The Isaka Family's Plot
The Isaka family, which ruled Sengatake Village, had a conflicting relationship with the Sakuradani family, the large landowners.
In the past, attempts were made to repair the relationship between the two families by having Yukiko and Sousuke have an arranged marriage. However, the person Yukiko, the heir to the Sakuradani family, chose as her spouse was Saemon.
The Isaka family's anger at having their marriage proposal flatly rejected was tremendous, and the relationship between the two families further deteriorated.
"It's become a complicated situation... Damn it! That pig-man Koshiro! After he lined up eight hundred lies! Peh!"
Taisuke, the village chief, spits phlegm on the roadside. It was on the way back from Sakuradani-kan. Sousuke, who was walking behind his father, also looked displeased.
"Tch! What's with that man...! I can understand Koshiro Himura's motives. He wants money. He must be just looking for money. But Motonobu Matsudaira, who's staying at the Sakuradani-kan... what is he? I don't know who he is. Hey, old man. Who or where is he from? Don't you know?"
"I don't have a clue. Maybe he's working for the Hokuwakai?"
"That's possible. It's unnatural for him to stay at Sakuradani-kan all the time."
"I’m sure those yakuza guys are still targeting the Sakuradani family’s hot springs… If we keep messing around, the land in Sengatake village will be stolen by the yakuza!"
"Right... Speaking of Hokuwakai's lackeys, Adashino-san, who was stationed here, committed suicide two years ago, right?"
"Yeah. That's right! That's right! Now that I remember it, I'm getting annoyed! Even though the police are there to protect the citizens, that bastard! He tried to sell Sengatake Village to the yakuza!"
"I was a bad kid, so I always got yelled at, so I didn't have a good impression of him. Was the police officer Adashino-san a lackey of the yakuza? I can't believe he committed suicide because of that..."
"It's true. Saemon died in the forest fire at Oni Tengu Shrine, and he must have gotten scared. He shot out his own brain with a pistol. I found him, and he was in a terrible state."
"The forest fire at Oni Tengu Shrine that killed Saemon... Does the old man know nothing? I wasn't in Sengatake Village at that time. Rumor has it that someone started the fire and killed Saemon."
"Rumors are rumors. The idiots who believe in superstitions say it's a curse, but... I wonder what the truth is. I don't know! However, the carpenters who died with Saemon were the ones Koshiro had called. I think that the Hokuwakai's members must have gotten fed up and tried to lock up Saemon. All of them are dead now, so we don't know anything about it."
"Hey, old man. Putting aside Motonobu, a self-proclaimed novelist who I don't really understand, wouldn't it be bad if we don't do something about Koshiro? That pig bastard has set up a fake story. I don't think it's possible, but Yukiko and him got married. If it did, we'll lose custody of Hinami, right?"
"Wait a little longer. I heard that the stationed police officer, Ayumu, will check with the branch office. We'll find out eventually. It's all a lie anyway."
"One year ago, on September 25th, he claims to have registered with Yukiko. Do you think this is a false pretense? I'm a little anxious."
"That pig-man is cunning. He's quick-witted for how he looks. For a bank employee, it would be as easy as forging a marriage registration. Apparently, Yukiko had entrusted him with her seal. However, if you investigate thoroughly, you'll definitely find it in shambles. Don't worry.''
"That's not the only thing I'm concerned about. No matter how much he wants the Sakuradani family's money, would he go to this extent? Koshiro's gaze was abnormal. I mean, there are a lot of weird things going on."
"What? Don't tell me you're saying it's the curse of the Oni Tengu Shrine too?"
"I don't believe in curses. But, isn't someone doing something? ...Saemon must have been suspicious that the people involved in Sengatake Village were connected to the Hokuwakai. And then he died."
"Hey! You! We weren't the ones who did it!"
"I know that! Don't raise your voice! Old man! What I want to know is the bastard who killed Saemon and put Yukiko through that!"
"That's right... Hey, Sousuke. After you left the village, you ended up in Kokubuncho. You must have done something strange, right?"
"I was working at a liquor store until I received the letter from Saemon. I'm not connected to the Hokuwakai."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯"
"That letter is real. It's truly Saemon's letter. I gave it to Hinami, but it can be proven by handwriting analysis... Saemon knew he was going to die. That's why he relied on me in the end. You know why, right, old man?"
"...I know. That's right. Koshiro and Motonobu are outsiders. They don't know about the shrine maiden rituals in Sengatake Village. The people of Sengadake Village know what's going on. They'll believe us."
"Yeah. That's right. It's also for Saemon's sake. I'm the only one in this world who can protect Yukiko and Hinami."
"Sousuke! Hurry up and tell everything to Hinami!! If you do that, Hinami will believe in you! Let's make this quick. Sakuradani Hot Spring is a treasure of Sengatake Village. We have to protect it no matter what."
"No, we can wait a little longer before telling Hinami."
"Don't be foolish. What are you going to do if you hold back and it was snatched away by Koshiro? Just so you know, you haven't done anything wrong! It's Saemon's grudge. In the first place, it would have been better if the previous head of the family, Yoshiharu, hadn't refused the marriage proposal of the Isaka family. You should have been the one to marry Yukiko!!"
"It's a story that ended over ten years ago. Besides, the letter that pig bastard brought out was a fake. Why would Yukiko write such a love letter? The lie will be exposed through the analysis."
"Yukiko is pregnant. According to the female doctor, there is a 50/50 chance that the baby will be born safely or not... If a boy is born, the Sakuradani family's assets will belong to the eldest son. He will become the head of the Sakuradani family!"
"Old man... I didn't come back for the Isaka family. I have to fulfill the will of my best friend with whom I had a falling out, or I won't be able to sleep well. Besides, it's for the sake of Yukiko and Hinami."
"Hmph! I wonder who do you take after. You hard-ass."
"Well, I won't deny it. When we had a falling out, Saemon told me the same line."
The next day, February 26th, a post office worker visited Sengatake Village. [Saemon's will] submitted by Sousuke and [Yukiko's love letter] owned by Koshiro were mailed to Tokyo for handwriting analysis.
Hinami submitted a leave of absence notice to the girls' school and decided to remain in Sengatake Village for a while.
Postal workers come to Sengatake Village on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The earliest a reply to the analysis request would arrive was March 3rd.
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[Introduction of characters]
▼ Yukiko Sakuradani
The young proprietress of Sakuradani-kan, a long-established hot spring inn.
She lost her husband and became a widow. She is raped by someone from Sengatake Village and she becomes pregnant.
▼ Saemon Sakuradani (deceased)
Yukiko's late husband. Burn to death in a fire. He has a severed relationship with Sousuke.
▼ Hinami Sakuradani
Yukiko and Saemon's only daughter. She left Sengatake Village and entered a girls' school in Tokyo. Until recently, she was studying abroad.
She reunites with her mother for the first time in two years and is told that she is pregnant.
▼ Sousuke Isaka
The prodigal son of the Isaka family, who monopolizes the position of village chief in Sengatake Village.
He was an old friend of Yukiko and Saemon, but they had a rift over a certain incident and their relationship became strained.
He takes out [Saemon's will] and claims that he got Yukiko pregnant.
▼ Koshiro Himura
A bank employee at Yamatoku Mujin Bank. An obese, ugly middle-aged man.
Although he is the exclusive representative of the Sakuradani family, he was despised by Saemon when he was alive.
He brings out [Yukiko's love letter] and claims that he got her pregnant.
▼ Motonobu Matsudaira
Self-proclaimed novelist. A guest staying at Sakuradani-kan for a long time.
He claims that Yukiko approached him and they had a physical relationship.
▼ Misaki Reiko
A female doctor who works at a clinic in Sengatake Village. She diagnoses that Yukiko is pregnant.
▼ Ran
An apprentice who works at Sakuradani-kan. She is a twelve-year-old girl, but she does not go to school.
▼ Yoshiharu Sakuradani (deceased)
Yukiko's father. He doted on his granddaughter, Hinami. He trusted Koshiro and valued him.
He and the Isaka family are bitter enemies. He opposed the plan of a ski resort.
▼ Taisuke Isaka
The village chief of Sengatake Village. His son is Sousuke.
He has been at odds with the Sakuradani family for several decades over a plan to build a ski resort.
He has a grudge against the Sakuradani family, the large landowners who are hindering the development of the village.
▼Ayumu Higashiyama
A police officer stationed in Sengatake Village. He is a beautiful young man with fair skin and an androgynous face.
Although he keeps his distance from the people in the village, he is liked by Ran.
▼Adashino (deceased)
Former police officer. He was familiar with Sengatake Village, but committed suicide with a pistol two years ago.
There is a rumor that he was guiding the Hokuwakai.
[Records of Sengatake Village]
▽ 1974
One day in April: Hinami enters a girls' school in Tokyo and leaves Sengatake Village.
July 7th: Saemon was burned to death in a fire.
July 8th: Adashino's corpse is found at the police post.
Late August: Yukiko's emotions become disturbed and she begins to kick out the old employees.
▽ 1975
A certain day in September: Yukiko becomes pregnant by the rape demon's seed.
September 25th: Yukiko and Koshiro's marriage registration is submitted(?)
▽ 1976
February 24th: Hinami returns home and is told that her mother, Yukiko, is pregnant.
February 25th: Influential people from Sengatake Village gather for discussion.
Thanks for the chapter
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