Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: A Sinful Man (2)
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"I-it's okay now..."
How long had he spent soothing Yoshinari as she wept? She seemed somewhat calmed now, pulling slightly away from Il-yeong's embrace.
Her face flushed a little, and then she made a belated oh expression.
"Right. The Lord's looking for you."
"Ah, yeah. Guess so."
It was about time to go see her face, after all.
For him, he'd only blinked a few times, but to those around him, he'd been lying there for over a week.
One thing nagged at him slightly, though.
"Isn't she super busy?"
If Itsuki was right, there was the move to Kiyosu Castle, keeping an eye on Nobuyuki, and a mountain of other tasks.
He couldn't help wondering if showing up now would just be a bother.
"It's fine."
But then.
Yoshinari smiled faintly, her cheeks tinged with pink, at Il-yeong's concerned look.
"She said if you don't come, she'll make you commit seppuku."
"S-seppuku?"
Il-yeong could only break into a cold sweat.
Seppuku? That was too much.
Getting his head chopped off by an enemy was one thing—he'd rather avoid turning his own folder phone into a tragedy.
"Alright, let's go."
Still, he wasn't one to miss the sincerity behind it, so he chuckled and turned.
Yoshinari tilted her head quizzically.
"Where to?"
"Huh?"
"I thought you were heading straight inside..."
She must have assumed he'd go right away.
Il-yeong lightly ruffled her hair with a pat, then shook out the robe roughly covering his bandaged arm and torso.
"Gotta change clothes first."
"Oh."
Changing clothes wasn't too hard.
As the physician had said, whether blessed by his ancestors or not, aside from the ache when he moved his injured arm, there was no real pain.
"Alright, let's go."
"Yeah!"
Il-yeong stepped out in attire befitting the occasion, and Yoshinari stuck close to his side, grinning ear to ear for some reason.
Trailing behind them was Itsuki, who had appeared out of nowhere with a rustle.
Seeing him, Il-yeong couldn't help but think.
...Maybe train him as a ninja?
Considering how he'd slipped away earlier, his speed and technique—Itsuki might suit ninja work better than samurai.
Come to think of it, gathering intel was similar too.
"What're you thinking?"
"Oh, nothing."
Il-yeong gave Yoshinari a light smile, then seriously pondered switching Itsuki's career path.
It had started half as a joke, but it actually fit pretty well.
Lost in such idle thoughts, Nagoya Castle soon loomed before them.
"Go on in."
The samurai stepped aside without hesitation at the sight of them. Il-yeong shot them a puzzled look, and Yoshinari clung lightly to his arm, whispering softly.
"The Lord's spread word of your feats from the last battle. And of course, yours were huge..."
"Got it."
Even if he'd nearly lost an arm, running the field yourself paid off.
So thinking, Il-yeong headed for Nobunaga's chambers.
But before he could take two steps, a familiar voice called from behind.
"It's been a while, Lord Hirate."
"Hm?"
Turning, he saw two girls approaching from the side.
Well, more precisely, one woman and one girl.
Niwa Nagahide approached with her navy hair and a subtle, drooping smile, alongside Maeda Toshiie—red short hair, left canine peeking out, face sour for some reason.
Il-yeong racked his brain for a moment before recalling the end of the adoption banquet.
"Yes. It's been a while, Lady Niwa. Lady Maeda."
"Heh... Just like the old man, you're one for teasing titles."
Nagahide chuckled lightly at Il-yeong using the half-joking honorific Hirate Masahide had tossed out before.
Toshiie, though, kept glaring at him discontentedly, clearly still miffed.
Well, yeah, she wasn't thrilled about my adoption last time either.
He wasn't entirely blameless, honestly.
Il-yeong hadn't exactly wanted a name history would call a name-change either.
It had just been a choice for survival.
Aware or not of his feelings, Niwa Nagahide lightly covered her smile with her fan.
"I heard you earned great merit in the last battle. The old man's eye for talent is impressive as ever. Oh, and of course, you too, Lord Hikage."
He couldn't help but feel pleased at Niwa Nagahide's praise.
She was a beauty on par with Yoshinari or Nobunaga, but exuded a more mature air than either.
She's only twenty. Wow.
It made him nod anew that age wasn't always a measure of maturity.
Then.
"You're strong, right?"
Glancing down at the bold voice, Toshiie stared back like a wary Shiba Inu, narrowing her brows. She stabbed her spear into the ground once and declared.
"Spar with me!"
"...Pardon?"
Il-yeong blinked at her sudden words, and Toshiie yelled as if he were deaf.
"You sparred with Lord Shibata last time, right? Do it with me too! If I win, that adopted spot is... Mmph!"
"Sorry about that."
Niwa Nagahide shoved her ever-present fan into Maeda Toshiie's mouth and apologized to Il-yeong with an awkward smile.
Toshiie flailed indignantly, but when Nagahide patted her back and pointed at Il-yeong's bandaged arm, she froze with an oh face and stopped.
Only then did Nagahide pull out the fan, resting a hand on Toshiie's head.
"Forgive her. She admires the old man so much. And with warrior blood in her veins..."
"S-sorry."
She wasn't totally clueless; Toshiie averted her eyes from Il-yeong and mumbled an apology.
Probably didn't notice the arm under the clothes.
It didn't bother him, and there was no reason to refuse a spar.
Plus, Yoshinari standing quietly suggested she wasn't a bad kid.
What was it... like she was throwing the tantrum Uemon should have.
That thought made Toshiie seem oddly cute.
So Il-yeong smiled warmly at her sidelong glance.
"No problem. I can spar if you want, but as you see, my arm needs time to heal. After that okay?"
"Uh, y-yeah... Sure."
Toshiie flustered at his smile, unexpectedly nodding along.
And then.
"There you are. The Lord's summoning you."
A rather elderly attendant appeared behind Il-yeong and Yoshinari, urging them on. Niwa Nagahide snapped open a fresh fan—sans spit aroma—to cover her mouth.
"Oh, better hurry."
"Yes. See you."
Il-yeong followed the attendant without protest.
Yoshinari trailed him, then glanced back with a blank stare at the two women before hurrying after.
"Hmm."
Niwa Nagahide watched with her signature subtle smile, murmuring softly.
"They said she punched him in the gut, but that's a new look for Lady Mori."
"S-scary..."
She patted the slightly cowed Toshiie's head and chuckled.
"Well, it's not like we're the ones punching Lord Hikage in the gut."
As if.
Niwa Nagahide shook her head.
Though he is handsome...
Off the top of her head, three or four women were already tangled with him. Messy guys like that weren't her type.
"Shall we go have some tea?"
"Yeah."
With that, she departed.
Following the attendant into Nobunaga's residence, quite a few presences stirred inside the room.
The attendant—who seemed high-ranking for his age—gestured to those at the door. They opened it, and he bowed briefly to Nobunaga within.
"Milord. I've brought Lord Hikage."
"Ah, good."
Nobunaga replied as if she'd been waiting, and the retainers rose without a word, filing out.
Il-yeong tilted his head curiously, but nodded inwardly upon recognizing them.
Not a major meeting, then.
No big-name retainers among them.
Probably just administrative stuff for the Kiyosu move, he guessed.
"Talk well."
"Yeah."
Il-yeong nodded lightly to Yoshinari, who patted his back and stepped back.
She'd come to escort him here, so she'd wait outside.
"Entering."
As he entered and sat, attendants swiftly cleared the spots the retainers had vacated, setting tea and light snacks before him.
With the audience ready, Nobunaga sipped from her teacup on the table.
"How's the body?"
"Fine, Milord."
Short and direct, as was her way, but he caught the subtle concern, smiling faintly without thinking.
"Thanks to the skilled physician you assigned, they say no major aftereffects. My gratitude."
"...Good. Ahem."
Maybe because he smiled suddenly.
Nobunaga averted her gaze slightly, sipping her tea. He belatedly sensed something off.
"But today it's tea, not sake."
Normally she'd have sake, yet here she was with tea.
Considering original history's Nobunaga wasn't big on drink, this fit—but this world's her was different.
Tea spiked with booze?
Like brandy in black tea.
As if reading his mind, Nobunaga let out an incredulous laugh.
"What, tea feels weird for me?"
"N-no, not that."
"Heh."
As Il-yeong flustered, she chuckled and waved it off.
"Kidding. You've got a dense side, huh."
"...Ah. Yeah, whatever."
Maybe the long sleep from his injury left him foggy.
Normally he'd catch the joke and quip back slyly.
Feeling his face heat from taking it seriously, he sipped his tea and shifted topics.
"Anyway, I heard about the move to Kiyosu. How's it going?"
"Word travels fast. Or rather, it'd be weirder if you didn't know."
The move started post-battle, but plans were set before.
He reminded himself this man before him wasn't some Joseon ronin, but Hirate Masahide's adopted son and pupil.
Realizing it anew brought an inexplicable relief, and he smiled faintly.
"Milord?"
Il-yeong tilted his head at Nobunaga's sudden solo smile, but she set down her cup without comment.
"Smoothly. No major hitches, and it'll wrap before a month if none crop up."
Even in winter, Kiyosu and Nagoya weren't far. Nobuyuki had agreed not to interfere with the move itself, so no issues.
Il-yeong nodded in relief at her explanation.
Suddenly, his face caught Nobunaga's eye.
His hair had grown more—past shaggy, nearing a bob.
Most men look ugly at that length.
She had to admit his looks again, but a petty irritation stirred.
She was vaguely aware of her feelings, but noticing and accepting were worlds apart.
And he's already gut-punched with Yoshinari.
Thinking that, her brows furrowed unnoticed.
Even so, in the middle of a battlefield?
Yes, relationships weren't a flaw.
But some lines should be kept.
Her gaze on Il-yeong grew sharper, until she snapped out of it and shook her head.
No. What am I thinking?
Even Nobunaga was confused now.
Truth was, skipping sake was due to her swirling thoughts.
Then, Il-yeong broke the silence.
"Milord. But."
Hearing that opener, Nobunaga unconsciously gripped the edge of her slightly loosened robe sleeve, casually glancing out the window.
Her heart thudded oddly unlike usual as she awaited his words.
"About what you mentioned last time..."
But then.
Caw—caw!
A crow cried abruptly outside. Nobunaga's face stiffened, eyes darting.
Il-yeong couldn't miss it. He watched her lips twitch a few times, then smiled lightly.
"Doesn't seem like the day. Call me again next time."
He set down his cup. Seeing her retainer so considerate, Nobunaga sighed softly and nodded.
"I've sent medicinal herbs via the chief advisor—good for recovery. Brew them well. Rewards later."
"Yes, Milord."
He exited quickly to spare her. She watched his back wistfully until the door shut, then irritably uncorked the gourd at her waist and drank.
"What is it?"
She grumbled to the empty room.
Anyone seeing might think her mad, but a shadow dropped from the ceiling at her words, kneeling on one knee.
Her clothes were commoner garb, but two things couldn't be hidden: the stoic demeanor of a ninja serving her lord, and striking beauty.
"Message from the Koga-ryu ninja escorting Ikoma Merchant Company's transport."
"Recite."
At Nobunaga's order, she bowed her head slightly.
"Ambush. About thirty foes. Escaping. Requesting support."
"Tch. What're those damn retainers doing?"
She muttered irritably, calculating swiftly.
Dosan’s daughter Nohime? Whatever. But the Ikoma head?
Kitsuno.
Her reliable big sis—and friend she'd once mistaken for more—was in danger.
Problem was, most retainers were tied up with the Kiyosu move and potential local skirmishes.
She wanted to go herself, but...
Hikage.
Why did that name pop up first?
Nobunaga shook her head.
He was recovering. Charging foes and returning? Fine. But this—foes scattered, more could strike anytime.
Fiddling with her hand of cards, she decided, taking a sip.
"Fetch Yoshinari. And gather disposable low-rank warriors by dawn. Like, those quietly forming factions."
"Yes, Milord."
The ninja nodded without hesitation and vanished to carry out orders.
Soon after, Yoshinari entered the now-solo Nobunaga's room. She beckoned her close, whispered something. Yoshinari nodded firmly.
"...Yes, Milord. I'll bring her back for sure."