The road, once a mire of clinging mud, gradually took on the shape of a well‑maintained, sand‑laid thoroughfare.
All the major roads in this region led to the same place.
The Ashitaka family.
A castle ringed by a deep moat.
Its architectural style was clearly unlike the castles they were used to.
“Ho—quite curious. Is that a watchtower? Something’s jutting out.”
“Lord Daniel, is this your first time as well?”
“It’s not my first time in the west, but it’s my first time encountering the Ashitaka family.”
Among the many western clans, the Ashitaka family felt especially exotic—its architecture, the castle’s layout, even their clothing and cuisine.
“It feels like we’ve come to another country,” Lena said, looking around in wonder.
Ono scoffed. “Ha, kid—have you ever actually been to another country?”
“I’ve been a foreign student from the start. I came to the Empire to study.”
“…Really?”
“No.”
Ono blinked, momentarily at a loss for words, as Lena walked past with a casual air. Daniel snorted and laughed.
“She’s not exactly normal either.”
Hamel wanted to laugh too, but he couldn’t.
Behind the group, Leo Benedictus trailed along, constantly humming and chattering. “You have pleasant companions. I’m truly envious.”
“Yes.”
“Lord Hamel seems to have a great deal of good fortune in companions.”
He kept talking to Hamel, undeterred by terse answers or silence, and Hamel, unused to such forwardness, grew weary. What was his purpose? He shook his head to dispel the thought. It was a worry he couldn’t resolve now—not yet. It was still hard to label the man an enemy. For the moment, persistent suspicion and caution were the best course.
Then Leo grinned and pointed. “Ah, I see them over there.”
Across the bridge spanning the moat, a group stood beneath flags bearing a fan‑shaped emblem—Ashitaka retainers already aware of Hamel’s party.
“Finally arrived,” Ono sighed heavily, and the drooping Azidahaka flapped its ears. “I thought the north was the worst, but the west is no picnic either.”
“Shh.”
Daniel hushed Ono’s grumbling and urged his horse forward. Hamel nodded at the caution; they must not let their guard down here. This was the west, where the authority of the Order held little sway, and the Ashitaka were one of the region’s three ruling powers. If they acted hostilely, it would become a thorny situation.
Hamel slowed his pace, crossed the bridge, and stood before them. At that moment, the gathered family bowed in unison.
“Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Hamel and his companions were taken aback. They had only hoped not to be met with outright hostility.
“The family head has prepared a banquet inside and is awaiting you. Please partake.”
“…A banquet?”
There was no obvious reason the Ashitaka would welcome them, but Hamel decided to follow the escort and moved toward the banquet hall.
“Toasts!”
—Clink!
Glasses rang loudly. A man threw an arm around Hamel’s shoulder. “Enjoying yourself, Sir Hamel?”
“…Yes, thanks.”
He sounded flippant, cheerful. The man, hair tied back and looking not yet thirty, was Ashitaka Saburo, head of the Ashitaka family. Youthful vigor showed in his features and gestures; one would not immediately have guessed his position.
“Do you like the drink?”
“Yes.”
Saburo cocked his head. “Oh? What do you like about it?”
Hamel met his gaze, feeling the subtle pressure behind the question. He lifted the glass he had only touched and drained it. “It’s crisp. There’s a faint aroma, like sweet potato skin.”
“Ho. Even young, you seem to know how to drink.”
Saburo laughed heartily and clapped Hamel on the shoulder. The banquet was boisterous—musicians pounded unfamiliar instruments while Hamel’s group sat a little awkwardly on the floor, emptying cups that were promptly refilled and accepting the hospitality.
“You’ve arrived at quite an opportune time.”
“…?”
“Ha! Don’t play dumb. Do you think we don’t know why you’ve come?”
“What do you mean?” Hamel chose his words carefully; Saburo’s intentions were impossible to gauge.
Saburo refilled his glass and grinned. “Isn’t it because of the Azidahaka?”
Hamel stiffened. The rumors were true—the Ashitaka had recently been troubled by an Azidahaka. He set his glass down and considered.
“Are you asking me to solve that?”
“Not necessarily… but—”
Saburo scratched his head, embarrassed, then spoke bluntly. “We’d be grateful if you did.”
For a moment, the sounds around Hamel seemed to halt. There was force behind the plea. So this was the banquet’s purpose: to press him into resolving the troublesome Azidahaka problem. If he could solve it without lifting a finger, it would be an opportunity. In the Empire, few exorcists were as renowned as Hamel.
After a brief hesitation, Hamel nodded. “Very well.”
“Oh, is that for real?”
“Yes, but I will require some assistance from the Ashitaka family in return.”
“Just say the word,” Saburo chuckled.
They needed to confirm whether an Azidahaka truly existed here and why it imitated the original; detailed information would be necessary. If the Ashitaka aided him, the task would be far easier. Their interests aligned.
But a nagging unease nagged at Hamel. Saburo’s face trembled slightly when he murmured, “I suppose it’s all fate.”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Ah, yes, go ahead. When you return, let’s drink properly.”
Hamel rose under the pretext of visiting the privy to sort his thoughts. In the quiet corridor, a voice murmured.
“You seem to have many worries.”
“…Benedictus.”
“Ashitaka Saburo… he’s the sort of man who might have a hundred snakes in his belly.”
Hamel quickly scanned his surroundings. The banquet hall had been noisy, but the corridor was utterly still. “Be careful.”
“Oh my. Sorry. The drink must have gone to my head a bit.”
Hamel exhaled. If Saburo was a serpent, the man before him seemed like a centuries‑old fox—someone who would not make mistakes even when drunk.
“What is it?”
“No. It’s nothing really… I just wanted to give the obvious advice: don’t trust the Ashitaka too much.”
“…”
Then Benedictus’ voice drifted from behind. “The Ashitaka value honor more than death.”
Hamel froze. That was it. He remembered the Glenval family in the north—though they had a problem, they balked at letting others solve it; the head of Glenval would accept no dishonor. The Ashitaka would be no different. Would they truly entrust Hamel to resolve a problem that had arisen in their own territory?
“…No way.”
Hamel had heard of the Ashitaka: a veiled power, independent of the imperial court and the Order, a family that would give its life for honor. Saburo Ashitaka’s earlier request—he realized now—had been a lie.
The banquet ran late into the night. Hamel’s party, having downed drinks in quick succession, staggered drunkenly toward their lodgings, exhausted from the journey and made even more so by the sedative slipped into the final cups. No matter how formidable, they wouldn’t open their eyes tonight.
“…Are we ready?”
“Perfect.”
Three rooms in total. Forces were positioned without a gap and the best personnel chosen to enter. At the given signal, the unfortunate guests would draw their last breaths.
“Hm.”
Having heard the report, Ashitaka Saburo’s cheerful demeanor vanished. The man who had laughed in the banquet hall now wore an expression of cold composure. “Do it.”
“Yes.”
A man blew a soundless whistle—one only those specially trained could perceive. At the same moment, noises came from inside the three rooms.
—Crack.
Wooden floors splintered. The sound of assassins finishing their work.
“It’s done.”
A masked man bowed and reported. Saburo’s face remained unreadable. “No.”
“…Yes?”
When the man looked up puzzled, Saburo spoke again. “It isn’t over. We’re the ones who’ll be struck.”
—Bang!
Roars erupted as wooden doors splintered and people poured out of the rooms.
“Didn’t I tell you to be careful?” Leo Benedictus smiled and flicked blood from a dagger. “You startled me.”
Lena calmly hoisted a stunned assassin and dragged them out. Hamel stepped out last and offered a greeting.
“Good day.”
“…I see.”
“It seems we must establish our relations anew. Allow me to reintroduce myself.”
Hamel shoved the dragged assassin toward Saburo. “I am an Exorcist priest of the Eastern Order and the lord of Haidern—Hamel Saint Gilmore.”
“…”
“You will explain this matter to me thoroughly.”
Hamel calmly drew his sword and ignited a blue Azure Flame along its blade. “If you do not, you’ll find yourselves in trouble.”
As if ready.
