Chapter 151
Translator: penny
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Changing Things (3)
"So that was your fear."
At those words, Shibata Katsuie couldn't even muster a response. She simply parted and closed her lips repeatedly, at a loss for words.
His face reflected in her golden eyes.
Hair tinged slightly with brown.
Flawless, clear white skin.
Unwavering black pupils.
...And finally, the long scar stretching across his mouth.
It was a familiar face, but she could never get used to the expressionless mask he wore.
He showed no hostility toward her, no condescending lecture. Yet why did those simple words from Il-yeong carry such crushing weight?
'No.'
Fundamentally, she couldn't even guess what he was thinking as he looked at her. She was just meeting his gaze.
It wasn't cheap pity.
No veiled sympathy.
No arrogant disdain.
No petty, envious jealousy.
"......"
A gaze utterly devoid of emotion.
And because of that, she soon realized it. Il-yeong's gaze—contrary to her attempts to divine some hidden intent—was truly fixed on her alone.
"That—"
"What does it matter?"
As Shibata Katsuie opened her mouth to speak, having grasped this truth, the blank expression on Il-yeong's face vanished. In its place bloomed a smile calmer than any she'd seen before.
—Swish.
The oni mask gripped in his rough hand slowly covered her face. Then, unlike before, he tied the strings with just the right tension and spoke.
"I have no qualms showing my scars, but if you do, feel free to hide yours. In the end, others take responsibility for nothing. But as I said before......"
Il-yeong's arm brushed her ear before pulling away. At the same time, he chuckled softly, stepping back half a pace after having approached to secure the mask on her head.
"A scar or two won't hide that beauty of yours."
"...W-What."
His sly voice tickled her ear.
Only then did Shibata Katsuie replay his words in her mind, her gaze darting away as her heart suddenly pounded wildly.
It was an action she'd taken without realizing.
—Thump.
A heartbeat she couldn't explain.
Cheeks flushing hot, fingertips trembling faintly.
It wasn't much different from when she'd first removed her mask, but she knew the emotions behind it were worlds apart.
What was this feeling?
In that moment of tangled, inexplicable emotions, as she looked at Il-yeong's unchanging face gazing back at her, instinct told her the truth.
The question she'd hurled at him might have been nothing more than pointless meddling—or even a childish whine. Realizing that, she could only bow her head.
'...Was that a mistake?'
She herself had no clear answer for why she hid her face. She'd just blurted out that she hated the negative stares, questioning why he bore his so stoically. No deep thought was needed to know how that must have looked to him.
And right then.
—Plop.
As she avoided his gaze with her head down, Il-yeong's hand gently rested atop her head. Shibata's shoulders twitched slightly. He ruffled her golden hair lightly and said,
"So what I mean is."
His hand slid slowly downward until the mask touched her skin again, aligning perfectly. As Il-yeong tied the ends securely, he added,
"You don't have to take it off on my account. I'm fine either way."
"......"
Il-yeong filled her eyes once more.
The impassive gaze from before was gone, replaced entirely by Il-yeong's faint smile.
She opened her mouth as if entranced.
About to say something.
Yes, she definitely meant to.
—Swish.
But in that instant, Il-yeong's hands glided across her cheeks, and he said,
"The night grows deep."
"Ah—."
A tone that subtly drew a line.
Shibata Katsuie pursed her lips briefly before closing them and nodding.
"I suppose it does."
"...Yes."
A subtle smile played on both their lips.
Bitter regret.
But both knew now wasn't the time, so Shibata Katsuie stepped forward slowly and said,
"Thank you for the fine meal. Safe travels to Kyoto."
"I must. I leave Owari in your hands while I'm gone, Lady Shibata."
"Very well."
Shibata Katsuie walked away at neither a hurried nor leisurely pace, leaving the garden and heading out of the clan grounds.
"...Hah."
Il-yeong, who had silently watched her retreating figure, let out a quiet sigh and murmured,
"Probably not."
It was a bitter smile, denying the strange undercurrent that had flowed between them moments ago.
The Matsudaira Clan began dominating Mikawa Province in a blaze of unstoppable momentum. Early on, many had predicted they'd be swiftly devoured by the Imagawa Clan again due to their young lady daimyo. But the new Matsudaira lord mocked those expectations, steadily consolidating control over Mikawa with remarkable stability.
Around this time, Oda and Matsudaira needs aligned. Through Mizuno Nobumoto's nominal mediation, the Kiyosu Alliance was secretly forged at Kiyosu Castle.
It was simple logic.
The Oda Clan needed a secure rear before striking Mino, and the Matsudaira Clan needed a strong ally and stable backend to confront the Imagawa head-on.
Of course, as one might expect.
—Boom!
Though shaken, Imagawa Ujizane—the new Imagawa daimyo—couldn't ignore it.
"S-Summon Matsudaira Motoyasu to Sunpu at once! That insolent—!"
His retainers outwardly obeyed the furious order and relayed the summons to the Matsudaira side. But Matsudaira Motoyasu replied with a single phrase: "I am unwell."
"Unwell... unwell......"
Hearing this, Imagawa Ujizane paled and could only mutter it repeatedly. He wasn't a fool; he'd already sensed the Matsudaira harbored other intentions.
No, it had been inevitable since they allied with Oda at Kiyosu. The problem was...
'So blatant. Incredibly blatant.'
Imagawa Ujizane didn't powder his face or blacken his teeth like his father, Yoshimoto. Yet in that moment, his face drained of color more than anyone's, cold sweat beading on his brow.
"...What will you do?"
"Please, give the order."
The retainers watching his feeble display weren't pleased either. They couldn't approve of this successor to their former lord and father figure, Imagawa Yoshimoto.
It was only natural.
Most in this meeting hall had followed Yoshimoto into battle, sharing his conquests.
Powder your face if you must.
Blacken your teeth if you like.
Ride a flower palanquin to the battlefield for all they cared.
But Imagawa Ujizane lacked spirit.
He couldn't even muster a bold boast about crushing Oda and Matsudaira at the vanguard. Furious at a letter from the younger Matsudaira Motoyasu, yet inwardly glancing at his retainers' reactions.
'Hah.'
'What will become of the clan......'
To them, it was exasperating, infuriating.
—Creak.
But right then.
"An intriguing response."
"G-Grandmo— No. Grandmother."
"We greet Lady Amamidai."
Amamidai.
The honorific for the shogun's wife turned nun—and with those murmurs from the retainers, the meeting hall doors opened as a nun slowly entered.
Her wrinkled, aged frame hinted at the beauty of her youth, but the retainers ignored her kindly smile, bowing their heads.
It was only natural.
Most there knew exactly who she was.
Jukeini.
The heroine who first earned the title of female Sengoku daimyo in this era where women rarely ruled. Even in her advanced years, she was the true pillar of the Imagawa Clan, acting for its sake.
Passing the retainers, she reached Ujizane and properly greeted her grandson, the daimyo, before adding,
"Then we must respond in kind, mustn't we, my lord?"
A chill killing intent flickered across her kindly face, leaving Imagawa Ujizane no choice but to nod.
"Y-Yes, we must."
He sensed it instinctively.
What her "response" entailed.
And that evening, dozens of Mikawa heavyweights' wives and children, detained in Sunpu, were tied to pillars and run through with spears repeatedly until dead.
...A perfect response indeed.