Horizon:Volume 9B Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Droppers Above and Below

Is enjoyment

The lack of difficulty

Or the ending of difficulty?

Point Allocation (Do Not Interfere)

●

The large metal spear struck the sickle spear held in the arm Kiyomasa was pulling back.

The powerful strike deflected Kiyomasa’s arm and obliterated Oichi’s arm.

The Sasamura spear was knocked away, spinning a few times as it seemingly rolled between the two fighters.

On the way, it caught the sword Oichi had sent out on the other side.

“Hee!”

Oichi bent back with a cry that could have been protest or lament.

“Ah!”

She roared. But by then, Kiyomasa had already moved away. And while Kiyomasa stopped to secure the shoulder armor she had earlier purged, she glanced over at Kani.

But it wasn’t just Kani. Kani had her right hand raised while strapped to Weiss Fürstin, Yoshiaki was keeping a cautious eye on their surroundings, and…

“Kasuya-sama!”

●

“Testament,” confirmed Kasuya and everyone else there turned toward her.

“Eh...ehh!? What are you doing here!?”

The surprise wasn’t understandable. Getting here had taken some pretty fast movement and she had even run along the walls a lot to avoid being spotted.

But she had something to say now that she was here.

“We can work together now. Because my group from the north has gotten close enough to your group from the south. That means we can perform pincer attacks and use diversionary tactics. So…”

Kasuya trailed off as she looked to Kiyomasa.

Because she thought Kiyomasa should say the rest.

…She must have come here for the same reason.

But when Kasuya looked to Kiyomasa, she saw the girl double and triple checking the connection after reattaching her purged shoulder armor.

“––––”

“Kiyomasa?”

When Kasuya called her name, Kiyomasa’s shoulders jumped. Clearly flustered, she took a look around and then turned toward Kasuya.

“Oh, yes! What is it, Kasuya-sama!?”

“Well, I was explaining why we came here on our own…”

“Oh,” said Kiyomasa again.

The look on her face said she hadn’t forgotten – it had slipped her mind.

…The battle is affecting her.

Her tension must have completely drained after the fight with Oichi. And she must have been aware of it because she lightly slapped her cheeks a few times.

Then she looked to Oichi.

The enemy was there. Quite high up. She was crouched atop the bow of one of the transport ships surrounding this clearing.

With the full moons above her, she looked ready to begin the hunt at any time.

She had not fled. Had she noticed the change to the flow of battle caused by Kasuya’s appearance? Or…

“Oichi-sama.”

Kiyomasa, who had come here for the same reason as Kasuya, spoke.

“Hashiba wishes for a truce with the Shibata team. Will you give us one?”

●

Kasuya sighed when she heard Kiyomasa’s request.

And Kiyomasa wasn’t done yet.

“Hashiba and Shibata appear to be in a stalemate currently, but that is only because Treasurer Fuwa-sama has been rearranging your transport ships and preserving your supply lines. That means Shibata has challenged us to a war of attrition.”

And…

“Niwa-sama’s battle to the south has ended. Now that we have secured the north clearing and established a base there, the Azuchi will resume sending transport ships full of supplies to us. The more time passes, the greater the advantage Hashiba will have. Furthermore…”

“Furthermore, I was fighting for Shibata before, but I have to switch sides before long.”

A voice came from the western pathway Kasuya’s group had used.

She turned that way to see someone wrapped in blue ether light.

…A nonhuman?

No, it wasn’t. She had seen him when she was training here.

“Is that you, Maeda-senpai?”

“Testament. Is that Kasuya-kun?”

With Matsu on his shoulder, Maeda took a breath at the clearing’s west entrance. He shrugged, looked across the clearing, and then looked behind him.

With the entirety of the Shibata formation in mind, the mercenary king spoke.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my mercenary contract has just expired.”

●

“Kousaka! The ghosts are withdrawing!”

Inada’s exclamation made Kousaka look up as she held the line along the north-south passage.

After Kasuya unleashed her true nature, field spells had been more effective along the pathway extending from the clearing. If that meant the local phase had changed form, then Loup-Garous were just plain overpowered, but maybe all spirit races were like that since the Fairy Queen ruled an entire kingdom.

…It’s all so far above the scale I work on.

This was the same. The ghost warriors had been so numerous and belligerent, but their invasion had suddenly stopped.

After checking the lernen figurs opened by their heads, the people wearing mobile shells began to shut them down. And then…

“–––––”

The ghosts began waving toward their brief Shibata allies and toward their Hashiba enemies.

…Are they leaving?

Most of them sank into the ground. If the mercenary king hired them again, they would likely go to him again. Either from the surface or from within the broken ground, bluish-white light rose into the sky.

Did that mean they had found peace? And looking closely…

“Eh!? What!? What is that!?”

The ghost skeletons formed a row in front of the nonhumans still in their canine or feline beast transformations, clasped their hands in worship, and prostrated before ascending into the sky.

“Yeah, I guess you wouldn’t normally get to see this in real life.”

“Why didn’t they come to worship you, huh?”

Kousaka made sure to elbow Inada in the side.

But with that great army gone, their surroundings looked so different.

The north-south path in particular was full of now-abandoned barricades made from barrels and boxes. Only now did Kousaka realize they had nearly made it to the center of the battlefield, but…

…Nothing’s happening because our leader and the Katou Team’s leader are negotiating in the center.

“Can you keep going, Kousaka?”

“Of course. It’s been a while since I’ve seen living faces. ...Stay focused, everyone!”

She lowered her rifle and propped it against the ground in front of her.

That was the signal to gather.

She thought to herself while focused on the hidden spaces behind the rows of transport ships.

…It’s hard to believe we were just fighting here.

It was quiet. Out ahead of them, they saw the thick dark blue moonlight shadows of the Hokuriku garrison.

Without the metal, gunpowder, and occasional flickering flames, she would have felt like she had only stopped by for dinner.

“Now, how will we end Shizugatake?”

She could not forget that having faith in someone was a form of power.

●

Kiyomasa spoke softly.

“To be honest, our primary focus is Honnouji. We never expected to escape Shizugatake unscathed and we are already worn down. So we have a suggestion for your Shibata Team.”

That was…

“If this does become a war of attrition, we will win in the end. That is unavoidable. But if we declare a truce or the end of the battle now, would you be willing to lend us your strength? So that we might regroup with the Hashiba Team and hurry to Honnouji.

“Because,” she continued. “Hashiba-sama has said she expects us to battle Musashi after Shizugatake.”

That announcement created a slight stir in the air.

The surrounding Shibata warriors were interested.

…Will this work?

As a whole, the Shibata Team believed in battle. They had followed Shibata because they trusted in strength. Shibata was a symbol of strength. But if he was lost, they would lose their place. For that reason, they would have been willing to die in this battle.

Kiyomasa was telling them not to do that.

“Separate from the result of Honnouji, we still possess the right to fight in the final showdown for this world. So will you lend us your power for that fight?”

“How about this?” said Maeda, raising his left hand. “If anyone wants to join them, I’ll act as the middleman. That is my job, after all.”

He wasn’t smiling. This was a serious offer and he meant every word. That told Kiyomasa something.

…If this battle continues, the Shibata Team will be destroyed.

What would they do?

They must have intended to fight to the end.

But now they had another option.

Of course, they wouldn’t jump at it right away. They had their pride and their obligations. But if those things could be removed, some of them would change their minds.

Explaining the advantages of siding with Hashiba was not the play here.

They needed an excuse or a justification for switching from Shibata’s side to theirs.

And she had one.

“According to the Testament, when Shibata-sama saw the likelihood of a loss growing, he had his men leave the battle line and gave them permission to join Hashiba. We are approaching that same turning point now. If it would mean following the Testament, would you be willing to make the same decision and lend us your strength in the final showdown with Musashi?”

●

…That’s right.

Fuwa nodded inwardly. Maybe it was because she had only just lost to Kani, but she found a solid understanding of that war weariness.

I’m so capricious, she thought, but it couldn’t be helped. They were past the point of acting on pride and momentum. It was time to start acting based on reason and the advantages.

Maeda had already taken Hashiba’s side and there were plenty of excuses to go around at this point.

…Sigh.

Had it been useful after all to move the transport ships to reshape the formation here? At the very least, she had brought things to a standstill.

Maeda had probably joined Hashiba because he had seen that. If they had continued fighting, he had known the mood of defeat would only grow and they would find themselves unable to back down anymore.

So as treasurer, he had agreed with Hashiba’s suggestion. But…

“Now hold on.”

A voice came from above.

A figure backed by the two full moons spoke with her hair swaying.

“You can’t end the battle now. If you do, who’s going to kill me?”

it was Oichi.

●

…You can’t do that.

Oichi had a concern. She had for so long at this point.

“Katsuie-san and I will kill each other. And he will win. That is my dream. Do you understand? I mean, look.”

She indicated the Testamenta Arma on the back of her neck and over her head.

It was her faith that kept it active. The Testament promised her death. As long as she believed in that death, the Testamenta Arma would protect her life.

“I am invincible until I die. As long as I have faith.”

But if they stopped fighting here, there was nothing she could do. When would she die? The disappointment would likely rob her of the Testamenta Arma’s protection.

“If you want me to seek somewhere else to die, why can’t I seek it here?”

No one said a word in response.

That silence was the sign of thought.

Which was more attractive: Hashiba’s excuse letting them survive or Oichi’s offer to truly live out their lives without regret?

She had just one thing to say.

“You can always join Hashiba-kun later on. I mean, Katsuie-san and I will die, but the rest of you don’t have to.

“So,” she said while stopping to think.

…That’s right.

She was relieved to find that everyone was uncertain what to choose. And…

“Oichi-sama.”

She suddenly heard Katsuie’s voice.

“We’ve got some great people working for us, don’t we?”

●

“We do.” Oichi nodded. “We really do.”

They did. That was the only possible answer. Because…

“Oda said they didn’t need me and that my power wasn’t necessary. Even though the Genesis Project is only something extra for me and for the world as a whole.”

But…

“Azai-san accepted me, but then everyone there tried to escape their duties. They tried to make me die. So I cut them down and left.”

And yet…

“Everyone here isn’t certain if they should protect me or not.”

It seemed like a waste to her.

And Katsuie barked out a laugh before speaking.

“Ha! If I’m being honest, I think our older people and Azai’s people wanted you to do exactly what you did.”

“Then why was I driven out and why did they pressure me to die?”

“Cause you’re so beautiful, that’s why.”

“Explain.”

“You’re beautiful, so they probably didn’t want you involved in anything dangerous, but they also probably thought you’d break if they let you go.”

He laughed again.

“In the Warring States period and the Thirty Years’ War, everyone’s gotta train up their power to kill. They didn’t want that for you, but when you chose an inherited name that eventually let you die, they knew that meant you had to be killed. You’re too beautiful, Oichi-sama. You’re just as beautiful as the Testament says, so everyone hesitates.”

“Is killing beautiful, Katsuie-san?”

“It is when you do it. Spine-tinglingly so. Makes people accept their fate to be killed by you. Cause they know running won’t do them any good.”

So…

“I’m not much for beauty myself, so it’s up to me to smile and accept every part of you. And…everyone who works for me knows it. Do you get it now, Oichi-sama?”

“Testament.”

She did understand one thing.

She only had to look at all those people standing uncertainly at this crossroads.

That uncertainty meant they had their own thoughts. So…

“They’ve all been with us this whole time. And now they’re considering staying with us even longer.”

●

“Then how about this?”

Kiyomasa heard a lighthearted suggestion.

There was still the possibility of a sudden attack, so after making sure Kasuya was still in a fighting stance a short distance away, she responded.

“Testament. What do you suggest?”

“All our people can make their own choice. I am truly thankful for all their work.”

Oichi sounded casual, but this was anything but.

…She’s relaxed a lot.

Did that means she was relieved? It sounded like she had come to terms with something inside herself and was relieved to find everything would be alright. And…

…I don’t think I would have noticed this before.

Before, Kiyomasa would have seen it as a simple exhausted breath or the relaxed tone of of someone viewing their next task.

But now she was certain that wasn’t it.

In this short time, Oichi had accepted something.

She had suddenly resolved a problem that was bothering her.

She hadn’t reached that point when this conversation began. It had happened when she was speaking with someone else just now.

“Testament,” quietly said Kiyomasa.

She understood.

She too had experienced a moment when everything changed.

Oichi had just experienced her own. That may have been why the warriors who had been fighting alongside her all this time did what they did next.

“Sorry,” they all said, bowing toward Kiyomasa.

Some raised a hand in greeting to Fuwa or Maeda.

“You go on without us! We’re not so clever, so we’ve gotta stay behind.”

They were staying here.

…Yes.

Kiyomasa had seen this as the worst option.

She had feared that Shibata’s forces would remain an enemy to the end. And that was what they had chosen. But…

“Oichi-sama.”

She made a gamble. With everyone siding with Oichi and Shibata, she still made a gamble.

“I leave the decision with your faith.”

●

“You do, do you?”

Oichi stood up in the moonlit sky. Her halo obscured the view of the two moons.

She bore no scar from being split through earlier.

She couldn’t just let the wind carry her sliced clothing, so she held them in place with a hand and smiled.

…My faith, hm?

Thinking on Kiyomasa’s choice of word was enough to make up her mind.

What mattered here? And if she was to protect everything except that…

“Then let’s make this a duel. Between the two of us and the people Hashiba-kun sent here.”

Everyone gathered below looked up at her.

“Oichi-sama!?”

“The rest of you only need to watch. But if you intervene...it will mean you tried to prevent my death.”

She smiled. It was a small but joyous smile.

“I understand it now. None of you want any more harm to come to me.”

The gathered warriors gasped. Some crossed themselves and some hung their heads.

“–––––”

Then they all turned around and made an announcement to the Hashiba representatives.

“You said we could do what we wanted!”

“So we will watch this through to the end.”

“But,” one of them in the back said. “You had better defeat Shibata-sama and Oichi-sama. Because that’s the only way to fulfill the Testament they believe in!”

Kiyomasa accepted it with a single word.

“Testament.”

She nodded once, rested Caledfwlch on her shoulder, and said it again.

“Testament.”

The name of the holy book. A word of acknowledgment. The sign of a contract bound. She meant all three at once.

She knew they would pick up on that meaning as she continued.

“Once thirty minutes have passed, come join us. We have our own preparations to make. Until then...Fuwa-san.”

“Testament. I’ll hand out the food stores we never got around to using. In other words...it’ll be a festival.”

Everyone exchanged a glance and an elderly man among the warriors looked up at Oichi and addressed her.

“Oichi-sama! You won’t think us ungrateful if we indulge!?”

“Of course not. It’s a festival, after all.

“Yes,” said Oichi. “I never imagined I would get to say goodbye with so much fanfare and a parting drink. You have thirty minutes. Now, how long will it take you to end this after that? I recommend coming to us as soon as you can. They must already be on the move over there, after all.”

She pointed south-southeast to show who she meant.

Everyone here knew what was in that direction. A pillar of light rose into the sky. And at the bottom of that pillar was…

“It should be starting by now. It is only ten till midnight. That should be when Musashi chooses to make their move on Honnouji.”

●

“Okay, we’re all ready! It’s about time we had the Musashi descend! We’ll depart and wait for our cue!”

Masazumi heard a burst of movement aboard the transport ship docked at the Asama Shrine.

The people remaining on the Musashi were leaving the transport ship. From this group, Mukai, Naomasa, and Neshinbara hurried down the ramp and into the pathway on the outer edge of the Asama Shrine. The Asama Shrine surrounded by its walls was visible at the end of the pathway, but it was a lot more obviously contained in its own box from here.

This must have been Asama’s first time seeing it like this too. She kept looking back and forth between her home and the large transport ship waiting overhead to purge the Asama Shrine.

“I just know dad is all excited about preparing for the purge in there…”

“Is that why Neshinbara is staying behind?”

“Why is Bara-yan staying on the Musashi?”

“Probably because he’s useless.”

Novice: “I can hear you! My job is to focus on breaking that code. There’s no point in being down there while I do it and, even if I did make a breakthrough, the transport ship’s divine transmission system might not be enough to get word back. It’s better for me to say on the Musashi.”

Everyone nodded in understanding as the transport ship rocked up and down a bit.

They weren’t departing yet. They were sinking into a hole in the Musashi’s base hull. That ensured they would be protected by the Musashi’s hull and its defense spells while also being taken down with the descending ship. Partway down, they would begin flying forward.

…We’ll be flying below Musashino to reach the Honnouji region, right?

So they weren’t going far for now. Only two or three meters from the dock. But…

“Ah,” said Mukai from the Asama Shrine side of things.

She waved and all the warriors gathered on the port side of the transport ship and waved back.

“See you laterrrrrrr!”

But they overbalanced the ship, causing it to rock to port. Everyone’s feet slipped below them.

“Ahh!!”

They all fell over.

Then Neshinbara approached, seemingly oblivious to it all.

“Hi, everyone. Work hard out there and wait for my report, okay?”

Everyone clicked their tongues and returned to their stations on the starboard side, rebalancing the ship.

Smoking Girl: “Why am I not surprised?”

Novice: “What was that for!? Why did you react like that!? Are you all just shy!?”

Naomasa didn’t wave, but was that her being self-conscious or was it just who she was?

Probably the latter, decided Masazumi as someone approached from behind those three.

Horizon emerged from a corner of the pathway, drying her hands with a handkerchief. When she noticed them, she went “oh?” and waved the hand holding the wet handkerchief before an automaton voice came over the ship speakers.

“Come baaaack!!! Over!”

They came back.

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