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"What... what a terrible mistake the Oda men have made! It is common sense to immediately send guests back to their own territory upon receiving news of a hawk's appearance!!"
When Kicho and Nobukane rushed to Sugawa Castle and explained the whole situation, they were met with the furious roar and murderous intent of Ichihime.
With Ichihime about to reach for her dagger, Kicho and Nobukane had no choice but to prostrate themselves before her.
Inside the mansion's rooms were Ichihime, Haruhime, and Naotsune, along with two people who had come from the Oda family.
For Ichihime, Kicho was her sister-in-law, and Nobukane was her biological brother.
However, it seemed that such blood kinship hierarchies were irrelevant to her at that moment.
As the wife of Asai Nagamasa, the members of the Oda family who invited her beloved husband to his death are truly "unforgivable..."
"I am deeply sorry to the wife of Lord Asai Bizen-no-kami."
Nobukane is about four years older than Ichihime.
Unlike Nobunaga, he had a rather gentle personality and was a good playmate for young Ichihime and her sisters.
Incidentally, in historical fact, after Nagamasa perished at Odani Castle, it was Nobukane who loudly advocated for and put into action the protection of not only Ichihime but also the Asai sisters, who were descendants of Nagamasa.
"However, even though all of us in the Oda family tried to dissuade Lord Bizen, we could not change his mind. Of course, we could not directly restrain Lord Bizen's body..."
For the sake of the Oda family, even touching the body of Nagamasa, their lord's brother-in-law, was an act of great sacrilege.
Since it was impossible to change Nagamasa's mind, the fact that he ended up "accompanying me on the falconry hunt..." was, in a sense, an unavoidable outcome.
"So then—"
Naotsune silenced Ichihime with his eyes and slowly began to speak.
"While our lord was accompanying the Oda family on a falconry expedition... Lord Kazusa-no-suke's principal wife, Lady Kicho, came to our castle—how should we interpret this?"
It was an extremely obvious point, but it was crucial to get the other party to say it themselves.
Kicho bowed again,
"I would be grateful if you would take care of me until Lord Bizen-no-kami returns to northern Omi."
"So, what if the Lord doesn't return?"
"...You can boil it, roast it, or cook it however you like."
"That's what they say. What shall we do, madam?"
Naotsune said this and turned to face Ichihime.
He appeared remarkably calm, but deep within his eyes, a mixture of anger and rage was surging.憂懼Yuuku
Naotsune understood very well that if he were to reveal his anger, "there would be no one left to stop him..."
"Then, as Lady Kicho wished."
Ichihime spat out the words, then let out a deep sigh.
She understands, too. She knows that once Nagamasa has made up his mind, he's not going to back down for anything trivial.
Perhaps the husband thought something like, "How can I leave my brother-in-law like this?"
Knowing how deeply compassionate he is, despite everything, he must have accompanied them on the falconry expedition for that very reason.
However, even if that were the case, and even if it was unavoidable given her husband's character, Ichihime's anger towards the Oda family members who failed to stop the march into a deadly battlefield was uncontrollable.
What we understand intellectually and what we feel emotionally are completely different things—perhaps that's just the contradiction that humans are inherently burdened with.
"By the way, where exactly did you and your lord go?"
Naotsune, half-crouching, questioned Nobukane.
In the Asai territory, which faces the Rokkaku family to the east and south and the Asakura family to the north, the only forces currently capable of mobilizing troops are those at Sugawa Castle, which has lost the threat of the Saito family, and the Takenaka forces of western Mino, whose main territory is Sekigahara and whose head is Haruhime.
Naotsune wanted to assemble his troops immediately and join forces with Nagamasa.
"It's in the direction of the northern part of Mino, towards the Hida Highlands."
Nobukane, who has a face very similar to Nobunaga's, says:
"I think Asai will be sending his army into Mino from here on out..."
"This is an emergency; there should be no problem. I will now return to Mino, and I will explain the situation to those at Inabayama Castle from here."某I
"I understand."
Naotsune rose to his feet, swiftly threw open the sliding doors, and in a voice like thunder, ordered his retainers waiting outside to prepare for the march.
The number of troops that can be mobilized is about 500, considering those who will remain in the castle.
However, unlike in regular battles, in falconry, more isn't always better.
This is because it is difficult to harm monsters, and at the same time, the methods for doing so are limited.
Above all, with its immense strength, the hawk would undoubtedly easily scatter and break through the enemy lines of a large number of soldiers, even if they were positioned as a human shield, using its unique running style.
"So, regarding where Lady Kicho will be staying—"
"I will give away the place I am currently renting."
Saying that, Haruhime slowly rose to her feet.
"I will go. The Takenaka family's base is in Mino. If the hawk has appeared, we, as people living in that land, must fight."
"But... your body is still..."
Ichihime cried out involuntarily, and then slowly shook her head from side to side.
Haruhime still had painful bruises remaining, and her body was surely not completely healed.
"Nevertheless, we must go. Of course, if it's falconry, we must be prepared for considerable losses and even death."
"Yes, but Shigeharu, as your wife says, your body is not yet fully recovered. You must not overexert yourself now and risk suffering consequences later."
"So, if that 'aftermath' disappears, if it vanishes completely, what are we supposed to do?"
With a serious look in her eyes, Haruhime shoots at Naotsune.
Indeed, Naotsune narrowed his eyes and stared intently at "Hanbei," who was following Nagamasa.
"Hawks are extremely dangerous monsters, on par with demons and tsuchigumo (earth spiders). No matter how capable Lord Oda Kazusa-no-suke and the Oda family's retainers may be, that does not guarantee Lord Bizen-no-kami's safety. Moreover, if Lord Bizen-no-kami were to fall into danger... it is uncertain whether the Oda retainers would actually come to his aid."
That was also the truth.
For example, if both Nobunaga and Nagamasa were in danger at the same time, Oda's retainers would undoubtedly prioritize Nobunaga.
"After all, Lord Bizen-no-kami is the head of another family, and we have no direct relationship with him. Nevertheless, if there is even the slightest danger, it must be eliminated completely—by none other than ourselves, who admire Lord Nagamasa."
After saying all of that in one go with a determined voice, Princess Osamu smiled.
"Lord Bizen-no-kami must not meet his end in the foreign land of Mino. No matter what happens, I want Lord Bizen-no-kami to end his life in his own bed. For that to happen, I will do whatever it takes to make it happen to me..."
And then, she continued, clutching her chest.
"If Lord Bizen were to die while falconry—at that time, you can consider me to no longer be in this world. This body and soul have already been dedicated to Lord Bizen's lifetime and are meant to be with him..."
Haruhime gazed at Naotsune, and he looked back at her.
"I must say this to Lord Endo Naotsune, a hereditary retainer of the Asai family. My loyalty is not necessarily pledged to the Asai family, but to Lord Bizen-no-kami. It is because Lord Bizen-no-kami exists that I serve the Asai family."
"...I can't believe you had the nerve to say something like that."
"I serve individuals, not families"—Kicho and Nobukane are astonished by Haruhime's statement, which defies common sense.
After looking at the two of them, Naotsune let out a sigh of exasperation and gave a wry smile.
"Well... I suppose someone with Shigeharu's attitude is trustworthy. In the sense that he would never betray his lord."
"yes"
"Then let us go together. To save our lord, even to the ends of hell."
"Absolutely"
Then, Princess Chihime spoke in a murmur—but in a strange melody that lingered in the ears and hearts of everyone present.
"...I don't mind dying."
As everyone stared at her in shock, Princess Chihime slowly opened the sliding door and began to walk slowly.
"If it is for the sake of Lord Bizen, and if that is the best course of action—I will gladly die."
It was as if she were a warrior wandering aimlessly in search of a place to die—and indeed, Ichihime was overcome with a sense of unease that gripped her chest tightly.
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To die for one's lord.
Sakuma Nobumori never doubted that fact, not even once.
Nobumori was born in Owari Province and is 39 years old this year.
He was a veteran general who had served Oda Nobuhide from an early stage and fought in various battles across the country.
It was on the day of the New Year's greetings ceremony, when Nobumori was 15 years old and had just finished his first battle.
"Hey, you there, man."
As Nobumori waited between the chilly streets to greet Nobuhide, a child with a face so beautiful it was indistinguishable from a woman's slapped him on the back.
"His right ear is missing . The wound is still fresh. He must have fought his way through some incredibly tough battlefields. A noble cause, a noble cause."朶Tabu抉Egg
Then, the brazen child swiftly pulled out the hairpin that was holding his long hair in place and—put it into the pocket of the stunned Nobumori.
"Keep working hard from now on. Life is the most important thing; if you die, you lose everything."
Indeed, the child left Nobumori's presence, letting out a cheerful laugh.
He was simply stunned by the unexpected events that had unfolded in an instant—
"Nobumori, this is my son, Kippōshi. From now on, serve me well as my direct retainer."
Just as his meeting with Nobuhide was drawing to a close, the moment he saw "Kippōshi" enter the room, even Nobumori couldn't help but let out a surprised gasp.
It was none other than the child who had just stuffed the hairpin into his pocket.
"So, Kippōshi, what happened to that hairpin that you loved so much that you always kept it by your bedside?"
"Tools should be in their proper place and in their proper form—I've given them to you."
Responding to his father in a tone that was far beyond that of a child, Kipposhi—
—And indeed, Nobunaga later smiled with a smile befitting his age and said, "So you're Nobumori, then. Work hard."
Since then, Nobumori has continued to work solely for his lord, who is six years his junior.
The Oda army was not always victorious; they were often in danger and frequently suffered defeats.
And when the battle turned difficult and they had to retreat, the role of " ", which single-handedly took on the enemy's pursuit, was a dangerous one that everyone wanted to avoid—but Nobumori continued to take on that role willingly for Nobunaga's sake.殿Rearguard
"I always have Lord Kippōshi... Lord Nobunaga... by my side."
The hairpin, a cherished memento that Nobumori kept tucked away in his pocket like a lucky charm, gave him strength, especially as he faced increasingly difficult circumstances.
Over time, he came to be known as "Sakuma the Retreater" and was regarded as a professional rearguard, so all Nobumori could do was give a wry smile.
However, it was also true that Nobumori took pride in having successfully carried out the important task of ensuring his lord's safe escape.
(If it's to protect Lord Nobunaga's smile, I'll do anything.)
The same applies even if the opponent is a hawk.
Staring intently at the repulsive, unsettling head of the monster that disturbed people's minds, Nobumori let out a loud roar.
(My role is to ensure Nobunaga's escape so he can regroup. I'm the only one who can do that.)
Taking hold of his horse's reins, Nobumori charged straight at the hawk without any hesitation.
Raising the unsheathed, silvery blade high, Nobumori roared.
"Take this!"
Just as the horse's horns were about to pierce the hawk's body, the talons on the hawk's wings firmly grasped them and blocked the attack.
A terrible stench assaulted Nobumori's nostrils, but he couldn't afford to choke.
Most importantly, a hawk's beak was swung down from above, aimed at Nobumori on horseback.
As Nobumori swung his silver-blue sword, the blade clashed with the beak, and a loud crash echoed through the forest.
However, Nobumori's blow failed to inflict any damage on the hawk's sturdy beak, only managing to deflect the dreaded hawk's attack.
The hawk's beak pierced deep into the base of the horse's neck, and blue blood gushed out with tremendous force.
As the horse let out a death cry, its strength rapidly drained away, and Nobumori tumbled onto the decaying leaves.
When Nobumori finally raised his head, he saw a hawk with its beak wide open, devouring the neck of the horse he had been riding with a tremendous roar.
The moment he saw it, Nobumori clutched his chest and became enraged.
"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"
He gripped his sword tightly and lunged at the hawk.
But the next moment, a black shadow darted across his vision, and something slapped Nobumori across the face with tremendous force.
There wasn't even time to protect my face.
It was a tail.
With no warning, the tail was unleashed, its scales flying through the air, sending Nobumori's body crashing headfirst into a massive tree estimated to be tens of thousands of years old.
His face, which had collapsed into a sliver, was torn to shreds by scales, making it impossible for him to even open his eyes properly.
No, both of his eyes have been lost.
The pain was so intense that Nobumori's sense of pain was completely numbed, and he was unable to even realize what was happening.
In his hazy state of consciousness, "It's all covered in blood and I can't see..." Throughout his vision, Nobumori continued to hear the loud sounds of flesh and bone being chewed, and finally heard the tremendous burp and flatulence of a hawk.
They probably devoured the horse's body in that short amount of time.
But the hawk's hunger will never be satisfied.
If its desires could be easily satisfied by one or two horses, a hawk wouldn't be able to perform the feat of devouring 10,000 people in a single night.
(Am I going to be eaten too...?)
As he felt the hawk's gaze upon him, Nobumori thought to himself.
My beloved lord should have managed to escape safely.
Above all, the dappled gray horse he rides is the king of horses, having once led tens of thousands of wild horses that inhabited Owari, Mikawa, and Mino.
Its physique sets it apart from other horses, allowing it to traverse any rough terrain or mountain path with incredible speed.
As long as Nobunaga continues to ride that horse, there's no way he'll be left behind when escaping from the enemy.
"Goaaaaaaaaaa..."
The ominous cry of a hawk can be heard.
However, with his vision completely obscured, Nobumori had no way to avoid the hawk's attack.
All that remains for him is to accept the inevitable death that is coming.
(If there's one thing I regret...it's that I wasn't able to see my son grow up...)
The child Nobumori had with his wife was only 11 years old.信栄Nobuhide
Recently, he had begun to show interest in the tea ceremony in addition to martial arts, and as a father, I was looking forward to his future and doted on him.
He had hoped to die after seeing his subordinates grow into formidable generals—but it seems that this is a dream that will never come true.
(Nobuyoshi, and ... forgive me. It seems this is the end of my life.)任子Taeko
Suddenly, I felt my left leg being firmly grabbed and suspended in mid-air.
The immense strength and the hardness I felt on my leg told me that I had been grabbed by a hawk.
Hawks can skillfully grasp objects by using the webbing between their talons.
However, even in such circumstances, Nobumori firmly clutched his fluorite sword, a symbol of his samurai pride and his human pride.
A loud sloshing sound, like "gupah," echoed from directly below, hitting my earlobe.
Perhaps beneath his own body, which is likely being held in one hand, there is a greedy opening leading to the eagle's esophagus.
If the hawk were to release its wing talons, Nobumori would surely be digested.
(But—even when faced with inescapable death, humans continue to struggle! That is the pride of being human!!)
The moment Nobumori clutched his chest with one hand, the restraints on his left leg were released, and he was freed.
Pulled down by gravity, the man's body fell downwards, following the force of that pull, towards the hawk's beak that awaited him.
"—Your finishing touches are too careless!!"
Indeed, Nobumori's sword, thrust forward with all his might and without any regard for the enemy's will, used gravity to its advantage and pierced deep into the hawk's right eye.
As he listened to the screams and writhing cries of the monster, Nobumori once again rolled onto the decaying leaves—and, covered in hot, blue blood, he smirked as he lay on his back.
"Do you really think you'll die for free...?"
Humans are, after all, mere prey for monsters that shouldn't even bother to bite them.
As he endured the hawk's fury, Nobumori said with amusement:
"This is Oda's retreat...and a battle of my pride."
Then Nobumori reached into his pocket and, gripping the hairpin he found there, continued.
"Remember this, we will not die. As long as Lord Nobunaga is alive, we will never—"
A crunching sound, as flesh and bone are thrust into the forest—followed by a crackling, squelching sound, as solid material is ground together with a viscous liquid, echoing through the woods.
Nobumori's body no longer resembles its former form, having transformed into a single ball of flesh.
With the sword still stuck in its right eye, the hawk let out a loud burp and ran off in the direction its prey had fled in search of more food.