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Under the clear blue spring sky, Taishakutsukimo stopped about 200 meters in front of the village, taking care not to shake me off.
The "Tomokuni Village" that I see before me is clearly different from the "Kunitomo Village" of the Sengoku period that I know.
This is because the settlement formed on the riverbank right before our eyes looks exactly like a small fortress.
A wooden fence completely surrounded the settlement, and from what I could see, there seemed to be no way to enter except by passing through the single gate that I could identify.
That would be fine if that were all.
Anyone can understand that this was a phenomenon unique to the Sengoku period, when residents had no choice but to unite and arm themselves to protect their own lives. But the problem is—
(Why are they building settlements in the middle of the Anegawa River...?)
In this world, the Anegawa River is about 150 meters wide, which is almost twice as wide as the Anegawa River in my original world.
And naturally, sandbars are formed within those rivers.
Indeed, a settlement of Tomokuni Village has also formed in this area.
(Well, if you think about it calmly—you can kind of see the reason.)
Nakasu is dangerous.
This is a natural feeling for any modern person.
When a river floods, the water naturally erodes sandbars, sweeping away anyone who is there.
Nevertheless, people in the past preferred to live and congregate on sandbars.
One reason for this is that rivers were the most efficient means of transportation. Traveling by boat on waterways was overwhelmingly faster than traveling by land.
But perhaps the biggest reason people lived on the sandbar was—
(It's easy to defend the settlement from external enemies...)
—That sums it up.
For example, Paris in France is one of the major European cities that every Japanese person knows, and the same applies to that as well.
Paris's roots lie on the Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine River, from which one of the greatest metropolises in modern Japanese history, on par with Edo (Tokyo) and London, was born.
"Ah, I see... so that's it..."
After thinking about it that far, I somehow find myself agreeing with it.
Yes, the village of Tomokuni right before our eyes is, in terms of its setting, exactly like Île de la Cité in Paris.
However, this is Japan.
It's neither Europe nor Paris. It's like a European landscape adapted to Japanese tastes—or perhaps a landscape that a Westerner who knows absolutely nothing about Japan has arbitrarily drawn out their own image of Japanese nature, yet it is still Japan.
While stroking the neck of Taishakutsukige, a horse that seems to belong only in Western legends , from horseback, I observed the exterior of Tomokuni Village.一角獣unicorn
Indeed, Tomokuni Village is divided into a land settlement and a river settlement.
The two settlements were connected by a large wooden bridge spanning the Anegawa River.
It seems that the only way to reach the sandbar is by bridge, so in any case, we have to start by entering the settlement on land.
And beside the gate leading into Tomokuni Village, there was a figure that was clearly on guard—a matchlock gun pointed at us, intently watching our movements.
Beside the man wearing a simple, indigo-colored kimono stood a white mare, which too was intently observing us.
This settlement is the home of the zashiki-warashi (house spirit).
Perhaps that man with the matchlock gun is also a zashiki-warashi (a type of house spirit).
His height is about 160 centimeters, making him shorter than Ichihime. However, considering the average height of that era, he probably had a perfectly fine physique.
Its head was covered with something like a hood, making it difficult to discern its expression—partly due to the distance.
But even so, there are things we can understand.
For example, things like the fact that the forehead area of the hood is slightly raised.
It's just like—a little boy in a man's crotch, dreaming of the day he'll be used, rising up and pushing up his pants.
I wonder if he's wearing a headband with a decorative metal band underneath his hood.
But more than anything else, what really caught my attention was the matchlock gun the gatekeeper was holding.
"...It seems they're not very friendly."
"Kyuoooon"
"What's the point of saying that now...?" That was the sentiment behind Indra's cry.
The reason Taishakutsukimo is keeping its distance from Tomokuni Village is probably to avoid entering the effective range of matchlock guns.
Unlike her, who is impervious to bullets and the like, I'm just an ordinary person who has been transported to a fantastical Sengoku period.
If I get shot, and it hits the wrong spot, I'll probably die instantly—and what's more, I'm not really armed at all right now.
It's likely that even a single bullet would cause serious injury.掠Kasu
"Hmm, maybe I acted too hastily."
It's the kind of thing that makes you involuntarily murmur it out loud.
As a daimyo of the Asai family and the leader of the northern Omi region, he had been able to move around his territory without encountering any significant obstacles—or rather, without facing any resistance.
In a sense, this is a first-time experience for me. To have clear suspicion directed at me within my territory, and even to feel that my life is in danger.
"Kyuoooon"
"Yeah, I know. I know this is the natural thing to do."
That's right. In a society where you could be attacked by another community at any moment, it's unreasonable to expect people to unconditionally trust and accept someone who shows up without an appointment.
This is especially true in a society where we are constantly living alongside death.
However, that being said, the reality is that this would cause problems.
Watching the gatekeepers remain on high alert from horseback, I pondered, "What should I do...?" but no particularly good ideas came to mind.
I decided to be as friendly as possible from horseback and wave my arms, and the gatekeeper looked stunned for a moment before hastily readjusting his matchlock gun.
"Hey!"
For now, I'll try shouting loudly and waving my arms around again.
"Kyuoooon"
Taishakutsukimo also cried out, as if calling out to them along with me.
The gatekeeper, though maintaining his guard, slowly lowered his matchlock gun and began to lower its barrel.
At the same time, the white horse that had been beside him turned around, passed through the gate, and galloped into the heart of the village.
"Kyuoooon"
Taishakutsukimo came with , and the gatekeeper, upon hearing it, crossed his arms as if deep in thought.嘶Inana
"Kyuoooon"
Indra cried again, as if to seal the deal.
Then the gatekeeper slowly released his arms and made a gesture that seemed to say, "Come on."
Even though there was some distance between us, they must have realized that we didn't harbor any hostility towards them.
At least he doesn't seem to have any intention of actively harming us.
Indeed, Taishakutsukimo turned his head and glanced back at me, then slowly began to walk forward.
As the distance between us narrowed, the gatekeeper glanced inside the gate before bowing.
After seeing that, I dismounted from Taishakutsukimo's back and approached him.
"I'm sorry for showing up so suddenly. There's something I'd like to ask you—"
"We, the allied forces, were supposed to have the 'right of exemption from entry' granted to the Asai family. So, what can I do for you?"
However, the response I received was a blatant rejection, expressed through words and attitude.
It's a little surprising, but if you stop at something like that, you'll never be able to lead others.
"Your business... well, to be honest, there's practically no business to speak of. Probably nothing like what you're expecting."
The hood completely covers the face and neck, but the gatekeeper's eyes cannot be seen through the holes in it.
Something protruding from the forehead is pushing up the hood, casting a deep shadow over the hole.
Even so... it's really unsettling to have a conversation where you can't see the other person's eyes.
This experience really made me realize how much conversations are influenced by the other person's facial expressions.
Incidentally, the "right of non-entry" literally means the right to refuse entry to public authorities into one's village or town.
This is a right that is universally observed not only in Japan but all over the world, and it can only be established in times when state power is still weak and the capacity for self-governance among residents is high.
"You... have no business...?"
You can sense the raw, exposed thorns in each and every one of those reactions.
However, I decided to speak with all my heart, directly into the eyes of the person I was trying to reach, which were hidden by the shadow of their hood.
For a leader, more than ability, the most important thing is the determination to see through what they've decided to do.
"That's right. I came here simply to observe the living conditions of you allies...or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I'm interested in the very existence of the Zashiki-warashi."
"...Do you think you came to our village alone for such a purpose?"
Hearing the gatekeeper's reply, I couldn't help but laugh.
His brow furrowed, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The phrase "by myself" that slipped out of his mouth suddenly reminded me of Masamoto.
Now that I think about it, he did tell me not to go to Tomokuni Village alone...
"Are your eyes just holes? I'm not alone. You might not realize it because you're hidden by that hood—"
Saying that, I stroked Taishakutsukimo's beautiful neck.
Along with the smooth feeling, I could feel her warm body temperature.
"She's right here, isn't she? My precious, irreplaceable person."
The gatekeeper seemed speechless.
Perhaps it's only natural. A man suddenly appears, calls the horse "her," and even considers .宣notama
But I am extremely serious.
If Taishakutsukimo were a human or in human form, I would undoubtedly keep him by my side and continue to love him to the fullest—both mentally and physically.
She has done so much for me, and I don't have the means to reciprocate that.
That's why all I can do is to fully recognize Taishaku Tsukimo as an individual.
And the goal is to eliminate as many potential causes as possible that could lead to her being mistreated or experiencing unpleasant events.
For example, what would happen if someone like Hikobei were to appear again—and if her sexually unrestrained nature changed, and she had intercourse with him and gave birth to a zashiki-warashi (house spirit)?
Taishaku Tsukimo is known for being more emotionally expressive than the average person.
She will surely suffer greatly. Or, she may come to resent the society that tries to persecute her child.
I would rather not have it turn out that way.
Now that I think about it, the reason I've become so engrossed in the Zashiki-warashi issue is precisely because of that.
While it's true that he has witnessed the lives of the Todo family members firsthand, and interacted with members of the Takamine Party, the biggest factor is probably that his closest companion is the demon known as Taishakutsukige.
The fact remains that Ichihime and I conceived a child, but her existence as a demon was absolutely essential to making that happen.
It is because I spent such intense time in that environment, and because the keywords "child" and "demon" became linked to the zashiki-warashi, that I am so obsessed with it. With the existence of the zashiki-warashi.
"Please leave..."
And in front of me, the gatekeeper expressed his intentions in a trembling voice.
"This is Tomokuni Village, home of a zashiki-warashi (house spirit). Except for the tax collection in October, we cannot allow outsiders to enter without any urgent business."
A firm declaration of intent: that outsiders will absolutely not be allowed into the village.
But the voice, in stark contrast to before, had become much more polite.
I wonder if my message got through to him, since he's a zashiki-warashi (house spirit) .熱意Leidenschaft
(But even so, some things just can't be helped.)
If I were to force my way into the settlement here, my relationship with them would deteriorate beyond repair—and more importantly, I wouldn't have any guarantee that I would be able to return to Ichihime and Haruhime alive.
"...Is that not okay?"
"Please leave..."
I tried tilting my head slightly and looking up at her with cute eyes, but it didn't work.
Apparently, acting cutesy doesn't work with people of this era.
Well, I do think, who benefits from a guy acting all cutesy?
"Gonpachi, get back!"
That's when it happened. A clear, resonant voice came from inside the gate.
The gatekeeper suddenly cowered, then turned his gaze inward towards the inside of the gate.
Indeed, there was a giant man accompanied by countless horses and people wearing hoods.
He was a monstrously large man, easily exceeding 4 meters in height, or perhaps even approaching 5 meters.
His face is covered in countless scars, showing that he has survived countless brutal situations.
She has deeply sculpted features, and her eyes are so white that it's hard to tell where her pupils are.
Its ears are shaped like those of a feline, but its right ear is significantly missing.
And golden hair grew in a V-shape from his temples, slicked back.
However, there were many instances of this, suggesting that he was of a certain age—or rather, that his body had already reached old age.皺wrinkles
That being said, this man, with his thick, tree-like legs stomping firmly on the ground, his thick, log-like arms bulging with muscle, and his rough, rock-hard hands gripping something as huge as himself —shouldn't be compared to an average old man.槌Tsuchi
"That person standing there...is surely the current head of the Asai clan...What nerve do you have to utter such words?! You bastard, get out of the way!!!"
It was a deafening roar, like a skyscraper being blown up and collapsing.
The torrent of ferocious reprimands left the gatekeeper, known as Gonpachi, completely terrified, cowering and trembling.
"My lord, I apologize for my rudeness... I am Tomokuni Toushirou, the leader of the Tomokuni clan... That fool over there... is simply still lacking in training ! Therefore, I beg you to forgive me!!"
And it seems that this roaring volume is the default way for this elderly giant, who introduced himself as Toushirou, to speak.
The giant man slowly began to lower himself, with a sound that could be described as a slurping noise.
I suppose he thinks he shouldn't look down on me, but it's just too scary.
Having an extremely intimidating face slowly approaching you is a kind of terrifying experience.
After all, if it were to open its mouth, it seems like it could easily swallow and bite off at least the upper half of my body.
"No, Toushirou-dono. You'll hurt your back in that position. You don't have to bend over; you can just stand there."
Holding him in one hand to restrain him, I glanced at the poor, utterly terrified gatekeeper—
"Furthermore, I take full responsibility for what happened this time. I visited this place without an appointment, so it's understandable that the gatekeeper would be on guard to fulfill his duty... Lord Toushirou, could you please forgive him?"
When I said this in a gentle tone, Toushirou let out a tremendous, powerful roar that seemed to pierce the heavens, "Oh. Ohhhhhhh..." into the azure sky.
The hammer he held in his hand slammed forcefully into the ground, sending a tremendous cloud of dust rising.
Amidst all this, I noticed that his hammer was gleaming with a bluish-silver light.
"What generous words...! I am truly grateful!! Indeed, as one would expect from someone who hunts hawks, you are a truly magnificent person!!! Please, it is a village with nothing much to offer, but... I would like to guide you to my mansion!!!!"
It's so loud you just want to cover your ears—no, even covering them won't do any good.
Given their enormous size, it's likely that everything about them, from their vocal cords to their lung capacity, is far superior to that of an average person.
The mare that had just passed through the gate returned and went to the gatekeeper, who was known as Gonpachi.
When the horse looked at me, it bowed its head deeply, just like a human.
It's just like Indra's moonflower.
With those thoughts in mind, I, along with Taishakutsukige, entered the unknown settlement where all the inhabitants except Toushirou were wearing hoods.