Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 78

To tell the truth, the presence of Iruka, the Ezo bandit, was within Onitsuki Uemon's expectations.

　Even though there was a flaw in the original plan, it was assumed that to infiltrate the village's protective boundary, the youkai would need to be extremely powerful or highly skilled at concealing their presence. Or, it was a half-youkai...

　In many cases, the half-youkai were more intelligent than the pure youkai because of their human blood, making them well-suited for deceiving the protective boundary. And during the period of the Great War, just as the imperial court had deployed troops of half-youkai, Kubou and his companions utilized them as spies. Moreover, considering the recovered wolf fur, a single possibility emerged in Uemon's mind.

　The existence of half-wolf youkai Ezo who infiltrated the capital and escaped during transport. The one, who is still being pursued by the imperial court and the Tachibana Company. The half-youkai that even offered a large bounty by the Tachibana Trading Company.

　It was rumored that the Ezo in question had fled north or east from his native land. And through their own investigation within the village, Uemon and his colleagues discovered the presence of a half-youkai.

　"Lord Uemon, please accept our heartfelt apology regarding this matter. But there are many peasants in this village who fled because they could not bear the tax. It would be cruel to turn such people in."

　Said Hotoya Yoshinori, the owner of the house and the headman of the village, as he apologized and defended himself in his study at the Hotoya house.

　Yoshinori's words were truly sorrowful. In fact, Yoshinori's words and his actions were not unreasonable. It was not uncommon for peasants to abandon their lands to escape from farmer's fees, annual tribute, and taxation. This was especially true in harsh winter lands like the northern region.

　These homeless people either hid in the mountains, went to town, became tenant farmers in another land, or turned to thievery and gangster... Although the court legally ordered that they be taken back to their original land as soon as they were captured, there was still money involved in transporting them. Unless they became thieves, they were often simply overlooked. Ultimately, as long as they could collect taxes, the imperial court was satisfied.

　So, for those who relied on him, Yoshinori could not neglect them because of his virtue, even if there was a wounded half-youkai Ezo among them. Homeless people without any shady pasts are not so numerous.

　And this particular Ezo had not caused any particular problems or suspicions since he arrived in this village. At least it seemed that way to him and those around him. Therefore, it was difficult to reject the plea of the daughters to hide and shelter him.

　...Of course, this was only within the scope of a "well-intentioned third party".

　"Lord Yoshinori, you can't do this. While I understand your compassion, we cannot simply offer mercy to a half-youkai. No matter how you put it, a monster is a monster. They are cunning and clever. After all, was not your own daughter used for his benefit?"

　Uemon admonished him in an understanding way, and then warned him in a warning way. This was his way of making a defense.