My body feels bad.怠sluggish
In the abyss of darkness where I can’t even see my own body, I can hear the bubbling sound of the air bubbles I exhale.
Ichihime isn’t beside me, my beloved wife isn’t there.
That single fact was enough for me to realize—it didn’t take long—that I was dreaming.
It seems I’m sinking deeper and deeper into the dark, lake-like depths of water.
I forced my weary body to move and struggled with all my might.
Otherwise, I felt like I would be swallowed up by the darkness and never be able to surface again.
I thrashed my legs and used both arms to plow away the heavy, clinging water.
Visually, I couldn’t tell which way I was going, but strangely, I had the feeling that I was getting closer to the water’s surface.
But no matter how hard I swam, no matter how much I tried, my body just couldn’t reach the surface.
How long can I hold my breath?
How long will my body keep moving?
Such fears creep into my mind and weigh heavily on me.
As if to break free from that restraint, a faint light struck my retina.
I reach out my hand towards the light and struggle desperately to rise to the surface.
The distance to the light, which seemed to possess a will to prevent me from being swallowed up in darkness, was slowly but steadily shrinking.
Splash, it surfaced on the lake.
The light is leaking in from the land.
When I reached the shore and stepped ashore, I heard a mournful cry, as if someone had lost all hope of living.
When I strained my eyes in that direction, I saw that a large section of the mountain had been gouged out, and amidst the ruins, illuminated by an indoor lantern, a woman was weeping helplessly.
I recognized that figure.
There was no way it didn’t exist.
–city!
No trite questions like “Why am I here?” ever crossed my mind.
The only thing that mattered to me was the fact that she, my only source of support, was crying.
Whenever I try to run towards her, I feel an intense pressure from behind and stop in my tracks.
The sound of waves lapping against the lake’s surface was tremendous.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something there that I shouldn’t be seeing.
However, as if drawn to the lake, I found myself unconsciously taking my eyes off Ichihime and turning my back to her.
There was no light in my line of sight, and my vision remained pitch black, yet I sensed the presence of a colossal being there—
“–!”
I jumped out of bed.
Cold sweat is pouring from my entire body.
My body was chilled to the bone, and my teeth were chattering uncontrollably.
(What was that dream all about…?)
As I picked up the cloth from the bedside table and wiped away the sweat, Ichihime noticed something was wrong with me, sat up, and looked at me with anxious eyes.
“Lord Nagamasa, are you alright…?”
“Ah, ah…
no problem.”
While trying to act strong so as not to worry Ichihime, I shudder as I recall the scene from my dream.
(That lake is Lake Biwa.)
In the middle of the night, it’s impossible to see anything outside through the window.
However, I instinctively knew that the darkness that had trapped me in my dream was Lake Biwa.
and–
(The old castle that had become a ruin…is here.)
Even if it was just a dream, it’s an extremely bad omen.
If that dream were to come true, and the Asai clan were to be destroyed, leaving Ichihime all alone—
When I involuntarily stopped wiping the sweat from my face, Ichihime gently took my hand.
She must have been trying to borrow the cloth to wipe the sweat off me.
But the moment she touched my hand, she gasped, “Ah…!”
“Lord Nagamasa, your health is…!”
“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”
I resumed wiping the sweat from my brow and said to Ichihime:
“It seems he got out of the futon, and that’s why he’s cold.”
Ichihime shook her head.
“Then why are you sweating so much…!”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“But…!”
“I’m telling you not to worry about it.”
I straightened my sleepwear and returned to my futon.
Ichihime was snuggled up beside my bed, placing her palm on my forehead.
“It’s okay.”
“…”
Despite this, Ichihime kept touching my forehead and neck.
Does she think I’m ill or something?
Even in the dim light, I can tell from her actions and expression that she’s genuinely worried about me.
“I told you it’s okay.”
I grabbed Ichihime’s hand and stood up.
Then, he put his arm around her slender shoulders and pulled her into the futon.
My beloved wife resists my actions.
“But, but…!
If something were to happen to Lord Nagamasa’s health…
Ichi would…!”
I can’t stop regretting it…!
With such a pained cry, Ichihime wriggled around, trying to break free from my grasp.
In Sengoku-era Japan, advanced medical technology like that of today did not exist.
Everything is at the level of folk remedies, and even the medicines seem to have questionable efficacy compared to what I knew in my time.
Therefore, if you got sick even once—no matter how mild it might seem by today’s standards—it often led directly to death.
Even for adult men.
In this world, catching a cold can lead to pneumonia, and you’ll die within just one month.
That’s the norm.
That’s probably why Ichihime is trying so hard.
I hugged her even tighter.
Not to prevent her from escaping, but because she was warm.
“Ichi, please…”
“Lord Nagamasa…?”
They must have noticed that something was wrong with me.
“I’m cold…
Please warm me up, I beg you.”
“…”
“It’s so cold, so incredibly cold…”
“…Yes, Lord Nagamasa.”
Ichihime gently snuggles up to me, wrapping her left arm around my shoulder and her right arm under my neck, then hugs me tightly.
Her right hand slowly stroked the back of my head, and with her other hand, she gently patted my back in a steady rhythm—tap…tap.
It was like a mother comforting a crying child in the middle of the night.
Along with a sense of patheticness, I savored a feeling of happiness that made my cold heart slowly melt away.
“Please rest assured, Lord Nagamasa.”
Ichihime whispered softly to me.
“I am here.
I have always been by Lord Nagamasa’s side…”
My body is gradually warming up.
Ichihime’s warmth gently enveloped my body.
The sensations on the back of my head and back calmed my agitated mind.
Feeling a motherly warmth, I drifted off into a pleasant slumber.
◇
Morning of February 6, 1567 (Eiroku 10).
The Asai family’s territory was suddenly filled with excitement, and the people were running around towns and villages, spreading the decree that had been announced that morning.
“Hey, did you know?
The lord is going to be overseeing the development of northern Omi Province.”出湯Ideyu
“I know!
And if you donate 10 coins, you can use it anytime, and our names will be engraved as a memento!”
“And it’s even with the lord’s name on it…”
“This is going to be something incredible…”
Ignoring the towns and villages buzzing with excitement over the new news, I rode Taishakutsukige, galloping through the Asai family’s territory alongside my retainers.樋口直房Naofusa Higuchi
Heading southeast from Odani Castle, and continuing south with Mount Ibuki on your left, you would proceed from Omi-Nagaoka to Kashiwabara, beyond which the Higashiyama Road continued.山間Yamai
(So, the Battle of Sekigahara is just ahead…)
Sekigahara is a piece of land that opens up in the gap between mountains such as Maruyama and Sasaoyama.
Every Japanese person surely knows that in 1600, the Eastern Army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Western Army, commanded by Ishida Mitsunari, fought a decisive battle here that determined the fate of Japan.
Incidentally, the only way to get to this area from Omi is through mountainous areas or via the Higashiyama Road, which runs through the mountains, so transportation is not very convenient.
“Lord Nagamasa, from here on, the territory belongs to the Saito family.
Please be careful.”
“I understand”
Nodding in agreement with Naofusa’s words, we immediately headed straight northeast from Sekigahara.
Sekigahara belongs to Mino Province and is also within the territory of the Saito clan, who are currently at war with the Oda clan.
However, since the battles between the Oda and Saito clans were primarily fought in southern Mino Province, the defenses of western Mino were relatively weak.
This is because, if the Asai family were to head to Sekigahara, the Rokkaku family would likely target their rear, and vice versa.
The Saito family cleverly took advantage of the fact that the Asai and Rokkaku families were at odds in the north and south of Omi Province.
And so—I sped through that lightly guarded area on my Taishakutsukige.
It was a landscape I’d never seen before, but the majority of my thoughts while riding the Taishakutsukimo were occupied by the contents of the dream I’d had the previous night.
A desolate Omi, the collapsing Odani Castle.
And there, alone, weeping Princess Ichi, and a gigantic, mysterious presence…
I have absolutely no idea what that dream was about, or what it meant.
However, it felt like an apocalypse, and I simply couldn’t dismiss it as “just a dream…”
(If there are any signs, we should be fully prepared for them.)
They might be feeling anxious.
Or perhaps they are extremely afraid.
While riding on Taishakutsukige’s horse, I suddenly had that thought.
But that’s only natural.
To begin with, I still don’t really understand what this world is all about.
Here, people from history that I know are living in the land of Japan that I know.
However, things never proceed exactly as in history.
This was evident in the Rokkaku clan’s invasion of Sawayama Castle last month.
And the biggest problem is creatures like Taishakutsukimo—creatures known as demons.
I don’t understand anything about their ecology, and I’ve never seen any monsters other than horses.
We have absolutely no idea how they live or how they interact with humans.
In other words…
I didn’t simply travel to the past, but rather to a parallel world set in the Sengoku period—that’s probably the most reasonable conclusion.
(That’s why it’s best to keep every conceivable option open.)
However, those means are not infinite, but finite.
Developing my territory in northern Omi to the fullest extent and accumulating wealth, organizing my retainers, skillfully navigating diplomacy, and preparing for emergencies…
These are roughly the only four things I seem capable of putting into practice.
(How much easier life would be if the world followed historical facts…)
However, thinking about such things was pointless.埒Rachi
No matter what happens, as the lord of northern Omi, I must protect my territory.
And—as the husband of his beloved Ichihime, he had to protect her at all costs.
The image of Ichihime’s unwavering devotion to nursing me last night comes to mind.
I doubt there’s anyone in my old world who could shower their husband with that much love, and I think it’s probably quite rare even in this era.
I can’t let her cry…
I can’t let her suffer.
And as part of that investment, Nagamasa had even risked his life to invade the Saito family’s territory.
The purpose, of course, is to organize the vassal group.
Nagamasa and Naofusa crossed Sekigahara and brought the Nobi Plain, one of the widest plains in Japan, into their sights.
Incidentally, this plain is not just vast; its soil is rich thanks to the Kiso, Nagara, and Ibi rivers, resulting in an exceptionally high agricultural productivity.
While Oda Nobunaga took a considerable amount of time to conquer Mino Province, he was able to quickly conquer other parts of Japan once he gained control of Mino.
The reason for this is simply that he had acquired the fertile land of Mino.
It’s no exaggeration to say that whoever controls Mino controls the whole country.
It is truly a land of exceptional quality.
However, we are not heading to Inabayama Castle, the heart of Mino Province.
Our base, Odani Castle, was on the opposite side of the Ibuki Mountains, and our next base was Bodaiyama Castle, located deep in the mountains.
“Lord Nagamasa, this is…
the castle of Takenaka Hanbei.”
“Hmm…”
竹中半兵衛Takenaka HanbeeHe was a strategist who, along with [another person] , supported Hashiba Hideyoshi’s “conquest of Japan,” and was one of the foremost military strategists of the Sengoku period.竹中重治Takenaka Shigeharu黒田官兵衛Kuroda Kanbe
The Hanbei I know is a warrior who is described as having “the appearance of a woman” and who ultimately died of illness at the young age of 36.蜻蛉Kagerō Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
Hanbei served the lord of Inabayama Castle , but he was unfortunate and, because of his “ladylike” appearance, he was harassed daily by the other retainers.斎藤龍興Tatsuo Saito
Then Hanbei staged a coup against the Saito family.
In 1564, with only 16 followers, he succeeded in usurping Inabayama Castle, which was said to be impregnable, in a single night.
However, Hanbei immediately returned Inabayama Castle to Tatsuoki and set off on a wandering journey.
He must have grown tired of everything.
He embarked on a journey of self-discovery.
And Hanbei ended up in the Asai territory of Omi Province, where he lived for a while at the house of Naofusa, whom I had brought with me.
Incidentally, Hanbei is currently retired, so if we can persuade him to join us before the Oda clan does, the Asai clan’s retainers will become considerably stronger.
(The problem is, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to go that well…)
As Naofusa and I slowly approached Bodaisan Castle, armed soldiers came running towards us in a flurry, shouting, “What do you want?!” while thrusting their spears forward.
Incidentally, the Takenaka family, under the pretense of the head of the family, Hanbei, living in seclusion, basically turned away anyone from the Saito family who came to visit.
The soldiers of the Takenaka family, noticing that we were “on horseback,” sensed that we were of some status, but they still had that look on their faces that said, “It’s probably just those guys from the Saito family again.” That’s probably why they asked, “What do you want?”
Then Naofusa called out to one of the soldiers,
“I am Higuchi Naofusa, a retainer of the Asai family.
And this is Lord Asai Bizen-no-kami Nagamasa.
I’m sure Lord Takenaka will understand immediately if I just convey that much.
Please act as an intermediary.”
He said.
The soldiers of the Takenaka family were in a terrible state.
Their panic was so great that it was pitiful to watch.
After all, they couldn’t use their usual standardized response to deal with the Saito family, and on top of that, the head of the Asai family, with whom they weren’t even allied, had shown up…
so it’s perhaps understandable that they were flustered.
所謂so-calledIt’s a situation that makes you think, “No way…!”
Furthermore, from the Takenaka family’s perspective, this means “they’ve somehow infiltrated our territory,” which may be contributing to their growing confusion.
While the soldiers ran to inform the people inside the castle of my arrival, I became curious and decided to take a good look around Hanbei’s castle.
Bodaiyama Castle, like Odani Castle where I am based, is a mountain castle.
The main keep was probably located at the top of the mountain, which was about 400 meters high, and defensive structures were spread throughout the mountainside and foothills .
It was quite an impressive fortification.櫓Yagura (watchtower)
“Oh…!
Lord Naofusa!
Isn’t that Lord Naofusa!”
“Oh my!
Is that you, my lord?!
It’s been a long time!”重矩Shigenori
A burly, muscular man emerged from the castle gate.
Naofusa immediately dismounted his horse, walked over to the man, and shook his hand firmly.
Meanwhile, I was inwardly terrified by the deep, booming voice emanating from that enormous figure.
I mean, I don’t think there’s anyone who wouldn’t be intimidated by a huge, muscular man up close.
After all, even when this man is wearing a kimono, it’s so tight that you can clearly see what kind of body is hidden beneath the fabric.
He’s the number one person I don’t want to see in the middle of the night.
“And this is…”
“That’s right.
It’s our great commander of the Asai clan, Lord Bizen-no-kami Nagamasa.”
There’s no way I could greet them with a “Hey!”
I feel like if I did that, I’d be crushed to death by this hulking creature.
I got off Taishakutsukimo and extended my hand to the big man.
“It’s Nagamasa.
I know you well.”
That’s right—after all, Shigenori is the man who, in historical fact, killed Endo Naotsune.
There’s no way he wouldn’t know.
However, Shigenori seemed confused by my outstretched hand and was at a loss as to what to do.
It was then that I finally remembered that I was a daimyo and he was merely a retainer of the Saito family.
Well, I suppose it’s fine.
Given Shigenori’s massive size, his erratic behavior is quite amusing to watch.
“…This is the kind of person Lord Nagamasa is.”
Naofusa said that to Shigenori.
“In fact, in this case, it would be disrespectful not to take her hand sooner rather than later.”
“I…
my name is Takenaka Shigenori.
I have heard many esteemed things about Lord Bizen-no-kami.”
Shigenori bowed, took my hand, and greeted me.
When I saw him, I somehow thought he looked like a member of the rugby team going around greeting people.
Just a feeling, though.
“Please, come inside.
The head of the household, Shigeharu, is waiting for you.”
“Yes”
We passed through the gate of Bodaisan Castle and headed towards the main keep.
Since I was going to part ways with Taishakutsukige at the stable, I told the caretakers, just to be safe, “Don’t lay a finger on her if you don’t want to die.”
Incidentally, that Taishaku Tsukige horse keeps glancing around left and right in the stable.
I’m sure it’s looking for a promising stallion.
While admiring the interior of Bodaiyama Castle guided by Shigenori, I was led to the lord’s residence located within the castle grounds.
It resembles a gigantic version of a traditional Japanese house, exuding a nostalgic charm, and from the outside, it looks solid and extremely imposing.
In the world I came from, traditional Japanese houses had completely disappeared, and only similar-looking Western-style houses lined the streets, so I’m quietly impressed by buildings like this.
Shigenori opened the sliding door of the mansion and invited us inside.
The inside of the building was dimly lit, and it took me a little while to get used to it, having just walked around in the bright outside.
We crossed the corridor, gazing at Shigenori’s massive back as he led the way.
and–
“This is your brother’s room.”
After telling us that, Shigenori called out to Hanbei, who was probably waiting inside the room.
“Lord Asai Bizen-no-kami Nagamasa and Lord Higuchi Naofusa have arrived!”
“Please, come in.”
Shigenori quickly opened the sliding door and gestured for me to come inside.
And what awaited them there was…
“I am Takenaka Shigeharu.
Lord Naofusa, and Lord Bizen-no-kami, thank you for coming all this way.”
—He was a man with a handsome voice who looked like nothing but a beautiful girl.