Return to Ago Manor (Part 1)

Miscellaneous

When Knight Commander Maxim arrived at Ago Manor, someone had already sent word ahead. It was probably Shigeaki Fujino's doing, but Tsunawara Mishiko was there waiting despite the late hour, ready to perform her duties as the Manor Lord's only retainer of note. With administrative precision, each member of Maximum Force was assigned a room and led to them in order. Once this was done, Mishiko returned to Maxim and tersely informed him that there were just enough rooms for these new recruits. If he wanted anyone else to stay on, he'd have to make his own arrangements.

Maxim thanked the bodyguard and asked her to bring Haures to him when she was able. Another order was obviously not what Mishiko wanted to hear, but Maxim was insightful enough to spot that the younger samurai was merely of a naturally impatient disposition. Any annoyance she displayed wasn't directed at him personally, and he could sense no building grudge. Mishiko soon left to fetch the demon, leaving Maxim apparently alone in the manor's entry chamber.   This left him alone except for Kashirin, his nearly ever-present shadow. Maxim had an important matter to discuss with her and took this opportunity to do so. The concern he voiced was over the actions of Hashinara Yoshitakatomo and the magic she* had cast upon Kashirin. Although nominally intended to change her nature so that she could control and direct her troublesome aura of misfortune, Maxim remained suspicious that some other alterations might have gone into it. His Binbōgami companion seemed almost insulted by the notion, however. Kashirin reminded Maxim that she, too, was a wizard of great power, despite how she might look. She had closely examined the spell and found no issue with it; Yoshitakatomo had not attempted to hide any other traps or clauses in its weave. Indeed, she was quite delighted. This meant that Kashirin could now direct all of her unfortunate attention onto Maxim and no others.   Fortunately, Maxim was protected by the Curse Doll Tōdaisen Nobuhara had made for him. ...Right? Last he'd known, that item had been discarded into the portal to Gehenna before it closed. Surely it was fine, though. More importantly, Maxim still had his suspicions about Yoshitakatomo's spell. Regardless of what Kashirin said, a skilled-enough spellcaster could hide their work, and he was not quick to trust the Princess-Daimyō.   He let the matter drop, however, and soon the long-suffering Mishiko had returned with Haures. Maxim's demonic prefect looked pleased to see him again, greeting him with a toothy smile that showed a pair of slightly-too-long canines. Of course, Haures immediately wanted to know what her charge had been up to in her absence. Maxim filled her in to an extent, focusing mostly on his new task to aid the Takeda Clan against the Uesugi and, more specifically, Bishamonten. At first Haures was resistant to the idea, reminding Maxim of his duties regarding Mōri Motonari, but as he emphasized his own revenge against Bishamonten, she warmed to the idea. This, too, would serve their Lady well.   Maxim thought so too, and quickly moved to take advantage of Haures' good favor. The two other archdemons he had met in Sheol, Andras and Vepar, could surely be of great use in the coming war. They were generals of a sort, after all. Haures did not dismiss the notion outright, but seemed to ponder on it. Vepar, she assured, would not agree to join in their endeavor. She was an Infernal Admiral, and would not find favorable conditions against the flying Tengu of the Uesugi. The sky was Andras' domain, however. She might be persuaded to ally with The Wolfpack, and her aerial legions could be devastating. While she made no further promises, Haures agreed that they could at least ask for the other hellish general's aid.