Chronicles of The Hardships of Komachi in The Sengoku Era

1571, late December

Shizuko visited the port city where she holds the rights to a tasting event for takoyaki, taiyaki, and obanyaki. Shizuko has the rights to manage and operate oyster and seaweed cultivation, as well as some mooring facilities, and can collect taxes from docked ships. However, Shizuko reinvests the majority of the tax revenue into expanding the cultivation fields. Thanks to this, the originally targeted oysters have been successfully expanded to include clams, scallops, abalone, and turban shells. As a side note, Shizuko has also started a separate cultivation field for freshwater clams called shijimi. She has also reached out to the famous Akoya pearl oysters for their pearls, starting a stable supply through pearl cultivation. While the cultivation of the large edible shells, sazae and awabi, which were expected to be profitable, has been difficult and a series of failures, the prospects for clam, shijimi, and scallop cultivation have been established, and they have started towards stable supply. The pearl cultivation, which was expected to be a source of funds, also used natural Akoya oysters, resulting in variations in the quality of the pearls, but many large pearls were harvested. With the cultivation of the oysters themselves in the coming years or the year after, it is expected that stable production of 8mm-sized pearls will be possible.

“There are a lot of pearls this time, huh?”

“Yes, it seems that this year’s pearls are of good quality.”

Upon hearing Shizuko’s words, the head of the pearl cultivation, the boss, scratched the back of his head and smiled politely.

Pearls are graded based on their size. Shizuko has designated pearls with a diameter of 8mm as “kou,” 7mm as “otsu,” and 6mm or below as “hei” rank. Although there are cases where large pearls exceeding 8mm can be obtained, those above 9mm are considered substandard and categorized as the lowest rank, “tei.” This is because in order to obtain pearls larger than 9mm, it is necessary to extend the cultivation period, which increases the risk of the shells dying, making it a high-risk, high-return gamble. Even if one wins this gamble, the limit is around 10mm, which is generally not worth the risk. Therefore, there was an intention to suppress the consciousness of those involved in pearl cultivation who sought larger sizes. The pearls produced are divided into different uses depending on their grade. The higher-ranked pearls, kou and otsu, are used for decorative purposes as jewelry, while the lower-ranked ones, hei and below, are used as materials for medicinal purposes (pearls, being a high-quality source of calcium, are ground into powder and used as antipyretics) and cosmetics. Although the Akoya pearl oysters themselves are also suitable for consumption, capturing them is generally prohibited to prevent overfishing. The columella, a byproduct obtained when extracting pearls, is allowed to be consumed only by the cultivation operators, the surrounding residents, and those belonging to Shizuko’s management side. The remaining parts of the meat, excluding the internal organs, are reused as new pearl nuclei, and the leftover parts are processed into organic fertilizer. The Akoya pearl oysters themselves, with their beautiful pearl-like shells, were highly praised as art crafts in Kyoto and Sakai when polished.

“Alright, calculations are done. After deducting the taxes, the price should be around this.”

Those involved in aquaculture, not just pearls, are not allowed to have sales channels until the cultivation becomes stable and the quality and quantity are consistent. This is to prevent the perception that aquaculture products are inferior to natural products due to the flow of products that do not meet the specified quality standards, and also to maintain the overall reputation of the city managed by Shizuko. Aquaculture operators, being human, need a means of livelihood. Therefore, until the cultivation becomes stable, Shizuko buys everything, sorts and sells them to authorized merchants. Only the operators who have built up a stable production record are allowed to have their own independent sales channels after leaving Shizuko’s hands. However, completely free independent sales channels are not permitted, and trading can only be done through the wholesale association managed by Nobunaga.

“Oh, thank you very much.”

Shizuko handed a wooden box filled with gold coins to the boss of the pearl and, in return, the boss wrapped each pearl in cotton, carefully placed them in a wooden box that was designed to prevent them from touching each other or the outer walls, and handed them to Shizuko’s soldiers.

“Oh, by the way, I heard that a boy from the neighborhood recently picked up some strange stones. I believe Shizuko-sama is collecting such stones. Do you still need them?”

The boss muttered something, scratching the back of his head, as he suddenly remembered something.

“I’d like to hear more details about it. If possible, it would be helpful to have the actual stones.”

“Alright, understood. Hey! Tell my son and that guy to bring the smelly stones they picked up!”

The boss called out to a young man nearby. The young man straightened his back and hurriedly ran off. After a short while, he returned with a stone that had been rounded and discolored to white due to long drifting and a boy of about 14 years old.

“Ew, it stinks! It definitely smells.”

The boss waved his hand to drive away the smell while holding his nose. On the other hand, Shizuko received the stones, some of which were the size of small pickles, from the young man and began to carefully inspect them. Due to drifting, the outer surface had been worn away and exposed to ultraviolet rays, causing oxidation, but the distinctive beak-like feature remained on the surface, confirming that it was the one she was looking for. Shizuko smiled.

“This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Let’s see, the weight is… about 700 grams. The surface needs to be polished, but for such a large piece, I’ll buy it at a high price.”

“Buy it… even with that smell? By the way, how much?”

“How about 60 kan for now?”

“60 kan!?”

60 kan is approximately 6 million yen in today’s monetary value. For them, who can live for a month with just a few tens of thousands of yen, 6 million is an unimaginable fortune.

“The neighboring country highly values this. However, it can only be obtained if the whales are not affected by a specific disease. We do engage in whaling, but we still haven’t been able to obtain it, so you’re really lucky.”

Saying that, she pointed to the white stone emitting a foul smell, or rather, the ambergris, which is a concretion of sperm whale. Ambergris is a valuable natural fragrance, although it is a concretion. It can only be obtained either from the body of a sperm whale during dissection or by chance when the excreted concretion drifts ashore. Ambergris is lighter than water and floats on the sea surface, making it a dream material that can make a fortune depending on luck. Although only fish and other seafood have been confirmed to inhabit Ise Bay in modern times, there are records that large marine mammals such as whales and orcas used to inhabit the area until the 20th century. If a sperm whale happened to pass by near Ise Bay and that individual had gallstones, and if it happened to excrete them outside the body, and if they were not carried away by the open sea and drifted ashore, and if they were picked up by chance before being crushed by the waves, then it can be said that this ambergris has passed through astronomical odds. Ambergris itself is just a foul smell, but when mixed with other fragrances and burned, it adds a long-lasting, rich, and heavy scent that is unparalleled.

“Oh, please, take it. 60 kan is fine.”

The young boy, who had a desire for more money when presented with an unimaginable fortune, quickly realized a fatal problem. The fact that he had picked up the smelly stone was already known to the boss and the young man, and now it was known that he had sold it for a large sum of money. If he were to suddenly raise the price, he didn’t know what would be said about him, and Shizuko was a person who provided jobs to the entire region. If it were rumored that he had deceived her and taken her money, he didn’t know what kind of trouble he would face. In this situation, it was the smartest decision to hand over the agreed price set by Shizuko.

“Is that so? Then bring me the 60 kan.”

Shizuko sent one of her soldiers to bring the 60 kan, and she handed the wooden box to her son. Then, she carefully stored the ambergris in the box and ordered the soldiers who were nearby.

“We’re done here. Let’s return to the residence.”

Shizuko, who took the wooden box filled with pearls back home, immediately began to further sort the pearls that had already been graded by size. The criteria for checking were various, but the basic ones were luster, presence of scratches, shape, and color. First, she checked whether the pearls were perfectly spherical or if there were any deformities. The reason for confirming if they were perfectly spherical is that perfect spheres draw circles, and circles are considered lucky. The presence of scratches and luster is related to appearance. Even if a pearl is perfectly spherical, if it has scratches or a dull appearance, its value will decrease. The reason for checking the color is that pearls are not only formed in white, but can also have black or red hues due to various factors. Pearls obtained from Akoya oysters are considered the highest quality when they are white, and those with color are considered lower quality. After the check, the pearls are further divided into the highest quality, “tokuhachikou” (8mm highest quality pearls), followed by “tokushichikou” (7mm highest quality pearls), “kamihachikou” (upper 8mm), “kamishichikou” (upper 7mm), “shimohachikou” (lower 8mm), and “shimoshichikou” (lower 7mm). The ones with good quality are treated as jewelry, while the lower quality ones are used for processed products.

“This is a pearl necklace made entirely of tokuhachikou pearls. And this is a silver and pearl hairpin.”,Shizuko points to the pearl necklace hanging from her neck and the hairpin with delicate silverwork and pearls embedded in her hair. The necklace is simply made by connecting 8mm pearls, while the hairpin is a dynamic and ambitious piece that depicts plum blossoms as a motif, delicately expressing petals on branches with silverwork, adding a sense of luxury with large pure white pearls, and intentionally placing coral orange pearls with color in the center of the flowers and decorating the surroundings with gold flower stamens. The calm silver and white exude a sense of luxury, and the subtle decoration creates a mature atmosphere.

“Oh, it suits you very well.”

However, Aya and Shou’s reactions were subtle. But that was inevitable. Hairpins became popular during the Edo period when various hairstyles were in fashion, so it was natural for them to receive a subtle reaction in the Sengoku period, where long and glossy hair without unnecessary decorations was considered beautiful.

“The reaction seems weak. Maybe it’s not good enough after all.”

Both Aya and Shou wear hair accessories, but they don’t tie their hair. On the other hand, Shizuko ties her hair and wears hair accessories, making her a nonconformist in terms of fashion in the Sengoku period. No matter how much her position rises, she cannot avoid being looked at with strange eyes.

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Hahaha, well, maybe the loose hair is not bad, but I don’t think it suits me.”

Shizuko smiles wryly as she sees Shou hastily trying to make up for it. Although loose hair is considered good in the Sengoku period, it is natural to receive a subtle reaction in the Sengoku period where long and glossy hair is considered beautiful.

“Well, let’s put that aside. The tasting event is in a few days, but have the azuki beans and sugar been transported?”

“Yes, all the ingredients have been transported. We have also transported all the specified tools from the technical district. All that’s left is for Gorou-sama to start cooking the anko the day before.”

Anko, or sweet bean paste, becomes mellow and develops a smooth sweetness when left overnight. Although there is a process of letting it sit during cooking, letting it sit overnight after it is completed is extremely important. The reason it takes time and effort is that the taste of anko is crucial for wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets). If the taste of anko is bad, no matter how high-quality ingredients are used, the sweets themselves will be ruined. The taiyaki and obanyaki being made this time are simply made with dough and anko. It is not an exaggeration to say that the taste of anko is everything.

“The kombu and bonito flakes for takoyaki are also fine. But it’s regrettable that we can’t make kombu here in Ise Bay.”

Although it is possible to cultivate kombu, the Nagashima Ikko Ikki group hinders it. In order to completely control Ise Bay, the Nagashima Ikko Ikki group must be eliminated. However, Shizuko was not so pessimistic. The plan to subdue the Nagashima Ikko Ikki group, just like the Takeda army, is steadily progressing. If things go well, both the Takeda army and the Nagashima Ikko Ikki group can be eliminated at once. In that case, Ise Bay will be completely under Nobunaga’s control, and Shizuko can start cultivating kombu.

(So far, so good. As planned, Shingen is accusing the Tokugawa clan and invading Totomi Province.)

The alliances between Oda and Takeda, Oda and Tokugawa, and Takeda and Tokugawa are mutual. However, in the 12th year of the Eiroku era (1569), Takeda unilaterally broke the alliance, and Takeda and Tokugawa (and Takeda and Oda a few years later) became enemies. Since then, the alliance between Oda/Tokugawa and Takeda has never been restored until Takeda’s downfall. Ieyasu moving his base to Hamamatsu Castle was also a strengthening of defense against the Takeda family.

(I didn’t expect to leave those two at that time. Well, they returned after the investigation at Mikatagahara.)

It was an unexpected event, but it was a minor problem in Shizuko’s plan. The plan could be easily adjusted without going off track.

(According to the plan, there should be 1,500… no, 1,300. There are 40,000 bullets, 15 rounds, and about 3,000 explosives, but only about 1,500 are usable. Anyway, the results calculated using the Lanchester’s law are excellent. All that’s left is for them to go into battle as planned. If they do, we can grasp victory about 80% of the time.)

No matter how much you know about history, it doesn’t mean that people will always act according to historical facts. In fact, Ieyasu’s unexpected actions forced Shizuko to make some adjustments to her plan. However, Ieyasu’s actions were actually beneficial for Shizuko. It tightened her guard and reminded her not to become complacent with the advantage of knowing history. She couldn’t thank Ieyasu enough for giving her a pleasant sense of tension.

“Shizuko-sama, Ashimitsu-sama has arrived.”

“Oh, is it an urgent report? Ah, you two can go back to work.”

Understanding that there must be some urgent report if Ashimitsu is coming from the other side, Shizuko tells Aya and Shou to leave their seats. The two bow to Shizuko and leave the room. Ashimitsu enters the room as they pass each other.

“It’s unusual for you to come here instead.”

“I finally finished the last task.”

Shizuko’s expression slightly changes at those words. She had secretly entrusted various tasks to Ashimitsu, who knows modern technology. Among them, the last task holds significant meaning.

“Is it completed? That difficult one.”

“I struggled with the hydraulic system and temperature control. It’s better to see the actual thing than to talk about it.”

Ashimitsu takes out a black lump from his pocket and throws it towards Shizuko. Shizuko receives the black lump with one hand and checks its texture by squeezing it a few times before bringing it closer to her eyes. After carefully inspecting it, Shizuko smiles.

“Yes, there’s no mistake. It’s comparable to the bio-coke used in our time.”

“We don’t have as abundant materials as in that era. But with this, the fuel problem is solved. We can finally build a blast furnace.”

Bio-coke is a substitute for coal coke made from plant waste. Roughly speaking, if plant waste is subjected to the same pressure and temperature as when natural coal is formed, it can be turned into bio-coke. However, obtaining the required pressure requires a hydraulic press, which required a great deal of effort to create this system. Maintaining the temperature, on the other hand, was not as difficult as the hydraulic press. Simply pouring water over the heated material allowed them to estimate the current temperature based on the reaction of the water.

“That’s right. Now we just need to import coal from Nanban and make coke. Byproducts such as sulfuric acid, ammonia, and sulfur can be obtained. With coke, we can refine steel.”

The drawback of bio-coke is that it cannot fully replace coal coke on its own. Coal coke can generate heat exceeding 1500 degrees, while bio-coke has a limit of 1400 degrees. Unlike coal coke, it does not have a reducing effect and only serves as fuel for maintaining temperature. However, in the Sengoku period, coal coke is a valuable commodity that cannot be made on their own. Shizuko wants to minimize its usage as much as possible.

“Leave the supply routes to me. I have several routes that can transport supplies to Hamamatsu Castle.”

“In war, the side that eats delicious food wins. Especially at the beginning, when they are told to defend the castle, it’s important to give them delicious food and minimize stress.”

“I’ll take care of the canned food. Bottled food is possible. Even regular miso soup is a luxury item inside the castle, but it’s the right time for it. Hot miso soup consumed during cold weather is irreplaceable.”

Ashimitsu quietly laughs at Shizuko’s words. It was a much softer smile than usual, to the point that he would look back at Sakihisa (Konoe) several times.

“Leave the supply routes to me. I have several routes that can transport supplies to Hamamatsu Castle.”

“In war, the side that eats delicious food wins. Especially at the beginning, when they are told to defend the castle, it’s important to give them delicious food and minimize stress.”

“Canned food is not possible, but bottled food is. It has been verified that rice can be preserved in jars. However, it still doesn’t have the same preservative power as canned food. Well, it will be consumed by the soldiers immediately, so we don’t need to worry about it this time.”

The term “bottled food” has two meanings: the act of packing vinegar, sake, vegetables, etc. into bottles, and the method of preserving food in jars by boiling them. The latter later evolved into metal cans, but that was in the 19th century.

“It would be good to make seafood dishes like simmered fish and oil-preserved oysters. Since we will be holed up in the castle, seafood will look like a feast.”

“We need to mass-produce dashi-flavored miso cubes. Even regular miso soup is a luxury item inside the castle, but it’s the right time for it. Hot miso soup consumed during cold weather is irreplaceable.”

“Okay, the food problem is almost solved. Well, considering the time, there shouldn’t be any concerns about spoilage. It might be a bit worrying in summer though.”,Shizuko relied on Ashimitsu for logistics. In the Sengoku period, or rather, the Japanese tend to underestimate logistics. It is said that one of the reasons for this is their preference for stories that are vivid and quickly resolved. However, even a brilliant victory is the result of diligent work. It is important to achieve victory not only in battle, but also before the battle.

“I told Chamaru-kun to procure local food supplies. Well, logistics is difficult. I’ve done some research and read several books written by professionals. Even they face unexpected problems.”

“Well, I’ll take care of those problems.”

“Understood. I’ll give you full authority over logistics, so Ashimitsu-san can move as you please. You don’t have to report to me in advance.”

“…I said that, but it’s easy for you to agree.”

“There are situations where quick decisions are necessary, and it’s a waste of time to ask for my permission every time. As long as we know the results, there’s no problem. It’s my job to take responsibility if something happens.”

Ashimitsu smiled faintly at Shizuko’s response. In the age of upheaval, giving power to the warlords and not requiring them to report everything to the Lord, it would surely cause great confusion among the warlords, he thought.

(It’s like Shizuko has released multiple snakes from her body. If you focus only on the snakes, you’ll be eaten by Shizuko, and if you cling only to Shizuko, you’ll be eaten by the snakes. It’s a troublesome situation if you make enemies.)

Keiji, Nagayoshi, Saizo, Takatora (Yokichi Toudou), and himself, the five of them. Takatora (Yokichi Toudou) is still lacking, but each of them has grown into a capable military commander. They are also gradually regaining the elite soldiers they lost in the Battle of Usayama Castle. With one more year, they will have a strong enough army to counter the Takeda clan.

“Understood, leave the logistics to me.”

Ashimitsu smiled faintly, thinking that he is looking forward to one year later.

On the day of the tasting event for takoyaki and taiyaki, Nobunaga’s garden was very lively. After all, Nobunaga had invited not only his major retainers but also their wives and heirs. Seeing Nobunaga hosting events for his retainers on various occasions, one can understand that the rumors of him being fond of festivals are true. This time, due to the large number of people, guards were stationed at the entrance, similar to the level of security during New Year’s Day.

“Lady Shizuko has arrived!”

The soldier in charge of welcoming shouted the visitor’s name loudly. Armed ashigaru (light foot soldiers) lined up shoulder to shoulder, spanning 200 meters from the edge. Shizuko glanced at the scene with a forced smile. She didn’t expect the welcome to be so grand, so she thought it was excessive. However, she recalled that the invited guests were all important figures, so she changed her mind and realized that the security measures were not excessive.

“Ahem.”

After clearing her throat to change her mood, she tightened her expression and walked forward. She was dressed in her usual male attire and carried a large houppari at her waist. It was a masterpiece that she took out from the warehouse after a long time, thinking that it would add a touch of elegance. She always carried a short sword at her waist, a Damascus knife. Her attendants were Keiji and Saizo, who were members of the mounted guards. Saizo was dressed formally, but Keiji maintained his own unique style even in this situation. In other words, he was dressed as a dandy as usual.

(What are they talking about… Let’s escape before they notice us.)

Although Shizuko maintained a calm appearance, she couldn’t help but feel the desire to leave as soon as possible. And for good reason, Nobunaga’s tasting events, which he occasionally held, were not as grand as this. Usually, when he wanted to reward his retainers, he would treat them with new dishes as part of Nobunaga’s hosted tasting event. There was no precedent for gathering so many people and providing security measures on par with the castle.

(He said he would give me a sword made by Mitsutada, but I shouldn’t have been tempted.)

Shizuko has no interest in land holdings, and she distributes rewards to her subordinates except for what is necessary. However, she has one hobby that she is passionate about, which is collecting famous items. Although she cannot obtain Nobunaga’s beloved sword, such as Sozaemonji, she is willing to obtain anything else that is available. The only thing she is interested in is the story of receiving a sword made by Mitsutada owned by Nobunaga, and it is clear from her willingness to attend this kind of event that she usually dislikes.

(It’s probably not the real Jikkyu Mitsutada. It’s probably the one who later became known as Shokudai Kirimitsutada. Or it could be the possibility of the Mogami Mitsutada given by Yoshiteru.)

The most famous of Mitsutada’s swords is the Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, which changed hands from Nobunaga to Hideyoshi, and then to Date Masamune.

However, there are several other swords made by Mitsutada. Among them, the one that Nobunaga was abnormally obsessed with and swung at the end of the Honnoji Incident is called Jikkyu Mitsutada.

The Mogami Mitsutada was a famous sword owned by the Ashikaga Shogunate, but Yoshiteru bestowed it upon Nobunaga. After that, when Nobunaga appointed Mogami Yoshimori as “Dewa no Kami,” he gave him the Mogami Mitsutada as a souvenir. Yoshimori was delighted, but for various reasons, the Mogami Mitsutada was confiscated by Hideyoshi. It passed from Hideyoshi to Hidetada, and then traveled between various individuals, and finally returned to the Mogami family. However, both the sword and its owner are currently missing.

Nobunaga also collected other swords made by Mitsutada, and it is said that he had a total of more than 30 of them. The reason he collected them to this extent was because Nobunaga was attracted to the splendid swords made by Mitsutada.

(Well, it’s fine. It’s probably only this time that I’ll be tempted, as it’s probably impossible to obtain Heshikiri Hasebe. But I’m more curious about the situation overseas. I’ve prepared various materials just in case.)

She is unaware, but Nobunaga possesses many famous items that he bestows upon Shizuko when he wants to make her work harder, such as Tsurumaru Kuninaga, whose acquisition route is unknown, and the Japanese ship with the rank of Shosanmi. He simply refrains from showing them too often, making it appear that Shizuko doesn’t have many of these special items.

When she entered the garden, the scenery changed completely. It was not a barren landscape of withered trees, but a lush green landscape spread out before her eyes. There were flowers blooming in small numbers, adding color to the winter scenery.

“Oh, it’s amazing.”

Shizuko exclaimed in admiration at the sight before her. Long chairs with carpets laid out in various places in the garden, and large folding umbrellas (also known as tsumaoregasa) were set up. As expected of Nobunaga, who loves red, both the carpets and umbrellas were red. Many people were already chatting and laughing, unaffected by the cold of winter, in various places.

“What are you saying! You fool who doesn’t know the deliciousness of koshian (smooth bean paste)!”

“You’re the fool here. You silly monkey who doesn’t know the deliciousness of tsubuan (chunky bean paste), talking so arrogantly!”

“Koshian doesn’t have the same taste until the end. It changes into various flavors with each bite, don’t you understand that?”

“You fool. With the remaining koshian, you can make another dish. Mixing it like tsubuan is the height of foolishness!”

“What did you say!”

“Bring it on, monkey!”

While strolling, Shizuko, Saizo, and Keiji turned a blind eye to the grappling between Shibata and Hideyoshi over koshian and tsubuan, as they usually did.

Seeing the scenes of takoyaki, taiyaki, and imagawayaki being cooked here and there, Shizuko reminisced about the past. Since there was no modern sauce available, takoyaki was eaten with soy-based broth. There were also lemon soy sauce, mayonnaise, and ponzu sauce available. It would be best to have a special sauce for takoyaki, but the sauce contains a lot of spices and herbs. Gathering spices and herbs was difficult in Japan during the Sengoku period, so they decided to serve it with a different seasoning this time.

“Ohoho, takoyaki eaten with broth is delicious. Taiyaki is also irresistible, but what’s good about takoyaki is that you can enjoy various flavors. I’m fine with anything, but I prefer this ponzu sauce.”

“I prefer miso. Lady Nene, do you still prefer soy sauce?”

“Hoho, I can’t resist the smell of soy sauce. Lately, consumption has been biased, and my husband looks troubled, so I’m thinking of using miso occasionally.”

“If it’s not enough, you can take as much as you want from Shizuko’s warehouse. Keeping such delicious things to yourself without saying anything. I won’t complain even if you do that.”

(They’re having an intense conversation… Let’s escape before they notice us.)

Nohime and the wives of the warlords gathered and enlivened the conversation. Shizuko occasionally caught snippets of unsettling conversations, but once she got involved, she knew that she wouldn’t like what they would say, so she strategically retreated.

“It feels like a festival atmosphere.”,Joyful conversations could be heard everywhere. Although the situation was still precarious, everyone seemed to be enjoying the moment, forgetting about it.

“I don’t know what a festival is, but mmm… these taiyaki are quite delicious.”

“Lord Keiji, it’s careless for a warrior to hold so many in both hands.”

“Those words don’t belong to someone with a mouth full of green onions.”

Keiji and Saizo had somehow ended up holding takoyaki and taiyaki in both hands. Shizuko, who thought she had grown tired of enjoying the garden, sat down on a convenient bench.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

Just as she took a breath, Shizuko was timely discovered by Nobunaga. He was accompanied by Hori Hidemasa Hidemasa, Ikeda Tsuneoki, and a young page who seemed to be Yoshinari Mori’s child, Mori Ranmaru. Shizuko intuitively understood this.

“Of course, my Lord. I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.”

“That’s good. Hm, it seems to me that the two behind you are enjoying themselves more than you.”

Keiji continued to eat taiyaki without paying much attention to Nobunaga’s presence. On the other hand, Saizo stood upright without moving, but his mouth was covered in negi from the takoyaki sauce. Nobunaga glanced at Shizuko, who was holding her forehead, and laughed heartily. From his demeanor, it was clear that Nobunaga was in a good mood.

“Let’s take care of it before we forget. Follow me.”

Shizuko briefly wondered what he meant, but quickly realized that he was talking about giving her a sword made by Katsutoshi. Shizuko and the others followed behind Nobunaga as they began to walk. Ranmaru occasionally turned his head to look at Shizuko, but after a few times, Hori Hidemasa noticed and lightly tapped Ranmaru’s head. After that, the two exchanged words a few times, but it seemed more like Hori Hidemasa was scolding Ranmaru. Shizuko had no idea what they were doing, so she looked back at Keiji and Saizo, but they shrugged their shoulders, not understanding what Hori Hidemasa and Ranmaru were doing.

“Only Shizuko will go from here. The rest of you wait here.”

After glancing at everyone except Shizuko, or rather, glaring at them and making a point, Nobunaga entered the room without waiting for the others to respond. Keiji shrugged his shoulders and leaned against a nearby pillar, relaxing his posture. Saizo sighed and followed suit, sitting down next to Keiji. Hori Hidemasa and Tsuneoki also followed Saizo’s lead and sat down near Keiji.

(Is this okay…?)

“Ranmaru, come over here instead of standing there.”

Only the page, Ranmaru, was flustered. Seeing this, Hori Hidemasa called out to Ranmaru with a sigh. After wandering his gaze a few times, Ranmaru also sat down near Hori Hidemasa.

(Ah, so it really is Mori Ranmaru.)

While thinking that, Shizuko also entered the room. Just before closing the sliding door, she heard the sound of a fist hitting someone’s head. It wasn’t hostility or killing intent, but she couldn’t understand why Ranmaru was being treated that way, so Shizuko tilted her head in confusion.

“(If I have the chance, I should ask the person themselves or Lord Mori)” “I apologize for the wait.”

After passing through several empty rooms, Shizuko finally reached the room she was aiming for. Although it was for security reasons, Shizuko was getting tired of going in and out.

“You’re late, Shizuko.”

As soon as she entered the room, Nobunaga’s voice came from the seat of honor. He didn’t sound angry, but rather, his tone was cheerful.

“I apologize.”

“I’m not blaming you. Also, I don’t care about formalities, so feel free to relax.”

Nobunaga was indeed very relaxed. He seemed a bit sloppy, but it could be interpreted as him letting his guard down around Shizuko. But there was something more important to Shizuko, so she didn’t pay much attention to Nobunaga’s relaxed state.

“By the way, what are all these swords lined up in front of me…?”

Between Nobunaga and Shizuko, ten swords were lined up on a sword rack. Shizuko knew that she was supposed to receive only one sword made by Katsutoshi, so she was puzzled by the fact that there were ten swords in front of her.

“Haha, if you want a Katsutoshi sword, try to find it with your own eyes. If you choose Katsutoshi’s sword splendidly, I’ll give you the sword you chose.”

Nobunaga answered Shizuko’s question while laughing. He had a strong desire to show off his collection and to boast about having gathered so many swords. Shizuko thought that when people are faced with a collection, they all become childlike. She took out a mask, gloves, and a cloth for holding the swords. The mask was to prevent saliva from getting on the swords, and the gloves and cloth were to prevent dust and dirt from sticking to the swords, as well as to wipe off any dirt if it did stick. Shizuko also took out other maintenance tools for swords, such as sword oil.

“You’re well-prepared.”

“I prepared for any possibility.”

Shizuko replied to Nobunaga’s half-amused mutter, and then she looked at the swords one by one from left to right. After seeing them all, Shizuko realized that there were only six swords made by Katsutoshi, and the rest were different swords.

(Daikurikara Hirokatsu, Tsurumaru Kuninaga, Heshikiri Hasebe, and Soza Samonji. Well, why did I even think of trying them out? Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll take these.)

After finishing looking at all the swords and putting away the tools, Shizuko thanked Nobunaga and then picked up a certain sword.

“I would like to request this one made by Katsutoshi.”

Before she could finish speaking, Nobunaga’s expression changed rapidly. It was only natural, considering that the Katsutoshi sword Shizuko chose was none other than the beloved Jitsumu Katsutoshi that Nobunaga cherished.

There is a way to distinguish Jitsumu Katsutoshi. When Mitsuhide Akechi, from whom the name originated, attacked an enemy with Katsutoshi at the end of his life, the blade slightly chipped. This is the method that distinguishes Jitsumu Katsutoshi from other Katsutoshi swords. Shizuko didn’t come up with this method herself; there are historical records similar to this. When Nobunaga told the wealthy merchants of Sakai to line up Katsutoshi swords and show him Jitsumu Katsutoshi, a famous appraiser named Kizuya successfully identified Jitsumu Katsutoshi. At that time, Kizuya used the story of the chipped blade as a method to identify Jitsumu Katsutoshi. Since the game of identifying Jitsumu Katsutoshi took place at Azuchi Castle, there were chipped blades in Jitsumu Katsutoshi before that, and it is also evidence that there are no other chipped blades in the Katsutoshi swords owned by Nobunaga.

“Don’t be in such a hurry, Shizuko. Why don’t you take a look at the other swords? Look, this one has a splendid appearance!”

Saying that, Nobunaga took Daikurikara Hirokatsu and handed it to Shizuko, urging her. Shizuko calmly responded to Nobunaga’s slightly flustered state.

“Taking up any more of your time would be rude. I, a mere person like myself, am satisfied with this chipped sword.”

“Hmph… you know, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

If it were an ordinary gift, Shizuko would have settled for something more manageable, but unfortunately, the swords she was interested in were the gifts. Therefore, she couldn’t give them up.

“Hehehe, Shizuko, you’ve become quite assertive.”

Nobunaga, who had been flustered for a while, suddenly showed a confident smile. Perhaps it was because he had calmed down, or perhaps he had developed a favorable impression of Shizuko, who was so determined.

“But you have a weakness, Shizuko… It’s an order. Present Jitsumu Katsutoshi to me! In return, I’ll give you two famous swords.”

“Oh, that’s unfair!”

Shizuko’s weakness was that she couldn’t go against Nobunaga’s orders. While trying to solve impossible tasks, Shizuko had unconsciously developed a reaction to Nobunaga’s orders. Shizuko held her head and thought. Within her, the spirit of a loyal dog and the spirit of collecting famous items were conflicting. After a while, Shizuko sighed and came up with a compromise, which she presented to Nobunaga.

“In that case… instead of presenting Jitsumu Katsutoshi, I request one Katsutoshi sword and two other swords!”

“Very well, I don’t mind.”

It was a compromise proposal made in desperation, but Nobunaga readily agreed. From his perspective, as long as Jitsumu Katsutoshi was returned, he had no problem giving up the other swords. No, it was a little different.

“…Wait, the number of swords has decreased!”

Initially, there were six Katsutoshi swords and four other swords, but now there were only five swords lined up: Daikurikara Hirokatsu, Tsurumaru Kuninaga, Heshikiri Hasebe, and two Katsutoshi swords. Nobunaga had somehow put away some of the swords. Furthermore, the swords that were currently in front of Shizuko were the ones that Nobunaga had originally planned to give her.

“Y-You’re being stingy now!”

“Stingy? How rude. Isn’t this considered advanced negotiation?”,”Nnggh. W-well then, I’ll take Okurikara Hiromitsu, Heshikiri Hasebe, and this Mitsutada (Shokudai-kiri Mitsutada).”

“Very well. You may take all three.”

Seeing Shizuko surrender, Nobunaga had a triumphant expression. Shizuko had thought she might win, but Nobunaga, who had continued political negotiations with the court, the shogun, and the local lords, was truly formidable. Shizuko’s strategies were no match for him. However, Shizuko didn’t really want the Jitsumu Mitsutada, so she decided to think positively about receiving three swords. Since she couldn’t carry all three with her hands, she decided to carry Shokudai-kiri Mitsutada and Heshikiri Hasebe on her back, and carry Okurikara Hiromitsu with her hands.

“I don’t feel like going back and worrying about my vassals. Stay with me for a while and listen to what I have to say.”

“(Well, technically, I’m also a vassal…)” “Understood, I will.”

Nobunaga nodded satisfactorily at Shizuko’s response, then took out a bag containing taiyaki and dorayaki from his pocket and spread them out in front of him. He removed the bamboo water container from his waist, opened the lid, and took a sip of the tea inside.

“Now, what should I start talking about?”

Shizuko thought this would be a long conversation and inwardly sighed, but she nodded slightly.