Disclaimer: Sorry for the delay, I've been having some health problems so I've been going to the doctor's office+testing to check on my condition+resting all the while still doing holiday stuff so I couldn't work on these translations. Don't worry though, I'm doing fairly fine nothing serious. But well it might be a little late, but Merry Christmas! It's not much, but I hope you enjoy this chapter. All credit goes to Shingo Nanami and フクロウ。Enjoy.

懐妊

Expecting

Kasane x Nobunaga

Part Three

"What's wrong?"

Standing at the side, Nobuyuki inquired as Ikeda and Kasane appeared to the scene.

Situated in a western chair right in the center of the headquarters before the insignia of the Oda Clan was Nobunaga.

Wrapped in dark blue armor, Nobunaga turned his sharp gaze in their direction.

The force of his gaze was incomparably heavier than his usual ones.

On his other side, were the three idiots who were previously reporting the war situation.

"My lord! We must return Kusanagi-dono to the castle at once!"

"I-Ikeda-san!"

Ikeda strongly appealed to Nobunaga as he lowered to his knees and bowed his head.

Kasane frantically attempted to intercept his actions, however Ikeda lightly dodged her so her remarks were ignored.

"And why should I?"

Nobunaga lifted an eyebrow.

Resting his face into his hand, he turn his full attention to Kasane and Ikeda.

"Because in Kasane-dono's stomach is my lord's child!"

"I-Ikeda-san!"

With that single sentence, the whole area remained motionless.

Everyone doubted their ears at what they just heard.

"...Just now, what?"

Gorouza tightly smiled as once more inquired.

Irritation welled up in Ikeda towards the clueless group around him, he opened his mouth once more.

"Our lord's baby is in Kasane-dono's womb!"

"Wha-...!?"

As they finally grasped the meaning of his words, the groups raised their voices in astonishment.

And all at once they all turned their attention towards Kasane, the girl tried to shrink as much as possible under their gaze.

"E-ehhh? A-aniue's, child is in Kasane-dono's womb….? Th-then Aniue and Kasne-dono were in that kind of….?"

The rumors were widely known even in the castle, but it seems that this was news for Nobuyuki as the color of his face alternated from blue to red while his mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Kasane's face turned red, she shifted her gaze elsewhere.

"..."

Nobunaga silently gazed at her with wide eyes.

Even Nobunaga was surprised.

Kuranosuke, with his face bright red, turned away from her while Inuchiyo mellowly commented 'A baby!? That's great news!'.

"W-why would you come to such a place when you're expecting!?"

The first one to come back to his sense was Gorouza as he scolded her in an unexpectedly harsh tone.

Well, that was natural.

"That's right! What are you doing! This is a battlefield you know!?"

Indeed, this was right in the middle of a war zone.

Even in the worst case, this wasn't the place for a pregnant woman to be in.

As soon as they all understood the severity of the situation, they all paled.

Indeed, Kasane unusually took on the logistics supporting role and didn't appear in the front lines this time.

Even so, that didn't mean she was completely away from danger.

Though she may be in the last row, the enemy could still cut through there and in addition there were severe lack of assistance for work such as carrying gunpowder, food, other heavy objects, and injured soldiers from the front lines.

The problem didn't just lie with the enemy soldiers.

The battlefield is an environment filled with unpaved roads.

What would happen if she were to slip and fall?

What if there was an accident?

The dangers were endless.

"Just what were you thinking…!"

Nobunaga began to scold her in a harsh tone before shutting his mouth.

He had already stood up from his chair and stomped over before Kasane.

"..."

Underneath the pressure of his silent gaze, Kasane felt utter fear from the depth of her heart.

ーーーーーーHe's going to be furious.

"You really are….!"

He began to shout, but then held himself back.

He glanced down at Kasane, whose eyes were nearly spilling out tears as her body shivered.

"We should hurry back to the castle…"

Nobuyuki suggested, but Gorouza objected.

"That's impossible! I've heard that the enemy has blocked the road to the castle. For us to make way for Kasane-dono to go through the center of the enemy…. That's much more dangerous!"

"However, this place is a lot more dangerous. What should we do!"

Nobuyuki grimly declaimed.

Surely they were worried for Kasane and the child in her belly.

Even more since it also concerned their lord.

For Nobuyuki, who respected and loved his brother, it was unbearable for him to allow Nobunaga's mistress, Kasane, and Nobunaga's own child to be placed in danger.

Nobunaga swallowed back his anger before sharply turning towards the headquarters soldiers.

"Did you hear that men!"

Nobunaga's clear voice echoed in the headquarters.

"Just as you heard, my woman is with my child!"

A strong, resounding voice.

Nobunaga took Kasane into his arms and pulled her closer to him.

"We must settle this battle immediately!"

He continued.

"I'll have you all worship my brat's face*!"

He said these words as if he were about to smirk and laugh while the surround troops roared in shouts of joy in response.

"My three idiots! You are my bodyguards! Provide support from behind!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Katsusaburou! You are to scout the enemy ranks! Use Tenrou to notify me the situation in detail. Understood!?"

"Understood."

"Nobuyuki, you shall command of your own encampment!"

"Leave it to me Aniue!"

Nobunaga gave out precise instructions.

After sending out his orders, he turned his gaze towards Kasane.

And he gave her one rough ruffle to her head.

"You just need to behave yourself here. Alright?"

"Tono...sama…"

Kasane struggled to convey something to Nobunaga, however he showed no signs of listening as he climbed over to his favorite horse with his sword in hand and led the three idiots to the front lines.

Ikeda and Nobuyuki soon followed.

Unable to say anything, Kasane sank to the spot as she watch their backs disappear to the distance.

TBC

*basically he's saying he'll let them see his child when it's born, but of course with Nobunaga, as head of the Oda Clan, he's bound to say arrogant things like this (lol).

Well then, I hoped everyone enjoyed this chapter. I won't be able to translate the next chapter tomorrow, but I should be able to get it done before the new years. So until then, I hope you all take care of your health and have a lovely new years eve!