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It seemed I had spent quite a bit of time at the Todo residence, as the sun had already reached its highest point in the sky.
It was probably a little past noon... I thought to myself, sitting on my horse, Taishakutsukige.
The movements of the Taishakutsukimo are agile, and it might even be less stressful than traveling by car.
(Even so, Nagahama really is a place with nothing but plants and trees...)
From horseback, the landscape of Nagahama is, needless to say, nothing of the sort.
It was the same when I visited Lake Biwa before going to Tomokuni Village; there's really nothing there.
There are only a few houses scattered here and there.
Currently, there are overwhelmingly more trees than houses, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing how much this landscape will change once the castle is built, and to the development and progress that will follow.
But there was something else that bothered me more.
This is because large creatures, resembling dragons, were strutting around in groups, acting as if they owned the place, among the plants and right next to the houses.
Its body is pure white, and its canvas is adorned with black edges, much like those of a cow.
It has thick, bushy fur from head to tail, and its movements are extremely slow.
It is a gigantic monster with an appearance that is approximately 15 meters long.
There were two of them blocking our path.
Naturally, they must have noticed us speeding towards our destination.
They spot us with their round eyes, then stretch their necks out, showing signs of caution.
The battle from the past—the fight against that ferocious hawk—instantly flashed through my mind.
(If... these things are dangerous monsters...!)
Hesitation, even for a moment of carelessness, and you'll die.
I immediately reached for the hilt of Ishiwari Kanemitsu, a sword made of fluorite, which is effective against monsters.
But I think they sensed my movements.
Taishakutsukimo let out a small cry as if to restrain me, then raised his head towards the giant shadow in front of us .嘶Inana
Suddenly, they seemed to lose interest in us—and abruptly averted their gaze.
Then it stretched its neck and began to munch on the grass growing on the branches and leaves of the tall trees.
The monsters' wariness had completely vanished, and along with it, the strength drained from my body.
(Ah... I see, these guys are... '')牛cow
Perhaps because I had relaxed and my thoughts had softened, I suddenly remembered the contents of the "Monster Encyclopedia" that I had borrowed from Chihime.
The dragon-like monster in front of me is a creature called a cow, a herbivorous monster that rarely poses any danger to humans.
I don't blindly believe the "Monster Encyclopedia," but at least the author who wrote it seems to have that understanding.
And the two in front of me are probably a male and female pair.
I had a feeling that was the case, for some reason.
And it seems that my intuition was correct.
As the cow stood on its hind legs and began to eat grass higher up, I saw a small calf clinging to its belly.
The tiny little creature latched onto the breast on its mother's belly as she ate, and was diligently drinking milk.
(I see...)
I now understand why they were giving me such a wary look.
Perhaps they were worried.
I was worried that another monster, like a horse, might come and harm the child.
But once that worry is gone, they'll also have no need to pay any more attention to us.
(Come to think of it, Toushirou said that "horses are honest creatures that can't lie.")
I don't know if that's true, or if it's true of this world, but if it is, it explains why these monsters let down their guard at a single cry from Indra Moon.理rule
Including that, I'd like to ask Taishakutsukimo a lot of questions when he's able to take on a human form.
Taishakutsukimo ran past a family of cows that looked exactly like black-spotted dragons, and after going a little further, arrived at a place where many temporary huts had been built.
Perhaps that area is where the laborers involved in the construction of the main hall and silkworm farm at Nagahama Castle reside.
Naturally, there was a soldiers' barracks there, and Taishakutsukimo stopped in front of it, urging me to get off.
As I was urged to dismount from Taishakutsukimo's back, eleven soldiers rushed out of the guardhouse.
"Thank you for your hard work."
I straightened my posture, patted the shoulder of the soldier who seemed nervous in front of me, and asked them a question.
"However, does anyone know where my younger brother, Masamoto, is? If possible, please tell him that his brother has arrived. Add that he apologizes for being late."
Two of the soldiers said they knew where Masamoto was.
I sent them on an errand, instructed the remaining soldiers to return to their normal duties, and then decided to take a stroll around the area with Taishakutsukimo as my companion.
The soldiers I sent out on errands probably won't be back anytime soon, so to be honest, I want to take the opportunity to look around while I have the chance.
Our location was very close to the lakeshore, and we could reach the shore of Lake Biwa in no time if we walked there.
Historically, Nagahama Castle was located near the lakeshore, and in this world, the castle is to be built in almost the same location.
Eventually, an order will be issued to relocate the castle town of the former Odani Castle, and a new castle town will be built—but at that time, they will have to seriously consider how to deal with these monsters.
It goes without saying, but some monsters possess their own will and emotions.
As the case of Taishakutsukimo made clear, horses and the demons associated with them are probably not the only demons that possess will and emotions.
Those cows are also creatures capable of communication. It's probably safe to assume they possess advanced cognitive abilities.
If that were the case, then if we were to cut down all the vegetation and reshape Nagahama to suit human convenience, it was clear that they would be saddened and despairing, and would launch a war against us to reclaim their homeland.
(In other words, the castle town of Nagahama will become a place where not only humans but also zashiki-warashi (house spirits) and demons mingle, and it must be that way.)
Although it was fraught with many problems, it seemed like a problem that could be resolved depending on the urban planning.
To achieve that, we need to properly carry out and thoroughly manage the land readjustment and its management.
And nearby, as I was thinking about all that, a different cow from the one I'd seen earlier was happily munching on the grass growing from the ground.
Its size is smaller than the adult we saw earlier, measuring about 10 meters in length, but it is still a remarkably impressive specimen.
As expected, this individual also gave me and Taishakutsukige a suspicious look when it noticed us, but a single cry from Taishakutsukige caused it to return its gaze to the grass and become engrossed in eating.
When I see those cows, I can't help but think: I'm truly envious.
I spend my days leisurely, eating grass without a care in the world.
As for drinking water, we have no problems at all thanks to Lake Biwa, and what's more, due to the nature of the monsters, the only thing we're afraid of is other monsters.
If they wanted to, they could find a mate, have offspring, and raise them, just like the pair we saw earlier.
(How enviable!)
In a sense, perhaps these monsters are the ones who are realizing the peaceful life that humans constantly yearn for...
While thinking about these things, I also pondered their temperaments.
It seems safe to assume that these cows are, as described in the "Monster Encyclopedia," basically docile, herbivorous monsters.
That's because, even in an environment inhabited by such enormous monsters, there are houses, albeit few, where humans live.
Furthermore, considering the fact that laborers' settlements are built near the habitats of these monsters, it becomes clear that the inhabitants of this world do not perceive these monsters as a threat at all.
(I guess not all monsters are as vicious as hawks...)
And if we want to coexist with cows, which have a gentle temperament, we will have to consider various methods.
For example, you could completely define the city's layout and then surround it with dense jungle—
Or perhaps they could leave nature in the city center and build a castle town around it.
Or perhaps they could leave natural areas scattered throughout the city, creating a castle town where monsters and humans mingled freely—
(Yeah, just thinking about it...it's fun.)
If sericulture flourishes and generates capital for the Asai family, that capital could then be used to directly promote the development of the castle town.
Nevertheless, building a city is an enormous undertaking.
This is a problem that absolutely cannot be taken lightly.
If the sewage system isn't properly developed, epidemics will break out, and if the roads aren't wide enough, there will be a lot of accidents involving horses and vehicles.
But that requires money.
The reason I haven't been able to take on large-scale internal affairs administration until now is entirely because of "money."
Money is absolutely essential for everything you do.
That is the sad reality of this world, and the frantic efforts to raise money have been a universal human behavior ever seen wherever civilization has flourished since the dawn of history.
(In that sense, humanity hasn't made any progress at all...)
Standing by the edge of Lake Biwa, I indulged in such sentimentality.
Ultimately, while science and technology advanced, the structure of humanity and society remained completely unchanged—that was the reality of the 21st century society I lived through.
In a sense, it is progress within a stagnant situation.
Even when you think you're making progress, the reality is that you're not making any progress at all.
Ultimately, humans could only find peace by taking.
Whether it's for meals or scientific experiments, we can't accomplish anything without taking the lives of plants and animals.
"Kyuoooon"
Indra cried.
Then, as if to shield me from the wind blowing in from the lake, he thrusts his large body in front of me.
Those gentle, light green eyes seemed to be saying, "If you keep spacing out like this, you'll catch a cold."
"Brother!"
As I gazed blankly into those beautiful eyes, I heard Masamoto's voice from behind me.
Looking back, there he was, accompanied by several men.
Masamoto was wearing a light blue jacket and black hakama trousers. The Asai family crest was embroidered onto the jacket as decoration.
Standing beside him was Kiyosada Amamori of the Asai family, and when our eyes met, he quietly bowed.
The men standing behind Masamoto and Kiyosada were wearing similar-colored and patterned clothing, and it was clear that they weren't particularly expensive—except for one of them.
"Ah, Masamoto and Kiyosada. I'm sorry, I seem to be quite late..."
"No, that's not the case..."
"I apologize for summoning you so suddenly, brother. And what exactly are you doing here...?"
"I was thinking about it. About how to design the city, all sorts of things."
"...I see."
Masamoto clapped his hands once and glanced at the man standing behind Kiyosada.
"Speaking of the town, thanks to this young man—Tanaka Yoshimasa—whom my brother recommended to Lord Kiyosada, the construction is progressing better and more appropriately than originally planned, although it is behind schedule."
"I see, then that's fine."
I nodded as I looked at the young man.
If my memory serves me correctly, Yoshimasa was born in 1548. This year—that is, 1567—would make him 19 years old.
However, unlike the world I came from, being 19 years old in the Sengoku period carries a completely different weight.
Incidentally, Tanaka Yoshimasa is an extremely important figure for us modern people.
This is because he was a figure who carried out urban development and construction projects that directly connect to the present day, and he is an unsung hero who is absolutely essential to understanding the history of Japanese cities.
But more importantly, if you ask why I recommended him for the position of Kiyosada and brought him to the forefront of domestic affairs—
"Yoshimasa, you seem to be working very hard. I appreciate it."
"Y-yes! Not only was I given the opportunity to be involved in such a valuable event, but I am also deeply honored to receive such kind words..."
"Well, perhaps—your mother's bloodline was the key."
The moment I uttered those words, Yoshimasa flinched, his body tensing, and he looked up at me with his eyes wide in terror.
—Yes, if historical records are accurate, his mother was from Tomokuni Village.
And it seems that the same was true in this world as well.
If that's the case, then he would be either a second-generation zashiki-warashi born between two zashiki-warashi, or a quarter-demon born between a zashiki-warashi and a human.
"Well, that's not really important."
I said that to him with a smile, then turned back to Masamoto and Kiyosada.
"Now, Masamoto, let's go to the silkworm farm, which is the reason I came here. I really need to see it with my own eyes to understand just how big it is."
"Of course. Seeing is believing. Well, you can just take what I say as one of those hundred things, but personally, I think we've created something really good."
Saying this, Masamoto flashed a truly refreshing smile, like a young actor raising a beer against the backdrop of a deep blue sea.