Chapter 10

"Madam, we're almost there to Kiyosu."

"It's been a while since I've had a tea party with others."

In Kiyosu, she was to guide a tea ceremony with the Oda clan's retainers she had become close to. Todayko, who had received a request from her husband, Mitsuki, was heading to Kiyosu with her tea utensils.

"Hehe, wait a moment, everyone."

She had brought a carefully selected guard, but it seemed that the security in this era was not good. Todayko's group was stopped by a very suspicious-looking gang in a deserted area.

"Madam, give us your alms."

"Madam, indeed! We can get a ransom from you!"

"You're right, boss!"

There were eight of them, and anyone could see they were bandits or highwaymen. They laughed, thinking that if they attacked her, they would make a big profit knowing she was wealthy.

"Quite close to Kiyosu, though..."

Nobunaga was a kind lord to the common people and was enthusiastic about eliminating such gangs. He also protected the trade routes, which were the lifelines, and the security around Kiyosu and Tsushima was indeed maintained. As a result, he was well-liked by the people.

However, it seemed their luck was bad this time, and Todayko and her attendants were obstructed by a band of thieves. With a total of five people, they were clearly outnumbered.

"Filthy bunch... and they stink..."

'You should take a bath every day,' Todayko thought, which was quite unreasonable. In this era, not many people could take a bath every day.

"What a way to talk! Do you have the confidence not to be captured by us... Hey! You're a big woman!"

This might also be a difference from the future. The tallest member of the bandit gang was about 170 cm, and it was not uncommon to see those in the 150 cm range. But this was the average height for this era.

By the way, Todayko was 177 cm tall. Her husband, Mitsuki, was 182 cm, and her brother, Kiyoteru, was 181 cm. While they were not particularly tall in their original era, they were definitely considered giants in this era.

"Calling someone big is disrespectful to women!"

"Well, you are big. A woman this big, no one would want you..."

"Wouldn't you take a ransom?"

"Of course, we'll take the money and then sell you!"

It seemed the group in front of her were genuine villains. They were leering and sizing her up.

"Can we sell her to the barbarians? They're big, aren't they?"

"But, she's even bigger than the barbarians."

In this era, Europeans were not that tall. They were taller than the Japanese, but few were taller than Todayko.

"Well, as long as we can sell her, it doesn't matter. The barbarians are different, they might buy a big woman like her."

"Yeah, but she's old, isn't she?"

"What? I'm young, how can you call me old!"

She reluctantly admitted to being a big woman but was not convinced about being called old. She was only twenty-two, and Todayko loudly protested.

"You're over twenty! What's wrong with being old?"

"Yeah! Old women should shut up!"

This was also a difference in common sense. In this era, women over twenty were considered old. Therefore, Todayko was already in the old woman category.

"I've heard the barbarians look older than they are. Would an old woman be okay?"

"Whatever, let's capture her, take the ransom, and then sell her."

The bandits continued their very rude conversation in front of Todayko. Gradually, her anger gauge was rising.

"Step back a bit. And..."

"Haha!"

The four guards stepped back at Todayko's command, but one of them handed her a long metal rod that he usually kept.

"Trying to fight us with a stick, you woman!"

"What an idiot!"

The highwaymen laughed at Todayko, who was trying to fight them alone.

"If I hit you in the wrong spot, I'm sorry if you die."

"Can't be helped. We'll kill you and take your belongings."

The bandits drew their swords and attacked Todayko first. However, she easily dodged and, as they passed by, struck them with the metal rod, causing them to roll on the ground in agony. Those hit in the abdomen had broken ribs, and those hit in the head were unconscious. It was unclear whether they were just unconscious or dead.

"Hitting the head hard enough to knock someone out can often be fatal. It's also difficult to hit the peak."

"Shut up!"

The only uninjured highwayman left in the bandit gang tried to break the rod Todayko was holding with his sword. The sword was a mass-produced, low-quality weapon, so it couldn't cut well. However, Todayko's metal rod was made of a special alloy. Instead, the highwayman's sword broke.

"Ah!"

The highwayman, having lost his sword, tried to run away but was struck in the abdomen and fell to the ground. This meant that all eight highwaymen were defeated by Todayko alone.

"As always, you're incredible."

"Everyone, tie them up."

"Hai!"

The guards, who had stepped back, started tying up the fallen bandits with ropes. Why didn't they participate in the fight? It was partly because of Todayko's command, but they also knew that the bandits, even in such numbers, had no chance against Todayko.

"We should hand them over to the Kiyosu magistrate's office."

"That's a good idea. We'll put them on the cart."

Pitifully, the bandits were handed over to the Kiyosu magistrate's office and executed as criminals. Three of them were already dead among the unconscious, but it was not considered a problem. There was no concept of excessive self-defense in this era.

"Todayko, are you okay? There's no such thing as absolute safety, so don't take unnecessary risks."

"Mitsuki is so kind."

Mitsuki, who had heard about the incident from Todayko, was worried about her, and she was pleased. It was a typical scene for a married couple, but Hideyoshi and Katsuyori, who had also heard the story, were astonished.

By the incredible strength and height of the wife of the Shinchi family.

(She's beautiful, but taller than me...)

(Shinchi must be in trouble. If he cheats, he might be killed, right?)

Even Nobunaga did not have any romantic feelings towards her, and in this era, Todayko was hardly attractive to anyone other than Mitsuki.