Episode 3 - Embarking on the Warring States Era

The ship is ready and we're finally heading off to Japan!

The six members will be Ore, Elle, Ketty, Julia, Celes and Melty, and a pseudo-robot soldier who will pilot the ship.

Julia is a combat-oriented organic android. She has shoulder-length wavy brown hair and looks like a flashy 20-year-old woman. Perhaps influenced by her appearance, her personality is a bit of a battle fanatic who likes to show off.

Celes is a combat-oriented organic android like Julia. She has silver hair and a cool, slit-eyed appearance of around 20 years old. She has a serious military-like personality and is ruthless towards her enemies.

Melty is an all-purpose organic android like Elle. She has blue hair in a short bob and is a sexually attractive older sister. She has a devilish personality with a suggestive attitude.

Let's go, let's go. To the land of the warring states. To see Oda Nobunaga. What a sight.

The journey from the Ogasawara Islands to the Japanese mainland is said to take about a week by sailing boat. To save time, they decided to fold up the sails and take off from the water to fly over the surface until they reach the mainland.

「By the way, can we use those cannons?」

「Yes, they can. The waters around Japan at this time were rife with pirates known as wakō. We are taking into account the possibility of a battle.」

The galleons even have cannons that are perfect for this era. Were they armed with more than just laser cannons?

There is currently a lack of seafaring atmosphere. But in the open sea, there's nothing but sea around you, and you'd probably get bored before you could enjoy the essence of it. It might be a bit like outer space.

Oh, the clothes I and everyone else is wearing are the kimono of this era. It's not very elaborate for ease of movement, but I don't think it's ridiculous.

I'm reminded once again that I'm really going to the world of a period drama.

I learned how to use a bow, a spear and a sword in a sleep study capsule. I don't have much of a battle sense and I don't think I'll ever be able to use them to their full potential.

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SIDE Julia.

It's already been ten days since I came to the real world of the past.

Whether fortunate or unfortunate, we will simply disappear even if we return to the original virtual space. At first, the idea was considered for everyone to return to the original virtual space if the commander had really wanted to go back.

The bottom line is that the commander doesn't seem to have much desire to go back. I'm not sure if he's just a big shot or just eccentric. It's hard to make a judgment.

Is it so unreal that you'd rather see a great man from history than to try and find a way to go back home in this situation?　You used to be one of the most obsessed players in Galaxy of Planets, you haven't had a girlfriend in real life for years, and you've been living a carefree single life.

Why don't you just live happily in real life? He was emotionally attached to a lump of data like us, like a family member... like a lover. A slightly troubling commander.

But fate played a trick on us, and we became real.

We've been swept away in these times, and there's no one else to count on. Why didn't he just honestly ask for us? You're just a mindless, spineless onlooker.

That's why people call you a muzzled commander.

Japan in this era is different from the time when the commander was alive. Can one casually talk about spectating great figures in such a carefree manner?

I don't think you're considering going to Japan just to find a suitable woman to be with, are you?

We are not data in a virtual space anymore. I won't allow you to do that.

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SIDE ALEX.

The galleon continued to fly low at an altitude not too far above the surface of the water and landed in the waters near the Japanese mainland. From here, the ship sails like a real galleon.

The ship shakes quite a bit when it lands on the water. I guess that's to be expected in the open sea.

「Oh, it's coming into view.」

「That is the Kii Peninsula, isn't it? In history, this area was also active with maritime transport and naval activities. To avoid any trouble if discovered, let's keep our distance from the land and head towards Owari.」

Should we say we are returning?　Or should I say I'm here for the first time? Well, I'm a countryman, so I've never been to the Kii Peninsula or Aichi.

But still, a navy? Do they shoot with flintlock rifles or bows?　Should we have brought submarines to escort us?

「It really is the Warring States period. There are no buildings, no harbours, nothing. Even a fishing port in the countryside would be more impressive.」

「We think this is Tsushima in Owari. It's mainly a river harbour, but it's the largest harbour in Owari.」

Fortunately, we arrived in Owari without getting tangled up with the navy. But it was nothing more than a fishing port in the countryside.

I know at least Tsushima. It's where Nobunaga's grandfather ruled and where the Oda Danjotada family took off.

I heard that Nobunaga's father Nobuhide donated a lot of money to the Imperial Court, and I knew the Oda family was rich. To be honest, Tsushima from the sea doesn't look anything like that.

「Let's go ashore in a small boat. We'll sell our belongings and rent a house to use as a base.」

「The harbour is noisy though. We won't suddenly get caught or attacked, will we?」

「I think we'll be fine. Galleons must be quite are.」

Unfortunately, there is no place for galleons to berth on Tsushima. The ship was anchored offshore, and for the time being, the three of us - me, Elle and Julia - went ashore to negotiate.

「By the way, Julia. Do you really need that fancy looking spear?」

「In this day and age, you never know what they'll do to you if they touch you, do you?」

「That's fine, but Julia's. 'You're trying to carry a big, red spear, like a certain bloke would carry.」

I'm not looking for a fight.

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side - Shigenaga Ohashi

When I heard a commotion that an unfamiliar ship had arrived in Tsushima, I rushed over to find that there was indeed an unfamiliar ship at anchor.

At first I thought it might be an Ise merchant or navy, but it was probably the Nanban ship I had heard so much about.

I have never seen a ship like that before, with its many pillars and intricate sails.

Did the Nanbans come here mistaking it for Sakai?　There is no one in Tsushima who understands the language of the Nanbans. It would be better if there was someone who could understand at least speak or read Chinese.

「There are also contingencies. Gather the troops and send the women and children back from the harbour. Also, send word to the Lord of Kowatari on the fastest horse.」

The problem is if the purpose of those ships is to pillage and invade? Well, I don't think an invasion with a single ship is likely, but it is not unusual for ships to attack villages and docks in other countries.

I don't know what kind of people the savages are, but you never know what they will do to you if they see an opening.

「My Lord. Four men came down. One young man who looks like a merchant, two who look like Nanban women and one rowing the boat.」

「A foreign woman?　Slaves?"」

No, I don't think so. From their clothes and mannerisms, they don't look like slaves. And one of the women is armed with a spear. Are they not under the command of the merchant, or his wife and lady-in-waiting?"

Keep the soldiers out of sight. Don't provoke them. They might just be lost.

A Nanban woman?　I've heard that male barbarians sometimes come to Sakai, but I've never heard of a female barbarian.

However, has the possibility of looting decreased? Surely they can't just be lost? Did the ship break up in a storm?

We have to do something to keep things calm.