Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Battle of Kawagoe—We Cannot Abandon Them Either

"Everyone, please empty your cups."

Following the successful subjugation of Yura of the Hair, and in accordance with local Japanese customs—and in recognition of the Hojo army’s first successful extermination of a demon—Hojo Akitoki had readily hosted a celebratory banquet that night.

He looked down at his trusted retainers, each of them beaming with excitement. Although Akitoki’s own mind was preoccupied with the impending arrival of Sesshomaru and the situation at the Battle of Kawagoe, he saw no reason to burden his subordinates, who were currently in high spirits, with unnecessary worries. A balance of tension and relaxation was, after all, the true art of leadership.

"To the bravery of our Lord!"

Seeing their Lord so understanding, the subordinates naturally knew how to play their part. Led by Akechi Mitsuhide, the samurai rose as one to toast Hojo Akitoki, who sat at the head of the table. Even Kagome, seated beside him, found herself the target of many toasts.

Why was Kagome allowed to sit beside Hojo Akitoki, occupying a position of such prominence at such an important event? Naturally, it was Akitoki’s arrangement. Claiming that Kagome had made a decisive contribution to the battle, he had granted her the primary credit, thus giving her the rightful standing to occupy such a high seat.

The high-ranking officials of the Hojo army, who were privy to certain details, immediately began to weigh their own interests. As long as there were benefits to be gained, they did not mind humbling themselves slightly.

"Thank you, thank you."

Kagome felt overwhelmed by the flattery. Looking at these men who were, by the standards of the Sengoku period, undoubtedly "great figures," she saw them approaching her in groups, speaking with humble postures and offering drinks. As a young girl from the future, she had never experienced such a thing; for a moment, a subtle, giddy feeling stirred within her. Moreover, even in modern society, let alone an ancient one, how many newcomers—if suddenly placed at a banquet hosted by the elite and surrounded by powerful, influential people fawning over them—could truly keep their composure and remain grounded?

Akitoki watched Kagome with a smile, noting her flushed face and shy demeanor as she exchanged pleasantries with the samurai. His gaze then shifted to Inuyasha and Lady Kaede, who were seated at the edge of the venue.

The treatment they received was starkly different from Kagome’s. While the food was essentially the same, the cold, desolate atmosphere surrounding them was enough to push the hot-tempered Inuyasha to the brink of an outburst. If not for the magnificent sight on the hillside earlier that day and Lady Kaede’s gentle persuasion...

"It is fortunate that he can hold it in."

Akitoki whispered to himself. He bore no ill will toward Inuyasha, nor did he have any malicious plans for him. In his previous life, as a reader of the story, he had been quite fond of Inuyasha. But circumstances had changed; he was no longer just a reader, but a character within the story itself. And so, for the sake of his own hegemony and the followers who relied on him, he had to fight when it was necessary. This was not about right or wrong, or likes or dislikes—it was about the responsibility he carried.

Whether it was the Shikon Jewel or Kagome, who possessed the immense power of purification so vital for fighting demons—Akitoki clenched his fists and lowered his eyes—or even Kikyo, who might return from the dead... as long as it served his grand cause, they would all have to fall into the bowl of the Hojo clan!

"My Lord! My Lord!"

Just as Akitoki was sorting through his thoughts, Akechi Mitsuhide approached with a wine bowl in hand. Seeing his Lord raise his head, Mitsuhide gave an almost imperceptible nod toward the outside and walked away from the banquet.

"Hm?"

Glancing at the still-lively scene, Akitoki followed him out without drawing any attention.

"What happened, Mitsuhide?" Akitoki asked once they were clear of the venue.

"My Lord, news has just arrived."

Mitsuhide whispered, pulling a small slip of paper from his robe. Thanks to Akitoki’s foresight, the Hojo army was well-accustomed to using carrier pigeons, placing them at the pinnacle of communication in this Sengoku era.

"This is?"

Akitoki took the note, though he had already anticipated the content. According to his knowledge, the original Yura of the Hair incident was resolved in a single night. Afterward, Kagome returned to the modern era, and that same night, Sesshomaru effortlessly crushed the Imagawa army at the Battle of Kawagoe. But with his interference, the Yura incident had taken two days, and Kagome had not returned to the modern era.

If that were the case...

"As expected, the Imagawa army is gone!"

Akitoki exhaled a long, heavy breath after scanning the note. What was meant to come would come; the real test had only just begun.

Compared to an appetizer like Yura of the Hair, Sesshomaru, the eldest son of the Great Dog General, was the main course. As a figure who had stood at the peak of power in the Inuyasha world from start to finish, he was the deciding factor that could truly measure the strength of humans against demons.

"Can we withstand him?"

Akitoki knew the strength of the Imagawa army at the Battle of Kawagoe well. Dealing with them posed no pressure to him, but to do so with the effortless ease of Sesshomaru, as if brushing away dust? Akitoki’s expression darkened. Truth be told, the Hojo army could do it, but not with such nonchalance.

"My Lord, how should we respond to the Battle of Kawagoe?" Mitsuhide waited patiently for a time, and seeing his Lord still deep in thought, he offered his perspective out of concern.

"The battle has already shown a clear divide in strength. Without the Imagawa forces, the Takeda army alone..."

"From any perspective, the advantage is ours!"

"But the opponent is the Tiger of Kai, a man who has traversed the world and is your equal in fame, my Lord."

"If Takeda Shingen stakes everything on a final, all-out assault, can Lord Ujiyasu’s military strategy withstand it?"

"If we lose, the Hojo clan’s path to the capital will be fraught with setbacks. But if we win, it cannot exactly be called a stroke of fortune for our house!"

"Oh?"

Akitoki looked up at the loyal Akechi Mitsuhide, understanding his meaning perfectly. He had been worrying about Sesshomaru, but his subordinates were genuinely worrying about him. If they lost, the Hojo clan’s momentum would be stifled. If they won, because he was not on the battlefield, the glory of victory would only bolster Hojo Ujiyasu, his rival for the leadership of the clan.

Akitoki contemplated this as he looked at the crescent moon in the sky.

"Mitsuhide, make preparations. Let the men rest for the night, and then..."

"I see that Takeda Shingen is unwilling to retreat just like this, and with Ujiyasu’s skills, holding the line against the Tiger will not be a problem."

"The final, decisive strike will still be left for us."

"Understood."

Mitsuhide nodded heavily, acknowledging the plan as sound. There was only one thing...

Looking back at the bustling banquet, Mitsuhide wondered what else he might have overlooked.