novelraw Chapter 43: Bushido Is a Load of Crap
Chapter 43: Bushido Is a Load of Crap
After chatting briefly with Kinoshita Mai a while longer, the two finally left the small path that would likely leave enormous psychological shadows on Kinoshita Mai for the rest of her life.
"I need to go this way next..." Kinoshita Mai pointed toward the left intersection.
"Ah, then we'll be parting ways here. I need to go this direction." Aoto pointed toward the right intersection. "Shall we meet again if fate allows?"
"Mm..." Kinoshita Mai, whose shy expression hadn't faded the entire time and who had hardly made eye contact with Aoto, nodded. "Goodbye..."
After saying farewell and parting ways with Kinoshita Mai, Aoto rested his hand on the sword at his waist and continued patrolling his assigned jurisdiction.
Just as Aoto separated from Kinoshita Mai—
...
...
Kita Bansho, Tōjō's office—
"Master Tōjō, you called for me?"Nishino slid open the door and quickly entered the room.
Nishino, who had no cases to handle today, had been about to go patrol his assigned jurisdiction. But just as he was about to leave Kita Bansho, he suddenly received a summons from his superior, Tōjō, forcing him to hurry to Tōjō's office.
Upon entering his superior's office, Nishino saw Tōjō sitting cross-legged behind his usual work desk, looking intently at something in his hands.
At first glance, one might think Tōjō was examining some important document, seriously attending to official business.
But in reality... the object he was studying so intently was a special type of illustration that was always in high demand among men...
Tōjō was looking at this particular image, and it was an especially wild variety: the female lead was a voluptuous young married woman, while the male lead was a giant octopus...
While studying it intently, he freed one hand to pick at his feet, then used that same foot-picking hand to wipe his nose...
"Hmm... hmm..." Tōjō kept emitting deep murmurs while examining the illustration in his hands. Anyone unaware would think he was appreciating some masterpiece of the ages.
Seeing Nishino had arrived, Tōjō quickly plastered a full smile across his face.
"Oh ho! Nishino, you're here!"
Tōjō casually tossed the illustration onto the desk without any attempt to hide it from Nishino.
Nishino also appeared completely accustomed to this, asking with his usual expression:
"Master Tōjō, what did you need me for?"
"There's an important matter to inform you about." Tōjō let out a huge yawn. "But before getting to business, let's chat a bit first."
With that, Tōjō curled up the corners of his mouth.
"So? How did it feel having yesterday's Kiyayanagi Town case snatched away by that Tachibana Aoto?"
Nishino paused briefly, but quickly regained his usual stern (￣︿￣) expression.
"To be honest—quite displeasing."
"This subordinate was so depressed last night that I ate several fewer bowls of rice at dinner."
"But this subordinate must admit—in yesterday's case handling, I was completely and utterly defeated by Tachibana Aoto, and my defeat was with genuine acceptance."
"After arriving at the crime scene, this subordinate also noticed something seemed off about that candle."
"But this subordinate failed to quickly make the connection like Tachibana Aoto did that 'townspeople rarely use candles.'"
At this point, Nishino sighed.
"This subordinate didn't understand why I hadn't realized townspeople don't often use candles when seeing the crime scene candle until returning to Kita Bansho yesterday and learning from others how Tachibana Aoto solved the case."
"Because this subordinate's family has always used candles."
"From childhood until now, I've never used lamp oil."
"'Having candles at home is only natural'—this way of thinking has been subtly ingrained in this subordinate's mind through gradual conditioning."
"To make such a foolish mistake... I am deeply ashamed."
Watching Nishino's expression showing some shame, Tōjō grinned:
"That Tachibana Aoto has really changed quite a lot."
"Yesterday, when he reported to Master Usui and the rest of us how he solved the case, I specifically asked him 'were you intentionally stealing credit from you?'"
"Facing such a tricky question, his response couldn't be called flawless, but it was difficult to find fault with it."
"Not only has his case-handling ability improved considerably, but he even seems to have become more tactful as a person."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Nishino's lips.
"I've heard why that Tachibana Aoto was able to achieve such a transformation."
"If he truly realized the weight of his responsibilities as he claimed and resolved to turn over a new leaf... Hmph, that would actually be a good thing."
"With one less person holding us back, the burden on our 'Three Squads' shoulders can lighten somewhat."
"Oh ho..." Tōjō smiled meaningfully. "If Tachibana Aoto becomes reliable... that would mean the 'Arima Group's' strength would greatly increase. Aren't you worried that with the 'Arima Group' becoming stronger, our 'Tōjō Group's' position at Kita Bansho might decline, making it difficult to receive good cases?"
"Heh." Nishino sneered. "Let them bring it on."
"This subordinate doesn't believe the 'Tōjō Group' with me guarding it could be so weak as to be overtaken by the 'Arima Group' so quickly."
"Heh heh heh heh..." After low laughter, Tōjō stretched vigorously. "Alright, let's end the small talk here."
"Let's discuss serious business."
"Nishino, after several days of discussion, the upper levels have decided—you will take over the 'Cat Thief' case."
"'Cat Thief'?" Nishino's eyebrows jumped sharply.
"What?" Seeing Nishino's expression, Tōjō grinned. "Nishino, why do you look like you don't know who the Cat Thief is?"
"Ah, speaking of this Cat Thief, Nishino, have you heard the recent rumor circulating widely among the common people about the Cat Thief?"
"Many are saying: this Cat Thief is actually a female ninja who has mastered some nearly lost ninjutsu."
Tōjō, with his insincere smile, shrugged his shoulders.
"Who knows where this rumor started from..."
"If that Cat Thief really is some female ninja... well that would be great. I've lived this long and never seen what a ninja looks like."
Nishino ignored Tōjō's jesting words.
His expression growing somewhat solemn, he seriously asked in return:
"Master Tōjō, why has it been so suddenly decided to hand the 'Cat Thief' case over to me?"
"What else?" Tōjō scoffed. "It's because the person previously responsible for this case has produced no results for too long."
"To catch this great thief, the 'Three Squads' of our South and North Bansho have already replaced three chief investigators."
"But without exception—all returned empty-handed. The 'Cat Thief' case investigation has reached the point where we still don't even know if they're male or female."
"Nishino, I shouldn't need to tell you what kind of people those whose money was stolen by the Cat Thief are, right?"
"Each has more powerful connections than the last, each backing harder than the next."
"Everyone knows they're no good, but we simply can't do anything about them."
"These people who've suffered the Cat Thief's 'poisoned hand' have recently been pressuring our government offices, demanding we apprehend the Cat Thief quickly."
"Under this unavoidable situation, the upper levels decided to change to having you, the 'Number One Case Solver of Kita Bansho,' take full responsibility for this case."
"'Having candles at home is only natural'—this way of thinking has been subtly ingrained in this subordinate's mind through gradual conditioning."
"Hmm? Nishino, why that reluctant expression?"
Tōjō noticed Nishino looked like he wanted to speak but was holding back.
Nishino pressed his lips together.
After a moment of silence, he said solemnly:
"...Master Tōjō, since you ask so directly, this subordinate will speak plainly: Yes, this subordinate... isn't very willing to accept this case."
"Those whose property was stolen by that Cat Thief... are either notorious Yakuza, or unscrupulous wealthy merchants..."
"Simply because they all have powerful backing, we've always been forced to stand by watching these scumbags commit atrocities."
"Although regardless of the reason, stealing is stealing, a thief is a thief."
"But... upon learning there's such a great thief specifically targeting these scumbags we can't touch, this subordinate's mood feels quite satisfying."
"Facing such a tricky question, his response couldn't be called flawless, but it was difficult to find fault with it."
At this point, Nishino closed his mouth tightly as if unwilling to continue.
Since Nishino began explaining why he didn't want to take the "Cat Thief" case, Tōjō had remained silent.
Only after Nishino's words completely faded did Tōjō finally curl his lips—
"Nishino, I understand you quite well."
"I actually also quite like this Cat Thief who did what we've always been unable to do."
"But still—no matter how much we don't want to accept these tasks we dislike, what can we do?"
Tōjō's lips curled even wider.
After several forceful cold laughs, a chilling mockery mixed with amusement rose from his mouth.
"Who told us we're samurai who must follow this shit-like Bushido."
"Master Tōjō?" Seeing his superior suddenly make such statements, Nishino stared blankly.
Tōjō seemed immersed in his own world.
Completely ignoring Nishino's astonished gaze, he quietly continued:
"Although many random people use all sorts of flowery rhetoric to explain what Bushido is."
"Heh." Nishino sneered. "Let them bring it on."
Tōjō's head slowly drooped down.
Then, a low voice as if from the ninth abyss poured into Nishino's ears.
"Forget all concepts of right and wrong, good and evil, like a puppet without its own thoughts, wholeheartedly devote yourself to serving the master you follow."
"If your master says coal is white, you must also say coal is white."
"If your master tells you to bring back the heads of 1000 common people... then you must find a way to kill enough people... No matter how wronged, how resentful, even if you shed tears of blood, you must endure it strongly, cannot defy your master in any way..."
"Let's discuss serious business."
"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA—!"
Tōjō suddenly threw his head back, laughing unrestrainedly while slapping his round belly with the momentum of someone trying to tear the ceiling right off.
"Master Tōjō...?" Nishino was completely stunned in both sight and hearing.
He... was seeing his superior display this seemingly insane demeanor for the first time.
"Ah... looking at it this way... we samurai who must follow this shit-like 'code of ethics'... are just a bunch of human-shaped pieces of shit..."
Tōjō slowly reined in his laughter.
"Thinking about it this way... the common people of this country are truly pitiful, being ruled by a bunch of human-shaped pieces of shit... Heh heh heh heh heh..."
"Master Tōjō..." Nishino took a deep breath, gathering courage. "You... what's wrong?"
Seeing Tōjō like this for the first time, Nishino's heart... couldn't help but bubble with streams of confusion and threads of fear and unease.
He didn't even know what to say now.
Hesitating for a long time, he ultimately only managed to utter: "What's wrong?"
"Ah ah... nothing nothing." Tōjō's head drooped down again, waving his hand at Nishino. "It's just that what you said earlier made me... unable to help but have some reflections."
"Alright, apologies, I seemed to have brought up too many things unrelated to serious business just now. Let's return to the main topic."
Nishino saw a familiar smile appear on Tōjō's face.
"In summary—the superiors have decided you will take full responsibility for the 'Cat Thief' case."
"No matter how much you dislike it, you have no room for refusal or negotiation."
Tōjō paused.
"Nishino, sometimes your brain is quite slow."
"Hmm?" Nishino stared blankly.
"If you don't want that Cat Thief caught... then isn't it perfect having this case handed to you to handle?"
Hearing Tōjō's words, Nishino seemed to have clouds parting to see the sun, a moment of sudden clarity as light shimmered in his pupils.
"...Yes!" Nishino said clearly. "This subordinate understands! Please rest assured handing the 'Cat Thief' case to this subordinate! This subordinate will give it my all!"
Tōjō smiled and nodded, then waved his hand at Nishino.
"What else?" Tōjō scoffed. "It's because the person previously responsible for this case has produced no results for too long."
"Go find Master Usui to transfer the 'Cat Thief' case."
"To catch this great thief, the 'Three Squads' of our South and North Bansho have already replaced three chief investigators."
"Yes." Nishino turned to leave the room.
But just as he was about to slide the door open to exit... his footsteps halted.
Tōjō's seemingly insane demeanor from earlier... lingered persistently in Nishino's mind.
Nishino couldn't help but turn his head back, examining Tōjō with a complex gaze dominated by confusion and astonishment.
"What?" Tōjō gave a gentle smile to Nishino who was examining him. "Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"
"No..."
"If not then hurry out. If you keep standing there, how can I attend to official business?"
"Yes..." Nishino gritted his teeth, withdrew his gaze, hesitated no longer, and directly left Tōjō's office.
And just as Nishino had left... the smile Tōjō had shown Nishino vanished at a visibly rapid speed...
"Ah ah..."
"To have such a big reaction to what Nishino just said..."
"Under this unavoidable situation, the upper levels decided to change to having you, the 'Number One Case Solver of Kita Bansho,' take full responsibility for this case."
Tōjō's previously straight body bent over.
As if the bones had been pulled from his back, his entire body posture showed a spiritless, wilted appearance.
Tōjō raised his thick hands, palms covering his face, fingers gripping tightly into his messy hair.
Despite having a large belly, Tōjō's body was originally quite stout.
But at this moment, he appeared so small, so humble.
Like a helpless child.
Tōjō murmured with a trembling voice, in a tone resembling prayer:
"My lord..."
"How much longer... until I can wash the blood from my hands...?"