Chapter 12 To Ichihara
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Within thirty minutes, Maggot-san arrived at the room. I greeted her nervously, my heart racing. Her visits are unmistakable—her knocks are soft, always with the same measured rhythm.
”Maggot, at your service,” she said.
”Come in,” I replied, my voice barely steady.
She doesn’t seem angry, at least.
The moment she stepped inside, it was as if she’d read the situation in an instant. For some reason, the Imperial Guard usually stationed outside, Flatty-san, was nowhere to be seen. Maggot-san came prepared, carrying fresh bed sheets and cleaning supplies. Before I knew it, she’d ushered me to the washroom, and with a kind of effortless magic, she made the mess vanish.
Incredible… she’s like the ultimate cleaning expert. The bandage wrapped around her head and the subtle way she moved, as if nursing a bruise on her back, tugged at my chest with a pang of guilt.
”Maggot-san, I’m sorry. And… thank you,” I said, my words clumsy.
”It’s no trouble,” she replied, her tone as calm as ever.
Her voice was steady, carrying the gentle warmth of an older sister, though it hinted at underlying emotions. As always, I couldn’t quite read her. Her gaze held no trace of blame—not that it ever did.
”Maggot-san, about…” I started, fumbling. “It’s just… it wasn’t on purpose. I couldn’t hold back, but it wasn’t like I didn’t care who it was with, or…”
She stood there quietly, her presence serene. I’d already explained the situation earlier, but she hadn’t said a word.
What am I even supposed to say?
Should I make an excuse? But apologizing for using another woman to satisfy my urges felt… wrong. And expressing concern for her injuries seemed hypocritical, considering I was the one who called her here in the middle of the night.
Maggot-san didn’t seem angry or exasperated. For a moment, I wondered if I should just blame her for not being here to stop me. But what’s the right answer?
”Flatty will return to the room at six this morning,” she said. “By then, Trash-san should be awake and ready.”
”Right. So, it’s fine if I just sleep now?” I asked.
”Yes, there’s no issue,” she said.
With that, she glanced at me, as if checking if I had more to say. When I didn’t, she quietly left the room.
I watched the door close, her footsteps fading. As expected, she handles everything so smoothly. The moment the door clicked shut, I let out a heavy sigh.
”Haa…”
What a night. Everything had somehow worked out, but I felt utterly drained.
From Maggot-san’s silence, it seemed the only thing I needed to deal with urgently was an excuse for that kiss. To an Imperial Guard, my reckless desires must seem like a crisis. But what does Maggot-san think of all this?
I couldn’t control myself with Trash-san. And this kind of thing might happen again—no, I’ll probably make it happen again. Does Maggot-san expect me to reflect and change? Or is she hoping to pull Trash-san into our little secret?
”Hm… zzz…”
Trash-san was still sleeping peacefully on the bed, her soft breaths filling the quiet. Her expression was a little slack, almost drooling. Is she dreaming something nice?
No, no, no. I shook my head. I can’t do that again. Calling Maggot-san back would be crossing a line. Even she must have her limits.
I slipped into bed, careful not to think too much. Trash-san’s alluring form rose and fell with each breath, her occasional murmurs tempting. But I forced myself to ignore it, avoiding contact with the woman beside me, and drifted into sleep. I just hope I come up with a good excuse by morning.
* * *
When Trash-san woke, she was hilariously flustered. Her eyes snapped open, and she bolted upright, scanning the room in a panic. After a moment, she steadied her breathing and muttered to herself, “This… this is strange. Why is Young Master sleeping next to me?”
She was still disoriented, her words jumbled. Her hands trembled as she stared at them, a nervous half-smile on her face.
Her voice woke me. Rubbing my eyes, I yawned and said sleepily, “Haa… Oh, you’re up? You scared me, collapsing like that.”
”Young Master, why are you here?!” she demanded.
”Why? Because you slept with me,” I said casually. “Forgot already?”
Trash-san fell silent, her face frozen.
”Nngh…!” she groaned.
I sat up, stretching my arms with a loud yawn. I’d probably gotten about three hours of sleep. A bit groggy, but thanks to last night, I felt oddly refreshed. Trash-san, on the other hand, looked utterly bewildered.
”Thanks,” I said with a grin. “I feel great now.”
”I swore to protect you with my gentle heart,” she stammered, “and… and then… this happened…”
Her fingers trembled as they brushed her lips. Her face was pale, stark against her red lips.
Is she remembering how it felt? Or maybe something more intense…
”It’s our secret, okay?” I said softly.
”Y-Yes,” she said, her voice shaking. “I swear, last night was just… a moment of curiosity—no, what foolishness! To taint you, Young Master…”
She clutched her head, overwhelmed.
*Okay, she doesn’t need to agonize that much.* I hadn’t expected her to feel this guilty. I’d thought maybe she’d enjoyed it, at least a little. But her expression showed betrayal—of her comrades, of herself.
I’m not exactly pure, but seeing her so upset made me feel bad. This stings.
”It’s kind of a blow to hear you hated it that much,” I said, half-joking.
”Hate it?! No, no, that’s not it!” she blurted, then winced, struggling to find the right words. “Young Master, that kiss… it made my heart race. No goddess’s kiss could compare—it was a blessing I don’t deserve.”
I exhaled, relieved. “Good to know.”
”But,” she added, her voice heavy, “I overstepped.”
At least she didn’t hate it. That eased my mind a bit. Still, I’d put a psychological burden on someone who’d only meant to help me, out of kindness and concern. It left me uneasy.
Truth is, I’m the one who used her.
”Want to do it again?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. “I didn’t really get to focus last time, with you passing out and all.”
”Young Master…” Trash-san looked like she might clutch her head again.
I leaned closer, taking her hand gently. “I kissed you because I wanted to. Don’t feel bad about it. It’s our little secret.”
”Secret…” she echoed, her voice soft.
”I don’t just go around kissing anyone,” I said. “I know it’s not exactly proper, but I can’t stay a kid forever, right?”
She looked at me, her expression complicated—wrestling with emotions I couldn’t fully grasp.
”Did last night help with your loneliness?” she asked quietly.
”Yeah, thanks,” I said. “Though… I wouldn’t mind sticking close to you a bit longer.”
She hesitated, then spread her legs slightly, opening her arms to me. I crawled into her lap, turning so my back pressed against her chest. Clad only in a shirt and pants, she wrapped her arms around me from behind, her warmth enveloping me.
”You’re warm,” I murmured.
”No, Young Master, you’re the warm one,” she said softly. “Children always have such high body heat.”
”Still calling me a kid?” I teased.
”Just for a little longer,” she said, her voice close to my ear, “please stay a child.”
Her breath tickled the back of my ear, her voice soft and steady, wrapping me in a quiet comfort.
”This is dangerous, you know,” Trash-san said softly.
”Yeah,” I replied.
”Women are beasts, after all.”
Her bangs brushed my ear, tickling me. I let out a small laugh.
”I’ve studied male ethics,” I said, “but they don’t really suit me. Of course, I behave properly in public, but…”
She smiled faintly, her voice gentle, like an older sister patiently teaching a naive child. “A boy’s innocence and rose-colored days don’t last long.”
”What do you mean?” I asked.
”The time when a man doesn’t resent a woman is short,” she said, her tone heavy with meaning.
Trash-san tightened her embrace, her perfectly sized breasts pressing softly against my back. Mmm, cozy.
”…When puberty hits, you’ll probably curse me,” she continued, as if speaking to herself. “You’ll call me a cunning witch who used your purity to sate her desires. You’ll despise me like a venomous snake and push me away. But that growth… that’s my true joy.”
She’s got it all wrong. That day she’s talking about? It’s long gone. I’ve already walked that path—or maybe I skipped it entirely.
Sitting cross-legged in her lap, I gently placed my hand over hers, which rested on my knees. Turning to face her, I pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
”Kissing you feels so good, Trash-san,” I said. “This could get addictive.”
*Seriously, it feels insanely good.* She’s bound to me, but I’m just as hooked on her. Let’s keep this going. My eyes gleamed with intent—a demon’s whisper. Honestly, I want more than just kisses. She’ll keep it a secret, right? And she’s practically giving me permission to mess around until “puberty” hits. As if that’s ever coming.
”…Hm?” I noticed a dampness against my backside. It wasn’t me. Her underwear was wet. She let out a deep, trembling breath, her voice almost a moan. Her fingers dug into her own arm, as if fighting herself.
”Control… I must control myself…” she muttered.
She’s not about to pounce on me. But this seemed like a physiological reaction in this world’s women, like an erection in my previous life’s men.
Her eyes shimmered with a mix of sorrow and affection. Ignoring her racing heartbeat, I kept stealing small kisses. I couldn’t help it. Up close, Trash-san’s refined features were breathtaking.
”It’s calming,” I murmured. “Being like this with you… it’s soothing.”
”Calming… through kisses?” she asked, her voice soft.
”You’ll protect me from danger, right?” I said.
”…Yes,” she replied after a pause.
I fought the urge to give in to my desires. If a kiss rattled her this much, anything more would probably break us both. Slow and steady.
Her cheek felt soft as cotton candy under my fingers. Can I even keep my head straight?
”Trash, it’s almost time for the shift change with C*mslut and the others,” a voice called from outside, followed by a knock. A young woman’s voice crackled through the wall-mounted intercom-like terminal. “Can we come in?”
We both flinched. A glance at the clock showed it was just before 6 a.m.
Trash-san scrambled to her feet, rushing to the terminal. “Uh, no, wait! Young Master’s still sleeping. I’ll come out quietly.”
”Alright, we’ll wait,” the voice replied.
Trash-san began getting ready. I watched her, a bit reluctant to let the moment end.
”Shift change already?” I asked.
”Yes,” she said, her voice tinged with regret. “I wish we could stay longer, but…”
”No helping it,” I said. “I wanted to stay like this a bit more.”
Does she really feel that way? Her expression looked like she’d just escaped death. Was it that intense for her? After Maggot-san went through the trouble of cleaning up our mess, we couldn’t ruin it now.
As she headed for the door, I called out, “Can I call you again?”
”Of course,” she said warmly. “Anytime you wish.”
That sounded like something a lonely lover would say. Oh well.
Trash-san slipped out, and faint voices leaked through the still-active intercom. Shift rotation, I guessed.
”Hey, Young Master’s sleeping face was cute, right?” one voice teased. “He told us he loved us yesterday!”
”I was entrusted with the night watch to ease his mind,” another said. “I didn’t have time to think about that, but we talked a bit. I owe you three.”
”Ha, you owe us big time!”
”C*mslut, you’re always so extra. Don’t barge in there and wake him up. He’s exhausted.”
”What, jealous?”
”Your head’s in the clouds. Young Master’s just kind, that’s all.”
”No one said he loved us, but still…”
The last voice was probably C*m Bucket-san, my favorite sultry older sister. There were others I didn’t recognize. Their banter was lively, but I couldn’t tell if they were getting along or not.
I wanted to hear more, but the intercom cut off. Oh well. Trash-san covered for us, so I might as well catch some more sleep.
* * *
After resolving the situation with Maggot-san and Trash-san, I focused on preparing for the upcoming school trip. The route to Ichihara would take us from Togane, through Onarimachi, an old street path.
I was still learning place names, so it didn’t quite click. The roads here were nothing like my previous life. Kazusa Province—basically Chiba Prefecture—had familiar names, but the details were all different.
For instance, this trip meant crossing Chiba from east to west, from Kujukuri Beach on the Pacific Ocean to Ichihara on the inner bay, facing Tokyo Bay. In my old world, that’d be near Disneyland, but that doesn’t exist here.
Normally, you’d take the Chiba-Togane Road—my nickname for it was “Chiba-kun’s collar.” But in this world, that highway didn’t exist. Post-war policies here focused on maintaining old town streets instead of building new corridors. Apparently, this Onarimachi street was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu for falconry trips from Edo to Chiba.
Building a road for that? Harsh.
Either way, it meant crossing mountains. Being as frail as I am, I was a little worried.
* * *
”It’s still pitch black outside,” I muttered.
That morning, we gathered just past the town’s administrative center. The Imperial Guards assembled early to cross the rugged terrain to a teahouse before the weather turned. I, of course, was just cargo, carried in a palanquin.
Three days had passed since that night. I’d been getting closer to Trash-san, requesting her for night watch constantly. All because I’m dying to get intimate. She seemed caught between lust and her protective instincts, but I figured we’d cross that line soon enough. An older sister, torn by guilt but unable to resist… tempting.
Honestly, I might break before she does,” I muttered.
Just when I thought tonight was the night to make my move, the school trip got scheduled, and I was fuming. Is this what they call brain destruction?
”No helping it, I guess. At least I’ve got some goals for school now…”
Over the past three days, two things shook me up—one good, one bad.
First, the good news. The Imperial Guard I first spoke to when I arrived in this world finally returned to duty, just in time for this trip.
”Sow-san!” I called out.
”Young Master!” she exclaimed, her voice warm. “You’re looking so well!”
”You’re the one I was worried about!” I shot back. “I’m so glad you’re okay!”
Her middle-short bob haircut framed her sharp, almond-shaped eyes. Her chest was flat, almost boyish, but that was Sow-san—my nostalgic Dogeza Woman in her white uniform. Our first meeting was… intense. She’d offered a severed head and taken herself out with a syringe. Shocking, to say the least. But now, she was fully recovered.
She’d rejoined as the head of my Imperial Guards, taking on the primary guard role. Apparently, she was the top performer among them, too.
The moment she saw me, she dropped to her knees.
”I’ve been waiting for this,” I said, pulling her into a light hug.
She hesitated, stiffening slightly, but I didn’t care. The rough hemp of her Imperial Guard jinbei scraped my face, and her white outer uniform fluttered at the edge of my vision. She’s really here. She’s alive. We’d exchanged countless cryptic letters, but seeing her in person after over a month felt like a relief.
Maggot-san’s hospitalization was my fault, so Sow-san’s return was a lifeline. Honestly, I’d been teetering on the edge of despair.
She accepted my embrace with a hint of embarrassment, her cheeks flushing. Cute.
”Thank you for forgiving me,” she said formally. “I swear to serve you wholeheartedly as your sword and pawn once more.”
”Do your best,” I said with a grin. “I’m sick of decoding those cryptic letters.”
She gave a small laugh, her expression softening. Apparently, Sow-san and Maggot-san were childhood friends.
Now, for the bad news… but first, let me introduce my ride.
As I pulled away from Sow-san, I was ushered into a palanquin—a small, room-like box with poles, carried by two people. When I opened the door, I was greeted by an interior fit for a princess: tatami flooring, intricate mother-of-pearl inlays, and a small armrest. The faint scent of grass wafted up as I stepped inside. This is nice, but… embarrassing. It felt like a theme park ride. Apparently, a rickshaw would’ve been faster, but the mountain paths made that impossible.
We set off toward the edge of Kujukuri Town, where a gate separated the white hallways of this region from the outside world.
Now, the bad news.
Maggot-san’s condition had worsened. For the first few days, she seemed fine—just a cracked rib from the impact to her back, nothing that would cause lasting damage. But then, out of nowhere, she collapsed. No warning, just… down. Even after recovering, she’d have moments where her consciousness flickered.
She tried to push through, insisting she’d heal with time, but I stopped her. She looks normal most of the time, sure, but still…
So, my goal at elementary school was set: find a way to get Maggot-san proper medical treatment. Whether it was securing connections in Kazusa Province or the capital for quality care or finding a mystical object to substitute, that was my priority.
Kujukuri looks technologically advanced, but it’s all a facade. Cars, phones, rations—they’re just mysterious properties of this world. Medical tech is practically nonexistent. No X-rays, no CT scans. I tried arguing with my vague modern knowledge, but the doctors couldn’t diagnose beyond what they saw. This town looks so modern, yet…
Finding connections would boost my status, too, and it’d make Maggot-san happy. She told me to focus on returning safely and treat her condition as secondary. I’ll play it by ear.
Which brings me to now. My Imperial Guards and I were on edge—downright furious.
Our departure was interrupted by a group of women from the Katakai area. They were throwing out vague accusations, blocking our way, and we were all itching to shove them aside by force.
”Didn’t you know Young Master is departing today?” Sow-san snapped.
”Don’t be ridiculous,” one of the women retorted. “The whole ‘boy being found’ story sounds suspicious to begin with.”
From the small window of my palanquin, I peeked outside. Sow-san, freshly reinstated as head guard, was arguing with about ten women.
They gave off a nasty vibe.
”The Sakuta family’s eldest daughter has really fallen low,” one sneered.
”I heard you got hospitalized because you botched a search and cut yourself,” another taunted. “Pathetic.”
”Didn’t they say at the last town assembly that Maggot girl got carted off to the hospital, too?”
The women laughed mockingly, one of them shooting a blatantly scornful look our way. She was young—early twenties, maybe—but in this world, that was full adulthood.
They kept taunting, physically blocking our path. It was a grave insult to a male.
My Imperial Guards closed ranks around the palanquin, shielding me from their glares. The air grew tense, almost hostile. Sow-san’s sharp retorts didn’t faze them.
”No need for concern,” Sow-san said coldly. “Young Master is safe. Our departure has the town assembly’s approval.”
”It’s probably just your lies,” a woman scoffed. “Causing trouble for the town and acting all high and mighty.”
A long-haired woman, who seemed to know Sow-san, stepped uncomfortably close.
”Running away at night, huh?” she said, her smirk dripping with malice.
She stared Sow-san down, inches away.
”You’ve always been like this,” she continued. “Always acting superior just because your grades were slightly better. This is what you get for getting cocky after being chosen as an Imperial Guard.”
”Old school grudges are irrelevant,” Sow-san replied, her voice steady.
”They’re relevant now,” the woman snapped. “Karma’s a bitch, isn’t it?”
She rested her hand on the sword at her waist. The other women began readying their weapons, too.
”That palanquin’s full of gold, right?” she said. “Share some, and we’ll let you pass. You’re too hated by the council to stay here, aren’t you? Why not just die in some other town?”
This is bad…
”Should I step out?” I whispered.
It seemed these women didn’t have accurate information about us.
Of course. I’d been under strict protection by the Imperial Guards the whole time. Kujukuri Town is vast, and information doesn’t always spread evenly. These women must think I haven’t even been found yet.
Just some high-spirited town youth, huh? Seems like there’s some old school grudge mixed in, too.
I cracked open the palanquin’s door and whispered to Vocal Slut-san, the guard standing nearby. Her ponytail swayed, marking her as the tallest older sister among the Imperial Guards, with the vibe of a morning show singer.
”Hey, should I show my face?” I asked.
”No need to worry!” she replied with a bright smile.
But her eyes weren’t smiling. Let me reiterate: we were livid.
The woman from before brandished her sword at Sow-san, waving the tip provocatively. “You can’t draw your blades in the middle of town, can you?”
”And you can, as a mere town gatekeeper, not chosen for the Imperial Guard?” Sow-san shot back.
The women’s faces darkened, and they closed in, ready to strike.
”Sow, we doing this?” C*mslut stepped forward, her hand on her sword guard, her rough edge cutting through the tension.
”Regrettable, but we may have to force our way through,” Sow-san said.
”Hey, Sakuta’s Sow,” the woman sneered. “What did you just say? An Imperial Guard like you, without even a master? Bet he’s already dead somewhere—”
Oh no.
In a flash, the woman taunting Sow-san was on the ground. I barely caught what happened. Sow-san moved, and one by one, five women collapsed.
They didn’t even have time to scream.
”Wait, stop! I was just following orders! That’s enough!” one of them pleaded.
”No need to hold back. For old times’ sake,” Sow-san replied coolly.
Vocal Slut-san gently closed the palanquin door. “Time to depart! By the time we reach the mountain’s peak, the weather should clear right up!”
”Uh, y-yeah…” I stammered.
As we passed, I peeked through the palanquin’s small window. The women lay sprawled on the ground, blood seeping from their sides. Their stomachs were caved in, faces pale, vomiting blood from crushed organs.
Outside, I heard branches snapping and heavy thuds in the mud. Probably the sword hilts smashing their ribs and stomachs…
”Young Master, how’s the ride?” Vocal Slut-san asked cheerfully.
”Awful. My butt hurts…” I groaned.
”Hahaha, just a bit more patience!” she said, jogging alongside, checking on me through the window.
The door at the end of the white corridor was different from the usual. Instead of a single sliding panel, it was a massive double door, wide enough for three or four adults to pass through.
When it opened, a storm raged outside. Rain lashed down, wind howled, and the earth seemed to groan. It was like stepping into the heart of a typhoon. Yet, mysteriously, no rain breached the hallway. The door alone separated two worlds.
Trees snapped and flew outside, lightning flashing every few seconds, painting the world white. It looked like the apocalypse—no place for anything to survive. The guards carefully closed the door behind us, and we pressed forward without hesitation.
Along the path, boundary markers were driven into the ground at regular intervals. The earth around them was dry, untouched by the storm, as if isolated from the environment. It felt like walking through an aquarium’s underwater tunnel. Looking back, I saw the immense white expanse of Kujukuri Town—twenty meters tall, stretching endlessly to either side. A colossal white box.
We marched on.
Gradually, the rain eased, and the weather cleared. Plants began to appear, and we emerged into a barren, desolate area.
The path widened into a larger trail, like a beast’s track. Where the markers ended, a large stone monument stood. Eventually, the trail became a full-fledged mountain path, surrounded by revived forest greenery and unfamiliar bird calls.
”We’re almost at the shrine,” Vocal Slut-san announced. “Let’s take a break!”
Her energy made breaks seem unnecessary, but my backside was screaming. “Thanks. I’m getting motion sickness.”
The rough terrain didn’t help. Guess I learned something: palanquins suck.
”No choice!” Vocal Slut-san laughed. “The town’s palanquin bearers and drivers hate us. Normally, professionals would carry you!”
”What?”
My Imperial Guards’ active division was hauling me. So much for new discoveries. Her cheerful delivery didn’t help.
Five minutes later, we reached a small rain shelter. I stumbled out of the palanquin and collapsed onto the tatami inside.
The shelter was clean, with space for cargo and pegs for rain gear. The eight Imperial Guards, their feet caked in mud, sat on the dirt floor by the entrance.
Having eight beautiful women in such a tight space was a feast for the eyes, but my body was too wrecked to care. If they weren’t here, I’d sprawl out on the tatami. But that’d trigger their overprotective instincts, so I held back.
”Are… are you okay?” Cult Slut-san asked, peering at my face with concern.
”Yeah, I’m fine,” I said. “Is it that obvious?”
”A little…”
Up close, Cult Slut-san’s beauty was unmatched. All the Imperial Guards were stunning, but she was a 120-point knockout. Her gorgeous face twisted with worry.
But today, I wasn’t in the mood to swoon. Instead, I felt… frustrated.
Among the Guards, Cult Slut-san (education officer) and Crybaby-san (foreign affairs officer) were the only ones as petite as me. Yet even they showed no signs of fatigue after that sprint.
A strange competitive streak flared in me. I’d made exercise part of my daily routine, but eight years of inactivity was a lot to overcome. I’d never been this out of shape. It was inconvenient.
If someone gave me a lap pillow, I might recover a bit. But Cult Slut-san’s concern was shutting that option down. Men couldn’t casually let women touch them here.
Maggot-san usually handled these adjustments for me, so her absence stung.
”I’m fine now,” I said, soothing their worries. “Let’s keep going.”
I climbed back into the palanquin.
* * *
We reached the teahouse palace well after nightfall.
The path had turned into a proper town street, lined with pine trees. I was exhausted, but the journey had its moments. For instance, drainage ditches ran alongside the pines, with sand mounds piled up—an Edo Period touch.
There was also a fuss when I needed to pee. The roadside huts for nobles’ restroom breaks were gone. Normally, women would clean and prepare the streets for boys’ enrollment or homecoming seasons, but not now. It felt like touring an old Japanese town street—kind of fun.
Tonight, we’d stay at the teahouse.
With no cars for long-distance travel, we were stuck moving through Chiba in a pre-modern style. Those car-like things in town were just mysterious devices limited to the neighborhood. Walking would normally take days.
Apparently, even the town’s residents don’t understand how those cars work. And the mobile phone terminals stop functioning outside Kujukuri. So inconvenient.
At the teahouse, Sow-san and Crybaby-san handled dealings with the staff. This place was a crossroads, connecting not just to our destination, Ichihara, but also to Kisarazu in the west and Tateyama in the south. It was bustling with adult women, all busy with their tasks.
”Hmm, so many different people,” I murmured.
Unlike us, some women wore conical straw hats, while others donned traditional kimonos. There were even maids like Carriageway-san, making it feel like a fashion expo—quite a treat for the eyes.
I settled into a private room at the teahouse’s annex and drifted off to sleep.
* * *
The next morning, the scenery screamed rural Japan. The weather was clear, the breeze refreshing, and the high altitude offered endless views of blue skies and mountains.
”Huh, I can’t see Kujukuri Town from here,” I said, disappointed. “I wanted to know what it looks like from outside.”
”Our town’s always rainy!” Vocal Slut-san chirped. “Not much fun to look at!”
”Give me a shoulder ride, Vocal Slut-san,” I teased. “Maybe I’ll see something!”
”Sounds good! Hop on!” she laughed.
”No way! That’s improper!” Cult Slut-san scolded, cutting our fun short.
I’d hoped Vocal Slut-san’s height would give me a better view. I was curious about how Kujukuri looked from the outside.
”We’re heading straight to Ichihara today,” Cult Slut-san said, her face tense with nerves. “No wasting energy.”
She was probably worried because I’d felt off yesterday. With that tone, I had no choice but to comply.
We switched from the palanquin to a rickshaw for the journey to Ichihara—faster and more comfortable. The Imperial Guards loaded our belongings onto a large cart and surrounded me as we moved. From here, the foot traffic picked up.
What surprised me was the road. It gradually turned into a paved street, with asphalt patches here and there and streetlamps lining the sides.
By evening, we arrived at a town straight out of the Meiji era, with brick buildings. This was Ichihara, the capital of Kazusa Province.
As soon as we arrived, I was hustled into a room in a large mansion. Older women ushered me through bathing and meals, then practically shoved me into a Western-style bed for the night. Thankfully, sleepiness hit me fast.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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