Chapter 11: Amigasa Village

In this country, those who are exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship are revered as "swordmasters". Although Dan isn't someone who specializes solely in swordsmanship, his ability to unleash flying slashes undoubtedly qualifies him as a swordmaster.

In this nation, the status of a swordmaster is held in even higher regard than in other parts of the world. It's evident that, aside from the ninjas who serve the Kozuki clan, most of the country's strongest warriors wield blades in combat.

However, the weapons in this country came in all shapes and sizes. Essentially, as long as a weapon had a blade, it was considered a sword.

"Dan-sama is so amazing..."

"He's incredible in that way too... and in this way as well..."

Yukiko's eyes sparkled with admiration as she clenched her fists in front of her chest, her face flushed with infatuation as she gazed at him.

"If Dan-sama wants to tonight... should I give in right away, or should I pretend to be reserved for a bit before giving in..."

Dan, overhearing her muttering, couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You shouldn't say your inner thoughts out loud."

"Eh?!" Yukiko only realized it now, and her entire body stiffened as if struck by lightning, her face burning with embarrassment.

Dan steadied her and let her stand on her own before releasing her. Yukiko's face immediately showed a hint of disappointment.

"If only he could keep holding me..."

"Or maybe..."

"No, no, doing it outdoors would be..."

"Somehow that feels even more exciting..."

Yukiko's face turned slightly red as she fell into another daydream.

So much so that her entire body began to tremble.

Dan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. What on earth did Orochi buy? When he first met her, this girl seemed perfectly normal.

"Let's go."

"Eh? Oh, oh, wait for me, Dan-sama!" Yukiko quickly snapped out of her daydream and gathered their belongings. She hugged the two swords to her chest while slinging a bag over her back, She then hurried after Dan with small, quick steps.

Most people in this country wore wooden clogs, which made a "clack-clack" sound when walking. They were hard, uncomfortable, and difficult to walk in.

Dan, on the other hand, wore long cloth boots that he had later asked Semimaru to make. After all, the old man spent all day sitting around holding his biwa with nothing else to do, so it was better to put him to work on some sewing.

The two continued north, soon passing through the forest and arriving at Amigasa Village.

While traveling through the mountains, they encountered many criminals and wild beasts. Most of the criminals were left to Yukiko for practice, while Dan decided on a case-by-case basis whether to absorb the beasts.

The variety of beasts in this world far exceeded what Dan remembered from his previous world.

Among them were some bizarre creatures, such as the stone lion-like beings that had been carved into rocks since ancient times. In this country, they were called Komainu.

Komainu and stone lions were somewhat different. For example, Komainu often had a small horn on their heads. Historically, stone lions had been introduced to Japan from China and had undergone some changes, giving rise to these lion-like "creatures."

While they were considered mythical creatures, in Wano, Komainu were real. However, they weren't mythical beasts—just oddly shaped animals. If they were to become Devil Fruits, they wouldn't even qualify as Ancient Zoans, merely a subspecies of dogs.

Adult Komainu were often several meters tall and quite powerful, though their appearance was somewhat comical.

Aside from Komainu, this country had other fantastical creatures, such as the Mountain God Boar that Kozuki Oden had slain. A boar as large as a mountain, it was like a giant among humans or a colossal boar among its kind.

Unfortunately, it had already been killed by Kozuki Oden. Otherwise, if Dan could find and absorb it, it would be like obtaining a very powerful Devil Fruit.

When humans gained the strength of animals and trained continuously, they could often surpass the original power of the animals themselves.

"That boar seems to have left behind offspring, but finding them would be quite troublesome," Dan muttered, shaking his head and pushing the thought of the boar to the back of his mind.

As the two approached Amigasa Village, Yukiko's face lit up with joy.

"Great, Dan-sama! We've finally reached a village. We won't have to sleep in the wild tonight," Yukiko said happily, as spending the night outdoors was always a bit uncomfortable.

"Don't celebrate too soon," Dan replied, shaking his head. The villagers might not welcome them. Living in Kuri, they would likely see outsiders like Dan as bandits coming to rob them.

However, they lacked the courage to resist.

Resisting criminals only led to death—not just for the individual, but for their families as well. The only way to survive was to endure humiliation silently.

Thus, when Dan and Yukiko approached the village, they were met with a strange scene.

The thin men, elderly, and children hid inside their homes, tightly shutting their doors. Only an old man, accompanied by a group of emaciated women in tattered clothes, knelt at the village entrance, seemingly waiting for the two of them.

"Honorable heroes, the women and food of this village are all here. If you need anything, please take it as you wish," the old man said, kneeling on the ground like a lowly stray dog. Yet, this seemingly degrading act carried the weight of the entire village's survival.

Bandit raids like this had happened countless times, to the point where the villagers had developed a routine. They offered their food and wives in exchange for their lives, and the bandits, wanting to enjoy these offerings again in the future, usually spared the women.

However, their methods were brutal, and sometimes deaths still occurred. But it was better than being slaughtered for resisting.

As for the men hiding in their homes, no matter how unwilling they were, they had no choice. The village still had elders and children, and provoking the bandits would mean total destruction.

Thus, even though they saw that Dan and Yukiko were only two people, they didn't dare to resist.

Still, the old man held a sliver of hope. The man before him already had a woman with him, one far more beautiful than any of the village's women. Perhaps he wouldn't harm them?

After a long silence, the old man, fearing that his actions had displeased Dan, trembled and said, "Esteemed sir, the women in our village are malnourished and overworked. They are not pleasing to the eye. Please forgive their ugliness..."

Upon hearing this, Dan remained expressionless, but Yukiko felt a pang of discomfort in her heart.