Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Prelude to War (3)
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He spoke to her as she asked back.
Lightly brushing back his hair with a relaxed expression.
"Who said you shouldn't attack Owari?"
"...What?"
Baek Il-yeong tossed out those words so casually that not only Motoyasu, but Hattori Hanzo, Akechi Mitsuhide, and the other samurai present all had to doubt their ears.
It was only natural.
Because if you unpacked the meaning behind what he'd said so nonchalantly... Well, to put it simply, wasn't he asking them to lend their strength to the invasion of Owari?
'No way, it must be a slip of the tongue.'
That was the thought that simultaneously sprang into everyone's minds, without anyone needing to prompt it.
There was no way those words he'd just uttered were sincere.
...It had to be a mistake.
That's what they all firmly believed.
What lunatic in this world would come to enemy territory and ask the enemy's subordinates to please attack our side hard?
This was a matter of common sense.
A matter of common sense, indeed.
"Ah, was I unclear? Let me say it again, then. By all means, please attack us vigorously. It'd be even better if you catch Imagawa Yoshimoto's eye."
Yes, up until they heard those words come out of Baek Il-yeong's mouth again.
Motoyasu wasn't an idiot.
She wasn't about to make the mistake of assuming it was a misunderstanding after hearing the same thing twice.
"What... what on earth...?"
That's why she had no choice but to ask back.
And it wasn't just her.
Though they didn't voice it, everyone present felt exactly the same.
'What the hell kind of nonsense is that?'
But Baek Il-yeong merely continued with an utterly unflappable expression.
"Do you think I'd ask you to betray from the inside? Quite the opposite—I sincerely hope you don't. Because in this war, the early advantage absolutely must go to the Imagawa side."
"What?"
Motoyasu furrowed her brow.
'In this war, the early advantage must absolutely go to the Imagawa clan...?'
But that reaction, unlike irritation or annoyance, was simply the natural response stemming from pure puzzlement.
'What does he mean?'
She racked her brains, trying to discern the intent behind his words.
But nothing came to mind right away.
Which was only natural.
'The Imagawa are attacking the Oda clan.'
Looking at that alone, the Oda clan's realistic options boiled down to just two.
Fight back.
Or surrender.
'Oda Nobunaga. If it were my sister, she'd choose the former.'
She knew her personality well enough to say that with certainty.
In fact, it was the most obvious outcome.
Which meant it didn't help at all in figuring out Baek Il-yeong's true intentions.
In the end, she couldn't grasp the picture he was painting at all.
'Betrayal?'
So for a fleeting moment, she considered it.
Was one of the Oda clan's famed powerhouses really thinking of betraying the clan and defecting to the Imagawa side?
'No, that can't be.'
But soon she shook her head.
Before her marriage to Oda Nobunaga, maybe—but betraying now would be tantamount to abandoning her honor as a samurai.
No matter how chaotic the times, honor mattered.
'Even if he's from Joseon, he can't not know that.'
Even coming from Joseon, how could a warrior not value honor?
That's why Motoyasu dismissed that possibility outright and reached a conclusion.
Or rather, she had to acknowledge it.
...Would someone of that stature really cross the Mikawa border personally, with only a small escort, to have this kind of conversation?
'He's working toward some grand design I don't know about.'
That explanation made far more sense.
No, she was convinced it was the truth.
That was when it happened.
Swaaah—.
A cool breeze blew in just then, rustling the leaves of the trees that enveloped the ruined temple like a shroud. The moonlight filtering through the scattered clouds gently illuminated Baek Il-yeong's face.
Motoyasu silently stared at him.
He was a towering figure rare even on the islands, yet he didn't look brutish. Despite his ragged ronin garb, he exuded an inexplicable nobility.
Her brown-and-gold-flecked eyes reflected his form in the silence.
"...".
And at the same time, Baek Il-yeong took in her appearance.
"...".
About 160 cm tall, perhaps.
Her face leaned more toward cute than pretty, and the strangely mingled brown and gold in her hair and eyes felt both familiar and oddly alien.
How long did they gaze at each other like that?
To the casual observer, it might have looked like a tender exchange between man and woman, or something ripe for teasing about budding romance. But in reality, the two were fiercely clashing in their minds, endlessly chewing over and reexamining each other's calculations and thoughts.
And then, just as Hattori Hanzo and Akechi Mitsuhide wearily let their hands slip from their sword hilts almost in unison...
"I'll hear you out. Is that alright?"
"Gladly."
The young daimyo of the Matsudaira clan said that, stepping forward toward him before Hattori Hanzo could even speak.
And right after, Baek Il-yeong turned toward the ruined temple, smiling as he replied.
"A wise choice, Motoyasu."
He led her inside the temple. Naturally, Hattori Hanzo and Akechi Mitsuhide tried to follow, but Baek Il-yeong suggested they speak alone, holding them back.
"Very well."
Motoyasu accepted.
...How much time passed after that?
"...".
"...Then."
They emerged without exchanging another word, offering only brief farewells before each returned the way they came.
And that night, Baek Il-yeong rejoined the merchants without a single tail on him and successfully crossed back into Owari.
As one might expect, Akechi Mitsuhide and the samurai couldn't help but watch his retreating figure with countless questions swirling in their minds. In the end, Akechi Mitsuhide asked.
"Uh, um. What did you talk about in the temple?"
They had no idea what picture Baek Il-yeong was painting or what scheme he'd used to approach Motoyasu.
Of course they were curious.
'What on earth did he say to make that raccoon-faced girl leave without a word?'
Meanwhile, in response to her question, Baek Il-yeong halted and turned back.
"Hmm, well."
It was nothing more than a succinct way of saying he couldn't tell her yet.
*
—Neigh!
Many things had changed, and continued to change.
The Oda clan's civil war had ended far more swiftly and with far fewer losses than expected. In the process, blood that shouldn't have been spilled according to the original history had soaked the soil of Owari.
But even so, Baek Il-yeong felt no regrets. Why?
Because it was obvious.
'It was the best I could do!'
—Neigh!
Riding hard back to Kiyosu on his warhorse, Baek Il-yeong raced through the paddies, lost in such thoughts.
"It's the samurai!"
"Waaah!"
Now and then, children tagging along with mothers or fathers cheered at the sight of Baek Il-yeong and Akechi Mitsuhide returning, but unfortunately for the kids, they didn't have time to stop.
After all, even as they galloped toward their destination, Owari was being relentlessly pushed toward impending war by the moment.
"Hya!"
Baek Il-yeong spurred his mount harder, and the horse whinnied—neigh!—picking up even more speed from its already blistering pace.
How long did they ride like that?
"I see it!"
One of the samurai chasing after Baek Il-yeong and Akechi Mitsuhide shouted upon spotting the walls of Kiyosu Castle in the distance.
He looked up.
And sure enough, the now-familiar silhouette of Kiyosu Castle came into full view at once.
"—Hyah!"
At that moment, Baek Il-yeong and Akechi Mitsuhide's eyes met, and without a word, they both urged their horses faster.
The horses plunged into Kiyosu Castle in an instant.
Some samurai were startled and tried to bar the way, but senior retainers who recognized Baek Il-yeong's face promptly ordered the gates opened, allowing him to reach the Hirate family residence without hindrance.
"Young master!"
"Young lord!"
—Neigh!
Hearing the weary whinny of his exhausted horse, Baek Il-yeong dismounted in a fluid leap. He handed the reins to a page who had rushed up from the Hirate residence and removed the black sedge hat from his head.
"Prepare a change of clothes. I must see the clan lord."
Even in his shabby ronin attire, simply doffing the sedge hat revealed an appearance not far removed from a well-groomed noble.
Those passing by the Hirate residence happened to glimpse the famous Hirate Hikage, marveling at his figure while feeling the sharp reality of his back—
...that war was approaching once more.