Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Isn't It Regrettable?
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The Hayashi family had been wiped out.
To be precise, not even a root had been left behind.
"Heh, heh heh, heh heh heh..."
Hayashi Michitomo had laughed like a madman in the execution ground where all his retainers lay dead, until his head was severed. The sight was burned into the minds of all the retainers who had sided with Nobuyuki, forcing them to etch the name Hirate Hikage into their memories.
Anger welled up.
But anger couldn't overcome fear.
Nobunaga's forces had long since filled Suemori Castle to the brim, and from the moment Nobuyuki and Dota Gozen knelt, they had no justification or hope left. All they could do was pray.
Pray that they might at least spare their lives.
And to decide their fates, Nobuyuki was holding a private audience with Il-yeong.
Drip...
Il-yeong accepted the tea that Nobuyuki had personally poured and took a sip. He'd felt this way for a while now—once you got used to tea, it was surprisingly good.
...Of course, it couldn't compare to modern drinks.
At that moment, Nobuyuki refilled her own cup and quietly spoke.
"I'm worried my sister might kill me. Many of the retainers are concerned too. Honestly... I'm a bit worried myself."
A drop of tea, tinged faintly green against Nobuyuki's red lips, fell away. At the same time, she added with a bitter smile tinged with something indescribable.
"Well, I don't think she'll actually kill me."
Both she and Il-yeong knew Nobunaga.
Even if she seemed reckless on the surface, with glimpses of savage madness at times, Nobunaga fundamentally had a strangely soft side.
'In the original history, she even spared Nobuyuki once at Dota Gozen's plea.'
Il-yeong thought as he sipped the half-remaining tea. Accounts varied by book or record, but later on, Dota Gozen became famous for disapproving of Nobunaga. For her to heed her mother's request, the current Nobunaga was still humane.
So there was no need to worry.
Nobuyuki seemed to sense something from Il-yeong's utterly calm demeanor and took a sip of her tea.
Then Il-yeong spoke.
"I know you still don't accept Lady Nobunaga in your heart."
"...Yes."
At the blunt words, Nobuyuki hesitated for a moment, as if gauging how to respond, then nodded. Il-yeong added as if he'd expected as much.
"May I ask the reason?"
It could be to save her life, or simply exhaustion. But whatever the reason, they would have to move forward together—it was as good as decided, so he asked.
"The reason."
In response to Il-yeong's question, Nobuyuki lightly caressed her teacup, murmuring his words as if savoring them.
His words had been persuasive, it was true.
The inevitability of mutual destruction if Suemori fell, and the ominous state of affairs around them. But that hadn't been the decisive factor.
"It just made me curious."
"Pardon?"
"To be honest, my mother and I still think the same. We believe my sister lacks the qualities to be clan lord."
The current chaotic era was already a nationwide struggle for supremacy. In peaceful times, she might have simply bowed her head and endured any dissatisfaction. But in these warring times, with Owari so hopelessly weak compared to the surrounding powers, she had no choice.
"However..."
Gulp.
The tea touched Nobuyuki's red lips and slid smoothly down her throat. At the same time, she smirked at Il-yeong, who was watching her, and said.
"You've piqued my interest enough to watch and see. Whether my sister is truly fit to be clan lord. And whether Hikage's choice to serve such a sister as her lord was right. Well, I agreed that dying shamefully would render it meaningless."
"I see."
Il-yeong nodded readily.
To sum up Nobuyuki's words, she meant she'd overturn things if she ever found Nobunaga wanting. But that didn't particularly displease him.
'Nobuhide and Masahide saw something in Nobunaga and went mad for it, honestly.'
Nobunaga's childhood had indeed been that of a delinquent.
Now that she was clan lord, she exuded some charisma, but it wasn't unreasonable to think that way.
Besides, who was Nobuyuki?
In the original history, she plotted rebellion twice and was ultimately slain by samurai on Nobunaga's orders. In other words, she was the type of woman with that personality from the start.
"Don't worry."
That was why Il-yeong could only say one thing.
"It won't come to that."
*
No one greeted Il-yeong as he emerged from his brief private audience with Nobuyuki. It was only natural. With the possibility of lingering dissenters, the retainers were busy clamping down on families throughout Suemori.
With numbers so thin, even Itsuki and the others had been dragged off by Niwa Nagahide, leaving Il-yeong to smile at the rare feeling of being truly alone after so long.
Of course, the retainers hadn't been without worry that someone might target him in this moment.
'Well...'
Il-yeong glanced around.
Even though only samurai somewhat favorable to him were near Nobuyuki's quarters, the atmosphere was tense and rigid. But it stemmed more from fear than hostility.
It was only natural.
The blood on his sword hilt hadn't even dried yet. He'd need to replace the cord, in fact.
Then.
"...You've come out."
A golden-haired female warrior who had been leaning silently against one side, waiting for him, approached. Even clad in red armor and wearing the mengu he'd gifted her, she couldn't hide her striking figure or innate presence, subtly drawing eyes.
"Ah, Lady Shibata."
Yet Il-yeong, greeting her, paid no mind to her figure or aura, simply smiling warmly. Perhaps that casual response pleased her, as Shibata Katsuie unconsciously smiled faintly beneath her mask and strode toward him.
"A messenger arrived from Kiyosu. We may need to depart tomorrow."
"I suppose so. Fortunately, it's not far."
With the clan strife led by Oda Nobuyuki resolved, all who had supported her now had to head to Kiyosu and pay homage to Nobunaga.
Squeeze...
Shibata Katsuie clenched her fist unwittingly and gave a wry smile. Having subtly distanced herself from Nobunaga before, it was inevitable that she felt tense despite not showing it.
To her, Il-yeong said.
"It'll be fine."
"I hope so."
"Ah, by the way, now that we'll be fighting together, I have a gift."
Il-yeong slipped his hand into his bosom with a gentle smile. Soon, something emerged, gripped in his hand.
"This is...?"
"There happened to be a skilled artisan in Suemori Castle, so I had one made."
What he handed her was none other than a mengu mask. But it differed markedly from the one Shibata Katsuie usually wore—the lower-face covering extended slightly higher over the nose than usual.
Just as Shibata Katsuie was about to ask why, Il-yeong spoke.
"Everyone, close your eyes."
Il-yeong scanned the samurai watching them and commanded. Those who had been stealing glances hesitated, looking at each other, then closed their eyes one by one.
Not entirely convinced, Il-yeong added with a smile.
"If anyone peeks, keep it secret for life. The moment rumors spread, I'll make your family blind for generations."
"...!"
Half in jest, but to the samurai who had witnessed his dawn slaughter, it was a chilling warning. None dared open their eyes.
"...Lord Baek. What."
Il-yeong's actions left not only the samurai flustered. Even Shibata Katsuie couldn't comprehend what he intended, asking from behind her mask.
But then.
—Swish.
Il-yeong's extended hand brushed Shibata Katsuie's cheek. At the sudden move, she froze like stone, time seeming to slow.
'Wh-what is this?'
What?
What the heck?
Why reach out like that all of a sudden?
No way, right?
In broad daylight?
Well, rumors said on the battlefield with Lady Mori...
Even so, in a place like this?
—Thump, thump, thump...!
Her heart raced wildly.
Having no immunity to men, she had no learned response for this situation.
But then.
—Rustle.
A sudden breeze brushed her face, the cord's touch grazing her ear, twisting her rigid expression awkwardly. Instinctively, her hand moved to cover her scar, but.
Chin.
In that instant, Il-yeong swiftly fitted the mask over her face to block any view, then moved his hand to the back of her head to tie the cord.
At the same time, he adjusted it over her lips, now staring at him somewhat dazedly, ensuring the scar was hidden, and said.
"Doesn't a mask narrow your vision? I had this one made a bit longer to prevent that. And personally..."
Il-yeong added softly to her, who looked at him awkwardly.
"Isn't it a bit regrettable to hide such a pretty face for life?"
—Whoosh.
A timely wind swept away the bangs covering her eyes, and tears welling in her revealed gaze trickled down beneath the mengu.
At the same time, she smiled with her eyes and replied.
"...A fine gift."
Shibata Katsuie stroked the mengu Il-yeong had gifted her for a long while.