The fierce battle of Kizugawaguchi and Tennou Temple

Osaka truly lived up to its name of the city on water.

The wide Yodo River[1] flowed between Honbyo temple and the Noda

encampment where Nobuna set up her main camp.

As such, it was equally difficult for Honbyo temple to attack the main camp

of the Oda from land. Thus, the enraged Saika Clan and the Mori army

launched a fierce assault on the Tennou temple camp which linked the land

route to Honbyo temple.

The rider who was at the forefront of the troops was Saika Magoichi.

Riding behind her were the famous Saika Clan retainers, Hotaru and

Kotsuzume.

"Let's decide everything in this one battle."

Magoichi swung her large arquebus[2], Yatagarasu, up onto her shoulders.

Grabbing the reins of her horse with one hand, she charged into the

vanguard unit of the Oda army "Concentrate your attacks on the

commanders of the unit!"

Roaring like this, Magoichi seemed to turn into an entity akin to a demon in

the eyes of the Oda soldiers.

Especially when she was carrying her huge arquebus that was more than a

hundred inches[3]

long, that astonishingly long and black Namban arquebus...

While the weight of the arquebus exceeded 70 kilograms[4]..

No matter whom you asked; the general consensus was: The only person

who was capable of wielding such a monstrous weapon would be the

famous arquebus specialist Saika Magoichi.

"Yatagarasu Kai First!"

Her eyes blazing with the fury of a wild tiger searching for its prey,

Magoichi searched for the commander of the vanguard in the Oda army.

"Here she comes! It's Saika clan's Magoichi!"

"ATTACK!"

"FOR GLORY!"

But the Oda army's soldiers who was scared stiff by Magoichi's charge,

trembling from head to toe the bullets they shot only grazed past Magoichi's

helmet before flying off into the distance.

"Too naive!"

Finally, Magoichi found an Oda army's commander within the range of her

Yatagarasu. She immediately rushed over in the midst of a rain of bullets

despite the risks.

"Hu...Hurry and stop her! Form a spear wall!"

Upon seeing that Magoichi was approaching him with a speed and ferocity

akin to a roaring tempest, the commander tried his hardest to issue orders to

his soldiers.

At this moment, Magoichi roared,

"Hotaru, alert me when I'm hundred steps away!"

"Hundred!"

Before the voice of Hotaru fades, the sound of Magoichi's arquebus firing

rang out through the heavens.

In that instant, the head of that commander who was shouting to stop

Magoichi had exploded.

His headless corpse seemed to be unable to understand the reality that he

just died, rocking a few times before collapsing from his horse.

After losing their commander, the vanguard unit started to panic.

The Tennou temple camp was forced to open its gates once again in order to

send out fresh units to stop Magoichi's sudden assault.

"Magoichi's over there! Fire!"

"Right now!"

"Finish her! Before she gathers her forces, FINISH HER!"

However, nobody was able to halt Magoichi's advance.

In the forest of spears and rain of bullets, the blood soaked Magoichi threw

her empty arquebus over to Hotaru, Magoichi spurred her horse and

continued to roar.

"Kotsuzume! Yatagarasu Kai Second!"

"Yes, Yatagarasu Kai Second!"

Magoichi received the Yatagarasu Kai Second from Kotsuzume who threw

it over.

"Hotaru!"

"Hundred!"

With that, the head of the second commander, who just charged out from

the Tennou temple camp, was blasted to pieces as well.

However, the formations of the Oda army still did not collapse.

From the camp, new commanders charged out endlessly.

"The Oda clan's soldiers won't flee just because their commander was

killed, huh? But that's more interesting."

Revealing a sadistic smile, the surrounded Magoichi threw the Yatagarasu

in her hands up to the air again.

"Kotsuzume!"

"Yatagarasu Kai Third!"

"Hotaru!"

"Over there, Magoichi-sama, hundred steps!"

"One has to die someday!"

A gunshot rang out.

"The Death[5]!"

"Hundred!"

"Hell remains the same!"

Another gunshot.

The samurais who appeared before Magoichi did not even have the time to

state their names before being blasted into pieces.

At this instant, the goddess of the arquebus had descended onto the

battlefield.

Be it Magoichi, Hotaru or Tsuzusume, all three of them stopped talking and

started to work together like clockwork.

In the midst of the chaotic battle, amongst the war cries that threatened to

destroy one's eardrums, Magoichi softly chanted in an ancient language that

nobody could understand, constantly pulling the trigger.

"Pray filially in front of a statue of Buddha for thy parents, lest thy parents

pass on before thou wish to care for them."

As she chanted that verse, the person that she aimed her Yatagarasu at

passed away.

"Any and all with emotions may become blood-related during countless

lifetimes."

Magoichi who could still use the hundred inch arquebus with ease from a

hundred paces away.

Such divine skill can't help but cause others to exclaim, "She isn't human."

"Before the believers who worship the gods in the heavens and the earth,

heretics and pagans cannot stop me."

Gazing at the mythical figure of Magoichi, the opposing two sides

understood that they would experience a large change in the way they did

battle in the future.

The elegant and graceful manner of war where samurai reported their

names before engaging in duels, was approaching its end after firearms

were imported into Japan,

What was currently happening right now on the Uemachi Plateau[6] was

the true answer to the futility of human struggle.

Be it a famed warrior, or a nameless soldier, they all had naught but a single

life, before the demon who wielded the Yatagarasu, reputations as well as

bloodlines were meaningless.

She would neither show mercy nor hesitate, merely continuously raising her

arquebus and firing.

Even when her right shoulder was pierced by an arrow, she did not even

frown.

Before her, be it an enemy or an ally, all would tremble and want to kneel

and bow before her.

"Kindness and evil will be repaid in due course."

After the commander of the Tennou temple camp was finally eliminated by

the shura that was known as Magoichi, the Oda army finally collapsed into

chaos.

"One has to die someday!"

She isn't human! She's a goddess! A goddess of war! The Oda army soldiers

wailed as they fled in every direction in their panic.

The disciples who refused to comply with Magoichi's orders and insisted on

staying to defend Honbyo temple felt the terror of the battlefield for the first

time—— No, it would be feeling the terror of Magoichi who was smiling

grimly amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, one by one the

disciples broke out in tears and were unable to advance even a single step

further.

"Those who wish to go back can return! Tell this to Kyonya!"

Magoichi loudly snarled,

"Even if you retreat, you'll still fall into hell! Therefore, this place is hell!"

Her helmet was stained with the fresh blood of her enemies.

"The Tennouji camp is going to fall!"

"Commander in chief Naomasa died in battle."

"Niwa Kojirou-sama died in battle."

"Banji Sanrou-sama died in battle."

"Banko Shichirou-sama died in battle."

"Mino Ura Muemon-sama died in battle."

"They were all killed by Saika Magoichi's arquebus!"

"Nobody in our army is capable of halting Saika Magoichi's advance!"

"She isn't human; she's a goddess of war!"

"No, she's more of a wild beast - a man eating tiger! The soldiers are so

afraid that they cannot continue fighting."

"After losing the commander, the Tennou temple camp has fallen into

chaos, while the Nyankousou followers who witnessed the bloody picture

of the battlefield have thrown down their weapons and fled."

"However the Saika Clan as well as the Mori army remain high on morale,

to the point where they seem fearless of death."

Scarcely a quarter of an hour had passed since the battle had commenced.

Yet the bad news was continuously flowing into the ears of Nobuna in the

Noda encampment one after another.

"De...aruka"

Right now, the reserves Nobuna had on hand amounted to the mere three

thousand men from the flag party.

Her general, Kazumasu, was currently isolating herself on the seas of

Kizugawa[7] due to her argument with Nobuna.

Yoshiharu left to chase after Kazumasu and had yet to return.

Even Ujisato went to chase after Kazumasu after she thought, 'Perhaps

Kazumasu has already gathered the three Regalia. I need to go get them

back for Onee-sama to use in the battle.'

However, Nobuna had decided against using the Regalia for her war in

Chuugoku a long time ago.

"The Regalia are the treasures of the Yamato Gosho, it shouldn't be used in

this new era where bullets are flying."

Treasures that belong to the previous era of deities should not appear on the

battlefields of the new era.

"This battle must be won using our own strength as humans."

"Famous and noble samurai are dying one after another due to that crude

weapon from the Nanban… …THIS IS A NIGHTMARE AHHHHHH!!"

Konoe who barely survived escaping from Honbyo temple was in a state of

total panic after looking at the sight before him, continuously banging his

head against the floor, but for now Nobuna had no time to care about him.

"That manzai girl is serious now, turning from a goddess of laughter into a

goddess of death."

That person should be someone that nobody would want to meet on the

battlefield.

"I've decided; let's send a thousand of our men armed with arquebuses into

the battlefield"

From this day forth, a type of battle that was completely different from the

elegant death matches that samurai fought would appear in Japan, a type of

battle that had a large number of firearms that could cause massive

casualties and destruction poured onto battlefields to wreak havoc.

In actual fact, this was inevitable from the day firearms were introduced.

However, Nobuna had long since foreseen this fact.

'It's precisely because of this that I need to unify the country before it

happens, but my strength was still not enough in the end…' Nobuna thus

blamed herself for her inability.

"If the Tennou temple camp were to fall, the plan to conquer Honbyo

temple would be utterly destroyed, the revolts in the various lands will grow

beyond our control, therefore, we need to guard the Tennou temple camp

with our lives if necessary!"

"Since we lack manpower, then we'll break them with overwhelming

firepower. First, transfer command of all troops stationed in Settsu over to

Juubei in the Moriguchi[8] camp, I'll personally lead the three thousand

men of the flag party armed with the thousand arquebuses over and

command them."

Just when Nobuna was in the midst of giving orders, another new report

came in.

"Akechi Mitsuhide-sama led her troops and headed to the Tennou temple

camp."

"What? How can Juubei be this reckless?"

"After receiving the battle report, Akechi-sama felt responsible for her

inability to rush to the Tennou temple camp and defend it and therefore, she

went to reinforce Banjimasa-sama."

"Then where is Juubei now?!"

"Akechi-sama's unit was located to the east of the Uemachi Plains. While

fording the Hirano River, they were attacked by the Saika Clan and Mori

army which were surrounding the embattled Tennou temple camp in their

battle formation, Akechi-sama was subsequently repulsed and eliminated."

"Who could have thought that Juubei who is familiar with the prowess of

firearms would actually make such a mistake, how did it become like this?"

"Though Akechi-sama escaped with the surviving troops into the Tennou

temple camp, she does not know that the Saika Clan is unstoppable in its

current state, the Tennou temple camp is about to fall."

Nobuna did not even notice that her lip was bleeding slightly due to her

biting on it, standing up suddenly, she shouted, "Bring me a horse! I'm

going to save Juubei!"

"That's too reckless Hime! The enemy troops number more than ten

thousand, furthermore the Saika Clan have more than five thousand

arquebusiers in the field! Rushing over is tantamount to suicide!"

"We'll have a thousand arquebusiers as well!"

Even though the aides tried their best to stop her, Nobuna had already

resolved to save Mitsuhide.

To Nobuna, Mitsuhide was not just a retainer.

On one hand, she was Viper, Saito Dousan's beloved disciple and successor.

While on the other hand, she was the companion that had succeeded

Nobuna's dream.

Therefore she absolutely could not lose her here.

The current situation was something that Nobuna had not experienced

before, with the Tennou temple camp which was the most important

stronghold that led to Honbyo temple via the land route about to fall, and

the battle of Kizugawaguchi reaching an extremely dangerous juncture, if

she took one wrong step she would lose everything.

If that happened, the Oda Clan's reputation would be utterly destroyed and

would never rise to prominence once again.

"Right now I can only bet my life as well as the lives of all the warriors of

the Oda Clan, there's no more time to hesitate."

"If I'm left here alone, I'll be very troubled!" Konoe who finally recovered

grabbed hold of Nobuna's sleeve and pleaded with all his might.

"O-O-Oda Nobuna! The S-S-S-Saika Clan is enraged because Kennya was

assassinated! W-W-W-We should retreat for now."

"Konoe? Being over-cautious is fatal on the battlefield! Is Kennya alright?"

"Kennya was taken by Honbyo temple, but she is definitely still alive, she

will defend our actions when she wakes ups, hence we need to retreat for

now and buy time."

"'A life of twenty years…' Konoe, not just humans, this country also

doesn't have much time left. You also hear the roar of the Yatagarasu, even

if we seal off this country and temporarily escape from the competition

between our country and the world; we're just doing more harm than good."

In that instant, Nobuna who had resolved to die calmed herself down.

But that does not mean that she plans to die.

However, that did not mean she intended to die.

She fights in order to win.

"…Oda Nobuna, in actual fact you did not intend to sell this country to the

Nanban from the start, instead, you were able to foresee the changes in the

world earlier than anyone else, you foresaw the harsh reality that we would

face should we stubbornly refuse to change after the Nanban countries

arrived and thus wanted to enact reform in this country even more

anxiously than anyone else…"

Konoe seemed to understand something after looking at Nobuna's smile on

her face, bowing his head deeply; he trembled as he apologized, "I'm truly

sorry."

"I've decided, I'm going to snatch Kyonya's religious authority from her, I

won't acknowledge that fellow as a living deity."

'The queen who can truly protect this country is not Kyonya who does not

understand the new era of warfare and forced Magoichi into such a

situation, but is myself instead.' This strong belief enveloped Nobuna's

heart at this moment.

And right now, there was only one way to end this battle.

Everyone possesses naught but a single life, should she succumb to Honbyo

temple here, it would be akin to losing all her comrades, akin to losing the

future she craved.

This was the bottom line that Nobuna had to protect at all costs.

"'Is there anything that lasts forever?' As long as this country has someone

who inherits my will, I won't be truly dead. This belief makes me stronger,

and the ones who taught me this was Yoshiharu and the rest."

Oda Nobuna abandoned the Noda camp.

She led her unit of three thousand and crossed the Yodo River in plain sight

of Honbyo temple, advancing towards the Tennou temple camp that was

surrounded by the ten thousand strong Saika Clan and Mori army.

While at the Tennou temple camp, Akechi Mitsuhide who originally wanted

to reinforce the camp and lost, was currently leading the remains of her

units and mounting her last stand.

For the sake of consoling Takigawa Kazumasu who had a quarrel with

Nobuna, Sagara

Yoshiharu as well as Gamo Ujisato were running on a pier.

"Don't come near me you dirty bastard! For a lowly man like you to breathe

the same air as Onee-sama is in itself a sin, just scram back to the future."

"What a coincidence, I just happen to not know any method of going back!"

Yoshiharu and Ujisato were both pushing one another while climbing to the

deck of the Kikyuumaru squabbling, "I'm going first" "No I'm first"

Suddenly a loud roar was carried over from the Uemachi plateau.

"Listen Ujisato, the battle has begun over at the Tennou temple camp!"

"Though I heard that Saika Magoichi was the goddess of the arquebus, I

didn't think that she possessed this measure of strength."

"Magoichi-nee isn't supposed to be out fighting!! Damn it, has the result of

the Nanban soccer event been annulled? DAMN IT!"

'What's important now is Sakon-sama. Sakon-sama please hand the three

Regalia over to Onee-sama!"

"R-Right, they decided to fight in the end. Kazumasu-chan, I beg you,

please reconcile with Nobuna."

"This level of wilfulness is still tolerable, it's also your dream to unify

Japan as well Sakon-sama. From now on please loyally serve Onee-sama as

a superb retainer!"

"Wait a minute! Are you planning to anger Kazumasu-chan again?!"

"Sakon-sama, please forget about your birth sister and whatnot! It's nothing

compared to the happiness of the people in this country, please abandon it

all for the sake of Tenka Fubu!"

"Ujisato! Everything you just said is just going to have an opposite effect!"

"It's in my character to not lie!"

Kazumasu became more troubled because of what Ujisato just said.

"What are you all doing here, go back!" Kazumasu hid behind Kuki's back,

her small stature constantly trembling.

"All kinds of things keep popping up one after another, I'm so confused!"

"Let us retreat for now Hime-sama, the Murakami navy will soon charge

over!"

"NO KUKI! I will never abandon Nobuna-chan!"

"However if we stay here any further we will really get killed."

"A child of the sea will always look to the freedom of the high seas even if

he knows the god of death is near, right Kuki? Should we flee for now, we

will never be able to recover our morale."

"It's exactly as you said Hime-sama, but if we die, everything is over."

"The key factors of a naval battle are the wind direction and the flow of the

tides, for this battle it is us who has a greater chance of victory since we

have these advantages."

"The wind direction as well as the flow of the tides can change at any

moment, furthermore, we aren't familiar with these changes here in the seas

off Osaka."

'It would seem that Kazumasu-chan still intends to stay and fight'

Yoshiharu could not help but look forward to it.

However, at that moment the wind direction suddenly changed.

In the same instant, the Murakami navy which had been waiting for this

moment in order to utilize the advantage given by the change in wind

direction immediately launched a sudden assault on the Kuki navy which

was currently guarding the Kizugawaguchi[9].

"I've been waiting for a long time, this time it's for real. I'm going to give

everything I got to eliminate you all!"

Murakami Takeyoshi kept Kobayakawa Takakage by his side as he roared.

The Murakami navy utilized small, fast boats as their main forces and

prioritized on the speed of their vessels.

On the contrary, the Kuki navy's main force was mainly comprised of large

vessels that lacked mobility.

However, this did not mean that the Kuki navy was slow,

It was just that the Murakami navy was too fast.

"We have no way of matching that speed Hime-sama, let's retreat for now!"

"....!!"

Kazumasu never expected that the wind direction that even the wind

direction which she had always depended on suddenly changed,

Her self-confidence suffered a massive blow.

"We've engaged the enemy ships!"

"They're trying to board[10] us!"

"Hime-sama, be it a counter attack, or a tactical retreat, please, make a

decision quickly!"

"What should we do Kuki!"

"Please give your orders!"

"I actually don't know how to do anything; I have no idea what I should do.

We can neither run away nor can I say something like asking Kuki and the

rest to fight to the death. I can't abandon both my elder sisters… … I… …

can't decide on anything!"

"Hime-sama!"

The Murakami navy was sailing at a rapid speed towards them from all

directions. Constant blasts of horns loud enough to shatter one's eardrums

were all that could be heard, yet even so, Yoshiharu stood unmoving, gazing

at the direction of the Uemachi plateau.

The figure of a princess knight leading a unit of soldiers that was fording

the Yodo River and charging headlong towards the Tennou temple camp

attracted his complete attention.

Even though it was quite far away, even though he did not have any proof,

Yoshiharu could still immediately recognize that figure.

"It's Nobuna! That person riding that white horse and wearing a Nanban hat

is Nobuna! Don't tell me she intends to help the Tennou temple camp with

such a meager number of soldiers?!

Ujisato was shocked as well, exclaiming, "What? If Onee-sama were to fall

here, everything would be over! I haven't been spoiled by Onee-sama

before, why did she have to do such a reckless thing?! The good luck from

Okehazama won't appear every time!"

"Nobuna has never relied on luck! She always worked hard in order to live

till now!"

"Ahh, as expected Onee-sama is the noble person who was reincarnated to

unify Japan… She's the personification of the hope that countless people

have held onto in these hundred years of war and chaos!"

"Nobuna-sama…! I have to buck up as well!"

Kuki Yoshitaka's body stopped trembling.

"Please give the order Hime-sama! We all swore to be your strength, and

will follow you until our deaths!"

On the battlefield not far from them Saika Magoichi was akin to an

unstoppable ferocious tiger, slaughtering her foes, while the soldiers of the

Oda Clan continued to be routed.

While at sea, the Murakami navy seemed to resemble sharks that had just

caught the scent of fresh blood, swarming towards the Kuki navy.

A wave crashed against the hull of the Kikyuumaru, causing it to rock

violently. Yoshiharu who was on the deck staggered a little, praying in his

heart, 'It might be a bit cruel to treat such a young child this way, but given

the current situation, I need to harden my heart and give her a push. If gods,

deities or Buddha truly exist, please forgive me.'

With that, he thundered at Kazumasu who was so scared she couldn't move

"Kazumasu-chan, you must be feeling confused, you're probably asking

yourself whether you should help Himiko-sama or Nobuna right? However

this is your own life! You only get one chance at life, how you want to live

should be decided by you and you alone!"

"But… still"

"Doing nothing and allowing situations to come to a conclusion is the worst

possible option."

"But I can't do it. Which sister should I continue to live with? Who should I

pass the regalia to? I can't make up my mind!"

"Don't live on for the sake of your sisters; live on for the sake of yourself!"

"That can't happen! I am a useless person! If I don't have a sister I can't do

anything, it's just like what you said before!"

"Then just change that future and you can make it happen! Be it myself,

Nobuna or Kuki-nee, all of us will be by your side!"

"I don't want that, I want to be independent!"

The vessel shook again, Yoshiharu who was unable to keep his balance

knocked his head on the mast of the vessel. However, he continued to yell

regardless,

"WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT INDEPENDENCE WHEN YOU

ARE STILL SO

YOUNG!"

"Because of Nobuna-chan that's why I definitely need to be independent"

"Are you unsatisfied with your sister's love?! That's a little too much"

"Yoshi?"

"Even though it's a bit awkward for a grown up man like me to beef about

my troubles to a little girl like you, but I'll be unable to see my family again

for the rest of my life, even if I die! The same goes for my family, they can

only wait in agony for me as they also don't have any idea why I suddenly

disappeared!"

Yoshiharu had already resolved be it Nobuna or Kazumazu he would treat

them all as family, never letting them go.

"Kazumasu-chan, before you lose your family forever, make your

decision!"

At this point, even Ujisato's expression changed.

Yoshiharu's heartfelt remarks caused her to tremble intensely.

"…Yoshi."

"If you're unsure of who to choose then let me teach you! Listen up, if you

don't want to lose either side, if you don't wish to abandon either one, then

grab on to both of them!"

"That kind of thing…"

"Did anyone come up with a rule that states that you can only have one

sister?! We're one big family! Isn't everything settled if both of them are

your sisters?!"

"Does such an option even exist for such a desire you fool! Yoshi really is a

ridiculously greedy person!"

"When faced with a situation where I am unable to abandon either side,

even if I have to put my life on the line, I'll still be greedy till the end!"

"…If I'm still not moved by Yoshi's non-stop shouting with his head still

bleeding, then I really am not up for it."

Kazumasu who originally had a look of distress abruptly loosened her

wrinkled brow.

"The reason why everyone wants to protect Yoshi, the reason why Nobunachan likes Yoshi so much, I, seem to have finally understood."

Kazumasu's voice became louder and louder,

"I've decided, Kuki navy listen up, rally together and begin the

counterattack!"

At this moment, her small frame emanated a presence akin to that of the

real Himiko herself, such that not just Yoshiharu, even the Christian Ujisato

unconsciously felt her legs lose strength.

"We cannot allow them to flank our fleet Kuki, change direction right

now!"

"Understood! Full speed turn! Face the bow of the Kikyuumaru towards the

Murakami navy."

"Hime-sama...!"

"Our Hime-sama...!"

"HAS REVIVED!!!"

"We won't be beaten down any more, adjust the position of the ship, all

crew to battle stations!"

"Understood!"

"Follow Hime-sama's lead!"

"Before Aneue catches herself a husband, I won't allow myself to die!"

"Oi oi, why is your final goal about me getting a husband?"

"Launch an all-out assault, seize the advantage of the wind direction!"

Kazumasu's reaction could not be called slow, but it was a pity that the

Murakami navy's strength was just too extraordinary,

The minute they saw the Kuki navy breaking out of their confusion and

preparing to counterattack, the sailors of the Murakami navy implemented

their next tactic without hesitation immediately.

"Look, there are many fire ships[11]!"

"They set fire to their own boats and are closing in fast!"

"T-Too fast! They're at least thrice as fast as us!"

"No, there's no way we can use the wind to our advantage."

"The fire is spreading towards us… Our formation is breaking up."

The difference in combat ability between the two navies was simply too

great.

The swift vessels of the Murakami navy, packed to the brim with

gunpowder, were relying on the wind direction to ram the vessels one after

another into the leading vessels of the Kuki navy.

Then, with a large and loud explosion, virtually all the ships caught within

the blast radius would be set on fire, While the sailors steering the vessels

would loudly exclaim, "Do you see it?! This is the naval tactic of the

Mishima Murakami!" before diving into the sea to escape the explosions

occurred.

This was a tactic that could only be used by experienced pirates in order to

ensure they had a chance of survival,

No, it would be more appropriate to call it the suicide bombing tactic used

by the pirates who were unafraid of death.

With the increasing number of ships being set aflame, the Kuki navy's

formation was finally utterly destroyed.

"This is impossible, my tactics never go wrong?!"

"We're no match for them; their speed is way too fast!"

"They're really a group of lunatics who don't fear death!"

"The fleet has already descended into chaos, there's no way for us to

continue fighting."

Be it Kazumasu or Kuki, both of them never thought that the difference in

strength between the two forces would be so great,

"… I'm useless at naval battles too, let's end this here."

It was already a difficult task for Yoshiharu who was unused to being at sea

to dodge flaming arrows on the rocking deck of the ship, there's no way he

could think of a strategy to turn the tide of the battle around.

Moreover, the current foe was not one that could be defeated by half

measures alone.

Murakami Takeyoshi, who swore to utterly rout the Kuki navy in this one

battle, stood at the prow of his flagship and thundered,

"There's no need to be courteous towards this gang of female pirates, give

them a good taste of the famous Hourokuyaki of the Mishima Murakami!"

The Murakami navy immediately roared in response, hurling explosives

which were filled with gunpowder one after another towards their foe.

This was a kind of explosive that produced a violent explosion upon impact,

it was called the Hourokuyaki, a sure-kill weapon.

Even though the Kuki navy tried their hardest to keep away from the firing

range of the Hourokuyaki, the pirates of the Murakami navy had already

used grappling hooks to latch on tightly to the vessels of the Kuki navy.

Pirates who were unafraid of death, launching a series of blistering suicide

attacks when combined with speed that defied common sense, the result of

this combination was

overwhelming vigor.

This was the forte of the Murakami navy.

Kobayakawa Takakage who was seated on the deck of the flagship of the

Murakami navy was already certain of her victory.

"Just as missy predicted. Even though the Oda army had once created a

miracle at Okehazama, these landlubbers are as vulnerable as little children

at sea. It just can't be compared with the fierce battle at Itsukushima."

"This was all due to your astute powers of observation. It only went so

successfully because you predicted the change in wind direction beforehand

and noticed in an instant the confusion of the Oda army that resulted.

Relying on the speed of the Murakami navy which surpasses common sense

in order to seize this opportunity and defeat them."

"As expected the Mori intend to begin conquering the world in this manner

right missy?"

"The demonized Saika Magoichi is sure to slaughter Oda Nobuna."

"Should she run to the coast then we'll wipe her out together with the

shattered survivors of the Kuki navy, that lass will meet the same fate as

Sue Harukata at the Battle of Itsukushima."

"…Otou-sama, Onii-sama, please bestow upon me courage."

The ships of the Kuki navy were surrounded by their foes one after another.

——

Taking a direct hit from one of the Hourokuyaki flung at them, a raging fire

was ignited on the deck of the Kikyuumaru.

In this battle the Kikyuumaru's proud superstructure became a superb target

for the Hourokuyaki.

"Hime-sama, considering the condition of our ship, there is no longer any

way to reverse the situation."

"I can't accept this!"

"What about Onee-sama's wedding!"

"In this situation you're still talking about this nonsense! Abandon all ships

that were set ablaze, jump into the sea to escape!"

"The Tennou Temple camp is also in danger!"

The Oda army who wished to relieve the Tennou Temple camp engaged in a

fierce clash with the Saika Clan who wished to stop these reinforcements.

The two sides had more than six thousand arquebuses combined, and were

firing them at each other at close range. The resulting roars produced

constantly resounded around the area of the Uemachi Plateau.

As expected, the side which began to rout first was the Oda army who was

at an absolute numerical disadvantage.

"If this goes on Nobuna-chan will lose."

Just as Kazumasu gazed at the Uemachi Plateau and lowered her guard, an

arrow arced towards her back, catching her unawares.

"Sakon-sama!"

Ujisato raced forward and used her arm to block the arrow.

"WHA-?!"

The arrow pierced through Ujisato's arm with her face contorting in pain.

However, contrary to her slender and body and delicate appearance, Ujisato

possessed a resolve as strong as steel.

"Sakon-sama the enemy has far surpassed our expectations, if this goes on,

we will lose both the land and naval battle even without Uesugi Kenshin

taking the field against us."

"We can only use the three regalia; they're all on the ship."

"However with Onee-sama not present, there's no point in us utilizing the

three regalia!"

"Wh-What?!"

"Any ideas Sagara Yoshiharu? We absolutely cannot allow Onee-sama to

perish here."

"There's already no possible way for use to win this battle, for now we

should first secure an escape route for Nobuna!"

"Once we're defeated there's no possible way we can manage to escape!"

'The combat prowess of the Saika Clan and the Murakami navy are both

overwhelming, akin to natural disasters themselves. There's no way they are

warriors who exist in order to protect the country, they're wild beasts who

constantly sharpen their fangs in order to live their lives freely.

If they do not possess absolute power then they don't have the true freedom

they desire, therefore, treating them as ordinary opponents is a grave

mistake!'

'Furthermore the Oda Clan's armies are currently pinned down by the

rebellions occurring in the various states, in such a situation, the only things

able to turn the tide are divide beings'

Yoshiharu thought.

"Speaking of which, what happened to Hanbei-chan, I didn't see her at all.

The fighting has progressed to this stage yet not a silver of her presence can

be found, just where did she run off to!"

"Hurry up and come up with a plan Yoshi! Just what must we do in order to

save Nobuna-chan, the Tennou temple camp is built on top of a hill?"

"Don't pressure me; just give me a little more time!"

"There's already no time left!"

While they were conversing, the Murakami navy had completely blocked

off the open mouth of the Kizu River that led out to sea, the Kikyuumaru

had lost its chance to escape out to sea.

'Aaaaa, if only I had researched more on naval battles,' Even though

Yoshiharu was so frustrated he wanted to grit his teeth until they all

shattered, against an overwhelmingly strong foe in the form of the

Murakami navy, there was no possible way for Yoshiharu to come up with a

proper plan even if there were two of him there at that time.

It was a dead end. ——

"The exit to the sea has been sealed shut Hime-sama! We only left with the

option of sailing into the river!"

"Sailing the ship into the river?!"

"As long as there are no sandbars or hidden rocks we should be fine!

Although the Kizu River is a tributary[12] of the Yodo River, Osaka's sea is

connected with all the rivers and lakes; in essence, there's no actual

difference between them. It's just that the people called the sea a river."

"Having said that, saving my sister is the top priority Ujisato, even if there's

only one person left, as long as we can carry on fighting I will never

abandon Nobuna-chan. Even if there's no hope at all, that fact won't

change!"

"T-That's right! We sincerely apologize but we will follow Hime-sama until

the end!"

"It's just… that matter about helping you find a husband… I'm sorry about

that Kuki."

"No need to mind that, to be able to meet with Hime-sama is my greatest

fortune."

Hearing this conversation between Kuki and Kazumasu, a good idea flashed

across the mind of Yoshiharu.

"That's right, it's just like that! Listen to me! I've thought of a way to save

Nobuna!"

The unit led by Nobuna struck out from the Noda encampment, fording the

river in front of Honbyo temple and ascending to the Uemachi plateau,

headed for the Tennou temple

encampment in order to save Akechi Mitsuhide whose troops seemed on the

verge of breaking and routing due to the fierce assault of the Saika and Mori

units.

Among her three thousand soldiers, the thousand arquebuses were firing

while trying their best to advance towards and link up with the units of the

Tennou temple encampment, but they were forced to engage the five

thousand strong arquebus unit of the Saika Clan who were previously

waiting in full battle array and had just launched a fierce counterattack.

On this day four and a half centuries after the invention of the arquebus.

The world's first large scale battle between two arquebus units began on the

flat plains of Osaka.

Kyonya, the current head of Honbyo temple as well as her followers who

swore to defend the temple to the end, witnessed the battle unfold in front

of them with their own eyes and were shocked beyond words at the sight in

front of them.

Kyonya first saw Nobuna ford the river right under her nose from the

vantage point of Honbyo temple, and was subsequently unable to intervene

between the fierce clash between Magoichi and Nobuna, powerlessly

watching on.

The battle unfolding in front of her eyes as well as the on-going rebellion

she had started were both completely different from her idea of how warfare

was conducted. The sight of such a battlefield where thousands of

arquebuses roared at once was akin to the early arrival of Armageddon. A

tragic sight of this magnitude completely stripped her of all her fighting

spirit.

The echo of these roars resounded throughout the Uemachi Plateau,

increasing in volume one volley after another, serving as a declaration that

the dark era which plagued the country for centuries officially became an

era of the past.

On the battlefield, the two princess-knights who both wielded the new

weapons brought by the Nanban ships met amidst the hail of bullets.

One wielded the arquebus in order to end the era of warring states. The

other sharpened the claws of the "Yatagarasu" in order to continue living a

carefree life.

"Saika Magoichi! If the goddess of the arquebus or whatnot descends onto

the battlefield it'll give me a headache! Let me exorcize a self-proclaimed

goddess like you!"

On the other side, Saika Magoichi raised her Yatagarasu.

"Oda Nobuna! If you're not killed this war will go on without end. Your

life, I'll take it now!"

Both of them yelled at the same time, their voices were so loud that neither

could even hear themselves.(Wot teh fook is this)

A hundred paces —— Eighty paces ——

The distance between the two kept shrinking.

Nobuna had already entered the range of the Yatagarasu.

However Nobuna's successes at overcoming numerous life-or-death

situations such as the Battle of Okehazama and the Retreat of Kanegasaki

could be said to be proof of her receiving divine protection.

Even the consecutive snipes of Koga's famous arquebus Sugitani Zenjuubou

failed to take her life.

Therefore, in order to ensure that her shot would definitely kill Nobuna,

Magoichi decided to close the distance between them further before firing.

The two on horseback stared at one another intently; it was as if a roaring

inferno was blazing in both their eyes.

"Magoichi! You are really an idiot! You don't even know the proper method

to use one yet you so daringly proclaim yourself as the goddess of the

arquebus!"

"The arquebus is my fangs, an arquebus never wrong!"

"I know you're as strong as a tiger, but you aren't a tiger at all and can't even

be compared to a wild beast!

"What?!"

"A tiger will not use an arquebus! Only humans know how to utilize

weapons!"

"Ridiculous!"

"Waving that toy in your hands without a goal in mind…Just how many

people do you intend to see die!"

"In order to ensure that no one else dies, I'll take your life to end

everything!"

"Magoichi! Didn't we promise one another! What will happen to the next

soccer meet now!"

"…Oda Nobuna!"

Magoichi and Nobuna pulled their triggers at the same time——

Two roars resounded.

Both of them were shot in the leg.

Oda Nobuna, fell off her horse.

"… The Namban soccer event, we can't.... do it anymore..."

Nobuna's aides hurriedly placed the fallen Nobuna on a stretcher,

desperately fleeing in the direction of the Tennou temple encampment.

While Magoichi who remained saddled did not even react. She flung the

Yatagarasu Kai First in her hands away, before sinking into silence.

Hotaru and Kotsuzume approached her cautiously to make their reports,

"O-Oda Nobuna's unit has already entered the Tennou temple

encampment."

"Using herself as a decoy in order to draw my attention to her, and using

this opportunity to send her soldiers into the base huh… She did it all for

the sake of others."

"However, like this Oda Nobuna has basically cut off her own escape route,

currently the land to the west, north and south of the Tennou temple

encampment has been surrounded by us. To the east is the rapid Hirano

river, she has no way to escape already."

"The war will end after we capture this base."

"What happens after the war ends… Will the country belong to the Mori

Clan, or will it belong to Honbyo temple… Will it go the Takedas… Or the

Uesugi."

"Who knows…"

"Hotaru, Kotsuzume, this is the first time I've missed a shot after resolving

to shoot someone."

"Oda Nobuna was just lucky that time."

"It's not like that."

Magoichi flicked open a fan to cover her face.

"…When I thought about the Nanban soccer event, I… could not do it."

Gazing at Magoichi's lonely back, Hotaru and Kotsuzume did not know

what to say/couldn't help but remain silent.

The Saika Clan always maintained an alliance built upon shared interests

with Honbyo temple, thus whenever Honbyo temple was plunged into a

situation of war, they would immediately rush over to aid them.

Therefore, there was very little enmity towards the Oda Clan mixed into

this war.

Add that to the fact that they were fighting without being paid, causing the

current situation to be different from typical mercenary jobs They were

merely rushing to the aid of their long-time ally, Honbyo temple, simply

because it was the "right" thing to do.

"When I thought about Yoshiharu-dono's heartfelt smile when he hugged

Oda Nobuna… My finger… was trembling… When things are like this

there's no possible way to end the war… I just need to kill one person in

order to save many thousands more…"

While Oda Nobuna truly wished to kill me… The difference in our skill

levels was offset by the strength of our resolve, therefore the bullet that

should have struck its target missed while the bullet that should have missed

managed to strike its target.

Feeling deeply ashamed for her weakness, Magoichi's voice became hoarse.

"Magoichi-sama, as long as we are able to take this base, Oda Nobuna's

head is ours."

"After suffering from such an injury, Oda Nobuna should not be able to

move around freely, her destiny shall end here."

"Is that so… will it really end here?"

"Indeed, even if we of the Saika Clan let her off, the Mori army will

definitely pursue her."

"Before joining the battle, the Mori army had already resolved to not call

off the war until the enemy commander has been slaughtered, just like in

the Battle of Itsukushima."

"If I am unable to resolve myself to kill Oda Nobuna, then it is only right

for me to go back and kill Kyonya… but that is something which I cannot

do as well. She is Kennya's sister after all…

Can the current me even be considered a flawless woman…"

Magoichi used her fingers to dig the bullet in her leg out, while exclaiming

aloud.

"Kennya-dono, Oda Nobuna and Kobayakawa Takakage had all came to

this battlefield

following the resolve in their hearts. It's just me who is wandering around

the battlefield without any aim... For someone like me who was called a

tiger, I'm just a dog that had no home to return to.

"I'm sorry Juubei, my leg hurts so much that I can't walk…It seems this is

it…"

"My deepest apologies Nobuna-sama! However, why didn't you just

abandon me!"

"Should the Tennou temple encampment fall it would mean that all Oda

army units on the Settsu front would have been defeated. I-I didn't rush here

to save you specifically!"

"Now's not the time to use that kind of tone, the encampment is about to be

lost!"

Nobuna whose leg was injured was carried to the highest floor of the tallest

pagoda[13] in the Tennou temple camp.

By her side, Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide was firing into the surging wave of

Mori troops that were assaulting the encampment using her arquebus.

They were surrounded on three sides by what seemed to be an unlimited

number of enemy units, to their rear was the narrow wetland path leading to

the Hirano river. However, the soil in that area was too muddy for horses to

be ridden on it and the injured Nobuna currently could not walk with her

leg injury.

"… Even if I wished to forcefully break out… it would be an impossible

task. Juubei even if it's just you alone its fine, hurry and retreat to the river."

"Even if I reach the riverbank, all the boats there should have already been

burnt Nobuna-sama."

"De…aruka, that's really… …"

Nobuna and Mitsuhide already did not possess any means of escape.

"… It seems that we won't be unexpectedly rescued unlike in Kiyomizu

temple… as expected, a tiger is a tiger, their bestial nature is difficult to

tame and thus they can't be reared by humans."

"Juubei still doesn't understand, Nobuna-sama. The person who fired an

arrow at Kennya from behind was definitely not us, but who would possibly

profit from the war between the Oda Clan and Honbyo temple!"

"It's probably that mysterious strategist working in the shadows… Hanbei

worked so hard for so long yet the area around Kyoto still has evil spirits

wandering around, rumours are also spreading in all lands that this is "The

conspiracy of Oda Nobuna", furthermore he's capable of using the movable

type printing technology[14]that the Nanban brought over. That bastard

really has a terrifying, wicked form of intelligence."

"Don't force yourself to speak Nobuna-sama, you'll aggravate the

wound…"

"…Yoshiharu must be extremely angry about me exchanging fire with

Honbyo temple. I'm afraid the dream of Tenka Fubu will also…"

"Don't worry Nobuna-sama, even if Juubei has to fight until her last breath,

she won't allow anyone to harm you!"

"So in the end after my end, I let loose an evil demon that will devour

countless lives, called the "Arquebus battle", into the human realm."

"Nobuna-sama, even though Sagara-senpai possess a kindness that we the

people of this age have long forgotten, to end this chaotic era and not need

to fight any more wars is not possible.

Honbyo temple, which has the strongest religious influence in Japan, as

well as Oda Nobuna, who wishes to unite Japan despite being a mere

human. The battle between these two sides was unavoidable as it would

decide the fate of this country."

Losing her composure because of the bad news that her mother was dying,

Mitsuhide who was unwittingly forced into this desperate situation felt the

sudden impulse to cry as she gazed at Nobuna who rushed to her aid

regardless of the dangers of the battlefield and was severely injured as a

result. She choked back tears as she continued,

"—— From the day that arquebuses could be mass produced… the age of

elegant battles between samurai had already ended. Should the chaotic

times not come to an end soon, eventually we will invite destruction upon

ourselves because we were too busy killing one another. In order for

everyone to understand this point, someone had to show the "Arquebus

battle" to everyone."

'As expected of Juubei, she possesses the ability and resolve to conquer the

world. However, should we be unable to live on… then everything will be

for naught.' Thinking of this, Nobuna's eyes began to water.

"There's no right or wrong when it comes to the arquebus in the first place,

to do 'good' or do 'evil' is completely dependent on user's will. Utilising

your intelligence and borrowing the immense firepower of the arquebus in

order to end the chaotic times of Japan is a good thing!"

"That is truly an analysis that is in line with Juubei's personality."

"Ah, not good! The pagoda has also been shot by flaming arrows… the fire

is spreading over here Nobuna-sama!"

"The battle of Kizugawaguchi should have also begun, how are Sakon and

the Kuki navy doing?"

"T-t-they were no match for the Murakami navy, and suffered a d-d-defeat!"

Dearuka… Nobuna sighed.

Now even if she wished to flee, there was no way out for her.

"In this battle I lacked the capability/resolve of Kobayakawa Takakage to

accomplish multiple objectives at once. I was also unable to fight a death

match with Magoichi and the rest, I was really fighting this battle

unprepared…"

"Awawawa, keep the self-hatred for later! The only thing we can do now is

to pray for rain!"

"That's a special trick of Hanbei's. If someone like you were to do it instead,

no matter how many times you prayed, it'd be a futile effort."

"Sa-Sagara-senpai! Nobuna-sama is in danger! You once boldly stated that

you came to this era from the future in order to save Nobuna-sama, now is

the time where we need you the most!"

The fire began to spread to the camp grounds of Tennou temple, Nobuna

and Mitsuhide tightly hugged each other, awaiting the arrival of the end.

"WUUUOOOOHHHHH! I finally made it!!!! I came to save you guys!"

The embankment of the Tenjo river abruptly collapsed. With a loud bang,

the flagship of the Kuki navy, the Kikyuumaru suddenly appeared.

However, the Kikyuumaru looked worse for wear, looking as if it would

sink at any moment.

Yet even so, it still was a far better stronghold than any pagoda in the

Tennou temple camp.

"Great! The decision to meet up with each other using the river is a big

success!"

Yoshiharu understood from Kuki's words that the Kizugawa which was in

the midst of the battle and the Yodogawa at the back of Honbyo temple was

actually part of the same river. They were only called as such due to

convenience in telling them apart.

Indeed.

Even the Naranogawa beside the Uemachi Plateau which the Tennou temple

is located is the same.

Yodagawa and Kizugawa are both connected!

Noticing this, Yoshiharu commanded the Kikyuumaru to head towards

Kizugawa, using

Yodogawa to go to Naranogawa and launch an assault on the old and

battered dam.

Due to the sand and mud gathering, Naranogawa was extremely prone to

flooding.

After the destruction of the dam, the river water spurt out with the speed of

a bullet.

"Let's charge over to Uemachi Plateau like this! After meeting up with

Nobuna and the rest, we will start defending!"

"Waaahhhh, our Kikyuumaru is breaking apart!"

The weeping Kuki could only hold on to the mast of Kikyuumaru as she

sailed along the river.

The speed of Kikyuumaru was unbelievable, causing the people watching it

marvel at the might of nature.

Riding the tide with bullet-like speed, the Kikyuumaru successfully reached

the Uemachi Plateau as it brushed past the outer walls of the Tennou temple

camp grounds before stopping.

"Get Nobuna and the rest on board the ship now."

The Saika clan and Mori army which were fighting near the Tennou temple

were shocked by the sudden appearance of the ship and for a period of time,

were rooted to the ground.

The plan that Yoshiharu thought of with a stroke of inspiration had an

extraordinary effect.

"Wahhhh, I heard the hull of the ship breaking! My Kikyuumaru is gone,

IT'S GONEEEEEEE!

Saru, I'm going to kill you!"

"I'm sorry, Kuki-nee, but this is the only way."

"Yoshi, this plan of using the tide to steer the ship up to land can't be

describe as brilliant, this is just fantastic!"

"This is the fruits of everyone's labors. If not for Shikanosuke suggesting to

commit suicide by destroying the dam, Ujisato suggesting to use the ship to

go up the mountain and Kuki telling me that all the rivers are

interconnected, I would not have thought of this."

"Don't be humble, Yoshi, you could think of such a fantastic plan at a time

when we don't even have time to think is remarkable. Take this small flower

as a gift."

"It's just good luck. If the Naranogawa did not build such a high dam to

prevent flooding or if the water stored in the dam wasn't enough, we won't

be able to use the Kikyuumaru to reach Uemachi Plateau. But things aren't

over now, let's save Nobuna now!"

"Hime-sama! Due to the impact, there's a huge hole at the bottom of the

ship. Kikyuumaru... The Kikyuumaru is no longer seaworthy anymore!"

On the land, a new battle develops around Kikyuumaru which had turned

into a large fortress.

All the soldiers at the Tennou temple camp grounds boarded Kikyuumaru.

And the enemies' fire arrows and bullets were all aimed on the deck of

Kikyuumaru too.

Yoshiharu and the rest carried the injured Nobuna and Mitsuhide to the

bottom of Kikyuumaru.

Though the firepower of Murakami's Hourokuyaki was intense, but when

compared to the arquebuses of the Saika clan, the difference is just too

great.

Even the Kikyuumaru was unable to withstand for too long.

"Are your injuries ok, Nobuna!?"

"....Yoshiharu, that was reckless."

"Why are you hugging Yoshi!? You should be complimenting me who had

rushed over!"

"You dare to say such a thing now, Sakon? You lost so badly to the

Murakami navy."

"Didn't you get utterly beaten by the Saika clan!? The new little sister is

useless!"

"You're still jealous over that? You're unexpectedly vengeful."

"Not at all!"

"You two! Now isn't the time to be quarreling!"

"Sagara-senpai? What is that lass planning to do?"

"I had done all I can! Ujisato, I'm leaving the rest to you."

Indeed.

In the storage room full of weapons and ammunition, Gamo Ujisato had

been in there all this while.

"There's no more time to hesitate, Aneue. Hurry and start!"

Yata no Kagami[15].

Yasakani no Magatama[16].

Kusanagi no Tsurugi[17].

These three regalia had already been placed in formation by Ujisato's feet.

Yoshiharu's plan had successfully moved Nobuna and Mitsuhide from the

dangerous Tennou temple camp grounds to the temporally safe

Kikyuumaru.

But this was all it was, the Oda clan had no other reinforcements that could

rush over.

On land, all they could see were the Mori army, the Saika clan while the

Murakami navy prowled the seas.

If they use the Kikyuumaru as their new base, it would only delay the time

which Nobuna was defeated.

So both Yoshiharu and Kazumasu had pinned their hopes on saving Nobuna

on Ujisato, or to be more precise, the three imperial regalia.

At this moment, Yoshiharu instinctively felt that some huge danger was

closing in on himself.

But protecting Nobuna should be his priority now as Yoshiharu suppressed

the unease in his heart.

"Lion? You gathered the three imperial regalia?"

"Aneue, you had opened the gates of strategies involving using huge

amounts of arquebuses to fight."

"But now everyone understands the power of the arquebuses, if we don't

hurry and end the battle, there will be an unthinkable amount of casualties."

"So we can only use the three imperial regalia! Please put your hand on the

Yata no Kagami!"

"Will it have an reaction to my hand?"

"Originally not, but luckily, Sakon-sama is present too. After the Kampaku

visited Sakon-sama secretly, I confirmed that she is the inheritor of the

bloodline owning the three imperial regalia.

Aneue's will with Sakon-sama's bloodline should be able to activate the

regalias! If it's still not enough, I will use the Namban prayers to help!"

"The inheritor of the bloodline owning the three imperial regalia? Don't tell

me... Sakon's actual sister is...!?"

"Let's wait till we win the battle to talk about that, Nobuna-chan! But now

that I think properly about this, it could be a meticulously thought out trap,

the one who gave us the Yasakani no Magatama was Murakami Takeyoshi."

".... But if this goes on, we're dead. Let's bet on it!"

"Before we start, I have to warn you, Aneue. There's a price to use the

regalias, it's impossible to obtain everything..."

After hearing, Nobuna held on to Yoshiharu's hand tightly.

"It's ok, a life of twenty years. Yoshiharu will understand me!"

"Ahh, if something happened to you, I will destroy it even if it's the

regalia."

"Destroy?"

"Even if my name is smeared with mud forever, I will destroy them to save

you."

"You will be struck down by the heavens!"

"Then, let's begin...."

In the ship that was shaking under the attacks by the Saika clan and the

Mori army, Ujisato who was on the left of Nobuna began reciting from the

holy book while holding the Kusanagi no Tsurugi and on the right,

Kazumasu was holding the Yasakani no Magatama while chanting

incantations.

The surface of the mirror on the Yata no Kagami began to emit white light.

Nobuna bit her lips as she extended her hand towards the Yata no Kagami.

"Nobuna-sama!? Isn't that the treasure of the Yamato Gosho? No, you can't

do that, that's too brazen."

Finally understanding the things that are happened before her, Mitsuhide

extends her body, trying to stop Nobuna.

But Nobuna said, "If they are really the three imperial regalia that protects

this country, then they should use the last of their strength to stop this tragic

battle." as she placed her hand firmly on the mirror.

"With the tribute of the brother, Susanoo-no-Mikoto to the sister,

Amaterasu-Omikami and the Kusanagi no Tsurugi to lead the way, open the

gate through the netherworld once again!"

Ujisato held the sword in her hand high up.

After the activation of the regalias, a huge tear opened in the sky.

Countless beams of light shone down from the sky and fell onto the

Uemachi Plateau.

And the strongest and brightest beam of light shone down on Kikyuumaru.

Surrounding this beam of light, a staircase appears, like a tower heading

towards the heavens.

Arriving on the deck and looking at this, Nobuna exclaimed, "It's that

"tower"!"

No matter if it's Tenka Fubu and romance, the end is related to the "tower"

that Kuroda Kanbei had once predicted.

And right now, this tower filled with light is extremely similar to the one

shown on the tarot card.

Outside, both the Saika clan and the Mori army who were surrounding the

Kikyuumaru and the Murakami navy who had entered the Naranogawa

trying to pursue the Kikyuumaru was so shocked on the sudden miracle that

they were speechless.

No one could explain just what was happening in front of their eyes.

The only one who knew was Oda Nobuna, who was fighting with the Saika

clan as a violent arquebus battle that no one had seen was unfolding on

Uemachi Plateau right now.

And Oda Nobuna who had been forced into a corner is once again revealing

some new trump card of hers.

In an instant, everyone had forgotten that they were on the battlefield.

After a period of silence, Ujisato speak out.

"That's the path towards the netherworld, "Amano-Iwato". That pillar of

light contains the power to twist time-space, allowing the user to go to other

worlds. But only one person is allowed to pass through. I'm afraid Sagara

Yoshiharu may have entered this world through the Amano-Iwato."

"What!? But why didn't I recall that!? But that isn't the point here!"

Yoshiharu looked at the tower of light in front of his eyes and shouted.

"Didn't you said that the regalia will have the power to help us win this

battle!? You liar!!!"

You were hiding something! Kazumasu was furious.

"There's not a shred of lie in my words. Aneue will use this miracle to

obtain the final victory!"

Ujisato continue saying with a uneasy expression.

"In the era of the gods, Amaterasu-ohkami was afraid of her defiant brother

Susanoo-no-Mikoto who had overwhelming powers and at the same time,

sad that the battle between them will cause the utter destruction of this

country. Thus, after Amaterasu-ohkami gave Japan to his brother, she

opened the Amano-Iwato using the eclipse's power to go to the netherworld.

Touched by the great power of Amaterasu-Ohkami, the people called that

world to be Dokoyo[18].

Fascinated by the dazzling Amano-Iwato in front of her eyes, Ujisato

continued.

"After losing Amaterasu-Ohkami, the people fell into confusion and

Susanoo-no-Mikoto was lost without direction. To find his sister back, he

used all his strength to create the three regalia.

The power of the Yasakani no Magatama can connect between two different

worlds and the Kusanagi no Tsurugi can open the doorway. Due to the

pathway having opened once before, it's not difficult to open it again, and

the Yata no Kagami...."

At this time, Nobuna asked Ujisato.

"Where did Amaterasu-Ohkami went to in the end?"

"She probably didn't leave the planet and instead went to the past, or.... the

future."

Yoshiharu who was supporting Nobuna understood the real purpose of the

tower of light after hearing Ujisato saying the word "future".

"Kanbei once said that she knows the method to send me back to the future,

don't tell me this tower of light is that?"

Ujisato who believed that she had won the "battle" between Yoshiharu and

herself continued saying.

"You came to this world from the future through this tower of light. At that

time, the pathway between the two worlds was already connected and so we

can open the Amano-Iwato so easily using the regalia. Once you climb the

tower of light, you can return to the future."

"So that's your plan from the start! Ah, I understand it now. You're thinking

that once I disappear, the bad rumors of Nobuna will be gone and she can

be saved due to that..."

"That's just half the story. The miracle that was created using the AmanoIwato through the regalia will shine through the whole of the Japan's skies,

showing to everyone that the Amaterasu-Ohkami had returned. There isn't a

greater weapon for the people's faith to return to Amaterasu-Ohkami and

end the chaotic era."

"Right now, all the people in Japan can see us!?"

"In the holy tower of light, Aneue banished the source of all evil. The

people who had witnessed this sacred scene will definitely accept her, it's

the same for the Nyankousou believers or the retainers of Uesugi Kenshin,

they will all become Aneue's most loyal believers. This is the true

"miracle"!"

To end this sengoku era and fulfill the people's thirst for peace through

Tenka Fubu, Aneue should exceed an ordinary person and become a true

god!

"Do it, Aneue. Banished the pest Sagara Yoshiharu back to his own world

by yourself. With this, you can obtain both the right to govern and divine

authority!"

"I don't understand one thing, Lion. How did you persuade the enemy,

Murakami navy to pass the Yasakani no Magatama to us?"

"Kyushu's missionary, Cabral-sama is a man with the motive to turn Japan

to a country of God.

To let a new god descend on Japan, he became a prisoner of the Murakami

navy and use trickery to make them salvage the Yasakani no Magatama.

After that, Cabral-sama sent a letter asking me to help make Aneue become

god and sent the Yasakani no Magatama to me telling me that this is a thing

that only I can do."

"De... aruka... But that new god the missionary was saying isn't the same as

the one you are thinking about, right?"

"I don't mind either, Tenka Fubu is what the people wants! It's not important

to decide which religion's god become the one god we worship, what's

important is to allow the god who can pacify the world descend onto earth!

A long as Aneue can become the only god, I can forfeit this life of mine

anytime! Even if I have to fall into hell and be burnt for eternity, I will

never regret it!"

Looking at Ujisato's passionate face, Nobuna and Yoshiharu had no idea

what more to say.

"This is your last mission, Sagara Yoshiharu. For Tenka Fubu, for Aneue's

quest and even more so, to fulfill the wishes of the people to end the chaotic

era, you should know what you should do."

"...Right now, all of Japan is watching at us, at what I should do..."

"Damn....!"

"Aneue's fate is in your hands, decide. But I must remind you, your true

family is waiting on the other side of the tower."

" My... true... family...."

"Yoshi!" Kazumasu anxiously stomped on Yoshiharu's feet.

She seems to want Yoshiharu to say something, but she just could not say it.

The hands of Nobuna and Yoshiharu which were tightly held together were

shivering too.

"Aneue, after the battle which had a never before seen amount of arquebus

firing at the same time, you had once again created the miracle of opening

the Amano-Iwato. Now is the best time to obtain both the governing and

divine authority! Please be the god unifying Japan, please declare that Japan

will be your husband in front of all the people and rule the world as the

virgin queen!"

At this moment,

All of Japan notices the peculiarity that appears suddenly in the sky.

Everyone was staring at the huge pillar of light, simply awestruck.

Looking at the dazzling Amano-Iwato as well as the endless stairs

seemingly reaching the other world.

And the two people by the pillar of light.

These two are Oda Nobuna and Sagara Yoshiharu.

The rumored pair who wants to usurp leadership and obtain everything.

Kobayakawa Takakage who had entered the Naranogawa together with the

Murakami navy ordered her entire force to stop attacking.

"The arquebus battle that was out of this era, and now the Amano-Iwato of

the age of gods, just what is Oda Nobuna planning to do?"

Even someone as wise as Kobayakwa Takakge was unable to understand

the situation.

"She wants to show a new way of living to those Nyankousou believers

who are feeling despair over the real world or she wants to become a new

god, standing at a higher position than Kennya or Uesugi Kenshin, no,

higher than Himiko?"

Takakage who had always thought of "Judging others to see if they have the

right to be the ruler of men" to be her responsibility, she felt that she needed

to look at how the ambition of Oda Nobuna will grow.

Commanding the Saika clan who was firing at the Kikyuumaru, Saika

Magoichi also ordered the attacks to cease.

"The situation had become something else now, who could have thought

that Oda Nobuna would suffer from the expectations of her sister too."

"I can even hear them properly. Looks like they are hesitating whether to

send Sagara Yoshiharu-sama back to the future."

"If Oda Nobuna decides to send Yoshiharu-dono back to the future, the bad

comments about her will be wiped away completely and at the same time,

she gains the right to continue with her Tenka Fubu, it will be her victory.

But can she really give up the world's greatest man?"

"I have no idea, but if it's me..."

"If it's me, I won't choose either one!"

"I understood one thing when Kennya-dono collapsed. For someone

pursuing freedom to not turn into a beast and maintain a human heart, he or

she must have a reliable ally. It is only through that they won't fall into

savagery."

"Magoichi-sama."

"If Oda Nobuna banishes Yoshiharu-dono for the world, then.... she will one

day be the demon lord of the sixth realm who will destroy the world."

Magoichi lifts up the Yatagarasu and aimed at the head of Nobuna on

Kikyuumaru's deck.

"Oda Nobuna! If you do something that stupid, I will kill you personally!"

"Ma...Magoichi-sama!"

"The truly free person is Oda Nobuna, I will let the whole world understand

that!"

In the main hall of the Honbyo temple, Kennya who had miraculously

regained consciousness was lifting her head up to look at the scene in the

sky, supported by her sister, Kyonya.

"...That's the... three imperial regalia?"

"If this goes on, Oda Nobuna will surpass the Honbyo temple in divine

authority."

"She had already surpassed us, Kyonya. You don't have the resolve to

command that violent arquebus battle, and don't have the courage to face

the end of the world. That's why when Nobuna-sama lead her troops across

the river, you did not do anything."

"....Aneue..."

"I don't have that resolve too. I just can't pluck up the courage to command

the believers to commit a massacre. That's why I always think that laughter

is the true way to save both you and the believers, even if the world is

currently in sadness."

"....Kyonya... can't say a thing like "Go die..." to the believers too..."

"You are just a religious believer. Let us pray for Nobuna-sama and

Magoichi now. Nobuna-sama, please make a decision you won't regret."

Hanbei, Kanbei and Nene who were in the Arima Onsen to recuperate had

all seen Nobuna and Yoshiharu in the sky.

"How brazen is this, why did Hime-sama and Onii-sama appear in the sky?"

"I was careless! To think that someone else wants to use the regalia to send

Sagara Yoshiharu back to the future! Who else other than Simon knows the

way to use the regalia!?"

At this moment not far from here, the voice of the Omyouji Tsuchimikado

can be heard.

"I've really lost to you guys. I had lost control of that evil spirit, my final

weapon. So I had planned to warn you guys about someone planning to use

the regalia, but it looks like..."

"I can't make it in time. The regalia is an even older treasure compared to

Omyoudou. Even if the dragon veins are utterly destroyed, they will retain a

certain amount of power."

"That's the last miracle of Japan. It can only be those Christians who would

do such a thing."

"Something's wrong, it's almost like they were using the regalia for the

world to see it. Wait!

With this, the era belonging to the people will once again deteriorate to an

era believing in gods!

The effort that Hanbei and Zenki had done will all be in vain!"

"No, Kanbei, it won't go to waste. I believer in the choice of Yoshiharu and

Nobuna-sama..."

Building a beautiful church in Azuchi castle, Frois and Organtino was

looking at the "miracle" in the sky.

"It looks like she who was unafraid of retribution is now facing something

scary." Frois's voice was a little shaky.

"Frois, I heard that Cabral had always been eyeing the position of the leader

of the Japanese missionaries. He had even sinned multiple times to achieve

that."

"Blasphemy. If the rumor is true, things will be bad. Who could have

thought that even the world connecting Jacob's ladder had been

summoned."

"Uhh, even if I have to go against my worth to talk behind people's back, I

have to say it. How I wish I had warned her to be careful about Cabral at

the start."

"It's too far from Azuchi to Osaka. Let us just pray now."

"But no matter how we pray, God isn't around! Even if we continue to

spread the word of God, those soldiers and merchants will continue to

plunder the people, hoping to increase their colonies and slaves! God's

teaching has become their excuse for plundering!"

Saying all he had suppressed in his heart, Organtino realized what he had

said and with a "Opps", he covered his mouth.

"Fr...Frois, th... the words I just said, e... er...."

"...Organtino, such a doubt can be felt in any devout Christian, it's not your

fault."

"I hope Nobuna-sama can choose the best path, let us pray for them."

Looking at Organtino who was crossing his heart and saying "Please

forgive me.", Frois silently hugged his weak body.

In order to support Otomo Sourin and various Christians who was being

attacked by the Shimazu clan, Cabral who rushed back to Kyushu was

looking at the sky and said.

"It's a success, Gamo Lion Ujisato. As you had wished, this country will

soon become a country of god."

At the same time, everyone in Japan had witnessed the miracle of the

Amano-Iwato.

"That's Hime-sama and Saru!"

"... An atmosphere where it will be a tragedy no matter what she chose."

That was Katsuie and Inuchiyo who was facing the revolting people at

Echizen.

"A...Aneue? And Saru-kun, is this an illusion?"

This is Nobutsumi who was defending against the revolting people at Ise's

Nagashima.

"That's... Aneue!? What is going on?"

That was Oichi who had stayed behind at Omi's Oomizo castle.

"Look Hanzo, what is this? Is this something new?"

"It's declaring the end of that megane megane gag, right?"

"How can it be... Ahh, what a short spring..."

That was Mikawa's Motoyasu and Hanzo.

"To have let the situation developed like this, 5 points."

That was Omi's Nagahide.

"Ahh, my prayers that I can finally hear my lord's voice had finally reached

the heavens! But why is my lord having such a sad expression? Ahh, this is

the true dukkha!"

That was Shikanosuke who was surrounding Miki castle at Harima.

".... Just when I'm not around... Sahara Yochitaru...!"

That was Goemon currently attending the Kaga ninja's sports meet.

"WHAT!!!???? The Amano-Iwato opened!?!? This is what I had feared! A

clear display of betrayal! The Yamato Gosho is going to perish in my

hands."

"Calm down, Konoe."

"Himiko-sama... Ahhh, we should hurry and hide in Shimonoseki!"

"My sister is by Nobuna's side, Sagara Yoshiharu too. Sagara Yoshiharu had

appeared to save this country..."

"Though we can confirm that Oda Nobuna had no ambition to take over our

position, but Gamo Ujisato had went berserk! We should escape now!"

".... There must be some reason for Gamo Ujisato's actions."

"Pardon my rudeness, but there are people who will go berserk without any

reasons, Himiko-sama!"

This is Konoe Sakihisa and Himiko who was rushing from Sakai to Osaka.

".... (Not bad)..."

"Tsuda-dono, with this won't their relationship be exposed to everyone?

Why did they do such a stupid thing, isn't the thing about those booklets a

headache already!?"

"No, I feel that it's a good opportunity! If Sagara Yoshiharu-sama return to

the future, not just Nobuna-sama's bad rumors will disappear, we will have

the right to continue our Tenka Fubu. To obtain the world, we must first

have the mandate of the people."

"That may be true, but if Sagara-dono really returns...!? No, what would

happen if Sagara-dono doesn't return!?"

"At that time, I'm afraid we will perish together with the Oda clan."

"What!? How can it be like this, this is far too cruel, Hime-sama..."

"....(This tea is delicious.)..."

That was the trio of Sakai.

"That woman's expression is really interesting, just what is she planning to

let the whole world sees the relationship between her and that monkey?"

That was Hojo Ujiyasu who was hiding in her Odawara castle and after

hearing about Manmi Senchiyo, said, "Who could have thought that the

Fuma ninja I had sent to have betrayed me, how irritating."

"Shingen-sama, now is the best time to head towards the capital!"

"Ashikaga-shogun's letter to Uesugi Kenshin had taken effect, we should

not let Kenshin be first."

"Wait a little more, we will talk about it after the matter in the sky has

resolved."

"So as to say, you agreed?"

"Ahh, Date must be very busy over Oshu. We must of course gain more

territory from Oda and Matsudaira in such a nice timing."

"Uesugi Kenshin will reach the capital earlier than us."

"In conquest be as aggressive as a blazing fire, as long as we continue, we

will one day reach Kyoto... But..."

"But...?"

"I want to say just what Oda Nobuna decides with Sagara Yoshiharu,

considering the position of him in her heart. If she loses to the pressure of

those rumors and banishes Sagara Yoshiharu, she is not fit to be my enemy.

I will sign the truce with her and once again start my battle with Uesugi

Kenshin, but..."

"If Oda Nobuna chose not to give up on her love..?"

"At that moment, she will become my strongest enemy. A rival that is fit for

Takeda Shingen to bet everything and go against her.

That was Takeda Shingen who was resting at her residence at Kai.

"Please look at the sky, Shogun-sama. That is Oda Nobuna, and that

monkey-face standing at her side is the rumored Sagara Yoshiharu."

"Hmmm? What is this, is that some secret weapon with enormous power!?"

"I don't know. I don't have the brains to think about problems like

Takakage."

That was Yoshikawa Motoharu and Ashikaga Yoshiaki who were waiting

for Murakami Navy's good news at Harima's Mori main camp.

"Damn it! The demon lord of the sixth realm activated it first! Hurry and

stop her, Kojuurou!

Stop her!"

"What are you talking about, Hime?"

"You should understand it just by looking at it, Kojuurou. Oda Nobuna had

awakened the powers of the demon lord in secret and had grown so huge!

She might just start breathing flames and burn all of Sendai to dust."

"It might be because of the weather that they are shown in the sky, like

some mirage."

"Hmph, Kojuurou will not understand!"

That was Oshu's pair of master and servant.

But there's a special person.

"Oh hohoho, look at it, Nobuna! I had created a new soccer technique! Eh,

no one is around?"

Only Imagawa Yoshimoto who was training up on soccer did not notice the

things that were going on in the sky.

"Look, Kanetsugu, Oda Nobuna had controlled the sky. Her voice is

sounding out in the sky.

"The Amano-Iwato had opened, I have never thought that the regalia of the

Yamato Gosho can be used like this."

"Kanetsugu is really a know-it-all. Looks like it's true that Oda Nobuna

plans to usurp the position of the Yamato Gosho."

"She must be planning to announce to the people something with this

showy of a plan. But it can't be trust."

"Does she plan to be a god, Oda Nobuna? So you have finally reached my

standard?"

"All along, Kenshin-sama had been unable to determine if Oda Nobuna is

the true demon lord of the sixth realm, and a rival to be destroyed. But the

chance had arrived, this is a good opportunity."

"It all depends on what Oda Nobuna is going to do. Will she send that

person from the future back to his world, or..."

"If she does not?"

"It's unforgivable for someone who had become a god to maintain romantic

relations. This is even more unforgivable compared to Takeda Shingen who

has strength on par with a god but is adamant in being a human."

"So as to say, if Oda Nobuna does not send him back...?"

"At that moment, I Uesugi Kenshin will bet my life to have a duel with her.

I will lead my army to Azuchi and send Oda Nobuna to the heavens."

"But the Oda army is now cornered from all the uprisings, to destroy her at

this timing..."

"This won't affect the act of chivalry. It's unforgivable for someone who had

become a god to maintain the life of a human. I will never condone such an

act."

"Hmmm, so we will look upon Oda Nobuna as our destined rival?"

"It all depends on her decision."

That was Uesugi Kenshin and Naoe Kanetsugu who were preparing their

army at Echigo.

After opening the Amano-Iwato, will Oda Nobuna send Sagara Yoshiharu

back to the future, eliminate all rumors about her trying to usurp the

position of the Yamato Gosho,

or will she stubbornly keep Sagara Yoshiharu by her side. Or even

announce that she had opened the Amano-Iwato to unify the country for a

new god?

The people are anxiously waiting, looking at Oda Nobuna and Sagara

Yoshiharu.

"If I don't climb this tower, Nobuna's dream will be finished. Right now,

everyone is looking, I can't afford to hesitate any longer."

Thinking as such, Sagara Yoshiharu separated from Nobuna and started

upon the tower of light.

"I'm sorry, Nobuna. It looks like this is all I can do... The promise with you,

I can't fulfill it to the end."

In Yoshiharu's heart, there was no intention to return to the future.

Even if he could no longer see his family and friends in the future, as long

as it's for Nobuna and the rest, Yoshiharu was willing to remain here

forever.

Yoshiharu had thought it to be so all this while.

Even if he had heard that this tower can let him return to the future, this

determination was not shaken in the least.

"Dad, Mum, this Sengoku era is the world I should remain. From the time I

met with Nobuna and the rest, I had decided to live on for Nobuna's dream,

I'm thankful to you guys to have given birth to me..."

If it's possible, he would like to choose both.

But, that's impossible.

Yoshiharu have to make the decision.

'Goemon, I have two worlds I want to stay in. But I have only one body...

So this is what you have been saying: I will have to choose to give up

something in the end.'

Leaving Nobuna, and leaving this world was no different than death to

Yoshiharu.

No, compared to the instantaneous death, it's much more torturous to live in

sadness alone in the future without Nobuna.

But if this allows Nobuna to live on... I can only go back.

"You don't plan to really go back, Senpai!? It's okay to just eliminate the

rumors of Nobuna-sama having impure relations with you! It's okay if we

can just prove to the people that those rumors are baseless in the first

place!"

Mitsuhide held on the ropes of the mast as she shouted at Yoshiharu.

"Juubei-chan, eliminating the proof will result in the destruction of Japan."

"I will be troubled if Senpai were to go back before I can introduce you to

Haha-ue! We have no idea how Tenka Fubu will turn out to be! If you don't

go ahead with the marriage, I will kill you!"

"Really, I'm sorry. In more meanings than one, I'm sorry..."

"What are you talking about, Senpai!? What do you mean by more

meanings than one!?"

"I'm leaving Nobuna to you. After I return, Juubei-chan, you should support

Nobuna with all your strength."

"Uhh! I... I refuse!"

"It's okay if I just destroy this!" Kazumasu used all her strength to throw the

Yasakani no Magatama on the deck, but not a scratch was seen on it at all.

"It's troublesome if it's really spoilt, Kazumasu-chan. Carry it properly."

"Are you really going back, Yoshi? Going back so suddenly? There must be

a way that we can win without you going back!"

"It's useless, the whole of Japan is looking at us now. I can no longer avoid

it... I understand the power of information warfare more than anyone of us

here. If I don't go back, the Oda clan will really be destroyed."

"Uhh, Uhhh... It's my fault, Yoshi..."

"It's not Kazumasu-chan's fault. It's my fault to have said something like not

giving up anything but was forced to give up on everyone in the end. I'm

sorry."

"But this isn't the ending that Yoshi was hoping for, is it!?"

"Kazumasu-chan..."

"CHANGING HISTORY ON YOUR OWN, AND ENTERING THE

HEARTS OF SO MANY.

AND NOW, YOU'RE ABANDONING ALL OF US AND RETURNED

TO YOUR OWN

WORLD! I DON'T ACCEPT IT! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"

"...I hope you understand, this is all for Nobuna to be able to live on."

"No.... No... I DON'T UNDERSTAND, DON'T LEAVE, YOSHI!"

Looking at Yoshiharu's climbing the stairs, Ujisato who should be feeling

happy that she had won against Yoshiharu did not have the smile of a victor

on her face.

She was whispering with a sad voice.

"Everything is going as planned, I have done it. But why... This is the last

ordeal for Aneue to become a god.

Looking at Yoshiharu climbing the stairs, Ujisato bit her lips as she

trembled.

Though he was trembling non-stop due to fear and regret, Yoshiharu roared,

"DAMN IT! ARE

YOU A MAN OR NOT! BRING OUT YOUR GUTS!" as he continued to

climb.

"Yoshiharu! You said that you won't give anything up, right!? But now

aren't you failing halfway? Even planning to give me up!?"

Nobuna tried her best to lift her blood-soaked leg up the tower of light.

The place where she was shot was bleeding non-stop, not to mention the

pain that comes with it.

She can no longer even stand.

But even so, Nobuna used both her hands to climb towards Yoshiharu.

"If you want to return due to missing your parents, I will not stop you. But

the face you have on now is sadness, so sad that you are almost dying!"

"Don't come, Nobuna! Everyone in the world is watching us! Uesugi

Kenshin too! If this goes on, you will really die, don't say anything more!"

"Have you forgotten, Yoshiharu? You had swore to remain by my side till

my dream is fulfilled!"

"HOW CAN I FORGET THAT!"

"Then before you had fulfilled your promise, how can you go back!?"

"Don't force yourself, Nobuna! The stairs are all dyed with your blood,

don't move anymore.

You will really die!"

"... I'm not stopping! Since men will one day die, I will never leave behind

regrets."

"I'm begging you, Nobuna. I'm begging you, don't force yourself."

".... I will never give up, no matter what. Till the end, I will never give up."

Yoshiharu who held the title of "Dodgeball Yoshi" instinctively understood

in the silence as if time had stopped, Saika Magoichi had aimed her

arquebus at Nobuna.

Between the hull of the Kikyuumaru and the huge tower of light, the

distance between them was extremely shocking.

Therefore this shouldn't be a distance that Magoichi on the ground could

aim at.

And so no one could discover the danger in it. In actual fact, logically

speaking, no one could commit an assassination at this distance.

But a feat like this could be done by a selected few, like the world's best

archer, and the world's best arquebus user.

And Saika Magoichi was the best arquebus user without an equal.

Noticing this, Yoshiharu ran towards Nobuna who had climbed half the

distance but had used up all her strength.

"Be careful Nobuna! Magoichi-nee is aiming at you!"

And then like he had used his body to block all the angles, Yoshiharu

hugged Nobuna tightly in his arms.

But her body is icy cold.

The usually scorching hot body of Nobuna had now lost all her warmth.

Like her vitality was flowing out together with her blood.

'Let me bring Nobuna together with me' Praying like this, Yoshiharu use his

fingers to wipe away the bloodstain on Nobuna's face.

No one is able to enter this moment, no matter if it's Mitsuhide, Kazumasu

or Ujisato.

"Sagara Yoshiharu! The Amano-Iwato can only allow a single person to

pass! Don't be doing something irrational, or the both of you will be

shredded by the huge pressures of space time."

Right now, Ujisato had used all her strength to not let Nobuna's body be

shredded.

"I understand, I know that I can't bring her with me. Though I know..."

The eyes of Nobuna who was hugged in the arms of Yoshiharu did not lose

its sparkle.

It's these pair of eyes that had completely captured my heart. Yoshiharu

thought in his heart.

With his forehead, he touched Nobuna's forehead and said lightly.

"Let us be shot at togther, Nobuna."

".... My dream is only halfway done, so don't return, Yoshiharu. Stay by my

side."

"Your dream can only be fulfilled by me leaving you. But if I said that I

want to stay in this world... we will be shot."

"Even if you said you are leaving, there's still a chance for us to be shot,

right? And if I really lose Yoshiharu, my dream will never come true."

"Listen to me, Nobuna. You understand the situation now. The Kikyuumaru

is surrounded by enemies. Echigo's Uesugi Kenshin is looking at your

decision right now. There's no other way to save you, other than me leaving

you.

"So Yoshiharu planned to abandon me?"

"... I...."

"Is it all a lie that you don't want to give anything up? Or am I a woman that

Yoshiharu will give up in the end?"

"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!" Yoshiharu shouted in his heart.

"Look at my eyes, do you... plan to abandon me?"

How can I give you up!?

"...Correct... I'm going to abandon you! Ev... Every men has the ambition to

have a harem, this is men's true dream! For a man as splendid as I am, I will

meet even better women after I lose you...!"

But if Yoshiharu had really lost Nobuna here, he would most likely not be

able to love anyone else ever again.

"You're lying, Yoshiharu."

"But I have no other choice, Nobuna! We are already... already...!"

"Don't cry, Yoshiharu. Don't cry."

"I beg you, Nobuna! Say that you will banish me! Announce to the people

that you will chase me away! And live on!"

For some time, Yoshiharu face had been covered with tears. The tears and

snot had already made a mess on his face, but not caring, Nobuna placed

her small hands on his cheeks.

"I said before, in the situation where I had to choose between the world or

you, I will definitely not give anything up."

And so, under the gaze of everyone in Japan,

Nobuna kissed the lips of Yoshiharu.

This kiss that would seemingly go on forever calmed Yoshiharu's heart.

'Ahh~ How I hope this instant can last forever.'

Thinking, Yoshiharu's regret and fear in his heart disappeared.

"Even if death separates us, my heart with always be with you. My

companion can only be you."

"It's all over, Aneue's dream will never come true. It's all my fault, things

have become like this due to the regalia..."

The eyes of Ujisato were filled with tears as she mumbled to herself.

"This choice is just too dumb, Aneue. But wh... Why is my heart pumping

like this? Why am I tearing up like this?"

Akechi Mitsuhide looked at the tower of light silently.

She had a premonition before that she will soon face a cruel fact.

But she had never thought that that the premonition would come true at the

same time that the dream of Nobuna's Tenka Fubu was destroyed.

Her loyalty towards Nobuna and her love towards Yoshiharu had tore her

heart to pieces.

Mitsuhide no longer knew what she would become.

This fact is just....

To Kazumasu, no matter if it's the girl who was holding a cross and

weeping her heart out or Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide who was looking at the

two of them hugging each other tightly while emitting an

"UNFORGIVABLE" atmosphere, they were both inconsolable now.

"Magoichi-sama!"

"Oda Nobuna said that she won't give up on anything——"

"She also said that only Sagara Yoshiharu could be her companion"

"She really declared something incredible in front of the people."

"Do you want to shoot, or... ..."

"This country's future will depend on Magoichi-sama's next decision."

"~!" Magoichi who was targeting Nobuna's head and awaiting for 'That

moment' suddenly gave an exclamation that could not be described as a

sound—— Yatagarasu's trigger…was pulled.

A loud gunshot pierced the moment of silence, before dissipating

completely.

Takenaka Hanbei and the rest seemed to think 'Who is the person who

would suddenly interrupt such a miraculous sight.' While Kuroda Kanbei

who was gazing at the sky over Harima together with them let out a sigh

filled with emotion.

"The future predicted by the 'Empress' tarot card, proved to be true ——"