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Volume 3 Chapter 5 Part 4

「… 」

「… 」

Both of them stared at each other, and only the sound of them breathing resonated in the silent darkness.

And then, both of their hands started to act. At this exact moment, but…

「Ah, yes, that’s right. There is something I forgot to tell you. 」

Like an enormous, poisonous moth flapping her venomous wings, Hisahide’s crimson lips began to move.

「Sugitani Zenjubo of the Koga ninja clan had laid an ambush in Omi to assassinate Oda Nobuna. As a professional killer, he has never failed to eliminate his target. I wonder if Nobuna-sama is already on her way down to hell, or is he going to play with her for a while before he kills her? 」

「…What…what are you saying?! 」

(Strange…there seems to be a weird fragrance around… what… what is this?)

But before Mitsuhide could properly process this, Hisahide’s ominous words had already managed to penetrate deep into her heart, and the immense amount of concentration that she managed to build up was blown away in an instant.

Her own purpose of life was destroyed, shattered in a mere moment.

「Nobuna-sama, she is…dead?! Because she went after Sagara Yoshiharu… S-So it’s… it’s all my fault!? 」

Trying her best to suppress the urge to cry out loud, it seems like she wa barely conscious at this point.

Though it was just for an instant, there was an opening in Mitsuhide’s stance caused by her immense emotional distress.

Hisahide, who was observing Mitsuhide with extreme concentration, did not miss such a good opportunity for an attack, of course.

「…Hehe. Looks like you are under the spell of my fragrance already. 」

At that instant, Hisahide, who was absolutely confident that the moment of her victory has arrived, raised her Jumonji spear

「…Fuck! This is bad! 」

The sharp blade that was swung down made its way towards Mitsuhide’s exposed, all-too-inviting neck…

… but Mitsuhide did not lose her life.

「Who would let you succeed with such a cowardly tactic?! 」

It was because a fearless figure rushed in between Hisahide and Mitsuhide, interfering with their duel, and the slash of Hisahide’s Jumonji spear was blocked by another long spear.

At such a sudden turn of events, Hisahide clicked her tongue in displeasure.

「How rude. Who the hell dares to interrupt our duel?! 」

「Oda clan’s vice-captain, Sagara Yoshiharu! Who else?! 」

「So a mere vice-captain dares to come between a duel between ladies? How despicably tactless. 」

「You’re the despicably tactless one here! You were lying to Juubei just now because you wanted to confuse her with your dubious words, haven’t you?! 」

「Oh? What curious words you’re saying. I wasn’t bluffing at all. At this point, it is more than likely that Nobuna-sama is no longer among the living anymore. 」

Why does the Matsunaga Hisahide in front of him know about Zenjubo’s assassination attempt? That was the first question that popped into Yoshiharu’s mind, but unfortunately he didn’t have the time to process it, because the more pressing concern was right in front of him right now.

「Everyone! Our priority here is the head of Imagawa Yoshimoto only! If you encounter anyone who would dare to stand in your way, kill them with extreme prejudice! 」

Hisahide gave up on the duel with Mitsuhide and went back into the chaotic battlefield. The soldiers who came to the Kiyomizu-dera with her once again gripped their spears and rushed over to her side.

And thus,the battle has started again.

「This isn’t good. If we really attempt to fight it out with them, we will be at a disadvantage. The difference in numbers is just too great! 」

Yoshiharu’s face had a streak of blood flowing down his cheek due to him blocking the swing of Hisahide’s Jumonji spear.

「Why are you here, Sagara Yoshiharu?!? 」

Mitsuhide struggled to stand up as she questioned Yoshiharu.

「Why…? Because I heard that Kiyomizu-dera was in a huge pinch right now…. I mean, was in danger. 」

「Damn Gorilla! Now isn’t the time for you to be here! Nobuna-sama is being targeted by Sugitani Zenjubo of the Koga ninja! 」

「I know. And if it’s Nobuna you’re worried about, then don’t, because she’s already here. 」

「Eh? 」

「Originally, I was prepared to come here alone and ask her to go back to Gifu so that she could bring us reinforcements, but she rejected that idea outright, saying that if she did that, then she wouldn’t be able to make it back here in time. And more than anything, she seemed hell-bent on the idea of saving you herself no matter what. 」

「N-Nobuna-sama… wanted to save me? W-What is going on here, Gorilla?! I don’t understand! 」

「Say what you wanna say later, Juubei! Now is the time to fight! 」

*BLAM!*

A deafening sound just echoed from the roof of the Kiyomizu-dera. It was the sound of a gunshot fired from a tanegashima.

「Nobuna-sama!? 」

It was Oda Nobuna, in the flesh.

「…Ah… yes…. 」

She’s still alive. And moreover, it looks like she’s also uninjured.

Mitsuhide wanted to know how just how Nobuna could have possibly escaped the trap that was set on her, but she had no way to consider such a question right now, since unlimited energy seems to have started to sprout from all corners of her body.

「Phew! We made it just in time, but the numbers of the enemy are really worrying. This isn’t good. 」

「Nobuna-sama. For the situation to become like this, it is all my fault. Please punish me for it accordingly! 」

「Such a thing can be settled after we’re done here, Juubei! 」

「… Yes! Understood! 」

「We will settle the matter of the botched culinary showdown next time. Don’t you dare die now, Akechi-shi. 」

Nobuna, who had grabbed onto the small hands of Goemon to help her climb up the roof, was firing at the enemy with three arquebus like during a circus show, and Goemon at her side was reloading the guns for her so fast that her hands started to look a bit blurry.

「…Inuchiyo! Hanbei! 」

Even Maeda Inuchiyo and Takenaka Hanbei about whom Mitsuhide thought that they abandoned her and disappeared were also here with Nobuna now. These two lolis struggled to climb onto the roof, then poked their heads out from behind Nobuna’s back.

「Maeda Inuchiyo here, reporting for duty! Also, I’m hungry… 」

「Though I think we all agree that the Hatcho Miso Takoyaki was horrible and shouldn’t have won the competition, we should defeat Matsunaga Hisahide’s troops first before we properly pass judgment on that! 」

「Juubei! To rush all the way here we had no time to get reinforcements from Gifu! I’m a bit sorry to say this, but the five of us are the only reinforcements you’re going to get, so take it or leave it! 」

「Nobuna-sama! W-Why… why are you here?! 」

Mitsuhide mumbled, but Nobuna simply laughed cheerfully.

「Juubei! From now on, your back is mine to protect, so go ahead and unleash your abilities to the fullest! Today is the day that the Akechi clan makes its mark on the history of the world! 」

But the ominous and alluring voice of Matsunaga Hisahide once again rang out near Mitsuhide’s ears.

「This is a dream. It’s nothing more than an illusion. You are simply dreaming…about what you wanted to happen… 」

It’s because the fragrance that Matsunaga Hisahide was using was form of hypnosis that will manipulate people’s hearts and even influence their senses.

「Yes… This…this is just an illusion. I had chased away that Gorilla, and because of my horrible actions, Nobuna-sama hates me now. Maeda-dono and Takenaka-dono both left Kyoto and abandoned me… For someone selfish like me, Nobuna-sama would never come and help with just the five of them. I, Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide, am only dreaming; it’s an illusion born out from my extreme despair… 」

Yoshiharu, who was at Mitsuhide’s side and fighting off the enemies with a long spear, turned back to Mitsuhide and gave her a hard slap on the face.

「Ouch! W-w-why did you hit me, you fucking Gorilla?!! 」

「Geez. Juubei, why do you believe in such an obvious lie!? Listen, I was indeed captured by Sugitani Zenjubo at Omi, and was used as a hostage to bait Nobuna out so that he could kill her! 」

「And then, you were shot tragically, right? So Gorilla, you are a ghost now! 」

「Wrong! It’s all thanks to Inuchiyo and the rest that Nobuna and I were saved in the nick of time! Those three didn’t abandon Kyoto because of you; they went out looking for Nobuna when she didn’t return there in time! 」