The countless maps spread out across Kazuki's desk told a story of distance and danger.
"Two hundred kilometers," Rin said, tracing the coastline with her finger. "Through hostile waters controlled by the Matsuura. Past Arima territory. And that's assuming winds turning in our favor and no storms."
Kazuki leaned over the maps, his engineering mind calculating routes and variables. Honda stood by the window, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Hattori was somewhere hidden in the shadows, literally, Kazuki had actually lost track of him five minutes ago.
"The Matsuura won't be a problem if we're smart about it," Kazuki said. "We take a small, unassuming vessel. We will look like fishermen. Nothing worth pirating."
"Young master," Rin's voice carried a note of exasperation he was starting to recognize. "You're talking about sailing into unknown waters, in a fishing boat, to purchase strange weapons from foreign barbarians none of us have ever met. Do you understand how insane this actually sounds?"
"Completely."
"And you're still going to through with it."
"Absolutely."
Rin set down her brush with more force than was necessary. "At least let me explain the financial reality before you get yourself folloishly killed. We've invested everything we had into the coal mine. Our liquid capital is approximately three hundred ryo. That's it. That's all we have left."
Three hundred ryo. In modern terms, maybe thirty million yen. A fortune for a peasant. Barely enough to buy three good swords for a samurai domain.
"How much do you think these firearms will cost?" she continued. "From foreign merchants who know they have a complete monopoly on the technology?"
"I don't know yet," Kazuki admitted. "But whatever they may cost, we'll find a way."
"With what? Optimism and determination?"
Honda finally spoke up from his position by the window. "The lady administrator indeed has a point, young master. Even if we manage to reach Tanegashima safely, even if these foreigners are willing to sell to us, we might not be able to afford their price."
"Then we will negotiate. We promise them future trade. We offer exclusive rights to Karatsu's coal. We—"
"We're a bankrupt domain on the edge of Kyushu," Rin interrupted. "What exactly do we have that these merchants would realistically want?"
The question hung in the air.
Kazuki straightened up, looking at each of them in turn. Honda, skeptical but loyal. Rin, practical and frustrated. Hattori, who'd somehow materialized in a different corner of the room entirely.
"You're all right," he said quietly. "This is indeed insane. We probably can't afford it. We might even get killed trying. And even if we do succeed, we'll return to a domain where my brother has had a week to consolidate his power in my absence."
"So why do it?" Rin asked.
"Because this is the turning point in history," Kazuki said. "Right now, today, firearms have just arrived in Japan. In six months, every major daimyo in Kyushu will know about them. In a year, they'll all be scrambling to acquire them. In two years, the foreign merchants will have their pick of wealthy buyers."
He leaned forward, intensity burning in his eyes.
"But right now? Right now we're early. The merchants are probably confused, maybe scared, definitely trying to figure out who to trust in this strange country. The Tanegashima lord is probably just as confused as them. No one knows what these weapons are actually worth yet."
"Your point being?" Honda asked.
"My point is that we have a small window of success. A chance to acquire new technology that will change everything before anyone understands its true value. We miss this window, and we'll spend the next decade trying to catch up to domains that moved faster than we did."
Rin studied him carefully. "You speak as if you actually know the future, young master. As if you've seen how this will play out."
Careful.
"I've studied history," Kazuki said. "I know how new weapons always change warfare. How technology creates power. The domains that adopt firearms first will dominate the ones that cling to swords and bows."
"And you think we can be one fo the first ones?" Honda's tone was challenging, but not entirely dismissive.
"I think we have to try. Because the alternative is staying here, playing it safe, and watching Karatsu slowly die while our enemies grow ever stronger."
Silence filled the room.
Then Hattori's voice came from the shadows. "The young master is right about the timing. I've gathered intelligence from the port. Word of the foreign ship reached Saga two days ago. Ryuzoji will know about it within a week. If you're going to move, it has to be now."
"Before Ryuzoji sends his own people," Honda realized.
"Before everyone sends their people," Hattori corrected. "This news will spread like wildfire. Every ambitious daimyo in Kyushu will want these strange weapons. The race has already started. We're just deciding whether to run."
Kazuki looked at Rin. "If I don't return, the coal mine operation continues as intended. You have my full authority to manage it as you see fit. Pay the workers fairly. Honor the contracts. Build up the business."
"Young master—"
"If my brother tries to seize it, head to my father directly. Show him the numbers. Prove that the mine actually works. He'll probably protect it if it's valuable enough."
"You're talking like you're writing your will," Rin said quietly.
"I'm just being prepared. Honda-san, if I die, you're released from service. Take whatever gold I have left and start over somewhere else. You're too skilled to waste your life here."
Honda's jaw tightened. "Young master, I didn't agree to follow you just to abandon you at the first sign of danger."
"I'm giving you a way out. No shame in taking it."
"There would be personal shame. At least to me." Honda straightened. "I said I'd follow you to the end. I meant it. If you're sailing to Tanegashima, I'm going with you."
"As am I," Hattori said. "Though I'm charging double rates for ocean travel. Sea water ruins good steel."
Kazuki felt that familiar tightness in his chest again. Loyalty. Real loyalty, not the performative kind from his previous life where colleagues pretended to care while secretly hoping you'd fail.
"Thank you," he said simply.
Rin sighed, a sound of pure exasperation mixed with resignation. "I'll prepare the finances. Three hundred ryo in mixed denominations. And I'm writing detailed instructions for the mine operations in case... in case you don't return."
"Practical as always, Rin-san."
"Someone has to be, since you clearly aren't." But there was no real heat in her words. "When will you leave?"
"Tomorrow. Before dawn. We'll need—"
The door slid open without warning.
They all turned to face the door.
Matsudaira Nobuyuki stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. Behind him, two of his personal guards.
"Brother," Nobuyuki said, his voice carefully neutral. "Planning a trip?"
The room went very still.
Kazuki's mind raced. How much had Nobuyuki actually heard? How long had he been outside?
"Just discussing domain business," Kazuki said evenly.
"Domain business." Nobuyuki stepped into the room, his guards remaining at the door. "With an ashigaru captain, a merchant widow, and a ninja? That's an unusual administrative council."
"These are the people I trust."
"Instead of your own family. How... telling." Nobuyuki's eyes swept over the maps on the desk. "Tanegashima. Interesting choice for 'domain business.'"
No point in lying now.
"I'm going to see the foreign weapons," Kazuki said. "The ones that arrived three days ago."
Nobuyuki's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. Surprise? Anger? Calculation?
"You're going to sail two hundred kilometers, through hostile waters, to chase rumors of foreign magic sticks?"
"They're not magic. They're technology. And yes."
"Father will never allow it."
"Then I won't ask his permission."
The words hung between them like drawn steel.
Nobuyuki took another step forward. "You've changed, little brother. A month ago you could barely walk. Now you're planning expeditions like some kind of adventurer."
"A month ago I was dying. I decided I' rather fond of being alive."
"And if your 'living' gets you killed? What then? Father loses another son. The domain loses its..." he paused, searching for the right word, "...coal mine administrator."
The sarcasm was subtle but present.
"If I die, I die," Kazuki said. "Better than wasting away in this castle."
"How noble." Nobuyuki's voice dripped with disdain. "The sickly third son, finally finding his courage. Very inspiring. Also very stupid."
Honda's hand drifted toward his sword. Hattori had somehow moved closer to Nobuyuki without seeming to move at all.
"Is there a point to this visit, brother?" Kazuki asked. "Or did you just come to mock my plans?"
Nobuyuki met his eyes directly. "I came to tell you something, Kazuki. Man to man. Brother to brother."
"I'm listening."
"You're making enemies. Powerful enemies. Ryuzoji already wants to increase our tribute because of your coal mine. If you start acquiring foreign weapons, if you make Karatsu a threat instead of an insignificant backwater, they'll crush us."
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"They'll try."
"They'll succeed. We're too weak. Too small. You're drawing too much attention we can't afford."
Kazuki studied his brother carefully. There was genuine concern there, mixed with the usual hostility. Nobuyuki wasn't entirely wrong, building power always did attract dangerous attention.
But the alternative was to remain weak. And weak domains didn't survive the Sengoku period.
"I appreciate your concern, brother. Truly. But I'd rather die fighting than live on my knees."
"Poetic. Also utterly foolish." Nobuyuki turned to leave, then paused at the door. "When you get yourself killed on this idiotic journey, I'll make sure to tell Father it was your own stubbornness that did it. Not enemy action. Just... pride and stupidity."
"If I die, you can say whatever you want. The dead don't argue."
Nobuyuki's expression darkened. "No. They don't."
He left without another word, his guards following behind.
The door slid shut.
Kazuki let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in.
"Well," Hattori said from the shadows. "That was rather unpleasant."
"He's not entirely wrong," Rin said quietly. "About the unwanted attention. About the potential danger."
"I know."
"But you're still going."
"I am."
Honda walked to the door, checking that Nobuyuki was truly gone. "Young master, your brother just threatened you. Again. In front of witnesses this time."
"He didn't threaten me. He warned me. There's a slight difference."
"Is there? Because from where I'm standing, it sounded more like 'have a nice trip, hope you die.'"
"Maybe. But he's also right that this journey is actually dangerous. That I might not come back." Kazuki looked at each of them. "Which is why I'm asking you again: are you sure you want to do this? Last chance to back out with no judgment."
Honda snorted. "Young master, you really need to stop giving us chances to abandon you. It's getting somewhat insulting."
"I'm with the captain," Hattori said. "Though I maintain my position on double rates."
Rin shook her head. "I'm not going with you, obviously. Someone has to keep this domain running while you three chase your foreign weapons. But..." she pulled out a small leather pouch, "take this. Emergency funds. Fifty ryo I've been saving up. Don't tell me you don't need it."
Kazuki took the pouch, feeling its weight. Fifty ryo. For Rin, that was probably a significant portion of her own personal savings.
"I'll pay you back," he said.
"You'd better. With interest." But she smiled slightly. "And young master? Come back alive. I don't want to explain to your father how I let you foolishly sail off to your death."
"I'll try my best."
After they left, Kazuki stood alone in his room, staring at the maps.
Tomorrow. He'd be leaving tomorrow.
For the first time since waking up in this world, doubt crept in.
What if Nobuyuki was really right? What if this was just his own pride and stupidity? He had indeed modern knowledge, yes, but he was still in a twenty-year-old body that had been sickly its entire life. One month of training actually didn't make him a proper warrior. One successful business venture didn't make him a genius either.
He was about to sail two hundred kilometers through dangerous waters to negotiate with people whose language he didn't speak for weapons he couldn't afford.
And if he failed, if he really died, the coal mine would probably collapse within months. His allies would lose their positions. The domain would continue towards its slow, inevitable death.
Everything he'd built in one month could disappear in a week easily.
His old anxieties bubbled up again. The familiar voice of doubting himself that had paralyzed him for twenty-eight years in his previous life.
You're not someone special. You're going to fail. You should play it safe. Stay here. Don't risk what you've built.
But then he remembered.
Remembered dying in Tokyo. The ceiling beam falling. The moment of absolute clarity when he realized he'd wasted his entire life being afraid.
Remembered the voice in the void. Change the world or suffer eternally.
He'd been given a second chance. A literal divine mandate. And he was going to waste it being cautious?
No.
Fuck that.
Kazuki pulled out his private journal, writing in English.
TOMORROW: TANEGASHIMA
RISKS:
- Death at sea (pirates, storms, accidents)
- Death on arrival (violence, disease, treachery)
- Death on return (brother's schemes, Ryuzoji response)
- Financial ruin (can't afford weapons, waste resources)
- Political disaster (father discovers unauthorized trip, disowns me)
REWARDS:
- Firearms (game-changing technology)
- Portuguese contact (future trade, knowledge)
- Proof of capability (to father, to domain, to myself)
- Intelligence on foreign powers (what else do they have?)
- First-mover advantage (before competition arrives)
CONCLUSION: Risk/reward heavily favors immediate action. Staying safe = slow death. Taking risks = possible death but also possible power growth.
I've spent one life being afraid. I won't spend this one the same way.
Tomorrow, we sail.
He set down the brush and stared at what he'd written.
A knock at the door.
"Come in."
It was Kiku, his younger sister. She slipped into the room quietly, closing the door behind her.
"Brother... is it true? Are you really leaving tomorrow?"
Word traveled fast in the castle.
"Yes."
"Where are you going?"
"Tanegashima. To see the foreign merchants."
Kiku's eyes widened. "That's so far! And dangerous! What if something happens to you?"
"Then Honda-san and Hattori-san will protect me."
"But what if they can't? What if—" her voice cracked slightly. "What if you don't come back?"
Kazuki crossed to her, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. She was sixteen already, nearly an adult by this era's standards, but right now she looked more like a frightened child.
"Kiku. Listen to me. I need to do this. Not because I want to experience adventure. Not because I'm being reckless. But because our domain is dying, and this might be our only real chance to save it."
"I don't care about the domain," she said fiercely. "I care about you. You're my brother. You almost died from a fever a month ago. Now you're going to sail across the ocean to visit barbarians?"
"They're not barbarians. They're just people from very far away."
"They could kill you!"
"So could staying here. My brother already tried to poison me. At least on the ocean, I know who my enemies are."
Kiku's expression shifted to something harder. "Nobuyuki. I knew it. I knew he was behind that."
"You can't tell anyone. There's no proof yet."
"I don't need proof. I know my brothers." She gripped his arms. "Promise me you'll come back. Promise me you won't die out there."
Kazuki wanted to promise. He wanted to reassure her that everything would be fine.
But he'd learned the ahrd way in his previous life that empty promises were worse than honest uncertainty.
"I can't promise that, Kiku. I can only promise you I'll try my best. I'll be as careful as possible. I'll have good people protecting me. But the ocean doesn't care about promises given."
Tears began welling up in her eyes. "That's not good enough."
"I know. But it's all I have."
She hugged him suddenly, fiercely, the way only a scared younger sister could.
"You've changed so much," she whispered. "Since the fever. You're different somehow. Stronger. But also... scarier. Like you're not afraid to die anymore."
"I'm terrified of dying, Kiku. But I'm more terrified of wasting the precious life I've been given."
She pulled back, looking at him with those intelligent eyes that saw too much.
"The gods touched you, didn't they? During the fever. Mother said so. She said you have a divine destiny now."
"Maybe. Or maybe I just finally grew up."
Kiku smiled slightly through her tears. "You're a terrible liar, big brother. You always have been."
She left before he could respond.
Kazuki remained alone in his room again, feeling the weight of tomorrows plans pressing down on him.
He should probably sleep. He'd need his strength for the journey.
But sleep wouldn't come easily tonight.
Instead, he went to his window, looking out at the ocean. Somewhere beyond that horizon was Tanegashima. The Portuguese. The future.
And tomorrow, he'd be sailing toward it.
Ready or not.
The hour before dawn was the darkest. No moon. No stars. Just the sound of waves against the harbor and the creak of wooden boats shifting with the tide.
Kazuki stood at the docks, a small pack on his back containing everything he owned of value. Three hundred and fifty ryo in mixed coins. A set of clean clothes. His private journal in English. A knife. Not much to show for twenty years of life.
Honda arrived first, moving silently despite his armor. He'd changed into lighter gear, more suitable for ocean travel. A short blade at his hip instead of a full katana. Practical.
"Ready, young master?"
"As I'll probably ever be."
Hattori materialized from the darkness like he'd been born from it. He carried nothing visible, but Kazuki knew he was armed to the teeth. Ninja didn't travel light on weapons, just on visibility.
"The boat is prepared," Hattori said. "Captain is a man named Daichi. Former pirate. Now fisherman. Knows these waters better than anyone else."
"Can we trust him?"
"He's being paid well enough to be trustworthy. And I've made it clear what happens to people who betray me."
Honda grunted. "Let me guess. Nothing pleasant."
"I find that threats work best when they're specific and creative."
They walked to the boat. It was small, maybe twelve meters long, sporting a single mast, designed for coastal fishing. It looked terribly fragile against the vast ocean beyond the harbor.
This is what I'm betting my life on. A fishing boat and a former pirate.
The captain was already waiting aboard. Daichi was perhaps fifty years old, had weathered skin that spoke of decades at sea, as well as missing two fingers on his left hand. Scar across his cheek. Eyes that had seen violence and decided to survive it.
"You're the lord's son," Daichi said. More like stating an obvious fact than asking an actual question.
"I am indeed."
"Heading towards Tanegashima. Risky trip. Matsuura infested waters, Arima territory, full of unpredictable currents." He spat over the side of the boat. "You know what you're asking for?"
"I do."
"You know my price?"
"One hundred ryo. Fifty now, fifty on return."
"And if we don't return?"
"Then you won't need the second payment."
Daichi laughed, a sound like grinding stones. "I like you already, young lord. You're either very brave or very stupid. Maybe both."
"Definitely both," Honda muttered.
They boarded. The boat rocked beneath Kazuki's feet, and his stomach immediately protested. He'd never been on the ocean before. The sensation was deeply unpleasant.
"You going to vomit?" Daichi asked.
"Probably."
"Do it over the side, not on my deck."
The crew was minimal. Daichi, two other fishermen who looked equally weathered, and Kazuki's group. Seven people total on a small boat heading into dangerous waters.
This is insane, the rational part of his mind observed. Completely insane.
But the committed part of his mind, the part that had decided to stop being afraid, responded: Yes. And we're doing it anyway.
Daichi barked orders to his crew. They cast off, pushing away from the dock with long poles. The sail caught wind, snapping taut with a sound like thunder.
And slowly, gradually, Karatsu began to recede behind them.
Kazuki stood at the stern, watching his home slowly disappear into the darkness. The castle was just a shadow against the slightly less dark sky. Somewhere in there, his father slept sound, unaware his third son was currently sailing away on an unauthorized expedition. His mother probably knew, she knew everything, but had chosen not to stop him. His brother... Nobuyuki was probably already planning his next move.
And Kiku. She was probably still awake, watching from her window, praying to whatever gods would listen to her pleas.
Come back safe, big brother.
I'll try, little sister. I really will try.
The harbor mouth opened before them. Beyond it, the open ocean. Vast. Dark. Utterly indifferent to the fragile humans daring to cross its surface.
Honda came to stand beside him. "No turning back now."
"No."
"Having any second thoughts?"
Kazuki considered. "Third thoughts. Maybe even fourth already. But I'm still going."
"That's either wisdom or pure stubbornness."
"In my experience, they're very often the same thing."
They stood in silence, watching the last lights of Karatsu fade completely.
Then there was only the ocean left surrounding them. Only darkness. Only the sound of wind and waves and the creak of wood under strain remained.
"Young master," Honda said quietly. "Why does this matter so much to you? The firearms. The risks. You could have stayed safe. Built your coal mine. Lived a comfortable life."
Because I've already lived one comfortable, safe life, Kazuki thought. And it was empty.
"I saw something, Honda-san. During the fever. When I was dying. I saw... everything I could have been. Everything I should have been. And I realized I'd wasted my whole life being afraid of failure."
He turned to face Honda directly.
"This world is cruel. The strong devour the weak. Domains die. People die. Everything dies eventually. The only question is whether you die having mattered even slightly or die being forgotten."
"And these weapons will help you?"
"These weapons will give us a chance. A real chance. To build something far grander. To protect what we're building. To survive long enough to actually matter in this grand play." He paused. "I'm tired of being weak, Honda-san. I'm tired of being at the mercy of stronger powers. I want to be the strong one for once."
Honda was quiet for a long moment.
"You're not like other lords," he finally said.
"Is that an actual compliment or an insult?"
"Both. Maybe. I haven't decided yet." But he smiled slightly. "But I'll tell you this, young master. I've served a lot of men. Strong men, weak men, smart men, cruel men. And most of them just wanted to maintain what they had. Stay comfortable. Avoid any risk."
He looked at Kazuki directly.
"You're the first one I've served who actually wants to achieve something bigger. Who's willing to bet everything on a tiny chance. It's reckless. It's probably going to get us all killed. But..."
"But?"
"But it's also the first time in my life I've felt like I'm part of something that might actually matter. So thank you for that. Even if we die horribly in the end."
Kazuki felt that tightness in his chest again. Loyalty. Real, earned loyalty.
"If we die," he said, "at least we'll die having tried our best."
"There are worse epitaphs."
The sun began to rise behind them, painting the eastern sky in shades of pink and gold. Ahead, the ocean stretched endlessly, dark blue meeting lighter blue at the horizon.
Two hundred kilometers to Tanegashima.
Four, maybe five days if the winds were favorable.
And at the end of that journey, weapons that would change everything.
Or death.
Maybe both.
Kazuki took in a deep breath of salt air and smiled.
I'm still alive and moving.
For the first time in two lifetimes, I'm actually living.
"Honda-san," he said. "Tell me honestly. What are our chances?"
Honda considered. "Of making it to Tanegashima alive? Maybe sixty percent. Of successfully acquiring weapons? Thirty percent. Of making it back to Karatsu without disaster? Probably twenty percent."
"So overall..."
"Overall, I'd say we have roughly a ten percent chance of complete success."
Kazuki laughed. In his previous life, those odds would have terrified him into paralysis.
Now?
"I'll take those odds gladly."
The boat sailed on, carrying them toward an uncertain future.
Behind them, Karatsu disappeared completely below the horizon.
Ahead, only ocean and possibility awaited them.
Kazuki stood at the bow, the wind in his face, and felt more alive than he had in twenty-eight years.
This is it. This is what I was meant to do.
Not designing air conditioners in Tokyo.
Not wasting away in meetings and cubicles.
This.
Risk. Adventure. Purpose.
The journey had just begun.
And whatever happened next, Kazuki knew one thing with absolute certainty:
He wouldn't waste this chance.
Not this time.
Never again.