CH 5: Eastern Village

Isshiki calmly walked along the forest trail that will apparently lead him to the 'Eastern Village' with Jigen's words.

It's now in the middle of autumn, and the forest was tranquil, gloomily tranquil at that.

Clementine leaves were slowly falling from the trees bearing the last of their golden and auburn crowns as they all get flown by the chilling wind, one by one.

If it weren't for his genetically enhanced body as a pure-blooded Ōtsutsuki, Isshiki's last breath would've gone with the cold during this harsh season. And this is because it has been three days since he left the empty mountain village where the Kurotsuchi temple cared for by Jigen resides in.

(Dang i missed those warm chestnut snacks Jigen used to serve me)

Slumped Isshiki with a longing for Jigen's warm meals.

Speaking of food, Isshiki has been periodically hunting for food during his traversing of this vast forest. Though as an Ōtsutsuki, he doesn't really need to eat as much as a native human of this world. The only reason for the normal frequency of his meal has to do with his boredom. You see, he had encountered three super-bears during his journey here, but none of them couldn't even lift a claw on him until he immediately dislodges their heads from their bodies using only his bare hands.

The anticlimacy of the very first 'fights' he had with these bears as a newcomer of this world significantly brought down his motivation for training his body. As during this whole trip, he never even once did any sort of training, he didn't even continue his training regarding his dojutsus.

"*Sighs*"

Sighed Isshiki in disappointment and boredom.

(I guess this is why barely any of the Ōtsutsuki members that were shown in the series uses any sort of taijutsu or complex techniques. Combining their nearly invincible bodies with their powers, plus their superiority complex towards the natives of this world must've really caused their lack of attention towards using tactics and strategies during battle.)

Isshiki pondered.

(Thinking of it, only Isshiki out of all the Ōtsutsuki members shown in Boruto, onle he performed complex battle tactics and even taijutsu. That must've been because he lived in this world for a thousand years or so. Because unlike his relatives who barely stayed here, he was forced to stay here for recuperation as he possesses Jigen's weak body, meaning, he had to learn how to fight like a shinobi or just like any of the martial artist of this world to survive.)

Isshiki continued his cogitation as he treaded the leaf-filled ground of the forest trail.

After getting tired of thinking about this world, he decided to just reminisce about his past life as he continued to walk.

"Ahh, i remember now, that time-"

Isshiki pondered about a memory.

---FLASHBACK DURING THE NOBEL PRIZE PROGRAM---

Raymond was currently in his designated seat drinking and eating some snacks as he chats with some socialites seated with him in the same table.

"Sir Nemickas, it has been a while since we've met, do you perhaps remember me from the Hugo Convention of Inventions?"

A random socialite asks him if he still remembers meeting him from a convention that happened years ago.

(Daheq? does he think he is that special? how could i remember him amongst a thousand people who visited a random convention i was in that happened 5 years ago?)

Raymond wondered with ridicule.

"Oh, i apologize sir...."

Raymond apologized to the socialite as he looks at the person's nameplate.

After finding out the random socialite's name, he continued his totally genuine apology.

"...Sir Greenfield i don't quite recall meeting you, but despite that could you help me remember?"

Raymond accompanied his apology with a manipulative question.

"O-oh that is quite unfortunate, but all right i'll help you remember--"

The socialite continued to prattle on how he met Raymond at the said convention.

(*Siiiiiiiiiighs* this is gonna take a lot from me)

Raymond inwardly regretted entertaining the random socialite.

It took a while for his insanity-inducing socializing with randos to finally end.

After the exhausting talking, Raymond decided to head for the balcony to get some whiff of fresh air, away from the suffocating carbin-dioxide filled party happening inside the building.

*Siiiiiiigggghs*

The moment he got onto the terrace, he heaved a long sigh of relief.

(GODDDDD, this is why i hate events like these, they're so tiring!)

Raymond inwardly let out a tantrum out of frustration as he makes a vomiting expression.

He continued venting out his regrets and frustrations inwardly and stayed on the terrace, sitting on the couch for a while as he looks at the full moon. He was feeling relaxed and had started to doze off. That is until someone also walks into the terrace, nearly encountering his sleepy stance.

He immediately jerks his body to get up and make it look like he was just sitting, he then calmly turns his face to look at the person walking in from the now opened door as he sees a beautiful woman wearing a dazzling royal blue gown.

It took him a second to recognize the person looking at him with a befuddled expression as he immediately gets up to greet her.

"Hello, you must be madame Christine De Foyes, my name is Raymond Nemickas, a guest of this event"

Raymond greeted the important woman in front of him as politely as possible.

How could he dare to show his eccentric side to a heavily respected and dignified woman, and especially if that woman is Christine De Foyes, one of the greatest scientists of this era who invented a cure for the internationally-declared Human Immuno-defficiency Virus, in short HIV.

Back in 2027, she created a cure for the disease with a success rate of 98%, and she did this with barely the amount of money a researcher should have when it came to researching a cure for a worldwidely-announced incurable disease. She had discovered the main ingredient for his cure in her backyard, a bacteria that was found beside a growing fungus in the space underneath her raised porch.

(I really didn't know how she immediately knew that such a bacteria exists, but when it comes to her process of creation, that is where i respected her the most)

Raymond inwardly threw a praise at the woman in front of her.

"What a surprise Sir Nemickas! I didn't know you could be here..."

Christine yelled in surprise.

After her shout, the atmosphere grew cold in awkwardness.

"So-sorry, i was just....."

She broke the silence with a stuttering explanation until she grew silent again in embarassment.

(I guess we both are introverts...as expected of a fellow scientist!)

"You were also trying to escape from those extroverts are you?"

Raymond went on to finish her words for her.

Christine grew shocked by her situation being revealed by a complete stranger, as seconds go by she began to feel vulnerable, as she felt pathetic for being an open book, easily read even by strangers. But Raymond's next words was enough to be able to flip her current emotions upside down.

"A-actually, i am doing the same thing, so that is why i am also here"

Raymond continued with his confession whike scratching his head shyly.

--A/N: lol--

She became surprised at such a revelation, and so she began to smile and loosen her tension due to her sharing similar feelings with him.

"Yeah... They were just too suffocating i guess..."

She responded with but a slight stutter this time.

---FLASHBACK END---

"She was really pretty, and relatable, i guess i did regret not pursuing her"

Isshiki proclaimed his past feelings.

(Her glistening ebony black hair along with her diamond-shaded irises, paired up with her dress back then drew even me, i doubt other males didn't approach her too)

Isshiki pondered about Christine's looks based on his memories.

(But i guess i was still quite hung up with David back then, so i woudn't have been that much interested in her, though now, i would say otherwise)

Isshiki continued musing as he walks along the brightening up forest, it seems that he is beginning to near the end of the trail.

"Oh? am i finally here?"

Isshiki asks himself as he got out of the forest, revealing a bright and sunny sky.

He covered his eyes to shield it from the everglow of the golden sun, and as the light flooded his eyes started to subsume, he spots several mid-sized wooden walls with spikes protruding his direction. A gate could also be seen at the bottom center of his perspective, with two tough-looking guards standing with their spears.

"Finally!"

Isshiki celebrated with his hands raised high up.

He then began walking towards the guards and the wallgate, informing and alerting the guards of his arrival.

(They didn't even sense me before i started walking towards them? Wow, Hagoromo really did boost humanity)

Isshiki mused at the incapability of these guards to guard their village against threats.

As he got in front of the guards with a tensed face, the guards also went serious as the one on the left spoke up.

"What brings you to our humble village? Traveller?"

The left guard asked Isshiki of his business with their village.

(Wow, they don't even know that this is isn't my real appearance, these people are really easy....)

Isshiki inwardly ridiculed them further.

---POV CHANGE: RIGHT GUARD---

A traveller seemed to have came to our village, an unfamiliar one at that.

He just appeared out of nowhere, but i and the other guard just thought that it might've been us dozing off involuntarily so we just ignored his ghostly arrival.

He looks to be an enthusiastic young man who have decided to leave his homeland to travel the world based on he looks.

I also couldn't help but be shocked at this young man's appearance, such exquisite looks that many of our village's women will be drawn to.

A handsome young man wearing an innocent expression accompanied by his golden-colored hair and sapphire blue eyes, his jawline seems robust and his stance was very stable. Judging from the way he walked, he looks to be a warrior-in-training, and his hands might look soft and gentle, but there are also some spots riddled with veins. A young man perfect to be a husband in our village.

(This young man needs to stay and spread his bloodline here in our village! so that our village will gain some capable warriors in the future!)

I inwardly wished as i looked at the blond-haired young man with a serious look.

(I don't know why, but i couldn't help but trust him already, even though this must be the first time he came here, such an appealing young man.)

The young man seemed to not be aware of my thoughts about him.

---POV CHANGE BACK: MC---

(It is a good thing that i used the Transformation Technique earlier before i got out of the forest)

Isshiki inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.

"Excuse me, but could you please respond? or else we will deem you as a suspicious individual and won't be allowed inside"

The left guard urged and warned Isshiki.

This made Isshiki come out of his thoughts.

"O-oh i am sorry, i was just relieved that finally, after travelling for 3 months, i fanilly found a village with people...."

Isshiki made up an excuse.

(Wait, they are speaking a different language..no... a different dialect?.. it sounded quite similar to Japanese, which i and Jigen are using, but at the same time, some pronunciations differ and some words are used a little differently...must be the distance from Jigen's village and this village. But still, it is not that far though, and also how can i speak their dialect already?!)

Isshiki pondered with a weirded out expression.

"Ah, i understand young man, so let me ask again, what is your business with our humble village?"

The left guard once again asked Isshiki.

"As you may already know, i am a traveller, as i have said earlier, i have been travelling on foot for 3 months and haven't found any villages, but now luckily, i found this one. I left my hometown atleast the same time i travelled from there to here because of my curiosity to see the vastness of our world, and so, my main purpose of going to village from village is to encounter new people!"

Isshiki explained, which made the two guards raise an eyebrow for a second, but after some careful consideration and by being manipulated by Isshiki's transformed appearance's convincing face, they agreed to let him in, but with a last question.

"I know this might've been a little late, but what is your name young traveller?"

The right guard's seemingly stoic demeanor finally broke by asking the last question with a gentle tone.

Isshiki was a little shocked by the right guard suddenly asking a question as he has been ignoring him for a while now for the reason that he assumed that the guard might not have been a social person.

"Ah yes, i too apologize for not introducing myself earlier, my name is Horin Isshiki, a young traveller that came from a village named 'Sakai' from the far south"

Isshiki introduced himself with a fake surname enthusiastically as he bowed smoothly to the guards.

The guards were left shook by this extreme politeness but soon regained their cool.

"What a cheerful young man, then we shall allow you to enter our village, though you will have to speak with a Chieftain first as he gathers all of our villagers. This is done because we want the villagers to know that a newcomer entered the village and to also for them to familiarize over your face"

The left guard spoke again by welcoming Isshiki in as the both of them as guards opened the gate, revealing a dirt road surrounded on both sides by houses that leads up to the village center. The village was bustling and Isshiki could see the adult villagers working and doing chores while the children frolick around, playing amongst themselves with cheerful laughters.

"Wow.....this is the image of a village that i envisioned to be from the past, unlike the moderately advanced Kurotsuchi Mountain Village"

Isshiki muttered to himself with a hint of excitement as he watches the scene of a busy village in an era similar to his previous world's japanese pre-feudalistic era.

"Now young man! Welcome to our home! Our 'Hokori Village', a beautiful and bustling village full of life!"

The right guard welcomes Isshiki enthusiastically as he opens his arms wide, portraying a pose the same as Isshiki's previous world's 'Christ the Redeemer' statue.