Chapter Twelve: The Battle Commences—The Hojo Army’s Assault

“My lord, please don your heavy armor!”

Seeing that the decision was made, their lord had resolved to save the villagers of Maple Village.

Thus, Mitsuhide Akechi no longer resisted; in his heart, his lord was indeed a benevolent ruler.

As a retainer, he and all the surrounding vassal warriors felt an immense sense of pride.

Yet, to Mitsuhide’s dismay, Hojo Akitoki, who seemed poised to personally lead the front lines, wore only light armor.

This was absolutely unacceptable to Mitsuhide.

He knew well that in battle, swords and blades showed no mercy. If a single misstep occurred, Mitsuhide was certain he wouldn’t even have time to perform seppuku in atonement.

“Yes, Lord Hojo Akitoki,”

Gowa, somewhat transformed into a fervent admirer due to Akitoki’s resolve to save the villagers, stepped forward to urge him on, despite Inuyasha’s jealous glare.

“Mitsuhide’s advice is sound; you should wear more protection.”

“No need,”

Hojo Akitoki smiled and declined the kind offers from the man and woman beside him, adjusting his light armor.

“The enemy outside are demons who manipulate invisible hair as weapons; light armor grants me maximum agility.”

“Relying on my years of martial training and instincts honed in battle,”

“Maintaining agility might actually increase my chances of survival—and the opportunity to defeat these demons.”

“Yes, it is I who have not thought this through,”

Mitsuhide considered this and found the reasoning sound.

Wrapping oneself in iron plating certainly boosts defense—but that’s for human warfare.

Facing demons outside, encased in iron, one might be overturned in a moment’s carelessness, losing even the chance to rise and escape.

With this thought, Mitsuhide quietly resolved that once battle began, he would protect his lord’s side.

Any demon wishing to harm his lord would have to step over his body first.

However...

Mitsuhide cast a resentful glance at the young girl standing beside their lord, gazing at him with overwhelming admiration.

If not for this woman, how could the lord have made such a decision?

“In that case, I will accompany Lord Hojo Akitoki into battle!”

Suddenly, Gowa made a decision that astonished Granny Maple and Inuyasha alike.

Under the astonished gazes of Mitsuhide and the samurai around, the courageous girl glanced around and picked up a bow and arrow set that had been resting on the ground.

“You ugly woman, what can you do? You’d better stay in camp with your head down,”

Before Granny Maple could stop Gowa, Inuyasha bluntly scoffed with a tone of mockery.

Having recovered somewhat, Inuyasha stretched his body, feeling his previous wounds were no longer a problem.

“No, on Lord Hojo Akitoki’s path of righteousness, I want to contribute my strength as well.”

Shaking her head, Gowa made it clear she must go.

She was not the type to spout pretty words and then hide behind excuses of gender when things got serious.

Moreover, in Gowa’s eyes, none of the warriors in the camp had truly cared for the villagers’ safety—only the most revered person in the camp had stood up.

He vowed to uphold the path of benevolence.

Such a great and compassionate lord!

Clutching her bow tightly, though lacking confidence in her skill, in her heart she swore to protect Hojo Akitoki at all costs.

“Gowa!”

Granny Maple, perceptive and wise, saw through Gowa’s resolve at a glance.

Still, she worried about the Shikon Jewel; villagers were important, but so was the jewel.

Now, the only one capable of finding the jewel was the reincarnation of her elder sister.

“You should not go,”

After careful consideration, Granny Maple made her decision.

She did not want Gowa to take such a risk.

“Hmph.”

Seeing both the old priestess Maple and the demon Inuyasha opposing Gowa’s departure for reasons of safety, Mitsuhide let out a perfectly timed snort to express his displeasure.

What’s the matter? Could this countryside girl be more precious than Lord Hojo Akitoki himself?

Though Mitsuhide did not say this aloud, his actions made it clear.

This caused Granny Maple’s cheeks to flush, while thick-skinned Inuyasha remained indifferent.

“I...”

Shy Gowa was about to speak, unwilling to leave such an impression.

“Mitsuhide, enough, don’t say more.”

Hojo Akitoki stretched out his hand, halting the awkward mood.

With a gentle smile, he turned to Gowa and asked,

“It’s dangerous; are you sure you want to go?”

“Of course!”

Meeting Hojo Akitoki’s warm gaze, Gowa’s heart leapt; blushing fiercely, she answered firmly.

“Good. Follow me closely; don’t stray far.”

“If you’re too far, I might not be able to protect you.”

“And use your skills in the battle ahead to contribute to our victory.”

Without trying to dissuade her or belittle her efforts, Hojo Akitoki gave Gowa his full support.

That feeling of being needed and valued filled Gowa’s heart completely.

“Mm!”

So moved she could barely speak, Gowa gripped her bow tightly and vowed once more to fight with all her might.

“Someone, teach her how to use the bow—so she can shoot more accurately in the heat of battle.”

Without further words, Hojo Akitoki summoned a trusted archer from among his retainers.

Then, without looking back, he strode toward the ravine’s gap.

Following behind, Mitsuhide cast one last glance at the excited Gowa.

Then he looked again at the helpless Granny Maple and the conflicted Inuyasha.

“My lord, are you sure?”

Seizing the final opportunity, Mitsuhide whispered.

“If the king does not move forward, how will the people know where to go?”

Grasping his sword, Hojo Akitoki’s every step radiated a growing aura of strength.

When he reached the ravine’s opening, his presence was so intense it was almost blinding.

Seeing their lord’s overwhelming aura, even the warriors who had been reluctant to risk their lives for what they had once deemed lowly villagers now prepared wholeheartedly to follow him into battle.

“I understand,”

Sensing the shift in the warriors’ hearts, Mitsuhide realized the deeper meaning behind his lord’s actions.

Through repeated acts of benevolence, the loyalty of the entire Hojo army would be completely united under their lord.

In this way, the Hojo army would become impregnable, unrivaled in the world!

Their lord, Hojo Akitoki, truly understood human nature!

“Advance!”

After pausing briefly, Hojo Akitoki waited for the warriors to prepare.

Then he drew the Muramasa sword, Sirius, and with a mighty downward slash, loudly commanded the attack.

“Lord Hojo Akitoki and the Hojo army are advancing!”

In response to his roar, the camp’s loudest and most boisterous soldiers shouted enthusiastically, while others blew conch shells signaling the charge.

“Roar!”

In an instant, the cries rose like an avalanche, accompanied by the shrill blasts of the conch shells.

Flag-bearing vassal warriors emblazoned with the three-scaled Hojo family crest swarmed around Hojo Akitoki, marching toward a world of righteousness.

“This is the Hojo army?”

Amidst the grand and imposing charge of what seemed like a thousand troops, Gowa could not help but exclaim again.

The girl only knew to follow closely in her lord’s footsteps.

“Damn it, these humans—just humans,”

Even Inuyasha, a demon, felt a chill of fear in his heart.