Illustrations:

Shou Yousen and Ryuuki
Ryuuki and Yuushun
Shuurei and a ‘corpse person’ and Ryuuki
Shuurei and Anju
Ou Ki and Ryuuki
Shuurei and Ryuuki
Shuurei

Shuurei lives, it seems, thanks to the priestesses. (Not sure how this happens given that Ruka was so certain last time)
Reishin doesn’t appear directly that much (?), but it seems he’s going to become a father?
For most of the book, Ryuuki is accompanied by Shuuei. Kouyuu and another character work together elsewhere to help Ryuuki.
Shouka also appears to help Ryuuki. Seiran and Ensei also do stuff.
Suou, Seiga, Kouki, and Eigetsu also appear.

This post will be updated as I find more spoilers.

This is probably Ryuuki, Yuushun, and Ou Ki.
Finally Yuushun and Ou Ki have gotten on the cover; it is bizarre that characters so important to the story haven’t been more prominently featured yet.

Rough translation of text:
Thanks to Shuurei’s great efforts, the locust plague is moving towards being cleared up. However Ryuuki is being increasingly pushed towards a decision. Using the darkness of night, relying on the aid of his allies, he leaves the capital alone. In Ryuuki’s last battle, upon which he stakes his throne, Shuurei…..?

The novel official comes out on 7/1. The price listed is 580 yen, but since it is known to be much thicker than the last volume, I think it’ll be more.

[So far, there are not too many spoilers. More will be added as I find them.]

General impressions people are having (these are by nature subjective):

The scene(s?) with Ruka and Uu Uu are very moving. [In what sense, I don't know]
Riou, Ensei, Shuuei, Seiran have large roles.
Basically, the flow of the book involves the characters (the ones who are in or go to Kou Province, except for Reishin, who doesn’t appear even though he was as of last book in Kou Province) dealing with the locust plague successfully. Shuurei meets Ensei again, and while her life is running out, she works to stop the plague.
Some things are cleared up (probably those involving the Hyou clan, Shuurei, and possibly Ou Ki.)

More concrete details:

Seiga doesn’t appear, apparently.
Ryuuki doesn’t appear or doesn’t appear very much. [I was surprised by this, but multiple sources, so I think we can say this is confirmed.]
Also, Kouyuu, Yuushun, Reishin, Seiga, Kouki, Shouka, etc., don’t appear very much either.
The afterword says the next volume will be 500 pages. [If this is true, then the price is going to be even more than this vol.]
There is at least one death.
Ruka doesn’t die. [Or maybe not? Contradictory information here.] No, she dies. Eiki unexpectedly was still alive, but now she dies.
Illustrations include: Shuurei, Riou, Ruka, Seiran, Anju, Ou Ki, Ensei, Uu Uu. [There may be more]
The name of Kurou’s wife is revealed.
Someone claims that Uu Uu, Ruka[Not sure what is going on here. Some people said she lived, others that she died.], Rikka (the priestess who betrayed the Hyou clan to a certain unamed person), Eiki [Eh? But I thought she was already dead? Unclear.], and another person [not sure who this is; might be Ryuu Shibi?].
Shuurei only has one day left to live, but she can decide when that last day will be. Until then, she sleeps in one of the coffins in the Hyou clan.
Karin appears.
Sakujun “appears” but in the sense that Anju is speaking through him. It seems that many of his recent actions were not out of his own will, but because Anju was manipulating him. [Nooooo idea what is up with Anju.]
Ou Ki’s real name is Sou Ki. He is the one who is truly first in line for the throne, but Ruka acknowledged Senka merely to stop him from killing off the rest of the Sou line.
The Black Immortal ‘betrayed’ the other Immortals somehow, for the sake of a human. What is meant by this is unclear.
As always, Yuushun and Anju’s true motivations remain… unclear. [To be honest, at this point, this is the thing I was most curious about.]
Karin creates the mirror and survives. That the person who created the mirror would always die is just a superstition.
However, Ouyou Jun, Karin’s husband, is stabbed and now is having his life extended by the Green Immortal.
Various magicians sacrifice themselves in order to restore some broken sacred objects. [If this could happen, then what was the point of Anju? breaking them?]
Anju has a ‘contract’ with someone. [Possibly the Black Immortal, but this is not made clear.]
Yuushun and Kouyuu’s conversation (see the end of the last volume) is not made clear, but Yuushun gives Kouyuu something.

Illustrations, in more detail:
Shuurei, Shuuei, and Shusui.
Ruka and Shuurei.
Ryuu Shibi (Kou Province governor) and Ensei
Seiran and Ou Ki (Seiran is apparently pointing a sword at Ou Ki)
Shuurei, Ensei, and some masked person
Shuurei, Riou, and another person
Rikka, Ruka, and Anju [Anju, eh? Looks like we might be getting some answers about him, then.]
Uu Uu, and Ruka (borrowing Shuurei’s body)

On the cover are Shuurei, Ruka, Riou (Jr), and some other person (either Sakujun or Anju would be my guess).

The final volume is known as 紫闇（しあん）の玉座 (Shian no Gyokuza; roughly, the Throne of Purple Darkness… hmm. Violet Darkness sounds better). It’s split into two parts. The first part comes out 6/1, and the second part 7/1. The price for the first volume is 580 yen.

The summary from the website is, roughly: As the king’s official, Shuurei rushes about, risking her life to deal with the locust plague. On the other hand, the king, Ryuuki, having entrusted all authority dealing with it to the Chancellor Ou Ki, remains silent. Ou Ki flies by horseback to Kou Province, which is about to be attacked by the locusts. What shall be the fate of Shuurei, and what of Ryuuki?

Anyway, in The Beans #15, there were the results of a character popularity poll (there were also some mini-novels). I don’t have The Beans #15, so I don’t know what happened in them, but there seems to be one about the Kou clan, one about the Nightmare exam group, one about the Censorate, and one about the Ran clan. Actually, the Ran clan one contains some pretty shocking information. Which I shall talk about in the ‘more’ section.

1. Shuurei
2. Ensei
3. Ryuuki
4. Seiran
5. Seiga
6. Reishin
7. Kouyuu
8. Kouki
9. Ryuuren
10. Suou
11. Yuushun
12. Shouka
13. Shuuei
14. Houju
15. Riou

This poll is surprising in that I didn’t think that Ensei would beat Ryuuki. I’m confused as to why Seiran and Seiga are so high up there.

On the other hand, I agree with the relatively high rankings of Kouki, Suou, and Yuushun. XD

Anyway, as for what the last story reveals, the other dragon is um… one of the other triplets besides Setsuna, 月. I’m not sure whether it’s read Getsu or some other reading. He has some kind of power having to do with his eyes? Not sure what they mean there. In any case, perhaps he is the real clan head. (Now I wonder about the last triplet.)

…..Finally, Jin’s ‘Bakuya’ rang out.
Along with a gentle wind, two people appeared. One of them was Ran Shuuei. The other one was—–
Shusui smiled, and looked at Shuurei, who was playing the erhu. A familiar sound. Madame’s sound.
When she saw Shuurei’s face, she felt everything had blown away. Warm feelings welled up within her.
“……….It’s been a long time, Shuurei-sama.”
Shuurei let go the erhu, and ran towards her. Her face crumpled up.
“Shusui!!”
Shusui burst out grinning at Shuurei, who had flown at her while crying.

****

The head of the Hyou clan returned to his room without incident when Shuurei had tossed aside the erhu.
While Shusui was treating her wounds, bathing, and eating, Shuurei suddenly noticed some changes, and opened the latticed shutters. Then her eyes widened. The snow which had been falling so much was now at the level of a light snowfall.
“The snow….. has mostly stopped. Also, the warmth has also returned a bit. This—”
“I’ve heard that things stabilize when there are many magicians and priestesses in the main clan…..”
It was too drastic. Riou looked at Shusui. Could it be? Shusui nodded, as if putting her chin down.
“……it seems that it’s half already like that because I’ve left the Prison of Time.”
“Then, as we thought, the ‘Prison of Time’—”
“……Yes. Originally, it looks like it was a place used for that purpose. However, because it’s been used in a strange way for some hundreds of years, it’s become fairly twisted…”
She thought of Ruka, who had come only once to the Prison of Time.
It had been as if those cold eyes were asking her how much resolve she had.
She now understood the meaning of that.
Seeing that Shusui had calmed, Shuurei gave a summary of what had happened. As well as the locust plague, and how maybe there was a way to exterminate them in the temples on the other side of the sealed ‘passages.’ After Shusui had finished listening to this, she nodded.
“Then first of all, we’ll confirm with the temples whether there is an extermination method or not. Shuurei-sama, I will open some ‘passages.’ Opening all of them is impossibly….. but probably, with a few, we can do something.”
“…..Can you do it?”
Riou asked this, surprised. In normal times, many magicians and priestesses used the ‘passages.’ However, since that was like opening an unlocked door, they didn’t need much power to do it. However, now Ruka had locked them strongly. With a strength such that even Uu Uu had his hands full opening one.
“Yes. Probably…. Now I can do it, I think. However, since only the High Priestess can open all of the ‘passages,’ next I must see Ruka-sama.”
Shuurei reacted with surprised. Then, she righted her posture, and turned once again to Shusui.
“Shusui—-regarding that, I have a request.”
“I know. Ruka-sama’s location is—”
“No, I don’t want you only to see Ruka-hime’s location with your ‘clairvoyance.’ If you can, I wish for you to immediately take the place of Ruka-hime on the throne of the High Priestess. Though this might be convenient circumstances for us, if the High Priestess is replaced, we can talk directly to you, not to Ruka0hime. About the locusts, and the ‘passages’ as well.— We can get by without having the final decision making authority controlled by Ruka-hime’s judgments.”
In the Hyou clan, whatever they tried to do was in the end, blocked by ‘Hyou Ruka.’ Probably, Ruka would not easily accept Shuurei and Riou’s words. —Then, it would be better for them to change High Priestesses. From the time she had heard that Ruka’s power was waning, Shuurei had thought about this. If it was Shusui…
“But, that’s not why I had General Ran go. Supernatural powers, the High Priestess, all of that is second place. I’m not bargaining. Even if you refuse, I won’t mind. But, I’d like you to think about it.”
“….Shuurei-sama….I also returned intending to see Ruka-sama one more time.”
Shusui answered this, with eyes full of determination, while looking down on her arms, which had become somewhat thin.
Shuurei realized that even she hadn’t said anything, Shusui had already had that determination.
It was heavy, but if she endured it, she could change something, in that place.
…..However, something was bothering her. Perhaps it was because Shusui had not clearly said yes or no. When that happened, most of the time, it was because Shusui was hiding something from Shuurei.—
“…Shusui, Riou-kun.when does the High Priestess change? Is there retirement?”
Riou averted his eyes with a startled face. Shusui conveyed her the facts.
“There are not two High Priestesses at once. The change…… happens only when the High Priestess dies.”
When she realized this, Shuurei grabbed Shusui’s arms. Shusui’s face, which was hiding something from Shuurei, and seemed decided.
“Shusui, I said that thinking that it would be easier to change High Priestesses than change Ruka-hime, wit hthe excuse that we don’t have any time, but if you would be burdened by something because of that, I don’t wish for that to happen. Then, I’ll choose stubbornly persuading Ruka-hime and changing her, no matter what.”
Riou lowered his eyes, sensing that she had seen that he had been wondering earlier whether killing his aunt would be the fastest way. Even now, that idea was still somewhat there in a corner, and that was why he kept silent. However, so that was Shuurei’s response to that, even though she had been with Riou.
Shusui’s face was happy, and like she had lost. Shuurei truly wouldn’t allow the easy way out. However.
“…Shuurei-sama, I cannot answer you. This time alone, allow me to do as I wish.”
Shuurei and Shusui looked at each other. Suddenly, they realized, Shiba Jin had abruptly disappeared.
Shusui had not yet used her ‘clairvoyance,’ so she had not ‘seen’ where Ruka was either. But—-
“…..Riou-kun, it can’t be that no one in the Hyou clan knows where Ruka-hime is. People very close to her know. It can’t be that she does everything herself, so there are definitely some people waiting on her.”
“Eh? Yes. But, I don’t know where they are….”
Jin was extremely well-versed in the matters of the Hyou clan. They did not know whether Hien-hime had sent detailed writings regarding the Hyou clan, in addition to about the locusts. However, there was a possibility that Jin already—-No, possibly from the beginning, had known where Ruka was. He had only been biding his time up till now.
Shuurei bit her lips. If her suspicions were correct.
“–Shusui, I have one more request. After you open the ‘passages’ to the temples which possibly have information about extermination, there’s a place where I’d like you to go to with General Ran. Riou-kun and I will handle things here.”

After Shuurei and Riou had seen Shusui and Shuuei off, they stood before the magic circle traced in geometric patterns of light which was beginning to open, in the room known as the ‘passage room.’
This was the duty of the Director of the Department of the Cave of the Immortals, and that of the a Censorate Inspector.
Riou touched one of the circles of the ‘passages’ and spoke softly.
“This is Hyou Riou, the Director. I have some questions for the head of the Great Temple concerning the locust plague.”
Even among the shrines and temples associated with the Hyou clan, this Great Temple put a fair amount of effort into measures against the locusts. They also frequently came to the research center and conducted research there. —He and Shuurei had thoroughly compared the handwriting in that pamphlet with the index, and the result was……. as expected it was the Grand Temple.
After awhile, he heard a voice from the ‘passage.’ The calm, hoarse voice of an elderly man.
“….Well, well, have I heard something at last from the ‘passage?’ What in the world has happened at the main house…? Or so I’d like to ask,—— But first I’ll answer your question. What is it?”
“It is about the extermination of the locusts. I would like to ask whether it is possible to artificially drive locusts which have already broken out in large numbers, and have begun to fly in groups into a state of destruction. —-For example, through a contagious disease, like on Kage Island.”
A silence feel, as if the man had been surprised. It was as if he had not expected them to know this.
The answer was concise.
“—There is.”
‘However,’ he continued.
“Currently, we cannot act. —As long as there are no orders from Ruka-sama.”

****

When Ou Ki had finally finished looking over all of the documents, he put is brush aside. When he looked outside, it was already the middle of the night. Ouyou Gyoku had already set out for Heki Province before Ou Ki, leading the elite of the Plume Forest Army. Now that he had cleared up all of his work, Ou Ki could also set out tomorrow morning.
(…..Now then, what shall I do?….)
Ou Ki looked in the direction of the Department of the Cave of the Immortals. Before, Uu Uu-dono had requested that if he had time, to play the guqin. [See notes for more info] When the opportunity had come, he had played it in his mansion several times, but recently it had been not at all the occasion for that. However, he hadn’t been diverting himself from his work; in a corner of his mind, something was bothering him. Uu Uu-dono was not a person who said things on a whim, and most importantly….. Since then he had not seen Uu Uu-dono.
The atmosphere was strange. He couldn’t say how, but it wasn’t a very good feeling.
At times like this, he felt an urge to play the guqin, even if he had not been asked to. Ou Ki went out into the garden in the middle of the night, and made the preparations himself. However, having said that, there were only three things. A small table for the guqin, a chair, and after that, the guqin. Unlike the zheng [note: another Chinese zither; also known as the guzhen], it was better for the guqin to be of a size that could be easily carried.
He did not add a candlestick. The lanterns in the garden were lit, and there was also the light of the moon and the stars. With Ou Ki’s skill, it wasn’t necessary for him to see his hands. The preparations were at and end with that. After he carefully tuned the guqin, he first began to play a short piece to practice. Then, when he had finished the second piece, he suddenly stopped his fingers.
“I cannot approve of you walking out in the small hours of the night alone like this, your highness.”

Definitely, he was hesitating about what to do.
When he had come out from the balcony, he had thought to call out, but had failed to. After that, he had ended up drawing back, and then he was even more at a loss for what to do next. However, before he could think about it, Ou Ki had come out into the garden. After he begun to steadily prepare for something, he took out the qin. He had not known that Ou Ki played the qin—not only that, the rare guqin. While he was still hesitating, the sound of the qin began to flow.
Serene, though not variegated, the sound was entirely clear and pure.
Why did Ryuuki find this sound familiar? He sensed that in the distant past, he had heard it somewhere.
Ryuuki realized that when the second piece was halfway through, his feet had led him to the sound of the qin. At being flatly told of Ou Ki’s disapproval, Ryuuki ducked his head. Even so, he hung on.
“Could….we listen a bit?”
One of Ou Ki’s brows leaped, though it might have been closer to an expression of shock.
After awhile, Ou Ki told him it was fine.
“If it pleases you. The chair is necessary to my playing, so I cannot offer it to you, though.”
“……..aren’t you angry? …… And are you free now?”
“It was I who said that I would not mind if anyone came to see me anytime, as long as they had some business. Even your highness. If you have some business, then you may stay. If not, you should return.”
After a beat of silence, Ryuuki nodded and approached Ou Ki. Since there was no chair, he sat down directly on the earth nearby. At this time, Ou Ki did not get angry about etiquette.
Once again, the sounds of the tuning of the qin began to waver, high and low.
A mysterious sound, which his ears were accustomed to. Ryuuki closed his eyes, as if her were being tempted by the sound.
A strange feeling took hold of him. Familiar. Within his heart, there was a ripple.
Long ago, he had heard this sound. Someone had let Ryuuki hear it.
(…..That can’t be)
The only one who had been at Ryuuki’s side was his brother Seien. There had been no one else.
…..That should have been correct. Even so, that sound had quietly soothed Ryuuki’s heart.
While he was still half-dreaming, the piece ended. The echoes of the sound spread, but the next piece didn’t begin.
When he looked, he saw that he was conscientiously tuning it.
“…..You tune it every piece?”
“Yes. Because the sound goes more or less out of tune.”
Ryuuki’s inborn curiosity was piqued, and he got up and went around the qin table.
“Is that the guqin used in ancient music? Maybe it’s because there are hardly any players, but this is the first time we’ve seen one up close. It’s rather different from the zheng. It doesn’t have any bridges. Does it also have seven strings?”
For some reason, Ou Ki was silent. Ryuuki clapped his hand over his mouth.
“……Was that unkingly?!”
“It’s not that, it’s because you said exactly the same thing you did long ago.”
Ryuuki was surprised by this unexpected answer. Long ago?
“Ehhh? We’ve heard your guqin playing before?”
Ou Ki’s hand, which had been tuning the guqin, stopped. Then, he did not answer the question.
“…..Would you like to try playing it?”
“Is it alright?”
“I’ll teach you. Beginning with tuning.”
Ryuuki flinched. —Beginning from the tuning?!
(He’s not only going to make me pluck the strings properly, but starting from the tuning?!)
However, shot through by Ou Ki’s piercing gaze, like a hawk whose prey was running away, he gave up easily.
“………Thank you.”
Ou Ki made him sit in the chair he had been sitting in.
“Actually, I will start from how to put the strings on— No, I’d like to show you beginning from how to make the guqin.”
“…..Wha? How to make it?”
“Yes. If there were time, I would then like to go and find a good paulownia tree. The qin is something one must carve oneself. I, too, make this qin. That is the true way of playing the qin. Up until a little in the past, it was normal for qin players to construct their qins according to their preferences. Using a qin made by someone else was heresy.”
He had begun with a lecture of the history of qin playing, not tuning. What was that all about?
However, he could not imagine at all Ou Ki himself going into the wilds to find a paulownia tree, then finely carving it and making a qin. However, certainly the small palownia qin sitting prominently before his eyes had been carefully maintained. It was a beautiful, well used qin.
“First, correct the sound of the seventh position on the fifth string [note: there's something I was unable to find the translation of here. Help appreciated], and next, the tuning of the seventh string–”
He listened carefully, and in the order that Ou Ki said, tuned the pitch, from the first string to the seventh.
“That is the tuning for playing traditional qin pieces. Now, for playing, there are thirteen marks lined up here. Those are the markers known as ‘ki.’ From the first ki to the thirteenth ki. When you press on the strings with your left hand, they will become a reference. The guqin is played with the left hand pressing on the strings, and the right hand plucking them.”
Since the qin had no bridges like the zheng did, in place of that, on it were thirteen dotlike marks.
“The resting position is between the fourth and fifth ki. Normally, you only look at your left hand. The right hand plucks the strings by sense.”
“Sense?!”
“You don’t pluck the strings while seeing with your eyes, you know the position by touch. That’s why you don’t look at the plucking right hand. Only look at the pressing left hand. Since there is no score, please also remember the music by ear and sense.”
Intuition again. He sensed that long ago, Sou Taifu had also said something like that to him. ‘Don’t watch your opponent’s movements with your eyes. Remember it somehow with your body and sense.’….. He now felt that Ou Ki also actually had a haphazard personality.
Since Ryuuki was quick on the uptake, and his sense of sound wasn’t bad either, when he had gotten used to using fingers he usually didn’t use, he was quick to get the knack of it. Although he was awkward, when he had slowly finished playing an easy piece, Ou Ki clapped.
Ryuuki was happy that he had been clapped for even though he knew it was bad.
“….Ou Ki-dono.”
Ryuuki’s hands closed tightly into fists. Within his mind, thoughts which he had not felt up till now suddenly came welling up.
Before he realized it, Ryuuki had let spill the words.
“……are we no good for this, Ou Ki-dono? No matter what?”
In the midst of the moonlight and the faint light of the lanterns, Ou Ki looked at Ryuuki. It was a quiet gaze. Then, he did nothing more or less than this.
Ryuuki realized that with such words, Ou Ki’s heart would not be moved even a tiny bit.
After a long, long silence, Ou Ki closed his eyes.
“…..Is there anything that you hate? Your highness.”
“……Something we hate…..?”
“I’ll say it in another way. I believe that you must have been sitting on the throne for the sake of what you like.”
While standing right in front of Ryuuki with the qin table between them, Ou Ki once again tuned the qin.
“….I am not especially saying this sarcastically. To rise to the throne for the sake of someone or something is not all a bad thing. Indeed……it is far better than becoming king for one’s own sake.”
He tuned the strings, and a beautiful sound rang out. For some reason, Ryuuki suddenly wondered whether the person those last words had been about had been his late father—King Senka.
Ou Ki, still standing like that, slowly began to play the qin.
“Probably, for the sake of the people important to you, not only Kou Shuurei, but Kou Shouka, who has watched over you, Ran Shuuei, Li Kouyuu, Officer Shi…. I think at your core are probably the feelings of wishing to exist for the sake of protecting those important to you, who you don’t want to lose, and for the sake of the wishes of the people you like.”
It was as he said. And, Ryuuki did not think that that he was wrong to do so.
However, now he definitely was mistaken about something. Since the more he advanced, the more mistaken he would be, and he would be criticized by someone for something, he had entirely stopped his own movement. That was why, even if Ryuuki did not think he was mistaken, he could not speak. Ryuuki’s chin slightly shook.
Ou Ki pretended not to see this, and continued to pluck at the qin. It was a gentle sound, with the calm of a forest night.
“……However, your highness, I am different.”
The night breeze murmured through the trees, and the flames of the far lanterns wavered.
“I have come this far for the sake of that which I hate.”
“…..The things you hate?”
Ou Ki plucked the qin hard, making it give out a large twang.
“—–I hated your father.”
That sound descended at those final words, which could not fail to be noticed, as if to erase them. However, they were carried unmistakably to the ears of Ryuuki, who was skilled in the martial arts, and Ou Ki also knew this. Yes, he had done this so they would reach Ryuuki’s ears alone.
Ryuuki’s eyes widened. He realized, that now and in the past, there had been no one who had said they hated his father.
The previous king, Senka. Called the bloody hegemon, a hero praised as the second coming of King Sou Gen. The father his elder brother Seien had also revered.
Ou Ki’s fingers plucked the strings. Those sounds, one after the other, rode away on the night wind and were carried off somewhere.
“I hated him. Without turning a glance to the weak, he massacred each and every person in his way, and made all kneel before his absolute power. I could not acknowledge that person…… I did not want to acknowledge him. I have come this far, not, like you, to protect the people I love, but to do battle with what I hate, and to change it.”
He had heard something from General Sou. That one of the generals who had fought against his father up till the end, had been Ou Ki. It was as he had said.
“There is a mountain of things that I hate. War and famine and disease…..wherever I would go, there would be piles of corpses, and as that was ‘normal,’ I hated that kind of ‘normal.’ I wanted to change it. On my estates, I hired many people, even if it was not much, and had them create crops that were strong against bad harvests, and ran around helping the impoverished. The national exam system was not yet in place as well, so many nobles and officials were uneducated. They would every day only write strange, meaningless poems, and indulge in decadent banquets…… Perhaps they knew. That soon something terrible would come. The day of their destruction was coming. Even though they knew this, they continued to turn their eyes from all that was real and destroyed themselves.”
Like fruit before it fell rotting. The bizarrely sweet smell of decay, though it was about to fall already.
“….At that time, I was younger than you, powerless…. Even so, I was pained by how nothing would happen unless the nobles and officials above changed. It is because of that that I guide the youth of the provincial nobility, and send them into the official world….. However, at that time, I was powerless, so I could changed nothing. Finally, Prince Senka stood up. He expected nothing from the nobles or the officials. He decided to massacre the vassals of his clan. He did not change his father, but chose to mercilessly make a clean sweep of him….. Even after he ascended to the throne, he did not change his way of doing things. You, too, know that well.”
Ryuuki averted his eyes. That was correct. Out of his five elder brothers, leaving out Seien, who had been exiled, Ryuuki now had no blood relatives. Some had been assassinated during the struggle between the princes, and finally, in the end they had all been executed on his father’s orders. The remaining princes, the consorts, the clan members as well. The nobles and officials who participated as well. Not a single one was left.
At that time, although Ryuuki had known about that, he had not really felt anything. From the beginning, he had not liked his elder brothers or the consorts, so he did not think of going to plead for them either. Even when he heard that they had been executed, he could only think those events like things happening in a far off world, unrelated to himself. He had not thought, either, that his father’s way of doing things was mistaken. Probably that was all he had done. He had not even felt pity.
Suddenly, Ryuuki felt chilled by the thought of his past self. For the first time, he could see that his teenage self, which had felt nothing at all, despite the fact that his father had executed his elder brothers and step-mothers one after the other, was unusual.
“…….you’re saying, that…..father….was mistaken?”
He knew that even if he asked such a thing at such a late date, there was no meaning to it. It was a meaningless conversation.
The fingers, which had been plucking Ou Ki’s qin, stopped. The fragments of the piece disappeared into the shadows of the night.
“…..What I could not do, was accomplished by that person and Prime Minister Shou. A tremendous amount of blood flowed, many people died. Everyone said ‘there’s no other way.’ That there wasn’t any other way to end the war. However, it’s strange, but King Senka and Prime Minister Shou themselves where the only ones who did not say those words, even once…… If they had said them, even once, I would have been able to say they were wrong fairly and squarely.”
He would have been able to denounce him, saying that there were different methods, no matter how much whitewashing there was.
However, up till the very end, he had made no excuses. Don’t expect things of me. [note: sort of quoting Senka here.] He always laughed sarcastically, lived as he liked, and then died. After, you do as you like. Such were the words he left behind.
He was not a commendable man who thought himself mistaken. However, he didn’t really think he was correct either. He had only chosen that way of doing things out of many. And then, what about the result of that?
“….I acknowledge this. He employed many talented personnel, not taking their rank into consideration, started the national exam system, opened wide the gates, fostered people…… the country became much more prosperous than it was before. Most importantly—-he put an end to the long, muddy war. I cannot say that how those two, who did what I could not, did things….was mistaken. Not yet.”
He couldn’t say they were wrong. But, he could not acknowledge them. There were other methods. Perhaps, that was why he had flown here up till now, to stake his life on proving that. That was what Ou Ki thought from time to time.
“…..I have come this far because of the things I hated. I have not thought at all that it was for the things I ‘like,’ unlike you. I have also not even once thought of trying to make the people’s, or someone else’s wishes come true, or that that is the role of the government. That would simply be gratification of my ego.”
“….Eh?”
“…….Your highness, please think of this as the last and only time I will speak of these things to you. —-At the very leat, I have come here thinking that government means not fulfilling the ‘wishes’ of the ministers and people one after the other, but rather decreasing ‘the things the people hate.’ Preparing measures against starvation, drought, flooding, epidemics, and other natural disasters; getting rid of prejudice, discrimination, corruption, and baseless superstitions…..Since there is a mountain of ‘hateful things’ which must be lessened, I am not at all at a loss as for what I should do. Whether it be correct or mistaken, governing must be carried out. If one doesn’t concern oneself about the judgments of others, then there will be no fretting over whether one is hated or loved by the ministers and people for one’s deeds.”
Ryuuki’s bangs faintly shook.
The first thing Ou Ki had asked was whether he had anything he hated.
That was what he meant.
“I do not do this work because I ‘like’ governance. That is true of Ki Kouki and Son Ryouou as well….. And probably, Official Kou as well.”
Ryuuki started. Ou Ki had said Official Kou. He sensed it had been the first time he had heard Shuurei called that.
“She also probably did not set out to become an official out of a vague ‘liking’ for being one. Since liking is a feeling which changes easily, she would not have made it this far on that. That is true of all work. Being able to continue, even when it’s painful, can only happen if there is a reason beyond that. Even for the sake of being able to eat, or to support a family suffices. There being a sight which one doesn’t wish to see twice, or feelings which one doesn’t wish to have again. A world one wants to see….. Such things as that.”
Shuurei had said to Ryuuki, the first time they had met. That she didn’t want to feel that way again twice.
“There are lots of things that can be done somehow, with the power of humans.”
That’s why I wanted to become an official, she said.
That ‘wish’ which Ryuuki himself had given to her, as easily as throwing feed, then all to easily taken away.
His words were strong, but in contrast, mysteriously they did not seem to be said in a severe way. They were only quiet. Ou Ki plucked the qin with his nails. For some reason, what he had chosen was a gentle melody, like a soothing children’s lullaby. Though, he felt that somewhere, sometime he had heard it. He couldn’t recall.
“…..I do not think that you have been blessed by fortune, your highness, and I cannot say that it is a mistake to sit upon the throne for the sake of the people you love. That is also one way of doing things…. At the very least, unlike me, you will avoid committing the folly of finding that you are losing the ones you love, one by one, while locked in mortal combat against what you hate.”
When he raised his head, as if to listen again, surprised by those last words, he ran into Ou Ki’s deep gaze.
“…..However, I do not regret it. Though I am plagued by doubts, even so, it is the path I have decided to walk. I do not think I am wrong. That is exactly why, your highness, I cannot believe.”
Ou Ki’s eyes looked straight at Ryuuki.
“I, who have come this this far for the sake of what I hate, cannot believe in you, who is on the the throne for the sake of what you love, or your way of doing things. You put off dealing with what you do not like, neglect it. As you have done always with us at the Chancellery. …..Your highness, during the time when you ignored us, we were there. I was at your side, as one of your ministers, to serve you. …. Always.”
Although he existed, although he spoke, he was treated as if he were not there. Hal of the world.
How dangerous was that?
“When the ones who you love change, then you also change, and if you lose them, you fall into a deep despair. Though tomorrow, and and the day after that, the world will continue on, at those times, you cannot be the same self you were yesterday. Like that time with Prince Seien. You do not have the strength, unlike your father, to attend court calmly, with the same face he wore the day before. Because of your gentleness.”
Ryuuki could not say a single word in reply.
His reason for saying he didn’t want to be king and shutting himself up in the Inner Palace had really been because of his brother. Come to think of it, it was as if he hadn’t changed at all from that time. The allowing of women to be officials, and him avoiding marriage as well, had been for the sake of the girl he loved. When he had gone to Ran Province, also, his reason had been ‘to bring Shuuei back.’
Ou Ki had always criticized all of that, and opposed it. However, Ryuuki had not listened to him on a single one of those things.
Yes, Ryuuki was bad at dealing with Ou Ki. Perhaps it was because he had known that his strictness had nothing at all of love in it really. He conveyed to Ryuuki that it was simply only one of his duties, and he did not think it pleasant to see Ryuuki. So Ryuuki also came to wish to avoid Ou Ki, and ended up not properly listening to what he said.
“You are the king. You reign over this vast country, you carry the weight of the people upon your shoulders. Even one of your mistakes may invite disaster….. At that time, it will be too late for regrets.” [note: this is a quote from the past. Who was this anyhow? Shuurei?]
However, Ou Ki was different. Even if he did not like Ryuuki, he always, leaving out personal feelings, faced him head-on, and at necessary times gave him necessary advice. He carried out his own ‘work’ sincerely. It was Ryuuki who chose people based on his likes and dislikes, and had ruined it all. Now, all of that had simply rebounded on him.
“I do not think that you, or your way of thinking is evil. It is only because I am completely incompatible with them. If you live for the sake of those you love, then the world will always be comfortable. It is only natural, also, that you do not want to think about what you hate as much as possible. However, this court, and the king cannot be like that. Those are my principles, my way of living. In the future, also, I do not intend to deviate from that….. That is my answer, to your question of whether it is hopeless with you.”
Ryuuki’s face twisted.
It is no good with you. There could be no expression of thought clearer than that.
“Your highness, there is a world that I wish to see. There are things I must do, while the relics of King Senka and Shou Taishi’s age still remain. There is something left, which can only be done now….. However, for you, it is completely impossible. Though you are now making a face as though this is the worst time in your life, of what I have known, this is now the most decent, good age. Even so, it is too heavy for you. It can’t be helped. The throne is a cold, merciless, solitary place. Despite this, you are the one most unable to withstand such solitude. You still have not yet found a reason that would allow you to tolerate it…… Am I wrong?”
“………”
“If it is painful, now it will be alright if you run away.”
Ou Ki said this quietly. Those words which up till now, had not been said even once.
Ryuuki’s eyes opened wide. With a hoarse voice, he blankly repeated.
“…..alright, to run, away….?
“Yes. From here on—-especially when I am absent from court, the time to come shall be the most difficult you have ever faced up till now, and everything shall come down heavily on you. Honestly, I do not think you will be able to bear it, so I will not tell you any longer to endure. If you feel that it is hopeless, that there is nothing to be done, you should run off far away, like that time you went to Ran Province….. Only, that will be the last time. Unlike that time, please know that the day you return to the throne again will not come.”
At this moment, Ryuuki’s chest was filled with violent emotions, which he could not express.
That hot mass welling up within him resembled anger, however, it was also mixed with anguish, sadness, wretchedness, as if they were all swirling within his body like a whirlpool. It hurt even more than whatever criticisms, denunciations, or harsh words which he had been met with before. He had not thought that such feelings, strong enough to darken his vision, would come bursting up within him when he was told he could run away, that he didn’t need to try hard anymore. Truly, Ou Ki had realized that he was done for. No matter what he said, it would be useless, he would not go back. He had said that he would not expect anything from Ryuuki ever again.
At that second, he understood, in the depths of his heart, that there not even a million-to-one chance of holding back Ou Ki.
He realized that he was crying. One after another, hot tears spilled, as if being squeezed out, and he could not stop them. Even if he tried to suppress it, he gradually began to sob, as though he were a child.
Suddenly, he realized something. Could Shuurei, also, have had such thoughts? That night, when Ryuuki had asked her to stop being an official—which was the same as telling her ‘you don’t need to be an official, with what thoughts had she said ‘alright’? With what feelings had she smiled at Ryuuki?
After a stunned silence, before his eyes a white handkerchief had been proffered.
When he took the handkerchief, it wasn’t made of silk or anything like that, but out of white cotton, the sort which could be bought anywhere. Ryuuki realized that although Ou Ki was dressed properly and neatly, the material of his official robes, the jewelry on his ears and fingers, was not of a high price. It was only at this late date that he had come to pay attention to Ou Ki. Yes, because he had only looked at the people he liked.
Always, Ryuuki had been too late. For everything, when he realized it.
“………A person such as yourself…..is weeping before me. I am even more impressed.”
“So,sorry….. we didn’t intend to cry like this.”
Ryuuki swallowed his next words. Even if he was so lost that he didn’t know what mistakes he was making, he knew this alone. Saying that he would listen to him from now on would not change Ou Ki’s heart a bit. That would only mean that the person he listened to would have changed from Shuurei, to Kouyuu, to Yuushun, and then to Ou Ki. That attitude itself had probably been the biggest reason that he had turned his back on Ryuuki. Then, Ryuuki now had no words other than that. Ou Ki probably knew that as well. That was exactly why he had quietly told him ‘it’s no good with you anymore.’ As the simple truth. That time had run out.
He sensed that Ou Ki was taking care of the qin which Ryuuki’s tears had splattered. He sighed.
“…..You truly haven’t changed. Excuse me for saying this, but even now I find it mysterious how from those two parents, a prince like you could have been born.”
While he was wiping his face with the handkerchief, there came the beautiful sound of the quin. Though it was a tune he did not know at all, for some reason he felt as though he had heard it sometime, somewhere. In the distant past. When his brother had suddenly disappeared from the palace, and he had not yet met Shouka. A blank space of a year, when he had roamed the Inner Palace alone.
There had been a time when he had slept alone, hearing from somewhere, a lullaby played on the qin.
(That was…)
Could that qin playing have been….?
When Ryuuki’s sobs stopped, the piece stopped as well. It was not a proper composition, but piece akin to an improvisation, made so that it could be stopped at any point.
“…….Please return soon, your highness. The night has already begun to lighten. In some time, when it becomes light, I will set off for Kou Province. Since time is short, I will go without any formalities….. This will probably be the last time. Farewell, your highness. The next time we meet—-”
Ou Ki cut off his words there, and did not continue to speak. However, Ryuuki also had a premonition. The next time they met, everything would have probably changed entirely, for both of them. For both Ryuuki and Ou Ki, something that which had continued in form alone would come to an end. Perhaps this was the last time that they would meet and talk like this.
He wanted to sit in that chair for eternity. However, Ryuuki got up from it heavily.
The night had very vaguely become thinner. The eastern sky was lightening from darkness into indigo. When he saw that, his final words spilled from his lips.
“…..Ou Ki-dono, we entrust Kou Province to you. Please save them….”
Finally, he looked one more time at Ou Ki’s face. Straight on. He now realized that the times he had looked at Ou Ki full in the face had been so few they could be countered.
A peculiar silence fell. No, Ou Ki was looking at Ryuuki with a peculiar gaze. Perhaps the king had visited Ou Ki’s manor not for the conversation they had had up till now, but truly only for those two sentences. Kou Shouka had said that if he mended his flaws, that he would be a better king than Ou Ki. Ou Ki closed his eyes, and put his two hands together and bowed his head. A bow to the king.
“—-As you will, your highness.”
Ryuuki nodded, and with his face still blank, he turned around and left.
After watching the king leave until he could no longer see his form, Ou Ki breathed in deeply. The cold, clear, sweet air of the time before daybreak filled his lungs.
The unpleasant, stagnant atmosphere he had felt at the beginning had disappeared off somewhere.

Notes:
Kagura (神楽): Usually in Japanese the word denotes an ancient style of theater performed in shrines where accompanied by music, dancers re-enact scenes from Japanese mythology, such as the tale of the defeat of Yamato-no-Orochi. Here I’m guessing the author meant ‘divine music’ or something of the sort, but I switched to instrument. (In general there is a confusing synecdoche between instruments, music, a person’s personal style of playing a specific instrument which I might have made hash of in that passage).

The guqin is a Chinese classical instrument, sort of like a zither. See here for more information. The gu in guqin means ‘old,’ and the qin part refers to the instrument. In Japanese, the author refers to it as 琴の琴 (which seems to be a Japanese word for it). 琴 itself in Japanese refers normally to the Japanese instrument known as the koto. In any case, because the text above makes a distinction between Ou Ki’s instrument and the normal 琴, I translate instances of 琴の琴 as guqin and 琴 as qin, when it makes sense to do so.

The guzheng (or zheng) is yet another Chinese instrument. It’s much larger than a qin. As Ryuuki notes, it has bridges.

Just what is 沃音? I am unable to figure this out. Is it a misprint of 泛? Therefore, I leave it as ‘sound.’

Commentary:

Okay, I guess I can stop complaining now about Ou Ki being an underdeveloped character or us having no idea what motivates him. XD More seriously, though, this has my vote for favorite scene in the book. Also, this chapter cured me of any wish I might have to play the guqin. An instrument you have to tune after playing a single song?! And for goodness sakes, Ou Ki sure is thorough about his teaching. Not only how to play it, but how to make it?! I suppose this is like uh an obvious metaphor; Ryuuki is going to have to go out in the woods, cut down his own damn tree to make an instrument, and then carve it himself.

I had never really been ‘waiting’ or anything for someone to tell Ryuuki they hated Senka, but it’s an interesting (and weirdly satisfying) moment. Ryuuki never really seems to think of his father’s reign, or ponder the effects that it might have had upon the nation or upon the psyches of the people. The author before (like in the first book) would tell us that Senka is blah blah blah a bloody tyrant, but we didn’t learn that much about what this really consisted of until post-book 10. Ou Ki comes off as weirdly broad-minded and modest for a man aiming to make himself emperor. (In a way, we can also say that Senka was broad-minded.)

Also interesting is Ou Ki’s interpretation of Senka’s reasons for ruling: for his own sake. This of course is Ou Ki’s interpretation, but it doesn’t jibe with earlier characterizations of Senka becoming apathetic after Ki-hime’s death. We really need to have more exploration of Senka’s true character, I think. I suspect that since most of the stuff with Ruka and the Hyou clan has been cleared up, next volume we’ll be free to explore the government side of the past.

I suppose one of Ou Ki’s strengths is that he’ll keep on going no matter how much he has lost. And how much more will Ou Ki lose? It’s not really obvious from what I’ve translated so far, but Ou Ki does care for Yuushun, and Yuushun is on the ‘top ten most likely to kick the bucket’ list. Ryouou has pretty much stated his willingness to die for Ou Ki. Already because of Ou Ki’s unexplained refusal to reveal himself to Riou, he practically doesn’t have a grandchild.

Senka and Ruka are often compared, but Ruka’s less admirable acts are characterized as her doing it out of necessity, for a greater good, with her highest aim being aiding the weak and those in need of her protection, and Ruka strikes a pathetic figure in some ways, abandoned and rejected by all those she loved. Whereas Senka has many retainers and generals, and at least here is characterized as ruling that way because he wishes to, not because he must. That makes Senka’s deeds harder to stomach. We need more gaidens with Senka.

As for Ryuuki: Ou Ki’s gentle evisceration of his rule, because it lacks rancor, is devastating. It actually really speaks poorly of Ryuuki that he will only listen to someone who likes him, and avoids criticizing him. This is one of the reasons Ryuuki took so readily to Yuushun, because Yuushun declined to ever criticize or oppose his plans, even when they were mistaken.

In a way, this scene kind of represents a realization that the conclusion of volume one was inadequate, that someone cannot be blackmailed into becoming king, or become king simply to please the person they’re in love with. Actually, in dramatic terms, the first volume would have been better if Ryuuki had truly had the option of leaving, and instead chosen to remain king. Now, in the last few volumes, Ryuuki has been given a real choice, first by Ruka, and now by Ou Ki. The first time, he refused Ruka, but probably obvious distrust towards Ruka played a role there, and his failings then seemed mostly inwards, as opposed to concrete instances of misrule. Now, Ryuuki’s inadequacies as king have manifested outwardly, and are obvious to the entire nation, and Ryuuki at this late date probably respects Ou Ki, and has been told that he may leave, the words he longed to hear at the beginning of the series.

Last chapter up next: I’m also going to do it in one shot, although it is sort of long for that. It’s set back in the Hyou clan and cleans up volume 16. Most of your questions will still be…. unanswered. XD

He heard from somewhere a small sniffling cry, like a sob.
Though strained, it was a very small sob. The fan fluttered.
Shuuei knew that voice. Tired, pained, sad. Though she walked forward with all of her strength while looking back, she though it was already hopeless. Her chest was tired. She felt compelled to scream. Already, she was disappearing. She thought it would be okay to disappear. Please wait, just a little more.
Because she could go on a little more.
“—Shusui-dono!”
Because he yelled this loudly, he realized that this was the first time he had called out to her with his voice since coming here. This he regretted.
It would have been better for him to call her name, as it didn’t matter whether it was useless or not.
The voice gave out.
After a moment of blankness, which might have been short or long, Shuuei fell as though he had been thrown somewhere. “Kanshou” at his hip shook yet more greatly. Even Shuuei could see that the type of darkness lurking here was entirely different from the darkness up until the Hundred Corridors. He thought he might have heard a sound the instant he was thrown. It was an unpleasant, meltingly thick darkness, which felt like something was burrowing into every pore of his body. There was a feeling of hatred and oppression which made it hard to breathe, he felt unpleasantly dizzy, as if anemic, and his ears rang. Sweat broke out throughout his body.
She had been in a place like this. For so long.
He took a defensive posture and sprung up, and sought Shusui first. The space, which was wide enough to make him think of the throne room, was dyed with a weirdly beautiful pale blue light. In the midst of this, there was Shusui, who lay collapsed like a plucked flower, and a tall man. He was gazing slightly at Shusui. Then, with an elegant gesture unsuited to the setting, he drew a sword. His goal was that slender neck. He was trying to cut off her head.
Shuuei ran and was at a distance of about ten paces.
At once he shortened his steps. This was a type of footwork he rarely used, even against Jin.
He knew that ‘Kanshou’ at his hip was spreading heat. However, Shuui ignored it. He sensed that once he drew it, even against someone who was not Shusui, something would end. He drew the familiar ‘Iris’ sword, and slid in the gap. He parried the man’s sword right before it struck, and repelled the blow.
Rather than being surprised, the man lightly drew his brows together. His reaction slightly resembled that of a child who was cross that his playing had been interrupted by an interloper.
Shuuei continued to strike, with dazzling swordplay, and in the blink of an eye, he drew the man away from Shusui. For him to be able to receive the strike of Shuuei’s sword was magnificent, but his skill did not exceed Shuuei’s, and his strength was about the same as Seiran’s. Though of course he was strong, he was no match for Shuuei when he was serious. It seemed the man also realized this. His face became more and more sulky, and, with a dancelike gesture, he put a distance between himself and Shuuei.
Shuuei also drew back his sword for a moment, and finally looked at the man’s face properly. He was slightly older than SHuuei. He sensed that he was not an assassin like the ‘Assassin Dolls,’ and somehow, also that he was not a man of the Hyou clan. He had catlike eyes, long flowing waves of hair, and elegantly beautiful features, but a somewhat decadent, languid atmosphere floated around him.
It was a man he had never seen before. Yet, he also felt that his features resembled those of someone he knew.
“…..You have a good arm, Ran Shuuei. Magnificent. I praise you.”
Ruka descended lightly. She fixed her eyes on the man, and her red lips relaxed. It was a sublime smile. It wasn’t ironic or anything like that, it was an ill will strong enough to make one wonder how she could smile so alluringly out of anger.
“….I had thought you would come, but you are after Shusui here? You’re a tactician who takes a lot of care to be sure. Ran Shuuei, cut off his head right now. With that, half of my problems will be cleared up.”
“Huh?!”
The man looked in turn at Shusui, Shuuei, and Ruka, and his expression suddenly changed.
He narrowed his cat-like eyes and grinned.
“What a mean thing you’ve said. I have no chance of winning against Ran Shuuei. Too bad. I’m going home.”
Those were the first words the man had spoken.
Tossing these words, the man turned on his heel and disappeared, as if melting into the blue darkness. This departure was so ambiguous that Shuuei was unable to discern whether he had used some spell, or whether there was a path there.
Ruka clicked her tonge.
“…..It can’t be helped. At least I was able to confirm it. With this…..I’ve figured it out.”
Shuuei did not ask about this, or ask her what he man’s name was. She probably wouldn’t tell him.
“….I thank you for bringing me here. ……Then?”
Shuuei turned again towards Ruka. He stood with his back to Shusui, as if to protect her.
Ruka did not look at Shuuei, but at Shusui, who was behind him lying there unmoving. With a cold, expressionless gaze. HOwever, she also seemed to be cooly observing her.
“….I have also used up too much power because of you. Time is up….. Ran Shuuei, I shall give you a piece of advice. Do not think of taking Shusui back with you. You should quickly kill her with ‘Kanshou.’”
“Wha—”
“With Shusui in that condition, she will sooner or later be possessed by some evil thing. The women of the Hyou clan make the best vessels. Things which normally can only move a dead person may fall upon her while living. Her life force will be eaten from the inside, and then she will kill whatever humans are around her, and eat them up….. Make things easier for her.”
Then, Ruka disappeared like a wisp of cloud.

Within the place that had returned to an almost frightening quiet now that no one was around, Shuuei turned back towards Shusui. When he propped up Shusui, who had been thrown aside like a plucked flower, her white arms dropped down like those of a doll. She had a heartbeat, and although her body temperature was low, it was there. He wiped the dirt off her face with a handkerchief, ordered the hair at her forehead, and put a hand to her cool, egg-shaped cheek. He gently shook her.
“….Shusui=dono….I came to get you. Please wake up.”
When he drew her small head to his chest and whispered that, her eyes opened.
When Shuuei looked down, his face then twisted. She blinked, terribly slowly.
That gaze which was always looking far off was no longer there.
She no longer saw anything at all, although everything else was left there.
Her heart alone was not there.
“Shusui-dono….”
Without needing Ruka to tell him, he had realized that although Shusui was sleeping, it wasn’t only that she had lost consciousness. He had known that since he had heard that sobbing cry.
Shuuei nestled his face upon Shusui’s small head, and his face crumpled.
When he tightly embraced that body which was like a cut flower, tears flowed.
He hadn’t been in time. He was always like this.
“Let’s go back together, Shusui-dono….. Then, we’ll always, always be together.”
Shusui’s eyes blinked like a dolls—–then transformed.
Her eyes glowed red like a snake’s iris. ‘Kanshou’ grew warm, and shone.
Along with a scream which was not that of a humans, Shusui thrust aside Shuuei with incredible strength, and ran away.
At the same time, she drew out the ‘Iris’ sword.
Shuuei jumped back, and remembered what Ruka had said before——She would be possessed by something bad.
“Kanshou” gave off heat as if it were waiting to be drawn. An exorcising sword. Probably, if he drew it, it would finally go to kill Shusui by itself. Shusui had his other sword, the ‘Iris’ one already.
He saw that Shusui was blinking. Perhaps reflexively, a line of tears was flowing down from her eyes.
In that instant, Shuuei stopped both running away and trying to hold her down.
In his mind, he saw Ryuuki’s face. Perhaps it was that it was only in that second when he thought of the king did his unconsciousness thought that he needed to return move, and although he had no intention of doing so, his body reacted on its own. Without thinking, he defended himself, and fell to the ground. He put forth much effort in order to not take a defensive stance.
Shusui bore down on him, and without any hesitation, thrust with the sword.
(I’m sorry, your majesty—)
Even so, there was only this.
The sword thrust, and there was a dull sound.

….Shuuei blinked and looked at Shusui.
The sword point had simply scraped the ground above his shoulder.
Shusui stayed in that position, and did not budge at all. Her long hair flowed down, and softly fell onto Shuuei’s chest. Shuuei wrapped a tuft of her hair around his finger, and softly pulled.
“….Shusui-dono?”
Shusui’s eyes wavered greatly once.
While tears flowed from her eyes, Shusui looked straight at Shuuei.
“……why didn’t you avoid it?”
At that time, Shuuei felt as though he had been struck by lighting. —-Could it be?
Shuuei reached out with both of his armys, touched Shusui’s cheek, and drew her towards him. When he gazed into her eyes, they were those damp eyes which could say nothing, clouded by loneliness. The eyes which Shuuei had been pursuing without realizing it.
He was at a loss for what to say.
Shuuei then said something, which, though it was foolish, though it would make his reputation as a ladies’ man weep—but was the completely genuine truth.
“….Because it’s my unshakeable principle to surrender unconditionally to a crying woman, even if it gets me killed.”
Shusui took her hand off of the hilt of the ‘Iris’ sword.
Shuuei closes his eyes, thinking he might be slapped, and on his cheek, there came a small sound. He had been slapped, but it was a very gentle slap.
“…..After this, I’ll slap you again….. You have no consciousness of what the ‘Flower” is……Won’t his majesty cry again? ….. But……Thank you…..Um….um….may I ask you something?”
Shuuei smiled, and gently embraced Shusui. Shusui did not resist. He thought this would do. He wiped her tears with his finger, and in his prized sensual voice, whispered softly into her ear.
“…..Yes, anything. What is it?”
“……..Do you have…..something to eat and water?”
Shusui’s stomach growled.

****

It had been at the time when that darkness reached a hand to the last fragment.
A warm breeze wrapped around Shusui. As if to console and embrace her.
“I’ve always been here for you.”
…..Who? Who would have said those words to me?
A familiar scent rode on the wind and tickled her nose. The scent of sandalwood. Shusui’s favorite scent. And along with that, something like awakening static electricity was delivered to Shusui’s chest.
Someone’s voice was calling Shusui.
“I’ve come to get you, Shusui-dono.”
(……come to get?)
Not someone else….but me?
“I’m sorry for being late…. let’s go back.”
When she realized whose was that clear voice.
—Shusui’s eyes widened.
(Wait, wait, can it be Ran Shuuei? Eh? No way?! Why’s he here?! Why that mosquito larva man who’s always popping up somewhere! Hey, how’d he get to the Hyou clan?!)
For Shusui, who had for long years crossed swords with him on the battle lines of the Inner Palace, the name Ran Shuuei suddenly jump started her head, and the reaction to that was sufficient to turn the screw. Every time that man had appeared, Shusui didn’t have a chance to rest. Definitely something was going to happen. I’ve got to think, she thought.
The question—Eh, right now, when is it, and where am I, and what have I been doing?!
Answer: Dying in the Prison of Time. She felt that it had already been a hundred years.
An interval.
Her fingers moved. Wait a second. Wait, you stupid general of the guards.
(No! An ordinary person, not even of the Hyou clan, seriously plans to enter the ‘Prison of Time’?! Isn’t he deciding to die! Even though I’m like this, what is he thinking, that man! Urgh, but that man might do this kind of stupid thing without thinking. A, but it’s okay, since he has no supernatural powers, he shouldn’t be able to open the ‘door’ on the lowest level. … But, wasn’t there a route that anyone could enter for rescuing someone or escaping? Umm, if I recall correctly… the great maze….)
Silence. Normally it was impossible. But, if it was that man, he might be able to do it.
The darkness grew slightly lighter, but Shusui did not notice it.
(…Wait….he doesn’t have a ‘map.’…. It had been sealed for about a hundred years, so even if he had one, a map from a hundred years back wouldn’t be useful. It’s a limestone cave, so the water changes the forms of the stone. Even so, how does he plan to get here?　Fighting with both hands empty? What, is he really a general?! I can’t tell at all whether he’s smart or stupid!)
Going on the adventure of entering the great natural maze of the limestone cave without any clues, empty-handed, as an ordinary person.
It could only be seen as either a death wish or stupidity.
Shusui searched for the supernatural powers which had been tightly sealed somewhere inside of herself. She sought the ‘eye,’ which had been sealed deep inside, in a location she had no clue of, with the kind of incredible strength people have in emergency situations. The ‘box’ the ‘eye’ was in had been locked, but Shusui, who was under great strain, tore it apart as if it were wrapping paper. She opened her ‘Thousand League Eye’ [note: typically I translate this as 'clairvoyance, but it makes more sense in the context here], and felt something odd. It felt a little different from normal, but she could “see” unhindered.
When she opened her field of vision in all directions, she was immediately drawn to something dazzlingly red.
(………………….General Ran! He really did come here….”
He was plunging through the limestone cave at a frightening speed. Although he was complaining to the bats, he was breaking through whatever barriers there were one after another, at a speed even the ‘Assassin Dolls’ would be incapable of. Though Shusui had though that he was strong at the level she had seen him at up till now—this was incredible. Even if Shusui went all out at him, his strength was such that he could pin her down as easily as taking candy from a baby.
She had never seen the expression that Shuuei had on his face before. When he had gone straight to help the king at Nine Colors Cove, his attitude there had made her look at him in a somewhat new light, but now his face was even more stern than it had been then. A desperate face.
For some reason, he was really going straight in the direction that Shusui was. Directly.
“I’ve come to get you, Shusui-dono.”
Let’s go back—
That was her limit. She did not notice what kind of face Shuuei had as he went towards her, right before she ran out of power and closed her ‘Thousand League Eye.’
Since she had opened the ‘Thousand League Eye,’ her mental and physical power hit bottom at once.
She knew that that something which had been far off was once again crawling towards her, as if it had seen through this.
Shuusi tried to smile, with her body which could not even move a single finger. She hadn’t smiled in such a long time that her cheeks wouldn’t move.
(Ran Shuuei…. you’re coming here quickly, but……. you didn’t think at all about how to return…..)
It was so stupid she smiled. Ran Shuuei definitely was not thinking of the ‘return.’
No, even if he had considered it, it would be meaningless. There was only way of ‘returning safely’ from here. However, Shuuei could not do that….and probably he knew this. Even so, he had entered.
He was thinking only of going to Shusui, not turning an eye to anything else.
…..There had been no one who had offered everything for Shusui’s sake like this, even temporarily. Because the people important to her always had someone else who was their number one person in the world, Shusui had never been number one to them.
“I’ve always been here for you.”
She felt something climbing out from all of the pores of her body. Though she had expended incredible emergency strength, that didn’t change the fact that it would be only a little more time before Shusui became ‘empty.’ When the last fragment would be eaten up, she would disappear all too soon, and the evil spirits crouching and waiting in the darkness would enter her one after the other.
Shusui closed her eyes…. That ‘despair’ too, might also have been a demon.
(….If General Ran…. can leave here safely…..that’s the only thing…..I can’t let him be killed….The king….will cry….)
When she though of the lonely king, whom she had not been able to see for a long time, some tears came out of her eyes. Shusui could not let one of the ‘Flowers’ die here for her sake. Also, she had realized another thing.
(General ran could not have come here to the Hyou clan for my sake alone….Shuurei-sama….in the Hyou clan)
They were taking over the empty ‘places’ within Shusui, and together trying to eat her up.
Shusui closed her eyes. At that time, her heart, which had weakened until it could be possessed by demons, came to a decision.
….From somewhere, she could hear the familiar sound of an erhu.

****

“…..Really….why are you asking if I have food, Shusui-dono…”
He didn’t want to know that the reason why she had allowed him to embrace her was simply and bluntly, that ‘she was hungry so she had no strength.’ Since Shuuei had become the pursuer, he had begun to understand the king’s various feelings towards Shuurei-dono. Before, he had laughed because it was amusing, but now he truly apologized for it.
He removed his cloak and spread it on the cold rock surface for Shusui’s sake, as she couldn’t move from that place, and set her upon it. He considered leaning her against him, but he put her legs in order and had her sit down.
“I’m sorry. I’m truly tired….. Ah, dried rice…. how nostalgic.”
Tired? Shuuei, who had prepared himself with emergency rations, even if it was only a small amount, since he was, after all, a military officer, took those out for Shusui, and gave her water which he had poured in a bamboo tube on the way.
Shusui slowly, little by little, chewed the dried rice, and her face seemed happy. Since these were military rations, they were all dried food, which though nutritious, had little taste or moisture, and although they didn’t taste good, she looked as though she found them delicious. That was totally different from the empty, doll-like face she had had earlier. Each and every one of her gestures and expressions, down to her fingers, drew him in. It was unfortunate he had to tear his eyes away, his fingertips were twitching.
He did not wish to speak of such unromantic things, but it couldn’t be helped.
“….Shusui-dono, what happened? I really was…..prepared.”
While slowly drinking water, Shusui was at a loss for an answer. What had happened.
“…..It’s hard to put into words…. Um…..If were to try saying it…. up until now I was doing something like whack-a-mole. [note]…..?”
“………..Wha?”
“It’s like I was hitting, running from, chasing away, and silencing things that were attacking me from all sides?…. I did something bad to you. That was the last of them. It was incredibly stubborn.”
“???? Um….”
Shuuei didn’t understand this at all, but figured it was something like while he had been running through the limestone cave with the bats, Shusui had for a long time somewhere been engaged in mortal combat with a strange army of moles. She had beaten the evil moles, and then, at the last moment…… she had returned.
Shuuei, who had propped her up, knew….. he had truly been ready to face how Shusui had been at that time. No matter what condition she was in, he had intended to return with her, and look after her for the rest of her life. However, she had defeated the king of the moles, and a half-step after that, she had returned. That couldn’t have been, as Shusui said, an easy task. Shuuei took Shusui’s hand. Her slender hand easily fit in Shuuei’s.
He asked only the most important thing.
“….Are you alright now?”
Shusui gazed at the hand she had always brushed off.
There were numerous scenes she had seen.
“…Shusui-dono…I’ve come to get you. Please get up.”
Really, she had thought that if Shuuei had drawn ‘Kanshou,’….. that would have been alright too. Then, in that one second, everything would be cleared up. When Shusui had tried to exorcise that last mole—- that bothersome snake-like spirit, from within herself, it had run wild, stolen her body, and attacked Shuuei.
She had though he would draw ‘Kanshou.’ It couldn’t be helped. However, Shuuei didn’t. When she realized that he really wasn’t going to draw it, up till the end, and even more, that he had thrown away even all intention of fighting, she thought she really would kill him.
…..She had been in time.
“Yes, it’s alright now….. But, why didn’t you run away, even a little bit?! If I hadn’t been in time, you really would have died. What’s with this unconditional surrender to a woman’s tears?!”
“In time? …. Um, that may be so too…. but it was because I decided something.”
“What?!”
“I decided that since I’ve always run away from you, I would absolutely no run away anymore. Putting aside coming to help you, and then killing you would be no joking matter. Since you were crying, I wanted to be with you this time, and embrace you properly, but if I were to suddenly change to running away because you were trying to kill me, that would be uncool.”
Shusui blinked her eyes.
Possibly, at that time Shuuei might have realized that Shusui was thinking ‘it’s okay if I die.’ He tossed his sword aside, saying ‘don’t mess around, this is no joke,’ and waited.
For her not to kill Shuuei, she had no choice but to toss away even that last membrane of negative thought–’if it comes to that, it’s okay if I die’— somewhere inside of her. She remembered that snake…..Possibly, that most persistent demon had been of the species which nourished itself on that feeling.
Up till the very end, Shuuei had not allowed even an opening for her to keep that feeling of ‘it’s okay even if I die.’ Certainly, when she felt weak-spirited from time to time, Shuuei had changed this for her. Though he himself probably didn’t realize it at all, in the end, Shuuei might have saved both of them together.
Even so, Shusui, because of some feelings she didn’t quite understand, slapped Shuuei’s cheek lightly.
“……..Um, that little slap now?”
“I felt like it. But, yes, because you did all of these stupid things, I couldn’t fall into despair, and since I fought to the death, I was able to come back….. So it may be thanks to you that I’m able to be here.”
Suddenly, she remembered her time in the inner palace. For some reason, she felt that during that period as well, things had been that way.
“—–Then, General Ran, before we leave here, please tell me everything, including why you’ve come to the Hyou clan. About what you’ve been doing before coming here to meet me.”

…..After hearing what Shuuei said, Shusui closed her eyes for a long time.
“…..I understand. My ‘clairvoyance’ is necessary to know where ‘Mother’ is.”
“…..Shusui-dono.”
Shusui smiled a bit at Shuuei, who was glaring at her.
“I’m not being sarcastic. Let’s go right now. It’s necessary for everything. —-I also must see ‘Mother.’ Even a minute faster. I must see her—-especially now. “
Then, she cut off her words.
“First, where Shuurei-sama and the others are…. They’re waiting.”
Shusui closed her eyes. A gentle wind arose and wrapped around them.
Suddenly, Shuuei realized something. The heavy, unpleasant atmosphere which had pervaded that place ever since he came there had suddenly been swept away. That power—–
Finally, he heard her voice.
“Come to think of it, did I say this? Thank you for coming to get me. But….I cannot be with you always. Because the place I return to—–has already been decided.”

Notes:

Whack-a-mole: For non-Americans, it’s this kind of game. The Japanese is pretty much the same ‘mole-whacking.’ It’s somewhat of an inappropriate term (an arcade game… yeah, they had THAT in ancient China) to use for an pseudo-ancient-Chinese setting, but I gotta translate what’s there in the text.

Commentary:

Uh, who was that Unnamed Man? I’m sure we all have our guesses. Anyway, whoever he is, he is definitely someone who Shuuei hasn’t seen before, but knows who Shuuei is. Amusingly, I thought there would be a big showdown, but actually, he ran away easily. People have no gumption these days! Is Shuuei really THAT much stronger than Seiran’s level now? (For those of us with a shounen manga mindset, we now know for sure that Shuuei is stronger than Seiran.)

[Oh well, who am I kidding? It's Sakujun. It obviously can't be Anju, because Shuuei definitely knows what Anju looks like.]

Hmm…. Shusui is rather tsundere. Ahaha, she and Ruka have something in common. How many times did she slap Shuuei in this scene? How many times does someone usually get slapped after going through mortal danger to save another person’s life?!

It’s also interesting how the author doesn’t really make Shusui suddenly fall in love with Shuuei, but that she’s able to overcome the demonic possession by thinking that Shuuei cannot die for her sake, because Ryuuki would be in trouble if he died. More than this scene being a ‘happy ending,’ it seems sort of like the beginning of something (with the promise of even more complications to come.) The author sort of had to begin building a basis for a relationship on Shusui’s side, so it’s like she’s begun to see something in him here.

Next chapter: I’m going to do all of chapter 5 in one shot. It’s mostly set in the capital. (Though some of the first scenes are still at the Hyou clan, dealing w/ the aftermath of ch 4) This might take awhile (though probably ch 6 will also take awhile).

There was something crouching in a corner of the darkness.
She realized that she had been dragged back here after countless failed attempts at escaping from the prison. When she was helplessly and was being brainwashed once again, she had noticed it was there in a dim corner where light did not reach.
From that time, it had always been following Shusui. It was patiently crouched in the corner, as if melting into the darkness. When Shusui tried to escape, it followed her. It maintained a reasonable distance, but it was exact. It continued to look at Shusui. Thus, though she had fallen into the most frightening place she had been in up till now, although there were no shackles or bars, she had realized that it was lurking in a corner. Although she could only see darkness, she felt she knew why it was there.
(….Ah, but, if only once….)
She had only been able to forget its existence when Ruka had come.
That person who had not even once tried to meet Shusui, with her shining, divine, fearsome, cold gaze.
…..Had that been a dream?
The fire-like mass that Ruka had passed to her with her mouth had already stopped acting up… instead, it had made Shusui’s innards feel slow and liquid. ‘Shusui’ was flowing out from the tips of her fingers.
That too might be only one of the thousands of bad dreams she had had in the prison.
(‘Mother’….)
Shusui did not know either whether she was crying or not.
Not one of the words which Shusui had squeezed out her courage to say could move Ruka.
It was alright if she was alone. Alright even if she wasn’t someone’s number one. But…. for what reason had she thought this? For what reason had she endured all blows, and even loneliness?
She no longer could remember why she had come back here.
(Already——….)
At that time, the thing which had been patiently waiting for Shusui to weaken moved.
Although it had been crouching in that dim corner for a long time, she knew it was sidling up to her. When it neared Shusui’s side, it touched the edge of the melting ‘Shusui.’ It tore at it, and munched.
It was tearing at and eating Shusui, who was flowing away, bit by bit, from the edge.
Some streams of tears flowed down Shusui’s cheeks–if she still had cheeks. She wanted to sob, but probably, she couldn’t. Because she no longer had enough strength to. She no longer had anything.
Shusui no longer had anything.
Sometime, Shusui had truly realized what that thing which had always been following after was. Despite this, she had pretended not to know. Because she could not acknowledge it. She didn’t want to. She knew that she was not strong. But, she wasn’t that weak. She wanted to believe that. The thing which had appeared sometime, crouched in the darkness, and followed Shusui like a shadow.
—Despair.
She hadn’t wanted to recognize that somewhere in her heart there was still a fearful feeling which looked back and said ‘maybe it’s impossible.’ Even though she had returned thinking that she would fight properly, even if she was alone, for Shouka-sama’s sake, for Shuurei-sama’s sake, for his majesty’s sake—for her important people.
She hadn’t wanted to acknowledge this self which couldn’t do its best for the people she loved.
She had thought that at this level she could change Ruka-sama—and the Hyou clan. It was only to be expected that Ruka-sama had ignored her, thrown her into jail, and not come even once to see her.
(Why is my heart this weak?)
Why were Shuurei-sama, Shouka-sama, and Madame so different? Always, weakness followed her.
Shusui was always never able to do things well at important times. Now as well.
Following that, ‘despair’ had come to Shusui, and was ripping and eating away at her.
Little by little, she was becoming smaller. If she was all eaten up, that would be the end of ‘Shusui.’ The ‘heart’ that Madame and Shouka-sama had given her. Her own self, which she had desperately protected even when alone, was this time nowhere to be found. Even if her body was alive, she would continue to vaguely exist together with ‘despair’ here forever.
Shusui could only feel this with her tears flowing.
No matter how much she had been brainwashed, she had resisted it. Although she had been bound to this prison, she had been able to escape countless times.
However, now, what had captured Shusui and was eating at her, was none other than….. her own despair.
“Pitiful Shusui. In the end, the tiny ‘Shusui’ which you have protected, running from here in fear, is not necessary to anyone other than yourself. You should return to being a doll. Then you can be at ease. You will no longer feel anything. Powerlessness, despair, sadness, isolation—even incomparably quiet loneliness.”
Despair touched that final fragment, which had become so small.
Her eyelashes fluttered. Her last tears fell.
Her screw, which she had screwed in with all of her might after she had run away. Shouka-sama, Madame, Shuurei-sama, and the king had from time to time helped her wind it. Because she was able to believe she could live, she tried hard, even on her own, to screw it in.
However, no longer—-
Kachin–the screw made its final clink.

“I’ve always been here for you.”
……in that last instant, she felt as if a warm southern wind from somewhere was stroking her cheek.

****
A freezing wind touched the tip of his nose, and carried a strangely sour odor. Shuuei opened his eyes at the cold. For awhile, he could not remember why he was out cold.
“Huh….?”
It was dim, but not pitch dark. Though it really was dark, it seemed that somewhere there was a source of light. The dimness was at a level where if Shuuei, who had good night vision, took awhile to get used to it, he could see what was around him. This darkness which seemed somehow faintly blue reminded him of the time before daybreak.
While he was letting his eyes get used to the dark, he quickly confirmed he was alright. He had no injuries. uring that time, he remembered that he had been handed an umbrella by a mysterious beauty, and then fallen down somewhere.
“….There definitely weren’t any wells or holes…. what kind of ‘close route’ is this?…..”
First, he checked his sword, and then after that, when he casually touched “Kanshou,” he was surprised. It was faintly warm, and in the dimness, it seemed to be letting of light, very weakly. Clearly, there seemed to be something different about it from before he met that priestess. Yes—-it was like it had been sleeping, but had now slightly opened its eyes.
He recalled the priestess’s words.
“Make things easier for that young woman already….”
Awaken only for that one strike, the priestess had said, while looking at “Kanshou.”
Shuuei’s brows jumped together. He violently removed his hand from “Kanshou”‘s hilt.
Easier?
“….Don’t joke around. I didn’t come here to do that.”
When he searched for the fan in his breast pocket, there was the smell of sandalwood which he was already familiar with.
Even in the midst of the ladies in waiting chosen only from among the beautiful, cultivated daughters of good houses, Shusui stood out.
Though she should have have been unhindered, lacking nothing, she alone was always looking somewhere far off.
He had seen her room only once, the first time he met her. Even now he could recall it. There were only the minimum furnishings necessary to a lady-in-waiting, and there were no personal luxuries either. Even in the modest flower vase, there was only a single stalk of camellia. He had always thought that she had cut it herself.
It was as if, rather than out of modesty, it was because she felt that even that one flower for herself was inexcusable.
In everything, she was somewhere like that. That was in all ways the opposite of his sister-in-law, who was always smiling like the sun…. Perhaps that was why he had become interested in her.
He felt that she might leave that empty room anytime, like a discarded husk of an insect, and disappear somewhere like the wind. When he met her again after the National Exam, that was unchanged, and it bothered him, so he paid attention to her, and found that sometimes she left the Inner Palace. In the middle of the night, she would disappear alone into the darkness sometimes, and she would also suddenly be writing her resignation. When she was vaguely looking at a blade, not a flower, in front of a flowering tree, he was disturbed.
He realized sometime that that gaze which was always looking into the distance was not love.
She wished to be there, but this was not the place she should truly be—-that seemed to be it. Then, probably, she had been unable to find the place she wished to go, or a place it was alright for her to be in, and that was why she stayed alone in the Inner Palace. It was as if she were like the single camellia branch he had seen at the beginning. Reservedly standing in the corner of a luxurious room.
Only in those few months when Shuurei had been a consort had been almost unrecognizably happy. Even after Shuurei had left, as the head lady-in-waiting to the king, her face had become more happy and comfortable than before.
Then, because of the hypnosis of the Hyou clan, she could no longer stay in the Inner Palace, and had disappeared.
You were raised in happiness. That was what she had said, smiling, when they had met. Because I have nothing, she had said.
“Happiness is frightening. Because I had never been told that I should be happy. Even now, it’s frightening. Shall ‘I’ be allowed the happiness of loving someone…..? If this is a dream, when I awaken, I won’t be able to live anymore.” [see note]
At that time, Shuuei, who had grown up happily, having everything, except for his unrequited love, had not been able to understand her at all.
But now at this late date, he heard it as:
….I want to be happy.
Shuuei smiled, slightly bitterly. He had made countless mistakes, pretended not to know, and had ended up taking the long route.
She might be disappointed that it wasn’t Shouka-sama…… That was alright. He wouldn’t be hurt now.
“I came to get you, Shusui-dono.”
He knew that although she appeared tough, she was really fragile, and she didn’t really like to be alone. Shuurei-dono appeared to be sentimental, but actually she was fairly rationalistic; however, Shusui-dono was the opposite, it was dangerous if she alone. Although she was older, at times she seemed to be younger than Shuuei. No matter how many times she turned back, she would still hesitantly look forward.
“I’m sorry for being late….Let’s go back.”
If he were asked ‘go back where?’ with those eyes that could not say anything. He had prepared an answer.
…At that time, Shusui’s fan made a fluttering noise, like static electricity.
The noises scattered in the dimness like fireworks. He recalled the priestess’s words.
The previous gentleman only had ‘love’ and ‘guts.’ He was very rushed. In comparison to him, you’re strong, and have love, the strong luck of the Ran clan, something to guide you in your chest pocket, the daring and optimism to trust me, and a friend who has the ‘Bakuya’ to your ‘Kanshou.’
A guide in his chest pocket….. What he had in his chest was that fan.
When he looked around in the dimness with eyes sufficiently used to it, he saw that although it appeared to be a cave, it wasn’t natural, but appeared to be made by human hands. The atmosphere was sour, but not stagnant, and there was a breeze going through it, at times. If he listened carefully, he could hear faintly the noise of water, and something like rain. Then, from the inside, there was an unusual coldness floating in the air. Possibly it was connected with a limestone cave. [note: see notes]
When he turned his face around and disciplined his eyes, the familiar red umbrella was lying at a slight distance. While Shuuei was going to pick up the umbrella, he found a human skeleton lying haphazardly against the opposite rock wall. It appeared that the person had been tired, gone to sleep, and died like that. That meant that at this point in time, he was in a place where people got lost and died. He muttered a short Ran Province funeral dirge.
(…..However, it’s not very cold for a place connected to a limestone cave….)
It was when he casually picked up the red umbrella. A warm wind floated around Shuuei.
Shuuei knew this wind well. It was the white southern breeze of Ran Province, which appeared at the end of the rainy season, bringing tidings of the coming of summer.
“With that warm wind from the south of the ‘outside’ carrying you…. help her.”
Could it be that thanks to the southern wind surrounding him, that he didn’t feel the coldness at all?
The fan made more fluttering noises. Definitely, somehow or other, it was showing the way. A guide.
Entering a limestone cave without a map and proceeding was plainly suicidal conduct. However, Shuuei began to walk. “Kanshou,” which he was wearing on his hip, was growing warm. Shuuei ignored this heat. Coldly.
“Make things easier for that young woman already.”
He had come to pick her up. Not to bring an end to her as the priestess had said. Even if he had to drag her… no matter what state she was in, he would return together with her. For that was why Shuuei had come.

She sensed that something had touched the net around the Prison of Time.
Ruka’s eyelids slightly wavered. She raised her eyelashes, and sought with only her eyes Rikka, who was waiting upon her.
….She was not there. That might have been better. Recently, Rikka disliked it that Ruka was even separating her soul. If she calculated how long it had been since she had gone to see Shusui, soon it would be the time when it would be clear whether ‘Shusui’ would completely vanish or not. If Shusui had become completely ‘empty’ in the Prison of Time, then she wished to quickly enter her body. If she didn’t do that, in the Prison of Time, bad things loitered, due to the many corpses there. An empty living body was the best prey for the spirits who gathered there. And there was one more thing.
“…..Finally it has gotten caught in the net. If it should go to Shusui….”
Ruka closed her eyes. Before, she could separate her soul from her body as easily as drinking water, but now if she did not concentrate, she couldn’t do it. Finally, she threw off her body, and her soul flew to the Prison of Time in the form of a girl.

****

Shuurei, who was pouring hurriedly over the new materials of the past ten years relating to locusts, stopped turning a book’s pages. This was the lowest level of the library Riou had ever been in. Although it wasn’t that there was nothing, in those ten years, there hadn’t been much advancement. Furthermore, it hadn’t reached to the level of extermination.
(….That’s so, it seems…. If it were easily findable, we’d already be doing it)
Because they were looking around at a relatively low level, there were books from some hundreds of years before. Shuurei found a thin, old looking booklet in the inside of a shelf for books about locusts. When she wiped of the dust, “The Grasshoppers of Kage Island” was written on it in feminine script. Shuurei turned her head at this name of an island which she had never heard of.
“…Jin-san, do you know of ‘Kage Island’?”
“Kage Island? Yeah. It’s an uninhabited island east of Kou Province. It’s small and there’s nothing on it, and since it’s uninhabited, it’s only natural that people don’t know about it. It’s around the size that you could go fishing there and return.”
Why had the person who wrote the book researched locusts on an uninhabited island? There hadn’t been any damage there.
(Ah, well, if normally no one does research there, then in a way, that might mean that something that can’t easily be found out is written there…)
She lightly began to read it for awhile.
Shuuei’s eyes became like dinner plates. She read it once over, tilted her head, and then raised it.
“Jin-san……….Riou-kun….take a look at this.”
Jin and Riou’s reactions were the exact opposite. Jin put a hand to his jaw, and his brows drew together.
“……..Hmmm. The subtitle is ‘The Grasshoppers of Kage Island: Their Mysterious Mass Death”…..”
Jin carefully paged through the musty booklet.
“Definitely, if we check the records, it looks like there was a small locust swarm. It’s an uninhabited island, so it seems no one noticed it, though. Some guys who went there sometimes to fish took note of the unusual event and recorded it….”
“After a long rain and continuous thick fog, they went to try fishing there, and they found a large quantity of grasshopper corpses. Also, as for the way of death, it’s a mystery: they had climbed up on the grasses, weighing them down, and had died while facing upwards. “
For some reason, there were a large amount of grasshopper corpses, which had climbed the grass, and at the top, facing upwards, had died.
…..Simply imagining it made for a eerie spectacle.
“Truly an odd death. It’s so strange it seems like a curse…. What’s for sure if we look at what’s written here is that it was only the grasshoppers who died within those few days, and otherwise, the plants and small insects were as usual. That way of death also wasn’t that they had destroyed themselves after swarming too much, and since everything else was fine, I don’t think there was a poisonous spring….”
Jin crossed his arms, and narrowed his eye.
“…..I know what you want to say. But, with only that, we don’t know the cause. If it turns out that at that time there were numerous natural causes which when combined accidentally acted only on the locusts or something like that, we’ll have to throw up our hands.”
“That might be so. Hmm, but this makes me remember something for some reason.”
It was at time that Riou muttered while reading the pamphlet, with a pale face, staring at the pages.
“….An epidemic.”
“Eh?”
“A disease. —Probably, it only strikes locusts.”
After a moment, both Jin and Shuurei’s expressions changed.
“Riou-kun….so you’re saying that the cause of the strange deaths of the locusts could be illness?”
While she said this, Shuurei was also satisfied. Yes, that ‘mass strange death,’ spreading in a group and occurring suddenly one day, come to think of it, certainly resembled the epidemic in Sa Province. Then the insects would have become sick.
“…..That’s probably it. The Hyou clan and the Department of the Cave of the Immortals gather information from everywhere all the time. I hear from Ren….my friend that there was a disease that only grasshoppers and locusts get.”
“Ren,” who Ruka had used and thrown away, had spoken of the various researches he had done into epidemics.
“A disease that only strikes locusts……!”
If that was so, then there would be no damage to other animals.
Also, Shuurei knew well from her time in Sa Province that with epidemics, the larger the group, the higher the infection rate. There was no group as dense as a locust swarm. It was convincing that they’d all die in a couple of days.
—–If they could cause that artificially.
“Riou, can it be done?”
“Uu Uu….said to open all of the doors of the Hyou clan. There’s a possibility that it’s being researched as part of the response to locust plagues. Because there hasn’t been a locust outbreak here for some decades, I don’t know how much the temples have advanced in their measures against locusts—However, there may be a possibility. But.”
“How would we know that?”
“….By contacting the temples….As I thought, we need my aunt’s power.”
Jin scratched his head, and Shuurei also bit her lips. No matter where, they ran into the wall of Ruka. But, something was bothering her. There had been something that always been bothering her. That thing which she had placed in a corner of her mind.
The last words that Riou [Sr] had said.
“If you want to do something about the locusts….then you should find Shusui.”
Shuurei blinked once, and then looked steadily at Riou.
“……Riou-kun, is what we need really Ruka-hime’s power?”
“Eh? Yes….it’s impossible without my aunt. Without the High Priestess.”
“Yes. What we need is no Ruka-hime, but the power of the High Priestess, isn’t that right?”
“Ehhh?”
“Riou-kun, you father said it. If you want to do something about the locust, find Shusui. That might not mean finding Shusui in order to find Ruka-hime. Perhaps it’s that while looking at the snow that shouldn’t have been falling, he realized that Ruka-hime can’t do it anymore. Meaning that Ruka-hime no longer even has the power needed to open a ‘passage.’ So then, incredible power would be necessary, right?”
Waning supernatural power. Yes, it was proof that her former power was no longer there.
“……Definitely, Uu Uu now as well was hard pressed to open a single passage.”
Perhaps Uu Uu in the past could have opened all the doors like Ruka. However—-yes, his powers had waned. Ruka had supplemented hers by changing bodies, but now she had no power to spare. Then.
Definitely, it was possible that now it wasn’t that Ruka didn’t open the ‘passages,’ but that she really couldn’t open them.
“But, your father said ‘If you want to do something about the locusts….then you should find Shusui.” In other words—Shusui may be able to become the next High Priestess. Or at least, she may have enough power.— There’s a possibility that Shusui may be able to open all of the ‘passages’ alone.”
If she opened the ‘passages,’ then they would be able to make contact with the temples. —Then, if she became the High Priestess, she should be able to take command in everything concerning the locusts. Without going through Ruka.
“…..No, but I never heard that Shusui had that kind of power. At first she was ‘powerless,’ but even though she later gained supernatural powers, it was only ‘clairvoyance…”
No, said Jin, while stroking his chin.
“…..If I remember right, didn’t Hyou Eiki, who was the candidate to be the next High Priestess, only have the power of ‘foresight’?”
Shuurei and Riou both looked at Jin suspiciously. Really, he was knowledgeable about everything.
“…..I don’t want to interrupt, but definitely, when I went to Sa Province, I also only heard about ‘foresight.’ Riou-kun, how do they decide who becomes High Priestess?”
“Th..that’s based on the strength of supernatural power—”
Riou was in turmoil. Since he was ‘powerless,’ he had been indifferent to everything relating to priestesses or the High Priestess. Because of his aunt, he had simply thought that the High Priestess was born having something like that from the beginning.
“By the way, Riou-kun, recently I said to Ruka-hime ‘I’m coming to see you,’ but…….I feel like that was said to me. Even now I feel like she was telling me to come to her.”
She had forcibly awakened drowsing Shuurei, and when her mental and physical energy had been restored, she had returned to being a ‘Censorate Inspector.’ There was a chance that someone had from the court to seal Ruka’s mouth—she glanced at Jin—by killing her. Even if she had called Shuurei to be a pawn for the purpose of preventing that, that would be meaningless if she did not tell her where she was.
If they didn’t know where she was, Shuurei and the others had no choice but to rely on Shusui’s ‘clairvoyance.’ Ruka should have known that. Yes, they needed Shusui.
Then, Ruka truly wanted to use Shuurei to…..
—Could it be that it was to bring Shusui to her?
“My aunt help Shusui? That can’t be. Wasn’t it my aunt who put her there?”
“Maybe it’s a little different than helping her. Hmmm, how can I say it…..Yes, I feel like she’s waiting for her to come out. If you can come, then come, if you can get out, then come out. I have a feeling that that’s one of the things she’s moving us to do. However I look at it, unless we have Shusui’s power, we can’t go to Ruka-hime.”
While speaking, she had hardened within her head some very vague things.
“….I know that Ruka-hime is an extremely intelligent person. Right now, I as well am probably being made to act by her. I don’t think she’s someone who does things without considering them. Regarding Shusui as well. Then, perhaps there is something more than we think to her putting Shusui in the ‘Prison of Time.’ What Ruka-hime is doing—is probably something very important to the Hyou clan.”
“Yes, it’s as you say.”
There was the voice of some other woman. When she turned, there was a priestess dressed in ancient clothes standing there. Perhaps it was because it was snowing that she had a red umbrella, and for some reason, she was holding an erhu.
“Bakuya” rang out once.

****

He was doubting whether it was really true that this was the closest route, but the red umbrella quickly came in handy.
“….Even in a cave, rain is falling….”
Right after he entered the limestone cave, Shuuei obediently decided to use the red umbrella. For some reason, water was incessantly flowing from the surface of the limestone, so his feet were mostly soaked in water. Also, cold droplets were dripping from above his head, like an ice rain. If he didn’t have that umbrella, he would now have been all wet and died from the cold. A vast quantity of bats were flying around, and though that made it seem like a fantasy haunted house, Shuuei didn’t complain, as it was he who was trespassing in the bats’ home.
In the cave, there was still a road which seemed to have been constructed by humans, but once he had entered the limestone cave, there was nothing like a road. Shuuei only loyally followed the fan, and walked silently. The stalagmites chaotically thrust upwards, and although they were in the way, since there was a gap he could get through in the upper part of the rock face, he climbed up the stone surface and squeezed through. While during that, he got fairly wet even though he had the umbrella.
“Well, they say ‘a good-looking man like water was dripping onto him’ [see translator's notes]….but that means when there’s around the level of a drizzle, the dampness makes a man’s charm come out, but now that I’m like a wet rat, probably Seiran would bully me afterwards…”
Muttering, he advanced into the interior, where some ancient corpses lay, and he saw many which had been pulled apart by the water. Because there was so much water, many of them had become grave wax, [see note] and he had passed several bodies, Shuuei decided to share some for making a candle. Because of this, he was able to make a torch partway through. As expected, here he wanted fire too. In other words, at base Shuuei was a military officer. An excellent one.
(However, it’s only natural that “Kanshou” has always been ringing ever since I entered the limestone cave….)
It would be stranger if there were nothing at all in this eerie limestone cave. Shuuei noticed that all of his hair was standing on end, and the deeper he went in, the darker it became. Even the white stalactites looked creepy. AT the time, he felt countless mysterious presences creeping up towards him from various directions. Perhaps it was because he had “Kanshou” that they stopped approaching after a certain distance, and regarding that, he was grateful from the bottom of his heart to the exorcising sword. He noticed that within this coldness, he was having trouble breathing, and he was tense enough so that he needed to wipe off his cold sweat.
It was when he was once again wiping off the sweat traveling down his jaw.
The presences of the spirits retreated like a wave.
“Kanshou” quietly rang once. Then, a woman’s voice, which he had heard at Nine Colors Cove echoed.
“Although you are of the direct line of the Ran clan, you are an ordinary person, so for you to have come in such a short time to the Hundred Corridors….”
Shuuei put his hand to the hilt of his sword, and slowly turned around. There was a transparent separated soul.
Ebon black hair and blood red lips, snowy skin. The beautiful form of a maiden floated there. For Shuuei, it was the first time he had seen that form, because at Nine Colors Cove she had possessed the body of Shusui.
“…Hyou Ruka-dono. Am I to receive the great favor of you guiding me to where Shusui-dono’s location?”
He wondered whether she would arrogantly scoff, but Ruka looked at the red umbrella with a slightly stiff face, and then next looked at Shuuei.
It was as if she was remembering something in the past she did not wish to recall. That was what her face was like.
“You’ve done well to have entered this path. I ended up stopping along the way here. So you also have ‘Kanshou’?…. Then, I’ve changed my mind. As you have said, I’ll show you the way.”
Shuuei’s brows leaped up. The priestess before was one matter, but this was Hyou Ruka. He had no reason to believe her. “….Your reason? It is strange that you were the one who shut her up there, yet you are going to guide me there, when I am going to hep her.”
“I have a motive. However, the Prison of Time is a special prison. If those who can leave leave, then it does not bother me, and if they cannot, they will die. That is the nature of the prison. The corpses you saw were what became of the people who could not escape. I’ll say this, this is not yet the Prison of Time.
“Eh, you’re kidding?! It’s not?! But she said it was the closest route!!”
Ruka’s elegant brows rose slightly. It was as if she wished to ask who had said that, but did not wish to ask.
“…..It wasn’t a lie. This is the sole route that an ordinary person like you can take to reach the Prison of Time. The most troublesome thing might be the long maze, but if one considers that that way you can reach the lowest level directly, it’s the closest route. Firstly, in the Prison of Time there are not these small evil nature spirits. Before you reach the lowest level where Shusui is, someone like you may already driven mad.”
Shuuei glared at the coldly smiling Ruka. It was his principle to be gentle to all women, but when it came to the woman he was in love with (for real), it was a different story. Riou had said that Ruka might intend to force Shusui into becoming an invalid, and make her her next body.
Ruka grinned, as if guessing what Shuuei was thinking.
“Heh heh, yes, if Shusui becomes ‘empty,’ then I intend to make good use of her. However, if her head is cut off, I cannot do that. I’ll make this short. Something was caught in the net that I spread out. Some rabble are going to the Prison of Time to slice off Shusui’s head and put an end to her.”
“—-Cut off Shusui’s head?!”
“If her head is cut off, I can’t use her body either. Right now I am in soul form, so I have no phsyical power. I was wondering what to do, but of course you can protect Shusui’s neck. That was why I said I would guide you. Now, what will you do?”
Shuuei looked at Ruka with a stern face. Just as Shuurei had said, she was truly a woman of great wit.
“…..So by caught in the net, you meant that you were using Shusui as bait.”
“……Now then. Hehehe. Shusui is not really the only one I’m using as scattered bait, so don’t get angry. Hmm?”
Implicitly, it was the same as saying she was also making use of Shuurei and the others. He was not at all happy about that. Also, Shuurei and Shuuei both still did not know Ruka’s intentions. Probably they were still in the palm of her hand.
Then, definitely Ruka was not lying. Since she was going to where Shusui was while ‘without physical power,’ the person who had tripped the alarm was a higher priority to her than protecting Shusui. She could be interpreted as practically saying ‘if her head falls off, then there’s nothing to be done about that.’
“….However, you clearly stated you intended to use Shusui-dono’s body.”
“I said that. It’s precious. especially now. If I can preserve it, I wish to do that.”
“I’m not a panda! You stop along the way, find “Kanshou” hanging there and me, say come and I’ll guide you, have me protect Shusui-dono, and then if that goes well, you’re going to take over her body.”
“That’s why if you don’t want to come, then fine. Only, Shusui’s head will fall off.”
It was as she said. She had calculated that even if he knew this, Shuuei could only agree to her plan. That was Hyou Ruka. The empress who had opposed King Senka and Shou Taishi. She….resembled Shuurei.
It might be a lie. But this time, he didn’t think it was a lie. Ruka might be lying magnificently. However, if she had wanted to make Shuuei fall into a trap, only to prevent him from going to Shusui, he didn’t think she would have flown here. Snow which shouldn’t have been falling was falling. That meant her power was weakening now.
She was taking some time doing this because there was something she needed to do, despite that. And that wasn’t something having to do with Shuuei or Shusui. He knew this upon seeing Ruka’s stern face.
(….Riou-kun said that something had happened within the Hyou clan….)
The elder Riou had said that there were some people messing with the Hyou clan. Something had happened.
Then, she would definitely guide Shuuei to where Shusui was. There was only one answer.
“—I will go. Because I came to find Shusui-dono.”
Ruka’s silken hair waved. She looked down and muttered like a girl.
“….Hmph. Men do was they please. You don’t wonder whether she might be happier as an invalid. …. Well then. Then I will guide you. After you pass the Hundred Corridors ahead, the Jade Sound Waterfall—-”
Ruka’s elegant brows drew together.
“….This is bad, it’s faster than I thought it would be. He’s already at the lowest level of the Prison of Time. It can’t be helped…. Fly there directly. I’ll let you use this red umbrella.”
“Huh? Fly?”
“It’s conservation of resources. When I was young, they used them up like hot water. It would have been better if they had conserved them like Uu Uu did. The ‘wind’ of the Ran clan makes things convenient. There’s still a bit left in this red umbrella….Hmm, it’ll do somehow.”
…..Shuuei felt as though he was watching Shuurei doing the household accounts.
Ruka’s fingers touched the red umbrella. As if to show respect. Her eyelashes lowered.
Then, the southern breeze of Ran Province blew through the freezing limestone cave. Wrapped in the middle of this, Shuuei suddenly noticed something.
Since Ruka had come, the wriggling presences of the spirits and evil beings had stayed far away and not tried to come close even once.
…..Regarding Ruka, he had many things he wished to say and many complaints.
However, certainly she was the High Priestess who protected this land with hr great power. She knew more than anyone else what would happen if she were not there. That was perhaps why she could not run away. No matter what twisted forms that too, no matter what sacrifices she made.
Then, definitely it was she, in a certain sense, who was a true High Priestess, perhaps.

Notes:
The quote from Shusui: I haven’t checked, but this quote is probably from volume eleven. BTW, Ruby showed me a (Chinese) interview (from when the author went to Taiwan) where the author had said that after volume eight she planned out the entire storyline up till the end. If so, I’m not surprised that things are much less ad hoc than they were at the beginning and we get stuff like quotes from five or six volumes ago. XD

Limestone caves: the author is distinguishing between a plain old cave (洞窟) and a limestone cave （鍾乳洞). The latter means the sort that is dripping with water and has stalactites and stalagmites.

About that expression: that part in quotes is an expression in Japanese which pretty much means ‘tremendously handsome man.’ I didn’t research too deeply into the matter, but probably Shuuei is correct about where it comes from.

Grave wax: This is for real, BTW. More technically, it’s called adipocere.

Commentary:

Shusui continues to suffer. Everyone in the Hyou clan continues to need therapy. And then the author finally does some character development in regards to Shuuei and Shusui’s relationship, which sort of echoes the stuff Jyuusan-hime was thinking last book. Shuuei understands Shusui much more than I had expected him to, which is fairly impressive given how much he doesn’t know about her. (As in, as far as I know, Shuuei knows nothing about the whole Bara-hime thing)

Re: the locusts. Well, that was kind of out of left field. More confusing is the conversation about magical powers. Since the author never bothered to do much work with developing the supernatural aspects, it sort of begins to beg the question of just what can the priestesses and magicians do? If Shunki is considered low level, and Eiki’s foresight not really that impressive, does that mean that Uu Uu and Ruka can do all of these things? Ruka has been shown to control the weather, possess people, travel astrally (separating her soul from her body and sending it somewhere; Uu Uu also did this), summon lightning to heal people, possess a mouse (or transform into one?), and other things which I’m probably forgetting. (Shusui has the power of clairvoyance, but it’s never concretely examined what this consists of; in any event, the 離魂 (separating of the soul) thing that Ruka and Uu Uu do seems to pretty much do the same thing) All of the people with supernatural powers appear able to teleport with the aid of the ‘passages.’ So why do some people seem to have just one power, whereas in other cases magic seems to be a general usage kind of thing? (BTW, in the text it isn’t 魔法 (magic), but 神力 (divine/supernatural power), and the practitioners seem to be 巫女 (priestesses) if they are female or 術者 (I translate it as magician, but it really is ‘practitioner’ in a general sense) if they are male. However in the context of the series, it’s sort of meaningless to call them ‘practitioners,’ so I translate it as magician. But, typically the Japanese word for magician is 魔術師.

The plot thickens. Not as much to say, except I lol’d at Ruka’s irritation at having to use up an umbrella, and yeah, everything does seem to be proceeding mostly within Ruka’s predictions. Here the protagonist characters are caught up in a drama in which they don’t really seem to be the protagonists, which is in a way fairly refreshing, though at times sort of making you wonder ‘eh, so what’s really important is what Ruka’s doing? But we don’t get to see what this is?’

Anyway, this will continue on in the second half of this chapter.