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Volume 3 Chapter 6 Part 3

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「W-What?!… Sugitani Zenjubo and Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide were defeated by Oda Nobuna? Unbelievable! What, the Christians saved Nobuna!? 」

Inside the Imperial Palace of Kyoto.

The Kampaku Konoe Sakihisa, who did not want to give the position of Shogun to Imagawa Yoshimoto, gave Nobuna an impossible task of contributing 120,000 kan to the Imperial Palace. Such a task was ridiculous to begin with, but to ensure her absolute failure, he had given Nobuna only a week’s time in order to gather the necessary amount of money. He never though that Nobuna would actually be able to gather the necessary funds… and yet she did just that. She managed to amass such a fortune in such a short amount of time.

During this period, Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin’s truce drastically changed the politics in the east, Sugitani Zenjubo failed his mission of assassinating Nobuna, and she managed to survive the assault that Matsunaga Hisahide launched against her at Kiyomizu-dera.

No matter how many plots he devised against her, Nobuna seemed to be able to overcome all of them.

「Damn you, Oda Nobuna! The plans I devised with so much effort failed, each and every one of them! There should be a limit to how much good luck a person can have! 」

Correct. Uesugi Kenshin retreating from Kawanaka Island and breaking the truce with Takeda Shingen… sending the assassin from the Koga ninja clan, Sugitani Zenjubo, to assassinate Nobuna and manipulating Tsuda Sokyu into persuading Matsunaga Hisahide to revolt… in the end, all these plots were the plans of Konoe Sakihisa. In order to stop Nobuna’s ambition from coming to fruition, this cunning schemer had laid various traps.

But, there weren’t many days left to resist Oda Nobuna under the pretext of loyalty, and finally, the day when Nobuna went to the Imperial Palace has finally arrived.

The Imperial Palace’s side has Konoe Sakihisa, who was both the Kampaku and the Daijo-daijin, and Himiko who was keeping herself hidden behind a veil.

Of course, Nobuna’s attire was as formal as she could procure. Since her meeting with Dosan, this was the first time she had to wear such formal clothes.

But that was not all. She also had brought both the eloquent Akechi Mitsuhide and Sagara Yoshiharu who had no family status whatsoever, with her.

Yoshiharu wore a small noble’s hat and a short gown…

「This attire is just too…I look like I’m messing around and not taking things seriously… 」

… vut he was complaining all the time.

「Oda Danjo Daihitsu Nobuna, here in your presence. 」

The three of them sat in the seiza position while facing the veil behind which Himiko was and bowed their heads. Watching Nobuna and Mitsuhide, Yoshiharu could only imitate them hastily while hoping that he didn’t mess anything up.

(Uwahh, the atmosphere is so tense in here! If this Himiko behind the veil was brought to my era, won’t that be….. Damn, I could be forced to commit seppuku just for thinking that!)

「To bring such a distasteful individual to meet the esteemed Himiko-sama.. .ahh, this is the end of the world! 」

It was obvious that Konoe Sakihisa was gravely offended by Yoshiharu’s presence during this meeting.

For Mitsuhide and Yoshiharu to have the right to have an audience with Himiko, they must have the appropriate official court position. Because of this, Nobuna had prepared beforehand, giving Akechi Mitsuhide the new surname and position of 「Koreto Hyuga no Kami」. As for Yoshiharu, she gave him the position of 「Chikuzen no Kami」. But as the master of both of them, Nobuna’s position of ‘Kazusanosuke’ was just a self-proclaimed title. Honestly speaking, before Nobuna came to have an audience with Himiko, she did not have any official court position .

Once he thought of this, Konoe Sakihisa’s anger began to rise. But no matter how angry he was, he couldn’t let a warrior with no official title just come and have an audience with Himiko. Because of that, Sakihisa could only bear with it, grumbling:「Why must I do such a thing…. 」As he gave the high position of Danjo Daihitsu to Nobuna.

But Nobuna, being Nobuna as she was, had put on a snobbish air and said things like:「Danjo will remind people of Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide. That’s too troublesome. I don’t want it! 」 and wasn’t happy about the title, making Sakihisa even more furious .

Despite all the troubles along the way, it was finally the day to give Imagawa Yoshimoto the position of the Shogun. Kampaku Konoe Sakihisa coughed lightly, and while he was getting ready to list out the achievements that Nobuna had made with a sour face……

「Oda Danjo Nobuna. Life hass been hard on you until now. 」

A voice like that of a child came from beyond the veil. The one who spoke was Himiko herself. Her voice seemed childish due to her young age, but her tone was clear and precise.

「H-Himiko-sama! There is no need for you to speak yourself! Leave everything to me, Kampaku Konoe Sakihisa… 」

「Why, Konoe? 」

「These people were smeared in blood not long ago! It will sully Himiko-sama’s ears to listen to them! 」

「Konoe, be quiet. I want to talk to Oda Danjo Nobuna properly. 」

After being told off by Himiko, even Sakihisa can only shut up and quiet down.

(That Himiko-sama who had always obeyed…no , who had always been agreeing with me, actually talked back to me?! what happened today?)

Sakihisa couldn’t hide the doubt in his heart as he watched the conversation Himiko shared with Nobuna through the veil unfold.

「Oda Danjo Nobuna’s actions serve as a role model for all the warriors. The position of Shogun is rightfully yours. 」

「Thank you, Himiko-sama, but the one who wishes to receive the position is Imagawa Yoshimoto, who is waiting impatiently at Nijo castle. 」

(Himiko-sama is always right, so can’t you just let her be and nod obediently?)

Sakihisa start to rant to himself about Nobuna. But then, the conversation had started to shift into a direction he did not expect.

「Ever since the Onin war, the Ashikaga clan had lost the power they should hold as the Shogunate. The same is true of the Imagawa clan. Oda Danjo Nobuna, from now on, I leave this country in your hands. 」

「Himiko-sama? What are you talking about!? 」

Sakihisa held on to his chest as his breathing turned ragged, as if his heart is going to pop out from his chest at any moment now.

「Oda Nobuna is descended from commoners! T-T-The Seii Taishogun can only be succeeded by a descendant of the Taira clan! D-Don’t tell me you have completely forgotten about that!? 」

「Is that so, Konoe? If that’s the case, Oda Danjo Nobuna, I will give you the position of Kampaku instead. Like I said, this country is now… 」

「Ehhhhh! But I, Konoe Sakihisa, am the Kampaku! Besides, only the descendants of the Fujiwara clan can succeed the position of Kampaku!! 」

「Then, the position of Daijo-daijin, to manage this country…even descendants of commoners can take the position of Daijo-daijin, right? In the past, there had been cases of this. 」

「It’s ridiculous for a barbarian-attired fool to be the Daijo-daijin! 」

Konoe Sakihisa’s fury seems uncontrollable at this point.

(This is a nightmare! What the hell is wrong with the young Himiko who was always sitting behind the veil like a dol without doing anything until now?!)

「I am honored by such a high praise, but I do not want such high positions. The reason I accepted the position of Danjo was just to have the privilege to have an audience with you, Himiko-sama. 」

「Preposterous! You dare to go against Himiko-sama’s orders!? 」

「Oh, Konoe. Does that mean that you are okay with me being the Daijo-daijin? 」

「O-o-of course not…! But the orders of Himiko-sama are absolute! Anyway, I will definitely not give you the position of Daijo-daijin! Definitely not!! 」

「What the hell do you want then, old man?! 」

Yoshiharu finally retorted after enduring this farce for far too long.

At this moment, a light laugh came from behind the veil.

「Himiko-sama! Why do you trust Oda Nobuna to such an extent? It’s because we entrusted this country to these crude warriors who only know how to fight that this country has become the way it is now! Right now, we officials should manage the country and return it to the prosperous period of the Heian era! With the collapse of Ashikaga Shogunate, now is the chance for the Imperial Palace to take back what was rightfully ours! 」

「I did not say anything about not caring at all. The Himiko of every era had always given state affairs to her brother, ‘Susanoo’ to manage, as she concentrated on religious matters. And now, things will be the same. 」