Chapter 87 Extra Chapter: Tsugikuni Iwakatsu 3

I learned about the situation from Ah-xi, and with her help, I also found my mother's diary in her room.

My mother loves me, contrary to my imagination. My father doesn't want her to see me, and when they do meet, he always feels sad because of my injuries.

As I turned the pages of that diary, my heart grew heavier and heavier.

Yoriichi seemed to have realized his father's thoughts, so he left ahead of time.

He had long anticipated his mother's illness and death. It turned out that his mother had been seriously ill for several years, and as a result, she could not control the left side of her body.

So, he wasn't a weakling who clung to his mother and acted spoiled at all. He saw through everything; those divinely bestowed eyes saw right through my ugliness and jealousy.

Am I being given charity? Do you think this is for my own good? Why are you so detached from worldly affairs?

I felt my breathing become difficult, an indescribable emotion filled my body, and the paper began to smudge with the blood I had dripped.

I hate you, Yoriichi Tsugikuni

After that, Yoriichi disappeared without a trace, and his father soon discovered his absence.

His father sent people to look for him several times, but he didn't seem to go to the temple as planned. A small child like him was more likely to have been abducted or eaten by wild animals.

My father gave up and turned his gaze back to me.

I don't have to replace Yoriichi as a monk; I'm still the next head of the family, just like before, but I'm not happy. I often stare blankly at the sky, or stand in front of that three-story house.

I feel so lonely.

My father has become increasingly strict with me, perhaps because I am not his best choice. He also often misses my mother and Yoriichi in the quiet of the night.

I don't understand why people who speak ill of each other in life will regret it after death.

I continued to train every day, but I accumulated more and more wounds. However, this didn't last long, and my father soon passed away.

I held his funeral calmly, and surrounded by my subordinates, I naturally took over the affairs and became the head of the family.

I am very happy that in their eyes I am a good heir, the sole head of the family after the nation.

It wasn't until a letter from the Tokito family arrived that I learned my father had arranged a marriage for me long ago. I thought about it for a long time, but I didn't object to this sudden marriage.

Tokito Otonoko is my wife.

At first, she resembled my mother a lot; she was a gentle, refined, and well-educated woman. My marriage to her was an alliance between our two families, and we respected each other throughout our relationship.

She stayed by my side the whole time, taking care of everything at home so well that it made my life much easier.

Until one day, when I was reading the industry reports submitted by my subordinates, I saw seriousness and interest in her eyes.

I think I was stupid. I looked at her for a few seconds and then blurted out.

Do you want to take a look?

Otonoko was surprised, and so was I. She was surprised by my question, since nowadays women are generally considered to be virtuous and gentle. I was amazed by her talent; her ideas on management and development were very progressive.

I realized that I didn't really know her that well; she wasn't the kind of person who depended on others that I initially perceived her to be.

From that day on, I had her take over management duties so I would have more time to practice. Whenever I saw how serious and dedicated she was, I felt I had made the right choice.

Days passed by like this, and I had a child of my own. He was adorable and intelligent. I couldn't bear to raise him the way my father had raised me; he was already wonderful.

I think he may not necessarily have to become the head of the family.

In this leisurely life, the daily routine can get a bit boring, but it also makes me gradually forget the past, and the passage of time seems to slow down.

Until that day, I was camping with my subordinates.

We were planning to rest for one night before heading back, but that choice led us to encounter a monster that was unkillable, incredibly strong, and possessed strange powers.

My men all died protecting him; my swordsmanship and blades are useless against him. Even if I were to expend all my strength to wound him, he would immediately recover.

My knife broke, and I was completely exhausted. I could only watch helplessly as the monster approached me, reeking of blood.

Am I going to die? Surprisingly, I was very calm at that moment, perhaps because I didn't care whether I was going to die or not.

But in that instant, the red figure, with its back to the moonlight, killed the inhuman monster with a single blow.

I stared at the familiar Hanafuda cards, at the face that looked exactly like mine—my younger brother, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, whom I hadn't seen for many years.

I thought we would never see each other again.

Yoriichi rescued me from the inhuman monster, like a god, carrying that burning aura.

He has achieved a sublime level of swordsmanship, possesses unparalleled martial arts skills, and has become someone I can never reach.

Why, why did it have to happen? Why did it have to disrupt my life? Why did it have to save me?

A surge of jealousy and anger made my stomach cramp, and a feeling of nausea kept nauseating me.

"I'm sorry, elder brother."

He apologized to me, saying that he felt his failure to arrive in time led to the deaths of my men.

The nausea was getting worse and worse, and an inexplicable anger was burning inside me. As I looked at him, I was reminded of the unbearable memories of my childhood.

Yes, he has become a strongman, with powerful swordsmanship and noble thoughts, while I am still standing still.

People like me are self-righteous and delusional.

Yoriichi's appearance made my time flow, and I was reminded of my unattainable dreams.

Looking at Yoriichi, she couldn't help but shed tears.

I yearn for that unparalleled swordsmanship, I want to possess that immense power, I want to surpass Yoriichi.

I want to become a samurai who can protect others.

"My lord, you seem to have something on your mind."

Otonoko noticed something was wrong with me. She already knew what had happened when I came back, and I never hide anything from her.

She stood up, looked at me, and sighed deeply.

"Go ahead, isn't this what you've always been pursuing?"

"What?"

I was surprised and turned around to see her taking it all for granted.

“I discovered that a long time ago, and besides, I can manage the country well even when you're not here.”

She smiled, her tone filled with confidence and arrogance, but it instantly relieved my previously conflicted feelings.

We didn't speak again until the next morning, when she handed me a packed bundle.

"Husband, would you like to see the child again?"

I looked at her and silently shook my head.

"treasure."

After I finished speaking, I turned around and saw Yoriichi standing not far away waiting for me. Without hesitation, I walked towards him.

I abandoned everything to pursue that vague dream of my youth, to chase after that unattainable sun.