Moronao Kono is known as the “perfect butler” of the Ashikaga family, trusted deeply by Takauji Ashikaga since childhood. While highly skilled in both combat and governance, his most striking trait is his chilling, ruthless logic. Behind his loyal façade, Moronao harbors ambitions for Ashikaga supremacy, and his cold-hearted pragmatism leads him to treat even close allies harshly if they fail to meet his standards. He is both a key strategist and a formidable barrier for any who oppose the Ashikaga clan, notably during clashes with Tokiyuki Hojo.
Moronao Kono’s precise appearance is not described in detail. He is often portrayed as a composed and proper butler, always neatly presented for his role in the Ashikaga household.
Perfect Butler, Cold-Hearted and Ambitious
Moronao is the ultimate perfectionist, making him the ideal retainer for the Ashikaga. He is extremely logical and values competence above everything else. If someone is judged useless, Moronao shows no mercy—even family is not spared. He prefers actions that benefit the current regime and judges people only by their skills and results.
Moronao is notorious for being colder and harsher than Takauji's younger brother, Tadayoshi Ashikaga. He will even use the emperor as a tool if it helps the Ashikaga cause. Once Moronao decides someone is unworthy, he will treat them cruelly and take pleasure in their suffering. In spite of his role, he is sometimes involved in scandals with women from other families and is generally seen as disliked by many of his own allies due to his selfishness and hunger for power.
Moronao Kono began serving Takauji Ashikaga when he was just a child. Besides handling all political affairs for the Ashikaga regime, Moronao also managed Takauji’s daily life, from personal care to meal preparation, with a special talent for making udon noodles and sashimi.
His devotion is aimed solely at Takauji, not the whole Ashikaga clan, and he openly looks down on Tadayoshi Ashikaga and his supporters in the Kanto region. He knows Takauji’s secret madness but, unlike Tadayoshi, Moronao tries to use it for the regime’s advantage rather than hide it from others.
- Strength: 90
- Brutality: 96
- Intelligence: 86
- Loyalty: 93
- Politics: 92
- Chaos: 98
- Command: 97
- Innovation: 100
- Charisma: 73
- Stealth: 43
Unique Skills:
- *Perfect Butler Aptitude*: Master of calculation, negotiation, people management, policy making, and all household chores (including cooking, cleaning, massage).
- *Ruthless Logic*: Increases loyalty of non-family officers by 30%.
- *Long Weapon Mastery (A)*: 40% boost in handling long weapons.
- Signature Weapon: Pair of six-foot polearms named "Right Minister" and "Left Minister" (boosts strength and defense by 25%).
Special Motif: "Thousand Serpent Kannon" (Snake pattern)
Moronao serves Takauji Ashikaga with unwavering loyalty. He sees Tadayoshi Ashikaga as a rival and holds little respect for other members of the Ashikaga family or outsiders unless they prove their worth.
- "I have served since he was just a boy."
- "My lord’s smile is becoming less and less human lately."
Early Service and Rise in the Ashikaga Family
Moronao Kono served Takauji Ashikaga from childhood, becoming indispensable by managing both the family’s governance and Takauji’s personal needs.
Conquest of Kamakura and Main Actions
When Tokiyuki Hojo and the Kamakura shogunate remnants rose in rebellion during 1335, Moronao followed Takauji to battle, accompanied by his younger brother, Moroyasu Kono. Together, they crushed Suwa Yorishige and eradicated the insurgents, forcing the surviving Hojo leaders to kill themselves.
During these battles, Moronao's adopted son, Morofuyu Kono, died after an accident involving a warhorse. Moronao, unmoved, replaced Morofuyu with a distant relative he found wandering the battlefield.
Power Struggles and Ambition
After defeating the Kamakura rebels, Moronao helped Takauji Ashikaga drive the imperial army from Kyoto and establish a new regime in the north. However, as his authority grew, he began ignoring the rest of the Ashikaga family and collaborated with western warlords.
In time, his relationship with Tadayoshi became more hostile, eventually leading to the outbreak of the Kannō Disturbance—a civil war within the Ashikaga.
Later Battles and Decline
Moronao became the strongest general in the northern army, even surpassing Takauji. He defeated Akiie Kitabatake and Masashige Kusunoki and captured the southern imperial base at Yoshino.
He remained one of the main obstacles facing Tokiyuki Hojo, but after years of power struggles and confrontations with Tadayoshi Ashikaga, Moronao met his end during the Kannō Disturbance.
- On the battlefield, Moronao is rumored to be able to do paperwork and fight at the same time.
- He is skilled at cooking, especially udon noodles and sashimi.
For more details about the real Moronao Kono, see historical records.
Moronao's loyalty remains strictly for Takauji Ashikaga, not for the whole Ashikaga family or any political side. His true motivation is always to secure and strengthen Takauji’s rule, no matter the cost.
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