NOVEL NEXT Chapter 57
Chapter 57: The Samurai’s Troubles
“Humans sure are strange, aren’t they? I don’t get how soaking in scalding hot water is relaxing. Don’t you feel like you’re being cooked?”
“……………………”
With a somewhat irritated expression, the large lizard swam through the stream like a frog and the Samurai sighed deeply.
Just as he had finally been able to relax after a long conversation and sink into the bath, Tyumen appeared after tidying up his room to take a dip in the water. Known for his affinity with water, Tyumen skillfully used his long tail and glided through the water noiselessly. It was puzzling how such a muscle-bound body could float; perhaps he had a swim bladder or something similar.
“That stuff coming out of your face is called ‘sweat,’ right? If it’s too hot, why don’t you just hop in the water?”
“You……”
The retort that had risen to his throat was pushed back down as he realized the lizard wouldn’t understand the joys of a bath.
Instead, he decided to ask something that had been on his mind for a while.
“First off, do you even feel heat or cold?”
Recalling the recent battle against the mad apes, Tyumen had shown no reactions to scratches or bites. His body, covered in what seemed inorganic scales, gave the impression that he didn’t feel sensations, let alone pain.
“Of course I do, you idiot! If anything, we’re ridiculously weak against the cold!”
“Barth said that snow will soon fall… Don’t you need to hibernate?”
Though it seemed like a logical question when talking about cold-blooded lizards, Tyumen’s expression turned slightly unpleasant as he frowned.
“Listen, man… I’m a peace-loving, kind-hearted guy so I won’t hold it against you, but that’s discriminatory talk towards other races. Especially beastmen, they get really pissed off when they’re treated like animals. People may label you as a racist.”
“Racism…?”
The meaning of the words were understandable, but the concept of ‘discrimination based on race’ was difficult to grasp.
“To flowers, the cherry blossom is the most beautiful, and among men, samurai are considered the best.”
Just as among flowers the cherry was deemed the most beautiful, if there were ranks among humans, the samurai were undoubtedly at the top.
Kurosu’s way of judging people was simply whether they were samurai or not.
His father frequently mentioned class consciousness: the ruling warrior class and the ruled other classes. He had said there were distinctions between warriors and others but no hierarchies among the latter. Whether they were beggars or great merchants, they made no significant difference from the samurai’s perspective.
Kurosu had never questioned his father’s teachings, but—was he really the racist Tyumen accused him of being?
Unlike in Japan, where only humans lived, this land was home to various races with differing appearances. Kurosu didn’t believe in superiority or inferiority among them, yet he had recently developed a habit of assessing others’ combat abilities by checking for animal or beast ears.
If judging others by race was considered discrimination, then perhaps he was indeed a fine example of a racist—but to him, the essence was whether they could potentially become enemies. If they were foes, then it didn’t matter who they were, they would be equally faced with the katana. In such a judgment, race, age, gender, wealth, status, or social class bore no relevance whatsoever.
“Anyway, it’s true that cold can slow us down, but hey! There are fish in this river! I’ll go catch a few!”
As Kurosu stroked his chin, lost in thought, Tyumen submerged and swam upstream.
“……………………”
Caught off guard by this sudden departure, Kurosu watched Tyumen swim away with an expression of mild confusion. His speed in the water was astonishing—it was definitely faster than running on land.
Swimming was considered one of the essential arts of a samurai. Waterways like rivers, moats, or seas could often separate armies, making swimming an important skill.
Kurosu had been trained rigorously in swimming from a young age. True, grass, two-handed stretching, short-hand technique, long-hand technique, rolling legs, goose formation, lotus duck, two-handed sun umbrella, fan return, water writing—all forms and techniques of swimming were part of his training, including swimming while wearing armor, underwater archery, and even practicing to swim with his limbs bound.
Such aquatic endurance and swimming drills were harsh, often involving near-death experiences while swimming under waterfalls.
Drowning was a different kind of agony compared to sword cuts. Panic underwater made the body move chaotically while the mind raced frantically for a way out. Once water entered the lungs, the mind turned completely chaotic, even losing sense of direction. The instinct to fight back with the water in the lungs was overwhelming, making it an unbearable experience.
Among all forms of training, water practice had been one of the toughest and most grueling.
Memories of these unpleasant experiences surfaced, transforming the warmth of the bath into an oppressive sensation.
Kurosu furrowed his brow and hurriedly finished his bath.
……
“Wee! I haven’t eaten fish in so long!”
“Neither have I! It looks so delicious.”
“I’ve never tasted sea fish myself.”
Dinner was piled high with an array of fish dishes. Unfortunately, there was no sashimi, but the frying and grilling released a savory aroma that stimulated everyone’s appetite. Roasted fish had a way of making one feel incredibly happy.
“This… Such a luxury! I’m so happy, but is it really alright?”
“You bet! We’ve got plenty, so dig in!”
Franz asked worriedly, but Tyumen thumped his chest and reassured him.
Apparently, upon leaving Navar, the baron had generously provided them with lots of ingredients as a token of gratitude, saying, ‘Take care of my son.’ Truly befitting of an aristocrat.
“Whoa! This is delicious!”
“The fat of these river fish is nothing compared to these ocean fish. And they pair well with wine!”
Mauri and Barth were praising a dish similar to a seasoned grilled fish. Kurosu had tasted something similar at Bolero’s house, and the slightly sweet and salty flavor complemented the rich fish, with the scorched parts being a delicacy.
Franz silently shoveled down the stew, which seemed to be made of trout-like slices and vegetables cooked in cow’s milk. His eyes glistened with emotion, and it was obvious he was enjoying the meal immensely.
“It’s so delicious! There’s no fishy smell at all!”
“See? That fish was caught by me!”
“Tyumen, that’s amazing! How did you catch them?”
Even Pamela, who had been quiet during the earlier discussion, seemed to have loosened up.
Kurosu watched his companions happily and reached for the fish sausage.
—Delicious.
The well-cooked sausage snapped satisfyingly and was seasoned generously, making it less salty but light and easy to eat compared to the boar sausage he had enjoyed at Myca’s inn. Rice would have been a nice addition.
“By the way, why did you become an adventurer even though you’re a noble?”
“Our family has the important duty of maintaining security near the sea, you see. I thought, since I fight monsters constantly anyway, why not become an adventurer to earn some extra coin?”
“Your father certainly let you do that easily?”
Tyumen boasted as Barth showed disbelief.
“You idiot! Of course you wouldn’t tell your old man and registered in secret! Isn’t that obvious?”
“How did you fool the guild reception? Your face would have been known as the magistrate’s son!”
“My childhood friend’s there, so it was easy! Though when my father found out, we both got a severe telling-off…”
“Did you always work alone after that?”
“I tried forming a party, but no one wanted to team up with a noble. That’s why for me, the wilderness guardian was my first true adventuring companion! I’m really grateful you accepted me!”
Tyumen heartily pounded Franz’s back and wildly wagged his tail.
“Uh, you’re welcome. I appreciate it too, going forward.”
Despite the pained expression on Franz’s face as he smiled wryly, the table was filled with a warm atmosphere.
—
Always thankful for your continued reading of my humble work.
Regarding the word count, I appreciate the various opinions. Since many people have suggested that longer chapters are preferable and there’s no need to worry about length, I’ll continue as before.
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Due to some adjustments caused by my recent diagnosis of COVID-19, my posting schedule might be irregular for a while. Please bear with me.
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