Akatsuki Translations

The letter delivered in the name of his uncle, Ba Ryouki, stated that he would be returning soon. Upon seeing this, Libi literally turned pale, prompting the bewildered A Shara, who had just finished her training, to wipe her sweat and ask, “What’s the matter? Is the return of the Sword Saint so terrifying?”

Libi hurriedly tried to compose himself. “N-No one is afraid… Perhaps the reason for the summons from the palace has been resolved with a minor issue, so I am rather delighted.”

“Don’t try to deceive me. It’s written on your face that you’re scared,” Shara said, flicking her middle finger and tapping Libi’s forehead.

“Ouch— Please spare me from your jests,” Libi protested, rubbing his reddened forehead.

“Well, never mind,” Shara said, halting her interrogation and starting to walk down the first-floor corridor of the fortress.

Libi crumpled up the letter in his hand, tucked it away, and followed behind with a gloomy expression.

“Do you intend to follow me?” Shara asked.

“Ah, no… Where are you headed, Lady A Shara?”

“I’ve worked up a sweat. I’m going to take a bath in my room.”

“Then, allow me to escort you to the front of your room.”

Shara realized that Libi, who modestly offered to accompany her, wanted to talk.

“Very well.”

As they walked along the wide corridor, those passing by deeply bowed their heads whenever they saw Shara.

Libi neither walked beside her nor directly behind her, but rather followed a short distance behind. His behavior seemed to be deliberately showing respect to her.

Shara was slightly weary of Libi’s servile attitude as of late.

“How is your father faring?” Libi asked.

“He’s lively. He was singing an off-key tune while shedding the fat on his belly, so he seems to be in a good mood.”

“Well, having gained victory over Murakumo, he must be feeling great.”

Shara smiled with a cold gaze. “If that victory had any meaning, then perhaps.”

“Oh my… You’re taking your uncle’s words to heart. You’ve achieved a splendid victory against that great nation that has roots like a large tree. Your father, who accomplished that, is an extraordinary man. Surely his name will go down in the history of the Southern Mountain.”

Upon hearing those words from Libi, the fine hairs on Shara’s back stood up.

“If you’re praising my father in an attempt to appease me, it’s a futile effort!”

Perhaps sensing the hint of anger that had leaked out, Libi became flustered. “Th-That was not my intention!”

“I know that my father A Zan’s reputation is not a good one. I’ve been told that countless times since I was a child. An upstart, a coward, a flatterer, and to top it off, he curried favor with my mother and secured his position. It’s said that even now, he’s the subject of ridicule in the palace. Everything Ba Ryouki said is true. My father must have entered that battle seeking immediate military exploits, desperately gathering strength using every means available. It’s the act of a petty person pursuing short-term gains without foresight, but I cannot bring myself to condemn him for it. People who lack confidence in themselves sometimes engage in illogical actions.”

As Shara rapidly spoke while walking briskly, Libi showed a face so pitiful that it looked frightened.

“I-I didn’t mean to anger you—”

Without giving him a chance to make excuses, Shara turned around and thrust her palm out in front of Libi.

“This is as far as you go.”

“But I haven’t received your forgiveness yet—”

Shara firmly pushed Libi’s chest as he still tried to persist.

“I don’t recall being close enough to show you my change of clothes!”

As she sharply spoke, Libi finally realized that they had reached Shara’s room and let out an “ah” sound.

Even so, he didn’t leave, instead showing an anxious face like a child separated from his parents. Feeling irritated, Shara acted on impulse and delivered a powerful kick to his lower abdomen.

“Gwah!?”

Shara looked down at Libi, who was writhing on the corridor floor while holding his stomach.

“I had reconsidered you as a man with some backbone, but it seems I was mistaken. The next time I see your face, if you come up with transparent flattery, it would be in your best interest to keep it to yourself.”

Having boldly declared those words, Shara forcefully closed the door.

＊

“…but which would you prefer?”

The young scribe’s words barely reached A Zan’s ears.

“Yeah,” A Zan replied absentmindedly, causing the scribe to shift his gaze in confusion.

“No, I mean… I was asking whether you would prefer meat or fish as the main dish to be served at the celebratory banquet.”

“Huh? Ah… Everyone must be tired of eating meat. Fish dishes should be fine for the main course.”

“Yes, that would be excellent. However, procuring the appropriate quantity will require some time. The banquet schedule will need to be adjusted accordingly and slightly delayed.”

A Zan gazed at the scribe’s solemn face with a vacant expression.

“I don’t mind. If you’re done with your business, leave me alone for a while.”

As A Zan dismissed the scribe with a wave of his hand, there was an immediate sound of an energetic knock on the door.

“I’m coming in.”

His daughter, Shara, entered the room with a self-assured manner without waiting for permission and lightly sat down on the long chair in the office.

Seated, Shara crossed her slender legs. Noticing the young scribe entranced by her alluring legs peeking out from her red training outfit, A Zan cleared his throat exaggeratedly.

After ensuring that the scribe had hurriedly left the room, A Zan turned his attention back to his daughter.

Though still young, her body already possessed ample charm, exuding enough allure to attract the interest of the opposite sex. Her exceptionally beautiful features, though no one would believe it, strongly inherited his own characteristics.

“There have been rumors going around that the Commanding General’s behavior has been strange these past few days. As your daughter, I couldn’t ignore it once I found out, so I came to check on your mood.”

Stared at by her confident, sparkling eyes, A Zan averted his gaze from his daughter.

“Don’t be swayed by rumors. I haven’t changed at all.”

“However, I thought you were humming in high spirits, elated by the victory celebration, but in just a short period, you’ve shut yourself in your room and refuse to come out. I believe that’s sufficient reason to conclude that the rumors are true.”

He was used to this valiant way of speaking. To some listeners, Shara’s words might sound terribly arrogant, but that would be a mistake. She spoke this way equally to everyone. It was the same whether it was to her grandfather, the king, or to her birth mother and father.

A Shara was a person born with the dignity of a monarch.

From the day she was born, she was a composed baby who hardly cried and remained nonchalant. From a young age, she took an interest in martial arts and never touched a doll, obsessively refining her techniques through imitation.

Faced with her weighty manner of speaking, imposing demeanor, and lovely appearance, many people felt the urge to bend their knees before her. Pathetically, that included her own father.

“I just have an upset stomach.”

“Oh, that’s worrisome.”

With just her words, Shara didn’t show a face that looked genuinely worried. This daughter saw through it, her father’s lie.

“A-Anyway, what about the young warrior from Shanoa? I heard you’ve been seen together frequently since the battle.”

When he tried to change the subject, Shara showed a rare expression of exasperation.

“Well, he follows me around even though I didn’t ask him to.”

It was a casual remark, but upon hearing it, A Zan raised his eyebrows.

“I thought Lord Libi disliked you.”

“Hmm, I actually thought so too.”

Perhaps there had been a change of heart, but it seemed that the nephew of Shanoa’s hero had somehow taken an interest in his daughter.

“I see…”

As A Zan nodded like a cow chewing grass, Shara’s eyes sharpened with intensity.

“I hope you’re not thinking of repeating that nonsense. Ba Libi is not a bad person, but he’s a commoner. He’s not a suitable match for me to devote myself to.”

“Yes, I understand. Since you say so, I won’t say any more about it.”

“That’s wise—By the way, I heard that the Sword Saint of Shanoa is returning.”

At the sudden information, A Zan raised his eyebrows.

“When was this?”

“It’s something I heard from Lord Libi two or three days ago. Hasn’t the news reached you as well, Father?”

A Zan lowered his gaze to his desk. Scattered there were piles of neglected documents and letters. It wouldn’t be surprising if a letter informing of Ba Ryouki’s revisit was buried among them.

“Well, I’ve seen your face, so I’ll be going. I think it’s improper not to offer gratitude to the hero of the battle even once. How about meeting with him as soon as the Sword Saint returns?”

After seeing off his daughter, who had casually left some meddling advice, A Zan shifted his hips and leaned his back heavily against the chair.

Just being in his daughter’s presence was extremely tiring. The word “commoner” she used to refer to Ba Ryouki’s nephew didn’t feel like someone else’s business. He himself, who had overtaken others through smooth talk and cowardly means to achieve his current position, was precisely fit to be called a commoner.

His daughter, who had mastered excellent martial arts at a young age. Ba Ryouki, who had gained status solely through his martial prowess and had been bestowed a treasured sword by the king of a great nation. Whenever they looked at him, their eyes darkened considerably. Each time he sensed pity or contempt in their gazes, he was driven by intense self-loathing.

The others were the same. They all knew how he had obtained this seat. Even those who outwardly acted subservient were inwardly laughing at him for using a woman and currying favor with the king through flattery to gain a high position.

At times like this, the one and only sacred space that restored his confidence had lost its meaning due to a nameless Murakumo soldier he had thrown in as mere prey.

The man, who should have been afraid, imagining the pain he would suffer while putting his life in danger, had stared down at him like Ba Ryouki and Shara did, even going as far as threatening him.

“Argh! How long am I going to stay like this?!”

Shouting to himself, A Zan kicked the chair and stood up with his heavy body.

—I’ll take it back.

He would obtain what he wanted by any means necessary. That was the kind of person A Zan was, and it was this greed that had given him everything he had now.

A Zan thought it was too regrettable to lose the cherished place of repose he had carefully nurtured up until now because of a single foreign object.

To psyche himself up, he strongly slapped his sagging belly.

To continue being himself, he had to overcome his weaknesses.