Kobayashi Itsuki grinned, but Hiroshi clearly couldn't keep his composure.
"Isn't this a bit too much of a'surprise'?!"
"That's a claymore—bona-fide military hardware! Where on earth did you get it, Teacher Kobayashi?"
As a middle-aged man, Hiroshi followed military matters and recognised the infamous device.
Just like the ever-popular RPG in movies, it was household knowledge.
Famous enough to be instantly recognisable.
Ohara Nanako:... Nohara Misae:... The two of them were speechless when they heard Nohara Hiroshi's words.
"Mr. Nohara... are you mistaken??"
Ohara Nanako said hesitantly, finding it hard to believe that such a military-grade item was real.
"Ask Teacher Kobayashi, he knows best if it's real or not."
Nohara Hiroshi looked at Kobayashi Itsuki helplessly, signaling him to explain.
"Mr. Nohara is right, it is indeed a claymore mine."
"Didn't I say? I knew this was the Warring States Period, so I went to a friend to prepare."
"After all, it's better to be prepared than sorry."
"Ensuring safety is the most important thing."
The three exchanged glances, gaining a new understanding of Kobayashi Itsuki's so-called friend; only someone with immense influence could acquire such items.
Only Shin-chan still didn't understand what this meant.
"We've done everything we can, the rest is up to time."
They couldn't leave as long as the Okurai clan's army didn't retreat.
Now, all they could do was wait patiently.
The atmosphere in Kasuga Castle grew heavier and more oppressive as time passed.
Kobayashi Itsuki and the others were also brought down from the city wall to a safe location, where they could clearly see the situation on the front lines.
"The Okurai clan's army has completely cleared the wheat fields outside."
"Judging by the current situation, they should be attacking soon."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi said to them in the room.
Fully armed, he looked exceptionally heroic, accentuated by his armor.
"Kobayashi-kun, I've prepared a suit of armor for you, just in case..."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi said, and two soldiers carried in a wooden box, placing it on the ground.
Looking at the wooden box, Kobayashi Itsuki looked at Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi with a half-smile.
"It seems Ijiri-kun won't let me off the hook."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi chuckled awkwardly, then said earnestly and sincerely, "Please, Kobayashi-kun, this battle concerns our entire Kasuga Castle..."
Seeing Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's sincere expression, Kobayashi Itsuki smiled.
"Alright, alright, since Ijiri-kun you've put it that way, it would be rude of me to refuse."
"I'll accept this armor, but I'll find my own opportunity to act. I hope Ijiri-kun can understand this."
"Of course, Kobayashi-kun's strength naturally doesn't require others to command."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi nodded repeatedly, his face filled with joy.
In his opinion, getting Kobayashi Itsuki to agree was already a great surprise.
"You all come and help Kobayashi-kun put on his armor."
Although Warring States Period armor couldn't compare to that of the contemporaneous Ancient martial arts, it was still just as troublesome to wear.
Kobayashi Itsuki was led to an adjacent room, where, with the help of two maids, he successfully put on a suit of armor.
It must be said, this suit of armor was quite heavy.
If it were his past self, who hadn't exercised much, he probably wouldn't have been able to move for long after putting it on.
Now, it was different.
After trying it on, Kobayashi Itsuki felt relatively relaxed and could move without much effort.
After changing into his armor, Kobayashi Itsuki returned to the room.
Kobayashi Itsuki, who was already quite tall and well-built, looked rather heroic after putting on the armor.
Compared to Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi, who was already over thirty, Kobayashi Itsuki seemed even more spirited.
"You look very handsome, Teacher Kobayashi."
Nohara Misae praised Kobayashi Itsuki when she saw him return in armor.
"What? I'd look handsome too if I put it on."
Nohara Hiroshi said with a hint of jealousy when he heard Nohara Misae praise Kobayashi Itsuki.
"Your beer belly from drinking beer every day probably wouldn't even fit in this armor, would it?"
Nohara Misae said disdainfully, then looked at Ohara Nanako.
"Nanako, isn't that right?"
Ohara Nanako covered her mouth and chuckled softly, seeing Nohara Hiroshi looking crestfallen.
"Teacher Kobayashi does look very handsome in this."
"Right? I think so too."
Kobayashi Itsuki nodded slightly, saying with a bit of pride.
"What about us next..."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi, who had been waiting for Kobayashi Itsuki to return, was about to speak when he suddenly heard several whistling sounds in the air, followed by two thuds as arrows landed directly on the wooden eaves of the window.
Hearing the sound, Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi reacted immediately, shouting, "Enemy attack!"
With that, he instantly rushed out.
Nohara Hiroshi also immediately shielded his wife and child, anxiously looking outside.
"Be careful, stay here, don't go out."
Kobayashi Itsuki said, taking out two of the Explosion-proof shields he had retrieved earlier.
He handed one to Ohara Nanako and one to Nohara Hiroshi.
He held the last one himself and rushed out, following Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi.
"Teacher Kobayashi!"
Ohara Nanako exclaimed, reaching out to grab him, but just as she raised her hand, Kobayashi Itsuki's figure had already rushed out.
Following Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's figure to the city wall, Kobayashi Itsuki looked into the distance.
He saw a dense, dark army approaching Kasuga Castle from afar.
Waves of arrows rained down from the sky towards Kasuga Castle.
Kobayashi Itsuki raised his military Explosion-proof shield, staring intently at the distant army.
"Kobayashi-kun, you..."
Seeing Kobayashi Itsuki also on the city wall, Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi was about to say something, but Kobayashi Itsuki interrupted him.
"Prepare to signal."
Kobayashi Itsuki said in a deep voice, his gaze fixed on the approaching army.
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi nodded, took out a flare, and prepared to fire it.
This was their agreed-upon signal; once fired, the soldiers on the front line would press the button.
In this tense atmosphere, the Okurai clan's troops approached step by step.
The murderous aura made everyone feel heavy-hearted.
As the dense, dark troops gradually approached, Kobayashi Itsuki could even see the nervousness of the ambushing soldiers in front.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and the Okurai clan's soldiers didn't notice anything amiss.
Just as the Okurai clan's army was about to reach the city walls, Kobayashi Itsuki's voice finally sounded in Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's ear.