CHAPTER I: The Land of Nozomu

Hiroto Adachi, A 25-year-old samurai riding on his rowboat started his journey to travel around the world.

"Where should I go first?" Hiroto said to himself while holding a map.

"Hmm, this country seems interesting maybe I'll be able to find some clue here in this country," Hiroto thought to himself as he pointed his finger at a country on the east side of the map.

"The Land of Nozomu huh?" He expressed with excitement.

Hiroto immediately started paddling towards his destination without delay.

Hiroto took two days to arrive at the Land of Nozomu. Upon his arrival, he hurriedly got off his sailboat.

"Man, I'm Famished." Said Hiroto, while rubbing his growling his stomach.

"I wonder what kind of food they have here in this country. Well, I better go and check it out." Hiroto said to himself.

He went looking around to look for a restaurant to fulfill his empty stomach.

Hiroto then arrived in a town full of Minka houses. As he was on his search, He noticed something about the townspeople that lived in the country. They seemed pale and skinny. Children were malnourished. People are suffering from extreme ravenous.

While Hiroto was walking and curiously looking around at the Minka houses the townspeople were staring at him and whispering at each other.

"Look at that guy, wearing a kimono and a hakama. I wonder where he's from." The man stated.

"Look at his katana! Wow! it looks expensive."

"If those guys find out about him. He'll be dead."

"Look at that guy. I better not approach him or get near him. They might think I'm with him. I might get involved in some mess."

"Yeah, it'll be best if we stay away from him."

"How reckless of him looking like that wearing kimono and a hakama. Those guys will probably think he's a threat. But it doesn't matter anyway, He will be dead as soon as they find out about him."

While Hiroto was walking and scrutinizing the town. He overheard the conversation of the townspeople. Hiroto wondered why the townspeople were curiously staring at him.

"What's with this place? Haven't they seen a foreign in their country before?" He thought to himself. "Why are they skinny? With that extreme ravenous, They could eat a horse!"

Hiroto then, Began approaching the townspeople to ask them directions to a nearby restaurant for him to eat. But as soon as he Approached, people avoided him.

With great fear and anxiety of the people. They immediately hurried and entered their homes and at the same time closing their doors, leaving Hiroto quite shocked by their measures.

"What? is there something wrong? I was just asking for directions," said Hiroto with utter confusion.

Hiroto Began Knocking on the door of every Minka house that he sees, Desperately asking the townspeople for directions to a nearby Restaurant.

"Hmmm? maybe, people are intimidated because of me! hahaha, wow! Am I that strong to look at? hahaha." Hiroto bragged proudly while scratching his head.

"Imbecile! It's not you that we're intimidated of!" The man said aloud while he was inside the house.

"If you can just tell me the directions, then I'll be on my way." Said Hiroto with a polite voice.

But the man suddenly was unresponsive. Hiroto's face wrinkled with disappointment as he left the man's house and went to the next house.

But every time Hiroto knocks on the houses he goes to, People were still being unresponsive.

Hiroto continued to knock on the houses he could see to ask directions at the nearest restaurant. but every time Hiroto knocks on the door the people were still Uninterested in him.

"I just want to know where I can eat." He said aloud.

"Hey! Come on! I was just asking for directions, It's not like I would rob you or something." Hiroto added.

"What's up with this country? People are so unkind." He thought to himself.

Because of Hiroto's exhaustion and extreme hunger, he decided to take a rest, and he laid down on the floor.

"What should I do now? I'm hungry." He said to himself.

Hiroto then closed his eyes, Thinking of resting for a while because he was fatigued.

Moments after, suddenly, An old man approached Hiroto and talked to him, he said. "Allow me to escort you to a nearby resto-bar."

Upon hearing the old man, it woke Hiroto and suddenly got up with excitement and relief.

"At long last! Someone with a good heart. Won't you be intimidated by my appearance as well, Old man?" said Hiroto.

"It's not you that we are intimidated of, you Imbecile! said the old man. "But for that, I cannot further explain it to you." He added.

"Why is that? It seems that the people here have been going through a lot of trouble lately," said Hiroto.

"...."

"We are in a hurry, yes?" Said the Oldman with a serious face. "So, we must move."

"But we cannot go further with you looking like that. You must change your outfit. Otherwise, I won't be able to escort you to your destination." the old man stated.

"I'm afraid I may decline the offer, For I am a samurai, Wearing a kimono and Hakama is part of my pride being a samurai," Hiroto explained proudly.

"Then, I have no reason to prolong this conversation, I'll be on my way then." said the old man.

After that, The old man decided to walk away. And while the old man was walking away, Hiroto shouted "Wait! Old man."

"Okay! I understood, That Wearing a Kimono is part of my pride as a samurai, But It would also ruin my pride as a samurai to die of Famine. But that might be a problem, You see, I have been traveling alone for a quite while now, and the only clothing that I have is a kimono and a hakama," Hiroto explained.

"Then Let me offer you an outfit that you could borrow from me." said the old man.

Then both they went to the old man's house and offered him clothes to change. After that, Both of them went directly to the nearest resto-bar.

When they arrived at the resto-bar, Hiroto hurried immediately and sat down at the bar counter, and ordered food.

"I would like to order the most appetizing food, please." Hiroto expressed aloud with a smile and excitement.

Moments after, The Bartender came carrying an Appetizing meal. "Here you go, sir! Your Okonomiyaki." said the Bartender. Hiroto then Vigorously ate the Okonomiyaki to his satisfaction.

"The food is so delicious, the Best meal I've ever eaten." Said Hiroto with his mouthful.

"I'm stuffed! This place offers good food. Okonomiyaki in here sure is Appetizing," said Hiroto while rubbing his stomach.

"Thank you, old man, for taking me here," Hiroto added.

"My pleasure." The old man replied.

After Hiroto finished his meal, He could not help but wonder why the people living here were hungry And why their behavior was unusual. He could not resist himself and asked the bartender about the town. "What's with the people here? they seem startled when I arrived." Hiroto asked.

"We don't want to be involved in some mess." The Bartender responded.

"Alright then, if you don't want to explain it to me. I must be going then." Hiroto replied.

After Hiroto talked to the Bartender, He got up from his seat and asked the Bartender for his bill. In the middle of their conversation, the old man suddenly interfered with their conversation. "I am the owner of this resto-bar, You pay to me." Said the Oldman.

"Wow! so you're the owner of this resto-bar huh?, How much will I pay?"

"2,000 Gold."

" Two thousand?! That's too expensive!" Hiroto said aloud as he was shocked by its price.

"Why would you offer food that is ten times worth from its current Price?!" Hiroto expressed.

"You fool! You should've asked first!" the old man responded.

"Haha. Yeah, you're right. I could not restrain myself because I was too hungry." Hiroto explained. "So how should I pay? or can I just go on my way? Hahaha. Hiroto expressed Humorously.

"You foolish Samurai! In that case, You must work here at the resto-bar to pay off your debt. But, Worry not, You will only be working for three weeks after that, You can leave. Said the Oldman.

"Understood! I must face the consequences for a samurai does not flee from their responsibilities!" Hiroto Bragged and explained proudly.

"That's settled then." The old man replied.

"In a moment, A woman will come here, Her name's Clare, she's my daughter and, she works here. Judging by your Foolishness, you two might not get along together, So you better do your job. I forgot to ask about your name." said the Old man.

Hiroto got excited and stood proudly to introduce himself. I am HIROTO ADACHI! The last me~." While Hiroto was talking, the Oldman interrupted and he explained.

"No need for me to know about your account. You dumb samurai." the old man expressed humorously.

"The name's Imada-Yoichi. SO STOP CALLING ME OLD MAN YOU UNGRATEFUL, DUMB SAMURAI." Yoichi said aloud.

"Okay, Yoichi. Relax. I won't be addressing you as an Oldman. You might even add that to my debt to you, Haha!" Said Hiroto in jest.

Moments after, in their midst of conversation, Suddenly, A stunning woman entered the resto-bar.

"What's with all this ruckus in this fine morning, Father?" Clare said.

"About time Clare, Your timing is quintessential. This is Hirota, He will be working here transiently for the next 2 weeks, A punishment for not paying enough money for his meal."

"That guy?! He looks stupid." Clare said as he looked at Hiroto picking up his nose.

"It's H-I-R-O-T-O, not Hirota!" Hiroto expressed loudly.

"Okay, Hiroto. Try not to be a nuisance, You already have a bad impression." Clare said as she walked towards the bathroom. "You take care of him first, father. I'll go get changed."

After Clare got dressed she immediately went straight to the bar lounge to help her father clean the resto-bar.

It was morning when it happened. And the bar was not open yet, so no one else was inside the resto-bar but themselves.

Hiroto suddenly felt his stomach growling, and he went directly to the bathroom.

While Hiroto was in the bathroom. Suddenly, a group of men wearing a red Bandana and a mask with a cowboy hat arrived with intense displeasure on their faces. Looking for owner Yoichi.

Yoichi then approached to Allay them down and for them to not cause any harm. But They were apathetic because of their exasperation. Yoichi could do almost nothing.

"Because of your neglection Oldman, I was sent here to remind you of the agreement in this country. Have you forgotten? And for your negligence, You must be punished. Said the leader bandit.

"I have earned nothing yet, Please! just come back some other time," Yoichi explained.

"You dare command me?!" the bandit responded to Yoichi as he pointed the Gun at Yoichi's head.

"You know, the boss said to take whatever I want as a punishment once you resisted." The bandit added.

Then the bandit looked at Yoichi's daughter, Clare, with malicious intent.

"You two! Go and shatter Every table and chair you see in this place!" the leader commanded the two bandits with him.

"I'll be taking your daughter, Oldman." The leader bandit added.

Then Yoichi did nothing for he remembered what he had promised to Clare that if something happened to her involving the bandits, he would just let it go.

Clare did not resist thinking they might harm his father. She immediately came along with the bandits without saying a word. Yoichi just cried and Stood to where he was standing, feeling helpless, trembling with fear and anger at the same.

While Hiroto was defecating, He noticed the sound of the Ruckus occurring in the bar lounge. He immediately hurried. Fretful of not knowing what was Occurring in the bar lounge.

As soon as he arrived, He noticed Broken Tables and Chairs Scattered in the lounge. At the same time, Witnessing Clare and Yoichi were in tears as Clare was staring back at his father while leaving together with the bandits.

"What's Happening?! Why are you both in tears?! Where is she going?! Who are those guys?!" Hiroto asked in utter confusion.

But Yoichi was unresponsive to his questions, so Hiroto thought of approaching, But Yoichi immediately stopped him and Grabbed Hiroto's right shoulder.

"I dare You, do not aggravate the situation, Hiroto. Once you show resistance to them. They might return and murder people in here. If you do so, Will you be able to carry the weight of the dead people because of your negligence?" Said Yoichi.

Upon hearing Yoichi, Hiroto decided to go back to the toilet for him to change his outfit.

After Hiroto changed his outfit, He immediately went back to the lounge, and Yoichi was surprised to see Hiroto wearing his Kimono again.

"Then I'll make sure they won't come back," Hiroto responded.

"What do you intend to do? You fool! Why do you have that katana with you?" Yoichi shouted. Hiroto then ignored Yoichi, and he immediately decided to go out and chase the bandits.

As he was on his way, he stared back at Yoichi and said "It is not a samurai's way to just let the vile deeds take place in front of him."