“I say this well aware that it’d have me mistaken for a boastful and ill-tempered man, but being talented is a tremendous pain.”

There stood a castle painted a pitch black so dark that it seemed to consume every last bit of light in the world. As such, it was impossible to perceive it in its entirety. Its stalwart defenses rivaled those of Gekoku Castle in Inaba Desert. The castle, Ankoku Castle in Higo Province, was counted among the Three Great Castles of the era. The castle was so enormous it was nearly a fortress; it was the keystone of the island of Kyuushuu and presently the site of a battle. As stalwart as its defenses were, Ankoku Castle was now utterly overwhelmed by sheer numbers and on the verge of falling. At this point, any clever tricks employed in the construction of its walls were meaningless. Not a single person spared an upward glance for the castle’s splendid craftsmanship.

“To be frank, I, Hida Takahito, am a genius. I can guarantee that no one in history was as brilliant as me, and that no one with more wits than me will ever be born. I’m one of a kind. I’m so talented that even I’m baffled.”

Kyotou Yasuri Chapter 2