Once back at home, we waited for Else to come home, then got ready and crossed over to Yisheng once more.
　The members of the group are Yae and me, the Else Linse sisters, Yumina and Amber, and Leanne and Paula.
　With Yae's guidance, we passed through the dense forest, and when I thought that the sun was gradually shining through the trees, my vision suddenly opened up.

''Oh........''

　I couldn't help but let out a shout. The view from the top of the small hill was of a town and rice fields. That's a castle that's built there. It's not a western castle, it's a Japanese castle, like Himeji Castle or Osaka Castle. It seems a bit small, though.

This is my hometown, Oedo, that it is.

　Oh, this is Oedo, not Edo. At first glance, I found out that it was very different from the town I saw in a period drama.
　First of all, that town is a fortified city. A long moat surrounds it, and a high white wall prevents people from entering the town. I've heard that there are sentinels on top of the walls and archers on the turrets that are built here and there. There are a few houses here and there around the surrounding paddy fields, but they seem to be more densely packed together within the city walls.
　Yisheng is not a big country by any means. It is said to have a king, but nowadays he is a mere name, and the local lords are said to be able to do as they please.
　The nine main lords rule the region, and (although it is said that there are occasional skirmishes) the king is somehow formally at the top, and the country seems to be able to survive.
　The nine feudal lords are Shimazu, Mori, Chosokabe, Hashiba, Oda, Takeda, Tokugawa, Uesugi, Date...wait a minute, oi.
　The names sounded so familiar that I almost tsk-tsked at them.
　What is it by any chance? Is Yisheng a warrior? When I checked with Yae, I found that this is not the case, and there has not been a major battle in recent decades.
　Is it a mere coincidence? ........Coincidence?
　Oedo, where Yae's family home is located, is east of Yisheng, a territory ruled by the Tokugawa family. It is said to be a reasonably rich and fiefdom-friendly lord.

''So where are the ancient ruins that Lean wants to visit?''

　Even though it's small, Yisheng is a good size for it. You can't be looking for it in the dark.

'I don't know where it is. Just that it's the ruins of Nirya.
Do you know Yae?
'Nirya...? I don't know if I've heard of it or not.... Maybe your father would know about it.

　For now, Yae led the way into town. We crossed a wooden bridge that was passed over a large moat and entered the city walls.
　When I entered the town, I found a world that was as close to Japanese style as possible. Most of the buildings were single-story wooden buildings with roof tiles. The shoji-lined door and the shop's noren (a curtain) hung on the door. (The words on the curtain were not in Japanese.)
　Some people were dressed in samurai clothes and kimonos, some looked like townspeople, and some were even undressed ronin. Unfortunately, no one is wearing moonlighting and chokumage, they are all just tied up like a ponytail.

'Wow, what's that? What do you think people are carrying?

　Else's eyes were drawn to a pair of men coming from across the road, carrying a palanquin, eh, eh, eh, eh.

'That's a palanquin man. You pay to ride in that thing. It's a replacement for the Tsuji wagon.

　As I replied, Else and the others continued to roll their eyes and watch the palanquin shop pass by in front of them. It's true that they wouldn't have this kind of culture over there.

''...Why do they bother to have people carry them? It's easier and faster in a carriage...

　Lindsay says the most plausible thing. Well, why is that? It's just a cultural difference....

The roads in Yishen aren't as well maintained as those in Belfast, that they are. And there are many ups and downs in the land, and it's hard to go up and down those roads with a carriage, that it is. And horses are quite valuable here, that they are.

　I see, so there's a reason for that. So there's a land for which it's suitable and a land for which it's not.

''Fuyao-san, that man over there is wearing a wooden shoe, right?
Wooden shoes? Ah, clogs.
Why are those bells hanging in that tower over there?
It's called a fire watchtower and a half-bell...
...sounds beautiful... what is that thing you're selling?
Wind chimes. It's a wind chime...
"...You're not even born in Yisheng, but you know a lot about it, that you do, Lord Winter Night.

　That's true. I used to watch a lot of historical dramas under my grandpa's influence.
　But....I wonder what it is. I get the feeling that the people in town don't seem to be having a good time. They seem to be frightened or anxious about something.
　Yae led me across the shrine's torii gate and through the bamboo forest road, where a large mansion surrounded by a wall appeared in an open area.
　As they passed through a large, magnificent gate with a sign down that read "Nine Shige-Shinariu Kenjutsu Dojo, Kuyoukan" and arrived at the front door of the house, Yae raised her voice.

'Who's there?!'

　After a while, a flurry of footsteps came from the back of the room and a maidservant, about over twenty years old, with her black hair pulled back in one piece.

''Yes, yes, I'm coming... well, Yae-sama!
'Ayane! It's been a while!

　The maid who was called Ayane rushed over and took Yae's hand with a smile, surprised.

''Welcome home, Yae, sir! Sevenfold-sama! Yae-sama is back!

　As Ayane called out towards the back, the sound of clattering footsteps echoed again, revealing a kind-looking woman in her late thirties, wearing a light purple kimono. She looked vaguely like Yae.

''Mother! I'm home now!
Yae... you're safe... and welcome home.

　I knew it was Yae's mother. The mother hugged her daughter tightly as they met again after a long time. There was a thin layer of tears shining in her eyes.

''Yae, who are these people?''
Oh, these are my friends. I am indebted to them, that I am.
'Well, well, that's just.... Thank you for your help with my daughter.
'No, no, it's not a big deal... we're being taken care of too, so please look up.

　We hurriedly call out to Yae's mother, who sits on the floor and bows deeply. Is it called a mother's heart for her child? Her posture seemed to convey Yae's feelings to us.

Which is your mother or father, that you are? By the castle?

　At Yae's words, Shichie and Ayane looked at each other, their expressions clouding over. Eventually, Shichie-san stood up, turned her head towards Yae and slowly opened her mouth.

''Your father is not here. ''Lord... he headed to the battlefield with Ieyasu-sama.''
A battle?

　Yae shouts in surprise and stares at her mother. It's not peaceful to be in a battle. Wasn't this country held together under the king for a while?

Where the hell are you going?
'Takeda, sir. A few days ago, they dropped Katsunuma to the northwest in a surprise attack, and now they are advancing toward Kawagoe beyond. To stop them, Master and Shigetaro-sama have gone to the Kawagoe fort.

　Ayane answers Yae's question on behalf of Nanae. It seems that the lords of the adjacent lands have suddenly attacked us.

''Has your brother also been sent to the battlefield.... But I don't understand. Why would Takeda start such an invasion? I can't imagine that the Lord of Takeda, Lord Shingen-dono, would be so foolish as to commit such a crime, but...
I heard that the lord of Takeda recently had a strange strategist attached to him. A certain Yamamoto. A dark-skinned man with one eye and the ability to use mysterious magic that may have been blown to him by a strange person.

　As I listened to Nanae tell her story, my head was a little bewildered. If you say Yamamoto was a Takeda warlord, that's what you're talking about. Yamamoto Kansuke. One of the 24 Takeda generals. If it's as Nanae says, he's a kind of suspicious wizard. Well, I guess I shouldn't lump him in with our guy. We may have some things in common, though.

So how's the war going?

　Leanne, who had been listening silently until then, cut her off. Paula, who was underfoot, tilted her head in a small way. Amber, who was beside her, sees it and tilts her head in the same way. It's kind of cute. Well, it wasn't that kind of situation.

''Since it was so sudden, we were unable to gather enough forces, and if things continue like this, it's rumored that it's only a matter of time before Kawagoe's fort is dropped.
Then your father and brother...!

　Yae was astonished at the situation that leaked out of Ayane's mouth. However, the color of anxiety and trepidation immediately disappears from her eyes, and the color of burning determination appears. We know very well that Yae is not a girl who will sit back and let the looming danger to her precious family pass by.

'Fuyoru-dono! I've been to the pass near Fort Kawagoe, that I have! Please....!
All right. Let's go.
Fuyu-dono...!

　I grabbed my eighteenth hand and clearly stated my thoughts. When I looked at everyone, Else, Linse and Yumina all gave me a small nod.

''I didn't expect to be going to the battlefield. Well, I know how you feel, so I'll go with you.''

　Leanne cowered her shoulders and gave a small smile. Her partner, Paula, looks like she's ready to do it, and she starts shadowboxing. Are these moves "programmed"?

'Yae, think of that pass.
Okay, that I do.

　He grabbed both of Yae's hands and lightly placed his own forehead against hers with his eyes closed. Since the situation was the situation, he was strangely not as embarrassed as he had been earlier.

'Recall,'

　A landscape came into my mind. A large lone cedar stood in the distance, and in the distance I could see a castle... or rather a fort. Is that Kawagoe's fort?
　I let go of Yae's hand and open the "gate" in front of the front door of the house. Yae is the first to jump in, and Else and the others enter the "gate" one after another and disappear.
　The two members of the Kokonoe family, who are watching the scene in a daze, are approached by the last remaining me.

''We will definitely come back with your husband and Yae's brother. We'll all come back safely, so don't worry.
What are you...

　I didn't know how to answer Shichie's question, so I laughed and fooled myself and went through the "gate" too.