The Elusive Samurai (逃げ上手の若君)

THE ELUSIVE SAMURAI

Suwa Grand Shrine is much obliged to the Governor of Shinano

for his generous offering at the Misayama Festival the other day.

This is a gift from us, as a token of appreciation.

If you would be so kind as to deliver it to Sadamune for us.

Yes, sir. My lord will be delighted.

MESSENGER OGASAWARA CLAN SHINZABURO AKAZAWA

I must say, these are quite expensive gifts!

And we accept them most graciously.

My lord did emphasize that we must pull out all the stops

for this grand occasion that is the Misayama Festival.

They were all at each other's throats before over territory,

and yet they still maintain proper etiquette.

Just what I'd expect from the great Suwa Grand Shrine and the Governor of Shinano.

I must express my deepest thanks to Sadamune and his entire family

for his endless kindness and consideration.

Oh, no. It's really nothing.

I do, however, have one small request from my lord.

Your wish is my command.

If we could please have Chojumaru join us as an envoy to deliver these gifts.

Wait! That's…

We will provide an adequate escort,

so we would very much appreciate it if you could send him on his own.

I'm sure the Suwa family can stand to part with one insignificant child

for a period, no?

Do they know who I am?

No. Your cover-up to hide your true identity should be flawless.

But Sadamune is sharp.

He may have found some proof, or he may intend on uncovering it upon meeting you.

To refuse would raise even more suspicion. What will you do?

Yes! Me! Can I suggest something?

Surely it would be all right for just me to accompany him, right?

I'd feel bad sending the poor little thing off on his own.

No. We want--

Or would a young girl on her own in your entourage spell trouble

for the Ogasawara clan?

Then shall we arrange for departure to be tomorrow morning?

Fine.

With Ayako around, well, I guess it should all work out.

Really?

I know I can count on her with a sword, but…

There's no need to worry. She may not look it, but she is quick-witted.

Don't you worry.

If I can't protect the Young Lord from something as trivial as this,

I'll never be like Tomoe Gozen.

Tomoe Gozen?

A military commander once lived in Shinano by the name of Kiso Yoshinaka.

He lost his entire family at a young age and fled to Shinano,

where he grew up and gained the strength to overturn the lord.

He's the exact same as me. He has the same goal.

And at Lord Yoshinaka's side,

growing up beside him and eventually becoming his vassal,

was the brave Tomoe Gozen, always there to protect him.

As someone originally from Shinano,

and as someone who has always aspired to a life of martial arts,

Tomoe Gozen is her ultimate role model.

I see.

So, why is she practicing carrying two leather dummies?

Tomoe Gozen had superhuman strength.

She once grabbed two warriors, one on each side, and snapped their necks right off.

I want to snap some necks too!

The only issue now is how to answer Sadamune's questions.

TOKIYUKI MEMORIAL

I will now explain it like a game.

Okay. Thank you.

JULY 1

Sorry! Did I keep you waiting for long?

NO, I JUST GOT HERE

When Sadamune asks you a question…

I AM A HOJO

Huh?

Detection!

YOU DIED

I see a future where if you answer incorrectly, your life will be in danger.

Oh, no! So what do I do?

It was the same for Lord Yoshinaka.

He excelled at warfare, but lacked proper manners and consideration for others.

After a string of poor judgment and missteps,

he lost the people's support, and it led to his doom.

And so, as we don't want you to meet the same fate…

Study rigorously!

You must fill that head of yours with knowledge

so that Sadamune doesn't become suspicious tomorrow.

Am I really going to be okay?

SHINANO THE NEW GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE

My Lord, I bring you Chojumaru.

Good. Let him in.

Then, we will wait outside the room.

He is intimidating up close.

But I won't lose. He is nothing but cheap tricks and dirty plots.

I am the son of a Hojo.

I also come bearing the name of Suwa Grand Shrine.

I won't let anyone underestimate me.

Correct that posture.

This is how you sit when you want to show respect to someone.

You just made a grand gesture of sitting down because you're facing an enemy.

On the contrary.

The enemy is a taker of lives,

which is precisely why you must show respect for the lives they would take.

During this time period, both men and women would usually sit

either cross-legged or with one knee drawn up.

The practice of sitting in seiza style became widespread during the Edo Period,

and is rooted in the etiquette guidelines as compiled by Sadamune Ogasawara.

I was the one to underestimate him. What begins now is a battle of words.

If I don't flee with my words,

I will be pierced with words.

Begging your pardon, but how old are you?

-I'm nine. -Really? You don't look nine.

I was about to ask you to become my mistress.

One could mistakenly think your body was fully grown.

I get that a lot.

We have received your token of appreciation.

Please send Yorishige my regards.

Yes. I will.

Is this kid a Hojo? Or just some brat?

I'll keep firing him with questions and see how he responds.

Say, kid. You're actually sitting quite nicely.

Quite unnatural for a Suwa warrior with an uncivilized upbringing.

One could also say shooting a shrine maiden in the ear

is suggestive of an uncivilized upbringing.

He dodged the question by immediately firing back with retorts.

All is fair in a battle.

If there's one thing I know for sure,

it's that proper manners won't win the day in a real fight.

And you have been nothing but a constant thorn in my side

ever since the dog-shooting competition.

You must be the child of someone important.

The child of a famous warrior or something.

State your lineage! As you would on the battlefield.

My forebear is Koizumi Gengoro.

He was a resident of Okaya-no-sho,

and was elevated to the chief guard of Suwa Grand Shrine.

Koizumi Gorosaburo became the fifth chief guard under his lineage,

and he also ensured that his soldiers received a proper education.

And I am Chojumaru, one of his sons.

He speaks without hesitation, and his posture is entirely composed.

If he's lying, could it be because Yorishige has carefully trained him?

I confirmed the existence of your forebears

and that they died last year in a fire.

I can see they also had a son.

But something's off here.

Some locals have stated both parent and child died in the fire.

I left my parents in the burning building and fled on my own.

-It is something I feel great shame over… -Forgive me, Mr. Koizumi.

I never knew you, and now I am using your untimely death as my own personal shield.

The fire consumed all, even the bodies,

so it's no wonder some people thought I died along with them.

There is something even more perplexing.

These retainers of yours.

Kojiro, to be precise… He is of the Nezu clan.

And this Ayako of yours,

I hear she is the illegitimate child of the Mochizuki clan.

Both illustrious houses that have prospered in Shinano for generations!

What reason could they possibly have for entering into the service

of the child of a chief guard?

I am aware of their lineage.

Upon our first meeting at Suwa Grand Shrine, we played a game of tag.

They now call me "lord" because I won.

We are just children playing lord and vassal.

We are simply rehearsing for the day we pledge our loyalty to a true lord.

Do the inner workings of child's play

really intrigue the eminent governor of Shinano this much?

Impressive. Each and every response even more articulate than the last.

That fear and bravado he had upon entering the room has completely dissipated.

It's almost as if he's enjoying this back-and-forth now.

He is a peculiar young brat who loves playing hard to get.

I wonder if he particularly excels at dodging the truth as well?

Shinzaburo. Enter!