Chapter 100: From Onboard with Love
On a certain stretch of open grassland near Edo.
The Chōshū army had made camp there, and two days had already passed.
Though they had marched for over a month without pause, there was not the slightest trace of exhaustion on the soldiers’ faces. On the contrary—anticipation burned in their eyes, their expressions brimming with fierce resolve.
The reason was simple.
They had them.
First—Hijikata, Chōshū’s peerless swordsman.
“Hahaha! With this war, I’ll prove once and for all that I am the strongest in Hinomaru!”
Next—Yoshida, lord of Chōshū.
“Our enemy is the Tokugawa shogunate, not Sakamoto personally. Do refrain from wandering off to search for him on your own.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know that much.”
“Good grief… My apologies as always, Hero-dono.”
And finally—the Principality’s Hero, Kagetora.
“No need to apologize. The ferocity worthy of the name ‘Demon Hijikata’—it’s magnificent.”
These three figures alone were enough to elevate Chōshū’s morale.
The two domain leaders were expected pillars, but the Hero’s popularity was surprisingly high as well.
After all, Kagetora hailed from the same homeland as the First Hero who had once saved the world and founded Hinomaru. His name, his appearance—he could pass for a native of Hinomaru without question.
Coupled with his agreeable personality, it was little wonder the soldiers had taken to him so readily.
Though he appeared composed, Hero Kagetora’s heart was racing.
“So that is the castle keep…”
Even from this distance, he could faintly make out the towering tenshukaku piercing the sky.
(So beneath that soaring structure lies the city of Edo… The First Hero and his companions truly understood what they were building…)
He turned once to look over the assembled Chōshū forces.
(Not just that. Demon Hijikata Toshizō. Yoshida Shōin. And on the opposing side—Sakamoto Ryoma. I can hardly contain myself…)
“Hero-dono, is something the matter?”
“No, nothing at all. …It’s just—if we achieve victory this time, the Principality and Hinomaru will become allied nations, will they not? If that happens, I’d like to remain in Hinomaru for a while. Of course, I don’t know if permission would be granted.”
“You would be most welcome here. Though to be frank, the upper echelons of the Principality are difficult to read. That applies to this war as well… and to permission.”
The Principality had dispatched only a single asset: the Hero himself.
Ideally, they would have preferred an army. Yet the Hero was the Principality’s trump card. Sending him alone still indicated a minimum degree of commitment from its leadership.
The Hero glanced about.
“By the way… when is the Hizen army expected to arrive?”
“They should arrive today at the latest.”
“When were they originally scheduled to join us?”
“…The day before yesterday.”
“That’s… rather concerning.”
“Yes. In truth, the situation is highly troubling.”
(Yet Ōkuma-dono is strict about time. And not only have they failed to arrive—no courier has come either. Something is deeply amiss.)
Yoshida’s thoughts sharpened.
“There may be a reason our own route was left untouched.”
“For example?”
“Suppose the enemy laid every trap imaginable solely along Hizen’s route, delaying them drastically. Suppose they targeted Hizen’s couriers as well, severing communication. In time, rumors might spread among our ranks—that Hizen has betrayed us. Such a strategy, perhaps.”
“Wait… Didn’t you say Tokugawa wasn’t worth fearing?”
“I did. There is no one within Tokugawa capable of conceiving such a plan. However, if the Astoria Empire is lending full support, that changes matters. That great nation overflows with exceptional minds. For them, this would be child’s play.”
“…………”
That night, the soldiers gathered around bonfires, seeking warmth beneath the open sky.
“Hizen still hasn’t come?”
“For Ōkuma to be late is serious.”
“He’s strict about timing.”
“You don’t think… betrayal?”
“Idiot. Don’t be absurd.”
“Exactly. We hold overwhelming advantage. We’ve prepared for years. Why would they switch sides now?”
“Then why aren’t they here?”
“““““…………”””””
Suddenly—
“Enemy attack!!! Prepare for combat!!!”
“Sound the conch horns!!!”
A rain of arrows whistled through the darkness, descending upon the grassland.
“Gah!”
“Damn it—my shoulder!”
“Are you alright?!”
But before proper formation could be established, the attackers vanished back into the night.
Yoshida frowned.
“They’ve outmaneuvered us… To think the side meant to be besieged would sortie instead…”
(There is no doubt—an Imperial strategist is involved.)
The assailants were archers under Ii Naomasa.
“Well done, Ii-san.”
“Yes. They won’t sleep easily tonight.”
(They were foolish enough to light bonfires in an open field. They made excellent targets.)
Until now, no army in Hinomaru had conceived of abandoning the advantage of a defensive siege to strike outward—much less the inferior side launching an offensive. It would have been dismissed as reckless folly.
—And yet.
(A mere few hundred archers have achieved this result… I heard the Ambassador once declared to Itagaki-dono that the people of Hinomaru are frogs in a well. Aptly said. If we do not actively adopt new ideas, we may one day be swallowed by the world.)
At the same time, he felt a flicker of unease toward an Empire capable of dispatching such an ambassador so casually.
The following day, the Chōshū army—having scarcely slept—waited beneath darkened eyes and heavier spirits.
Hizen finally arrived two days later.
Both forces, worn in body and mind, began their final march toward Edo.
And thus, the true assault on Edo commenced.
“Shield units, advance while protecting the archers!”
“Mages—focus your fire on the gates!”
“Our range exceeds theirs. Take your time and strike true!”
“Do not let a single one enter the city!”
Ii commanded from the very front lines.
(As expected, the enemy’s morale is low. The longer this drags on, the more favorable it becomes for us.)
“Everyone—fight with patience.”
““““Yes, sir!””””
From the castle keep, Princess Kagura observed the battlefield.
“So it has begun…”
Sakai stood beside her.
“If possible, we would end this here.”
“It will not be so simple.”
Behind them sat Esther—the suspiciously youthful-looking elf—and the baby dragon, munching sweets.
“There is no need for such tension, Princess.” munch munch
“Gyau.” munch munch
“You are remarkably carefree…”
“Hijikata and the Hero will likely break through by their own strength. But Ryoma stands there. There is nothing to fear.”
Sakai added quietly,
“Esther-dono, the Princess is more concerned about Satsuma.”
“Ah, Satsuma. Then there is even less cause for worry.”
“W-Why is that?”
“Because Ryu has gone to face them.”
““!?””
They stared at her in shock as she spoke as though it were obvious.
“Even a swarm of dragons would fail to break through him. Rest easy. Yes, Homura?”
“Gyau.”
(Indeed. If they wish to truly fight Lord Ryu to the death, they would need at least a Dragon King.)
Esther and Homura resumed eating their sweets.
Meanwhile—at Edo Harbor.
Ryu sat astride Axel, gazing toward the horizon.
Behind him, a soldier asked with a darkened face,
“Ambassador-dono… has Satsuma truly… has the Admiral betrayed us?”
“I don’t know. But he’s not the type to act without consultation.”
Ryu could not imagine Tōgō making such a move without prior word.
“If they are enemies, perhaps the poisoning at the guesthouse was his doing as well.”
“That possibility exists… though I would rather not believe it.”
“What will you do if Satsuma is the true mastermind?”
“N-No, surely not…”
At that instant, black specks appeared along the horizon.
“They’re here… the mightiest navy that has guarded Hinomaru for a thousand years.”
Over a hundred warships emerged, aligned in a single sweeping line.
“Axel, fall back—just in case.”
“Brrr.”
“You men as well.”
“““Yes!”””
Ryu stood alone at the harbor’s edge and murmured,
“Well then… let’s see how this unfolds.”
Aboard the largest Satsuma warship—
“Saigō-san. We can see it.”
“Edo Harbor… It has been some time.”
“Until a month ago, we risked our lives to defend it.”
“And now we will destroy it with our own hands… Forgive me, Heihachirō.”
“No apology needed. You deserve to stand at the pinnacle of Hinomaru, Saigō-san. We have no use for a weakened Tokugawa. A shogunate without a shogun… let it perish.”
“Heh. Indeed. That is why we allied not only with Chōshū and Hizen, but entertained the Principality’s offer as well.”
The Satsuma fleet drew close to the harbor.
“Then let us begin.”
“Very well. Issue the command, Heihachirō.”
The former Admiral, Tōgō Heihachirō, stepped to the prow.
“All forces—ready the magitech cannons. Burn Edo to the ground.”
Every cannon turned toward the city.
His face, cold and devoid of warmth, resembled that of another man entirely.
“───Fire.”
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!
Countless shells roared through the sky in a single devastating volley—
hurtling toward Edo.