3 bar menu

Volume 1 Chapter 4 Part 5

「Kanjuurou was encouraged to do martial arts and studies by mother who wanted him to be the one to succeed the Oda clan instead of me. However, no matter what he was doing, he always lost to me. So he’s just a bit twisted because of it. He isn’t that bad a person, you just have to get to know him better to realize that.

「Indeed, compared to you, he’s still at a level of being cute with what he does……it huuuuurts! 」

Nobuna, who understood that he would dodge it if hit from the front used a surprise attack on Yoshiharu this time. Once she made sure that her attack would hit, she launched another set of hard candy at his head.

「Which part of me did you say is twisted, huh?! Slandering your master without any tangible proof is something that I just can’t forgive! 」

「Didn’t you appear at your father’s funeral in the appearance of a fool and cause a ruckus?! That’s way too twisted! 」

「That time I was pissed off at both my father who died and left me behind on his own, and the main retainers who were sitting in a row with composed expressions and discussing on to how conduct themselves! No one was earnestly grieving for father’s death, and that was vexing! 」

「I see. Nobukatsu was like that too? 」

「Kanjuurou was…..sad and he was crying. However, the vassals around him had eyes looking like they were plotting a rebellion against me behind his back. 」

「That guy has rebelled against you countless times, but he’s been forgiven, is what Katsuie told me. So even a demon girl like you cherishes her brother, huh? 」

「Shut up. I have a policy of not forgiving those who rebel, be it whether they’re my brother or not! It’s just that since mother will be sad, even though I want to behead him, I can’t cut him down! 」

「I see… 」

Nobuna looks down sadly, and let out a small sigh, but she immediately swallowed her words, and started glaring at Yoshiharu with sharp eyes again. It was a face worthy of a daimyo from the Sengoku era.

「However, if Kanjuurou ….No, if Nobukatsu rebels against me this time, I’ll kill him for sure. 」

「Why? 」

「Because, if the clan is split up, then it’s impossible to protect Owari from the strong Imagawa clan. That’s why I decided that. 」

「That’s dangerous. Don’t say that as you try patching things up between you two. 」

「Watch your mouth, Monkey. I am the protecting Lord of Owari, Oda Kazusanosuke Nobuna. My position is different from yours. I am responsible for all the people of Owari and my retainers! 」

「………And also, for the dream of ‘Conquering Japan’, there are times you have to sacrifice your personal feelings? Is that it? 」

「That’s right! There’s no point in talking to a foot-soldier about this any more than this. 」

Nobuna ended the topic, and Yoshiharu clicked his tongue in his heart.

(No, it’s wrong. She still doesn’t see me as someone equal to her.)

When he realized that, his chest tightened due to vexation.

「More than that, I’ll measure your brain with this globe. 」

「A globe, huh. I accept your challenge. 」

「It’s not a challenge. Do you think a human and a monkey can equally compete in a challenge? This is just going to be a measurement of a monkey’s brain. 」

While rotating the globe in her hand, she showed a surprisingly smiling face and shouted:

「The barbarians who made this are tough, since they crossed the huge sea, travelled around half the world and came to Japan! Do you know about the meaning of this globe? The world isn’t flat. It’s a sphere like this globe! 」

「I know that much. 」

「Eeh~? Don’t lie to me! 」

「I learnt it at school.「

「For the monkey country’s temple elementary school to be the level of barbarians, it’s difficult to believe. 」

Nobuna’s had a sour look on her face while she glared at Yoshiharu.

「Then, do you know where on this globe’s Japan is located at? 」

「Yeah, I know. Apparently it’s this small island nation. By the way, the‘barbarians’ as you call them came come from the far far away land of Europe in the west. 」

While pushing the globe with his hands, he pointed at the locations of Japan and the barbarians, respectively. He was subtly wrong about the barbarians (Although he should point at Holland, Spain and Portugal, Yoshiharu was pointing at France), but, he was more or less on the mark. Unexpectedly, Nobuna had an angry face since whenever she explained that the earth was a sphere, no one believed her, and she couldn’t understand why would a mere monkey like him know about it?

「It’s not like my head is that great. In the world that I was in, it’s just common knowledge. 」

「Hmph. Looks like I underestimated the Monkey Kingdom. It may become the biggest enemy of mankind if left unattended. It may be better to destroy them as soon as possible. 」

「Like I said, I am not a monkey! 」

「The various barbarian countries who have the Arquebuses and the ships that go around the globe are also really strong. 」

While ignoring Yoshiharu’s comment, Nobuna said that.

「Right now only the missionaries teaching about their God came here but I believe that they’ll come to Japan with their huge fleet to attack us one day. That’s why I want to conquer Japan as soon as possible and build a country that can rival the barbarian countries! Hey, is what I am saying strange? Do you think I am a fool? 」

Yoshiharu thought. When talking about barbarians or about the world, she had a nice expression… but only for a bit.

「What are you getting red for? Do you have a fever or something, monkey? Could it be an intelligence fever? 」

「What you’re saying is correct. 」

Yoshiharu replied that while scratching his nose.

「You may be annoying, but you’re a genius who crosses eras. The ones who laugh at you are the stupid ones. However, it can’t be helped, but you’re the one who’s special. Don’t worry about it. 」

「Hmph. Even if I am told that by a monkey, I am not happy. There’s no basis for that, so could you perhaps be a flatterer? 」

While running that rotten mouth of hers, she showed a really defenseless smile, a smile like that of a little girl. It was for only a moment though. She got flustered almost immediately and went back to her original displeasured expression.

Yoshiharu’s heart started beating faster.

(Wait, Wait. Don’t be deceived! I can’t f-fall for this brutal tyrant! And first of all, our social statuses are different! I am a humble foot-soldier, she’s my master and she’s the daimyo governing Owari! Retainers should know when they can and when they shouldn’t pursue their lord romantically!)

Abruptly, Nobuna opened her eyes, and peered at Yoshiharu’s face. It was a distance where Nobuna’s breath was hitting his cheeks directly.

(Dammit. Even if she’s just Nobuna, for her to be such a beauty is way too much!)

「What? What’s with that face? Do you have something that you want to say to me? 」

「Eh? N-Nothing! 」

「Even though you have something you want to say, for you to keep quiet, it’s not like you. Are you planning on a rebellion or something? 」
「Rather that a rebellion, more like retainer supplanting his lord….. 」

「…..Hmph. And what exqctly do you mean by that now? 」

「T-That is… uhm, um…. 」

「Yes? 」

Yoshiharu felt as if he was paralyzed.

(It’s vexing but, she’s pretty after all! Only her face though!)

The two of them stared at each other for some time, until a drum resounded from somewhere in the castle to indicate the passage of time.

「It’s sunset. Time’s up. 」

Nobuna returned to her serious face.

「Monkey, following the Oda clan’s law, you will be beheaded. Sit properly. 」

It was a refined expression worthy of a Sengoku era daimyo.

(So Inuchiyo wasn’t able to make it in time, huh?)

Yoshiharu lowered his head while sitting straight at Nobuna’s feet. Strangely, he didn’t feel any fear.

(I guess Nobuna will also behead me without a shred of hesitation.)

In order to live as a proper Daimyo of the Sengoku era, she even seems to have prepared herself to kill her little brother, so of course she wouldn’t feel anything over killing one or two foot soldiers.