Chapter 88: The Tosa Domain

Hinomaru — the open sky above.

A lone samurai ran across the heavens as though the air itself were solid ground. Beside him soared a crimson fire dragon, wings beating in powerful, rhythmic strokes. And behind them, gliding with serene majesty, was a vast azure Eastern dragon, its long body weaving through the clouds like a living river of blue.

“Uooooooooh!!! I feel like I’ve become a bird!!!”

“Grrrr…”

( Lady Esther, please hold on tightly. It would be dangerous if you were to fall. )

Thanks to Ryoma skillfully manipulating wind magic to reduce air resistance, there was almost no risk of Esther slipping from her perch. Even if the unthinkable were to occur, the samurai, the fire dragon, and the azure dragon would undoubtedly dive after her with everything they had. In that sense, she was perfectly safe.

“When we return to the Empire, we should stop by a blacksmith first,” Ryu remarked. “We need a proper saddle made just for Homura.”

“Brrr…”

The voice came faintly from within the azure dragon’s mouth.

No matter how enormous the azure dragon was, placing Axel upon its back mid-flight would have been impractical. Thus, Ryu and Axel had taken refuge inside its cavernous maw. With enough space to fit over ten people comfortably, it was surprisingly spacious—and, all things considered, quite cozy.

“What shall we do first once we arrive in my homeland?” Ryoma asked, still running upon the sky with effortless grace.

“It’d be strange to barge in and greet the domain lord on the first day,” Ryu replied. “Let’s visit the apothecaries first. After yesterday’s battle, our Dragonification progressed rapidly.”

“That was your fault, Ryu.”

“No, that was yours, you lecherous samurai.”

After the fight, both men had received treatment from Esther. During the examination, it had been revealed that Dragonification had advanced in both of them.

“Hm… Ryoma still has some leeway,” Esther had said thoughtfully. “But Ryu is in a rather dangerous state. At this pace, he may not last even a year.”

For Ryoma, it had taken three to four years for the creeping scales to reach his right chest.

Ryu, however, had reached the same point in only a few short months.

The cause remained unknown. For now, they could only dismiss it as “individual variance” and devote themselves entirely to the creation of a new medicine.

“Well, we’ll manage somehow,” Ryu said lightly.

“How can you be so carefree…?” Esther muttered.

“Because I trust you.”

—Ryu knew.

He knew that every night, Esther sacrificed her sleep, pouring herself into research in hopes of saving him.

“Foolish… incorrigible idiot…” she grumbled.

And yet, the tips of her ears were faintly flushed pink.

“By the way,” Ryoma continued, “why did you come to Hinomaru in the first place?”

“Because this is Kurikara’s homeland.”

“That explains nothing at all… Though thanks to that, I was able to meet you. For that, I am grateful.”

“It’s hard to put into words,” Ryu admitted. “But I felt as if Kurikara was telling me to come here. That’s all.”

He gently stroked the hilt of the blade at his waist.

A masterwork forged in Hinomaru had traveled across distant seas to the far reaches of the Empire, becoming Ryu’s cherished sword.

Could such a convergence truly be dismissed as mere coincidence?

Incidentally, Kurikara and Futsunomitama were sibling blades.

And the birthplace of those two legendary swords was—Tosa.

They descended to the ground before nightfall and lodged in towns along the way. After repeating this several times, Tosa finally came into view.

It was midday now.

In the distance, faint yet unmistakable, stood Tosa Castle.

“This is Tosa,” Ryoma announced.

The first thing to greet them was a vast orchard sprawling across the mountainside.

“Ohh~ What a delicious-looking orange grove,” Esther murmured, eyes sparkling.

“Those are called mikan,” Ryoma corrected proudly. “Sweeter and juicier than oranges. They are one of Tosa’s greatest specialties. The fruit itself is exquisite, but the confections made from it are highly recommended as well.”

“Ohooo…” gulp

“Hinomaru’s food is excellent across the board,” Ryu said. “Ingredients, seasonings, chefs—everything’s top-tier. Frankly, the quality is absurd for a single island nation. I’m looking forward to Tosa.”

“You flatter us,” Ryoma replied bashfully.

They landed discreetly near the orchard, out of sight.

Soon after, they purchased a large quantity of mikan directly from a roadside stand. When the local hero Ryoma revealed himself, the price was generously reduced.

“Thanks for your business! Come again, Ryoma-san!”

“Of course. Your mikan are the finest in all of Tosa.”

“Hahaha! Now that’s what I like to hear!”

As they walked, they peeled one open and took a bite.

Juice burst across their tongues, rich sweetness entwined with a gentle, refreshing tartness.

““!!!!!””

“Exquisite, is it not?”

“This is dangerously good.”

“With this alone, Hinomaru could conquer the continent…” Esther muttered gravely.

Axel and Homura sampled some as well.

“Brrr.”

“Gya.”

( Lord Ryu, once Tokugawa grants trade permission, we must add Tosa to the list. We should import this king of fruits without fail. )

“Funny,” Ryu said, nodding. “I was thinking the same thing.”

He stopped eating and turned to Ryoma.

“Tosa has at least a port, right?”

“A small one, yes… but we lack ships capable of reaching the Empire.”

Fishing thrived in Tosa, so modest harbors and vessels existed.

But a full-fledged trade port, or ships capable of crossing the vast ocean—those were beyond its means.

“No problem. As long as there’s a port, Ardren’s trade ships—currently under construction—can dock there. We’ll load Imperial goods on the way out and Tosa products on the way back. Perfect balance. It won’t burden Tosa.”

“You are constructing such magnificent ships?”

“Yeah. Marquis Grace provided the materials, and Her Majesty arranged the craftsmen.”

“The Empire’s breadbasket… and the Empress herself…? Ryu… are you perhaps someone important?”

“I suppose you could say I’m the head of House Ardren.”

“Despite his appearance, this one is technically a noble,” Esther added smugly.

“Wha!?”

Ryoma’s jaw dropped.

“In Hinomaru, even commoners have family names, right? But in the Empire, only nobles are permitted surnames.”

“You did not know that? You have much to learn, Ryoma,” Esther teased.

On the continent, only nobles bore surnames.

Esther was simply Esther. Stingray was simply Stingray.

Thus, upon hearing “Ryu Ardren,” most continentals would immediately recognize him as nobility.

But Ryoma had failed to notice.

Because in Hinomaru, even commoners had full names—like Tanaka Tarō.

It was an understandable oversight.

“How embarrassing…”

( Now that I think of it, Ryu is the Imperial Ambassador. I should have realized he was a person of status… What carelessness on my part… )

Ryoma trudged along dejectedly.

“That’s what happens when you shut yourself inside Hinomaru all your life,” Esther said. “Travel outside once in a while. Come to Ardren.”

“Coming from you, who is leaving the country for the first time?”

“Too bad. I’ve already visited the capital of the former Cell Principality.”

“Tch… I had forgotten… Insolent man…”

One should never attempt to catch this man on a technicality.

Chatting as they went, they finally reached the castle town of Tosa Castle.

They lined up at the main gate. Entry required strict identity verification.

As usual, Ryu presented the Imperial Ambassador’s crest.

However—

“This is… the Imperial Ambassador’s crest?”

“Is it genuine?”

“But would an Imperial Ambassador really come all the way here?”

“D–Don’t ask me…”

The gate guards appeared visibly troubled.

“May I ask your purpose for visiting today?”

“Sorry, I can’t disclose that. It’s confidential.”

“Of course… my apologies.”

From behind the supposed Imperial Ambassador stepped a familiar samurai.

“Mm. I see you are all performing your duties diligently. Excellent.”

““““R–Ryoma-san!?””””

With the strongest samurai revealed, entry was granted without further issue.

“Why didn’t you step forward sooner?” Ryu muttered.

“As a retainer of House Itagaki, it is my duty to observe from the shadows and ensure Tosa’s samurai are fulfilling their roles properly.”

“You didn’t have to do it now,” Esther sighed.

“That… may be true.”

Having learned that Esther was a first-rate apothecary and Ryu a noble, Ryoma had likely wished to demonstrate his own standing—perhaps not to compete, but simply to be seen.

A rather earnest lecherous samurai, indeed.

Unlike Edo’s densely packed streets, Tosa’s buildings were spaced generously apart, lending the town an airy, composed atmosphere. Surrounded by mountains, each house stood sturdy and proud.

Even the townsfolk carried themselves with calm dignity.

“Quieter than I imagined,” Ryu observed. “But I like it.”

“If one were to settle down, this would be preferable to Edo,” Esther agreed.

“You would both be most welcome,” Ryoma said eagerly. “I shall prepare a residence for you myself.”

“I intend to freeload at Ardren’s grand estate, so I must decline,” Esther replied.

“Then you should come to the Empire, Ryoma. I’ll give you as many rooms as you want.”

“How large is the Imperial capital, Wiel?”

“About five times the size of Edo.”

“…As expected of a continental power.”

For now, Ryoma guided them to an apothecary.

“If I recall correctly, the nearest one is here.”

Inside, dried herbs hung from the ceiling, medicinal texts lined the shelves, and rows of carefully prepared remedies were displayed. The shopkeeper appeared to be a competent apothecary in his own right.

“Hm… I’ll take this… and this… and that as well,” Esther murmured, selecting ingredients with sharp, discerning eyes.

Ryu and Ryoma, both ignorant of pharmacology, simply watched from behind.

The shopkeeper, overwhelmed by the presence of the famed Ryoma, stood in a daze beyond nervousness.

“Shopkeeper, you have our thanks,” Esther said.

“Th–Thank you very much…”

Once outside, Esther immediately climbed onto Axel and began devouring a pharmacological text.

“Esther… what do you think?” Ryu asked.

“Frankly, the level here surpasses Edo’s by far. Long ago, an extraordinary apothecary may have lived here.”

“Extraordinary, huh? Which of you is greater?”

Esther snapped the book shut. A bead of cold sweat slid down her temple.

“…In all likelihood,” she admitted quietly, “they surpass me.”