Book 1: Chapter 99: Mother

“Boom——!” From the barren field far away from them came the sound of iron gunshots, startling Lily.

She saw a group of people fighting against something on the road, several hundred meters away from her. There were more than ten foot soldiers, some with extremely rare firearms, and several samurai.

This group of people brought several ox-pulling carts full of goods. Among this group was a woman wearing blue and violet kimono who was taking aim with her firearm.

“Mother!”

Nanako recognized the woman immediately.

“What?” Lily was still in a dumbfounded state.

Nanako however had already jumped off the slope and ran towards that group of people.

Left with no other choice, Lily quickly moved to follow after her.

As one more gunshot resounded, the things that attempted to raid the group were finally routed. They were Foot Soldiers with worn-out armors and rusty spears. Their bodies were dry and rotten like the mummies.

At this moment, Nanako was screaming while running, “Mother!”

The group of people and the woman in purple kimono heard the girl so they all turned to her direction.

“Nanako?” The woman wearing purple kimono also screamed.

As they were just a few hundred meters away, Nanako and Lily arrived before them shortly.

Nanako panted and had to gasp for her breath, she was so excited she almost burst out crying. Almost as though they had been separated for life, she didn’t care about keeping her image as the Young Lady of a n.o.ble house anymore.

“Mother! Mother——!” Nanako called her mother continuously.

The woman Nanako had been calling mother was the renowned businesswoman and the current head of the Saionji House in Suruga Province, Saionji Kotoka.

Kotoka was wearing an elegant, silky bluish-purple kimono. Her shirt collar was adorned with a rare white fox fur. However, the only improper feature on her was that her collar was kept too wide open, which revealed the bosom even bigger than Lily’s!

She was around 1.68 meters1 tall with an elegant but charming figure. Although her waist was as slim as a willow branch, she looked more like a young mother who was somewhat plump and stylish. With an angelic face adorned with beautiful damp eyes and a permanent smile.

Despite that, she seemed to be very surprised to see Nanako, “Nanako! You, but how… are you all right?” Kotoka frowned, “That Hojo failed to make a deal with me and actually made up such a mundane story to deceive me!”

But when she took a closer look, Nanako seemed to be a little disordered.

“Mom… It’s a long story but I did get kidnapped by Hojo…”

Nanako told Kotoka’s team about her situation and how Lily had come to rescue her. Kotoka also told them they had received blackmail from Hojo’s messenger. Then, they had rushed to collect the money and goods to go to the mountain and pay the ransom. They didn’t expect to meet each other here.

Kotoka worriedly checked Nanako’s body. When she confirmed the girl was okay, she lifted her head and turned to Lily who was standing next to them.

Facing such a young and beautiful mother, Lily felt a little awkward. She nervously greeted the other party.

‘What’s wrong with me? Why am I feeling so nervous facing such a beautiful and mature woman… Moreover, she’s Nanako’s mother!’ Lily criticized herself inwardly.

Kotoka was also surprised to see Lily’s stunning appearance. She observed Lily from top to bottom as she couldn’t imagine the frail-looking Lily to actually create a scene of slaughter like that. As she noticed Lily’s torn clothes that exposed her fair skin, she gulped involuntarily.2 Her eyes were rolling as though she was thinking of something, then she said, “I don’t know how I could repay you for this great favor, Miss Kagami! I’m this child’s mother, Saionji Kotoka. However, Miss Kagami, this isn’t a good place to talk. We better go back to Suruga Province immediately. We will talk along the way. Is it okay?”

“Yes…” Lily nodded. She originally planned to go to Suruga Province with Nanako anyway.

1. Robinxen: Heh, this was the translation and I’m not going to adjust it for the imperial sc.u.m out there.
2. Robinxen: It seems Mother might swing that way.