Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Fifty Years in the Human World (4)
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―Washizu and Marune Castles have been besieged! Send reinforcements at once!
The messenger delivered the urgent battlefield report just before dawn broke.
And it took only a few hours for Nobunaga to resolve to sortie.
“My lord!”
“Hyah!”
Once Nobunaga and Il-yeong had left Kiyosu Castle alone together, the samurai who had been momentarily stunned finally remembered their duty and a handful of them hurriedly mounted their horses to chase after them.
Was she mad?
Hirate Hikage alone was the pillar supporting Owari and a fierce general—losing him would have immeasurable repercussions. Yet the Daimyo herself was charging out so recklessly.
‘Does she even realize her position?!’
‘At this rate, we’re all dead!’
That was the common grievance flashing through the minds of the samurai desperately following behind.
Of course, none were bold enough to voice it aloud.
―Neigh!
How long had they been riding?
By the time the hazy rising sun had turned the indigo sky into a full, vibrant blue, they finally reined in their horses. Nobunaga and Il-yeong dismounted before the Atsuta Shrine looming ahead.
Thud.
Dust swirled at their feet as they stepped down, and the horses, still excited from the sudden gallop, snorted repeatedly while pawing the ground.
But the horses weren’t what mattered now.
Nobunaga and Il-yeong turned their gazes beyond the shrine toward the sky—and almost simultaneously, they locked eyes.
What they saw was smoke.
...Smoke billowing high into the sky.
Two pillars of black smoke rising far in the distance, stretching long columns toward the heavens.
Seeing it, Il-yeong’s eyes gleamed as he thought.
‘This isn’t just a bonfire or a building ablaze. Which means...’
The answer might have been obvious from the start.
And Nobunaga seemed to sense it instinctively as well.
‘Marune Castle and Washizu Castle have fallen.’
The two exchanged silent glances, while their escorts, who had just arrived at the shrine, dismounted in a flurry and stared at the rising smoke, murmuring.
“S-Smoke.”
“That’s the direction of Marune Castle, right?”
“And over there’s Washizu Castle.”
“No way...”
How many times had civil war broken out in Owari? How many wars had the previous Daimyo waged?
Owari’s ashigaru might be weak compared to other provinces’ soldiers, but samurai developed an eye for the battlefield with experience.
‘Fallen.’
The escort samurai swallowed the word inwardly and turned their eyes to Nobunaga and Il-yeong.
They couldn’t predict what lay ahead.
That was when it happened.
―Clop, clop!
―Neigh!
Nobunaga and Il-yeong, silently staring at the smoke, turned at the sound of approaching hoofbeats and snorts growing closer.
―Shing!
The escorts drew their swords in unison, faces grim as they swallowed hard.
They couldn’t tell if the hoofbeats belonged to enemies or allies.
“My lord! My husband!”
But they hesitated at the familiar voice, then sheathed their blades without a second thought upon seeing the general charging at the front.
“I’ve come!”
It was only natural.
After all, the one leading a group of mounted samurai through the woods, clad in blue armor, was none other than Mori Yoshinari.
Mori Yoshinari.
Owari’s other fierce general, who wielded the spear named Sekino Kanetsada like a demon.
No one could fail to recognize her.
Not just for her prowess, but for those enormous breasts of hers...
‘Ahem.’
The samurai belatedly remembered she was one of Il-yeong’s women, and as she drew near—her massive chest heaving uncontrollably despite the armor’s restraints—they averted their eyes entirely.
Just after the samurai lowered their gazes for their own reasons, Mori Yoshinari reined in before them, dismounted without hesitation, and knelt on one knee to Nobunaga and Il-yeong.
“I gathered the samurai as quickly as I could upon hearing the news. Roughly two hundred strong.”
The Mori family had once fled Mino to Owari like refugees, but her exploits and the efforts of loyal retainers had revived their fortunes considerably.
And she always led from the front.
In her distinctive armor blending blue and gray, swinging her spear like a flash of light, she embodied a different kind of ideal for the samurai from Il-yeong’s. As a result, many masterless samurai had joined her banner or followed in faction-like groups.
...Of course, there were other reasons, no need to spell them out.
“And with the forces from the clan and retainers aligned with us, another seven hundred ashigaru and a hundred samurai will arrive soon.”
“I see.”
Nobunaga nodded in satisfaction.
For hastily assembled troops numbering three hundred samurai and seven hundred ashigaru, Mori Yoshinari had done her utmost.
And Owari had more than just her. Combining Nobuyuki’s forces and those of the retainers would easily muster around five thousand.
No need for Il-yeong, Nobunaga, or Yoshinari to discuss that.
Thus, Il-yeong spoke.
“Marune and Washizu have fallen, but the enemy are human too—they won’t press further now. Why not scout the area in the meantime?”
“There’s Tanke Castle and Jenshoji Castle nearby.”
“Yes. It wouldn’t hurt to check them out.”
The two castles hadn’t fallen yet, but they weren’t holding out strongly either.
Her personal visit would boost morale considerably.
“I’ll follow.”
Mori Yoshinari remounted immediately after speaking, and Oda Nobunaga and Il-yeong climbed back onto their horses, taking the reins.
―Neigh!
Moments later, the group of horses snorted fiercely and charged off.
And meanwhile.
“Gather everyone you can!”
“Understood!”
Owari’s retainers, realizing all-out war was inevitable—or prodded by the stares of those around them—donned whatever armor they had and led their forces out.
1,000 mounted samurai.
500 samurai.
500 matchlock gunners.
And finally, around 3,000 ashigaru and conscripts.
A total force just over five thousand marched toward the Atsuta Shrine.
Inside a gorgeously appointed tent even in enemy territory, Imagawa Yoshimoto—her face powdered white—plied her chopsticks over a neatly laid banquet.
She sipped sake now and then, silently continuing her meal as if awaiting something.
And at that moment.
―Flutter!
The tent flap flew open as a retainer rushed in, beaming.
“Congratulations, my lord! Washizu and Marune Castles have fallen into our hands!”
“Ha, hahaha!”
The news she’d been waiting for had arrived.
Imagawa Yoshimoto laughed heartily, nodding with satisfaction, and the retainer bowed to her visibly elated figure, adding,
“Your dream is near! With everything going so smoothly, this must be a divine mandate from the Retired Emperor inviting you to the shogunate!”
“That’s laying it on a bit thick.”
“It’s sincere counsel from the heart!”
Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded, gently stroking her powdered chin.
Then, setting down her chopsticks, she asked softly,
“Ah, what of that child Motoyasu?”
“You mean the lord of the Matsudaira clan? She’s handling logistics now.”
“She took the castle, yes.”
She had swiftly reclaimed Mikawa territories lost to the Oda clan earlier and was now managing supplies.
‘Reclaimed. So she has talent for strategy too.’
Word was she’d used fire tactics to overwhelm them in one stroke. As Imagawa Yoshimoto pondered silently, a watchful retainer spoke up.
“For a young girl, she did quite well, but those were castles the Oda had half-abandoned anyway. To be expected. Still, if there’s cause for concern...”
The retainer trailed off, hesitating whether to continue, but Imagawa Yoshimoto smirked as if she knew exactly what he’d say.
“You’re worried we’ve given her too much leash lately, aren’t you?”
“My apologies!”
The retainer slammed his forehead to the ground in the classic dogeza pose, but Yoshimoto waved lightly for him to rise.
And replied,
“I’ve heard some retainers are following her now.”
“Yes.”
The retainer’s concern wasn’t unfounded.
Some Matsudaira retainers had indeed returned to her side.
But that was all.
“It’s not a bad thing.”
“Pardon?”
“We’re not swallowing the Matsudaira whole anyway. If she can control the retainers well, she’ll be useful.”
“But...”
“She’s clever. She’ll be a great asset to our clan.”
The retainer wanted to protest that she might be overrated, but held his tongue and withdrew.
Left alone, Imagawa Yoshimoto lightly stroked her powdered chin, thinking.
‘She could be dangerous.’
Others might not see it, but she did.
「Matsudaira Motoyasu」
The girl bowed without hesitation but never cowered.
In other words, who knew what schemes lurked within.
But put differently.
‘As long as I’m alive and well, she’ll stay prostrate.’
Having watched her since childhood, she knew.
Matsudaira Motoyasu would keep her head bowed under Imagawa protection unless opportunity knocked.
She silently poured the last of the sake into her cup and downed it in one gulp.
‘Yes.’
As long as she remained hale, there were no problems.