Battle of Hirado Waters

"Look! What is that! This is bad. It's a nau ship!"

Fifteen days after departing Sakai. Having completed their business in Shimonoseki, the benzaisen cargo ship was sailing westward along the Genkai Sea, leaving only a short distance to Hirado. Raquel rushed to Diego's side as he shouted from the port bow of the ship. Far in the distance, a ship's silhouette was visible on the northern horizon. However, its outline was clearly different from Japanese vessels. Raquel stared intently at that black dot for several tens of seconds.

"No mistake. It's a Portuguese nau ship! Much larger than the Aurora. Ten cannons on each side, the latest model! I don't know what their purpose is, but we'll detour to avoid them!"

Raquel shouted this and seized the helm from the ship's captain.

"Forgive me, Fujiyoshi-san! I'll take the helm!"

Saying this, Raquel immediately commanded Diego.

"Reduce the sails! We have the wind advantage. Let's slow down and buy time! If we zigzag suddenly, they'll become suspicious. Gradually turn left and pull away!"

Even while speaking, the benzaisen ship ran westward with its sails billowing in the wind. The distance from the nau ship heading east inevitably shortened. Before they knew it, its form had expanded from a black dot to the size of a fingertip. Then, in the next moment, the worst situation occurred. The nau ship, which had been pointing its bow toward Mawatari Island, suddenly changed direction and began heading straight for the benzaisen ship.

(What's happening? Stay calm. Don't panic. They probably just changed course slightly).

However, as that ship's silhouette approached, they had to acknowledge that its bow was aimed directly at them. When they turned the helm left, the nau ship turned right. Then it aligned its bow precisely with them again. Unfortunately, they seemed to have business with this ship. Now, how to get past them? At that moment, Tagawa, who was monitoring the rear, shouted.

"Three seki warships from port stern, multiple hassoosen boats. Three-star banner on the ship flag. It's our navy!"

Upon hearing this, battle cries rose from Tagawa's retainers.

"Ohhhhh! Ohhhhh!"

Then, from within those battle cries, another voice continued shouting.

"Behind the seki ships, the Aurora!"

At that voice, Raquel and Diego ran to the stern as if sprung by a spring.

"Oh, my daughter!"

Diego cried out in overwhelming emotion. Raquel also nodded silently and shouted to Fujiyoshi.

"Lower the sails! Completely! All who can row, row together. Lord Matsura has the wind advantage. The nau ship is downwind. Row with full strength and rendezvous with the Matsura forces first! Every moment counts. Hurry!"

All the men headed for the rowing positions. Raquel took the helm that Fujiyoshi had been holding and began turning. The bow pointed precisely at the seki ships. Now they could only row. Looking back, the nau ship was also rowing desperately. Its silhouette had grown even larger. Raquel confirmed that two priest-like men were standing on its deck. One was an unknown small man. And the other had a familiar appearance. Yes, that was Orsanti.

At this time, on the nau ship, two priests were gazing at the horizon, already certain.

"That's the Japanese ship. No mistake. The one we saw at Sakai port."

Orsanti muttered resentfully.

"That ridiculously huge cow-like fellow must be Diego. Either way, he's immediately recognizable. However, this looks like it'll become troublesome."

Next to Orsanti, the small man muttered. Thomas Costa. An inquisitor of the Macao Inquisition disguised as a Jesuit member. Those cave-like eyes that had stared at Frois were now fixed on the large fleet that had appeared behind the benzaisen ship. The accompanying samurai shouted. They were soldiers borrowed from Omura Bartolomeu.

"That's the Matsura Navy! This sea area is their territory! Forcing the issue is forbidden!"

Costa had no intention of listening to those words. Three years had passed since they discovered the hiding place in Sakamoto castle town. Neither Nobunaga nor Mitsuhide, who had protected the Jews, remained in this world. He had been waiting solely for this moment. Costa shouted.

"Get within cannon range before they rendezvous with the fleet! Stop the ship and capture it immediately. The female doctor and the big fellow. Those are the only two we need!"

However, the Matsura Navy were fierce naval warriors who knew every aspect of the sea and wind. Moreover, this was their territory. The fleet approached the benzaisen ship at terrifying speed while skillfully manipulating the wind. The nau ship, rowing its massive hull upwind, could not possibly keep pace. The Aurora was quickly surrounded by the fleet. Raquel focused her eyes on the bow of a particularly large seki ship proceeding at the fleet's center. There she recognized the figure of a military commander clad in magnificent armor. No mistake. It was Matsura Takanobu. Tagawa shouted toward Takanobu.

"Lord Takanobu! There has been a great political upheaval in Kyoto. I have returned urgently to Hirado with Lady Raquel!"

Takanobu nodded deeply and quickly commanded.

"Lady Raquel and Don Diego to the Aurora. Tagawa transfer to a hassoosen boat, prepare for battle. Tow the benzaisen ship to Hirado!"

A small boat lowered from the Aurora rowed toward the benzaisen ship. A robust, tall young man with chestnut-colored hair was commanding that boat.

"Rodrigo? You've grown big! I hardly recognize you!"

Raquel embraced Rodrigo as he boarded the benzaisen ship. The face of Rodrigo, whom she had always held in her arms, was now far above Raquel's head. When standing next to Diego, there was hardly any difference in height.

"Sister, hurry! There's an Inquisition official aboard that Portuguese ship!"

At those words, Raquel's body stiffened. Probably that small priest. The small boat carrying Raquel and Diego quickly departed from the benzaisen ship. Then it headed for the Aurora at full speed. On the small boat, Rodrigo told Raquel.

"First thing. A letter came from Kyoto six days ago. From Lorenzo Ryosai of the Nanban Temple. It said that there's an Inquisition official in Nagasaki, so even if you leave Sakamoto Castle, absolutely don't approach there, and that Raquel's movements are being monitored."

Hearing this in the small boat, Raquel exhaled deeply.

"One more thing. Two days ago, a priest named Frois came to visit Lord Kote. He suddenly appeared in the pouring rain, spoke briefly, then left immediately. According to Father Frois, the Inquisition is planning an operation to capture us. They intend to take advantage of the political chaos. Since letters wouldn't make it in time, he came to tell us directly. Hirado is also dangerous. Flee overseas immediately."

Hearing this, Raquel nodded slightly and looked down.

(Father Frois, Lord Ryosai. I will not forget this debt. That theological debate is my treasure).

After murmuring this in her heart, Raquel asked Rodrigo.

"What does Lord Matsura say? And what about that Miguel?"

"Lord Matsura sent Miguel back to Kyoto. Lord Matsura also says we should flee overseas quickly. This political upheaval is completely unpredictable, and the Ryuzoji are becoming increasingly troublesome. So he brought the Aurora. It's loaded with plenty of water and food!"

"I see. Understood. Macao is no good. We'll head for Manila via Taiwan. From there we'll wait for an opportunity to cross to Nueva España. We're crossing the Tordesillas Line!"

The small boat came alongside the Aurora. First Rodrigo, then Raquel, and finally Diego climbed the rope ladder to the deck. It was then.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Thunder roared across the Genkai Sea. Along with that explosive sound, terror pierced through their chests. Raquel turned around midway up the rope ladder and identified the direction of the sound. The nau ship had already brought the seki ships within range. Three cannons on the starboard bow showed their black gleaming barrels. One aimed at the seki ship, and two pointed at the Aurora. Their purpose seemed clear. The seki ship's cannons couldn't yet reach the enemy.

"Boom, boom boom!"

More thunder resonated. Cannonballs aimed at the Aurora landed even closer. The aim was being corrected. The next shot, or the one after. The danger of a hit was high.

"Turn left! Diego, Rodrigo! Aim at the nau ship with the starboard cannons!"

As soon as Raquel leaped onto the deck, she commanded the two. They sprang toward the starboard side like released springs. It was then. The sound of a large gong resonated across the sea. On the flagship commanded by Takanobu, colorful flags were being waved toward the hassoosen boats. Next, the sound of conch shells rang out. In response, battle cries rose from the entire army.

"Ei, ei, oh!"

Takanobu raised his iron-plated war fan. In response to that movement, more battle cries echoed. Simultaneously, more than thirty hassoosen boats attacked the nau ship all at once. The nau ship hastily changed the direction of its cannons and fired at the approaching fleet.

"Boom, boom boom!"

Cannon fire grazed the starboard bow of a hassoosen boat proceeding in the middle of the swarming squadron, blowing off the bow. However, the boat didn't stop. The fleet approached the nau ship even closer and was about to enter the cannons' blind spot. And at the bow of the leading boat was Tagawa. He had transferred directly from the benzaisen ship to the hassoosen boat and launched the assault.

"Boom boom!"

The deck beneath Raquel's feet shook violently from the vibration. Cannons fired from the Aurora's starboard side.

"You incompetent! Diego! Shoot ahead of the nau ship! Just stop the ship, that's enough. Don't hit our allies by mistake!"

"Shut up! I know! It's been ten years since my last piracy job! My skills have gotten rusty!"

While making wisecracks, Diego aimed again. Rodrigo desperately loaded cannonballs into the cannon. Only two shots remained.

"Boom boom! Boom!"

The cannon fired from the Aurora hit the water surface ahead of the nau ship's bow. The nau ship slowed down. As if timing this moment, Tagawa's hassoosen boat approached even closer, about to attach to its starboard stern. It was then. Pop pop! Dry sounds rang out. Next to the Portuguese cross fluttering on the mast, small Omura crests swayed. Omura soldiers were firing guns wildly toward the cannon's blind spot. And then.

"Guh!"

A dry voice reached Raquel clearly on the Aurora, hundreds of meters away. On the hassoosen boat, Tagawa's tall body collapsed with a thud and fell to his knees.

"Lord Tagawa!"

Raquel's cry echoed across the sea.

"Rodrigo! Turn immediately! I must treat Lord Tagawa!"

At that moment, a roar echoed from the flagship seki ship!

"No! No! Raquel! You must not go! Pass beyond Oshima to the open ocean! Do what you must do!"

"But, Lord Takanobu! Lord Tagawa is..."

"No! Go!"

"But, but..."

The figure of Takanobu glaring at her became blurred and hazy in Raquel's eyes. Diego shouted.

"Set course north! Raise all sails! Full speed toward Taiwan!"

Seeing the Aurora's turn, Takanobu nodded with small satisfaction. Then he stared at the sea before him and took a deep breath.

"Listen well, everyone! The Genkai Sea is our territory! In the name of the Matsura Navy, we absolutely cannot lose this battle! This is a battle of revenge to erase the disgrace of the Fukuda Naval Battle!"

"Ohhhhh!"

Everyone on the three seki ships raised battle cries. Takanobu raised his fan high toward heaven once more. Then he brought it down.

"Attack!"

Gongs were struck frantically. Military flags changed rapidly. Multiple hassoosen boats accelerated further and attached to the nau ship one after another. Grappling hooks were thrown, and samurai boarded the deck one after another. The sounds and voices of fierce close combat glided across the sea.

"Boom, boom boom!"

The nau ship's cannons fired again. Already, Matsura naval forces had attached to the deck, and fierce hand-to-hand combat was unfolding. In this situation, they could no longer fire cannons from this side. Too dangerous.

"Whoosh!"

A massive water column struck the Aurora's port side. The distance was mere dozens of ken. Close.

"Those guys definitely want this ship. Hard starboard! Just run anyway! The next shot will hit! Prepare!"

Raquel's voice rang across the Aurora's deck.

At this time, at the nau ship's starboard cannon, two Omura soldiers were again aiming at the Aurora. If they missed this shot, the enemy would escape beyond range. One forcibly raised the cannon's elevation by about one degree. Then, as the other was about to press the linstock with the match cord clamped in chestnut wood to the firing point, it happened.

"Uooh!"

One samurai who had broken through the melee attacked the man with the match cord. The samurai's left arm was covered in blood and hung limply, no longer functioning. The samurai raised his sword with his right hand from his tall frame and struck down in one motion, cutting down the match cord man diagonally. The match cord man groaned lowly and collapsed on the spot. The one-armed samurai slashed toward the gunner. At that instant, the man's body jerked backward violently. The sword he had raised in the air fell from his hand and rolled across the floor.

"Gof..."

Even while spitting blood, the man remained standing. A spear was thrust through his back, crushing his spine and penetrating through to his abdomen. The gunner was bathed in splattered blood. The samurai collapsed toward the gunner. In the gunner's ear, the man's last words faintly echoed.

"Sufficient..."

The gunner forcibly pushed away the man collapsing toward him. Leg armor came off and fell from the collapsing samurai's right foot. The old gunshot wound that appeared beneath remained strangely clean.

The Aurora rapidly distanced itself from the battle line. The men's battle cries, the frantically struck gong sounds, the thunder of cannons raising water columns—all grew more distant. Eventually, even the scene of that battle disappeared behind the shadow of islands. They entered the open ocean. The wind grew stronger. They flew northward. The landmasses floating on the sea surface also grew smaller and smaller, becoming thin threads. Eventually, those threads too intertwined with the horizon, becoming a single blue cord.