Saving Kuroda Kanbei

At the Aga shrine, Yoshiharu and Shikanosuke are currently doing

their training.

"Cough cough cough..."

Yoshiharu was tied upside down to a tree branch with a rope,

while his head was soaked in the well, suffocating and yelling "ah…

ah…ah…ah…", he was finally pulled up after he struggled and

turned voiceless.

"Ha…ha…ha…ha…ha…ha…"

Just after a breath, he was thrown back to the well again.

Such reckless training was going on and on..

"Cough... What is the meaning for such a training…?"

Being hanged upside down and drank tons of waters, Yoshiharu,

whose stomach had already become a water tank, protested while

holding his lifeline, Zenki.

"Enough talk. This training is to let your presense disappear in the

face of enemies, an art of invisibility. This is a necessary training."

"I could only imagine this as a type of swimming skill."

"The one who will cast the invisibility spell will be I who will be

going with you. All you need is to learn the spiritual state of

nothingness."

"Spiritual state of nothingness….cough."

"Regardless of what kind of pain, until the level where one can't

even feel the difficulties of breathing, it's to this extent that you can't

be disrupted by the surrounding, and becoming one with heaven and

earth."

"...I understand theoretically... But won't I die before reaching

this limit?"

"Only by reaching this limit alive can you erase your presense from

the enemies after I had cast the art of invisibility. If you die then you

can't save Kanbei. That's it."

"... Wait... My current situation….. I feel like I've seen this

somewhere? Ah! That's right! Kanbei's tarot cards!"

While being hanged, Yoshiharu shouted and gusted water from his

mouth.

"『Hanged Man』! Your tarot's divination was correct Kanbei!

Alright! Let's settle this in a go!"

"Hoho, you suddenly became so motivated."

"Wait for me, Kanbeiiiiii!"

Next to Yoshiharu, Shikanosuke is also starting training at Aga

shrine.

Taking off her shirt and only using both hands to barely clutch her

breasts, Shikanosuke was doing a Kekkafuza on the side of the

sacred tree.

[3]

In addition, Shikanosuke is also blindfolded with a cloth.

Granny Aga hang herself on a tree branch with a hemp rope while

rotating above Shikanosuke, while occasionally making a "Hey!"

sound, using a keisaku to hit Shikanosuke's snow white skin hardly.

"… Ah! That hurts…"

The blindfolded Shikanosuke doesn't know when she will be hit

again and at which place, so she will need to endure the pain of the

whole body trembling again and again.

"Ha… Ha… Ha… What a suffering of Dukkha. Hit me more. More!"

"Hey, hey, hey. The skin already became red, but her motivation

seems to be increasing still. What a girl."

"Hahaha... The whole body was beaten into bright red. Ah, this

is Dukkha."

"The stratagem tactic of Qi Men Dun Jia is to sense an enemy

attack by their movement.

Without using your eyes, using only sense to feel the movement of

keisaku, you will pass if you can do it. Hehehe."

Dong!

Ah! That is my br-breast….. Don't thrust in there. It hurts!

"Oh ho. The hand that clutches the breast has loosened. Hehehe,

although Zenki doesn't look over here, but the kid could see

everything clearly."

"Iyaaaaaa~!! My lord, please stop looking!"

"S-Sorry! Your breast is b-bigger than I imagined!"

"Please don't explain it!"

"It's bad. You are getting so far away from the spiritual state of

nothingness."

Zenki loosen the rope in his hand. Yoshiharu's head drop into the

well.

"Cough cough cough..."

"Eh, my lord? Did you just sink into the well?"

"A brat that could not resist looking at naked girls, this is youth,

hehehe."

"Ha… Ha… My lord actually saw Shikanosuke in such an

embarrassing state, this is Dukkha."

"Next strike!"

"Ah? Your mind has captured the movement of keisaku!"

WHACK!

"Ouch! Shikanosuke is such a bad child, so I was being punished

like this. Ha…"

"Hey! You should be dodging the keisaku. Why did you go hit the

keisaku on your own?"

"... Cough cough! Hey! I finally got out from the well, why am I

still seeing Shikanosuke naked? At least let her wear her shirt!"

"Sob... I sense my lord is troubled... This is Dukkha"

After several training sessions, Yoshiharu and Shikanosuke were

totally exhausted, so they decided to take a rest.

However, it was only a short time.

Wearing their shirt while panting heavily and, the both of them

climbed up to a big tree trunk by supporting each other.

"... Cough cough. It is already evening, can we really be able to

catch up? Tomorrow is the day of war, but we're still unable to reach

the spiritual state of nothingness."

"I can already feel that my lord is troubled."

"Ha... The matter of rescuing Hanbei and Kanbei is so urgent, yet

my mind is still being distracted by a girl. How I wish a hammer can

appear and hit my head fiercely."

"My lord wants to challenge the Dukkha too? If you don't mind, I

have a Japanese sword with me!"

"Do you want to kill me?!"

Suddenly, a shadow appears in front of Yoshiharu.

"My lord! Big trouble!"

The identity of the shadow wasn't Goemon, the one he's

expecting, but the deputy minister of Kawanamishuu, Maeno

Nanigashi.

And he was injured all over his body.

Yoshiharu guessed that something unexpected must have

occurred at Yamato. "What happened?"

"Matsunaga Hisahide of Yamato has revolted!"

"What did you say?"

"This is the second time! Worst of all, her main camp is located at

the Tamonyama Castle in front of Todai Temple's Shosoin. The

Armed priests and the Matsunaga army started a war there, we can't

get close to Shosoin at all!"

"G-Goemon is there right? Goemon somehow should have a way

to solve this right?"

Maeno Nanigashi who was kneeling on the ground, roared while

tears were dropping from his eyes.

"… Boss was… Boss was… Boss was defeated and killed....

AHHHHH!"

That demonic woman used the skill of puppet!

Boss was trying to stop her revolt, but has been killed!

We wanted to follow our boss and commit mass suicide, but in

order to report this matter to our lord, my brothers yelled at me to

come here.....

"It's no good! We are already... BOSS!!!!!"

Maeno collapsed on the floor, and began to cry.

Shikanosuke cried out too "How could this happen..."

At this moment, Yoshiharu himself did not even notice that he had

stood up.

"... Matsunaga Hisahide... to think that you actually betrayed

us again at this moment! Why? Why did you betray Nobuna? I will

never forgive you!"

"Wait kid! Where do you think you are going?"

Granny Aga came down from the tree branch and used the

keisaku to hit Yoshiharu's shoulder.

"To Yamato and get revenge for Goemon! Nobuna's still sleeping

at Honnouji, she is still in a dangerous situation now!"

"Idiot!"

His forehead was hit.

Yoshiharu didn't sense the attack, so he couldn't dodge it.

His eyebrows are broken, and the blood sprays out.

"Ouch! What are you doing?!"

"Hehehe. Don't allow your heart to be shaken, you can't even

dodge the keisaku in front of your eyes in such a situation! Idiot!"

"Ugh…"

"Didn't you promised? For three days and three nights, no matter

what happened, that you will not stop training."

"… Ugh…"

"You won't be able to master the art of invisibility this way."

"Damn…"

Yoshiharu took a few deep breathes.

Calm down.

If I was plagued by my anger, all the efforts till now will be in vain.

"Brat, are you giving up on saving Kanbei?"

"There is no way I will give up, but due to my greediness, all the

forces have been scattered… And Goemon…"

"Idiot! What use is there for any regret now!?."

"Baba. First was Hanbei, and then Goemon, have I been too

dependent on them?"

"Do you think it is annoying for people that you are depending on

them?"

"... No.... Goemon.... She.... She is my partner. Partners who

have entrusted their dreams and life to each other."

"If you are in the position, will you regret it now?"

"Of course not."

"That lass called Oda Nobuna, is she the kind of person that can't

surpass such a situation?"

"...No.... Nobuna isn't that weak of a person."

"Hehehe. If that's the case, I will stop here then."

"… Yeah."

Maeno roared, "In place of the young, fair skin boss, the

Kawanamishuu will definitely rescue the young, crybaby and fair

skin's Hanbei! My lord, you must rescue that young, tsundere and

watery skin's Kanbei!" Saying that, he leaps to the other side of the

cypress tree.

It seems like they've already resolved themselves to steal the

Ranjatai, even with the cost of their life.

Towards Maeno who is showing a dead face, Granny Aga said.

"Wait! That person called Goemon, is she really dead?"

"That... No... Er..."

"Where did the corpse go?"

"The boss's corpse... It disappeared somewhere…"

"Stupid! Really stupid! If you didn't see the corpse, then don't

decide whether she is dead!"

"Yeah! Boss might be injured and is now looking for a place to

hide?"

"There is such a possibility too. Hehehe."

"Thank you so much, Baba. Ohhh! I suddenly feel much more

energetic now!"

A spilt second later, Maeno's figure disappeared in the darkness.

The dead face he showed just now had vanished without a trace.

"Seriously, things like delusions and imagination, they are useful at

a time like this. Those who are in the battlefield, still need an

imagination called dream."

"That is hope."

"With this, the man won't start seeking death. Hehehe."

"Then all you said just now was a lie?"

"Shikanosuke, there's only a tiny difference between lies and truth,

and there is no way humans like us can figure that out. What's more,

we are at Harima. Incidents happening in Yamato, how can someone

like me without any clairvoyance know about them?"

Yoshiharu lowered his head and muttered "Spiritual state of

nothingness, I think I understand it bit." "The phrase that Nobuna

always sing『Dreams are like delusions』, I finally can understand. I

finally know what she's praying when she's singing the Atsumori."

"Brat, what will you do? Go to Yamato or continue to stay at

Harima?"

Yoshiharu endured it, the impulse to go to Yamato to confirm the

status of Goemon, and to rescue Nobuna who had collapsed from

Hisahide's army.

Yoshiharu decided to take all the fruits and put it in the bag named

"Sagara Yoshiharu".

Believe in the companions that hold the same dreams, overcoming

the trials in front of them. This is the meaning of taking in all the

fruits.

Believe in Goemon, believe in Nobuna.

Everything is not over yet.

The Incident at Honnouji has not been confirmed yet.

The Oda clan's retainers were scattered all over, the conditions of

occurrence have seemingly been all fulfilled.

But the fated retainer, Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide has not betrayed

Nobuna yet.

The Matsunaga army did not charge into Kyoto but fighting with

the armed monks at Nara.

In this case, there is still time for Nobuna to react..

Even if Nobuna's army is small, but there is still time.

If it's Nobuna, she still has the determination of breaking through

the impossible.

With this, we can definitely overcome all the difficulties.

So I want to defeat the enemy right in front of me too, with

everything I have!

To endure, Yoshiharu cross his arms, with his nails digging deep

into his skin, to the extent that blood can be seen flowing out.

"I'm staying at Harima! I must learn the art of invisibility before

dawn!"

"My lord, I will try my best too!"

"Yeah. Everything will be decided tomorrow, Shikanosuke. Our

friends are scattered all over. Now, the only ones who can rescue

Kanbei is us."

"Yes!"

"Hehehe." Granny Aga laughed with happiness.

"The main army of the Mori clan is going to reach Harima in no

time. Tomorrow is the only opportunity, can I really master the art of

invisibility by tonight to rescue Kanbei?"

"Certainly. And I believe in Goemon. Shinobis have the ability to

fake their death to escape. I had once been saved by Hanzo when

he faked my death... So…"

I'm out of words...

It might just be a dream.

Perhaps it's a delusion of hope instead. But...

This is not a dream that I should be having by myself. So.

"I believe that Goemon is still alive!"

Next morning.

In the west coast of Yumesakigara full of mist, the Sagara corps

led by Yamanaka Shikanosuke appeared.

Shikanosuke took the lead and crossed the river.

"All forces! Forget about Mt.Shosan! Our target is to recapture the

Kozuki Castle in West Harima !"

Wearing her Crescent Kazuno helmet, Yamanaka Shikanosuke

had resolved to forsake her life here.

But this resolve isn't made from her desire to die.

This is the task force that will become the bait to lure out Ukita

Naoie.

Trying her best to hold on the time to rescue Kuroda Kanbei, that's

the determination of her resolve.

"If we successfully recaptured Kozuki Castle before the Mori army

enters Harima, Ukita Naoie at Mt. Shozan will thus be cut off from his

retreat path and be isolated. After that, we will defend Kozuki Castle

and cut off both armies. So pace up!"

Shikanosuke leads the veterans of Amago's Ten Heroes, the

veterans of Kanegasaki who joined Sagara corps, and though the

numbers are small, the warriors of the Kuroda clan who have the

mindset of "Rescue our princess" had also joined the force.

Kuroda family retainers' force, not more than hundred men, that

joined to siege Miki castle, was deeply touched by Shikanosuke who

is willing to rescue Kanbei to challenge Ukita Naoie. They sent a

team of elites to take part in the battle.

However, if Shikanosuke can't apply the techniques of Qi Men Dun

Jia along with Granny Aga, it is still possible for them to be utterly

defeated by Naoie who have a number advantage.

"Hehehe. A tactic formed at the last minute , will it succeed?"

Granny Aga that assists Shikanosuke was riding a cow and

advancing lesiurely. "Won't riding a cow be a problem?"

"The essence of my tactic is to watch the armies moving back and

forth rapidly, but in actual fact , my army is stationary."

The demonic star at the sky is shining.

Is that the star of Matsunaga Hisahide, the star of betrayal that is

feared by the soldiers?

Shikanosuke is praying ,even though they couldn't see the moon

above their heads anymore, she is still praying.

"This is not for me, it is for my master, for Kuroda Kanbei-dono,

please bless me with the Dukkha!"

Hearing what Shikanosuke said, the confusion of the armies

disappears in an instant.

"Everyone, we must emerge victorious in this battle full of

hardships. We will never give up!"

"Oh!" the armies cried.

"Breakthrough Mt.Shozan from the front, proceeding by pretending

to retreat but advance in reality, pretending to advance but retreat in

reality! Let's go!"

"Zenki, Shikanosuke had started to move."

"Certainly. Ukita Naoie is an intelligent person, he will soon notice

that it was a decoy. Let's go now."

Sagara Yoshiharu, who was holding the map from Aga shrine's

granny, started to move deep into Mt. Shozan.

There was only Yoshiharu and Zenki the both of them.

Although they had encountered Ukita army's scouts many times,

with the art of invisibility, they were able to pass through with their

lives intact.

Hiding while climbing the steep mountain road, climbing while

hiding again. There is no time to rest up.

"Zenki, the scouts, they're here again!"

"Calm your mind down. Chant the mantra."

While hiding in the bushes, Yoshiharu and Zenki chant the mantra

together.

The guards had almost ran right to the front of Yoshiharu.

"Was that my imagination?"

"It seems like there is no one there."

Shaking their heads, the guards went back the way they came

from.

After the presence of the guards disappeared, Yoshiharu and

Zenki resumed climbing.

"But it's really strange. Why didn't the guards see me?"

"No. just that you are thinking that you are hidden, that's all."

"I think?"

"Your belief will infect their minds. Of course, I am the one who

started the infection."

"Is this an illusion? It's more like hypnosis."

"Although I'm much weaker now, I still have this degree of power."

The sight suddenly became clear, the rugged mountain road

appeared in front.

While having a birds-eye view of Himeji Castle, Yoshiharu opened

the map that he got from Granny Aga.

"There are a total of five possible places that have an underground

prison. Kanbei should be moved out from the prison that Goemon

discovered, there should be only four possible places left." Yoshiharu

muttered.

Far away, the sound of screams and collision of weapons can be

heard.

War had been ignited on the foothill.

Obviously, Ukita Naoie has sent the main bulk of his force into the

battlefield. In order to capture Shikanosuke, even the number of

scouts had decreased significantly.

"We don't have time to search them one by one. Zenki, we'll split

up."

"No. The art of invisibility can't be done without me. You will be

found if we split up."

"Then you could call out Sunekosuri to trace the smell of Kanbei.

Hey, get up! It's your show time!"

"Nyun…. I can't get up in the morning….?"

It seems that Sunekosuri that was possessing Yoshiharu still

wants to sleep. It doesn't want to come out at all.

"Too lazy! This concerns the life of your master!"

"Sagara Yoshiharu, quiet down."

"Oh, yeah."

"Sagara Yoshiharu, let's head for the next location first. My power

is weakening while we're talking."

"The effect of talisman started to wear off?"

"Correct. And of course, I will disappear too if my master dies."

"If you disappear now..."

"It will be the end then. I will go back to heaven."

Zenki seems to rarely talk about itself.

Although it's a Shikigami, apart from exposing its fox appearance

occasionally, there's nothing different from a human.

And it's this Zenki, who had started to tell little by little when

climbing the mountain.

"Before being summoned as a Shikigami by master, I was in a

deep slumber, Sagara Yoshiharu."

"Deep slumber?"

"Away from all human contact, taking a short break. There was a

time that I had once lived as a normal human being."

"As a human? Then you and Granny Aga are an old acquaintance

long ago?"

"It's just that I had some bad blood with the ancestors of Granny

Aga."

"Ancestors? The Onmyouji of Ashiya Douman or something like

that? Seems like a really old story."

"After all, Granny Aga is Doman's sixtieth generation."

Zenki looked up at the endless sky above him.

"Before I went to slumber, I decided to not be bothered about the

human world. Tangible objects will break one day. Even if you want

to protect something, there is no reason to do so till the end. If you

protect it, you will only impede the would be change and growth of

that person. This is not only applying to people, but to a country as

well."

"Don't talk about something so complicated. I don't understand it."

Zenki is trying to express something, but Yoshiharu can't take it in.

He is just not the kind of man who will talk about old stories at

times like this.

"When I was first summoned as Shikigami by my master, to her

who had woken me up arbitrarily and commanded me, I revealed the

evil side of myself."

"That should be before Hanbei met Nobuna and me right? What

did Hanbei want to do before she summoned you?"

"She told me that she wants to become a military strategist to train

the ruler of men, and ending the chaotic era. The more interesting

thing is she wants to change this human world into a world that's

filled with empathy, wipe the country of all resentment and grudge

and let the world of darkness come to an end. That's why, she need

my power."

"In term of modern language, it is to end the Middle Ages."

"It means Onmyoudou will be totally useless. I thought she was a

strange Onmyouji then."

"And so you became a Shikigami of Hanbei?"

"No, Master's body was already sickly by then, cutting off the

dragon veins means shortening her own life. I feel that her weak

body and delicate mind won't allow her to chase her ambition. So I

told her to just be thankful that she is still alive, live peacefully for the

rest of her life and to abandon her ambition and leave it alone. I told

her the truth."

Zenki's voice stops suddenly.

"So, Hanbei..."

"She didn't even shed a tear, like she had seen through everything

in a short moment, she muttered to herself, only revealing a very

troubled smile. Master knew she didn't have much time left, and due

to her introvert character, she knows that it will be very hard for her

to find a lord she can serve. And so, she summoned a dangerous

Shikigami like me, it must be Master's last gamble."

"...Is that so?"

"When master was going to give up, when even her own

aspirations and ideals has almost been forgotten and when she live

a peaceful life, she was forced to serve Mino's Saito Yoshitatsu in

order to repay Ando Mamoru Iga who brought her up. But..."

"But...?"

"But Master met a person whom she can entrust her ambition, and

that person is you, Sagara Yoshiharu."

"..."

"Master said you are unafraid of death and continues to forge

ahead, it was much more meaningful than being alive but unable to

do anything. Compared to that determined expression she had on

and the time I first met her, she seem to have totally changed to a

different person.

"Hanbei made such a big gamble on me..."

"At that moment, I seem to finally remember the feelings I had as a

human being but long forgotten."

"..."

"You are the necessary man needed for Oda Nobuna to open up a

new era. The princess of the Oda Clan needs you too. After I

overheard the conversation at Honnouji, I am very certain of this

too."

"Is that so..."

Zenki's faint smile suddenly disappears.

"Sagara Yoshiharu, I am telling you this before it is too late. If we

both fall into the jaws of death, you must immediately abandon me to

make sure you survive ."

"What? I can't do such a thing."

"You must. I will disappear sooner or later, but this country's future

needs you. You must understand the meaning of my master

gambling her life on you, Sagara Yoshiharu."

"… Hanbei... Huh…"

Sunekosuri suddenly show her head from the back of Yoshiharu.

"Sob sob, this is really a touching story."

"Sunekosuri, you should tell me that you are awake!"

"Uhh.... Uhh... I'm Crying, the whole Japan is crying, nuuu."

"Cut the crap out and start to work. My pocket isn't a warmer."

"I wanna rest somemore, nuuu."

"Start working! If not, I am going to put a stick through your ass

and BBQ you at the fire."

"Buru buruburu. Ah! Found the smell of Kanbei♪"

"Really?"

"Really, nuuu!"

The direction that Sunekosuri pointed is a steep rolling downhill.

The view is bad as the trees grow thick on both side of the road.

"Zenki, although it looks dangerous, according to the map, it

should have three possible places at that direction."

"Then let's go."

"Yeah."

"If we're right, the guards will increase. Once then, we will be using

the art of invisibility to erase our presence."

"Invisibility while moving?"

"I will help you, let's go."

Yoshiharu chanted the mantra and moved down the hill.

They encountered several guards during their way.

(I'm not here, I'm not here, I am just an illusion)

Because he chants the mantra strongly, and with the help of Zenki,

they went through all the guards one by one.

There is still plenty of power left for Zenki, but Yoshiharu was

nearly at his limit.

Once his heart becomes shaken, the spell will be broken.

Do not be impatient, do not be angry, don't be anxious.

I must concentrate to retain the spiritual state of nothingness,

otherwise the spell will be broken.

After passing through a corner,

Yoshiharu muttered "we've gone through half, we're almost there."

And while he's moving forward.

Bang!

A bullet flew right at the head of Yoshiharu.

"Although I can't see them, there is someone there!"

It is Ukita Naoie.

The one who was supposed to be at the battlefield, Ukita Naoie.

It is shot from another side of the corner, a total blind spot that

Yoshiharu, with his guard down couldn't dodge it.

Yoshiharu was shocked by the instinct and sense of smell of Ukita

Naoie, who shot on something that he couldn't see.

Just a bit more...

It might be because of his state of mind now, with his heart

shaken, he might had not totally erase his presence.

No matter what –

"I will not be fooled by this degree of bait, the one who is battling

Shikanosuke on the battlefield is my substitute!"

Facing Ukita Naoie who had ambushed them, there is no way that

ordinary people like Yoshiharu can avoid it.

No matter how good he is at dodge ball, there is no way that it's

faster than a bullet. What's more, it's a snipe from a total blind spot.

Are we going to fail already?

Is it impossible to achieve the dream of putting all the fruits in a

bag.

Am I going to die here with the ambition inherited from Hanbei?

However...

"Sagara Yoshiharu! Go!"

There is a person that moves faster than bullet exists.

It is Zenki.

Zenki move in a wind-like speed and stand in front of Yoshiharu,

and the bullet hit its right shoulder.

Zenki broke the art of invisibility and shown itself.

"Zen... Zenki! You..."

"You're still not yet been seen by people. Go now! Run to where

Kanbei is! Rescue Kanbei!"

"Didn't you told me that you are afraid of Tanegashima's

bullets... Won't you disappear?"

"Quit nagging if you are a man!"

"If you disappear now, you can't come back anymore!"

"Shut up and go!"

The eyes of Zenki told Yoshiharu that this is the final farewell.

"… Ohhhh!"

Yoshiharu charges forward.

Towards Ukita Naoie and hitting him with his head.

"Wah!"

This is the invisible Yoshiharu's header.

Ukita Naoie fell down head-first, letting go of his handgun that he

was holding.

At the same time, the art of invisibility that had covered Yoshiharu

broke.

Looking at Yoshiharu who had suddenly came out of nowhere and

riding on his body, Ukita Naoie shouted out in surprise "You...!

Where did you come from!"

"You idiot! Why are you still here! Go and rescue Kanbei now!"

The right arm of Zenki had already disappeared.

"Shut up! I will beat this guy up first before rescuing Kanbei

together, Zenki."

"How stupid can you be?!"

"Ah, I am just this stupid, okay!"

"Now that Omyoudou is slowly vanishing, I will disappear no

matter what!"

"Yet you haven't disappeared now! Aren't you still alive?!"

"You are really..."

Yoshiharu continued raining a barrage of punches on Naoie's face.

But his punches didn't hit.

Yoshiharu was kicked at the stomach, and he was pushed away.

His waist heavily hit the tree trunk on his side. It's so painful that he

can't stand.

Ukita Naoie was roaring and standing up.

"Wanna win against me bare-handed! You are too naive, kid!"

"Cough, cough..."

The cornered Ukita Naoie is like a wounded lion.

With a resolve to fight until the end, he powerfully kicked on

Yoshiharu's face, which have fallen to the ground.

In the nick of time, Zenki used its only hand to pull Yoshiharu's

body up.

"Cough, cough... I thought I would be able to win without

firearms... Didn't expect him to be this good bare-handed..."

"Sagara Yoshiharu, run!"

"My gun, where is my gun damn it!"

Zenki and Yoshiharu rushed down the hill.

Ukita Naoie who lost his handgun didn't chase them and the

distance between two of them and Ukita Naoie became farther.

But their destination is obvious, the underground prison that

confined Kuroda Kanbei.

"I won't let you escape!" Ukita Naoie finally found his gun.

Bang! Bang!

Their backs are aimed and opened fire.

Yoshiharu's whole body can feel the killing intent of the bullet.

All of his hair stood up.

They're almost reaching the underground prison that held Kanbei.

It is just a little more...

"Seems like this is the end, Sagara Yoshiharu, farewell."

All of the sudden, Zenki threw Yoshiharu's body towards the front

and kicked him.

Looking back, he had started a confrontation with Ukita Naoie who

had cut off the branches with a sword while chasing them.

Zenki's chest was shot by two bullets.

"....Uhh..."

Shikigamis are very afraid of bullets.

They are more vulnerable to bullets than humans.

Zenki's chest starts to melt.

"You deserve it! One person down. Sagara Yoshiharu, you are

going to die here too!"

Saying that, Ukita Naoie was however blocked by an invisible wall.

Zenki released all of its remaining energy.

Wanting to settle things once and for all...

"Ukita Naoie, I won't let you kill this man. You will have to kill me if

you want to advance." Its body starts to crumble like sand.

Even so, Zenki still moves forward.

Using all of its power on every step to move towards Ukita Naoie,

whose expression was distorted by terror as he was shouting "You…

You monster!".

The distance between Yoshiharu start to become bigger.

"Sagara Yoshiharu. The confused Ukita Naoie won't have a way to

deal with you now. Leave him to me. Don't think about other things,

just hurry up and rescue Kuroda Kanbei!"

"... Zenki... Are you really intending to disappear here...!"

"Sagara Yoshiharu, you really are a total idiot. I can't believe that I

will be moved by a foolish man like you..."

"Wait! Wait..."

"I can't believe that I could still cry. I thank you from my heart."

"No! Don't disappear!"

"I said already, stop your nonsense! Grow up! This is a parting with

a friend! Endure it!"

Zenki's words changed Yoshiharu's expression instantly.

"You're willing to recognize me as a friend..... Zenki."

"This is really an annoying topic. Don't tell anyone. Farewell, my

friend."

"...!"

Yoshiharu clenched his teeth, turned around and started to run.

He ran to the underground dungeon that imprisons Kuroda

Kanbei, alone.

He doesn't want to let Zenki saw his tears so he didn't let out any

voice.

If I let out any voice, Zenki will know that I am crying.

He will definitely scold me that for not growing up yet.

So, I ran without letting out any voice.

With a devil-like expression, Ukita Naoie uses the bullet to blast

away Zenki's presence, while approaching Zenki and shouted "How

can I let you get away!"

Using this weapon from Nanban, they are able to disperse this

country's magical power which had existed since ancient time.

"The Onmyouji era had already ended. Now the people are

creating a new era, with me... That's good."

Zenki closes its eyes.

The only regret he has is he's unable to defeat the spirit that

appeared at Kyoto.

But that ghost will soon be sent back into the darkness by the

leaders of this new era, such as Oda Nobuna.

And that will not be far away.

Finally, the time is about to change.

The chaotic country which had stagnated for a century is about to

be reborn.

The people who used the spiritual powers of the fox deity, called it

Onmyoudou and trapped this country for years...

The people who had protected the country but due to their

overwhelming strength, had also delayed it's progress...

With the ancestor of the Tsuchimikado clan returning back to

heaven....

I had never expected that the final moments turned out to be a

longing filled with hope... I really hate to part with this world, Zenki

thought.

"Sagara Yoshiharu. Bring my master into the new world."

A sound of a gun fire can be heard from Mt. Shosan's

mountainside.

"Argh..."

Yoshiharu didn't look back.

Running at a narrow downhill road that appears on the bamboo

forest.

I had promised to keep all the fruits to myself..... I did promised...

But, my strength isn't enough.

Yoshiharu didn't stop.

I can't let Zenki's sacrifice be in vain.

The moment to be sad can be leave till after I save Kanbei and

leave Mt Shozan.

Only a small distance left between Kanbei.

"Sunekosuri, is this path correct? Is there the scent of Kanbei?"

Sunekosuri's head came out from his bosom.

Both its ears and eyes are drooping.

"It is correct ~nuu..."

"Hey, come on, you are going to meet your master, cheer up!"

"Zenki already returned to heaven yet Yoshiharu still have this

spirit ~nuu..."

"Of course! It is not the time to depressed!"

"Ah. Why is it raining on a sunny day, and it's a storm ~nuu."

"It... It's a sun shower! A fox must be getting married somewhere."

[4]

"... What, it turn out be monkey's tears."

"Shut up!" Yoshiharu shouted.

"And there's snot too!"

"Wait, don't incite me anymore! ... Ah?"

At the end of the bamboo forest was a never seen before scenery.

"How could... the road split into three?"

"...nuu."

"The map that Granny Aga gave me shows only one direct road to

the dungeon!"

There's no time to hesitate, but they must choose the correct way

before moving off.

"W... Wh... What now-nuuu!"

"Sunekosuri, which road has Kanbei's scent? You should know

that."

"Let me smell... Ah, I found it!"

"Where!?"

"All three roads have the smell of Kanbei."

"What! Now is not the time to joke around! Or else I'm roasting

you!"

"Don't roast me! It's true- nuu."

"So, this is a trap that Ukita Naoie planned, huh?"

A death trap might await if the wrong path is chosen.

Even if there isn't any trap, I could still be lost in the mountain.

I can't use the art of invisibility without Zenki.

"Which one is the correct path, Kanbei? Where the hell are you

Kanbei!?"

A cold voice suddenly rang out by Yoshiharu's ears.

"...That bad habit of you can't be corrected, calm your mind down."

"Zenki?"

"Turn to the right path, there will be someone waiting for you by

the pond."

This somehow ironic voice is without a doubt, Zenki voice.

This is not any illusion, till the very end, you are still leading me.

Then there is nothing to hesitate anymore.

"To the right side!"

Yoshiharu runs toward the right path with full speed.

He rushes through the bamboo path.

The vision suddenly becomes wide, leaving the bamboo forest,

there was a pond.

Two girls are waiting for Yoshiharu.

One of them is wearing a bright colored kosode, a little Japanese

girl.

Another one of them have a pair of azure eyes, previously acting

as Ukita Naoie's messenger and visited Yoshiharu, a well-mannered

princess knight.

Both of them have horses by their side.

"You guys are?!"

"Nice to meet you, Sagara Yoshiharu-sama. I am Ukita Naoie's

daughter, Ukita Hideie."

"I am Hideie-sama's aide, Konishi Yakurou from Sakai. This is the

second time we meet."

"Yakurou, Yakurou, when Otou-sama saw through Sagara Corp's

feint and suddenly wanted to increase the road, I was really worrying

about it.

"Because I did put a candy at the right side of the road as a mark."

"Yeah, as expected of Yakurou, you are really intelligent, hehe."

Yoshiharu stopped and shook his hand.

"No nono, I didn't see any candy at all."

"Wh… What did you say? Where is the candy I put?"

"Most likely eaten by a bird?"

"Ah! That's bad!"

"Then… How did Yoshiharu-sama knew which one is the correct

path?"

"I don't want another fox's wedding again, so please, it's better if

you don't ask..."

Hideie and Yakurou look at each other with an unbelievable

expression.

"Why are you guys here?"

"You are coming here to rescue Kanbei-sama, right? This is the

key of the underground prison."

Hideie took out a golden key from her breast and put it on

Yoshiharu's hand.

"Ukita Naoie is still chasing me from the back, I will tell you the

reason on the way to the underground jail that imprisoned Kanbei.

Yoshiharu jump up to the horse, shouted "I'm relying on you" and

moved off.

Yakurou rode on another horse, while Hideie cling to her tightly.

"We had heard about Yoshiharu-sama from Kanbei-sama, she

said that you are a kind-hearted person that hate killing."

"We master and servant are both Christians and are friends with

Simon-sama."

"Yoshiharu-sama, I want you to rescue Kanbei-sama and with it,

rescue my father as a result too."

"Ukita Naoie? It's hard for me to say it out, but I really want to..."

"We don't need you to believe, but Otou-sama has a human heart

too."

Hideie's little hands are holding a silver cross while tears are

coming out from her eyes.

She appears to be a kind-hearted innocent girl.

It's hard to imagine she is that Ukita Naoie's child.

But, it is true that the face of hers and the big eyes has some

resemblance with Naoie.

"Although Otou-sama was known to be infinitely wicked, the

people he killed are only limited to men. And to women, even after

he had finished using them, he will not finish them off. As for

children, he will never hurt them at all. He has this side of him that

nobody knows..."

"But now, he imprisons Kanbei and wants to execute her."

"This is because if he didn't catch Shikanosuke before Mori

armies' arrival, then he will need to give away Bizen and Mimasaka."

"To let me inherit Bizen and Mimasaka's 500K yield of land which

Otou-sama spend his life to acquire, he was going to lose his last

remaining humanity..."

"If he breaks even the taboo of not killing any women, my lord will

really become a total demon."

"Many times, Hideie tried to force him by threatening suicide, but a

Christian is prohibited from committing suicide… Sob sob..."

Behind Ukita Naoie's countless sins, pain was felt deep in her

daughter Hideie's heart.

Can't the act of her own daughter joining Christianity stop Naoie?

No, someone who was able to raise such a good, innocent

daughter, is definitely not a demon, Ukita Naoie must be a good

father.

Hey, Sagara Yoshiharu, you must not be controlled by anger and

turned into a demon too. Zenki whispered by his ears.

Cut off all the cycle of resentment here.

This is probably what it means by ending the era of warring states.

Felt like it would be admonished.

"Was Kanbei being tortured? Is she alright?"

"Yes. Otou-sama did threaten her several times but didn't torture

her. Though the movement of her body was limited, but other than

that she is safe."

"Her muscles might have atrophied, she should be alright after a

hot spring bath."

"Really…?"

Looks like I haven't lose yet, Yoshiharu thought.

If Kanbei had been tortured and her whole body filled with wounds,

I will surely ignite the flame of anger and revenge and become a

demon myself, but I can still retain my sanity as a human.

Yoshiharu reached the cave entrance while looking at the sky.

"I know, I will never let Kanbei get killed."

"Thank you very much..."

"You must walk from here onward. The prison is at the end of the

dungeon."

Jumping down from the horse, Yakurou led Hideie and Yoshiharu

into the dungeon. At the cost of sacrificing Zenki, Yoshiharu had

finally arrived.

At the other side of the iron bar, Kuroda Kanbei is waiting for him.

"Ah, how slow, Sagara Yoshiharu."

Although she lost some weight, but Kanbei's smile was still the

same as her normal smile.

Yoshiharu feverishly opened the lock with the key and opened the

door.

The feelings that had been suppressed exploded.

Sunekosuri who showed its head from Yoshiharu's chest shouted

"It's raining heavily nyun!" But he really can't hold back anymore.

"Kanbeiii!"

He has no idea what he's talking about.

"Don't leave me without me knowing you idiot!"

"... I'm not an idiot, I'm a maiden!"

"Shut up! It's still too early to declare yourself as a maiden! You

little brat!"

"Is Takenaka Hanbei alright?"

"I won't let Hanbei die! You now should worry about your own life.

Worry about Shojyumaru."

"Shojyumaru was safe, I believe in my companions."

"You..."

Yoshiharu was crying aloud while embracing the small Kanbei with

all his power.

What's with the world genius?

Kanbei. You are, really stupid. An incurable idiot. Conceitedly

coming to Ukita Naoie's place, there's a limit to being nice. Making

me put in so much effort and making others worry about you so

much. As a strategist, please think a bit before you act. Idiot idiot

idiot!

"Yoshiharu, let go of me. It hurts."

"Shut up! If I let you go then you will disappear again! I won't let

you go anymore!"

"... I won't go, again. I won't disappear like that again."

"Then promise me!"

"I won't go... I won't leave without saying another word again."

"If you still act as you wish next time, I definitely won't forgive you!"

Sunekosuri jumped into Kanbei's bosom.

"This is still the comforting place after all."

The act of Sunekosuri hiding itself in Kanbei's bosom became a

trigger.

"Wu..."

Embraced tightly by Yoshiharu, Kanbei began to cry loudly.

As if all the tension was release, an unstoppable sobbing

occurred.

"Uwaaaa... Uwaaaaa!"

A non stop sob.

What's left of the remaining moisture in her weakened body turned

into tears and flowed out.

Infected by them, Hideie and Yakurou who was standing at the

side shed tears too.

In order not to disturb the reunion of Yoshiharu and Kanbei, they

stifled their sound.

"Uwaaaaa! I'm really scared… It's really painful... Yoshiharu…

Yoshiharu!"

"Just cry it out! A child should act like a child and cry all you want!"

Yoshiharu's voice was mixed with tears, and was unable to hold

back his emotion.

What was Kanbei's mentality when she came to this mountain

alone?

Why did she chose such a cruel fate even when she had drawn

the「Fool」card with your tarot?

When she heard that Nobuna had ordered me to kill her own sister

from Ukita Naoie, what was Kanbei thinking at that time? How can

she endure this?

She didn't mention a thing about her sister Shojyumaru, which

means that she already treats and believes me as her companion.

In such a musty and narrow underground prison, she still believes

in me, believing that I won't betray her.

There are still many gentle stuff I want to say to her....

But too many thoughts flooded in my mind, making me unable to

figure out how to express it.

"... You are still alive. Thank you."

Finally, I forced this line out with all my strength.

Kanbei buried her face into Yoshiharu's chest, sobbing softly.

Hideie and Yakurou remind Yoshiharu.

"Yoshiharu-sama, it will be troublesome if Otou-sama found this

out."

"Go down the mountain. We will guide you through a secret

passage with no scouts."

Yoshiharu and Kanbei are now deep inside that enemy camp

alone.

And Ukita Naoie is approaching.

"Yeah. I will leave the showdown with Ukita Naoie after I bring

Kanbei back to safety.

The Mori army will also arrive at Harima by tomorrow or the day

afterward.

Although he was wise enough to see that Shikanosuke was acting

as bait, but because of paying too much attention on this, Ukita

Naoie forgot his original objective – to capture Shikanosuke.

Without him on the battlefield, there should be no way that

Shikanosuke will be captured.

The cornered Ukita Naoie should be unable to make the right

choice already.

"Let's go, we're leaving Mt. Shozan."

Yoshiharu is stroking Kanbei's head and stood up.

Kanbei who had been imprison in this narrow dungeon for so long,

her leg muscle should already got limped and unable to move.

It also consumes her stamina a lot.

Maybe because she was tired due to crying, Kanbei was asleep at

Yoshiharu's shoulder.

Yoshiharu carried Kanbei on his back and walked towards the exit.

They mounted a horse and ready to leave.

Hideie and Yakurou also mounted a horse and led Yoshiharu.

"Yoshiharu-sama, someday please help Otou-sama..."

"Ah, I'm in debt towards you, so I sure will!"

The four people, riding their two horses were walking down the

mountain at the secret passage.

However,

"Hideie-sama! It's the lord! The lord had caught up!"

"Huh?"

"What?!"

At the end of the passage, there is a man waiting for Yoshiharu.

It's Ukita Naoie.

"You bastard! How dare you trick my daughter!"

His eyes were filled with rage and madness.

"Otou-sama, it's not like this! Yoshiharu-sama..."

"My lord, please be rational!"

"Sagara Yoshiharu! You dare to trick my daughter, I will never

forgive you!"

He fired the gun all of a sudden.

But it's lucky that there's still quite a distance between the two of

them.

Naoie had lose his calm, causing his accuracy to drop.

Yoshiharu seized the rein tightly, and barely dodged the shot.

"Hideie is my flesh and blood daughter! I spent my whole life to get

Bizen and Mimasaka's 500K yield, they all belong to Hideie! I won't

let Mori or Oda take it all away!"

Riding a horse, the furious Ukita Naoie charged over, ready to

close up the distance to give Yoshiharu a final critical hit.

Yoshiharu didn't retreat a single step, why?

The difference level when they're both bare-handed was so

obvious.

But I'm confident. I will never lose to this man again.

It was from that time when I carried Kanbei at my back.

"Ukita Naoie! You are the one who imprisoned Kanbei in the first

place, right!?" "Don't pretend to understand me, you little brat!"

"Didn't you have a rule that you won't kill a girl?! Do you really plan

to degrade yourself into a samurai who will kill even a girl?!"

"If it's for Hideie, this is nothing!"

"Your daughter does not want you to turn into a demon because of

such a thing you know!"

"Ukita Clan's family matters are none of your business, you little

brat! What do you know about our family?!"

"I do not know anything! Look at how old you are, don't go all

chuuni with the way you're talking!"

"If the Ukita clan isn't inherited by Hideie, my life… no, my

mother's life would be totally meaningless!"

"Mother?"

"My lord is totally confused because Hideie was being taken

away." Yakurou said. Then, Hideie who was clinging to Yakurou,

suddenly jumped from her horse and onto Yoshiharu's leg.

"Otou-sama, Hideie does not wish for Otou-sama to become a

demon. Allow me to be killed by Yoshiharu-sama here!"

Hideie was serious. Even Yoshiharu understands that Hideie

wasn't acting.

Because of her pure nature, Hideie entrusted her life, which was

most valued by the Ukita Clan to Yoshiharu.

"If the fact that I Hideie disappearing is able to save Otou-sama,

then..."

"Hideie, wait! Sagara Yoshiharu! YOU BASTARD!!!"

"Yoshiharu-sama, I am very sorry. Christians are prohibited from

committing suicide. So please cut Hideie's throat."

"Yoshiharu-sama! No!"

Yakurou tried to stop Yoshiharu.

Yoshiharu pulled out a knife slowly and quietly.

Then he put the knife to Hideie's pure white throat.

"I know, Hideie. In order to remove the demon in Ukita Naoie, it

seems that I have to shoulder the burden of having the demon

instead."

"Yoshiharu-sama... Thank you very much..."

"This is to repay my debt to you who saved Kanbei. Farewell,

Hideie."

"Yoshiharu-sama? What are you doing?! This is not something you

can afford to do even if you are rich!"

"Yakurou! Take my soul as compensation."

"Wait, Sagara Yoshiharu! I'll give Kanbei back to you! I'll let the

both of you leave this mountain! Please stop! Please stop! Only

her... No!"

"It's too late, Ukita Naoie. You are the one who cornered your

daughter to this point."

Yoshiharu made a slashing movement, and blood immediately

gushed out everywhere.

Just a little more but still unable to...

Unable to reach Hideie.

Like a soul that was out its shell, Ukita Naoie's fell lifeless from the

horse.

His eyes had lost all it's radiance, and his surroundings started to

blur.

He saw the figure of his dead mother.

"Oka-sama..."

The Ukita Clan was serving the daimyo of Bizen.

Naoie's grandfather was famous due to his loyalty to his lord.

Naoie's father was very capable and a good strategist, his mother

was also even been called as Bizen's beauty.

His parents' relation were very good, the young Naoie grew up in a

loving and caring surrounding that included his grandfather and

parents.

But for the Ukita Clan to be defeated, it was not a defeat by the

enemy's strength, but it was the betrayal of their colleagues that

have the same lord.

His grandfather was deceived by his colleagues and was

eventually killed.

This insidious strategy was all done just to take the seat of chief

retainer.

The lord had also abandoned the loyal Ukita Clan.

The Ukita Clan then lost their home and scattered away.

Fearing of being assassinated, his wandering father can only feign

insanity.

Even so his father couldn't be saved.

During the time of wandering, he died before rebuilding his family.

Naoie always believed that this was the doing of those traitors that

killed his grandfather and had want to exterminate his whole family.

Having to leave his home at a young age, Naoie was treated as a

taboo or a plague due to his case.

The retainers that were willing to follow him were also few.

Samurais that had lost their territory will be in a such pathetic

state.

Even the land to farm was also gone.

And finally the retainers degenerated into bandits to snatch for

food.

Already deprived of the reason to return to the samurai world

that's intertwined with betrayal and conspiracies.

Already deciding to give up on the Ukita Clan's revival, and live a

carefree life.

If I really need to become the bad guy, it's better to become a

bandit than being starved to death.

But seeing the falling son, Naoie's mother decided to issue a

petition to the lord, hoping to rebuild the Ukita Clan.

The lord replied.

"Be my concubine, and I will give Naoie some land."

Despicable and full of greed.

Naoie who had even her beautiful mother taken away was furious

The actions of his lord towards the always loyal Ukita clan

infuriates him. He cursed the world of samurai and went berserk.

With the resolve to die together with his mother, Naoie led his

companions, a bunch of bandits to burst into the lord's mansion, but

without any traces of sadness, Naoie's mother even greeted his son

with a gentle smile.

"Why, Oka-sama! Why!"

With a gentle but beautiful smile, his mother soothed Naoie's rage.

"It's all for you Naoie-sama..."

Even now, Naoie cannot forget her mother's smile at that time.

Knowing that he was being loved by his mother.

So.

"At that time, I vowed!"

I must kill all the betrayers of Ukita Clan, the lord will also be

destroyed by me! No matter how wicked the strategy may be, no

matter how others insult me, I will definitely kill all of them!

Even if I have only my last breath, I must get my mother back.

So he killed the samurais.

To increase the Ukita Clan's territory, to become more powerful, he

showed no mercy to those samurais.

First, he murdered his wife's father.

Initially, it was to celebrate for the snatched land.

The Ukita Clan will surely revive!

This is Mother's long-cherished wish.

His second wife's father was also killed by him.

By using various treacherous and sinister methods, he killed all his

hateful enemies one by one.

Gifting his blood-related sister away as a wife, then killing the man

when he let down his guard.

This method was repeated countless times.

Everyone believed that "I didn't do anything wrong, so I won't be

betrayed, right?." So no matter how many companions Ukita Naoie

killed, everyone still believed him.

"The one who believes is an idiot!" Naoie laughed out loud in front

of those killed companions.

However, he spared women and children.

Even if he wanted to, he will recalled his mother's smile during that

time and become unable to do it.

Somehow, at some moment of time, when plotting any strategies

and assassination, Naoie had decided "kill all men, and only take

advantage of the women."

(Why? Because I believe they will love me, those girls that

become pawns in my strategies will say this to me while smiling.)

"It's all because of you Naoie-sama…"

No matter what kind of women, even if they are bad, the

expression they had while smiling and saying that is just like

Bodhisattva.

It's the same like Mother.

The bright smile might just be the reason of Naoie's life...

The resentment and tragic expression on his wives and sister-inlaw after Naoie betrayed them were also filled with their love to their

family.

However, after countless times of betrayal and assassination,

when Naoie destroyed the lord to rescue his mother, his mother was

no longer in this world.

Just when he had committed such heinous sins and will soon have

his wish fulfilled...

The rest of Naoie's life was just so magnificently useless.

(Even so)

"It's all because of you Naoie-sama."

As long as women say this to me with a smiling expression, I won't

be able to leave this spiral of murder and betrayal.

(Humans are really hard to understand.)

The more I betrayed, the more I have been called demon, the

more women surrounded me. Every time when I finished using one

of them, there will be more waiting.

Smiling and saying "It's all because of you Naoie-sama."

It's only then that I believe that I wasn't abandoned by Oka-sama

and had always been loved.

I can't get out from this already.

I can only be a wicked demon for my whole life, until the day I die.

Until the day my daughter, Hideie was born.

"Since I had always slept with women for my ambitions, and not

having any descendant, I had always believe that Ukita Clan will end

with me."

Yet, Hideie was born.

"... I didn't expect that I will have a descendant at my age, a

daughter, Hideie."

My mother sacrificed herself for me.

Someone evil like Ukita Naoie is okay even if he was assassinated

out on the streets. Those were already been discarded along with his

humanity.

But my daughter, no, Hideie who inherited the blood of my mother,

I want her to inherit the Ukita Clan.

"I must let her inherit the Ukita Clan, those 500K yields are all

hers...!"

Ukita Naoie lays face down on the floor as he crawls to Hideie.

"If not... For what reason did my mother... For what reason

did she live... And for what did she died for!"

Naoie shouts from the bottom of his heart, with all his might.

"The women that loved me are happy to be used by me. It must

be. It must be like this!"

Hideie lays on the ground and didn't move an inch.

Naoie's dizziness wouldn't stop, he couldn't even stand up.

He was screaming continually, not stopping even to catch his

breath.

Perhaps it was too much of a shock that he couldn't catch up the

breathing.

He was unable to move forward anymore.

"Hideie... Hideie... answer me..."

Is this retribution?

Is this because I abandoned my only daughter?

Is this because I brought her up too innocent?

I kept what's left of my humanity all for Hideie.

But now, I had drove my daughter to death.

In the end, all I did was to betray and hurt those women who loved

me?

A thing like letting the women around me live on, can't I do that at

all?

Since my mother was taken away by the lord, I have lost my

mother forever. Should I have scream out in agony then?

"Sagara Yoshiharu, this is my defeat..."

Sagara Yoshiharu picks up Hideie's corpse in silence.

His hand was covered with blood.

Yakurou was clutching a cross, performing a Christian prayer.

"Please! I give you my life! I hand Bizen and Mimasaka over to

you!"

"... Is that true, Ukita Naoie?"

"It's true! So please, use the power of the future to resurrect

Hideie....!"

"Fine."

Yoshiharu pokes Hideie's face.

Hideie suddenly opened her big eyes and stared at Naoie.

"... Otou-sama I'm sorry... If I didn't do this, Otou-sama won't

listen to my words, so I lied to you..."

"Hideie?!"

"I made a deal with Yoshiharu-sama, and we acted this out. What

Yoshiharu-sama cut is his own hand."

"It was too deep, and it hurts like hell now! Hideie-chan, please

treat my hand."

"Yes."

"For a moment I don't know what's happening, but it was good my

lord! But do you intend to give all Bizen and Mimasaka to Yoshiharusama?"

At least you should at least leave about ten percent or so, Yakurou

thought in her head.

Naoie felt like yelling at her as she is still holding a cross in her

hand.

The strength in his body was slowly recovered.

Naoie suddenly stood up and snatched Hideie from Yoshiharu's

hand.

"Idiot! How could I give it to him!"

"You bastard, Hideie worked so hard to act and you didn't change

at all!"

"Give me a break! I was tricked so badly by you and you're still

spouting nonsense!? If you want it, take it from me in a fair fight!"

"You didn't fight any war, only relying on assassinations to seize

new territories, who are you to say that to me!"

"Shut up kid! Won't a war kill many of your retainers? Isn't the

most efficient way to kill the enemy's boss?"

"Besides, you know the reason why are you doing bad things and

yet you can't stop yourself? Why is that!?"

"Hmmpf! If I change myself now, those women that has been used

by me will not be happy doesn't it!"

"Who cares about that shit! Look at all this blood pouring out from

my hand, it hurts like hell!"

"Didn't you did that to yourself?!"

"Shut up! For starters, this is for Zenki!"

Yoshiharu raise the arm that is not injured, and gave a roundhouse

punch right at Naoie's face.

Because Naoie was holding Hideie with both his hands, he

couldn't defend himself at all, and was hit in the face with blood

spewing out from his nose.

"You deserve it!"

"You... Despicable, Sagara Yoshiharu!"

"Ukita Naoie, you cannot win against me anymore!"

"Shut up! Sagara Yoshiharu, how dare you humiliate me! I will

definitely kill you!"

"I'm not afraid of you anymore! Even though you are the one who

killed Zenki, but I will let you go because of Hideie and Yakurou!"

"What did you say? Don't get too cocky, you brat!"

"Next time we will settle this on the battlefield, Ukita Naoie."

While carrying Kanbei on his back, Yoshiharu rode the horse and

leaved the place quickly.

Naoie wanted to aim at Yoshiharu "Damn, with Kanbei blocking, I

can't shoot at all."

He gave up on it.

Because Hideie, who was in his arms, glared at Naoie.

"In actual fact he could have killed Hideie. That person is Hideie's

life saver."

"That's right, my lord."

"... Che, can't help it then."

Finally, Yoshiharu escaped from Mt. Shosan by carrying Kanbei.

Naoie can only smack his own lips, and feel that one of his teeth is

broken.

"... I shouldn't have had a child after all."

"So what now, my lord? Become allies with Yoshiharu-sama?"

"Yakurou, do some calculations. His army is limited, the winner will

be decided when the Mori Army arrived, isn't it?"

"It is still not decided, there's still the Oda Clan."

"The Oda Clan? There will be no such thing as reinforcements

coming."

"They might, not to mention that Yoshiharu-sama owes us a debt."

"How could there be?"

"There is!"

"Yakurou, the problem here is who will emerge victorious, whether

if it's the Mori or Oda Clan. In the end, we will only ally with the

winning side."

If dragged into long-term war, Oda Clan with more territories will

mostly win the battle, but now Mori Clan has overwhelming

advantage on numbers. Naoie muttered to himself.

"Yakurou, next time if you let Hideie meet with that bastard again, I

will kill you also!"

"M… My… My lord. I… I… I am a girl you know?"

"Annoying, a Sakai merchant's daughter does not count as girl!"

"When… When did the Sakai... Sakai people offend you my lord?

Naoie seems to be furious of his humiliation right in front of

Yoshiharu..

"Bastard! How dare he to toy with me! I definitely won't let go that

monkey!"

Next to Naoie, Hideie was looking at the other side of the foot of

the mountain with a melancholic expression.

"Yoshiharu-sama, please be safe..."

"Kanbei, we are out from Mt. Shozan, a little more and we will

meet with Shikanosuke and leave Himeji Castle!"

"... Munya... I'm sorry, I fell asleep..."

"Sleep, just sleep."

"Wu…" Kanbei who was being carried at the back, opened her

eyes and let out some sleepy voice.

However, just beyond the mountain, Yoshiharu saw an

unbelievable scene.

At this moment...

The Mori Army which was led by Kikkawa Motoharu and

Kobayakawa Takakage has already crossed Kozuki Castle and

came to Mt. Shozan, ready to surround the diversionary troops led

by Yamanaka Shikanosuke.

The amount of their troops are almost like clouds in the sky.

High morale, ordered movement with not a trace of confusion.

Looking at the sudden appearance of Mori Army, the diversionary

troops led by Shikanosuke had lost their escape route.

Even if they want to escape, Yumesakigara is right behind them. If

they were to try escaping through the river, total annihilation is

obvious.

And if they were to turn back and fight, the result will be the same.

Shikanosuke was now at her wit's end.

"Damn... This... Ehhhh...? How could this be?"

"Yoshiharu, it's the Mori Army, They are here already."

"Shikanosuke is surrounded! This is bad! The numbers of

diversionary troop is small, it's impossible for them to withstand this

kind of army force!"

"What now, Sagara Yoshiharu?"

"What what now, Shikanosuke is gonna die if this continue. I'll

breakthrough the enemy line and save Shikanosuke! Kanbei, find a

commoner's house to hide yourself!"

"I refuse. A weak soldier like you going to the battlefield without

military adviser, it'll definitely be an instant death."

"You had just been rescued and now you're going to dive into

death again?"

"No, only if you bring Simon can your chance of survival increase."

"Even if there is a military advisor, there are no soldiers! This

chance of survival didn't become any better!"

"Around 0 to 10%, at least I can guarantee that it isn't 0, right?"

"Get off Get Off!"

"I refuse. Simon wants to repay her debt."

"I'm just doing things my way, you don't have to feel indebted or

anything"

"But, you gambled your life to rescue Simon, didn't you."

"It goes without saying! We aren't master/subordinate but friends."

Kanbei smiles with a troubled face.

"Friend huh. Calling a military advisor a friend, humans from the

future really are weird."

"It's not, friends are friends. In Japanese they are called

'tomodachi'."

[5]

"Fufu... I see… Then let me repay your 'friendship'."

(They said the word 'friendship" in English)

"'Friendship'? A friend's ship?"

"You really are an idiot, 'friendship' means friendship."

So this means you still doesn't want to come down from my back,

Yoshiharu was troubled.

"It seems that the Oda Clan didn't send any reinforcements here,

Onee-Sama."

"Yeah, because Matsunaga Hisahide of Yamato has revolted."

"A revolt at such a time."

The Yamanaka Shikanosuke's troops who had tried to drag things

out with the Ukita clan by attacking and retreating, were in total

chaos in the face of the Mori Army, which had come earlier than

expected.

Sitting in the main camp of the Mori clan was the small and

elegant shogun - Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

At her side, there are the Mori twins with the exact same look.

Kikkawa Motoharu and Kobayakawa Takakage.

To the Mori clan who have a large amount of soldiers,

Shikanosuke's diversionary troops are like a small pea which they

can easily crush with just their superior numbers.

"Takakage, the enemy general looks like Yamanaka Shikanosuke."

"Nee-sama, we can finally settle things with that eternal enemy."

"That, that princess knight that is fiercely fighting her enemies is

Yamanaka Shikanosuke? What a fierce display of her spear

technique, marvelous."

Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who was using a telescope to observe the

battlefield, let out a sigh.

"Oh? Who is that soldier carrying a girl on his back? To think that

he actually stormed into the Mori Army, does he plan to commit

suicide?"

"I'm not sure....?"

"Probably a soldier who had overslept."

Ukita Naoie, with a dejected face rushed into the Mori Army's main

camp. He didn't expect that the Mori Army will reach Harima so early.

Should I defect in order to repay Sagara Yoshiharu, nono, he

made me show my ugly side right in front of Hideie, I will be utterly

disgraced if I don't kill him. But if I did, I need to consider the

possibility that the Oda clan might be stronger than the Mori clan in

the future but I do not have the time for this anymore.

"Wait! I will definitely capture Yamanaka Shikanosuke alive! I will

definitely kill Sagara Yoshiharu! Please give me a little more time!"

Motoharu stared at Naoie with a cold gaze.

"The time is up, shouldn't you commit Seppuku now?"

"This! This gaze of a girl like she's staring at an insect is making

me crazy... No! Please wait!"

"... Such a disgusting man."

"The elder sister of the Mori twins I want to clean up the name of

the 'Princess Knight Killer', please allow me to fight against Sagara

Yoshiharu!"

"You don't wanna admit to that tainted name of yours, then die."

"Please wait! If I didn't kill Sagara Yoshiharu by myself, my heart

would be too frustrated with it!"

"Onee-sama, it's due to Ukita Naoie that we can so easily

surround that Yamanaka Shikanosuke."

The trembling Takakage stopped Motoharu who picked up a small

knife.

"As expected of Kobayakawa Takakage, you still acknowledge

me."

"However, if you harm or kill the hostage, Kuroda Kanbei, then

commit seppuku on the spot."

Takakage slightly narrowed her eyes.

"No! I've already returned her to Sagara Yoshiharu without injury."

"That's good. Kuroda Kanbei is my friend. You really escaped from

death, Ukita Naoie."

Wh...What a close one... Sprouting cold sweat, Naoie sighed

out in relief.

That expression of Takakage was reminiscent of her father – Mori

Motonari, the aura of someone with a cold gaze.

The Mori twins had really inherited the blood and talents of Mori

Motonari.

Even without that demon-like strategist Motonari around, opposing

these two sisters will definitely be fatal.... Naoie trembled while

thinking.

"Did you hear that Takakage. He sent the hostage back, maybe he

already became allies with Sagara Yoshiharu."

"I did not! I returned her because I was threatened! He is a

demonic bastard that took my daughter as a hostage! He was also

the one who killed Kuroda Kanbei's sister! Sagara Yoshiharu was an

even more wicked man than I am!"

If Yoshiharu heard this conversation, a fuss will certainly break out,

but Naoie will do anything in order to survive. Now that Hideie is

back at his side, he is in high spirits.

"Is it? Then go capture Shikanosuke, the battle is done anyway."

"Takakage, your treatment to this fellow was too naïve."

"Oh, then I'll be right back! Sagara Yoshiharu, this time I will kill

you for sure!"

Naoie vigorously rushed out from the main camp.

"The earliest one who succeeds in the Oda clan, Sagara

Yoshiharu. The one who claims that he had come from future. Will he

be a fraud even better than Ukita Naoie or a man we should meet at

least once?"

"Takakage, Sagara-kun is about to be annihilated. The trapped

Sagara Yoshiharu will become a dead body in this battlefield."

"Yeah, and if the thing about he killing Kuroda Kanbei's sister is

true, he's the same as Ukita Naoie, no, it's much worse. We cannot

let him live."

"Abandoning the Sagara army just because a revolt is happening,

the Oda clan isn't something good too.

"Oda Nobuna does not have the talent to be the ruler of the world.

Bring me the heads of Yamanaka Shikanosuke and Sagara

Yoshiharu, save Miki castle and then immediately bring the army to

Kyoto to drive off the Oda clan."

"This doesn't seem like what the careful Takakage would say."

"Onee-sama, I'm a little angry now. The Oda clan was saying

things like Tenka Fubu, yet right now they are in such a pitiful state.

The one who is known to have the talents to be the ruler of the world

is just dragging the war out right now. I feel that we have to destroy

her completely.

"As expected of the Mori clan, your ambition is as high as the sky."

Ashikaga Yoshiaki opens up her fan and started laughing

"Ahahahaha".

Isolated in Harima, the Sagara corps is now facing utter

destruction.