Set Sail, For The Naval Battle!

In the Setouchi Sea there was the pirate king and his clan

members.

The Murakami Navy.

A pirate corps that was born from the sea and survive with the sea.

At the back of the Mori Clan's rapid growth was their strong

support.

Even though they had an alliance with the Mori Clan, the

Murakami Navy did not lose it's independence as a pirate corp. It

could be said to be a feeling similar to loaning the land which was

useless for the pirate corps to the Mori Clan.

They had no interest in the land.

Only the sea, was the world where they lived.

The Murakami Navy's leader was the legendary "Pirate King"

Murakami Takeyoshi.

"The Murakami Navy is the strongest at sea, let them properly

experience this."

"Whoever is the ruler of men on land has nothing to do with us

pirates."

"Alright, let us go have a big fight!"

"Hmm, Leader?"

"Where's the Leader?"

"Probably delivering a meal to the missionaries locked in the brig"

"Again? Isn't it alright to just leave him as it is?"

"Catching those missionaries was a good thing but leaving them

around is such a hindrance, ah when is the ransom going to come?"

"Always clamouring for us to send him to Sakai."

The legendary "Pirate King" Murakami Takeyoshi was swinging his

huge body mass as he climbed down the stairs leading to the hull of

the ship.

Why would he be interested in missionaries who were captured at

sea?

Although he was caught by pirates on a foreign sea, thrown into a

prison where he could not see the light of day, and only given simple

food and very little water, the young missionary with tinted glasses

and long black hair was generally unruffled with eyes so calm he

seemed to be in a church praying instead.

Even when faced with a crisis like a storm which could capsize the

ship, he still sat motionless in a meditating posture.

'What an amazing foreigner,' Murakami Takeyoshi could not help

but thought.

"Missionary, today's meal, Anago Meshi."

"Gracias."

One could hardly see any anger and hatred from the missionary

towards the pirates who were his captors.

"Missionary, when you attempted to cross the Seto Inland Sea by

boat, you did not pay the required toll. You're 100 years too early to

ignore me, the King of the Setouchi Sea."

Even though Murakami Takeyoshi was in an alliance with the Mori

Clan, but he still kept the unshakable belief that he was the "Pirate

King" of the Setouchi Sea.

In the Battle of Miyajima that the Mori clan achieved a miraculous

victory in subverting the Chuugoku Region, they had the strong

support of the Murakami Navy too. [14]

After the death of his ally Mori Motonari, 'For him, I have to protect

the young Mori Twins,' was what Murakami Takeyoshi thought.

Murakami Takeyoshi's huge build, grace, bravery, experience,

ability, all were fitting with his name as the 'Pirate King'.

'The foreign missionary who risked his life to come to this island

nation at the fringes of the world was really an interesting fellow,' As

Murakami Takeyoshi held great interest in him.

"Even if you're a missionary you're no exception, when is the

ransom going to arrive?"

"Please take me to Sakai."

"Sakai again? What is there exactly?"

"I came to Japan in order to meet and enlighten the queen, please

sail towards Sakai."

"Shut up, I'm the captain of the ship and I'm talking to you about

the ransom now."

"This ship will sail towards Sakai. It was determined by the

Almighty Lord. And I will then educate Japan's queen after landing at

Sakai."

Regardless how he threatens him, they did not have any effect on

the missionary.

Different from the country's monks who only knew how to

meditate.

"Sakai has countless Christians, there should be those among

them who are willing to pay a ransom for you ... ... missionary, what's

your name?"

"Cabral. Pedro Cabral."

In the darkness, a light flashed from the missionary's eyes.

"I am the new head of Japan's branch of the Domnius faction."

Beneath the quiet exterior of the missionary, lurked a ferocity.

Ordinary people would not be able to see it.

But Murakami Takeyoshi saw through it.

'A missionary with the eyes of a hawk,' he thought.

"As per God's will, I will turn Japan into a kingdom of God, and

change this country for Him. Helping the queen to convert into a

faithful servant of God."

The missionary spoke fluent Japanese.

Yet Takeyoshi was unable to understand the meaning of his words,

a kingdom of God?

But it seemed that this trip would be full of fun.

Takeyoshi gave a hearty laugh.

"Listen up. We are about to engage the Oda Clan's Navy in battle.

It's different from the battles on land, the battle will continue until one

side is completely wiped out. Whether you can safely reach Sakai,

will depend on how efficacious that whatever God you believe in is."

Not far from Sakai was Osaka's Honbyo temple.

The Nyankousou headquarters standing near a river delta.

They were very energetic today too, and their dried bonito was

really delicious

Nanban soccer game's schedule was all in her head today too.

The young leader with cat ears and tails, Kennya's comedy act had

ended with a big success.

Kennya returned elated from the break room.

"Just by relying on repeating the segment of 'Glasses, where are

my glasses' continuously and receiving critical acclaim ~nya. Even if

Magoichi is not around, myself, Kennya-sama's popularity did not

diminish in the slightest nya~."

The partner for the comedy, Saika Magoichi, rarely had time to

come to Osaka due to her mercenary work requiring her to travel

frequently.

So recently, Kennya let her younger sister, Kyonya with black ears

and a black tail to be her partner in the comedy.

Even though Kyonya was a silent character and not suited for

comedy acts, but as long as they had the strongest move in Osaka's

history 'Glasses, where are my glasses?' it did not matter who the

partner was.

And the incident that shocked this Honbyo temple's history

happened on this day, just when the two sisters were resting in the

break room together.

"... ... Aneue, it seems like something fell off nya."

Not sure if it was for cosplaying, Kyonya who was in a black cloak

picked up that particular 'object' that fell onto the table.

"Nya? This is... ..."

"Onee-sama, This is a cat's ear nya."

"Nya. NYAAAAAA?!"

Kennya hurriedly touched her head.

Gone.

Something was gone.

The cat ear on the right of her head was gone.

At some unknown point in time, it fell like a withered leaf.

"NYAAAAAA? What should I do Nyaa?"

"Ah, the cat's ear on the left side, also fell off nya."

"NYAAAAAAA?!"

The Kennya who had lost both her cat ears looked like a normal

human girl.

But that's not the point.

Honbyo Temple's leader was a living god.

It's precisely because they had inherited the cat god's lineage that

they had natural cat ears and cat tails, a necessary requirement

before they could become the leader of the Nyankousou faith.

But the cat ears that showed off this divinity (It would be better to

say felinity) actually fell off!

This was not something to be joked about..

"Aneue, what should we do~nya?"

"Wh-wh-what should we do. We-we-well as long as we

st...st...stick the cat ears back on my head, and do-do-don't let them

fall off again, it sh-should be fi-fine nya!"

"You want to deceive the believers nya?"

"D-d-deceiving them is not the problem now nya."

"Ah, Onee-sama, your cat tail also feels loose, it feels like I can

pull it off nya."

'Nyawuwu,' Kennya wailed.

"Noooooo! If even my sainted tail is gone, Kennya will completely

become human, it'll be impossible to continue being the Nyankousou

Temple's leader nya!"

Hastily pressing down on her tail.

Guu (Peeling Sound)

"AH! MY TAIL! MY SAINTED TAIL WAS TAKEN DOWN

NYAAAAAAA?!"

"... ... Aneue, it's the end nya."

Kyonya patted her sister's shoulder.

"T-the e-e-end?"

"Nyankousou Temple's leaders occasionally had these things

happen to them. Aneue's human blood was thicker compared to the

blood of the cat god."

"Why doesn't Kennya know of this sort of thing nya?"

"Kyonya learnt this from Honbyo Temple's hidden books nya.

Aneue's constitution had changed as she grew older, and thus

became ordinary person nya."

"Nya?!"

Ah, in her interest in comedies and Nanban Soccer she didn't

have the time to read books nya, Kennya lamented on her knees.

"Aneue, deceiving the believers is wrong. You should just become

a normal human nya."

"Wh-wh-what's going to happen to Honbyo Temple nya."

"Aneue you are already a human, please don't add 'nya' to the

back of your sentences nya."

"... ... Wuuwawa....How did it become like this..."

"Nyankousou Temple's new head shall be me Kyonya nya."

"Eh?!"

"Only a cat god can become the Honbyo Temple's leader, there's

no other way nya."

Shashasha.

Kyonya's subordinates entered the break room and helped the

dejected Kennya up, attempting to bring her to the main gates of

Nyankousou Temple.

"W-wait! At least let me perform on stage....there's still the

Nanban Soccer competition..."

"Nanban Soccer competitions are also going to be terminated

nya."

"Kyonya?"

"I just received a letter from the Ashikaga Shogun asking us to join

the fight against the Oda Clan. Honbyo temple will thus follow our

first agreement and fight against the Oda Clan~nya."

"How can this...?! After we finally avoided the battle.... Kyonya,

wait.....!"

"Defeating the Oda Clan which is advocating Christianity to

dominate the world, and then build cat temples countrywide."

Kyonya covered her mouth with her hand and snickered.

It was a ridiculously dark laugh.

"Possessing the greatest military strength of Japan, yet only

knowing how to play soccer, Aneue you were too soft nya. If this

goes on, this country would be stolen by Christianity nya. We

Nyankousou has to fight nya."

Looks like she genuinely wants a war with the Oda Clan.

"Magoichi! Call Magoichi here! Someone!!"

"It's a pity. Goodbye nya, Aneue."

"Kyonya nyaa~!"

Only the cat god was allowed to be the leader and monarch.

Nyankousou Temple's rules were extremely strict.

After putting on civilian clothes, Kennya was secretly chased out of

Honbyo temple.

It was unclear whether the only person that she could count on,

her partner Magoichi, was currently in Saika.

Being driven out from her post as the leader was something

inevitable. Kyonya's view of wanting to oppose the Oda Nobuna who

protected the Christians and allowed them free access from Kyoto,

Azuchi and Sakamoto was understandable too. However, waging a

war will always be the last resort. Oda Nobuna hated religious

factions that armed themselves and participate in wars. If Honbyo

Temple really fought with the Oda Clan, the ones who would suffer,

would be the large numbers of the disciples of Nyankousou.

But Kennya who had already turned into an ordinary human girl

was already powerless and could only lament about how had things

became this way.

Is this the result of enjoying the gag of 'Glasses, where are my

glasses'?

Because she had used the gag bought from Matsudaira Motoyasu,

and so was abandoned by the god of comedy?

No, this common way of speaking, is without any sense of

presence, my presence is so weak....!

"Sa-Sagara Yoshiharu, please stop my sister, I beg you..."

Kennya who was driven out alone was currently walking in the

streets of Osaka while holding a crutch.

No one noticed this ordinary girl who had lost her characteristics

and had a weak presence was actually Kennya.

Azuchi castle's Tensho was still under construction.

That was a high building unprecedented in Japan's history

Nobuna intended to live in this tower in the future.

But the tower's completion was still a long ways away.

After ending the Harima military meetings, Nobuna headed up the

path from the bottom of Mt Azuchi towards the castle keep.

The Oda Clan was about to engage the Mori Clan in a decisive

battle.

Even though the Mori Army retreated to Kozuki Castle, they did

not have the intention to retreat from Harima.

Uesugi Kenshin had utterly defeated Shibata Katsuie in Kaga, but

she did not occupy Kaga nor pursue the retreating Katsuie but

instead returned to her base, Echigo.

After retreating from Kawanaka Island Takeda Shingen had

barricaded herself in her room in Kai while planning her next move.

While Kanto's Houjou Ujiyasu was secretly scheming of expelling the

Uesugi Clan from Kanto while Uesugi Kenshin was not around.

Therefore, Kenshin withdrawal was also partly due to thanking

Shibata Katsuie's upright way of fighting and letting her escape on

purpose.

The Uesugi Kenshin who took war as a form of art also had a side

like this.

How Takeda Shingen, who seemed to not have given up on her

ambition to enter Kyoto, would move was still not clear. Yet the Oda

clan's only enemy now was the Mori Clan.

That was because....

The Kyoto Fire was caused by Matsunaga Hisahide. And Oda

Nobuna had protected the Japanese Imperial Palace from Hisahide's

hands.

This information already spread to Kyoto's and Sakai's citizens.

Even though how she did it was unclear, it was Hisahide who

spread this information.

Hisahide had perfectly executed the meticulous plan for her death

anniversary to be on the day where the Todaji temple's giant Buddha

was burnt.

Even the comet streaking across the sky was used and named the

'Danjo Star'.

'Danjo. I will definitely end this chaotic era and head towards the

other side of the sea.'

The Oda Clan's various armies were arranged as below.

Shibata Katsuie and Maeda Inuchiyo would once again head to

Echizen and face Uesugi Kenshin.

And at Gifu, Tsuda Nobusumi will be at the helm with the Mino

Three as his advisors. They will shoulder the important task of

defending against the Takeda's western expansion together with

Matsudaira Motoyasu.

And at Sakai, Takigawa Kazumasu will be dispatched here

together with Kuuki. This is for the upcoming navy battle with the

Mori clan.

Understanding the difficulty of invading Harima by land, the Mori

clan would definitely mobilise the Murakami Navy known as the

strongest band of pirates in Japan. Nobuna and Mitsuhide's opinion

on this point were the same.

While in Harima, besides the Sagara Corps, there was now the

inclusion of the 'It's more important to help Senpai first compared to

Tamba.' the Akechi Mitsude Army.

Even though Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide two combined armies did

not have the numbers to engage the Mori Clan in a decisive battle,

but it was more than sufficient to hold Himeji Castle to the death.

If they were to attain victory in the imminent naval battle, then Miki

Castle would be compromised. Once Miki Castle fell, Harima would

be conquered.

'Yoshiharu with Juubei at the frontlines fighting side by side...

Even though I'm a bit worried it should be fine. Before returning to

Harima, Yoshiharu will come to Azuchi, furthermore...'

Furthermore Nobuna shrewdly arranged for Rikyuu to be

dispatched to the Sagara Corp. "This time the greatest credit goes to

Saru who held off a large number of enemies with his small amount

of troops. For this I've decided to allow Saru to host tea parties. So

Saru, you better study the way of tea from Rikyu." This perfect

excuse was born from an idea that flashed through her head..

'Rikyu will silently help me observe Yoshiharu and Juubei and not

allowing their relationship to become more intimate...she should

help me observe them properly.'

Nobuna herself returned to Azuchi. Making preparations to engage

whichever faction who made a move against her, be it the Uesugi,

Takeda or Mori, in a decisive battle.

If she was in Kyoto, it'd be difficult to deceive others.

It's gonna be soon.

A few more days and it'll be fine.

After sending Hanbei and Kanbei to the Arima Hot Springs,

Yoshiharu will come to Azuchi.

Nobuna lay down forming a 大 with her body in the castle keep's

tea room and waited for time to pass.

How long.

The passage of time, was simply too slow.

The sun simply did not seem to set.

Once again, she felt deeply about the fact that Saitou Dousan and

Matsunaga Hisahide were no longer present in the world.

After returning from Harima, and by herself, such a feeling would

constantly flood her heart.

Since when did this start to happen?

There was once the foolish thought of 'Even though Danjo treats

me so gently, she's not my biological mother.' appearing in her mind.

Why did she have this kind of stupid thoughts?

Even if they were not blood related, Matsunaga Hisahide was

Nobuna's mother too.

Being overly spoilt by her mother, soothing her pains by feeding

her with many kinds of medicine, sometimes even feeling

heartbroken.

However, she did not have such memories with her biological

mother Tsuchida Gozen.

Remembering the times spent with Hisahide, they seemed so

familiar.

If the trauma that her mother brought upon her heart could not be

cured, Nobuna might have to bear the sorrow of not receiving

Tsuchida Gozen's motherly love and thus being unable to love

anyone else. Matsunaga Hisahide understood the scar in Nobuna's

heart and thus filled up the void in her heart permanently.

So Nobuna could fearlessly take the initiative and kiss Yoshiharu.

It should be like this.

'... ... How lonely... ...'

The moment she understood how nice it was to be loved, she lost

Matsunaga Hisahide.

She wanted to cry out suddenly.

She had been enduring all this while.

Even in front of Yoshiharu, she did not mention her grief of

Hisahide's loss. She endured it. To prove to Yoshiharu that Oda

Nobuna had already gotten over Matsunaga Hisahide's death and

matured and hoping to make him relieved. Hoping to make Hisahide

happy. So, she tried hard. Summoning her courage and kissed

Yoshiharu.

Yet the feelings of love and hate that Nobuna held were stronger

and more intense than anyone else.

To not be brought down by grief.. That's impossible.

Holding back her urge to cry...That's impossible.

But right now, there was no one near Nobuna.

Even if it was for one night.

She wanted to hug a person while wailing her heart out..

Expressing how weak she is...

In order for this sadness to not be brought over to tomorrow.

Cheering up from the grief of losing Hisahide as soon as possible.

Hoping that there was someone who could stay by her side.

"... ... Wuu ... ..."

The tears in her eyes caused the ceiling to be distorted.

Just then.

Someone entered the tea room.

"Hime, you did a good job enduring. Full Marks."

It was Nagahide.

Maintaining a smile, silently sat at Nobuna's side.

"Manchiyo, how did you get here? What about Wakasa?"

"Before the completion of Azuchi castle, I will stay here."

"But we can't leave Wakasa alone."

"Wakasa sooner or later has to be handed to suitable vassals. Yet

I will remain Manchiyo for eternity."

"... ... Manchiyo."

"The position of a Daimyo controlling a country, is too heavy a

burden for me. Therefore, I hope to be able to remain by Hime's

side, as long as Hime permits that is."

"Manchiyo...!"

Nobuna hugged Nagahide while crying loudly.

"Danjo died, Danjo she..." Nobuna began wailing like a baby.

When her father died, Nobuna also hugged Nagahide while crying.

'However, the me compared to then has matured a lot. Doing my

best at Harima, not fooling around, retaining the attitude of someone

who would conquer the world to the end, even enduring in front of

Yoshiharu.'

"I'm not wrong right, Manchiyo. Danjo didn't die in vain. I...

...Became stronger, right?!"

"Of course."

"I'm so scared. But... I'm really scared. The people who I loved

dying earlier than me....!"

"To think you still have these kinds of thoughts. Before I gave you

full marks, seems like I can only give 10 marks."

Nagahide used her finger and raised Nobuna's bangs.

The unchanging smile from the times she was an aide tenderly

wrapped around Nobuna.

"Hime, please rest assured. I will not die. I vow that I will live

longer than Hime, even if it's only for one day."

"... ...Wuu ..."

"No matter when or where I'll accompany you by your side.

Besides, the current Hime is different from the time when you lost

your father. The him that you've been waiting for has already

appeared eh?"

"... ... Appeared... ...?"

"Correct, Sagara Yoshiharu-dono."

Nobuna nodded her head slightly.

"Hime. After Tenka Fubu is realized, all of us should go to

Tsushima for the Tenno Festival. This time we'll also bring along

Yoshiharu-dono."

[15]

"... ... Un."

"Let me see once again Hime and Kazumasu's cute dance oh."

"... ... Un."

"The next time you see Yoshiharu-dono, let out all your pain from

losing Matsunaga Hisahide and let him spoil you."

"... ...Un, I will."

Nagahide stroked Nobuna's back and said slowly.

"Hime.

When sorrow occupies your heart, please feel free to call this

Manchiyo.

Manchiyo will always be on Hime's side whatever the time it is.

Now, even though it can still be considered unfounded words.

But Hime and Yoshiharu-dono.

The time where the two of you are together, will definitely become

a reality."

Recently, in Kyoto's Rokusho river, there was a storyteller that

appeared as sudden as a shooting star who attracted the attention of

a large number of passers by.

If the people who knew Manmi Senchiyo saw her, they would think

that she was a bishoujo modeled exactly like her.

However, their garments were completely different.

Extremely gorgeous and assertive.

The girl led a sacred deer with a shining golden Persian carpet

draped on it's back.

The deer draped in luxurious and gorgeous decorations was like a

colourful float on Gion Matsuri accompanied the girl, while the girl

herself had a Persian carpet as a shawl draped over her shoulder,

and tied a leopard skin around her waist, was smoking on a long

pipe, leisurely walking.

[16]

"Flowers bloom and wither in twenty days, to the frenzied

excitement of a city of people."

Suddenly, peony petals fluttered above the heads of passers-by.

Reading it in storytelling tone, "Matsunaga Hisahide, confused by the

shining Hisahide comet in the sky, had committed heinous crimes,

and was punished by Oda Nobuna, who led a small number of

troops, and is as adorable as these peonies" and was battered by

the applause of the passers-by.

"It was akin to magic."

"Amazing, amazing."

"Little lady, can you tell us your name?"

The lunatics of the crowd started to cry for the girl's name.

"I don't have a name."

The girl, leading the deer at Rokusho river slowly sucked on her

pipe, silently, gently, revealed a smile.

"That's right. My name is, Flower Goddess——"

The girl gazing at the peony petals floating in the sky, whispered.

No, the peony flowers had already withered.

In this chaotic era, flowers that bloomed proudly had already

drifted away. The fruits produced have also been inherited. All of it

was given to that particular person. [17]

Anyway, the effects of the Ranjatai were simply shocking.

It should be said to be kind-heartedness. Because she could not

bear to let that young Ninja wither like thus, so in the room filled with

flower goddesses, she let her drink the boiled Ranjatai.

The results were like what you have seen.

No one could have expected that she was able to continue looking

at her dream with such a form.

A body with two souls dwelling in it. For the her now in this age, if

one wanted an analogy, it would be the core of the fruit which was

known as the 'dream'

Therefore ...

"My name is, Kashinkoji, a resident from the world of dreams."