Chapter 5

"Smile?"

Yano, completely unable to understand Yoshigin's line of thinking, had her sobs reduced to a whisper as she tried to process the situation.

"In order to serve the Shibata family, you must learn to smile. No matter what you face, you must greet it with a smile."

Yano, who had been educated in loyalty to the Shibata family for many years, listened to Yoshigin’s words and, looking at her sister who was frozen in fear behind her, struggled to force a smile.

"Is this good enough?"

With his mind preoccupied with the system, Yoshigin spoke aimlessly, inadvertently creating a psychologically twisted individual.

The night passed. Soon after dawn, Maeda Toshiie, who had extinguished the fires, came to bid farewell, leaving behind a pile of rubble for Yoshigin.

Counting the remaining family members, there were only a few left.

Yoshigin casually appointed Yano, whose smile was gradually becoming fixed, to temporarily oversee the cleanup, and took the remaining servants out to work.

He found a surviving room, lay down on the tatami, and fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up, he realized he was too tired to remove his armor, and the padded armor was pressing painfully into his flesh.

However, he felt somewhat refreshed. Looking outside, the sky was already bright, and he had no idea how much time had passed.

Walking out of the room, he found Yuki kneeling at the door, quickly bowing down.

"Lord Yoshigin."

Although her face was still cold and expressionless, she at least looked more composed.

Yoshigin waved his hand.

"Where is Yano? Call her to see me."

With a quick response, Yuki hurried off to find Yano. Looking at the girl who now had a radiant smile, Yoshigin felt a chill run down his spine.

"How is the situation at home?"

"The bodies of the head of the family and the other ladies have been found and are temporarily stored in another room.

The house has been cleaned, but not much remains. Most of the servants were killed, leaving only Yuki and me, and five male servants.

However, those male servants are still in shock and may not be of much use for now."

Yano spoke, and Yoshigin nodded. With no surviving lady samurai after the massacre and the rape, it was fortunate that seven servants—two women and five men—remained.

"What about the family's finances and food supplies?"

"The autumn harvest was just completed, but the food has not yet been stored in the family’s warehouse. Most of the money, except for some heavy gold and copper artifacts and antiques, has been looted."

"Thank you for your hard work. Prepare some food for me."

Yano nodded, and her performance exceeded Yoshigin's expectations.

To be able to manage the household so efficiently after such a traumatic event showed that she was a capable person, even if her constant smile was a bit unsettling.

Yoshigin thought about their current situation. The Shibata family was effectively extinct, and the conditions he had agreed to with Oda Nobunaga no longer had a basis for fulfillment.

If he did nothing, given Nobunaga's attitude yesterday, he would likely end up as a plaything.

Compared to this, the problems at home were minor. Although the guardian's residence was mostly destroyed, the remaining eight people could live in a small courtyard, and the damaged areas could be piled up. The appearance might be unsightly, but that was a minor concern.

Food was the most important. With food, people's hearts would be at ease, and the food needed to be brought back to the warehouse as soon as possible.

The Shibata family, appointed as the guardian of Owari by the shogunate, had been left with a village as their last stronghold, despite their complete defeat. In ancient times, local ties were highly valued, and this village was the last foundation of the Shibata family. Although it had only about fifty households, the tax revenue had never been lacking, and Shibata Yoshimune was not a greedy person.

A 40% tax on the peasants and 60% for the commoners was considered benevolent governance in the chaotic era. The light-footed soldiers could muster several dozen men, and if not for Oda Nobutomo's night attack, the guardian's residence would not have been so easily breached.

Tomorrow, he would go to Oda Nobutomo's village to retrieve the looted wealth. With the head of the family dead, the Oda clan of Kiyosu would be in turmoil, and a well-organized group of ten men would be enough to dominate the countryside.

After making these plans, Yoshigin felt somewhat relieved. He ate the rice balls and clear water Yano brought, with Yano and Yuki serving him attentively, enjoying a moment of peace.

At this moment, a male servant came in to report that Maeda Toshiie had arrived.

"Lord Maeda, you have worked hard. Does Lord Oda have any instructions?"

The lady samurai Maeda Toshiie looked uncomfortable, and Yoshigin had a vague understanding.

"Lord Shibata."

"Lord Maeda, please don't be so formal. You are an benefactor of the Shibata family. Call me Yoshigin."

Seeing the straightforward and handsome young man before him, Toshiie, who had some affection for him, nodded.

"Then, Yoshigin, you can call me Toshiie. I have come to retrieve the head of Oda Nobutomo, which you have taken.

Lord Oda has ordered that Oda Nobutomo, who committed treason, be beheaded and his head displayed. The Oda clan of Kiyosu will be decapitated, and their village and military service will be merged into the Oda family.

Also... Lord Oda has asked you to visit Kiyosu Castle again tonight to discuss the future arrangements for the Shibata family."

Toshiie lowered his head, wondering what a young boy could discuss with Oda Nobunaga at night, and where such a discussion would take place.

The Shibata family had just been destroyed, and now their young master was being called to... This was too much for the loyal Toshiie to say.

Yoshigin had not thought about this at all, and even if he had, he might have found it more interesting than Oda Nobunaga. What he lamented was the loss of the wealth.

Oda Nobunaga was quick. Upon receiving Toshiie's report and learning of Oda Nobutomo's death, he immediately annexed Nobutomo's territory and population, a standard move for a greedy daimyo of the Sengoku period.

Yoshigin, who was a step too late, could only watch as Oda Nobunaga took everything from Oda Nobutomo.

The wealth that had been looted from his family by Nobutomo's men was now likely in the warehouse, serving as supplies for Nobunaga's next war.

"Lord Oda is truly considerate."

Yoshigin didn't care, but Yano, standing beside him, smiled sarcastically. Yuki, though still expressionless, clenched her fists.

"Rude! What is your status that you dare to speak of Lord Oda?"

Toshiie's face changed, and he drew his sword, placing it at Yano's neck.

The hierarchy in the Sengoku period was very strict. Samurai could speak indirectly and with hidden meanings, but commoners had no right to speak to samurai, and could be killed on the spot for any offense. A servant's interference was even more intolerable.

Yano, though trembling from the cold edge of the sword at her neck, refused to back down. Her loyalty to the Shibata family was ingrained in her bones.

The Shibata family had only Yoshigin left, and Oda Nobunaga's actions made her feel ashamed.

"Lady Toshiie, please put down your sword. I will go with you shortly."

Realizing the situation, Yoshigin quickly intervened, pushing Toshiie away from Yano.

Neither of them was wearing armor, and the physical contact made Toshiie's heart race. He quickly avoided Yoshigin's hand, knowing that the young man was favored by the lord.

"Yano! Apologize to Lord Maeda immediately!"

Under Yoshigin's stern command, Yano knelt and performed a full prostration.

"My apologies, Lord Maeda."

"Never mind... sigh... for Yoshigin's sake..."

Knowing that his lord was in the wrong, Toshiie did not want to escalate the situation. Yoshigin asked him to wait and took Yano and Yuki to change clothes in the back.

The matter with Oda Nobunaga had to be resolved sooner or later. Since he was in such a hurry, Yoshigin was not concerned.

In his view, men did not suffer a loss. However, if he was going, he would do it properly. If he was going to do it, he would be the best courtesan in the Sengoku period.

"Yano, are the makeup and clothing still in the house?"

"They are still here, Lord Yoshigin. Are you really going to..."

Although she still smiled, Yano's eyes were cold.

It was too cruel. The Shibata family had been destroyed and lost in less than a day, and now Lord Yoshigin was going to serve others with his beauty.

What was wrong with this world? Why was it so cruel to a beautiful young man like Lord Yoshigin? Yuki suddenly grabbed Yoshigin's sleeve.

"Lord Yoshigin, let's run away!"

Yoshigin looked at Yuki in surprise, the usually silent girl. Her loyalty was no less than Yano's.

"For the sake of the Shibata family."

Faced with their unwavering loyalty, Yoshigin put on a saintly expression.