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cirilla-fiona-riannon · 1 year

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Ikemen Sengoku (JP)

Kicho's Main Story Chapter 1 Part 1

I didn't proofread this one, so expect a LOT of mistakes.

Translation under the cut.

(What the hell is going on?)

The future changed, and the travel guide turned completely blank.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind as I noticed these changes.

(Wait a sec, how is that even possible?)

(Because three months ago, when I came here, nothing like this ever happened.)

Three months ago, I was transported back to the Sengoku era and saved Nobunaga at the burning Honnoji Temple.

Because of this, I had to live in Azuchi Castle as a symbol of Japan's unification and as the chatelaine of the Oda forces.

(Nobunaga died as a result of the Honnoji Incident.)

(I'm not familiar with history, but I remember hearing this story in class.)

(Still, I don't think changing that history would've made the pages go blank like this.)

I took my eyes off the travel guide and looked up at Azuchi Castle again.

Seeing the once magnificent Tenshu burnt to a crisp made me feel like something worse than this was about to happen.

(It's the same as back then.)

(I feel like I should do something, but I don't know what I should do.)

Two weeks ago

Mitsunari: "You're here, Lady Mai."

Mai: "Mitsunari."

I turned around, still holding my book, hearing his voice calling from behind me.

Mitsunari: "Are you working? I'm sorry for stopping you."

Mai: "No. I'm just going to put this back in the library."

(As always, you're so caring, Mitsunari.)

Back when I decided to become a chatelaine, it was Mitsunari who immediately helped me.

He not only gave me the information I needed but also helped me when I had problems in my daily life.

(Thanks to him, I'm now used to living in this war-torn country.)

(I'm so grateful because there was a lot I didn't understand.)

Mitsunari: "Library? Thank you for always being there for us."

Mitsunari: "I've found it especially tidy and easy to spend time in there recently."

Mai: "I'm glad to hear that."

(I didn't do much, but I'm glad he's happy.)

(Even though things were going crazy, I'm grateful they let me live here.)

(I need to do what I can to help, even if it's just a little.)

Mai: "Oh, by the way, what did you want to see me about?"

Mitsunari: "Oh, right. Everyone has been asking for you."

Mai: "Everyone?"

Mitsunari's lighthearted words made me nod my head.

Masamune: "Mai, we've been looking for you."

Ieyasu: "We couldn't find you, so we thought you got lost again."

Mai: "Masamune, Ieyasu!"

They walked toward us from the other side of the hallway.

Mitsunari: "Don't worry. Lady Mai already knows everything in the castle."

Mitsunari: "Right?"

Mai: "Not everything, but I've memorized most of the places."

Masamune: "I see. Well, you've been here for quite a while."

Ieyasu: "Quite a while? I think it's only been a couple of months."

Masamune: "For her, it's probably been a long time."

As if asking me for my agreement, his deep blue eye turns toward me.

(I see. It's been more than two months since I came here.)

Mai: "Hmm. It seemed like a long time, but it happened so fast."

Ieyasu: "So, which is it?"

Mai: "I wonder which one it is?"

Ieyasu: "*sigh* Don't ask me."

Masamune: "Well, let's put that aside for now. Let's go back to my palace."

Mai: "Is there something going on?"

Masamune: "Yup. I got some good vegetables, so I thought I'd let you try some."

Masamune: "I made it into a stew. It's pretty good."

Mai: "Vegetable stew!?"

Ieyasu: "Then, let's stop by my place first."

Ieyasu: "You said the other day your wrist hurts, so I have some medicine that will help you."

Masamune: "Heh? So you went to pick medicinal herbs the other day.”

Ieyasu: "Not really. I just happened to have some leftovers and thought I'd share them with her."

Mai: "You guys..."

One thing I've learned since coming to this castle is not only how kind Mitsunari is.

I also learned that Masamune is easy to talk to, and the food he cooks is exquisite. Ieyasu, although aloof at first, is kind and gentle deep down.

(I wish I could go with them, but一)

Mai: "Um, I got some errands to run later."

Mai: "Your feelings are highly appreciated, though."

Masamune: "Really? Well, I'll feed you next time I find something good."

Ieyasu: "And the medicine, too. Come and get it whenever you feel like it."

Mai: "Okay! Thank you!"

Holding the book in my arms, I bowed my head and quickly walked away.

(I want to, but I can't. I can't let myself get too involved.)

Ieyasu sighed as Mai turned down the hallway and was out of sight.

Ieyasu: "There she goes again."

Mitsunari: "Maybe she's still being cautious."

Masamune: "Back when she first came to the castle, she always got lost."

Masamune: "Heck, she didn't even know how to properly wear a kimono."

Mitsunari: "Yes, it did appear that way."

Mitsunari: "When I first met her at Honnoji, she was wearing unusual clothes, so maybe she's from a different country."

Masamune: "You mean she's a foreigner? If so, where did she come from?"

Mitsunari: "No idea. Maybe she said those strange things because she was scared of the fire."

Mitsunari: "Perhaps her memory is a little hazy."

Ieyasu: "..............."

Mitsunari: "Well, it's only been two months. Let's help her get used to it slowly from now on."

Masamune: "You're right."

[Mitsuhide is watching from a distance.]

Mitsuhide: "I see."

Mitsuhide: "Mai, huh?"

(Let's see, I should go to the place marked with these glasses.)

After parting with everyone, I put away the books and went down the castle, holding a small note in my hand and carefully counting the number of paths I passed so I wouldn't get lost.

(I'm not really familiar with this place. I mean, yeah. I sometimes come here to do some shopping, but I'm always with someone else.)

Unlike inside the castle, the probability of running into someone who might know me here was slim.

That was why I avoided walking alone like this to avoid getting lost.

(But not today. Because一)

Sasuke: "Hi, Mai."

Mai: "Sasuke! Long time no see!"

Sasuke: "Sorry for calling you out so suddenly."

Mai: "No, it's okay. Thanks for calling. What's up?"

Sasuke: "Let's go somewhere a little quieter."

Sasuke: "There's a teahouse nearby. If you don't mind, why don't we go there?"

Mai: "Sure!"

Sasuke: "Here you go. Want the one with the red bean paste on it?"

Mai: "Sure. Thanks."

Sasuke gave me a teacup and a plate with dangos on it.

(Wow, it's been a long time since I've had this.)

(It looks so yummy.)

Sasuke: "You must really love it."

Mai: "Huh?"

Sasuke: "The dango. Your eyes are sparkling."

Mai: "Really? It's been a while since I ate something sweet."

Mai: "I never imagined I would be eating in a teahouse in the Sengoku era with my friend."

Sasuke: "So this is your first time? That's surprising."

Mai: "Is it?"

------------Flashback------------

Sasuke: "One more thing, don't get deeply involved with the people of this time."

Mai: "What do you mean by getting deeply involved?"

Sasuke: "That is to say, don't fall in love. It might cloud your desire to return to the future."

Mai: "Love!? Nope! There is no way of that happening."

Sasuke: "I hope so."

---------Flashback Ends---------

(Yeah, there's no way I'll fall in love.)

(Though, after living in the castle and interacting with everyone, my impression of them has changed drastically.)

(Everyone here is fighting and risking their lives for the sake of Japan.)

(Without them, the Japan we know in the future wouldn't exist.)

I realized that my fear had completely disappeared, which is why I needed to keep my distance.

Mai: "I'm not from this era, so doing something like that is irresponsible, and I can't get too deep into people I'll never see again."

Sasuke: "I see."

(One more month to go. If I can get over that, I can go back to my old life.)

(Also, there's my dream to work as a designer.)

I put my mind to it and took a bite of the dango.

Mai: "Wow, yummy! Hey, want some?"

Sasuke: "Mai."

He turned toward me with a slightly strained look on his face, and even through his glasses, I could see the puzzled look in his eyes.

(I wonder why. I have a bad feeling about this.)

Sasuke: "I need you to calm down and listen."

Sasuke: "There's a chance we might not make it back to the future."

Mai: *pant* *pant*

After parting with Sasuke, I ran as fast as I could down the road to the castle, and as soon as I entered my room, I sat down slumped on the floor.

(How is this possible?)

(I can't believe the wormhole suddenly disappeared.)

Sasuke's explanation was quite simple. The wormhole we thought would appear in three months had been acting strangely for some time.

And last night, it seemed to have completely deviated from the data on which it was based.

Now he doesn't know when or where it will appear or even if it will appear in the first place.

I can't get Sasuke's pained voice out of my head as he apologizes repeatedly.

(It's not Sasuke's fault.)

(Now that this happened, I need to find what I can do and take action.)

(But一)

I was supposed to become a designer for a small fashion brand in the future, but in this turbulent world, I am a nobody, despite my given titles of princess and chatelaine.

(What can I do?)

I sighed as sweat ran down my face.

???: "Mai, are you in there?"

Mai: "----!"

(This voice一)

I got up and opened the door to find Hideyoshi standing there, smiling.

Hideyoshi: "Sorry to interrupt. I came here to talk to you."

Mai: "Talk?"

Hideyoshi asked me to help out the seamstresses in the castle.

Feeling as if I was being offered a helping hand, I nodded in agreement.

Because of this, I had to accompany them on shopping trips to distant places as part of my work.

It was during this time I received the news of the attack on Azuchi Castle.

(Maybe the disappearance of the wormhole was a sign of this.)

(What's going to happen to this country if the future that was supposed to happen disappears even after saving Nobunaga's life?)

Mitsuhide: "Mai."

Mai: "Waah!"

(Where did you come from!?)

I hurriedly closed the guidebook and immediately saw him.

Mitsuhide: "What's that?"

Mai: "Um, I got this book while shopping. I thought it might come in handy."

Mitsuhide: "Oh? You're quite dedicated to your work."

Mitsuhide: "I'd let you read it, but the castle is not a suitable place for that right now."

Mai: "Okay. Um, you all are safe, right?"

Mitsuhide: "Yes."

(Thank goodness.)

Though I knew about it from the news, it was still a relief to hear it from him directly.

Mitsuhide: "But this is just the beginning."

Mitsuhide: "By the hand of that man, Japan is about to change again."

(Huh?)

Mai: "That man?"

Mitsuhide: "Are you curious?"

Mai: "Well, yeah. You're talking about the perpetrator, right?"

Mitsuhide: "Yes."

Mitsuhide: "Kicho."

Mitsuhide: "That's the name of the man who destroyed Tenshu and ignited sparks in this turbulent world."

Nobunaga: "Mai, you're back."

Mai: "Yes. Long time no see."

Nobunaga: "I didn't expect you to volunteer to attend a military council."

Mai: "I've been thinking about a lot of things. Please let me hear at least what you have to say."

I bowed my head deeply, and the air in the hall grew heavy, causing me to move awkwardly.

(I've only attended a few meetings, but today's tension is even worse than usual.)

(That's how serious the situation is.)

The military councils that had been held over the past three months were mainly about skirmishes that were taking place in various places.

As the chatelaine, I was occasionally called in to share information, but the talks were full of unfamiliar names of places, which made me feel like an outsider.

(I'm not from here.)

(Until now, I've been a bystander, but that's no longer the case.)

???: "Heh? So you're the rumored princess?"

???: "Mai, right? You have very nice eyes."

Mai: "Thank you."

(He suddenly praised me!)

Keiji: "I'm Keiji Maeda. The most eccentric guy in the Oda army."

Keiji: "Don't be shy. Feel free to call me Keiji."

Mai: "Okay. Nice to meet you, Keiji."

Keiji: "Yeah. Now that I've said my name, this guy is next."

???: "Whoa!"

Keiji's large hand slapped the back of the young man next to him.

The young man turned his large eyes toward us, his soft hair swinging along with his hair accessory.

Ranmaru: "I'm Ranmaru Mori. Lord Nobunaga's page."

Ranmaru: "I prefer it if you could talk to me less formally, just like Lord Keiji."

Mai: "Then I'll call you Ranmaru."

Ranmaru: "Hehe, okay."

(Keiji has a friendly smile, and Ranmaru has an idol-like smile.)

(I guess I was so nervous that I didn't notice the two of them.)

Mitsuhide: "They've both been away from the castle for a while."

Mitsuhide: "Keiji returned after getting information that there was going to be an attack, and Ranmaru returned after seeing the attack."

Masamune: "It's pretty impressive that he went undercover at the mastermind's place."

Mai: "So that means Keiji was with Kicho!?"

(That's so bold of him!)

Nobunaga: "You know Kicho?"

Mai: "Yes. Mitsuhide just told me earlier, but do you know him too?"

Ieyasu: "Of course. He was originally a member of the Oda army."

Mai: "What!?"

Hideyoshi: "We were friends who wanted to accomplish unification."

Hideyoshi: "He disappeared three years ago and has been missing ever since, but I never thought he would rebel."

Hideyoshi gripped his fist tightly as his expression contorted一a mixture of anger and sadness.

Nobunaga: "We can't let him do what he wants any longer."

Nobunaga: "But he is a tricky man. We need to know his moves as soon as possible to take countermeasures."

Mai: "That's why Keiji came back, right?"

Mitsuhide: "Mai. Do you think we dared him to attack the Tenshu of this castle?"

Mitsuhide: "Do you think we allowed the enemy to get close enough for the iron ball to reach?"

Mai: "No. But that means..."

Mitsunari: "That's the unknown threat."

Mitsunari: "Even if you check every possible book in the library at Azuchi Castle, you won't find that big cannon."

Masamune: "That's why we need information."

Ieyasu: "But it won't be easy."

Ieyasu: "We've already located him, but he knows the faces and names of our soldiers."

(I see. That's why the Oda army is at a disadvantage.)

(Kicho is their former comrade, and he is acquainted with all of them.)

Mai: "Oh..."

Mitsuhide: "What's wrong?"

Mai: "He never met me before."

The words that slipped out of my mouth caught everyone's attention.

(What should I do? I feel like I said something really unnecessary!)

(But I'm the one who decided not to be a bystander.)

(For that reason, I have to make sense of my being here.)

Mai: "I'll go. No, let me go!"

At that time, I still didn't know the horrors of the battlefield that I had yet to see, the sorrow carried by a justice that would shake Japan, and the life-shaking moments of falling in love.

Kicho's subordinate: "Lord Kicho, excuse me."