◆
I once again stepped up to the alcove in the Magara residence.
I saw Nagashige, who had left the sliding door open and gone inside, hugging Naosumi, who was sitting in front of the hearth.
As she flails her legs, her hakama (traditional Japanese trousers) lifts up, revealing her pale, slender body with finely toned muscles.脛shin
No matter how you look at her, she looks like nothing more than a shrine maiden selling her body for sustenance...but even so, being hugged by a beautiful woman must be a pleasant experience.
Naosumi's face didn't seem entirely opposed.
And then, with that same stifling intensity, he and Nagashige were arguing about something.
"—Maintain a friendly relationship with Nagashige."
Naotaka said this as he carefully closed each of the sliding doors that Nagashige had left open.
"—He's not a weirdo. He's a madman wearing the mask of a weirdo."
"Ah... haa..."
Watching the hulking man meticulously carry out each task, I was at a loss for how to react.
Aren't madmen who pretend to be eccentric just a bunch of bad people?
"—A madman who can feign reason. That's why he can control monsters and make them his wives and husbands."
"...picture?"
Naotaka patted me on the shoulder.
Just that alone makes me feel like my height has shrunk—but he doesn't seem to care and leans in to look at my face.
"—Nagashige only has sex with men and demons. Many of the Asakura family have had physical relations with him. That shows just how much influence he has."
Though, he's crazy.
Saying this, Naotaka strode towards Nagashige, who was rubbing his body against Naosumi's while nibbling on his earlobe.
"—Nagashige, first state your business. I'll deal with you after that."
"You're really so straightforward, Magara-san. Well, I love that about you too, though. Hey... I wonder if you could intoxicate me again tonight with your burning passion?"
"—He's a loudmouth, a real nuisance."
"You're right, big brother!"
"—You too."
Naotaka's voice was gruff, but his face was beaming.
They're probably a really close trio. One of them is a effeminate guy who acts like a child, and is also quite eccentric.
"What are you doing? You come here quickly."
Saying that, Naotaka beckoned me over.
As I sat down beside the hearth at his invitation, the warmth emanating from it gently enveloped my body.
A comforting warmth.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels an overwhelming sense of peace when they see a fire.
"Ah... right. This trip to Kita-Omi was for Lord Masayuki, wasn't it? Or was it for Lord Hisamasa? Well, it doesn't really matter to me either way."
"So, what do you want from us? Is it information about Asai?"
They probably realized that if they let him talk for too long, the conversation would never get started.
Naotaka got straight to the point, and Nagashige nodded.
"...To put it simply, the situation is dire. Yukino just returned from Kita-Omi, and it seems the Asai forces have figured out our movements. They've set up defensive positions in various locations and are waiting, ready to welcome us."悉Everything
The moment I heard that, I felt a heavy weight placed on my lower abdomen, a sense of pressure.
(My elder brother, what is the situation here in Echizen...?)
Is something like that even possible?
Separated by mountainous terrain, even if spies were sent out, there would be no way that the northern Ōmi side could detect a military operation that had begun in Echizen Province just four days earlier.
That was a feeling that could only come from actually being born and living in Omi Province.
Omi Province is centered around Lake Biwa, but its surroundings are covered by mountain ranges.
In short, the area between Echizen Province and northern Omi Province is lined with mountain ranges such as the Ibuki Mountains, the Kohoku Mountains, and the Nosaka Mountains, meaning that travel basically requires crossing mountains.
(And yet... in such a short time...)
It sends shivers down your spine.
My elder brother, Bizen-no-kami Nagamasa, was a talented individual to begin with—but especially after marrying a princess of the Oda family, he seemed like a completely different person, showing a different side to him than before.
My older brother, Masamoto, and even Endo Naotsune, who was a close confidant of my great-brother, seemed to have welcomed the change, but...
(It's terrifying to me...)
This feeling is something you can only understand if you've become his enemy.
To fight against my elder brother, to invade northern Omi, is nothing less than willingly going to my death—that's the feeling I have.
(But how did Nagashige get that information...?)
I don't know who Yukino is, but judging from the content, she might be a female ninja he's keeping under his wing.
Many questions arise, but it seems that the Magara brothers were basically the same.
"Whoa! What does that mean?!"
"—Let me ask you, why?"
A mix of passionate and calm voices mingled as Nagashige began to speak.
"I don't know the reason. I can't say anything with certainty. All I know is that Asai Bizen-no-kami is taking military action to defend northern Omi in accordance with our actions."
So, Nagashige touched his index finger to his upper lip and tilted his head in a cute, cunning way.頤chin
"It seems that Bizen-no-kami has recruited some excellent ninja. And quite excellent ones at that... I heard this while deepening my relationship with the leader of the Anbaga clan, but it seems that some of the ninja who infiltrated northern Omi haven't returned. From the time of the previous incompetent... no, excuse me, Lord Hisamasa until very recently, it was like a 'ninja paradise' where they could do whatever they wanted. But things won't be the same anymore."
"Hmm..."
Naotaka crossed his arms and thought for a while before asking.
"—Your ... no, your reconnaissance in Yukino, is no longer possible?"梟Owl
"Well, I suppose you could go and check it out for me, but..."
Saying this, Nagashige's cheeks flushed, and he gave Naotaka a sidelong glance.
"Well, tonight... I'm planning to spend time with her and nurture our love. So, no. If you neglect the one you love, you'll eventually be killed."
He was saying something, but my head was spinning.
Owls are nocturnal creatures and therefore a threat to humans.
Since their eyes are sensitive to light, they can be driven away simply by lighting a fire—
(An owl? Yukino? Nurturing love...?)
—In many ways, my head felt like it was about to explode.
Noticing my confusion, Naosumi began explaining while laughing loudly, in a rather stifling way.
"Ah, that's right! Masayuki didn't know that!!"
Laughing heartily, Naosumi continued.
"This thing can't get an erection unless it's a man or a monster!! Yukino is the name of the owl this thing keeps as a pet, and it 's been raising it since it was little!! It doesn't attack people, and it's already given birth to this thing's zashiki-warashi, so it's pretty amazing in many ways!!!"雛Hina
"Well, that's alright. It's not a big deal."
I had just learned that from Naotaka a moment ago—but in any case, this is definitely not something that can be settled with "something like that."
Having intercourse with a monster and giving birth to a zashiki-warashi (a type of house spirit)—it's something that no normal person would even consider.
It was the kind of behavior that could only be described as the act of a madman, but Nagashige just gave a wry smile as if to say "I don't really care," and then suddenly looked me in the eye.
"Masayuki-sama, you should be careful too. It seems your older brother is seriously trying to kill you and your father. Well, it looks like the Rokkaku family is also serious this time, so hopefully things will work out."
Well then, I'll be going to see Lord Kagekyou.
With that, before I knew it, he had rushed out of the house without closing the sliding door, just as he had arrived.
The Magara brothers were trying to talk to me about something, but I couldn't understand what they were saying.
(My elder brother... is trying to kill... me and Father...)
I feel like I'm about to be crushed by a truth that I should have known, a truth I should have been prepared for.
I was forced to realize once again that I had come too far to turn back.
◆
I don't really know how I got home.
Before I knew it, I was inside the house, and Yuihime, with a worried look on her face, was handing me a bowl of rice porridge.
"Tomorrow is Masayuki's special day, so... I decided to treat myself to something a little extravagant."
Then, a large, whole grilled fish, seasoned with salt, is presented to me.
There is nothing alike by Yuihime's side.
However, there is only a bowl of rice porridge and a spoon on the table.
"...Yui, what about yours...?"
"It's fine, I don't mind."
Yuihime smiled softly.
"It's a luxury, after all."
"..."
In other words, it seems they don't have the capital to provide their own fish.
Even so, Yuihime probably bought the fish because she desperately wanted to give me some strength, since the battle was scheduled for the next day.
I will leave Ichijōdani early tomorrow morning.
And I'm sure that by this time tomorrow, my fate—whether I live or die—will be decided.
My elder brother is a general who excels at short, decisive battles, such as blitzkrieg and surprise attacks.
If the Asakura army knew that their cause was the return of my father and me to northern Omi, it was obvious from the start that they would target us.
"Besides, Masayuki-san has worked so hard to get this far... And speaking of Magara-sama, he is the strongest man in the household. I'm sure his training must have been incredibly tough... He must have suffered many injuries as well..."
"That just shows how seriously they were taking it."
I tried to act tough, but as I looked at my wife's face, which was trembling with anxiety, I said:
She knows very well that my body is already in tatters in many ways, as she tends to my wounds every single night.
The Asakura family uses bamboo swords made from high-quality bamboo wrapped in cloth for training, but even so, being hit with one will leave a bruise.
Moreover, my training partner is the man who, from Yuihime's perspective, openly harbored romantic feelings for her.
They must be incredibly worried about whether I've been subjected to anything terrible.
The fact that he burst into tears on the second night of training because of the terrible bruises he had developed, and pleaded to have the training stopped, was probably due to such past experiences.
However, contrary to what Yuihime might think, the Magara brothers are extremely gentlemanly and are sincerely training with me.
That was something I absolutely had to make clear. Not now, but at least someday.
"Hey, Yui..."
"What is it, Masayuki-san?"
"Eat half of the fish..."
When I said that, Yuihime looked surprised, then shook her head with a sad expression.
"That's... no good. Tomorrow is an important day for Masayuki... That's why I bought it."
"What is it?"
I gazed at my wife's face, illuminated by the crimson light of the hearth.
A draft blew into the house, and flames flared up as if fanned by the wind.
"Hey...is it no good? I want to be with you..."
"No, that's not allowed."
"I... I might be dead tomorrow. Couldn't you at least understand that much...?"
"Don't say it!!"
With a sorrowful cry, Yui-hime covered both her ears with her hands and curled up into a ball.
It was as if they were protecting themselves from something.
Or, as if to protect her heart, she screams while covering her ears.
"He won't die!! Masayuki won't die!!! He won't leave me behind!!!!"
"a..."
Seeing my wife like this, so different from her usual self, I froze for a moment.
I don't know much about the background of my wife, Yuihime.
The only thing we know for sure is that, although she is Lord Yoshikage's sister, her mother was not of high social standing.
Yui-hime never spoke about her past or her mother, and I, too, never tried to pry too deeply into those matters.
But judging from this reaction, she has probably already lost her mother.
And I have a very strong fear of death.
That much, even a simpleton like me could understand.
"I'm sorry... but I really wanted to make this clear."
"No, no!! I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear it at all!!!"
However, Yuihime is a physically weak woman to begin with.
As a man, I can easily remove their hands from both ears with just a little force, and I can also restrain their movements.
I ran to her and hugged her, sealing her slender arms so they wouldn't cover my ears.
(She really has a delicate build...)
I realize this as I hold them close.
What kind of past could such a slender, fragile-looking body possibly be carrying?
If it's a painful and difficult burden, I would like to take on some of it for them, but...
(But do I, who am not a "wife," have the right to say that?)
Even as I was thinking those thoughts, I hugged Yui tightly.
I felt like I had to. I felt like if I didn't hold her here, I would lose everything.
I embraced Yuihime's body. Tightly, so tightly that I was afraid she might break.
"Listen to me, Yui."
"unwillingly..."
"Please"
Yuihime struggled and resisted for a while, but she is an intelligent woman.
How much time did I spend like that?
As I continued to hold Yuihime in my arms, she gradually stopped resisting—and slowly, she began to regain her senses.
"...Masayuki-san"
"...what?"
"I'm sorry... I lost my composure..."
"No...it's fine. I don't mind."
I grabbed Yuihime's shoulders and gently pulled away.
When I leaned in to look at her face, she lowered her eyes with a apologetic expression.
"It was... my fault. I said something strange... and made you anxious."
"N-no, that's not true...! Masayuki isn't to blame, it's...it's all my fault...!"
"No, that's not it...that's not it."
Also, while putting my arm around Yuihime's shoulders, I said:
Those words are more for myself than for her.
"It seems I was feeling anxious. I had to fight my elder brother, and that was a predetermined future, but when faced with that fact again, I was hesitating."
"..."
"My elder brother is an incredible person. Someone like me could never even come close to him, someone we couldn't defeat even if we teamed up. And yet, my elder brother came to kill me and Father... It seems that fact frightened me. I had decided that I would come back to you no matter what."
"Masayuki...san"
Tears streamed down both of Yuihime's cheeks.
"Why...is that...?"
"..."
"Why... are you going to war...?"
"Th-that is-"
"Is it something you want that badly...? Is the position of head of the Asai family truly something you need, Masayuki?!"
Yuihime looked at me with pleading eyes, gripping my hand as she pleaded.
"Let's run away...! I'll be alright...! No matter how painful it is, even if I starve to death, as long as Masayuki is there for me...!"
"Y-Yui...!"
"I don't want to lose him, I don't want to lose him...! I... I... I don't want to let Masayuki go to a dangerous place...!!"
My wife's tears streamed down her face.
She sobbed, making no attempt to hide it, and desperately gripped my hand.
But Yuihime probably understands that too.
I cannot escape from this battle, at least not this time.
"I'm sorry..."
"No way... Masayuki-san...!"
"Honestly, I don't want the position of head of the Asai family. I have no interest in it."
"Then... then...!"
"But if I don't continue to strive for that position... I'll surely become completely useless to the Asakura family. And if I don't participate in this battle... that would mean I'm abandoning my father."
If I did that, I wouldn't be myself anymore.
Upon hearing this, Yuihime cried out, her shoulders trembling violently.
All I can do is keep stroking her as she grieves. That's all I'm allowed to do.
"But, Yui... I want you to believe me. I will definitely come back alive. I still want to make many more memories with you..."
"Masayuki-san... Masayuki-san...!"
"Besides... I..."
Because I haven't been able to hold you in my arms yet—
Upon hearing this, Yuihime's body trembled.
I suppose they never expected to be told something like that at that moment.
But there was one thing I didn't want to do: keep making the woman I loved cry.
"If I come back alive, I'll hold you, Yui. I'll make you my wife, in the truest sense of the word. So... I'll definitely come back."
"Masayuki...san"
"I don't want to die without ever holding you in my arms..."
And as I held her in my arms, I said:
"But... I hope you'll have gained a little weight by then. I prefer slightly heavier women."
"..."
"So, let's eat some fish together. And I also got some chestnuts from the Magara brothers. Let's eat them together and go to bed early tonight, okay?"
"...Masayuki-san"
Although she was far from smiling, the sadness had vanished from Yuihime's face.
As I watched, I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly and gently kissed her lips.
They pressed their lips together for a while—and when they slowly pulled their faces apart, Yuihime looked confused and flustered, not knowing what to do, her face flushed red.
"Remember this... I will never die until I have held you in my arms."
"...Yes, Masayuki-san."
Yuihime gently hugged me and whispered:
"It's a promise..."
"..."
"I'll be waiting... for Masayuki to come back, forever and ever..."
"ah...!"
Inside a dilapidated house where drafts blow in through the cracks.
We kissed, clinging to each other, desperately trying to feel each other's body heat.
The more we touch each other, the more we feel each other's presence, and the more we can draw strength from that...
I'm sure we were both thinking something so innocent deep down.
Even if it was just the beginning of a story leading to despair—we had no choice but to cling to even such a tiny glimmer of hope.