Rinkei, the capital of the Ei Empire, was a city that thrived due to its proximity to the water. Fifty years ago, the Gen Empire invaded Ei and took over the then capital city of Eikei. Back then, the capital of Ei shared the same character as the empire. Gen’s attack cost Ei’s emperor the majority of his people and a large portion of his territory, so he established the temporary capital of Rinkei.
Due to the number of ships that would dock there, it had been a place of great prosperity ever since the days of the ancient Sai province. The emperor planned on biding his time and accumulating more funds in Rinkei—the one constant in war was how much money it cost.
Another reason the emperor had built a capital in Rinkei was due to it being where the Grand Canal ended. Because it was easy to keep the land around the city secure, the emperor apparently deemed it possible to expand the waterways in order for large foreign ships to come and go. In fact, a large ship was indeed in the waters outside of the capital right now.
The walls around the city were fairly low due to its lack of viability as a military base, but the countless waterways and bridges—as well as the piecemeal layout of the city itself—helped to keep it safe. Every time Rinkei expanded, the planners added more alleyways and footbridges, creating a veritable labyrinth of a city. This was on purpose, as such a design would prevent the Gen cavalrymen from using their favored tactics: mounted archery and a full-on charge.
“You were right,” Hakurei hissed from my side. “A mother just scolded her child and threatened them with the White Wraith. Who was the one who told you about this?”
“You’re still going on about that?! Like I already told you, I, uh, read it in a book!”
“If you say so. I won’t press the issue for now.” It was obvious from Hakurei’s expression that she didn’t believe me. She walked ahead of me, stepping onto a stone bridge decorated with carved statues.
I’m gonna have to go to the Ou manor soon and tell them not to say anything... I added yet another task to my mental to-do list for this trip in Rinkei and then followed Hakurei across the bridge. As soon as I was on the other side, I could see a street lined with stalls of all kinds.
Merchants from all over the world gathered here to sell their wares, which could range anywhere from food to cloth to bottles of suspicious medicine. Numerous placards marketed the stalls’ goods, and rows of hanging lanterns illuminated all of it. The streets weren’t the only busy places either. From the footbridges above us, I could hear the energetic chattering of merchants discussing business and shoppers sharing gossip.
The emperor at the time was right to build here. Not even during the Tou Empire had there been a city as lively as this. Rinkei was the largest city of its time, and I doubted that it would ever lose the distinction. I was slipping through the crowd behind my father’s giant back when I noticed that Hakurei wasn’t behind me anymore.
“Lord Sekiei! ♪” Asaka said as she tapped my shoulder.
I looked around and saw, a short distance away, a beautiful girl looking around uncertainly. Thanks to her long silver hair and good looks, she stood out like a sore thumb. I waved to father and Asaka before walking over to Hakurei and grabbing her hand. I thought she’d try to struggle out of my grip, but she simply fixed me with a sharp glare.
She didn’t say anything for a moment, but then: “Please don’t grab onto me without warning.”
“I kind of had to, considering a certain somebody was about to get lost.”
“I-I would never. Please stop treating me like a child.”
“All right, fine, fine. If you don’t want us to treat you that way, then next time grab onto my sleeve or at least Asaka’s. You’re seriously going to lose your way around here.”
“Sleeve...no... I don’t mind this.” Hakurei pursed her lips and, with some hesitation, curled her fingers around mine.
With our hands still together, we returned to the entrance of the shopping district where father and Asaka were waiting for us. Members of the guard whom Raigen had picked for us would already be in the crowd, blending in. They’d shared our boat to Rinkei but separated from us on arrival.
“It’s only been three years since I’ve stepped foot in the city, but they’ve added on to the streets yet again,” father murmured as he played with his magnificent beard. “It’s even livelier than before. We must thank the emperor and the grand chancellor for their hard work.”
“You’re too modest,” I said with a lopsided smile. “It’s all thanks to you holding the line against Gen.”
I stood next to Chou Tairan with my back straight, but he was still much taller than me. In both of my lives, I had been an orphan. Honestly, I had no idea what it was like to have a father to look up to, but I was proud that it had been Chou Tairan who took me in. Despite how society looked down on military officials, he never once voiced his dissatisfaction and simply continued to protect his home from the powerful foreigners that threatened it. He was truly admirable.
“Seven years ago, you and the other northern generals foiled Gen’s plan to launch a large-scale assault on Ei. As a result, more and more people started to gather in Rinkei. You could say”—I released Hakurei’s hand and placed it over my chest as I looked around at the crowds—“that you were the one who paved the way for this prosperity! There’s no doubt in my mind about it. So take pride in your work; I certainly do!”
As I stopped talking, my father placed his large hand upon my head and gave it a rough pat, messing up my hair. “You sure know how to make your old man happy,” he said with a wide grin on his face. “Come here. Let me give you a hug!”
“Uh, no, that’s not necessary.”
I respected him—and I was deeply grateful to Chou Tairan for saving my life—but that didn’t mean I enjoyed a huge, bearded man hugging me in the middle of the street!
At my firm rejection, the famous general known as the National Shield stumbled back a step or two. “Wh-What did you say?” he gasped, making it sound like it was a struggle for him to eke out even those four words. “Y-You won’t accept your father’s love? And yet I hear you let your aunt hug you every single day?!”
“W-Wait, how do you know about that?! Er, no, that’s a misunder—” I stopped talking when I felt the temperature drop around me, specifically to my left. “H-Hakurei?” Next to her, Hakurei’s lady-in-waiting had a bright smile on her face. Oh no! Asaka’s little sister is auntie’s closest advisor—she must’ve told on me! I gritted my teeth, cursing my own carelessness, and turned to face Hakurei.
“What is it?” she asked, a blizzard raging behind her sapphire eyes.
“It’s a misunderstan—” I tried again; Hakurei interrupted me before I could continue.
“So, you wouldn’t mind if I ask our aunt for confirmation?”
My argument had been shot down before I could even finish it, twice, and I closed my mouth with a grumble. I looked towards father for help, but he was watching us with a smile so bright I couldn’t even find it in me to be angry. “You can do it! I know you have it in you!” I could practically hear him saying it.
It was terrible of him to leave me on my own like this. But as I was wondering what I could do to get myself out of this dangerous situation, I smelled something good.
“Sekiei?” my father asked.
“Is something the matter?” Hakurei added.
“What a nice smell!” Asaka exclaimed.
Ignoring all three of them, I made my way to the stall nearest us. Large steaming pots made of bamboo had been placed upon the counter, clouds of steam rising from the lids. A piece of paper advertising steamed buns had been placed in front of the stall and it was manned by a preteen boy with a shaved head.
“Are these ready to eat?” I asked him.
“Yep! Wait, Sekiei?! When did you get back to the city?”
“Just now. I’d like to buy some buns.”
When I had last been in Rinkei, I’d bought food from this particular stall on several occasions. I didn’t know the name of the store, nor did I know the name of the boy, but we were familiar enough with each other that our conversation was casual.
“Here ya go! It’s piping hot, so watch you don’t burn yourself!” The boy opened up one of the steamers even as he gave his peppy reply. Hot air and steam burst out as he did so, and he quickly grabbed several large buns and placed them inside of a paper bag.