Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Hug Me
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That day, a few days passed.
After the dramatic reconciliation between the two Oda sisters, the ninjas sent out as scouts soon began sending back reports one after another.
Il-yeong didn't get to see most of them, as they were classified intelligence containing guesses about the enemy's direction and numbers, but just from the atmosphere, he could tell it wouldn't be as light a battle as he'd hoped.
And yesterday, the 3,600 troops that had marched out from Nagoya Castle quickly joined the 2,000 from Suemori, setting up camp near the riverbank where Muraki Shrine was faintly visible across the way.
Il-yeong was sitting outside one of the tents in that camp. Itsuki approached him and spoke.
"Young master. The water you asked for."
"Yeah. Thanks, Itsuki."
Itsuki handed him the gourd flask filled with water, then sat down beside him and asked.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing."
Il-yeong answered like that and quenched his thirst with the water Itsuki had brought. Though he'd said "nothing," his mind was a tangled mess. He was too preoccupied to even notice the subtle change in Itsuki's attitude before and after their sparring match.
'The Battle of Murakitori...'
He wiped the moisture from his lips and sank into thought. Truth be told, he didn't know much about the Battle of Murakitori.
It hadn't been a major battle to begin with. All he recalled was that Oda Nobunaga had received support from Saito Dosan and crossed the river first.
'But this time, the chances of Saito Dosan sending support are basically zero...'
And for good reason. In the original history, Saito Dosan had aided Nobunaga because he was his son-in-law. Sure, there was also the scheme to check Imagawa's advance on Kyoto, but still.
But now that Nobunaga was a woman, the Saito clan had no reason to worry about her. Nobunaga wasn't even married yet.
In other words, as far as Il-yeong knew, the odds of Saito Dosan helping the Oda clan now were practically nil.
Yeah. That should be it—
"I'm ashamed to say it, but I'm Ando Morinari, one of Mino's Three Elders. Our lord asked me to convey his apologies for not sending more troops."
"This is more than enough. Please tell Lord Saito we're grateful."
"Haha. Of course."
Why were they sending support?
Il-yeong murmured softly under his mask.
Who was Ando Morinari? One of the three most important retainers in Mino Province, under Saito Dosan's command. They called them Mino's Three Elders for a reason.
Looking at the composition of the troops he'd brought—about 150 samurai and 350 ashigaru—it was only half of the 1,000 from original history, but the fact that they'd shown "sincerity" at all was what mattered.
Saito Dosan showing sincerity toward Nobunaga? Il-yeong instinctively concluded there was something he didn't know.
But just then.
As Il-yeong was deep in thought, his eyes caught Yoshinari's face, shadowed darker than usual.
"......"
She was biting her lip hard, glaring at Ando Morinari with eyes even colder than when she'd slaughtered the Kiyosu samurai. Naturally, Ando Morinari noticed.
"Ahem. Yoshinari. Long time no see."
Ando Morinari, as if he'd anticipated this, casually greeted Yoshinari, who stood behind Nobunaga glaring at him.
Grind—
In that instant, her teeth ground together with a menacing sound. Only then did Il-yeong recall what Yoshinari had drunkenly said in the past, and he unconsciously touched the scar on his Hannya mask.
He belatedly realized that, from her perspective, Ando Morinari was as good as an enemy. But at that moment.
"Yoshinari."
Nobunaga's low voice rang out, and without even turning to look at her, she commanded.
"Return to your tent for now. Sakuma and Kawajiri are enough for guards."
"...Yes."
It might look like disciplining a retainer for a blunder, but Il-yeong instinctively knew Nobunaga was being considerate of Yoshinari.
Yoshinari seemed to feel the same; she gave a short bow to Nobunaga's back and silently walked to her tent.
Of course, Il-yeong couldn't help but worry. So he immediately followed her, calling her name.
"Yoshina—"
"Oh, fancy meeting you here, Lord Hikage."
No. He'd meant to call her. If not for that sly voice from behind. At the perfectly timed interruption, Il-yeong let out a small sigh, turned, and bowed to her.
"Lady Nobuyuki. What brings you here?"
There was only one "lady" in this camp who could be addressed that way. Nobuyuki let out an odd laugh at Il-yeong's greeting.
"Lady, huh. Doesn't sound bad coming from you."
What was her angle this time?
Il-yeong felt a subtle discomfort but had no choice but to look at her. Then, catching sight of the red Hannya mask behind her, he smirked and asked.
"Lord Shibata. Feeling better?"
"...Pardon?"
Surprisingly, it was Shibata Katsuie who was caught off guard. Why address her with Nobuyuki right there? Even if she wasn't loyal to people, this could rub Nobuyuki the wrong way, so she glanced at Nobuyuki to gauge her reaction.
"Hmmm..."
But Nobuyuki showed no sign of offense, just nodding with that odd smile. Realizing it was tacit permission, Shibata awkwardly fixed her gaze on Il-yeong and replied.
"...I'm fine. But are you alright, Lord Hirate?"
"Well, a few days on horseback were rough, but luckily no broken bones, and it healed up quick. Guess I got lucky."
He meant it. If it were his modern body, he'd have been bedridden for weeks, but whether from his trained physique or something about these ancient folk, most wounds stopped hurting fast.
After briefly checking on each other, Il-yeong finally turned to Nobuyuki and asked.
"Anyway, what did you need me for?"
"Nothing much. Just curious."
One might expect her to take offense at his brusque attitude, but Nobuyuki kept smiling slyly, eyes crinkled.
"About wha—"
"Am I really not your type?"
She took a bold step closer and asked. Her long black hair swayed naturally, and a hand extended from her neat robes rested lightly on Il-yeong's chest. As he stiffened, Nobuyuki let out a soft "fufu" laugh and continued.
"Honestly, wouldn't I make a fine wife? Even if you're adopted into the Hirate family, you're essentially Joseon blood—better to have solid backing, right? So why keep turning me down?"
A political marriage. What better insurance was there? Nobuyuki was inwardly curious about Il-yeong's thinking. Why reject her?
Loyalty to Nobunaga?
A sense of duty to Hirate Masahide, who took him in?
Or some cute push-pull game?
Whatever it was, Nobuyuki was confident she could persuade him. Humans were driven by desire, after all.
"If you're asking why..."
At that moment, not just Nobuyuki but Shibata Katsuie leaned in for his answer. They were both curious what he'd say.
And.
"...You're not my type. Sorry."
Nobuyuki could only stare at him in stunned silence—the first time in ages. Shibata Katsuie was the same.
Not his type.
Not his type, he said.
"Well."
With that, Il-yeong left the two frozen in place. No more to say, and he was worried about Yoshinari.
But after Il-yeong vanished, it took Nobuyuki a while longer to ask Shibata Katsuie in a trembling voice.
"D-did he just call me ugly?"
It was a huge leap from him stating his preferences, but Shibata interpreted it similarly and slowly nodded.
"...He didn't say 'ugly,' but it does sound like you're lacking as wife material."
"...Shibata."
"Yes."
For once, Nobuyuki's sly smile twisted into a murderous sneer as she ordered Shibata Katsuie.
"When we cross swords soon, capture that bastard alive. I'll repay this insult myself."
"...Yes, my lady."
**
Unaware of the misunderstanding piling up, Il-yeong headed to Yoshinari's tent.
Given her high status, samurai from the Mori family stood guard around it, but they knew his face and promptly cleared a path.
Thus, Il-yeong entered the tent easily and strode toward Yoshinari upon spotting her.
"Yoshinari."
But her condition looked poor at a glance. Unlike her usual simple smile, she sat on a simple cot with her head bowed, face dark.
So Il-yeong approached the silent woman. As he drew close, almost touching.
"—Give me."
"Huh?"
A small murmur, like a whisper to herself, came from below. Il-yeong looked down at her and asked back, and Yoshinari slowly raised her head, murmuring softly.
"Hug... me."
And in her eyes as she said it, small tears welled up.