Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 11 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Mori's Saru 

The moment returns to Honbyo temple at the end of the war. 

The rulers of Chuugoku – the Mori Clan was a small but powerful family that was falling into obscurity in the corner of Aki, but within one generation, the so-called “First Generation Mori Motonari rose and conquered Chuugoku, and now is the greatest daimyo of the west ruling 11 countries in San'in and San'yo. 

These were the three children of Mori Motonari. 

The eldest son, the Mori clan’s “Second Generation”, the virtuous Mori Takamoto. 

Takamoto’s younger sister, the elder twin – the brave general Kikkawa Motoharu. 

The younger twin, the skilled commander Kobayakawa Takakage. 

After Motonari’s retirement, the second generation, Takamoto, inherited the first generation Motonari’s crest while the younger sisters Kikkawa and Kobayakawa were combined as the Twin Rivers, and watched the world – that was how it supposed to be. 

However, the second generation Takamoto died before Motonari, and after the death of Motonari, Takamoto’s young child “Third Generation” Terumoto was the only one left. 

The sisters Kikkawa and Kobayakawa vowed together to aid the young Terumoto; and the sisters built the “Mori Twin Rivers system” to manage the Mori clan. 

Kikkawa Motoharu was good at land combat and primarily in charge of the San'in district, while Kobayakawa Takakage commanded the navy to take charge of the San'yo district and the Seto Inland Sea. 

In the Honbyo Temple battle, the Mori clan came along with the Murakami Navy of the Seto Inland Sea who had been friends since the first generation, which entered the war through the sea route – consequently, the battle’s supreme commander was “Admiral” Kobayakawa Takakage. 

Kobayakawa Takakage and the Murakami Navy quickly demolished the Oda’s Kuki Navy with a vicious fire attack, sailed up the Yodogawa river to Honbyo Temple, merged with the gun soldiers of Kii, the Saika Corps, that had destroyed Oda in a land battle, and completely encircled Oda Nobuna by land and river around an isolated fort. 

Everyone believed that Oda Nobuna was destroyed. 

But the cornered Nobuna invoked the Three Sacred Treasures and opened the Amano-Iwato in the distant sky. 

Kobayakawa Takakage saw the forms of Oda Nobuna and Sagara Yoshiharu appearing in the sky. 

To return the time traveler Sagara Yoshiharu who was becoming the source of the bad rumors concerning Nobuna and was the source of Honbyo Temple and Mori’s just cause to fight, that was the thinking of Nobuna’s sister-in-law Gamo Ujisato in gathering the Three Sacred Treasures. 

But, Nobuna did not let Yoshiharu go – she restrained and kissed him. 

It was the last kiss as they prepared for their own deaths. 

While Kobayakawa Takakage briefly stared wide-eyed on-board the ship, the figures of Nobuna and Yoshiharu in the heavens vanished as the Amano-Iwato suddenly closed. 

“Ojou, Oda Nobuna was prepared to resist against fate to the very end. She declared to the world at the last moment that she wouldn’t give up Sagara Yoshiharu. She is a wonderful princess. What will you do?” 

The Pirate King of Setouchi who leads the Murakami navy, Murakami Takeyoshi, whispered. 

Kobayakawa Takakage understood the new world that Oda Nobuna showed to all the people. 

On second thought, even if I destroy the Oda clan I don't have a clear plan of what to do with the country afterwards, she hesitated. 

Even Kobayakawa Takakage who inherited the terrifying ingenuity of “Strategy God” Mori Motonari, had still been unable to create a vision to reform Japan’s wars. 

I refine the strategy for commanders to lead the soldiers, I am not the general that stands above others, or “The commander of commanders”. That was the ability of our deceased older brother, Mori Takamoto. 

However, in Oda Nobuna there is the unwavering will and clear ideal, the caliber to stand above as the leader of leaders. 

If I killed Oda Nobuna, the Mori House will have to carry the responsibility of safeguarding the entire nation in the future- 

“Ojou thinks too much. Make a decision. If we fail this time, Oda Nobuna will surely make a comeback and become a powerful enemy to the Mori clan.” 

“...Understood.” 

Right as Kobayakawa Takakage was about to give the sorrowful command “Kill Oda Nobuna and her troops” and order a full on attack, at that moment the Kampaku, Konoe Sakihisa, burst into the battleground and brandished an imperial decree from Himiko. 

“IT IS HIMIKO’S WILL! BOTH ARMIES HERE SHALL NOT SPILL ANY FURTHER BLOOD! AND MAKE PEACE!” 

A messenger from Magoichi Saika said, “We lost to Oda Nobuna. If we take that fellow’s head, that defeat will last a lifetime.” 

While the message was enigmatic, Kobayakawa Takakage felt the same as Magoichi. 

In betting her life, Oda Nobuna showed a new way to live. 

On the other hand, the messenger from Honbyo Temple said “Today when we saw the ghastly battle between large numbers of guns ‘The time when religious sects take up the spear and battles has ended’ we felt deep regret. In addition, Oda Nobuna didn’t use the Amano Iwato for the sake of escaping, instead she gave a kiss to Sagara Yoshiharu which was an immense shock. 

Now, we just want to perform the mourning services for those who died in battle in both armies. Most of the followers feel the same way.” 

It was conveyed that Kyonya and the believers no longer had any fighting spirit. 

“....The Kampaku, Konoe Sakihisa who should loathe the samurais is running about; this time, it is Oda Nobuna’s win.” 

When it came to this, Kobayakawa Takakage had no choice but to accept it. 

Originally, this was a battle between Honbyo Temple and the Oda Clan. The Mori clan was only helping the Honbyo Temple survive the siege. 

Murakami Takeyoshi and the pirates yelled “Just a little more!” and stamped their feet in frustration making the boat rock, but they were happy to end the battle without plucking the flower called Oda Nobuna after seeing her cute face. 

That which was called a man’s instincts was complicated. 

Soon the rumor that Sagara Yoshiharu died in battle after being shot with arrows by the Rokkaku’s father-and-son duo began to spread among the Murakami Navy as they began their preparations to withdraw. 

It was said that right before the Amano-Iwato closed, Yoshiharu became Nobuna’s shield and took several arrows to the back before falling behind the fort and passing away. 

Kobayakawa Takakage thought that if Sagara Yoshiharu disappeared from the Oda clan, it meant that the scandal around Oda Nobuna also disappeared. 

People around the country felt sorry for Oda Nobuna for losing the man she loved, Sagara Yoshiharu. 

Oda Nobuna is the polar opposite of the impression of the Sixth Demon King who sought to usurp the Yamato Gosho. 

On top of being a bishojo Princess Knight, she gave the people a new sense of values with a love beyond the wall of social status. 

The riots everywhere will probably lose their cause and calm down. 

The Oda were already in an advantageous situation for the future of the war. 

It was impossible to suppress these chaotic times with force. 

The person who gets the faith of the people wins. 

Kobayakawa Takakage thought that, unexpectedly, when the Three Sacred Treasures’ spiritual power projected Nobuna’s form across the country, it resulted in drawing the public sentiment to Oda Nobuna’s side. 

If Sagara Yoshiharu did not die, Nobuna would be accused of aspiring to usurp the Imperial Palace to marry Sagara Yoshiharu and run straight to ruin. 

But the result was reversed. 

Oda Nobuna carries the will of heaven – is that really the case? 

Rather, at the very end, did Sagara Yoshiharu go so far as to suddenly sacrifice his life for Oda Nobuna? 

It may be so. 

“The Saru of the Oda Clan maintained his loyalty to the very end. No, more than loyalty....even as an enemy he was an admirable samurai. I will hold a memorial service.” 

“Ojou...” 

“....A good man died on the battlefield. In order to protect his lover, he would willingly give up his life. As long as the Princess Knight stands on the battlefield, this sorrow will continue forever.” 

“Hah. Ojou, I'm a filthy old man who wouldn't die even if I was killed. And you still say I'm not a good man?” 

“I didn't say that.” 

A large fleet of the Murakami Navy was quietly going down the Yodogawa river passage, returning from Kizugawaguchi after scattering the Kuki Navy. 

The truce between Honbyo Temple and Oda was to last half a year. 

Kobayakawa Takakage returned to the Seto Inland Sea and decided to make efforts in Harima against the Oda front. 

“It is not a ceasefire between the Mori clan and the Oda clan. Fighting in Harima is not going against the Imperial Decree.” 

“It is so, Ojou. By making a hole through Harima, there will be a land route connecting to the capital. The capital of Kyoto is just one step beyond that.” 

The pirates who rowed the scull discovered a floating body of a lone warrior and raised their voices. 

“Boss!” 

“This is a familiar face!” 

“I thought it was a drowned body but he may be still alive!” 

“Ah. This guy is Sagara Yoshiharu!” 

“Wasn’t this fellow kissing Oda Nobuna a short while ago?” 

“Sink him!” 

“So jealous!” 

“With such a beautiful sweet princess knight....die!” 

“‘My companion is only you for life’....To make a pretty girl say such lines, gah!” 

“Die, Sagara Yoshiharu!” 

“All the men of the world became your enemy.” 

“Wait, pull out the monkey and look after him.” 

Kobayakawa Takakage ordered the pirates. 

“Why Ojou?” 

“The whole world already knew that Oda Nobuna is devoted to this monkey. Even if I just behead him right now, I will only incur Oda Nobuna’s wrath, but if he is alive he is the best hostage. He will be useful for negotiations from now on. Perhaps make her cede Harima. Furthermore, if this monkey surrenders to the Mori clan, it will be a heavy blow to the Oda clan.” 

“Is that so?” 

“As one would expect from Ojou.” 

“Able to instantly make such a cool-headed judgment....” 

“Different than the heads of us hot-blooded pirates.” 

“Inherited the cleverness of the first generation.” 

“Hm. The eyes of Ojou at the moment when we found the boy were a little different.” Only the Pirate King Murakami Takeyoshi had a worried face. 

While feared as Setouchi’s tyrannical pirate king, Takeyoshi considers the young Kobayakawa Takakage as a little sister. But with his age, Takeyoshi was an existence like a second father to Kobayakawa. 

“....Uh...oh. What is this?” 

On the futon in the cabin, Yoshiharu was brought back to life. 

When he woke up there was a white cloth used as a bandage around his head and upper body, and his whole body ached. 

“Stay still!” 

Because of the remaining pain, he was unable to rise. 

“As expected of the Murakami navy, it was dangerous but the treatment was good.” 

“This monkey face isn't even fit to be seen by a hero. I doubt this little brat can be of use Ojou.” 

“Then help him until he can be.” 

There were two strange people at his bedside. 

A strong man like a giant with a copper tan all over his body. 

The gigantic figure was entirely made of masses of muscle like a tiger. 

The other person was petite girl. 

The owner of a cool expression, but surprisingly well arranged so she seems slightly feeble. 

And both wore Sengoku Era-style armor. 

“Who are you? Where is this? Why do I hurt?” 

Yoshiharu couldn’t understand what had happened to him. 

Because - 

“Strange. I returned from school and should have continued playing ‘Nobunaga’s ambition’ in my room. Where is this? It's shaking so by any chance am I on a ship?” 

Yoshiharu had lost all memory from after coming to the Warring States period. 

The reason seems to be a nasty blow to the head after being shot by arrows and falling from the fort into the torrent. 

Therefore the present Yoshiharu was not able to understand that he was currently in the Sengoku Era. 

“Boy. What are you mumbling about, I don’t understand what you mean at all.” 

“Oh. This person, is he a professional wrestler? He is larger than Raoh [vi] .” 

“This person seems to be talking in future language, Ojou-chan.” 

“Somehow, it seems that his memory of the Oda Clan era has been lost.” 

Kobayakawa Takakage, while pulling Yoshiharu’s cheeks, looked deep into his eyes. 

Yoshiharu, had very little experience with a human girl getting so close. 

He shrank back. 

Wow. This girl is lovely...oops. I said aloud what I was thinking. The girls in my class said this was my bad habit. Damn it, I am only a pure and simple boy. Modern girls are tough.” 

“Yeah, his intelligence is still the same, Takeyoshi.” 

“Originally, this skilled commander was just an idiot. In this retrospect, there is no change Ojou.” 

“Tch. Who are you? Where is this? By any chance did a Sengoku Cosplay maniac fell in love with me at first sight and kidnapped me? That man that looks like Raoh knocked me out and kidnapped me? Something out of a galge happened in reality....” 

“Hmm. I don’t understand what you are saying.” 

Bump, bump, bump, bump. 

The present Yoshiharu was not immune to the close, innocent face of Kobayakawa Takakage so he couldn’t look directly at her. 

“Wait. Calm down. I learned this in light novels before. At times like this I should count prime numbers. Oh, my scarce gal game experience. That was basic in Sengoku SLG....wait when did I meet you? That looks like a genuine military armor. Is this a Sengoku Era cosplay festival? But I’m not a cameraman. Well this is embarrassing. I don’t have the courage to ask a strange girl for a photo.” 

Damnit, I’m thinking out loud again. Such scary eyes from girls because of this habit! Yoshiharu felt like crying. 

But Kobayakawa Takakage held Yoshiharu’s cheeks motionlessly with cool eyes and stared intently. 

Even as a monkey Yoshiharu realized Aren’t you conscious of me as a man? I was too self-conscious. This is the real world. A beautiful, yandere girl cannot fall in love at first sight with a man whose only merit is Sengoku Era knowledge and kidnap him. Ha. Ha. Ha. and settled down. 

But the next moment, 

“The Saru, Sagara Yoshiharu. This is not the future Japan you lived in. It is the world of the Warring States. I am the commander of the Mori clan’s San'yo army, Kobayakawa Takakage. I am the daughter of the late first generation Mori Motonari, and the Princess Knight that controls the Seto Inland Sea with the Murakami navy.” 

Yoshiharu fell into the pinnacle of confusion. 

“Kobayakawa....T....Tabatake..!?” 

“Not Tabatake. A Princess Knight. I see, does the future person not know about the Mori clan? I am a renowned daimyo of Chuugoku The anecdote of the three arrows should be famous nationwide....was the story of the three arrows not passed down in the future....” 

Her eyebrows lowered a bit in disappointment. 

Wow, she is lovely, Yoshiharu’s heart stopped. 

“I do know it! I know the story of the three arrows and the Mori clan. The Mori clan is super famous nationally.” 

“I, is that so? You knew it. Good. Actually my elder sister broke all the arrows on her own in that story, but then it wasn’t an anecdote so we rewrote to get across father’s feelings and spread it around the entire country.” 

Even though her expression didn’t change, Kobayakawa Takakage seemed happy. 

“Wait a moment. Do you mean this is really the Sengoku Era?” 

“That is what I am saying. You came here from the world of the future. You probably passed through the Amano Iwato.” 

“Seriously!? Why, why me? Is this a dream from playing far too much ‘Ambition of Oda Nobunaga’? I mean, why is Kobayakawa Takakage a girl? Is this one of those Sengoku Era animes with girls that had been all over society lately?” 

“Is there a problem that I am a girl?” 

“There is! According to the history I learned in ‘The Ambition of Oda Nobunaga’, Kobayakawa Takakage is a man! His face is a man’s and his voice actor is a man!” 

“Is that a future history book? However, it is unexpected that the history books would alter the truth. Did I decide to have been a man....I’m somehow disappointed. I was at least a little confident of my appearance.” 

Her eyebrows completely sunk. She seemed to be very disappointed. 

“Brat. In your era, is this Murakami Takeyoshi passed down as having a cute girl’s figure? In that case, it would make me laugh gahahaha.” 

“Oh, you are Murakami Takeyoshi. No, I remember from the game that you were a gentleman. Yep.” 

“Oh, that’s what it is. Boring....let’s make this guy shark bait. After all, didn’t this guy lose his memory of all his spear work in the Oda clan and is just a brat? The future is a world without battle. He grew up spoiled. This guy has the nerves of a jellyfish, he has no place to stand on a battlefield.” 

“Eh? Yikes, Murakami-san. Please stop. Kobayakawa, stop this scary man!” 

Murakami Takeyoshi seemed to be able to twist Yoshiharu’s neck with a single hand and was emitting a savage aura like a wild animal. 

Yoshiharu who had become a high school student again almost wet his pants in fear. 

“Go back to your original world!” 

“It is a pity Sagara Yoshiharu. There was a way to send you back to the future, but the method does not seem to be usable anymore. In other words, it is regrettable, but you cannot return to the future anymore.” 

“W, what? Mother, Kaa-san! Say it’s a dream and I won’t play Gacha [vii] in online games without permission anymore! I certainly love the Sengoku Era, but if I can’t use a spear or a sword won’t it be impossible to survive if I’m abandoned!? Someone help me!” 

“See, Ojou. Whining and trembling. Completely useless. If he had his memory he could at least be used as a hostage in negotiations with the Oda clan. That alone would be worth it. It’s better to think that the Oda Clan’s hero, Sagara Yoshiharu, has already died.” 

“Oda, Oda clan, why am I the hero of the Oda clan? I’m just a high school student. Moreover, I’m a pacifist and weak in fights!” 

“So...you don’t remember the Siege of Kanegasaki either, Sagara Yoshiharu.” 

“Kanegasaki? I’ve seen it happen in a game.” 

“The Sunomata castle built in one night?” 

“That is also something I’ve seen in a game.” 

“Then the decisive battle in Tennoji with the Honbyo Temple and the Saika corps? The sea battle of Kizugawaguchi?” 

“Oh, there are even animations and games......the Honbyo Temple is Hongan-ji right?” 

Kobayakawa Takakage seemed very disappointed and pulled Yoshiharu’s ear. 

She seemed extremely regretful. 

“Sagara Yoshiharu, you participated in those battles as a soldier of the Oda clan and became a legendary hero. There is no one who doesn’t know you in Japan. Do you really not remember?” 

“....detestable....I don’t remember at all....Kobayakawa-san. To begin with I shouldn’t have that kind of ability. I am just an ordinary, powerless, high school boy. My physical strength is average, my brains are lacking, and my goal was to find a comedy partner and make a manzai duo but we were killed in the qualifier. My only special skills are useless things like being good at avoiding dodgeballs and playing Sengoku games. If I fought with Murakami Takeyoshi I would be killed instantly. It was whispered that I was a ‘breast beast’ and I was ostracized by the girls. About the only thing I can boast to other people is my face.” 

“Your only weak point is your face, it is not plain but somehow it seems monkey-like, you might be more beautiful in the outside world Sagara Yoshiharu.” 

“Ahhh! Even if the times had changed I though the evaluation of my works would be eternal. There isn’t a convenient story where I time travel to the Sengoku Era for no reason and am popular for some reason.” 

Yoshiharu prayed “somebody help me” to the heavens while trembling. 

Wake me up from this dream. 

However, even after praying he didn’t wake up. 

Kobayakawa Takakage and Murakami Takeyoshi showed no signs of disappearing. 

And the wounds on his back were painful – and a realistic pain that couldn’t come from a dream. 

“Ojou, I took great pains to save him, but the hero Sagara Yoshiharu is dead. It would be impossible to hire this as a soldier of the Mori clan. He would lead our armies to destruction. And he doesn’t even have value as a hostage. Let’s feed him to the sharks.” 

“...However, I took great pains to save him. There should be some use. Will you put Sagara Yoshiharu in the Murakami Navy as an apprentice pirate?” 

“This guy? Ojou is extremely sweet to this youngster.” 

Kobayakawa nodded, while remaining expressionless. 

Seems Kobayakawa is trying to help me. Yoshiharu thought and tilted his head. 

“The reason he has no memory was because of his severe head wound. He never tried to run and forget everything. It wasn’t his crime.” 

“However, we cannot afford to let this spoiled brat as a fellow pirate for free. The rules of piracy are rough. A ‘gamble’ is needed to make such a penniless amateur a comrade, Ojou.” 

“I see, a ‘gamble’ ritual. Takeyoshi. 

“That is right. But I can tell you this brat can’t do it. He’ll piss himself and plead for forgiveness and his life from the start. Even you’ll be disappointed if a man like Sagara Yoshiharu shows such a state, Ojou-chan.” 

What kind of terrible “gamble” can he mean? Yoshiharu was already feeling uneasy. 

However, his wound was aching and he couldn’t stand up. 

Murakami Takeyoshi pulled out three cups. 

A golden cup, a silver cup, and a copper cup. 

He poured liquor from a bottle into each. 

“Drink. One of the cups is poisonous. Boy, if you choose the poison you will writhe in agony for three days and die painfully. But one of the cups is just ordinary sake – this is a pirate ritual. If you choose, you will be recognized as our companion.” 

“Tch. Old man. Wait, why do I have to!? Let me off the ship and I can plow a rice field!” 

“Don’t act like a baby. You who drifted from the future, do you even have rice fields? If you are released to land, a brat like you will be attacked by a night thief and lose your head.” 

“....Damn...is that so. This is a different world from the future....to make matters worse, I came without relatives or social position....unless I put my life on the line to become a pirate I can’t survive...” 

It was such an unreasonable game, Yoshiharu wanted to cry. 

“How have I survived up until now in such a harsh world? It’s impossible!” 

While brushing Yoshiharu’s cheeks to ease his tension, Kobayakawa Takakage gave her order. 

“Sagara Yoshiharu. Choose. You either risk your life with Murakami Takeyoshi’s gambling ceremony or become shark bait, it’s one or the other.” 

“And if I choose a cup and fail?” 

“According to Murakami Takeyoshi’s words, at that time you will die.” 

“This ritual is scary. I hate it and I don’t want to do it.” 

“Then you will be thrown into the Setouchi Sea and become shark bait.” 

In either case I die, it might be better to be thrown into the sea, Yoshiharu was at a loss and couldn’t bear making a high-stakes gamble – He is just a high school student that lacks courage like that. 

Why am I here in the Warring States period? Yes, I wanted to time travel and play a part as a Warring States period general, it was a dream in my head to have an outstanding performance in the Sengoku Era, I always carried the wish to live skillfully in the real Warring States Period. 

But I know full well that the Warring States Period wasn’t romantic and was a harsh and severe era to live in. It’s not a world where a kid like me who lacks military experience can live. 

But with the gaze of Kobayakawa Takakage staring into his eyes, he couldn’t run away. 

For some reason, Kobayakawa seemed to be wishing for him to attempt the ceremony and win. 

Kobayakawa Takakage was expressionless, but her eyes trembled as she prayed to Yoshiharu in hope of something. 

Why is Kobayakawa-san a girl? I wonder if it was taught that she was similar to a guy? In the first place, for what reason is there a weak girl among the men as a military commander? It seems like such a thin arm would break. And yet why does this Sengoku Era general Kobayakawa Takakage support the Mori clan? 

While staring into the clear eyes of Kobayakawa Takakage... 

Strange.... 

Yoshiharu’s body stopped trembling. 

....I feel like in the past I had promised something very important to someone in this world.... 

I must live. 

I must survive by any means. 

To keep the promise that I had exchanged with someone- 

“This dazzlingly beautiful golden cup stands out the most. I have seen this golden brightness somewhere, sometime before. This is it. This is the one!” 

When he held the golden cup in his hand, Sagara Yoshiharu was like another person. 

Even he couldn’t understand why from his timid and cowardly mind, so much courage was overflowing. 

“...If I let a girl like Kobayakawa go to war, as a man there is no way I can tremble in the background. Even so. Because I – am a man!” 

At the moment the cup hit his lips, he mumbled such words. 

Unconsciously, he spoke the words he was thinking. 

While watching Yoshiharu intently, Kobayakawa Takakage’s thin shoulders shook. 

He drank it in one go. 

“This alcohol is delicious.” 

Kobayakawa Takakage opened her eyes wide as she stared at Yoshiharu’s smile. 

Yoshiharu thought that even if Kobayakawa was not surprised, he was surprised at his own courage. He might have already changed his attitude out of desperation. 

“Right on the money. That one is just ordinary alcohol. It is your win.” Takeyoshi Murakami said with a bitter smile. 

It was probably intended to be a blessing, but with a bang, his shoulder was clapped with herculean strength! Yoshiharu vomited blood. 

“AAAAAAH! The wound is open!” 

“S, Sagara Yoshiharu. Are you alright?” 

“I’m not okayyyyyy. It hurts, it hurts aughhh.” 

“Ojou, this guy is no good. For a moment he had the face of an Oda Clan general, and now he has turned back into an ordinary kid. Is it useless after all?” 

“It’s because Takeyoshi attacked! Sagara Yoshiharu keep still. It’s alright, I’ll treat it immediately.” 

“I only patted him on the shoulder.” 

“It’s on the same level as a bear punch! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!” 

Kobayakawa Takakage firmly hugged Yoshiharu’s agony filled shoulder. 

As he smelled Takakage’s hair, Yoshiharu’s pain vanished in an instant. 

“Ojou, it isn’t right for you to hug this bastard. Wasn’t that that man’s weak point? It’s unreasonable.” 

“No, it’s fine, because Yoshiharu was like my Aniki that I’m okay.” 

“Onii-sama? Me?” 

“That’s right. My Aniki.” 

Yoshiharu noticed Takakage’s cheeks coloring slightly. 

“The older brother of Kobayakawa....if I’m not mistaken...it was. Was it Kikkawa Motoharu?” 

Isn’t Kikkawa Motoharu the strong general that was the representative of the Chuugoku region? I love peace so I don’t think I resemble him. 

“Ojou, don’t stick too close to him. If this was discovered by my followers, this youngster would be minced into the Setouchi sea.” 

“Just a little more. Yoshiharu is in pain. Doing it this way seems to relieve the ache.” 

“....My bad feeling was correct. Boy, after this you are going to see hell.” 

“Huh? What do you mean, Murakami-san?” 

“Be careful to not lose your neck to Kikkawa-oujo.” 

“Eh? Kikkawa is a girl too?” 

“Yes, she is my older twin sister.” 

“Then, who is Kobayakawa’s onii-san?” 

What is going on, Yoshiharu isn’t sure yet. 

After I barely won the life-threatening gamble, I was employed as a probationary pirate of the Murakami navy and several weeks passed. 

While the wound on his back still ached, the pirates drove Yoshiharu hard with swabbing the deck and preparing the daily fish to eat. 

Even as an injured person, he had to work and toil for his fellows. In fact, as the bottom rung, it was the pirate code that he lives in hell in such a severe world. 

It was too severe of an environment for Yoshiharu who had been living a leisurely high school life, but he had no room to complain. 

I must survive by any means. 

For some reason, that strong thought was supporting Yoshiharu. 

Although his body screamed to give up, he endured it. In the beginning he had been hit by nausea, but before long he grew used to seasickness. Though, it didn’t seem like he had been living the school life without a care just the other day. 

“Kid, do you really not have your memory?” 

“You are good at doing chores without complaining about your back injury, you’ve got guts!” 

“In addition, isn’t this food good?” 

“This ‘mayonnaise’ is the best when splashed on fried takoyaki!” 

To the pirates who at first complained, “this guy is useless”, “shark bait”, “how is he similar to the Ojou's aniki”, before they noticed, they had accepted him as a member of the pirates. 

Not only in the sea battle, but in their role as robbers the pirates were considered bloodthirsty, but they were good guys to those they accepted as a companion. 

Yoshiharu thought that while the pirates at the end of the century mostly did what they wanted and ran amok, the Murakami Navy had the boss Murakami Takeyoshi and their master the Princess Knight named Kobayakawa Takakage who kept order, so they could not commit meaningless violence. 

On that day where I unusually go onto land, I was handed the dangerous work of being a “decoy” in the camp of the Mori army which made an expedition to Harima. 

From the Oda troops who were confined in the Himeji Castle, the girl who calls herself Yamanaka Shikanosuke nonchalantly entered the enemy camp alone to get Yoshiharu for some reason, and was caught by the suspicious man, Ukita Naoie, claiming to be a loyal retainer of Mori. 

Yoshiharu didn’t understand what was going on, and was anxious about Yamanaka Shikanosuke who was tied up and panting in various ways. So he would not leave the custody to the self-proclaimed womanizer Ukita, and Yoshiharu became responsible for monitoring her. 

After finishing the work as an underling, he took a quick break. 

Yoshiharu returned again to the Murakami Navy’s boats – the Setouchi Sea was the home that Yoshiharu would return to. 

While looking out at the white mist and innumerable small and large islands across the Setouchi Sea from the deck, Yoshiharu muttered, 

“Seems like there is something I need to remember. I wonder how I’ve been living in the Sengoku Era?” 

I feel like I’m forgetting some awfully important thing. 

Until I remember what it is, I will drink mud to survive, something inside of himself was kicking Yoshiharu in the butt, and he half supported his broken heart. 

But his head ached every time he tries to force himself to remember. 

“Are you tired from work, Sagara Yoshiharu?” 

“Oh, Kobayakawa-san.” 

To Yoshiharu’s side as he stood on the prow gazing at the mist covered Setouchi waters, Kobayakawa Takakage was beside him before he knew it. 

“You were extremely useful today. That Yamanaka Shikanosuke was the natural enemy of the Mori clan. You have accomplished a distinguished achievement in capturing Yamanaka Shikanosuke.” 

“I was surprised that Yamanaka Shikanosuke was a girl. Killing is unpleasant.” 

“That is your vassal. You can treat her how you wish. However...” 

“However?” 

“Ugh, like Ukita Naoie, calling himself a ridiculous title like Princess Knight killer, a, and, doing strange things to prisoners....I won’t allow it.” 

“What? I can’t do such horrible things!” 

“Is that so? Good. Such horrible behavior is prohibited in the Mori clan.” 

She was a girl who would always have an expressionless demeanor, but her kind personality would seep out of her words. 

Yoshiharu who lacked any immunity to girls, would become tense every time he encountered Kobayakawa Takakage. 

Speaking frankly, she was cute. 

Is it because she was from a different era or because she was born as a princess of the Mori clan, there is a part that seems like a cold general but her heart was naive and honest. 

The pirates that cheered “Ojou!” “We will protect you!”, I began to feel like I understood them. 

Although she looks younger, you would unintentionally call her “Kobayakawa-san”. 

Somehow, if Kobayakawa was in school she would probably be a committee chairman....I have to stop thinking that way, I still can’t forget about living in modern times. 

“Yoshiharu, sit down. I’ll change your bandage.” 

“Huh? Oh, it’s fine. I can do it myself.” 

“You can’t see your back wound. If it becomes swollen it will become bothersome. Trust me.” 

It was awkward for Yoshiharu to be shirtless in front of a girl, and to be embarrassed would be a problem, but he can’t say so if Takakage suggested it. 

“W-well then, please.” 

While he blushed, he became compliant. 

Takakage who had caught him was also embarrassed. 

“....Why are you so red....Don’t be bashful or I’ll get embarrassed.” 

“I’m sorry. I’m not used to girls.” 

“Used to?” 

“Because I reached this age without getting a girlfriend. Is it because I was always entranced by Sengoku games? And I have a bad habit of speaking without thinking.” 

“That’s a strange thing to say. Speaking of the Oda clan’s Sagara Yoshiharu, you had a reputation of a peerless erotic man who leaped at women like a monkey.” 

“So, that me is not me!” 

There was no way I could be such a riajuu [viii] , I’m different from that Kobayakawa, Yoshiharu wanted to complain. 

“Previously, you incidentally opened the Amano Iwato and kissed Oda Nobuna in front of the whole country. Oh, that is, um, I, I was at loss. Should a child like me see such a love affair between lovers.....” 

“I really don’t remember! I mean, in the first place who is Oda Nobuna?” 

So... 

This Warring States period was slightly different from what Yoshiharu is familiar with. 

The existence of Princess Knights was something he heard for the first time. 

If Yoshiharu’s knowledge was correct, then even Kobayakawa Takakage, was supposed to be a man. 

And – the advocate of Tenka Fubu that held the territories around Kyoto was Owari’s Princess Knight, Oda Nobuna. 

For this girl, Yoshiharu had never even heard her name. 

“When talking about the Sengoku Era commander that adopted Tenka Fubu, it should be Oda Nobunaga. Though Oda Nobunaga was fair-skinned and beautiful, and moreover had a high-pitched voice, he is clearly a man. After all he even had a child. Well, even if the history books sometimes depict him as feminine, there was a drama with the setting of a female Nobunaga...” 

“There seem to be many members of the Oda clan that add ‘Nobu’ to their name. There might be someone in the family that is called Nobunaga. But I don’t know a person named Nobunaga. It is Oda Nobuna that succeeded the head of the Oda Clan.” 

This was getting strange, perhaps I am trapped in my own dream world, Yoshiharu thought. 

This world may be a dream that only I am seeing, and in reality I am still sleeping in my room, and I suspect I’ll wake up after all this time. 

But, with the warmth of Takakage’s fingers treating my back, the smell of the beach where my hair was cut short, I can only think this must be reality. 

“Oh, that’s dangerous. I'm becoming conscious of the beating of my heart This is no good. Normal self, normal self.” 

“....Your back was riddled with injuries Yoshiharu. Not just this wound, but there are other scars.” 

“Really? Because I can’t see it I don’t know. Or rather, I don’t remember getting injured. My only strong point in the old days was my dodging. I almost crashed into the front of a car when I was racing my bike and lightly went into the air and survived it unscathed. My bicycle was flattened though.” 

For a while Yoshiharu was proud and had the future prospects of joining the circus. 

“I don’t know what a bicycle or car is, but your back, is a samurai’s back.” 

With a white finger, Takakage softly stroked one the scars on Yoshiharu’s back. 

“You risked your life many times on the battlefield to protect your lord. That time when the Amano Iwato was opened, you became a shield for the arrows that attacked Oda Nobuna, and did not avoid even one. If it was you, if you wanted to avoid it you would have avoided it entirely.” 

Yoshiharu noticed that Takakage’s voice had become muffled. 

“Um, Kobayakawa-san?” 

“....My aniki was also like that.” 

Yoshiharu looked back without thinking. 

The Seto sea breeze shook the short hair of the small and delicate Takakage. 

With wet eyes, she looked up at Yoshiharu. 

It was a face like an abandoned kitten. 

It was completely different from the impression of the usual calm “Wise General”, Kobayakawa Takakage that was the pillar of the Mori clan. 

Yoshiharu realized this was the natural Kobayakawa after taking off the mask of a military general. 

An ordinary girl not that much different from his classmates. 

His chest throbbed again. 

“Y, Yoshiharu. That...” 

“K, Kobayakawa-san.” 

Eye to eye, they came close to each other. 

Both became unable to move. 

“What are you trying to do to Takakage? Saru, your death has come! 

Whoosh. 

The real Katana shot out, cutting a part of Yoshiharu’s bangs. 

“I’m sorry Kikkawa-san! Forgive me! Please, I haven’t done anything!” 

“Silence monkey! If you lay a single finger on my innocent sister I will immediately chop you into Namasu! [ix] ” 

It was Kobayakawa Takakage’s older twin sister, Kikkawa Motoharu. 

She was the Princess Knight of the warrior faction so she could easily cut Yoshiharu if he approached Takakage. 

Her appearance was just like Takakage, but seems like the type to show all her emotions on her face and had a wealth of expressions. 

And to differentiate herself from her younger sister she wore a headband around her forehead with the rising-sun flag and “Mori Elder”, so Yoshiharu was able to distinguish them soon after coming to the Mori clan. 

“Onee-sama, Yoshiharu hasn’t done anything wrong. The rumor that he was a monkey-like womanizer seems to have merely been a rumor. I....., Yoshiharu is kind to girls.” 

“That is the trick of womanizers, Takakage! The Princess Knight killer Ukita Naoie humors with sweet words at the beginning. By not knowing that, you carelessly fall into their hands.” 

Kikkawa Motoharu was cautious around Yoshiharu from the start, and would burst in with her sword every time Takakage and Yoshiharu got close. 

“Kikkawa-san, that I’m a womanizer is a groundless rumor. I’m not boasting about it, but I’ve made it to this age without getting a lover.” 

“What? Don’t act like nothing happened, Saru. What the heck do you think you showed off when you opened the Amano-Iwato? To show such a naive Takakage....d, d, dirty love affair...Takakage’s eyes have been stained. I won’t allow it!” 

“I don’t even have a memory of it~! What kind of person was I to the Oda clan? On one hand there were these shocking erotic legends! That wasn’t me at all!” 

Kikkawa Motoharu explained– 

While Sagara Yoshiharu was serving the Oda clan as a person without any social status, he started to have an affair with his lord Oda Nobuna and previously snatched Oda Nobuna’s lips in front of the whole nation. This act of supplanting his lord was the most shocking of his deeds. 

Furthermore, even the Oda Clan’s natural enemy, Honbyo Temple, worshiped him as a living god, and let the female Nyankousou sect follower serve him and had nightly parties. 

He seduced infamous Princess Knights and made them his vassals like Yamanaka Shikanosuke, Takenaka Hanbei, and Kuroda Kanbei. Yamanaka Shikanosuke was Sagara Yoshiharu’s “sex slave” who had dedicated her flesh and became a self-proclaimed toilet for Yoshiharu’s personal use. 

Finally, Yoshiharu’s lust for woman passed thousands of miles across the sea, and seduced the Namban Louis Frois, and made the missionary fall from Christianity for that reason. 

He got engaged with the Oda Clan’s leading genius commander the beautiful and honorable Akechi Mitsuhide and immediately began fooling around, leaving Mitsuhide’s heart broken. 

“Saru, you are such a man. My younger sister is nothing but a naive child about love, I will certainly break your evil designs. As the older sister of Takakage!” 

“Huh. Kikkawa-san has been in love? As one would expect of the older sister.” 

“That is, with the young nobleman that appeared in “Taiheiki” and “Tale of the Heike” [x] , I write down fake histories over and over again where inside I flirt.....the passage where the beautiful noble Heike has his neck removed by the violent warrior Genji, writing it gets me fired up. Oh, my body feels hot~” 

“So, it wasn’t real love.” 

“Well whatever, that is the way it is. Real men are disgusting.” 

She had an honest and clear-cut personality, indeed she was easy to understand like a child, Yoshiharu thought. 

“Aneki. Aneki who still writes the continuation of the Tale of the Heike selfishly while grinning alone is beyond repair. You have to change such a disappointing vice before you rot one day.” 

“Takakage. It’s better than you whose heart beats fast from a monkey’s back.” 

“Th-th-that isn’t true, my heart isn’t pounding fast!” 

When such a tsundere-like line came, Yoshiharu felt like he won something. 

“Just a little bit, he reminds me of Aniki....” 

“Oh, again. Your eyes are getting wet. Wake up Takakage! Aniki and this monkey aren’t similar at all!” 

“His face isn’t similar, but his nature was close. They are....gentle to girls.” 

“Sagara Yoshiharu! What did you do to entice my little sister, the well-known ice-cold general! My little sister that faces men coolly with an iron wall of no interest! As expected, this man can’t be allowed to live!” 

“Why? Why did I suddenly become popular when I entered the Warring States period? I don’t remember anything. I don’t understand anything, it’s really hard to accept it!” 

Yoshiharu was screaming as he caught the dangerous katana that Kikkawa Motoharu was wielding. 

“Ah, Aneki, Yoshiharu has forgotten his time in the Oda clan. You shouldn’t bring up his past history. If he remembers, he will return to the Oda clan.....maybe.” 

“I don’t mind particularly. Rather, he’ll return to his masters as just a monkey head.” 

“Wait wait! Please Kikkawa-san, listen to your younger sister!” 

“This useless Aneki. Yoshiharu should defect to this clan. It will lower the Oda clan’s morale. In the first place, Yoshiharu completed a distinguished task in capturing Yamanaka Shikanosuke, and was already accepted as a Mori clan’s commander – I want to let Yoshiharu become a feudal lord.” 

“This guy? A country, a castle? This isn’t a joke! As for capturing Shikanosuke, it was because of Takakage’s plan! This guy just had to sit on a stool.” 

“But it’s only because Yoshiharu was here that we were able to capture Shikanosuke, after all she was aneki's enemy that couldn't be caught. Moreover, Shikanosuke became a faithful vassal of Yoshiharu, and won’t flee as long as Yoshiharu is here. If Yoshiharu works for Mori, Shikanosuke will soon become a faithful dog of Mori. If possible, a commander should win over allies rather than rashly killing, that was the tactics of Otou-sama and Onii-sama. [xi] ” 

“U-ugh. Your logic is really exceptional. In other words, Takakage is just pleased with this monkey. Therefore, you specifically let the monkey be the head of that feat. How long are you going to be gallant?” 

“...It’s not like I’m particularly happy....” 

“Umm. I want an island more than a country. I’m fond of the pirate life! The work is intense, but living on the unobstructed sea is the best! It agrees with me.” 

“Our country is an island too!” 

'If you lay your hands on my sister you will be killed without question', despite Kikkawa Motoharu pressing that reminder, Yoshiharu couldn’t hold back his heart throbbing when Takakage gazed into his eyes seeing him as her older brother. 

“Ahem. Shogun-sama has come today Takakage. We’ll have a meal with the whole Mori clan.” 

“Shogun-sama? On this sea?” 

“Mhmm. The Harima war front is a stalemate. Seems she has some free time.” 

“Ahh, now I'm getting used to the sea! Because I crossed to Ming Dynasty with ani-ue!” 

On the top of the deck, all of the Mori Clan gathered and picked an iron tray. 

The little child that had a space marked off by the iron plate was the Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki. 

She is the legitimate shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. 

She is about seven or eight years old. 

She is the younger sister of the previous official shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru who went into exile. 

While very young, a night attack by some traitorous vassals led to the Bafuku’s downfall, she was exiled abroad, and her older brother’s position as shogun being given away. She raised an army to return to her country and revive the Ashikaga Shogunate. It was an unusual life full of disturbances for the child shogun. 

“Right now, an extraordinary villain called Nobuna has elevated the false shogun Imagawa Yoshimoto and taken over Kyoto, but the true family of the shogunate, the Ashikaga, have not been destroyed! As for the wandering Shogun that intruded into the Mori clan, I will carry out my promise with ani-ue to restore the shogunate no matter how many years it takes! I also must fulfill my responsibility for dragging Honbyo Temple into battle with the Oda clan. I ask the Mori troops to treat me favorably!” 

Despite being a child she wore a helmet and made a splendid speech of the restoration of the shogunate before the generals. It was really brave, Yoshiharu admired Yoshiaki’s perseverance. 

Still, as expected of the daughter of the distinguished Ashikaga clan. Though right now she was waddling like a penguin due to the weight of the helmet, but she would become an immensely beautiful girl in the future. 

“Well, Sagara. Don’t you expect the shogun will become a beautiful high class lady? I would bet all the money in my domain on her growing into a beautiful girl. Now we will need to win her with candy, she will be sweet when she is an adult. I call it, Ukita Naoie’s brutal Hikaru Genji strategy!” 

Thinking about the exact same thing, the person who had uttered such an ambition that deviated from the path of humans, calmly picked up the okonomiyaki next to Yoshiharu. 

Ukita Naoie, the daimyo who had been drifting like a bat between Oda Nobuna and Mori at opportune times, after hearing that Oda Nobuna was defeated in the sea fight at Honbyo Temple instantly returned to the Mori clan. 

A man that assassinates and seduces women for his uses. Through brutal methods, he rose suddenly from a vagabond to become the daimyo that ruled over Bizen and Mimasaka, one of the Sengoku Era’s “Three Great Villains.” And, as two of the three villains had already exited the stage of history, it was correct to say that Ukita Naoie was the Sengoku’s most heinous person. While originally a good man, a life of brutal assassinations was sending his destiny down the highway to villainy – at least he was expected to, but for some reason the circumstances had become strange. 

“If you are heard by Kikkawa-san, you will be scolded Ukita-san.” 

“Hey brat. ‘Ukita-san’ gives me a chill. Your character is a wild monkey that doesn’t know etiquette.” 

“I’m sorry. I don’t have any memory...” 

“Just ‘Ukita’ is fine. Using polite language despite being Sagara was creepy. But don’t call my daughter by her first name. With Hideie, call her name properly.” 

“I see.” 

“Perfect. As your neighbor, why don’t I eat the last okonomiyaki? I would like to take my revenge now, but Kobayakawa-ojou would make me commit seppuku, and moreover now that you have lost your memory of last time I won’t feel gratified if I kill you.” 

“Eh? Did I do something to a senpai like Ukita-san? Even if I don't know what it is, I’m sorry.” 

“That feels gross!” 

“Oh.” 

“So. The generals will become delicious sooner or later, of Kobayakawa-ojousan or Kikkawa-ojousan, which are you aiming for, Sagara.” 

“To think of aiming at my lord is nonsense! Aren't I just an accessory to the Mori clan?” 

“Hey. Truthfully who are you? An impostor? If you give up on them I’ll woo both of them. And then all of the Mori clan will be mine!” 

“Please wait a minute, hogging both of the twins was too much. If pushed I guess I would have to say the gentle Kobayakawa....she is iincho-like [xii] .” 

“Iincho? Well either way. Therefore my favorite is Shogun-chan. That child will become an absolute beauty, I think her form will become even more beautiful forever! She is the cutest! Shogun-chan is completely like the Maitreya Bodhisattva! [xiii] ” 

“She certainly is cute. I am a boob lover and I certainly don’t have a lolita complex, but I feel like the door to a lolita complex opens when I look at Yoshiaki-chan. Somehow I fell into a delusion that I once took care of a young girl in the past. But I shouldn’t have a younger sister.” 

“I see, so the man from the future has had his spirit infected. Well my spirit is fine like that! I got tired of eating adult women! They aren’t pure and are smeared in greed and self-interest! In that way, my daughter Hideie is too pure inside, I reached this age and seemingly learned the way of life to love children!” 

“Nice! Lolita complex is peace! Love and peace!” 

“Innocent children gaze and admire without self-interest....the first time I saw her immersed in an idle act, my spirit felt tranquil! I saw glimpses of my mother in the eyes of a child! Lolicon banzai!” 

“What a clear expression. That there was such an aspect to Ukita who was said to be one of the ‘Three Great Villains’ of the Sengoku Era, you have to come to the Sengoku era to understand. Thank you lolita complex! Forever lolicon!” 

Ukita and Sagara were completely impressed by the influence of lolita and became kindred spirits, the unity of the Mori clan deepens, and Ashikaga Yoshiaki opened a folding plan and let out an “Oh, ho, ho” laugh. 

It seems she didn’t understand the meaning of lolicon. 

“What is with these creepy guys? I must kill them both.” Kikkawa Motoharu who was in charge of the cooking growled said so with a scowl while flipping the okonomiyaki on the iron. 

Kikkawa Motoharu believes the Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki was the supreme cooking. Upon reaching Kyoto she would abolish the false Kansai-style okonomiyaki, and had the ambition of making the Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki a tradition. 

Yoshiharu secretly thought that because this early era doesn’t have cabbage, the okonomiyaki was covered in Chinese cabbage which gave it a delicate taste. 

“Ukita Naoie. If you betray us again we will take your head without question.” 

Kobayakawa Takakage glared at Ukita Naoie with ice-cold eyes. 

This is Takakage’s basic attitude to men. 

The exceptions were her substitute father that she adored, the Pirate King Murakami Takeyoshi, and Sagara Yoshiharu. 

“Takakage is sweet. Ukita will betray again anyways. But now I am here!” 

“Aneki will use Ukita as an anti-Oda force. Ukita who cannot betray Mori twice will fight to the death.” 

“Kobayakawa-ojousan. How can you say such a cruel remark in front of the person in question? My delicate heart is hurting.” 

“You are noisy, shut up. Such a scoundrel does not have a human heart. Work hard and die for Mori.” 

“Well, Sagara. Now you have seen her cold gaze that looks at insects. Kobayakawa-ojousan was quite splendid. Being scorned by such a young Princess Knight was surprisingly pleasant.” 

“I, is that so? Ukita-san is a complicated ladies man.” 

Though I did not understand it well since Kobayakawa did not turn such eyes to me, but if it was me I would be in bed with shock for three days if told such words, Yoshiharu thought. 

“Takakage, until the Osaka’s Honbyo Temple’s battle resumes, we will be aimless. Let’s overtake Harima for a land route. If we kick out Himeji Castle’s Oda troops it will release our allies besieged in Miki castle and suppress Harima. Without depending on Honbyo Temple, Mori can advance independently from Settsu to Kyoto.” 

“Aneki, now that Honbyo Temple has stopped, Oda can focus its combat troops in Harima again. It will be difficult to overtake them with brute force. I will develop a strategy to secure a supply line to Miki castle with the Murakami navy. I want Aneki to lead a land troop to check the Oda troops stuck in Himeji castle in Harima. Moreover, Shogun-sama is currently sending a large number of letters to the eastern countries of Takeda, Uesugi, and Hojo. If Harima comes loose, the eastern countries can band together in the name of Ashikaga. I can advance the main force of Mori in the next Honbyo Temple battle if we can secure a land route from Settsu to Harima. The number of people that can help from the sea are limited, but if it’s from the land-” 

Kobayakawa Takakage then paused to take a breath before informing Murakami Takeyoshi. 

“During this peace, the Oda will rebuild its navy and plan on coming back with renewed strength. Oda Nobuna has already seen the strength of the Murakami navy’s tactics. But if you win at sea once more in the rematch with Honbyo temple, the people’s hearts will turn from the Oda clan. In order to win the Murakami navy must not be careless and train vigilantly. You can’t use the same trick on Nobuna twice. It would be good to devise tactics that are different from the previous time.” 

Kobayakawa Takakage doesn’t put in her own emotions, and is able to easily make strategies as if playing Shogi. Kikkawa, Yoshiaki, and Yoshiharu could only be impressed by the “Wise Commander.” Moreover, Takakage was modest about her wisdom and doesn’t want to take credit for her feats. 

“So then, Sagara Yoshiharu. This Ashikaga Yoshiaki will give you a reward directly. It is wonderful that you gave up on the Oda clan and came here. Furthermore, you caught Yamanaka Shikanosuke immediately. That guy who preached about reviving the Amago Clan and fought against the Mori clan obstinately. Since I plan on restoring the Ashikaga shogunate while burdening the Mori clan, as the owner of a similar will, she was in any case a formidable foe. Excellent, excellent.” 

The reward granted by the vagrant shogun that didn’t hold any territory was a “head pat.” 

Of course since she couldn’t reach his height, Murakami Takeyoshi who was as close behind her as a bodyguard picked her up. A hand was extended to Yoshiharu’s head. 

“Excellent, excellent. Kobayakawa will present you with an island. You can choose an island to your liking.” 

“Oh, yes. Thank you.” 

Having his head petted by an excellent little girl made Yoshiharu feel great for some reason. 

“Hah. Being petted by Yoshiaki-chan is healing.” 

“Is that so, is that so? It is healed? Maybe this could also be called the shogun’s authority! I’ll brush you more.” 

“Hah. Thank you for this happiness.” 

This is dangerous. I wonder when I awoke to a lolita complex? As Yoshiharu thought, it is really mysterious. 

Yoshiharu currently has no memory of living together with his sister Nene in the Warring States period. 

“Oh, that is good. I hope the remarkable shogun-chan will present that grand reward to this Ukita-sama.” 

“You ran away from the battlefield feigning illness in your back and pain in your butt in Harima, to you I give nothing.” 

“Ah, that I fell of my horse in the battlefield and hurt my hip is true. Thanks to that the gold hip of the lady-killer.... just shaking it a little as a test sent pain like I was about to die,...ugh dammit! Am I completely useless as a man? But it is already okay because Hideie is cute! Having my young daughter nurse me while bedridden is the best! If it was a son it’s the difference of poison and honey!” 

“Um? Kikkawa, Kobayakawa. Hasn’t Ukita been weird since before he was bedridden...before he was spilling with killing intent, but now he feels like he would hug and kidnap a kid somewhere.” 

“He probably also hit his head when he fell.” 

“He doesn’t resemble aneki at all.” 

Ukita Naoie’s personality had changed a bit after being nursed by his daughter Hideie after being bedridden due to the pain of his hip injury. 

Of course, he will probably change back to a man of unlimited wickedness, but it is unlikely during the Oda clan and Honbyo Temple’s ceasefire. 

“Anyways, the brat has completely adapted to the Mori clan. Despite being a kid from the future, he readily grew used to the harsh pirate life. He is also liked by the pirates. Even without a memory, you are still the peerless Sagara Yoshiharu.” 

Murakami Takeyoshi laughed while carrying the shogun on his shoulder. 

This man, who could smash oyster shells, made Yoshiharu tremble. 

“Because father was always abroad for work, I liked ships and airplanes. Being on top of the sea is strangely thrilling.” 

“Ahh. The sea is more fun than the land youngster. Once a person rushes to the sea, they are free. You can even go outside the country.” 

“That’s right. I want to go to the Ming Dynasty! A lot of the Ming’s food was extremely delicious.” 

“That’s right. But can I still not go back to the future....” 

Yoshiharu looked up to the blue sky where the seagulls were flying. 

Kobayakawa Takakage gazed at the lonely Yoshiharu anxiously. 

As for Ashikaga Yoshiaki. 

“Hmm...You are remembering your family, Sagara.” 

“Yes.” 

“I also remember ani-ue practicing the sword morning and night in Ming China. Ani-ue possessed a mastery of the sword, and he was deeply ashamed that the shogunate collapsed because the power of his sword was not enough, and he shut himself in a Ming mountain temple in order to become the strongest in the world. The dream of restoring the shogunate was entrusted to his younger sister. I don’t know when ani-ue completes his training, will we be able to meet after fulfilling his ambition.” 

“Yoshiaki-chan.” 

“....If you live, you may see each other again. If you abandon living that’s it. To serve the Oda clan or to serve the Mori clan, even if it becomes a painful dilemma, never rush to death, Sagara. 

“Yes.” 

“There is surely a reason you were called from the future to this era. Someone in this era needs you. Perhaps it is me.” 

“Someone in this era...” 

Yoshiharu suddenly felt like he was going to remember something. 

“Hmm. Surely it is me. The influence of the shogun opened the Amano-Iwato.” 

That the shogun became extremely big through this battle moved Kikkawa Motoharu to tears, and Ukita muttered “I want you to stay small.” 

Only Kobayakawa Takakage who stared at Yoshiharu’s back had a difficult expression. 

“Okay. Eat more Kobayakawa-ojou. Next is the hourokuyaki [xiv] of the Murakami Navy. If you don’t eat you won’t get taller!” 

Murakami Takeyoshi heartily threw a large variety of caught Setouchi fish onto the iron pan. 

“Ahem. It’s about aneki and Yoshiharu.” 

After the feast was over- 

Kobayakawa Takakage and Kikkawa Motoharu talked together in a small cabin. 

While it was expected to be about future strategies, that the talk was immediately of Sagara Yoshiharu made Motoharu worried. 

“Takakage. You are too manic for that monkey. You are looking at him as if he was your real aneki.” 

“....T-that isn’t it. Such a thing...” 

“So if we give that guy an island, what is next? Are you going to let the monkey persuade Yamanaka Shikanosuke and form a Sagara Corps in the Mori clan?” 

“That was already requested of Yoshiharu. Yoshiharu is persuading Shikanosuke right now. The Mori clan and the Amago clan are old enemies. The vassal of the Amago, Shikanosuke, was incompatible with her sworn enemy the Mori clan. It is difficult, but if Shikanosuke works with Yoshiharu, the stalemate on the Harima front will be settled in a victory for the Mori clan.” 

“Ho, Takakage is serious. Ugh, I’m worried. A human man’s kiss is completely different than the nobleman of the ‘Tale of Heike.’ Moreover, its Japan’s number one womanizing monkey. Takakage who was such a serious and straight-laced person, why do you lose your head over that one.” 

“Wha, as for me, nothing, particular about Sagara Yoshiharu, I’m, not losing my head....right.” 

“Takakage is a girl who fell in love at first sight! This is adorable....no this is different. Wake up Takakage. That guy is not older brother. Aniki is never going to come back to life....” 

“...Aneki” 

Kikkawa and Kobayakawa, “Mori’s twin rivers” had an older brother named Mori Takamoto. 

Mori’s first generation, Mori Motonari’s, heir, (in the Mori clan’s own terminology, heiress), that received the family crest was the second generation. 

But Takamoto was already dead and the first generation Motonari passed away. 

The position of third generation went to Takamoto’s orphan child Terumoto, and management of the Mori clan went to the pair of sisters. 

By all rights, either of the sisters would have been appropriate to succeed as the Mori clan’s head, but the pair deeply missed their brother, Takamoto. 

Therefore, in Takamoto’s memory, they made an oath to raise Terumoto as the legitimate third generation of the Mori clan. 

“Takakage. I’m not telling you not to fall in love with a man, but you had better not overlap the image of aniki with that monkey. That guy was originally in love with Oda Nobuna, and there is a difference in social status for you who is the senior princess of the Mori clan. It would be difficult to be officially married. In any case, Takakage will be hurt in the end.” 

“Oh, aneki talks to me as if you are a person talented in love, but doesn’t all of your talk of love come from the love story of the Heike men from ‘The tale of Heike’. In other words, the dream must be in older sister’s head -” 

“Ugh. You don’t need to say that Takakage! Although it is a speech from the middle of the ‘Tale of Heike’, you are determined to think of a strategy for the Mori clan completely around a man you more or less don’t know!” 

“Hmph. Older sister doesn’t know him either. The boy who appears in the Tale of the Heike is just a character. Ink written on paper.” 

“Aargh. “A character” you say! You who I call imoto!” 

At any rate, while the two are praised as the beautiful representatives of the Chuugoku region, neither has yet had experience falling in love – because even if they kept an eye on a man, they would consider him inferior to Takamoto. 

However for Kikkawa Motoharu, she says that real men are boring and do not equal aniki, and in the end the result was she became obsessed with the ancient Taira nobleman of the “Tale of the Heike.” 

As for Kobayakawa Takakage, she was embarrassed by her aneki’s hobby and was worried she would “rot”, and couldn’t have anticipated that such a thing to happen to the general’s honor. 

Takakage was not accustomed to love and was terribly confused – and halfway to losing sight of herself. 

“Aneki. I only wanted to speak to you in confidence, recently I am every day thinking of nothing but Yoshiharu. In addition, I don’t have an appetite. And then unexpectedly I want to cry without reason.” 

“Oh my god. Th, that is nothing besides love!” 

“And just recently at today’s feast, when I saw the image of Shogun-sama petting Yoshiharu’s head, I got extremely angry. I wanted to make the shogun hold a boulder and sink into the Dannoura, such a bad idea occurred to me without meaning to....elder sister, I don’t understand what is happening to me.” 

Motoharu could only say a troubled “Ah.” 

“T, Takakage. That is jealousy.” 

“Jealousy? But today I ate pan fried okonomiyaki.” 

“The monkey was becoming emotionally attached to a child. It was jealousy because Shogun-sama and the monkey were sticking together like close friends.” 

Takakage seemed dissatisfied and pouted her small lips. 

“N, never. Shogun-sama is still just a child. To be jealous of a child....for this Kobayakawa Takakage feared as the “Wise commander” to be that immature.” 

“However the man of the future has been attacked by the diseased called the lolicon and greatly loves little girls. The monkey is a complete lolicon. Even those who cannot be dealt with ordinary means and are incompatible with people, the two schemers Kuroda Kanbei and Takenaka Hanbei, get along with each other and serve Yoshiharu, therefore the lolicon is good at successfully flattering very young girls.” 

“W, what? Aneki.” 

“Or should I say you are the latest one, Takakage.” 

“Wha, I am not a child anymore elder sister. Ah, I am an adult woman. I, I guess I might have a childish appearance.....b, but I can already bear a child.....maybe. M, moreover I have read all the books we have and gained knowledge.” 

She puffed out her cheeks. She seemed extremely unhappy. 

“But you don’t have knowledge of love. You are naive, and you are regarded as feed for the lolicon.” 

“It’s, different. I am an adult.” 

“An adult woman doesn’t put the face of her aniki on the boy she loves.” 

“Please work with me aneki.” 

“Eh? With what?” 

“If Yoshiharu has already been attacked by the lolicon, and makes unpleasant movements towards the shogun, he will have to commit seppuku. Since I first saved Yoshiharu, it will also be my responsibility. I must cure Yoshiharu’s disease. Nonetheless, t, this is completely for the Mori clan. I don’t want you to misunderstand.” 

Embarrassed about her obvious real intention, Motoharu smiled wryly at the manner of her exceedingly naive little sister. 

“Takakage. You must put a stop to saying such things. Love and war are the same thing. You win by attacking fiercely forward. Victory goes to the one who makes the first move, you must push forward!” 

“...But, my aneki is not in love. A, As for me I, ah, like Sagara Yoshiharu as a person like aniki.” 

“Oops. In that case this thing is like a disease. Takakage, don't you think it's time to get over aniki.” 

“What should I do, how can I do that. I don’t understand myself. Guh.” 

“Ah, don’t cry! This Takakage who won in the land and sea and was on the brink of taking Oda Nobuna’s head, completely becomes like a child when it comes to that monkey. As your aneki, I’ll lend a hand to Takakage so you win this battle.” 

At that time when Oda Nobuna was overrun and on the brink of defeat, Takakage decided on being cautious on the battlefield saying, “I don’t know what sort of strategy or direction to guide the country” and was in a funk. 

Kikkawa Motoharu had said “think about such a thing after we have attained a victory”, and clapped the back of the younger sister who takes things too seriously, but now noticed that her younger sister’s confusion over Sagara Yoshiharu came from the same source. 

Even someone as wise as Takakage can’t draw a plan for the future of Japan without Oda Nobuna. Takakage’s heart, just like the time after losing older brother who held together the Mori clan and was supposed to rule all of Japan, has been lost. I can’t give my consent to a monkey who is so far off from the Heike nobleman, but if younger sister is released from the phantom of aniki by gaining a new life-style called love- 

For Motoharu personally, it was like time had stopped that time when they lost their older brother, Takamoto. 

However, because Motoharu’s role is to act in a rage without thinking on the battlefield, she was not worried. 

The only thing necessary for Motoharu, was courage. 

It was Takakage who carried the difficult role of having to think about the future of the Mori clan at all times. 

Takakage had to worry alone all this time, the Mori clan’s third generation was still too young to conquer the world, and none of the Mori clan were followers of the Honbyo Temple’s Nyankousou sect. At the moment, it was difficult for Takakage to break the Oda clan that touted the grand ideal of named Tenka Fubu. Up until now Motoharu had been worried about her younger sister that rarely showed her expression or feelings. 

“Ah, thank you. Please let me rely on you aneki.” 

“Mmm. I’ll say again, the one who makes the first move wins, Takakage! Now is a good opportunity while the monkey has forgotten Oda Nobuna.” 

“....Y, yes.” 

“Oh you are so embarrassed. It’s so cute, Takakage.” 

“Sh, shut up.” 

“Haha. How many years has it been since Takakage has been annoyed and told me to shut up.” 

“...uuu.” 

Oh. While I personally fought it earnestly, why did I volunteer for the role to help with younger sister’s love. I myself saw the kiss as Oda Nobuna and the monkey risked their lives, perhaps that is when I began thinking about genuine love. 

Those two people showed something unthinkable to the people of this country that had constantly had nothing but war at all times for over one hundred years, and the hearts of the people began changing including Takakage’s, Motoharu thought.

“Ho-ho-ho. I heard your discussion. This child Shogun excels at plotting using her power. I will find a means to get Kobayakawa and Sagara Yoshiharu married despite the two’s difference in social position!” 

Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who had been eavesdropping with all her heart, forced her way inside. 

For some reason she had a smug face. 

“Sho, shogun-sama? Th, this is well.” 

“Her body is too small and I didn’t notice.” 

“Ho-ho-ho. There is a wall since Sagara Yoshiharu doesn’t have any social status. In that case, as Oda Nobuna and Yoshiharu tried get the Kampaku Konoe Sakihisa to adopt Yoshiharu – in that case I shall take him in as the adopted child of the shogun! The vice-shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiharu.” 

“Adopted child? A, As expected.” 

“The age doesn’t match. Furthermore, this is an imitation of Oda Nobuna’s plan.” 

“So? Then shall I make Yoshiharu my onii-chan? With this, if I make Yoshiharu a relative of the shogun, there shouldn’t be any public issues! More than that, I cannot meet with ani-ue in Ming and am lonely, in this situation I can take advantage of Yoshiharu as my onii-chan. Every day we can take a bath together and sleep together. Yoshiharu’s loyalty to me will also rise. Huhuhuh.” 

“Shogun-sama, we must decline. It’s not allowed.” 

“Why not Kobayakawa? Wh, why do you have a cutting expression like you want to sink me at the bottom of the Setouchi? And your tone is scary.” 

“...My Imoto has a bad illness. Her stomach is hurting, Shogun-sama.” 

As for the problem person, Sagara Yoshiharu was in the ship jail. 

He was not arrested. He was ordered by Kobayakawa Takakage to persuade the prisoner, Yamanaka Shikanosuke, and had personally boarded the jail where Shikanosuke was held empty-handed. 

“Milord really doesn’t remember anything? How you stab this Shikanosuke.” 

Now that Shikanosuke was aware that Yoshiharu was truly in the Mori faction, she was not intending on escaping. Because she had agreed to follow Yoshiharu forever. 

“No. Because Yamanaka is said to be a good person, I wouldn’t stab a hostage? Ukita Naoie seems like he might drug you if you are careless.” 

“Heavenly happiness. I am the thing that wants to be drugged in this prison. When I can’t move in a place like this because of the drugs, Milord will swoop on me like a hungry wolf, and in the future will become a brutal savage who will persuade my body by force!” 

While Yamanaka-san is a cute girl, with such a short speech she changed into an extremely unique individual, Yoshiharu thought. 

While this fellow was continuously losing to the Mori clan, her original training was showing results, Kikkawa Motoharu said in secret. 

“My lord, You should teach this girl’s body. 'Your mouth says no way but you already are like this.’ I would like you to curse at me with vulgar words like that. Of course the only one in the world I can ask such a disgraceful thing to is you Milord.” 

“Yamanaka-san. I have no memory of serving the Oda clan. When I fell into the muddy stream and hit my head suddenly, I seem to have forgotten everything.” 

“Really? In which case, all of the memories of treating this Shikanosuke as a plaything night after night.” 

“Ehh? I was such a wicked master? I’m so sorry!” 

“It is a lie. I’m sorry to say that Milord, in spite of being a womanizer without principles, was a strangely serious gentlemen in regards to this Shikanosuke. Perhaps you purposely neglected this Shikanosuke to allow me to glimpse further into a new world.” 

“It’s a lie? Good. What would have happened if Kobayakawa-san heard such a story? From now on be careful what you say, or Kobayakawa-san may cut off my head in anger.” 

If it was about Kobayakawa Takakage, Shikanosuke would scowl at Yoshiharu coldly. 

“When I asked that taciturn fair-skinned girl about Milord, for some reason she put out a nice feeling. As for me, even if I feel disappointed in changing to the Mori clan, I will follow Milord to hell. Oh!? Perhaps you joined my bitter enemy the Mori in order to cast this Shikanosuke into deeper suffering.....haa haa haa.” 

“Yamanaka-san, please calm down without biting your nails.” 

“Milord is so cold. Please call me Shikanosuke. Otherwise I won’t surrender!” 

Shikanosuke’s mouth repeated such an M-like statement, only when asking Yoshiharu for this did she seem like the leader of the Amago Ten Braves, and he can’t oppose it. 

“U, understood. Well, Shikanosuke. Will you surrender yourself to the Mori clan?” 

“I’m sorry. I have dedicated my life to Milord, but I am unable to serve the Mori clan. It was the Mori clan that destroyed my lord, Izumo’s Amago clan. If I give in and surrender, I will shame the honor of my companions who fought and died to revive the Amago clan.” 

When Shikanosuke spoke with such a serious expression, she was so attractive he was at a loss for words......the type to serve as the captain of the volleyball team and get a love letters from the girls. When Yoshiharu was carelessly thinking about the school life he left, he stared at Shikanosuke’s beautiful features. 

“Only this command from Milord I cannot follow. Now, please punish this bad girl Shikanosuke with all your might, Milord. For the time being, Milord can ban the installation of a toilet in this ship jail!” 

“There isn’t any punishment! At this rate will you continue to be in the bottom of this prison ship? Because you can escape again if you are sent on land, Kikkawa-san isn’t going to let you off the ship. I understand, when you were previously captured by Kikkawa-san, you insisted you had a stomachache and crawled through the toilet passage to escape.” 

“Uuu...Milord... completely forgot all my gallant achievements...and was only informed by the Mori of my embarrassing disgrace? Only, only that story, as expected....please forgive me!” 

“Such a beautiful girl, talking about such a miserable experience....oops. I got a little excited. Isn’t this attribute worse than the lolita complex, wow I can’t control myself.” 

“Milord?” 

“Oh, I am alright. I have this bad habit where sometimes I have a slip of the tongue. So I’ll speak before thinking. Because of this, I was given cold stares by the girls in my class. However, even if that stopped I wouldn’t have been popular!” 

“Ha ha. It is alright Milord. In this era girls like honest gentlemen. Because there are great numbers of bad and wicked men who only have base desires like Ukita Naoie.” 

“Is, is that so?” 

“Yes. I like Milord’s honesty!” 

“Thank you. It feels like the first time a girls has said she likes me. Even so, am I seeing a dream?” 

“Again with your modesty. Even of the Oda clan’s numerous legends that you have forgotten, Master is a peerless lady-killer. After all, even that cold hearted arrogant lass, Kobayakawa Takakage, loves Master as an older brother.” 

“That’s right. Kobayakawa-san is extremely kind to me however, even if I am troubled by the past with the Oda clan I am completely with the Mori. Even now it’s unbelievable to me that I served the Oda clan, but Kobayakawa-san is my savior...” Yoshiharu had unintentionally revealed his painful feelings to Shikanosuke. 

“So you are in a dilemma. Poor Milord. It’s painful to be caught in between. I’ll comfort you with my chest. I look slender in clothes, but I am quite big!” 

“What am I stuck between? In addition, I can’t go back to the future anymore. Dad, mom, my school friends, can I never meet them again? Unexpectedly it’s a small blessing in disguise that I never got a girlfriend, I have nightmares instead of dreams enough.” 

“...Do you dream of your mother?” 

“My mom doesn’t appear too often. My dad sometimes appears too. But, in this world so many people have lost family in battles over succession, and Kobayakawa-san has already lost her mother and father, and even her older brother. I think that grieving about not being able to meet my family, feels a bit childish. Did an ordinary high-school student like me really survive in the Sengoku era all this time?” 

“Milord had a lot of good friends. Not just the people in the Oda clan, but the Namban missionaries, Sakai merchants, and even the Oda clan’s bitter enemies the people of Honbyo Temple and the Takeda family trusted Master. Everyone has been struggling to not let Milord die.” Shikanosuke grabbed Yoshiharu’s hand and smiled. 

“Do I have such value? I was raised spoiled in a world without war.” 

“You have it. Therefore, I will wait forever for Milord’s return.” 

“Even if my memory doesn’t return? I can’t imagine betraying my savior Kobayakawa-san. Kobayakawa-san is shouldering the whole Mori clan on her small body, it is incredibly excessive and dangerous, and she could break at any moment. I can’t leave her.” 

Even after her lord lost his memory, Shikanosuke seemed happy. 

“Up until now, for the sake of Oda Nobuna, you have been running at full power for your Oda clan comrades. In predicaments where an ordinary man’s spirits would break and he would fall, they were overcome again and again. I also acted unreasonably. Therefore, for now it’s good to take a little rest. Please think about it.” 

“....Shikanosuke is a nice person.” 

“Yes. Because I am Milord’s loyal vassal. I will definitely take care of Milord.” 

Yoshiharu grasped Shikanosuke’s fingers and blurted out a “Thank you very much.” 

The people of this world, in particular the Princess Knights, always live on the very limits of the border of life and death, and they must look so dazzling, I thought. 

“For everyone, is there something I can do-” 

Oda and Mori’s front lines in Harima, glared at each other for a long time. 

The Oda’s side’s base is the Himeji Castle in the center of Harima. 

The Mori side’s front line was Miki Castle in the east of Harima, but Miki castle is now isolated by the Oda’s power, and was being besieged by the Oda troops from Himeji castle. 

The land routes to bring in food for Miki castle had been completely cut off by the positioning of the Oda troops. 

However, now that the commander of Himeji Castle Sagara Yoshiharu and the second in command Yamanaka Shikanosuke had fallen into Mori’s hands, the Oda troop’s moral have fallen. 

Kobayakawa Takakage had a plan to send in provisions via the sea route to their allies in Miki Castle, and lead the Murakami navy to depart to Harima. 

In the middle of the navy, was the figure of Sagara Yoshiharu. 

“The Oda troops suffered a severe blow in the previous battle. This is the time to bring in provisions to Miki Castle. If things go well, it is Ojou’s plan to break the Oda’s siege and free Miki castle. But unfortunately, the Oda side has already set up camps on the shoreline. Despite losing Sagara Yoshiharu and Yamanaka Shikanosuke, the army corps is still getting commands. As expected.” 

The Murakami Navy’s general, Murakami Takeyoshi, was looking at the eastern coastline of Harima through a telescope while in the middle of instructing Yoshiharu in pirate training. 

“Boy. Is the landing point Takasago or Akashi? Or is it Suma? In any case, Miki Castle is on top of a hill. We first have to secure a base on the coastline. At that time, the pure white beach will look like a bright red blood pond. Don’t piss yourself.” 

“Indeed I think I nearly wet myself. I don’t have any experience on the battlefield. My legs are already shaking even though the start of the battle isn’t happening soon.” 

“Haha. This veteran hero is overwhelmed.” 

“I don’t have any special abilities, and I’m not a hero wielding a holy sword. And yet I know instinctively. I am a soldier.” 

“That’s it boy, there is a woman you should protect and that will bring out your power. You who are from a peaceful world, are a man facing this war-torn country where Princess Knights cast their lives away on the battlefield.” 

“A woman, to be protected.....Princess Knights give their lives on the battlefield....ugh, my head.” 

Again. 

Yoshiharu who was about to remember something, held onto his aching head. 

“Boy. I’ll tell you the reason why Kobayakawa-ojou and Kikkawa-ojou are still so attached to their dead elder brother. Even if I tell you, this is a secret.” 

“The older brother of those two was the Mori family second generation Mori Takamoto, right?” 

“Ah. That man was my sworn brother who I exchanged sake cups with. Therefore the two Ojous are like younger sisters to me.” 

Murakami Takeyoshi spoke. 

Formerly, the Mori clan was a small powerful family in the Chuugoku district, sandwiched between the two major powers with Harukata Sue ruling over San'yo, and the Amago family ruling over San'in. It was a humble power that somehow managed to live by running between the two families, acting similar to how Ukita Naoie acts while being caught between Mori and Oda. 

“The feudal lord who had been running errands for years, the first generation Mori Motonari, decided to become independent before he reached old age. The Sue clan who boasted of having ten times the military power were subjugated, and the Amago were destroyed, and he naturally became the ruler of Chuugoku. But that guy didn’t have a naval force. In order to become the supreme ruler of Chuugoku, he needed to win over me, the King of the Setouchi. Of course, who could I become subordinate to. You aren’t a pirate if you aren’t free. Otherwise there is no value in living on the sea. As for the Murakami navy, we didn’t originally want to get involved in a squabble over such a small area of land.” 

“It wasn’t possible to incorporate the freely living Murakami navy as vassals of the Mori clan. But you could be tied in an alliance. For the sake of becoming the supreme ruler, he wanted the power of the Murakami by any means. Was that what Mori Motonari thought?” 

“That’s right, boy. And then Mori Motonari challenged Harukata Sue in the ‘Battle of Itsukushima’. The Mori clan would be ruined if they lost. The odds of success were one in ten thousand. Only if I provided assistance would there be a slim chance of success. But I boasted that I wouldn’t ally with anyone. For Motonari, the Battle of Itsukushima was a one-in-a-lifetime gamble.” 

When the Mori clan was still the lord of Aki. 

Born in the house of a small daimyo, the genius “first generation” Mori Motonari raised the Mori clan in one generation from hardship and vagrancy to rule over Aki, and kept complaining before the decisive battle with the Chuugoku’s daimyo Sue Harukata. 

“Sue led a huge army and Mori only had a handful of troops. Although previously there were the three siblings it was not enough. Back then there was a lot of chaos. They thought they needed to increase the Mori clan’s land.” 

The worst strategist of Chuugoku, the big boss of Aki, Motonari who was once called the “strategy god”, scared the hell out of the neighbors until they wanted him killed, and they repeatedly attacked the leader with bullets. And before anyone knew it he was an old man. 

By all rights he was already at the age to retire. 

But to the west was Chuugoku's big boss Harukata Sue. 

To the north in San'in was the super warrior faction, the Amago clan’s large army. 

The Mori clan was stuck between the two major powers and fought all the time not knowing if they would live to see tomorrow, so Motonari would not retire. 

How. It would be dangerous for the Mori Clan as long as Sue Harukata lives, Motonari got impatient that everything would end if he died, and decided to challenge Sue to a decisive battle despite being at an overwhelming disadvantage. 

Well, his strength was using his wiles to deceive every single person, and he was successful at luring out Sue’s main force to the Itsukushima sea, and because there was such a vast difference in military power the Mori clan launched a surprise attack at Sue in Itsukushima and completely destroyed his main army. 

If they had carelessly attacked and invaded Itsukushima from the Aki mainland, the Mori clan would have been finished. 

“A schemer succumbs to his schemes. I doubt you of all people can struggle against the advancing age.” 

“Hey. Entrust to it me. We ride to Itsukushima to Sue Harukata! 

Despite being a little girl Kikkawa Motoharu had an honest eagerness to kill, she would unsheathe her famous “Eager princess” and get fired up, 

“Wait. Aneki is a daredevil warrior without wisdom. Our otou-sama left everything up to the young genius Kobayakawa Takakage.” 

The childish Kobayakawa Takakage gave a negative introduction to her elder sister. 

The Mori clan was divided and heated battles coming and going were a daily occurrence. 

Motonari’s twin daughters, Kikkawa Motoharu and Kobayakawa Takakage, had been entering and leaving the battlefield together for a long time, Motonari’s plot was to invite Chuugoku's warrior faction under the Kikkawa clan and capture the Kobayakawa clan through inheritance, and the young Princess Knights had been through scenes of carnage and the sisters had received a so called Spartan education in the warring states. 

Motoharu inherited the military might of Motonari and Takakage inherited Motonari’s resourcefulness. 

“Gah. Shut up Takakage! The useless words of a bookworm can’t win a war.” 

“A fool hmph. Does Aneki think she can beat 10,000 soldiers alone?” 

“I can win with fighting spirit!” 

“Haa. That is why you are a daredevil.” 

“I ate three portions of okonomiyaki before, and I have tremendous strength. So if I eat thirty portions of okonomiyaki, I’ll have the strength of ten thousand!” 

“...Strength of a thousand men, Aneki. This Takakage can’t stand to look at the foolish face of a liar. Go away.” 

“Aneki is a higher position than Imoto fool! The older sister is superior to the younger sister~” 

“Here you are. It serves you right.” 

“Guwaaa. Today your head falls!” 

“It’s noisy, shut up.” 

The two sister’s character and abilities were completely incompatible. Whenever they met they would usually insult each other. 

Motonari’s eldest son, Takamoto, was a plain and mediocre general who didn’t resemble his father and sisters that were filled with unusual talent and abnormal determination. He was bad at war, had no talent for plotting, and didn’t stand out. 

He had an elegant manner, and noble looks, but the handsome man was no way outstanding at war and didn’t seem likely to succeed the Mori clan. 

Therefore he didn’t even have a say in the important meeting to inherit Motonari’s headship as the second generation. 

“Takamoto-dono. My imoto is scolding me.” 

“Yes. Both of you should get along.” 

“Shut up, good-for-nothing.” 

“Go away, incompetent.” 

“Father. It was no good.” 

“....Takamoto-dono....you are called a man...right.” 

Motonari was troubled. 

“Listen. Please listen to the complaints of this old man. Now as we fight the large army of the Sue in Itsukushima, you three siblings must work together. My wish is that the Mori clan will not suffer from a traitorous vassal, and obtain a warm happiness by being surrounded by family. And yet, even so. Ahh, why is Chuugoku in a state of carnage? Instead of greetings we cut each other off, killing and killing until our last breath is taken by a bullet, losing my wife and your mother before me.....and finally my children are on appallingly bad terms. Your father is going to become a priest.” 

“And now father’s annoying complaints begin. My stupid aneki is to blame.” 

“Shut up, Takakage. This is because you boast about your talent with that self-satisfied look!” 

“My imoutos. You must get along.” 

“Shut up, good-for-nothing.” 

“Go away, incompetent.” 

“Father. What should I do?” 

“If Aniki is in charge the Mori clan will end. When you pass on, you can leave everything to Aki’s and Shima’s Kikkawa clan.” 

“So noisy. After father has died, the boss of Aki will be the Kobayakawa clan.” 

“Shut up Takakage. Well anyway, at least it isn’t Aniki.” 

“I feel like dying but unfortunately I have to agree with my stupid Aneki.” 

Motoharu and Takakage were still childish. They saw Takamoto as their unworthy elder brother and despised him so they couldn’t imagine him being Mori’s second generation. 

Even if Takamoto was verbally abused by his two younger sisters he would not stop smiling gently, and the abuse had never stopped. 

“Right now the fate of the Mori House is on the line. To you three siblings, this father will prepare his final greatest sermon. Listen carefully. Please hear it.” 

Motonari began to take out a nearly three meter long “letter of complaint” and began to read it out loud, and with a “it starts again” the young sisters faced in opposite directions and didn’t listen. 

“Hm. It seems words alone are useless.” 

“Well, we are tired of hearing your complaints. Anyhow, reminiscing about our late mother’s miso soup, saying a warm family is important, the Mori clan is the best, dad also wants older brother to be important, a flower can only bloom once in this world, it’s just endless nonsense.” 

“Even without reading what is written, the clever Takakage understands it all.” 

“Oh, my heart....! But still! It’s not done. I am the strategic general. This time I prepared some tools to get you three siblings to get along.” 

Motonari handed over an arrow to each of the three siblings. 

“How about it? It’s a large and strong arrow. Try to break it.” 

“Oh. This is a piece of cake.” 

“I broke mine father.” 

“...Oh, oh. It won’t break.” 

“Takamoto, did you pretend not to break it? I racked my whole brain to prepare this speech.” 

“I understand, father.” 

“W, well now. Even if it’s made strong, a single arrow will break easily, but what if you bundle three arrows this way?” 

This lecture was devised by Mori Motonari who was anxious about the friction between the three siblings, now known as “The Three Arrows.” 

“One arrow is easy, but three arrows will not break. Do you know what I am saying?” 

“Oh well. Such a thing is easy to break. There.” 

Motoharu easily broke the three arrows in one go, thus ending the lecture that Motonari had bet his life on. 

“GYAAAA! My three arrows ahhhhh! Mori’s future! A small happy family!” 

“How about that! Within this small body, Motoharu boasts herculean strength!” 

“As expected, I am disgusted by this older sister who doesn’t think about anything. Such an non-dutiful child should go away.” 

“What!? The imouto is inferior to the aneki! Today your head will fall.” 

Next to his quarreling sisters, Takamoto unusually stopped their talking. 

“I have received my father’s feelings. So – how about I lure the Sue army to Itsukushima.” 

“Oh, Takamoto-dono. If the Sue army was lured to the narrow Itsukushima, yes the Mori forces could exterminate their army. Especially with the strength of a navy. Therefore to be a match in this war, we cannot gain an edge without the assistance of the pirates of the Setouchi, the Murakami navy.” 

“Even if we won, Sue could escape with his head by sea on an island, if he isn’t killed the Mori family will be destroyed by the difference in the military power of the Sue, and so will the Mori clan small happy family....ahhh, ahhh....how long will we have to continue being torn apart, I would be fine if parents and children got along well”, an overwhelmed Motonari began to complain again. 

Saying “It’s difficult”, Kobayakawa Takakage frowned. 

“Father. I have already called on the Murakami navy as the Sue is already landing near Itsukushima. Unlike the Mori, the Sue has amassed large amounts of wealth from trading with the Ming. A large sum of money is needed to move the pirates who are not samurai of the land.” 

“I’ll go to the negotiations. I’ll win by killing and cutting up the Murakami admiral.” 

“You are noisy, shut up. If Aneki opens her mouth the negotiations won’t be finished. My Aniki is out of the question. I who inherited father’s genius will be the emissary to the Murakami navy’s admiral, Murakami Takeyoshi as I am the best at negotiations.” 

“What’s that?! Draw a sword, have a bout here Takakage! The survivor will be the messenger!” 

“Father, what would you like to do?” 

“Hmm. I will personally be the emissary to Murakami Takeyoshi. We may not have an intimate relationship. No, it may be possible to call it old friends. Write it as strong enemy, as well, that kind of relationship. *Cough*” 

“Worthless father. If our strategist father who is unpopular and has no credibility boards personally, you will be unjustly suspected and won’t be able to reach the negotiation table, furthermore father will be taken as a hostage.” 

“What. Takakage-dono, how can you look at your father like that. Ahhh, ahhh, as expected I can’t live any longer.~” 

“Hey. If copper coin is necessary, gather it up from Aki’s merchants, that is to say borrow money.” 

“Motoharu-dono. That trick has already been used, I already used that strategy to swindle them repeatedly therefore the merchant houses don’t trust me. I can’t even borrow a cent.” 

“What? In that case if the merchants won’t lend you money set them on fire.” 

“You must not! The money won’t come even if I burn the merchants. On the contrary, if we abandon the merchants that pay a protection tax, the Mori clan that invests a lot of money into military strategies will go bankrupt.” 

“Hmm. It’s difficult to maintain the house while fighting.” 

“That’s obvious. Go away Aneki.” 

“Shut up!” 

“Be quiet.” 

Motonari continued to consider it for a long time, and he had a flash of inspiration and said “ok.” 

“Then....since we don’t have enough money being successful is going to become risky, I will entrust this to Takakage-dono.” 

“Leave it to me. It’s a wise choice father.” 

“Ugh. The imouto is more excellent than the aneki....Takakage, even if you fail the negotiations and cry I won’t help!” 

“Hmph. I will nobly help Aneki commit seppuku.” 

“My imoutos, you should get along better. That seems to be what father wishes.” 

In this way, the young Kobayakawa Takakage was left with the difficult negotiations with the Murakami Navy – 

The Seto Inland Sea’s marine ruler, the Murakami Navy. 

The pirate boss that leads the Murakami Navy, Murakami Takeyoshi. 

Even if the land was ruled by a powerful samurai or even a wealthy merchant, it was impossible to cross the Setouchi sea without Murakami Takeyoshi’s permission. 

“You have some nerve. Without any money, why should I help Mori.” 

The large build of Murakami Takeyoshi was on a folding stool wearing a crimson wool haori that he had stolen from a Namban ship. While easily wielding a Seiryu sword in one hand stolen from a Ming Dynasty ship, he glared at the young emissary of the Mori clan, Kobayakawa Takakage. 

“The Sue’s army 20,000 have lined up in the Itsukushima Shrine presently. My otou-sama and aneki are soon going to come under the cover of the typhoon from the Tsutsumigaura mountain and launch a sneak attack and scatter the Sue troops in Itsukushima. As for me together with the Murakami Navy, we will intercept and annihilate the Sue troops that try to escape to the sea. The Mori army only has 3000 troops, but we can win with the assistance of the Murakami navy. The battle that will change Chuugoku's supreme rule Sue to Mori will be finished in a day.” 

While Takakage said this as though filled with pride, the pirates who rejoice in the freedom of being on the sea have no interest in who is the ruler of the land. 

“Girl, that is cute.” 

“For us pirates, we will not be vassals of the samurai on the land.” 

“Sorry fella.” 

The pirates are bad-tempered. 

Even for a very young Princess Knight, they would not be lenient. 

While being surrounded by violent pirates, she still had her voice. 

“I have heard that Sue Harukata forbids the Murakami Navy from taking a toll from its ships. The Mori clan has no such thoughts. As before, the Setouchi Sea will be left to the Murakami Navy.” 

But, Takakage wasn’t able to suppress the shivers of her body. 

“Ojou-chan. Such a thing isn’t for you on the land to decide. The King of the Setouchi Sea is me. It is for us pirates to decide if we will tax your ships.” 

Murakami Takeyoshi is a tremendous existence that emits an intense heat and pressure before him, the other party understands that clever words won’t win. 

To move this anchor-like man, theories and logic weren’t enough....Takakage realized she had no power to get Murakami Takeyoshi to act. 

“As the boss said. We serve no one. If you want to borrow our power then take out the money.” 

“This girl is arrogant.” 

“The world of the sea is different from the land.” 

“We hate being ordered by those guys on the land.” 

“If there isn’t any copper, you can bet your life.” 

“Life?” 

Takakage’s small shoulders trembled a little. 

“Chief. Do you wanna do the ‘gamble’?” 

“That is a cruel speech from such a young girl, pirates do not work for free.” 

As the pirates all yelled together, Murakami Takeyoshi said “I will let you do it” and nodded. 

“Listen Miss Kobayakawa. In this world, wisdom isn’t enough. Especially on the sea.” 

“Bu, I, wh, what to do you want me to do?” 

“There are three cups of sake here.” 

In front of Takakage who couldn't move under Murakami Takeyoshi’s stare, cups filled with white sake were prepared. 

A golden cup, a silver cup, and a copper one. 

“If you drink the poisoned sake cup, you will die. If you choose the cup without the poison, you win.” 

“Drink this?” 

“Choose one. Kobayakawa-ojou, if you are as exceedingly wise as it is said, it will probably be easy for you to pick the cup without poison.” 

“...Wait. There is no guarantee there isn’t poison in all of the cups.” 

“Such a thing isn't impossible here.” 

“!?” 

“Pirate law. It says if there isn’t money, I can test your manly spirit with this ‘bet’. Well, Miss isn’t a man.....if you are the child of the samurai are you ready.” 

“Wait. As for winning?” 

“Well. You might die after drinking. Depends on my mood.” 

“If I refuse?” 

“Without our help, the Mori will be destroyed.” 

“Even if drink the poison and die, will you still assist?” 

“At that time, Ojou will die in vain.” 

“But that means. Then what happens to the Mori clan if they are all poisoned. Otou-sama...!” 

“Do you not understand yet? I am testing you, Ojou. On the sea, I am the king. It is Miss’s right to choose.” 

“I, I...” 

“Don’t think badly of me. Making little girls cry is not my hobby. But this is the law – on the sea, hell is kept at bay by a single plank Miss. Therefore the rules are absolute to a pirate.” 

Takakage is an exceedingly resourceful girl, who always considers things carefully before advancing. 

She was personally lacking in the courage to stake the Mori clan’s fate on this kind of reckless gamble. 

“My life is important. This is also for the sake of the Mori clan. But, if I abandon the Mori house. Otou-sama, Aniki, and Aneki will all die.” 

Takakage couldn’t choose. 

There is something called “temperance” in the Mori clan’s motto. 

Motonari grumbled, “Both my father and elder brother drank themselves into an early grave” and forbade the family from drinking alcohol. So the young Takakage had never even drunk the New Year’s amazake [xv] let alone the sake an adult drinks. On the contrary it was rare for her to even see sake, thus she couldn’t tell the difference between the sake even by comparing the cloudiness. 

“This gold cup. Or the copper. No, the silver.” 

Takakage decided to take the silver cup. 

There wasn’t a reason. 

You could dare say process of elimination. A person would be captivated by the dazzling gold cup. It was most likely to be a trap. Having said that if you did the reverse and chose the copper, you might be tricked by a reverse trap as well. The likelihood of winning with the inconspicuous silver in the middle was high. That was the extent of her thoughts. 

But the hand that extended shook more and more, and couldn’t pick up the cup by any means. 

If all three of them had poison. 

Suddenly this feeling called, 'I don’t want to die', welled up inside Takakage’s chest. 

The fear of death that should have been discarded after the first campaign, had been revived. 

The suspicion that this death bet may be completely meaningless, this thought was too much and was eroding Takakage’s heart, and made her recall the fear of death that should have been sealed by logic. 

Takakage was ashamed of herself and large tears spilled out like rain. 

“...I,I....my wisdom....was it something of this level?” 

Once the tears spilled out, her sobbing couldn’t stop. 

Suddenly the pirates burst into laughter. 

“You. Do not laugh at the young Ojou. When you were brats around that age, would you have the courage to come at me with your bare hands?” 

When Murakami Takeyoshi roared, the pirates were “dejected” and fell silent. 

“Ok. Choose. If your body is shaking, I guess I will give it to you.” 

“The...silver one...” 

Murakami Takeyoshi had look of great pity as he looked at Takakage. 

“Ojou. It is regretful.” 

I put too much confidence in my wisdom and will die here, and the Mori house will also be destroyed because of me, Takakage despaired. 

“...Oh...uuuu...” 

Somebody help me, Takakage was shouting out in her heart. 

“You! You are not permitted to put your hand on my imouto!” 

Rushing in on one small boat into the Murakami Navy’s fleet, she crashed into the flagship that Takeyoshi and Takakage were on. 

With a rising sun flag headband with “Superior Mori” wrapped around her head, Kikkawa Motoharu yelled “Princess Cut” and sliced the deck. 

The oarsman of this reckless boat was unexpectedly the older brother Takamoto. 

“...Aneki...Aniki!?” 

That the youth did that kind of absurd thing even caught the pirates by surprise, “What is that?” “It’s a one boat suicide attack?” “Something is wrong.” they panicked and couldn’t respond. 

Still they were a battle-hardened mass of pirates. One way or another they simultaneously regained their fighting spirit and rushed in a crowd to capture Motoharu, 

“Nuoooooo, get away get away get away! Takakage! That’s my drink!” 

Motoharu screamed while kicking the swarms of pirates one after another into the sea. “Where does the power come from this small body?” When the surrounding pirates grew scared and broke apart, she jumped in front of Takeyoshi to protect Takakage. 

The elder brother Takamoto, said “thanks” to Motoharu’s back while she rampaged and went ahead. 

“That one. Kobayakawa-ojou and her look like two peas in a pod, but she has such extreme swordsmanship.” 

“Don’t mistake me for my imouto! The one with the Rising Sun headband is the aneki, Kikkawa Motoharu!” 

For the pirates they yelled, “this one is like a runaway horse”, and were amazed by Motoharu’s vitality. 

Motoharu sat down in front of Takeyoshi with a thud, “I decided! The gold sake cup is the winner!” she grabbed the cup with a yell. 

“Oh, Aneki. Why the gold cup?” 

“Just a hunch! The shiny light is the one!” 

“Such a thing. Oh, wait.” 

“I won’t wait! I don’t have Takakage’s wisdom. At a time like this I cannot be silent and let you throw away your life!” 

“Aneki...! It’s useless. This is my job. I will drink.” 

“Shut up noisy Takakage, are there imoutos that die before their anekis!?” 

“Aneki! Your intuition isn’t right. Let me choose the cup....” 

“I’ll choose it! If you fail, you who think too seriously will mourn for the rest of your life!” 

Motoharu shook off Takakage’s arm that was trying to restrain her with all her might. 

She couldn’t match her in brute strength. Takakage stumbled from Motoharu and fell down. 

There was no use arguing. 

The present Motoharu is not thinking of anything but saving the life of her younger sister. 

Takakage had her breath taken away from the bravery that poured from her older sister’s whole body, and could do nothing to stop her tears. 

My aneki who I had nothing good to say of up until now, the powerless me has been protected by aneki all along, she finally realized. 

“King of pirates, keep your promise.” 

Motoharu had few words. 

Quickly Takakage restrained her again, just as she was about to bring the sake cup up to her smiling lips. 

“The wise Kobayakawa, the brave Kikkawa. Are these Mori’s twin rivers?” 

The heart of Murakami Takeyoshi was shaken. 

But it wasn’t permitted for the King of Setouchi to break the law either. 

You must not help the land samurai without copper coin. 

To fairly distribute the copper coins among the mass of pirates according to their achievements, that was the work of the pirate king Murakami Takeyoshi. 

And for Takakage and Murakami Takeyoshi, they did not expect that man to make his proclamation in this place. 

“Wait a moment younger sisters. There is copper coins. I have raised them.” 

Mori Takamoto. 

The son of the first generation, Mori Motonari. The older brother of Takakage and Motoharu. 

He who was supposed to succeed as the Mori Clan's second generation, this young noble was inconspicuous. 

Completely lacking in battle skill or tricks, who on earth is this man. 

“It’s copper!” 

“At the bottom of the boat, piled up in a mountain!” 

“Boss! It’s treasure!” 

Takakage and Motoharu said “That’s impossible.” “There is no way there was that much money in Mori.” and stared. 

Because Mori Motonari is a schemer he has no credibility. The merchants would not lend it. 

Takamoto had raised a massive amount of copper with an innocent look. 

“I apologized to the merchants, and borrowed. That is how, Murakami Takeyoshi.” 

Takamoto had accompanied his pair of younger sisters and stood in an imposing stance before Murakami Takeyoshi who asked “Who on earth are you?” 

“Me? I am the Mori second generation, Mori Takamoto. Hidden in the gulf between my excellent father and younger sisters, an ordinary man with no merit.” 

“Just a man, it should be impossible to pretend to be such an outrageous thing. How did you collect the money?” 

“So, I went around to the merchants, apologized, bowed and scraped, and begged.” 

“You are outnumbered, it is a likely defeat for the Mori clan, why the hell would the clever merchants lend so much money without a benefit! Moreover, even if Motonari wins the battle that man may fail to pay his debt!” 

“Aah. It would be too much to use father’s name for something insignificant as borrowing. I borrowed it in my name. If we lose this round and can’t return it, I will slice open stomach.” 

“You bastard, you are trusted by the land merchants to such a degree?” 

“I am considered an ordinary, idiotic, easy mark. And that is also the reality.” 

Takamoto would not retreat even one step while facing Murakami Takeyoshi, rather he was pushing Takeyoshi with the fighting spirit hidden inside his body. 

“Wise Kobayakawa, brave Kikkawa. Then is your weapon virtue? Only that could not come from your father.” 

Takamoto sat cross-legged and showed his white teeth. 

“It was good to be in time. If you had harmed my younger sister, I would have had to kill every one of you pirates.” 

With a fierce expression while laughing, he raised his eyes and glared at Murakami Takeyoshi. 

Takakage who realized that her aniki said it completely seriously shuddered. 

Motoharu seemed to feel the same. 

“Massacre us?” 

“If you put even a single scratch on my sister, I would not forgive you. Actually, I am unusually furious now. Murakami Takeyoshi.” 

“What, that we tried to test the Ojou with the sake cup? It is the law!” 

Murakami Takeyoshi, Takakage and Motoharu, could not see the extent of Takamoto. 

Aniki is serious.....while Takakage felt her chest tighten, the sisters looked up at the profile of the older brother they had constantly called foolish. 

“Listen, pirates. I am an ordinary man with no talents, but I am still a man. You pirates that spread lawlessness as it pleases you and put up a front, are not men.” 

The mass of pirates had no words. 

They were overwhelmed by Takamoto’s spirit and only stood dumbfounded. 

Only Murakami Takeyoshi, had the guts to argue with Takamoto. 

“As a man I cannot ignore that. Now the copper coins are here. If you lower your head obediently, it seems I will assist you, monk.” 

“I refuse. To you who are not prepared to risk your lives to go to war in Itsukushima I will not bow my head.” 

“Are you ordering us pirates to fight to the death for the Mori? Is that not tyranny!?” 

“After tormenting my younger sister, you discard it and move only for profit, Murakami Takeyoshi. You have to stake your life on this fight, too.” 

“Monk, do not get carried away!” 

Aneki? Takakage was surprised again. 

“Murakami Takeyoshi! Pirates! You have seen the desperate forms of my younger sisters. While these young Princess Knights have been running about to calm this era of war, don’t you feel shame as men!? What is freedom, what will you permit!?” 

“It is a difference of position! Samurai and pirates live in different worlds!” 

“Pirates or samurai, such things don’t matter! We are all the same people of Japan! Is it a man that lets women and children make war while you live lazily!? Not to mention, this aniki who cannot endure calmly sending his younger sisters to scenes of bloodshed!” 

Takamoto took the gold sake cup. 

“I have left the fighting and scheming to my younger sisters, and have always been ashamed of my mediocrity.” 

He drank it in one gulp. 

“So for my younger sisters, I would die. My weapon is only this life.” 

Takakage and Motoharu didn’t have the time to stop their elder brother. 

“Pirate king. You should also drink one of the three. If you say there wasn’t a winner from the beginning, you will shame yourself. This ‘bet’ is my victory.” 

In front of all the dumbfounded people – 

“Listen pirates, in the battle of Itsukushima you will change into real soldiers and fight to the death!” 

In succession, the gold cup, the silver cup, and the sake in the copper cup were poured into Takamoto's stomach without any hesitation. 

“What? Ah...ANIKI!” 

“UWAAAAH! ANIKI AHHHHH!?” 

Takakage and Motoharu hugged each other and trembled. 

For the first time, they saw Takamoto’s caliber. 

As they embraced, they became aware of their love for their older brother and his matchless chivalry for the first time. 

To lose their elder brother the moment they understood, without being able to say a single word of apology to their elder brother they had despised so far, the sisters were terrified. 

Until now, the hearts of the pair of sisters had never been together. 

However, Takamoto – did not die. 

Murakami Takeyoshi had not poisoned the sake cups from the beginning. 

“Mori Takamoto...you...” 

“Ha ha. It appears that I am still alive.” 

“Rules are rules. Some people pretend to be tough, and I kill them. But even if I become thin and wither, I am the King of Setouchi. The strongest pirate king in this country’s waters. I would not be able to poison the young Ojou who boarded here.” 

“It seems so, Murakami Takeyoshi. You were a man. I was wrong. Forgive me.” 

Murakami Takeyoshi bent his large body and knelt before Takamoto. 

“The Mori clan is my friend. We will lend the assistance of the Murakami Navy at any time.” 

“Will you fight under Takakage’s command?” 

“I will protect Kobayakawa-ojou and Kikkawa-ojou. If it is your request. In accordance with the law, I will accept this money. I will accept it and give it all to you. Buy a hair ornament for your younger sisters.” 

“Murakami Takeyoshi. It is truly regrettable for a man like you to remain a pirate.” 

“Hmph. No, you are too valuable a man to remain as a samurai.” 

The two men grinned at the same time. 

“....I seem to be weak to liquor....it is prohibited by father, I drank for the first time since I was born this evening. Let me collapse for a short time.” 

Takamoto’s body collapsed into Takeyoshi’s big arms. 

Snoring. 

Takakage and then Motoharu embraced Takamoto and cried aloud. 

Mori’s Twin Rivers. For the first time the hearts of the sisters that have the same face became one. 

Murakami Takeyoshi was hitting his head while yelling toward the ocean. 

“Motonari. It is vexing, but your son has the capacity to reign over the whole country.” 

The battle of Itsukushima, it ended in an overwhelming victory for the Mori that won over the Murakami navy as an ally. The defeated Sue Harukata committed suicide and the Sue clan was destroyed. 

Kikkawa and Motoharu, “Mori’s twin rivers”, overwhelmed the Sue forces in successive battles, and Mori Takamoto completely stole their land. The Mori clan, contrary to the first generation Motonari’s wickedness, was actually very hospitable – all of the nation’s powerful clans recognized Takamoto’s benevolence and streamed into the Mori clan one after another. 

In this way, the Sue clan was destroyed and Mori Motonari became a great daimyo, and faced the next formidable enemy, the Amago clan, in battle, but just before that decisive battle – the second generation who succeeded the founder, Mori Takamoto, died. 

By a vassal who communicated secretly with the Amago and held a grudge toward the first generation Mori Motonari, he was poisoned. 

It is said that Takamoto drank the sake cup with poison placed in it without any suspicion. When Mori’s Twin Rivers learned that Takamoto was dead, afterwards, it became a black history that must not ever be mention in the Mori clan, especially regarding Kobayakawa's madness. 

Incidentally, while Motonari and Kikkawa Motoharu received a shock to a degree they could never recover but barely managed to stand their ground on the battlefield and stave off the collapse of Mori troops, it was said that Kobayakawa Takakage was nearly completely broken, confused, and had to be rescued. 

Motonari together with Kikkawa Motoharu exhausted all methods to restore Takakage’s spirit and barely managed to save her from the grip of darkness. Right after destroying the Amago clan and removing a powerful enemy of his daughters, in order to chase after Takamoto he fell ill and died. 

The Mori clan became Chuugoku's conquerors, but rather than Kikkawa or Kobayakawa, Takamoto’s orphan baby Terumoto succeeded as “third generation” - it was the solid will of Mori’s Twin Rivers. 

Murakami Takeyoshi ended his long recollection with this. 

“When Takamoto died and Kobayakawa-ojou broke, how Motonari and Kikkawa-ojou saved that girl I don’t know. Only a little was revealed, apparently it was hard for her to distinguish between dreams and reality, and she was no longer able to stand. That child is so delicate that she isn't suited to being a commander in these warring states. It was a grave time when Motonari died, but she must have gained a sense of purpose from protecting the third generation, Terumoto. She must not break again and leave her elder sister alone without assistance, that thought just barely supported Kobayakawa-ojou. But Miss Kobayakawa is constantly frightened after losing her father and older brother.” 

“She is frightened?” 

“Her enormous ingenuity, she can't see what she should devote it to. Oda Nobuna adopts her clear ambition called Tenka Fubu. But, in the present Mori clan without Takamoto, is there a will to make Oda Nobuna the enemy? I don’t think there is one, only the second generation Takamoto had that will. And, when we annihilated the Oda navy in Kizugawaguchi and won completely, Ojou was terribly frightened. In response to the request from Honbyo Temple and with the assistance of the Saika clan, Oda Nobuna, Mitsuhide Akechi, Takigawa Kazumasu, and Sagara Yoshiharu, all of the renowned commanders the Oda Clan boasts were entirely defeated. But she was scared about what to do after this. She is such a child.” 

“If Kikkawa-ojou has ignored Himiko’s suspicious imperial decree I probably would have killed all of you right there, even if that brought good or bad fortune,” Murakami Takeyoshi said with a broad smile. 

“Boy. In some respects you do resemble Takamoto. You may have lost your memory and become uncharacteristically humble, but when the time comes for the sake of a woman you are a man who won’t hesitate to smile and die. Even without your memory, Sagara Yoshiharu is Sagara Yoshiharu. Your soul hasn’t changed. The only one who can do something for Kobayakawa-ojou is you.” 

“...Kobayakawa-san...” 

Though the wound on his chest should have already been closed, Yoshiharu’s chest ached intensely. 

Kobayakawa-san, even now you are still chasing after the illusion of your older brother. Will you continue to pursue a phantom forever? Having to suffer without being able to create an image of the future? Will that be fine? I don’t think so. Because of Kobayakawa-san I’m still alive. 

Yoshiharu muttered. 

“I want to be a man that can support Kobayakawa-san.” 

However, for the present Yoshiharu who is struggling to find his own reason to exist in this world after losing his memory, the reality before his eyes was too harsh. 

“Boy. There is a message from Kobayakawa-ojou. At daybreak tomorrow, we will disembark on the Akashi shore and begin the battle. The commander of the Oda troops whose camps line the shoreline is Akechi Mitsuhide, but the foot soldiers are mostly the guys from the Sagara Yoshiharu corps. Are you ready?” 

In other words, that means he has to fight his former comrades. 

But still, Yoshiharu has decided to go to fight for Kobayakawa-san. 

“By the way, Murakami-san. In that case when I chose a sake cup, did none of them have poison in them from the beginning?” 

“Huh? Did I say such a sweet thing? You are a man. Two of the three were poisoned. At that time you were a great guy.” 

“Seriously? In addition, two were poisoned!? Then the probability of dying was high! Dangerous ahhhhhh!” 

“Gahahaha. I understand why Miss Kobayakawa is attracted to you.” 

When Takeyoshi smacked Yoshiharu on the back, he felt his lower body lose strength. 

At daybreak, we will disembark on the Akashi shore to begin the battle. 

The first battle for the present Yoshiharu. 

The enemy, my former friends who pledged their lives to me. 

That night, I had a nightmare while taking a nap in his bedroom at the bottom of the ship. 

I woke up drenched in sweat. 

I don’t clearly remember the contents of the dream. 

I feel like it was a dream where I returned to the future and happily reunited with my friends and classmates. 

Though it should have been a happy dream, my entire body was shaking as if I had been attacked by a horrible nightmare. 

My chest was so painful I couldn’t catch my breath. 

It’s because I had a fleeting dream that can never come true. 

“....haaaa, haaaa, haaaa....” 

Yoshiharu whose breathing only got worse as he turned onto his back, realized that he had been crying in his sleep. 

“Yoshiharu. Are you alright?” 

Kobayakawa Takakage was wearing a thin nightgown and kneeling next to his bed. 

“Kobayakawa-san?” 

“The battle is tomorrow. I came to see how you are doing.” 

“It’s bad. To show you this miserable appearance. Only a hopeless dream. Now that I am awake I won’t make any complaints don’t worry.” 

“....There still may be a means to return to the future.” 

“Eh?” 

“Yoshiharu once used the Three Sacred Treasures passed down by the Yamato Gosho to open the path to the heavens, the ‘Amano-Iwato’, to try to return to the future. The Three Sacred Treasures are the country’s most ancient treasured tools, and have been passed down since long before onmyodo was introduced to Japan. Rather than rely on the power of the earth and sky, it instead creates spiritual power on its own. When your comrade, Kuroda Kanbei, visited my country in order to search for the sacred treasure, the Magatama, which sank in the Dannoura, I learned a lot about the Three Sacred Treasures. Kanbei was unable to find the Magatama, but afterwards, when the Namban missionary from Kyushu, Gaspard, was a prisoner of the Murakami navy, it seems he put them to good use and pulled it out. From the missionary’s hands, the Magatama was passed to Gamo Ujisato of the Oda clan.” 

Kanbei Kuroda? Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s strategist, Yoshiharu nodded. 

Takakage gently wiped his cheek with a cloth. 

“When the Amano-Iwato was opened during the previous battle, Kanbei and the others said that the Three Sacred Treasures spiritual power was exhausted and dried up – Yoshiharu.” 

In the dim room, only Takakage’s eyes were shining. 

“Y, yes.” 

“In the Amago clan’s former fief that is now the Mori clan’s territory, Izumo, it seems that 'Japan' was divided between the mighty Yamato Gosho and the gods of the land. Izumo’s Kizuki shrine, is the home of the Izumo gods and the spot the Yamato Gosho carried out “Nation Transfer” - in short it is said there may be traces of the moment of surrender.” 

“Kizuki shrine?” 

Yoshiharu realized it was the Izumo-taisha shrine. 

“It is boasted that when the Izumo dynasty existed, the Izumo Kizuki’s main shrine was 32 shaku tall.” 

“I learned the units of this world while living as an apprentice pirate. Isn’t 32 shaku nearly 100 meters!?” 

“One hundred, meters?” 

“That’s an absurd height. How would you climb up to the temple that hangs so high in the sky?” 

“It seems there was a long, long stairway that literally reached into the heavens to the main shrine from the ground.” 

“Impossible. Such technology in ancient times...no, isn't there the example of the Egyptian pyramids that used lost ancient technology?” 

“Why was the main shrine above the heavens, why was there the long, long stairway from the ground to the floating sanctuary? I didn’t initially understand the meaning, but when I saw the Amano-Iwato opened I understood. The Kizuki shrine’s main shrine was a building to open the Amano-Iwato.” 

“...It was connected to the world beyond?” 

“The gods that supervised Izumo, I wonder if they opened the Amano-Iwato to leave to a different world by building the Kizuki shrine which soars in the sky. To pass through the Amano-Iwato that lies beyond the heavens, I’m sure there must have been process to climb that high. Even if the Three Sacred Treasures won’t work, if we could reproduce the way to reach the main shrine-” 

Yoshiharu should be able to return. The reproduction of the lost shrine would be difficult but if the Mori clan searched all over Izumo and clarified the details of the main shrine, and the construction was left to the peerless genius, Kuroda Kanbei, it might not be impossible, Takakage said. 

“To do all that just for my small wish to return...” 

“It would be difficult to get, but I think there may also be a method using the Namban sacred treasures. Murakami Takeyoshi said, when the missionary Gaspard retrieved the Magatama from the Dannoura, he spoke of a Namban sacred treasure which holds the same power.” 

“Kobayakawa-san. The Mori clan is in a serious battle with the Oda right now. There is no room to spare effort for my sake.” 

“However if your family is alive, in that case wouldn’t you want to see them again? I lost both of my parents and my aniki and can never see them again. But Yoshiharu’s parents live in the world of the future.” 

Takakage’s pupils were wet. 

Yoshiharu swallowed the words “I want to return” that he almost blurted out instinctively. 

Suddenly, an extreme urge rose up in him. 

“I want to remain in this world.” 

“Yoshiharu? Why?” 

“While girls are fighting, as a man I cannot flee. I want to protect Kobayakawa-san.” 

“But you aren’t a human being of this time. You don’t need such a sense of duty....I, and I, I don’t want Yoshiharu to die.” 

“Kobayakawa-san.” 

Before he knew it, the small Takakage had dived into his arms. 

While Yoshiharu gently stroked Takakage’s hair, he soothed her calling her little sister. 

“If I leave Kobayakawa-san without doing anything, I will regret it for my whole life. I won’t be able to be proud of myself anymore. Then it is the same as dying while still alive. Right now, these words are coming from the bottom of my heart. Probably before losing my memory, I would be complaining to the current me.” 

Yoshiharu talked about his memories with his parents to Takakage. 

“On that day, I got involved in a fight with this bad-tempered guy who was always picking fights. But I nimbly dodged, escaped from that place, and returned home. While I’m weak in a fight, I can at least quickly run away. Well, I wonder why so many guys have such a hot-headed nature.” 

While running, from behind came the jeers, 'Scaredy cat!' 'Don’t run away!' Still when I got home I felt depressed.” The girls in class saw me in such a shameful state, I’m useless, and since I was a kid I didn’t have the courage to fight and only ran away quickly. 

On days like this I at least could play SLG’s best Sengoku game “The Ambition of Oda Nobunaga”, unify the country and at least feel like a winner in the game. I wasn’t used to that feeling. 

I fell into a depression and was lying down and screaming into the living room couch when my dad and mom unusually returned at the same time. 

Because dad is based abroad, in other words he is usually working in a foreign country, he is rarely at home.” 

It’s my dad’s job to fly to foreign countries and construct tremendous buildings. 

To describe it in this world, he would be an expert at finding places to construct castles. 

That day, my idiocy coincided with the rare time he returned home. 

“Yoshiharu. What’s the matter? Why are you lying face down lad?” 

“Once again, I ran away without accepting a challenge....my record has been updated with a loss by default again.” 

“Yoshiharu is a kind child. You don’t like useless violence~” 

“I’m just ashamed of myself, mom. [xvi] ” 

“Hmm. Yoshiharu, what was the reason for the fight?” 

“The same as usual, dad. For some reason they don’t like me, isn’t that a suitable reason to fight?” 

“Is that so? You don’t need to accept such a meaningless fight. The correct answer is to escape, Yoshiharu.” 

“But dad-” 

“There is no need to be ashamed of yourself. For example if you turned a blind eye to a girl being bullied and escaped, then I’ll sock you – you don’t have the personality to fight for something meaningless like your own vanity or reputation. But Yoshiharu. You probably have the nature to become strong to protect somebody. Right now that time hasn’t come yet.” 

Such a time won’t come, this country is peaceful, I muttered. 

“The main point is to be like your dad, for my work I plan on risking my life in isolation.” 

“Wait, wait. Just because dad flies abroad, doesn’t mean that you are completely isolated.” “I had insisted on such things like that when I was young” .....You met mom after all, weren’t you blessed back then?” “Because you are protecting the house, I can pour all my energy into my work without worry. In that sense dad is relying on Yoshiharu and mother.” 

“Oh dear. Father is a slick talker just like the old days.” 

“Don’t praise me so mother. [xvii] Ha ha ha.” 

“Isn’t there a rumor you are taking mistresses in various foreign countries and establishing a global harem?” 

“Th, that is just a rumor, mother. Anyways Yoshiharu. Even if a person thinks they are living completely alone, the truth is you are always connected somewhere with somebody. Even in the buildings father constructs, if nobody works in them they are simply a box. Even if dad draws a design, if there aren’t any people to work hard and assemble the materials the building wouldn't be completed. Even if a generous person with funds places an order, if there aren’t any people using it then there is no point – men can’t live in isolation. For this reason there is a meaning in my work.” 

At that time I didn’t quite understand the meaning of dad’s speech. 

“In your dad’s case, he didn’t feel he could find meaning in working in Japan, and after wandering all around the country he eventually flew abroad. At that time for most Japanese companies, everything was decided by your academic background and various cliques. That mood didn’t suit your unconventional father.” 

“And then you are going to gain mistresses in various countries around the world, father? You really were an unconventional person long ago~” 

“Mother, that's wrong, please don’t begin sharpening the knives! It’s a misunderstanding! Your dad finally found work overseas, but in the end the place I returned to was my birthplace in Japan. The bluebird of happiness is in fact at one’s feet. It was mother!” 

“Oh. You have always had a clever mouth.” 

Even as I entered puberty and was unpopular with girls and worried endlessly, they would not hesitate to flirt in front of their son, 'a curse on riajuu couples', was the thought I usually held back then. 

“Yoshiharu. There is something like an opportunity for a man. Don’t be in a hurry, that time will come at some point. And when that time comes, don’t run away.” 

“Won’t that time never come?” 

“When I thought there was any way to match my caliber in this country, father flew to other countries.” 

“Unlike dad’s times, now the world is small. Because everything is connected by the net. If at that time I go abroad I can’t find it, what do I do then?” 

“That’s right. Why don’t you go to a different dimension or even to the world’s past or future?” 

Dad wrote a Sci-fi novel but its wild contents couldn’t be debuted and it was a black history, but sometimes he would propose such things. 

Well since constructing buildings got him more fired up than novels, I guess it’s okay. 

“In fact, even Sagara Yoshiharu harbors the soul of a legendary hero, and the seal on the warrior’s soul will suddenly be released when he goes to a different dimension and he will be unparalleled. Hahaha.” 

“Isn’t that a stereotypical middle-school student idea that you will go to a different world and become invincible, father? Reality is crueler. If I jumped to a parallel universe with my garbage fighting strength I would be instantly killed.” 

“Good grief! Despite being a child, you are strangely harsh. Yoshiharu has matured. Despite being in the middle of the age of worldly desires, in your case you just want to decorate your desk with a figurine of Saitou Dousan? First of all, why Saitou Dousan? Usually it would be Oda Nobunaga right?” 

“I like Saitou Dousan because he transferred Mino to his son-in-law Oda Nobunaga before he died. With an old man’s back, he entrusted his dream of taking the world to the young Nobunaga and died a noble death. That is really cool.” 

“Dear me. Despite being a man you have a father complex....but I thought the recent trend was siscon. [vxiii] ” 

“Father is sinful. Does Yoshiharu need a younger brother or sister~?” 

“That isn’t it! And I haven’t matured, dad is just a child.” 

“Hey. Father is an eternal boy~” 

That I retreated into the Sengoku Era as a hobby might have been a reaction to my father’s habit of bursting into strange sci-fi stories every so often. 

“Father’s hot blood flows through Yoshiharu. When the time comes you will suddenly change into a hot-blooded boy. Yoshiharu. When you meet a girl you want to protect, you are sure to change. Instantly.” 

A person grows, because they must overcome a wall, at that moment of truth, and then dad laughed. 

At that moment I thought that dad was still spouting irresponsible things- 

“I thought that I desired to go back to the future and see my father and mother and classmates again. But, in my mind there is another voice calling. Don’t run away. You must not flee on your own and leave Kobayakawa and Kikkawa on the battlefield. I might be a good for nothing, but still.” 

“...You aren’t useless. Yoshiharu.” 

You can just stroke my head in this way, and I will be saved, Takakage whispered while blushing. 

Yoshiharu’s heart that had been filled with anxiety since losing his memories of his time in the Sengoku Era, was filled with warmth. 

These feelings.....while I never thought of the small Kobayakawa-san as a younger sister, Yoshiharu is confused. 

“Y, Yoshiharu. You are similar to my aniki, but you aren’t my aniki. You are a different man.” 

“O, oh. Th, that is right, but, Kobayakawa-san. What is this suddenly?” 

“...Ahem. Wait a minute Yoshiharu. I, with that, I don’t know what I’m thinking....un, until now I haven’t had this kind of experience.....let me wash my face and calm down.” 

“Eh?” 

Takakage, becoming shy and embarrassed, rushed outside the room. 

“....After she washes her face and calms down is she going to come back to my room again?” 

What is Kobayakawa-san planning on doing, suddenly I don’t know! Wasn’t I taking the role of Kobayakawa-san’s older brother? We are different, isn’t that what she clearly said? Never! Crap, what should I do!? This is feeling dangerous! Father, have I come across the wall I must overcome? Wait, wait, I feel like I’m forgetting something important. 

Left alone, Yoshiharu was acting suspiciously on his futon, mumbling and rolling around. 

If Father Sagara said “This too is a wall to overcome” it might have been useless. It just confused me more. 

“What should I do? What should I do? Do I decide to be Kobayakawa-san’s older brother with a smile. Or maybe after washing her face Kobayakawa-san will calm down and return to her usual deadpan face. The situation I was eager for is now reality, isn’t the worry about a girlfriend a delusion of high-school aged virgins. To begin with, I wonder if this world itself is no more than a dream I am having as I lay in my room. I...what do I do? That’s it. It is a save point. I have to save! If I fail this choice, for some reason I feel that a bad ending awaits! Please go to sleep obediently Kobayakawa-san! No, that would be sad in its own right. Either way, I can’t sleep again before the battle! Aah, I have the feeling that somebody is staring at me! It feels like someone is watching me! I feel like the eyes of an extremely jealous woman are monitoring me!” 

To Yoshiharu who was continuing to roll around in confusion, a person’s voice came from the ceiling. 

“Whew. It was such a feeling that night when Nene-dono was finally viewed as a little sister by Chagara-ji (Sagara-shi).” 

It was the voice of a very young girl. 

“I, I really was being watched!? Who are you?” 

“Tch, by the way, I was not particularly jealous.” 

Another one. 

“Even I was able to come. It’s good to return to being a shinobi every so often.” 

Another voice of a cheeky little girl resounded from beneath the wooden floor. 

The little girl appeared hanging from the ceiling, was wearing a shinobi outfit. 

The little girl who jumped out from underneath the floor had the appearance of a miko. 

“From the ceiling and under the floor two little girls at the same time....is there a kindergarten here...?” 

“I am the shinobi who has pledged her life to Sagara-shi, Hachisuka Goemon. If I speak more than thirty characters, I will bite my tongue so I will be brief.” 

The shinobi Goemon that was hanging upside-down, spoke with all her strength. 

“I am one of the big four of the Oda family, Kazumasu Takigawa. While I am a girl with this appearance. I am a former shinobi. So Yoshi, you really forgot me?” 

Takigawa Kazumasu dressed as a miko put her hand on Yoshiharu’s forehead. 

“Ah. When I injured my head on the battlefield, the shock seems to have made my memories of serving the Oda clan disappear. Or rather, why is Takigawa Kazumasu a miko and a child?” 

“I am not a child! I, I’m just a little small! Tons of dust will come out if you bring up the past, let’s say I am a girl with her own troublesome circumstances?” 

“I also have my own circumstances. For shinobi, we are all burdened by our past.” 

After the young girls said, “woman’s circumstances”, one after another they gave a triumphant look, Yoshiharu became troubled. 

“But to rope such young girls into becoming shinobi and military commanders, what exactly are the men doing in this Sengoku Era. Tormented by war since she was a baby, the Shogun Yoshiaki-chan is enough! You should quickly cut ties with the Oda clan and go to kindergarten! That’s good right? For adorable kids like you, it’s best to be innocently laughing and giggling and be brought up healthy!” 

“Um. Sagara-shi.” 

“We aren’t children.” 

“Really, but you two are so cute~! I would want you as my little sisters.” 

“Takigawa-shi. Sagara-shi really has lost his memory. Moreover, he has gained a creepy look in the meantime.” 

“Looks like this method has been too effective. You don’t need to speak about all your excessive true feelings, Yoshi. But it is not a sin to awake to the charms of the bewitchingly beautiful me.” 

“....Bad. I withdraw that suspicious statement. For some reason since I came to this Sengoku Era I have had an irresistible wish for a small younger sister....is this a disease of the mind?” 

“Surely, it’s a result of faintly remembering Nene-dono, without a younger sister you can’t calm down.” Goemon smiled. 

“Nene?” 

“Sagara-shi’s little sister. Nene-dono is waiting for Sagara-shi at the Oda house.” 

“I, have a younger sister? In this era?” 

“She is a very cute child. Realizing that Yoshi who came from the future was lonely without a family Nobuna-chan made the smart move and gave you Nene. Yoshi always takes baths and goes to sleep with Nene.” 

“What. I received such treatment from the Oda clan. Isn’t that perfect!?” 

“Everyone in the Oda clan is like Sagara-shi’s family.” 

Yoshiharu’s heart wavered indecisively. 

It was frustrating that I couldn’t remember, but somehow I had previously completely fit in with the Oda clan. 

“In the first place Sagara-shi, you took the place of Toukichirou Kinoshita, who died for you, in the Oda clan. If it wasn’t for him, you would have been nowhere. 

“Toukichirou Kinoshita? Later Hashiba Hideyoshi? Me?” 

“That is correct. Kinoshita-shi protected Sagara-shi from a stray bullet on the battlefield, and you came here.” 

“I thought it was odd I didn’t hear the name Hideyoshi....because I came to this world Hideyoshi died as an ashigeru? Is that so, before I lost my memory did I fight the Mori clan in Harima? In place of Hideyoshi.” 

If we assume that, I have to act as the substitute for Hideyoshi Hashiba in the Oda clan, if I don’t do so then history will become inconsistent. As a Sengoku Era fan, or even as a Japanese person, Yoshiharu was confused. 

“Sagara-shi. If you return you will be able to remember at some point. Just return to the Oda clan.” 

“I mean. If Nobuna-chan seriously kisses him then he will return to normal.” 

“But, why should I trust some children I don’t know.... the head of the Oda clan is Nobunaga, right?” 

“Nobuna-chan is Yoshiharu’s lover. The forbidden relationship between the two of you has already been exposed to the whole country from harbor to the inlet, it is useless to hide it.” 

“When the figures of the two of you kissing appeared in the sky, even I became embarrassed.” 

“When Yoshi returns to serve under Nobuna-chan the whole world will turn into an uproar, but because the two of you will support the Oda house it is needless to worry.” 

Should I return to the Oda clan where my former comrades, little sister, and lover are waiting? 

Or should I remain in the Mori clan with Kobayakawa-san who saved my life, and the young Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki who as entrusted with the dream of reviving the shogunate by her older brother? 

Or else go back to my original world– should I look for a method to return to the future. 

“I, I...” 

“Sagara-shi. If we stay any longer we will be detected.” 

“The answer is to immediately return to the Oda clan. Please ?” 

Yoshiharu decided. 

“Listen to me, both of you. I must choose the world I will live in with my own will.” 

“In other words?” 

“What does that mean?” 

“Give me a little more time. As I live in this world, the moment when I will make up my mind will surely come. What is missing in the me that has lost his memories of the Oda clan, is the courage to resolve myself. I returned to being an ordinary high-school kid from the future world. But it seems like the past me who fought with the Oda clan, had the courage to be resolved to throw away my life at a moment’s notice. Why I was able to do such a thing, even now I don’t know.” 

Goemon and Kazumasu listened to Yoshiharu’s words in silence. 

“When I woke up after losing my memories, I had to make a bet to join the Murakami Navy as an apprentice pirate. It was a bet that if I failed, I would die. Although I thought it was impossible for me to be able to do that, for some reason, I suddenly had the resolution to die, and I won the bet. But it was only for an instant, and that reckless courage vanished. That guy with that courage, I think he was lost along with my memories of the Oda clan. And then while I was spending productive days as an apprentice pirate, I felt like my heart had a big hole. I no longer seemed like me.” 

“...That’s harsh.” 

“It’s a time of trials, Sagara-shi.” 

“Ah. I will regain the courage I lost. I really am sorry, but wait a little bit more, I want to continue working as an apprentice pirate of the Murakami Navy a while longer. I seem to have lost what I risked my life fighting to obtain in this world, but I want to crawl up on my own again.” 

“I see, you have made your decision Sagara-shi. However, the Oda clan and the Mori clan are fighting.” 

“It’s true. If you die before you can make a decision, everything will have been for nothing.” 

“I’m sorry to say something so selfish. The biggest difference between the present and the future is the presence or absence of battles. If I join the battlefield, I may regain my courage at the last minute.” 

Kazumasu also suggested it might be as simple as seriously kissing Nobuna-chan again, but Yoshiharu said, “No, that is unpleasant....I don’t want to kiss some girl I don’t know” and declined. 

“What are you embarrassed. Yoshi was more of a womanizer. Why are you hesitating?” 

“It was so. Look to the West and grab big breasts, look to the East and rub the butt. That was called your frank way of falling for girls. [xix] ” 

“Uwaa. Why did I seem to be so repulsive? I was originally like the present me! Since I was born I never had a girlfriend!” 

“So, she is your lover. The world’s most beautiful girl.” 

“Hmm. Yoshi is not a beast anymore. By forgetting the bloodshed you survived through, you lost your tusks. If he is thrown onto the battlefield and is about to die, he might wake up.” 

“Uuu. I don’t want Sagara-shi to fight. I don’t want to fight.” 

“I agree, should we kidnap him against his will? Yamanaka Shikanosuke can remain in the ship’s prison until she dies.?” 

“If that girl is left in the ship jail, she will be overjoyed.” 

“That’s right, I completely forgot that Yamanaka Shikanosuke was in the ship jail! That girl said she was my vassal. I can’t leave her behind and escape on my own! Abandoning a girl and escaping on my own, I can’t do it after all! Well, but, I don’t remember what kind of relationship there was between us, was it really master and servant...? Erm.” 

As Sagara changed from an admirable nature to indecisive, and became completely peace-addicted, he was glared at by the two girls. 

“I want to abduct Yoshi, we are child ninjas we can hide.” 

“We can’t possibly take out this large amateur Sagara-shi.” 

“How about we remove his limbs and neck and fold up his joints?” 

“If Sagara-shi doesn’t die from the intense pain, we can transport him to town? It’s all or nothing.” 

“Wait a minute you two! Your eyes are scary.” 

“....Yoshiharu. Who are you talking to? Is it the Oda spies by any chance?” 

On the verge of being kidnapped. 

Kobayakawa Takakage returned to the room. 

“Scatter!” 

“Ouuuo!” 

When Takakage pulled out her sword and stepped into the room, the forms of Goemon and Kazumasu had already disappeared into the mist. 

Takakage murmured “the battle has already begun” and put her sword in its scabbard. 

“To sneak in here requires great skill....I wanted to talk with just the two of us Yoshiharu until dawn, but we can no longer afford to spend the night together. The fog has come out on the sea.” 

“Do we absolutely have to fight, Kobayakawa-san?” 

“The Mori’s allies are besieged in Miki castle. I cannot abandon them. As there are many upstarts in the Mori family, we are only trusted by our allies because of our creed of honesty.” 

The reputation as an honest person is the fortune that elder brother left the Mori clan, Takakage said. 

“Nevertheless, the one who allowed ninjas to infiltrate Yoshiharu’s room, is the commander of the army of all people.....it seems that I haven’t been concentrating on the battle. I, inexcusable.” 

Takakage’s face as her shoulders dropped was very remorseful. 

“No no no! It was my fault! I could not completely reject the invitation to leave the Mori clan! Though the ones who snuck into the room were unknown girls, when I saw their faces I got a little homesick! I’m sorry!” 

“....That is really it. Eventually I will be overwritten.” 

“Eh? Kobayakawa-san?” 

“It’s, it’s nothing. Then Yoshiharu, tomorrow morning -” 

“Kobayakawa-san. What were you about to say?” 

“...Don’t go. If you stay in this world, you, you can stay by my side. J, just that.” 

As she left, Takakage was frightened by the words she left unsaid. 

Along the Akashi coastline, the Oda clan had put together a long line of encampments. 

The main force is the Harima region’s Sagara Yoshiharu corps, but because Yoshiharu and the second-in-command Yamanaka Shikanosuke were absent, Akechi Mitsuhide was leading the corps along with her own unit. 

In addition, the Oda clan’s head, Oda Nobuna, had personally rushed to the headquarters leading a large number of the Gokenin. 

The Mori’s naval force that planned to bring provisions to Miki castle filled the sea. 

Late at night. 

A deep fog suddenly enveloped the Akashi coast. 

Oh. 

While it was covered- 

“According to the report of the spies, the landing operation begins with daybreak. Nobuna-sama, we have arranged a large number of guns, and will shoot the enemy soldiers as they try to come ashore from the coast.” 

“Dearuka.” 

“We may be weaker than the Murakami Navy on the sea, but we can win if we hit them as they are rushing toward the beach from the sea. The pirates are unaccustomed to fighting on the land, and to run on the beach they won’t be wearing heavy armor. It’s a good target for the arquebus.” 

“Kobayakawa Takakage should have predicted this much. At Kizugawaguchi, we saw Kobayakawa’s tactics first-hand. That girl always reads the battle’s future ahead of time....rather, she is able to not only look down and see the big picture of the battle but also the immediate state of the war. Moreover, those Murakami Navy guys seem to be willing to die for Kobayakawa’s sake at any time. Difficult.” 

“If the navy is here, we can catch them in a pincer attack from land and water.” 

“The Kuki Navy that was completely thrashed, right now is currently being reorganized by Harima (Kuroda Kanbei) under Kuki Yoshitaka. We have no choice but to intercept them on the land. But...” 

“Kobayakawa Takakage wouldn’t do an impossible attack if there was no chance of winning.” 

“So. The Harima front is stuck in a stalemate. Kobayakawa is going to try to capture Harima from both directions, land and sea. I already sent Riku and Manchiyo to Himeji Castle as reinforcements. But they entered a stare-down with Kikkawa/Ukita of Mori and haven’t come to Akashi.” 

“Before I realized, Himeji Castle’s siege, Miki Castle siege, and now this Akashi, the Harima front continues to expand.” 

“With great pains Shibata Katsuie-dono, Niwa Nagahide-dono, and Tsuda Nobusumi who have all been gathered on the Harima front, got bogged down protecting Himeji Castle, and only we can guard Akashi. This might be Kobayakawa Takakage’s plan.” 

“Because of Kobayakawa’s tenacious attitude and Mori’s strong unity, as time passes it will become disadvantageous. We have to bring this to an end in a decisive battle here.” 

“Yeah. Because Sagara Senpai and Yamanaka Shikanosuke are held there. There are many vassals who have become disturbed knowing that Senpai switched sides to Mori. There might be a rebellion underfoot.” 

“With the Honbyo Temple and Saika people moving again, it has become troublesome. I can’t keep Himiko releasing imperial decrees. Before the truce with Honbyo Temple ends, if we can beat their ally Mori and take over Harima, we can break this stalemate.” 

While Nobuna and Mitsuhide were investigating the Mori side’s movement to work out Operation Counterattack, Goemon and Kazumasu rushed in without a sound. 

“I am back.” 

“Dearuka. Saru?” 

“Regrettably he has lost his memory Nobuna-chan. He said he wants to regain his courage and become determined to live in this world.” 

“In other words, Sagara-shi is torn between the Oda clan and the Mori clan, and is incapable of making a decision yet.” 

“He was awfully concerned about Kobayakawa Takakage. She seems to have treated him extremely kindly.” 

“I mean, Kobayakawa-shi creeped into Sagara-shi’s room at night. And with that, we were found.” 

“What’s that? What will happen to my position? AAAAAHHHH. Even though I was made to babble out such embarrassing words in front of the entire nation, and although we kissed, right after he lost his memory and has already changed to another woman?” 

Crack, the sound of something snapping in Nobuna’s forehead could be heard. 

“....Gah, that foolish saru....he only has a pretty mouth! What courage! What resolution! Before that fellow speaks such words, he should have the resolution to be cut to death!” 

So for that guy, Nobuna almost blurted out those things, and yelled at Akechi Mitsuhide earlier. 

“That double-crossing Senpai! If you won’t wake up this late in the game, then you deserve certain death! I’ll kill you!” 

“Ju, Juubei calm down. Why are you beginning to prepare your pistol?” 

“Guh, Even though he was just a Senpai who ran away thoughtlessly. Senpai is already dead, Nobuna-sama. Now that guy who calls himself Sagara Yoshiharu is Kobayakawa Takakage’s lover! He stole Nobuna-sama’s important lips, annulled his engagement with this Juubei, and quickly ran to Kobayakawa Takakage, he is an enemy of women!” 

Akechi-shi’s eyes are like swords, Goemon shivered. 

Perhaps she is troubled inside that her love rival is ahead, Kazumasu yawned. 

As Nobuna thought, if Juubei finds him first she will cut him to pieces and was perplexed, the scout’s highest ranking soldier entered. 

“They have come! It seems the Murakami Navy’s advance guard lead by Kobayakawa Takakage has started to land!” 

“It’s still night, dawn hasn’t broken yet. Besides, you can’t see in front of you in the fog right now. In the spy’s report, it was with daybreak....” 

“It’s the fog Nobuna-sama. Perhaps when she saw the thick fog that enveloped us suddenly, she thought ‘The guns won’t be able to use with so much moisture’ and made a snap judgment.” 

“That vixen! She seems slow to act, but when the moment comes she is as quick as Uesugi Kenshin!” 

“But for Uesugi Kenshin,n her unpredictable surprise attacks come from flashes of insight from divine possession, this prompt decision is based on Kobayakawa Takakage’s inherent geographical advantage of being familiar with the area. Even in Kizugawaguchi she sensed the change in the wind’s direction and instantly attacked like lightning. As one would expect of the one who picks a fight with Juubei by calling herself by the alias “Wise commander”, she is formidable. [xx] ” 

Nobuna was outwitted by Kobayakawa Takakage again. 

Was this the state of mind that Shingen Takeda was in when she was confronted by Uesugi Kenshin, when Kenshin sent her forces down the mountain in the middle of the fog during the “Battle of Kawanakajima”? Nobuna gnashed her teeth. 

The schemer Kanbei Kuroda who was raised in Harima wouldn’t have made this kind of error - it was regrettable, but Kanbei couldn’t move due to undertaking the great task of rebuilding the Kuki Navy for the forthcoming rematch with Honbyo Temple. 

But, the Oda clan that advocated Tenka Fubu could not be permitted to make a blunder and lose to the Mori clan a second time. 

When we extract Sagara Yoshiharu, we have to show the whole country that the Oda clan’s military power is still strong. 

“Juubei! Intercepting them with guns is canceled, we have to change to a defensive plan due to the rainy weather!” 

“It also seems to be a mistake to scatter our military force in various places across Harima, Nobuna-sama. If only there were any of the Katsuie or Nagahide units!” 

“It cannot be helped! We’ll fight and take Saru back!” 

“Ojou, many of the Oda clan’s soldiers are inexperienced with the unfamiliar Akashi weather and terrain. To immediately take advantage of the darkness of night and the white fog to launch a sneak attack, as expected.” 

The Murakami Navy’s leader, Murakami Takeyoshi, was laughing while eating an oyster shell. 

Riding the flagship, Kobayakawa Takakage and Murakami Takeyoshi did not participate in the landfall battle personally. Instead, they were watching the state of the war from on board and were making instantaneous decisions moment by moment. 

“Kobayakawa-san, I want to appear on the front lines as well. While I have been an apprentice pirate, I don’t have any combat experience yet.” 

Although Yoshiharu was popular, Kobayakawa said “It is impossible for you be effective at night with low visibility. Moreover the main troops will go ashore when the sun rises and the view clears up” and held Yoshiharu back. 

“The Oda people will be prepared to endure without fail. But they won’t be able to concentrate their military power since they lined up their camps along the shoreline, and will become exhausted. At that time my large number of gokenin (shogunal soldiers) and the elite pirate corps lead by Takeyoshi, will land at the spot where the defenses are weak, and will break through that point in the Oda’s battle formation to deal a fatal blow.” 

“Ojou, I don’t intend to let you join the confused battle when it clears up and the Oda can use their arquebus. It will become a dogfight and the pirates who have landed will have a chance of winning, boy.” 

“....Kobayakawa-san is amazing. Even I have trembling legs. When the sound rings out, and the soldiers of both armies roar, to be honest it’s incredibly scary.” 

“Yoshiharu. Even I am shaking. Really I, who makes both armies exchange their lives, am scared. Now, Y, Yoshiharu....I want you next to me.” 

“Kobayakawa-san...” 

Takakage’s thin arm entwined with Yoshiharu’s arm. 

I understood that her small back was trembling. 

“Kobayakawa-san does not like war. You just happened to be brought into the Mori clan by chance.” 

“E, Even I am a girl, isn’t that natural Yoshiharu.” 

“I hope we can bring this battle to an end soon. There may be something I can do.” 

“If you are by my side, it is fine.” 

“But I want to do something more. For Kobayakawa-san.” 

“....Yoshiharu” 

Hey, what are you staring at? This is getting embarrassing, Takeyoshi looked away. 

“I’m going to run a little wild. I’ll be a nuisance for the young couple that don’t understand they can be killed at any time by a stray arrow.” 

Unable to endure being tactful anymore, Takeyoshi carried a harpoon on his shoulder and switched to a small boat, while heading to the front lines- 

Yoshiharu muttered while staring at the fierce battle that was unfolding on the beautiful Akashi coastline. 

“Though I understand this is reality, it doesn’t feel like a real event when I see the battle before my eyes like this. After all, I must wield a spear on the battlefield or I won’t wake up.” 

Takakage cuddled up next to him. 

“In fact I am already dead, isn’t this the world I dreamed of when I as alive, I think. Because I always longed for the Sengoku Era. While in the middle of this exchange of lives, it’s impudent. I almost feel like I’m about to wake up, it’s irritating. When I wake all of this was a dream, it’s scary that it might end like that. This Kobayakawa-san next to me is also a dream....” 

“Yoshiharu. I also had a time when I was possessed by such a belief. That time when older brother was poisoned and father died of illness. If elder sister didn’t support me, I don’t think I could have returned to this world.” 

A stray arrow flew right next to the couple. 

The flagship was approaching the coast. 

In the darkness and fog, visibility was low. 

It wouldn’t be funny to be hit by a stray arrow and die. 

The pair had entered that critical situation. 

“Kikkawa-san is a good elder sister. When I remember my younger sister, my whole body is filled with courage. Your elder sister will die for Kobayakawa-san’s sake at any time. I’m ashamed that despite being a man, I was scared of war.” 

“Well. She is too good of an aneki for me. When I lost aniki, I said 'Life is a dream’ and was said to be possessed. There is only myself in the whole world, it’s only a transient dream, and there is no beginning to this world. It seems I was trying to protect myself from the reality of older brother’s death.” 

“Life is a dream...I feel like I’ve heard something like that somewhere....those words.” 

“Aneki hit me so many times, and I was brought back to this world. And now the words ‘Life is a dream’ have a different meaning for me.” 

“Different meaning?” 

“Because this transient life must end someday, I will live without regrets, I believe I need to live my life to its utmost. And when I met Yoshiharu and my heart fluttered for a boy besides my older brother, the words took on a new meaning in me again.” 

“New meaning-” 

“It’s...that I was able to meet you this way, complete, seems like a dream, I....” 

Takakage buried her face in Yoshiharu’s chest and fell silent. 

Kobayakawa-san just clearly confessed to me, Yoshiharu realized. 

This is a battlefield where they might die in the next moment. 

It is as Kobayakawa-san said. Sometime life will certainly end...even while I do this, I go towards the end. I must advance forward. Even if I have lost my memory, I can’t use that as an excuse to stop. I have to live in the reality of the moment. 

Even if I am embarrassed and ashamed, I can’t hesitate. 

Yoshiharu put a hand on Takakage’s hip and hugged her. 

I wish to protect Kobayakawa-san who was saddled with a harsh destiny. 

“Kobayakawa-san.” 

Takakage closed her eyes and stood on her tiptoes, and brought her small face close to Yoshiharu. 

I will kiss Kobayakawa-san, Yoshiharu decided at that moment. 

The dim morning sun shined on the sea, in the white fog, a brilliant golden gourd was shining faintly. 

It was displayed by the Oda camp, it was a gold sennari gourd. 

The gold leaf put on the gourd reflected the morning sun, glittering and shining. 

Over the short head of Takakage, the gold gourd shined like an illusion. 

The moment he saw the glittering gourd. 

Suddenly, intense feelings, and an unbearable excruciating pain, overflowed from the depths of Yoshiharu’s heart. 

“Oh, what....? Why am I crying?” 

Takakage noticed Yoshiharu’s unusual state and slowly opened her eyes. 

The clever Takakage understood everything, and became scared to a pitiful extent. 

“I, I’m sorry. I’m beaten. Because I haven’t kissed a girl, I was overwhelmed and my eyes got moist. Moreover, with such a beautiful girl as a partner umm” 

“...Yoshiharu.” 

“Probably some rubbish got into my eyes! I’m sorry I look so pathetic. L, let’s start again.” 

“....Understood.” 

While Takakage stared at Yoshiharu with imploring eyes, her hand extended to his cheek. 

“Even though we are so close, you are so far. Yoshiharu, it feels like you are going away.” 

“K, Kobayakawa-san. You are thinking too much. I’m not an illusion. I am here. Right in front of Kobayakawa-san.” 

“...Please. Please stay here under me. Please don’t leave...” 

It’s no good. Kobayakawa’s heart is shaken, because I was confused by the gourd battle-standard, Yoshiharu became flustered. 

But why did I become choked up when I saw that gold gourd shining? 

What is that? 

Did I forget something I must not ever ever forget after all? 

While Yoshiharu struggled with trying to close the invisible distance with Takakage. 

“Ojou! A messenger came from Miki castle!” 

Murakami Takeyoshi came back to the flagship with a message from Miki Castle. 

“Thank you. The Mori defenders stuck inside Miki Castle aren’t hungry!” 

The appearance of the messenger certainly had a good complexion, and didn’t seem to starve from the siege. 

“The Oda forces surrounding Miki Castle are faithfully following the order of the general, Sagara Yoshiharu, to not starve any of the castle defenders, and when a hungry soldier leaves the castle they are generously provided food and water.” 

“Eh, me?” Yoshiharu raised his voice. 

“After Sagara Yoshiharu went missing, the Oda person who took over command of the siege army seems to have continued to observe Sagara Yoshiharu’s instructions. When the soldiers of Miki Castle heard that the honored Admiral Kobayakawa was commencing a desperate landfall in Akashi to bring us food, we wanted to report to you that we are all right, and sent me as a messenger.” 

“....Yoshiharu. Is that so? Yoshiharu is kind.” 

“What should we do Ojou? I don’t know what intention the boy had at the time, but at this rate it doesn’t seem like Miki Castle will fall easily.” 

“Um. Mori benefits since they are spending so many troops on the Miki Castle siege at the moment.” 

Takeyoshi was halfway astonished. “Such a strange battle from the outset, that you will expressly support the enemy while besieging their fortress” 

“Ojou. Right now the supreme commander Oda Nobuna is on the battlefield. The need to hurry to bring provisions to Miki Castle has vanished, but shall we use this chance to break the enemy army’s battle formation and defeat Oda Nobuna?” 

“It will become a fifty-fifty bet. Besides, the fog has cleared sooner than I expected. When their vision clears, the Oda people who are accustomed to land wars will have the advantage even in close combat where the arquebus can’t be used.” 

“Indeed. But Ojou, victory can’t be grasped if you do not take a risk.” 

Takakage did not nod at Takeyoshi’s suggestion. 

“Now that we know that the Miki Castle soldiers are safe, we can change our strategy. To ensure our victory, we can fight a naval battle that the Oda people are weak at after all. When the Oda force clashes with Honbyo Temple again, we can rush into Kizugawaguchi again and destroy the Kuki navy. At the same time, the Saika corps will shatter the Oda’s land troops. No matter how many times they fight, they can never beat the Saika corps. As long as the Saika corps has the goddess of the gun, Saika Magoichi.” 

“Well, if it is a naval battle we don’t need to worry about losing even ten to one, and they won’t be able to use imperial decree to run again, it will be settled in one go this time. Ojou, aren’t you paying special attention to that Sagara youngster as well? Obviously that boy doesn’t want the Mori clan and Oda clan to fight. It seems that guy was thinking of that sort of thing even before losing his memory. Otherwise, he wouldn’t give that crazy order to not starve the Miki Castle soldiers.” 

“Th, that is not the case. I, putting my personal feelings in the war, it, it isn’t done.” 

“Is that true?” 

“Y, yes!” 

“Isn’t Miss scared of hurting the boy’s feelings and having him return to the Oda clan? Didn’t you propose withdrawing the troops for the sake of currying favor with the boy?” 

“I, it’s different! I am not such a coward. Don’t misjudge me!” 

“Ko, Kobayakawa-san.” 

“...Wrong. Wrong. Wrong...!” 

Takakage turned so red that it was painful to look at, and hid behind Yoshiharu’s back with tears in her eyes. 

However, she was only hidden for a moment. 

When she reappeared, Takakage had a spirit like her twin elder sister, Kikkawa Motoharu. 

Life is a dream. 

At the same time as she whispered that in a low voice behind Yoshiharu’s back, Takakage resolved herself completely. 

“Yoshiharu, Takeyoshi. This landfall battle in Akashi is suspended. But we won’t run away. We will break the Oda clan decisively in the next battle of Kizugawaguchi without fail, and plant Mori’s flag in Kyoto! The shogun will proceed to the capital, and the third generation will be designated the conqueror of the country!” 

“What? Is that so Ojou? Finally you have decided! That is right, without going to war that youngster can’t conquer the world!” 

“...Kobayakawa-san.” 

“Yoshiharu. I understand your feelings of not wanting to fight the Oda clan. But until somebody unites the country, this war will not end. Please lend your power to me....please.” 

Kobayakawa-san mustered up her courage and is trying to advance forward. 

If I refuse her now, Kobayakawa-san will break, Yoshiharu knew. 

Yoshiharu was still confused due to not understanding what significance that shining gourd on the other side of the fog had. 

His assistant Yamanaka Shikanosuke and former comrade Goemon were waiting for the day that Yoshiharu regained his memory of the Oda clan. 

If they return I cannot go back to Kobayakawa-san, it was too late to meet, someone was shouting in the corner of his heart. 

Still, Kobayakawa-san is facing me with her full might for the first time, I can't avoid this. 

Yoshiharu nodded his head. 

“All right. I will fight for Kobayakawa-san.” 

“If we win, it will be the place for you. All the time, next to me. Until then, I will wait for your answer.” 

“Ah. I will do as you say Kobayakawa-san.” 

Takeyoshi covered his face saying “God I can’t watch.” 

This man with the tough body of an ogre, seemed to be pure of heart. 

“Thank you. With this, I can win. I will win. Everyone, lend me your power. Please.” 

Takakage’s shy smiling face. 

“Adorable,” Yoshiharu said without thinking. 

The pirates who saw the whole thing from a distance, cheered all at once. 

“Even without saying it, I’ll do it!” 

“You are too cute. How many years has it been since Ojou has had such a smiling face!” 

“I saw it for the first time!” 

“But didn’t that boy come from the future without possessing any social position, and was stuck with Oda Nobuna first?” 

“Right. How will she do it?” 

“Somehow manage it with wisdom. After all Ojou is the wise commander!” 

“Oda Nobuna is the Oda clan’s supreme commander, but although Ojou has a blood relationship, she is a vassal serving the third generation. Because she isn’t the lord, the wall is lower. It isn’t impossible in this situation if you push the envelope!” 

“You’re right! The lord of the Mori clan is the toddling third generation! You have an intelligent head!” 

“Because Ojou manages the Mori clan together with her elder sister, I was completely convinced that Miss was the head of the family, but it’s as you say! Good!” 

While preparing to withdraw from the Akashi front, the pirates were excited. 

Meanwhile, as for Yoshiharu, he raised his voice. “OH!?” 

He suddenly realized. 

“Since Honbyo Temple was a strange name given to the Hongan-ji, I didn’t realize that battle had happened before the Akashi landfall, now I know there hasn’t been a divergence from history anywhere....did the “Battle of Kizugawaguchi occur!? I have seen this battle in the “Ambition of Oda Nobunaga!” 

So. 

Mori and Oda’s decisive naval battle, the Battle of Kizugawaguchi. 

Yoshiharu already knew that this battle occurred “twice”. 

“As expected I am a boy who came from the future. I should have noticed it earlier.” 

“Mori wins both times right, Yoshiharu?” 

“The first time, the Murakami Navy completely decimated the Kuki Navy and Mori won. This battle has already occurred. But Kobayakawa-san, the Kuki navy annihilates the Murakami Navy the second time! Mori has a crushing defeat!” 

“Stop with that unpleasant joke, boy. We, the Murakami Navy, are wiped out? By the Kuki Navy? First, the Ojou is here-” 

“It’s true Murakami-san. I don’t know about this Oda Nobuna, but in the case of Oda Nobunaga destroyed the Murakami navy in the second decisive battle! The Japanese people develop a new device even the Namban haven’t seen, and put it into use immediately at Kizugawaguchi!” 

“A new device even the Namban haven’t seen?” 

“Did you mean this? A compass that you put a direction magnet on? This is something I got from the missionary Gaspard in exchange for the Magatama.” 

Takeyoshi showed off the latest compass, “The needle always points towards Polaris.” 

“Murakami-san. While this is certainly a required item for the Age of Discovery, it is not the Oda’s new weapon. Even that missionary will not have seen what the Oda has developed.” 

“That. Such a thing.” 

Takakage was troubled and lowered her eyebrows. “Even I am incapable of dealing with that kind of unknown weapon.” 

Not only losing Yoshiharu, but to be informed of the dark future of the fall of the Mori clan, her expression seemed about to cry. 

“Then, I....the pirates following me....the Mori clan...” 

“Kobayakawa-san, it’s okay. I know it. I know what new device Oda Nobunaga is developing. If a person knows about it beforehand, Kobayakawa-san can work out a plan. I have decided to change history, and let Kobayakawa-san win!” 

“...Yoshiharu.” 

“The enemy is certainly powerful. But looking at Murakami-san’s compass, I suddenly came up with a thought. Although it’s going to be a tight battle, there is a way to win!” 

“...Thank you.” 

Yoshiharu, overcome with emotion strongly hugged Takakage’s shaking body. 

My whole body is fired up, Yoshiharu noticed. 

The fear of battle, and the anxiety of being adrift in the Sengoku Era, was gone. 

Is something wrong, such an ill feeling doesn’t just fade away. However, for the first time since losing his memory, Yoshiharu actually felt like he was alive. 

Father, I understand. The place where I belong is this world. I am now alive, he muttered.