As I was heading to my favorite restaurant in town, I ran into Sheren. #Oh, Baseson, you never change, do you?#
As I chatted with her, she told me that Go members are apparently training for the martial arts tournament at their mansion.
At Sheren's invitation, I went to Go's mansion after eating with her.
Sheren: Oh, they're at it.
Sheren's eyes glittered as she heard blades clashing.
Kazuto: They're really motivated.
Sheren: Of course. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that our country's prestige is riding on this.
Sheren: Shishun, Minmei! Beat the crap out of Shunran! #I wonder if Gi side is saying that as well#
Two: Yes!
Kazuto: ...Don't put any weird ideas into them, okay?
Sheren: I'm not, okay? Just cheering them up.
Sai: Youngsters need to get their victories... but they're both pretty diligent. Their swordsmanship is much more polished than before.
Sheren: Well, they survived that war, after all. It's only normal for them to be one man armies.
Sai: Yeah... Fu, fufu, fufufufufu. #Kazuto also survived that war though#
Kazuto: S, Sai-san? What's wrong?
Sai: My blood is boiling too now! Hey, Ashe!
Ashe: Y, yes?!
Sai: Join me!
Ashe: Eh... eeeh?! #Are they going to tell us what weapon she uses?#
Sai: You're a former member of royal guard. Try to remember your former self as you join me as my opponent!
Ashe: B, but, there's no way I'm good enough to be your opponent, Sai-sama!
Sai: Well, don't worry about it, I'll hold back! #Wait, is this Go version of Tanpopo or Pairen's battles?#
Ashe: Auu... I'm sure you're lying... #Then, will Gi beat up Nagi's trio?#
Kazuto: Well... there's no way anyone would believe the phrase "holding back" when their opponent is creaking with their hand and neck bones.
If her clothes get ripped here, it'll be like that end of the century savior story. #I have no idea what this reference is to#
Sheren: Ashe. Sorry, but can you keep an elder some company? #So, you're not going to save her, of course?#
Ashe: B, but, there's no way I can match Sai-sama... #She's a strategist and official#
Sheren: It's okay. I promote your strength... in fact, beat up Sai instead.
Ashe: Uuu, there's no way... #Yup, Sai is on par with Ren#
Sai: Ashe! Stop stalling and let's do it.
Ashe: Okay...
As she's clearly not motivated, Ashe gave a feeble reply and approached Sai-san.
Meirin: Jeez. It's unheard of to make a strategist and an officer fight. #The strongest strategist in game and the strongest officer of Go#
Sheren: She's a strategist now, but she is a former officer, so why not?
Meirin: But, do you know it would be a problem if she returns to her past and loses her current strategist nature?
Sheren: She probably won't ever return to being Ah Mou again... Kazuto is around too.
Kazuto: ...Was Ashe amazing before?
Meirin: Yeah... I won't go in details, but to sum it up... more than Sheren. #...Wat?#
Kazuto: Eeh?!
Sheren: Hey, Meirin, that's a weird way to explain it... also, Kazuto, don't get so surprised!
Kazuto: Well... even now, despite living as she pleases, Sheren is extremely strong, so if you say she was more amazing, anyone would be surprised... anyone would.
Meirin: I understand how you feel, seeing how you even repeated it for emphasis.
Kazuto: I'm glad you understand... so, back to the topic, how is Ashe right now?
She's calm, gentle, serious and hardworking. #One of the nicest girls in the game, yup#
Just what happened to this earnest girl in past...
Meirin: I said I won't go in details... well, various stuff.
Kazuto: Hmm... what a mystery... #I still want to know what weapon she used#
Meirin: Don't ask, okay? For Ashe, that's something she doesn't want you to know about.
Kazuto: I know. Past doesn't matter. I'm happy enough with Ashe just staying by my side.
Sheren: I'm surprised noone stabbed Kazuto yet, if he's telling such things to everyone.
Kazuto: Don't say such scary things... #He might be an idiot, but he's still alive somehow#
Meirin: In Hongou's case, women cooperate with each other, so it's okay. #Not all of them. There's not nearly enough cooperation#
Sheren: But if he ignores anyone, he'll die in no time.
Sheren said that with a smile, but made a gesture showing my neck getting cut.
Kazuto: I don't plan to ignore anyone. I'm aware that everyone loves attention.
Meirin: That's good then... love everyone equally, Hongou. #Except for Shunran. Also, Keifa and Nene probably don't want any#
Kazuto: I'm giving it my all.
Sheren: That aside... are there any prerequisites for participating in the martial arts tournament?
Kazuto: Prerequisites? ...I've heard that anyone can participate, why do you ask?
Sheren: I also want to...
Meirin: Rejected.
Sheren: Why... I won't just accept it if you tell me I can't participate in a festival this interesting, you know?
Meirin: You gave the reins to Renfa, but you're a still a royalty of Go. I can't agree to it, considering worst case scenario.
Sheren: Can anyone other than Shunran or Ren pull that worst case scenario against me?
Kazuto: Don't be so confident... what about Aisha and the rest?
Sheren: I can trust that Aisha and the rest will stop if things get dangerous.
Kazuto: ...? What about Iishe's group?
Sheren: I'm not so rusty I'd lose to someone that's not even a challenge for me, you know?
Kazuto: ...It's making even less sense, do you mean Shunran can bring that worst case scenario then?
Sheren: In her case, don't you think she might carelessly kill me? Something like "Ah, sorry, I couldn't stop in time".
Kazuto: ..............That's possible.
Shunran is the most careless in the Three Kingdoms after all.
Sheren: And in Ren's case, it's just that she's so strong that we both can't afford to hold back, so there's no telling what can happen.
Kazuto: Yeah... I don't want to sound irresponsible, but even though she's the most careless in the Three Kingdoms, Shunran knows to stop in time.
Sheren: Well, she's quite skilled, after all. I'm only talking about the possibility. #That's why it's many times worse that she's trying to chop Kazuto sometimes#
Meirin: And that uncertain factor is why I'm telling you not to participate, you know?
Sheren: Boo...
Meirin: Even if you look at me like that, I won't give my permission.
Sheren: You say that, but you'll give one in the end, that's just how you are, Meirin...
Saying that, Sheren clung to Meirin's arm... And Meirin too. She's making an affectionate wry smile, so she probably likes that.
Meirin: Jeez... you really fawn over me at times like this. #Why is there still no H-scene with both of them and Kazuto?#
Meirin muttered a complaint, but it had a gentle tone mixed in... she probably agreed to it already.
Sheren: I'll fawn over you in bed as well. #Oh, there IS a H-scene with both of them... In Eiyuutan#
Meirin: Don't say more than you should. #Also three Son sisters, Renfa+Touka, Aisha+Karin#
Kazuto: Well, getting along is a beautiful thing... so, you're also participating then, Sheren?
Sheren: Yup, definitely.
It's kinda humorous to see Meirin making a resigned wry smile in contrast with satisfied Sheren.
Kazuto: (Well, that's how those two always are...)
As I was thinking of the relationship between them...
Sai: Ugyaaah! #...No, seriously. Wat?#
Kazuto: Whoa?! What was that scream of someone fainting?!
Ashe: Sheren-sama! Meirin-sama! Sai-sama just...
Sheren: I'll go right away!
Sheren: Sai, what's wrong?!
Sai: Ah, owwww...
Unable to respond to Sheren, Sai is sitting on the ground and holding her own waist.
Sai: My waist... my poor waist... #Well, thought so. Still, that means Ashe was that strong#
Kazuto: Waist... did you strain it? #Considering unarmed Sai defeated most of Gi officers in Gi route#
Meirin: Jeez... that's because you get too excited without thinking of your age.
Sai: Ugh... well, I wanted to hang out with everyone...
Sheren: Don't try to say it like that. Jeez. That's pathetic for a Go's elder, Sai.
Sai: I have no excuse... #I wonder if Enren will have this problem as well#
Meirin: Sigh... Ashe. Sorry, but stop the training here and bring Sai-dono to the infirmary.
Ashe: Yes! Come on, Sai-sama...
Addressing her in a gentle voice, Ashe helped Sai-san stand up, avoiding putting too much weight on her waist.
Sai: Uu... sorry for troubling you, Ashe.
Ashe: Don't worry about that, Sai-sama.
They slowly headed towards the infirmary, and their conversation reminded me of some period drama.
Sheren: So Sai dropped out... then, Go members are Shishun, Minmei, Ashe, and there there's me.
Meirin: Not much, compared to the other two countries... #Sucks not having Rian and Suiren, eh?#
Sheren: Hmm...
As they were troubled by the amount of participants...
Renfa: Kazuto! Why are you at our mansion? Where did you get here? Why did you come?
Kazuto: Ah, Renfa. You were also here? #In comes the official wife. And damn she sounds happy#
Renfa: Yeah. I'm working on the paperwork today. It piled up a lot recently. But, since you're here, Kazuto, I'll stop here for today.
Kazuto: No, no. I'm happy to hear that, but what about your work? #In my mind, Renfa is his wife, everyone else are his lovers#
Renfa: I finished most of it. All that's left is just a minor work that I just need to stamp.
Kazuto: I see. Then, we can be together for a bit longer. #Also, I like how she doesn't hide that she's happy to see him#
Renfa: A bit... are you busy today?
Kazuto: It's partly due to your side. I went to have a lunch, but Sheren invited me to come here, so I'll have tons of work to do later.
Renfa: Hmm... by work, do you mean stuff related to the capital?
Kazuto: Yeah. There's been a lot of work related to the Three Kingdom alliance lately, so paperwork is piling up.
Renfa: Then, I'll help you with it. #Now if only she didn't join everyone in backstabbing him...#
Kazuto: Are you sure? That would be a big help! #What happened to Ei? Or with hiring you a new assistant?#
Renfa: Fufu, of course. Then, I'll head back to my room and finish my part of the work...
Sheren: Stop right there, Renfa.
Renfa: Nee-sama? Is something wrong?
Sheren: Yeah... your participation in the martial arts tournament has just been decided!
Renfa: ................Eeh?!
Sheren: You'll participate as a representative of Go! It's decided! #What about Shao? She's pretty strong too#
Renfa: W, wait a bit, Nee-sama! ...Even if the likes of me participated in the tournament that has military officers of all countries!
Sheren: Renfa, come here for a bit...
Renfa: ...Yes?
Sheren beckoned Renfa to come closer and whispered something to her. And then...
Renfa: I'll participate! Let me participate! #It's definitely related to Kazuto#
Kazuto: Eeh?!
Sheren: Well said! As expected of the king of Go! Then, let's get to training right away! Shishun, Minmei! I'll personally train you!
Two: We're grateful!
Sheren: Okay, let's fire up! Our goal is to win the martial arts tournament!
Three: Yeah!
I tilted my head in confusion, seeing Renfa and the rest getting oddly inspired by Sheren.
Kazuto: ...Umm... what about helping me with my work? #How about good girl Meirin do that for you instead?#
Meirin: Looking at how Renfa-sama acts right now, she definitely completely forgot about it.
Kazuto: Jeez... just what did Sheren tell Renfa?
Meirin: Can't you guess? #I have a few ideas, but not sure#
Kazuto: I can't.
Meirin: Then that just means you still don't understand Sheren well enough...
Kazuto: Meirin, do you know then? #Probably something like "show your cool side to Kazuto"#
Meirin: I do.
Kazuto: Now that's a confident statement... please tell me, for the sake of my education.
Meirin: Heh... she probably told her something she wasn't sure of herself, for her own entertainment.
Kazuto: I see... that explanation is pretty credible.
Meirin: Fufu, right? It was about five years ago that I noticed that thinking pattern of Sheren...
Kazuto: Isn't five years ago pretty recent?!
Meirin: She was relatively obedient while Bundai-sama was still alive. I finally noticed shortly after Bundai-sama died.
Meirin: Well, now that I think about it, it was probably already hidden in her behavior and words when she was still a child...
Kazuto: I wonder... But I'm pretty sure that Bundai-san's influence formed Sheren's current personality...
Meirin: Exactly... in all ways, she was on a whole different level. #Wait, are we going to see meek Sheren in Kakumei then?#
Meirin: Current Sheren, and even Karin, are called Conquerors and all, but compared to her, they're mere children.
Kazuto: ...Seriously? #They made it really challenging for themself to add her#
A king greater than extremely free Sheren and famously strict Karin. #Umm... Kuon?#
Kazuto: Just what did Bundai-san do...
Meirin: Out of the cases I've heard of, the ones that made me doubt my ears... there were at least ten of them.
Kazuto: ...What, for example? #Is she like NGNL's Sora?#
Meirin: For example... there were bandits that attacked a river port, and she made them retreat by making gestures as if Kan army was nearby.
Kazuto: ...? For being called a hero, that sounded pretty plain. #Yup. Sure, a nice bluff, but no big deal#
Meirin: Up to that point... this story has a second half, she invaded their hideout by herself and swept about two hundred of them.
Kazuto: ...Eh? Two hundred, alone?! #Almost everyone here can do that easily#
Meirin: Yeah. By the way, their hideout was a mansion occupied by some rich man, and bandits occupied it after driving its resident out.
Meirin: After Bundai-sama invaded it and swept those bandits... former residents saw the gruesome way they were killed, refused cleaning that mansion up and, in the end, just burned it down.
Kazuto: What... #Okay, THAT was interesting#
It's not on the level of mighty warrior or a hero. #She was just reckless and brutal. Not a king's quality#
Meirin: After she became a boss, she had to suppress a rebellion in Kyosho, there were religionists that were leading the way, and she gathered them all in one place and burned them down.
Kazuto: That sounds too scary... #Doesn't sound like a good king to me#
Meirin: I believe it's only normal for that parent to have a child like this. #What about Renfa and Shao then?#
Meirin: And to finish it off... when Sheren and I were still children, she put us on the saddle with her, rushed into the enemy camp that had around three thousand people and massacred them while laughing.
Kazuto: And how many allies did you have?
Meirin: A hundred.
Kazuto: ...
Meirin: It's embarrassing to say, I fainted back then, but Sheren apparently kept watching Bundai-sama's violent act until the end.
Meirin: I was seriously worried about Sheren back then, she just wouldn't stop laughing.
Kazuto: Bundai-san, so brutal...
Meirin: But, well, we only have current Go thanks to Sheren being this way. #So, Enren is the only way to turn Reiha into a reasonable person#
Kazuto: She's an unquestionable hero, after all...
Kazuto: But... I'm still wondering about what Sheren told Renfa.
Meirin: I can more or less guess what those words were... anyway, Hongou.
Kazuto: Hmm?
Meirin: If you're okay with me, I'll help you with your work. #...This... feels good...#
Kazuto: Seriously?! Whoa, thanks, Meirin! #Appreciate her more, you bastard!#
Meirin: I don't mind. I'm also interested to see how Hongou manages the capital. So I'll also learn something new.
Kazuto: I doubt I can teach Beautiful Shuu anything... but it's a big help. I'm counting on you, Meirin.
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