We left the Empire and continued west, traveling for several more days.
After crossing the border checkpoint, the surrounding trees changed to pine and cedar, giving off a pleasant scent. The scenery began to feel somehow like an ukiyo-e painting, and then……
「Here we are! The pride of Amatsukuni, the great capital! Daiguu!」
Shion stands in the middle of the main street, arms spread wide, turning back to us without a care for the stares around her.
While she draws attention, my eyes are glued to the buildings of Amatsukuni.
Unlike the stone construction of the kingdom or Empire, everything here is primarily wooden architecture.
Buildings straight out of a historical drama line up neatly along the streets.
And at the far end of this main road stands a castle with stone walls, a moat, and a keep…… exactly the scene I had pictured on the way here.
This world is already another world to me, but stepping into this feels more like time-traveling to another era.
I don’t have any special attachment to this period, yet I’m strangely moved.
The only unexpected thing is that while there seem to be samurai-like roles, no one wears a chonmage topknot.
Most people wear traditional Japanese clothing, and while hair is mostly black, styles are quite free.
「It’s amazing…… You can clearly see a culture different from both the Empire and the kingdom. Ah, everyone is wearing traditional clothes, just as expected.」
「It’s a little different from what we wore before.」
「Those were yukata. But traditional clothing is nice too.」
Kimono with hairpins.
Yes, yes. The nape of the neck visible when hair is pinned up is always appealing.
The faces of people walking the streets are all bright, showing they live under good governance. That’s nice to see too.
「All right then! What should we do first? Is everyone tired? If we’re heading to an inn, I can arrange one at a place I know?」
「Hmm…… I’m tired from the long trip, but I kind of want to look around a bit.」
We’ve traveled far, so resting today to prepare for tomorrow would be smart, but this inner excitement is hard to suppress.
Ah, tea shops with dango look good too.
Peach-white-green tri-color dango looks delicious!
Over there are senbei! My eyes keep darting everywhere!
「I’d like to look at traditional clothing. I want to buy some for everyone, and for Master too!」
「Oh, that sounds good. Wearing kimono while walking around the town would be nice.」
Kimono could work as loungewear back home too.
Though the toilets at home are Western-style, so that might be a little inconvenient.
Also, kimono as souvenirs for Hayato, Makoto, and Hikari-chan would be nice.
「Then let’s go to a clothing shop! The recommended place…… hmm, oh, the storefront hasn’t changed. Let’s head there!」
Perhaps because she’s back in her homeland, Shion is a little more energetic than usual as we follow her to the traditional clothing shop.
The shop Shion guided us to is right on the main street, so we decided to go inside and take a look.
「Oh. It really suits you. Makes you look two times cooler!」
「No, five times…… maybe more! Haaa…… Master…… you look so cool……」
「Wow…… Wendy-san has hearts eyes.」
「Because! Master! Looks so handsome!!」
Wendy shakes her arms excitedly, squealing with delight.
A simple dark navy kimono with faint vertical lines.
I don’t think it’s quite five times better like Wendy says, but it feels comfortable, and yeah, this one’s a keeper.
「……Wendy sometimes gets really silly when it’s about my lord.」
「Wha…! So you’re saying it doesn’t suit Sorte-san!? Then Sorte-san shouldn’t look at Master!」
「That’s way too extreme! I didn’t say that at all! It suits you, and you look cool!」
「Oyassu? I thought Sorte-tan would go full maiden mode like ‘hawaa…… my lord…… so cool……’」
「Hawaa what……? Wait, Renge, what are you wearing?」
「It’s called a mini-kimonossu. It shows the navel and the hem is short. I figured Master would prefer seeing legs, so I tried itssu!」
Hmm…… well, it’s definitely unconventional.
But if it means I get to enjoy Renge’s navel and thighs…… should I allow it or not? I’m torn……
A lap pillow in that outfit…… honestly, it would be pretty tempting.
「Muu…… Shiro’s looks kind of childish……」
「It can’t be helped with the size…… But it’s cute, you know?」
「Muu. Can’t be helped……」
Shiro looks dissatisfied, but she’s plenty adorable.
There are versions made for beastkin with tail holes, and Shiro has her tail poking out through hers.
「Muu…… having an obi really makes the chest stand out……」
「Should Aina-san and Wendy-san use extra padding?」
「No way! I’m not doing that!」
「Hmm. She says she won’t because she got fat.」
「Ah…… so that’s what it is……」
「It’s not ‘so that’s what it is’!? I’m not doing it because it would ‘look’ fat!」
Facts and assumptions are different.
In fact, Wendy isn’t fat at all.
And personally, I don’t think breasts resting on an obi is necessarily bad……
……I don’t have any strong obsession like “kimono has to be this exact way,” anyway.
「All right then! Everyone seems to have finished changing, so it’s time for the grand finale. Traditional clothing…… truly shines best with black hair. Behold! Quick change!」
「Wha……」
Shion has changed into traditional clothing.
For a moment I thought I saw bare skin, but the fabric blocked the view. When I blinked, she was already fully dressed in a kimono!
「Fufufu. How do I look, m’lord……?」
「Ooooh…… you actually pulled it off, Shion.」
「What’s that supposed to mean……? Well, since it sounds like praise, I’ll take it……」
Somehow she’s changed her hairstyle too, now it’s a soft ponytail.
The glimpse of her nape visible through the ponytail…… yeah, I have to conclude that black hair truly suits traditional clothing best.
「All right…… flash.」
「Guh!」
「Hmm? What’s wrong, my liege?」
「Nothing…… you really did it.」
In an instant she flipped up the hem for a no-panties flash…….
The movement was frighteningly fast. If it weren’t me, I might have missed it…… no, I probably have the worst dynamic vision here, so only I caught it.
She must have calculated that too.
She really knows what she’s doing.
After that, we also picked out souvenirs. For accessories…… yeah, I’ll make the hair ornaments myself, so we bought some drawstring pouches and the like.
Now that everyone has changed into kimono and the time feels right, let’s save the exploring for tomorrow and rest tonight.
So…… about room assignments.
「No way! I’m sharing a room with m’lord! I arranged this inn, so it’s my natural right!」
「No. Master is tired today, so we have to let him rest properly.」
Yeah, that’s true.
Considering tomorrow, I want to sleep well and be in top condition.
After all, tomorrow starts the long-awaited tour of Amatsukuni!
「But my experience points are still way too low! And it’s fine! It’s not a burden for m’lord at all!」
Mmm…… well, a little wouldn’t be a burden, but I’d definitely end up sleep-deprived.
「Haa…… listen, Shion. This trip lasts several days. We all naturally want memories with Master during the journey. But if it’s every night…… the burden on Master will pile up. So tonight! He rests!」
「Guu…… when you put it like that……」
「I get why you’re impatient. But…… we have an agreement, remember?」
「Then let me be first! Just that much, please!」
「Well…… she did guide us here, so maybe that’s fine?」
「Can’t be helped, huh……」
「Yay! Then tomorrow it’s me! Yay! Shion-chan’s big victory!」
It seems a lot got decided without me knowing.
I’m sleepy…… is this fine now?
「All right, time to sleep」
「「「「「「Yeees」」」」」」
「Hmm. Then Shiro sleeps with lord.」
「Eh? Wait a second!? Is that okay? Is that really okay!?」
「Shiro will sleep properly.」
「Yes. And Shiro, please be patient tonight……」
「Ah…… I see. Good work!」
「……Fuu」
Ah, Shiro is making that pouty, dissatisfied face again.
And don’t look at me with those pleading eyes saying “Lord……” please…….
Age is still an issue…… you know.
I’ll hug you with lots of “sorry” feelings, so please endure tonight…….
※※※
Amatsukuni Castle Keep.
Top floor, 『Kitsune-dono』.
In this room that always carries a solemn atmosphere, I continue to watch over the peace of Amatsukuni’s people today as well.
It should have been the same as always, the same unchanging routine…… or so it was supposed to be.
「……Something…… seems to have entered.」
「……What is the matter, Fox Shrine Maiden-sama?」
「Only that something has entered the country…… the capital……」
「Something……? Is it an ill-intentioned one?」
「It does not seem so…… but I do not know. However, 『Yae』 is making a fuss.」
「Yae-sama……? What could it be……」
「I do not know…… but it concerns me……」
「……Understood. We will investigate the entry list and those entering the capital for the first time. If anyone seems suspicious, we will bring them before you.」
「Yes. Tachibana, please do.」
「Yes!」
Yae is making a fuss…… no, not just Yae?
All from one to eight seem more restless than usual, but Yae in particular is especially excited.
However…… it does not seem to be a bad thing.
I can feel that Yae is happy and making noise.
Could it be…… an acquaintance?
Auu auu…… she’s too excited to listen to me……
It can’t be helped. Tachibana will bring whoever it is, so I will look forward to meeting them.
…………Um, could you calm down a little?
All this fluttering around…… auu auu.
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