Chapter 2 : The Ambition of Kuroda Kanbei
Kyoto, Honnou temple.
Not long after the celebrations end, the tea master Sen no Rikyuu introduced a young princess knight.
Rikyuu is a female tea master wearing gothic lolita attire as she strives on combining Christian concepts into tea ceremonies.
Today, the princess knight she passionately introduced to Nobuna is...
"My Christian name is Don Simon, Harima's Himeji castle's master. Original name is Kuroda Kanbei."
Kuroda Kanbei is a young princess knight wearing a namban black shirt and a black namban hat.
Though her age is younger than Takenaka Hanbei by 1 or 2 years, but in her eyes, there's full of confidence and resolve in pursuing her dreams.
And she had unshakable confidence that she herself is the smartest in Japan.
Ever since Kuroda Kanbei started remembering things, her behavior had been different from other children.
She's extremely clever, but was isolated by others due to this.
Luckily, her father Kuroda Souen understands her, identifying her abnormal talent when she's still little, he had given up his position as the master of Himeji castle and retired, he even agreed to her travelling around to gain more knowledge.
"Simon's skin color became tanned when I was learning namban "Mechanics" in Kyuushu! It's not natural that I'm tanned!"
Kanbei's tone is crisp and dignified.
Compared to Rikyuu who loves namban culture but is always quiet, there's a refreshing difference.
"Dearuka, Harima's Kuroda Kanbei... Both Viper and Saru have said that you are one of the two best strategists in the world so you have become a Christian."
Because of the rapid expanding of territories, Nobuna is currently in a dire situation of lacking talents, so Rikyuu introducing Kuroda Kanbei is in good timing.
Sagara Yoshiharu is at Northern Omi, Shibata Katsuie and Inuchiyo are at Echizen, Niwa Nagahide is at Wakasa, Akechi Mitsuhide is currently conquering Tamba, after sending all of them out, there is basically no one at Nobuna's side. Though it's not like she had not thought of discovering talents, but there's only ordinary people in the territories she has.
As her god-brother, Asai Nagamasa who was supposed to be Nobuna's arms is already "dead", this is very unfortunate.
"A strategist that knows namban science, that's quite refreshing."
"Sim!"
"Shimu?"
"It means "Yes" in Portuguese, Simon is very skilled in the different languages of the namban countries, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, English and Latin are all languages I can speak, because I'm a genius."
"Eh! You are so young yet you are already so capable! Why do you want to serve under me?"
"Simon's dream is to board a ship to tour the different countries of namban and learn the different countries culture and knowledge. To fulfill this dream, just being the master of the Himeji castle isn't enough, helping Oda Nobuna who has the same interest in namban and helping her fulfill her dream of unifying the world is the fastest route."
Looks like Kanbei's objective is to create her own ship to tour the world after Nobuna unifies the world so as to fulfill her own dream.
"Dearuka, with just the fact that you know the different languages of the namban countries has already made me want you!"
Both Nobuna and Kanbei are very similar, both of them have intense curiosity, towards a new culture, their understanding and speed of adapting is very different from Japanese of the same era, and finally, both of them long for the world across the wide seas.
So even though it's the first time they meet, they are like good friends of many years.
Kanbei always has a worry and that is whether Sagara Yoshiharu who had came from the future might be the biggest obstacle towards the path of Nobuna's unification of the world.
The close relationship between Sagara Yoshiharu and Oda Nobuna had already spread far and wide, every time Sagara Yoshiharu who knows of the future changes history, Nobuna will be in an even bigger crisis.
(No matter how I think about it, Imagawa Yoshimoto should have died in Okehazama, because of Sagara Yoshiharu's needless interference, the history has changed to the Oda clan supporting Imagawa Yoshimoto and the Mori clan supporting Ashikaga Yoshiaki.)
(If not for this Sagara Yoshiharu, the Oda clan will be supporting the true shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki, though he himself may think that he is doing it for the Oda clan, but in actual fact, he has interrupted the Oda clan's quest of unification. If that's the case, Simon will be very troubled, the only warrior who has the capabilities and the attitude to fly towards the world is Oda Nobuna.)
Able to see through things to such an extent, it shows that Kanbei had immeasurable intelligence.
To solve this problem, Kanbei had thought of a solution.
(I Simon will be the one to force Sagara Yoshiharu back to the future, though it's not something I can do immediately, but with the correct "tools" I can do it and Oda Nobuna's fate won't be disturbed anymore.)
Though Kanbei does not have any evil intentions, but this idea of hers is a huge obstacle for Nobuna and Yoshiharu.
Kanbei did not explain to Nobuna about her own plans.
Though Kanbei is always forthright, but the missionary Frois had warned her.
"If you really wish to serve under the Oda clan, things like sending Yoshiharu-san back to the future must never be spoken to anyone, if you can, please give up on the plan itself."
Though Kanbei didn't plan to give up on this, but it looks like if she said it, she won't be able to serve under the Oda clan.
"Anyway Harima..."
"Harima?"
"Your new nickname."
"Nickname?"
Kanbei is a little displeased, Harima and Kanbei, these two words are bad memories for Kanbei, every time she thought of that isolated and stubborn hometown and those traditional nobles back there, Kanbei feels anger creeping up in her heart.
Of course, it's impossible for Nobuna to know such a thing as she continues "Harima, Harima" and called out to her.
(I heard close friends will always use nicknames to call out to each other.) After Kanbei started to think in a good direction, her mood became better.
Basically, Kanbei's personality is that she will think in a good direction no matter how things are.
With modern words, she is very optimistic.
"Harima, didn't you think of unifying the world yourself?"
"Hmmm~ Though it's not like I can't do it myself, but Simon wants to become the smartest in the world ASAP, if I become the queen of this country, I won't be able to concentrate on researching and studying namban science, so Simon thinks that it's better for Oda Nobuna to be the queen."
"Hehe, you're really a weird person, Hanbei too. Looks like strategists are a different creature compared to normal warriors."
"It's just that the responsibilities everyone has is different."
"Now that the Mori clan is supporting Ashikaga Yoshiaki and declaring war on Oda clan, you Harima coming to serve under us is what I can't wish for more right now. Harima province which is in the centre of Chuugoku and Kyoto is the place of conflict."
"There's a total of 36 nobles currently in Harima, all of them have been fighting and resisting each other and so, Harima didn't have a ruler. And since the power struggle between the Oda clan and the Mori clan has not reached Harima, it can be said that the one who controls Harima in this battle will be the victor."
"Correct, the Mori clan must have realized this too."
"Sim, I will let Himeji castle be the base of the Oda troops."
"Is it really ok, don't you mind?"
"Simon has totally no interest in the governing of territories and honor now, to fulfill the dream of studying overseas in namban, Simon will help Oda Nobuna with all her strength!"
"......."
Rikyuu used her unique way to "say" "She is my disciple in tea ceremonies when we're learning about namban science in Sakai."
Able to make people understand what she meant by not saying a word is Rikyuu's unique ability.
"Eh, Harima is Rikyuu's disciple, there are many Christians in Rikyuu's disciples."
"......."
Rikyuu "said" "My tea ceremonies and the Christian culture are hard to separate."
"How nostalgic. During that period of time, Sensei was actually researching on alchemy while Simon was learning about namban divination, our love for namban attires started from that time."
"......"
Rikyuu "said" "I'm pursuing the unique path of incorporating alchemy into tea ceremonies and due to being amazed by the namban divination, Simon had gone to Kyushuu which had more Christians alone to learn about "Mechanics".
"This country has its own divination methods, but those ancient methods are strategists using their fortune sticks to predict whether their conquest will end well, I don't believe this at all. Fufu, namban divination is totally different from Asian divination, we use tarot cards instead of fortune sticks."
"Tarot cards?"
"The namban divination tarot cards are very accurate, how about you try it now, Oda Nobuna? Is there anything you want to know, like your love fortune or your quest towards the Tenka Fubu?"
"Dearuka, divination is a sort of entertainment after all, let's try love fortune."
"Then please draw a card from here."
Kanbei put down a deck of tarot cards from namban onto the tatami mat.
The skeptic Nobuna draws one card out from the deck.
"What a strange drawing, a slanted structure which is burning, what's this?"
The tarot card that Nobuna used her white fingers to hold on to it depicts an almost collapsing structure that is burning fiercely.
"Hmm, it's not a good card, that's the "Tower"."
"Tower?"
"It hints an ending of disaster, destruction and tragedy. Though I'm sorry but it looks like Oda Nobuna's romance will end very badly."
"I...I don't believe in things like divination! Even if it's from namban, divination is still divination. You said this is different from fortune sticks, what logic does this have?"
"Rather than divination, it's more of an evaluation of the subconscious. The one who draw the tarot card will subconsciously draw the card that hints at their own future."
"Really?"
"This time, let's try the fate of Tenka Fubu then."
Kanbei took back the "Tower" card and after shuffling them, she once again put the tarot cards in front of Nobuna.
"This time, I must draw a good card!"
But after glancing at it, Nobuna shouted "No way this is true!".
"It's the "Tower" again! What is this, do I have fate in this card?"
"There's a total of 22 types of tarot cards, the "Tower" is just one of them."
"Suspicious, why do I draw this "Tower" card consecutively for two times?"
"This hints that the Tenka Fubu will fail tragically, and it's at the same time when your romance ends, does this means that the one that Oda Nobuna loves is very bad luck?"
Kanbei thought "As expected, Sagara Yoshiharu will disturb Oda Nobuna's fate severely."
Nobuna angrily puffed up her cheeks and said, "Hmph, I don't really care about things like divination since it's just a game. The one I'm really interested is "Mechanics", that huge metallic doll in the courtyard is the new weapon that Harima invented?"
At the direction that Nobuna is looking at, the metallic giant that Kanbei brought was standing alone at the courtyard of Honnou temple.
To this, the monks feeling had been increasingly troubled.
"It's very annoying for that to be placed there."
"It's bulky and heavy, we can't move it at all."
"That "Oh~It stopped"? That is a humanoid weapon that can walk with it's legs using the logic of "Mechanics" with the power of magnets. Soldiers can sit in it's abdomen and control the direction it's moving like a helm on the ship. Because there's very thick metal plates all over it's body, it can easily withstand arquebus bullets and it does not need to consume rations like horses."
"Wow! If we can mass produce this, the Takeda cavalry won't be scary anymore!"
"I don't think that's feasible. Honestly, it's still a prototype, and there's still lots to be done before it's completed, and "Oh~It stopped" is a very new discovery even in namban science, it's too difficult to use it in actual battles right now."
"Eh, how can that be? I can give you all the funding you need, can't it be done?"
"After experimenting, I found out that using legs to move around is harder than imagined, even if Simon tried at it, she will need more than 10 years to complete it."
"Then let's not use legs to move, how about using wheels?"
"Hmmm, that's a way to do it, but the terrain of this country are mostly narrow and mountainous, the flexibility of wheels is hard to ensure so it's also impossible to use it in actual battles too."
"Looks like the legs is a necessary condition that "Eh~ It stopped." to be used in actual battles."
"Exactly, but using wheels is not that bad of a suggestion, I feel that it will someday be useful."
"You're really a genius, Harima! If you take this "Eh~It stopped" to Saru, he will definitely be shocked! Though that fellow had came from the future, his brain isn't that good and his math is even worse than Nene, fuu."
Kanbei almost let it spill out of her mouth, "Umm, if you don't hurry and clarify your close relationship with Sagara Yoshiharu......!"
But she can't say it like that, she must endure it right now.
Before this, Frois had already warned Kanbei.
"Once Yoshiharu-san is mentioned, Nobuna won't be able to remain calm."
A feeling like love, Kanbei who had never experienced it before won't be able to understand, but it looks to be so.
But, Kanbei understands one thing too.
Nobuna had drawn the "Tower" both in her love and work, that means that the same time her work on unifying the world and her love is fulfilled, they will all fail due to the same reason.
Though it's hard to explain with science, but tarot cards which used psychology are able to drag out the subconscious that the targets themselves are unable to understand. Because the future is an extension of themselves, so everyone had more or less a hunch of their own fate.
From Kanbei's perspective,
(Whether it's the unrecognized love with Sagara Yoshiharu, or the unification of the world, she had a hunch of failure already. The smart Oda Nobuna actually understands all this deep in her heart, the love that will never be acknowledged by the world will disturb her fate and in the end, will lead everything to their ruins.)
If Oda Nobuna is defeated in the middle of her quest, my dream of studying overseas will become non-existent.
Kanbei's determination to send Sagara Yoshiharu back to the future is even more firm now.
But, for this objective, there are "tools" that she has to gather.
(To be able to gather the "tools", we must fight with the Mori clan and let the forces of the Oda clan extend towards the Chuugoku region, there is a necessary "tool" in the power region of the Mori clan, Simon must get it ASAP!)
So Kanbei wants to serve under Nobuna as strategist and help her defeat the Mori clan.
But, even with the intelligence of Kanbei, she wasn't able to predict the next sentence from Nobuna.
"Harima, work as Saru's strategist from today onwards then!"
Even Kanbei was so shocked that the teacup she held dropped onto the tatami mat.
Why did it becomes like this!? I can't understand this at all!
"Letting Simon be Sagara Yoshiharu's strategist? Why?"
"Isn't that fellow totally unclear of what a daimyo should do? If you aren't by his side to help him, his life will instantly become that of gathering the bishoujos of Northern Omi and start his disgusting life of a harem!"
"But didn't Sagara Yoshiharu already have a genius strategist like Takenaka Hanbei by his side to help him?"
"Hanbei is only interested in strategies and omyoudou, she isn't that interested in governing. That's it then, you are to head out to Saru right now. Oh yeah, take this!"
"This sword is...?"
"My beloved sword, Kunishige Hasabe, I'm giving it to you now, Harima. If that Saru dares to cheat, use this to cut him down! That fellow will be lusting after other girls when you turn your eyes away from him a little, and he's ok with ANYONE!"
Nobuna who had been very calm till now suddenly blushed as she shouted loudly.
"Th...though this is a secret, but th... th.... that fellow has already kissed my lips! Ev...Even so, he is still so close and comfy with lots of girls, yo....you can't believe what he's doing too, right!?"
Those bloodshot eyes of hers are full of jealousy and fury, as well as very strong feelings of possession.
"So, that rumor is true?"
Kanbei took the few newspapers from Sakai and Kyoto out and put it in front of Nobuna.
"Sakai's Business Newspaper" writes, [SHOCKING! THE DAILY LIFE FILLED WITH TWISTED ROMANCE BETWEEN ODA NOBUNA AND THE MONKEY SHE KEEPS?]
"Kennya's Monthly" writes, [RIDICULOUS! THE MOST FRIVOLOUS MAN IN THE WORLD SAGARA YOSHIHARU IMPRISONS HIS OWN MASTER ODA NOBUNA IN HIS ROOM AND TRAINS HER EVERY NIGHT!]
"Kawaramachi's Daily" writes [LOVING SAGARA YOSHIHARU, ODA NOBUNA PLANS TO BURN DOWN THE PALACE TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS ON FAMILY STATUSES?]
Though they are all baseless rumors, but from what they can see, the close relationship between Nobuna and Yoshiharu is under extreme scrutiny of the people.
With modern words, they had become daily gossip of people after their meals.
"Wh....What are all these!? Ho...How can they just come out with these rumors.... Capture all of them and throw them all into the sea!"
"......."
While silently pouring grape wine into Nobuna's teacup, Rikyuu "said", "If you do that, that means you are acknowledging that the rumors are true.." as she stopped her.
"I don't mind if it's all bad rumors about Saru, but saying I'm burning the palace down is unforgivable! If they think they can just write anything they want and not receive any punishment, they are wrong!"
"........"
Rikyuu "said", "This is just the anti-Oda forces using Sagara Yoshiharu-dono's rumors to attack the Oda clan, those printing companies aren't much at fault, please calm down."
But Nobuna can't keep her voice down as she screams,
"Ahhhhhh, unforgivable! This is all the fault of that ero-saru! Because of his boundless lust, even my reputation is affected!"
Looking at such a Nobuna, Kanbei is shocked (Is this love? So it's like what I thought, a thing like love will really cause people to be blind.)
The things that the unlucky "Tower" card hinted may really happen.
"Saru that fellow, whether it's Takeda Shingen or Akechi Mitsuhide, he does not mind it at all as he just goes around being frivolous and perverted! Takeda Shingen is my arch enemy, Saru who is close to her is just too despicable! Honestly, I won't be surprised if Saru attacks Imagawa Yoshimoto now! If that fellow does anything that betrays me, cut him down immediately! Got it, Harima? This is your most important mission!"
"Simon still has the mission of fighting with the Mori clan."
"The first to move wins, the vanguard of fighting the Mori clan will be undertaken by Saru who isn't surrounded by any enemy provinces! Before preparing fully for the war with the Mori clan, slap his butt and ask him to buck up, conquer Harima province in one go!"
"Sim"
Nobuna very happily said, "With this, the frivolous-ness of Saru will be sealed, I'm relying on you now, Harima! Once I finish the work on my hands, I will immediately go over to meet up with you guys." as she leaves quickly.
(Am I wrong?)
For the first time, Kanbei has a sense of unease in her judgments.
But, it's unfortunate that no one can do divination on themselves.
Even if they do it, with their own thoughts mixed in it, the result will become unclear.
That Sagara Yoshiharu who came from the future and messed up Nobuna's fate, (Though Kanbei is the only one who thinks like this)
Looks like I have to make preparations to send him off the same time I'm fighting the Mori clan.
But to be able to let the talented and passionate Oda Nobuna be obsessed to such an extent, just what kind of a man is this Sagara Yoshiharu?
Kanbei's heart develops a new curiosity.
Now that she thinks about it, being Yoshiharu's strategist and fighting with the Mori clan might be the perfect turn of events.
For the reason, isn't the best chance to force Yoshiharu back to the future to prevent an even larger change of history?
Considering the different possibilities, Kanbei firmly believes that the only one who can unify the world is Oda Nobuna.
Of course, there will be many problems in the way, but with me, the genius strategist at her side to help, there won't be any problems.
But, because Sagara Yoshiharu is always doing unnecessary things, the fate of Oda Nobuna had become hard to grasp.
"Able to draw the "Tower" both times is definitely Sagara Yoshiharu's fault."
Even Kanbei who had not been in love before can see that Nobuna does not want Yoshiharu to be send back to the future.
So, she must be by Yoshiharu's side and wait for her chance, once one shows itself, she will do it before telling Nobuna.
To achieve this objective, one of the "tools" is concidentally buried in the territories of the Mori clan. To obtain it, we must first absorb the Mori clan or at least make them serve.
The rest of the "tools" are all within the territories of Nobuna, there's only one left that she can't get.
Once I lead the Sagara corps to defeat the Mori clan, Sagara Yoshiharu and the "tools" to force him back will be all in my hands.
After that, I need to explain to Nobuna properly, she will definitely be able to understand.
"Hehe, with this, the world will belong to Oda Nobuna, and Simon can head out onto the wide seas and onwards to the world."
"........"
Rikyuu "said", "The aura around Simon, is she having some weird plans in her head?"
(Should I at least tell Sensei?) Kanbei thought as she finally decided to wait a while more before telling her.
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