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Volume 4 Chapter 4 Part 5

Were those people hiding in the caves real, or were they a trap? To confirm this, they had to act like escapee hunters to the end.

The companions from the back troops started whispering to each other.

「Damn it, we didn’t notice it was the two of them at the start, but now it’s just like we’re peeking at something we shouldn’t have. 」

「We noticed that only in the middle… that it was the two of them. 」

「Though we don’t know how, the atmosphere seemed strange. Without knowing it, we let them continue on. 」

「What a waste, if we waited just a little more, then… uwahahaha! 」

「If I’d have known that earlier, I wouldn’t have acted in such a humiliating monkey play no matter what… I regret it! You guys, forget all of it! 」

「It’s right there in our heads, and we will never forget it, UWAHAHAHA! 」

「Precisely, so don’t mind us at all! 」

「You guys! That was all a fake! FORGET ALL OF IT NOW! If you dare leak out even a word about it to anyone, I will kill all of you! 」

Under Mitsuhide’s fierce stare, they became silent and shivered.

「Monkey play… What kind of play is that…? 」

Nobuna can’t help but feel curious, but it didn’t matter anymore.
(It’s not a dream. The real Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide survived and have come back to my side. That alone is enough for me.)

「So I say, Nobuna, hurry and stop this plan of burning Mount Hiei! As you’ve seen, both Juubei and I are alive and well! I’ll say this first, we are not ghosts or illusions or anything like that! 」

「Ahh…Yhm. 」

Yoshiharu’s voice awakened the moved Nobuna and, straightening her back, she slowly stood up from the bench.

「Anyway, I went berserk just now so suddenly, but I still had promised Monkey a… what was the western word for it… a kiss, right? If… If I don’t kiss with him…. 」

Though she wanted to fulfill the promise right now and kiss Yoshiharu, the retainers were all watching them closely from the side.

「T…To think that my lips will be stolen by this Monkey. .. St…Stop joking… I don’t wanna, but since I’ve promised him… And without Saru’s back troops, we would all have been killed… But, but like I thought, if it’s not when we’re alone…. 」

Nobuna held back her tears, forcing down the urge to hug Yoshiharu.

「NOOOO! Now I must concentrate and try to break out of this situation. Giving Monkey his reward… that can wait till we are alone! 」

But then everyone started cheering her on with:

「Come and cry it out, hurry and cry it out, hug Monkey now! 」

As blood rushed towards her head and everyone was staring at her, she shouted:

「How could I possibly do something like that right now?! 」

The urge to hug Yoshiharu tightly and cry into his chest was so strong that it was almost unbearable, but she must endure it. Nobuna bit her lips.

「….Hm…Hmph! Even so, as expected of Monkey, you are much more capable in the wilderness than when you’re among people! 」

「Idiot! Of course I am! If I wasn’t, then I would’ve simply died a long time ago! 」

Yoshiharu laughed.

That vegetable that was jammed between his front teeth was revealed again. Comparing this to Azai Nagamasa’s elegant smile was like comparing shit to a moon. Of course, Yoshiharu is the shit in that analogy, since the difference between the two of them is obvious; he had no relationship whatsoever with the word 「elegance」. However, she couldn’t stop but to think:

(Maybe the real Monkey… he’s totally different from the Yoshiharu in my dreams.)

「So disgusting… 」

Nobuna mumbled as her face blushed.

「Eh? What did you say? I’m sorry but I didn’t hear it! Can you repeat it? 」

「I said, you are getting more disgusting every time I look at you! 」

「What a totally uncalled for criticism and malicious tongue… But, it looks like you’re finally back to your old self, so I guess that’s all well and fine in the end. 」

Looking at Yoshiharu’s energetic smiling face, Nobuna felt a warm kind of strength flowing out from the depths of her body, and was filled with that strength.
She was right in the middle of a crisis, pinned down at Mount Hiei mere moments ago, but now there was not a trace of fear in Nobuna’s heart.

With this, she could finally live with Yoshiharu in the same world. One of her dreams had been fulfilled.

(Though we are still in a crisis, I’m no longer alone now. Because in this world, I’ve met someone who will be with me no matter what.)

With just this thought, she felt an inexhaustible strength. She felt she could, and that she would definitely break through this dangerous situation now.

「…..Nobuna-sama, this is for soothing the senses, please drink this. 」

Matsunaga Hisahide held out the drug slowly to Nobuna’s lips, but Yoshiharu shouted:

「Wait, wait! 」

… and snatched the drug away from her.

「Hisahide! Don’t let Nobuna drink such a weird medicine from now on! Before meeting me, wasn’t Nobuna in a dazed state!? Your medicine is too suspicious! 」

「Monkey, without Danjo’s medicine, I would have died from the gunshot wound that I received. I might have drank too much of it, I admit, but don’t pursue the matter on my account any further. 」

「If you say so. Okay, fine, but Hisahide, please don’t do such a dangerous things from now on! 」

「Understood… Nobuna-sama isn’t someone I can manipulate anyway. 」

After being scolded by Yoshiharu, the stunned Hisahide obediently admitted her mistake and retreated. This gave Yoshiharu quite a shock.

「…..Nobuna-sama is a strong child, and it seems she found a ‘medicine’ far stronger than my Persian drug, huh? The medicine I’ve prepared is totally useless now. 」

「Huh? Nobuna’s medicine? What do you mean by that? 」

「Oh my, what a blockhead you are, Sagara Yoshiharu. 」

Hisahide refused to elaborate on the matter any further, shutting her mouth closed.

「Wait, it’s not what you think, don’t say anymore, Danjo! 」

Nobuna rushed to stop Hisahide as well.

With this, the plan to burn Mount Hiei down was stopped. Nobuna then immediately called back the retainers that were chased out of the camp.

「M-M-M-Monkey and M-M-Mitsuhide are still alive? Ah, Ah, Legs, yes, are there legs on them?! Are we absolutely sure they’re not ghosts?! 」

While crying and trembling, they confirmed that Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide had legs on them.

「Yes, yes, yes, they are alive! If that’s the case, you… Hurry and stop Nobuna-sama’s berserk actions! 」

「Hurray! Not ghosts, they’re not ghosts! 」

Shibata Katsuie was so happy that she started waving her arms and legs in a wild, uncoordinated dance. Because she was a bit too happy though, she ended up kicking away the soldiers beside her.
「From now on, we need to negotiate with Mount Hiei. We aren’t out of this crisis yet… But just from seeing both of your expressions, hmmm. Full points. 」

Niwa Nagahide said with a quiet laugh. Her eyes were hiding traces of barely held tears.

「….I’m hungry… Kumquat, lemme eat it. 」

Inuchiyo reached out her hand towards Mitsuhide’s accessory, but Mitsuhide shouted,

「NO WAY!!! 」

And slapped Inuchiyo’s head away immediately.

After that, Yoshiharu was able to persuade them to make up. With this, other than Goemon who was rescuing the imprisoned Nagamasa and Nobusumi, all the retainers of the Oda clan had finally reunited at Nobuna’s side.

「Everyone! Though I want to celebrate Monkey and Juubei’s return, we are still pinned down by the Azai-Asakura allied forces! If this goes on, the Miyoshi and Rokoku clans will definitely attack Kyoto from behind. And I hope I don’t need to remind you that once the shogun Imagawa Yoshimoto is captured, we lose! Are there any good plans on your minds? 」

「Once it starts snowing, the Asakura clan’s troops will have no choice but to retreat back to Echizen. 」

Yoshiharu nodded and said.

「Compared to Shikoku, the Miyoshi clan is more likely to advance from Settsu. At the same time, Koga clan and the Rokoku clan will go to attack Southern Omi, sealing off our main path connecting Kyoto and Mino. 」

Imai Sogyu explained. His information came from his rival, Tsuda Sokyu. Though Tsuda Sokyu had once used Konoe Sakihisa’s plan to defeat Nobuna, he was currently supporting Nobuna’s actions outwardly, but this may all have been a farce to hide his own ambitions all along.