“This way, Oniisama.” Hirate Masahide had entrusted Uemon with guiding Il-yeong to his Residence and disappeared. Of course, Il-yeong, aware that their relationship wasn't close enough for Masahide to offer guidance himself, followed Uemon without much thought, examining the Mansion for the second time. 'It resembles Hirate Masahide.' That was Il-yeong’s impression of the Mansion. The Mansion was quite large but showed no vanity, merely exuding a sense of weightiness. And that resembled Hirate Masahide, who was now his adoptive father. 'Well, maybe it's just my feeling.' As Il-yeong thought this, Uemon's voice echoed in his ears. “This is the Residence where Oniisama will be staying from now on. Well then.” Uemon said this, gave a light Silent bow, and turned away. The sight of her neat black Bobbed Hair, cut as if measured with a ruler, softly fluttering suited her noble image well. “Uemon.”
“...Yes?” Il-yeong called out, stopping Uemon. Uemon, about to return to her Residence, turned her head, maintaining a blank expression, looked at Il-yeong, and asked back. Il-yeong chuckled and said. “Thanks. For guiding me.” “...I merely did what was natural. Well then.” Uemon hesitated a moment, replied somewhat awkwardly, and left. Il-yeong watched her retreating figure and let out a calm smile. “...Imōto.” [TL]Younger Sister[/TL] Objectively, Uemon was cute. Therefore, for Il-yeong, who had always longed for a younger sister, Uemon's existence was merely surprising, certainly not unwelcome. Of course, the fact that she didn't act cute or anything was a bit disappointing, but... “Well. Can’t be helped.” Muttering so, Il-yeong bowed his head and passed the Attendant holding the door open, entering the Residence. “Haaam.” Somehow, it seemed he would sleep late tomorrow. At that moment.
High above in the Castle, where Il-yeong could not hear, his name was softly spoken. “Baek Il-yeong.” No. “Hirate Hikage.” A Ronin from Joseon. Annoyingly handsome, which I disliked, so I gave him the Nickname Monkey, and the insolent brat subtly narrowed his brow. And. “An interesting fellow.” In the center of the highest Room in Nagoya Castle. With countless Swords displayed behind her, Nobunaga murmured softly. Each time her pink Lips opened and closed, a faint, yet sweet, Smell of alcohol scattered into the air and vanished. “...The Moon is bright.” Suddenly, her gaze fell upon the giant Window. Beyond it, the grey Moon shone loftily upon the earth. Isn't it truly wondrous?
How does that large, tranquil Moon ascend so high, managing to dispel even a little of the night's darkness? Nobunaga picked up the gourd bottle, which wobbled at her fingertips, brought it to her lips, and soon lukewarm sake flowed smoothly into her mouth, parting slightly. The lukewarm sake grew hotter as it went down her esophagus, warming her body slightly. She pushed the clothes hanging around her elbows down slightly further and continued her thoughts about the audacious Joseon fellow. 'He might be a Joseon Spy. Even if not, there are many suspicious points.' Those were the words of her Godfather, Hirate Masahide, the only person she fully trusted and respected. Soon after, when Il-yeong's subtle hints became reality, she felt intrigued for the first time in a long while. Indeed, the vermin of the Shiba Family sent a Denunciation letter, and that was quite a novel event. That's why she summoned Il-yeong.
What emotion did she feel while waiting for him? Yes. It was simple curiosity. It didn't go beyond that. However. That thought soon changed unexpectedly.
When asked how he knew the Shiba Family would send a denunciation letter, Il-yeong replied. 'The current Shiba Family has lost all its past influence. In such a situation, it's obvious they wouldn't achieve great merit even by aiding a Rebellion. Although the previous Family Head brought about the beginning of their Fall, wouldn't they need a more certain achievement to get close to Power again?' 'Yes. To give an example...' 'Something like informing the current Person in Power about the Rebellion in advance.' Il-yeong's words were based heavily on conjecture and Guess, but they were persuasive enough for her Godfather and herself to nod inwardly, and indeed, his words weren't wrong, were they? Therefore, she couldn't help but ask. 'Then, what should I do?' Il-yeong, organizing his thoughts for a moment at her question, answered. 'It's simple. If you deal with Nobutomo, Nobuyuki will bow her head. In the meantime, re-establish relations with 'Mino', then make Nobuyuki submit.' And at his words, Masahide and Nobunaga couldn't help but be surprised. 'Re-establishing relations with Mino.' Currently, the Saito Family of Mino and the Oda Family of Owari were quite complicatedly entangled. Of course, Il-yeong had simply spoken about the import of Arquebus without knowing the full circumstances—. “The Viper will die soon. Before that, somehow Kicho. That wench must be brought to Owari. That was the Promise made at Seitokuji last time.” The old, decrepit Viper, once an oil merchant who stole a country, was slowly losing power, pushed aside by his grown daughter. He must be afraid. Even a fool could tell what Yoshitatsu, rumored to be the child of Toki Yoriaki whom he himself had expelled, would do to his most cherished daughter once she inherited the Family headship. “The Young Lady (hime) from Mino (みの). Nohime (のひめ), is it.” Truly, a cruel twist of fate. Isn't this the Turbulent Times where the word Hime (ひめ: Young Lady) has lost its meaning? How many Daimyo of Hime origin are there in this Japanese Archipelago right now? Nobunaga mutters a self-deprecating joke and drains her Sake. Saito Yoshitatsu. Thinking of that crazed madwoman naturally brought a smile to her lips. “I’m already looking forward to seeing that mad bitch run wild. Huhu...” As soon as she heard the news that Nobutomo's head was taken, she dispatched her subordinate Ninja. They, along with the Ikoma Family merchant group, which had deep ties with the Oda Family, would safely bring the girl named Kicho to Owari. Because of that, Takigawa, who was like her own limb, had temporarily left his post, but... “It doesn't really matter, I suppose.” Not all Ninja were taken, and the minimum number to Guard her was left behind. Besides, Nobuyuki would have no choice but to remain silent for the time being. There were more pressing matters than Mino right now. The Imagawa Family of Suruga Province's restlessness was a constant concern, but she was surprised when information arrived from the Kiyosu Castle campaign battles. “Three-rank volley firing. To actually use it.” It was something she herself had conceptualized but hadn't actually attempted. The Ronin from Joseon, unfamiliar with Arquebus, tried it as if it were natural upon seeing the Matchlock Guns. It wasn't perfect. Originally, she planned to supplement it by assigning one Shield bearer and two Archers per Matchlock Gunner. Considering that the Third Rank couldn't fire Matchlock Guns on the battlefield and there were no Shield bearers, her method was slightly better. However, what surprised her was that Il-yeong, unlike others, sought to compensate for the low Reloading speed with a systematized firing sequence. Isn't that exactly the same as her own thinking? “Interesting... No. Is this not interest?” Nobunaga muttered, completely emptying the Sake from the Gourd bottle that was almost empty and sloshing near the bottom. This isn't mere interest.
Something more fundamental, something essential, drew her in. Therefore, Nobunaga couldn't help but think of Il-yeong. Now Hikage. “Time will tell.” There's no reason to rush. Il-yeong became the adopted son of the Hirate Family, meaning he has become her Vassal. If there's something about him, it will naturally come to light. Because—. “It's too good a world for talent to remain hidden.” That's what the Turbulent Times are like.
In chaotic times, it's harder for a capable person to stay hidden. She didn't delve into deeper thoughts, merely reciting a Verse softly. “A man's life of fifty years...” [TL] This is the beginning of the famous Atsumori chant, often associated with Oda Nobunaga. [/TL] That was something from the past. “Compared to the lives Below Heaven, is but a fleeting dream.” [TL] 下天 (Geten) refers to the realm below the heavens, i.e., the human world. The full chant reflects on the ephemeral nature of life. [/TL] Flowed from her lips. * “Young head. Shall we go out for a meal together?” “Sure.” Time sometimes flows quickly. At moments it feels long and fragmented, but when you realize the connection, the moment becomes the past. 'Has it already been a week?' Il-yeong yawned as he stepped out with the Samurai, who spoke politely but with a strange mix of playfulness. The Samurai then casually poked Il-yeong's side, grinned, and said. “After eating, let's go to the Red-light district together to aid digestion. Joseon Young Master. I know another amazing place...” “Stop messing around.” Il-yeong lightly brushed off the Samurai's—no, Itsuki's—words and scratched his cheek. Itsuki then narrowed his eyes and said. “Tsk. You eunuch bastard.” Itsuki just couldn't understand Il-yeong. Now Hikage. No. To be precise, should he say he didn't know his true identity? His origin is Korean. But his Japanese language skills are fluent enough to pass for Japanese, and his Swordsmanship is good enough to survive on the battlefield. 'And his looks?' Honestly, judging another man's appearance is disgusting, but he was annoyingly handsome. Yet, he didn't give off a gigolo vibe either, as his Build wasn't small. On top of that, his abilities were recognized, making him Lord Hirate's adopted son... “...Tsk. Just die already.” He suddenly got annoyed. Itsuki scrunched up his usually grinning face and spat insolently. “Haaam. You die first, Itsuki.” Il-yeong yawned lightly and casually ignored Itsuki's words. Since Itsuki wasn't serious, he relaxed his expression and sat beside him. “Anyway, did you hear the news?” “What news? About moving to Kiyosu Castle?” That wasn't really news. Nobunaga, having captured Kiyosu Castle, would soon move her Residence there. However, contrary to Il-yeong's expectation, Itsuki shook his head and said. “Not that. About Imagawa.” “Ah.” Only then did Il-yeong recall the impending Battle of Murakitoride (村木砦) and muttered softly. “...Has it already come to that?” “Huh?” “It's nothing. So?” He took Itsuki under his wing partly because he considered him the only 'friend' in this world, and also because Itsuki was well-connected. Despite being a Low-rank Samurai, he knew many people, making him useful for hearing rumors and various news. Of course, the majority of the news he brought was about which Courtesan performed so well, or which family's daughter was pretty. That's not to say he only spouted Nonsense. Itsuki glanced around briefly and whispered quietly to Il-yeong. “Isn’t it an unwritten rule not to wage war in winter? Actually, it’s closer to being unable to. Maybe that’s why they predict it won’t be a major battle.” “...Testing the waters, you mean?” “Exactly.” The Imagawa Family had always coveted the Oda Family. It was close to an obsession. 'The obsession that they must swallow Owari to go to Kyoto.' Indeed, swallowing Owari was the fastest way for the Imagawa Family to advance to Kyoto. Plus, they were likely aware of the discord within the Oda Family, making it seem an opportune time. 'Well, no need to worry already.' At least until the Battle of Okehazama (おけはざま) occurred, it was better to pay attention to Nobuyuki than the Imagawa Family. “Hey.” At that moment, a man came into Il-yeong's sight, and Il-yeong immediately stopped and called out to him. The man, about to leave, turned his head with an expression as if he had swallowed diarrhea beyond just shit, and Il-yeong chuckled and called his name. “Been well, Hideyoshi?” “...Do not... call me by name, please.” Grit. Hideyoshi couldn't call Il-yeong Joseon-jin like before, and had to use honorifics instead of informal speech. Finding this considerably shameful, Hideyoshi could only grit his teeth. “Really? Then what should I call you? Hashiba Hideyoshi? Kinoshita Tokichiro?” “......” These were all names Hideyoshi had gone through. They were too important to be uttered lightly by Il-yeong. However, Hideyoshi couldn't properly get angry. '...Why... Why did such vermin... to that old man Hirate!' Hearing such an insult when they were both Low-rank warriors, he would have cut Il-yeong down, even at the risk of Dismissal. But now, that guy wasn't 'Baek Il-yeong, the Ronin from Joseon', but 'Hirate Hikage, the adopted son and Young head of the Hirate Family'. “I will... take my leave now...” Therefore, Hideyoshi forcefully suppressed his overwhelming humiliation, defeat, and killing intent, gave Il-yeong a slight bow, and disappeared. Watching Hideyoshi's retreating back, Il-yeong couldn't help but wear a look of surprise inwardly. 'Indeed... Is this the guy who eventually unified Japan after spending his whole life bowing down while being called Monkey, bald rat.' Calling someone you're not close to by name is a great Disrespect. Moreover, Hideyoshi, who already harbored an Inferiority complex towards Il-yeong, would feel even greater Humiliation. Il-yeong had deliberately provoked him, aiming for that, but Hideyoshi didn't take the bait. 'Of course, I could have told him to stop there and provoked him further, but...' Il-yeong subtly felt the gazes gathering on him and walked forward calmly with Itsuki. The gazes directed at him weren't completely hostile, but neither were they entirely favorable. Basic respect for the eldest son of the Hirate Family.
But subtle contempt for his Joseon origin. Gazes reflecting various feelings subtly landed on him and then disappeared. In short, many eyes were watching. 'No need to get caught up in unnecessary Scandal.' People generally feel pity when they see someone in a position of weakness. Even if the weak aren't necessarily good. That's why Il-yeong threw only a light Provocation and let him go. Anyway. There's plenty of time ahead. “Now, let's not waste emotions unnecessarily and just eat, Young Master.” Just then, Itsuki playfully led Il-yeong towards the dining hall inside. Il-yeong looked at Itsuki for a moment, then chuckled and replied. “Yeah. Let's go.” The meal at the dining hall Itsuki took Il-yeong to was quite excellent. Probably because Owari is a port city, giving access to fish, Il-yeong was able to eat meat for the first time in a while. 'They basically prefer a vegetarian diet...' It wasn't that they didn't eat meat, but perhaps because it was a rice-culture sphere, the people of Wa often ate meals focused on vegetables as the main side dish. So much so that even after Modernization later on, they apparently struggled to introduce meat-eating. “Haaam.” On the way back from the dining hall after eating, he yawned more times than on the way there. He was naturally prone to sleepiness, and the fatigue crept up after eating as well. 'Go back, take a short nap, then Sparring with Itsuki or...' Itsuki, despite his lighthearted personality, handled a Sword quite well. So, to aid digestion too... Just then. “Young head!” A strangely familiar shout echoed in Il-yeong's ears. Lifting his head, he saw a Servant from the Hirate Family running towards him. “Hm.” For a moment, Il-yeong and Itsuki met eyes, but soon the Servant arrived, and he couldn't help but ask. “Why are you calling so urgently?” He had to know they went out for a meal.
Was there any reason to run out when they had almost arrived? However, the question was quickly answered by the Servant's words. “The Family Head is urgently looking for you, Young head.” None other than.
A summons from Hirate Masahide.

Remembering Him Tonight