The Divergent Paths

In a room that felt more like an armory than a living space, Minamoto no Mitsunaka and his son, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, sat facing each other. The atmosphere was thick with tension; it was clear their conversation had been far from pleasant. Mitsunaka, in particular, made no effort to hide his simmering rage.

"Hmph. By the sound of it... are you suggesting we are hidebound and archaic?" Mitsunaka demanded. It was evident that Yorimitsu’s earlier words had struck a nerve.

"That was not my intention, Father," Yorimitsu replied, his expression remaining perfectly calm as he met his father's gaze. "I only meant that the Heian-kyo of today is not what it once was. The various noble clans of the capital are no longer willing to surrender a member of their kin every ten years. I cannot change the climate of the times; to force their compliance would only spark widespread resentment and leave the Minamoto clan isolated and vulnerable. That is a situation I wish to avoid."

He continued in a firm, steady tone, "The Chigo Miko recruited thus far represent the best results possible without crossing the line into open provocation. Father, although the Minamoto clan’s influence is vast, if we wish to maintain a long-term presence in this capital, we cannot afford to light the fires of public outrage so easily."

As he listened, the anger on Mitsunaka’s face remained stark, yet he did not immediately retort. He sat in silence for a long moment, eventually letting out a heavy sigh followed by a cold snort.

"Hmph. That lot... they've all forgotten their sacred duties and obligations. One wonders how their ancestors raised them. The significance of the Chigo Miko is profound; when the deadline approaches, every noble family must cooperate with our clan to fulfill this mission. This is tradition. This is... an Imperial decree."

But these days, even the Imperial House can barely exert its own will, Yorimitsu thought. What weight does a century-old decree hold now? Mitsunaka fixed his gaze on his son again and continued.

"Fine. It seems this round of recruitment has indeed been fraught with difficulty. Truth be told, I anticipated this to some degree. I am not entirely unaware of the current attitude among the other clans, however..." Mitsunaka’s expression softened briefly, only to sharpen once more with a piercing intensity as he looked at Yorimitsu.

"It is precisely because of these obstacles that I specifically entrusted this task to you. I had hoped you would apply your usual brilliance and finish the mission with some unexpected perfection. If you had shown such results, it would have surely silenced the elders who are always grumbling about you, and secured your position as the heir far more firmly..."

Mitsunaka spoke slowly. Yorimitsu's personality was notoriously headstrong, and he frequently ignored the clan’s rules, causing many elders to dislike him and oppose his path to succession. This was a persistent headache for Mitsunaka. He knew that among his sons, Yorimitsu was by far the most talented and was the best choice for the next clan head. He had exerted significant effort to bolster Yorimitsu’s standing in the eyes of the elders, and this mission had been part of that strategy.

"I have failed Father's expectations. For that, I am truly ashamed," Yorimitsu said. Though the words were those of an apology, his tone didn't suggest the slightest hint of regret.

"Truly ashamed? Hmph... I don't believe you feel a shred of shame. In fact, I suspect this outcome is exactly what you wanted." Mitsunaka’s words grew biting. Yorimitsu’s response remained indifferent.

"I am not entirely sure I understand your meaning, Father."

"Ha! You think I don't know your nature? I know your competitive streak all too well. Ordinarily, no matter the task, you find a way to complete it flawlessly. You aren't one to give up early and settle for a poor result.

"In this instance, while you encountered difficulties, you gave up far too soon. To accept such a dismal outcome? It’s simply not your style. The only logical explanation is that you never intended to take this assignment seriously from the very beginning." Mitsunaka spoke sternly. He knew his son. Compared to Yorimitsu’s past exploits, his methods and attitude during this recruitment drive were night and day.

Faced with this direct questioning, Yorimitsu remained silent, his unchanging expression acting as a tacit admission.

"So it's true... Yorimitsu, answer me. Why did you disregard the Chigo Miko selection? Have you actually begun to pity them?" Mitsunaka pressed, his voice rising in volume.

"It is not a matter of compassion, Father," Yorimitsu replied. "I have simply weighed the benefits and drawbacks. In my view, the selection of the Chigo Miko brings the Minamoto clan far more harm than good. It does nothing to ensure the clan’s prosperity. We cannot sacrifice the path to our future merely to cling to the traditions of the past."

A dead silence fell over the room once Yorimitsu finished speaking. After a long pause, Mitsunaka shook his head helplessly, his face the very image of disappointment.

"Sigh... it seems you still do not comprehend the significance of the Chigo Miko to this clan. Perhaps the elders were right; perhaps you truly are not fit to inherit. You do not understand that for a clan, tradition... is the future." A look of resignation flickered in Mitsunaka's eyes.

"Very well. Since those are your thoughts, from this moment on, you need not concern yourself with the Chigo Miko anymore.

"However, this selection process cannot end like this. The elders are profoundly dissatisfied with the current results, and so am I. Therefore, we must take immediate action to salvage this." As Mitsunaka spoke, he tapped his fingers twice on the corner of the table. With those sharp clicks, the sliding doors of the room were pulled open, and Minamoto no Yorimasa entered, offering a direct salute to his father.

"Take a seat, Yorimasa."

"Father." As he spoke, Yorimasa sat down beside Yorimitsu. Looking at his other son, Mitsunaka spoke slowly.

"Yorimasa, from this point forward, the remaining work concerning the Chigo Miko selection is yours. I hope you will complete it well. Both the elders and I will be watching you."

Hearing this, a flash of delight touched Yorimasa’s brow. He hurried to perform a deep bow before his father.

"Yes, Father! I will do everything in my power. I will not disappoint you." During his prostration, a clear smirk tugged at Yorimasa’s lips. He used the corner of his eye to peek at his older brother, only to see Yorimitsu sitting upright with the same indifferent expression, looking as though what was happening before him had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Seeing Yorimitsu react this way, a dark shadow of frustration crossed Yorimasa's eyes.