In Another World With My Smartphone: Volume 3

by Patora Fuyuhara

  Chapter I: The Divine Nation, Eashen

  Before our adventure in Eashen began, we used a [Gate] to go back home to Belfast and properly prepare for the journey ahead. Our group consisted of Yae, Elze, Linze, Yumina, Kohaku, Leen, Paula, and me.

  After we did all we had to in Belfast, we went to Eashen again and made Yae lead us through the dense forest. Shortly after I began to notice that the leaves were letting through more and more sunlight, the view before us became clear of foliage.

  “Whoa...” I couldn’t contain my voice. We were standing on a small hill, looking down at a large town with paddy fields surrounding it. There was even a castle. It wasn’t a western style castle like in Belfast, though. It looked like the Japanese castles in Himeji or Osaka. Still, it looked somewhat small.

  “That is my birthplace, Oedo, it is.”

  Man, Oedo... sounds way close to Edo, the old name for Tokyo. From a single glance, I could tell that the town wasn’t really like the ones you’d see in historical dramas.

  First of all, it was clearly a fortress town. There was a long moat and a tall stone wall to ward off any invaders. I could see sentries standing on the walls, and the turret towers built on them had archers inside. Some houses were scattered near the paddy fields surrounding the town, but most of the buildings were densely packed within the walls.

  Eashen was by no means a large country. I heard it had an individual who could be called king, but he didn’t get involved in politics too much, which allowed the local feudal lords to do as they pleased.

  The nine lords governed their own areas, having disputes now and then, and with the king at the top, they had a somewhat functioning country.

  If I remember right, Yae said the names of the lords were Shimazu, Mori, Chosokabe, Hashiba, Oda, Takeda, Tokugawa, Uesugi, and Date... Okay, wait a second.

  The ridiculously familiar names almost made me think it was a joke.

  Is Eashen actually going through the Sengoku period? Are all the little states at war? I tried asking Yae, and apparently, the country hadn’t had any major conflicts for the past several decades.

  Probably a coincidence, I guess... Or is it...? Yae’s home, Oedo, was located in the east of Eashen. Tokugawa’s domain, to be precise. From what I was told, he was a reasonably wealthy lord who was kind to his subjects.

  “So, Leen, where are these ancient ruins you want to visit?” Though small when compared to many countries, Eashen was still a large landmass. We wouldn’t find anything by searching aimlessly.

  “I’m not sure. But I’ve heard the place is known as the ‘Ruins of Nirya’ to the locals.”

  “Yae, that ring any bells?”

  “Nirya...? I feel like I might have heard that name before, I might... but I am not sure... My father should know more.” For the time being, we just followed Yae into the town. Crossing the wooden bridge over the moat, we entered an area surrounded by walls.

  Once inside the town, I couldn’t help but notice just how Japanese everything looked. Most buildings were wooden, single-storied, and had tiled roofs. The entrances were shoji sliding doors, while shops had familiar curtain-style signs hanging in front. The language on them wasn’t Japanese, though, naturally. The people passing by were clad in samurai gear or kimonos. Some looked like standard townsfolk, while others resembled casually-dressed ronin. Sadly, none of them had shaved foreheads or topknots. The most popular hairstyle was clearly the ponytail.

  “Whoa, what’s that? What are they carrying?” Elze was watching as two people walked across the road while hauling a kago, one of those carrier chairs.

  “They’re sedan chair bearers. You pay money, those guys lift you up in that chair and take you where you need to be. It’s an alternative to horse-drawn carriages.” Elze’s eyes widened at my answer, and she stared at the kago as it passed us by. It wasn’t a scene you’d see in Belfast, so it was probably a bit of a culture shock to her.

  “Wh-Why do people have to be the ones doing the carrying? Carriages are far simpler and faster...” Linze couldn’t have been more right. Honestly, I was sort of wondering the same thing. The only answer that came to my mind was “cultural differences”...

  “The roads in Eashen are not as well developed as the roads in Belfast. It is highly troublesome to travel on them with carriages, it is. Horses are also scarcer here, they are.”

  Well, that makes sense. I guess there are places in the world where services like this are the easiest solution.

  “Touya, that person there is wearing wooden shoes.”

  “Wooden shoes? Oh, those are called geta.”

  “Why is that bell hanging from that tower?” Linze questioned.

  “That’s the fire lookout’s fire bell...”

  “What a beautiful sound... What are they selling there?” Yumina inquired.

  “Wind chimes. The wind blows and you just enjoy the sound...”

  “...Touya-dono, despite not being born here, you have a strange knowledge of Eashen, you do.”

  Well, I guess I know a little more about Japanese history than I should... My grandpa used to watch historical dramas with me all the time.

  Something didn’t sit right with me about the town. The townspeople didn’t seem all that happy. It was as if they were afraid or anxious about something...

  Yae led us through a shrine’s torii arch and a bamboo thicket road that took us to an open space, where we found a large residence surrounded by a fence.

  We passed through a magnificent gate with a sign that said “Kokonoe Shinmei-style Swordfighting Dojo, Kuyoukan.” Once we walked into the house’s entrance hall, Yae raised her voice.

  “Is anyone home?!” A few moments later, following some audible footsteps, a female servant with her hair neatly tied up behind her head came to greet us. She looked approximately twenty years old.

  “Yes, hello. Greetings... Oh my, Yae-sama!”

  “Ayane! It has been so long, it has!” Pleasantly surprised, the servant named “Ayane” ran up to Yae and took her hand.

  “Welcome back, Yae-sama! Nanae-sama, your daughter has returned!” After she said that, another set of footsteps echoed through the halls. Moments later, we were joined by a mature, gentle-looking woman. She wore a purple kimono and looked like she was in her late thirties. I could see some resemblance to Yae in her features.

  “Mother! I have returned!”

  “Yae... I’m so glad you’re alright... Welcome back.” So she was her mother, just as I’d thought. Nanae embraced her daughter tightly. It must’ve been a long time since they’d seen one another. I could see some tears shining in her eyes.

  “Yae, who are these people?”

  “Ah, yes. These are my friends. They helped me get through a lot, they did.”

  “Oh my goodness... You have my sincerest gratitude for taking care of my daughter.” Yae’s mother sat on the floor and bowed her head. I was quick to tell her that she was overdoing it. It really shone a light on what a doting mother she was. Not everyone could express thanks with that position, even if it was related to their children.

  “N-No need for that. We did as much for her as she did for us, so please, raise your head.”

  “Mother, where is Father? Did he go to the castle?” Nanae and Ayane looked at each other, gloomy expressions clouding their faces. Moments later, Nanae stood up and began slowly explaining the situation.

  “Your father isn’t here. He... went to battle alongside Lord Ieyahsu-sama.”

  “To battle?!” Yae raised her voice in surprise and stared at her mother.

  A battle, huh? That’s pretty grim. I was under the impression that the king around here had
things united.

  “Who are they fighting against?”

  “Lord Takeda. A few days ago, he launched a surprise attack on the northwestern town of Katsunuma and is now advancing toward Kawagoe. To stop them, the master of the house and Jutaro-sama made their way to the fortress in Kawagoe.” Instead of Nanae, the one to answer now was Ayane.

  So the lord of the neighboring territory suddenly began attacking this one, huh...?

  “Brother went with him, too...? I just do not understand... Why would Lord Takeda suddenly invade us like this...? I cannot imagine Lord Takeda Schingen ever allowing something so foolish...!”

  “I hear that Lord Takeda recently hired a strange strategist to join his retinue. The man was named Yamamoto, I believe. The people say that he is a swarthy man with only one eye, that he uses mysterious magic... He might have somehow influenced Lord Takeda.”

  Huh, Nanae’s explanation doesn’t really make any sense... Takeda’s strategist. Yamamoto. That can only mean one guy. Yamamoto Kansuke. One of the “Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen.” But Nanae’s making him sound like some kind of weird wizard... Maybe it’s not so smart to conflate this Kansuke with the one I’ve heard of... Even if they do share some similarities, they could still be pretty different.

  “So how is the battle going?” After listening quietly for a while, Leen suddenly spoke up. Paula, who was standing at her feet, slightly tilted her head to the side as well. Kohaku, who was sitting right next to Paula, saw that and did the exact same thing.

  Heh, cute. Wait, now’s not the time for that.

  “Due to the surprising nature of the attack, there are rumors that our side could not gather enough soldiers. They say it is only a matter of time until the fortress in Kawagoe is conquered.”

  “But father and brother are there...!” Ayane’s words filled Yae’s face with dread. But just as quickly as that dread had appeared, it vanished and was replaced with a look of burning determination. We knew all too well that Yae wasn’t one to sit still if her family was in danger.

  “Touya-dono! I have been at a ridge not so far from the fortress at Kawagoe in the past! Please...!”

  “Alright. Let’s go.”

  “Thank you, Touya-dono!” I took Yae’s hand and stated what I was about to do. Elze, Linze, and Yumina all nodded in agreement.

  “I didn’t expect to go to war. However, I can understand how she feels, so I’ll come along as well.” Leen shrugged and adopted a faint smile. Little Paula was fully up for it as well, expressing her intentions with a little shadow boxing. I didn’t expect that to be in her programming.

  “Yae, picture that ridge in your mind.”

  “Very well, I will.” I took both of her hands, closed my eyes, and lightly pushed my forehead against hers. I wasn’t embarrassed at all, which was a given considering the dire situation.

  “[Recall].” I could see a certain scenery. There was a large, solitary cedar tree and a distant castle... No, it was a fortress. That was Kawagoe, no doubt about it.

  I let go of Yae’s hands and opened a [Gate] right there in the entrance hall. Yae was the first to dash through. The rest of the girls followed and disappeared moments after.

  The sight left Nanae and Ayane staring in disbelief, so I took it upon myself to say something.

  “We will do anything we can to bring Yae’s father and brother back to you. I’ll make sure we’re all back in one piece, so don’t worry.”

  “What are you...?” I couldn’t think of a good answer to Nanae’s question, so I laughed it off and ran through the [Gate].

  ◇　◇　◇

  We stood on the ridge overlooking the fortress. It was clearly under assault, releasing black smoke into the sky.

  I used the Null spell [Long Sense] to take a closer look at the situation. The hill fortress was somewhat holding back the invasion of the enemy forces, but the fires here and there made a portion of the defenders shift their focus on putting them out, which meant less men to repel the enemy.

  The flaming arrows didn’t stop, either. They continued to rain down as the incoming soldiers gathered around the walls and climbed up.

  I took out my smartphone and run a search for “Yae’s brother.” It isn’t the first time I’ve ran a search for him, so it should work... There. He was in the fortress, running back and forth along the walls. He didn’t seem hurt, judging from his pace.

  “Your brother seems fine for now. Don’t know about your dad, though.”

  “We have to hurry inside...!”

  “Hold it. Do you actually think you can just walk over and get in there?” Leen stopped Yae from recklessly charging toward the fortress. It was surrounded by the enemy, so getting inside was no easy task. But that didn’t mean we were out of options entirely.

  “I’ll cast [Long Sense], survey the area one kilometer away, and use a [Gate] to get there. If I keep doing that, I’ll be in the fortress in no time. I’ll go alone first, so we don’t get spotted. Once I get in the fortress, I’ll open a [Gate] to connect you guys there, so wait for me here.”

  “I see. That does seem to be the safest route.” Leen put her hand on her chin and began pondering something. Oh, wait a second...

  “Hey uh... can’t you fairies fly around with those wings on your backs?”

  “Hm? Oh, no, it’s impossible. Unlike the avians, our wings have devolved. We can flap them, but they only let us float for a brief moment. Not to mention that it’s very tiring.”

  That’s a shame... It’d be easier if she could fly me above the fortress or something... Then again, the defenders might think that I was dangerous and try to shoot me down, so I guess it’d be a stupid thing to do regardless...

  Thus, I went with my original plan anyway.

  “Kohaku, look after them. Contact me if something happens.”

  “Very well.”

  “What?! The tiger talks?!” Leen’s eyes widened in surprise.

  Wait, didn’t I tell you already...? Oh, right... it was supposed to be a secret since you’re an important Mismedian... Well, she said she wouldn’t tell anyone about my powers, so I’m sure she’ll keep this one a secret too.

  I used [Long Sense] and looked one kilometer ahead. Looks like a good spot... I opened a [Gate] in a grove close to the fortress.

  “Alright, I’m off.” I stepped through the portal and came out in the grove. I could hear war cries and roars nearby, and the air felt downright unnatural. The abhorrent mix of fire and blood created a foul stench.

  I looked up at the fortress and thought about what my next move should be. Just two more teleportations could get me into the castle, but I’d rather get in without being spotted by the enemy.

  I cast [Long Sense] once again. And, sure enough, with all the soldiers surrounding it, there was no way for me to just warp in unnoticed. No other options, then. I have to reach a spot with only a few enemies, take care of them, and then warp into the fortress...

  I looked for a place with a comparatively small amount of soldiers, but it took quite a few uses of my spell. Soon enough, I found a place not too far from the fortress’ side. I could buy a lot of time after downing the two bowmen hanging around there.

  “Reload.” I inserted rubber bullets imbued with [Paralyze] into the Remington New Model Army holstered on my right hip and actual bullets into my gunblade, Brunhild, which was hanging on my back. I had to be prepared in case they had any magic-warding amulets.

  “[Gate].” Drawing my New Model Army, I opened a portal to a spot where the two enemies couldn’t see me. From there, I took aim and fired paralyzing bullets at their backs. This feels a bit cheap...

  They got hit and fell to the ground, but instead of getting paralyzed and staying that way, they slowly stood up and pulled out their katanas.

  What the hell?! What surprised me wasn’t the fact that they weren’t paralyzed. It was their strange appearance.

  Japanese-style armor on their bodies, helms on their heads, swords in hand — all of that w
as fine. But the masks covering their faces were absolutely weird.

  They were oni masks. Red oni masks with horns and the angriest possible expression sculpted on them. Japanese headgear had mask-like visors that protected the wearer from facial damage, but these masks weren’t like that at all. They were wearing oni masks, wearing the very visage of monsters. There was no two ways about it.

  There was another unnatural thing about them. I could see some spots of skin through their damaged clothing and under their helms, and it was all as red as the mask. It was as though they were red onis themselves, wearing masks to hide the fact.

  Spurred by how abnormal they were, I hastily put the gun with rubber bullets back into the holster and took out Brunhild. Then, I aimed at the legs of the nearest one and fired a few real bullets. I had to immobilize them. I really didn’t want a murder on my conscience.

  However, as if to show how much my sentiment didn’t matter, the soldier shrugged off the attack and charged at me with his katana. Oh, crap!

  “[Slip]!” The friction of the ground under his feet dropped to nil, causing him to lose his balance and slump to the ground. Yeah! Good old [Slip] to the rescue! I took the opportunity to step on his sword arm with my left leg and kick away his mask with the other. The mask shattered and the face beneath it was revealed. He was red, that much was for sure, but it was a standard human face nonetheless. The man suddenly stopped moving. Ah crap, did I kick him too hard?

  Wait... are they being controlled by the masks?! I took out the New Model Army again and fired a rubber bullet into the other soldier as he prepared to charge me with his sword.

  The impact from the hard rubber shot made the mask crack and neatly split in two. When it fell to the ground, the soldier fell along with it, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.

  So it is the masks...

  “What the hell were they, anyway...?” I closed in on the collapsed soldier.

  Ugh... it stinks. Wait... he’s dead! Do these masks control corpses and make them fight or something?! Can you even do that?! Wait... the guy I shot in the leg barely even bled... It made sense once I realized that they were already dead. They didn’t have blood flowing through their veins.