Cha-no-yu Without Honor and Humanity

Hey there. Been a while, huh?

Oryou doesn't recognize some of these faces. You new recruits or something? Well, have some tea. Oryou and Ryouma have enough tea to sell.

Thank you. That's very kind of you. By the way, may I ask who the, um, buoyant one of you is?

And I do mean buoyant in the literal sense.

Oryou's Oryou. Now that you mention it, you've got some black stuff under you.

I didn't know you two were in this Singularity as well.

And you've apparently been here long enough to open a shop.

This is the Country Samurai's Borderland branch.

Oryou thought about calling it the Oryou Borderland branch, but Oryou and Ryouma agreed on "Country Samurai."

We actually got here a little while after you guys did. We were part of the tea distribution network.

Does that mean you had a business relationship with Ishida then?

Yup. Jibu-no-Shou Ishida even asked us to help out with transporting a ton of tea once.

I see. So that's how he was so conveniently able to come up with all that tea on short notice.

You two were helping him behind the scenes.

If nothing else, Jibu-no-Shou Ishida treated everyone fairly and in accordance with the law, whether they were friend or foe.

I'm sure some people don't care for that, but the people who lived here could have done a lot worse as far as rulers go.

In fact, we never would have been able to get that huge tea shipment out the door if a bunch of people hadn't stepped up to help.

Then we owe our victory over the Ancestral Beast to them and to you. Please let me offer my thanks in my capacity as Yamataikoku's second queen.

Anyway, what are you two doing here now?

Well...

Wahahahahaha! My bootleg tea is selling like tea cakes!

Now that that Jibu-no-Shou Ishida guy's gone, this place is the Okada group's for the taking!

All right, everyone! Keep pushing the product!

Tea kinnooobbu!

First, Ryouma tricks me into coming to this weird-ass place, then he makes me carry a buncha friggin' tea around!

Well, screw honest labor! No way I'm gonna sweat for a living!

Now that Jibu-no-Shou Ishida's gone, I can smuggle all the tea I want...

...and I don't even have to pay any taxes on it! This is great!

I think I'll pay a visit to the red-light district and celebrate in style tonight!

What the hell!? Wh-when did you guys get here!?

That's right. I'm the strongest man-slayer of the Eight Dog Chronicles, Okada I

Wh-what the...? When did you guys get here?

？！

Do you know this man who practically radiates essence of loser?

Unfortunately, yes.

So, you're the one who's been smuggling tea around here, Izo. Oryou had a feeling it might be you.

I do get the impression you were a big help during the original Yamataikoku incident, but...

Dammit! I can't believe you found me here.

But I'll have you know I was only selling tea as an act of resistance against the oppressive Jibu-no-Shou Ishida regime!

Um, I don't think Jibu-no-Shou Ishida's "regime" was actually oppressive in any way...

Well, the guy in the weird robe who gave me this strange power said different!

Whoever that was, I'm pretty sure they were lying to yo

Shut up, Ryouma! I don't wanna hear it!

Besides, this is all YOUR fault! You tricked me when you said you'd found an easy way for me to pay back my debt!

Ugh, typical Izo. If you'd just stuck to your job, you'd have enough money to pay it back by now.

SHUT IT! I'm done working any job that doesn't let me drink on the clock!

What was it Takechi-sensei used to say again? Oh, right! This kinda thing's all part of being a Kinnou!

Anyway, I'm gonna keep selling bootleg tea here until I'm rich, and I'm not gonna let anyone stop me!

Just you watch, Takechi-sensei! I'm gonna make the Kinnou's dream come true right here!