| Narrative: |
An envoy from the Imperial Court came to visit Kou Shuurei. They'd come to give her the results of the aptitude test and whether she would be permitted to take the final of the national exams - the "kaishi" test.
Kou Shuurei: Aptitude test - Pass.
Shuurei, in order to realise her childhood dream of becoming a court official, prepares to take the "kaishi" test for the first and last time. |
| Title: |
Discretion is the better part of valour |
| Eigetsu: |
I made it. This place is the last.
|
| Ryuuki: |
There's a little over a month until the final exam. Since there's been a sudden rise in people coming in, how is safety in town? |
| Shuuei: |
As usual, the various gangs are handling things themselves. While there's a disturbing rumour going around, I'll inform you of it once I've gotten more information. |
| Ryuuki: |
Okay. Things are likely get busy from here on so I'm counting on you two. |
| Both: |
Leave it to us.
|
| Kouyuu: |
Did you want to go out for a bite? |
| Shuuei: |
Sorry, I have to go somewhere. |
| Kouyuu: |
? |
| Shuuei: |
To the red-lights district. |
| Kouyuu: |
The red-lights district?! |
| Shuuei: |
Don't look at me like that. This is also part of my work. |
| Kouyuu: |
Really.
|
| Girls: |
Welcome!
It's been a while
Welcome
|
| Keichou: |
Hey, Shuurei. Hey already. You're going somewhere again, aren't you? You've been asking for time off all over the place.
You're of age now, so you should quit wandering about and settle down already. You're getting a bit old to remain unmarried. You're going to have a hard time finding a good partner that'll take you without a dowry. Well, my family's rich so we don't need any dowry. |
| Shuurei: |
Regardless of how late I am in getting married, or how unlikely I am to be taken by someone, you're just a childhood friend, so it has nothing to do you. |
| Keichou: |
That's not what I meant. |
| Shuurei: |
In any case, I don't have the time to deal with you today. Hurry up and go home, Santa. |
| Keichou: |
Don't call me Santa. Call me Keichou! |
| Shuurei: |
You're always such a child so Santa's more than enough. |
| Kochou: |
My, Master Ou's young man. |
| Shuurei: |
Ah! Kochou-neesan. |
| Kochou: |
What's this young man, did you come to hit on her again? You never learn.
Young man, if night time's all right, then I'll play with you. I'll clear some time just_for_you. |
| Keichou: |
Not at all, Kochou-san. It doesn't matter how much money I have, it wouldn't be enough.
See ya later! |
| Kochou: |
Ahaha! Sheesh, talk about gutless! |
| Shuurei: |
You're up very early today. |
| Kochou: |
My client ended up leaving in the middle of things yesterday. |
| Shuurei: |
Leaving your, the #1 woman of the red-lights district's, chambers in the middle of things?! |
| Kochou: |
There are some foolish men out there. Although, thanks to that, I'm able to spend what little time you have left here more fully.
There're only seven days left to your working here. |
| Shuurei: |
Yes. |
| Kochou: |
I remember the little girl who'd come here all on her own asking "please let me work here". You'd obviously been very well brought up, let alone bearing the Kou name... Since you'd had such a serious look on your face, I'd figured you'd more than prepared yourself and come to the red-lights district. |
| Shuurei: |
But I have to prepare the evening meal so I need to go home at sunset. |
| Man: |
Huh? |
| Kochou: |
*laughs* |
| Shuurei: |
Waahhh! I'd asked you to forget about that!! |
| Kochou: |
Quite some time has passed since then. The days go by so quickly, don't they? Shuurei-chan, I have something to give you, so make sure that you come for your last day of work. |
| Shuurei: |
But... |
| Kochou: |
Hey. Don't say such. The only one who's ever been able, let alone ever will be able, to get me to make a date, is you Shuurei-chan. I'll say it again, it's a promise. Otherwise, I'll tell Kou-sensei and Seiran that you've been working in the red-lights district. |
| Shuurei: |
Please, spare me that! I'll come! I absolutely will come! |
| Kochou: |
*laughs* Ah that's right. We got an unusual guest yesterday. |
| Shuurei: |
An unusual guest?
|
| Shuurei: |
A child?! |
| Kochou: |
Around 12 or 13 years old. |
| Shuurei: |
That... certainly is an unusual guest. |
| Eigetsu: |
Wh-wh-wh-where am I?!? |
| Kochou: |
My, it seems like he's woken up.
|
| Shuurei: |
You don't even remember coming here... um? |
| Eigetsu: |
Ah, I'm To Eigetsu. |
| Shuurei: |
Eigetsu-kun. |
| Eigetsu: |
I arrived in the capital just yesterday... and tangled with some thugs... I remember up to getting dragged into a restaurant but...
Umm... how did I get here...? |
| Kochou: |
One of our regulars carried you here and asked us to put you up for a while. He paid us well for it, so we agreed. |
| Eigetsu: |
Ehh? I can't impose like that! How much is it? I'll pay it, so please return that money to that person. Eh? It seems rather light...
Eh? Wha-? Why's so much missing? |
| Shuurei: |
It doesn't matter how cheap the lodging, that isn't enough for a month! |
| Eigetsu: |
I'm sure I had more up until yesterday... Wh-wh-what should I do?! |
| Kochou: |
How about accepting that person's generosity and staying here for the time being? |
| Eigetsu: |
But... |
| Shuurei: |
In that case, did you want to stay at our place? It's a bit run-down, but we have lots of space. Last year, we had a bear-like person stay suddenly, so we're used to unexpected guests. |
| Eigetsu: |
I'm really sorry for imposing like this. Is it really all right? |
| Shuurei: |
In that case, can you help me? |
| Eigetsu: |
Yes? |
| Shuurei: |
Actually, it didn't seem like I'd be able to finish the accounting... |
| Eigetsu: |
Ah, yes! I'm really good at that sort of thing. |
| Shuurei: |
In that case, I'm counting on you, Eigetsu-kun. |
| Eigetsu: |
Yes!
|
| Shuurei: |
You're great Eigetsu-kun, you're really fast and accurate at calculations. I was really surprised. |
| Eigetsu: |
Not at all. |
| Seiran: |
My lady. |
| Shuurei: |
Seiran, what is it? |
| Seiran: |
I thought we'd have dinner today at a restaurant and came to find you. |
| Shuurei: |
That's a bit extravagant... |
| Seiran: |
While it's a little late, consider it as congratulations for having passed the aptitude test. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh, for me?
Thank you, Seiran.
|
| Shouka: |
Wow, it must have been quite hard coming all the way from Koku Province. |
| Eigetsu: |
Yes, well... |
| Shuurei: |
Not to mention he's only thirteen. But it's just before the final exam so many people are coming in to town right now... I think it's a bit dangerous a time for someone not used to the capital to come. If you have business here, you should take care of it quickly and go back home. |
| Eigetsu: |
You're... right. |
| Man 1: |
Come to think of it, have you heard the rumours about this year's final? Apparently there are a lot of kids. Rumour has it that there's a woman too. |
| Man 2: |
I heard! She's only 16, 17 and supposedly there's no doubt about her taking the top "Jougen" spot. So I put 30% of our fortune on her taking the top spot. |
| Man 3: |
Didn't you bet away your entire fortune a number of years ago doing that sort of thing? |
| Man 2: |
That time, two longshot teens took top and second spot causing a major upset. |
| Man 1: |
But that time, both of them were kids from really high class families, weren't they? |
| Man 3: |
Must be nice. Being able to concentrate solely on studying thanks to their parents' money, and having a secure future.
But I've never heard of women being able to take the national exams.
A highly respected teacher didn't get anywhere with it, so as if it'd be possible for a woman to get to the final exam! |
| Man : |
That's right! Moreover, what's a woman doing taking the exams in the first place?! |
| Shuurei: |
What happened?! |
| Shouka: |
Who knows? |
| Seiran: |
It serves them right. |
| Shouka: |
We should eat before the food gets cold. Eigetsu-kun, you should drink your soup and warm yourself up. |
| Eigetsu: |
Ah yes! |
| Shouka: |
No one can gain what's really important to them without putting in effort. Take Shogun Ran and Kouyuu-dono. Being so young, at first they were constantly being insulted but, in the end, they shut everyone up thanks to the strength of their "effort". No doubt, all that's necessary, is effort. |
| Shuurei: |
Thank you, father.
|
| Shuurei: |
Here you go, father.
Did you want to try drinking a little Eigetsu-kun? |
| Eigetsu: |
No, thank you! |
| Shuurei: |
My, you're not curious? |
| Eigetsu: |
Ah, n-no. I'm really weak with alcohol... and prefer to not even smell it... |
| Shuurei: |
Hey, could it be that your missing money was taken by hoodlums?
Maybe they made you drink some sake and you passed out or something? |
| Eigetsu: |
No, I don't think that's very likely.
Ah... but maybe in the capital there'd be one or two really incredible people who could... no but... |
| Seiran: |
If that were the case then it's probably the Seikintou. |
| Shuurei: |
You know something? |
| Seiran: |
Yes. It's a gang of thugs who've shown up recently in town. They mark themselves by wearing a blue cloth somewhere on their body. |
| Shuurei: |
What's that? You mean that the crime bosses are closing their eyes to them? |
| Seiran: |
Up until now. But lately, the Seikintou have been pretty flagrant in their activities. |
| Shouka: |
In that case, maybe the bosses will make their move soon? |
| Eigetsu: |
? |
| Shuurei: |
No doubt the seikintou's leader isn't from the capital. |
| Seiran: |
Probably not. It'd be suicidal afterall. |
| Eigetsu: |
Umm... |
| Shuurei: |
? Ah, you probably don't know about this city, do you Eigetsu-kun? |
| Eigetsu: |
Yeah. |
| Seiran: |
There's a clear distinction between the prefecture and downtown here in the capital. |
| Eigetsu: |
A clear distinction? |
| Seiran: |
Yes. In the capital, the so-called underground crime bosses manage the downtown hoodlums. At this time when there are so many people coming in from the other provinces for the "kaishi" final, they protect the peace of the downtown. So whether people can go about things safely or not is an indication of the bosses' strength. |
| Shuurei: |
But what are the bosses doing? Afterall, Eigetsu-kun did have his money stolen... |
| Eigetsu: |
Ah, that hasn't been determined yet... the money was gathered from all the people from my hometown... so it's a real shame to lose it but... |
| Shuurei: |
That's how you got your money?! |
| Eigetsu: |
But, it's all right. As long as this is okay... ?? ?! |
| Shuurei: |
What's wrong?! |
| Eigetsu: |
I-i-i-i-it's gone!! |
| Shuurei: |
Wh-wh-wh-what is?! |
| Eigetsu: |
I-I-I-I'm really sorry, but I've got to go back! |
| Shuurei: |
Wh-wh-wh-where?!
Ehh?! Eigetsu-kun! |
| Seiran: |
I'll...
|
| Shuurei: |
Where'd he go?
There he is. Eigetsu-kun.
Blue cloth... So that's the Seikintou. |
| Boss: |
Hey. It's you, isn't it? The little brat who not only showed such "affection" to one of ours, but robbed him too last night. |
| Eigetsu: |
I did?! Jeez, I'm so sorry! |
| Shuurei: |
Huh?! Eigetsu-kun did? Aren't those guys making a mistake? |
| Boss: |
You makin' fun of us? |
| Eigetsu: |
Um, did I perhaps drop a card around this big yesterday? |
| Boss: |
Card?! Oh yeah, we've got it. We've been gathering them. |
| Eigetsu: |
Gathering them?! |
| Shuurei: |
Hey! Eigetsu-kun! |
| Boss: |
Who's this? |
| Shuurei: |
Now's not the time for that! Hurry up and run! |
| Boss: |
You're not going anywhere!
Get them and get that money back!
|
| Eigetsu: |
Shuurei-san, wait a moment. |
| Shuurei: |
I won't wait. Talking's no use with that sort. Discretion's the better part of valour! |
| Eigetsu: |
But... |
| Shuurei: |
Eigetsu-kun, was what was said back there true? |
| Eigetsu: |
Eh? |
| Shuurei: |
About taking their money! Do you know anything about it?! |
| Eigetsu: |
No, but maybe yes. |
| Shuurei: |
Which is it?! |
| Thug: |
Where'd they go? |
| Shuurei: |
You're kidding! |
| Thug: |
There they are! |
| Eigetsu: |
I'm the one they're after, so you should get away, Shuurei-san. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? Ah wait! That's no good. You don't know your way around this town. I can't do that! |
| Eigetsu: |
Shuurei-san. |
| Thug: |
So this is where you were. |
| Shuurei: |
Gyaa!
Let's go, Eigetsu-kun! |
| Eigetsu: |
W-wow! |
| Shuurei: |
Seiran told me that if you kick a man in the crotch, he'll drop like a stone. |
| Seiran: |
I-I did but... well done. |
| Shuurei: |
S-Seiran! Did you see, just now? |
| Seiran: |
As a result, there was nothing for me to do. |
| Man: |
Oy! Did you find them? |
| Man: |
They should still be in the area. Search the area thoroughly! |
| Seiran: |
At this rate, they're likely to follow us to the residence.
Eigetsu-kun, where were you headed? |
| Eigetsu: |
To Kougarou in the red-lights district, where I met Shuurei-san in the aft... |
| Man: |
My Lady, Shuurei. There you are! |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? |
| Man: |
Kochou-neesan sent me. Please return to Kougarou along with the young man and ah, Seiran-dono too if you're amenable. We'll have the underlings take care of those annoying Seikintou. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? By "take care"... |
| Seiran: |
Good idea. Those hoodlums won't be able to enter given Kougarou's status. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? Seiran, you know Kougarou? |
| Seiran: |
We can talk about that later. Hurry! |
| Shuurei: |
Ah, yeah.
|
| Kouyuu: |
Good grief, just why did you leave that boy at a brothel?! |
| Ryuuki: |
(Hmm.... Ohhh....) |
| Shuuei: |
But that was the safest place. |
| Kouyuu: |
The red-lights district itself is dangerous, isn't it? |
| Shuuei: |
That's your preconception. It's actually quite safe. Not to mention the underground's got control here. Well, considering that you never come here, I guess it's understandable for you not to know. |
| Kouyuu: |
You come too much. What's with those women?! |
| Girls: |
My, master Ran! You're here quite early today. And bringing two wonderful friends with you. Please won't you come here. You haven't been here for a while so we've missed you. |
| Ryuuki: |
Is this district your harem? |
| Shuuei: |
Yes well... it's purpose is a bit different from yours... You might consider this district as every man's harem.
The brothel we're going to has women who are both beautiful and accomplished that are equal to those in your residence. I hope you enjoy it.
|
| Shuuei: |
Kochou. |
| Kochou: |
Ah, Ran-sama. Good timing. And those two are...? |
| Shuuei: |
They're with me. They've come to see the boy I left with you. |
| Kochou: |
Your companions, hm...? |
| Ryuuki: |
She's certainly beautiful. I've seldom seen such. She's equal to Shusui. |
| Kochou: |
My. That last is unacceptable, young master. If you mean to give a compliment, you mustn't mention another woman. |
| Ryuuki: |
R-really?
|
| Boss: |
What?! You let 'em get away? What the hell're you sayin'? We're gonna make a name for ourselves here in the capital as boss of the downtown. It's only a mere boy, so what the hell you doing? |
| Man: |
We got reports of him going into a place called Kougarou with a girl carrying an abacus. |
| Boss: |
Kougarou? Hey Keichou! |
| Keichou: |
Yes! |
| Boss: |
Is Kougarou a brothel? |
| Keichou: |
Yes. It's the top brothel of the capital's red-lights district. The reknowned courtesan Kochou from there is said to have clients offer up to 1000 gold pieces . |
| Boss: |
Ohh, all right. I think I'll make that Kochou my girl for all my troubles. |
| Keichou: |
Eh?! |
| Boss: |
We'll make that Kougarou our new base. |
| Keichou: |
A girl carrying an abacus...? It couldn't be...?! |
| Boss: |
Sheesh. That was the right thing to concentrate on. They'll pay anything if you threaten to steal it. It makes great business. Now then you guys! Get everything packed up!
|
| Shuurei: |
Aah!? |
| Ryuuki: |
Shuurei! |
| Shuurei: |
What are you doing here?!
...You snuck out with Shogun Ran and Kouyuu-sama to have fun in the red lights district, did you? |
| Ryuuki: |
?? Y-you're mistaken Shuurei! I don't need to come to a place like this for that since I can do it as much as I like at my own place!
?!? Ah, umm... erm... |
| Trailer: |
I don't know why, but we've ended up returning to Kougarou. Just why is Ryuuki here?! Not to mention, why is Eigetsu being hunted by thugs? Eh, Santa?! Eh? The Seikintou are going to attack Kougarou?! |
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