At the heart of Edo lay the towering Edou Castle, perched atop a small hill that overlooked the city below. Surrounded by deep moats and featuring its iconic central keep—the tenshukaku—the castle exuded both grandeur and unshakable authority.
We disembarked from the airship onto a bridge spanning the moat. On the other side of the bridge was an impressive castle gate with guards strictly checking who enter and exit.
“Hmm, a suspicious group of foreigners huh. This is Edou Castle—the residence of the Shogun himself. This is not a sightseeing spot. Entry is strictly prohibited without permission.”
Naturally, we weren’t allowed in just by asking nicely. That’s when the old samurai stepped forward.
“Hn? C-could you be… No… It is you, Sir!”
“Indeed. I am Yagyu Genzo, former sword instructor to the shogunate.”
“Y-Yagyū Shinnen-ryū…!”
Apparently, the old man’s name is Genzo—and judging by the startled expressions on the guards’ faces, that name carried serious weight.
“Please wait just a moment!”
Before long, a more senior-looking guard came rushing out. His eyes were wide in disbelief.
“Yagyū-dono! It’s been a long time! Has it been ten years already? But… your limbs…”
It seemed they knew each other.
“It’s been a long time. I’ve come today to deliver an urgent report to the Shogun. I’ve detailed everything in this letter—please see that it’s delivered promptly.”
With those words, Genzo handed over a sealed document.
“…Would it be alright if we confirmed its contents first?”
“I have no objections.”
“Then, if you’ll excuse me…”
Given it was something for the Shogun himself, it was only natural they’d want to verify it. Genzo, of course, understood that, and nodded without resistance.
After reading the letter, the senior guard froze for a brief moment, then snapped to attention.
“W-we will arrange an audience at once! However, it may take some time to prepare. Please wait in the office in the meantime.”
And just like that, we were ushered past the gate and into the castle. Thanks to the old man being here, we are able to get through smoothly. If it had just been Karen showing up, things would’ve gone very differently.
We ended up waiting a while, but during that time we were treated with utmost hospitality. We are offered tea and sweets. Judging by the guards’ reactions, it was safe to say that being the sword instructor to the Shogunate was a position of serious prestige.
“Ojiichan, you used to be a really important person huh.”
“Hah, that was a long time ago.”
Karen beamed with pride while Genzo gave a modest chuckle.
“Master founded the Yagyū Shinnen-ryū style in just a single generation. Even though Master came from a small village, he rose all the way to become the Shogun’s sword instructor. Even now, applicants flock to the village hoping to study under Master. Most of them get turned away though. Of course, I was accepted right away!”
Karen puffed her chest as she talked about it with pride.
Genzo, however, simply snorted.
“I figured a reckless fool like you would die a dog’s death if I left you alone, so I decided to give you some guidance out of pity.”
“Was it pity?! I thought you saw promise in me and recognized my potential!”
As they bickered, a man dressed in formal attire approached us.
“Yagyu-dono, preparations for your audience with the Shogun is done. Please follow me.”
We were led down the hallway.
Along the way there are various doors with complex locks and staircases with tricks, including some large-scale mechanisms that make entire rooms rotate or float in the air. It was clear this entire path was designed to disorient intruders—or prevent anyone from memorizing the route.
They said Edou had been at peace for generations, and politically stable too… but clearly, they weren’t letting their guard down.
Eventually, we arrived at an enormous chamber, about a hundred meters from end to end. The floors were covered with soft, woven mats called tatami, and the sliding doors on either side bore exquisite paintings. At the far end, raised slightly above the rest of the room, sat a figure we could only assume as the Shogun.
A bamboo screen—called a sudare—hung in front of him, hiding his appearance from view.
“It has been some time, Yagyu Genzo. And for the rest of you, this must be our first meeting. I am Tokuyama Ietaka, the thirty-sixth Shogun.”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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