Chapter 2 : Sea of Pirates, Isle of Knights
Part 1
"Damn it Nobuna~! How could she banish me to Ise alone just as Takeda Shingen starts moving!? Just how much does she not want to kiss me!?"
Sagara Yoshiharu slowly walked the streets of Omi, heading towards Ise with nothing but the merchant clothes on his back.
"How am I supposed to handle being banished to Ise all of a sudden? The only things I know in Ise are the 'Ise Grand Shrine' and 'Akafuku [6] '!"
In a fury, Nobuna had declared, "Sagara Yoshiharu corps is hereby disbanded, and you are banished to Ise!" Yoshiharu, being the impulsive young man he was, shouted back in equal anger "If you're going to be like that, Team Sagara will just revolt!", but after Nobuna went back to Honnou temple and calmed down, she began preparations to move out. At this time, Hanbei secretly told Yoshiharu what she could notice.
Most importantly, Nobuna would never banish Yoshiharu to Ise simply in a fit of anger.
Of course, after hearing of Mitsuhide and Yoshiharu planning a marriage, Nobuna was truly angry enough to seriously consider slashing Yoshiharu in half. There was a deeper meaning in banishing Yoshiharu to Ise however, and that was...
"Takigawa Kazumasu-sama, who is in charge of guarding Ise, has not been contacting Nobuna-sama for some reason. She might intend to become independent in this chaos with Takeda and the Asai-Asakura. Kazumasu-sama didn't become Nobuna-sama's retainer on her own will, so the situation is already strained; spreading rumors like, 'I'm suspecting that you will revolt' might destabilize the Oda Clan further. But, if Yoshiharu-sama was sent to Ise to be banished, Kazumasu-sama will not become suspicious of you. In other words, Nobuna-sama is expecting you to persuade Kazumasu-sama to lead the Ise army and join the battle with Takeda Shingen. Dismissing the Sagara corps will also allow Kazumasu-sama to trust you more, so it... it should be like this...."
Hanbei had seen straight through the situation.
Though, Yoshiharu had never actually met Takigawa Kazumasu.
Recently, children had been singing songs about "Sengoku warriors", and there was one about "The Oda Clan's Four Generals".
"The Oda Clan's Four Generals", in summary...
Number one in courage, Shibata Katsuie.
Number one in ethics, Niwa Nagahide.
Number one in intelligence, Akechi Mitsuhide.
And the last, "Number one in contribution, Sagara Yoshiharu"...not.... this title belonged to Ise's Takigawa Kazumasu.
Takigawa Kazumasu was born a ninja from Kouga and was new blood in the Oda Clan, similar to Mitsuhide and Yoshiharu. As a capable general in the Oda clan, she was tasked with commanding the whole of Ise's army. While Nobuna focused on conquering Mino and heading to Kyo, Takigawa Kazumasu was conquering Ise virtually without help from the rest of the clan. At this point, she had conquered more than half of the sparse lands of Ise.
Against the average armies and defenses of Ise, Takigawa Kazumasu was the very definition of a real conqueror.
But, during the “Retreat at Kanegasaki”, when enemy forces isolated Nobuna's army by occupying the link between Mino, Owari and Southern Omi, Takigawa Kazumasu merely watched from afar.
After that, even the periodic contact from Ise halted.
The reason Yoshiharu had never seen Takigawa Kazumasu was because after she had left for Ise and could move freely, she had not come back to Nobuna.
"Anyway, from what Hanbei told me, Nobuna is expecting me to persuade Takigawa Kazumasu or something. Is that really true....? I've never even seen Takigawa Kazumasu. Even in my favorite sengoku SLG game, 'Oda Nobunaga no Yabou', Takigawa Kazumasu has a rather weak presence. I can't begin to guess just what kind of a fellow she will be in this world."
The only one who really knew was the Kouga ninja, the new blood of the Oda Clan.
Anyway, the reason Yoshiharu was not included in the ranks of "The Oda Clan's Four Generals" was most likely because he was a guy. The female warriors were much more popular in these children's ballads, for some reason.
"Persuading Takigawa Kazumasu-sama who ignored us in the last battle will definitely appease Nobuna-sama's anger, and with that, Yoshiharu-sama will be able to come back. If I stayed at Nobuna-sama's side every day, she would end up scaring me to death, so if Yoshiharu-sama doesn't come back soon, I'm gonna return to Mount Bodai. *Sob*Sob*" Hanbei sighed.
Before Yoshiharu left for Ise, Hanbei had passed him a scroll.
"This is a map of Ise, *Sob*Sob*. Basically, Ise can be divided to three areas: North Ise, South Ise and Shima. The province is large, so please do not get lost. Takigawa Kazumasu-sama has almost completely conquered both north and south Ise, and should currently be assaulting the southernmost Shima. The seas there have lots of isles and pirates, and villages are often attacked. The villagers are on guard, so please do be careful Yoshiharu-sama; don't get caught by the pirates."
"Pirates? The harbors of Owari seem well secured under Nobuna, so I haven't run into any so far."
Now well on his trek to Takigawa Kazumasu, Yoshiharu held the map Hanbei had given him close to his chest.
Because Ise was basically the Oda Clan's territory, crossing the border was easy.(!) Thanks to the relaxed border control and Hanbei's map, Yoshiharu entered Shima without needing any significant detours. He had passed by the Ise Grand Shrine as he travelled, but did not have the time to visit. Hanbei had taken the time to write the shrine an introduction on the scroll however.
"The Ise Grand Shrine was originally a shrine exclusively for royalty. This rule no longer exists, but it is still one off the top shrines of Japan. The reason for this is that, of the 'Three Sacred Treasures [7] ', Kusanagi no Tsurugi, Yata no Kagami and Yasakani no Magatama, the mirror Yata no Kagami is worshipped here. Of the other two treasures, Kusanagi no Tsurugi is worshipped at Atsuta Shrine in Nobuna-sama's territory, and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama sank into the Setouchi sea during the Genpei war, bringing Japan to this chaotic sengoku era. It is said that if we find the Yasakani no Magatama, we might end this chaotic era, but since it sank into the immense depths of the Setouchi seas, it would be very difficult to salvage... *Sob*Sob*"
"I see. I knew the Ise Grand Shrine was an important shrine with a long history, though I never thought it housed one of the treasures." Yoshiharu sighed, finishing Hanbei's introduction.
"Anyway, this world has the three treasures too...?"
"Ah, this is Ise Shima, huh?... Eh? So is this Ise, or Shima?"
Like pearls, countless isles dotted the sea. A "Labyrinth of the seas" was really the only way to describe it. Standing at the top of a hill, Yoshiharu experienced first-hand Shima's fair winds, her bright sunlight and the strong scent of her reefs. Looking down at the Sea of Shima, he sighed again.
Back in Kyoto, has Juubei-chan properly explained to Nobuna already... Forget it, I'm lucky if she didn't make the misunderstanding worse... Ahh, my head hurts once I think about what happened in Kyoto. I have finally come to this beautiful vacation spot, but I just can't enjoy it at all! Ahhh!
"Zenki said that I have the face of one with 'Women troubles'. I hope it does not come true at Shima..."
After persuading Takigawa Kazumasu to join the battle with Takeda Shingen, I can go back to the frontlines. No matter what, this next battle will decide if Nobuna can conquer the world. If Nobuna loses, Takeda Shingen will be the conqueror.
He stuffed the mochi he bought on the way into his mouth.
"I have not the LEAST intention to meet Nobuna's expectation, but this time around, we are going to fight Takeda Shingen. If I can't persuade Takigawa Kazumasu, the Oda clan will be in a bad shape, so there's no helping it. I can only do my best!" Yoshiharu made up his mind.
"But, no matter how you consider the shape or taste, this is still Mame Daifuku. So in Ise it's called Akafuku mochi huh…"
Yoshiharu, satisfied with the taste, took out another one.
And so, he completely failed to notice the group of young girls behind him.
Some were holding ropes.
Some were holding pitchforks.
And some were holding fishing nets.
These girls weren’t wearing the clothes of warriors.
They wore a headband, and their generously scant attire revealed a great deal of tanned skin.
Yes.
These girls are Ise's local bullies, the pirates!
"It's a guy wearing clothes from the city."
"He's a guy, yet he dares to trespass into our territory alone?"
"He seems weak; let's use him as shark bait."
"Wait, he might be from the Oda clan, so we should catch him and take him to Hime-sama."
"Go!"
The girls shouted in unison and jumped right at Yoshiharu.
"Ohhh? Ane, Shoujo and lolis!? Is Shima the Dragon Palace castle [8] !?"
Before Yoshiharu, with his lecherous face, could even react, he had been tied up already.
Just desserts.
"Whoa? Wa...Wait!? I...I'm not a peeking pervert!"
"Not waiting!"
"Put him in the sack!"
Yoshiharu was casually thrown into a large sack and dragged along, his head hitting a stone on the ground.
"...Ow...Ouch!!!"
His vision blurred...
"What a bunch of violent girls... Damn it! I'm running out of lives too fast in this sengoku era."
Slowly, Yoshiharu loses consciousness.
"This fellow is just useless trash! Ahahaha!"
"He can't be compared to us, the pirate gang at all!"
Ahh, Ahhh.
The all-female pirates captured the male, Sagara Yoshiharu. What an insult.
As expected, I can't do anything without my comrades.
Don't tell me my life is going to end in this unfamiliar Ise Shima?
Sagara Yoshiharu's life was once again in crisis!
Part 2
"...Uhh...Uhh... It hurts~"
Yoshiharu finally woke up.
With hands and legs still tied, he was thrown onto the floor.
His head was so banged up he couldn't seem to stop it from spinning… No, something about that was off. His head wasn't spinning; it was the room that was swaying around.
The ceiling was also abnormally high, and the long window near the ceiling was namban style for some reason, sunlight shining cleanly through it.
The swaying house stunk of the reefs, and there were sounds of waves occasionally.
Is this a ship? Am I on a boat?
"What do they plan to do with me!?"
KA!
Yoshiharu tried his best to raise his head and find the source of the sound.
"I am the fearsome head of the Kuki Pirates, Kuki Yoshitaka, whose name will silence even crying infants." Sitting on a namban-styled chair and unabashedly showing off her long legs was a "big sister"-like female pirate with tanned skin and big breasts.
Yoshiharu could feel her measuring him with sharp eyes.
"This is my boat! What is a lecherous faced Saru-like person doing here!? No men are allowed on my boat!"
"Oh, Ohh!? This is..."
Yoshiharu's eyes sprang completely open as he realized what the female pirates were wearing.
If one were to describe it in words, their clothes would be like namban-styled swimsuits, specifically the ones focused on minimizing the amount of fabric. A cloth was wrapped around her waist like a skirt, and all of it combined to become, without a doubt, a bikini! From Kuki's neck hung a pearl necklace, and several pearl bracelets laced her wrists as well. Add in the well endowed body barely contained by the bikini... No, that bikini wasn't honestly containing anything...
The unpopular Sagara Yoshiharu, who belonged to the modern era but had no luck with a youngster's love and sex, felt his crotch budging unintentionally.
"Ohhhhhhh!? To be able to see a bikini in this era!? And what's with that perfect body!? Is this an illusion!? As expected, Shima is the Dragon Palace Castle!?"
"Che, what's with this fellow? He keeps looking more and more like a monkey, and somehow he's only getting more and more lewd. So disgusting... Hime-sama, hurry and execute him."
"Hime-sama?"
What was with the sudden execution?
The girls standing behind Yoshiharu started shouting,
"Guys are not needed in our world!"
"He seems to be having ulterior motives!"
"But isn't it because Kuki-sama leads the female-only pirates that she delayed her marriage....?"
"It's ok since we are still young, but Boss should start worrying..."
"I don't need you guys to worry about my marriage!" Kuki Yoshitaka roared at her subordinates. "Setting aside my marriage, we need to execute this culprit over here!"
"What has that got to do with me!?"
"Kuki, calm down, even if we are to execute him, we must know his identity first."
"Yes! Hime-sama, your words exactly!"
After the leader of the pirates, Kuki Yoshitaka heard the small girl's voice from the most inner corners of the room, her face flushed red as she kneeled down.
"Hime, who is that?"
"No manners," Kuki Yoshitaka snapped, stomping on Yoshiharu's head. "Listen Saru, do you know who this is right in front of your eyes!? She is the Takigawa Kazumasu, who stands above all Kouga ninja. Sakonshougen Takigawa Kazumasu-sama! Your head is too high; show some respect!"
"What a messed up Nee-sama, anyway... She is Ta...Takigawa Kazumasu!?"
As Kuki Yoshitaka raised her legs for another stomp, Yoshiharu had a swift moment to raise his head for a proper look.
The last of the Oda Clan's Four Generals, Takigawa Kazumasu.
The real face of the one who seem shrouded in mystery. The one who, with the impending clash between the Oda Clan and Takeda Shingen, would decide the fate of Nobuna's ambition with a single decision, Takigawa Kazumasu.
"Why is Takigawa Kazumasu leading the pirates!?"
"Kuku, Kuki is my loyal subordinate who had given me herself and her pirates."
She sounded arrogant, but that was unmistakably a child's voice.
"Kuku, it's ok to let him raise his head, Kuki."
"But, I feel that the esteemed Hime-sama will be tainted once you look at this disgusting Saru."
Kuki Takigawa reluctantly removed her leg from Yoshiharu's face.
And then,
".....EHHH!?"
Yoshiharu who had finally seen Kazumasu's face let out a shocked scream.
Till now, Yoshiharu's impression on Takigawa Kazumasu was someone with age, a “famous shooter from the Kouga ninjas." But, who would have thought that Takigawa Kazumasu was just a small girl.
As one of the Oda clan's 4 generals, she was just too young.
And, though she held the newest model of arquebus, for whatever reason she was dressed as a shrine maiden.
That delicate body was just too shocking.
"Ehhhhhh, wh...what is going on? I guess if I consider this a sengoku game, it is very likely that cute CG would be used again and again.... I can't believe I never realized it!"
"Kuku, lost control due to my cute face, huh? But what is it you are rambling about, you Saru? Kuki, translate."
"Even I cannot understand the language of monkeys."
Wielding both an arrogant tone totally unfitting of her age and a pure smile that seemed specially designed to call Yoshiharu an idiot, Kazumasu was just so cute!
"I'm not a lolicon, but a breast alien..." Even Yoshiharu who had declared such lofty words was starting to feel nervous.
"I...I...I...I...I'm not a monkey! A-And, you... might you really be Takigawa Kazumasu?" Suddenly, Yoshiharu's speech shot directly to formal.
No matter what, she is too alike! Don't tell me she is that girl.
This time, it is Takigawa Kazumasu using her small feet to stomp on Yoshiharu.
"Kuku, I am unmistakably Sakonshougen Takigawa Kazumasu. I don't know who you are mistaking me with, but since I've said so, it is definitely correct."
"Hime-sama! It will taint Hime-sama if you touch this despicable man! It's mine, Kuki Yoshitaka's responsibility to remove any rude man who trespasses into this male-prohibited zone!"
"This fellow isn't simple. Looks like he was sent by Nobuna-chan."
"That Oda Nobuna? So she still plans to command Hime-sama as she pleases."
"She must be feeling anxious because I have not been moving from Ise all this while. Conquering the world is so tedious. If Nobuna-chan would come to the sea and live for a few days, she would not be so anxious anymore, kuku."
"She must be ordering Hime to send her reinforcements, even though Hime has her hands full conquering Ise; why not just revolt! We shall use this Saru to declare war!"
"Kuku, what should I do~ I hate land battles. My skills will be useless if I move around such a dry place, so how should I deal with this Saru~"
But Yoshiharu did not hear any of this conversation, his brain was in such a chaotic state.
"What is going on? Why does Takigawa Kazumasu look much like Himiko-sama!?"
Yes.
Takigawa Kazumasu and Himiko looked exactly alike, and not just because they both dressed as shrine maidens. These two might have been the exact same person.
"Though their personalities are totally different, they have faces like twins."
The more he saw, the more questions filled his head.
Why did no one notice this resemblance? Ah, it's like this. Himiko-sama had always stayed behind her veil, so besides those nobles who regularly see her without the veil and I who saw her face by coincidence, no one else knows about this!
Takigawa Kazumasu was an arrogant princess of Kouga origins, born a ninja.
The other is Himiko who lords over Japan.
They aren't related in the slightest, so how can they be so alike? I just can't understand it. Don't tell me it's a coincidence? I suppose it's a possibility, but maybe there is some even deeper reason? ...Anyway, Kazumasu herself does not seem to know about this.
"The rule of prohibiting men is absolute, Hime-sama!"
"We can never allow this fellow with a monkey face to corrupt the air that our precious shrine maiden breathes!"
"But with this, Kuki-sama's marriage date will have past far far away like a shooting star."
"You guys! I said not to say anything about my marriage already!"
"Kuku, that is not a bad idea~ I am now a shrine maiden. If I execute this fellow, Nobuna-chan will definitely go crazy with rage... That promises to be entertaining. Let's just execute him then."
God! As expected, this Takigawa Kazumasu's devious laughter is incomparable to Himiko-sama's!
"If that's the case," Kuki Yoshitaka replied, unsheathing her sword.
"Boss has unsheathed her sword!"
"What a pity, even when a young man came to you on his own... With this, who knows how many months, or even years the marriage will be delayed!?"
"I SAID NOT TO TALK ABOUT MY MARRIAGE!"
Suddenly, Yoshiharu understood. If this went on, he really would be executed!
"Please, let me report my name!"
"Kuku, it's good that you want to say it, but I have already guessed it."
Kazumasu narrowed her eyes, gesturing for Yoshiharu to continue.
"I'm Sagara Yoshiharu! Though I'm not part of the Oda Clan's Four Generals, I'm definitely the first choice if children begin to sing of the Oda Clan's Five Generals!"
Just a little more, Kuki Yoshitaka's sword stopped right in front of Yoshiharu's nose.
"What, that Sagara Yoshiharu who had built the Ichiya castle, and successfully delayed the enemy troops in Kanegasaki. You're the fellow who established those crazy contributions?"
"Yes, that is so."
"Uhh, now that you mention it, the rumors do say that he had a monkey face, and I even naturally called you, 'Saru, Saru'… Hime-sama, what do we do?"
I didn't have a monkey face when I originally came to this era though... Don't tell me because Nobuna has been calling me Saru all the time, my face changed!?
"Kuku, Kuki, it would be unusually interesting if this were really that Sagara Yoshiharu, and he had come to us in Ise, alone no less, with this timing."
"Hime-sama, my words exactly! This is definitely an imposter!" Kuki declared, preparing her sword for execution again.
"Wait, Wait! Kazumasu-chan! You knew that I was Sagara Yoshiharu right from the start, right?"
"Kuku, that is a possibility. If you are really Sagara Yoshiharu, then where is the leader of the Sagara corps, Takenaka Hanbei, Yoshii?"
"Yo...Yoshii?"
"Sagara Yoshiharu is too troublesome; from now on your name is Yoshii, kuku."
What a devious smile... This small girl is without a doubt the seductive devil type.
"Ahh, what a cute smile! Hime-sama!"
"Huggy, just let us give you a huggy!"
"We the Kuki pirates will protect Hime-sama no matter where you are!"
Looks like Kuki Yoshitaka and her subordinates have been hopelessly mesmerized by Takigawa Kazumasu and her shrine maiden outfit.
"Anyway, I am that Sagara Yoshiharu. Takeda Shingen has begun preparations to march on Kyo, and the Omi's Asai Asakura allied forces have gathered once again. Nobuna faces a dire two pronged attack; please send in reinforcements!"
Kuku.
"What should I do~" Kazumasu toyed with Yoshiharu with a devilish smile
Using her small toes to poke at Yoshiharus’ eyes and nose, she seemed to really enjoy the Yoshiharu's interesting reactions like "Uwahh", "Damn it ", and "No matter what, she is too alike."
"I beg you, Kazumasu-chan. From what I see in you conquering the sparse lands of Ise, though you are yet young of age, you are as seasoned in battles as Katsuie."
Kuki Yoshitaka immediately roared, "Bastard, don't you dare compare that barbarian woman who only knows how to fight with Hime-sama!"
"Hey, calm down, Kuki-nee-san. I'm just being honest; after looking with my own eyes, Ise is really big, isn't it?"
"Kuki-nee-san!? Wh...Wh...Wha...What are you trying to call me! I...I'm just 27 years old, I am not that far off from you in age!"
"Eh? Isn't 10 kinda far?"
"You're dead!"
Kuki violently beat at Yoshiharu's head with the hilt of her sword. Her strength could totally match Katsuie, probably because she belonged very obviously to the same category, "Idiots who only know martial arts".
In one hit, Yoshiharu was knocked cross-eyed.
"Ouch, somehow, I just said what I thought in my heart."
"Because her marriage has been delayed, anything concerning about age is forbidden!" He could hear the girls around him whispering to themselves.
"Kuku, I don't like wars. As the shrine maiden of Ise Grand Shrine, I hold absolute authority in Ise. Whether it's the nobles, the common folk or even the pirates, every resident of Ise will gladly serve me!"
"Wh...What!? Could conquering a province in this Sengoku Era filled with ambitious female warriors be so easy!?"
"This method would not work for just anyone. Because I am simply the most adorable shrine maiden princess, nearly all of my opponents merely fell at my feet, pleading 'Please, let us join Hime-sama'."
"Ohh, that's true. You are so cute that I want to bring you home already... Huh? No no, I'm not a lolicon, but… but why is my heart thumping so fast!?"
"Kuku, the Ise people's beliefs for the Ise Grand Shrine run deep, and with such a cute princess like me being a shrine maiden, it's overpowering!"
Ahh, as expected from our enchanting Hime-sama!"
"We swear to protect Hime-sama from the taint of men!"
"Hime-sama, banzai!" Kuki Yoshitaka led her girls as the atmosphere gets abnormally fired up.
"Kuku, as expected from my cute subordinates!"
"KYA! We've been praised by Hime-sama!"
The pirate girls broke into a dance as if they had experienced paradise. This Sengoku Era had a ridiculous amount of lolicons, but this little girl didn't just charm the guys. Even the pirate girls had been completely taken in, as expected from this seductive devil.
Takigawa Kazumasu! What a frightening girl!
"I beg you, please send reinforcements! The threat of Shingen is right in front of us."
"Don't wanna. I hate violent things like waging war, and more importantly, I would risk damaging my skin."
"What a stubborn kid!"
"Nee, Yoshii, can you listen to my wish? Don't go to war this time, Ok? Hehe~"
Uhh, this cuteness is against the rules... After Nene awakened me to "sisterly love", this is just like an arrow straight to my heart! Just before Yoshiharu could say, "Okay, okay~", he recalled that this crisis concerned the very survival of the Oda Clan and finally calmed down.
"Uhhhhhhhh, even if you act cute, it's useless! It's useless against me!"
"*Sob*, Yoshii is bullying me, you're too much. *Sob*Sob*"
Uwah... I'm a demon for letting a small girl cry! I...I think I should listen to Kazumasu-chan! Yes, who cares about that Nobuna.....!
Eh, did something like that really just go through my head?!
Dondondondon, Yoshiharu knocked his head onto the floor a few times and finally regained his senses.
"Even faking your cries aren't going to help! Send reinforcements! If you don't, I'm gonna stay here! Or I should say, I won't let you guys let me go!"
"....Che, I didn't think that Yoshii's will would be so strong. Forget it, Kuki, release his bonds now."
"Is that really ok, Hime-sama?"
"It's useless to simply ask him, so I have no choice but to up my effort a bit."
"Ahh, to up your effort, you mean that, Hime-sama?"
"Yes, that. Kuku."
Kuki Yoshitaka leered at Yoshiharu with sharp eyes as she warned "I heard Sagara Yoshiharu wants his master, Oda Nobuna's lips and forcefully rubbed Shibata Katsuie's breasts, proving him an extremely perverted man. If you dare do anything perverted to Hime-sama, your head will fall to the ground instantly.”
And then, she reluctantly released the ropes.
"If my hands were going to go for anyone, I'd take Kuki-nee-san's big breasts over Kazumasu-chan's flat chest~~." Yoshiharu had just enough restraint to kill these words in his throat just before he spoke.
Finally, he was allowed to sit up in a chair.
"Anyway, Kazumasu-chan, how did you suddenly become a shrine maiden? Ise Grand Shrine is renowned even compared with the rest of Japan. I heard it even houses one of the three treasures. Why did give you the position of shrine maiden so simply...?"
"Is Yoshii an idiot? Don't ask such dumb questions. Once I asked them with my cute expression, I automatically fulfilled the conditions. The only person evil enough to ignore my requests is Nobuna-chan. That Nobuna-chan, no matter how demurely I ask, she can ignore every request, hmph!... Oh yeah, I need to add Yoshii to this bad person group as well."
Is the position of shrine maiden so easy to get!? ...Though Yoshiharu was shocked, he did think of another possibility. Because Ise Grand Shrine housed one of the Imperial Treasures, the local priests may know Himiko's face, so after seeing Kazumasu-chan they probably also thought, "You gotta be kidding, they look so alike!" and then, "Maybe these two are related by blood?" and gave her the position of shrine maiden.
But considering Kazumasu-chan's willfulness, it's even more likely that she declared "If you don't listen to me, I'm gonna burn all of you, kuku" and surrounded the Ise Grand Shrine with arquebus squads.
"Well, It's true that Nobuna is very petty. She broke her promise of a reward when I came back alive from Kanegasaki too..."
"Oh, seems like you have it difficult as well, kuku."
"Though I was somewhat responsible for that... Wait, don't tell me that's why you don't want to send reinforcements? The Oda Clan is going to be destroyed because of Nobuna's pettiness!?"
Kazumasu flashed her devilish smile. "Kuku, it's also because of my skin becoming bad on land. I love the sea; though the sun might be shining down, there won't be any problem if I have an umbrella. As long as the air isn't dry, my skin will be forever soft."
"Is that a reason!?"
"And, there is a strong enemy in Shima. I suppose there's no reason not to send reinforcements if that fellow is defeated, kuku."
Kuki Yoshitaka stared at Yoshiharu and said, "Without first conquering Shima, Hime-sama will not leave Ise. Even after conquering Shima, Hime-sama has already promised to go on a vacation with me. People who dare interrupt Hime-sama's relaxing life on the sea are enemies!"
"So now you have to go on a vacation? Just why did Nobuna use you in the first place... I remember that fellow hates lazy people."
"Kuku, I used my cute tone and said, 'Please, please accept me' and was accepted into the Oda Clan right away.”
"That fellow seems to dote on small girls like Inuchiyo... She must have cherished Kazumasu-chan being so cute, or else the one sent to punish you for your lazy ways wouldn't have been me, but ninjas."
"Kuku, I'm a ninja too. I won't be done in so easily."
"Ah, you have a point."
Truly, she is the most troublesome type for a retainer, this girl... Yoshiharu concluded.
"Kuku, Yoshii. I'll give you a chance to shake off your pestering. If you can fulfill the conditions I set, it's not like I can't send reinforcements.
"Ohh, really?"
"There is an enemy in Shima that even my cuteness could not defeat. Yoshii, if you are really capable, find a way to have those fellows surrender to me." Kazumasu-chan fired off another cute smile.
"As expected, it's this."
"Using this shitty bastard as a meat shield to launch an assault on that island... Good plan, Hime-sama."
"This man will definitely not be able to make them surrender, and it will become a war in the end."
"If we report to Oda Nobuna saying Sagara Yoshiharu died in battle, we won't be affected."
The pirate girls all whispered their approval, Kuki Yoshitaka in the lead.
"Eh? Ehhhhh? Just what kind of enemies are they?"
"Kuku, go to the deck. The enemy is on the island dead ahead, Yoshii!"
Part 3
"How is it, the seas are big, right? Compared to these seas, the battles between men seem so small... So, I don't want to go back to land~ Kuku."
"Wait! Is this really Ise's Shima? What is with that island?"
"Sagara Yoshiharu, from now on, your mission is to capture that island that has been forcefully occupied by the namban people!" Standing on the deck, Kuki Yoshitaka used her finger and pointed to an isolated island. The small landmass looked just like a small mountain covered in trees, and at the top was a big flag of red, white and yellow.
"Isn't that the Spanish flag during the navigation era!?"
That island seemed to well and truly be Spanish territory already. At the harbor, several huge namban ships stood anchored, and watermills spun over the rivers flowing from the island's peak. In the village on the coast, there were both merchants with arquebus in hand and many energetic girls dancing Spanish dances. The namban people had even set up a candle at the outermost part of the harbor, like they are declaring, "Come at us if you can" and promising to fight till the end.
"I really don't want to go to that Spanish village, but I've already said that..."
"Those namban people who sailed from overseas occupied the island and won't listen to Hime-sama at all. Now, we are calling that island, 'Ise Spanish Isle'." Kuki Yoshitaka explained with a frown.
"Why did you guys choose such a difficult name?"(!)
"Its original name was 'Ghost Isle', but we decided that name was too scary and tried to give it a cuter name."
"If you want to conquer that island, the Kuki Pirates have the advantage in numbers, right?"
"You don't understand what weapons they have! Look at that fellow, that golden demon wearing full body armor! My subordinates began trembling and lost the will to fight upon seeing that fellow." Kuki's eyebrows furrowed deeper.
The "golden demon" was visible in the harbor. A European knight sat high on a horse, wearing a full set of shining namban body armor and holding a namban lance; his imposing visage had apparently been enough to scare all the Kuki Pirates. Like the knights of the middle ages, even his face was covered under his metal helmet. yet, though Yoshiharu couldn't see the man's face, an abnormal pressure emanated from his energetic eyes.
On the knight's breastplate and shield was a symbol of a cross.
"That fellow, is he part of the Knights of the Cross!? What is he doing in Sengoku Era Japan!?"
"He's a demon; beneath the helmet, there is definitely a terrifying demon!"
"Kuki-sama tried to fight with that fellow, but she can't win against the toughness of that set of armor."
"If it's fighting in the water, Kuki-sama's skill in swimming will lead her to victory every time, but no matter how we provoke him, he just won't budge."
"As long as that demon is around, it's impossible to conquer Ise Spanish Isle!"
"Hime-sama's cute cute request is useless against that fellow too!"
The pirate girls who originally know nothing of fear started shrieking.
"How is it, such fearsome pressure, right? Putting aside the strength of that demon's armor, he can launch a bunch of smooth attacks with such a heavy armor. Though our pirate army is skilled in naval warfare, on land...."
"We still can't confirm whether they are invaders, right? How about we try to talk to them?"
"Ahh, Hime-sama had tried many times, but because of that demon, we can't go on land. So, if we don't defeat the demon first....."
"If we leave this island alone, he might call for more comrades and invade more of our territories." Kuki clench her fist as she glared daggers at the namban knight on the island.
"Kuki-nee-san, your reaction is too much. If Spain really wanted to invade Japan, they'd send more than a handful of knights. Look, that knight is alone, right? Here we should make like Gandhi and try for peace!"
"Kuku, do you really understand the situation, Yoshii? If we don't conquer Ise Spanish Isle, I won't leave Ise. And if that demon is around, even if we want to talk peace with them, it's impossible."
"Though I don't want to admit it, we Kuki pirates could not defeat that demon, so...."
"Nee Yoshii, can you defeat that demon alone, P.L.E.A.S.E.!"
"Uwahhh, Ka...Ka...Ka...Ka..Kazumasu-chan, it's against the rules for your voice to become so cute when relying on other people?"
"If you do it, I will reward you, I will also S.E.N.D you reinforcements.”
"Really!? No no, that's messed up! Wait a minute, Kazumasu-chan!"
"Not waiting, kuku."
How could I possibly win one-on-one with that metal knight!?
As Yoshiharu shouted, "This is a good chance for international talks! Peace! Let's try talking to them! I oppose war!" the pirate girls behind him took to opportunity to place a sword at his throat and push him down onto the deck.
"What are you guys doing!? *Cough*Cough*"
"Oi, Sagara Yoshiharu, don't come back to my boat. Go and fight with that Ise Spanish Isle's demon! If you win, I will acknowledge you to be the man of men!"
"Damn it, *Cough*Cough*"
"Yoshii, this is for Nobuna-chan too. Try your best and do it, kuku."
Huh?
Oh yeah, Nobuna is currently in a critical condition!
OHHHHHH! Suddenly, Yoshiharu's whole body was filled with energy. MAXIMUM POWER!
Persuading Takigawa Kazumasu won't completely solve the crisis, but if I don't, Nobuna will have zero chance of success!
"To fight that golden knight, and have Kuki-nee-san and the pirate girls acknowledge my strength, going to that island is my only option!"
Yoshiharu hardened his resolve and began his swim to Ise Spanish Isle… But he misjudged the weight of the katana the pirates allowed him to borrow, and was gulping down water as he dog-paddled towards the island. Half drowned and already tired, he managed to reach the bridge at the harbor.
After finally climbing up and raising his head, he found that the knight had already moved to stand right in front of him. He can't see the man's face due to the armor, but somehow he could sense the scorching glare right through the helmet's visor.
"God! It's totally impossible for me to compete with this knight! Just his glare is overpowering me."
Wanna cry, wanna run away.
But just behind this fearful Yoshiharu.
"Good luck Saru! Die with honor!"
"Interesting, just how long can Yoshii last? Wanna bet with me? Kuku."
"I bet he's gonna get cut in half once he stands up."
"I used my whole fortune to bet that he won't do anything and just run back to the boat."
"Ara, he's on the island now, didn't you cry and run back before you even touched the island?"
"If you're gonna say that, didn't you lose consciousness once you jumped down into the sea!?"
"Anyway, no matter what, that guy won't be able to pass this trial."
"Yeah, guys all are idiots who only know how to talk."
It seemed like the Kuki pirates did not have a good opinion on his fight against the knight, Yoshiharu noticed....
Regardless, he could only bet his all! If he couldn't pass this trial, he wouldn't be able to gain their trust. And there was no need to even mention how much he needed Takigawa Kazumasu to send Nobuna reinforcements.
To gain their trust, I can only pluck up my courage and duel with this knight! Yoshiharu made his resolve. Holding up his katana, he released a roar at the knight in front of him.
"Though I have no grudges with you, but to avoid Nobuna from being destroyed, please duel with this Oda clan's retainer, the now foot soldier, Sagara Yoshiharu!"
This man was quite strong! In this stance, any strike he launched would easily be fatal. He's a demon... The eyes behind the helmet held a demonic glare.
It's over, if I don't run away quick....
He could hear the pirate girls screaming "Kya~" in admiration behind him.
Ohhh, is my stock with those girls rapidly increasing!? With this, it's possible for me to pass the trial.... Yoshiharu thought while continuing the stand off with the knight.
"Hime-sama, is that really okay? If this continues, that fellow will really die."
"Indeed. He passed" Kuki Yoshitaka said with a nod.
But,
"Kuku, Yoshii... It just seems like Yoshii might have some way. I want to see just how strong this Yoshii is, to be rated so highly in Kyoto. I'll wait a little more. Besides, isn't this exciting?"
"Roger, Hime-sama!"
Kazumasu-chan was no little seductive devil; she was without a doubt an actual devil!
If I survive this, I'm going to call her Devil Kazumasu til the day I die!
The golden knight suddenly got down from the horse. Though he wore a full set of heavy armor, his movements was light as a ninja's.
"Wait just a little, weren't Medieval knights unable to move easily even on horseback due to the weight of the armor!?"
T...Th...Th...Thi...This is a monster... Yoshiharu couldn’t help but shivered.
The golden knight tossed his lance aside and instead unsheathed a two-handed sword. Because it was too long, it had been on his back all this time; a wide sword both thick and sharp.
"....Your name is Sagara Yoshiharu? A samurai that has the guts to duel with me; you are the second after Kuki Yoshitaka." The knight commended. "I'm part of the honorable Knights of Saint John, the templar, Giovanna L' Ortese [9] , currently guarding this nameless island. Let us have a fair fight in the spirit of the knights!"
Though it sounds weird, she is speaking Japanese.
"Ehh!? The Knights of Saint John!? Even as a Sengoku game expert, I don't know anything about this! Why did the templar appear in this Sengoku era, and why here on this Ise Shima Island!?"
"The Knights Hospitaller is an elite order of knights trained solely for battle. For 200 years we have withstood the invasion of the Ottoman Empire on Rhodes Island and have never lost siege. I will follow my ancestors’ traditions in guarding this nameless island. Once the templar have landed on an island, we will ensure its safety till death!"
"This is Japan! There is totally no relation with the Ottoman Empire! I don't understand all this mess about European history you just said at all!" Though Yoshiharu used all his strength to retort, Giovanna did not seem to hear.
"If I am the only mounted combatant, I would be defying the spirit of knighthood, so I will fight with you on foot; let your Japanese sword clash with my knight's sword!"
Giovanna readied her sword and rushed over with god-like speed.
"Ahhh! So fast! You gotta be joking!?"
Because of the heavy weight of the armor, it should be very difficult to even walk normally once the knight is on foot, but Giovanna totally defied that image of Medieval knights.
"Ohh, whoa, ahhhh."
Though he used his katana to guard, the instant the blade met a slash from Giovanna's sword, the katana was broken in half.
"Ahhh! Didn't they smelt this sword repeatedly so it wouldn't break so easily!? This is definitely a defective product!!"
"Surrender, Sagara Yoshiharu!"
"Who is surrendering!? Before Kazumasu-chan acknowledges me, I will not retreat till death!"
"If that's the case, I will hit you till you surrender!"
Giovanna threw away the sword and gave a straight punch to Yoshiharu's face.
The girls back on the ship cried out "Danger!", their palms slick with sweat.
"Ohhh! Ohhh! Fast! I'm as light as when I'm naked....!"
"Don't say such des...despicable words!"
The high-speed straight punches kept assaulting him.
Sagara Yoshiharu, nicknamed "Dodgeball Yoshii", always used the smallest possible movements to dodge the attack at the last second. From an admittedly narrow point of view, he was a genius.
"Uwahhh! What is this! What is with these punches that I can't even see!!"
"You're too cunning... You plan to keep dodging like this!?"
"Now that it's like this, I have a chance; dance like a butterfly, sting like a bee!"
Giovanna's attacks were all straight punches! Due to that, Yoshiharu could make full use of the dodging techniques foreign to this world. Considering that boxing matches weren't a product of this era, there wasn't yet an opponent in the world prepared for his technique; not just using the upper half of his body, but also utilizing his legs with quick steps left and right.
He had no experience in boxing, but Sagara Yoshiharu seemed to have a instinct for this technique. Giovanna, seeing such a defensive technique for the first time, quickly grew frustrated.
"Che, a samurai with only shocking defensive capabilities; with this, it's true that it won't be considered my victory from just breaking your sword."
"Hmph, no matter what, your strength will run out in that heavy armor. Then I'll have my chance to attack!"
"I will just smash your face in before that happens!"
"Try it if you can..." Yoshiharu pointed his middle finger and struck a provocative pose.
Like this, Giovanna kept advancing forward, throwing jabs at Yoshiharu as he kept retreating.
But...
"Uwahh, it's a dead end, it's the sea already!"
"Hoho, you finally reached the end, huh?"
"Yoshii, the opponent can't swim while wearing such heavy armor! Hurry and jump into the sea and escape!"
That Devil Kazumasu finally asked Yoshiharu to retreat, but after dodging for so long, Yoshiharu's legs could no longer move as he wished and ignored their master's wish to escape.
Ahhhhhhhh!
Here it comes!
"Whoa, whoa, ahhhhh?"
Yoshiharu focused all his being into dodging, somehow continuing to avoid the endless punches.
"Che, I missed!? What is going on!?"
Attacks that would wound, break and batter the face to a bleeding mess with just a brush flew by one after the other. Without a doubt, if any one of them hit right on target, it would be a one hit KO.
Slip
Crap! This is a place near the coast; of course the ground is slippery!
His right leg slipped to a side, and his stance collapsed. With an unorthodox gymnastic maneuver, Yoshiharu lands in a split legged pose, and immense pain sprang up from his crotch feeling like it had split apart.
"Owwwwwww, my crotch, my crotch has split open!"
"An opening!"
"It's all over!?"
Dying in such a situation, isn't it too sad for a death scene?
I must stand up at least... I can't do it...
His leg slips again, and he couldn't get himself out of the split legged situation.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
"No mercy!"
"Hime-sama, if you don't do anything...!?"
"Wait a minute, Kuki. Over there, see? It's the first time a namban person came to the harbor other than the demon."
"This isn't Malta island, Giovanna. This isn't the way to treat guests; let the duel end."
A namban youngster, dressed in black missionary robes and wearing a hat like the cup from a kappa's head, suddenly appeared beside Giovanna and rested his hand on Giovanna's shoulder to stop her fatal punch.
The Italian youngster looked to be in his teens, and his other hand held a bible.
Yoshiharu was saved in the nick of time before his chin was broken!... But his split legsstill refused to let him stand, and with a "Pa" he falls face first onto the mud.
"Why did you stop me Organtino? Protecting this island is my mission!"
The knight Giovanna grumbled unhappily, but the missionary Organtino replied, "This island is just loaned to us temporarily, so we can't have any fights with the locals." and dismissed Giovanna's fighting intent.
Organtino then faced the pirate girls and smiled, his white teeth reflecting the bright sunlight.
"Uwahh, how bright!" The pirate girls can't help but cover their eyes.
"How do you do, Sagara Yoshiharu-sama. I apologize for Giovanna's unruly actions. This child has no ulterior motives. She is just a bit territorial due to the knight training she has received from a young age. It's a pleasure to meet you; I'm an Italian missionary, Organtino."
The missionary Organtino's fluent Japanese was shocking.
And, what a bishounen! He was kind of you to call a hunk, but... That slightly curly hair, the white skin and the delicate face... If one needed a comparison, he was a bishounen 3000 times more attractive than Yoshiharu.
"Ahhhhhh~?"
The maiden hearts of the Kuki pirates, having long lived a life void of men, were released by his smile, and they were all conquered in an instant.
"He's just too cute!"
"It's my first time seeing such a bishounen!"
"It's such a good thing to be alive!"
"So suave! As expected, in this world, there aren't just lecherous monkeys, there is also such a refreshing bishounen!"
"Hime-sama! Let's demolish the rule of prohibiting men!"
"Kuki-sama can finally get married too!"
"Now is the only chance Kuki-sama has of marrying!"
Upon Organtino's appearance, Yoshiharu noticed his own existence had been cast aside. No, looking at Kuki's bright, shining eyes, his own existence may have been completely forgotten already.
"Damn, with this, won't my trial be for nothing!?"
Yoshiharu tried his best to stand up.
"Yo...Yo...Yo...You guys, don't talk about my marriage."
Kazumasu laughed and said, "I heard Missionaries will protect their chastity for life, so he can't be your husband, Kuki. Kuku."
"Ehhhh, such a bishounen has to protect his chastity for life!? It's unforgivable for such an unreasonable thing! But that monkey faced Sagara Yoshiharu can flirt with girls all he wants, how unfair is this!" The pirate girls all wailed aloud.
Yoshiharu can't control himself, "Oi, you guys!"
Several of the girls began shouting "Marry Boss!" and Organtino's face flushed bright red. "So...So troubling." Organtino shivered, taking a few unconscious steps back.
"Everyone, I apologize. I have been training to remove my sin in the church for a long time. If I had appeared sooner, this misunderstanding would not have happened. Giovanna, invite everyone in."
"Looks like Organtino is a pure youngster and isn't used to dealing with girls." As the pirate girls were coming to the island, he trembled and his eyes occasionally darted around looking for ways to flee should the need arise.
What a waste... If I were him, I could be the master of a harem already... This fellow has totally failed as a man... Yoshiharu took over the job of regretting Organtino's situation for him.
"O...Ok, don't force yourself, Giovanna."
"...I understand, Organtino..."
Giovanna's body let out a ruckus of clashing metal as she sat down.
"....The duel with Sagara Yoshiharu has depleted my strength, and the armor is too heavy. Honestly, I still can't catch my breath."
"I see. If you really feel so terrible, you should remove the helmet."
"Sagara Yoshiharu, I have defiled the knight's spirit when I forced you into a corner, and was prepared to attack when you couldn't stand properly... If not for your reaching that dead end, I would definitely have been the one who collapsed."
Under the help of Organtino, Giovanna took off her helmet and apologized to Sagara Yoshiharu.
Yoshiharu heard Giovanna's words and became frantic, "No, no. It's my fault for running around and ending up there. If you had not gotten down from your horse, you would have won easily. After cutting my sword, you gave up your sword too. You have plenty of the knight's spirit."
"I see."
With difficulty, Giovanna removed the helmet completely. Surprisingly, the girl suddenly revealed was a red haired, green eyes and proud bishoujo!
"It's...It's too shocking! A lady removing her helmet to reveal a bishoujo, to think it could actually happen in real life."
"Once again, I am a daughter of an Italian noble, Giovanna L' Ortese. A member of the The Knights of Saint John, 15 years of age."
"Ahhhhh! What majestic air!"
Giovanna's features were delicate, and her expression was as cold as ice, giving her the aura of a sculpture. However, she seemed youthful for a lady, lending her a youngster type of atmosphere. The Kuki pirate girls, who had a habit of treating their idol as their way of life, became Giovanna's fans in an instant.
Giovanna and Organtino proved drastically different, as she seemed used to the shrieks of girls. She faced Yoshiharu, whose surprise was written all over face. With his mouth opened wide like a monkey, words tumbled straight over his tongue without consulting his brain, "Ohhh, what a bishoujo with a majestic air! As expected, the standards of European girls are just too high."
"Sagara Yoshiharu, as the proof of our reconciliation, I will grant a wish of yours."
"For real!? Then please go out with me!!!!! I LOVE YOU! I like you, I love you!" Yoshiharu reflexively shouted, and as he did not know the Italian word for love, his only other option to express his feelings turned out to be English.
"....O.N.L.Y...T.H.I.S...I...M.U.S.T...R.E.J.E.C.T..."
Giovanna stared at Yoshiharu with cold eyes as she rested her sword on his neck. Yoshiharu finally calmed down and then...
"J...J...Jo...Join Nobuna's reinforcements along with Kazumasu-chan, please!" The idea flashed through his mind so quickly he wouldn't have noticed it if he tried to think about it. Kazumasu's pirates, the strongest knight and the namban ships; it should be quite a force!
Organtino held Sagara Yoshiharu's hands and, with a smile, he said, "Come to the house and have a meal while we talk. How about it?"
"Wait Organtino, my name is Takigawa Kazumasu, though it's fine if you call me princess. Do you guys have the guts to receive my trial? Kuku."
Kazumasu jumped from the ship and, gracefully spinning through the air, she landed softly right in front of Organtino.
In an instant, the frightened Organtino shouted, "Wi...Witch?!", but Yoshiharu quickly pressed on his shoulders and corrected, "She's just a ninja! Nin-Ja!", and he calmed down.
"Oh~ A Japanese ninja, huh? I've heard of the rumors, but it's the first time I've seen one myself. Impressive athletic skills.”
"Kuku."
"As expected from the Kouga's Hime-sama, what a gorgeous show of skill!!!" The pirate girls all cheered.
"To build trust between us, we are willing to take the trial, but what should we do?"
"You can't be thinking of making Organtino fight with Kuki-nee-san? Organtino's gonna die..."
"Oi, don't treat me like I'm a demon, bastard Saru!"
"Oh yeah, Yoshii, you don't know yet. I have a very special ability. By simply placing my hand on another's forehead and asking a question, a man will find himself unable to lie and will say the truth without hesitation."
Wh...What!? Isn't that ESP!? Yoshiharu was shocked, but the pirate girls cheered again, "It's hereeeeeeee!" "Hime-sama's ultimate skill!" "So cool to make other people say what they are hiding!" "Yeah, I feel refreshed already!"
"Kazumasu-chan, you had such a broken skill!? Isn't it enough for you to control other people's hearts just by your cute-cute pretense!?"
"Kuku, no matter how my opponent hides their true intentions, if I want to I can see through it immediately. Like, if I put my hand on Yoshii's head and ask, 'Yoshii, how do you feel about Nobuna-chan?', Yoshii who had been trying his best to hide his heart will say everything out."
"Uwahhh!!?"
"I will use the pure and naive Yoshii as a test subject then. The rumors are saying that Yoshii is crazy about Nobuna-chan, is that really true?" Kazumasu extends her hand towards Yoshiharu.
Yoshiharu dodged frantically and jumped into the sea without another word.
This young missionary Organtino, is he really pure like what he seems to be and had no ulterior motives?
"Did you plan to lie while staying beside me?"
Kazumasu put her small but warm palm onto Organtino's forehead and asked.
Organtino answered immediately, "No, I just want to transmit my purest intentions and want to resolve the misunderstanding between us."
And then, he revealed a taintless smile.
"...Huh? Before I notice, my mouth started moving on it's own! Amazing!"
"Kuku, looks like you are someone to be trusted. Ho... I will be quite tired after using this ability."
"Kazumasu-sama is someone that can create miracles, and your ninja arts are extremely good too. I am so impressed."
"This is an ability that I have had from birth. It's not a ninja art, kuku."
Finally, the conflict between Kazumasu and the Ise Spanish Isle was peacefully resolved. Yoshiharu recalled what he had heard, and that Himiko had a power ever since birth that was able to read other people's mind just by touching their body.
Oioi, you gotta be joking. Kazumasu-chan and Himiko-sama had some sort of blood relationship...? Or are they twins... and because of some reason, she was sent to the Kouga ninjas? Yoshiharu pondered this revelation as he floated around in the sea. While he idled though, everyone seemed to have forgotten about him and was moving toward Organtino's house.
"Wait! Don't forget me! Oi!"
Part 4
Organtino received Yoshiharu, Kazumasu and the pirate girls at a house right in the middle of Ise Spanish Isle.
"Ohhhh, delicious! It's been so long since I've eaten any other food but soy sauce flavored rice. Who could have thought that I would eat Spanish cuisine in this Sengoku Japan?"
"Saru, is this fried rice?"
"Hehehe, it looks like it, but it's totally not, Kuki-nee-san."
The food that was on the table was consumed almost completely by the slim Giovanna with astonishing speed.
"Wait, Giovanna. You are eating too fast! Leave some for us! You should enter a food eating contest already!"
"To a knight, eating is the second most important thing after sleeping. *Gulp*Gulp*"
The missionary Organtino started to slowly explain his situation.
"Sorry about just now. I, Organtino, am a missionary, one who inherited Francisco Cabral's ambition. To spread my religion, I have come all the way from Italy. The other people on this isle are kind-hearted Spanish merchants, and they never had the intentions to invade Japan. Their true intention was to trade with this golden country.”
Kuki Yoshitaka fiercely asked, "If that's the case, why did you set up a candle at the harbor like you are intending to defend this island with your lives?"
Organtino smiled and answered, "Ah, that is just an ornament of Christmas, it has nothing to do with defense."
Kazumasu and the Kuki pirate girls were completely puzzled. "Christmas?"
Only Yoshiharu seems understanding, saying "I see," with a nod.
"In Europe, to celebrate the birth of Jesus we mark December 25th as 'Christmas'. On this day, there will be many festive activities. Anyway, Christmas comes soon...."
"Yes, my calendars were all lost in a shipwreck, and I did not know the correct Spanish date. So, I used the Japanese calendar to celebrate and am now doing the preparation work for Christmas."
"I see."
As the rest of the group was chatting, only Giovanna was eating non-stop.
"Yoshiharu-san seems to have quite a good understanding of our culture, are you part of our religion?"
"Ah, no, no. I came from the future Japan. In the future Japan, Christmas night is called, 'The most erotic night of the year for couples' or more simply as 'Night of Sex...' ...I spent countless hours in chat rooms and forums with my online friends as we all rejected such a meaningless day... This sort of festival... to me... is too cruel!!!"
"Ah, I don't really understand, but Yoshiharu, you mean to say you came from the future!?"
"Yes, but recently, the things happening in this world are starting to move in a direction different from what I know, so honestly it isn't that much of a deal."
"Marvelous! Please, tell us if Christianity smoothly develops in Japan!"
"Ah, that... How should I say it..."
Yoshiharu did not believe in Christianity. To him, Christianity meant Frois, which in turn meant miraculously BIG breasts! He barely knew anything else.
With Organtino looking at him with such pure eyes; Organtino, who had bet his life on coming to Japan, Yoshiharu didn't have the heart to tell him, "From what I know, due to Christians appearing over-anxious, Japan launched a big scaled crackdown. Thus, many monks were shunned or killed."
"Umm, Yoshiharu-san?"
"Ah, ohh, you really want to know, Organtino? The future is undecided; we humans open it up through our effort. That is to say, if you know the future yet don't do anything, that future will not come."
"Ah, that's true. It's us who decide what the future will be. If we know it earlier, we might lose motivation. There is sense in this. I'm enlightened, thank you!"
This Organtino person seems like he is quite a good guy. Yoshiharu thought.
"*Gulp* *Gulp* *Gulp*"
And to the other side, Giovanna ignored anything and everything as she ate wholeheartedly... From another point of view, she is worthy of respect.
"Anyway, Yoshiharu-san, about my senior... Um... F...Frois, I'm not sure if you have heard about her?"
"Frois-chan? If it's Frois-chan, she obtained Nobuna's permission and has set up a church in Kyoto."
"I...I see! Frois-senpai is all right! Do Yoshiharu-san and Frois-senpai know each other?"
"Hmmm, I will always find her if I'm troubled, like ranting to her about Nobuna's idiotic ways. Frois's breast are very big... No, I mean, her heart is big..."
"Yes, Frois is the senpai of my dreams. Ahh... When can I be saved from this sin of mine?"
"Sin?"
"....Uh...Umm... This sin I carry, I will explain it to Yoshiharu-san another day..."
"Organtino, no matter how I see you, you don't look like someone having sinned before. Try saying it out, what is going on?"
"Umm, here is a little... there are girls present... Um..."
What is going on? Is it the sin of loving guys!? I've heard that Christianity had banned gays. Does this Italian bishounen have an interest in that area!? Is he going to attack me...? Yoshiharu had totally forgotten that he wasn't a bishounen and was shivering by himself.
Kazumasu ate the Spanish cuisine as she laughed with a little disappointment, "What, in the end you aren't here for war."
"There's also only one guard wearing armor anyway, Kuki. Though you often say that you can silence crying children, you're unexpectedly cowardly in the face of the namban people. Kuku."
"I...I...I...I...I...I'm so sorry, Hime-sama! You are right in your scolding! But, this fried rice is really delicious!"
"I said it's not fried rice already, Kuki-nee-san. It's Spanish cuisine."
"Wait Saru, don't call me Kuki-nee-san already! I had said before, I'm just 10 years older than you."
"....I see, the boss is unexpectedly shy, so..."
"So she can't get married even now!"
"She is so courageous on the sea, but once she sees a man, her love circuits turn on and she becomes so shy!"
"Repeatedly reminding Saru of their age gap..."
"Don't tell me, even this Saru is under your range of love targets!?"
"Eh? There is a gap of 10 years..."
"It's definitely so true that you love young guys!"
"Because you lack experience with guys, you're thinking of getting hitched with a guy 10 years younger?"
"Maybe, Boss is cute in that area too!"
"Yo...Yo...Yo...You guys, don't talk about my marriage already! No matter what, it's impossible to like this Saru! Why must I like such a monkey!?"
"Kuki, answer my question. Even if it's Saru or Organtino, when you think about marriage do they pique your interest? Kuku."
Without noticing, Kazumasu deviously placed her hand on Kuki Yoshitaka's forehead.
"Ahh.Ahhhhhh!? Hi...Hime-sama, why did you do this!?"
"Resistance is futile, kuku."
Uhhhh, the Kuki Yoshitaka's face flashed red, then blue, then even to purple, but in the end she could not resist Kazumasu, and her trembling mouth slowly forced itself open.
"...Yo...Young boys are the best! Compared to Oji-sans that are of the same age, boys with better skin texture are so much cuter! The scent... the scent is totally different! And the hair of the Oji-sans is too thick! It's no good if I don't touch boys with their slippery skins! If able to, I want to marry a boy that is younger than me by 10 years, AHHHHHHH!!!"
Hi...Hi...Hime-sama is too much, it's just too much! As she regained her freedom, Kuki Yoshitaka buried her head onto the table and wept.
"So obsessive with shota... That explains why she can't marry..." The pirate girls whisper to each other.
"To me, if it's the big breasted, big sister type Kuki-nee-san, I wouldn't mind, but the common sense of this Sengoku Era is so weird." Having spoken his heart, Yoshiharu stuffed his mouth full of Spanish cuisine. Kazumasu's small hands never had to touch his forehead, so in some meaning, he was actually quite an honest person.
"Shut up, Saru! A person like you is the absolute opposite of my ideal 'young boy'! How dare you trample my heart with such words? I've decided! I must kill you!"
"I seemed to be easily hated by types like Kuki-nee-san and Katsuie, just why is it?"
Because your words are too frivolous...
"Kuku, you can't kill Yoshii, Kuki. I couldn't use my power on Giovanna, who was wearing a helmet, so without Yoshii dueling with Giovanna, that staring contest likely wouldn't have ended. Yoshii is quite a contributing hero, though it's without doubt that he has a simple brain and is a little bit too frivolous."
Uhh, so Kazumasu-chan think me a simple fellow, huh? Seems like I've been underestimated. Yoshiharu thought, forcing a smile.
Giovanna was still eating without a care in the world, but her expression seems to be saying, "That's it."
Organtino smiled and said, "There's still a lot left, slowly eat your fill."
"The knight Giovanna followed all the way here from Malta to protect me."
"But, why did you appear in Shima? It's rather far from the trading area Kyushu, no? From what I see, there is nothing here but pirates. It's unrealistic to do trading here."
"At the start, our ship had made heading for Kyushu, but as we almost reached Japan, we met a violent storm and were blown to Shima. Before we could react, we were already on this island. The seas and islands here are controlled by pirates, and though my comrades wanted to leave on the boat, after trying many times they have given up and are staying here temporarily."
"The pirates seemed to be afraid of Giovanna in her armor and our comrades were also afraid of the pirates. It was a strange coincidence that prompted this misunderstanding, and peace was more difficult than it should have been. I'm so sorry." Organtino explained as he lowered his head deeply.
"Kuku, I'm not angry, and honestly, the things that have happened today have been interesting."
With Kazumasu's confirmation, peace can finally settle between the Ise Spanish Isle and the pirates. But saying it was "interesting"... Did she ask me to duel with Giovanna for the same reason? Yoshiharu finally noticed.
It's true that her ability to extract the truth from someone only when her hand touches their forehead would have been useless against Giovanna's helmet. With her ninja arts and the Kuki pirates supporting her however, conquering Ise Spanish Isle would have definitely been an achievable task if they really wanted it.
Because it's too troublesome to help Nobuna, she intentionally delayed the attack on the Isle. Maybe she just dislikes working.
What a seductive devil.
"Kazumasu-chan, this is a promise between samurais. After conquering Ise Spanish Isle, you have no more reason to refuse sending reinforcements to Nobuna, right?"
"Ahh~Ahh~I've totally no motivation. I'm sure that if I reject again, Yoshii is gonna get angry, but it's really so troublesome, kuku."
Now isn't the time to let her play around anymore, if I'm not serious, this willful child will definitely delay this indefinitely. Yoshiharu made up his mind.
To the best of his abilities, he made a terrifying face as he acted angrily and stomped over.
"Oi, Kazumasu-chan, I'm not joking with you now. If you dare to use excuses to delay again, I'm really gonna get angry. I'm gonna push you down and spank you, aren't you afraid!?"
Yoshiharu thought his plan was perfect, but...
"Eh, ehhhhhh!? You...You really gonna... Though I was only joking... Uhhhhhhh.."
"Ahhh, Kazumasu-chan cried!? Gimme a break, it was actually a joke just now!"
"You idiotic Saru, what are you planning to do to the young Hime-sama!!!!?"
Dong*Bham*Piak
In front of Organtino and Giovanna who did not dare to make any noise, the pirate girls turned Yoshiharu into their personal sandbag.
"Understand? If you dare threaten me, you're gonna end up like this, kuku."
Of course, Kazumasu tears just now were fake, and she was currently laughing happily as she stuck her tongue out at Yoshiharu.
"Ow....Owwwww! No matter what, time is against us. Please head out immediately!"
"Uhhh, I want to see Giovanna on the battlefield so it's ok for me to send reinforcements, but..." Kazumasu revealed a seductive, devilish smile and said, "After the battle ends, let me touch your forehead and ask a question, how's that?"
Yoshiharu glanced over at the "no, no, it's not like that; I don't like young boys at all" Kuki who was still frantically trying to cover her face, and it was with his heart bleeding tears of blood that he answered, "Ok, because I'm asking for your help, I have made that resolve too. Such a level of humiliation, I will try my best to endure it."
Though he felt like he would rather duel with Giovanna again, considering Nobuna's critical situation now, there is no way he can reject.
"To make up for our previous rude actions, we will join the reinforcements. But, the only one who can really fight among us is the knight, Giovanna. As a missionary, I've been forbidden to use violence, and my other comrades don't know how to fight, being merchants. I'm afraid all we can do is scare the enemies with our ship; is that enough?"
Organtino held Yoshiharu's hands.
"I heard Nobuna-sama doesn't discriminate against us missionaries. Is that true?"
"Well, not just missionaries, she'll probably like anything as long as it's namban."
"I want to go to Kyoto and take a look too, after the battle. Definitely!"
"Leave it to me then."
Giovanna used her cold eyes and mused, "It's a defensive battle again. Good," and seemed to get fired up.
"The existence of the namban ships is enough to scare the enemy! With them and the Kuki pirates, the Takeda Clan's fleet won't even dream of rowing an inch closer! The problem is the Takeda Clan's main army on the land. I'm gonna rely on you guys for that, Kazumasu-chan and Giovanna-chan."
Kazumasu narrowed her eyes and giggled, "I'm happy that I can solve one of the 7 mysteries of why Yoshii was banished, so we have to win this war, kuku."
Giovanna looked at Yoshii coldly and said, "Swear you won't say anymore jokes about going out with you and I will participate."
One of the four generals of the Oda Clan, the beautiful loli shrine maiden, and this powerful bishoujo knight with the looks of a western doll. These two, with the Kuki pirates and the namban fleet had all enlisted as Nobuna's reinforcements.
"We might just win this time... No, even if we can't defeat Shingen, we will be able to protect Nobuna." Yoshiharu finally saw hope.
Even so, the biggest mystery of all right now is why Kazumasu-chan and Himiko-sama are so alike, right? The seven mysteries of the Oda clan, huh? The secret about Kazumasu-chan and Himiko-sama will definitely be the first mystery, so how about the rest of the 5? Why are Katsuie's breast so big? ... Why is Goemon always stuttering? Why is Nagahide always giving points to all sorts of things? Now that I think about it, there are lots of mysteries.
But no matter what, with this he had not failed Nobuna's expectations. He had gained reliable help from the knight and namban fleet ahead of schedule. With this, the banishment matter should be resolved (maybe) and he could finally go back to Nene and Hanbei-chan....
Now, he must put aside his curiosity for Kazumasu's origins and concentrate himself on the upcoming fight against Takeda Shingen and the Asai Asakura Clans. Kazumasu seemed to not know anything either. There might be some secrets in there that are better off not knowing.
Anyway, Oda Nobuna VS Takeda Shingen, the greatest battle to ever decide the fate of the world.
"If we lose to Takeda Shingen, the mysteries will all become meaningless, ok! From now on, it's the real thing!"
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