Shizu

S

Shizu

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Having fled an unwanted political marriage, Shizu escaped from the Empire of the Rising Sun, a distant island nation in the Far East. Disguised in the attire of a shirabyōshi, she boarded a ship bound for the continent. A small number of retainers who had sworn personal loyalty to her accompanied her. After reaching the continent, Shizu and her party continued westward in order to evade their pursuers. They passed through the Silk Lands and entered the territory of the Realm of Parsiana. However, this was no peaceful new frontier. The land was a den of monsters and beasts unknown within the Empire of the Rising Sun, as well as roaming bandits. The party had already been attacked several times and had barely managed to repel each assault. One of the retainers muttered, “This country is far less secure than our homeland…” Another replied, “No. I have heard that there are people here who earn their living by defeating such villains. I believe they are called adventurers.” “My! Adventurers…” Shizu repeated the unfamiliar word as though savoring it. “Then these adventurers are righteous people who defeat evildoers?! How does one become an adventurer?” Her retainer stared at her in horror and hurriedly answered, “You must be jesting! Adventurers are merely those who cannot find respectable work and instead earn coin by swinging weapons. It is no proper profession for a decent person.” Another retainer agreed. “Indeed, Shizu-sama. Please do not concern yourself with such matters. We shall protect you with our lives, without thought for our own safety.” At that very moment, an arrow suddenly pierced his chest. “Curse them! More brigands! Protect Shizu-sama!” Every retainer drew his katana, but the bandits greatly outnumbered them. “Shizu-sama! Please, you must flee!” “Y-yes!” Knowing all too well that she would only be a burden, Shizu obeyed and ran off alone. “Shizu-sama! Please… survive—gaaah!!” From far behind her came the dying screams of her retainers. (I have to run… I have to keep running…) A large city came into view ahead of her. Shizu slowed her pace and struggled to steady her breathing. (Everyone… forgive me… You died because of me…) (If only I had the strength to fight… like an adventurer!) After entering the city, Shizu found a building with a sign reading Adventurers’ Guild. She stepped inside and approached the elderly woman at the reception desk. “Um… I would like to become an adventurer…And first, I wish to seek protection from something called an order of knights. Could you please tell me where I might find one?” Her retainers had instructed her that, should she ever become separated from them, she was to seek protection from the local knights. The old receptionist responded coldly. “You want to become an adventurer?! Hah! You couldn’t possibly manage it. Don’t waste my time with foolish jokes! And knights dedicate their swords to kings and lords. They serve their masters. Why would any of them be found in a shabby guild like this? If you have no other business, get out!” Coldly dismissed in a foreign land where she understood neither the customs nor where to go, Shizu left the Adventurers’ Guild with her shoulders drooping. (I ran for so long… My throat is dry. I need something to drink…) She walked toward the city’s busy entertainment district and found what appeared to be a tavern. At the counter, she ordered a drink. “Um… something without alcohol, please.” The tavern keeper placed a cup of lemon water before her. Shizu drank eagerly, captivated by the refreshing tartness of a fruit she had never tasted before. A red-haired waitress in her early twenties had been watching her with amusement and decided to speak to her. “Young lady, those are unusual clothes. Did you come from the Silk Lands?” Shizu tensed for a moment, but the woman’s friendly smile eased her caution slightly.“No… I came from beyond the sea, from the Empire of the Rising Sun.” The waitress’s eyes widened.“Well, I’ll be! I’ve heard the old stories, but I never thought that country truly existed! So, how far are you planning to travel?” Shizu thought for a moment before answering. “I am not entirely certain where I am going. My retainers said that farther west lies a country protected by strict laws, and that we should seek help from its knights…But they all fell to bandits while protecting me…” Shizu lowered her head, struggling to hold back tears. The waitress looked at her with sympathy. “I see… I’m sorry. If they mentioned knights, they were probably trying to reach the Sanctus Commonwealth. But that’s at the western edge of the continent. You’re still a very long way from there.” The waitress leaned closer and lowered her voice. “But listen… you should stay away from that country. Your retainers probably didn’t understand what it was really like. Yes, they say its strict laws protect its people. But it worships one absolute god. They’re fanatics who believe that killing unbelievers and allowing them to be reborn purified is the greatest mercy they can offer.” This time, Shizu’s eyes widened.“I-is that true?! To think we were heading toward such a terrifying country…” Shizu was left speechless, but the waitress continued. “Well, I’ve only heard stories myself. But in the Sanctus Commonwealth, people with darker skin like you and me are treated as slaves.” The waitress shrugged.“What happened to your retainers was terrible, but perhaps being stranded in this country was a blessing in disguise. This Realm is tolerant of different religions, and trade is its lifeblood. People come and go from all over the continent. Did you like the lemon water? Would you like another cup?” “Y-yes! It is delicious! Another one, please! Ah… but the payment…” Shizu took out a small purse and placed several tiny pieces of silver on the counter. The waitress stared at the unfamiliar square coins. “What are these silver coins?! So you really did come from beyond the sea…But they’re much smaller than our silver coins. I’ll pay for your drinks myself, and I’ll take two of these little square ones in exchange. Fair?” The waitress took two of the coins.“With so little money, you won’t be able to continue your journey. You may not even be able to afford daily living expenses. Do you have any way to earn more?” Shizu answered,“Um… I was told that adventurers defeat evildoers and receive payment in return. So I went to the guild, hoping to become one…But they sent me away.” The waitress’s mouth fell open.“You went there?! You went to the Adventurers’ Guild all by yourself?!” She stared at Shizu in disbelief. “You really are a sheltered young lady…I suppose the old woman at the counter threw you out? She may not look it, but she has a soft spot for innocent girls who haven’t been hardened by the world. She just has a foul mouth.” Shizu became flustered by the waitress’s unexpected reaction. The woman continued in a more instructive tone. “Listen carefully. An Adventurers’ Guild is a gathering place for brutes and criminals. If someone stops showing up the next day, nobody asks what happened to them. Long ago, there was apparently a vast international guild spanning several countries, but every nation eventually cracked down on it over accusations of espionage and rebellion. Now each country has its own remnants, scraping by on illegal work…In other words, they’re little more than gangs who will do anything if the price is right.” This time, it was Shizu whose mouth fell open.“B-but… are adventurers not champions of justice who defeat evildoers?” The waitress shrugged.“Oh, please…Those people only exist in heroic tales told to children before bed. Adventurers are barely distinguishable from bandits. The only difference is whether they are the ones stealing money and being hunted, or the ones capturing thieves and collecting the reward. It is not unusual for those positions to reverse only a few days later.” Shizu had imagined adventurers as righteous heroes who fought for the people in exchange for modest rewards.Hearing the truth left her speechless. The waitress gave her an apologetic look.“I’m sorry to shatter your dream, but that is the reality. And you are a young woman carrying a fine-looking blade. If adventurers saw you, they might drag you into a dark alley, assault you, and then steal both your purse and your weapon. Those people have an endless appetite for money, women, and valuable weapons.” Shizu shuddered and placed a hand on the tachi at her waist.“But if adventurers are such wicked people… what am I supposed to do now?” The waitress answered encouragingly,“Go to the Tribune Guard Office. That is a legitimate public institution directly overseen by a Tribune. They can introduce you to respectable work from trustworthy clients.” Shizu’s expression brightened.“A Tribune! Then that person is a true champion of justice?!” The waitress shrugged again.“Well… I wouldn’t describe the position as quite so glorious. But it is certainly far better than accepting jobs from the Adventurers’ Guild. Leave this tavern and head toward the castle. You’ll see a large barracks and an office beside it. You can’t miss them.” “Thank you! The lemon water was delicious! I will come again!” Shizu finished her drink, thanked the waitress, and left the tavern. From there, she went directly toward the Tribune Guard barracks. The large barracks stood just before the castle. Shizu recognized it immediately. Beside the barracks was a small building with a sign reading Tribune Guard Office. Without hesitation, Shizu stepped inside. A large, dignified elderly man sat behind the counter. When she glanced toward the bulletin board on the wall, she saw ordinary requests such as weaving cloth and catching fish alongside assignments to hunt dangerous beasts and monsters. Shizu approached the old man behind the counter.“U-um… what must I do to work here?!” The old man gave her a broad, welcoming smile.“Young lady in the unusual clothes, are you looking for work? Choose any assignment that interests you from that board and bring it to me. But if this is your first time, it may be wise to work with someone else.” He looked around the office and noticed Ти casually studying the bulletin board.“Hey, you there. This young lady is about to take her first assignment. Why don’t you accompany her?” "I hope today's work won't require me to draw my tachi..."Shizu wished for that in her heart.