Rebel Against the Forbidden Crest 3

*Only for use by E-G.

tl by molokidan

83)
1: HERO

By Hirata Hiroshi

84)
1: Oda Nobukatsu was the second son of Nobunaga, who lived up well to his father's name.
2: Among his vassals, he had many heroic men...

85)
1: I have decided on you three men to take them out!
2: Nagato...will be killed by Iida...Iida Hanbei! Destroy him!
3: Sir!
4: Genba...Genba will be killed by Hijikata..Hijikata Kanbei!
5: Sir!
6: Tamiyamaru...will be killed by Mori...Mori Genjirou!
7: Sir!
8: Understood? They are to be killed!

86)
1: My lord!
2: I understand that you ordered me to kill Genba, but I would like to kill Nagato instead!
3: What?
4: Nagato is a strong man...
5: I am fully aware.
6: Muu!
7: Kanbei!
8: Do you think that I, Iida Hanbei, do not have what it takes to subdue Nagato?!
9: No, that's not what I mean...
10: Then why do you want Nagato instead?! It clearly sounds like I'm weaker than you!

87)
1: Come now, Hanbei...
2: If he wants Nagato that bad
3: then just let Kanbei have him. It doesn't matter who kills who anyway.
4: You fool! Then people will think that I was afraid to kill Nagato!
5: Whaat?!
6: Did you just call me a fool?!
7: Wait, wait!
8: Nagato is a man capable of cutting through five men at once...
9: It looks like I was a bit hasty to decide who kills him like that...
10: Alright! We'll see who's the stronger one now. Both of you stand up.
11: Sir!

88)
1: Hikoshirou! Bring the wooden swords!
2: Sir!
3: You are both my precious vassals, so I cannot have you go hurting each other. Fight until you one of you is cornered.
4: Understood!
5: What's wrong, Hikoshirou? You need some wooden swords?
6: Yes, you see, there's been a little disagreement...so...
7: Hohoh...

89)
1: you mean those esteemed men, Okada Nagato, Tsukawa Genba, and Asai Tamiyamaru did something...
2: that the lord did not like?
3: You know about the incident that happened the other day, don't you? When they were invited by Sir Toyotomi...
4: It happened then.
5: Indeed! The other day...five days ago.
6: At this time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was on the verge of gripping the entire country...
7: And secretly...he knew that he had to kill Nobunaga's second son, Nobukatsu somehow...however...
8: Nobukatsu possessed a great number of heroic men under his command, so it would not be an easy task...

90)
1: Among them, the vassal named Tatsukawa Sanroubei Kazumasu was not only a hero among heroes, but a clever hero at that...
2: Tsukawa Genba...
3: possessed an 8cm in diameter,
4: 5-meter long spear that was more like a huge log

91)
1: and was strong enough to skewer two grown men with it and lob them high in the air!

92)
1: Asai Tamiyamaru
2: had a strong enough right hand
3: to lift Genba's entire body with it.

93)
1: And Okada Nagato,
2: a while back,
3: took a 3.30 meter longsword

94)
1: and was a strong enough man to cut through five whole human bodies with it.
small: In the Jouzan Kidan record, it says that he cut through seven...

95)
1: First I'll have to kill those four...
2: thought Hideyoshi...
3: One day
4: he invited them all in...
5: Thank you for coming,
6: Hideyoshi said, happily welcoming them.

96)
1: He brought out sake and fish to show his hospitality.
2: "The truth is..." he began,
3: I want you to kill your leader, Nobukatsu! ...
4: If you can, then I will give you ample rewards for your trouble...

97)
1: The moment they heard this, the faces of the four exploded in shock!
2: Not only had Nobukatsu given them registered titles, but the whole purpose of their vassalage was to protect their lord from outside enemies.
3: It would be unthinkable for us to have a hand in the death of Nobukatsu...
4: But...Nobunaga is dead now, and Hideyoshi has accumulated an even greater army.

98)
1: If they did as Hideyoshi told them, they could easily receive a reward of a castle worth 50 or 60,000 koku.
2: And if luck was on their side, it would be possible for them to become 50-60,000 koku daimyo with their own territories...
3: They were in the middle of the Warring States Period! It would be absolute idiocy to stay where they were and sacrifice themselves to the crumbling Oda house!
4: Should we betray our lord?!
5: Should we stay loyal?!
6: The two ideas flashed across their faces like lightning...
7: while cold sweat began to drip down their backs...
8: Then, the next thing they knew...
9: they saw a pistol poking through the door to Hideyoshi's left
10: pointing straight at them.

99)
1: Well, how about it? If you have no objections, then write "I will kill him" on this contract!
2: It was clear that if they refused, they would be killed on the spot.
3: So, left with no other choice, the four bound a contract stating that they would kill their master.
4: Hideyoshi also added himself to the contract
5: stating that he would not go back on his word.
6: Muuu...
7: That bastard might actually do it...
8: I could see him really doing it...
9: Mumu...
10: While each of them grew suspicious of the other three, they left Hideyoshi's side...

100)
1: Why did Hideyoshi call all four at once, when it seems like it would have been much easier to speak to them individually?
2: That's right...
3: Hideyoshi, just like any other clever strategist, never wasted a single idea.
4: All four of them couldn't possibly keep the matter secret this way...and eventually, one of them would surely tell the truth to Nobukatsu...
5: Then Nobukatsu would be enraged...
6: You bastards!
7: You mean those other three knew the same secret and did not tell me?!
8: Kill them! Kill all three of them!
9: he would say, announcing the execution of the three heroic men...no...
10: Depending on the circumstances, this could result in the deaths of more than three heroes, thought Hideyoshi...
11: And in truth, that is exactly what happened...

101)
1: One out of the four...Takigawa Saburoubei was originally a priest, but became employed by Nobunaga and was given land worth 40,000 koku...
2: He told Nobukatsu of the news as soon as he returned to the castle.
3: And so, in order to execute the other three, Nobukatsu has to decide on who would kill them.
4: I seeee!
5: So thaaat's what happened!
6: Iida Hanbei and Hijikata Kanbei began their wooden sword duel immediately!

102)
1: Keaaaaaah

103)
1: uooohhhhhh
2: crack!
3: That's enough!
4: Hijikata Kanbei wins!

104)
1: Dammit!
2: Looks like you got a little lucky this time! Just a little!
3: Uwahaha
4: I have no choice now! We made a promise.
5: Fine then, I'll go kill Genba!
6: Haha
7: Alright, then leave Nagato to me!
8: Now, my lord! I will leave to go kill Nagato.
9: Umu! Go at once!
10: But Kanbei!
11: Why do you want to kill Nagato so badly?

105)
1: Umu...
2: I'll tell you, so be sure and dig open your ears.
3: I dug them open...now tell me!
4: Umu...you should already know that Nagato and I very close friends...
5: Even among the esteemed vassals, Nagato is one of the most loyal, and is not afraid to tell his lord that something wrong is truly strong...
6: Umu.
7: It's bitter medicine...and I think the lord
8: actually hates Nagato...
9: That's why Nagato always said what he did...
10: Hey, Kanbei...
11: Our lord spits out soft words, takes what people say to him lightly, making our daily life quite unpleasant...

106)
1: I counsel my lord because I care about him, and he prejudices me as a result.
2: That cannot be.
3: The lord must simply be playing with you. Otherwise it is your own unjust suspicion.
4: No, no, you see, someday...
5: The lord will make some sort of mistake, and I will be killed as a result. The possibility is always there.
6: And when that time comes, who will be sent to kill me?
7: Do you think you have what it takes...to drop down ol' Nagato here without any hassle?
8: Hahah
9: Hohh, that's interesting. Fine, if there ever comes a time when someone must be sent to kill you,
10: then I will allow the lord to send no one other than myself. Hahaha!
11: No, I wouldn't do that if I were you...you may be well-respected as a man of steel, but not even you can match my strength.
12: Muu

107)
1: I'll just take the sword I used to cut through five dead bodies and slice your skull in two! Ha ha ha!
2: Muu...
3: Ohh, so that's why...
4: Well, do your best.
5: Same to you!
6: Two days later--Tsukawa Genba, one of the vassals, was eliminated -- of course, it was by Hanbei, who had been assigned to him. But no one else found out.
7: Next, Okada Nagato was to be killed on March 30th, 1585 (Tenshou 13), on his way up to the castle...
8: Nagato knew nothing of what was to happen, so he said his greetings as always.
9: I hope everything is well with your body and that your heart is clear, my lord. As always, I am in reverence of your presence.

108)
1: I am happy to see you are well too, Nagato. Now, come a bit closer, there is something I want to show you.
2: Yes, sir.
3: Looks like someone told him...so Genba's death was planned, then...
4: That must mean today is my turn...
5: This is what I want to show you.
6: I made it myself.

109)
1: And since I know you're good with guns, I wanted to show it to you!
2: haha
3: He wants me to hold this so neither of my hands will be free...
4: Hohoh! This is truly a well-made gun...
5(no bubble): Then suddenly!
6: Hijikata Kanbei, who had been waiting for his perfect chance
7: grabbed the large sword behind him
8: By the lord's wishes!

111)
1: It broke! And just as the broken piece of sword flew by Nagato's cheeks--
2: he shot his hands to the long sword at his waist
3: and, aiming at Kanbei's head, DASHED FORWARD!

112)
1: gah
2: Kanbei's sword flashed! But then!
3: Their two massive blades broke at the same time!

113)
1: Unuu
2: Now, Kanbei's sword was broken and he still hadn't completed his mission!
3: Come with your bare fists!
4: Nagato!
5: Sure!
6: Nagato stripped instantly and stood up!

114)
1: yaaaaah
2: Kanbei viciously attacked Nagato.
3: Kanbei got behind, and began strangling Nagato!

115)
1: Both of their faces were blood red!
2: All those watching were dead silent...
3: Even Nobukatsu, surprised at the developments, unconsciously stood up!
4: Nuuu
5: Nagato grabbed Kanbei's neck!

116)
1: Then they fell, and Kanbei wrapped his legs around Nagato's waist!
2: He clenched with all his might!
3: While Nagato used the hands that once sliced through five whole men to strangle Kanbei!
4: Nuuuu
5: The veins in their heads were popping out so much that they looked as if they would explode at any second.

117)
1: At that moment, it lookedd as if Nobukatsu could go on watching Kanbei's struggle no longer.
2: Kanbei, enough! Let him go!
3: I will cut him down!
4: Then, in a strained voice, Kanbei cried:
5: This man is a beast! If I let him go, he will kill 30 or 50 people easily! Including myself!
6: No, you cannot stay like this! I cannot cut you two! Let him go, let him go!
7: Kanbei, let him go!

118)
1: Nagato was no common man...even in his current position, he showed no opening to Nobukatsu.
2: Ggggh!
3: Nobukatsu could do nothing but stare.
4: While everyone else watching clenched their fists!
5: Nuoohhhh
6: Suddenly, Kanbei let up on his legs

119)
1: and pulled out his neck with all his might.
2: Ahh! He stood up!
3: Nagato was also released from Kanbei...
4: and hurriedly tried to stand up.
5: Then, just as he raised his hip
6: Iyaaaaah

120)
1: Remember, Nagato?!

121)
1: Ohhh

122)
1: Yaaaah!

123)
bam!

124)
1: Ohhh!
2: Excellent, Kanbei!
3: Blood spurted from Nagato's body, and his bones snapped!
4: But then!

125)
1: All those who turned their eyes on Kanbei
2: saw his only his headless body standing there!

126)
1: His head was being gripped in Nagato's right hand.
THE END