It was an early and crisp morning in my village the gentle rays of sunlight touching the ground. As I got out of bed, got dressed in my usual attire and grabbed my sword, today like usual I would be with the hunting party to catch a danger beast for the village to consume. I walked outside of my comfy little smithery and into the outside world where I saw Ieyasu and Sayo waiting for me.

" Well well well look our village blacksmith is finally up", Sayo hit Ieyasu after he said this. "Anyways lets get going Tatsumi!" We headed into the forest keeping our wits about us to sense for the danger beasts. Hey Sayo how many arrows did you bring with you. " I brought 40 with me but if it comes down to it I always have my dagger."

After I made that dagger for her she really seems to hold on to it at all times, maybe she feels insecure well now isn't the time to think about it. It looks like Ieyasu found something. " Hey Tatsumi isn't that a war boar", he pointed to a rather large boar that was digging for mushrooms. Looks like it and we've found our breakfast Ieyasu I'll distract it this time Sayo support like usual, they both nodded. I slowly approached the war boar which was easily thrice my size making sure to stay concealed and keep my killing intent hidden, then once I had gotten almost directly behind it I threw a rock at it. The war boar enraged turned around and started charging at me, as I rolled out of the way it slammed into a tree behind me the tree unable to take the blow cracked and fell over, Ieyasu jumped out of the tree and onto the boar bringing down his battle axe down on its neck inflicting a deep gash, as Ieyasu jumped off to grab its attention I ran up and slashed its back leg the boar suddenly turned around slamming me in the process, as I hit a nearby tree I heard the boar start charging at me but before it could impale me on its horns two arrows hit the boar's eyes a third arrow pierced its skull and ended its life.

" Tatsumi are you okay", Sayo ran over a worried expression on her face. Yeah I'm fine just a little jarred from it turning around like that, is Ieyasu alright? " I dodged at the last second but I mostly got lucky". Thanks Sayo I'd probably be dead if it wasn't for you, she blushed and turned to the boar, " W-we have to get it back to the village come on". We carried the boar back to the village Wher we cooked and ate it afterwards the village elder had told us to come see him.

" Tatsumi we need you three to go to the capital to earn money for the village, with the taxes the way they are it's unlikely we'll be able to pay them off. Here is a the map you'll need it for the travel". What about my smithery is there anyone to replace me? " Right now were training one of the younger villagers to do it so there's no need to worry, however just in case take this idol if you ever get into a tight spot"- Sell it right! " No you idiot don't sell it, Sayo whacked my head and Ieyasu laughed. As I was saying pray and things will certainly get better afterwards."

Well you three it looks like we're going to the capital. " I can't wait I bet the women there are real hot, me and Sayo ignored his comment". The majority of the first part of our journey consisted of finding the main road which led to the capital and then following it stopping to hunt or rest as we went along. We came across a few villages which requested our help to exterminate danger beasts which got us a decent amount of cash, after a few days on the road we came to an intersection on path led left and the other path went over a mountain range. " Mind if I see the map Tatsumi, Sayo took the map from me, looks like the mountain path is faster we'll get to the capital in 3 more days if we go that way, but if we take the other road it might be safer what do you guys think". For some reason I felt a sense of foreboding from the left path my gut was telling me to take the mountain path, If it will be faster we should go with the mountain road that way we can start sending money back to the village sooner. " I agree Tatsumi, The three of us headed for the mountain range taking its narrow path, other tan a few caves and a scuffle with a danger beast nothing bad actually occurred we exited the mountain range after two days of rigorous travel and one time getting lost, luckily enough some guy with green hair and a pair of goggles directed us in the right direction.

One day later we met some merchants who said they would transport us if we protected their merchandise. So for a good portion of the ride there we rode in the back of the cart, it actually seemed like the merchants completely forgot we existed. On the second day when I woke up to the noise of a very frightened horse and two screaming merchants, a ground dragon had bursted out from the ground in front of the horse as I stepped onto the drivers bench and jumped into the air to deal consecutive strikes to the dragon, it's blood splattered on the ground as it fell over dead. " Ohhhhhhhhh thank you so much traveler if it hadn't been for you we'd probably be dead, the merchants gleefully smiled, by the way before we part ways what are you doing in the capital"? Well me and my friends have to make money for the village so we came out here for jobs were lucky enough to get here together, Ieyasu and Sayo had gotten out of the cart and walked to me. " Well I have to tell you the capital isn't what it seems like the system is corrupt and you shouldn't trust anyone you meet even if they seem alright, this is my advice as a merchant keep to it and you'll probably live to fulfill your goal."

Thanks for telling us that and thanks for the ride, the two merchants headed off in a different direction. " Well Tatsumi what are we going to do for work, Ieyasu scratched his head, we could go into the army but it's likely we'll be stuck in a low rank." Well whatever job we pick it will probably be a while to have a good salary so picking what we're best at is probably a good idea, we should stay at an inn for today while we figure things out.