Welcome! And without further ado... Today's conversation is brought to you by me and superpierce (read this with an ad's tone)! As usual, it's edited for clarity and length.

superpierce: I believe it was Chapter 43 when Shirou reminisced on how every empire he helped build like Mordred's Britain. Didn't last very long, and other Heroic Vessels like the ones who helped make the [current story's] Japan. Does he not realize that Alaya and Gaia are trying to stick close to the original Pan-Human History? [Also,] why did Alaya combine different worlds along with alternate earths?
ekaterina016: [...] First of all, compare the length of time between the Heian and Sengoku Period (12th century, when Yoritomo & Yoshitsune lived to 16th century, when Nobunaga historically died) with the chronological snippets after HV-S01: RKR spread throughout the series. Mordred, or at least the Pendragon Clan, ruled from the British Dark Ages (5th century) to the peak Viking invasion (9th century). Shirou's personality belittles himself when comparing with others, so in his subjective perspective, emphasized by Britain's and Japan's respective condition in HV-S03: SI, he hasn't been successful. Don't forget Gilgamesh legendarily ruled for centuries as well. Alaya could care less about following Pan-Human History, because there's so many endings in which it dies (Notes, FGO, etc.). It aims to have the maximum deviation to ensure its continued survival as possible without forming a Singularity or Lostbelt... and nothing else. [...] The crossovers are just for my personal fun. Don't think too hard about it!
superpierce: But you said in one of your other messages Gaia and Alaya were trying to avoid changing history [...]? Heroic Spirit name filter and when I said, "Isn't the point of the Heroic Vessels to change history for the better, why would they not change most of it if it benefits both Alaya and Gaia?" You said in reply, "Because both of them can't get a proper handle on history, which when changed can make Singularities and Lostbelts appear out of nowhere. This is their way of changing Pan-Human History without screwing up the unnecessary parts." So saying Alaya cares less contradicts that sentence of yours. And also, yes, the point of my latest message is the justification of the crossovers because I don't understand why Alaya brought so many elements from different earths and worlds.
ekaterina016: [...] The 'unnecessary parts' are the chronological time points either side of each story, but apart from story purposes, Alaya won't hesitate to enact as big a change as possible if it's safe to do so. Maybe what you're implying at is the future of each story? Then yes, they're going to change massively due to the accumulation of the entire series happening. I'm not going to forcibly connect and maintain Pan-Human History with what I've written. If things have to change, then so be it.
superpierce: So each epilogue you create at the end of each story will always be massively different?
ekaterina016: Hm? If what you're asking is whether there's any continuity between the epilogues of HV-S01: RKR, HV-S02: QGF, and HV-S03: SI, then for sure there will be. I try to at least connect certain scenes either overtly or discreetly. The 'massively different' part you're asking about will be in comparison to the Pan-Human History, since Alaya's not going to stick to it at any cost. If it changes without creating problems, then good. Transform everything as much as possible, then.

Throughout history, society's reception of twins differed according to culture: either an auspicious or disastrous sign. Typically, it depended on whether said place featured prominent twins in their pantheons – or, as a fetch slightly too far, strong sibling bond. One which was predominantly patriarchal (or matriarchal; a parent-and-child relationship) would usually view twins as an anomaly at best and a curse at worst, while the aforementioned twin-rich societies revered them and considered them a good sign of wealth and prosperity.

Curiously, Nihon's pantheon had exactly five pairs of incestuous fraternal twins, all male and female, who followed multiple generations of twins and triplets grouped accordingly. Timeline-wise, they mirrored various deities everywhere else: the primordials existed first, a mix of Chaos's Aletheias and crystallization of the planet's various wills and attributes, followed by the established 'main' pantheon to initiate the true Age of Gods, then ended with the Age of Heroes right around the end of the Iron Age.

Nihon's equivalent of the Protogenoi was the five Kotoamatsukami, whose eradication from historical records after 12,000 B.C. made the cause apparent. They 'gave birth' to the next seven generation – literally 'Kamiyonanayo' – though the first two's subsequent 'disappearance' was most likely caused by some kind of internal strife, perhaps the ever-popular fratricide, and was then erased from history. In any case, among them the 'chief' deity… was actually deities: the fraternal twins Izanagi and Izanami.

And husband and wife, of course. That's how they operated back in the day.

As the youngest pair, of course they ended up as the next leaders after their predecessor. This was true with their descendants as well, with their youngest three children being the three main deities worshipped these days. It's rare to hear a Nihon citizen raising a prayer to either Izanagi or Izanami – instead, including the current royal family, all inherited their strongest connections to Susanoo, Amaterasu, and Tsukuyomi. While the latter's representative was still being decided due to Yasakani-no-Magatama's previous disappearance and recent repossession, Muramasa and Himiko splendidly channelled the first two's divine brilliance through their strengths and talents.

The blacksmith also received the blessings of their unfortunate and most infamous 'son', Kagutsuchi, through his dedication to the craft of weaponsmaking. Overall, though, the divine lineage was still strong due to the change done by various Heroic Vessels in crucial moments where Mystery dipped and destined to disappear, though it's only now with Muramasa one directly benefitted from another's work, because beforehand everything they did was groundwork. The amount of troubles, obstacles, sacrifices, and agony were roughly the same across all of those, since Alaya equipped them with quite the precise amount of strength to dominate those problems with utmost efficiency, so it was rather a shock for Muramasa to actually stand upon another individual's foundation for once instead of having to be the one to lay it down.

Unfortunately, going back to the original point, there's no longer a conduit for actual twins' divinity to descend anymore. Muramasa and Himiko, while as close as siblings as two people could get, was clearly not born from the same womb or parental pair. The deities after Izanagi and Izanami all had lost this attribute – perhaps from the Reverse Side of the World changing, perhaps it's the Outer World's influence, or perhaps simply the degradation of primordial Origins because of the unrelenting effects of [Time], the sole one which was inevitable in its march and incredibly difficult to both fathom and manipulate.

Thus, despite all of this exposition, the Mōri twins, Takakage and Motoharu, were also nothing special. Unfairly so, perhaps, since their rivals now had matured into a beautiful, harmonious mixes of both cutting-edge science and Thaumaturgy… and all were eyeing Honshu's southern parts to finally control the various strategic ports located there for Nihon's unification. Owari, in particular, was literally at their doorsteps, yet their helplessness made them ally with Nanban and relying on a blackmailed scum to help defend their borders.

Their parents allowed them to be adopted by other clans partially due to tie relationships with them, increasing the Mōri Clan's influence and wealth, as well as partial foreign superstition which claimed twins were signs of disaster. Of course, due to their background, their parents didn't truly believe in this, but went along with it when the aforementioned advantage was dangled in front of their face. After all, Motonari assumed having Takamoto and Terumoto was enough – an 'heir and spare' – and thought giving up two daughters weren't particularly damaging to the future of their clan. After all, most of the time, daimyōs could be controlled through their wives; marriage would be a peaceful, ideal method to unify various smaller clans into a behemoth capable of standing up above Nihon's chaotic political waters.

Alas, the two main male members died shortly one after another, leaving Takakage and Motoharu to take care of their juvenile brother, Terumoto, while also governing the Mōri Clan's burgeoning territories, spanning most of Chugoku. The only thing the twins were blessed with were capable and loyal retainers, perhaps beyond what Owari's famed line-up was like, because they truly saw each other as family and not simply great co-workers. In some cases, they literally were connected by either blood, adoption, or marriage.

Certainly a beautiful ideal. It mirrored the traditional warrior bond the closest, honouring ancient practice which was deeply familial and spiritual during the Jōmon period, right in the peak of the Age of Gods. In those Mystery-rich times, incomparably many times denser than it was now despite two Heroic Vessels' efforts, the primordial humans were all quite literally siblings, formed and made real from the same raw materials. It's where the superstition of 'twins' connection' came from, anyway – getting sick together, despairing together, dying together… despite separated by enormous distances – purely because they're conceptually bound to one another.

A good example was the original Enkidu and Shamhat. Before Heroic Vessel SHIRŌ took over and inhabited the empty clay, the two, despite being of different sexes, had become one and the same individual as time passed. What history explained wrong was Enkidu didn't 'take Shamhat's form' by shapeshifting his figure… he literally took her into himself after their long sessions of intercourse in order to assume the androgynous, slender body the original Gilgamesh eventually recognized.

It's much different than the texts the Heroic Vessel studied himself, but it was the truth when he was first deployed in Babylonia. Of course, he, with a much different skill- and mindset compared to the real Enkidu, had very little interactions with Shamhat… apart from the few times he visited the temple for some sexual release, and she just happened to be the one available with the riches he brought. Apart from that, the history Alaya then erased after his success would show a very divergent path his Gilgamesh took to elevate Babylonia to greater heights.

The [Twin] Origin deteriorated quickly right after the Age of Gods entered its decline, with each generation exponentially weakening it by default intermarriage. Because it's not an attribute essential to life, it quickly got pushed out by natural evolution. For example, Iron Age Britain was still considered to be in the final precipice of said era, yet Altria and Morgan, twins in everything but their legacies, ultimately had no Thaumaturgical or physical connection with each other. Their appearances were identical, yes, but even individuals with high Conceptual Weight like them had long cast aside this useless trait to better their own selves. The ultimate proof was in their daughter, Mordred, of whom if [Twin] still existed in their bloodline should've inherited. Yet, she was a normal girl until the end of her life, way past the time her Heroic Vessel departed his mission.

The only pair SHIRŌ had physically met was Stheno and Euryale, and even that was only their remains after Medusa cleaned their flesh off their bones. The Dioscuri was so different from one another, despite fulfilling the 'different sex' and 'incestuous habits' traits (only Castor, though), that they're not really worth mentioning as an example. Of course, this excluded any indication of their actual relationship, which was excellent on both accounts.

Come to think of it, deific twins typically get along much better than their mortal counterparts. One would think spending eternity with someone identical to them in appearance and personality would drive them mad – as was the case with most humans – but… no, not really. Perhaps they were also influenced by how their worshippers viewed the 'ideal' sibling relationship, with the [Twin] attribute seen as the peak?

…in the end, this theory went untested, partially because Alaya never placed too much importance in it unless it seriously affected the missions. It's an attitude shared with its Heroic Vessels… who, at the time of writing, had also never romanced twins. It's always one or the other…

"Any moment longer you spend leering at my sister's face, and I'll cut you down where you sit," Motoharu threatened, her hand already caressing the hilt of her katana. "I don't care who you are, Sengo-dono, but…"

"Striking me down with the blade I made myself? How ironic," he chuckled, seemingly unfazed by the threat. His body language barely shifted, in contrast to the person he brought along as an attendant, thinking her presence might destabilize these Princess Generals in front of him. Noticing Shikanosuke's tremble, he instead instigated the matter even further. Backing down now to his normal attitude would serve his lord no good. "I was wondering whether you actually have the capability to do so, Kikkawa-dono. After all, you can't even catch a cute, plump rabbit like the one beside me. Perhaps… you are a kind person, after all?"

"Wha-?!"

"Nē-san, when will you allow me to speak?" Takakage quipped, before smiling shyly. "Besides… I don't mind Sengo-dono's gaze. You are too high-strung, Nē-san."

"Tch! Don't fall into his charm, Takakage! I know men like him!" The older twin grumbled, her hand still not leaving her sword. "Do you know what he demanded just so I can get into his swords' buying list?! This kind of arrogant, narcissistic bastard… don't deserve to meet you!"

The tall redhead awkwardly scratched his cheek. "I'll… take that as a compliment?"

"THAT WASN'T A COMPLIMENT AT ALL!"

"Ahem." Shikanosuke winced at Motoharu's loud voice, perhaps traumatized by her time spent under the latter's captivity. Noticing this as well, Takakage coughed lightly to interrupt her older sister's would-be rant. "Nē-san, as long as he's still a guest – theoretically, yes – let us not forgo our manners and honour, shall we?"

"But… But…" Under her younger sister's wise but stubborn eyes, the older twin finally wilted. "Hmph! Fine! Don't think I'll leave you alone with my sister, though!"

With a final flourish, she backed down and forcibly sat beside Takakage, their position emphasizing their uncanny likeness, though even unfamiliar people should be able to tell them apart from their deliberately-asymmetric hairstyles. Honestly speaking, their scents were also completely different to Muramasa, but sitting here as an outsider while commenting on his female hosts' smells… would be rude. The right-side-ponytailed Princess General would be Takakage, while her sister wore hers on the left. Shikanosuke described Motoharu as an avid hachimaki wearer, though Muramasa assumed she's not wearing it outside of combat situations.

Other than that, they dressed identically, even though they technically represented different clans they're adopted into. Green overcoat and outer skirt over white Shinto uniforms, with loops on the shoulders to attach pauldrons in case of emergency call to arms. The only decorative piece they're wearing were Nanban-style red ribbons across their waists in place of the typical obi – clearly nowhere near as stylish or needlessly complicated as Mitsuhide's or Yoshimoto's formal wear.

It's always dangerous forming conclusions over what people liked to wrap themselves with, but given formal meetings in Nihon were always filled with coded references and messages, it's not a disadvantage if Muramasa simply took preliminary analysis and avoid looking too deep into everything. It's also how he normally carried himself, challenging others to form their own conclusions over who or what he was. Could a party see through another's tricks? Would one simply ignore a blatant message sent across with silence?

This was why he hated politics. If he could send Himiko down here to take his place, he'd do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, not even a single one of his lovers agreed coming down here to negotiate, because they… had something to do.

Yeah, there's no lamer excuse than that.

Most likely, they're still rummaging around in Unlimited Blade Works somewhere, as eager as a child finding a new toy to play with. He… was honestly rather scared of what they're going to find – much more than the risk of having something in there tampered with – but he didn't have the heart to deny them entry. Not after the sheer amount of Dream Cycles they must be having after how many times he fucked them.

It was tough, taking care of four women… to the point he doubted how on earth great rulers managed to claim they properly gave affection to hundreds of harem members, when the norm was rife with physical and emotional abuse after they'd used the women to the point of breaking. Even with his empty heart which was continuously filled with love and other pleasant emotions, acting like an insatiable ocean, he was filled to the brim in each mission with only a select few intimate relationships, compared to great conquerors who seemed to have the need to stamp their authorities over humankind by indulging in a delicacy they couldn't even savour properly.

"So, what does Oda-dono's most trusted retainer want, coming all the way here with this escapee of ours?" Takakage, much calmer than her sister, finally got into the main part of their discussion. "Despite my efforts to curb my sister's… enthusiasm, do not assume I won't simply order your execution where you sit right now."

"My retort, while it might sound arrogant, is nothing but the whole truth. I sincerely doubt everyone in your territory, working together, can do nothing but inconvenience me martially. This includes your esteemed sister and Murakami-dono, of course," he replied steadfastly, without breaking eye contact. "That said, Shikanosuke-san is only here as a guide. I think I'm going to induct her as my retainer after this, so please treat her well."

The buxom short-haired brunette squeaked at his attitude and reply, her usually chatty yet airheaded, masochistic side now locked into silence. Being more of a warrior than a diplomat, she lacked the aptitude in hiding her emotions in the face of scrutiny… though fortunately, the others present in the room chose to ignore her crumbling mental defence and focus on the minor exchange of threats.

"Oh? Do you want to test that claim?" Motoharu growled, the intensity of her breath blowing her cute, bushy sidetail around. The twins' hairstyle made Muramasa felt nostalgic, his mind wandering to that beloved pet of Merlin's, and the resulting small, happy smile made the two of them thought of different things about him. "What the hell… Stop grinning! That's gross!"

"Ah! Apologies. I was reminded of something adorable when I see your hair moving." He lightly bowed, hand on his chest in a casual imitation of a Nanban gesture. Considering his real background, it was far more genuine and classier than their new 'business partner' Kageyoshi was so worried about, making the gears in Takakage's head start whirring. "Ahem. Now, to be serious, I am here to demand your surrender."

"M-Muramasa-sama…!" Shikanosuke finally squeaked.

The younger twin quickly spread one hand to her side, stopping Motoharu's incoming battōjustu from shooting out of her sheathe.

What he said – the threats and delusional arrogance, not the final demand – was completely true. Motoharu was simply too pissed off to acknowledge it, but Takakage wouldn't. The latter was experienced in dealing with prideful people, and it was extremely simple to take their logic apart using proofs and wordplay. However, this was the first time she'd met a person of this calibre whose words were actually an understatement.

This was the fact her older sister didn't know. Because it's at times better to compartmentalize information spread than dealing with the resulting public outcry: anger, hatred, despair, agony… and, her most hated trait of humanity, idiocy.

When the Battle of Okehazama happened more than a year ago, Owari was still just an up-and-coming promising territory, landlocked between the powerful Tripartite at its north, familial ties to its west, and unprofitable lands at its east. Naturally, its southern part didn't need to be a worry because the capital stood in its way. Takakage knew very well what often slowed down a territory's expansion wasn't the limited availability of talents, because even those with average ones could be trained if the culture was correct. It was natural resources, especially those with the greatest ties and derived their greatest advantages from [Time], which could be used or traded with maximum profit. Money and full bellies made the world go round; simply giving one's men and women one or the other, and they'd fight to the death for you.

Then came the issue of inanimate resources, such as building materials, weapons, architectural and artisanal tools, paper, and so on. These were what truly kept the power balance between daimyōs – the medium-term crafted objects – because it's still impossible to mass-produce them according to the demand. Thus, the trade network was born, ensuring a monetary circulation while balancing the needs of the various provinces unsupervised by the Imperial Family. Hence, war actually was never profitable, because the sheer investment involved pre- and post-act was so tremendous the only other choice for a conqueror was keep conquering and conquering, never stopping until the books was balanced. In the end, they were left with nothing but a barren wasteland.

A good commander would not want a war at all, reminding themselves of the risk constantly. A great one would wage it when only absolutely necessary, when the intangibles outweighed the physical, tangible loss. The best one was, ironically, often the greediest: riches, honour, glory, wealth, and prosperity, attacking and defending on all fronts with equal brilliance.

…and Takakage was starting to feel Nobunaga belonged to the last group, not least helped by this man tremendously.

The fact Owari suddenly jumped in its public rank, regarding how much produce it could brought forth for not only its own use, but also as payments and bribes to other territories. Economic growth didn't just happen overnight, and 'special cases' were reserved only to newly-discovered or -invented objects – neither of which applied to Owari. They… simply made better things in greater quantity. That's it. A frightening combination, yes, but it's not as if there's something unique or irreplicable coming out of there.

Farming, for instance. It typically got very little recognition in historic texts apart from its spiritual importance in divine worship, yet all rulers realized it's the most important thing… full stop. There was a reason hunting-and-gathering died out, replaced by the incentive of stability and protection of permanent settlements. Nihon had its own choice of crops, tailored to its climate but constrained by ancient availability. Whatever breed of rice and crops growing and popular nowadays were whatever survived from the Jōmon settlers, and while they grew lushly, variety was always preferrable in case of emergencies.

Owari was able to plant imported seeds and sprouts much better than even the port cities' citizens who had first go at farming them. Then, they produced so much they could afford to sell it at reasonable price to merchants outside of their territory, competing directly with local produce. Knowing this would raise an outcry, they also provided hybrid strains and products so as to avoid marginalizing original producers, working with the farmers instead of demanding unreasonable taxes from them to maintain peace.

After all, most soldiers' parents were farmers. It's unlikely their children would betray Owari if their elders' happiness and survival depended on their loyalty.

Takakage was actually more impressed when this man and that Akechi heir took it a step further, opening restaurants and using these unfamiliar ingredients into even more alien dishes. Everything was supposedly available to the common housewife and cooks, yet mix-and-matched so thoroughly into a new dish, which was subsequently ravenously approved by the public. She also heard they won over Echigo – particularly its Princess General, Kagetora – through the taste of their food alone… which was as ridiculous as reality got.

Then, her older sister's sword was as good a proof as any of how irresistible Owari had made itself. When all the opponents surrounding them were able to arm themselves with higher-quality weapons, then the Aki Province had no choice but to get level with them, spending the money they should've used to plan for Nobunaga's eventual expansion right into Nobunaga's pocket. It also meant opposition against Owari wouldn't be retaliated with violence; instead, it's going to be something much worse for rulers and merchants alike: economic ban.

However, Takakage had another card to play: a potential new supply of resources from Nanban… if she agreed to most of the terms those men had offered her earlier in exchange for military support. Unlike what worried Kageyoshi, the deal's not fully done because of the Nanban's rather poor reputation in Nihon, after their attempted theft of the Yasakani-no-Magatama. While Himiko had emphasized this was done by a select group of antagonistic foreigners, and those who had integrated into Nihon society shouldn't be discriminated in the slightest, that's different when compared to a large, powerful province like Aki to publicly announce a renewed partnership with foreign forces. At worst, she'd instantly shatter their hard-earned camaraderie which had lasted three generations, splitting public opinion into pieces.

"What will we receive for our surrender in return?"

Motoharu was shocked at her younger sister's non-refusal. "Takakage, what are you-?!"

"In contrast to what Kelley's offering you?"

The Princess General closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "So you already knew."

"No, I don't know you," Muramasa corrected, "but I know how he thinks and plans. After all, my wife is never wrong in judging people."

"She was the one who engaged him? Then… why is he still alive?" Takakage asked, genuinely curious, with her expression reverting to her casual, dreamy, innocent façade. "Given how pompously Oda-dono broadcasted her victory, I assumed…"

"Oh, she killed him. He just didn't die when he's killed," he explained frankly and bizarrely. "Ironic as that may sound, it's not uncommon as you may think."

- Bam!

"That doesn't even make sense!" Motoharu finally couldn't hold back her emotions any longer, slamming the floor in front of her hard. "Imōto-chan, let's just kill him right now! At the very least, allow me to throw him out!"

Takakage shook her head. "He was right earlier. Do you think your blade won't protect its true master if you do so?"

"G-Guh…!" Motoharu was stunned into silence at the fact she'd long ignored, such was her attachment to her new sword. Much like how a girl would loathe to part with her favourite childhood doll even for a great reward, she simply didn't want to admit the best sword she'd ever wielded in her life could reverse course and cut her neck instead. "W-Well, we won't know unless we t-tried…!"

"I'd rather not lose another family member again!"

The present meeting members sat up straighter, surprised at Takakage's sudden shout.

The older sister, realizing what she'd been implying since earlier, hung her head in shame. "…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to phrase it that way."

Muramasa joined in, though far more sarcastically in an attempt to lighten the mood. "I have to apologize as well. Perhaps I should make it clearer all I'll do to Kikkawa-dono is slap her around a bit, and not take her head instantly with a curse."

"You're just making things worse!" Shikanosuke shot up with both her palms to attempt to cover her latest benefactor's mouth. Despite their differences, in terms of temperament, Shikanosuke and Motoharu were quite similar in a way they tend to keep their most extreme emotions under impervious pressure… only for it to blow up in inopportune moments. "Please, Sengo-dono… L-Let's j-just talk p-peacefully with each other, o-okay…?"

"Hm? Why should we? And where did that courage of yours I admired go?" He calmly uttered through her calloused fingers, his eyes now eye level with her enormous bust – on par with Danzō and Katsuie, he reckoned, prominent even through her formal military gear – his voice unmuffled in the slightest. "I came here prepared for you to be the instigator, ready to protect you at any cost as per my promise to you… so, what's changed?"

Shikanosuke blushed at his frank and easily-misunderstood words, but persevered in her opinion. "M-My grievances and t-this are different! I respect Kikkawa-dono as a warrior and rival, and… t-this is just isn't right!"

"While you are correct, I don't think you'll maintain that opinion when you see what kind of people they've allied themselves with," he patiently explained, still through her panicked palm. "Rather, why are you so flustered? Did I not ask my request politely?"

"It's the content that's troublesome!" She instantly replied.

Ignoring that, he turned his attention back to the twin Princess Generals.

"So, what's your answer?"

The density of a particular Texture's magic resources, naturally, depended on its Mystery density and quality. The actual physical land size didn't matter too much, because additional dimensions would naturally open and expand if the level was high enough. Hence, geographical cartography was often highly inaccurate to the point of uselessness – a weakness even modern-day Thaumaturgical satellites and scrying devices found it hard to overcome.

For instance, Britain at the height of its mystical powers, when the Pendragon family ruled, would be entirely invisible to those antagonistic of them through long-distance viewing and spying. A combination of higher Mystery and, most importantly, better users compared to its Proper Human History counterpart served to fuel and protect the island for centuries. When they left, bringing their Mystery with them, only the physical martial might of its navy prevented it from being overrun like its Bronze Age predecessors, when the first Celtic settlers came in waves and conquering the citizens who lived there before them.

Similarly, Nihon had managed to build such passive defences, though owing to its better international relationship, its outright counteroffensive properties were weakened. Still, the fact the disguised Spanish armada was able to be so thoroughly defeated sent a worldwide message of its national strength, driving efforts to steal and conquer profitable, magic stone-rich areas, underground… quite literally, sometimes.

But when gigantic flaming skeletons arose from the walls all around them, plunging these illegal mines into real purgatory, they gave up and retreated. Not even the Nanban-favouring cities and suburbs wanted to receive them after the fine line they're already at was repeatedly crossed by Kelley and Cabal. Louíse, now the de facto Nanban representative of Nihon, heavy-handedly repressed any who misused their merchant and religious permissions in exchange for protection of the Christians who'd either converted or were part of the original convoy here… apart from those who turned out to be Cabal's men. Essentially, Louíse had done what she dreamt of doing in the first place: establish a new territory in Nihon for the Lord… though she perhaps never would've thought it to happen this way.

Calling her a separatist from the Church was a misnomer because… well, she was never a member in the first place. She received her initial religious and Thaumaturgical training from one of the Saintess's second-generation apostles, when the now-old lady was on a missionary trip to her home village. In the eyes of non-believers, Christian Nanban might all look then preach the same – a common misunderstanding they returned, seeing all these 'narrow-eyed' people through the same stereotyping lens – but there were as many Christian sects as there were provinces in Nihon. Now, there were generally only two: the Church and the Saintess's sect, with the latter rapidly gaining power among the populace, fighting against the former's blue-blooded foundations and resources.

Still, her personality and need for political exposure meant she couldn't effectively deal with these more… unsavoury individulas. It's already fortunate enough a sizeable part of Cabal's and Kelley's men was ashamed of their deeds after everything was revealed to them – of what kind of couple they're supporting and following – and asking all of them to repent was simply too much.

'Only the Saintess can do that.' And Louíse certainly wasn't Her Holiness's esteemed self.

Still, all of these expositions didn't really pertain to the current situation and area of expertise, of which Nobunaga was far more suited to.

Blessed with far more talented retainers – and more loyal ones, more importantly – she could afford to fully make use of her stored knowledge: the regrets and hatreds of her past self, who perished in the very same purgatorial flames she now proficiently wielded with abandon.

Her Guardian Spirit, in this aspect, was truly unique to her in this generation. Typically, these Phantasmal Species were deliberately contacted and contracted, or inherited from a predecessor – blood-related or not – and not simply born from inside a person. One who could do so would typically simply become said Phantasmal Species, either evolving into a pre-existing category or transforming into a new one – an option made available by the much higher Mystery of this reality compared to Proper Human History.

Before her, there was no record of Gasha-Dokuro's wielder, nor was it often seen in the Reverse Side of the World. One would think its nature would've been suited for the ancient world, being a manifestation of anger and vengeance… and there was plenty of it in the eras preceding the Sengoku Period. Still, it rarely appeared apart from one mention in Nihon Ryōiki – the practical encyclopaedia of Buddhism-related yōkai and other legends – but Shuten-dōji even claimed this recorded being was completely different than the one Nobunaga could conjure. There was a theory of a Taira princess commanding one to take revenge for her father, but that clearly couldn't be the case because the Minamoto Clan was thorough in its cleansing of its most hated rival, up to and including any accomplices from the Reverse Side of the World. This instance occurred even before Yorimitsu's time, but such was Yoshitsune's bloodthirstiness, running rampant after her brother's passing, she'd pursue her targets up and down the bloodline until nothing was left.

…or if an individual could offer her something she couldn't refuse. But even then, she'd show mercy to that particular person and their nuclear affiliates, and no more.

Given Nobunaga herself was distantly related to the Minamoto Clan, she attributed part of her original self's personality to Yoshitsune's inheritance, though she loathed to admit this publicly because she'd just be debasing herself in the same manner a lot of wannabes claiming connections to the current Imperial Family. She wanted the continuation of the ideal world Yoritomo had built, one which had been forgotten through the ages by other, more narrow-minded temptations. Those last few decades of the Heian Period prior to the transition to its successor was so regarded as Nihon's height of powers – including by Nobunaga herself – it shocked and confused her how things were so similar to her previous incarnation's world, where the Minamoto Clan's control of Nihon perished after just one or two generations.

It took the gathering of Nihon's talents in the same generation – and the removal of unnecessary parasites like Tōkichirō – for her 'Tenka Fubu' to be viable in the remotest sense. In essence, this banner she gathered her retainers and allies under were very similar to the original ambitions of the Chrysanthemum Throne, but again, it took until Himiko and Muramasa existed there were people who actually wanted to realize this ideal and utilize the foundation the Minamoto Clan had built.

Nobunaga had rarely met Himiko or hang around that adorable little girl, but the Empress was quick to favour her invasions and territory expansion. Perhaps Muramasa put in a few good words for her, but Nobunaga prided herself on her independence and reluctance to rely on inherited things, because she always assumed people who got by that to be unmotivated and taking things for granted.

Still, she was at the point in her life to learn to accept things if they gave her various advantages.

For instance, the long-unused 'right of ground resources', which separated the surface land area with its underground volume if the latter contained precious resources. Normally, this wasn't an issue because any talented daimyo usually managed it well enough the Minamoto Clan ignored them so long as they paid their due taxes. However, lately, this clearly wasn't the case, and Himiko authorized Nobunaga to spatially excavate magic stone mines right underneath still-active urban areas, all without the need of a local entrance.

The Empress's clout with the various clans in the Reverse Side of the World meant these various 'mining portals' went unmolested… most of the time. Some individuals who were still loyal to Otakemaru and his ideals did come by and cause trouble, but that's what the Hyakki Yakō existed for. The pact which united human and yōkai gave the Minamoto Clan unparalleled and unchallenged advantage over their earlier opponents on one certain invaluable treasure: man- and yōkai-power. Many of the current Hyakki Yakō members served from the time of Yoritomo, with the rest only retiring when their existence in the Outside World became untenable, though still maintaining a consultancy service if need be. The other clans, who suppressed yōkai before the pact, were quickly overrun and left with only one choice: bow.

"Funyahahaha! Let's see those Nanbans weeping when they see this!" Kennya's high-pitched, childish, lisping voice echoed throughout the cavernous hall deep underground, coincidentally just underneath the main temple she was abbess at. Her demeanour was the complete opposite of her younger sister Kyonya, who almost instantly ordered Nobunaga's execution right then and there when the Princess General broke the news. "Ah, Nobunaga-kun, part of this mine's earnings will go to the temple, right?"

"Consider it my annual donation. Let us maintain a good relationship, shall we?" The redhead smirked.

Of course, 'the news' only pertained to what Himiko allowed outsiders to know. The mining operation had been going on for close to three years already, its basic construction completed even before Okehazama and Nobunaga's subsequent self-announcement to Nihon. It was a necessary precaution because eventually, those Nanbans caught wind of it anyway. Yes, admittedly, they were wrong on a few crucial details – which enabled Himiko to send Nobunaga for their crucial counterattack – but it turned out to not be foolproof.

At the very least, Nobunaga's connection to this privilege was still secure, with only the amount of magic stones, precious artifacts, and important leylines getting leaked.

…just the less important stuff.

Nobunaga had great [Fire] resistance due to her innate Origin and Element, but she still couldn't help but sweat when under Himiko's scathing gaze, finally understanding why her lover was so obedient to that little cousin of his.

And now, Chiyome had confirmed her target actually survived Yamata-no-Orochi? Nobunaga had never even heard her failing before; she'd done Apotheosis without a result to show for it?

'Well, her breasts did get bigger, but…' she reminisced, her palms tingling with the leftover sensation when they rubbed bodies, hands, and tongues against each other, before she rapidly shook her head to eradicate any potential blush creeping up her face. 'Focus! Focus! Focus!'

The two of them were taking a tour of the magic stone production located more than a mile underneath Mt. Hiei, close to the main base of the Nyankōsō. Unlike in Proper Human History, the two locations were considered one complex, since the Buddhist Thaumaturgical Foundation was wide enough to encompass much of Kyoto itself, since the Royal Family allowed major sects to build there for cheap in exchange for their protective measures. Of course, these Bounded Fields and leyline conductors were all vigorously examined, up to and including secretly dissecting the souls of past religious masters to find out if they indeed snuck in minute weaknesses the Minamoto Clan couldn't handle and could be threatened by, so it's completely safe and harmonious.

Its proximity to the royal capital also eased Himiko's processing of her secret permission – hence, this was one of the first places Nobunaga developed. Predictably, she felt correctly safe to bring Kennya here, since all the sparkling stones ignited a part of her nekomata heritage, causing the pink-haired abbess's ears and tail to twitch happily along as her eyes reflected the glitters around her happily.

"Funyahahaha! Pleased to do business with you!" The small-statured catgirl laughed heartily with both hands on her hips, a sense of superiority clearly overwhelming her. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?! Kyonya would've shut her mouth if you did!"

"That… Well, the reason won't be pleasing to your ears, so let's move to the next segment, shall we?"

"Mhmn!" Kennya vigorously nodded, unknowingly following the much taller redheaded Princess General like a lamb to slaughter.

The magic stone mine was just as fantastical as the Nanbans romantically described to sell off their invasion proposal to their superiors: large, prismatic golden crystals jutting out of the bedrock, within easy reach of a simple pickaxe and shovel, illuminating the normally-dark cave with their ethereal luminescence. Even the residual particles still gave off enough ambient light to maintain easy navigation within the complicated maze – naturally so, since mining them required the operation to diligently follow the natural leylines instead of blasting caverns willy-nilly – catching any newcomer's attention long enough for mindless yōkai to harm them, launching their bodies off the surrounding walls and killing any unsuspecting miners.

Most of illegal mining's casualties came from this, since the owners and operators wouldn't bother installing proper security measures or paying yōkai security-slash-mercenaries to deal with it from the Reverse Side of the World. The intense magic radiation made it a perfect breeding ground for mutations and newborns, at times simply phasing into existence.

Authorized mines were omnidirectionally protected from this, though it's not like the public knew about this and were constantly roped into shady work – at times, with foreign sponsors eager to smuggle as much stones as they could out of Nihon – with no apparent attempt at crackdown from Himiko. More restrictions than this would've alerted the bigger players the Minamoto Clan was truly entering the fray and had several cards hidden under the table, signifying it truly was never neutral and unchanged from its tyrannical ways under Yoshitsune and her generation's Hyakki Yakō.

What was tyranny, and what was [Order]? Where did the line begin and end? What was freedom, and what was [Chaos]? Where did the line begin and end?

Nobunaga believed the borders laid in slapping the dissidents' mouths shut and please the commonfolk… but that's just her. Himiko might have a different idea, but because the two women rarely conversed deeply, they wouldn't get to find out in the near future.

The teleportation portal she and Kennya were using to move around came in the shape of a small wooden shrine and manned by tiny, cute amphibious yōkais called kodama. Technically, these checkpoints weren't purely teleportation tools, since it also served as Third Magic ritualistic cornerstones, so sufficiently compatible magi could repeatedly use them to [Load] and [Save], at the cost of spiritual decay unlike pure Third Magic usage. However, the way to do it had been lost to time, and the remaining information wasn't complete enough without someone with a perfect disposition to use it. The next user wouldn't be born until around two centuries later, though only Muramasa knew of this information.

Thus, the kodama became guardians of mere [Space] tools, having lost half their purpose to welcome and cheer returning souls up long ago after the 'end' of the Age of Gods – though Muramasa considered it only the 'first', because Heroic Vessels usually restarted an increase in Mystery close to its original level in an attempt to stave off its death… and eventually Alaya's, too – and while friendly to humans, they were exceedingly difficult to find and convince to professionally stay in one place. Only someone with the literal resource of an entire empire could gather enough of them to make nationwide teleportation viable.

Of course, Himiko cheated using her Guardian Spirit and the Noble Phantasm she's most familiar with, having trained to use it since she was born: the Yata-no-Kagami, which could divine where the kodama had wandered off to without having her taking one step out of the Imperial Castle. Catching them was another matter, but that's what her Hyakki Yakō was there for, right? If they're so bored without the all-out war, massacre, and battle royale of the past, then giving them some work was the 'humane' thing to do.

The magic stone mine under Mt. Hiei was one of the largest, obviously taking more space than it should've been if it's truly, properly under said mountain, but Kennya had already rationalized the Mystery density around here had already wrapped [Space] to enable ridiculous and irrational structures to form where they shouldn't. for instance, this place was large enough to probably swallow Mt. Fuji's snowy top in its entirety, with the dark gaps unilluminated by the magic stones probably extending further into the Reverse Side of the World.

They didn't want to take that route.

Instead of distrusting Nobunaga – like how her little sister would've done to people who kept secrets from her, hypocritically enough – Kennya could only feel excitement and wonderment at the new and improbable things she'd never thought possible. Her nekomata clan had lived in the Outside World for too long, relying on Hongan-ji's incredible leyline to assimilate seamlessly with it, she never knew the beauty of her ancestor's original habitat. Of course, only [Earth]-based yōkai would find home in this place, but it's otherworldly enough Kennya was instantly hooked.

- Pop!

The pair actually walked quite some distance away, since the teleportation shrines were spread out fairly far in relative to each other in the name of efficiency and security. It's easy for Nobunaga's ever-growing height, but Kennya was already panting due to her short legs and unsuitable footwear due to the former suddenly appearing and dragging the pink-haired catgirl off, claiming there's something life-changing she's going to show the abbess.

"Shit."

"I thought you're not allowed to swear?" Nobunaga teased.

"Shut up."

In front of Kennya, a behemoth made out of steel loomed, large enough her short neck, when it's fully craned up, couldn't even see its highest point.

- Clang! Clang! Clang!

Nobunaga pridefully walked forth, slapping the literal metal wall in front of her several times to showcase it's real and not an illusion.

"Let the Nanbans come. I'll send them to meet their god."