Chapter 50: Yuhara Castle

Within Yuhara Castle...

At this moment, blood stained the mountain fortress red. Corpses littered the grounds from one end to another. During Japan's Warring States period, castles were categorized into three types:

Firstly, there were the mountaintop castles akin to fortresses—easily defended but difficult to conquer. Capturing such a strategically positioned stronghold required an attacking force ten times larger than the defenders', yet success was never guaranteed.

Secondly, there were hillside castles built halfway up mountainsides, offering a mix of defense and accessibility. These differed significantly from both the impregnable mountaintop fortresses and the more vulnerable lowland settlements.

Lastly, there were plain castles situated at ground level, often inhabited by commoners alongside nobility. These cities functioned much like ordinary towns, with little distinction between their structures and those found outside castle walls.

Yuhara Castle was a mountain fortress where no commoners resided; its inhabitants were solely soldiers and samurai—a true military stronghold.

Capturing such a mountaintop castle was no easy feat, at least not from the outside. However, if one could infiltrate from within, even the most formidable fortress would crumble effortlessly.

Within the tenshukaku of Yuhara Castle, dozens of blood-soaked warriors stood atop a sea of corpses, their katana gleaming with gore. They gazed up fearfully at a general-like figure standing on a high platform above them.

"My lord... No wait! My great lord," one of Takekawa Kuma's trusted confidants stepped forward two paces, his expression solemn as he knelt single-kneed before him. "I bring you news: every soul in Yuhara Castle who dared resist has been executed without mercy."

"Excellent!" The general—Takekawa Kuma himself—turned with a sweep of his command. He grabbed hold of a middle-aged man dressed in opulent attire lying by his feet—the Mediterranean look betrayed his foreign origin—and tossed it towards the assembled warriors. "Drag this old fool's body out and hang it beyond the castle walls!"

The Takekawa Kuma now bore little resemblance to his former self. Most strikingly...two crimson horns, symbols of Japan's legendary yokai, had sprouted from his forehead.

Takekawa Kuma had fully transformed into a monster!

Beyond those unmistakable horns, his eyes blazed like burning embers, while his fingernails had grown long and black, each one now ten centimeters in length—a nightmarish visage that struck terror into all who beheld him.

For those samurai who had pledged allegiance to Takekawa Kuma before his transformation into a yokai, their newfound fear was palpable. His strength had always been formidable; now, as a monster, he became even more terrifying—so much so that not one of them dared entertain any thought of resistance.

As they gazed upon the corpse on the ground—a body hurled there by Takekawa Kuma—they recognized it as Yuhara Tanachika, the former ruler of Yuhara Castle.

"Lord Daimyo," one kneeling samurai ventured cautiously, "if we proceed with this plan... it may tarnish your reputation for unification. Displaying the lord's body on the castle walls after such an act of treason seems excessive..."

"Have you grown deaf to my words?" Takekawa Kuma's bloodshot eyes fixed intently on the samurai, his demeanor teetering on the brink of madness at any moment.

"No, sir," the samurai replied swiftly. "This subordinate will carry out your orders immediately."

The warrior cast a glance at Takekawa Kuma, his body trembling uncontrollably. The mere sight of the man's ferocity was enough to strike fear into his heart. Without hesitation, he hoisted the corpse onto his shoulders and set about carrying it out as instructed by Takekawa Kuma.

-

"Ha ha ha ha..."

Watching Yuhara Tanachika's body being carried away, Takekawa Kuma couldn't suppress his manic laughter. The old fool brought this upon himself, he thought. Rejecting me and trying to marry Natsuki off to someone else? How utterly foolish.

Now, all of Yuhara Castle was under his control! But even that wasn't enough for him.

"Go—prepare yourselves immediately," Takekawa Kuma instructed the samurai before him with newfound confidence. "Summon every remaining warrior; I intend to seize control over all Musashi within a month."

As he gazed at the assembled warriors, Takekawa Kuma felt an unprecedented surge of power. With his own strength amplified by Jubokko's demonic energy, there seemed no force on earth capable of standing against him—not unless it was a great yokai.

"Yes, Your Highness," the samurai replied without hesitation, turning to carry out their orders instantly.

Takekawa Kuma had taken control of Yuhara Castle in less than an hour—a mere blink compared to what lay ahead. His ambitions stretched far beyond these walls as he plotted to conquer an entire province. The future belonged to those bold enough to claim it, and he would brook no opposition in his path towards greatness.

After a moment of silence, Takekawa Kuma left the tenshukaku and headed towards Natsuki's room.

The guards outside her chamber had already been replaced with Takekawa Kuma's men; he himself had personally slain every member of the previous guard detail.

"My lord," one of these new guards said upon seeing him approach, promptly bowing in respect.

"Hm." With a nod, Takekawa Kuma opened the door without further ado. Inside, he found Natsuki seated on the carpet, clad in traditional Japanese robes. She gazed at him with evident fear in her eyes.

The meal set out on the table remained largely untouched.

"Natsuki, is there something wrong with the food?" Takekawa Kuma asked anxiously after taking a closer look.

"Takekawa Kuma... y-yokai..." As she looked at him, Natsuki couldn't help but shrink back. However, having experienced Yae Sakura's presence before, this time she wasn't as terrified.

"What happened to my father..." she managed to ask, keeping her hands clasped behind her back. "What have you done with him?"

"That old fool tried to marry you off to Kyoto," Takekawa Kuma replied coldly. "As if he didn't know we were meant for each other all along."

"...I see," Natsuki murmured, still apprehensive yet somewhat reassured by his response. After all, they had grown up together—though whether their bond was that of lovers or simply childhood companions remained uncertain.

"No," Natsuki protested, "when did we ever fall in love? Don't just say such things..."

She gazed at Takekawa Kuma standing before her. Though they had grown up together, she'd never harbored any affection for him.

"What have you done with my father?"

"He cared nothing for your feelings when he tried to force you into marriage. Why should you concern yourself with his well-being now? Never fear—his interference will end here and forever more."

"Besides," he continued, his voice dripping with ambition, "this is only the beginning. I'll conquer all under heaven as a betrothal gift to you, Natsuki. Won't that make you happy?"

"So what exactly happened to my father?" Natsuki pressed, her heart sinking further at these words from Takekawa Kuma.

The sounds of slaughter outside earlier had already filled her with an ominous dread. Now this revelation sent panic surging through her veins.

"He's dead!" came the cold reply.

"What? How could this be...?" Natsuki found it hard to believe. Although she deeply resented her father for trying to marry her off against her will, he was still her own flesh and blood—and to hear of his sudden demise...

It was too much to bear...

"Natsuki, don't dwell on this," Takekawa Kuma urged, moving closer. His eyes burned with desire as he said, "You know how I feel about you, and I'm sure you return those sentiments. Be mine." With that, he lunged forward towards Natsuki.

"What do you think you're doing..." Natsuki saw the desire burning in Takekawa Kuma's eyes, her expression shifting instantly.

"You know exactly what I want," he replied, closing the distance between them.

Bang!

Natsuki suddenly drew a firearm from somewhere and fired at Takekawa Kuma.

"Don't come any closer..."

"That... That's a... firearm..." Takekawa Kuma clutched his wound, staring at the gun in Natsuki's hand with wide-eyed astonishment. The lust that had been flickering in his gaze vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Examining the gunshot wound on his chest, Takekawa Kuma swiftly extracted the bullet. Under the influence of his demonic power, he healed almost immediately.

"Where did you get such a firearm?"

Natsuki remained silent, tears welling up in her eyes as if she were utterly frightened by her own actions.

Seeing her state, all of Takekawa Kuma's earlier desires evaporated; this was not the response he'd anticipated. He found himself genuinely taken aback—could it be true that Natsuki didn't return his feelings? It seemed inconceivable.

-

Watching Takekawa Kuma leave the room, Natsuki wiped away her tears. Clutching her gun with both hands, she felt utterly terrified.

Suddenly, an image of Yae Sakura flashed through her mind. Seizing onto this lifeline as if grasping at straws, Natsuki desperately called out for her friend over and over again.