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Volume 1 Chapter 6 Part 2

The villain of the chaotic world of the Sengoku era, The Viper of Mino, Saito Dosan.

It is said that he used to be a monk during his younger days, but became successful as a merchant by selling oil in the capital of Japan, Kyoto, and by using his own fortune he became a proper samurai after arriving in the Mino province. After betraying the daimyo’s whom he served time and time again and banishing them from Mino by using devious and cunning means, he kept on rising in power and finally became Mino’s ruling daimyo himself. That is the story of the real villain of the Sengoku era, who rose to his position of power from being a mere merchant. Whether it be the enemy or his retainers, he was the man known as the Viper, who drove fear into the hearts of everyone who dared to oppose him.

But the contents of the contract written by Dosan seemed almost as if they were written by someone else entirely.

Nobuna-dono, I think I might be doting you more than I do my own daughter.

I had thought that my life’s purpose and dream of unifying Japan had been stopped mid-way before they could truly begin, but after meeting with you, Nobuna-dono, I finally understood that my dream would still be continued, even if I won’t be the one to carry that continuation out.

I couldn’t be more happy than to know that my taking of the Mino province and my desire to do the same with the rest of the country were not futile.

If only I could do it, then I would immediately give this Mino province, which I spent half my life to make it truly mine, to you, Nobuna-dono, and I would impart to you everything I know about military strategies in order to assist you on your path towards unification of Japan from behind the scenes. That is how I wanted to spend my remaining years on this earth.

However, should it ever happen that a disaster were to befall me, then please make sure to forget about this old man and focus on obtaining the Mino province with your own hands.

If you are really willing to become like a daughter of mine, and if you want to inherit my dream of unifying Japan, then definitely don’t send out reinforcements to help me. As long as you treat my beloved daughter, Kichou, as your own little sister, I would have no other regrets.

I am already old, and everyone has to die someday. Partings shall always be with you, no matter where you’ll go or how far you will try to run away from them. However, I was able to see the continuation of my collapsing, so I am satisfied. Always being misunderstood by those around me, I spent my life as a villain. Hence, my soul has already been saved.

Just knowing that is enough for me.

If there’s one thing I wish for, I hope that someday you are going to meet your other half who will understand your dream.

I will head towards the afterlife now. Farewell, and I wish you luck on your journey ahead.

Just when Nobuna finished reading the contents of the contract while trembling all over, a servant came inside the room.

「The princess from the Saito clan has arrived after escaping from the Mino province. 」

The servant hurriedly reported. An aged lady looking like a wet nurse also bowed humbly at Nobuna’s feet.

「I have come bearing the message from my Lord, Dosan-sama: I am sending your little sister over to you like I promised. Furthermore, sending reinforcements now would be futile, so don’t even try that. 」

Nobuna was in a state of utter chaos. The mask of the Demon Lord had once again fallen off, and had become the face of a little girl. She let out a wail so silent that no one could hear it, trying her best to suppress the feelings that were about to explode.

「All… all…all…. forces, all forces…..! 」

All forces march out to Mino, immediately, was a sentence that she was probably trying to say, and everyone knew that. And that’s why…

「…… Please forgive me, Nobuna-sama! 」

Katsuie sent a punch right at Nobuna’s abdomen. Her delicate body could not withstand the power of such a punch, and Nobuna fainted right then and there in Katsuie’sarms.

Needless to say, Yoshiharu was stunned by Katsuie’s actions.

「Ka…Katsuie? What have you done!? 」

「Monkey, Dosan-dono is right. We are currently being eyed by Imagawa Yoshimoto’s army from the east. So….. 」

「So you knocked Nobuna unconscious, and after she is going to awake, you will tell her that Dosan-dono is dead? 」

「Yes! I mean, what else can we do in this situation? 」

「We do not need an entire army. Actually, having a small amount of men would be much better. We can send out a suicide squad to save Dosan! 」

「I thought of that a long time ago! But I can’t leave Owari…..! And besides, there is no one else who would want to lead the suicide squad to save The Viper of Mino of all people! 」

「Ah, yes, you’re right. Without you, the Owari army would be useless, so you have to protect Aoshuu castle and keep an eye out for Imagawa Yoshimoto’s movements. 」

「Then… who can I give the order to「Go die for Saito Dosan? 」Nobukatsu? or Nagahide? Who else can I send out!? 」

「I’ll go! 」

「What did you say? 」
「Even if I die, there won’t be any effect on the Oda clan! Besides, this is my own rash action, not an order I received from my superior. 」

「Monkey… Do you really have the resolve to go to that extent for someone like Saito Dosan? 」

Katsuie looked at Yoshiharu and asked him with a grave expression.

「When Nobuna wakes up, just tell her that Monkey has fled in search of Japan’s no.1 cutie, Katsuie! Got it? 」

He thought it would be a good idea put on airs in front of Katsuie, but as a lowly foot soldier, Yoshiharu had no retainers himself. So, now he can only go alone onto the battlefield of the Nagara river.

During the journey towards his destination, he sensed the presence of Goemon.

「Sagara-sama, I will be troubled if you go die by yourself. 」

「Can you give me a hand then? 」

「You’re my driftwood, so I can’t possibly let my own baster rot away in water. 」

「Thanks, that’s going to help me a lot! 」

「Sanks? You want me to leave not even bodies remaining? 」

「No,I was just thanking you in the barbarian language. 」

「Oh……Barbarian language…… I see… 」

And so, their journey continued. Goemon rode on the horse she had prepared. Because Yoshiharu had no experience in riding horses, he could only allow Goemon to sit in front of him and hugged her back lightly while they rode together.

Gradually, the thieves under Goemon’s command, the 「Kawanami Group 」gathered themselves around them.

The Kawanami group was originally a bunch of thieves led by Goemon’s deceased father. As a young, small girl, Goemon inherited the position of her father after his passing, and became the leader of the group instead. Most of these people are actually samurais, but due to various reasons, they had lost their families and masters and joined together to form the huge group of like-minded people who have become ronins. That being said, no matter how you’d look at it, they were a bunch of big, bulky men who are no different from bandits, but they were abnormally loyal towards their leader, Goemon, who was the single flower blooming among them.

Goemon had never spoken anything about her own issues, but from what Yoshiharu had gathered, Goemon seemed to want her group of thieves to get back their samurai lives. But since Goemon herself was not a samurai, but a ninja, so according to the common sense of the Sengoku era, no matter how many feats she achieved, such someone like her could never earn recognition for her deeds, and that’s on top of her leading what was essentially a band of outlaws.

But even with knowing these 2 facts, Goemon was still willing to be just a shadow of a soldier, Kinoshita Tokichiro, and after his unfortunate early death, she started serving Yoshiharu.

This is the first time Yoshiharu meet face to face with the members of the Kawanami Group. Before today, due to work reasons, he had to borrow their strength for himself, but till now, they had never met directly before.

「Wh…What a scary bunch of people…..! Go…Go…Goemon, did you settle things correctly with them last time? 」