Vol 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)
The Second Seal : Bontenmaru's Clan
”Today's the day of the o back to have a family dinner with the Date Clan, Hime”
”Wuuu No, I don't want to go”
”Hime How can you be afraid of your own mother? It's not like she’ll eat you up”
”Mother is passionate about the creation of strange dishes Maybe if I'ht and turned into fried tempura and be eaten Wuuuu”
Bontenmaru was born with a weak stomach
When she was young she had eaten a dish her reat a in an extremely spicy dish that caused Bontenmaru to have a severe stomachache and nearly lose her life
Bonten that tiht eye It was so horrendous that rumours of 'Yoshi+hime wants to poison her child whom she resents because her child does not have the blood of the Date Clan' began circulating in Yonezawa
Of course, these baseless rumours were intentionally spread by the malicious people who did not like Yoshi+hime and Bontenmaru But Bontenmaru as very perceptive see of her, or perhaps it would be better to say that, because of that incident, Bontenmaru feared Yoshi+hime from the bottom of her heart
”Kojuurou, you should also know Mother's cooking is full of strange things Someday, I will definitely be poisoned by Mother
”Haa Hiu-dono, please say so”
”Kojuurou-dono, there's no need for any convincing here All that needs to be done is to tie her up, throw her onto a horse and send her to Yonezawa directly”
”Oioi, What are you saying?! A ~!”
In the Date Clan, there's a tradition of gathering once a month for a family dinner in Yonezawa Castle[1]
Today is the day for that said family dinner
Kanetsugu did not care about Bontenle, it was useless
”Mego~! Come and save your Onee-sama who has been captured by the follower of God!”
”Onee-sao to Yonezawa Castle”
”EhMego?!”
Megohies tied around her entire body was actually really looking forward to the unique cuisine made by Yoshi+hian to set off
Kojuurou also ohiu's horse and was taken away
”Let go ofwithin me will awaken!”
”How noisy… Stop shrieking sooing to go deaf”
”Speaking of which, why do you need to go for the family dinner of the Date Clan?”
”Maybe Mogami Yoshi+aki will take this opportunity to assassinate you I am under orders from Kenshi+n-sama to protect you and must monitor you properly
”Even though Uncle is a huht? Furtherht? If uncle sucks your blood out you'll becou!”
”Y-you rude bastard! What are you saying in front of Kojuurou-dono!”
”Did I hit the bull's-eye? Gugugu~, Kane-tan really does have so value”
”Wua~!? S-shut up! You're such a headache!”
”Don't hurt my butt, wuahhhhhhh~!”
'Ko-Kojuurou-dono Just in case, I would like to knoho else will be attending this dinner”
Faced with the shy Kanetsugu, Kojuurou gave a hearty smile and replied
”Aside from everyone here, firstly we have the head of the clan, Date Teruood natured eneral Even though he knows nothing about war-related affairs but he has won the love and adoration of the masses”
”Ah what a miracle that he is able to keep his own castle and city with his personality that isn't suitable for this chaotic era”
”After all, Oshu has alliances for an alliance with a th, brutality and cunning, nae role”
”So it was like that”
”And then there's Hiaer sister”
”Her mother is the complete opposite of her father, skilled in coeht in one-on-one duels which is said to be greater than Mogaest in Oshu, that’s why she is feared by the people around here”
”Oh, it e of a fierce God”
”No no, she's someone who is as cute as Hime”
”So it's like that huh but I don't think that Bontenhtest bit”
”Wuuuu~! I am very cute, mind you!”
Kanetsugu started beating Bontenain to make her shut up
”Ku~ To be spanked by this reat insult Uooooooh, if I wasn't hit by the sun's rays, the natural enemy of the demons, I wouldn’t have ”
”At any rate, can you not wear the Nanban cloak whenever you go outside?”
”This is a tool that is necessary in order to seal the devil king inside u”
”Yeah yeah I get it Kojuurou-dono, who else will be attending?”
”There's also Hi child that had just learnt hoalk”
”Hey, Kane-tan Don't ignore me! Givetool for?'”
”I am really surprised, to think that Bontener brother”
”Since I have a younger sister, what so strange about having a younger brother!”
”Even though your residence has your sister, Mego-dono present, but I've never even glimpsed the shadow of your brother”
”Jiku is always accompanied by his mother, the number of chances for him to encounter Hime in the Nanban haunted house that is Hime's residence is extremely rare”
”So it's like that”
”Jikuets Mother's favour The retainers are also looking forward to replacing me with Jikumaru for the position of successor”
Kanetsugu frowned
Against her younger brother who had Teruh his veins, the chances of Bonten the clan's successor were very slim
”Other people would be Hiezane-dono wouldinsects in the woods so the chances of her attending the banquet would be lower”
”Date shi+gezane?”
”Even though she is around the sairl who looksinsects rather than eat her o, ahaha”
”Today's weather isn't bad It's a good day to be out catching insects”
Fro[2] their wings
BZZZZZZZZ
It was a swarm of locusts
A large swarm of locusts flew out from the depths of the forest
Kanetsugu could not help but place her hand on the hilt of her blade, ready to draw her sword
”WhWhWhat”
”Oh, if it isn't shi+gezane gugugu”
”Hime, are you on the way to the banquet?”
Froroup of locusts Her alreen sleeveless leather jacket She was a princess-general whose helmet was decorated with a caterpillar and armed with a katana
Bontenezane
'I'm not sure whether if she reached puberty too early, but she looks coes are similar'
'Furtheru who looked at shi+gezane's chest could not help but sigh
”Gugugu is shi+gezane not going?”
”Today is the harvest day of locusts If I missed this period of time, I won't be able to catch them in droves”
”shi+gezane really still does like insects”
”Not only are insects cute, but they're also full of nutrition If Hirow taller”
”How irritating, I don't need locust Tsukudani or anything like that”
”They're obviously so cute”
”Wait, just how did you catch this many locusts in the blink of an eye, how exactly did you u could not help but ask shi+gezane
”Speaking of which, Hime who is this… ah, could this be an attempt to kidnap Hime? Then in that case ”
”Die!” shi+gezane shouted while slashi+ng at Kanetsugu with her katana
Not relying on a stance, she sith
What ferocious wrist strength, what ridiculous speed, she could be said to be a genius in utilizing her wrist strength
And it ithout a hint of hesitation
If Kanetsugu was not an expert in e this blow and lose her life
”It’s not like that I au! I came here in order to protect Bontenmaru”
”Seriously? So, I was ”
”shi+gezane, tell Kane-tan the esoteric ether”
”I understand”
However, shi+gezane was not too good at expressing herself
So instead, Kojuurou gave a succinct explanation in her place
”Isn't shi+gezane wearing a metal skirt?”
”Yeah”
”There's a cable installed in there All she needs to do is start the device to emit sounds that only insects can hear”
”Oh ”
”Attracted to that sound, the insects naturally gather around her This is shi+gezane-dono's machine that she invented herself”
Working hard for three years before finally finishi+ng her ”Insect Apron”, shi+gezane suddenly seee into a different person entirely, with bloodshot eyes and clenched teeth
'Could she still be after u could not help but think, but it see out
”This way I can gather all kinds of insects and heartily enjoy eating a variety of tsukudani! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!”
shi+gezane let out a strange sound before returning into the forest with her locusts
”Kanetsugu-dono, shi+gezane-dono is a child that belongs to the wild just like you saw She's called the ”Princess who loves insects”
”What a fearso at her from another perspective, she completely doesn't seem like a child”
”That's because even though she is large in size, shi+gezane-dono is actually very innocent, not really understanding s such as life and death Therefore in combat she's ruthless and very powerful”
The intelligent Kojuurou as well as shi+gezane whose bravery was unparalleled
'Bontenmaru already possesses wise and brave retainers to serve as her left and right hands,' Kanetsugu ruminated
”shi+gezane's chest is larger than Kanetsugu's too gugugu”
”Hey can you just shut up already!”
”Don't spank my butt! DON'T HIT ME!”
”We can already see the city”
Megohime rapped in a Nanban cloak extended her hand and pointed In front of their eyes was a sant city on a vast plain
Kanetsugu, as accustoayama Castle[4] which used treacherous mountain paths to turn it into a fortress, could not help but blurt out what she was thinking in her heart due to her surprise at how Yonezawa Castle looked
”This is the city?”
Immediately, she was kicked on the butt by Bontenmaru as tied to the horse's back
”Kane-tan really doesn't have any o”
For Kanetsugu who did not kno to be tactful, she would sometimes make a faux pas like that
However, no one could easily enter Yonezawa Castle
”Bontenet pass easily”
What was happening exactly
In front of the Castle gates stood a young princess
She was a young and bewitching princess who did not look twenty years old
Petite and slender
Yet that pair of falcon-like sharp eyes seemed to share some similarity with Bontenmaru
”O-Mother~!”
This person was none other than Bontenmaru's mother, Yoshi+hime
”Mother? That Princess? Isn’t she too young!? Unless she gave birth to Bontenmaru when she was eleven or twelve!”
Kanetsugu spluttered
”Wh-hen she was around e, this person an-an-and a Nanban man actually Exactly ere the circu to happen?!”
So as siu to be on the verge of a nosebleed On the other hand, the astonishi+ngly large a o one to feel overwhelmed
”You can use whateverit on Bontenmaru”
From her appearance she corown up in a privileged fa intent, was the ami Clan which was feared as the most vicious clan in Oshu flowed in her veins
Mogami Yoshi+aki who inherited the position of the head of the Mogath that instilled a great deal of terror a the inhabitants of Oshu, the coer than her brother was therefore difficult to picture
'Why did such a powerful princess choose not to becoeneral, but instead beca that Kanetsugu could not understand
On the other hand, Bonten, ”Wuuu, scary, scary” at Kanetsugu’s side
”There isn't anyone ill trerip”
Kanetsugu pulled Bontenmaru closer to her and untied her restraints
Bontened over to Yoshi+hi, ”Wuuah~ Wuuah~”
She tre out a Tanto[5] that is usually used by children
”O-O-Mother, i-i-it's been a long time since we last met Bo-Bo-Bontenmaru has been ve-very well behaved”
”Have you really been well behaved?”
”O-O-Of course When Kane-tan of the Ue-Ue-Uesugi Clan came to visit, she looked extremely happy when I extended a warm reception to her”
”Wait a minute, I never received a warm reception from you at all!”
”Oi shut up you damned freeloader! N-No, what I meant to say is, how can you be so disrespectful in front of my precious mother? Can you please have some manners Kane-tan-sama❤”
”I never expected such hypocrisy Is this the 'true colours of the de?'”
”How irritating, this Bontenht Kane-tan-sama?”
”Oi don't blink your eyes while blushi+ng, it's disgusting”
”Hime! It's ti!”
Even though Kojuurou was cheering at the side, the difference in ht between Yoshi+hime and Bontenmaru was akin to a cat and mouse and was completely in favour of Yoshi+hime
”What's the e at me, you won't be able to enter the castle”
”Hya Gu?!” Bontenmaru squealed from her mother’s unexpected declaration
Yoshi+hi so severely that she alan to spasm
”Onee-sama, be brave!”
Megohime said in a soft voice and raised her fist to cheer While Kanetsugu gave a sarcastic sneer, began to provoke Bontenmaru
”I see In actual fact the brat'sIt seems that that damned brat has a really low stature in that demon power structure or whatever it’s called, no wonder the s”
”ShShut up~!”
Bonten towards Yoshi+hi the tanto in her hand
”Wuaaaaaa! Mother, I'm sorry! The twelve apostles have descended once more to annihilate the whole demon world!”[6]
”How naive!”
Bham!
Yoshi+hi with a kick to her stomach
”Wuuuu!” Bonten
”Ah, the secret one hit kill technique that Hime specially developed with me didn't work ! It wasn't useful at all~!”
Just when Kojuurou wanted to dash to Bontenaze towards Kojuurou that held her in place
”Still not good enough Bontenmaru, with that small petite body you can't even come close to me”
”Gugugu, I pretended to be sent flying but in actual fact I wanted to throw shurikens[7] at you Mother”
”What kind of use does such a soft shuriken have?”
The shuriken released by Bontenround had also been easily cleared by another of Yoshi+hime's kicks
I Bontenmaru's attack, Yoshi+hime leapt forward and towards Bontenmaru
”If you don't want to die then avoid this punch, Bontenmaru!”
”Wuaaaaaaah?!”
”Both sides are to stop here, if this goes on, it will be dangerous so”
The calht froed to a saly average demeanour
He was none other than Date Terumune
The sixteenth generation head of the Date Clan
A norant in any war, yet widely acclaiht morals and noble values
When coht to ignore, he was the complete opposite; a weak man who hardly stood out
Nestling the infant Jikumaru in his bosom
”O-Father! Bontenmaru has been well behaved!”
'I'otten to her feet jumped into the embrace of Terumune
Yoshi+hime seemed to be a little unhappy
”Eh, it ended like this? I still haven't given Bontenuidance”
”Yoshi+, let's end things here Today is the reunion dinner for the Clan so”
”If this child doesn't get enough training, she's going to beco else but play all day, you know? Bontenmaru is the Date Clan's heir; therefore we need to properly nurture her to become a powerful person”
”Yoshi+'s h Bonteny, she's still a child in the end so”
”Terumune-dono! Bontenmaru's education is reeot married into the Date Clan?”
”Ye-Yeah it's exactly as you say so”
”If the Date Clan's next head is like Terue war, this clan will eventually be annexed by the Mogaive Bontenmaru an excellent education in martial arts”
”Yes, you are right so”
”Bonten you”
”O-Mother, please don’t tellto dislocateme? Bontenmaru has been a well behaved child!”
”Who knows? Today I ht dislocate your shoulder~ Bontenmaru do you know? There are ti pursued by enemies and you can't escape unless you dislocate your own joints~!”
”Wuah! Bo-Bo-Bontenmaru has been a well-behaved child! Father save me!”
”Ah Right ell It's about tio and eat so”
”O-Father~!”
”Could Teruu asked Kojuurou
Kojuurou could only reluctantly reply, ”It is as you have seen”
”I can only say, if Yoshi+hile day the Date Clan and Yonezaill belong to her”
”In other words, there's nothing strange if the Mogami Clan conquers the Date Clan at soht ”
”Right However, Yoshi+hih behave like this, actually she gets along ith the lord”
”I-I really have too little knowledge regarding these kinds of romantic relationshi+ps”
”Furtherreat expectations of Hime She hopes that one day Hion of Oshu The reason why she subjects Hi in martial arts is because she wants Hime to one day become a hero”
”Before that even happens wouldn't she die at Yoshi+hime-dono's hands?'
In Kanetsugu's eyes, this wonderful relationshi+p between mother and child was very wonderful
However to Kojuurou who had always faithfully served the Date Clan and ell aware of the fact that Yoshi+hi, she could not help but worry about their relationshi+p
”I don't deny the fact that Yoshi+hiuidance has produced the opposite effect, but it's also because Hime is too sensitive To the extent where she thinks that her mother is strict towards her because she isn't loved”
”As long as both sides can have a long talk with each other, these sorts of s aren't hard to resolve”
”But Yoshi+hime-sama is just such a person”
Kojuurou was concerned about Bontenmaru's future
”I shouldn’t disturb the once-a-month reunion of the Date Clan, so I’ll be on the lookout outside in the hallway”
”Ah, then I will join you as well”
”U-Understood”
The reason why Kanetsugu exhibited such a rare understanding of the at beside her was Kojuurou as so 'handso to them, but also because the Clan in front of their eyes was so bright that it was difficult for one to approach
Kojuurou and Kanetsugu were in the corridor, separated frouard up
The reunion dinner of the Date Clan thus began
Looking like a young girl just from appearance, Yoshi+hime had practically prepared all the dishes
”Go ahead I tried using large aredients that was imported from Nanban, Luzon, and the Ryukyu Islands, in order to make these unique dishes”
When Yoshi+hi her martial arts, no matter how you look at her she was a cute and lovely Bishoujo
nobody would probably believe that she was a iven birth to two children, Bontenmaru and Jikumaru, if they had met her for the first time
”Much appreciated, much appreciated”
Let alonethat the short man who lacked any charisma, Date Terumune was Yoshi+hime's husband
”I a and beautiful Yoshi+”
The attitude that Date Teru the way a husband treats his wife, it's closer to so
Or perhaps it was because he had the experience of being attacked by Yoshi+hime who behaved like a fierce war God
”Father, Mother, Mego will begin eating”
”Oh, Mego Eat as much as you like”
”I feel at ease seeing Mego-dono as energetic as always”
”Yes”
”Bontens like suspicious rituals and living sacrifices”
”Mother, Onee-saentle sister, she won't do anything that would make me cry”
”Bonteno-dono, it’s a pity that she can’t be as familiar with other people The number of people that Bontenmaru can be candid with are so few in nu just one hand and even then, the nuers on one hand are still more than the number of people she can be frank with It’s such a headache”
”Yoshi+, aren't you being a bit too harsh towards Bontenmaru?”
”Ara? It's Bonten an idiot in martial arts”
”I'll continue eating so”
Even though Megohi without suffering any injury to said are as they ell aware of it
”Wuuuu—”
”Coe”
gulp
Yoshi+hi on her lap
Even though they looked like a pair of siblings they were actually mother and son
” Wu!”
Bonten at Jikumaru enviously
However when Yoshi+hiazed at Bontenmaru with a ”?” expression on her face,
” WuuuI really want to eat some rabbit”
She quickly looked away and ibberish
”Bontenood”
”R-Really Mother!”
Bontenmaru's eyes suddenly twinkled
”But it is still far too much for that small body of yours to stand on the battlefield and wield the Tachi[8] The reach is too short”
”Yes”
”In order to increase your lethal strength, ht actually not be a bad choice”
”Bontenmaru ork hard, Mother”
”On the battlefield you will be surrounded by ene at you from all directions you know You need to train yourself until you acquire the skill to ruthlessly, emotionlessly and rapidly cut down uncountable numbers of enemies at the same time”
”Y-Y-Yes As expected of Mother, Next time I will smear poison on the shuriken”
'That's the spirit However Bontenmaru, if you want to use poison, your own body ainst poisons for it to work I suggest you mix a small amount of poison into your food occasionally to let yourself become accustomed to it”
”I', Bontenmaru is honored”
Faced with her mother ould only say such extreme words towards her, let's not talk about how she would feel From an outsider's perspective, it see a conversation filled with killing intent while bea happily
”Onee-sama, how coolha ”
Megohiaze towards herintent
On the other hand, Teruami Clan's bloodline so'
'It'd be great if Yoshi+ could treat Bontenmaru like how a nor to Bontenmaru now is al a pupil'
'But still Bontenly weirder direction, could this be due to the influence of Yoshi+'s murderous martial arts instruction, so'
”Hey, Yoshi+, you can't train Bontenmaru to be that kind of huy blessed with the wisdom of Brahma so”
”Terumune-dono, extraordinary wisdohter, won't such a person be unparalleled on a battlefield?”
”Uhhh”
”It's precisely because I hope Bontenmaru can live on that I turn myself into the incarnation of a monster master”
”What you're saying is not wrong so”
”Should Bonten physique, then she does not need to rely over-excessively on skills alone Okay Bontenrow up faster”
”Ye-Yes, Mother”
Even though she said to eat, but the dishes Yoshi+hime prepared were truly too unique