The thick clouds that covered the sky when I flew out of Odani Castle have now dispersed, leaving only a few remnants on the canvas of the cold, sharp blue March sky.
In the brightly shining Omi region, I held Hanbei in my arms and slowly stroked the back of his head and down his back.
It was a sight that was quite out of place on the battlefield, and even beyond common sense, but the members of the Asai and Takenaka forces watched it with solemn expressions.
Hanbei's body was covered in bruises, indicating that he had been severely beaten by Ryuko and his men.
Because of that, she seemed so fragile that I felt she might crumble the moment I touched her skin—and I held her in my arms, wondering how I should treat her.
"Lord Bizen-no-kami..."
Hanbei, who had only been being stroked in my arms, hesitantly asked me a question.
"what up?"
He placed his hands on her slender shoulders and leaned in to ask, looking into her face.
"Why do you... think of me, Lord Bizen-no-kami?"
"Oh, that thing—"
I was at a loss as to how to answer Hanbei's question.
My determination to secure her at all costs stemmed entirely from a nightmare.
The collapse of Omi and the sight of Ichihime weeping alone—in order to prevent this at all costs, I aimed to strengthen my retainers and visited Hanbei.
(But perhaps that's something I shouldn't tell the truth about.)
Honesty is a virtue.
However, honesty, if not done at the right time and place, will only lead to unhappiness.
That was the truth about humans, creatures that build a complicated society based on communication.
What's important is to strike a good balance between truth and embellishment, and to use the appropriate words to communicate in each situation.
I peered into Hanbei's bruised face, smiled, and whispered:
"I had a dream..."
"--dream?"
"Yes, a dream. There was a reality that needed to be dealt with somehow...but I didn't know how. So, in order to somehow escape from the bottom of the dark abyss...from the bottom of the lake, I needed your strength."
"..."
Judging by his expression, Hanbei probably didn't fully understand what I said.
But perhaps that's alright.
Ultimately, humans can never fully understand others. And they can't even fully understand themselves.
That's why I want to know. That's why I'm drawn to the unknown.
"I'm hopelessly clumsy, impulsive, and foolish... I'm the kind of guy who can't do anything without the help of others."
When I said it with a self-deprecating tone, Hanbei slowly shook his head.
"Shigeharu, just as you have your own responsibilities, I have mine. And even knowing that I am a fool, I want to fulfill those responsibilities. No matter who humiliates me, no matter who tries to kill me—I will never do so."
Hanbei lowered his head slightly and clenched his chest tightly.
"You are such an honest person... I'm sure Lord Bizen-no-kami is very happy right now. That's why you are so strong. And to me, you are too dazzling..."
"Why? Even you—"
"...I'm not as strong as you are. Besides, I don't have many happy memories..."
What happy memories could a woman who, having served the Takenaka family faithfully and been sent to the Saito family as a hostage for the sake of her family, has ever had to endure the worst kinds of abuse from the very people she should have trusted?
I had completely forgotten about that.
"...I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I've been sunk to the bottom of the dark sea for a long time... Although, perhaps the bottom of the sea suits me now."
"—But you see, humans are creatures that even eat fish from the deep sea. Especially the people of Tosa, they go out into the rough seas, cast their nets, and devour any fish they can find, and if they spot a whale, they'll go hunting for it in a small boat."
"But aren't deep-sea fish unappetizing?"
"The way you cook it makes all the difference in how delicious it can be."
After a brief silence, Hanbei asked.
"So... will I also be cooked by Lord Bizen-no-kami...?"
"—But Shigeharu, you haven't forgotten that your rightful place is... within the network of the Oda family, have you?"
Suddenly, a dignified voice addressed me and Hanbei.
A gigantic black horse with a silver horn, possessing a magnificent physique that surpasses even that of Taishakutsukige.
From his horse, Oda Nobunaga, the warlord of the Sengoku period, was looking down on us.
"Brother-in-law, it's a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Oda Kazusa-no-suke Nobunaga."
Without even properly greeting me, Nobunaga cast a sharp gaze upon Hanbei.
The intimidating presence was so overwhelming that it sent chills down my spine.
Hanbei is completely shriveled and rigid in my arms.
"So, brother-in-law, have you ever gone fishing?"
"Ah, uh..."
I never imagined my first contact with my brother-in-law would begin in such an unexpected way...
As expected of Lord Nobunaga, the most unconventional and outrageous figure of the Sengoku period.
Moreover, he's a man of few words, but it seems he's quite seriously evaluating me.
I'm not someone who doesn't understand that.
(Damn, this is not a moment to relax at all.)
I answered, sweating profusely.
"Of course... yes."
"Is that so?"
Nobunaga approached us without changing his expression, still mounted on his horse.
"I don't like fishing. In fact, I'd even say I hate it. Rather than dropping a line into a lake or the sea and waiting aimlessly for a single fish, I think it would be faster to just dry up all the water and take all the fish out."
What an outrageous argument! Recalling the fable, "If the cuckoo doesn't sing, kill it," I involuntarily straightened my posture.
In that sense, Nobunaga was an extremely rationalist.
This is the kind of person who will use any means necessary to get what they want, and conversely, will ruthlessly abandon anything they desire if they realize they can't obtain it.
"But, brother-in-law, Nobunaga, unexpectedly, also ended up going fishing. His target was the legendary big fish known as Takenaka Shigeharu—but that fellow deliberately came to get caught in Nobunaga's net."
"..."
"And this fish says, 'If you want to catch me, give me the food I desire.' For me, Nobunaga, it would be easier to dry up the Saito family, which is like a puddle, and then snatch them away—"
"Even so, Lord Nobunaga deliberately began fishing to catch Lord Shigeharu... no, to catch that big fish."
"That's right. And just when I thought I had scattered all the bait he wanted and lured him into my net—he was gone. That fellow, satisfied with having me, Nobunaga, scatter the bait, went swimming in someone else's net... And what's more, a female had managed to catch a male "謀Tabaka
I was startled and stared at Hanbei.
That's right, the very fact that Nobunaga is here is an anomaly to begin with.
The fact that the Asai and Oda families, who are merely bound by a marriage alliance—a non-aggression pact—have come to their aid with a massive army of 6,000 men is itself quite strange.
Neither Nagamasa nor any of the Asai retainers had requested assistance from Nobunaga...
If we interpret Nobunaga's words literally, does that mean Hanbei offered "his own safety" as collateral in exchange for the "bait" of reinforcements?
In other words, Hanbei, who was nothing more than an "outsider" from an institutional standpoint, was acting independently for my sake, for the sake of the Asai family, even though there was no benefit for him whatsoever.
The members of the Asai family seemed to have sensed what was happening, and a murmur of surprise arose.
"...Lord Oda Kazusa-no-suke"
"Hey, Shigeharu!"
Slipping out of my arms, Hanbei landed on the ground—and with unsteady, wobbly steps, he approached Nobunaga's feet and prostrated himself.
"I am Takenaka Shigeharu. Lord Kazusa-no-suke, we are truly grateful that you have responded to our petition. Therefore, in accordance with our agreement, I, Shigeharu, would like to serve you, Lord Kazusa-no-suke..."
He said it in a weak voice.
I could only stare at the scene in stunned silence.
Hanbei had been working behind the scenes without my knowledge. In a way, the collapse of Omi that I had seen in my dreams was averted thanks to her.
But in exchange, she let go of my arms and was heading towards another man.
I have absolutely no idea why Hanbei would go to such lengths for the Asai family.
I desperately wanted to stop it. I wanted to scream for her to come back to me.
However, doing so could be seen as disrespecting her resolve and could worsen relations with the Oda family.
In reality, all I could do was, pathetically, watch the situation unfold before me.
"—Raise your head."
Nobunaga gave Hanbei that order.
Hanbei looked up at Nobunaga and squinted, perhaps because the light was too bright.
Nobunaga extends his arm from horseback.
Hanbei stood up and reached out his hand to his arm.
And when the two of them hold hands, she goes to a place beyond my reach.
But,
"—After all, it's not needed."
Nobunaga's gauntlet deflected Hanbei's outstretched hand with a sharp smack.
The slight impact caused her to stumble and collapse to the ground.
Glancing at Hanbei, who was stunned by the unexpected turn of events, Nobunaga declared:
"In the end, you are nothing more than a woman who is nothing but a fool. A mere woman like you will never reach the point where I, Nobunaga, can understand the path to supremacy."賢Saka
Nobunaga thrust his matchlock gun at Hanbei.
-- Shot?!
That thought was only momentary and unfounded, as Nobunaga tapped Hanbei's shoulder with the barrel of his gun, and then pointed the muzzle at me.
"Besides, I don't want someone else's leftovers. I'm not that hungry."
"a..."
"Moreover, I never dreamed that it would come from . No matter how much of a fish I caught in my net, if it was cooked and eaten before me, I could accept it. But if it were a complete stranger instead of a relative, I wouldn't show any mercy—"掻mosquito攫Sara
Saying that, Nobunaga smiled for the first time.
"It doesn't suit women . They should bear children under the man of their choosing, raise them, watch them grow up, and then die—come on ! Do you really think the Oda clan needs the power of women?!"戦場war去stomach
Upon understanding the meaning of those words, Hanbei began to weep bitterly.
Without even glancing at Hanbei, Nobunaga brought his horse closer to me and whispered to himself.顧return
"I do like intelligent women, but if I take any more concubines, Kicho will get upset. I'll consider this a favor, brother-in-law."
"—Hah!"
It seems that Oda Nobunaga was indeed an unusually generous man.
Well... I suppose if that weren't the case, they wouldn't have been able to unify the country.
Even so, I felt a deep, indescribable sense of awe towards this man, one of the "Three Great Heroes" of Sengoku-era Japan.
Perhaps it's a kind of depth as a human being.
Sensing the exquisite blend of compassion and ruthlessness within her, I, as a man, find myself almost falling for Clari.
(This is not good.)敵kana
Having been completely alone in the world, it seems I'm susceptible not only to maternal affection but also to paternal affection.
From Nobunaga, one can sense a different kind of fatherhood than that of Naotsune.
I realized that a man's charm really lies in his depth of character and generosity.
(Men with children are definitely different.)
However, before I could even fully immerse myself in those feelings, Nobunaga brought me back to reality by tapping me on the shoulder with his matchlock gun.
I know it can't fire because it doesn't have a matchlock, but please stop doing that, it's incredibly scary.本当Serious
"My brother-in-law, we can't keep wasting time forever. Saito is no longer of concern, but from what I can see, the Asakura army is holed up in Odani Castle."
"Y-yes!"
I involuntarily let out a stupid sound.
However, Nobunaga didn't seem to care about any of that, and simply asked one question.
"Is the city safe?"
That was probably what he was most curious about—
"Yes, I'm sure my subordinates are doing a good job."
I answered with confidence.
"So, you're saying there's no concrete proof?"
"If I don't trust my subordinates, who will?"
"I see."
Nobunaga muttered, fiddling with his mustache.
"That's a feeling I don't really understand."
"is that so..."
Seeing him like that, I couldn't help but blurt something out.
"The man entrusted with the city is someone like Hirate Masahide to Lord Nobunaga... There's no way he wouldn't trust him."
"What did you say?"
Nobunaga glared at me.
Oh no, I think I said something weird.
Apparently, when it came to Nobunaga, the topic of Hirate Masahide was nothing short of taboo.
Incidentally, Hirate Masahide is the person known as "[ ]" who looked after Nobunaga from his childhood .傅役Moriyaku
Furthermore, he was the second-in-command of the Oda family, responsible for Nobunaga's overall education, and constantly supported and loved him despite his often unconventional behavior.
It was Masahide who worked tirelessly to make the necessary arrangements for Nobunaga's first battle, who played a key role in arranging the marriage between Nobunaga and Kicho, the daughter of Saito Dosan, and who also mediated the disputes surrounding Nobunaga's succession to the family headship.
Nobunaga referred to him as "[ ]" and it is said that he was almost the only person he truly trusted.爺Grandpa
And "Grandpa" energetically supported his free-spirited lord from Nobunaga's childhood until he inherited the headship of the Oda family at the age of 19.
However, Masahide suddenly disappears from Nobunaga's sight.
He committed seppuku (ritual suicide) to curb the growing anti-Nobunaga faction within the household, who could no longer tolerate Nobunaga's behavior, and to make Nobunaga aware of this fact.
To Nobunaga, Masahide was like blood and flesh to him.
The reason why Nobunaga was able to exist as such a versatile general is undoubtedly because Masahide, as his tutor, energetically provided him with the most advanced education of the time.
Masahide himself provided guidance on finance, diplomacy, and cultural administration, and invited top-class teachers from all over the country to instruct Nobunaga in archery, gunnery, horsemanship, and military tactics.
Indeed, perhaps only Nobunaga was a daimyo who did not need any strategists, unlike Tokugawa Ieyasu who needed Honda Masanobu, Takeda Shingen who needed Yamamoto Kansuke, or Toyotomi Hideyoshi who needed Kuroda Kanbei.
And in a sense, it was also a manifestation of Nobunaga's resolve to "I will not take orders from anyone other than my grandfather...!"
Mentioning Masahide, who was an object of absolute respect for Nobunaga, was like stirring up a hornet's nest.
It was clear that the Oda clan members, who were watching us from a distance, were also getting anxious.
But now that I've said it, there's nothing I can do about it.
I had to somehow get through it.
Otherwise, I'll probably die. Or I'll be killed later. It's a straight path to a bad ending.
"The person I entrusted with rescuing the city is my tutor... as you may know, Endo Naotsune."
"Hmm..."
Nobunaga let out a small groan.
Yes, Naotsune was one of the retainers who went to the Oda family to welcome Ichihime to our marriage.
He must have met with Nobunaga—and, as was customary during the Sengoku period, they must have carefully assessed each other's capabilities.
"I have great trust in Naotsune. I believe I can entrust my back to him. I'm sure Lord Nobunaga had the same kind of trust in Lord Masahide, didn't he?"
"Nagamasa, the same level of trust you have in me... from the old man...?"
The Sixth Heavenly Demon King called my name and stared at me with eyes that seemed to be trying to shoot me dead.
"Do you think you're standing on the same level as Nobunaga?"
The pressure was immense.
A tremendous aura, a mixture of anger and fierce determination, surrounds me, trying to crush me to death.
To be honest, I feel like I'm going to wet myself, but if I get scared and freeze up now, it will lead to an irreversible situation.
I gripped the reins of Taishakutsukimo tightly and met his gaze firmly.
"Yes, that's my intention."
I said it with absolute certainty.
Nobunaga's gaze intensifies, and he seems to be trying to cut through my pure and vulnerable heart.
Perhaps sensing the situation, the retainers of the Oda and Asai families began to panic, unsure of what to do.
—But I cannot give in and back down now.
If he conquers Mino, the Asai and Oda clans will share a border.
Considering our future relationship, if I don't show Nobunaga some pride and determination here, I'll be driven into an impossible situation.
In other words, it was crucial that he do not allow himself to be looked down upon by Nobunaga and be reduced to a relationship like that of a lord and vassal.
"And the reason I think that is—"
"..."
Nobunaga looked at me with eyes that seemed to say, "I'm going to shoot you dead."
I swallowed hard, then looked Nobunaga in the eye and said:
"Yes, it's Ichi. I feel that way because of her, and I believe it has to be that way."
"—Oh?"
"In order to live with her, Asai, I must be strong!"
Nobunaga draws his sword, emitting a sinister, murderous aura.
I clenched my fist and slammed it hard against my chest—and shouted so that not only Nobunaga, but all the soldiers of both families could hear me.
"I, Asai Nagamasa... Though our positions may differ, I intend to work for the same goal of peace throughout the land! I have no intention of being inferior to anyone in this regard!!"
No one uttered a word. Even the horses seemed to have stopped breathing, watching the unfolding events between me and Nobunaga.
Under a cloudless sky, Nobunaga continued to exude a murderous aura, slowly drawing his sword.
The blade shines with a blue-silver luster, revealing that it is made of fluorite.
"Heshikiri Hasebe"—a famous sword said to have once killed a tea servant who had disrespected Nobunaga and hidden under a shelf, simply by pressing it against the gap in the shelf.
Nobunaga raises that famous sword.
I kept a watchful eye on the excited retainers of the Asai family.
If I were to be killed here, it would simply mean that I was only that kind of man after all.
If that's the case, then there's no way I can protect Ichihime from now on.
Feeling Nobunaga's arm coming down, I instinctively closed my eyes.
An immense force of sword pressure struck my cheek.
"—You're an insolent youngster."
Prompted by Nobunaga's voice, which sounded full of emotion, I opened my eyelids to find him pointing the tip of his sword, which he had brought down, towards Odani Castle.
Then, she glanced at me and slightly raised the corners of her mouth.
"But it's rare to find someone who can speak so directly and insolently to me. I'll give you credit for your courage."
"..."
"What are you doing, brother-in-law?"
With a mischievous grin, Nobunaga announced, loud enough for everyone around to hear.
Taishaku Tsukige and Renzen Ashige line up their heads side by side.
Black and white, silver and gold—the contrasting colors stood side by side, and they raised their front legs high.
"With Nobunaga as your ally, you will seize peace throughout the land, won't you? Then—you cannot possibly succumb to obstacles like Asakura or Saito!"
"--that's right!"
Under the azure sky, the battle cries of both armies echoed together as one.
My gaze was fixed far ahead—on Saito Ryukou, who was still on the run.
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