Please to Kitsune-sama!

Chapter 208 : Kitsune-sama, Goes to Sugamo (2)

The room Inari was shown into was a spacious one with a fine view of the garden. The tatami mats gave off a pleasant scent, and the cushions laid upon them, though simple in design, were of excellent quality.

“These are fine things thou usest.”

“Aye. Both the tatami and the cushions were purchased in Sugamo.”

“Oh? Then there must be good shops here.”

“More than that, I’d say we work to raise good shops. If we live in a mansion this large yet buy nothing local, it would not be right, would it?”

Inari thought that was indeed true. Local industry only thrived when locals bought from locals. Of course, it was not the sole absolute truth—things were always more complicated. Still, the important point was that Takemoto thought so, and acted upon it.

“Well then, drink some tea. I dare say the leaves are of fine quality.”

“Aye. Mm, this is quite…”

“It’s a variety that only began circulating recently. I’ve grown fond of it.”

After savoring the tea, Inari let out a satisfied sigh. Takemoto set down his cup, shifting the atmosphere.

“Now then. The reason I asked thee here today is that I have a matter to consult thee on.”

“So I was told. But what exactly dost thou wish me to do?”

“It concerns this clan. To be frank… even among the Nine Great Clans, the Takemoto Samurai Corps is something of an eccentric one.”

“Well, that I can believe. I even thought Sugamo itself had turned into Edo.”

“As I recall… Sugamo ‘was’ Edo long ago—”

“That is not what I meant.”

“Ha-ha-ha! Well, in any case, the Samurai Corps grew because it gathered Japanese-style jobs. But such local jobs tend to be… lopsided.”

For example, the Samurai. Their proper weapon was not the sword but the katana, and their skills largely aligned with that.

For example, the Shrine Maiden. They filled the role of healer, but with peculiar quirks.

For example, the Onmyoji. A magic dealer, but again, highly eccentric.

For example, the Ninja. A role that lay between Thief and Assassin.

There were others too—the Youjinbou who served as tanks, or Takemoto’s own Shogun job—but overall, they leaned heavily toward offense.

“I don’t say such imbalance is bad. But it does mean their stage of activity is limited. And then thou appeared, Kogami-dono… to our people, thou art somewhat of an idol.”

“Hm?”

Inari tilted her head. The conversation seemed to be veering oddly. She had never thought of herself as a role model or idol for the younger generation—so why had it turned out so?

“Another with a Japanese-style job, and with overwhelming success. Naturally, they thought: if she can, then surely we can do more too. So, many began experimenting—taking up bows, trying the naginata, and such. It’s been quite the positive influence.”

“Aye, aye. ’Tis well when the young test their own possibilities.”

“Even today, many are restless knowing you’ve come. If you could spare a word for them later, it would mean much.”

“Such a trifle is no burden. Fufu, so this was thy grand consultation? Thou hadst me bracing for something grave.”

“…Nay, the real consultation begins here.”

Takemoto’s tone dropped, changing the lighthearted air completely. His serious expression, as if all earlier levity had been an act, naturally drew Inari into the tension.

“It concerns the Echigo Trading Company. Since the recent incident, I’ve grown wary. I made inquiries.”

The Echigo Trading Company. Once the weakest of the Ten Great Clans, and now stripped even of that title—yet still a massive clan nonetheless. Though torn by internal strife over its master’s seat, rumors suggested there were outsiders fanning the flames from behind the scenes.

“Hast thou heard the name, Choujin Rengo (Superhuman League)?”

“Nay. ’Tis a most dubious name.”

The Superhuman League. In short, it claimed that awakeners were beings beyond humanity—superhumans—and that society ought to be run by them. A radical ideology.

The vast majority of awakeners had no desire for such near-treasonous upheaval. They only wished not to be oppressed, to live in harmony with society. But the League thought otherwise. Founded abroad, it had long been considered irrelevant to a small country like Japan.

“Yet I sense their shadow here. Using thug clans as cover, providing aid from the shadows… that is my suspicion.”

Thug clans. Groups of awakeners akin to lawless gangs. Among the notorious were Red Dragon, Black Blade, Awakener Mutual Aid Society, Sunlight, Seifuu… Incidentally, Black Blade had already been utterly crushed by Inari and disbanded.

“Sunlite… eh?”

“Not Sunline. Entirely different. The Saintess has been most vexed by them.”

The Ten Great Clan Sunline and the thug clan Sunlight were separate. In fact, Sunlight had chosen the name deliberately to cause confusion. Truly fitting behavior for such a group—dirty to the core.

“This time, it is Sunlight and Red Dragon involved. Whether their goal is weakening Echigo or outright taking it over, I do not know. What I want is proof—whether or not the Superhuman League is backing them.”

“Hm… And what dost thou wish of me, then?”

“Aye. Eru!”

At Takemoto’s call, a girl who had been waiting behind the sliding screen appeared. She looked timid, but… Inari felt her face was oddly familiar.

“Thou… could it be?”

“I am Kotoriya Eru. An honor to meet you.”

“This girl is the niece of Echigo’s former clan master. I had no wish to involve her in such matters, but…”

It could not be helped, if they were to resolve this affair—so Takemoto sighed. At this point, Inari already understood what she was about to be asked.

“As Eru’s backer, I would have thee involve thyself in Echigo’s internal strife. She need not actually inherit the clan… but I would have thee confirm whether any suspicious forces emerge.”