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The mole roared, its mouth wide open.
Then, opening and closing his jaw widely, he began crawling towards Nobunaga with tremendous speed, leaning forward as if he were mopping the floor.
If it had been an ordinary horse, it might have been caught up to.
However, the horse carrying Nobunaga is a greave gray, which boasts physical abilities that surpass even those of an ordinary horse—and even that of a Taishakutsukige.
Its overwhelming leg strength keeps even a mole crawling across the ground at full speed completely at bay.
It even had the composure to occasionally stop, wag its tail, turn its head towards the mole, and neigh.
And Nobunaga is Nobunaga.
He stopped on his gray horse, loaded a matchlock gun, and fired at the mole.
Of course, it wouldn't work on a mole, being a monster—but it seems to have the effect of causing discomfort and "provokes" them.
"Gigigigigigigigigigig!!"
"I'm going to kill you no matter what"—with that burning determination, the mole charged towards Nobunaga.
It seems that I, the Takeda family's cavalry, and the others still don't register in the eyes of that monster.
It seems they are unaware that the Oda family's civil engineering unit, under the command of Takigawa Kazumasu, is digging shallow holes at a rapid pace, and that the Asai family members are covering them with nets.
There are people who only focus on one thing at a time, and I wonder if that mole is like that too.
Or perhaps all mole-like monsters possess that kind of tendency.
I can't help but think that way.
(But I can understand how the mole feels...)
If, hypothetically, Manpukumaru or Chacha were to be killed right before my eyes—I would surely become like the mole that chases after Nobunaga.
Perhaps that's just how most parents are.
Often, children tend to become the center of the world.
"But even so, Lieutenant General, are you sure you want to join the attack?"
The front of the Takeda cavalry, which is lined up in an orderly fashion.
I was there, standing next to Katsuyori, watching as the Oda and Asai families jointly laid out a makeshift trap.
The cavalry behind us number a staggering 400. It's quite an oppressive presence.
Moreover, they were only a small part of the Takeda cavalry.
It's possible that the Takeda family possesses more than twice as many horses.
I would absolutely never want to face them in open battle—that's how I feel, honestly.
But at the same time, this thought also crosses .過Yogi
I wonder what kind of monsters the Uesugi and Hojo families must be to be able to fight on equal footing against this fierce wave of monsters.
"...There's no question of whether it's alright or not."
I said to Katsuyori, hoping that a future where we would have to fight the Takeda family would never come to pass.
"We can't just let Lord Katsuyori and the Takeda soldiers fight all the battles."
"However, I have heard that the Lieutenant General is the only one who can appease the dragon of Lake Biwa... If anything were to happen to the Lieutenant General, Japan could be reduced to ashes."
"At that time, I suppose Lord Katsuyori, the priest of the Suwa sect, will do something about it, right?"
"Please stop joking... It's a demon from the age of the gods; I can't control it."
"...He's someone I could reason with if I just talked to him."
"That's because you're a lieutenant general. That's only possible because..."
Katsuyori said this with a wry smile.
I couldn't help but smile too.
The only reason the mole can do that is because all of its consciousness is focused on Nobunaga and Rensen Ashige.
And it seems the laying work is finally complete.
Kazumasu is having the military banner, adorned with the Oda family crest, raised high.
That was the signal.
As Nobunaga urged the mole on with his dappled gray horse, he turned its head towards the trap that had just been laid.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves!"
When Katsuyori called out, the cavalry responded with a spirited "Yes!"
"Kyuooooon"
Indra also cried.
And at that moment—the horses, which had been intimidated by the mole's fierce presence, suddenly began to burn with fighting spirit in their eyes.
Needless to say, Taishakutsukimo must have instigated it.
The gazes of the stallions of the Takeda cavalry were fixed on the beautiful hindquarters of Taishaku Tsukige, who was standing before them.
It's not because these horses are lecherous.
It's Taishakutsuki's fault for waving his bushy tail and drawing the attention of the stallions.
Meanwhile, Taishakutsukige is letting out a small neigh, which suggests she is trying to entice the stallions.
I can't understand what horses say, but I suspect Taishakutsuki is whispering lewd words that titillate the hearts of the stallions.
She's an unbelievable, innocent-looking bitch. Apparently, she's half fox.
"He's here... my brother-in-law."
In my line of sight, Nobunaga was charging straight into the trap zone.
And in the background, the figure of a mole was seen crawling towards them, kicking up dust, in the same forward-leaning posture as if it were mopping.
The mole frequently opens and closes its jaw, trying to kill Nobunaga along with the dappled gray hair.
In contrast, the greave gray horse maintained a perfect distance—almost within reach, yet just out of reach—continuing to fuel the mole's animosity. He could only be described as a master strategist.
Moreover, although the greave gray horse must have already been running a considerable distance at a considerable speed, there was no sign of fatigue whatsoever.
It was approaching us in no time, without slowing down at all, its expression completely unfazed.
"Gyuoooooon"
With Nobunaga's spirited cry, the dappled gray horse leaped high into the air, clearing the trap zone.
And without slowing down at all, it turns its head behind it and lets out another taunting cry.
"G-Gig
Then, a few dozen seconds later, the gigantic body, radiating killing intent, approached the trap zone.
Being provoked and losing all self-control proved to be his undoing.
His feet got caught in the hole and the net, and with tremendous force—with a loud thud—he fell forward and collapsed onto the ground.
"Alright, go for it!!"
Katsuyori gave the order, and the cavalry charged forward just as before.
Unlike last time, when it was lying on its side, this time the mole was headfirst into the ground.
The eyeballs at the base of the jaw are well within range of the horse's horns.
"G-G-Gig
Along with a sound that was neither a scream nor a shriek, blue blood gushed out.
His eyes were gouged out with a horse's horn.
Even considering the difference in physique, the location of the stab wound is what matters.
It's the same principle: if a person gets stabbed in the eye with a thumbtack, they won't get away unscathed.
However, it seemed the horses' attacks were not reaching the third eye on the top of its head.
"Okay... let's get started too."
"Kyuooooon"
I followed Indra's lure and moved towards the lower half of the mole, which was struggling, its feet caught in a hole and a net.
And then, from atop Taishakutsukige, he grabbed the mole hair that grew thickly all the way down to his ankles.
It's very hard. It smells strong, but you can grip it firmly, and you can even put your feet on it.
It's more like the bristles of a scrubbing brush than animal hair.
"Well then, I'm off."
"Kyuooooon"
As I was seen off by the voice of Taishakutsukimo, I slowly climbed up the mole's body, which was about seven meters tall.
Since he was already leaning forward when he fell, the slope was gentle, and climbing up wasn't difficult.
It feels like a field obstacle course, something everyone was probably obsessed with as a child.
However, complacency was absolutely forbidden.
What I'm climbing isn't playground equipment, but the body of a living monster.
There was a very real risk of being thrown off.
Moreover, my goal is the top of my head, where my third eye is located.
Even the mole, which only Nobunaga had been able to see, must have been brought back to reality after having both of its eyes gouged out.
And he should have realized that his enemies were not just Nobunaga and Renzen Ashige.
"Gigi-gigi-gigi-gigi, gigi!"
Therefore, he is desperately trying to protect his eyes, which are his last remaining "heart."
The mole covered the top of its head with both hands, trying to keep me away from its eyes.
And my ultimate goal is to pierce the eyes beneath those hairy hands with the Ishiwari Kanemitsu sword.
(But... this is going to be difficult... I have to find a way to get their hand out of the way...)
Below us, the Takeda cavalry mercilessly stabbed the mole's body with their horns.
While damage is definitely being inflicted, the current situation is that a decisive blow is lacking.
(I could just cut my hand here. But then there's a chance my body would be thrown off... It's a mole, so even just being hit by its hand wouldn't end well.)
But the longer you worry, the more time passes.
And the longer you wait, the higher the chance the mole will have of escaping the trap.
If that happens, I'll be all alone—left behind on the mole's body.
(Now, what should I do...?)
I was thinking while being held by the mole's neck, but...
Suddenly, I noticed something flying in from the sky ahead that could break the current situation.
"Kyuuuuuuuuuuuu"
Yes, my trump card has finally arrived—riding on the Bontenmaru.