Chapter 43
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The New Year scenery of samurais during the Sengoku period is not much different from that of modern people. They would go to the shrine for the first visit of the year with their relatives and comrades, and enjoy the New Year by drinking sake. If we were to point out the differences, one would be the act of going up to the castle to greet their lord. After that, they would go around to pay their respects to the senior vassals and other retainers.
Keiji and Nagayoshi, who are in Shizuko’s village, also decided to temporarily return home. Only Saizo expressed a desire to visit the Atago Shrine instead of going home. Shizuko, knowing that Saizo has had a strong faith in the Atago Shrine since he was young, agreed without asking any questions. Shizuko then gave the three of them some money and food for their journey. Although she did this thinking it would be helpful if they encountered any difficulties along the way, the three of them were puzzled by her excessive consideration. They considered refusing Shizuko’s gift, but in the end, they accepted it gratefully, understanding that it was because it was Shizuko who gave it to them.
On the other hand, Shizuko didn’t change much from last year. She celebrated the New Year with the villagers at a banquet, then went to the castle the next day to greet her lord, Nobunaga, and joined a drinking party. This year, she made a conscious effort to abstain from alcohol, so she didn’t embarrass herself by getting drunk. Although a few more people approached her compared to last time, Shizuko was still relatively unknown among the Oda clan’s retainers. However, she didn’t particularly mind being unknown since she had no intention of making a name for herself. She could obtain the necessary authority and materials through Aya, and she hadn’t encountered any difficulties in her daily life. As Shizuko returned home without drinking a drop of alcohol at the drinking party, she felt a slight loneliness in the quietness of her house.
In an attempt to distract herself from the loneliness, Shizuko sketches various tools on washi paper. The classifications are diverse, including cooking utensils, agricultural tools, and measuring instruments.
The reason for sketching utensils is somewhat complex. Unlike the first and second years, Shizuko has started to have some level of comfort in her life. With this newfound comfort, she notices the lack of convenience that she had previously been too busy to realize. Particularly, she noticed everyday items. During the Sengoku period, resources were consumed for weapons, resulting in extremely poor quality household items. They were fragile and not standardized in size. This would undoubtedly become a problem after the unification of the country. Therefore, Shizuko believed that it was necessary to reproduce everyday items. In fact, one of the reasons she made a stone kiln was to reproduce a substitute for a microwave oven.
Shizuko sketched as many daily necessities as she could remember. The measurements were based on the MKS (meters, kilograms, seconds) unit system. Originally, she had planned to introduce the MKS unit system to the Oda territory at the same time, but the potential confusion among craftsmen due to large-scale standardization was a concern. After discussions, they decided to experimentally introduce it in one village. Shizuko, who was also working on plans for a new village for personal reasons, took this opportunity to recruit pottery craftsmen and woodworking craftsmen who could process bamboo and lumber, in addition to the existing blacksmiths and weavers who were already producing ceramics. The main focus was on the blacksmiths, and the other craftsmen from weaving onwards, to put it bluntly, were considered as extras.
There are two main types of blacksmiths: swordsmiths who make weapons like matchlock guns and armor, and livelihood blacksmiths who make tools for farming, among other things. Swordsmiths are highly regarded and employed by various local lords, while livelihood blacksmiths are considered to be of lower rank compared to swordsmiths. However, during the Edo period, the roles of swordsmiths and livelihood blacksmiths were reversed, and swordsmiths had to seek guidance from livelihood blacksmiths in order to make a living. However, Shizuko was concerned that there might be few livelihood blacksmiths during the Sengoku period. But her worries were unfounded.
In just two days, every profession reached its designated number. It’s only natural, as the Oda territory is a place overflowing with money and goods. Compared to other countries, it is an environment where starting businesses and professions is easier, so it is inevitable that craftsmen and merchants would flock here. Of course, there are cases where craftsmen and merchants also leave for other countries, but the number is insignificant. Therefore, when the Oda family recruits craftsmen, it is not surprising that they are inundated with applicants. Due to the large number of applicants, selection exams were conducted to reduce the number to the designated amount, but thanks to that, we were able to have a large number of skilled craftsmen. On paper, they are a technical group employed by the Oda family, but in reality, they are Shizuko’s personal group of skilled technicians.
There is a reason why Shizuko specifically hired a group of technical experts. Farmers who inherited agricultural technology from Shizuko were able to obtain harvests that they had never experienced before. At first, they were happy, but the unusually large harvest became a major problem. The issue was that there were no storage facilities that could accommodate the amount of crops harvested. The farmers, who obtained a large amount of crops at once, had an excess amount that far exceeded their family’s consumption and emergency reserves. It was clear that they would be taken advantage of if they sold the crops to merchants. Moreover, selling them without permission was not allowed under the contract with Nobunaga. They didn’t know what kind of punishment they would face if their secret selling was discovered. In their desperation, they turned to Shizuko for help.
However, it was a difficult situation even for Shizuko, who was exhausted from crying. While relatively long-lasting grains could still be preserved, perishable crops such as vegetables would take at least a few days to obtain permission for sale, increasing the risk of them going bad during that time. However, it was impossible to consume all the produce at once. After much deliberation, she decided to give them knowledge about processing, preserving, and storing food, which was not originally planned. The reason for not planning it was that preserved foods were traditionally passed down in each household, creating their own uniqueness. Shizuko had no intention of standardizing it. Instead, she advocated for each household’s unique seasoning.
Anyway, they hurriedly built a simple storage facility and tried to preserve the processed crops for storage. However, now they were short on storage tools. This was not something that could be solved with Shizuko’s knowledge alone, so we had no choice but to rely on the incoming merchants and Nobunaga to gather what they needed. In the end, they had to discard nearly ten percent of the vegetables, but they managed to complete all the processes somehow.
The villagers breathed a sigh of relief, but Shizuko’s expression did not improve. She had realized something in this incident. She had been too arrogant, thinking that everything would be fine if she asked for help from Nobunaga and the others. Reflecting on this, she realized the need to secure enough tools to prevent a similar situation from happening again. However, in the war-torn Sengoku period, there were few craftsmen who could make tools that were essential for daily life, making it extremely difficult to secure them. That’s when Shizuko came up with an idea. If people were scattered, why not gather them and create a village? And while they were at it, why not spread the MKS unit system as well?
All three units, meter, kilogram, and second, require a reference standard. For the meter, we decided to use Shizuko’s modern ruler and bamboo ruler as the reference standards, as they were available. As for the second, an atomic clock would be ideal, but it was impossible to observe atoms during the Sengoku period. Instead, we decided to use a sundial as a daily tool to help people develop a sense of time.
The kilogram prototype was troublesome. However, having a prototype for weight is important in order to eliminate fraudulent manipulation of quantities. She was at a loss as to what to do, but suddenly she remembered that there was a kilogram prototype in the Edo period. Since it was measured on a balance scale, a basic weight was necessary. She pondered if there was something that weighed one gram.
Something close to me solved that problem. It’s modern currency. In Shizuko’s time, it was determined by law that a one yen coin weighs one gram, and a five hundred yen coin weighs seven grams. There may be some milligram discrepancies, but we won’t worry about that. Anyway, now that we have the materials, we can use the one yen coin as the gram standard, and gather multiple grams to create a kilogram standard. There may be some discrepancies with the kilogram, but we won’t dwell on that either. It’s impossible to perfectly replicate it, and more importantly, right now it’s more important to spread the unit system than to achieve perfection.
During the time when they were replicating instruments from the original device and spreading the MKS unit system among the people in the technology village, a suspicious man arrived in Shizuko’s village.
That man exuded a suspicious atmosphere just by looking at him.
“Hehehe, Shizuko-sama. You’re looking lovely today.”
The name of the man who greets people with a massage is Kyujiro. Despite this, he is one of the merchants allowed to enter and leave the village of Shizuko by Nobunaga. His last name is unknown, and although he was born in Omi, he became a traveling merchant at the same time as his coming-of-age ceremony and has been moving from place to place.
I am in my early twenties, but I look like I am in my late thirties. Not only that, but I have extremely thinning hair, to the point where even the back of my head is dangerously bald. This makes me the most suspicious-looking merchant among all the traders. However, being a merchant from Omi, my business skills are top-notch among the traders. In particular, my sense of what makes a product sell is sharp, so I am able to procure and sell the same items as other merchants who deal with Nobunaga, but faster and at higher prices. Perhaps it is this shrewdness that has earned me Nobunaga’s favor.
“What can I assist you with today?”
“I have a product that I would like you to take a look at… hey.”
After responding to Shizuko’s words with a smirk and a suspicious smile, Kyujiro briefly called out to the man behind him. The man responded briefly and then placed the wooden box on the left side in front of Shizuko. Then, the man stepped back behind Kyujiro. Keiji, one of the horsemen, cautiously opened the box while remaining on guard.
“What is this?”
Keiji, who checked the contents, let out a crazy scream. It’s no wonder, as the wooden box only contained various sizes of stones. Saizo and Nagayoshi also reacted to Keiji’s voice and looked inside the box. Saizo tilted his head in confusion at the sight of the stones, while Nagayoshi pointed at Kyujiro and shouted angrily. Despite witnessing the reactions of the three, Kyujiro remained unfazed, wearing his usual suspicious smile.
“Yes, everyone, that’s enough. Will you show it to me too?”
As soon as she said that, she pushed the three people aside and checked the contents of the wooden box. When she picked it up and looked closely, she noticed that there were white things mixed in like spots. There were completely white stones as well, but they seemed quite brittle, more like soft rocks. Holding the stone that looked more like a rock in her hand, Shizuko said to Kyujiro.
“I wonder where you got this rock?”
“Hehehe, normally the source of our products is a secret, but since it’s Shizuko-sama asking, I’ll gladly answer. Those items were brought from the Uesugi and Yusa territories.”
“I see. Alright, I will buy it at the price you requested.”
Shizuko said as she put the rocks back into the wooden box. Her three retainers were surprised that she was buying the stones, but since it was her decision, they didn’t interfere.
“As expected of Shizuko-sama. It seems you understand what this is. Well, I can’t really say anything arrogantly since I am in a position where I was taught by Shizuko-sama as well. Hehe.”
“Well, I do think it’s genuine, but let’s wait until the results come out just to be sure.”
“It’s alright. I’m an outsider, but I confirmed it with someone who knows the details… and it seems there’s no mistake. Well, I made sure to keep them quiet about it. Oops, that was an unrelated story, wasn’t it?”
“I wonder… Aya, will you bring me some money?”
Shizuko understood that his mention of “gag order” meant “becoming a Buddha.” If this rock is indeed the rock Shizuko had planned for, he thought it would be a hindrance to his business if it were dug up by knowledgeable outsiders.
“(Hey Shizuko, is this pebble really worth anything?)”
Nagayoshi, who was curious, whispered to Shizuko. The other two were also curious, so they eavesdropped on their conversation.
“(I’ll talk about it later. For now, if this rock is the same as what I know, it can be used. I think he’s probably factoring in that I’ll make something with it.)”
“(…That scum. Fine, I’ll ask later for now.)”
“Is the consultation over? Well then, this time it’s about this… I’m sure Shizuko-sama will be pleased with it (……..) I think.”
As soon as Nagayoshi moved away from Shizuko, Kyujiro smirked and spoke to the man in a low voice. The man shifted the wooden box in front of Shizuko to the side and placed another wooden box in front of her. Unlike the previous box, this one had a rectangular shape. After Keiji had Shizuko step back, he cautiously opened the box, just as before. Once again, Keiji couldn’t quite make out what was inside, and furrowed his brow. Shizuko, who saw the box from behind him, had a slightly tense expression on her face.
“Shizuko-sama, I have brought the money.”
“…Kyujiro-san, I’ll buy this too.”
When Aya forcefully took the sturdy wooden box filled with money from him, Shizuko placed it in front of him and said this.
“You can take as much as you like.”
Surprisingly, Kyujiro, after tapping his forehead, took out from the wooden box the exact amount he had originally intended to sell to Shizuko with her “Take as much as you like.”
“Hehehe, while an ordinary merchant would take everything, this Kyujiro won’t stoop to such low tricks.”
With a suspicious smile that clearly showed he didn’t have such noble thoughts, Kyujiro closed the lid of the wooden box after taking the money.
“Excuse me. I have another business meeting after this, so I will take my leave now. Well then, Shizuko-san. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, Kyujiro.”
With a suspicious smile until the end, Kyujiro left with the man. As they passed through the village’s entrance gate and Shizuko’s village disappeared from sight, the man who had been standing by Kyujiro’s side suddenly spoke up.
“Mr. Kyujiro, are you really sure about this? That much money is quite substantial…”
“Huh? Don’t call me a fool. That was probably testing me, right?”
Kyujiro responds with a mocking expression to the man’s words.
“If I took all that money. I would be excluded from that new business venture that woman was doing. And if I force my way in, I’ll be glared at by Lord Oda. I don’t want to be excluded from good deals by showing my greedy side. Only fools like those in Sakai would do such foolish things.”
“Ha, ha…”
“Listen, business is not just about immediate buying and selling. Sometimes, it’s necessary to enrich the other party without considering one’s own gains and losses. That investment at the time can later turn into a large sum of money and roll into my pocket. In other words, you have to take a loss to gain something.”
“Is that so?”
“Is that so… Well, are you really my son? Understand the basics of business, damn it. From today on, memorize the Ten Commandments of Omi merchants and the principle of ‘satisfying all three parties.’ You fool!”
After glancing at his son, who flinched at Kyujiro’s angry voice, he walked away with big strides. The son, left behind, hurriedly followed Kyujiro once he caught up with the situation.
On the other hand, Shizuko, who bought a rock and a certain object, said to Keiji while holding the rock in one hand.
“This is a mineral called pottery stone.”
“Pottery stone…?”
“Yes, it’s the raw material used to make porcelain. It’s not available in Owari or Mino, and it’s still not yet discovered in other countries, so it’s quite valuable.”
Pottery stone is a white, soft rock that is used as a raw material for porcelain. However, it cannot be obtained in Owari or Mino provinces. There are nearby deposits of pottery stone ore, such as Hattori and Kawai pottery stone in Ishikawa Prefecture, and Seimi, Isai, and Shibukusa pottery stone in Gifu Prefecture. However, both of these areas are territories of other countries, so it is not easy to go and mine there. Moreover, pottery stone itself has been excavated since the Edo period, so it would have been almost impossible to find during the Sengoku period.
Even when it comes to non-metallic minerals, there are many people involved in mining. However, the cost is usually lower than traditional mining methods because it involves open-pit mining, where the minerals are excavated by spiraling from the surface instead of digging tunnels. Open-pit mining is suitable for extracting ceramic materials that are often found in large quantities and close to the surface.
However, there is a problem that cannot be avoided no matter what. If we engage in flashy activities like mining in other countries, we will definitely attract the attention of the rulers of those lands. It would be problematic to do anything that could interfere with Nobunaga’s plans before he goes to Kyoto. When I was struggling to come up with a solution, I heard that Kyujiro went all the way there and started mining.
“I can’t believe they didn’t notice him, a fellow countryman… that bastard.”
“This is a different category from iron, copper, silver, and gold. In other words, if it’s not properly processed, it’s just like what Katsuzo-kun said, ‘a random stone lying around’. Even if the merchant dug up something unusable, they probably didn’t care. Maybe they even bribed them.”
In any case, if this is genuine pottery stone, it can be used to make ceramics in Japan. In the original history, porcelain production began in the early Edo period when white porcelain ore was discovered in Izumiyama, located in the eastern part of Arita Town, Saga Prefecture. The pottery produced at that time was a single-colored white pottery. The Japanese, who were already familiar with the ceramics produced by China, which had perfected the technology of ceramics in the 8th century, did not desire only white-colored pottery. Immediately, pottery with painted and decorated patterns was produced. In an instant, the single-colored white pottery was eliminated, and various patterns were painted by the hands of craftsmen, resulting in the production of Japanese tableware.
The reason for engaging in pottery production is simply because Shizuko wants to experience making porcelain at least once, which is a rather straightforward reason. There is also the idea that Nobunaga, who is not just a brute relying solely on military power, can use it to demonstrate his deep cultural knowledge and sophistication as a cultured person. However, for the most part, it is simply a very Shizuko-like reason of wanting to try making pottery.
“Well, after processing it to make it usable, I might have the craftsmen try making it. I’ll also try making one myself, though.”
“Oh, I see. So you have a hobby in pottery as well?”
“I don’t have such sophisticated hobbies. It’s just a good opportunity, so maybe I’ll give it a try once? Well, first I have to shape the clay. Aya, please arrange the wooden bucket and Seto clay.”
Understood. Is Seto no Do referring to the clay used by Seto potters?
“Okay, then please do that. I’ll wait until the wooden barrels for the pottery stones are ready before starting the work, so it’s fine for now. I’ll have the wooden box over here moved to my room. I’m tired, so I’ll inspect the contents later.”
With that, Shizuko lifts up the other wooden box. It feels surprisingly heavy, and she can feel its weight in her hands, but she manages to keep a calm expression and leaves the room.
“Oh, everyone can disband whenever they want. I don’t have any plans to meet anyone anymore.”
Just before leaving, Shizuko says that while observing their expressions. There didn’t seem to be any suspicion about Shizuko’s actions, especially. Shizuko inwardly feels relieved and puts her hand on her chest.
“Well then, see you.”
Finally, Shizuko leaves the room and returns to her own. Once back in her room, she places a wooden box near the center and securely locks the room. Confirming that there is no sign of anyone’s presence, Shizuko faces the wooden box placed in the middle of the room once again. She gently lifts the lid and checks the inside. The contents remain unchanged, and exactly as she had expected, they are sitting inside the wooden box.
(…Why does Kyujiro-san have this…? No, wait, why are modern items other than what I had, falling in this era…?)
Inside the wooden box was a black sports bag made of synthetic fibers.
The sports bag was quite large, about 80cm in length. And it wasn’t just any sports bag. The bag was worn out and covered in mud, showing that its owner had been using it for many years. However, contradicting those sentiments, there were countless bloodstains soaked into the bag. It was unclear whether the bloodstains were from the bag’s owner or someone else. Shizuko trembled as she unzipped the sports bag. Inside, there were numerous small plastic bags, something that looked like seedlings, and a diary-like notebook.
Shizuko, who was curious about what was inside the plastic bag and the seedlings, decided to read the diary first. She felt a bit guilty about reading someone else’s diary without permission, but her desire for information about the owner was stronger than her guilty conscience. Shizuko started reading from the back to see the latest information.
“On June 15th, my daughter finally left this house. Well, I shouldn’t say she left. More accurately, she got married and went to live with her new family. But man, I was caught off guard at the wedding. I mean, it was unfair for her to bring out the outfit I had sewn for her when she was in kindergarten. I had decided not to cry, but I ended up bawling my eyes out. And when I finally calmed down, she said something. She said that even though her mother passed away when she was young, her father showered her with enough love for both of them, so she never felt lonely. She said she’s proud to be her father’s daughter. And that made me cry even more. What am I going to do now? The photo of my daughter as a bride got all blurry from my tears. I can’t even show her wedding dress to her new husband.”
“On August 1st, my daughter and son-in-law come to my house from time to time. While I don’t feel lonely, I wonder if I’ve made them worry too much. I decided to talk to them about it because it was bothering me. It turns out they were also worried that I might feel lonely. My son-in-law even suggested that we live together, but I declined. First and foremost, my daughter and son-in-law need to build their own family. I’ve heard that some parents try to scheme and rely on their children for support through cohabitation, but I don’t want to be like those despicable people. So I told my daughter and son-in-law that I was really happy about the idea of living together. But, my daughter, your family is the person next to you, not me. Son-in-law, thank you for caring about this old man, but please care more about my daughter than me. Don’t worry, I’m not at the age where I’ll start losing my mind. Besides, thanks to recently doing some gardening, I feel like I’ve lost a bit of belly fat. When I said that, both of them laughed and cried. I’ll just think of it as tears of joy, my daughter.”
“On August 7th, I thought about how to make better use of our spacious garden, to the point where I thought we could plant some small fruits. In the past, when my daughter asked why we had such a large garden, I lied and said it was because we wanted a parking space. Yeah, the truth is, I had actually wanted to do home gardening and grow flowers together with my wife, and grow old together. But it didn’t work out in the initial stages. Yeah… maybe I’ll grow the flowers my wife liked and the food that my daughter and son-in-law like.”
“On August 8th, I was nervous because I never make phone calls from here. But I thought it was convenient that her husband answered. I wonder if it’s not dangerous to ask a man about his favorite food. Well, I was just wondering what to grow in my home garden, so I thought I could grow something that my family likes.”
“August 10th. It’s a bit surprising that my daughter’s husband, being a young person, likes vegetables. Most of the new employees at the company usually answer with meat… Well, never mind. I remember the department manager mentioning that he knows a professional in agriculture, so I’ll ask him to introduce us tomorrow. Let’s see, my daughter likes spinach, Chinese cabbage, oranges, watermelons, and rice. As for my son-in-law, he likes komatsuna, white kidney beans, sugar snap peas, potatoes, lemons, and pickled plums… I hate to say it, but are they really young people? Their preferences are like those of old folks from the countryside. Since they have a mix of fruits and vegetables, maybe I should contact them sooner. I’ll start by calling the department manager.”
“August 13th. I’m always amazed by the director’s skill and quick actions. How is it that the day after I called, my paid leave request is already done… Well, it’s fine I guess. But seriously, the countryside is amazing. It’s incredible how things come together in just a few days after making a phone call. The power of the countryside network is something to be feared. I remember they said it’s not F1 variety but a fixed variety… But what exactly is F1 variety? Is there some difference in the seeds? Does F1 refer to F1 racers or something? I don’t really understand. I’ll look it up later.”
“August 14th. I thought my place was rural, but the designated location was even more rural. I couldn’t hide my surprise when I found out that there was only one bus per day, instead of one per hour. I brought my sports bag for the business trip to take over the seedlings, but I wonder if it will be okay. The professional farmer that was introduced to me had a stubborn old man vibe, as expected. However, I had a secret weapon. After greeting him, I quietly handed something to the old man. I had heard from my boss that he loves Minzaido’s chestnut yokan. As expected, the old man’s attitude instantly changed. It was extremely effective!”
“On August 15th, I stayed overnight at my grandfather’s house due to bus arrangements. My grandfather was delighted to be able to drink good sake after a long time. I checked the seeds and seedlings I received. The seeds are spinach, Chinese cabbage, komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach), white kidney beans, snap peas, potatoes, okra, and watermelon. The seedlings are mandarin oranges, lemons, and plums. There were also unexpected varieties like Tenjin Akashiso for making umeboshi (pickled plums) and enma wheat seeds for green manure. Oh, and I was also given peanuts because they go well with beer. As for the rice, it’s called Tomohonami, but it’s too minor for me to know. In the first place, I only know varieties like Koshihikari and Akita Komachi. I can’t remember the name of the other one… I think it used difficult kanji… well, never mind. Oh, I also need to check the flowers. We have marigold, sunflower, cosmos, aloe vera, kidachi aloe, goldfish, French marigold, bird of paradise, marguerite, and laurel… Alright, we have everything. But why is this lineup chosen by my wife…? We’ve been together since we were babies, but I still can’t understand her. Now that I write it down like this, there are quite a lot of them. Well, with this many, there shouldn’t be anything to be sentimental about.”
I wrapped the seedlings in towels and paper to protect them from getting damaged, and then I put the seeds in the remaining space. The seedlings may be big, but since each seed is small, they’re compact. They don’t take up as much space as the seedlings. Surprisingly, there was a little extra room. But it was a mistake to mention it. Just when I thought Grandpa suddenly came back home, he quickly returned with a paper bag in hand. When I asked what it was, he replied that it was a snack pineapple seedling. It seems that Grandpa received the seedling from an acquaintance, but he didn’t seem to have much intention of growing it. So, he had the intention of pushing it onto me. Well, it’s fine. If it’s impossible, it’s okay. I thanked Grandpa and left his house. As I’m being rocked by the bus, I’m starting to feel sleepy, so I’ll end today’s diary here. Goodnight.
Was there something from there? The next written characters are completely different from before and were written quite messily.
“?? Month ?? Day. Where am I? This is strange… I was just sleeping on the bus… Why am I in a place full of forests? Could it be that the bus driver abandoned me somewhere…? No, that can’t be. There’s no benefit for the driver to do such a thing, and besides, my belongings are intact. But where am I…? For now, it must be Japan, right? And now that I’ve noticed, I seem to be holding a sword sheath. But I don’t remember packing a sword sheath in my belongings…?”
(Saya…? I remember hearing that Lady Otachi carries a “sword” from an old woman called the “Heir of Time”… I wonder if there is any connection?)
Thinking that she might understand something if she continued reading, Shizuko once again lowered her gaze to the diary.
“?? Month ?? Day Cosplay Robbery? Or a random attacker? I don’t know what’s going on, but I was being chased by men with chonmage hairstyles and Japanese swords. If it’s some kind of historical cosplay, they should do it somewhere else. I tried to ignore them, but suddenly they attacked me. It wasn’t a joke or anything, and I realized the seriousness of the situation, so I desperately tried to escape. However, it seemed like they had the advantage and easily cornered me. I thought I was going to be killed! But then, one of the men pointed at me and started talking to his companions. The words I heard were extremely scary, but I mustered up the courage to ask. ‘You guys aren’t… gay, are you?’ The men tilted their heads, probably because they didn’t understand my words. But judging from their reaction when I saw them taking off their underwear, my unpleasant premonition turned out to be true. I-I don’t have that kind of interest! Just when my chastity was in danger, one of the men was suddenly cut in half by a stranger who appeared behind the robbers. At that moment, I seriously thought a god had appeared. That person swiftly killed the bandits. I, embarrassingly enough, foamed at the mouth and fainted at the gruesome scene in front of me.”
“On ?? month ?? day, a man who had killed a robber for some reason took care of me. Anyway, I thanked him for saving me. Later, I asked him why he helped me. I’m just an ordinary middle-aged man with no outstanding talents. I hate to admit it, but I’m not educated either. I don’t have money, and I have nothing to brag about. So at first, I couldn’t believe the man’s story. But several pieces of evidence couldn’t deny his words. Even someone as dumb as me could understand that. It’s truly unbelievable… I, who have lived an ordinary life, becoming like the protagonist of a science fiction movie.”
“?? Month ?? Day, it’s my third day here, and I’ve been sticking with the man who helped me. But whether it’s in modern times or the Sengoku period, money is important. Without money, you can’t do anything. Also, I realized that this baggage is quite cumbersome. I feel bad for the old man, but I’ll sell these seeds and seedlings to the merchant along with the bag. I was worried if he would buy this tattered bag, but as expected, my prediction was right. I was rejected so many times that I almost lost hope until the shady merchant showed interest in buying it and offered a good price. I wondered why he bought it without even opening the bag, but I thought it would be rude to ask, so I decided to sell it without saying anything. I’ll only take the photos of my wife and daughter, wallet, cellphone, and just in case, a can of emergency rations. I’ll leave this diary behind as well. I don’t want to stand out by carrying it around.”
The diary had been interrupted there. Shizuko probably stopped writing and put it in her bag. That’s what she thought, but as she flipped through the pages, she found a page with something written on it.
“I have a request for anyone who reads this diary. Would you please take care of the seeds and seedlings mentioned here? I understand that it’s an unreasonable request, and if it’s not possible, you can discard them. However, if you think you can nurture them… please, I beg you.”
“Phew…”
Shizuko takes a deep breath and puts her notebook back into her bag. She closes the lid of the wooden box and lies down on her side. She feels exhausted as various pieces of information rush into her mind all at once.
(If what I wrote in my diary is true, there are two other people who have time-traveled besides me. If I borrow the words of the old woman, could it be that we are all “descendants of time”?)
At the very least, the owner of the bag is likely a descendant of the fallen of the era. It can be said with certainty since they are using notebooks and pencils. However, the man who conveyed the reality to this man was quite vague. As long as he is telling the man about the Sengoku period and time travel, it might be safe to assume that this man is also a descendant of the fallen. However, something doesn’t sit right. I can’t help but feel that this man is different from just a mere time traveler. There is no clear evidence, but it feels strange.
(…I see. It’s strange to have both the sensation of being able to kill someone without hesitation and knowledge of the Sengoku period.)
In modern times, if someone were to kill another person, they would be arrested by the police and punished according to the law. I thought they might be a murderer, but if that were the case, there would be no reason to help the owner of the notebook.
(This man is someone to be wary of. Not only does he possess high combat abilities, but if he also has knowledge of the Sengoku period… he will become a troublesome individual.)
It is extremely dangerous to be in a situation where you cannot determine whether a troublesome person is an enemy or an ally. If they are willing to become an ally, then that’s good. However, if they are hostile, it would be necessary for them to become a Buddha first. It is not that they are scary because they know history, but rather because knowing history increases the likelihood of taking evasive action in the face of immediate danger. In such a case, it is possible to alter the existing historical narrative or even make it as if it never happened. This could have a significant impact on the Oda faction.
(Anyway, gathering information about men is our top priority. We need to collect information…)
The anxiety of not knowing whether the person who shares the same fate is an enemy or an ally weighed heavily on Shizuko’s heart.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
The New Year scenery of samurais during the Sengoku period is not much different from that of modern people. They would go to the shrine for the first visit of the year with their relatives and comrades, and enjoy the New Year by drinking sake. If we were to point out the differences, one would be the act of going up to the castle to greet their lord. After that, they would go around to pay their respects to the senior vassals and other retainers.
Keiji and Nagayoshi, who are in Shizuko’s village, also decided to temporarily return home. Only Saizo expressed a desire to visit the Atago Shrine instead of going home. Shizuko, knowing that Saizo has had a strong faith in the Atago Shrine since he was young, agreed without asking any questions. Shizuko then gave the three of them some money and food for their journey. Although she did this thinking it would be helpful if they encountered any difficulties along the way, the three of them were puzzled by her excessive consideration. They considered refusing Shizuko’s gift, but in the end, they accepted it gratefully, understanding that it was because it was Shizuko who gave it to them.
On the other hand, Shizuko didn’t change much from last year. She celebrated the New Year with the villagers at a banquet, then went to the castle the next day to greet her lord, Nobunaga, and joined a drinking party. This year, she made a conscious effort to abstain from alcohol, so she didn’t embarrass herself by getting drunk. Although a few more people approached her compared to last time, Shizuko was still relatively unknown among the Oda clan’s retainers. However, she didn’t particularly mind being unknown since she had no intention of making a name for herself. She could obtain the necessary authority and materials through Aya, and she hadn’t encountered any difficulties in her daily life. As Shizuko returned home without drinking a drop of alcohol at the drinking party, she felt a slight loneliness in the quietness of her house.
In an attempt to distract herself from the loneliness, Shizuko sketches various tools on washi paper. The classifications are diverse, including cooking utensils, agricultural tools, and measuring instruments.
The reason for sketching utensils is somewhat complex. Unlike the first and second years, Shizuko has started to have some level of comfort in her life. With this newfound comfort, she notices the lack of convenience that she had previously been too busy to realize. Particularly, she noticed everyday items. During the Sengoku period, resources were consumed for weapons, resulting in extremely poor quality household items. They were fragile and not standardized in size. This would undoubtedly become a problem after the unification of the country. Therefore, Shizuko believed that it was necessary to reproduce everyday items. In fact, one of the reasons she made a stone kiln was to reproduce a substitute for a microwave oven.
Shizuko sketched as many daily necessities as she could remember. The measurements were based on the MKS (meters, kilograms, seconds) unit system. Originally, she had planned to introduce the MKS unit system to the Oda territory at the same time, but the potential confusion among craftsmen due to large-scale standardization was a concern. After discussions, they decided to experimentally introduce it in one village. Shizuko, who was also working on plans for a new village for personal reasons, took this opportunity to recruit pottery craftsmen and woodworking craftsmen who could process bamboo and lumber, in addition to the existing blacksmiths and weavers who were already producing ceramics. The main focus was on the blacksmiths, and the other craftsmen from weaving onwards, to put it bluntly, were considered as extras.
There are two main types of blacksmiths: swordsmiths who make weapons like matchlock guns and armor, and livelihood blacksmiths who make tools for farming, among other things. Swordsmiths are highly regarded and employed by various local lords, while livelihood blacksmiths are considered to be of lower rank compared to swordsmiths. However, during the Edo period, the roles of swordsmiths and livelihood blacksmiths were reversed, and swordsmiths had to seek guidance from livelihood blacksmiths in order to make a living. However, Shizuko was concerned that there might be few livelihood blacksmiths during the Sengoku period. But her worries were unfounded.
In just two days, every profession reached its designated number. It’s only natural, as the Oda territory is a place overflowing with money and goods. Compared to other countries, it is an environment where starting businesses and professions is easier, so it is inevitable that craftsmen and merchants would flock here. Of course, there are cases where craftsmen and merchants also leave for other countries, but the number is insignificant. Therefore, when the Oda family recruits craftsmen, it is not surprising that they are inundated with applicants. Due to the large number of applicants, selection exams were conducted to reduce the number to the designated amount, but thanks to that, we were able to have a large number of skilled craftsmen. On paper, they are a technical group employed by the Oda family, but in reality, they are Shizuko’s personal group of skilled technicians.
There is a reason why Shizuko specifically hired a group of technical experts. Farmers who inherited agricultural technology from Shizuko were able to obtain harvests that they had never experienced before. At first, they were happy, but the unusually large harvest became a major problem. The issue was that there were no storage facilities that could accommodate the amount of crops harvested. The farmers, who obtained a large amount of crops at once, had an excess amount that far exceeded their family’s consumption and emergency reserves. It was clear that they would be taken advantage of if they sold the crops to merchants. Moreover, selling them without permission was not allowed under the contract with Nobunaga. They didn’t know what kind of punishment they would face if their secret selling was discovered. In their desperation, they turned to Shizuko for help.
However, it was a difficult situation even for Shizuko, who was exhausted from crying. While relatively long-lasting grains could still be preserved, perishable crops such as vegetables would take at least a few days to obtain permission for sale, increasing the risk of them going bad during that time. However, it was impossible to consume all the produce at once. After much deliberation, she decided to give them knowledge about processing, preserving, and storing food, which was not originally planned. The reason for not planning it was that preserved foods were traditionally passed down in each household, creating their own uniqueness. Shizuko had no intention of standardizing it. Instead, she advocated for each household’s unique seasoning.
Anyway, they hurriedly built a simple storage facility and tried to preserve the processed crops for storage. However, now they were short on storage tools. This was not something that could be solved with Shizuko’s knowledge alone, so we had no choice but to rely on the incoming merchants and Nobunaga to gather what they needed. In the end, they had to discard nearly ten percent of the vegetables, but they managed to complete all the processes somehow.
The villagers breathed a sigh of relief, but Shizuko’s expression did not improve. She had realized something in this incident. She had been too arrogant, thinking that everything would be fine if she asked for help from Nobunaga and the others. Reflecting on this, she realized the need to secure enough tools to prevent a similar situation from happening again. However, in the war-torn Sengoku period, there were few craftsmen who could make tools that were essential for daily life, making it extremely difficult to secure them. That’s when Shizuko came up with an idea. If people were scattered, why not gather them and create a village? And while they were at it, why not spread the MKS unit system as well?
All three units, meter, kilogram, and second, require a reference standard. For the meter, we decided to use Shizuko’s modern ruler and bamboo ruler as the reference standards, as they were available. As for the second, an atomic clock would be ideal, but it was impossible to observe atoms during the Sengoku period. Instead, we decided to use a sundial as a daily tool to help people develop a sense of time.
The kilogram prototype was troublesome. However, having a prototype for weight is important in order to eliminate fraudulent manipulation of quantities. She was at a loss as to what to do, but suddenly she remembered that there was a kilogram prototype in the Edo period. Since it was measured on a balance scale, a basic weight was necessary. She pondered if there was something that weighed one gram.
Something close to me solved that problem. It’s modern currency. In Shizuko’s time, it was determined by law that a one yen coin weighs one gram, and a five hundred yen coin weighs seven grams. There may be some milligram discrepancies, but we won’t worry about that. Anyway, now that we have the materials, we can use the one yen coin as the gram standard, and gather multiple grams to create a kilogram standard. There may be some discrepancies with the kilogram, but we won’t dwell on that either. It’s impossible to perfectly replicate it, and more importantly, right now it’s more important to spread the unit system than to achieve perfection.
During the time when they were replicating instruments from the original device and spreading the MKS unit system among the people in the technology village, a suspicious man arrived in Shizuko’s village.
That man exuded a suspicious atmosphere just by looking at him.
“Hehehe, Shizuko-sama. You’re looking lovely today.”
The name of the man who greets people with a massage is Kyujiro. Despite this, he is one of the merchants allowed to enter and leave the village of Shizuko by Nobunaga. His last name is unknown, and although he was born in Omi, he became a traveling merchant at the same time as his coming-of-age ceremony and has been moving from place to place.
I am in my early twenties, but I look like I am in my late thirties. Not only that, but I have extremely thinning hair, to the point where even the back of my head is dangerously bald. This makes me the most suspicious-looking merchant among all the traders. However, being a merchant from Omi, my business skills are top-notch among the traders. In particular, my sense of what makes a product sell is sharp, so I am able to procure and sell the same items as other merchants who deal with Nobunaga, but faster and at higher prices. Perhaps it is this shrewdness that has earned me Nobunaga’s favor.
“What can I assist you with today?”
“I have a product that I would like you to take a look at… hey.”
After responding to Shizuko’s words with a smirk and a suspicious smile, Kyujiro briefly called out to the man behind him. The man responded briefly and then placed the wooden box on the left side in front of Shizuko. Then, the man stepped back behind Kyujiro. Keiji, one of the horsemen, cautiously opened the box while remaining on guard.
“What is this?”
Keiji, who checked the contents, let out a crazy scream. It’s no wonder, as the wooden box only contained various sizes of stones. Saizo and Nagayoshi also reacted to Keiji’s voice and looked inside the box. Saizo tilted his head in confusion at the sight of the stones, while Nagayoshi pointed at Kyujiro and shouted angrily. Despite witnessing the reactions of the three, Kyujiro remained unfazed, wearing his usual suspicious smile.
“Yes, everyone, that’s enough. Will you show it to me too?”
As soon as she said that, she pushed the three people aside and checked the contents of the wooden box. When she picked it up and looked closely, she noticed that there were white things mixed in like spots. There were completely white stones as well, but they seemed quite brittle, more like soft rocks. Holding the stone that looked more like a rock in her hand, Shizuko said to Kyujiro.
“I wonder where you got this rock?”
“Hehehe, normally the source of our products is a secret, but since it’s Shizuko-sama asking, I’ll gladly answer. Those items were brought from the Uesugi and Yusa territories.”
“I see. Alright, I will buy it at the price you requested.”
Shizuko said as she put the rocks back into the wooden box. Her three retainers were surprised that she was buying the stones, but since it was her decision, they didn’t interfere.
“As expected of Shizuko-sama. It seems you understand what this is. Well, I can’t really say anything arrogantly since I am in a position where I was taught by Shizuko-sama as well. Hehe.”
“Well, I do think it’s genuine, but let’s wait until the results come out just to be sure.”
“It’s alright. I’m an outsider, but I confirmed it with someone who knows the details… and it seems there’s no mistake. Well, I made sure to keep them quiet about it. Oops, that was an unrelated story, wasn’t it?”
“I wonder… Aya, will you bring me some money?”
Shizuko understood that his mention of “gag order” meant “becoming a Buddha.” If this rock is indeed the rock Shizuko had planned for, he thought it would be a hindrance to his business if it were dug up by knowledgeable outsiders.
“(Hey Shizuko, is this pebble really worth anything?)”
Nagayoshi, who was curious, whispered to Shizuko. The other two were also curious, so they eavesdropped on their conversation.
“(I’ll talk about it later. For now, if this rock is the same as what I know, it can be used. I think he’s probably factoring in that I’ll make something with it.)”
“(…That scum. Fine, I’ll ask later for now.)”
“Is the consultation over? Well then, this time it’s about this… I’m sure Shizuko-sama will be pleased with it (……..) I think.”
As soon as Nagayoshi moved away from Shizuko, Kyujiro smirked and spoke to the man in a low voice. The man shifted the wooden box in front of Shizuko to the side and placed another wooden box in front of her. Unlike the previous box, this one had a rectangular shape. After Keiji had Shizuko step back, he cautiously opened the box, just as before. Once again, Keiji couldn’t quite make out what was inside, and furrowed his brow. Shizuko, who saw the box from behind him, had a slightly tense expression on her face.
“Shizuko-sama, I have brought the money.”
“…Kyujiro-san, I’ll buy this too.”
When Aya forcefully took the sturdy wooden box filled with money from him, Shizuko placed it in front of him and said this.
“You can take as much as you like.”
Surprisingly, Kyujiro, after tapping his forehead, took out from the wooden box the exact amount he had originally intended to sell to Shizuko with her “Take as much as you like.”
“Hehehe, while an ordinary merchant would take everything, this Kyujiro won’t stoop to such low tricks.”
With a suspicious smile that clearly showed he didn’t have such noble thoughts, Kyujiro closed the lid of the wooden box after taking the money.
“Excuse me. I have another business meeting after this, so I will take my leave now. Well then, Shizuko-san. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, Kyujiro.”
With a suspicious smile until the end, Kyujiro left with the man. As they passed through the village’s entrance gate and Shizuko’s village disappeared from sight, the man who had been standing by Kyujiro’s side suddenly spoke up.
“Mr. Kyujiro, are you really sure about this? That much money is quite substantial…”
“Huh? Don’t call me a fool. That was probably testing me, right?”
Kyujiro responds with a mocking expression to the man’s words.
“If I took all that money. I would be excluded from that new business venture that woman was doing. And if I force my way in, I’ll be glared at by Lord Oda. I don’t want to be excluded from good deals by showing my greedy side. Only fools like those in Sakai would do such foolish things.”
“Ha, ha…”
“Listen, business is not just about immediate buying and selling. Sometimes, it’s necessary to enrich the other party without considering one’s own gains and losses. That investment at the time can later turn into a large sum of money and roll into my pocket. In other words, you have to take a loss to gain something.”
“Is that so?”
“Is that so… Well, are you really my son? Understand the basics of business, damn it. From today on, memorize the Ten Commandments of Omi merchants and the principle of ‘satisfying all three parties.’ You fool!”
After glancing at his son, who flinched at Kyujiro’s angry voice, he walked away with big strides. The son, left behind, hurriedly followed Kyujiro once he caught up with the situation.
On the other hand, Shizuko, who bought a rock and a certain object, said to Keiji while holding the rock in one hand.
“This is a mineral called pottery stone.”
“Pottery stone…?”
“Yes, it’s the raw material used to make porcelain. It’s not available in Owari or Mino, and it’s still not yet discovered in other countries, so it’s quite valuable.”
Pottery stone is a white, soft rock that is used as a raw material for porcelain. However, it cannot be obtained in Owari or Mino provinces. There are nearby deposits of pottery stone ore, such as Hattori and Kawai pottery stone in Ishikawa Prefecture, and Seimi, Isai, and Shibukusa pottery stone in Gifu Prefecture. However, both of these areas are territories of other countries, so it is not easy to go and mine there. Moreover, pottery stone itself has been excavated since the Edo period, so it would have been almost impossible to find during the Sengoku period.
Even when it comes to non-metallic minerals, there are many people involved in mining. However, the cost is usually lower than traditional mining methods because it involves open-pit mining, where the minerals are excavated by spiraling from the surface instead of digging tunnels. Open-pit mining is suitable for extracting ceramic materials that are often found in large quantities and close to the surface.
However, there is a problem that cannot be avoided no matter what. If we engage in flashy activities like mining in other countries, we will definitely attract the attention of the rulers of those lands. It would be problematic to do anything that could interfere with Nobunaga’s plans before he goes to Kyoto. When I was struggling to come up with a solution, I heard that Kyujiro went all the way there and started mining.
“I can’t believe they didn’t notice him, a fellow countryman… that bastard.”
“This is a different category from iron, copper, silver, and gold. In other words, if it’s not properly processed, it’s just like what Katsuzo-kun said, ‘a random stone lying around’. Even if the merchant dug up something unusable, they probably didn’t care. Maybe they even bribed them.”
In any case, if this is genuine pottery stone, it can be used to make ceramics in Japan. In the original history, porcelain production began in the early Edo period when white porcelain ore was discovered in Izumiyama, located in the eastern part of Arita Town, Saga Prefecture. The pottery produced at that time was a single-colored white pottery. The Japanese, who were already familiar with the ceramics produced by China, which had perfected the technology of ceramics in the 8th century, did not desire only white-colored pottery. Immediately, pottery with painted and decorated patterns was produced. In an instant, the single-colored white pottery was eliminated, and various patterns were painted by the hands of craftsmen, resulting in the production of Japanese tableware.
The reason for engaging in pottery production is simply because Shizuko wants to experience making porcelain at least once, which is a rather straightforward reason. There is also the idea that Nobunaga, who is not just a brute relying solely on military power, can use it to demonstrate his deep cultural knowledge and sophistication as a cultured person. However, for the most part, it is simply a very Shizuko-like reason of wanting to try making pottery.
“Well, after processing it to make it usable, I might have the craftsmen try making it. I’ll also try making one myself, though.”
“Oh, I see. So you have a hobby in pottery as well?”
“I don’t have such sophisticated hobbies. It’s just a good opportunity, so maybe I’ll give it a try once? Well, first I have to shape the clay. Aya, please arrange the wooden bucket and Seto clay.”
Understood. Is Seto no Do referring to the clay used by Seto potters?
“Okay, then please do that. I’ll wait until the wooden barrels for the pottery stones are ready before starting the work, so it’s fine for now. I’ll have the wooden box over here moved to my room. I’m tired, so I’ll inspect the contents later.”
With that, Shizuko lifts up the other wooden box. It feels surprisingly heavy, and she can feel its weight in her hands, but she manages to keep a calm expression and leaves the room.
“Oh, everyone can disband whenever they want. I don’t have any plans to meet anyone anymore.”
Just before leaving, Shizuko says that while observing their expressions. There didn’t seem to be any suspicion about Shizuko’s actions, especially. Shizuko inwardly feels relieved and puts her hand on her chest.
“Well then, see you.”
Finally, Shizuko leaves the room and returns to her own. Once back in her room, she places a wooden box near the center and securely locks the room. Confirming that there is no sign of anyone’s presence, Shizuko faces the wooden box placed in the middle of the room once again. She gently lifts the lid and checks the inside. The contents remain unchanged, and exactly as she had expected, they are sitting inside the wooden box.
(…Why does Kyujiro-san have this…? No, wait, why are modern items other than what I had, falling in this era…?)
Inside the wooden box was a black sports bag made of synthetic fibers.
The sports bag was quite large, about 80cm in length. And it wasn’t just any sports bag. The bag was worn out and covered in mud, showing that its owner had been using it for many years. However, contradicting those sentiments, there were countless bloodstains soaked into the bag. It was unclear whether the bloodstains were from the bag’s owner or someone else. Shizuko trembled as she unzipped the sports bag. Inside, there were numerous small plastic bags, something that looked like seedlings, and a diary-like notebook.
Shizuko, who was curious about what was inside the plastic bag and the seedlings, decided to read the diary first. She felt a bit guilty about reading someone else’s diary without permission, but her desire for information about the owner was stronger than her guilty conscience. Shizuko started reading from the back to see the latest information.
“On June 15th, my daughter finally left this house. Well, I shouldn’t say she left. More accurately, she got married and went to live with her new family. But man, I was caught off guard at the wedding. I mean, it was unfair for her to bring out the outfit I had sewn for her when she was in kindergarten. I had decided not to cry, but I ended up bawling my eyes out. And when I finally calmed down, she said something. She said that even though her mother passed away when she was young, her father showered her with enough love for both of them, so she never felt lonely. She said she’s proud to be her father’s daughter. And that made me cry even more. What am I going to do now? The photo of my daughter as a bride got all blurry from my tears. I can’t even show her wedding dress to her new husband.”
“On August 1st, my daughter and son-in-law come to my house from time to time. While I don’t feel lonely, I wonder if I’ve made them worry too much. I decided to talk to them about it because it was bothering me. It turns out they were also worried that I might feel lonely. My son-in-law even suggested that we live together, but I declined. First and foremost, my daughter and son-in-law need to build their own family. I’ve heard that some parents try to scheme and rely on their children for support through cohabitation, but I don’t want to be like those despicable people. So I told my daughter and son-in-law that I was really happy about the idea of living together. But, my daughter, your family is the person next to you, not me. Son-in-law, thank you for caring about this old man, but please care more about my daughter than me. Don’t worry, I’m not at the age where I’ll start losing my mind. Besides, thanks to recently doing some gardening, I feel like I’ve lost a bit of belly fat. When I said that, both of them laughed and cried. I’ll just think of it as tears of joy, my daughter.”
“On August 7th, I thought about how to make better use of our spacious garden, to the point where I thought we could plant some small fruits. In the past, when my daughter asked why we had such a large garden, I lied and said it was because we wanted a parking space. Yeah, the truth is, I had actually wanted to do home gardening and grow flowers together with my wife, and grow old together. But it didn’t work out in the initial stages. Yeah… maybe I’ll grow the flowers my wife liked and the food that my daughter and son-in-law like.”
“On August 8th, I was nervous because I never make phone calls from here. But I thought it was convenient that her husband answered. I wonder if it’s not dangerous to ask a man about his favorite food. Well, I was just wondering what to grow in my home garden, so I thought I could grow something that my family likes.”
“August 10th. It’s a bit surprising that my daughter’s husband, being a young person, likes vegetables. Most of the new employees at the company usually answer with meat… Well, never mind. I remember the department manager mentioning that he knows a professional in agriculture, so I’ll ask him to introduce us tomorrow. Let’s see, my daughter likes spinach, Chinese cabbage, oranges, watermelons, and rice. As for my son-in-law, he likes komatsuna, white kidney beans, sugar snap peas, potatoes, lemons, and pickled plums… I hate to say it, but are they really young people? Their preferences are like those of old folks from the countryside. Since they have a mix of fruits and vegetables, maybe I should contact them sooner. I’ll start by calling the department manager.”
“August 13th. I’m always amazed by the director’s skill and quick actions. How is it that the day after I called, my paid leave request is already done… Well, it’s fine I guess. But seriously, the countryside is amazing. It’s incredible how things come together in just a few days after making a phone call. The power of the countryside network is something to be feared. I remember they said it’s not F1 variety but a fixed variety… But what exactly is F1 variety? Is there some difference in the seeds? Does F1 refer to F1 racers or something? I don’t really understand. I’ll look it up later.”
“August 14th. I thought my place was rural, but the designated location was even more rural. I couldn’t hide my surprise when I found out that there was only one bus per day, instead of one per hour. I brought my sports bag for the business trip to take over the seedlings, but I wonder if it will be okay. The professional farmer that was introduced to me had a stubborn old man vibe, as expected. However, I had a secret weapon. After greeting him, I quietly handed something to the old man. I had heard from my boss that he loves Minzaido’s chestnut yokan. As expected, the old man’s attitude instantly changed. It was extremely effective!”
“On August 15th, I stayed overnight at my grandfather’s house due to bus arrangements. My grandfather was delighted to be able to drink good sake after a long time. I checked the seeds and seedlings I received. The seeds are spinach, Chinese cabbage, komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach), white kidney beans, snap peas, potatoes, okra, and watermelon. The seedlings are mandarin oranges, lemons, and plums. There were also unexpected varieties like Tenjin Akashiso for making umeboshi (pickled plums) and enma wheat seeds for green manure. Oh, and I was also given peanuts because they go well with beer. As for the rice, it’s called Tomohonami, but it’s too minor for me to know. In the first place, I only know varieties like Koshihikari and Akita Komachi. I can’t remember the name of the other one… I think it used difficult kanji… well, never mind. Oh, I also need to check the flowers. We have marigold, sunflower, cosmos, aloe vera, kidachi aloe, goldfish, French marigold, bird of paradise, marguerite, and laurel… Alright, we have everything. But why is this lineup chosen by my wife…? We’ve been together since we were babies, but I still can’t understand her. Now that I write it down like this, there are quite a lot of them. Well, with this many, there shouldn’t be anything to be sentimental about.”
I wrapped the seedlings in towels and paper to protect them from getting damaged, and then I put the seeds in the remaining space. The seedlings may be big, but since each seed is small, they’re compact. They don’t take up as much space as the seedlings. Surprisingly, there was a little extra room. But it was a mistake to mention it. Just when I thought Grandpa suddenly came back home, he quickly returned with a paper bag in hand. When I asked what it was, he replied that it was a snack pineapple seedling. It seems that Grandpa received the seedling from an acquaintance, but he didn’t seem to have much intention of growing it. So, he had the intention of pushing it onto me. Well, it’s fine. If it’s impossible, it’s okay. I thanked Grandpa and left his house. As I’m being rocked by the bus, I’m starting to feel sleepy, so I’ll end today’s diary here. Goodnight.
Was there something from there? The next written characters are completely different from before and were written quite messily.
“?? Month ?? Day. Where am I? This is strange… I was just sleeping on the bus… Why am I in a place full of forests? Could it be that the bus driver abandoned me somewhere…? No, that can’t be. There’s no benefit for the driver to do such a thing, and besides, my belongings are intact. But where am I…? For now, it must be Japan, right? And now that I’ve noticed, I seem to be holding a sword sheath. But I don’t remember packing a sword sheath in my belongings…?”
(Saya…? I remember hearing that Lady Otachi carries a “sword” from an old woman called the “Heir of Time”… I wonder if there is any connection?)
Thinking that she might understand something if she continued reading, Shizuko once again lowered her gaze to the diary.
“?? Month ?? Day Cosplay Robbery? Or a random attacker? I don’t know what’s going on, but I was being chased by men with chonmage hairstyles and Japanese swords. If it’s some kind of historical cosplay, they should do it somewhere else. I tried to ignore them, but suddenly they attacked me. It wasn’t a joke or anything, and I realized the seriousness of the situation, so I desperately tried to escape. However, it seemed like they had the advantage and easily cornered me. I thought I was going to be killed! But then, one of the men pointed at me and started talking to his companions. The words I heard were extremely scary, but I mustered up the courage to ask. ‘You guys aren’t… gay, are you?’ The men tilted their heads, probably because they didn’t understand my words. But judging from their reaction when I saw them taking off their underwear, my unpleasant premonition turned out to be true. I-I don’t have that kind of interest! Just when my chastity was in danger, one of the men was suddenly cut in half by a stranger who appeared behind the robbers. At that moment, I seriously thought a god had appeared. That person swiftly killed the bandits. I, embarrassingly enough, foamed at the mouth and fainted at the gruesome scene in front of me.”
“On ?? month ?? day, a man who had killed a robber for some reason took care of me. Anyway, I thanked him for saving me. Later, I asked him why he helped me. I’m just an ordinary middle-aged man with no outstanding talents. I hate to admit it, but I’m not educated either. I don’t have money, and I have nothing to brag about. So at first, I couldn’t believe the man’s story. But several pieces of evidence couldn’t deny his words. Even someone as dumb as me could understand that. It’s truly unbelievable… I, who have lived an ordinary life, becoming like the protagonist of a science fiction movie.”
“?? Month ?? Day, it’s my third day here, and I’ve been sticking with the man who helped me. But whether it’s in modern times or the Sengoku period, money is important. Without money, you can’t do anything. Also, I realized that this baggage is quite cumbersome. I feel bad for the old man, but I’ll sell these seeds and seedlings to the merchant along with the bag. I was worried if he would buy this tattered bag, but as expected, my prediction was right. I was rejected so many times that I almost lost hope until the shady merchant showed interest in buying it and offered a good price. I wondered why he bought it without even opening the bag, but I thought it would be rude to ask, so I decided to sell it without saying anything. I’ll only take the photos of my wife and daughter, wallet, cellphone, and just in case, a can of emergency rations. I’ll leave this diary behind as well. I don’t want to stand out by carrying it around.”
The diary had been interrupted there. Shizuko probably stopped writing and put it in her bag. That’s what she thought, but as she flipped through the pages, she found a page with something written on it.
“I have a request for anyone who reads this diary. Would you please take care of the seeds and seedlings mentioned here? I understand that it’s an unreasonable request, and if it’s not possible, you can discard them. However, if you think you can nurture them… please, I beg you.”
“Phew…”
Shizuko takes a deep breath and puts her notebook back into her bag. She closes the lid of the wooden box and lies down on her side. She feels exhausted as various pieces of information rush into her mind all at once.
(If what I wrote in my diary is true, there are two other people who have time-traveled besides me. If I borrow the words of the old woman, could it be that we are all “descendants of time”?)
At the very least, the owner of the bag is likely a descendant of the fallen of the era. It can be said with certainty since they are using notebooks and pencils. However, the man who conveyed the reality to this man was quite vague. As long as he is telling the man about the Sengoku period and time travel, it might be safe to assume that this man is also a descendant of the fallen. However, something doesn’t sit right. I can’t help but feel that this man is different from just a mere time traveler. There is no clear evidence, but it feels strange.
(…I see. It’s strange to have both the sensation of being able to kill someone without hesitation and knowledge of the Sengoku period.)
In modern times, if someone were to kill another person, they would be arrested by the police and punished according to the law. I thought they might be a murderer, but if that were the case, there would be no reason to help the owner of the notebook.
(This man is someone to be wary of. Not only does he possess high combat abilities, but if he also has knowledge of the Sengoku period… he will become a troublesome individual.)
It is extremely dangerous to be in a situation where you cannot determine whether a troublesome person is an enemy or an ally. If they are willing to become an ally, then that’s good. However, if they are hostile, it would be necessary for them to become a Buddha first. It is not that they are scary because they know history, but rather because knowing history increases the likelihood of taking evasive action in the face of immediate danger. In such a case, it is possible to alter the existing historical narrative or even make it as if it never happened. This could have a significant impact on the Oda faction.
(Anyway, gathering information about men is our top priority. We need to collect information…)
The anxiety of not knowing whether the person who shares the same fate is an enemy or an ally weighed heavily on Shizuko’s heart.
The New Year scenery of samurais during the Sengoku period is not much different from that of modern people. They would go to the shrine for the first visit of the year with their relatives and comrades, and enjoy the New Year by drinking sake. If we were to point out the differences, one would be the act of going up to the castle to greet their lord. After that, they would go around to pay their respects to the senior vassals and other retainers.Keiji and Nagayoshi, who are in Shizuko's village, also decided to temporarily return home. Only Saizo expressed a desire to visit the Atago Shrine instead of going home. Shizuko, knowing that Saizo has had a strong faith in the Atago Shrine since he was young, agreed without asking any questions. Shizuko then gave the three of them some money and food for their journey. Although she did this thinking it would be helpful if they encountered any difficulties along the way, the three of them were puzzled by her excessive consideration. They considered refusing Shizuko's gift, but in the end, they accepted it gratefully, understanding that it was because it was Shizuko who gave it to them.On the other hand, Shizuko didn't change much from last year. She celebrated the New Year with the villagers at a banquet, then went to the castle the next day to greet her lord, Nobunaga, and joined a drinking party. This year, she made a conscious effort to abstain from alcohol, so she didn't embarrass herself by getting drunk. Although a few more people approached her compared to last time, Shizuko was still relatively unknown among the Oda clan's retainers. However, she didn't particularly mind being unknown since she had no intention of making a name for herself. She could obtain the necessary authority and materials through Aya, and she hadn't encountered any difficulties in her daily life. As Shizuko returned home without drinking a drop of alcohol at the drinking party, she felt a slight loneliness in the quietness of her house.In an attempt to distract herself from the loneliness, Shizuko sketches various tools on washi paper. The classifications are diverse, including cooking utensils, agricultural tools, and measuring instruments.The reason for sketching utensils is somewhat complex. Unlike the first and second years, Shizuko has started to have some level of comfort in her life. With this newfound comfort, she notices the lack of convenience that she had previously been too busy to realize. Particularly, she noticed everyday items. During the Sengoku period, resources were consumed for weapons, resulting in extremely poor quality household items. They were fragile and not standardized in size. This would undoubtedly become a problem after the unification of the country. Therefore, Shizuko believed that it was necessary to reproduce everyday items. In fact, one of the reasons she made a stone kiln was to reproduce a substitute for a microwave oven.Shizuko sketched as many daily necessities as she could remember. The measurements were based on the MKS meters, kilograms, seconds unit system. Originally, she had planned to introduce the MKS unit system to the Oda territory at the same time, but the potential confusion among craftsmen due to large-scale standardization was a concern. After discussions, they decided to experimentally introduce it in one village. Shizuko, who was also working on plans for a new village for personal reasons, took this opportunity to recruit pottery craftsmen and woodworking craftsmen who could process bamboo and lumber, in addition to the existing blacksmiths and weavers who were already producing ceramics. The main focus was on the blacksmiths, and the other craftsmen from weaving onwards, to put it bluntly, were considered as extras.There are two main types of blacksmiths: swordsmiths who make weapons like matchlock guns and armor, and livelihood blacksmiths who make tools for farming, among other things. Swordsmiths are highly regarded and employed by various local lords, while livelihood blacksmiths are considered to be of lower rank compared to swordsmiths. However, during the Edo period, the roles of swordsmiths and livelihood blacksmiths were reversed, and swordsmiths had to seek guidance from livelihood blacksmiths in order to make a living. However, Shizuko was concerned that there might be few livelihood blacksmiths during the Sengoku period. But her worries were unfounded.In just two days, every profession reached its designated number. It's only natural, as the Oda territory is a place overflowing with money and goods. Compared to other countries, it is an environment where starting businesses and professions is easier, so it is inevitable that craftsmen and merchants would flock here. Of course, there are cases where craftsmen and merchants also leave for other countries, but the number is insignificant. Therefore, when the Oda family recruits craftsmen, it is not surprising that they are inundated with applicants. Due to the large number of applicants, selection exams were conducted to reduce the number to the designated amount, but thanks to that, we were able to have a large number of skilled craftsmen. On paper, they are a technical group employed by the Oda family, but in reality, they are Shizuko's personal group of skilled technicians.There is a reason why Shizuko specifically hired a group of technical experts. Farmers who inherited agricultural technology from Shizuko were able to obtain harvests that they had never experienced before. At first, they were happy, but the unusually large harvest became a major problem. The issue was that there were no storage facilities that could accommodate the amount of crops harvested. The farmers, who obtained a large amount of crops at once, had an excess amount that far exceeded their family's consumption and emergency reserves. It was clear that they would be taken advantage of if they sold the crops to merchants. Moreover, selling them without permission was not allowed under the contract with Nobunaga. They didn't know what kind of punishment they would face if their secret selling was discovered. In their desperation, they turned to Shizuko for help.However, it was a difficult situation even for Shizuko, who was exhausted from crying. While relatively long-lasting grains could still be preserved, perishable crops such as vegetables would take at least a few days to obtain permission for sale, increasing the risk of them going bad during that time. However, it was impossible to consume all the produce at once. After much deliberation, she decided to give them knowledge about processing, preserving, and storing food, which was not originally planned. The reason for not planning it was that preserved foods were traditionally passed down in each household, creating their own uniqueness. Shizuko had no intention of standardizing it. Instead, she advocated for each household's unique seasoning.Anyway, they hurriedly built a simple storage facility and tried to preserve the processed crops for storage. However, now they were short on storage tools. This was not something that could be solved with Shizuko's knowledge alone, so we had no choice but to rely on the incoming merchants and Nobunaga to gather what they needed. In the end, they had to discard nearly ten percent of the vegetables, but they managed to complete all the processes somehow.The villagers breathed a sigh of relief, but Shizuko's expression did not improve. She had realized something in this incident. She had been too arrogant, thinking that everything would be fine if she asked for help from Nobunaga and the others. Reflecting on this, she realized the need to secure enough tools to prevent a similar situation from happening again. However, in the war-torn Sengoku period, there were few craftsmen who could make tools that were essential for daily life, making it extremely difficult to secure them. That's when Shizuko came up with an idea. If people were scattered, why not gather them and create a village? And while they were at it, why not spread the MKS unit system as well?All three units, meter, kilogram, and second, require a reference standard. For the meter, we decided to use Shizuko's modern ruler and bamboo ruler as the reference standards, as they were available. As for the second, an atomic clock would be ideal, but it was impossible to observe atoms during the Sengoku period. Instead, we decided to use a sundial as a daily tool to help people develop a sense of time.The kilogram prototype was troublesome. However, having a prototype for weight is important in order to eliminate fraudulent manipulation of quantities. She was at a loss as to what to do, but suddenly she remembered that there was a kilogram prototype in the Edo period. Since it was measured on a balance scale, a basic weight was necessary. She pondered if there was something that weighed one gram.Something close to me solved that problem. It's modern currency. In Shizuko's time, it was determined by law that a one yen coin weighs one gram, and a five hundred yen coin weighs seven grams. There may be some milligram discrepancies, but we won't worry about that. Anyway, now that we have the materials, we can use the one yen coin as the gram standard, and gather multiple grams to create a kilogram standard. There may be some discrepancies with the kilogram, but we won't dwell on that either. It's impossible to perfectly replicate it, and more importantly, right now it's more important to spread the unit system than to achieve perfection.During the time when they were replicating instruments from the original device and spreading the MKS unit system among the people in the technology village, a suspicious man arrived in Shizuko's village.That man exuded a suspicious atmosphere just by looking at him.Hehehe, Shizuko-sama. You're looking lovely today.The name of the man who greets people with a massage is Kyujiro. Despite this, he is one of the merchants allowed to enter and leave the village of Shizuko by Nobunaga. His last name is unknown, and although he was born in Omi, he became a traveling merchant at the same time as his coming-of-age ceremony and has been moving from place to place.I am in my early twenties, but I look like I am in my late thirties. Not only that, but I have extremely thinning hair, to the point where even the back of my head is dangerously bald. This makes me the most suspicious-looking merchant among all the traders. However, being a merchant from Omi, my business skills are top-notch among the traders. In particular, my sense of what makes a product sell is sharp, so I am able to procure and sell the same items as other merchants who deal with Nobunaga, but faster and at higher prices. Perhaps it is this shrewdness that has earned me Nobunaga's favor.What can I assist you with today?I have a product that I would like you to take a look at hey.After responding to Shizuko's words with a smirk and a suspicious smile, Kyujiro briefly called out to the man behind him. The man responded briefly and then placed the wooden box on the left side in front of Shizuko. Then, the man stepped back behind Kyujiro. Keiji, one of the horsemen, cautiously opened the box while remaining on guard.What is this?Keiji, who checked the contents, let out a crazy scream. It's no wonder, as the wooden box only contained various sizes of stones. Saizo and Nagayoshi also reacted to Keiji's voice and looked inside the box. Saizo tilted his head in confusion at the sight of the stones, while Nagayoshi pointed at Kyujiro and shouted angrily. Despite witnessing the reactions of the three, Kyujiro remained unfazed, wearing his usual suspicious smile.Yes, everyone, that's enough. Will you show it to me too?As soon as she said that, she pushed the three people aside and checked the contents of the wooden box. When she picked it up and looked closely, she noticed that there were white things mixed in like spots. There were completely white stones as well, but they seemed quite brittle, more like soft rocks. Holding the stone that looked more like a rock in her hand, Shizuko said to Kyujiro.I wonder where you got this rock?Hehehe, normally the source of our products is a secret, but since it's Shizuko-sama asking, I'll gladly answer. Those items were brought from the Uesugi and Yusa territories.I see. Alright, I will buy it at the price you requested.Shizuko said as she put the rocks back into the wooden box. Her three retainers were surprised that she was buying the stones, but since it was her decision, they didn't interfere.As expected of Shizuko-sama. It seems you understand what this is. Well, I can't really say anything arrogantly since I am in a position where I was taught by Shizuko-sama as well. Hehe.Well, I do think it's genuine, but let's wait until the results come out just to be sure.It's alright. I'm an outsider, but I confirmed it with someone who knows the details and it seems there's no mistake. Well, I made sure to keep them quiet about it. Oops, that was an unrelated story, wasn't it?I wonder Aya, will you bring me some money?Shizuko understood that his mention of gag order meant becoming a Buddha. If this rock is indeed the rock Shizuko had planned for, he thought it would be a hindrance to his business if it were dug up by knowledgeable outsiders.Hey Shizuko, is this pebble really worth anything?Nagayoshi, who was curious, whispered to Shizuko. The other two were also curious, so they eavesdropped on their conversation.I'll talk about it later. For now, if this rock is the same as what I know, it can be used. I think he's probably factoring in that I'll make something with it.That scum. Fine, I'll ask later for now.Is the consultation over? Well then, this time it's about this I'm sure Shizuko-sama will be pleased with it .. I think.As soon as Nagayoshi moved away from Shizuko, Kyujiro smirked and spoke to the man in a low voice. The man shifted the wooden box in front of Shizuko to the side and placed another wooden box in front of her. Unlike the previous box, this one had a rectangular shape. After Keiji had Shizuko step back, he cautiously opened the box, just as before. Once again, Keiji couldn't quite make out what was inside, and furrowed his brow. Shizuko, who saw the box from behind him, had a slightly tense expression on her face.Shizuko-sama, I have brought the money.Kyujiro-san, I'll buy this too.When Aya forcefully took the sturdy wooden box filled with money from him, Shizuko placed it in front of him and said this.You can take as much as you like.Surprisingly, Kyujiro, after tapping his forehead, took out from the wooden box the exact amount he had originally intended to sell to Shizuko with her Take as much as you like.Hehehe, while an ordinary merchant would take everything, this Kyujiro won't stoop to such low tricks.With a suspicious smile that clearly showed he didn't have such noble thoughts, Kyujiro closed the lid of the wooden box after taking the money.Excuse me. I have another business meeting after this, so I will take my leave now. Well then, Shizuko-san. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to reach out to me, Kyujiro.With a suspicious smile until the end, Kyujiro left with the man. As they passed through the village's entrance gate and Shizuko's village disappeared from sight, the man who had been standing by Kyujiro's side suddenly spoke up.Mr. Kyujiro, are you really sure about this? That much money is quite substantialHuh? Don't call me a fool. That was probably testing me, right?Kyujiro responds with a mocking expression to the man's words.If I took all that money. I would be excluded from that new business venture that woman was doing. And if I force my way in, I'll be glared at by Lord Oda. I don't want to be excluded from good deals by showing my greedy side. Only fools like those in Sakai would do such foolish things.Ha, haListen, business is not just about immediate buying and selling. Sometimes, it's necessary to enrich the other party without considering one's own gains and losses. That investment at the time can later turn into a large sum of money and roll into my pocket. In other words, you have to take a loss to gain something.Is that so?Is that so Well, are you really my son? Understand the basics of business, damn it. From today on, memorize the Ten Commandments of Omi merchants and the principle of satisfying all three parties.' You fool!After glancing at his son, who flinched at Kyujiro's angry voice, he walked away with big strides. The son, left behind, hurriedly followed Kyujiro once he caught up with the situation.On the other hand, Shizuko, who bought a rock and a certain object, said to Keiji while holding the rock in one hand.This is a mineral called pottery stone.Pottery stone?Yes, it's the raw material used to make porcelain. It's not available in Owari or Mino, and it's still not yet discovered in other countries, so it's quite valuable.Pottery stone is a white, soft rock that is used as a raw material for porcelain. However, it cannot be obtained in Owari or Mino provinces. There are nearby deposits of pottery stone ore, such as Hattori and Kawai pottery stone in Ishikawa Prefecture, and Seimi, Isai, and Shibukusa pottery stone in Gifu Prefecture. However, both of these areas are territories of other countries, so it is not easy to go and mine there. Moreover, pottery stone itself has been excavated since the Edo period, so it would have been almost impossible to find during the Sengoku period.Even when it comes to non-metallic minerals, there are many people involved in mining. However, the cost is usually lower than traditional mining methods because it involves open-pit mining, where the minerals are excavated by spiraling from the surface instead of digging tunnels. Open-pit mining is suitable for extracting ceramic materials that are often found in large quantities and close to the surface.However, there is a problem that cannot be avoided no matter what. If we engage in flashy activities like mining in other countries, we will definitely attract the attention of the rulers of those lands. It would be problematic to do anything that could interfere with Nobunaga's plans before he goes to Kyoto. When I was struggling to come up with a solution, I heard that Kyujiro went all the way there and started mining.I can't believe they didn't notice him, a fellow countryman that bastard.This is a different category from iron, copper, silver, and gold. In other words, if it's not properly processed, it's just like what Katsuzo-kun said, a random stone lying around'. Even if the merchant dug up something unusable, they probably didn't care. Maybe they even bribed them.In any case, if this is genuine pottery stone, it can be used to make ceramics in Japan. In the original history, porcelain production began in the early Edo period when white porcelain ore was discovered in Izumiyama, located in the eastern part of Arita Town, Saga Prefecture. The pottery produced at that time was a single-colored white pottery. The Japanese, who were already familiar with the ceramics produced by China, which had perfected the technology of ceramics in the 8th century, did not desire only white-colored pottery. Immediately, pottery with painted and decorated patterns was produced. In an instant, the single-colored white pottery was eliminated, and various patterns were painted by the hands of craftsmen, resulting in the production of Japanese tableware.The reason for engaging in pottery production is simply because Shizuko wants to experience making porcelain at least once, which is a rather straightforward reason. There is also the idea that Nobunaga, who is not just a brute relying solely on military power, can use it to demonstrate his deep cultural knowledge and sophistication as a cultured person. However, for the most part, it is simply a very Shizuko-like reason of wanting to try making pottery.Well, after processing it to make it usable, I might have the craftsmen try making it. I'll also try making one myself, though.Oh, I see. So you have a hobby in pottery as well?I don't have such sophisticated hobbies. It's just a good opportunity, so maybe I'll give it a try once? Well, first I have to shape the clay. Aya, please arrange the wooden bucket and Seto clay.Understood. Is Seto no Do referring to the clay used by Seto potters?Okay, then please do that. I'll wait until the wooden barrels for the pottery stones are ready before starting the work, so it's fine for now. I'll have the wooden box over here moved to my room. I'm tired, so I'll inspect the contents later.With that, Shizuko lifts up the other wooden box. It feels surprisingly heavy, and she can feel its weight in her hands, but she manages to keep a calm expression and leaves the room.Oh, everyone can disband whenever they want. I don't have any plans to meet anyone anymore.Just before leaving, Shizuko says that while observing their expressions. There didn't seem to be any suspicion about Shizuko's actions, especially. Shizuko inwardly feels relieved and puts her hand on her chest.Well then, see you.Finally, Shizuko leaves the room and returns to her own. Once back in her room, she places a wooden box near the center and securely locks the room. Confirming that there is no sign of anyone's presence, Shizuko faces the wooden box placed in the middle of the room once again. She gently lifts the lid and checks the inside. The contents remain unchanged, and exactly as she had expected, they are sitting inside the wooden box.Why does Kyujiro-san have this? No, wait, why are modern items other than what I had, falling in this era?Inside the wooden box was a black sports bag made of synthetic fibers.The sports bag was quite large, about 80cm in length. And it wasn't just any sports bag. The bag was worn out and covered in mud, showing that its owner had been using it for many years. However, contradicting those sentiments, there were countless bloodstains soaked into the bag. It was unclear whether the bloodstains were from the bag's owner or someone else. Shizuko trembled as she unzipped the sports bag. Inside, there were numerous small plastic bags, something that looked like seedlings, and a diary-like notebook.Shizuko, who was curious about what was inside the plastic bag and the seedlings, decided to read the diary first. She felt a bit guilty about reading someone else's diary without permission, but her desire for information about the owner was stronger than her guilty conscience. Shizuko started reading from the back to see the latest information.On June 15th, my daughter finally left this house. Well, I shouldn't say she left. More accurately, she got married and went to live with her new family. But man, I was caught off guard at the wedding. I mean, it was unfair for her to bring out the outfit I had sewn for her when she was in kindergarten. I had decided not to cry, but I ended up bawling my eyes out. And when I finally calmed down, she said something. She said that even though her mother passed away when she was young, her father showered her with enough love for both of them, so she never felt lonely. She said she's proud to be her father's daughter. And that made me cry even more. What am I going to do now? The photo of my daughter as a bride got all blurry from my tears. I can't even show her wedding dress to her new husband.On August 1st, my daughter and son-in-law come to my house from time to time. While I don't feel lonely, I wonder if I've made them worry too much. I decided to talk to them about it because it was bothering me. It turns out they were also worried that I might feel lonely. My son-in-law even suggested that we live together, but I declined. First and foremost, my daughter and son-in-law need to build their own family. I've heard that some parents try to scheme and rely on their children for support through cohabitation, but I don't want to be like those despicable people. So I told my daughter and son-in-law that I was really happy about the idea of living together. But, my daughter, your family is the person next to you, not me. Son-in-law, thank you for caring about this old man, but please care more about my daughter than me. Don't worry, I'm not at the age where I'll start losing my mind. Besides, thanks to recently doing some gardening, I feel like I've lost a bit of belly fat. When I said that, both of them laughed and cried. I'll just think of it as tears of joy, my daughter.On August 7th, I thought about how to make better use of our spacious garden, to the point where I thought we could plant some small fruits. In the past, when my daughter asked why we had such a large garden, I lied and said it was because we wanted a parking space. Yeah, the truth is, I had actually wanted to do home gardening and grow flowers together with my wife, and grow old together. But it didn't work out in the initial stages. Yeah maybe I'll grow the flowers my wife liked and the food that my daughter and son-in-law like.On August 8th, I was nervous because I never make phone calls from here. But I thought it was convenient that her husband answered. I wonder if it's not dangerous to ask a man about his favorite food. Well, I was just wondering what to grow in my home garden, so I thought I could grow something that my family likes.August 10th. It's a bit surprising that my daughter's husband, being a young person, likes vegetables. Most of the new employees at the company usually answer with meat Well, never mind. I remember the department manager mentioning that he knows a professional in agriculture, so I'll ask him to introduce us tomorrow. Let's see, my daughter likes spinach, Chinese cabbage, oranges, watermelons, and rice. As for my son-in-law, he likes komatsuna, white kidney beans, sugar snap peas, potatoes, lemons, and pickled plums I hate to say it, but are they really young people? Their preferences are like those of old folks from the countryside. Since they have a mix of fruits and vegetables, maybe I should contact them sooner. I'll start by calling the department manager.August 13th. I'm always amazed by the director's skill and quick actions. How is it that the day after I called, my paid leave request is already done Well, it's fine I guess. But seriously, the countryside is amazing. It's incredible how things come together in just a few days after making a phone call. The power of the countryside network is something to be feared. I remember they said it's not F1 variety but a fixed variety But what exactly is F1 variety? Is there some difference in the seeds? Does F1 refer to F1 racers or something? I don't really understand. I'll look it up later.August 14th. I thought my place was rural, but the designated location was even more rural. I couldn't hide my surprise when I found out that there was only one bus per day, instead of one per hour. I brought my sports bag for the business trip to take over the seedlings, but I wonder if it will be okay. The professional farmer that was introduced to me had a stubborn old man vibe, as expected. However, I had a secret weapon. After greeting him, I quietly handed something to the old man. I had heard from my boss that he loves Minzaido's chestnut yokan. As expected, the old man's attitude instantly changed. It was extremely effective!On August 15th, I stayed overnight at my grandfather's house due to bus arrangements. My grandfather was delighted to be able to drink good sake after a long time. I checked the seeds and seedlings I received. The seeds are spinach, Chinese cabbage, komatsuna Japanese mustard spinach, white kidney beans, snap peas, potatoes, okra, and watermelon. The seedlings are mandarin oranges, lemons, and plums. There were also unexpected varieties like Tenjin Akashiso for making umeboshi pickled plums and enma wheat seeds for green manure. Oh, and I was also given peanuts because they go well with beer. As for the rice, it's called Tomohonami, but it's too minor for me to know. In the first place, I only know varieties like Koshihikari and Akita Komachi. I can't remember the name of the other one I think it used difficult kanji well, never mind. Oh, I also need to check the flowers. We have marigold, sunflower, cosmos, aloe vera, kidachi aloe, goldfish, French marigold, bird of paradise, marguerite, and laurel Alright, we have everything. But why is this lineup chosen by my wife? We've been together since we were babies, but I still can't understand her. Now that I write it down like this, there are quite a lot of them. Well, with this many, there shouldn't be anything to be sentimental about.I wrapped the seedlings in towels and paper to protect them from getting damaged, and then I put the seeds in the remaining space. The seedlings may be big, but since each seed is small, they're compact. They don't take up as much space as the seedlings. Surprisingly, there was a little extra room. But it was a mistake to mention it. Just when I thought Grandpa suddenly came back home, he quickly returned with a paper bag in hand. When I asked what it was, he replied that it was a snack pineapple seedling. It seems that Grandpa received the seedling from an acquaintance, but he didn't seem to have much intention of growing it. So, he had the intention of pushing it onto me. Well, it's fine. If it's impossible, it's okay. I thanked Grandpa and left his house. As I'm being rocked by the bus, I'm starting to feel sleepy, so I'll end today's diary here. Goodnight.Was there something from there? The next written characters are completely different from before and were written quite messily.?? Month ?? Day. Where am I? This is strange I was just sleeping on the bus Why am I in a place full of forests? Could it be that the bus driver abandoned me somewhere? No, that can't be. There's no benefit for the driver to do such a thing, and besides, my belongings are intact. But where am I? For now, it must be Japan, right? And now that I've noticed, I seem to be holding a sword sheath. But I don't remember packing a sword sheath in my belongings?Saya? I remember hearing that Lady Otachi carries a sword from an old woman called the Heir of Time I wonder if there is any connection?Thinking that she might understand something if she continued reading, Shizuko once again lowered her gaze to the diary.?? Month ?? Day Cosplay Robbery? Or a random attacker? I don't know what's going on, but I was being chased by men with chonmage hairstyles and Japanese swords. If it's some kind of historical cosplay, they should do it somewhere else. I tried to ignore them, but suddenly they attacked me. It wasn't a joke or anything, and I realized the seriousness of the situation, so I desperately tried to escape. However, it seemed like they had the advantage and easily cornered me. I thought I was going to be killed! But then, one of the men pointed at me and started talking to his companions. The words I heard were extremely scary, but I mustered up the courage to ask. You guys aren't gay, are you?' The men tilted their heads, probably because they didn't understand my words. But judging from their reaction when I saw them taking off their underwear, my unpleasant premonition turned out to be true. I-I don't have that kind of interest! Just when my chastity was in danger, one of the men was suddenly cut in half by a stranger who appeared behind the robbers. At that moment, I seriously thought a god had appeared. That person swiftly killed the bandits. I, embarrassingly enough, foamed at the mouth and fainted at the gruesome scene in front of me.On ?? month ?? day, a man who had killed a robber for some reason took care of me. Anyway, I thanked him for saving me. Later, I asked him why he helped me. I'm just an ordinary middle-aged man with no outstanding talents. I hate to admit it, but I'm not educated either. I don't have money, and I have nothing to brag about. So at first, I couldn't believe the man's story. But several pieces of evidence couldn't deny his words. Even someone as dumb as me could understand that. It's truly unbelievable I, who have lived an ordinary life, becoming like the protagonist of a science fiction movie.?? Month ?? Day, it's my third day here, and I've been sticking with the man who helped me. But whether it's in modern times or the Sengoku period, money is important. Without money, you can't do anything. Also, I realized that this baggage is quite cumbersome. I feel bad for the old man, but I'll sell these seeds and seedlings to the merchant along with the bag. I was worried if he would buy this tattered bag, but as expected, my prediction was right. I was rejected so many times that I almost lost hope until the shady merchant showed interest in buying it and offered a good price. I wondered why he bought it without even opening the bag, but I thought it would be rude to ask, so I decided to sell it without saying anything. I'll only take the photos of my wife and daughter, wallet, cellphone, and just in case, a can of emergency rations. I'll leave this diary behind as well. I don't want to stand out by carrying it around.The diary had been interrupted there. Shizuko probably stopped writing and put it in her bag. That's what she thought, but as she flipped through the pages, she found a page with something written on it.I have a request for anyone who reads this diary. Would you please take care of the seeds and seedlings mentioned here? I understand that it's an unreasonable request, and if it's not possible, you can discard them. However, if you think you can nurture them please, I beg you.PhewShizuko takes a deep breath and puts her notebook back into her bag. She closes the lid of the wooden box and lies down on her side. She feels exhausted as various pieces of information rush into her mind all at once.If what I wrote in my diary is true, there are two other people who have time-traveled besides me. If I borrow the words of the old woman, could it be that we are all descendants of time?At the very least, the owner of the bag is likely a descendant of the fallen of the era. It can be said with certainty since they are using notebooks and pencils. However, the man who conveyed the reality to this man was quite vague. As long as he is telling the man about the Sengoku period and time travel, it might be safe to assume that this man is also a descendant of the fallen. However, something doesn't sit right. I can't help but feel that this man is different from just a mere time traveler. There is no clear evidence, but it feels strange.I see. It's strange to have both the sensation of being able to kill someone without hesitation and knowledge of the Sengoku period.In modern times, if someone were to kill another person, they would be arrested by the police and punished according to the law. I thought they might be a murderer, but if that were the case, there would be no reason to help the owner of the notebook.This man is someone to be wary of. Not only does he possess high combat abilities, but if he also has knowledge of the Sengoku period he will become a troublesome individual.It is extremely dangerous to be in a situation where you cannot determine whether a troublesome person is an enemy or an ally. If they are willing to become an ally, then that's good. However, if they are hostile, it would be necessary for them to become a Buddha first. It is not that they are scary because they know history, but rather because knowing history increases the likelihood of taking evasive action in the face of immediate danger. In such a case, it is possible to alter the existing historical narrative or even make it as if it never happened. This could have a significant impact on the Oda faction.Anyway, gathering information about men is our top priority. We need to collect informationThe anxiety of not knowing whether the person who shares the same fate is an enemy or an ally weighed heavily on Shizuko's heart.
