"Hehe..."
A faint laughter came from near my ear, and my consciousness slowly began to awaken.
As I slowly opened my eyes, a soft, hazy sunlight streamed into the dimly lit room.
In the world I came from, it was still too early to wake up.
But in this world, it's a time when such things could happen.
I tilted my dazed head to the right.
And there, before me, was the face of my beloved wife, who was already awake.
"good morning"
"Oh... good morning."
When I returned her morning greeting, Ichihime snuggled her face against my chest with a happy expression.
Incidentally, I had been using my arms to give pillows to her and Haruhime all night, so I've already lost all feeling in my arms.
Even the slightest pressure would instantly send numbness through it.
"Sniff sniff...haa...hafuu..."
"...What are you doing?"
"Lord Nagamasa's...scent..."
But whether she knew it or not—Ichihime was burying her beautiful nose bridge in my chest and armpits and snorting.
Her face was completely melted with pleasure...
He looked like someone who had taken some kind of dangerous drug.
"Ah... I'm so happy..."
Not only her face, but her voice is also incredibly smooth and melts like chocolate left in the sun.
I watched my wife nuzzle her face against mine, listening to the quiet breathing rising from my left side.
It seems that Haruhime is still a resident of the dream world.
"Doesn't it smell bad?"
"No... it's rich... and has a strong, unusual fragrance... sniff sniff... ah..."
My wife's cheeks were flushed, and her face looked as if she were at the height of happiness.
As I gazed at it, I whispered:
"I... want to smell your scent too... Your cleavage and all sorts of other things..."
"No...it's not okay..."
Ichihime moaned sweetly as she nibbled on the armpit area of my kimono.
"Lord Nagamasa...is attacking Ichi..."
"Well... that is..."
It may be impossible to deny.
It was all the more so when I saw my wife fidgeting and rubbing her thighs together sadly.
My big sun is starting to swell up.
"So... for now... it's just the city..."
She said that while chewing on my kimono.
"...I want to hold you again soon."
I spoke, cutting off my words as I revealed my true feelings.
"I want to part your lips, intertwine our tongues, knead and lick those slutty breasts, caress your body thoroughly, and then... ravage your soaking wet honey pot."
"Nagamasa...sama..."
"It's painful... Honestly, not being able to lay a hand on you."
Ichihime shuffled closer, her body sliding against mine.
Looking into her eyes, which were close to my face, I said:
Then Ichihime also showed a slightly sad expression.
"I feel the same way... I want to be held by Lord Nagamasa again... I want to be loved so much again... I truly feel that way."
"city..."
"But I can't... I have to be strong as a mother... If I give in to temptation now, I'm sure I won't be a good mother..."
Ichihime hugs me tightly.
"Lord Nagamasa has said he will help raise our child together with Ichi... If that's the case, then Ichi must become a good mother worthy of raising our child alongside Lord Nagamasa. Otherwise, our child will surely be unhappy..."
"There's really no need to be so worried about it."
I looked Ichihime straight in the eyes and said:
"We can't be perfect human beings. In fact, it's better if we're not perfect. Children learn from our imperfections and use them as negative examples."
"..."
"Besides, if you're putting that much pressure on yourself now, your body won't be able to handle it, right?"
With my numb, tingling arm, I whispered as I held Ichihime's slender waist.
"And don't forget that a child can be born because you exist. It's not that the child comes first. It's because you, my beloved wife, exist that a child can be born. If you're not healthy, both I and the child will be in trouble."
"Lord Nagamasa..."
"I love you, Ichi"
Feeling a twinge of guilt for having another woman in my arms, I conveyed my true feelings to Ichihime.
"So, I don't want to see you, my beloved, burn out from raising a child. Just feed them properly, shower them with love, and discipline them properly. If you can do that, they'll grow up on their own."
Ichihime hugged me even tighter.
This is probably her way of responding, in her clingy state.
"Besides, Osamu is here now... so there's nothing to worry about."
"...yes"
"I feel relieved somehow. It seems like you and Osamu are getting along well."
"What do you think about that?"
Ichihime said with a mischievous look on her face.
"Perhaps, without Lord Nagamasa's knowledge... there might be a battle among the women for his favor."
"Please, have mercy..."
"Just kidding."
My beloved wife sniffs my neck and seems very pleased.
"Conflicts between men have caused unrest in this society. And a woman who has become the wife of a man who desires peace in that society cannot possibly cause unrest within her own home."
"...I see."
"Princess Haruhime understands that very well."
Ichihime stroked her own belly with a very calm expression.
"Precisely because the world is in turmoil, I want peace to reside within my home... And it is my duty to create that peace. For Lord Nagamasa's sake, and for the sake of the young boy..."
"...Hehe. I can't wait to see it. I want to see the face of the baby boy that Lord Nagamasa and I will have."
"Yeah, I guess so..."
"yes"
Ichihime smiled gently as she softly kissed my cheek.
I need to work even harder to make her wish come true...
Her beautiful face made me think that way.
◆
And so, May is drawing to a close.
The Oda clan's stratagems in southern Omi were steadily progressing, and through a combination of hard and soft tactics, the Oda clan's enemy forces were now being driven out or forced into submission.
These policies were strongly promoted by the Oda clan's highly capable retainers, such as Shibata Katsuie and Niwa Nagahide.
The depth of their ranks was extraordinary. Each of them was a talented individual with the ability to become an independent daimyo, and in terms of the quality of their retainers, the Oda family was in a class of its own.
The talents of both men became evident in southern Omi, and the Asai retainers, while impressed by their abilities, also seemed to harbor a certain sense of fear.
I remember that when Katsuie and Nagahide came to pay their respects to me, Naotsune was also very considerate.
Now, the Oda clan's influence extends not only from Owari and Mino to southern Omi, but also to northern Ise.
The invading force of Ise was led by Takigawa Kazumasu, who was now poised to seize control of the territory of the Kitabatake family, who were the governors of Ise Province.
The Oda clan's power had grown immense, and the number of troops they could mobilize was several times that of the Asai clan—perhaps even ten times.
If they were to become enemies, northern Omi and other areas would be reduced to ashes in no time at all.
It was early in the morning of the 27th that I received an invitation from Nobunaga, who resided at Gifu Castle, the headquarters of the Oda clan, who were vying for supremacy over the entire country.
Of course, it doesn't say anything like "Come over and have fun."
This is a letter requesting that they consider a proposal to conclude a new military alliance based on the Oda family's clear strategic objectives, and that they send an envoy to report back.
To put it simply, it was an expansion of the Kiyosu Alliance, an offensive and defensive alliance that had been concluded between the Oda and Tokugawa families in 1562.
The requests are wide-ranging, but the important points can be summarized into two main points.
--First, the Oda, Tokugawa, and Asai families will form a new offensive and defensive alliance.
--Two things. The Oda family and the Tokugawa family will become related by marriage, and the Tokugawa family and the Asai family will also become related by marriage.
The first point goes without saying.
The Asai family is clearly required to become an ally of the Oda family and share their destiny.
This is a matter that, given the current circumstances, must be accepted, and it can be said that it is necessary to defend the Asai family from the Asakura family.
The second point was a delicate matter.
That's because I already have a wife named Ichihime, and Ieyasu has a wife who is from the Imagawa family.瀬名Sena
This then raises the question of who will marry whom, which will likely depend on negotiations.
Upon receiving a request from the Oda family, I immediately summoned my retainers on the 27th and held an emergency council meeting on state affairs.
My own resolve was already firm, but this is a world of appearances.
I cannot ignore the wishes of my retainers, and if I act unilaterally too much, it could lead to their defection.
However, the vassals were also witnessing the rise of the Oda clan firsthand...
Ultimately, there was no other answer than to accept the formation of an offensive and defensive alliance.
"So, Lord Nagamasa will be going alone again?"
"Ou"
Early in the morning of the 28th, after obtaining the consent of his vassals through the Council of State Affairs—
As Ichihime let out a sigh of disbelief from under the eaves of the mansion, I took the letter she had written and responded with a serious expression.
Next to Ichihime, Tenkouzan is sleeping. She's sleeping so soundly that she doesn't even notice when several birds land on her antennae.
"Negotiations are unpredictable. It's definitely better to go as soon as possible and convey your intentions as quickly as possible. And I should do it directly."
"...Well, I shouldn't really be saying this out loud, but..."
Ichihime said, holding her head with one hand.
"What will you do if your brother tries to kill Lord Nagamasa, taking advantage of the situation?"
"We'll deal with that when the time comes. We'll have the city give my brother-in-law a good scolding."
"...Haa"
My beloved wife let out a sigh of utter exasperation, then turned to me with the same look a mother would give to her mischievous son.
"That was Lord Nagamasa, wasn't it...? That's why my brother must have taken a liking to him."
Of course, it is I who loves Lord Nagamasa just the way he is.
Ichihime said this, scratching her cheek with her fingertips.
"Please, do as Lord Nagamasa wishes. Whatever the outcome may be, I will follow my husband's lead to the very end."
"thank you"
"Well... now that you mention it, I don't see Lord Osamu anywhere..."
"ah"
I said, gesturing with my chin towards the detached building.
"Last night, we had a little too much fun. My back is aching, and I can't get out of bed. Now Shuko is taking care of me."
"...Lord Nagamasa"
Ichihime sighed heavily again.
"No... Ichi will not say anything more... Well then, I will now go to see Lord Osamu. Ichi will arrange for a souvenir for my brother. Lord Nagamasa, I don't think anything will happen, but—please return safely."
"I understand."
I hugged her, kissed her forehead, and then parted ways with my wife.
I considered asking to be carried on Tianhong Silk, but I couldn't bring myself to wake it up while it was sleeping so peacefully.
And so I headed towards the stable where Taishaku Tsukimo was.
She's still there, grazing, milking stallions, and sleeping.
If they were humans, they would be living a privileged and decadent life, but no one would criticize them for it.
Of course. Everyone sees her as nothing more than a horse.
"Ah, my lord."
"Hey, good morning."
Hisashi, who was vigorously wiping the body of the Taishakutsuki horse with a cloth soaked in water, noticed me and bowed his head.
"Are you going out?"
"Right. Taishakutsukimo, can you come out?"
"Kyuooooon"
Taishakutsukige stood up, rubbed its neck against me, and then strode gracefully out of the stable.
As I watched his back, Hisashi asked me a question.
"My lord, where are you going today?"
"Well..."
I pretended to be thinking, while carefully observing Hisashi.
Her silky, princess-cut black hair is tied back in a single ponytail at her shoulders.
His body is as frail and weak as one would expect for his age.
However, perhaps due to being put through rigorous training by Naotsune, it's clear that he possesses muscles that are far beyond his years.
(They say a feminine physique comes from good quality muscles... so I'll look forward to the future.)
With those thoughts in mind, I decided to ask Hisashi a question.
"I think I'll go east."
"East...?"
"Yes, East."
I ruffled Hisashi's hair and asked.
"Are you coming?"
"With the Lord?"
"Yes, together."
"Is that okay?"
"Otherwise, you wouldn't have invited me, right?"
Upon hearing this, Hisashi smiled happily.
"I'll go ask my father-in-law!"
"Okay, go ahead and try it."
"yes!"
I'm talking about Naotsune.
It should be easy to understand that taking Hisa out means taking her to Oda territory.
As I watched the girl's back as she ran off towards the main keep where Naotsune was, I decided to kill time by personally attaching the horse tack to Taishakutsukige.
"My lord!"
I feel like I was kept waiting for quite a while.
"...Oh, this is..."
But I would say that the time spent was well worth it.
The girl, running through the enclosure with one arm swung wildly, looked quite determined.
Her hime cut hairstyle remains the same, but her hair is gathered into a half-up style and secured with a white cloth.
She was wearing a light pink kimono and dark red hakama trousers. A short sword was hanging from her waist, and it looked strangely familiar.
It appears that Naotsune gave Hisashi the item he usually carries with him.
(I guess the question is, "How can they make their adopted daughter look so undignified when she goes to Oda territory?")
Even so, it's quite a transformation.
Any man who's interested in young children would probably do a double-take at this.
I don't have a thing for young girls, so it doesn't concern me, but she has the kind of aura that makes you want to hug her and rub your cheek against hers...
"You've really come into your own, haven't you?"
When I said that, Hisashi seemed embarrassed and scratched his cheek—
"My father-in-law said, 'If you're going with the Lord, you must also prepare yourself appropriately.'"
"Hmm..."
"So, my mother-in-law helped me pick out a bunch of things...and this is what we ended up with!"
Mrs. Endo has pretty good taste.
I bent my knees and crouched down, and said to Hisashi:
"Now, try spinning around once."
"picture?"
"It curls up"
"Y-yes!"
Hisashi turned his body as instructed.
Simply rotate your right foot as the pivot point. That's all there is to it.
But it was a very picturesque scene.
Her pure white tabi socks peek out from beneath her hakama, and her ankles—exude an immature, vulnerable charm that suggests she hasn't yet fully become a woman.
And on top of that, the hakama moves gently, following inertia, cutting through the wind.
The sleeves of the pale pink kimono twirled, adding color to the path of the girl's slender arms.
"Yeah, it's cute."
"a..."
"Literally, cute."
Rubbing your hair too hard might ruin your half-up hairstyle.
So, out of necessity and with no ulterior motives, I decided to stroke Hisashi's cheek, whose face was bright red.
The sensation was criminal, so much so that a healthy man like me, who doesn't have a penchant for young girls, would likely make a mistake.
"Kyuooooon"
Indra cried.
With a strong sense of wanting to get on with it quickly.
I was squishing Hisa's cheeks when I suddenly came to my senses and hurriedly jumped onto her back.
"Come on, let's go."
"yes!"
I took her small hand and pulled her onto Indra's horse.
And after confirming that both of his arms were wrapped around my stomach, I pulled on the reins of Taishakutsukimo.
"Kyuooooon"
Taishakutsukimo neighed, raising its upper body high...
Leaping out of the wide-open gates of Sugawa Castle, she spun around with the same momentum and ran towards Sekigahara.
"W-w-w...!"
As I felt the young body clinging desperately to my back, we set off towards the legendary hero who had raised the banner of a conquering army in the turbulent Sengoku period.