Chapter 29: A Conversation with Father’s Enemy

Okazaki Castle – Isshiki Masataka

1561. Fall.

Okazaki Castle was, for lack of better words, magnificent.

That was my first impression of it when I looked up at it from the castle town. It was way larger than Ōigawa Castle.

Tadatsugu guided me to a room inside the castle. He said he’d come to fetch me after Motoyasu was ready.

“This is a magnificent castle.”

“Yes, it is. This castle was originally named ‘Ryutozan’, but after Kiyoyasu-dono, Motoyasu’s grandfather, seized it from the Matsudaira clan, he renovated it, expanded it, and renamed it to Okazaki. Since then, this castle essentially became the foundation of Matsudaira, the heritage of Motoyasu’s bloodline. Its magnificence befits the grand status of the Ruler of Mikawa.”

“You know a lot about this castle, my lord. All I know is that Kiyoyasu-dono once used it as his castle.”

“Because Sessai-sama taught me about it. Also, I did my own study while everyone else went to battles.”

While waiting for Tadatsugu to arrive, I decided to show off the knowledge that I got from my previous life. There were only me and Michifusa in this room—we were the only ones who’d get to meet Motoyasu. Everyone else was waiting in another room.

After waiting for a while, we heard footsteps coming from the hallway.

“Is that Tadatsugu-dono?”

“…No. I heard two footsteps. One is quiet and reserved, and the other one is loud, as if uncaring about anything. If I may guess, the second person is probably tagging along with the first, and that the two hold master-subordinate relationships with each other.”

“You got all that from just their footsteps, my lord?”

The footsteps got closer and closer, and gradually, the sound of conversation entered my ears.

‘To wander around another’s castle as you please. Even for you, my lord…’

‘Don’t fret. If they take offense, we can run and immediately prepare for war. Motoyasu’s hold over this region is still unsteady. We can use that and attack him.’

‘That’s much too reckless, my lord! Besides, I don’t think that’s a wise thing to say in this place.’

‘You don’t get it. Motoyasu will never cut ties with me no matter what I do. He can’t afford to let his flank be compromised—he won’t antagonize Owari.’

The content of the conversation sounded so dangerous that Michifusa put a hand on his sword at his waist.

Looking at the way he tensed up, he probably guessed it already. These two were the guests that Tadatsugu mentioned.

The Fool of Owari, Oda Nobunaga.

Then again, it wasn’t that hard to guess. One person referred to the other as ‘lord’, while the ‘lord’ mentioned ‘Owari’. This was a foreign territory, yet the latter spoke such a dangerous topic without a care in the world. Those clues showed that he wasn’t an ordinary person.

As long as my knowledge from my previous life didn’t fail me, he couldn’t be anyone else except Oda Nobunaga.

Anyway, with Michifusa now being all tense, the air in the room felt heavy and thick.

It wasn’t like I could tell him to stand down either. To him, Oda Nobunaga was the person who’d killed his lord.

Two shadows were reflected on the shoji screen separating the room from the hallway. Their builds contrasted each other—one small, one big. I guess the latter was Oda Nobunaga.

Then, the shadows stopped in front of the room.

‘My lord?’

‘Did you not feel it? An extraordinary killing intent comes from this room.’

‘Could it be…?’

Michifusa had already drawn his sword and was ready to cut anyone down at any moment.

“Drop that. Michifusa.”

“But!”

I whispered my order so that no one else could hear it. This was Motoyasu’s castle, the castle of an ally of Oda. Weighing between Oda Nobunaga, the head of the Oda clan and the Ruler of Owari, and us, a retainer clan of the Imagawa clan, it was easy to figure out which side they’d be on if something happened.

“Restrain yourself. This is an order.”

“…I understand.”

Blood flowed from his lips. Seeing how deep his loyalty to Father was, I couldn’t help but give him my silent gratitude. Killing an important figure in another’s territory was a rule that no one should break. Yet, he was more than ready to break it.

Then, immediately afterwards, without any warning, the shoji screen opened.

The sunlight obscured his face so I couldn’t see it clearly, but I could tell that he showed us a fearless grin.

“You. Who are you?”

“Isshiki Masataka, the head of the Isshiki clan, a retainer of Imagawa. What about you?”

“Oda Nobunaga.”

Michifusa tried his best to contain his killing intent, but the man beside Nobunaga noticed this and tensed up himself.

“Stop it, Monkey. Don’t start anything without my permission.”

“Please forgive my insolence!”

Oh, so this was Toyotomi Hideyoshi? Or rather, at around this time, he was still called Kinoshita Tōkichirō. Still, his face was less monkey-like than I expected. This just showed that you couldn’t trust history books blindly. You had to see things with your own eyes.

“So you are Oda-sama. I’ve heard about the magnificent battle at Okehazama from my retainers who went to accompany Lord Yoshimoto in that battle.”

“Hm, that’s not the reaction I expected.”

“…I’m not sure what kind of reaction you expected from me, but personally, I’ve always wanted to meet you, Oda-sama.”

After saying that, I bowed my head slightly before peeking at his face. He seemed surprised.

While it was true that Father was killed by this man’s subordinate, the joy of meeting someone whom I had always admired since my previous life was greater than any feeling of obligation for revenge. Call me ungrateful son or anything, I won’t care.

“What a curious man. You’re making me feel that the killing intent your side exuded was just a hallucination.”

“He is one of the retainers that fought with my father back at Okehazama that I said earlier.”

Nobunaga then glanced at Michifusa.

“Hattori Kazutada. Does that name ring a bell?”

He asked. Hattori Kazutada was one of the people who surrounded Lord Yoshimoto.

“…The one who was struck by the late lord.”

Michifusa bowed his head as he answered, probably trying to hide the hatred on his face.

“I see. It’s just as Kazutada and Shinsuke¹Referring to Mori Yoshikatsu, the man who took Imagawa Yoshimoto’s head. said. What a fine retainer you have here, Masataka.”

“Indeed. He is too good for me.”

“Is that so? Actually, I’m interested in you too. Let me ask you one question.”

“Go ahead.”

“I can sense something extraordinary about you, so tell me. The Imagawa clan won’t last long. How long do you intend to cling to this sinking ship? Instead of fighting a losing battle, come with me. If nothing else, I value your boldness highly.”

“I appreciate your kind offer, but unfortunately, that’s something I can’t accept. My father died protecting the Imagawa clan, and I share the same resolve as he did. Even if I have to fight you one day, Oda-sama, this is something I refuse to back down from.”

He looked disappointed when he heard that answer. In any case, I seemed to have left a good impression on him. Although, let me make this clear. I didn’t do all this to kiss up to him.

This was part of my plan, you see? I was basically telling him that Imagawa was still standing strong, and he couldn’t use Motoyasu to bring us down no matter what.

“What a shame, Monkey.”

“What a shame indeed, my lord.”

“Whatever. I’d love to chat with you for a little longer, but it seems like we don’t have any time left.”

I could hear a commotion from the other end of the hallway. Motoyasu’s retainers had probably noticed that Nobunaga wasn’t in his room, and was now looking for him.

Nobunaga then left, while Hide—I mean, Tōkichirō, followed behind him.

“Do you resent me for that?”

“No. My only wish is to follow your will, my lord.”

I could tell that he was tightening his hand. He wasn’t entirely convinced by his own words.

Not only him. Tokimune, Sasuke, Masatomo, and the other retainers would never forgive Oda for killing Father. Even so, if Imagawa wanted to survive, I believed that they had to somehow maintain ties with Oda.