30th Day of the 1st Moon
?
For a war, this was all far too peaceful…
Not that such a thing was bad. Rather, I quite liked being able to wake up to this digital sun every cycle and not have to worry about fighting for my life. It certainly made dealing with expansion and empire management simpler, though admittedly Archer was dealing with most of the management of the empire herself. But it did serve to make things… boring?
Weird as it was to say…
…Perhaps I was simply on edge, waiting for things to inevitably start going wrong. Maybe in a normal Holy Grail War, a month would have been enough to resolve the entire thing, but there was simply no way all the other masters were dead in a war which spanned the entire globe. So far, we'd yet to encounter another master, and while it made sense to not run into anyone else when there were only forty-nine masters across the entire world, and I started in Japan, an island, it was… boring.
…Yes… boring…
…This was a war, wasn't it?
…I agreed to join this thing for the Institution.
…I agreed to join this thing to create the path that needed to be taken.
…I joined this thing to fight, damnit! Why the hell was I the one to get stuck isolated on this island?!
"This wasn't what I signed up for, Sort. If I'd know this was to be my fate, I'd have stayed back on Earth" I groaned as I stood up from the water's edge, though none of my complaints were all that serious.
…Yeah, not really. This was an experience of a lifetime; no way I'd ever give this up, even if this first month had been little more than chasing after Archer and activating control spires for her. To think that everything west of Kyoto would be united in a month; quite the impressive feat, covering all that distance, even if there was no opposition.
Actually, maybe that was the issue to my restlessness. After nearly a full month of nonstop running around and unifying western Japan, four straight days of sitting around in Kyoto was the end result. I understood the reasoning behind it; Archer needed some time to properly set up governance and oversight over the different provinces, but sitting around like this, for this long, simply felt horrible after the high of what we'd accomplished.
"Don't know why you look so worn down, master. I'm the one who's been saddled with all the boring work, while you're free to do whatever you wish."
"Wha- Archer" I staggered backwards a few steps as the voice caught me completely off guard, finally noticing her standing to my left. "W-When did you-"
"About the time you started mumbling to yourself about how this wasn't what you signed up for" Archer declared, turning to face me with a wicked grin. "Which makes me wonder what it is you thought you signed up for? Surely you aren't dissatisfied with being my retainer?"
"Of course not" I quickly declared, long used to the title of retainer by now, even if I didn't agree with the role reversal. "I simply… Well, I find the lack of opposition to our actions underwhelming. For a war this all feels far too leisurely."
"Hahaha! You call unifying all of north and west Japan within a month leisurely?! I can't decide if you're bold, or foolish!"
"I prefer the term ambitious, personally" I laughed a bit myself. "Speaking of, though, I imagine you're quite satisfied with current events."
"It is what it is" Archer shrugged, the playfulness leaving her voice as she turned her gaze towards the channel.
And just like that, all the wind was knocked out of my sails. That… That was so far removed from what I thought Archer would say, my mind shut down and I had no idea how to continue the conversation.
"…Surprised, master" Archer questioned after a bit of silence, some of the playfulness returning to her voice.
"…I can't say it's the answer I expected" I admitted. "I'd have thought you'd be elated at having a second chance at unifying the nation."
"Unifying the nation…" Archer muttered, her voice turning serious. "I accepted it simply wasn't to be back at Honno-ji. Of course, I don't mind taking on the role again, but I've already accepted that the events of Honno-ji couldn't be helped."
When Archer turned back to face me, I couldn't help but feel a bit of a chill from her gaze.
"Besides, this is not the Japan I knew. No warring clans, no civil rebellions-"
"No warrior monks" I offered.
"Yes, and no warrior monks" Archer laughed. "Perhaps I will consider that an improvement. The rest of it though… This Japan and my Japan are different. Here, there is no conflict over unification. There is no challenge, no struggle. To consider the unification of this Japan as equal to the unification of the Japan of my time is not even a funny joke. The two are not comparable."
"…So, you don't really care if you succeed here?"
"I simply don't see this as a second chance, so much as something altogether different" Archer grinned, small flames dancing in her eyes. "Naturally, I have no intention of failing here, and I won't stand to have you suggest otherwise."
"Me? I would never" I grinned.
"Excellent" Archer laughed. "So long as it's understood! Though speaking of unification has me wondering… Who finished the job after me, master? Surely you must know, considering everything else you've told me about modern day Japan."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…Well?"
"Wait… you actually don't know?!"
"How would I know" Archer gave me a pointed look. "The unification happened after Honno-ji."
"But, like…" I hesitated, again at a loss for words. "Didn't the grail, or Moon Cell thing, whatever, tell you all of that?!"
"Obviously not, or I wouldn't be asking. I suppose I could try to gain that information from the Moon Cell, but you're right here, and it'll be far more interesting coming from you than the Moon Cell."
"Ok, well… I mean, after Honno-ji happened, Hideyoshi made peace with the Mori and hunted down Akechi in vengeance. The battle happened… I think thirteen days after Honno-ji, at Yamazaki, if I'm remembering correctly-"
"Wait, seriously" Archer had a stunned look on her face for a moment, before bursting out into laughter. "You mean to tell me that the monkey defeated Akechi after only thirteen days?! Of all people, the monkey was the one to unify Japan?!"
"Um, I mean… yes? Technically speaking, at least, although he never claimed the title of Shogun. That would end up being Ieyasu after-"
"And the boy ended up becoming Shogun" Archer was laughing even harder now. "The monkey unified the land, and the boy founded a new shogunate! Yes, I can see it now! How could it have been anything else?! I was right master, it is far more entertaining hearing it from you, rather than the Moon Cell!"
"Yes, well, glad to see you're enjoying it so much" I spoke, barely able to hear myself over Archer's laughter. "But yeah, that's essentially what happened. It's why the three of you are considered the Three Great Unifiers of Japan and are-"
"Wait."
The laughter from Archer died immediately.
"Huh? What is it, Archer?"
"What do you mean, Three Great Unifiers" Archer protested. "Those two only took over my work! I started it all and laid the foundation! Why are those two on the same level as me?! I should be at least one tier above the monkey, if not both!"
"Don't ask me! It's not like I'm the one who came up with it" I countered. "Besides, didn't you take the idea from the Imagawa in the first place?!"
"Well, yes, but this and that are two completely-"
"Lord Nobunaga!"
The shouting of Archer's true name caught both of our attention. Turning to face the sound, a lightly armored soldier could be seen sprinting towards us. Immediately I began preparing myself for some kind of conflict, but Archer seemed perfectly relaxed as the soldier approached.
"Apologies, my lord" the soldier kneeled and bowed his head, before holding out a roll of parchment. "I know you requested not to be disturbed, but-"
"What is this" Archer questioned, taking the roll from the kneeling man.
"Report from the scouts in Kyushu, my lord! Urgent news, meant only for-"
"I get the idea" Archer interjected. "You may return to your post."
"Yes, my lord!"
After giving the man a few moments to clear the area, Archer unrolled the parchment and began reading.
"…What does it say" I asked as Archer remained silent, though I could see a grin slowly forming on her face.
"Well, look at that, master" Archer began laughing as she finished reading the report. "Looks like you'll be getting your wish after all!"
"Eh?"
"Southern Kyushu has fallen into the hands of an enemy master."
"Seriously" I practically jumped at the news.
"Good thing we started training soldiers right away. Some semblance of a standing army is better than nothing, even if it is all for show. Still don't like the absence of firearms…"
"I agree it's weird that we're just seemingly unable to produce firearms, but assuming that holds true for everyone, what's the issue with bows?"
"Slower to train, less destructive, and far less… less… flashy!"
"Ah, I see" I couldn't help but laugh a bit to myself.
"What's so funny" Archer challenged.
"Oh, nothing really. Just not surprised about the real reason, knowing you."
"It's for tactical reasons! A hail of arrows is scary, sure, but the roar of the guns and a wave of projectiles too fast to properly see is far more effective at instilling terror!"
"Yes, and I'm sure your interest in turning the grail into an explosive you told me about a couple weeks ago is completely coincidental."
"I mean, what else am I to do with the thing" Archer grinned, not even trying to deny it anymore. "Now, you best return and prepare yourself, master. We march for Kyushu the moment the soldiers muster."
"Wait, we're setting out immediately?!"
"Of course! The enemy has already established a presence! Allowing them to expand and consolidate further would only invite disaster for us!"
A/N
Short bit again, I know, but I really want to take this slow, considering I'm using established characters and I'm not confident at all in what I'm planning on doing with them!
I hope this is a decent enough take on Nobunaga (at least so far). I know there is a more serious work dealing with Nobunaga in FATE, but I've never read anything from it, but I don't really think the full GUDAGUDA experience will fit this work either, so... I'm going to try to keep a bit of the more... playful, let's say, aspect of Nobunaga as seen in the GUDAGUDA events, but not stray full into the slapstick comedy routine. Hopefully it's passable enough for you all, and I'm not just mangling your favorite character or something, but...
Well, I suppose it can't be helped xD
...
...But seriously, if you think I'm really messing up an established character, please do speak up. I am completely open to corrections and new info to base my ideas/opinions on, because I sure as hell have no idea what I'm doing here o.O