Volume 4 Chapter 101 Land of Shura
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In the distance, a small solitary peak came into view.
”Mount Fuji?”
The name slipped out before I could stop myself.
”Wha’d ya say?”
Kenze, standing beside me, leaned in to peer at my face.
”Ah, I just saw a mountain in the distance that looks like one I used to love.”
”Hmph. Which mountain?”
It was dusk, and the mountains in the foreground and background kept getting in the way. No matter how I described Fuji’s features, Kenze just couldn’t picture it.
”Ohhh, th’ one shaped like a chickpea’s corner?”
What a brutally reductive way to put it. I tried to explain that up close, it had sprawling foothills and a majestic presence, but she still didn’t seem to get it.
”I seen th’ same mountain ya talkin’ ’bout, over in Fire-Wheel Country too.”
Now that she mentioned it, maybe I had seen something like it there. But for me, Fuji held a special place in my heart.
In my past life, I’d lived in Hyogo Prefecture, but my parents had let me go to Kanto for university. I rode the Shinkansen a lot, and I’d always loved catching glimpses of Fuji from the window. I wished I could’ve seen this world’s Fuji more.
”Excuse me, I’m closing the window.”
The lookout window, which had been open for forward visibility, was shut. It was February. The waters off Japan – or rather, off the coast of the Land of Shura – were bitterly cold in the dead of winter. The wind was so fierce that we had barely any sails raised, yet the Izumo pressed forward regardless.
”Acting Captain, could you warm up some bituminous coal for us?”
Fredys, the squad leader, handed me a bag of bituminous coal. Since we weren’t firing up the boiler, no warm air circulated through the ship. That meant everyone had to endure the cold individually – making Mana Control and heat-generating coal precious commodities.
”Acting Captain, can’t we light the boiler? At this rate, the crew’s going to freeze to death.”
A young crewman from the bridge team shivered as he pleaded with me. I gave him the same answer: no.
”But we just restocked the coal, didn’t we?”
True enough. Hojo and his people had burned through it recklessly in their haste, reducing our stock to under a third – but we’d managed to resupply in Taiwan.
Let’s rewind a bit.
Back when we’d entrusted the three surviving children from Hojo’s village to a man in Baguio whom we could trust –
When we returned to the pier, a crowd had gathered, curious about the Izumo. Among them were two dwarves.
I had Higuchi, the most sociable of Hojo’s group, interpret for us.
”Are you blacksmiths here?” I asked.
They said yes, but also mentioned that they and their companions did mineral exploration. On the spot, I cut to the chase and asked if they had any coal – “burning stone.”
They replied that while they’d discovered a coalfield nearby, they couldn’t get mining permits, and they had to import what little they needed for smithing. Apparently, the land with the coalfield was sacred to the people of Baguio, and no permits would ever be granted.
I asked if they could spare even a small amount to sell, but they shook their heads. As it turned out, even Hojo’s people bought their coal from Borneo, far to the south.
Just as we were about to leave, the dwarves called out to us.
”Are you heading to the Land of Shura?”
They’d seen Hojo’s group and asked. When we confirmed it, they told us about a large island a thousand kilometers due north. Dwarven relatives of theirs lived at the northern tip and ran a coal mine there.
”Isn’t that where the Mountain Tribes – those violent bastards – live?” Higuchi asked, startled.
The Mountain Tribes apparently lived in the island’s (probably Taiwan’s) highlands in large communities. The groups closer to the lowlands were particularly aggressive – they’d kill any castaway who washed ashore without asking a single question. They even fought constant wars between tribes, and Higuchi told me they’d take the heads of their slain enemies, mummify them, and display them at their entrances.
Headhunters. Great.
But according to the dwarves, not all of them were belligerent – the mountain-dwelling groups weren’t necessarily hostile. The dwarves speculated that the tribal conflicts were mostly about abducting women for marriage. Since dwarf women couldn’t bear children with them, they’d probably been left off the target list. They also said that eventually, as blood ties between the Mountain Tribes spread, they might unify.
When we actually reached Taiwan, the dwarven port was small but stable. No conflicts with the Mountain Tribes for about two years, and they’d even started exploring for mineral veins beyond coal.
As for the coal – the mine was small, so we could only replenish our stock to about two-thirds of capacity. Still, compared to having less than a third left, it was a blessing.
Back to the present.
Even if we could use the wind to propel the ship, burning coal for heating was something I – as Acting Captain responsible for this voyage – couldn’t allow. Who knew what lay ahead until we crossed both the Pacific and the Atlantic to get home?
The next morning, the Izumo approached what would be the Izu Peninsula in Japanese terms. The Kuroshio current was fierce. According to Higuchi, there were reefs near the peninsula, so for safety, we had to stay ten kilometers offshore, pass well clear, and only then close in to head north.
Amid the winter gales, I steered the Izumo with tense focus. I wanted to fire up at least one boiler to secure our course, but I held back – and we managed to enter Sagami Bay.
”There’s a current in the center of Sagami Bay that flows toward the land,” Higuchi explained. “When it hits the shore, it splits left and right – so please ride the flow heading right.”
Following the instructions, I spotted what was probably Enoshima at two o’clock. And straight ahead, Eboshi Rock came into view.
Without an observation deck on Enoshima, it didn’t excite me much – but Eboshi Rock stirred an inexplicable thrill.
Already, I was feeling like I was in the deep south of Japan.
Of course, it was the dead of winter now, and there were no houses, no cars on the roads, no surfers. Just a scattering of desolate fishing villages dotting the coast. Still, seeing the scenery I’d existed in during my past life lifted my spirits.
The current was gentle, but the westerly wind pushed us steadily toward Kamakura. And then – Inamuragasaki.
The seabed there was rock. Keeping the Izumo from getting too close, we ran parallel to the coast heading east – and there was Yuigahama.
”I wonder what she’s doing now.”
Remembering my student days in my past life, I muttered to myself.
But then –
”Quit spacing out,” Hojo snapped, jolting me back to reality.
”Small boats approaching – lots of them,” Fredys warned.
I focused hard toward Yuigahama and saw a dozen small boats rowing toward us with oars. Standing on those boats, despite the rolling waves, were figures in armor holding bows.
”Wave the flag!” I ordered.
On deck, we raised a banner bearing the Meiji-ya emblem. One of the small boats approached.
”Alright, I’m counting on you,” I said, bowing to Hojo.
The Berserker rose, descended the steps, and strode out onto the deck. I followed.
A single boat drew close. When the armored man saw Hojo, his face broke into a smile – clearly, they knew each other.
”Takachika!” the bearded man called out.
”Oi, Sadanao!” Hojo hailed back, wearing a rare smile.
”Quite a strange vessel you’ve got there,” Sadanao observed.
At those words, I called out, inviting him aboard. The bearded man hesitated – but when Hojo extended his hand, he leaped aboard without delay.
”I’m Larry von Fee, Acting Captain of this vessel,” I said, giving my official name.
”He’s the top dog on this ship,” Hojo added with his characteristic crudeness.
The man introduced himself as O-Sadagisa Sadanao and bowed to me – a man who looked far younger than him.
Sadanao studied the Izumo, clearly impressed by its iron deck and iron walls. Then, right in front of me, he and Hojo spoke at length. A flurry of names came up, and I couldn’t follow the content – but I gathered that the power structure of the Land of Shura had changed since Hojo’s time.
When they finished, Sadanao bowed to me as well, returned to his boat, and departed.
”It seems the Shikken – the Regent, the most powerful man here – has been replaced,” Hojo explained. “Sadanao’s going to ask whether it’s safe for me to go ashore.”
I see.
This might make resupplying food difficult.
Sadanao didn’t return even after nightfall, so we anchored there for the day. I posted extra lookouts to watch for any approaching boats.
The next morning, Sadanao arrived with a message: the Shogunate would summon Hojo and me to the Wakamiya-Oji Palace.
The Wakamiya-Oji Palace, apparently, was the General’s residence and administrative headquarters, facing Wakamiya Avenue.
”May I bring an attendant?” I asked, uneasy about going alone.
”I suppose one would be permitted,” Sadanao replied.
At that, I immediately called for Kenze. There was no one I trusted more by my side.
We split into two boats and landed at Yuigahama.
Hojo’s four men, plus Kenze and me, walked down the straight road with six armed warriors each in front and behind.
Could this be the road leading to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu? Far ahead, I could just make out a vermilion torii gate.
”What’re ya all happy ’bout?” Kenze muttered. “This feels pretty dang dangerous.”
She had a point – but Hojo was with us, so it was probably fine. Besides, the roadside was interesting. Mostly ordinary houses, but there were what looked like shops, too.
I even spotted some women in shrine-maiden outfits playfully bantering with men. I’d heard that in this era, shrine maidens sometimes doubled as prostitutes.1
Ah, so that’s a place like that. I wanted to check it out.
While I was gawking, we apparently arrived at our destination. It was just before Tsurugaoka Hachimangu’s torii gate, on the right side of the road.
We passed through an impressive gate and entered a walled compound. There was almost no garden – I thought we’d enter a building, but instead we were made to walk across the yard.
In front of a building with an ornate roof, straw mats had been laid out. We were told to sit there and wait.
”Hey, isn’t this treatment pretty shabby?” I asked Hojo, who sat silently. “Wasn’t he supposed to be the Regent’s nephew or something?”
The bastard ignored me. Even Higuchi and Imai seemed unsettled, unclear about the situation.
After a while, the wooden door of the building in front slid open. Inside were a dozen men in clothing reminiscent of sumo referees, sitting cross-legged in a fan formation.
”Hojo Takachika,” the man at the head of the room commanded without so much as a greeting. “Let’s hear first about the situation in Luzon.”
Hojo, expressionless, reported in a flat tone that while he was away in Oceanus, his town had been attacked, followed by a massive volcanic eruption that buried it in ash.
”What? You’ve lost territory?” A man seated in the front-right of the back row shouted.
The others buzzed with murmurs.
”Tch,” Imai muttered beside me, barely audible. “If Aka-Hashi is the Regent now, this nation’s hit rock bottom.”
”So the Boltechino forces have taken control of Luzon, then?” the man at the back stated.
The other men stirred again.
”I heard Daqin has fallen,” the back-row man continued. “Are you aware of this?”
Hojo recounted how Kuchu, the third son of the Boltechino Great Khan Ögedei, had taken Daqin’s capital. The men here apparently didn’t know the details – they listened to Hojo in silence.
”Then, will they come again?” someone asked.
”Possibly,” Hojo replied. “But before that, they’ll likely send envoys.”
The discussion continued among the men.
”The nation allied with the Boltechino in Luzon was destroyed by this man,” Hojo said, introducing me at that timing.
All eyes turned to me.
But it lasted only a moment.
”Ashikaga has betrayed the capital, and Nitta has raised troops in Kozuke – in times like these – “
”And yet, if the Rokuhara have fallen, if the Boltechino come now, we’ll have to rely on Chinzei – “
They’d moved on. Did I even need to be here? I wanted to ask someone for permission to leave, but there was no one who seemed appropriate.
”So, how did this young man defeat those Boltechino-backed forces?” Suddenly, a man in the front row of the back section asked.
”He burned down the Boltechino tents and Luzon Kingdom’s castle,” Hojo answered for me.
The chatter inexplicably ceased.
”You?” the man at the back inquired.
I nodded.
”He’s the owner of the black ship anchored offshore since yesterday,” Sadanao, standing in the courtyard, raised his voice.
”Why is that ship black?” another councilman asked.
”Because it’s made of iron,” Sadano cut in.
The councilmen buzzed once more.
Finally, it seemed my turn had come – but then a commotion erupted as someone rushed in.
”Reporting!” the messenger announced. “Nitta’s raised army has merged with Ashikaga’s heir. Their forces have swelled to one hundred fifty thousand, crossed the Tone River, and are marching south down the Kamakura Highway.”
At that, the man at the back signaled, and all the wooden doors facing us were shut.
We were left waiting for some time. Eventually, a servant-like man arrived and led us to a lean-to shelter. At least inside, there was a brazier – warmer than being outside.
As we warmed ourselves by the fire, O-Sadagisa Sadanao came by. He said he’d take charge of Hojo’s group, and that I was to stay in this lean-to until further notice.
”Hey,” Kenze grumbled, “this is borin’. Let’s head back.”
—
Summary:
The Izumo arrives at the Land of Shura’s coast during winter, where Larry’s nostalgia for his past life’s Japan mingles with tension as Hojo reconnects with old acquaintances. Political upheaval has replaced the Shikken, complicating Hojo’s return, and urgent news of a massive rebel army marching on Kamakura throws the council into crisis. Larry finds himself sidelined and uncertain of his role, awaiting further orders in a cold lean-to while Kenze grows impatient to leave.
—
Trivia:
The Izumo is a coal-powered iron ship, but Larry refuses to use coal for heating to conserve supplies for the long journey across two oceans.
Taiwan in this world is inhabited by dwarves who mine coal, and the Mountain Tribes (headhunters) are feared for their violence toward outsiders and coastal castaways.
Hojo’s territory in Luzon was destroyed by both a Boltechino attack and a volcanic eruption, forcing him to return to the Land of Shura as a refugee.
The current Shikken (Regent) is Aka-Hashi, whom Imai derides as incompetent compared to the previous leadership.
The council meeting reveals that Ashikaga has betrayed the capital, and Nitta has raised a massive army of 150,000, marching on Kamakura – a direct parallel to historical events from Japan’s Nanboku-chō period.
Larry’s earlier destruction of the Boltechino camp and Luzon Kingdom castle is referenced as his primary claim to relevance, but the council quickly shifts focus to domestic threats.
Sadanao acts as an intermediary and seems genuinely deferential to Hojo, while also showing respect to Larry as captain of the black ship.
Kenze’s dialect is heavily non-standard – marked by ダ, ゾ, ナンカ, オ前ノ, カナリヤバイ, and ツマランカラ – indicating she speaks a regional or rough vernacular. In translation she is rendered with Appalachian rural speech patterns.
—
Translation Notes:
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Notes:
• Kenze – Kenze is a muscular, brown-skinned Amazoness and former Tashkurgan operative turned research student. An observant, teasing guardian with dragon tattoos, she wears gauntlet-like armor and fights with formal precision. Formerly bonded with Earnest and now a rebel leader on the Izumo, she works with Tatyana, rooms with Larry—whom she prioritizes above all—and is currently nursing an egg while declining in health.
• Izumo – The iron-hulled primary vessel, named and personified as a character herself, who loyally carries the protagonist and his crew throughout their journey.
• Captain – The middle-aged commanding officer of the Izumo is outwardly calm, experienced, and traditional, masking a ruthless, pragmatic leader who prioritizes vessel survival over subordinates and civilians. While rarely reprimanding his men, he will execute deserters. Bebel reports directly to him, holding orders to return to Kure should the protagonist fail to return from their mission.
• Fredys – A battle-hardened former slave and Izumo’s deck crew foreman, she serves as a pragmatic, sharp-witted squad leader. Related to the Ullmans and living with Roland, she acts as a loyal voice of reason to the Acting Captain. After Earnest’s capture, she assumed command, now focused on navigating the Izumo toward Luzon and overseeing critical rescue operations following the devastating Whale Eater attack.
• Mana – A non-commissioned officer and liaison who previously had their mana drained by Larry.
• Hojo – An unsettling, aggressive male warrior from a fallen clan and ambassador/lord of the Land of Shura, this “Berserker” commands Imai and the Izumo. Dressed in sumo referee-inspired garb with a gauntlet, knee guards, and hip-mounted longsword, he has an intense, unblinking gaze. Linked to the Hojo clan, he speaks in imperious, clipped Kamakura-period Japanese. Driven by honor and trauma from his family’s slaughter, he views lethal violence as jest, yet shows restraint before outbursts.
• Ho – Ho is the family name of Oliver, a 17-year-old deck crew member and comrade of the protagonist. As a member of the military unit that defended Garao Village, the young man was ultimately murdered during a night watch, slaughtered alongside Marx-san.
• Higuchi – Hojo’s attendant. Sent to gather details from the ship that brought news of Daqin’s fall. Social member of the group. Helps the protagonist understand the Berserker’s language through gestures.
• Al – Alberto (Al), a massive red‑haired man recently wed to Mary, lives near the Dish Basin. He’s a companion of Hans, helping intimidate and rally elders as a villager and leader.
• Takachika – Hojo’s family name.
• Sadanao – Bearded samurai and Hojo’s acquaintance. Functions as intermediary between Hojo’s group and the Shogunate. Respectful and cautious.
• Larry – Larry is a dark-haired, weary 16-year-old reincarnated Second Lieutenant, cynical Acting Captain of the Izumo, and Associate Professor. A pragmatic, sardonic narrator and Mana user, he founded the Fee Grand Principality, carries Philip IV’s sword, and seeks to protect his companions. Haunted by past trauma and complicated relationships, he struggles with moral conflicts while awaiting his next assignment.
• Fee – Larry Fee Getys is a 15-year-old reincarnated youth and titular Duke. Pragmatic and telepathic, this sharp-eyed young man leads the Getys household and rules Strock Village alongside Hans, Iffens, Teressa, and their maid Nico. While building a new nation, he enjoys prime whale meat and maintains crucial connections to Adolf and various underground networks.
• von – The noble particle ‘von’ indicates high social standing and ancestral roots connected to territorial estates within the Sabaski lineage. It marks the noble bloodline and full names of Annerose von Bülow, Walter von Riedel, and Marc von Harritz, establishing their shared aristocratic identity and familial relationship within the Kingdom.
• Imai – Hojo’s attendant and group member who remains on the bridge with Fredys and Roland. Previously scolded by Hojo and having threatened seppuku, he speaks with frustration about the Luzon fugitives. A dagger-wielding warrior of cold, methodical brutality, he operates with clinical efficiency and no emotion, interrogating a pirate by severing his ankles and calf before beheading him.
• Aka-Hashi – Mentioned as the current Shikken. Criticized by Imai for poor leadership.
• Boltechino – An entity that departed from Rus, this explorer traveled to discover a continent that became the birthplace of shipping trade.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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