※Important!!※ From the author
With the final episode of the interlude arc, I have decided to completely transfer to Narou.
I judged that uploading this work, which is not very erotic, to Nocturne, an erotic novel section, was obstructing the authors of works that were more suited to its theme.
For readers who wish to continue reading, please do so on Narou.
I will provide detailed explanations in the afterword.
I sincerely apologize to all readers who have been reading on Nocturne.
The next chapter, the fierce battle arc, has already been posted on Narou.
The title of this work has also been changed. I am continuing to write the sequel on Narou under the same title.
* * *
With a clanging sound, a giant steel arm drives concrete piles into the ground.
Shizuru Yaotome is at the center of a swarm of heavy construction machinery, directing the construction with a tablet in her hand.
In the middle of the construction site, temporarily enclosed by a caution tape, a wooden sign has been erected.
The sign bears the large, inky characters: “Hachioki no Sho, Construction Site.”
* * *
Returning to the prefabricated shed at the construction site, Shizuru summons Gozumaru and Mezumaru, her trusted subordinates.
The siblings, who quickly answered their lord’s summons, kneel on one knee awaiting Shizuru’s orders.
“Gozumaru, Mezumaru, have all the clan members and their families moved into the temporary housing?”
“It has been completed without any issues.” “Everyone is delighted.”
“Of course. Rocktown is a good city. Though there may come a day when we return to Terukyo, let us first build our place of peace here.”
“Yes. Together with you, Shizuru-sama!” “Mezumaru, we must also express our gratitude to the Commander.”
“Indeed. To repay the Commander’s kindness, let us head to Lord’s location.”
“Yes!” “As you command!”
“Even if Hachioki no Sho, our Lord’s territory, is completed, it will be meaningless if our Lord is not here. Are the preparations for the twenty selected individuals from the White Wolf Group complete?”
“Just like us, they have completed their upgrades to the 5th generation models and await your orders, Shizuru-sama!”
Shizuru nods with satisfaction at Gozumaru’s reply.
“Alright! Now is the time to depart! We shall return to Rose Garden and proceed to Lord’s location with the White Wolf Group!”
Adjusting her sash and steeling her resolve, Shizuru leaps out of the prefab shed and onto an open-top military vehicle.
“My Lord, please stay safe. Shizuru is coming for you now!”
Shouting this in her heart, no, actually shouting it, she drives the car across the wilderness.
Shizuru’s conviction, staking her life on the revival of the Hachioki Family, is unwavering and free of any doubt.
Shizuru Yaotome was a formidable woman blessed with both responsibility and a sense of mission, as well as the ability to achieve both. However, this also made her a woman of deep conviction.
* * *
While Shizuru was inherently resolute, there was a reason for her to develop such a firm belief.
It was her grandmother’s dying wish. Shizuru’s grandmother, who had served as a close attendant to Hachiroku Reigen for a long time, was driven from her homeland by Migado Saryu and lived in seclusion in a remote hermitage while recovering from illness.
Her grandmother, weakened by illness, had lost the will to live several years prior after witnessing a large shooting star cross the path of Sirius.
Her grandmother, who had knowledge of astrology, said, “A red shooting star crossing the path of Sirius is proof that the fate of Sirius has ended. Lord Reigen must have passed away.”
Shizuru thought that Lord Reigen should have already died in his mansion in Terukyo, but she did not voice this.
Her grandmother was the head of the Yaotome clan, and her astrological predictions were always remarkably accurate.
One night, as Shizuru cared for her ailing grandmother and desperately searched for ways to revive their family in a remote place, her grandmother said to her:
“Shizuru, the moon is beautiful tonight. Please help me to the veranda.”
With her grandmother leaning on her shoulder, Shizuru sat on the veranda and gazed at the stars twinkling in the night sky.
Her sickly eyelids snapped open, and her grandmother grasped Shizuru’s shoulder.
“…Oh! A radiance in Sirius!! He has returned! The golden wolf… has returned!”
Upon hearing her grandmother’s words, Shizuru also looked up at Sirius. Indeed, as her grandmother said, Sirius was exceptionally bright and radiant tonight.
“…The brilliance of Sirius is increasing. …However, Grandmother, you said that Yamon Agito was not Sirius, but a bloodthirsty starved wolf, not our Lord.”
Even if there were someone of the Hachioki Soke bloodline, such a villain, no, a fiend, would be unacceptable. Bloodline is important, but it is not everything.
“…It is not Agito. But there is no doubt that our Lord has descended. However, I do not understand. If he has been born…”
Shizuru did not understand her grandmother’s words. Shizuru had no knowledge of astrology. She wanted to carve out her own destiny, not rely on the stars. To uphold that conviction, she had deliberately refrained from seeking instruction from her grandmother.
“…Or perhaps! Yes, that must be it! …That secret art, Lord Reigen’s will has revived Sirius! Shizuru, listen carefully. In the not-too-distant future, our Lord with the golden wolf eyes will visit you.”
“Our Lord! To me!”
“Yes. That person is our Lord. …Help that person, and revive Hachioki… the… no…”
“Grandmother!? Grandmother!!”
“…I have no regrets left. …Lord Reigen… now… I shall join you….”
“Grandmother~~~!!”
With a satisfied smile, Shizuru’s grandmother breathed her last.
And as her grandmother’s words foretold, the young man with the golden wolf eyes, Kanata Amakake, came to Shizuru.
In Shizuru’s eyes, Kanata Amakake appeared to be a man of both wisdom and leadership potential.
Shizuru, with her deep-seated convictions, made a decision. The destiny written in the stars by her grandmother, and surpassing it with her own will, she would make this person the banner for the revival of the Hachioki Family.
Thus, Shizuru’s already strong conviction became perfect. Kanata Amakake is our Lord. He is destined to revive Hachioki as the head of the Hachioki Family. Shizuru Yaotome’s belief will never waver.
* * *
As Shizuru waited for her Lord (Kanata) to return, with her heart yearning for him day by day, a helicopter carrying an envoy from Rose Garden arrived.
The envoy, who claimed to be a subordinate of Iska Mido, brought Shizuru a certain proposal.
Upon hearing the proposal, Shizuru rushed to a city with long-distance communication capabilities and contacted Iska Mido.
“So, you will truly grant us the residential area planned to be newly established in Rocktown!”
“I have spoken with the mayor. It is large enough for all the Hachioki clan members and their families to live, and arrangements for temporary housing until its completion have already been made. Oh, and we can construct houses in the Izuruha Nations style, changing the original plan. That should give it a bit of atmosphere. Moreover, Kanata could be the district chief. Of course, Kanata has no administrative experience, so a proxy will be necessary.”
Iska, unmatched in her charm within the Alliance Army, presented one appealing condition after another to Shizuru. Of course, she had not told Kanata anything about it.
“It sounds like a dream, but why are you going so far for our sake…”
The offer was so incredibly good that a sliver of doubt arose in Shizuru’s heart. However, Iska, who was one, no, two steps ahead of Shizuru in negotiations, showed no openings.
“My grandmother was from the Mikado family, one of the Three Houses. Therefore, once I learned that Kanata was of the Hachioki Soke, I wanted to help revive your family. It’s a matter of kinship between the Three Houses, so to speak.”
Being able to say something with sincerity that was not in her heart was one of Iska’s talents.
“I am deeply grateful for your great kindness. However, I have concerns. If we gather, the Mikado Family will surely not be pleased.”
“There is no need to worry about Garyu. It was their mistake to banish Hachioki in the first place. I will make sure he doesn’t interfere. If Garyu refuses to negotiate, I will deal with him using the Asura Unit. Even then, the Hachioki clan will not be troubled, will they? After all, they are sworn enemies.”
“I promised our Lord that we would not seek revenge on the Mikado Family. However, if the Mikado attack, our Lord would have no objection to crossing swords. I have no objection either. I leave it to Commander.”
“I have confirmed that I will take responsibility, so leave it to me. With that decided, could you please gather the clan members and their families at once? I will immediately send large helicopters to pick them up. It’s a sudden decision, but I want to create a fait accompli before negotiating with Garyu. I intend to tell Garyu, ‘We have already protected the Hachioki clan, so you must save face for me. I will be responsible for managing them to ensure they do not harm Terukyo. If they are expelled, they may wander the wilds and become terrorists who threaten Terukyo.'”
“I see. It’s all about how you say it.”
“Regarding their status, how about becoming soldiers under Kanata’s command? Of course, this would only be for those who can fight.”
“Yes. If our Lord fights for the Asura Unit, we cannot stand idly by. My White Wolf Group consists of elites who have mastered the Mugen Ittouryu. We will surely be of service to you, Commander.”
“I will count on you. Kanata is currently at the front lines. We will prepare the latest units and equipment for the selected White Wolf Group members. I want them to be a strength not only for Kanata but also for my subordinates.”
Iska’s generosity towards capable individuals was also one of her talents.
“I thank you again for your continued kindness. I will begin preparations immediately.”
Iska’s desire for elites and Shizuru’s wish to elevate Kanata’s status aligned, and the bridge was being built.
Under Iska’s arrangement, who made thorough preparations to welcome the White Wolf Group despite being at the front lines, the White Wolf Group, having completed their upgrades and reinforced with the latest equipment, proceeded towards their Lord in the Asura detachment.
* * *
Kanata is still unaware that his own close ties are being undermined by Iska’s betrayal.
* * *
I have decided to conclude the serialization here. I continued to post here for one year and four months since the serialization began on Nocturne, and for a considerable time even after being pointed out that it was an erotic novel site.
I considered deleting it when I realized it was an erotic novel site and re-uploading it on Narou, but I hesitated and continued to serialize until today.
The reason for my hesitation was that I thought I could release a Narou version with the original story and a Nocturne version that had been rewritten to be truly erotic. But I also judged that this was impossible.
I belatedly realized that if I made the protagonist a womanizer, the story itself would not hold together.
It is also difficult in terms of time, and in that case, it would simply be uploading to a site with a different purpose.
It’s like uploading an SF work in the mystery section, and the fact that I wasn’t criticized until now is probably because the readers of Nocturne were gentlemen.
I am truly sorry for taking up space in the new releases over 300 times and depriving other authors of their opportunities.
I also apologize for the great inconvenience caused to Nocturne readers.
I hope you will continue to read the sequel to this story.
