Horizon:GT3 Chapter12

Chapter 12: Meeting and Spring

Seeing her asleep

Turns me on

Seeing her change of clothes hanging up

Turns me on

Point Allocation (Time to Eat)

●

“Hey, wait, Ga-chan. I’ll bring you some breakfast.”

Naruze turned toward her her partner’s voice at Okutama’s Asama Shrine, which was awash in morning sunlight.

They had been sleeping on the grounds there, but not on the gravel. A simple campground had been set up with rush mats, blankets, and waterproof cloths hanging down from the tent surrounding them.

…It takes guts to sleep all together like this when the English Princess is with us.

The boys were in a different tent set up further back. And most of them were awake by now.

“Seijun and Mito-tsan are apparently having a meeting with Ma-yan in the spring bath.”

“I’d love to go spy on that after getting some breakfast, but won’t our wings get in the way in that spring? If we want to join in, it would be best to wait in the changing area for them to leave. But if we’re only going to make jokes via Magie Figur, we can do that here.”

Naruze realized a faint light was hitting the waterproof cloth acting as a wall within the tent.

It’s going to be a hot and humid day, isn’t it? she realized as she looked to see Margot holding a plate of pickled vegetables and three rice balls.

She took the plate, thanked Margot, and sighed. The rice balls were still warm, telling her they had salmon inside.

…We ate so much bread last night I appreciate the rice.

Anyway, the others were probably discussing things in the spring. Joining in via Magie Figur wasn’t enough. I should go spy on all those art models gathered there, she decided.

“This discussion all started with us being banned from docking at IZUMO, right? And there was some extra stuff about some old friend of Mary’s. And now there’s the Buke Shohatto.”

Now then.

“But like Kimi said, the Buke Shohatto introduce a problem other than cracking down on other nations. But does she realize it herself?”

●

Asama tried her best not to interrupt the discussion.

Masazumi currently had a sign frame open so she could exchange opinions with Neshinbara who was in the boys’ bath. Heidi’s occasional interjections meant this was likely about the state of the nations.

Asama was occasionally asked to give her opinion as a Shinto and ether expert, or Mary would provide an opinion from her foreign perspective.

…This is getting deep.

And in addition to the political matters, Asama was looking after Mary.

There was a reason they were in the Asama Shrine’s spring with Mary so early in the morning. This wasn’t just a morning bath. Asama had needed to put together Mary’s divine protections.

Mary had been lent a swimsuit designed to Asama Shrine shrine maiden standards. It suited her quite nicely, which earned her applause from most and silence from Adele, but that was beside the point.

“After this we can get some breakfast and then I want you to change into my uniform in my room. Suzu-san says she will tailor a uniform for you, but until it’s done one made for me should work well enough.”

“Are you sure that’s alright?”

“Of course,” said Kimi, seated on the edge of the spring. “When something is alright, there’s no problem. When something isn’t alright, you just have to purify it and there’s no problem. That’s the Shinto and Far Eastern way. Keep that in mind.”

“Thank you very much.”

Meanwhile, Masazumi opened a sign frame. Tsukinowa also opened and subsequently closed a few more. Eventually, Masazumi stored them all.

“Okay. I think this should do it. There are still some holes, but writing down our opinions helped me organize our thoughts and work out the reasoning behind them. I hope to use this to set things up later on.”

Art-Ga: “What’s the basic plan?”

Vice President: “Get Ishin Suden to lower her guard and then wallop her.”

Everyone exchanged a glance at that. Eventually, Horizon raised both hands and…

“Masazumi-sama! So you’ve finally learned how it’s done!?”

“Learned how what’s done? …Anyway, I’m sure Ishin Suden will try to get us to crack down on the other nations. With everything she’s got.”

“Why? She’s with K.P.A. Italia and I doubt she’s stupid enough to not realize that would hurt her nation’s standing.”

Adele was right. The simplest answer would be “that’s just how she is”, but how far could that take them? Not to mention…

“But, Masazumi, didn’t you dramatically tell Ishin Suden yesterday that we have no problem with cracking down on the other nations since we’re trying to take over the world?”

“Yes, I did. But words can mean multiple things. And I think Ishin Suden has a reason for wanting to establish the Buke Shohatto in that form. I want to pursue that any way I can.”

“I can imagine so,” said Asama. And that just left: “Mary-san, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get you measured for your uniform before this evening. And if you have any questions or concerns, we can deal with those as well.”

“In that case.” Mary raised a hand and Asama wondered what this could be about. “Um…I had a thought last night when I heard about the Buke Shohatto.”

Everyone gave her questioning looks, so Mary opened a sign frame with an obvious lack of practice.

“Um, it’s about this part.”

Mary displayed the 13 articles of the Buke Shohatto.

She had already marked a few of them.

“For the history recreation, these rules for the buke would apply to the equivalent classes under European feudalism…which would be the nobles, knights, and royals, correct?”

“Judge. Once Musashi rules the world, the world nations under our rule will be bound by those rules. So that would be a valid interpretation. And those likely are the classes that would be considered equivalent to the buke.”

“Then,” said Mary. “What does this mean for Master Tenzou and my marriage and new home?”

●

“Oh,” said Asama, reeling back a bit.

Last night, Kimi had said “If these go into effect, won’t we have to follow them too?” But…

…Was she referring to Mary-san!?

Kimi herself was basking in everyone’s attention and accepted a bamboo drink bottle from Horizon.

“You can’t say it can’t happen, can you? Musashi accepts interpretations, so won’t the other nations start using interpretations against us like we used them at Mikawa?”

“Ugh,” groaned Masazumi, reopening the sign frame she had just closed. And she turned toward Mary who was lowering her troubled-looking face.

“It’s true we need to be on the lookout for this. Our win won’t really matter if you end being restricted anyway, Mary.”

●

Mary indicated the articles she had marked.

4. Rebels and killers must not be employed and must be expelled.

No hiring terrorists or murderers, mkay?

5. People of other domains must not be employed.

No hiring people from other domains, mkay?

6. Building new castles and repairing old castles without advance notice is forbidden.

No building or fixing castles without letting us know, mkay?

7. Report any in neighboring domains who are plotting rebellion.

Report any rebels you notice, even if they’re with your neighbors, mkay?

8. Marriage without permission is forbidden.

The buke can’t get married without our permission, mkay?

10. Follow the rules for clothing based on status.

We’ll choose the fashions for different kinds of people, mkay?

“Th-that’s a lot of them!”

Asama pursed her lips, but Mary agreed that she may be worrying too much about this.

Then Asama looked to the others with an “um” and Masazumi raised a hand.

“Can you tell us what you’re worried about, Mary?”

“I can.” Mary nodded and listed three articles that were fairly similar.

4. Rebels and killers must not be employed and must be expelled.

No hiring terrorists or murderers, mkay?

5. People of other domains must not be employed.

No hiring people from other domains, mkay?

7. Report any in neighboring domains who are plotting rebellion.

Report any rebels you notice, even if they’re with your neighbors, mkay?

“My history recreation violates all three of these. I’m from England, which can be seen as a neighboring domain for Musashi, which makes me someone from a neighboring domain who plotted to assassinate the Fairy Queen.”

“It feels like you were dealt a yakuman.”

“Yakuman?” Mary tilted her head and Asama smiled bitterly and waved a hand dismissively.

“It’s a really good winning hand in a game.”

I see, thought Mary, but that confirmed that her existence was a major problem. Which may have been why Masazumi raised her hand.

“To start with…it looks like we need to settle this in our meeting with Suden to make sure none of this will be forced onto you. Besides, this also poses a risk for the Tachibana Couple and any other defectors living in Musashi.”

“For #5, the boarding procedure ensures that any Musashi resident will register with a Shinto shrine, which makes them a child of Musashi. Can we use that to get around that one, Masazumi?”

“A single justification prevents them from gathering around a single opposing argument, so that should be enough.”

“Then,” said Mary. “What about my treason and rebellion?”

“For #4, we can point to the fact that your child will be the next King of England. You left to protect England’s future, so we and England should be able to decide whether or not you count as a rebel. For #7, there’s no point in reporting something that’s already ended.”

Masazumi answered those quick. She must have already been considering a response to these things.

In that case, Mary moved on to her next concerns.

6. Building new castles and repairing old castles without advance notice is forbidden.

No building or fixing castles without letting us know, mkay?

8. Marriage without permission is forbidden.

The buke can’t get married without our permission, mkay?

“What about those two?”

This part directly affected her and Tenzou.

●

Smoking Girl: “Hey, Tenzou. Are you giving proper thought to your future?”

10ZO: “Huh? I’m asking around for information on possible homes. Masazumi-dono is in charge of the political side, so I intend to focus on the parts I can handle.”

Smoking Girl: “Hm… Fine, whatever. You basically already gave away a yakuman anyway.”

10ZO: “B-barbs from you are rare, Naomasa-dono, but what is that even supposed to mean!?”

●

Masazumi nodded and Balfette raised her hand.

“For the marriage and home, is submitting the proper paperwork within Musashi not enough? Besides, #6 is about castles. That’s a little different from Musashi’s small rooms.”

“Judge. But the Testament says Mary lived in different castles, so someone could use an interpretation to say anywhere she lives must be a castle. And this doesn’t just apply to her. There’s a chance someone will insist that any name inheritor that can be seen as a buke must live in a castle.”

“Then they could force that on me as well,” said Mitotsudaira. “The Tachibana Couple too.”

“Right. And what do we do then, Masazumi?”

“Judge.” Masazumi nodded. She knew the solution for this one. “We look at the Musashi as a colossal collection of castles.”

●

So that’s what they’re going, thought Naomasa, opening a sign frame. It displayed the structural layout of the Musashi’s base hulls.

“The other nations are already counting aerial ships as castles. So would we be defining the Musashi as a castle and dividing up the interior?”

“Right. If the Musashi is a castle, then any room given to a buke is part of a castle. That just leaves the question of what to call things. If someone asks where the ordinary people live, we just have to define certain areas as the ‘castle town’ or ‘fortress city’.”

“Judge.” Naomasa nodded. “Let me know If they gripe about that. I’ll figure something out.”

●

…They can actually do something about it?

Mary had thought the confrontation with Ishin Suden would be a discussion on an international scale. And yet these people were saying they would “figure something out”. Then she considered what had happened in England a few nights ago.

…These people can actually do it.

No. Just as Tenzou had indicated on the first night, all of Musashi was like this. In that case, she needed to ask her next question without fear or hesitation. She planned to leave her and his future in their hands, so…

“What about the permission for marriage in #8?”

“Like we said before, receiving permission within Musashi should be enough. And if someone complains…”

“I’ll handle it,” said Asama, raising her hand and opening a sign frame advertising the Asama Shrine as a wedding venue. “If paperwork isn’t enough and they want it done right, you should only need to hold the wedding at our shrine or some other Shinto location. That way the wedding was held in the presence of a god. And if they insist on doing it in the style of the provisional ruling nations, then Masazumi can handle getting permission there.”

“Judge. We have some inroads there, so it should work out.”

“I see,” replied Mary. She at least had an answer to her biggest concern.

…All of that worrying for nothing.

“Then I leave Master Tenzou and myself in your hands.”

“You don’t need to worry. We don’t know the exact tactic they’re going to try, so it could be easy and it could be a real pain. But…” Masazumi raised her eyebrows in a smile. “Just knowing we’re protecting your future in accordance with our proclamations at Mikawa and England really motivates me to figure it out. …So thanks for the motivation, Mary.”

●

…Does that address most of her concerns?

Just as Mitotsudaira wondered that, a sign frame appeared over Tsukinowa’s head.

“…!?”

Tsukinowa must have been surprised by its sudden proximity because the anteater moved to hide behind Masazumi seated on the edge of the spring, but the sign frame’s coordinates were relative to its head and followed.

Oh, dear, thought Mitotsudaira as Masazumi collected the sign frame.

It was from Futayo. She wasn’t with them because she had left after breakfast.

Tonbokiri: “Masazumi? The guard HQ summoned me to their station and it turns out they have identified the attackers from yesterday.”

●

Masazumi read and listened to Futayo’s words.

…Does that mean we know where those attackers were from?

Vice President: “Where was it? What nation sent them?”

Tonbokiri: “Um…K.P.A. Italia.”

“Really!?” shouted Naito’s voice from the changing room. Eventually, the curtain separating the changing room from the spring swished open and Naito poked just her head and hand out. And from the direction of the boys’ bath…

“G-get out of here, Naruze-kun! This bath is a no-old-hags zone! It is strictly a stew for old men!”

“Oh, shut up. Models don’t need to talk. And, Tenzou, you’re the main this time, so hold still.”

Nice to hear Naruze was making progress with her art.

Then a new sign frame appeared above Tsukinowa’s head.

It too was from Futayo. As for what it said…

Tonbokiri: “Are you there, Masazumi? Apparently some of the attackers are from Tres España too.”

●

Mitotsudaira heard an exclamation of “huh?” from outside the bath.

From the changing room. She recognized the voice, but it was a fair distance away.

…I know that voice.

Meanwhile, she heard footsteps on the changing room floor. Two sets.

…Is that Naito and Naruze?

No. The reaction to the mention of Tres España came from…

“Tachibana Gin?”

That was who stepped past the curtain held open by Naito.

Her eyebrows were raised and she surveyed the people present. And from the boys’ bath…

“Ohh! Hey, is that Tachibana Muneo!?”

“Indeed. I, Tachibana Muneshige, became an ordinary citizen just last night!”

After completing her survey of the group, Gin spoke.

“Wh-what is this gathering!? It’s indecent!”

○

Gold Mar: “Indecent!”

Art-Ga: “Indecent!”

Wise Sister: “Indecent! So, Gin, how did we look to you then!?”

Tachibana Wife: “W-well, at the time, I, uh, was just taken aback…”

Vice President: “Really, it’s hard to argue they aren’t indecent.”

Still Got It: “I know what you mean. How else would you describe boys and girls with only the bare minimum of clothing crammed into a small space, soaking in warm fluids, and exchanging words they wouldn’t dare speak in public?”

Bell: So…what were you doing…there, Gin-san?”

Tachibana Wife: “Judge. I had tried to gather up my things the night before so I could move out as soon as we had chosen a home, but we didn’t know much about Musashi or about the available divine protections. When we visited the Tama bridge to inquire, we were directed to the Asama Shrine. At the shrine, we were told ‘oh, you’re Tomo’s friends?’ and shown to the spring.”

Asama: “Why is my dad always causing trouble?”

●

Gin felt she had mostly been going with the flow of late. She had only come here for information on the Musashi and to arrange the necessary protections, but here she was taking a bath. It was part of the contract process, but still.

In the boys’ bath, it sounded like Muneshige was demonstrating his interpersonal skills and making friends already.

“Hm. Muneshige-dono, I too am looking for a place to work at the moment. How is your leg? You ran all the way through Hexagone Française? Then how about we share contact information?”

“If you need money fast, join us after school. Transporting building materials pays decently without requiring any detailed work.”

“Hey, Muneo! Need any recommendations for places to eat?”

“As you are Catholic, I recommend this restaurant if you live on Tama. A truly wonderful elder sister waits tables there.”

With all that going on, Gin felt left behind.

…Is it childish of me to feel frustrated and lonely?

But things were lively in this bath too. The Asama Shrine Representative was serving drinks and fruity desserts, but at the same time the Musashi Princess produced a bamboo bottle.

“The hot bath will make you sweat, so have some warmed sake to stay hydrated.”

“Thank you very much.”

When the recommendation came from Musashi’s Vicereine, she couldn’t exactly refuse. She drank it down in one gulp while the others turned toward her.

“That was kudzu custard,” said Musashi’s Vicereine.

Gin choked.

●

“Now she’s done it,” commented Mitotsudaira as she watched.

Gin was wearing the same type of swimsuit as Asama but with a kosode worn over it to cover her shoulders. However, Gin had frozen in place with the bamboo bottle tilted upside down to drink the contents.

“That’s a lot of hang time,” said Adele.

After around 5 seconds, Gin audibly gulped. Then she slammed the bamboo bottle on the edge of the spring. She let out a breath that earned her honest applause from the others. Mitotsudaira applauded too. Impressive, Tachibana Wife. Even if that is an entirely useless skill! But Gin shook her head, raised her eyebrows, and…

“What is wrong with you people!?”

Just as Gin raised her voice, Horizon made her move.

She gasped, turned toward the girl who was currently mad at her, and nodded once. She placed a hand on Gin’s shoulder as if to say “I understand completely” and pulled out another bottle with her left hand.

“I forgot to put the adzuki caramel at the bottom of that one. This one is done right.”

Gin silently slumped to the side, giving Horizon the win.

●

“So what was that you mentioned? I knew your Vice President was attacked yesterday, but now you say the attackers were from Tres España?”

Gin asked this while actually using a spoon this time around.

…Oh, this is actually quite good.

It helped that she was hungry, but if you ignored the overly thick consistency, the flavor was decent.

I should ask her for the recipe later, she thought while the Musashi Vice President opened two sign frames.

“Not all of them were. Earlier, we received word that some were from K.P.A. Italia. …Any thoughts, Tachibana Wife?”

Gin did have thoughts about those two nations.

“K.P.A. Italia and Tres España are close allies. They may be working together much like they did at Mikawa.”

However, Gin was the 3rd Special Duty Officer and she hadn’t heard anything about an attack like this. Also…

…Ishin Suden and the Buke Shohatto?

None of that had been mentioned yesterday when the vassal and the Chancellor’s sister had met with her. Apparently that information was still being kept secret. It felt careless of them to share that kind of secret with her, but she chose to think that a sign of how important they considered her and Muneshige. Also…

…They already addressed the issue of our home and marriage.

She had been given a sign frame listing the 13 articles plus some notes by the Asama Shrine Representative, so Gin inclined her head toward her and toward Mary who was at the center of the discussion. She and Mary had been from enemy nations just a few days before, but…

“Thank you very much for being so considerate of our situation.”

“Of course. And I hope you will support Lady Masazumi in this.”

Mary’s comment really drove home what Gin’s situation was here.

…I’m “one of them” at this point.

They might be dealing with K.P.A. Italia here. That nation had been her ally, but they had effectively been the superior in that arrangement.

So was she now overthrowing those superiors? She inhaled and…

“May I speak? …Up until the Armada Battle, I heard nothing about this in Tres España. So if anything was being planned then, K.P.A. Italia may have been in the lead.”

Just as she said that, a sign frame appeared above the Vice President’s Mouse. Two, in fact.

The Vice President took them and frowned with a “hm?” And eventually…

“We have new information from Futayo?”

“New nations for the list, Masazumi?”

“Judge,” said the Vice President. “Hexagone Française and M.H.R.R.”

Just as the Vice President added “also”, the Mouse lifted up a divine mail sign frame on its own.

The message addressed to the Vice President contained…

“The Testament Union Name Inheritor Almanac. Data on name inheritors not part of the Chancellor’s Officers or Student Council is strictly controlled by their nation.”

The Vice President pursed her lips and raised the information for a certain name inheritor.

“But all the information on Ishin Suden has been overwritten with ‘updating’. What is going on?”

What did that mean? As a name inheritor, Gin knew quite well.

“K.P.A. Italia has moved to protect Ishin Suden’s data. And her Pope Urban VIII data – including images – was replaced with Testament accurate information once the history recreation was complete. So that means all of her data is now unavailable.”

She had been searching the divine network for data on Ishin Suden and Urban VIII and could only find actual historical data. Even comments by people who had met her in real time had been changed to use male pronouns.

“Could it be a split inherited name?”

“No, based on what she said yesterday, she’s the only one. I think this is either an extension or a modification.”

If so, this was trouble. From past to present, that person had stubbornly remained true to herself as a single being, but now she was hiding herself.

“So in our upcoming meeting with Ishin Suden, we’ll have to search out her intentions from the ground up.”

●

“Innocen is being overprotective here, don’t you think, Sakai?”

“Anyone would be overprotective seeing you now, Urban VIII.”

They were on Musashino. Three figures were eating at a cafe terrace known for its view of the bridge towering overhead.

One was Sakai and another was Urban VIII. Their seaweed pasta with toppings, salad, and tea were served by “Musashi” who stood alongside them.

Urban VIII poured some olive oil on her pasta and then added some egg crumbles and garlic. After mixing it together, she skillfully gathered it on a fork.

Sakai used chopsticks to grab the pasta and artlessly carry it to his mouth, but…

“Hey, Sakai. Don’t slurp it.”

“We’re in the Far East and this is soba. Pasta? Never heard of it.”

“Oh, so that automaton is on your side, is she? I see, I see. How sad.”

“I am on no one’s side. Over.”

“Oh?” said Urban VIII before pointing her fork at Sakai. “I just negated your ally, so I win.”

“Judge, judge. That’s fine with me. So-”

“You coming to tonight’s…debate, I guess I’ll call it?”

“No, I like to let the young take care of their own business. That’s what the adults did in my time as long as I didn’t go to them.”

“Fair enough,” said Urban VIII before gathering up her pasta again. “I’ll probably grab lunch somewhere on my own tomorrow, so don’t bother searching me out.”

“Are you sure?”

“You’re supposed to say, ‘But I know a great place we could eat’! How clueless are you!?”

“Okay, okay. ‘Musashi’-san, search for a decent place. Also…what are Masazumi-kun and the others up to?”

“Judge. They appear to be gathered at the Asama Shrine for a meeting. Now, Urban VIII-sama, I have something to say.”

“Well, that’s ominous, automaton. But what is it? I’m in a good mood, so I’ll hear you out.”

“Judge,” began “Musashi”. “Do not push yourself too hard. That appears to be what our youth dislike the most. Over.”

“Ha ha! Then I’ve practically already won!”

Urban VIII looked into the sky. Into the blue sky with a straight line hidden by the Musashi’s bridge overhead.

“It begins once that sky glows red and ends in the night. By then, everything I must do will have ended in my victory. And then…”

And then…

“I can finally go see them. It will be a long journey, but I can go tell them all that I have won. Sakai, I’ll be leaving on my own then, so don’t bother searching me out.”

“Are you sure?”

Urban VIII laughed at Sakai’s response.

“You’re supposed to say, ‘Wow! You’re so cool, Your Holiness!’ How clueless are you!?”

○

“I never heard it from them directly, but I know them well enough to guess what they might have said.”

The Reine des Garous smiled a little and accepted the others’ applause.

“Mitotsudaira-sama’s mother is proving again why she is the highest evolution of girl. She recreated Sakai-sama perfectly while also cutting down on ‘Musashi’-sama’s presence to avoid reducing the accuracy. Masterfully done.”

“Oh, you could tell? But what were all of you doing then?”

The Asama Shrine Representative looked to their Vice President.

The Vice President responded with a nod.

“I set up as much as we could. By thinking up as many countermeasures as I could.”

“What was your overall plan?”

“Still to get Ishin Suden to lower her guard and then wallop her. But,” said the Vice President, spreading her arms some. “The idea was to take everything we had seen and overlooked and then hitting her with every single one we understood.”

“That is exactly the kind of opponent Urban VIII loves. …Very well. I want to see what response that eccentric found. Allow me to join you as you reveal the answer.”

●

At 3:50 PM, the Asama Shrine grounds were cleared of people while the tents with cloth walls remained intact. Three people waited for another person there.

A meeting table had been set up in front of the main shrine building and Masazumi stood on the starboard side.

Asama in her shrine maiden outfit and Mitotsudaira stood next to Masazumi.

They had no seats. But there was a single chair across the table on the port side.

A small figure climbed the stairs to reach them.

“Musashi” accompanied her partway up, but the automaton bowed and let the small figure continue alone.

“Ishin Suden – here as arranged. I see you actually set things up instead of running away. Good.”

Suden sat in the chair and raised her eyebrows as she looked up at standing Masazumi. The corners of her lips rose.

“Now, let’s decide what to do about the Buke Shohatto that will change the course of history for the Far East as a whole!”

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