Chapter 86: Kozuki Oden Wants Ren to Become Shogun
"Eight Thousand Flows" refers to mastering eight thousand different sword schools—a pinnacle martial achievement.
But the people of this country were somewhat prone to exaggeration. Eight million gods, eight thousand schools—in reality, none of this existed.
When Ren created the Source Style, he had indeed referenced many schools. But the total numbered less than a hundred.
The entire country of Wano might not even possess a thousand schools.
"Shut up!" Shutenmaru cursed. Oden's praise grated on his ears, especially after losing to the man.
Shutenmaru felt he'd disgraced Ren by losing with the Source Style. If Yukiko found out, she'd certainly lecture him.
No, even without Yukiko saying anything, he could hardly ignore this failure himself.
"If it were Lord Ren, he would never lose to you!" Shutenmaru insisted stubbornly.
"So Ren is even stronger than you?" Oden smiled.
"Isn't that obvious?" Shutenmaru rolled his eyes. Ren had defeated him with ease a year ago, back when his swordsmanship wasn't even perfected and he relied on the power of the Yamata no Orochi spirit he'd received.
Now, Ren could defeat him through sword skill alone.
"If that's the case, I'd truly like to test my blade against him."
"Hmph, you should worry about how to handle your debts first," Shutenmaru sneered coldly. "If you weren't the shogun's son, Lord Ren would have thrown you in prison long ago."
Kozuki Oden: ...
He hadn't considered the consequences when he started the fight, but thinking back now, it was indeed troublesome.
Their debts were already substantial. Though they earned plenty daily, their expenses were equally high—especially Kanjuro and that lot, who couldn't control their lower halves and constantly needed to visit the pleasure quarters to satisfy their urges.
The pleasure quarters of Kuri were relatively safe due to hygiene concerns, plus the service quality, and since the industry was monopolized by daimyo, the prices were slightly higher than in other districts.
"This is troublesome..." Oden sighed. While he wasn't above refusing to pay, he had matters he needed to ask of Ren, so he couldn't simply walk away.
Actually, Ren wasn't afraid of him fleeing—he could just mail the bill to the Flower Capital, and plenty of people would be willing to settle it.
"Hey, you can still talk, so you're fine, right?" Oden thought for a moment, deciding to salvage the situation—such as trying to avoid paying medical fees for injuring Shutenmaru.
"Nonsense! This lord can't move a single finger! You bastard, at least give me five hundred gold!" Shutenmaru roared.
"Hey now, five hundred gold is a bit much... I got hurt too, you know?" Oden shouted back, jabbing at the wound on his shoulder.
"Who cares about you? You broke into my house uninvited—completely self-inflicted," Shutenmaru sneered. "If you can't pay, be smart about it and crawl back to the Flower Capital to beg your shogun father to cover it!"
At these words, Oden immediately bristled, baring his fangs. "Who said I can't pay, you bastard? Just you wait!"
With that, Oden strode out on his bow-legged gait like a steaming kettle. No one dared stop him. They only gathered around to help Shutenmaru up after he'd left.
"I'm fine." Shutenmaru waved them off and sat up from the ground.
Though he appeared severely injured, he was actually in no grave danger. His earlier immobility was mostly due to exhaustion. After lying on the ground for a while, he could manage basic movements.
Swindling five hundred gold from Oden with just a few words—Shutenmaru couldn't help but grin despite his aching body. Still, he knew collecting that five hundred would be difficult. Actually receiving a hundred gold from this compensation would already be a profit.
"Ouch, that hurts... Looks like I won't be working for a while."
"Quick, call a doctor to treat Lord Shutenmaru's wounds!"
...
Several days later.
"Lord Oden!" Denjiro, wearing his spectacles, gripped a letter in his hand, looking as though he were about to burst into flames.
"What is it, Denjiro?" Oden picked his nose.
"Lord Oden, just what did you do?" Denjiro smacked the paper—a fine notice—emphatically. "Injuring Shutenmaru, Chief of the Tenryou Commission: 80 gold medical compensation. Destruction of property: 20 gold. Delay of official duties: 50 gold. Total: 150 gold! Haven't our debts increased again?"
"What's with you, Denjiro? We discussed this days ago," Oden said impatiently. He'd already been nagged about this when he returned injured days ago.
"Days ago we were discussing your injuries!" Denjiro retorted. At the time, Oden had returned from Shutenmaru's place with that horrific wound, terrifying them all.
Treating that wound had cost quite a bit too.
"At this rate, we'll be stuck working here in Kuri forever!"
"What?" Kin'emon leaped up instantly. "Forever in this desolate Chinju Forest? That won't do!"
"Indeed! If it were Narukami Town, it wouldn't matter," Raizo said, blushing.
"You two, shut up!" Denjiro stomped on Raizo's face, roaring, "Lord Oden will eventually return to the Flower Capital to become shogun—how could he remain in Kuri indefinitely?"
"I have no intention of becoming shogun," Oden said helplessly.
"If not you, then who?" Denjiro countered. "You are the shogun's only heir—the sole person qualified to inherit the position!"
"Hmm..." Oden fell silent, seemingly contemplating something. After a moment, he tentatively spoke, "Perhaps... the daimyo of Kuri?"
He thought of how much Kuri had developed recently, increasingly feeling that Ren was exceptionally suited to become Wano's shogun. If he took the position, he would surely open the country's borders.
"Don't speak such foolishness," Denjiro shook his head. "The position of Wano's shogun can only be yours!"
"Still, that bucket-headed monster is truly excessive—injuring Lord Oden and demanding we pay money!" Kanjuro said. Playing his role as Oden's retainer, he always spoke from Oden's perspective.
This stirred Kin'emon's anger.
The group immediately began cursing and complaining. Seizing this opportunity, Izo and Kikunojo buried their heads in their meals, not making a sound.
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