After a simple dinner and washing up, everyone prepared to rest.
It wasn't that they were so exhausted, but in this era where there was nothing to do, there truly wasn't much else they could engage in.
Once darkness fell, aside from the little light provided by candles, it was essentially pitch black, especially in an environment where you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
After sparring with Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi, Kobayashi Itsuki was quite fatigued.
However, before going to sleep, he had one more thing to do: open his existing treasure chests.
In this era where war could break out at any moment, it was absolutely correct to enhance one's strength as much as possible.
Counting the treasure chests he obtained earlier at Cheetah's house, Kobayashi Itsuki now had a total of nine treasure chests: three White, three green, and three blue.
Although it wasn't many, it was better than nothing.
As the candle was extinguished, the room fell into silence, and the group slept for the first time in this unfamiliar era.
Using the cover of darkness, Kobayashi Itsuki lay on the tatami and silently chanted in his mind.
"Open White Treasure Chest."
[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained Anti-inflammatory Medication * 3.]
[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained Bicycle * 1.]
[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained Compressed Biscuits * 5.]
'Continue, open green treasure chest.'
[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained Explosion-proof shield * 3.]
[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained Cake * 5.]
[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained Sildenafil Tablets * 10.]
Kobayashi Itsuki frowned at the items he drew this time.
Seriously, what is this stuff?
Aside from the Explosion-proof shield, which was somewhat useful right now, what were Sildenafil Tablets? He didn't need them.
Moreover, he was perfectly healthy, so he certainly didn't require them.
Thinking this, Kobayashi Itsuki finally focused his attention on the blue treasure chests. There was no helping it; the other items were simply too unreliable.
Taking a deep breath, Kobayashi Itsuki quickly stored the extra items around him back into the System.
'Open blue treasure chest.'
[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained perpetual will sandwich cookie * 3.]
perpetual will sandwich cookie?
Seeing this familiar name, Kobayashi Itsuki's eyes lit up—a good item had been dropped!
Kobayashi Itsuki felt a weight in his hand, and suddenly three individually packaged cookies appeared.
The dim room was pitch black, preventing Kobayashi Itsuki from clearly seeing the cookies' appearance, so he immediately checked the system description.
[perpetual will sandwich cookie]
[Continuously restores 15% of lost Health and lost Mana over fifteen seconds.]
'Huh, it directly restores Health and Mana?'
Kobayashi Itsuki was slightly surprised looking at the system description. It wasn't like this when he drew the Elixir of Iron last time.
However, looking at the cookie's description, Kobayashi Itsuki still felt somewhat excited.
In the game, this cookie wasn't considered much.
At most, it increased the margin for error during a confrontation, provided some sustain, or was sold for profit.
But!
This wasn't the game world.
In the game world, there was a fountain to restore health, but not in real life.
Placing a single cookie like this in real life truly made it a life-saving miracle drug.
15% of lost Health—if used on a person who was near death, sustaining their life would definitely not be a problem.
Furthermore, it could restore Mana.
If he were to use the Invisible Hand and exhaust his stamina, he could presumably use the cookie for a certain degree of recovery, thus enhancing his sustained combat ability.
Kobayashi Itsuki felt that this result was quite good.
Tonight could definitely be counted as having yielded some rewards.
Just as Kobayashi Itsuki was immersed in joy, the system notifications continued to sound.
[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained Gold 500g.]
[Ding, congratulations Host, you have obtained Self-Heating Rice * 30 boxes.]
The last two items were quite ordinary.
Nevertheless, Kobayashi Itsuki was satisfied with this result.
After all, getting one item with supernatural properties from three blue chests today was quite good.
The probability was much higher than when he opened chests before.
'With three cookies, I'm much safer now.'
Satisfied, Kobayashi Itsuki put away all the items, pulled up his blanket, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
By the time Kobayashi Itsuki and the others woke up again, it was already morning.
After a night's sleep, Kobayashi Itsuki felt that all the stamina he had expended yesterday had been fully restored, and he was full of energy.
However, shortly after they woke up and were eating the breakfast prepared by Ni'emon, Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi returned from outside, bringing back worrying news.
"The Okurai clan army has already arrived nearby and surrounded Kasuga Castle. It might not be easy for you to leave now."
"Surrounded by an army?!"
Hearing Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's words, Nohara Misae instinctively hugged the Himawari-chan in her arms and said nervously.
"Yes."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi nodded, "The areas slightly further outside the city are completely filled with Okurai clan people. Even if you have a marvelous thing like a car, it would be difficult to break out."
Hearing this, Nohara Hiroshi's expression also darkened.
Everyone understood what this meant.
It meant that perhaps they wouldn't be able to return home until the war was over.
"But don't worry. As long as you stay in the city, you will be safe. The samurai and I will protect you!"
"We have resolved to fight the Okurai clan to the bitter end!"
Looking at the determined expression on Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi's face, Kobayashi Itsuki said,
"Can you take us to see the specific situation?"
In Kobayashi Itsuki's impression, Kasuga Castle was inferior to the Okurai clan in terms of raw strength; without the help of the Nohara Family, victory would have been impossible.
Since they were already here, it was naturally best to see the situation firsthand.
"No problem, but you must be careful."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi cautioned, but then smiled upon thinking of Kobayashi Itsuki.
"With Kobayashi-kun protecting you, there definitely won't be any problems."
After breakfast, the group followed Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi to the city wall.
Looking out, beyond the city was a golden wheat field.
However, in the middle of the wheat field, there were many figures, like locusts, constantly harvesting and trampling the wheat field that was almost ripe.
These were the soldiers of the Okurai clan.
Seeing their actions of destroying the wheat field, it was clear that the enemy absolutely did not want Kasuga Castle to continue existing this time.
"All roads out of the city have been completely blocked. Once they finish cutting the wheat in the fields, they'll probably launch an attack."
Ijiri Matabei Yoshitoshi stood on the city wall, his voice low.
For the first time so close to war, the group realized that the city was filled with an atmosphere of solemnity.
Everyone was busy preparing for war.