Hakuoki Reimeiroku: Kazama Side Story

A story from before the events of Kyoto Winds. After receiving an assignment from the Satsuma clan, Kazama reluctantly traveled to Kyoto to gather information.

Translated Video

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September 1863.

It was a time when the humid summer heat was slowly receding and the mountains surrounding Kyoto began to be colored with beautiful autumn leaves...

I came to Fushimi town for the first time in a while.

Although I was on a job that I was reluctant to fulfill...

I may have been lucky to have come to Kyoto at this time.

A view like this is a rare sight.

Both Kyoto and Fushimi are towns where the wind doesn't blow, but even so, when I breathe in...

I could feel the scent of autumn, which was different from the scent of spring flowers or summer haiku.

Chikage Kazama:

"...It would have been fine if I had just come to see the sights."

To be honest, I was reluctant, but...

Even if I say that, nothing will change.

With this in mind, I headed to an inn called Teradaya in Fushimi.

A year ago, a certain commotion occurred at the inn...

I can see that the place is thriving, with customers coming and going frequently.

Thinking back on all that happened, I felt a little lonely.

Chikage Kazama:

"...Humans are surprisingly tenacious creatures."

Those words escaped my mouth on their own.

After looking at Teradaya for a while…

I turned on my heel and left the front of the store.

Afterwards, I felt thirsty, so I decided to stop by a nearby tea shop.

It seemed like the flow of customers had stopped coming and going, and there were no other customers in sight.

As I sit down on the bench outside, the shop owner approaches me.

Shopkeeper:

"Welcome. Is there anything you’d like to order?"

Chikage Kazama:

"I’d like some tea."

The owner quickly takes my order and then disappears into the back.

A short while later, he returned.

The tray he was holding had sencha and tea sweets on it.

Chikage Kazama:

"...I don't recall ordering any sweets."

Shopkeeper:

"I thought I'd offer you some to enjoy with our tea. If you don't mind, please enjoy them."

Chikage Kazama:

“…Hmm, I see.”

When I interact with humans, I often feel uncomfortable...

Once in a while, I get a chance to review something like this.

However, I have not been able to change my perception of humans as living creatures.

Shopkeeper:

"Please take your time."

The shopkeeper tries to leave my side, but…

Chikage Kazama:

"Wait. Accompany me for a while."

Shopkeeper:

"Eh? But..."

Chikage Kazama:

"There are a few things I want to ask you. I won't take much of  your time."

I take some money out of my pocket and drop it on the seat.

Shopkeeper:

“I-I couldn’t possibly…!”

The owner looks at me with an obviously lost expression on his face.

Chikage Kazama:

"...It’s fine, just take it."

For a moment, he seemed to be confused, but...

Eventually, he reached out his hand to the money.

Shopkeeper:

"...Thank you."

After saying that, I saw that he had put it in his pocket.

I pointed with my jaw in the direction of Teradaya, which could be seen nearby.

Chikage Kazama:

"...Do you know that an incident occurred at that inn around spring last year?"

The owner also looked towards Teradaya as he answered.

Shopkeeper:

“Yes.…The Teradaya incident, right?”

"I started working here about six months ago, so I don't know all the details."

“I heard that there was a quarrel between the retainers of the Satsuma clan.''

Chikage Kazama:

"...Hmm, the Satsuma clan killed each other under the orders of Hisamitsu Shimazu."

Shopkeeper:

"Please, sir… You’re speaking too loudly."

Chikage Kazama:

"Don't worry, there's no one around to listen."

Ignoring the flustered shopkeeper, I took a bite of the sweets that accompanied my tea.

Chikage Kazama:

“Despite that incident, it seems to be thriving quite a bit.”

Shopkeeper:

"It seems that many people use Teradaya because it has good access from Osaka..."

Chikage Kazama:

“...Huh.”

The quickest way to travel between Osaka and Kyoto is by boat on the Yodo River.

So Teradaya is in a perfect location to use as a relay point.

In the past, the Satsuma domain used it as a regular lodging.

Oh well, it's a pain, but I have to ask.

Chikage Kazama:

"What kind of people are using it these days instead of those from the Satsuma clan?"

Shopkeeper:

"Well… in addition to those who work in the trade, there seem to be many samurai as well."

Chikage Kazama:

"...Samurai, huh? I guess they’re from the West, am I correct?"

Shopkeeper:

"Indeed. It seems like most of them are from Choshu and Tosa."

Chikage Kazama:

"Hm hm hm... Interesting. So Choshu and Tosa are using the place now that Satsuma left."

When the owner heard my words, his face stiffened momentarily.

However, he soon smiled with a typical friendly business smile…

Shopkeeper:

"Please save those kinds of jokes for another time..."

I'm not kidding though...

Then, as if to change the topic, he spoke.

Shopkeeper:

“…Now that I think about it, on your way here, did you happen to see a group of men wearing light blue haori?”

Chikage Kazama:

"No, I can’t say I have… but who are they?"

Shopkeeper:

"They seem to be a group that is cracking down on the Sonjo ronin on orders from the Shogunate."

This was the first time I heard that story.

Chikage Kazama:

“What are they called?”

Shopkeeper:

"I think they are called... the Roshigumi or something."

It was a name I had never heard before.

Those who work closely with the Satsuma clan probably know more about them, but...

Maybe I'll inquire about them when I stop by the clan residence later.

While I was thinking about that.

Some customers come to the store.

Shopkeeper:

"Ah, welcome!"

After greeting the new customer, the shopkeeper looks back at me.

Shopkeeper:

"I'm sorry sir, but it's about time..."

Chikage Kazama:

"...I know. I've heard most of what I wanted to ask about."

The owner bowed his head, looking relieved at those words.

Then he left to take other customers' orders.

I took a sip of the tea, which had gotten quite cold.

~PICTURE~

Chikage Kazama:

"...The situation in Kyoto has changed quite a bit."

The events at Teradaya last year flashed through my mind.

Before the incident, the Satsuma samurai, along with the Choshu samurai, were considered to be the vanguard of the Sonjo school.

They moved to Kyoto, and with their abundant funds, they courted the court nobles...

Or, in Kyoto, they spent money generously and were popular with merchants.

They also caused an incident called “Tenchu” in which people who were believed to be pro-opening the country were brutally murdered.

However, they were not happy with the feudal retainers who were leaning toward the Sonjo school.

Hisamitsu Shimazu is currently in control of the Satsuma clan.

That day, I was heading to Teradaya at Hisamitsu's request.

—I was ordered to kill all of the feudal retainers if they resisted.

After that incident, the Satsuma domain lost its centripetal force towards the respected ronin...

At the mercy of the Shogunate, he decided to participate in the Kobu-Gattai movement.

Along with Satsuma, the Choshu clan, which was famous as a sanjo school, is now striding around this capital as if they own the place.

Chikage Kazama:

"...Era’s change without a moment's notice."

However, as time moves on...

The principle of the human world remains unchanged: those who have the emperor and the imperial court on their side are the winners.

Now, the Shogunate or Choshu... Who will control this land?

~PICTURE END~

After finishing my tea, I left the shop, which was starting to become crowded with customers.

Since I had finished my business, I could have left Kyoto right away...

I rarely get to visit this place unless I have an opportunity like this.

I casually headed towards the main street.

Despite the brutality of the world, the main streets are surprisingly lively.

I had the same thoughts when I visited Teradaya earlier...

Even after a major incident, it seems that humans continue to live their lives with vigor.

Meanwhile...

A strange-looking group approached from across the street.

Those people formed an orderly formation and walked in an orderly manner.

Chikage Kazama:

“Light blue…haori.”

Then, they are probably the Roshigumi that I heard about at the tea shop earlier.

Chikage Kazama:

"Huh...I see."

It is said that these people are cracking down on Sonjo Ronin under orders from the Shogunate.

Satsuma is currently seen as being on the waste side...

They were not affiliated with the Shogunate.

Before you know it, they’re only getting close to dethroning that position.

Depending on the future situation, it is quite conceivable that they will part ways with the Shogunate.

Chikage Kazama:

“…The Roshigumi, huh?”

“Perhaps a day will come when I have to face them as enemies.”

As I walked through town at dusk, I felt a strange throbbing feeling inside my chest.

~END~