The Dignity of a Samurai's Family

Komachi! We've been looking for you!

A Unigan guard. Has something happened?

Yes. One of the trade routes into the city has been overrun with beasts. There is an open call for hunters to take care of them.

A route into the city? That's a big problem!

Well, as it's just one of the trade routes, it shouldn't affect the citizens within the city all that much. However...

It's going to be a huge problem for the merchants who use that route.

Exactly. That route is especially well used by merchants who come to us from the east.

The east... So that's why you came to me?

Yes. I thought as you're from the east too, you might know what to do.

Understood. So I must protect the citizens. I shall do all I can to make sure no one is harmed!

So where is this route?

It goes through the Rucyana Sands. If you want more information, you'd best ask the merchants in Zarbo. There are quite a few stranded there, it seems. They're all quite anxious to get back on the road.

Okay. Then for now let's head to the Rucyana Sands.

Okay, let's take down these rambunctious rapscallions!

I never thought that the beast horde would spread this far into civilization.

So Komachi, is this the route you took to get here?

It is. I had always wanted to see a desert with my own eyes. Once I was here, I helped guard the merchants as I made my way towards Unigan.

So actually, I'm starting to feel a little nostalgic coming back here.

Okay, let's sort this out. Let's make the route safe to travel again.

Yes! Let us do this! Starving a city of its goods is behavior unbefitting a good soldier! A warrior must face their enemy head on, and engage in an honorable battle of strength and pride! This is something those lowly beasts will come to learn once I'm done with them!

Umm... Well, that was a bit out of the blue.

Hyaaagh!

A human! Kill it! Take everything it has!

It seems we've arrived at just the right time!

Right! Let's save that merchant!

I will not allow this injustice to continue any longer! I, Komachi, member of the Unigan guard, shall show you the error of your ways!

Looks like we missed one, a human woman! You lot take care of her first!

One as foul as you shall never hope to defeat me. Now put an end to your evil deeds at once.

Hey, are you all right?

Y-Yes... But they took my wares...

Are your goods from the east? Were you carrying fabrics?

Yes, our leader was born in the east. Why do you want to know?

Oh, it's nothing...

Hm? Anyway, that was a unit from the beast horde just now. Now we've beaten them back they should be more wary of open assault. As long as we increase the guard presence in the desert they should be too scared to do anything. We should report back to the guards in Zarbo, right?

Komachi? Is something wrong? Are you injured?

N-No... Right. Let's go back and make the report.

Oh! So you lot are the ones dispatched from Unigan?

That's right. And you are?

I'm the head merchant in charge of this trade route. I really can't thank you enough for clearing the route of those pesky beasts.

No need for thanks, we were just doing our jobs. It was nothing.

I heard all about your deeds from the merchants you saved. I also heard it was your idea to increase the guards in the desert.

Yes, if that's possible. The attacks seem to be an attempt at closing the trade routes, and cutting off communities surrounding the capital.

Understood. We'll redouble our efforts. By the way, I feel you deserve some kind of compensation, I hope you'll accept it.

Are you sure?

It's a thank you for your speedy response to our call for help. Whatever you want, it's yours. I see your friend is a woman. Perhaps she'd like a nice kimono from the east...

K-Komachi?! What are you doing here?! We've been searching for you for so long! I never thought I'd see you here, and as one of the Unigan guard! Talk about coincidences.

I-I think you have me mistaken for someone else.

There's no mistaking you, Komachi! The Lord has been ever so worried about you!

Oh, a friend of yours, Komachi?

Yes. You see, I trade regularly with the great families in the eastern lands. I've become quite close to Lady Komachi's family over the years.

Wow, it really is a small world.

Wh-Whatever! I don't want anything to do with him!

But your family are all so worried about you. And your fiance...

So he still hasn't given up on me, then?

Not that I know of. Anyway, if it's all the same to you, I'll be telling your family of your whereabouts.

Komachi, you have a fiance?!

It was my parents' idea. It's basically an arranged marriage. I hadn't heard from them in so long, I'd hoped they'd given up.

Wait, is this why you left your home?

One of the reasons. I mainly left because of my father. My father and I disagree on a lot of things. Arranged marriages being one of them.

We had a terrible argument, I told him that if I were to marry, it would be to someone I found for myself.

And then you ran from home. No wonder your family's worried about you.

But there's just no way I can marry someone that I have no interest in! That's why I can't go home until I've found the perfect man to marry!

And have you found him?

Well, traveling is just so much fun. You can forget all your troubles when you're on the road.

Oh, I see...

But at this rate I'll be taken home eventually. What to do...