"Everyone, please drain your cups."
After successfully defeating Yura of the Hair, following the traditions of Japan, and considering that this was the Hojo Army's first victory over a demon,
Hojo Akitoshi readily held a victory banquet that evening.
He looked at his trusted retainers gathered below him, every one of them visibly excited.
Although Hojo Akitoshi was still preoccupied with Sesshomaru's imminent arrival and the Battle of Kawagoe,
there was no reason to burden his subordinates with needless worries while they were celebrating.
Knowing when to tighten the reins and when to loosen them was the proper way to lead.
"A toast to our Lord's valor!"
Seeing how considerate their lord was, his followers naturally knew how to conduct themselves as retainers.
Led by Akechi Mitsuhide, the warriors rose in unison and offered their congratulations to Hojo Akitoshi, seated at the head of the banquet.
Even Kagome, sitting beside Hojo Akitoshi, found herself being urged to drink by quite a few warriors.
What?
Why was Higurashi Kagome allowed to sit beside Hojo Akitoshi, occupying something like center stage at such a grand occasion?
Naturally, Hojo Akitoshi had arranged it. His justification was that Kagome had contributed greatly to the battle and played a decisive role.
When rewarding their achievements, he had awarded Kagome the highest credit, giving her every right to occupy such an honored seat.
As for the senior officers of the Hojo Army who were entitled to attend the main banquet, once they learned some of the relevant details,
they immediately began making their own calculations. They did not mind humbling themselves a little if it meant reaping benefits later.
"Thank you, thank you."
As people urged her to drink, Kagome felt overwhelmed by the unexpected attention. Looking at the warriors before her, who, in this Warring States era,
undoubtedly qualified as important figures, she watched them approach in twos and threes, speaking humbly to her and offering toasts.
When had a girl from the future ever experienced anything like this? For a moment, a strange, subtle sense of giddiness rose within her.
Besides, never mind ancient times-even in modern society,
if an inexperienced newcomer suddenly attended a reception hosted by senior executives and saw powerful figures going out of their way to flatter them,
how many could remain levelheaded and stay true to themselves?
Smiling, Hojo Akitoshi watched Kagome surrounded by warriors, her pretty face flushed as she shyly exchanged polite courtesies with them.
His gaze shifted toward Inuyasha and Kaede, seated at the edge of the banquet.
The treatment those two received was entirely different from Kagome's.
Although everyone had essentially the same food, the desolate chill surrounding their seats
had already pushed the impulsive, short-tempered Inuyasha to the brink of an outburst.
Presumably, if not for the spectacular sight on the hill earlier that day, and Kaede beside him soothing him with gentle words...
"Good thing he can keep it in."
Hojo Akitoshi murmured softly. He bore Inuyasha no ill will, nor had he arranged anything malicious for him.
When he had followed this world's story in his previous life, Hojo Akitoshi had been quite fond of Inuyasha as a reader.
But circumstances had changed. Before, he had merely read the story; now, he had become part of it.
In that case, sorry, but for the sake of his own ambitions and the followers at his side,
he had to fight for what he needed. It had nothing to do with right or wrong, likes or dislikes-it was simply a matter of the responsibilities he bore!
Whether it was the Shikon Jewel or Kagome, whose spiritual purification powers made her an immense deterrent against demons,
Hojo Akitoshi clenched his fists and lowered his eyes. Not just those-even Kikyo, returned from the darkness of death, and the others!
If they can further my grand undertaking, then they must come into the Hojo fold!
"My Lord! My Lord!"
While Hojo Akitoshi was putting his thoughts in order, Akechi Mitsuhide approached with a bowl of sake.
He softly called to his lord, who was deep in thought, and waited until Hojo Akitoshi raised his head.
Then he cast an almost imperceptible glance outside before taking the lead out of the banquet.
"Hm?"
Glancing over the still-lively gathering, Hojo Akitoshi followed him out without drawing anyone else's attention.
"What happened, Mitsuhide?"
Once outside, Hojo Akitoshi looked at Akechi Mitsuhide and asked.
"My Lord, we just received this report."
Reporting in a low voice, Akechi Mitsuhide drew a small slip of paper from inside his robes.
Thanks to Hojo Akitoshi's foresight, the Hojo Army had grown accustomed to transmitting messages by carrier pigeon.
As a result, the Hojo Army stood at the forefront of this Warring States era in communications.
"This is...?"
Taking the slip, Hojo Akitoshi had already anticipated its contents.
Reviewing the information in his mind, he recalled that Inuyasha and the others had originally resolved the incident with Yura of the Hair in a single night.
Afterward, Kagome had apparently returned to the modern era, and that same night, Sesshomaru had casually wiped out the Imagawa Army at the Battle of Kawagoe.
Now, with his intervention, the incident with Yura of the Hair had taken two days, and Kagome had not returned to the modern era during that time.
In that case...
"Just as expected. The Imagawa Army is gone!"
Quickly reading the intelligence on the slip, Hojo Akitoshi let out a long breath.
What had to come would come. The true test had only just begun.
Compared with an appetizer like Yura of the Hair, Sesshomaru, the Great Dog General's eldest son, was the main course!
This figure, who stood at the pinnacle of strength in Inuyasha's world from beginning to end, was the truly decisive benchmark for measuring the fighting power of humans and demons.
"Can we stand against him?"
Hojo Akitoshi knew practically everything about the Imagawa forces deployed at the Battle of Kawagoe.
Dealing with them would not have posed him much difficulty, but doing it as Sesshomaru had, as casually as brushing away dust...
Hojo Akitoshi's expression darkened. Truthfully, the Hojo Army could have accomplished it, but not with such effortless ease.
"My Lord, how should we respond to the situation at the Battle of Kawagoe?"
Akechi Mitsuhide waited patiently for a while, but seeing that his lord remained deep in thought,
he offered his own assessment as a well-intentioned reminder.
"At the Battle of Kawagoe, the balance of power has already become clear. With the loss of the Ima-
gawa Army's strength, the Takeda Army alone..."
"No matter how you look at it, we hold the advantage!"
"But our opponent is, after all, the Tiger of Kai, who has swept across the land and whose fame rivals yours, my Lord."
"If Takeda Shingen burns his bridges and commits his entire army, will Lord Ujiyasu's military prowess be enough to counter him?"
"Defeat would certainly throw obstacles into the Hojo's march on the capital, but victory could hardly be called a blessing for the Hojo either!"
"Oh?"
Hojo Akitoshi raised his eyes to look at the ever-loyal Akechi Mitsuhide. He understood the meaning behind his words perfectly.
While he was worrying about Sesshomaru, his subordinate was genuinely worrying about him.
If they lost, the Hojo's rise would inevitably be checked.
If they won, since he was not on the battlefield at Kawagoe, the glory of victory would fall solely upon Hojo Ujiyasu, the loser in the contest for clan leadership.
After considering it for a moment, Hojo Akitoshi looked up at the crescent moon in the sky.
"Mitsuhide, make the preparations. Let the men rest for the night, and then..."
"I believe Takeda Shingen will be unwilling to retreat just like this. And with Ujiyasu's abilities, holding the Tiger at a stalemate should be no problem."
"The decisive strike will still be left to us."
"Yes."
Akechi Mitsuhide nodded firmly, showing that he understood. He also considered Hojo Akitoshi's arrangements extremely sound.
There was just one thing...
Looking back at the still-boisterous main banquet, Akechi Mitsuhide pondered what else he might have overlooked.
Before you continue