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Volume 3 Chapter 5 Part 2

A large number of winding roads nearby kept this area concealed, and not a single thing obstructed the view from the house, making a perfect sniping position. For someone planning an ambush with a tanegashima, they couldn’t possibly ask for a better spot than this.

(Damn. With Goemon not at my side right now, I can’t win against this ninja, and I’ve totally fallen for his tricks! It would have been okay if I was the only one dying in this scenario, but why am I of all people the bait that’s going to be used to assassinate Nobuna? Maybe I should just bite off my own tongue and commit suicide?)

This idea flashed through his mind for a brief moment, but if he really went and did it, then upon seeing his corpse, Nobuna would definitely rush over to his side without thinking to investigate what exactly happened to him… no, it’s more likely that things would play out exactly like Sugitani Zenjubo said: after seeing him in such a sorry state, she will definitely be thrown into a panic and will surely fall right into his trap.

(Though she is usually throwing insults at me like there’s no tomorrow and is never honest with herself, then even someone as slow as me is able to understand that much, at the very least.)

Making a decision, Yoshiharu opened his mouth and shouted with all his might:

「NOBUNA, THIS IS A TRAP! NO MATTER WHAT HEPPENS, DON’T COME OVER HERE! 」

(You really are nothing more than an idiotic monkey. With this, you just made your master fall into my trap yourself.)

Zenjubo raised his gun, quietly waiting for his prey to arrive, and smirked at Yoshiharu’s words. And in the next moment, almost as if it had been rehearsed, the sound of someone riding on a horse approaching could be heard right after Yoshiharu’s scream died down.

The one on the horse is none other than the disguised Nobuna herself.

(Damn! I should not have shouted that loud! What the hell was I thinking?! She will definitely be shocked to see me in my current state and won’t listen to a word that I’m going to say!)

「Monkey! What the hell are you doing, embarrassing yourself in such a place?! 」

「Uwahhhhh! Don’t come any closer! ! Don’t come, don’t come, don’t come, don’t come!!! 」

Nobuna pointed her horse in Yoshiharu’s direction and continued to shout:

「Don’t come, here, you idiot! There’s a ninja waiting to assassinate you! 」

「Eh? What? Stop saying that monkey language nonsense of yours and say something I can understand! 」

The distance between the both of them was narrowing, to the point where their noses almost met….

…but suddenly, she was able to smell it. That there was something smoking nearby. And then…

…there was a click as Zenjubo pressed the trigger of his tanegashima. It released a spark, and then a deafening gunshot rang out around the entire area.

* * *

In the meantime, in the capital.

「I can’t find Nobuna-sama anywhere… As expected, she must’ve gone to Mino… 」

Mitsuhide, who went back to the capital all by herself, received a shocking message from Imai Sokyu at Sakai.

「Yamato’s Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide has revolted. She is leading troops to the capital to take Imagawa Yoshimoto’s head. Tsuda Sogyu and Danjo seem to be connected. He might be the one who told Danjo that the capital is empty and persuaded her to invade it. 」

Even if Tsuda Sogyu had not been a trustworthy source, Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide has had more than enough experience with revolting, so the credibility of this news couldn’t be doubted. And besides, she was the only one who could have enough guts to strike at the Ashikaga Shogun.

After hearing that the capital was held only by the new Shogun candidate Imagawa Yoshimoto and a few guards that remained there with her , she led her troops back to the capital.

「Tsuda Sokyu-dono might have done such a thing to prevent the free city Sakai from falling into the hands of the Oda-clan. If Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide really becomes the master of Kyoto, then the position of Sakai from now on will be much more important than it was in the past, and the independence of commerce in Sakai can be guaranteed as well. That’s why Tsuda-dono used the culinary showdown to snatch the position of Kaigi Gunshu’s representative for himself… 」

But even though things might be like this right now, Tsuda Sogyu isn’t a warrior, but a merchant. For a merchant, there are things they must protect as well, which would give anyone reason to battle however they could to protect their own sphere of influence and sources of income.

Understanding this, Mitsuhide did not resent Tsuda Sogyu’s actions.

「Hurry! To Kiyomizu-dera! 」

Mitsuhide gathered all her troops and marched out, but her forces had less than 800 men. By the time they managed to set out, it was already deep in the night.

Mitsuhide just noticed that the Oda clan’s three guardians of Kyoto, Maeda Inuchiyo, Takenaka Hanbei, and Hachisuka Goemon, had long since disappeared.

After returning to Kyoto herself, she had not seen them at all.

(Maybe the three of them had moved out to chase after Sagara Yoshiharu as well? But even if that was the case, it is strange that none of them even came to inform me about it. Maybe they are still angry at me for chasing away the Gorilla using unfair methods?)

From how angry the lolis looked after the showdown was concluded, and considering the close relationship they have with Yoshiharu, that might easily be the case. The only one who normally quarreled with Yoshiharu was Shibata Katsuie.

(For Nobuna-sama, her retainers are like her own family members, huh?)

Imai Soukyu’s words once again rang through Mitsuhide’s mind.

The enemy numbers more than 10,000 troops, and they have only 800. Besides that, there is no fortress where they can protect themselves at all, so they can only use the temple to drag the fight out as long as possible.

Even with her intelligence, Mitsuhide couldn’t think of any way to combat such a difference in numbers.

「Well. Mitsuhide, I have confidence it you! Though the shrine is completely surrounded by enemies, with your intelligence and wit, this situation should be easily resolved, right? 」

Amidst the numerous flags of the Matsunaga clan, hiding in the depths of the temple, Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was wearing wafuku, hummed a waka while cheerfully . It was as if she did not understand that they were in grave danger right now. Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide simply shut her eyes and cemented her resolve.

「Understood. I, Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide, will be the defender of Kyoto! As long I draw breath, I will definitely protect you, Yoshimoto-sama. 」

The last order that Nobuna gave Mitsuhide was to protect Kyoto. And now that she was abandoned by her allies, it was what she deserved.

But then, she felt that it’s strangely fortunate that Nobuna-sama isn’t in Kyoto right now. Mitsuhide did not know that, right now, Nobuna was in the Omi province, and due to the despicable trap laid by Sugitani Zenjubo, was in a dire situation herself.

As per Mitsuhide’s estimate, Nobuna should be in Mino’s territory right about now, so until Nobuna could bringing reinforcements from Mino back to Kyoto, she must protect Imagawa Yoshimoto at all costs, even if it costs her her own life.

The purpose of this battle at Kiyomizu-dera was simply to buy time.

「Let the foot soldiers use the tanegashimas to shoot down the generals near Matsunaga, thus scaring the enemy! 」

Other than that, there is no other way for her to proceed right now. Thanks to this, before the reinforcements arrive, Mitsuhide will most likely meet her end here. The only things that would survive were her apologies that will never reach Nobuna and Yoshiharu, and thatw as her only regret.

But even if that were to be the case, she had sworn never to cry again.

Raising the tanegashima that has accompanied her for many years, Mitsuhide rode out to the courtyard, where the chaos had started.

(We must defeat as many enemies as we can to gain as much time as possible.)

Mitsuhide had made her resolve to die in the midst of this chaos.

「Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide is here! 」

The gate in front of Mitsuhide had been broken down by the enemy troops, and the enemies started flooding in. At the forefront of them, there was an elegant beauty filled with a charm that made her look as if she was not of this country.

「Hehe…I’m the master of the Tamonzan Castle from Yamato, Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide! Please take care of me from now on. Though, it looks like your time in this world is going to be coming to an end soon. 」