Entering Ōsaka Honbyō Temple

The next morning, the Oda retainers' hellish skit training was

behind them

At long last, an eager Yoshiharu and hesitant Frois made their way

towards Honbyo Temple.

Honbyo Temple was situated in Settsu province, and though it was

called a temple, one could better describe it as a fortress city, one

surrounded by the rivers Nakatsu, Suita, Eguchi, and Kanzaki. Its

proximity to the country's largest "self-governed merchant city" Sakai

also led to numerous ships passing through it's rivers. In essence,

whenever anyone mentioned Honbyo Temple, they referred to the

entire, self-governed city controlled by Honbyo Temple.

Unlike Sakai, however, Honbyo Temple was a fortress ready to

rebuff any would-be conqueror.

Before one even considered the fast flowing currents of the rivers

and the sturdy fortifications, just the fact that Saika Magoichi of the

Kii nobles, head of the arquebus squad of the Saika Ikki, stood with

Honbyo Temple was a huge deterrent.

The disciples willing to defend Honbyo Temple, including Saika

Ikki, was said to be around forty of fifty thousand, plus another 5000

Saika Ikki men equipped with arquebus. This manpower and

stockpile of arquebuses were terrifyingly huge for this era. Even

Nobuna, with her lucrative control over Sakai and its imports,

wouldn't be able to gather enough arquebus quickly enough to deal

with this issue.

Sakai's Imai Soukyu had just recently ended his arquebuse trades

with Honbyo temple, But even that could not explain Honbyo

Temple's ridiculous stockpile of arms. One explanation, perhaps,

was that due to the sheer number of disciples of Honbyo Temple

country-wide, many Sakai merchants may have unknowingly sold

arquebuses to the rich Honbyo Temple. In the end though, the most

likely reason was that the Saika Ikki, whose nickname was

"Arquebus war squad", had their own independent way of obtaining

the firearms.

On top of it all, Honbyo Temple had close relations with the

Conqueror of Chuugoku, the Mori Clan, famous for their shipbuilders

and seamanship. As a result, no matter how many provisions they

needed, their supplies would never run dry thanks to the sea and

surrounding rivers. This made a direct seige all but impossible.

Eventually, a sentry spotted the two travellers and cried "the Oda

Army's envoys are here!" Almost immediately, an ear deafening

chorus rang out from Honbyo Temple in response.

"Nyamu nyami nyafutsu, Nyamu nyami nyafutsu."

"Nyamu nyami nyafutsu, Nyamu nyami nyafutsu..."

"Nya.... Nya.... Nya...."

....Nyankousou's unique cat chant... Chanting non-stop, the verses

became shorter and shorter, until finally it sounded as though the

disciples were imitating the purring of a cat.

Yoshiharu, closing on Honbyo Temple aboard a boat proudly flying

a white flag, let down his guard.

All this Nyaa... Nyaa... Nyaaa, no matter how I see them, they

seem to be peace loving people.

He immediately sobered when he noticed the countless arquebus

on the mud walls aiming straight towards the ship,

This peace meeting must definitely succeed. If not, things will

definitely spiral out of control. Because Katsuchiyo is still around,

history has started to flow in a direction where it's getting harder and

harder to protect Nobuna. This is a rough situation.

Yoshiharu couldn't help but shiver.

In comparison, Frois almost seemed relaxed in her sister attire.

With a refreshing smile, she calmly affirmed, "This is to protect

countless lives. My lord, please bless me with strength!"

Seeing Frois so poised, Yoshiharu convinced himself he needed to

look dignified as well. Calming the panic in his heart, he managed to

shout out, "Look on, this is the original Osaka way of comedy!"

After stopping the boat by the harbor, the both of them

disembarked only to be totally submerged by the members of

Nyankousou.

Strangely, almost all of them were girls.

No, looking around proved all all of them were girls.

As expected of the power of cats, gathering so many women in

one place

"Nya.... Nya.... Nya...."

"Nya....."

"The envoy of the Oda army is here~nya..."

"A monkey and a namban kirishitan[16]~nya!"

"It's Oda Nobuna after all, choosing two fellows in opposition of

nyankousou's rules ~nya...."

This was a terrifying army, armed to the teeth with arquebuses and

swords, but all of them were girls cat ears atop their heads. Every

one of them wore a happy, nyan cat smile; just looking at them was

enough to drop anyone's guard if they weren't concentrating.

Yoshiharu was indeed concentrating! He understood that if he

barely opened his mouth he might just say...

"You gals are just so cute! Please, what's your name? Can I have

your address??"

And if Yoshiharu flirted with them so blatantly...

"Shut up~nya.....! Hurry and go to cat paradise~nya!"

He would definitely be attacked by the girls.

Perhaps Yoshiharu hadn't been concentrating as well as he

thought. Already the girls were attacking him over his frivolous

nature. It was the obvious outcome; even Yoshiharu could have seen

it if he just used his brain a little. As one would expect though,

Yoshiharu was the sort of impulsive guy who will act before his mind

could advise against it.

"I'm sorry, sorry! We are the envoys of Nobuna. Please report our

arrival to the one in charge! If possible, we want to meet Kennya

directly!"

"What a shameless person~nya...."

"What should we do~nya?"

"I'm going to ask Shimotsuma-sama~nya."

"Ok, please wait~nya."

A girl went back into the temple. She seemed to be asking a

higher up for instructions.

After a few more transitions and several steps up the ladder of

authority, Yoshiharu was released. He plopped to the ground as they

waited for updates, the reflection of everything not diligence and

poise.

"Are you alright?" Frois asked, wiping the sweat from Yoshiharu's

forehead with a handkerchief.

Even deep into the main camp of a militarized, foreign religious

group, Frois maintained her calm expression. Perhaps it was an act?

Yoshiharu made his resolve; if anything happened, he shield and

protect Frois.

"There are only girls in this temple. It's the complete opposite of

Mount Hiei, where only men were allowed, Yoshiharu-san."

"That's because Mount Hiei represented the old religious groups,

whose teachings were based on a predominantly male foundation.

Ever since its founding, nyankousou didn't discriminate between

identities. Because anyone can easily join, girls naturally gathered

here. But there's lots of cute girls here... Now that you think about it,

combining cat ears and cat puns triples their charm."

"Is that so? Looks like I still require some effort to integrate with

the culture of ZIPANGU. Wearing cat ears and saying cat language

is the norm in spreading religion in ZIPANGU, then?"

"That... would be the best!! Absolutely fabulous, Frois!" With just a

mental image, Yoshiharu's nose started leaking something red.

"Saru! You really are desperate for Frois' cow-like breasts, huh!?

You traitor!"

Uwahh! Somehow, a madly jealous Nobuna appeared in my head!

It was so realistic my body's shivering uncontrollably. Ahh geez, that

fellow is aiming for the world; isn't she a bit too petty over such a

small thing? No, she's way too petty!"

Crap, if even my mind is already being chained down by Nobuna, I

won't be able to enjoy my youth, that most precious springtime of

life!

Yoshiharu shook his head vigorously, desperate to be away from

the terrifying image. Just then, the gates opened again and several

devotees walked out.

"I am Shimotsuma Rantei, in charge of public relations of Honbyo

temple." A white girl with silver hair and azure eyes offered her

introduction. She wore the outfit of a nun, yet her hair was plainly

visible. Nyankousou didn't enforce the rule of shaving or covering

one's hair. Instead, it was the duty of all believers to wear cat ears,

as per their teachings. In their hands, rather than chanting beads,

were small, ceramic Beckoning Cats[17]

.

"Ahh, Randy[18]? Aren't you supposed to be a missionary in

ZIPANGU? Why did you come here?" Frois warmly, and confusedly,

greeted her old friend, Shimotsuma Rantei, "You have abandoned

your religion, what a shame."

Rantei, for her part, seemed completely unshaken by the

unexpected meeting. "The lord, Nekogami-sama and Kennya-sama

are one and the same. This is the truth to the Holy Trinity. Kennyasama is and always has been the one to which I have dedicated my

own body."

The former sister's azure eyes glittered brightly.

"The Holy Trinity? Randy, you have merely succumbed to the

cuteness of cats and became part of another religion. It's true that

the calico cats of ZIPANGU are extraordinarily cute, but this is a little

too..."

"Frois. Kennya-sama is much cuter. But more than that, she is the

most interesting person in the world. We Christians have forgotten

our smiles, yet Kennya-sama has shown me that laughter is such a

joyful thing. The stories in the bible are all so incredibly grim and

dark. The association mistreats cats as well, so I have decided I will

never go back again."

"How can that be~ Randy who was so devout... Ahh, this shock

has me feeling so faint..."

"Hold on, Frois!"

"Her soul seems smitten by the cuteness of Kennya and cats."

Yoshiharu whispered as he supported Frois.

"I myself have been baptised by the Buddhists in ZIPANGU. Even

if Randy has done the complete opposite, I have no right to

reprimand her... But, it's still such a shock."

"Considering how Frois risks her life to come here, I understand

how you feel."

That surprising exchange out of the way, another person bounded

forward to make their introduction. This time, it was a petite

Japanese girl with a refreshing smile as cute as a cat's.

"My name is Shimotsuma Kakehu. I work in public relations with

Rantei. This time, regretfully, the declaration of war towards Oda

Nobuna-sama is my doing. Oda Nobuna-sama is the worst... It would

be tolerable if she demanded military funds of us, but her desire to

conquer Osaka's Honbyo Temple and build her own castle is just too

much. We are worried about what Nobuna-sama will do from now

on, not least of all because of her intentions to burn down Mount Hiei

and the hatred she had for her family members. If this goes on, my

master, Kennya-sama's precious body will be in danger, and our

reputation will..... Besides, I'm also in charge of the accounts in

Honbyo Temple, and rice seems to be a little lacking nowadays. As a

result, we are currently researching an Osaka delicacy,

"Okonomiyaki" made from wheat. In fact, we have just started

preparing to open stores country-wide to sell this Okonomoyaki....."

This fellow seemed to be the talkative type, but her train of thought

seemed to have no rails.

"Wait, wait! Hold the Okonomiyaki discussion and tell Kennya

about my intentions! All the things about Nobuna planning to attack

Honbyo Temple are all nonsense! She has no intention of chasing all

of you away! That fellow is busy right now concentrating on building

Azuchi Castle!"

"The situation seems to be quite complicated, Rantei. How about

we ask Mayami and Okada over?"

"Frois is a devout Christian and is totally against violence, and this

Saru seems to be quite weak. Just us both will be enough. Saru! If

you want to pass us, you have to defeat both of us." Rantei's azure

eyes shone, and in unison all the cat-eared girls held up their

weapons.

"I said we are envoys coming in peace!"

"Randy. Isn't there any way you could allow us to go meet Kennyasama?"

"This....."

"Then let me, Shimotsuma Kakehu explain. If you can do a skit

and make we two public relations officials laugh, we will allow you to

enter. The only ones who can meet Kennya-sama are interesting

people with masterful acting skills. Kennya-sama always says, 'If I

talk to boring people, I will be abandoned by the god of comedy'.

She is especially averse to the people of Kanto, who she feels do not

understand the crux of comedies. Though I myself am also from

Kantou, because I yearned to meet Kennya-sama, I spent a very

long period of time researching. From Saru-san's accent, you aren't

from Kansai, right? Hmmm, but even I, who keep in touch with the

different believers from different areas, find it difficult to guess where

you are from. Your accent is quite different from the dialects I am

familiar with. But, I have heard that Saru-san invented that impactful

new delicacy of takoyaki in Sakai. I hold the ambition of introducing

Okonomiyaki country-wide, so if Saru-san was willing to teach the

methods of selling food... Ahh, wait, this has no connection to

meeting with Kennya-sama, so sorry! Though it is pretty convenient

that a disciple of Honbyo Temple may open up a shop selling

Okonomiyaki if she wishes..."

"Your words are too long and you're digressing further and further

past the point! The content is too boring anyways! Rantei-san,

please summarize this in a sentence."

"...Simply put, if both of you can perform a skit to make us laugh,

we will permit you to meet Kennya-sama."

"If that's so, I can finally relax. Because I'm from a future Japan

where not just in Osaka, even as far as Kantou, the culture of

comedy has taken root in everyone's hearts! No, not just Kantou;

comedy is famous throughout the country! Rikyuu's special training

is just icing on the cake!"

Be shocked by the skit of Frois-san and Yoshiharu! Laugh your

heart out for the nun and the future-man!

Yoshiharu rolled up his sleeves as he puffed up his chest. Like

this, YoshiharuXFrois debuted in front of their first audience...! It

would be the pair's first skit for a crowd.

Even though Yoshiharu was beginning to get used to the

battlefield, his nerves began to rattle.

Yes, in a place like Osaka, skits were even more cruel and

competitive than a battlefield!

The eyes of Shimotsuma Rantei and the crowd narrowed, as each

wondered "Can Kantou people really perform a skit?"

Frois and Yoshiharu were definitely the away team here.

But, if they didn't pull through, Nobuna's dream of Tenka Fubu

would definitely be delayed for 10 years.

Yoshiharu took a drum and...

Dong dong, Dong dong...

Signalled the beginning of their skit.

"I'm from the future, Sagara Yoshiharu...."

"I'm from across the sea, Louis.Frois."

"The both of us...."

"Ahh, I'm sorry, Yoshiharu-san, We forgot to think of a name for

this skit combination!"

"Gosh! How about... Othello... no, how about we temporarily call it

Hamlet?"

"I don't know why we're suddenly discussing Shakespeare, but I

understand."

The girls of Nyankousou suddenly became silent.

"I had forgotten about the 'opening'[19]!"

The "opening" is the most important part of a skit, and we didn't

think about it at all!

Yoshiharu's heart screamed as he broke into a sweat.

"For now, switch to the Osaka dialect, we can increase the

affection by three times if we use the Osaka dialect!" Yoshiharu

whispered to Frois secretly.

The both of them started the skit again with an overblown Osaka

tone only just prepared in the nick of time.

"Anyway, Frois. You... came from waaay out 'cross the sea?"

"Co...Correct. It was really quite far. The seasickness was darn

terrible. How 'bout you, Yoshiharu-san, you came from the future

Japan, yeah?"

"Yeah. I ain't boastin', but I know a great deal 'bout this here

Sengoku era!"

"Ah do decle-ah, when I came to ZIPANGU nothin' shocked me

like tha cats. I saw cats bein' worshipped like Gods, and I was plenty

shocked!"

"In the future Japan, cats are very popular too! Though, for some

reason, mice seem to be the top in popularity in the future!"

"Yoshiharu-san, the Osaka dialect, Osaka dialect!" Frois frantically

pinched Yoshiharu's cheek.

"Ahh, geez. Sorry, go on, Frois!"

"Well, that... mice? 'zat so?"

"Yup. In Kantou, there's this dream island named 'mice paradise'.

All the youngsters who went could see lots of mice. Thing is, you

gotta pay to go in. Tha mice had built a hi-yuge castle right down by

the sea. In fact, it looked pretty darn well like that Honbyo Temple in

tha Sengoku Era."

"Payin' money to see mice? Ain't mice nothin' but cat food? I don't

get what's wrong with the noggins of those future people."

"Them mice still bite if ya forced 'em into a corner. Hell, humans do

tha same! I bets in the animal world, the mice are all up an' plannin'

a rebellion with tha cats."

Suddenly, a wave of ridicule assaulted them... This was

impossible.

Fufu, how boring! Isn't it total nonsense for people to worship mice

in the future!? Shouts of disagreement became a chorus.

"Hearing fake Osaka dialects gives me goosebumps all over~nya!"

Shimotsuma Rantei criticized strictly.

Shimotsuma Kakehu, who was skilled in hundreds of different

dialects, instead decided to comment, "you've had three proper lines,

and absolutely zero content."

"Yoshiharu-san, it seems like speaking in an Osaka dialect had the

opposite effect. I think it's better to talk normally."

"I see. Looking back, using the mice gag was a total failure to

begin with. It's like talking about the giants all the time in front of the

Hanshin fans[20]."

"But, what gags do we have left?"

"There's still that breast gag that made Rikyuu laugh. The path of

comedy is full of thorns; it's too difficult for a last minute skit master

to just use words to become popular. I will transform into a lecherous

geezer shortly, so please do your best to scold me as a garbage and

hit me. Though I'm sorry you have to do this Frois, it's our only option

now!"

"Ehhhh? N...No. As the bride of the lord, I will be punished for

performing such a lewd gag in front of everyone! And, such a thing

like scolding and beating Yoshiharu-san....."

"Please understand, this is to avoid war, to save numerous lives!

The straight-man Frois will be able to change this country's history

for the better!"

"Hmmm. If this is the case, I can no longer reject... *Cough*"

Yoshiharu passed Frois the huge paper fan he had bought from

Sen no Rikyuu, and her knuckles were pale as she gripped it.

"Now we're going to begin that breast gag, use this fan and slap

as much as you want. Don't show any mercy. Use all your strength

and hit me on the head."

As he encouraged his reluctant partner, the crowd suddenly began

to take interest again.

"Ohhh, what's that humungous paper fan~nya? Is it a prop for the

straight man? I haven't seen such a skit before~nya, it must be a

modern skit~nya." There were all kinds of voices rising from the

audience.

"It can be done! If it's the violent kind of skit!" Yoshiharu's nose

twitched at the scent of victory.

"Anyway, umm. Frois-san's breasts are really huge. Just when did

they start to grow-"

PIAK

The fan connected Yoshiharu's head at lightning speed! No

hesitation, no mercy; a cool strike!

"Fr...Frois, it's not the gag yet.... Come, come!"

"D...Do...Do...Do...Do...Don...Don't ask me such an embarrassing

thing! Be...Be...Because those who serve the lord cannot lie. Even if

it's such... such a lewd question... this is too despicable!"

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, we still have to grab their attention

with an opening."

PIAK PIAK PIAK

3 hit combo!

"Are you talking about 'grabbing'[21]? You want to grab my breasts

in front of everyone? Th...Th...Tha...That's too ridiculous,

de...def...defi...definitely not!"

"Nono, that's not what I mean! We have to handle the 'opening' of

the skit first!"

"Yoshiharu who was just playing around with my breasts has no

persuasive power!"

PI~~AK!

This time, it landed on Yoshiharu's face.

"Uhhhh!? Fr...Frois, wait! That fan, it's a little too painful use it right

on... Gah, my nose, it's bleeding!?"

"I'm sorry, so sorry. As the bride of the lord, if it's to protect my

chastity, I must resist with all my might, even if I have to defeat

Yoshiharu-san!"

"Ehhh.... You hug me tightly when I'm playing around with you.

What's with the sudden change?"

"Yoshiharu, you mean to say you have such lewd thoughts when

you confess your sins to me? Shameless!"

"Because I'm a guy, there's no helping it! If Frois abandons me, I

won't have the courage to continue living in this Sengoku Era! I beg

you, let me play around with those huge breasts of yours again...."

"Ehh!? Yoshiharu-san's eyes are perverted!? Ahh, my lord, please

forgive me! Yoshiharu-san has been possessed by a demon now! I

must use the holy fan to exorcise him! Demon, leave Yoshiharusan's body now!"

PIAK!

Yoshiharu's body rolled along the ground like a broken children's

toy, to the nyankousou audience's wild cheers.

"I didn't expect the kirishitan to be so violent~nya!"

"Again, again~nya!"

"Teach that monkey face man a lesson~nya!"

"Uhhh. That's it. This Frois's straight-man is becoming much

better, not bad at all."

"Yoshiharu-san has to be the pro here, taking all those merciless

hits. Taking hits like that while minimizing the actual damage his

body receives shows his intense training for the part of the fool. This

must be experience gained from time spent with his master, Oda

Nobuna. But, to my okonomiyaki business...."

Yoshiharu, his face full of blood and barely able to pull himself off

the ground, smiled as he stuck out his thumb. "Beautiful, it's a

success, Frois... But, my semicircular canal seems to have broken...

My legs are numb, I can't stand up....." With these words,

Yoshiharu's face fell to the floor.

"I'm sorry, really sorry, Yoshiharu-san! Those cruel words didn't

from my heart, even though I hit you with all my might; please forgive

me!"

"Frois, your foot! Don't hesitate, step on my head! With this,

everyone will laugh! It's our victory!"

"I just, I can't do it! Uhhhh. Yoshiharu-san, I'll support you, hurry

and stand up!"

"How can you do that!? Please, step on me like everyone expects,

and step over my corpse! Go to Kennya, and stop the war! I beg

you!"

"...Yoshiharu-san.... The desire of yours to bring everyone peace

is actually so.... It's like the lord, carrying his cross over so many

mountains. If that's the case, I will become the traitor, Judah!"

Frois faced the sky with tears peeking beneath her eyelids as she

drew a cross over her chest. Yoshiharu summoned the last of his

determination and devoted his entire being into becoming a

lecherous geezer!!

"Hehehe, that's my Frois-chan. Now, back to my question: when

did that pair of tits you have there start popping up? Around what

age? How did it feel when they just puffed up like that? Huh? How's

zat? Did you feel shy lugging those tits of yours into the bath while all

the dirty geezers starred?"

"... That is the one question I wish never to answer."

Frois' expression faded, and she put all her weight behind a fierce

stomp square on Yoshiharu's head. With that, Yoshiharu lost

consciousness.

Nya.....

Nya.....

Nya.....

A success.

It felt like... Rather than being popular because it was a good skit,

it was more of the audience enjoying a lecherous monkey being

taught a lesson by a devout Christian girl. There were no rules when

it came to comedies though. It was your win as long as you were

funny. There wasn't any sort of protection agency in the Sengoku Era

either. When no one was holding back the violence, the results could

be unexpected. Yoshiharu, with his resolve to be stomped on, had

won this battle.

But in those final moments, Frois seemed to be serious about

wanting to protect her own body.

"Fufu, does Frois have a talent for playing the straight man? Well

done, you've passed. I will arrange for a meeting with Kennya-sama

for you."

"Please enter through the gate."

Shimotsuma Rantei and Kakehu decided they passed.

And so, thanks to Frois and Yoshiharu's huge sacrifice, they could

finally meet the master of Honbyo Temple, Kennya.

After passing through the gates of Honbyo Temple, Yoshiharu

stopped short.

The Settsu province of the Sengoku Era was brimming with a

strange energy. If one were to say that this energy reached fruition

as "commerce", this fruit would reside in the international city of

commerce, Sakai. Honbyo Temple's fruit grown of this energy, then,

could be called "faith". But even if one called it faith, there were no

rules prohibiting their desires. This fruit was filled with a love of

comedies and Nekogami-sama. If anything, it seemed to match the

Sengoku Era's Osaka.

This situation was worlds apart from the ordinary lifestyle of

Kantou.

"Th...This is the true Honbyo Temple? It's almost as big as

Koshien Stadium!?"

Exactly.

Comparable to a castle's "Honmaru[22]", there was a huge building

to worship Kennya and gather Nyankousou devotees.

This building looked just like the coliseum of ancient Rome. The

interior walls were all rounded viewing seats made of stone, and in

the centre was a wide green grass field. The entire setup was most

likely designed and constructed by the namban people under

Shimotsuma Rantei's leadership.

Seated along the stone bleachers and around the green field were

tens of thousands of Nyankousou members, all speaking with

strange "Nya...." "Nya...." sounds, and most of them small girls.

"Kennya-sama, so cute~nya!"

"I'm healed~nya!"

"Look over here~nya!"

Their gazes were all inexorably drawn to the center of the stage

build on the grass, where stood the master of Honbyo Temple,

Kennya. At her side, holding a big black arquebus by the name of

"Yatagarasu"[23], was the leader of the Saika Clan.

"Everyone!! You guys are as spirited today as ever; I can feel it in

the air! Just by living right now, we have nothing to lose! I wish for

Osaka to fill to overflowing with energy under the power of

Nekogami-sama! This is Kennya-sama~nya!"

"I'm her partner, Saika Magoichi. Now, let's start with another skit!

Hey!"

Kennya looked rather strong-willed in her extremely flamboyant

clergy attire, but was actually quite a small girl. She even wore her

cat ears and tail so naturally... No, looking carefully, the furry tail

seemed to be moving a bit too much to be fake.

With a "Nya nya", Kennya waved like a beckoning cat statue, and

with a energetic look she began to rile up her believers. Modern

societies would most likely see this as a typical idol act.

In direct contrast with Kennya, the leader of the Saika Clan, Saika

Magoichi was garbed in black and gave off an older, "Onee-san"

aura. She swayed noticeably where she stood, but it looked like the

cause was a liberal dose of alcohol rather than the huge arquebus

"Yatagarasu" she carried.

"Every day, Kennya-sama gathers her believers to perform a skit.

This way, each new day will start amidst happy laughter. This is how

the priestess combats the melancholy brought forth by the chaotic

Sengoku Era. This is already a normal activity for Honbyo Temple."

Rantei explained as she brought Yoshiharu and Frois to the front of

the box seats.

"Hmmm, battles have been raging on near the capital for ages;

everyone is afraid and tired of it. We of Honbyo Temple are exactly

as you have seen, an impenetrable paradise that even samurai

cannot conquer." Shimotsuma Kakehu continued.

"Frois. Even if the wars continue on for hundred of years, the

people of Osaka will not suffer. We can live happily through laughter

and the power of Nekogami-sama. Compared to the view in Europe,

that the world is full of evil and we must abstain from our desires, this

is a radically different view. I was quite shocked, and soon defected

to Nyankousou."

"But, this is a little too extreme. The Temple relies heavily on

arquebus as well... With so many people fighting against Nobunasama, things will become bad."

"Samurai and Nyankousou are dire enemies. Kennya-sama is

preparing to unify this chaotic ZIPANGU under the flags of

Nyankousou. That's just the way it will be."

"Why? Isn't this the same ambition as Nobuna-sama? In the same

ZIPANGU, why must two persons with the same ambition kill each

other?"

Rantei and Frois huddled together at the front of the box seat as

they conversed.

All the while, Kennya and Saika Magoichi's skit went on.

"Kennya's dream is to spread Nekogami-sama's teachings all

around Japan and bring peace to this country. How about Magoichi's

dream~nya?"

"What? My dream is to find fame through arquebus and comedy

skits, and find the 'best man in the world'! Because I'm a pure girl

despite how I look.... Ahahahaha."

"Best man in the world? Perhaps a beautiful guy like Asai

Nagamasa? It's gonna be hard for Magoichi~nya...."

"The best man in the world isn't some sissy who looks like a girl.

Being the best in the world means being the bravest...! Nowadays,

there are just more and more useless men who throw the

responsibility of war to the women. Even traveling around the

country in search of the best, I just can't find good guys~"

"Uh-huh, uh-huh, brave men~nya... Magoichi's butt seems quite

big~nya..."

"Don't talk about that!"

"The hips of a natural mother~nya..."

"I have not delivered before! Though it's embarrassing to say it, I'm

still a virgin!"

"Forget it. You are a lewd girl who is always horny at night..."

"It's true that I'm lewd, but I don't do such things with just anybody.

If I haven't acknowledged a man as the best, I won't allow him to

touch my body!"

"This girl is just so troublesome~nya... Even if you found him, what

if he said, 'I don't want a girl with a big butt'?"

"If that's the case, I will just shoot him in the head with my

Yatagarasu!"

"...Unpopular girls sure are scary~nya"

"Shut up! Just say I'm a sentimental woman!"

"Everyone be careful; you ought to find a husband soon before

you become an old spinster like Magoichi~nya. If you keep being

picky, your choices will start to run out~nya."

"Don't exaggerate! I'm still young! And Kennya, you don't have a

guy either, right? You've faced a drought of men ever since you were

born, ahahahahaha!"

"Ken...Kenya-sama is still young, so there's no problem~nya!"

"Recently, those princesses of samurai families seem to marry at

ten...."

"Even one story like that is too many! To think there are still

perverts like that around~nya. When Kennya unifies the world, I will

definitely eliminate all these lolicons!"

From Yoshiharu's modern perspective, this skit between two girls,

even if it fully utilized the Osaka dialect, was incredibly dull. For

whatever reason though, the mass of female believers all greeted

each line with laughter.

Like...

"Magoichi! Let's fix the walls of our house today!"

"Aye~[24]

"

With such a boring joke, everyone laughed hard enough to uproot

the whole Honmaru.

In a modern workplace, a superior joking around like this with his

subordinate would eventually completely destroy the hierarchy.

Yoshiharu sighed, giving in to the fact that this was as far as the

Sengoku Era had come. Just as his mind began to wander...

"Magoichi! Kennya's name, it's written as 'Dog' 'Girl', and read as

Kennya! So actually Kennya is an inugami-sama~nya... I'm so sorry

for cheating you guys~nya!"

"Are you an idiot!? Aren't those cat ears you have on!?'

"Ow, owww. Don't pull on them so much! My ears will drop off!"

"Hey, those look like they're real cat ears; just what is going on?"

Yoshiharu asked Shimotsuma Kakehu.

"That's because this person is the living incarnation of Nekogamisama. All the different masters of Honbyo Temple have inherited the

blood of Nekogami-sama and have real cat ears and tails. If I were to

go into specifics, it would be a very, very long story above the rising

of Honbyo Temple, hmmm. Ummm, in the past... Umm, the start of

the story began when the Kamakura Shogunate[25] was ruling

Japan..."

"So Kennya-sama is a human as well as a Nekogami. A half of

each, you could say she's unique." Rantei interrupted, cutting off

Shimotsuma Kakehu's unnecessary history lesson.

"I guess on that topic, Hanbei has been using shikigamis all this

time. The Sengoku Era really does have everything!"

"In ZIPANGU, cats are the deities healing the human soul."

"I'm in the dog faction though. No matter if it's cats or dogs, they

are all pets in Japan's future. Pets are domestic animals kept at

home."

"... You dare... dare say that Nekogami-sama is kept by humans.

Unforgivable!"

Just as Rantei and Yoshiharu's argument seemed ready to

escalate...

"Why's dat!?"

BHAM

With Kennya acting the fool, Magoichi performed her straight-man

slapstick, but she went way overboard. Taking aim at Kennya's belly

with her big arquebus Yatagarasu, she squeezed the trigger without

any hesitation.

Ahh, had a blood feud broke out between the master and her

partner?

Oh? Kennya is dead, she's dead!

Yoshiharu panicked, and Frois bowed down her head, muttering

"Ahh, my lord."

"Stop~nya! Getting shot by an arquebus hurts!"

Kennya, who had just collapsed to the floor, seemed to be alive

and well as she stood up to give Magoichi a kick.

This time, the fervor of the believers had reached it's peak.

"Wait, I was using a real bullet just now! Why didn't you drop

dead?"

"That's because, Kennya is a living deity! Just a bullet from an

arquebus is nothing to me~nya! Nyahahahahaha, nyahahahahaha!"

"Uwahh, isn't this a joke? Damn it, I don't care anymore! Eat the

butt!"

Magoichi flipped the lower portions of her clothes up as she turned

her butt towards Kennya and slapped it. The T-shape of her loincloth

and that peach-like round butt of hers was perfectly visible.

It was still a comedy skit, but this was just too obscene. Magoichi's

talent was to reveal her butt on stage to attract attention, and so she

gained the name, "Butt eating Magoichi". All the girls seemed to

laugh out "Nyaaa...", but...

"Lo...Loincloth! That is... loincloth.....!"

Yoshiharu, still a pure, young guy at heart, was blushing instantly

as he lowered his eyes.

"Our believers are all girls, so there shouldn't be any problem with

slapping your butt here. But, Magoichi-nee-san, if you want to reign

at the top of the country with your skits, please consider a little about

your male fans when you are shaping your image."

BHAMM!

Magoichi point her arquebus straight into the sky and shot,

signalling the end of the skit amidst thunderous applause.

"No, wait. Magoichi-nee-san's loincloth was so distracting I had

forgotten to ask, but Kennya actually survived a direct shot! And she

isn't hurt at all! Just what happened!?"

"I can only say, this is a miracle, just as how in the bible the son of

god dies and rises anew. I'm so blessed to be able to witness such a

miracle every day in this far eastern island."

"Ok, let me offer a quick explanation to everyone here. Because

Kennya-sama's body is half that of a deity, just a bullet from an

arquebus won't be able to hurt her. It's worth noting, by the way, that

the power of Saika Magoichi's arquebus, according to my estimates,

it's about 3 times that of a normal arquebus, which I base around the

fact that..."

This is the same miracle known only to the son of god,

unbelievable. No wonder Randy defected.

Frois tightened her grip on her rosary as she broke into cold

sweat.

Is there a trick somewhere? Or is this magic?

Yoshiharu displayed in full the suspicious mentality of a modern

person.

In the era that I live in, there are even tricks to make the whole

Eiffel Tower of Paris vanish, right? But apparently she's a half

demon, so to that extent, she shouldn't need to have any tricks...

Zenki said he isn't good with arquebus, but compared to the

shikigamis summoned by those ancient Omyoujis, this Nekogami

sect is much more modern. The English term for Kennya would be

"Next Generation", I suppose, so they might have a resistance to

arquebus?"

"Kennya-sama has left the stage and entered the guest room. She

wants to meet with the two of you."

After witnessing for himself the extraordinary charm and popularity

of the Sengoku Era idol Kennya, Yoshiharu once again made up his

mind as he walked towards the guest room.

If bullets can't hurt her, then Kennya is someone that we can't

defeat no matter what. Not just that, the believers of Nyankousou will

emerge endlessly. Fighting with this bunch of people is definitely not

an option.

"I'm... starting to become dizzy," Frois said as she grabbed onto

Yoshiharu's arms with a worried face.

"This is too different from my common sense; it's a religious

gathering far out of my imagination. It's so totally different from

Buddhism and other religions that, honestly, I'm a little afraid."

"Yeah, there isn't any strict or devout atmosphere here at all. But

it's ok, Frois. I've stood my ground debating with Katsuchiyo, er,

Takeda Shingen. With my title of 'The pacifier Yoshiharu', there must

be some way."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. I'm one of the reasons why Takeda Shingen is still alive

today. So, to save Nobuna from this crisis, no matter how big of a

sacrifice I must make, I will definitely negotiate this peace treaty with

Honbyo Temple. This is the so called atonement of my sins. But, I

will definitely protect Frois, so relax!"

"... Obrigado"

You are really a pacifier, Yoshiharu-san. Frois smiled.

~ ~ ~

In the guest room, set up as it was like a tea room, the four of

them stared at each other's faces.

The representative of the Oda Clan, Yoshiharu, the mediator,

Frois, the master of Honbyo Temple, Kennya and the leader of the

Saika Clan, carrying the arquebus Yatagarasu, Saika Magoichi.

Kennya's subordinates, Shimotsuma Rantei and Shimotsuma

Kakehu had retreated outside.

"Nyahahahaha! Sagara Yoshiharu. You really are a monkey face,

just like what the rumors say! You couldn't turn into a cat even if you

wear cat ears~nya!"

In a dignified mood and full fighting spirit after ending her skit,

Kennya laughed so cheerfully that her cat ears shook.

"Yoshiharu-san, the war will start sometime soon. Once this

negotiation breaks down, Osaka, Ise, Omi and Mikawa will instantly

break down into chaos. We have Kyoto in our sights."

The cheerful and frank Magoichi sat down cross-legged as she

gulped down her tea with a big tea cup... No, it looked like her glass

was filled with wine. All the proper mannerisms associated with the

tea room seemed to be out of the window.

Wait, with her legs like that, I'd just need to tilt my head a bit to

see... *gulp*

Finally, Yoshiharu couldn't endure any longer and shifted his gaze

towards Magoichi, but instantly in his mind, Nobuna's furious face

appeared, shouting"You cheating on me, Saru!?" and stopping his

eyes dead in their tracks.

Eh, this isn't like me at all. I'm just like those Christians, constantly

trying to keep their conscious clean for Jesus! Will I be like this from

now on? I like Nobuna, but these symptoms make it feel like I'm just

terrified of her!

"The Oda Clan had no plans to wage war against a peaceable

religion. Those rumors saying Nobuna-sama would attack Honbyo

Temple aren't worth believing." Frois explained.

"Even if those are baseless rumors, but there will definitely be

conflicts in the future." Kennya retorted, a matter-of-fact ton to her

voice.

"I can't let those battle-frenzy samurai do as they please in Japan

any longer. That bunch is too depressing~nya. They have forgotten

all about the smile that is most important to humans~nya. The battle

of the Oda army with the Takeda army, just seeing it makes my heart

depressed and sad~Nya. I can only use laughter and the cuteness of

Nekogami-sama to heal the people, so we might see peace reign

throughout Japan once more! What Japan needs now isn't a violent

God, but a God that can bring forth happiness~nya!"

The young and always laughing Kennya, had an unexpectedly

sharp mind. It seemed she wasn't just a cute face. As expected from

someone born to be the successor of Honbyo Temple. With this,

Yoshiharu realized he wouldn't be able to persuade her without going

all out.

"I can't let Oda Nobuna, who knows nothing about the spirit of

comedy and reeks of miso, complete her ambition of Tenka

Fubu~nya. We have good relations with Takeda Shingen, but her

rural lands of Kai aren't much use, and she can't proceed to the

capital easily~nya. So, it is up to Kennya-sama to fulfill the ambition

for Tenka Fubyo and transform Japan into a country of laughter for

all to see~nya! Nyahahahaha!"

"The believers in Honbyo Temple, most of them are the second or

third daughters of poor samurai families and children of farmers who

lost their lands due to war. The key is that they had no place to go to

except Honbyo Temple.... Since we can't know what will happen the

next day, we should just trust to fate! Just like this, we don't care

about anything and ride to war. Hmph"

Magoichi drunkenly aimed at Yoshiharu's head with her

Yatagarasu.

"I'm a rural samurai from Kii. I don't listen to anyone's orders, a

perfect woman. I'm not one of the believers of Nyankousou, and

have no interest for the world. I stay because I feel relaxed

performing skits with Kennya. Our motto is 'to make this boring world

interesting'. Any fellow who want to tie us down, even if she's Oda

Nobuna who is leading the world, I will let her die by my gun!

Ahahahaha!"

"Wait wait. I'm different from Kennya! I'll actually die if I'm shot!

Stop, stop!"

"Bang...!"

"Uwahhhhh! My head was hit, no more....! Frois, let's run for our

lives!"

"...Wh...at, I didn't squeeze the trigger. Are you an idiot!? What a

coward. Ahahahaha!"

"Damn! I almost leaked...!"

"Weak. To think that you shat due to fright[26]. So weak!

Ahahahaha!"

"How low~nya! What a disgusting envoy~nya!"

"I didn't shit or anything out of fright! Your comedy routine is too

outdated! Especially when the fool isn't really the fool! You guys are

like ancient art!"

Ahh damn!! Let me show you what the true modern gags are!

Despite the burning in Yoshiharu's heart, the modern gags he

knew would most likely not fit the tastes of the Sengoku Era.

"You argue that, precisely because we are at this chaotic era, the

people need laughter....? In the same vein, the lord did teach us,

'Man cannot live on bread alone'. I think I finally understand, both

your argument and the reason Randy defected. But if we really go

into war, won't all of you lose your laughter too?" Frois asked.

"Once I, Kennya defeat Oda Nobuna and end the era of samurai,

peace will once again reign throughout the lands~nya. Listen,

kirishitan~nya. The people of this chaotic era do not know what will

happen to them on the morrow. In this bleak world, there are two

kinds of medicine to help their hearts." Kennya explained.

"One is the medicine named tears."

"Tears of pity, tears of resonance, tears of sympathy. There are

many kinds of tears, once one cries out, the things stuck in their

hearts will flow out with the tears, and their heart will be released

too~nya. The reason your Christian teachings have taken root

through the whole of Japan with such immense strength is because

you kirishitans are skilled in saying things that make people cry~nya.

Your story, in short, is that of the master having been betrayed by his

disciple, and suffering torture and finally dying by being pinned onto

the cross. After going through such a depressing story, he was

miraculously revived! Something like that will make people cry out in

waves, what a brilliant story to make people cry. This cheery Kennya

feels a little like crying when remembering Rantei's bible

stories~nya."

With no explanation for which story she had recalled, Kennya wept

a little

"It is not the duty of the church to make people cry. Simply put, the

church teaches that all humans have immense sin the moment they

were born. But, our lord shouldered all these sins for us with his

death."

"That right there is what's totally incompatible to our cheery Osaka

people. Whhhhhy must Osaka people have sins the moment we are

born? Those young girls who suffered during the war and have no

home to return to, after losing their family and running to Honbyo

Temple for refuge, what sin do they have~nya?"

Kennya opened the window and waved at the girls gathered on

the field cheerfully. Everyone was cheering "Nyaaaaaa" at her.

"These children have no sins~nya. If there is, it's the fault of those

fallen nobles in Kyo and those samurai who fight endless wars~nya.

Honbyo Temple's purpose is to provide a safe shelter and food to

these children who have suffered the most in this chaotic era, along

with peace of heart. If the world wasn't this chaotic, Honbyo Temple

would just be a small temple housing cats~nya!"

Yoshiharu and Frois had to admit, though Kennya was young, she

was indeed an extraordinary character. They began to understand a

little how the girl could come to be a messiah. It's just, her "Nyaaa~"

smile and her expression when she bit into her favourite dried fish

completely fit her actual age.

"It's like this... The suffering endured in this chaotic era, maybe this

is what our lord called 'sin'."

"Ahhh.... Ahhh... How depressing~nya... The medicine that I,

Kennya made is laughter~nya. No matter how chaotic and uneasy

the world becomes, once they laugh out loud from their hearts, ahh,

how mysterious, their mood is suddenly so cheerful~nya! It's better

and more relaxing to believe things like sin do not exist from the

beginning, I think~nya. What Japan needs during this never ending

war is laughter and a heart that loves cute kitties~nya... Since we

have struggled our way into surviving every day, it's too much to find

some sin to suffer! It's not our loss since we are alive~nya! It's

precisely because of this chaotic era that we should look on ahead

and maintain a cheerful mood~nya! This is the crux of Kennyasama's teaching~nya." Kennya proclaimed loudly, stoking a huge

beckoning cat.

Hmmm. They had found a beckoning cat to replace a Buddha, so

can they be counted as a faction of the Mahayana? No, they're more

of a charity group, right?

Yoshiharu's mind was running at full throttle as he nodded his

head.

The people had been tormented with centuries of war, and their

hearts were always uneasy. Living on was a pain, especially when

there was no knowing what would happen the next day. Thinking of

"Using laughter to recover our spirits!" during such a time seemed

fitting of the people of Osaka. It's a testament to this amazing era

that the power of Honbyo Temple had grown this strong. But, as

expected, this bunch was way out of their league if they wanted to

rule the country.

"Kennya is using her own way to save the hearts of the people.

Think how much the people would benefit if she doesn't start the war

and continued performing her skits."

Kennya and Yoshiharu stared at each other as seconds ticked by.

As things crept on though, the cat ears on top of Kennya's head

were still twitching. Yoshiharu couldn't help but notice, and his strict

expression began to crack.

"Wait, don't make me laugh! This is a solemn situation."

"Kennya fears the depressing atmosphere the most~nya. Anyway,

didn't Oda Nobuna send over gifts~nya?"

"How can that petty Nobuna spend money for something like that?

Rather, she wants Honbyo Temple to fund her expenses."

"...As expected, that fellow is Kennya's enemy~nya. At least give

me a fish~nya. Just to mention, as you have no doubt noticed, I love

dried fish."

"Hmmm, just like a cat. How about some catnip?"

"Ny...Nya...!?

As soon as the words leave Yoshiharu's mouth, Kennya paled

instantly. With her body and tail frantically trembling, her eyes quickly

filled with tears and she darted behind Magoichi.

"Ca...Ca...Ca...Catnip is no-no~nya! Th...that thing is just too

scary~nya! No~nya, definitely not~nya! If you give Kennya that,

Kennya will... Uwahh... Uwahhhhhhhhh"

"Uhhh, looks like someone is in denial. Looks like my only choice

is bringing out the catnip."

"Don't take it out~nya, don't take it outtttttttttt!"

"You are really thick headed. I should just kill you with a shot."

Being in charge of protecting Kennya's safety, Magoichi aimed her

Yatagaru straight at Yoshiharu.

"Hoho. You seem composed, I didn't expect you to have such

guts."

"It's just a joke. Didn't I say I'm a peace envoy?"

"Listen? Though she is the invincible Kennya-sama, catnip is

Kennya's greatest nemesis in the world. When it's brought near her,

Kennya will become useless, and the power of cats in her body will

disappear. Remember this, and never bring out the topic of catnip

again."

"I got it already. How about I bring out a mouse, that should be

okay, right?"

"Nya.... So you didn't bring catnip, huh? I can finally relax now,

Magoichi~nya."

"Ahh, calm down, calm down. Though Kennya is pretty cute when

she's frightened and trembling too."

"There's nothing decent about the retainers of Oda Nobuna~nya.

He keeps saying he's a peace envoy, but he still acts so

arrogant~nya."

Actually, Yoshiharu had prepared a bit of catnip. Luckily, he

realized soon he would be dead once he brought it out in front of

Magoichi-nee-san. Yoshiharu cautiously sipped his tea. Knowing that

the ninja Goemon should be somewhere nearby was just enough to

keep him calm. If Goemon wasn't around, he might really lose

control of his bowels in front of that huge Yatagarasu and it's

formidable presence. Perhaps he needed a plan for whenever

Goemon wasn't around. In fact, they were finding more and more

times she couldn't keep watch over him. The more he thought about

it, the more his nerves frayed.

Frois, who had been silently listening, finally opened her mouth.

"....Umm... I do agree with the teaching that laughter can bring

great happiness. But, if we don't practice moderation, we won't know

when we will commit a sin. For example, when Yoshiharu-san sees a

girl's breasts, it's a sin for him to immediately ogle them. I'm a sinful

woman for being born with such a huge pair of lewd breasts to

mesmerize Yoshiharu-san."

"It's not like this, Frois! A girl's big breasts can be used to console

guys! Don't I always say that? Be more confident of yourself!"

"...Sigh. But, I will never let Yoshiharu-san touch them again.

When Yoshiharu-san was hugging me to ease his heart, I discovered

during our skit training that he was thinking lewd thoughts."

"That was just an act to get Frois to hit me!!... At least half of it!

Ahh, for a bishoujo like Frois to not marry for the rest of her life, what

a waste! What have you done, God!"

"Ohh… Ohh. The Oda clan's envoy is on our side~nya. Just to

mention, in Honbyo Temple, even the clergies are able to marry and

divorce as they please. Our side seems to fit you better~nya."

Kennya smiled as she looked at Yoshiharu.

"What, you love the breasts of young girls? What a brat. When you

start to become excited over the peach-like roundness of the butt,

you will have finally grown up! Ahahahahaha!"

Magoichi, now deeper into her inebriation, hugged Yoshiharu.

Immediately in his imagination, Yoshiharu saw Nobuna roaring,

"Saru, so you don't just love big breasts, you love big butts too! Just

how lewd can you get!" Who would have thought that having a

girlfriend as a riajuu[27] would be so troubling? Yoshiharu was

suddenly enlightened.

"Anyway! Laughter and tears, isn't it good to have both medicines?

Japan has 8 million Gods and deities, and this symbolises freedom,

no, tolerance, so Christianity and Nyankousou can both coexist

peacefully. People like Nobuna who love the namban will be touched

by the tears of Christians, and those who love comedies can be

consoled by Kennya's skits. There isn't any problem in that! As long

as you disarm yourselves, even Nobuna won't wage war against

Honbyo Temple, I dare say!"

"Nobuna dislikes nothing more than religious clergies arming

themselves and fighting. Once this war starts, it will last an entire

decade. No matter how hard it gets though, Nobuna will never give

up on her dream of Tenka Fubu, and the hatred between the both of

you will just pile up. This place will become a land with no laughter."

Just like this, Yoshiharu tried his best to persuade Kennya.

Could Nobuna really reach her goal of Tenka Fubu?

According to Yoshiharu, there were two ordeals that she must

pass.

One was to prevent the "Incident at Honnouji."

And the other was to prevent this 10 year war with Honbyo

Temple.

The situation was rough. The "Tiger of Kai", Takeda Shingen was

still alive. If that miracle of Saitou Yoshitatsu defecting at the last

minute hadn't happened, the army led by Saitou Dousan would have

been utterly decimated by Shingen's Takeda cavalry in the Battle of

Gifu. Nobuna, wanting to save Dousan, didn't finish the Asai Asakura

allied forces. And they had yet to face another sengoku warrior on

par with Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo, not to mention the Mori

Clan dominating the Chuugoku.

The Oda Clan currently faced enemies at all sides. If they had to

wage war with Honbyo Temple now, the Oda army wouldn't be able

to defend its own territory. Shingen would doubtlessly once again

march towards the capital. If things really came to that, the Oda Clan

actually might not make it.

Knowing this well, Yoshiharu faced the most important job in his

life.

"It's still not too late to stop. Giving lines like 'You will go to cat

paradise if you die' to your girls will only make them die in vain, so

that's a definite no. According to what Frois said, this is the sin!

Humans, let their lives be beautiful like summer flowers!"

Feeling the atmosphere change brought by this serious Yoshiharu,

Kennya couldn't help but retreat. For the first time, she had the

expression of a young demure and cute girl.

"... 'Cat paradise' was originally a short term strategy to console

the people who were afraid of death brought by wars, famine and

plague."

"But it has become 'If we die in the war, we can go to cat paradise,

so calm down! Relax!'. Am I wrong?"

"Before we noticed, it had become like this~nya. Sagara

Yoshiharu, you have seen them too. We have reached an impasse in

this chaotic era. The believers of Honbyo Temple are cheering

everyday, since they have given their all, but they've gotten so

fervent they can't bear it to not take action. Letting Shimotsuma

Rantei lead them to war with the samurai before they break out in

unrest is the current best plan~nya. Our Honbyo Temple has very

good relations with Takeda Shingen and the Mori Clan at the

Chuugoku Region, so the enemy is obviously Oda Nobuna~nya."

"We of the Saika Clan do business by warring with our

arquebuses. It's our wish to die in battle, and we have long come to

terms with this. But the believers have been suppressing their anger

more and more, and now we cannot stop them just by performing a

few skits." Saika Magoichi said.

"Sigh, it's the fault of those samurai who tortured the people that

we're in this situation today. What's wrong with pouring out

something that has been suppressed for so very long? That is the

only way. Ahahaha, want another cup?"

So even Kennya couldn't control this bunch of energetic

believers... Yoshiharu was out of ideas. But since the war hadn't

started just yet, there was still time. He had to keep thinking...!

"Ahhh... If this goes on, Japan will also face religious war with the

religions of Europe... Yoshiharu-san, no matter what, you must stop

them." Frois held her cross tightly and prayed.

"Frois. Just what happened in the religious war of Europe? I'm not

that familiar with world history, unlike Japanese history."

"... It's regrettable, but there are two major factions among the

Christians in Europe, and they wage war among each other all

around the place. The pope of Rome led the traditional Christians,

while the new Christians refused to acknowledge the church's

authority. Both parties hated each other and began their war."

Now that she mentions it, I think I remember something like that in

the textbooks.," Yoshiharu recalled vaguely.

"What, so the namban have a problem with opposing authority

too? Humans, just how dumb can they get? Hmph!"

"Yeah~nya. This trend doesn't seem to stop~nya."

"No, I, having come from the future to change this mistaken flow,

will proclaim right here! Magoichi-nee-san is very strong, strong

enough to be called the goddess of arquebus. With her and the

countless believers, the Honbyo Temple cannot be conquered. This

war will drag on for ages, and even with that, the final victor will be

Nobuna! She will pull through at any cost, because at the front of

Nobuna's Tenka Fubu is an even greater goal! Her ambition is to sail

towards the other side of the wide seas! This is the determining

difference between the two of you!"

"Of course, please keep all of this a secret from Nobuna, because

if Nobuna knows of the future, my head will be in danger."

Yoshiharu's glorious declaration was capped with humble begging as

he knelt and held Frois's hand.

"At least this is what I remembered from the history from my

games! But in the games, there wasn't a temple named Honbyo

Temple."

Nyaaa, Kennya cowered.

"Yo...you're bluffing, right~nya? With no catnip, how can this

immortal Kennya-sama lose to Oda Nobuna, who will collapse from

just a single shot from an arquebus~nya?"

"Exactly. If I want to, I can infiltrate Nobuna's main camp and kill

her with a shot of this Yatagarasu."

"Since you came from the future, then show me your proof~nya,

proof!"

"In the ancient skits, there's also the gag of, 'Show me the face,

the face!'. Now that you mention it..."

"Oi, Saru. Don't use skits to smoke this over~nya."

"Simply put, the manpower of Honbyo temple is scattered around

the country, right? Though the total manpower is immense, there

isn't a central mastermind. Even if you won in different areas, once

Nobuna gathers a proper army, all of them will be defeated."

"Nonsense~nya! Honbyo Temple has strong relationships with

Takeda Shingen and Chuugoku's Mori clan~nya! How can we be

easily defeated~nya!?"

"Kennya might be immortal, but if the believers say things like 'We

will go to cat paradise if we die', the arsonist Nobuna will definitely

burn them into a crisp! Sigh, if it really becomes like this, it can't be

stopped even if I commit seppuku. Hmmm, recently, that fellow has

become much more meek, so I doubt she would just resort to

burning her enemies alive... But, if she was forced into a corner by

Shingen and Honbyo Temple, she might really become the sixth

demon lord."

"You're just a monkey face guy, yet you act like you know so

much~nya. Since you are so adamant about it, then show me the

proof that you're from the future~nya! Don't tell me you are like those

paranoid prophets~nya?"

"Exactly. There have been lots of those bastards about recently...."

"Hmmm, I gave my phone to Nobuna, so there's really no other

proof."

"Yoshiharu-san, will the humans of the future continue waging

wars all around the world and keep falling to sin?" Frois asked sadly.

"Er..... relax, Frois. There's still wars in the future, but the humans

have been improving bit by bit. Though it's really just a tiny bit.

There's the culture of peaceful competitions without going into war,

like the Olympics."

"Ohlimpic? What's that? You want to fool us by using some

monkey language?" Magoichi positioned Yatagarasu's barrel at

Yoshiharu's forehead. It looked like she had drank quite a bit, and

she seemed to be on the verge of squeezing the trigger in her daze.

"Ol...Olympics is a peaceful event using sports to compete

between different countries. It includes sports like soccer or sumo

wrestling, things like that. All the countrie get to compete with each

other, but since it's not a real war there won't be any death, and thus

no hatred despite the outcome!"

"Ah! Yoshiharu-san. These sports, how about we teach everyone

of Nyankousou?"

"Yeah Frois! Let's use this method! If everyone puts that brimming

energy into sports... maybe we can avoid this war! Skits don't have a

victor, but with sports you can compete! This can fulfill the people's

desire to fight without anyone dying!"

"I don't understand all this monkey language, but how can farmers

and merchants know soccer~nya? Such a thing is a game limited to

just samurai and nobles." Kennya puffed out her cheeks.

"Kennya can be counted as a soccer pro~nya. Such a thing has

too much rules, it's too irritating and boring~nya."

"I think so too. Looking at such an elegant thing, I will feel flustered

and want to shoot!"

"I get it, I get it. Then let me teach you guys the newest form of

namban soccer! That will be sure to get your blood pumping!"

"Namban soccer???"

Though Frois seemed worried, mumbling "Will that work?",

Yoshiharu stuck out his thumb and proclaimed, "It will definitely

succeed, trust me!"

Forced to a corner, the "peace envoy" Yoshiharu offered a

suggestion that would affect the rest of his life. And just what was

this "namban soccer"? To find out, please come back for the next

chapter.