Disclaimer: Hello, I'm terribly sorry for the extremely long delay. I had internships and a long job search which isn't going too well due to many of them screaming for 3+ years of experience that I don't have among a lot of other things. Yeah... it's been pretty crazy. But for now I got the time to translate this chapter! Now then, as always all credit goes to Nanami Shingo and フクロウ. I only translate the story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

懐妊

Expecting

Kasane x Nobunaga

Part One

The pungent smell of gunpowder filled his nostrils.

Swords…. The unique, clear sounds of metal clashing into another.

"Fireー!"

With that single order, an ear splitting sound echoed all at once.

Surely it was the gun battalion was firing a volley at the enemy troops.

"Katsusaburo!"

"What's the situation on the battlefield!?"

As Ikeda held his sword, he watched at the trio stumbled towards him in staggering steps.

"...It might not good out there."

By observing the group of three, he spotted many shallow wounds over their body.

By the looks of it, they've been out there fighting.

The Oda Clan has always been fighting the hostile neighboring countries.

The Oda Clan without unity or numbers.

Normally Nobuyuki would command the dangerous battlefront, but for the soldier's morale, the present head of the family Nobunaga took charge at the front to provide instructions himself.

"...Kusanagi-dono? What happened to Kusanagi-dono?"

Noticing that a single girl wasn't among the group, Ikeda panicked a little as he inquired them.

Kusanagi Kasane was a mysterious girl who recently joined the Oda Clan.

She was competent girl, their leader, Nobunaga, personally picked her to be one of his soldiers for the impaired Oda Clan.

She has already participated in many battles.

Though she was an exceptionally extraordinary girl, she never fought on her own.

They made sure to keep at least one person at her side.

It's not like they didn't trust her skills.

In fact, it was known that Kasane's skill could not be compared to the other men.

But that's exactly why he felt it was dangerous.

She placed too much confidence in her strength.

"I'm sure it's fine." "I probably won't lose." In that mindset, she pushed through enemy forces.

She was far too optimistic.

Surely she never wished killed a single person in her life.

That's why it was dangerous.

Indeed, with a sword she would be capable enough to hold back a few men.

However what if, by chance, she was robbed of her sword?

What if she was pinioned by a large group of men?

The answer would only be cruel.

The treatment towards the women on the losing side of the war are always much more miserable than the men.

There are many young, hot-headed men on the battlefront.

As their existence is to protect the rear, surely most of them were rowdy people with no social status.

Even if a man like himself was captured he would only be taken prisoner, in the most common cases he would just be killed.

But women were different.

If a woman like Kasane was captured, the answer was clear to see.

There are countless men starving for women here.

Surely these women receive great humiliation from the soldiers and, at the worst case, be killed.

No, surely at the women's standpoint she would prefer death and choose that route instead.

He wished for her to avoid falling into such a situation.

Everyone treasures that girl.

Which is why on no account did they allow her to fight alone.

However that girl isn't here.

As Ikeda thought of the meaning about this, his felt chills running through his back.

"It's alright! Katane isn't here."

"'Isn't here'?"

"Kasane-dono is providing logistical support. There's no need to worry about her."

Hearing Gorouza's words, Ikeda breathed out a sigh of relief.

However another question flashed through his mind.

Why is that girl, who always fought in the front lines, providing logistical support today?

It was a trivial question.

Well, judging from their state of mind, they were more reviled that she was back helping out logistical support.

To be frank, they had discussions on how to bring her out on the battlefield.

But even if they say something to her, she was one that wouldn't listen anyway so as a result of her attempts to remain useful to everyone she returns with injuries.

"We're going to return back to the headquarters to report the war situation. How about you?"

Ikeda hesitated a bit before Kuranosuke's question.

"No… I'm going to go around a little more and check everyone else first."

With a short farewell, "Very well, be careful." they parted paths.

TBC

Well then, I shall begin working on the next chapter. This is a pretty big story after all, so I don't want to keep you guys waiting any longer. I hoped everyone enjoyed reading this chapter even after that long, long hiatus. So until next time, I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful day ahead of them.