Unchanged Samurai In Another World #Chapter 8 - Read Unchanged Samurai In Another World Chapter 8 Online - All Page

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Samurai is Shocked by the Adventurer’s Tale

────Should I cut these fools down right here?

While conversing with those he had assisted, Kurosu was deep in thought.

Though they spoke of having their lives saved, they were all as careless as could be, having dropped their weapons and leaving themselves wide open. The only one who looked like he could fight properly was a large man sitting leisurely as if he had a bout of cholera.

Judging by the state of their weapons and the way they had fought earlier, they were not complete novices, but it was easy to imagine that they were not the kind of people who engaged in constant killing. Such carelessness in front of someone they had just met was telling.

It weighed heavily on his heart, but cutting down women and children would be simple right now. He could kill all four of them in one breath────.

﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏ FUNCTOIN OF THIS LINE SEEMS TO BE TO SEPARATE THE STORY INTO SCENES OR FLASHBACKS. IT DOESN’T TRANSLATE DIRECTLY TO ENGLISH SO I’M OMITTING IT FOR FLOW REASONS.

Some years ago, during a whimsical visit to a port town, he indulged in fresh seafood and wandered past stalls displaying foreign goods.

As the harbor suddenly became noisy, driven by curiosity, he joined the crowd to see foreign men with peculiar features disembarking from a docked ship.

They wore extravagant attire, with large protruding noses, deeply sunken eyes, messy red hair and beards much like the color of a fox. Unbothered by the curious stares, they carried cargo and muttered incomprehensible words.

“Samurai-san, do these foreigners fascinate you?”

His curiosity must have shown on his face, as one of the fishermen, who had a smoking pipe in his mouth, addressed him.

“Yes. I’ve heard tales, but this is my first time actually seeing one. Are these the people known as Tang?”

“That’s an old term. Surely you, as a samurai, know of Mongolia or the mainland? Tang refers to those who live just across the sea from us, looking much like us.”

“The ones who attacked during the Kamakura period. Then what of those?”

“They came all the way here from Holland after months at sea. People like them are now called Nanban or Red-Haired People.”

The man, somewhat proudly speaking, offered Kurosu his pipe. Though the purple smoke could weaken the lungs, he politely declined and inquired further.

“Do foreigners come in different kinds? I assumed they all came from the same place”.

“One of my friends is an interpreter. He says there are countless countries far across the sea, each with their own culture and customs entirely different from ours. It’s a different world entirely from Japan”.

“A faraway country… No wonder they look so exhausted. Yet, you seem to know much”.

“Haha, actually, my friend invited me. There’s a Nanban missionary on board, and his tales about their church are intriguing. Would you like to join us, Samurai-san?”

“The church you speak of teaches tolerance. Practitioners of Christianity believe in non-violence and say that breaking the creed leads to hell. I hear it’s popular among the lords who don’t see battle, but does it fit a warrior in the midst of martial training?”

“Hoho! You’re right! This morning, there was a big arrest; a samurai known as the ‘Black Devil’ cut down the renowned spear-wielding monks of Onjoji. He beat up a guard at the checkpoint too. They say he goes berserk and attacks anything in reach. Watch out, Samurai-san”.

“……Thank you for the warning”.

﹏﹏﹏ FUNCTOIN OF THIS LINE SEEMS TO BE TO SEPARATE THE STORY INTO SCENES OR FLASHBACKS. IT DOESN’T TRANSLATE DIRECTLY TO ENGLISH SO I’M OMITTING IT FOR FLOW REASONS.

Though it was unintentional, Kurosu found himself aiding what appeared to be a rare and dangerous foe. The group he encountered in the forest bore a striking resemblance to those foreigners.

“Can you stand?”

“It seems impossible for now, but if I rest a bit, I should manage… In any case, thank you for saving me. You’re my savior”.

“……………No, it’s fine. To be honest, I was satisfied to fight such interesting opponents”.

When he addressed a man who had been struck by the giant, he was answered in fluent Japanese. The tone was seamless, not something one could master overnight.

From the moment he observed them from the shade of the trees, they seemed unusual. Their faces, builds, attire, and weaponry were far from Japanese, yet they spoke Japanese as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

…A group of foreigners who fluently speak Japanese while armed is suspicious no matter how you look at it.

The first thought that came to mind was “foreign spies.” They had come across a mountain path far from the sea – not where one would expect anyone related to Nanban ships to wander.

Was another war on its way after so many centuries?

Kurosu observed their appearances, careful not to let them sense his suspicion. Should the matter warrant it, he would have to advise the authorities. He made a mental note of their appearances.

Franz was a tall, muscular man in armor with short-cut golden hair and striking blue eyes that seemed friendly. He carried a one-handed sword and wore a small shield on his left forearm that had been damaged in battle with the giant.

Barth was a short old man clad in heavy armor with a helmet adorned with ox horns. Despite his years, he was stocky with impressively thick limbs. His waist-length white beard was braided in three strands, and his back bore a shield nearly his own height. His deep blue eyes radiated the contemplation common in elders, and among the four, he alone seemed to be on guard.

Pamela wore a long green cloak and held an ornate staff with what appeared to be a red gemstone at its head. It seemed too decorative for a weapon, so perhaps she was not a combatant. Her red hair fell to her shoulders, and her green eyes gave the impression of a delicate and gentle soul.

Mauri was a child with a bow, too young to have completed the coming-of-age ceremony. Clad in a worn-out leather armor, he carried a few daggers and pouches at his belt. His unruly light brown hair and brown eyes seemed somewhat harsh for a child.

But… at last, having thought he encountered normal humans, he finds foreigners?

Kurosu silently cursed his luck and kept his hand on his sword as he refocused on their conversation.

…

The stories they began to tell were unbelievable.

They were in the “Forest of Demons,” at the western edge of the “Pharas Kingdom.” The giant they had previously encountered was not a mere monster but a “Monster,” a creature that unlike beasts, did not fear humans and often attacked them. Monsters were not a rare occurrence, and various types wandered everywhere. Furthermore, they were “Adventurers,” whose trade involved hunting such monsters.

It was preposterous. Impossible to accept calmly.

However, they seemed earnest and showed no malice in their words, even expressing gratitude for being saved. They demonstrated sincerity in their explanation, unlike the many fraudsters trying to deceive naive warriors.

Though Kurosu was sensitive to deception, his intuition had never failed him before.

They did not appear to be lying. Not appearing to lie… but…

After carefully pondering the information and considering all possibilities, an extraordinary thought crossed his mind.

He recalled the fisherman’s words from the port town. “Far across the sea, there exist worlds unlike Japan, inhabited by people with entirely different cultures.” The fisherman had indeed said something like this.

Even conceding to believe their tales, could it be that… I have come to a foreign land?

Certainly, he remembered no crossing of seas, but the content of their stories was far beyond his understanding.

It was an absurd notion, but before him lay the corpse of the giant, a creature that could only be called a monster. They spoke of such giants roaming everywhere… If so, this was no mere cultural difference but an entirely different world.

No… but could it be…?

…

Lost in a whirlpool of thoughts, he suddenly realized how unseemly his bewilderment was.

───Fine, stop thinking.

He shifted his thoughts. When one cannot comprehend, the principle of a warrior dictates first to move forward. Panic is unacceptable, even in incomprehensible situations.

Was their story a lie? Was he truly in a foreign land?

Both questions could be resolved by seeing a human settlement.

With renewed resolve, he requested guidance to the nearest town, which Franz and the others readily accepted.

…

On the way to the town, Kurosu continued to observe the adventurers while conversing. Though they appeared generally friendly from their dialogue thus far, he had no intention of fully trusting them just yet.

He had faced countless ambushes and betrayals. They could be waiting for his guard to slip.

That said, aside from the robust Franz, they did not appear to be professional warriors. How they – including the children and the elderly – had come to be adventurers, he could only speculate.

Most notably, Mauri, the disrespectful child, appeared no older than ten. Yet, there he was, carrying heavy loads, prompting Kurosu to help him instinctively.

Anyway, the one to watch should be Franz…

Having seen some of his abilities in the battle against the giant, Kurosu, having no experience fighting foreigners, knew not what skills this foreign adventurer possessed.

To test him, Kurosu aligned himself to Franz’s left as they walked, engaging him in conversation.

“What is this town we are heading to like?”

“It’s the frontier city of Angila near the Forest of Demons, with a labyrinth within its territory. They call it the ‘Adventurer’s Paradise’.”

…No reaction. If he were a skilled warrior, stepping into a position so instinctively dangerous would trigger caution.

Standing within sword range on the left exposes one’s left waist sword to the attacker’s blind spot, a dangerous position should they strike unexpectedly. Were Kurosu so inclined, he could decapitate Franz in an instant without batting an eyelid.

Among warriors, it was never permissible to stand on someone’s right while walking side by side. Simply stepping into another’s range was considered impolite. If one intruded so carelessly, being struck immediately would be the just consequence.

Either this stance was completely unthreatening to him, or he had confidence in countering a surprise attack.

Observing Franz’s expression, he appeared perplexed that Kurosu had not yet responded, shifting his mouth in confusion.

The latter seemed likely.

Kurosu tested the others too, but they were so vulnerable it became worrisome.

Even considering they had saved his life, they were too heedless for armed individuals. Adventurers, who fight monsters daily, had somehow survived this long despite being so exposed.

Even testing the others yielded similar results. Even Barth, who had shown some suspicion earlier, simply became enthusiastic about Kurosu’s sword when he casually drew the saya/

After a while, Kurosu found their behavior increasingly absurd and significantly lowered his guard towards them.