Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Dawn of Chaos
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Winter passed, and the frozen earth gradually thawed, sprouting new life. The chill breath of the season became a thing of the past, and the islands faced yet another year.
A shadow of war loomed over Owari Province.
Not only the humble peasants tending their fields, but even the neighboring daimyo felt it, dispatching ninjas and planting spies among merchants to gauge the shifting tides.
Yet the situation around Owari was just as chaotic...
Mino was gripped by bloody purges under the newly enthroned Saito Yoshitatsu, consolidating his power. Meanwhile, the Imagawa clan, ever covetous of Owari, busied themselves brokering a marriage between the Takeda and Hojo clans to fortify their rear and strengthen their three-province alliance.
In many ways, this was a time of crisis and opportunity for the Oda clan of Owari.
If they could resolve the strife between the sisters now and stabilize the household, Owari would emerge even stronger.
But if the conflict dragged on until the chaos subsided, Owari would become a delectable prey, fattening the bellies of its neighbors.
Thus, the retainers gathered at a temple near Kiyosu Castle wore grave expressions.
It was only natural.
Oda Nobunaga.
Oda Nobuyuki.
For the retainers divided under their respective lords, the question of who would rule Owari decided not only their own fates but the futures of their houses.
Yet aside from that.
The reason Oda Nobunaga had summoned them to the temple so early was something else entirely.
—Ahh.
With the monks' low chants, the funeral rites proceeded one by one. But the one lying in the coffin was neither of the Oda clan nor a retainer family— it was Saito Dosan.
Processed specially to prevent decay, the corpse still showed signs of rot after the passage of time.
And that was not all.
Though hidden beneath his burial robes, Dosan's body was stitched together in places. The Oda side had no intention of desecrating the deceased. On the contrary, it had been that way when they found him, so they had accorded him the utmost respect.
'...Even in these turbulent times. Tsk.'
Oda Nobunaga took a sip of the sake set aside for the ceremony, her mouth tasting bitter. She felt Il-yeong's gaze from behind, but there was nothing for it.
At that moment, the retainers' eyes turned to Kicho, sitting quietly in a corner. Her eyes were red and swollen from prolonged weeping, her face pale. Her fingertips trembled, and she could scarcely speak.
"...It must be a terrible shock. Poor Yoshitatsu— he was never the type to do something like this."
Ikoma Kitsuno, standing behind her, looked equally stricken. Having ties to both the Oda of Owari and the Saito of Mino, she was deeply affected.
"...Ah."
A sigh escaped Kicho's cracked lips. Tears welled in her dazed eyes. She glanced around as if denying reality, but only unfamiliar faces surrounded her.
—A foreigner.
That word probably captured her feelings best right now.
—How tragic.
—So young, too.
Some of the older retainers pitied her from afar, but none approached first.
She huddled in on herself.
Even as she fought back tears, realizing her situation filled her with misery.
That was when it happened.
"My lord."
Il-yeong whispered softly from behind Nobunaga. She, who had been watching for his reaction, nodded with a murmur of Of course.
He pushed through the crowd toward Kicho, who sat dazed before her father's body.
Il-yeong's shadow fell over her.
Looking up slightly, she realized he stood before her.
"...Hirate-sama."
Suddenly, she felt resentment.
So she rose slowly from her seat.
She clutched at Il-yeong's collar.
Her small hand gripped tightly, trembling. Yet she neither pulled nor tugged— she simply held on.
—Like a lost child.
She just trembled.
How much time passed like that?
Finally, a quiet voice emerged from her cracked lips.
"...You said you'd bring him back."
You promised.
She knew it wasn't his fault. She knew he had saved her life.
Yet for some reason, she resented him.
Even knowing how selfish that feeling was, Kicho wept.
But then.
—A hand gently stroked her head. Silver strands tousled under his touch, warm comfort flowing from his palm.
"I'm sorry."
I tried to save him. But I couldn't.
—He could have made excuses, saying the situation didn't allow it. Or scolded her to know her place.
But Il-yeong did neither.
He simply apologized and added,
"Cry if you must. Resent me if you must."
Not as a woman, but as one who had lost her father, he gripped her aching shoulder.
He bent at the waist.
Meeting the eyes of Kicho, who still clutched his hem, he asked,
"But tell me this."
Il-yeong knew it wasn't his fault Saito Dosan had died like that. Yet he also knew he could have prevented it.
—Not perfectly, but history was etched in his mind.
Of course, there was no reason to save Dosan beyond Kicho. Yoshitatsu might even be easier to deal with.
Perhaps that's why he had half-watched Dosan's death unfold. So Il-yeong asked,
"What would you have me do?"
Her sister stood in the path ahead. Though her words wouldn't decide the Oda clan's fate, they could at least serve as considerate counsel.
"I... I..."
Kicho couldn't meet his eyes.
Tears streamed down her pale cheeks, her silver gaze turning aside as if unable to hold his face.
But Il-yeong simply waited.
How much time passed?
Until her tears stopped and her bitten lip drew a faint trace of blood.
"...Don't kill her."
Sorrow mingled with lament for the inevitable.
Her father was dead.
Not just dead, but torn limb from limb by her own sister.
What should she do?
Kicho's answer was—
"...I want to ask her."
Why she did it. If it had to be that way.
If she needed power that badly...
Suddenly, conviction filled her eyes.
"Why she had to go this far."
Smoothly—
Il-yeong's collar slipped from Kicho's grasp. She wiped her tears, and he patted her shoulder lightly before offering a faint smile.
"This time, I will make sure of it. Kicho."
Nohime.
The lady from Mino.
The name that marked her as an outsider. But Il-yeong called her 'Kicho.'
His figure reflected in her eyes. The man with black— no, faintly brown-tinged hair promised he would.
It wasn't the bond of lord and vassal.
Just an empty promise, like one made to a child. Yes, surely that's all it was.
Yet somehow, it brought her peace.
Kicho smiled. Though her nose and eyes were red from tear-streaked days, in this moment, she wanted to smile brightly for him.
"I understand. Hikage..."
No.
"Il-yeong."
Suddenly, clouds parted, and sunlight shattered against Kicho's silver hair. Il-yeong smiled back at her radiant expression.
"Yes."
Meanwhile, Itsuki and Masahide, watching the scene, noticed the women staring ahead.
"Tch. Bring the sake."
Nobunaga called for drink.
"...My chest is still bigger."
Yoshinari confirmed her superiority.
"Such youth∼."
"Isn't it though."
Ikoma Kitsuno and Niwa Nagahide exchanged smiles, a touch of excitement in their voices.
"...Heh. Doesn't it seem to fit, right?"
Itsuki, who had shared drinks with him and become a key figure in the Hirate family as his aide, whispered to Hirate Masahide. The old man nodded with a hearty chuckle.
"Looks like I misjudged the match."
They say age brings wisdom.
For some reason, the future felt visible.
Itsuki pondered if it might not exceed two digits, but Masahide thought the opposite.
Two digits or more— just please, let him handle it.
And that very evening.
A ninja from Mino arrived at Kiyosu Castle with a letter.
"I entrust Mino to you."
Just six characters.
In essence— Mino is yours.
Truly, this was the moment the age of chaos began in earnest.