign that our enemies are here.

"…They look disorganized. Not many of them wear sufficient armor and their weapons look a bit too unkempt."

"They are a bandit province. There is nothing great to expect from them. But still, it would be a great mistake for us to underestimate them."

I used a mirror to reflect some sunlight to the rear trench and I received a replying reflection that meant that the commander of the fort's artillery detachment noticed me.

"Raise a blue flag."

The soldier beside me did as I said, and he raised the flag that was met by the same flag on the artillery encampment.

With that, we finished all the preparations for the battle to come.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Forward! March!!!"

Today is my first day to fight under the army of the Yukogahara clan. I used to be the son of a boar hunter, but while on a hunting trip, my house was broken in and everything I have was stolen while my father was stabbed in his sleep.

With no way to find out the killers, I gave up on revenge. With most of my belongings stolen, I had nothing anymore, even a will to do anything to survive. A town crier from the castle ran into our village one day and announced that we will be attacking the lands of the Kusanagi clan, anyone who will participate will be rewarded handsomely and we will be allowed to ransack any settlements we will pass through and do what we want to the people there.

The offer sounded well to me. It's gold, glory and women so I didn't have any complaints at all. I walked to the castle, signed my name under the command of a samurai whose name I didn't care to remember, and was given a decent bow and arrows.

I heard from the drunken rambling of the other people here that the army meeting us today isn't from Shinka but rather, their allied province. Whatever it is, I don't really care. I didn't get a good turn on the women who offered themselves last night in exchange of their lives, so I'm pretty backed up to the point that I might jump on any woman regardless of age once we get to a village.

But then, as if hearing my lustful and hedonistic thoughts, the heavens sent a reminder that I am just a mortal whose life has no real value.

*Ka-Kriii!!!*

"W-what was that?!"

"Lightning?! The sky is clear!"

Today is my first day in the battle.

*KA-BYAAAGGG!!!*

And today almost became my last day.

"RUUUUNNNN!!!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

*BLAG!*

*PYAK!*

"Full load! AB2! Maintain coordinates! Send 'em!"

"Fire!"

With the firing noise of the Rakurai Artillery, the battle started.

"The air-burst shells are effective. The frontal infantry is being whittled down."

"Kou-sama. The middle-trenches are reporting that their Sakana cannons are in range now. Shall we give them the permission to fire?"

"Sure. Tell them to fire the Canister shells."

"As you command!"

I am a man. It's among my instincts to know how to fight and even conduct the flow of a fight.

"Reports on the Canister shells. It has broken their march. Their soldiers are fleeing the battlefield."

"…Good. Send word to the Shock Cavalry Battalion. Tell them to prepare for sortie and draw out the rest of the enemy forces."

"As you wish!"

Several moments later, wooden palettes were placed over a portion of the trenches as horse-riding riflemen ran across them and charged to the field until they reached a place near the enemy camp where they opened fire and threw firebombs or Molotov cocktails.

"Turn back! Turn back!"

The horsemen, seeing that the enemies have been roused and has composed themselves to attack again, turned back and ran at full speed back to our defenses.

"Tell the Heavy artillery to let the infantry and light cannons to handle this."

"Yes, sir!"

After the sound of the heavy artillery ceased, it was replaced by the mechanical sound of the machine guns and a chorus of pinging sounds from the infantry rifles.

"The enemy was shocked. They are attacking in an unorganized manner. This will be easy for us, my lord!"

"Indeed. Still, it's not wrong to make sure that you've done enough to win… Tell the battle lines to sustain fire. Tell the cavalry to sortie again and charge the enemy from behind. Don't let anyone escape!"

"Yes, sir!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Damn it… Damn it all!!!

No one told me that we'll be fighting these monsters! What was that thing that exploded near us?!

"Hey! Get up from that mound! Their cavalry is coming!"

"I'll follow you- Argh!!! My leg!"

While standing up, a bullet hit my leg from behind and skimmed off a piece of my flesh.

"Ahh… Argh!"

"Tch! Good luck, loser! I'm outta here!"

"Hey bastard! Come back here! You-"

"GUAAAAGH-!!! KAH-!"

While he was running away, a hail of bullets hit him from behind and his body was riddled with holes before he fell into his own blood puddle.

"Kih-! Damn it!!!"

I shouldn't have gone here! We have no chance against these monsters!"

Gold, Glory and women? Damn you, past me! What the hell were you thinking?!

"Maintain formation! Look around for survivors!"

The enemy cavalry passed by my mound and I pulled myself into it to play dead.

"No signs of life, captain. They seem to be all dead."

"Fire bullets on their heads just to make sure. We'll either detect the living or end their agony. Come on, do it!"

"Yes, sir!"

Fire bullets?! These people… where did they get guns that can reload by itself?!

"Look for their officer. If you can, save a samurai or two. General Shimura said that we can negotiate using them."

A chance! I think I saw the samurai near me earlier. If I can point him to them, they might let me go!

"…Hey, you. Are you alive?"

"Ah… Y-yeah…"

"…Close your eyes."

"Woah, woah, woah! Don't point that at me! Spare me, please!"

He raised his musket to my face and in my panic, I turned away from him while begging for my life.

"Do you know where your samurai leader is?"

"A-ah… there, there. He's leaning on that small tree."

He turned around for a moment and on instinct, I tried to use that distraction to escape but my leg wound reminded me that I cannot run away.

"Get that guy to the trenches and tell them to give him medical attention."

"Yes sir."

As his men trotted away with the wounded samurai, this officer guy turned to me and threw a pouch at me.

"…Hey, since you helped, here's some bandages."

I grabbed it quickly and covered the deep wound on my leg.

"Get away from here and don't fight again. Live a long life in peace, there's no point to linger around in a killing field."

"Y-yes…"

"The rest of you! On me!"

As he and his men trotted away on their horses, I tried to stand up while my leg wound is almost killing me.

"Argh… I can't walk properly like this."

I broke off a spear's handle and used it as a crutch as I limped back to the camp.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Any news from the cavalry?"

"Nothing yet, sir. But it seems like there's no more enemies on the field."

It was now a waiting game. The troops they sent over are disorganized and ill-equipped so I knew what it meant.

"…Contact the eastern fortress. They aren't on the attack line so it only makes sense that they have fresh troops."

"What should I tell them, kou-sama?"

"Tell them to advance to enemy territory. We'll push through and proceed with the blitzkrieg tactic."

"A-all by ourselves?! I mean no disrespect, Kou-sama, but this would be too risky for us!"

"I know that. That's exactly the reason why were taking the initiative…"

"H-huh?"

"Someone has been watching this fight… I was never wrong with not underestimating our enemies."

I already had this feeling since I saw those soldiers that doesn't look like one. They are nothing but fodder, troops sent to test out the enemy and expose their tactics.

"…Contact the western fortress as well. Tell them to send their reserves to the detachment from the east fortress."

"H-how about their commander, sir?"

Being asked that, I placed my telescope on my belt bag and picked up my rifle from a table.

"I'll go. Ask for Nobisuke's commands while I'm away."

"K-k-k-kou-sama?!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I passed by the horsemen I met earlier while they are distracted with burning the forward camp and managed to get to the main camp after an hour of limping there.

"Doctor! I need a doctor!"

It was an abandoned village that is partially burnt down. As usual for the crappy place that we belong to, the burned and rotten houses were our quarters while the big hats are enjoying themselves on their tents.

"Wow, damn… What hit you to tear off this amount of flesh off your leg?"

"I don't know. Whatever it is, I don't want to get hit with it again."

"Alright. If you're not saying…"

The herbalist chewed some leaves and spat it on my leg wound. It hurt like hell but if this is what he said would let me live, I'll endure it.

"Hey you, Kappa. The commander is asking for you."

"Tch! The hell ya calling Kappa?! Haah?!"

"Back off! You smell like the crap you're rolling at."

These samurai morons… always looking down at us!

"What happened there? Answer me or I'll feed you to the crows."

I was led to the tent of the commanding noble and ordered to tell them what happened to my group.

"We got hit with something that exploded right in front of my faces. Limbs flew everywhere and anyone who was standing away from the rocks and mounds did not survive. After those things stopped hitting us, we then got hit with bullets out of nowhere."

"Then what about the report that the forward camp was destroyed?"

"A few horsemen from the enemy passed by and burned it before turning tail to lure the people there to send them to the field. No one from there survived other than me."

Hearing my testimony, the mumblings of the bit hats are either asking the commander to cut my head for lying or telling him to attack now because I am not trustworthy.

"Keh-! Go on. Attack them. I'm not trustworthy, aren't I? You stupid nobles always acting like the world revolves around you that you can't accept the reality that once you step there, there's no chance for you to survive."

"Why you-!"

"Off with his head!"

"STOP!"

With the loud shout of the camp commander, the other samurais stopped from almost beheading me and instead, sat down with bitter faces.

"…I will listen to your words. It is unthinkable that the fodder we sent their way would be done in in just half a day… We didn't even hear word that there was an engagement…"

"It might just be a lie, sir. It's certainly impossible for them, even if they are brainless sacks of meat to die this easily. There are 4,000 men there after all."

"True… this person might just be a deserter!"

These morons…! I can't stand their stupidity!

"Well then… I-"

"Apologies for the intrusion, commander! I have a report to make!"

Before he can speak, a soldier entered the tent, and this was met with the complaints of the high-headed samurais.

"Insolent, little-! Who told you that you can just enter this tent?!"

"Stop that! I want to hear it."

With his command, the soldier spoke his report.

"The enemy force is charging towards the village!"

"Ahaha! It's our lucky day, commander! The rat is running to the cat's mouth!"

"That arrogant fiend! His confidence will kill him!"

The cheering of the samurai abounded and the laughed the enemy commander in scorn.

"Where is that force now?"

"Right outside of the village, sir!"

"Well then, I'll meet him head… on…"

Those was the last words that escaped his mouth as he opened the tent door to see the village gate in flames and the soldiers near it piling more and more as they died from the gunshots of the invading army.

"Tch! Who the hell is that?!"

"Forget about that! Fight them! Don't let them in!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Forward! Push the palisade wall forward!"

I commanded a detachment to attack the main camp of the enemy. With it being a mix of the cavalry and rifle infantry, we used the "rolling doors" tactic by having a heavy and durable wheeled wall that will protect us from arrows and bullets as we pushed forward with our guns.

"Shoot them! Don't let them get up and fight back!"

Soon, we gained enough ground from the village that I raised a command flag and sent in the cavalry that will finish up the enemies by galloping around and flushing them out of their hiding places with their swords and guns.

"Firebombs! Deploy!"

"Huaaah!!!"

As I shouted the command to dump the molotovs, the soldiers lit up their bottles using a nearby fire we passed by and threw it around to burn the buildings where our enemies are hiding.

"Sir! Enemy cavalry charging towards us!"

"Lower the palisade wall and rain lead on them! Fire!"

In a manner of a few seconds, a huge number of bullets flew to the charging samurai horsemen and they fell down with their steeds while still wearing their armor. Most of them got hit on the head which caused their immediate demise.

"T-the commander is dead! R-RUUUUUUNNNN!!!"

With that shout from one of the enemy soldiers, everyone ran away like disturbed rats as many left their posts and positions.

"Don't let anyone go! Find them and round them up dead or alive!"

With that command, many of the infantry split up to their own platoons and went hunting for the deserters.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"A-ah… A-a-a-ahhh…!"

Is this him? Is this the commander of the enemy army?

My jaw dropped in fear after seeing how easily he and his men killed the enemy commander without even caring who they was.

And as a hunter, I can somewhat see the amount of ruthlessness in his aura. He is like a boar… no, his aura's cruel nature looks like those of a raging tiger ready to tear apart anyone who stands on his path.

"…Hey you…"

"M-me?"

"Yeah.

He called out to me and I knew that I cannot put him in a bad mood.

"Where were the people here?"

"H-huh?"

He didn't seem to like my empty reply as he drew his pistol and fired inches away from my leg injury.

"Where are the people here? This village doesn't look like it was abandoned long ago?"

Crap! I forgot! This place is-!

"Kou-sama! We found some civilians!"

A soldier on a horse ran towards him and dismounted to bring a report.

"In that place? I'll be borrowing your horse, keep watch over this guy."

"Yes, my lord!"

My lord… That was the enemy daimyo?!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Kou-sama! At this cave!"

As I arrived at the place outside the village that the soldier told me about, a few soldiers was around the entrance and seems distraught about something.

"What is happening… here…?"

And I wish I didn't look there too much.

"…Kh-!"

"Kou-sama?!"

"Everyone…"

"Y-yes, my lord?"

"Take everyone that is still alive on the enemy army and gather them near the commander's tent."

"Y-yes sir!"

Being left alone, I entered the cave with a torch and the little amount of light it gave me just intensified the seething rage in my chest as I saw it dimly lighting up the people here.

"D-don't hurt us… pwease!"

"No more, sirs! No more!"

Savages… Absolute savages!!! To think that they razed their own village and took the women and children for their own lustful entertainment…!

"Everyone. My name is Iwasawa Hiroshi, Daimyo of the Province of Kiko. I am here to save you."

"H-huh? D-daimyo? Lord?"

"Y-you won't hurt us?"

The women and children who heard my voice responded and with the gentlest voice that I can muster, I knelt on the height of the kids and answered back.

"No. I won't hurt you."

Most of the women was assaulted to the point that they cannot walk properly. So with the help of those who can and the children who are strong enough to help them, I got the out of the cave and into the road where some soldiers who was alarmed of my disappearance was waiting for me.

"K-kou-sama… who are these people?"

"They are people from the village. They were kept there as… prisoners."

"I… I see."

The young soldier must've known what I meant as he made sure to be gentle in handling the young woman who are almost losing consciousness on my shoulders.

"Guard them here and tell someone to bring an empty artillery cart over. We will be keeping them in the central fortress."

"Roger that!"

Now then… to meet the scumbags who are responsible for this…

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"What will happen to us?"

"Who are these people? How did they get us this easily?"

There was about a few hundred of us near the tent as those who were captured was brought here under the watchful eyes of these soldiers.

"Hey, you-! Ack-!"

*Ka-pak!*

"Argh-!"

And anyone who dared to run away from the bunch was immediately peppered with bullets.

"What the hell?! What's that musket? How can it fire so quickly?!"

"What would they do to us?"

I already resigned myself to accept whatever will happen to us here. There is no point to believe that something good will happen after this.

Finally, the lord of the enemy army arrived on his horse and behind him is a horse-drawn cart.

"Kou-sama. It's all of them except for those who tried to escape."

Without a word, he nodded and walked nearer to us. Eyeing our faces one by one while slowly walking around. He then saw a man with a bald head and long beard and told him to stand up.

"You."

"M-me?"

"Who had the bright idea of razing this village and toying around with the villagers?"

"A-a-ahh… It's commander Izumo's command… He told us that this would be a warm up before a great victory."

Hearing his reply, the enemy lord walked to the cart and had four soldiers bring over two large pots of Sake. And with the marking in front of it, it looks like genuine Naka Sake, the one that tastes so good that it is highly sought after.

"…"

He scooped some and drank it and wiped his mouth before using a bowl and dipping it into the bowl.

"Take it."

"Huh?"

"The bowl. Take it and drink from it."

The bearded man slowly took the bowl and drank the rice wine. By the end of it, he looked like he is willing to lick the bowl dry just to not waste a drop of the wine and that made everyone want to get a sip as well.

"If you want some, catch it with your mouths."

The enemy lord began to scoop out the wine and spread it among us who opened our mouths as much as possible just to taste a drop of it. Some pushed away each other while some headbutted the ones nearer just to get an advantage.

After a while, the two pots are empty and all of us were drenched with the wine and almost succumbing to drunkenness.

"Do you know why Naka Sake is well known not just as a beverage and cooking ingredient but also as a preservative and stain remover for metals?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Some groaned while still under the spirit of alcohol but I, who only had a few lucky sips from the wine was wide awake.

"The rice wine goes in a semi-ventilated fermentation process that produces a high-quality wine that has a silky-smooth texture and a taste that is considered almost heavenly… And an alcohol content that cannot be underestimated."

That… why is he holding that paper envelope? Wait… sticks? No… why are their ends red?

"Speaking of which, do you know what the contents of our firebombs is made of?"

"Shut up… You're hurting my ears!"

"I can help you with that…"

After he took one of the red-tipped sticks and hit it on the side of the envelope, I already knew what is in for us.

"Return to where you belong to… demons in the body of humans."

He threw the stick on the drunken pile of men drenched with alcohol and in a single second, all of us was burning on fire.

"AAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH-!!!"

"HOT! HOT!!!"

"HELP ME!!!!"

"WATER!!! GIVE ME SOME WATER!!!"

The pained shouts of the men around me was deafening while I was burning as well, I didn't feel any pain…

"Throw in more firebombs! Don't let them get the easy way out!"

All that I felt was regret and shame… regret and shame that I never listened to my father's words before I went out on that hunting trip.

["Don't let your greed and take you in. Or else, you will never get out like a child on a tiger's jaws."]

"I'm sorry, father… I was such a failure."

The last memories I had before finally losing my life… was the faces of the women that I committed such a grave sin to. And there, I knew that I cannot ever dream of having eternal peace.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Kou-sama…"

"…"

Nobisuke was at the fortress gates when I arrived at the central fortress. He looked worried but I cannot find the right words to comfort him.

"The women and children… they've been given initial medical aid and mental support. I think we can keep them here until the Kusanagi forces arrive."

"Yeah."

"Kou-sama…"

"Yes?"

"Are you… angry?"

Just as usual… Nobisuke really knows when I am bearing a heavy feeling on my heart.

"Nobisuke… do you believe that hell exists?"

"I… I do. Buddhist beliefs speak of planes of existence that one can be reborn to after living a past life filled with greed and materiality…

"Good."

I spoke and moved away after getting the answer.

"Kou-sama. What would you like for dinner?"

"I'm not hungry. Don't bother."

"A-ah… Y-yes."

I went to my bedroom and sat on my bed after taking off my light armor and my weapons.

["Will you be able to take the blame or will you burn everything to the ground with your flames?"]

The words of that man came to reality… The one thing that I said I wouldn't want to happen actually happened on under my own volition of all things…

"Damn it!!!"

I hit my fists against the wall in anger after this realization.

"Kou-sama…"

"Why are you here?"

"To help you."

Nobisuke spoke softly and took off his sword from his hip.

"Leave… This isn't something that you have to deal with."

"It is, my lord."

Nobisuke replied and that made me turn around only to see him kneeling in front of me with his katana raised with both arms as if offering it to me.

"What the-"

"If there is in anyway that I have failed you, my lord. Please cut off my head."

"You-?! What do you mean?!"

I shouted as he wasn't making any sense to me.

"It is the retainer's duty to protect his master from any kinds of pain and anguish. If this heaviness in your heart is in any case caused by my negligence, I implore you, please cut off my head."

"Stop joking around!"

"I'm not joking around!"

He shouted back and with the clanging of his armor, he shot up and hit my head with a headbutt.

"Ouch… that hurts! What the hell is that for?!"

"Correction, my lord."

"Correction?"

"It's a request asked to me by Chiyo. She said to hit (pat) your head when you get too stressed out."

"She doesn't headbutt me for heck's sake! What was that for?!"

"Hngm… I…"

"Speechless now, huh?"

The dramatic atmosphere disappeared between us after I massaged the area on my forehead that he headbutted and looked at him in disdain.

"It's a retainer's job to protect his lord, my ass. You're the one that hit me, doofus."

"As I said, it's just a correction."

"Oh, shut it, will you?!"

After a while, I noticed that the heavy-heartedness was gone now and I didn't feel as bad as before.

"I… What was I doing…?"

"Did it work, my lord? It's been used to me so many times that I learned to use it now."

"…It did."

"It's called "distraction from destruction". A method of inciting pain and anger that can override the past feeling of pain and anguish that one feels."

"It... it seems to have worked."

"I see. That's lucky for me, then."

After a while of explaining to him what happened, he bowed again but now, he isn't raising his sword towards me anymore.

"I am your loyal retainer, my lord. Your wish is my command, and your words are my life's values. By your command I will vanquish your foes, and in your kindness, I will make your land flourish. I am the blade of your sword and the plate of your armor. My life is yours to make use of so long as it will serve you well."

"Nobisuke… why?"

"Because I believe in you, Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi. I believe in your words and ideals. I believe in your actions and decisions. I believe that you and you alone have the right to give me a direction to live on… a reason to fight on and a future to strive for."

"You… you idiot…"

"Call me an idiot all you want but that is my decision… Your path is my path and I will not want any other path except for it."

To this day, I cannot understand why Nobisuke chose to serve me so wholeheartedly. So, hearing his words right now when I have this so unfamiliar feeling of dread and hate… makes me feel like I am no longer alone to bear this by myself.

"Are you well now, Kou-sama?"

"Mm. I am. Thanks a lot, Nobisuke… except for the headbutt. That doesn't count."

"Ahaha… If that's how you see it."

After a few moments, we went back to business…

"Nobisuke. Prepare everyone for an attack."

"An attack?"

"Yeah. The troops we fought earlier are just fodder. The real army is hanging back at the inner areas of the province."

"I see… what would our tactic be, my lord?"

"Verdun trenches. Extend the defenses from here to the border. Make it as maze-like as possible but make sure to tell the soldiers where is where… and another thing."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Tell the Rakurai artillery crews to use that "shell". Tell them that and they will understand it."

War… it never changes.

And so will be the methods that I will use for it.