How could I only remember now? Il-yeong frowned, chewing his lip, as he stared at the truly unrealistic scene unfolding before him.
If he wasn't normally interested, it might have been different, but for him, who delved into world histories like an otaku, this feeling was undeniably new. "Wh-What is this—!" His gaze soon fell upon the middle-aged woman berating Nobunaga. 'This is reality. This...' He couldn't have imagined it. Had Nobunaga's name not been called out by the middle-aged woman, he might have taken much longer to realize. There was an unfair aspect too.
How could he quickly notice when she wasn't a man like in history? That alone would make him seem insane. Suddenly, his sleeve touched his finger.
Rustle. Feeling the rough texture, he lowered his gaze. Distinctively wide-sleeved, black Japanese clothing came into view. Moreover, belatedly noticing the two Japanese swords at his waist, he thought. 'Katana, Wakizashi.' The Katana is the main weapon.
The shorter Wakizashi is the Sidearm. As if it were perfectly natural, he ran his hand over the two Japanese swords at his waist. Then, he casually lifted his head to gaze at the Oda Family's Family Banner fluttering far away, laughing hollowly. 'To think I only saw that now.' The black crest in the shape of a Quince Flower is the symbol of the Oda Family. Shifting his gaze, he hastily looked at the body from which the monks were clearing away the incense. There was only one person upon whom Oda Nobunaga would throw incense. None other than Oda Nobuhide, the man called the Tiger of Owari. He started from a Branch Family and swallowed Owari whole. And... Il-yeong glanced sideways at Oda Nobunaga's golden eyes. They held a strange madness and anxiety, framed by her black bobbed hair, he thought. '...But why did she become a woman?' The moment he became convinced this woman was the unparalleled madwoman. Or the genius of military strategy, Oda Nobunaga, made him wonder if he himself had gone mad. It made sense, it just didn't add up.
But, as he repeatedly told himself, this was reality. "Hoo." Il-yeong closed his eyes, raised a hand to rub his throbbing temples, forcefully suppressing the curses that threatened to spill out. 'Shit, what did I do wrong? Huh?' He still didn't even know what kind of existence he was in this world. The pressure of potentially being forced to commit Seppuku for carelessly cursing tormented him. Of course, even then, the Low-rank Samurai beside him were looking at him with questioning eyes. But now was not the time to worry about such things. He didn't just like History.
Having consumed web novels, webtoons, and even movies and dramas, he could roughly guess what kind of world this was. He just didn't want to admit it.
And why wouldn't he... 1. I opened my eyes and found myself in the Japanese Sengoku Period.
2. Since Oda Nobunaga became a woman, other Daimyo might also have had their genders swapped.
3. But looking around, I seem to be just a low-rank samurai filling a spot, not even a chief retainer. ...How could one easily accept such a reality? The moment he acknowledged it, it seemed he would either go mad or take his own life. However, his lament mixed with despair and confusion couldn't continue for long. —Slap! At the sharp sound that suddenly echoed through the temple interior, everyone's gaze turned towards the Altar. Soon, Nobunaga's head snapped to the side, and the enraged face of the middle-aged woman came into view. Only then did Il-yeong realize the sharp sound was none other than Nobunaga's cheek being struck, and he couldn't help but be shocked. However, the middle-aged woman who had actually delivered the slap narrowed her brow, chewed her lip, and spoke. "Many Vassals gave Loyal Advice for your younger sister, not you, to be the next Family Head. Yet, having taken the position of Family Head, you should at least know shame...!" Even if she was her birth mother, slapping the cheek of the family head of Owari, which could practically be called a kingdom, was unreasonable. Yet, no one stopped the middle-aged woman.
No, more accurately, they chose not to stop her. Il-yeong, his rationality slowly returning, scanned Nobunaga and the middle-aged woman and thought. 'At this time, Oda Nobunaga was doubted in everything, including her abilities and character.' It wasn't for nothing that his, no, her nickname at the time was the Fool of Owari (尾張の大うつけ). [TL] The historical Nobunaga was known for eccentric behavior, contributing to this nickname. [/TL] He glanced sideways, guessing the identity of the middle-aged woman who struck Nobunaga's cheek. 'If she's Oda Nobunaga's mother... is she Dota Gozen?' It must be.
She was a woman much talked about in later generations. "Mother." It was then. A gentle voice echoed through the murmuring Vassals. "Please calm your anger. Although elder sister committed an act of Filial Impiety too atrocious to even speak of..." A calm and gentle voice rang out, a stark contrast to Oda Nobunaga, armed with arrogance and impudence. She opened her Fan with a snap—covering her mouth, she said. "Still, as Mother said, she is now the family head of the Oda family." If Nobunaga, with her black bobbed hair and prominently defined abs marked by long vertical lines on her abdomen, resembled a lone wolf, then the elegant figure of this woman, slender with long black hair cascading down to her waist, dressed in neat formal attire, flowed with the grace and dignity of a crane. Seeing the clearly different appearances at a glance, Il-yeong could be certain. After all, there could only be one sibling... no, sister, who could say such things to her, who had inherited the position of family head, albeit incompletely. 'Oda Nobuyuki.' The second child of the Oda family.
Furthermore, a man with the ambition to stage rebellions repeatedly to seize the position of Family Head, but now that she's become a woman, I guess I should call her a woman with ambition. Thinking that far, he couldn't help but let out a sigh unconsciously. '...Common sense is shattering.' Was it fortunate, perhaps?
With everyone's attention focused on the untimely family squabble at the Funeral Ceremony's center, no one was looking strangely at Il-yeong. Then, Nobuyuki nonchalantly covered her mouth with her fan and said. "Indeed, Father's decision is difficult to understand. You crossed the line this time, Sister." It was a statement that originally carried political risk when directed at the one who became the Family Head. However, because of Nobunaga's actions moments before, Nobuyuki's words seemed more like justifiable Loyal Advice. Yes, at least on the surface. But at that moment.
A smirk played on Nobunaga's lips, and she parted her lips to speak. "...Nobuyuki." The Matchlock Gun in her hand spun once before finally being aimed at Nobuyuki. Although the match wasn't lit, the inherently threatening posture naturally caused the air to freeze. Then.
Nobunaga spoke. "What are you going to do if you can't understand?" Simultaneously, their mother, Dota Gozen, turned pale and cried out. "N-Nobunaga!" Although Samurai tended to disregard Western Weapons like the Arquebus, a weapon was still a weapon. It was absolutely not something to be aimed at one's younger sister. "Hmph." However, Nobuyuki, who was being intimidated by Nobunaga, still maintained a composed face and actually took a step forward. Immediately, Nobunaga's gun barrel was aimed precisely at Nobuyuki's heart, and she narrowed her eyes and replied. "Indeed. What... should I do?" Her answer was truly ambiguous.
However, no one present failed to understand that the intent was close to treason. Therefore, Il-yeong too found himself staring intently at the sisters' argument, swallowing hard—Gulp. It was because he was extremely curious about what answer Oda Nobunaga, who walked the Way of the Conqueror, would give to Nobuyuki, who had so clearly revealed her inner thoughts. What answer would she give?
No, one couldn't even assert that the answer had to be spoken words. Considering Nobunaga's character from history—where she cut off an enemy general's head, coated the skull in gold, and used it as a sake cup—couldn't she potentially cut down Nobuyuki right here? 'Then History...?' If Nobunaga had been a man, he wouldn't have even considered such a 'what if'. But in a world where even genders had changed, the very thought that History wouldn't change was ridiculous. "...Hah." Finally, a sigh escaped her lips, whether a scoff or a lament. And she chuckled, saying. "Do as you please. Nobuyuki. However..." Instantly her gaze left Nobuyuki and swept over everyone gathered at the Funeral Ceremony. In that moment, everyone intuitively realized her reply was directed not just at Nobuyuki, but at all the Vassals. "If you cannot accept it." A bitter smile graced her lips.
Her chilling—yet somehow lonely—voice echoed inside the temple. "You will have to bet your life." It was truly an arrogant Declaration of War. * Immediately after uttering those words, Nobunaga left the temple. Oda Nobunaga's Vassals, who had been waiting for her outside the temple, also departed all at once. However, Il-yeong himself just stood there silently staring in the direction Nobunaga had left. 'Oda Nobunaga.' Seeing her in person made his chest pound.
Aside from the fact that she was a historical figure he personally liked, how should he put it? The Vassals who experienced this Funeral Ceremony might think she was mad. Even he inwardly agreed on some points. However, there was a difference between them and him.
Il-yeong knew very well what path she would walk in the future. That woman would eventually shake the Japanese Archipelago. And that's not all. She was also the Lord of Toyotomi and Tokugawa, who would later rule Japan. There was much talk about Oda Nobunaga.
From theories suggesting she was inherently a madwoman to those suggesting she was broken by the era's limitations, continuous Surprise Attacks, and long wars. [TL]The Mc is already refering to Nobu as a she, even when talking about actual historical events[/TL] However, one thing was certain. That the path she walked ahead would be filled with blood and slaughter. Also, that she would eventually meet a miserable end at Honnoji. Therefore, he couldn't help but think. —Perhaps, there's a reason I suddenly fell into a world like this? Living an ordinary life, then dragged into the extraordinary.
The modern man Baek Il-yeong has disappeared, and perhaps he might have to live here for the rest of his life. And before him like that—.
Someone who would eventually seize the Japanese Archipelago with her inherent abilities alone had just passed by. Instantly a glint shone in Il-yeong's eyes. The Sengoku Period.
In Japanese, the Sengoku Jidai. The so-called Age of gekokujo, where Samurai gained power and that absolutely cannot be omitted when discussing Japanese history— Turbulent times. In such a world, the connection named Oda Nobunaga was one of the most attractive lifelines Il-yeong, could grasp.
Therefore, he soon had no choice but to make a decision. —Let's pursue my survival. You have to live to be able to do anything.
He wasn't fearless.
It was just that he couldn't stand still. 'Ha, what sin did I commit?' His head throbbed, but there was nothing he could do.
Reality wouldn't change just because he felt that way. He etched the now set goal into his mind, and silently stared at the fluttering Quince Flower banner, thinking. 'First, I need to somehow get close to Nobunaga.' Pursuit of Survival.
To achieve that, he first needed to ensure Nobunaga didn't go mad. * "Hey, Il-yeong."
"Yeah." Right, he had definitely made such a resolution. Il-yeong roughly mopped the sweat with a cotton cloth, performed Nabgeom (납검) to sheathe the Katana—a weapon he was gradually getting used to—at his waist, and then rose to his feet. A cool wind blew—Whoosh.
Passing the distinctive yellow banner of the Oda Family, he looked up at the clear blue sky that finally filled his vision and smiled bitterly. 'Was that already 2 months ago?' It had been over two months and a week since he fell into this absurd world. Although he had been planning to approach Nobunaga and draw a big picture along the way... Didn't someone say it? Reality is a damn gutter. "Hurry up!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." Il-yeong, wearing shabby clothes and a Japanese-style black Bamboo Hat, a Jingasa, scratched his head and walked forward, dragging his Wooden Clogs. Then, a Samurai changing shifts with him came alongside and started chattering about something. Ah, why this name, you ask?
For a moment, Il-yeong's expression crumpled. 'Seriously, if I'm a Korean Person, send me back to Joseon. Shit.' Apparently, it's because he's a Joseon Ronin who crossed over to Japan. Yes, right now, Il-yeong.
Far from being a Chief retainer of the family, he was rolling around as one of the numerous Low-rank Samurai of the Oda Family... a so-called Ronin. Ah, I want to go home.

Where am I? (2)