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Part 5: The Moment of Grand Journey
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Episode 67: People Living in Mino
The Taishakutsukige, carrying me and Hisashi, was traveling at a slower speed than usual.
That must be her way of showing consideration.
Although Hisashi sometimes took care of Taishakutsukimo, he rarely rode on its back.
It's only natural to try to drive in a way that puts as little strain on the girl as possible.
Hisashi's arms were wrapped around my stomach, and he was holding me tightly.
His face is turned to the side, and it looks like Hisashi's cheek is pressed against the area around his spine.
In the world I came from, the spirit of mutual assistance, "Let's help those in need," was highly praised, but...
However, in reality, men who try to help women are more likely to be reported to the police.
It was truly a harsh world back then—my current situation would definitely be considered a "crime" in my old world. No doubt about it.
"My lord..."
"What's wrong, Hisashi?"
"...It's nothing."
Hisashi said that and pressed his forehead against my back.
"Back in the day...before I went to work in the lord's service, my older brother often carried me on his back...I was reminded of that a little."
"...I see."
The girl didn't say anything more, and neither could I.
Hisashi's older brother, Hikobei, took the Ishiwari Kanemitsu sword, which was the trump card against the monsters, from Hisamasa's mansion in order to give it to me, and as a result was killed.
I have never forgotten that, and I never will.
"My lord..."
"What?"
"Thank you for taking in Hisashi..."
"It's alright, don't worry about it."
I took a deep breath, looked straight ahead, and said:
"You're the sister of my benefactor. Considering the kindness he's shown me, I still..."
"..."
"So, how is it? I might have asked you this before, but... are you enjoying your life now?"
"...yes!"
"That's good then."
As I felt Hisashi tighten his grip on me, I could see that we had passed Sekigahara.
Taishakutsukimo tread across the Nobi Plain, powerfully kicking the fertile ground beneath his feet.
It feels like the temperature is slightly higher here compared to northern Omi.
The Nobi Plain is a region that experiences high temperatures and humidity during the summer, making it one of the hottest areas in Japan.
It's already the end of May, and in just a few days it will be June—and summer.
The first summer I'll experience in this world is coming.
"Kyuooooon"
Indra cries.
What you see ahead is Mount Kinka, with Gifu Castle at its summit. It was once a formidable fortress known as Inabayama Castle.
And below it lies the castle town.
The townscape formed between the Nagara River and Mount Kinka was significantly more developed and larger than when I last visited.
Upon entering the castle town, Taishakutsukimo stopped running and began walking slowly.
"It's... remarkably well-organized."
"Wow...wow...amazing..."
The town is bustling with activity and many people live there.
Wooden houses lined the streets, and various goods were displayed under their eaves.
They contain vegetables, salted fish, and various tools whose purpose is unknown.
But more than that, the entire town was bustling with activity.
Flutes were being played everywhere, and occasionally the sound of drums could be heard.
"Today was City Day, wasn't it..."
She clung to me, letting out a cry of excitement that she could no longer contain.
The main street of the castle town is filled with all sorts of people: street performers (as they would be called in my original world), people playing musical instruments and singing, and beggars.
Beggars, in particular, were commonplace in this era, even a part of the everyday landscape.
"Shall we buy something?"
"N-no, not at all..."
Hisashi hastily raised his voice in denial.
With a wry smile, I decided to enjoy sightseeing in the castle town with Hisashi from horseback on Taishakutsukige.
I can't help but feel like there's a commotion around us as people look at Taishakutsukimo and me, but I decided to ignore it.
It's likely that one of the Oda clan's foot soldiers who fought alongside me during the falconry hunt was among them.
"Hey there! Isn't that Lord Bizen-no-kami of Omi Province?!"
A voice came from in front of me, and when I squinted my eyes, I spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
A man with a comical face on a small body...
This is Kinoshita Hideyoshi.
"Ah, Lord Hideyoshi... It's been a long time."
"I am honored that you remember me..."
Taishakutsukimo stopped, and I got off her back.
Then, he picked up Hisashi's slender, soft body and helped him dismount.
For a small girl like her to dismount from the large horse Taishakutsukige on her own is quite an extremely difficult task.
"May I ask, is that lovely young lady yours, Lord Bizen-no-kami?"御妾Soba
"No, he's a relative of my benefactor."
"Oh dear... I apologize for my rudeness."
Saying this, Hideyoshi scratched his forehead.
Indeed, he has a face that resembles a monkey.
"Conversely, I ask you this, Lord Hideyoshi."
"What is it?"
"And the woman standing beside Lord Hideyoshi...could it be Lady Nene?"
"Mmm!"
Hideyoshi's face was filled with surprise as he let out a groan like a withered toad on the street.轢fire
Similarly, the woman who was standing discreetly behind him also looked surprised.
With her forehead exposed and long black hair, she was wearing a simple kimono.
Her eyebrows were sharp and cool, and her face conveyed a sense of inherent strength of character.
I'm about 10cm taller than my husband.
Perhaps she's better known as "Nene" rather than "Nene ."高台院Koudaiin
The woman, famously known as Hideyoshi's wife, covered her mouth with both hands, trying to stifle any gasp of surprise.
"W-What... Lord Bizen-no-kami knows the name of my wife, a humble servant like me...?"何故Why?
Hideyoshi asks, in a questioning tone.
It seems that, even in this world, his wife is indeed Nene.
"Well, I've heard all sorts of things about Lady Nene through the grapevine..."
I narrowed my eyes, grinning mischievously.
"Lord Oda Kazusa-no-suke, the great leader of the land, has a man in his service who is like cotton. He is not flashy, but he is very useful... However, it is often whispered that this man has a woman who is like silk."
"W-What..."
Of course it's Osaka.
But the man in front of me seemed to have taken it seriously, his eyes wide with surprise.
It seems the shock was quite significant.
"I've heard that there are many men in Owari and Mino who try to take advantage of women who wear silk. Surely, they must know the name of a woman of that caliber."
"Hey... I'll... take Nene...
"Y-you..."
As Hideyoshi began to stumble, his wife, who was taller than him, supported him.
In the world I came from, Hideyoshi was said to have a penchant for seducing other women, but it seems he doesn't have a tendency to be seduced himself.
"Don't worry... I, Nene, would rather bite off my tongue and die than fall into the hands of any man other than you."
"Th-this is a problem! I can't die...!"
The Kinoshita couple created their own little world right before my eyes.
They are said to have been a rare couple in the Sengoku period, having married for love.
But I couldn't have that going on forever, so I coughed.
"It's Lady Nene."
"Y-yes!"
"Your husband is a well-known man all the way to Omi, so I hope you'll support him well."
"Those are very kind words..."
"Is that too much? Hideyoshi is truly an exceptional man."
I approached Hideyoshi, placed my hand on his tightly clenched fist, and opened it.
It had six fingers, but I didn't pay much attention to that and gripped its hand tightly.
Hideyoshi seemed quite surprised, staring at me with his eyes wide open.
"Cherish your wife."
I said to him, who had a look of utter shock on his face.
"Husband and wife should live their lives hand in hand. If you have any difficulties that you can't tell your brother-in-law about, don't hesitate to talk to me."
"Th-those are very kind words...!"
When I let go, Hideyoshi stared blankly at his six fingers, then said as if startled:
"I will repay this kindness by becoming successful in the future!"
"Don't worry about that."
With that, I returned to Taishakutsukimo.
Hisashi followed me at a brisk pace, and when he saw that I was mounted on my horse, he glanced back at the Kinoshita couple.
"Ku"
"Oh, yes!"
After pulling Hisashi onto his horse, I called out to the Kinoshita couple.
"Lord Hideyoshi, and Lady Nene, I apologize for getting in your way."
"Oh no, that's not true!"
Hideyoshi jumped up and bowed deeply.
"And where do you intend to go from here, Lord Bizen-no-kami?"
"Yes, to my brother-in-law's place."
"In that case, please continue straight ahead."
Hideyoshi raised his head abruptly and said:
"Lord Nobunaga's residence is no longer on top of Mount Kinka, but at the foot of the mountain."
"appreciate"
After parting ways with the Kinoshita couple, Taishakutsukimo headed towards the foot of Mount Kinka with a firm stride.
As you get closer, you can see changes in the townscape.
The houses and shops of merchants had drastically decreased, leaving only barracks for foot soldiers and samurai residences.
Originally, the separation of soldiers and farmers was not well-established during the Sengoku period, so the very existence of samurai residences spread throughout a castle town like this is unusual...
But now, here it is, in the castle town.
It seems that Nobunaga was indeed extremely advanced when it came to developing castle towns.
As we proceeded, glancing sideways at the houses of the soldiers, we could see, in the distance, large mansions and castle-like buildings that were easily recognizable, beyond thick walls.
The area was guarded by many soldiers, and it was clear that guard posts had been set up on both sides of the road at the edge of the castle town.
The soldiers are watching me from a distance, murmuring making a fuss.騒rustle
It seems they've recognized the man slowly approaching Nobunaga's residence as Asai Nagamasa.
And at the same time, they don't seem to understand why a man who should be in northern Omi has come all the way to Nobunaga's residence alone, accompanied only by a girl.
If I were a retainer of the Oda family, the soldiers on guard duty would have a way to respond.
But I am not a vassal of the Oda family, but an ally, and moreover, I am related to the Oda family through marriage.
They were unable to stop Taishakutsukimo's march, and as a result, they were unable to do anything until we reached the gate.
"Hi"
When I called out to one of the guards, he straightened his back and looked tense.
"Hello, I'm Nagamasa from Kita-Omi."
"Ha, ha!!"
When I offered an overly polite greeting, he stood perfectly still and gave a resounding, heartfelt reply.
"I have received a letter from my brother-in-law, Lord Oda Kazusa-no-suke, and have come here to respond. If possible, I would like to request that you allow me to speak to him..."
"Y-Yes, I understand!!"
Suddenly, a huge commotion erupted, like stirring up a beehive.
Voices were rising from all around, saying things like, "That's Lord Bizen, the hero of falconry!" and "We must not show any disrespect to him!"
Apparently, I'm recognized as a hero of falconry, especially in Mino Province.
It's possible that many of the soldiers witnessed the killing of the hawk.
The gate opens, and an old man, wiping sweat from his brow, comes to greet me.
After descending from Taishakutsukimo and entering with her and Hisa, we found ourselves in a beautiful garden.
It was truly a vast space, with a river flowing through the garden.
It was a truly breathtaking, dreamlike place.
To be honest, I didn't know where I could give Taishakutsukimo a rest...
According to the old man who was guiding us, it seems there is a place to park horses inside Nobunaga's mansion.
It seems like you can just park it there.
"Kyuooooon"
Indra cried.
Following the voice, I turned my gaze and there I saw my brother-in-law—Oda Nobunaga—stomping out of the mansion.
The old man strayed from the path, and deviated from the line between me and Nobunaga.
When I bowed, my brother-in-law let out a big sigh and looked me straight in the eye.
"...So, my brother-in-law has come again without an escort."
His voice was a mix of exasperation and, to some extent, delight.
He must have felt a sense of relief when I, his brother-in-law, came myself after being told to send a messenger.
My ears won't miss it.
Seeing Nobunaga's handsome face, she smiled and placed her hands on Hisa's shoulders—
"Here he is, my companion."
—That's what I said.
Suddenly thrust before the mighty Oda Nobunaga, Hisa's immature body was frozen solid...
Nobunaga himself didn't seem to be particularly interested in Hisa's tense situation.
As he approached us, Nobunaga began to ruffle Hisa's hair.
"Brother-in-law"
"Yes"
I stroked Hisashi's head and told my brother-in-law, who had his arms crossed, the reason for our visit.
"I received your letter, so I'm writing to reply for now. You requested that I send a messenger, but I thought it would be quicker if I, Nagamasa, answered in person, so I have come here."
"Is that so?"
Nobunaga patted me on the shoulder and pulled me closer, saying:
"But it seems my brother-in-law has no common sense whatsoever... As I said before, what would you do if I intended to kill you?"
"...In that case, we'll have the city reprimand my brother-in-law later."
"nothing..."
Taking Nobunaga's hand that was resting on my shoulder, I looked him straight in the eyes and said:
"I have been looking forward to the opportunity to speak with you again, transcending titles and positions. It is an honor to see you again, brother-in-law."
"...This fellow."
Nobunaga's sharp face twisted into a wry smile, and he lightly slapped my forehead with his palm.
Naturally, this is not something a daimyo should do to another daimyo. If done incorrectly, it could immediately become a diplomatic issue.
But of course, such an inappropriate topic never came up between him and me...
After laughing together for a while, they exchanged a firm handshake.
Then, with Nobunaga's arm around her shoulder, she was invited to the mansion where he lived.
"My brother-in-law"
"yes"
"How's the city doing?"
As we walked along the path covered with pure white gravel, Nobunaga suddenly became serious and asked me a question.
He's probably worried about his sister who's in a foreign country.
I responded with a smile to reassure him.
"He's doing well. I really wanted to bring him along, but..."
"Hmm..."
Nobunaga said this, his face showing signs of thought.
I then took a letter from my pocket and handed it to him.
This was entrusted to me by Princess Ichi before I left Sugawa Castle.
"Brother-in-law, take this."
"nothing...?"
"The city told me to give it to my brother-in-law."
Upon receiving the letter from me, Nobunaga immediately opened the envelope and began to read its contents.
Hisa seemed as tense as ever, gripping my kimono tightly around my waist.
"Hmm... I see... Well, as my brother-in-law said, he does seem to be in good health..."
"Is something wrong?"
I questioned Nobunaga, who was making a strange, indescribable face.
"My brother-in-law"
"yes"
"Do you know... what kind of letters Ichi sends me on a regular basis?"
But I'm at a loss for words when asked that.
"No, I have absolutely no idea..."由Okay
"Is that so?"
Nobunaga let out a deep sigh—
"...Well, sometimes ignorance is bliss. Forget it. I don't know if Buddha really exists or not."
—She took her hand off my shoulder and patted me on the back.
Then, he urged us to enter the mansion.
"Gyuoooooon!"
As I was doing that, a horse's neighing, sounding incredibly excited, echoed from right beside me.
Looking towards me, I saw Nobunaga's beloved horse, Renzen Shige, running towards me.
"...Leave the horses to the horses."
As Nobunaga watched the huge stallion with silver horns snuggle up beside his Taishakutsukige and begin sniffing him all over, he let out another deep sigh.