KANA 40
The Fierce Saintess
Episode 40: Joukyou 4 (1687) - Part 2
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*****
After having her father Yasutomi, who had come to check on the progress of her arithmetic studies, teach her a little about how to handle counting rods for division, Princess Kana was told that her exclusive escort would arrive in three days.
「My, an escort for me. Father, Suou and Kaou are already with me, so I think it's unnecessary.」
「Indeed so, Lord Father! We shall protect the Princess!」
The young foxes, puffing out their snorts over the abacus, puffed out their chests together.
「I know. But since you two are still in training, you must take turns going to the Hermit Realm, and during that time she will naturally be left with half of her usual defense. Besides, something like the other day could happen again at any time.」
As he said this, Yasutomi gently patted the Princess's head. The commotion that occurred on New Year's Eve had happened by taking advantage of the moment when all the Onmyouji, including Yasutomi, were away. As the head of the Onmyou Bureau and as a father, he wanted to make sure that such a thing never happened again.
「Besides, Yasumasa has Matsuba and Kaede.」
「......That is true.」
「Normally, they are assigned when one turns ten, but well, there's no problem. Also, Chino says she is suspending dance practice for the time being.」
At those words, although the Princess was concerned about her mother's physical condition, she felt relieved that practice was suspended and started to rejoice, but—
「Instead, she said you should practice archery.」
「Archery... For what reason...?」
「Because there are sacred rituals that involve using bows, I suppose.」
Indeed, there are many sacred rituals involving bows and arrows, especially the bow-shooting rituals held at the New Year to pray for an abundant harvest and the warding off of disasters, which are performed at many shrines.
「As for who you should learn from, Hon'ami-dono knows a lot about it, so you should consult with him.」
Saying that he had certainly conveyed the message and turning back, her father departed, leaving Princess Kana to let out a sigh.
(In the end, my practice time might increase, but it's never going to decrease...)
＊＊＊
「That's why I've come to learn archery. Do you know any good instructors?」
Having finished her calligraphy practice using mantras shortly past noon, Princess Kana immediately brought up the consultation with old Jiro.
「Well then, I know a good dojo, so shall we go take a look together? It's a dojo of the Heki-ryū Dōsetsu school, but since it's located in Gojō, commuting there should be easy.」
「A dojo! Am I going outside to learn?」
「Indeed. As for deportment, this old man could teach you right here in the mansion, but when it comes to actually shooting arrows, it would be better for you to attend a dojo. Especially since horseback archery is impossible without a dedicated riding ground. Ah, that might be the reason for the escort, too.」
「Is that so?」
Hearing that she would be attending a dojo, Princess Kana's mouth relaxed into a smile.
Until now, whenever the Princess went out, it was usually accompanied by her father or mother, and the destination was mostly a shrine or a village head's estate managing the territory.
On rare occasions, she would visit a residence where daughters of her own age lived, but the daughters of other families were all quiet, and perhaps overwhelmed by Princess Kana's divine power, they usually fell ill while playing together, so that had stopped recently.
Therefore, even with an escort, the idea of attending a dojo in town seemed immensely appealing to her.
(On the way back from practice, I might even be able to eat some sweets!)
「Still, as expected of old Jiro. You truly know everything. Not only swordsmanship, but archery as well?」
「To appraise them, whether sword or spear, one must know how they are used, so I learned various things. Besides, what one learns in childhood is something the body strangely remembers.」
Old Jiro went by the name Hon'ami Kōden Jirōzaemon, a branch family member of the Hon'ami family, who were authorities on swords, and he himself had a past background of appraising and caring for swords under lords.
「Though someone like me will soon become useless for the job. The basics of deportment are etiquette, which has commonalities with the movements of miko dances, so the Princess will likely master it immediately.」
「Really? But when it comes to actually drawing a bow, it takes strength, I wonder if I can do it. Besides, horseback archery surely isn't necessary.」
「I will have them prepare a bow that matches your stature, so I believe it will be fine. Furthermore, the Princess will eventually ride divine messengers just like Lord Yasutomi. If so, learning it won't be a loss.」
「Oh, indeed. Riding from the back of a divine messenger soaring through the sky like Father! That sounds so cool!」
At those words, Suou and Kaou scrambled onto the Princess's lap, competing with each other.
「Then, I shall carry you!」
「No, Princess, ride upon my back!」
「What are you saying? Most of those who carry masters are wind users. Besides, I can already soar through the skies. It's decided that I will carry her.」
「No! I, too, have just recently become able to float. I can run right away. By all means, choose my back!」
They began arguing over who would carry the Princess. The sight of the little foxes pressing close, putting their faces together and eagerly begging 'choose me, ride me', was so utterly adorable that the Princess hugged them both without thinking. Their soft fur tickled her cheeks and nose.
(My little foxes are truly so lovely.)
In the end, the divine messengers' dispute continued until Saki's voice was heard saying, "Let's make it a snack time."
「Speaking of archery, there was a military commander who became a master of martial arts and academics despite being a woman...」
Right now, while eating a grass dumpling coated in soybean flour, old Jiro was telling the divine messengers the story of Hangaku Gozen (板額御前).
「After her older brother's death, to protect her nephew, the young head Lord Sukemori, she took on the appearance of a boy, climbed up the watchtower, and shot down enemies left and right with the arrows loosed by her mighty arms! Her hit rate was literally one hundred out of a hundred!」
「Oh, my word!」
「How splendid!」
The little foxes were very fond of old Jiro, their snack-time companion. Suou, in particular, loved the anecdotes related to military commanders and famous swords told by the old man, and constantly begged for stories.
Even now, while Suou was listening absorbedly, Kaou stealthily snatched a dumpling from Suou's plate without him noticing. While watching this scene, the Princess thought about her own escort.
(Still, an escort for me. What kind of person is going to come, I wonder. Someone too rugged... I'd rather avoid that.)
The face of Shutetsu, who served as her older brother's escort, floated into her mind. She knew he was a diligent person and skilled at arms, but because he was a man of large stature and voice with a stern face, to Princess Kana, who had just turned nine, he gave a slightly scary impression and she wasn't fond of him.
(However, someone who isn't rugged or stern wouldn't be useful as an escort, would they? It's difficult...)
＊＊＊
The next day, with her father's permission, Princess Kana decided to head out to observe the dojo. However, she went in a sedan chair called a female palanquin, accompanied by four rokushaku (persons carrying vehicles), two in front and two in the back.
Moreover, aside from old Jiro, two escorts accompanied her as part of the retinue, making it a large-scale inspection; otherwise, permission wouldn't have been granted, so it couldn't be helped.
Suou and Kaou were inside the palanquin with the Princess.
「Princess, a palanquin shakes terribly, doesn't it?」
「It feels somehow unsettled, doesn't it?」
Actually, it wasn't shaking all that terribly, but perhaps because it was normally a palanquin used by Chino, it was a bit large for the Princess's body.
Inside the swaying palanquin, if one carelessly sat right in the middle, their body would roll from right to left, bumping their head and body against various places.
It was the same for the little foxes; they were sitting flat on their bottoms, gripping the hem and sleeves of the Princess's kimono tightly.
「Hold onto me tightly so neither of you rolls over.」
The Princess herself firmly caught the armrests with both hands, extended one leg, and pressed it against the sliding door part to keep her body from moving around inside.
(Ugh, my legs are going to cramp...)
Thankfully, they reached their destination without taking too much time, so her legs avoided cramping.
Upon getting out of the palanquin, word must have already reached them. A young samurai who was said to be a disciple was waiting beside the gate to guide them inside.
「First, I will guide you through the dojo inside. This way, please.」
As told, they followed along in a straggling group. According to the disciple, there were three types of dojos: one with straw bundles placed in it, a short-distance target range, and a long-distance target range, and a riding ground for Yabusame was also located on the adjacent property.
In particular, because the long-distance target range had targets modeled after the Sanjūsangen-dō, Asa (和佐) Noritō, who newly became the best in the land through 'Ōyakazu' last year, had also practiced at this place before the competition.
「Wasa-dono belongs to the Chikurin style so his school is different from ours, but his skill is wonderful, and just watching his practice was very educational. When he became the best in the land, I went to watch, and I was really moved.」
The title of 'Best in the Land' was an honorary title given to someone who achieved a new record in 'Ōyakazu'—the arrow-shooting competition of continuously shooting arrows from dusk to dawn for a full day and night under the eaves of the Sanjūsangen-dō hall of Rengeō-in. Last year, Wasa of the Kishu domain became the best in the land with a record of 8,133 successful arrow passes out of 13,053.
「Come to think of it, Hoshino-dono reportedly exerted himself for that record.」
When old Jiro asked, the disciple answered happily.
「That's right! At dawn, when Wasa-dono's condition worsened, Hoshino Kanzaemon Shigenori (星野勘左衛門茂則) dono, the former best in the land at the time, appeared and cured the congestion in Wasa-dono's left hand by cutting it with a small knife. Thanks to that, Wasa-dono recovered his condition and achieved that great record.」
He spoke with deep emotion about how, even though the Kishu domain and Owari domain were constantly competing for the top spot, being able to do something like that was amazing.
(It means that the person who became the best in the land also had a dignity as a human being that was the best in the land.)
While they were talking about such things, they arrived at the dojo. Things like rice straw bales were placed on a platform, with several of them lined up.
「This is the makiwara room, and when practicing forms and such...」
After being guided around for about an hour, the inspection for the day came to an end.
＊＊＊＊
Three days later.
「Kana, are you making progress!」
Appearing where the Princess was copying the mantras of Bishamonten, her father said:
「I've brought the escort we talked about the other day. Here, step forward. His name is Kurogane. He is still thirteen years old, but he is quite an adept practitioner.」
The person who showed their face from behind her father was a boy wearing ink-colored Iga trousers (伊賀袴) and puttees (脚絆). His hair, which looked long enough to reach his shoulders if untied, was tied tightly in the back, but his bangs crossed his eyebrows and hung over his eyes, which was somewhat bothersome.
「My name is Kurogane. I look forward to working with you.」
He bowed his head with a peck, but his gaze was directed elsewhere, not even trying to look at the Princess.
(How unpleasant.)
「Kaou.」
Calling out in a low voice and making a finger-flicking gesture, the other also nodded in an understanding manner.
「Here you go!!」
Thud!
「Ouch!」
An ice shard the size of a thumb hit Kurogane's forehead, and she could immediately tell it was swelling up into a bump.
「What are you doing!」
Holding his forehead with his hand, Kurogane finally turned toward the Princess.
「you don't have to push yourself to protect me. I'm not that weak, you see.」
From the hand of Princess Kana, who had set down her brush, a paper doll shikigami was launched.
*****
Thank you for reading. If you want to help me please buy me a ko-fi.
It will give more motivation to work on more chapters.
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