Unchanged Samurai In Another World

Episode 14: The Samurai is Guided to the Base

Franz and the others lived far from the main street where the Adventurer’s Guild was located, so it seemed they would take a “communal carriage” to get there.

“Conveniently, there’s a carriage stop right in front of the Guild. There’s even a direct route from our house to the Main Gate.”

“Ah, here it comes!”

Kurosu had imagined something like the grand saddles used for the Sansho Shrine’s deity, capable of seating multiple people. However, what arrived with a rattling sound was more akin to a large cart with a horse tethered to it, and already a few people were casually seated on its cargo bay.

“So this is a carriage.”

Using horses for cargo rather than oxen was surprising. In Nihon, horses were crucial military supplies, primarily bred by warrior families, making them quite a luxury in villages and towns.

“Does Nihon not have carriages?”

“I’ve seen ox carts, but they were much smaller.”

Squeezing themselves into the narrow cargo area, the carriage took off after the driver gave a shout to the horse. Its speed was about that of a brisk walk, but for long distances, it was undeniably convenient. Thanks to the cobbled road, there was very little shaking, and the ride was so comfortable one could easily fall asleep.

As the surrounding houses began to thin out, Kurosu and the others finally disembarked from the carriage.

“Welcome, Cross. This is our base where we, the Guardians of the Wild, reside.”

Kurosu had expected them to live in a longhouse-style apartment building since they had mentioned renting. To his surprise, it was a standalone house—large enough to be considered a mansion.

Though older than the buildings in the city center, it was still an impressive two-story stone structure, its walls covered in ivy and its roof occasionally sprouting grass, hinting at its age. A black iron fence surrounded the home, but the property was expansive, easily large enough for a farm.

“I didn’t expect you to live in such a grand mansion. Do E-rank adventurers earn that much?”

In response to Kurosu’s question, Franz and the others chuckled wryly.

“Actually, there’s a story behind this place.”

“It looks decent now, but when we first moved in, it was practically a ruin. Originally the home of a retired noble, rumors of ghosts discouraged most tenants.”

“The roof and walls were riddled with holes, making it nearly indistinguishable from sleeping outside. We all worked hard to fix it up, and Barth’s contribution was particularly invaluable.”

“I’ve dabbled in blacksmithing, so constructing a building from scratch would be difficult, but repairs were manageable. … At first, leaks and drafts caused quite a bit of trouble.”

Upon closer inspection, there were indeed noticeable patches on the roof and walls. However, they were commendable for amateur work.

“It’s far from the Guild and the Main Gate, but we like this location. There aren’t many houses around, so we can train freely outside. Now, let me give you a tour of the rooms.”

Opening the creaky gate, they entered the building. Kurosu intended to remove his straw sandals in the entranceway, but it seemed shoes were worn indoors here.

Walking in with shoes felt unnatural, almost uncomfortable, but since the owner allowed it, he reluctantly followed the custom. His inner conflict left him feeling uneasy.

“Here’s your room, Cross. It’s sparse, but I’ve kept it clean, so it should suffice for sleeping and living. Don’t hesitate to use it however you like.”

The room he was shown to was around six tatami mats in size, containing only a bed and desk. By private standards, it was excessively spacious. A large window at the back let in the western sunlight, illuminating the room brightly.

After placing his belongings, Kurosu was given a tour of the mansion.

On the second floor, everyone had their own room. Excluding Kurosu’s, two additional rooms remained vacant, serving as storage for unused items.

The first floor was common space, hosting a kitchen, lavatory, a table for dining, and a large chair known as a “sofa,” indicating this culture’s lack of sitting on the floor due to their habit of walking around in shoes.

“What is that hole? It seems awfully small to be a mudroom.”

“That’s the fireplace. During winters, we stoke a fire there for warmth. Our woodpile is located behind the house, which I’ll show you later.”

“Cross! Please come over here!”

Pamela pulled at his arm excitedly, leading him to the rear of the mansion.

“A bath!”

Beyond the back door, a stream flowed along the property. A tub, enclosed by a screen for privacy, rested by the riverside—an open-air bath.

“Yes! Though usually, we just take a dip in that river because heating water is such a chore. But you like baths, don’t you, Cross?”

“Indeed. Would it be alright if I used it immediately? My body is itchy to the point of distraction.”

“No problem, but do you know how to use it? You’ll need to boil the river water with that cooking pot over there.”

After receiving the brief instructions, Kurosu fetched a hand towel from his room and set about preparing the bath. Having female servants at his home prepared baths for him, as well as a helper at the inn, meant this was his first time doing it himself. Still, it wasn’t beyond his capabilities.

While waiting for the water to heat by washing his robes in the stream, he carefully measured and adjusted the temperature with some added cold water, finalizing his arrangements.

“I seek refuge from cold things.”

Muttering this jocular warning, he tentatively dipped a foot into the tub.

“Ah~~~…”

Lowering himself into the warm water slowly, he couldn’t suppress a sigh of pure bliss. After the intense sweat, there was nothing like a bath to relax his aching body. The fatigue seeped away.

Immersed up to his chin, Kurosu reveled in the rare pleasure of a proper bath.

…

Returning inside after his bath, he found everyone preparing dinner.

“This is Cross’s welcome party! We’re going to cook a lavish meal!”

“We’re not cooking, idiot. Just sit quietly!”

“Pamela, over here! Help me lay out the plates!”

…a fleeting glance.

“Pamela’s cooking…”

“It’s, what’s it called—awful.”

“Don’t be mean! I’ve gotten better recently! I even helped with last night’s dinner!”

“You only sprinkled salt on the Antelope and Redbeak bird, flaunting yourself unnecessarily! And that meal was ridiculously salty!”

Now that he thought about it, last night’s meat had been quite salty, but Kurosu had assumed the taste preferences differed between people and consumed it silently.

Ultimately, the meal that day was prepared by Mauri and Franz.

“Cheers!”

Dinner consisted of meat and vegetables cooked in a “stew,” raw vegetables drizzled with oil and salt called “salad,” “cheese” made from cow’s milk, and “bread” baked from kneaded wheat flour. In this country, rice didn’t seem to be consumed, with this bread being their staple food. Mimicking Mauri, Kurosu dipped the bread in the stew—it turned out surprisingly good.

Wine was served, made from grapes, and despite its odd purplish hue resembling sea cow’s juice, it turned out to be quite delicious. It was apparently sold by the barrel for a silver coin and was drunk as casually as water during lunch.

Kurosu’s first meal with the Guardians of the Wild was a lively and enjoyable affair after some initial awkwardness.

After dinner, as they lounged on the sofa, Franz began a conversation with an unusually serious expression.

“To be honest, there’s something I’d like to ask. Now that we’ve all entrusted our lives to each other, I’d like to clear up any lingering concerns if we can. But, naturally, if you’d rather not answer, Cross, you don’t have to.”

“I have nothing to be ashamed of sharing with others. Feel free to ask anything.”

“Well then, let’s start with the first and foremost thing on my mind. Cross, where are you from? Where’s this Nihon country of yours?”

“As I mentioned before, I don’t have a clear understanding of it either… While walking through the mountain pass, I suddenly found myself in that forest. I’ve never heard of the Pharas Kingdom, and there were no monsters in my homeland. I had also never encountered non-human races like Mauri and Barth.”

“Could it be one of the small northern countries?”

“Never heard of them. But fundamentally speaking, Nihon is an island nation. If such a large country existed within the same archipelago, it would be improbable for me never to have heard of it.”

“An island country? I heard there’s an island nation created by the beastmen at the easternmost edge… But you said you’ve never encountered beastmen, right? How strange.”

“I don’t know. However… though it may sound laughable, I believe it’s possible that I was spirited away by some deity and crossed the sea. I met someone who looked similar to you before, and they mentioned coming from a continent across the sea.”

At this point, Pamela, who had been listening intently with a troubled expression, suddenly looked up as if struck by an idea.

“Could it have been a ‘transfer trap’? They say such traps exist in labyrinths, where entering a room instantly teleports you to a different place. Maybe you triggered one of those traps in Nihon?”

“A trap that transports people to different places?”

For a moment—shame and self-blame overwhelmed Kurosu.

Did I truly blunder into a trap like some fool? Me of all people.

What incredible incompetence, my own overconfidence exposed. There I was, strutting around, believing myself invincible, all because I had been likened to a black demon. I got complacent, arrogant, carried away with myself.

“Painting a tiger but it ends up looking like a dog.”

It seems I’d let it all go to my head. My actions disgracing the Kurosu family’s name…!

An overwhelming urge to lash out overtook him, and Kurosu clenched his molars together, nearly wanting to shatter them.

Franz and the others noticed his sudden change in demeanor and chose to watch quietly until he calmed down.

Seeing Kurosu’s complexion return to normal, the conversation resumed.

“It’s hard to believe one could randomly trigger such a transfer trap on a path like that… but judging from the situation, it sounds like a plausible explanation. Essentially, you’ve traveled from unimaginably far away to this country.”

“In any case, seems like you’ve got more going on than we thought. So, does that mean you’ve got to find a way back to Nihon?”

“…No? Sure, I must return eventually, but there’s no rush. Recently, I was growing weary of my travels, but this land has much to explore.”

If I faced formidable opponents and simply turned back home without confronting them, my father would surely rage, “Motochika, you coward! Have the winds of timidity swept you?”

He’s the kind of man who would disown me at best, and at worst command me to commit seppuku.

“Is Cross… not a nobleman then? Shouldn’t you return to your family?”

“I’m not a nobleman but the third son of a samurai family. My absence will cause no issues as my father and brothers remain to uphold the Kurosu legacy. There’s no problem.”

“Are these samurai different from our nobles?”

“I know nothing about this land’s nobility, and I’m not well-versed in politics, so explaining it is difficult… However, the Kurosu family does oversee a fief, just not as grand as Angila’s.”

“I see, that clears up a lot. However, for such a privileged young master, you’re unexpectedly strong. Considering your ten-year-long journey, there must be a special reason, isn’t there?”

“There are no weaklings among those born into samurai families. In my country, any member of a samurai household is called a warrior, all striving for strength. It’s said, ‘A warrior unable to fight has no value.’ From childhood, we train with swords, intentionally placing ourselves in harsh environments, seeking battlefields to leap into, and honing ourselves to the extreme. Many of us embark on martial pilgrimages like mine, challenging others and continuing our journeys only if we emerge victorious. Warriors capable of defeating giants like that aren’t even worth counting…”

“……”

“What a country…”

“They’re, they’re a warrior race…”

“I thought Nihon was peaceful without monsters…”

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

“Huh? Erm, how about… your life story?”

“My life is hardly fascinating. I’ve only known battle since childhood and, at fifteen, I unintentionally defeated my elder brother in front of everyone. Since then, I’ve been considered an oddity by the household, setting out on a pilgrimage at seventeen. Seeking formidable opponents and leaping into battles…”

Their talk continued well into the night.

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