Chapter 103 Traveling to The Capital

Duodecem 18th of 4831 AS

The caravan from Shisayama was in the middle of its trek through the forest and mountain paths of the snowy country of Kujyuri. It had been 3 days since the caravan had begun their 7 days journey to the capital.

It consisted of three carriages that each pulled along a storage carriage that was filled with the caravan's belongings and supplies. They traveled in a tandem formation as was protected by the remaining group of guards that came with Rulu when she was traveling out of Kujyuri for the first time.

Over half of her original guard was killed during the trek to Shisayama since they redirected their travel path to answer a distress call made by Shizu and her forces who were out on an expedition concerning the recent monster attacks.

Brought together by coincidence, Rulu's group was on the run as they were caught in the sights of a swarm of monsters that were moving towards Shizu's position. Thanks to Azi and Kajima's timely intervention prior to the swarm's arrival, Shizu's group was spared from being defeated by the initial part of the swarm and were able to mount a rescue for Rulu's group from the main swarm of monsters.

To make up for the reduced number of guards, Manu had enlisted the village guard to aid in Shizu's trek back to the capital. Additionally Jerome paid for more mercenaries to replace the ones he lost during the festival incident but selfishly tasked them to only protect his carriage.

In all, the caravan had a guard detail of 30 soldiers and 20 mercenaries. This was excessive but was deemed necessary by Shizu, who put Rulu's protection at the highest priority.

The purpose of the trip was to answer a summons from Ozen that Shizu had received. She was instructed to return to make a report on certain topics they needed to retouch on. One such topic that they needed to discuss was currently sitting atop her lap as she furiously cuddled it.

Currently, Shizu was in the carriage at the front of the caravan as she sat next to Rulu. Kajima and Yashimu, who sat across from them, smiled wryly at the sight as it was something they had not seen for quite a while.

Atop Shizu's lap was Azi who was currently writing into a white notebook with no signs of discomfort as Shizu nuzzled her head against the top of his head.

While Kajima and Yashimu were somewhat perturbed by this, they kept any comments they had to themselves. Yashimu didn't want to deal with Shizu's antics while Kajima felt that he should not intervene in the "young" couple's budding romance.

At Shizu's side, Rulu was currently knitting what looked like clothes as she had recently learned how from the village wives from Shisayama. She had gotten used to Shizu's clinginess to Azi and didn't mind her sister's antics.

An hour had passed and Rulu had been knitting for a while, so to take a break she started up a conversation.

"So Azi? What are you writing about in your notebook?"

While still writing, Azi answered. "It's a journal entry about my travels. I usually only write about all my blacksmithing work and lessons with Kajima or Shizu, but since this will be my first time in the capital of Kujyuri I plan to write about what I see there."

"I remember that." Added Kajima. "I saw how the pile of notebooks in your original room started to stack up. What did you do with those by the way?"

Looking up to meet Kajima's inquisitive gaze, he turned his head and saw the attention he was getting from everyone. Shizu was the exception as she seemed to not really care as she only intensified her nuzzling.

Placing the white notebook to the side, he rifled through his inner shirt pocket and pulled out a small brown notebook. Showing it to everyone he explained.

"The other notebooks are at my house, but this is the master notebook. It mainly summarizes all the important things I found or learned about."

"I see." said Kajima. "If possible, I'll want to read the older ones as the blacksmiths in Shisayama want to know more about your techniques."

Azi nodded and agreed to Kajima's proposal. He then put it back into his shirt's inner pocket and began writing into his white notebook again. Kajima and Yashimu then took the opportunity to ask Azi about the properties of blood steel. Azi continued the conversation without stopping his writing hand.

This change in topic somewhat alienated Rulu as she started to have no idea what the three men were now speaking about, so she kept silent at the side as she tried to understand what was being discussed. Most of it went over her head as steam began to rise from her ears.

The three men did not notice Rulu's distress so Azi continued to answer all of Yashimu's and Kajima's questions. They asked about the application of blood steel and how it could be used to create new tools or weapons.

Azi explained that the material is similar to that of refined steel but only slightly less durable and as strong. He emphasized that while the material would make for a cheaper substitution for refined steel, it had application for magic that could be more widely expanded upon.

Another hour passed and Azi soon had nothing to do as he explained everything that he could about blood steel. He had more he could talk about but would need to be in a forge to efficiently explain his methodology. He had also finished writing his daily entry into his notebook.

Rulu, who had recovered from her slight bout of distress, had then asked to read his notebook which he agreed to let her. So while Rulu was still reading his notebook in silence, he leaned back into Shizu's embrace and began dozing off.

Already being so close to him, Shizu moved her hands away from his soft black hair and began to hug his waist. Shizu also took the chance to take a nap as she knew that they would not be doing much else during the trek.

Kajima and Yashimu again felt that they should leave the pair's budding romance alone and opted to play a game of cards to pass the time.

*****

Meanwhile, in the carriage at the back, Jerome was currently going through a bundle of somewhat foreboding letters. Some of the letters were from blacksmiths around the nation of Kujyuri as they asked about the rumor's of a new material entering the market.

This material was Azi's blood steel which made Jerome start to somewhat pull his hair out, but that was the least of his worries as a surprising letter had come to him from an unusual sender.

Days before he left Shisayama, Jerome was informed by Ghost that a letter from an Uzuruan citizen had been delivered to Jerome in secret. This was unusual as any Uzuruan citizen in the Empire's border meant that they were a spy or infiltrator since Uzuru had hostile relations with the Empire of Yamato.

This implied that it was a confidential letter concerning their previous business arrangement.

A year prior, after a war with Uzuru, Jerome got in contact with an Uzuru general who was willing to open an illegal trade route from Uzuru to Kujyuri. With it, Jerome was able to sell the refined steel he had stocked piled from the businesses he backed.

Of course, Jerome kept this secret to himself and let some of what he earned go to the nation's benefit but the amount he contributed was only a fraction of the larger total.

So far, Jerome's business arrangement went off with no issues in the past year, but he could not say for sure in his present situation. Due to his absence from the capital he could not manage the business arrangements himself and the rumors of a new material in competition with his own sparked trouble.

His questions about the letter were answered as his face began to go pale at what he read.

It said the following"

'You have tricked us. While we were paying for your refined steel, you have been holding his new material away from us in secret. By the time this letter reaches you, the agreement we have made a year prior is now void. May your treacherous soul be sent to the hell you heretics call heaven. Additionally, should you reveal my involvement with you I will expose you like the traitorous fraud you are.'

Jerome began to curse and scream obscenities as he tore up the letter. While it was a way for him to dispose of the evidence, it was done out of a need to vent his frustration. He blamed Azi for all of his recent troubles and planned to put into action a plot to remove the boy.

Jerome felt that if anyone was in his way he would spare no expense in removing such a troublesome obstacle. Even if the person was someone who saved him from death, Jerome felt no obligation to pay that person back and felt that it was only natural that a peasant like Azi should protect a noble like himself.

As his mind raced to figure the finer details of his plot to kill Azi in Shaho, he was suddenly startled by Ghost who appeared out of nowhere. Before Jerome could say a word, a piece of paper was shown to him.

This was Ghost's main way of communication and it stated.

"We have trouble."

*****

Near the evening of the 5th day of their trek, the caravan had started to set up a temporary camp. The tents would be occupied by the guards and mercenaries while people like Azi, Shizu, Yashimu, and Rulu would be sleeping in the carriage.

It was quite large and was luxurious as the floor and seats were decorated with a covering that felt like soft bedding that you could rest your head on.

After the guards and mercenaries had assembled their tents, they started a guard rotation that would last until the next dawn.

Azi, Shizu, and Rulu were currently fast asleep while Yashimu and Kajima were on guard duty. They would switch with Azi and Shizu in a couple hours, but for now they kept watch.

The evening soon turned to night and the air grew cold. With only a bonfire to keep the two men outside of the carriage warm, they conversed.

"So why are you coming to the capital Kajima?" Yashimu asked as he stoked the fire with a stick and added. "Ozen only summoned Shizu and Azi, so why did you ask me to add you to the party?"

"I plan to speak with Ozen. I need to ask him about his plan for Azi." Said Kajima.

"So you know about that as well."

"Yes, I'm somewhat against it. What Ozen is doing is manipulative and while it does aid people in need, it's a somewhat selfish use of human life as he expects something back in return." Kajima said, his tone grim.

"While I understand where you are coming from, I hope you haven't forgotten your oath in the past. You may not flaunt the title around but you still use and hold that bronze seal you accepted." Retorted Yashimu.

At Yashimu's words, Kajima felt the weight of the bronze seal in his shirt increase its pull on him. Many years ago, Kajima was awarded this bronze seal for his valorous deed in Kujyuri's previous wars when under the Empire's allegiance. He accepted it as he thought it would be helpful in feeding himself throughout his day, but opted to not accept the title and appointment that came with the bronze seal.

He remembered the feeling of victory but felt an even greater burden of loss as memories of his past comrades came to mind.

"But at what cost?" Kajima asked, his voice concerned and harsh. "Azi already had no one to rely on when he came to Shisayama, if he finds out that he is just being used then I fear that he won't take it well. I have seen what men in deep despair can do and I can tell you that it's not pretty."

Yashimu sighed at Kajima's words. While he felt that Kajima had a point, he believed that Azi and people like him would be key in aiding this nation. The proof had already shown itself as Azi had begun to cause ripples in their small nation with his creation of blood steel.

He learned much from their conversation about blood steel and witnessed practical proof of the effectiveness of Azi's creations and ideas. Yashimu thought about the powerful weapons they could create and how this could become a specialized good that they could use to trade and barter with other nations.

This would give the Kujyuri a better standing in the courts of the Imperial capital of Yamato.

But even with all the benefits, Yashimu could not turn his eyes away from where these advantages were coming from. They were from Azi's passion for learning and his drive to meet Shizu's expectations.

He heard of how Shizu wanted to tie down Azi by having him marry her and was surprised that he had already completed Shizu's first trial. While he had no verbal confirmation that Azi wanted to be with Shizu he could see that the boy shared a close bond with Shizu and was driven to keep it by working hard.

Sighing, Yashimu kept silent under Kajima's gaze as he felt that he could not give a follow up retort. Seeing the downcast state of Yashimu, Kajima sighed as well as he didn't mean to put such a damper on the mood.

He then saw that the other guards were starting to switch out, so he got up from the log he was using as an impromptu seat. Noticing Kajima, Yashimu looked around and came to the same conclusion as Kajima. It was time for them to get some rest and switch with Azi and Shizu.

Entering the carriage, they were met with the sight of Azi, Shizu, and Rulu sleeping on the makeshift sleeping arrangements within the carriage. Rulu was laid down on the seat which they had once sat on while across from her were Azi and Shizu who were sleeping in a similar manner to Rulu.

Although, Azi was being hugged from behind as he had a somewhat distressed look on his face. The two men thought that Azi was having a nightmare but had no idea what the cause was.

"Shizu….. stop … it….. Don't … eat ... me…..zzzzzzzz" Said a sleeptalking Azi.

Hearing this, the two men directed their attention to Shizu who had Azi in a tight hug from behind. Their questions about why Azi was in a state of discomfort were answered as they saw that Shizu was nibbling on his neck while she slept.

The two men thought that the scene was quite sweet but were more concerned that Shizu might really start to really eat Azi as the number of red marks on his neck were quite substantial.

*Knock Knock Knock*

Hearing the knocks on the carriage door, Yashimu went to see who it was while Kajima just enjoyed the sight of Azi's distress.

Opening the door, Yashimu saw who was knocking on their carriage and was unsurprised to see that it was Kokona.

"Kokona?! What's wrong?" Yashimu asked.

Kokona gave a few chirps before flapping her wings to draw Yashimu's attention to Jerome's carriage which was set up several meters away from where Yashimu was.

Yashimu had no idea what Kokona was trying to tell him and opted to wake Rulu to help get an explanation as she seemed to be able to understand what Kokona was trying to say or convey.

Turning his back from Kokona he proceeded inside the carriage to wake Rulu, but he suddenly stopped when he heard a commotion nearby. At first the men sounded surprised but this soon turned to panic.

"FIRE, IT'S A FIRE. QUICK GET SOME….ugh."

The mercenary did not get a chance to finish his next sentence as his throat was slit by an assailant. The mercenary's partner looked on in horror but kept enough reasoning to act with haste. Taking out a red tube from his bag, he launched a red flare into the sky which could be seen by everyone in the caravan.

Seeing the red flash of light shining in the sky, Yashimu's face paled. He then yelled at the top of his lungs to get everyone's attention.

"ENEMY ATTACK!!!"

In the next moment, Shizu tensed her whole body but since she was nibbling Azi's neck she had unintentionally bitten down a bit too hard.

Azi's eyes shot open and he wailed in pain.