This Kotaro... Lann, though not one to gossip, had to admit he looked rather ’seedy’.
Especially as he attempted to impersonate a samurai he had once seen, leaving uneven mustaches on both sides of his upper lip.
Instead of appearing dignified like a warrior, it made him seem even more cunning.
Yet, as he led Lann to Hirata Manor, he showed tremendous enthusiasm all the way.
He even took out a few wild vegetable and grain dumplings along the way to offer to Lann. When rejected, he remained calm, displaying an honest demeanor, in stark contrast to his appearance.
Lann could tell that Kotaro and his companions partly accompanied him to keep an eye on him.
This was normal behavior. After all, even though Lann was new here, he could already feel the tension in the air.
Even farmers, who weren’t soldiers, would rush at the sight of strangers near the shrine... showing how the psychological pressure on the locals was mounting to a hysterical level.
On the way closer to Hirata Manor, Lann also noticed many traces of military equipment being transported.
The road, being near Dragoon River, was humid, and the tracks left by heavy military equipment were clear.
With Lann’s tracking skills, he deduced that these traces were at least three days old, yet time hadn’t erased them.
The Demon Hunter did not attempt to deduce what these military items were.
He had initially thought the other world he came from was a normal medieval setting with no magic, only to find out later that dragons existed there.
In this world, he wouldn’t jump to conclusions again.
After walking about three kilometers, Kotaro brought Lann to a gradually leveling area by Dragoon River.
This country called ’Iwami’, just as Kotaro said, was indeed a small mountainous nation.
Even the riverside had steep elevations, with sturdy pine trees growing from the rock faces, seeming strong enough to let humans leap across them.
Thinking of this, Lann chuckled and shook his head.
The pine trees on these cliffs grew without support, at least ten to twenty meters high, comparable to a six or seven-story building.
Whoever could jump across these trees was either reckless or exceptionally skilled.
Even Lann, with his own weight, would likely break a dozen bones if he fell from that height, even using Alder’s Rune to cushion the impact.
"Sir, we’ve arrived!"
As Lann’s thoughts wandered, Kotaro let out a slightly relieved voice near his ear.
Looking up, at this spot, Dragoon River spread into an alluvial plain, with a sizeable manor situated on it.
The architecture was Eastern-style, but looking into the distance from inside, there was nothing to see.
It seemed the manor was built with a wartime atmosphere, not revealing much about its interior. The main buildings had foundations higher than the external surroundings.
The manor sat on the opposite side of Dragoon River, connected by a wooden bridge.
During the war-torn era, a manor would typically serve both civilian and military purposes, so this bridge wasn’t in the typical East Japan modesty.
Instead, its width allowed a dozen people to walk side by side, exuding an impressive aura.
"This is Hirata Manor, sir."
Few pedestrians were on the bridge, mostly with anxious expressions. They were mainly the manor’s farmers and servants, overshadowed by the atmosphere of war, instilling fear in their hearts.
Kotaro, wearing straw sandals, trotted along the bridge, ran up to Hirata Manor’s gate, and bowed to the two soldiers guarding the gate.
The soldiers of Hirata Manor were clearly treated better than lower-level ones like Kotaro. At least they had shirts and pants, with more bamboo armor.
After a brief exchange, Lann also arrived at the gate.
Only when he got closer did the gatekeepers notice his stature.
Through genetic seed modulation, Lann’s height had reached around 190 centimeters, with a well-balanced physique, not appearing bulky.
As he slowly approached the two gatekeepers, even without hostility or any excessive movements, the two soldiers, only around 150 centimeters, couldn’t help but gulp, gripping their spears tightly.
"Hey, this stature... it’s comparable to a Samurai General, right?"
Lann concluded that people’s common height here diverged from an ordinary East Japan medieval setting.
With commoners around 150 centimeters tall, Kotaro’s response suggested the samurai’s stature was apparently taller and stronger.
In a normal Sengoku Era, even the ’tall’ Oda Nobunaga was only about 160 centimeters.
Lann smiled at the two soldiers, showing no hostility, relaxing their tense nerves a bit.
Then he turned to Kotaro and asked, "So, any word?"
Kotaro immediately stood erect and bowed at ninety degrees, "Yes, I have found out where the ronin live. Once you announce yourself, the Hirate family will certainly hire you!"
"Do I need to disarm?"
Lann asked an extra question.
The Demon Hunter knew of two forces, Iwami Country and the Inner Mansion Army. The Inner Mansion Army aimed to annihilate everything.
If he wanted to survive until the day the celestial spheres converged again, he had to rely on Iwami Country.
With visible tension, he didn’t wish to give the other side unnecessary apprehensions.
Even in the Magic World, it was standard protocol for a Demon Hunter to hand over his sword when entering the house of the nobility for commission.
The two gatekeepers expressed surprise, exchanging glances.
They’d seen many ronin lately, grim and desperate types who treated their swords as lifelines.
No negotiation if asked to disarm – they’d draw their swords!
A rational ronin like Lann was a rare sight in such times.
"Well then... excuse me."
A soldier cautiously stepped forward, extending his hand to Lann.
Lann, not dwelling, unbuckled a clasp, handing over the Aron Dite behind him.
Impressed by the Lady of the Lake’s Sword’s exquisite design, he adjusted himself and held the long sword across his arms, bowing slightly to Lann.
"Next, please follow me."
Leaving one soldier to continue guarding the gate, someone naturally filled in later. The soldier led Lann into the manor, not to the more central residential area, where only the Hirate family, their servants, and samurai resided; it was a more formal housing area.
Instead, in the surrounding wooden houses, they located a distinctly spacious longhouse. This area was where the Hirate family’s tenant farmers and craftsmen resided.
Before entering, the soldier shouted to announce.
"Nojima Iizuka, sir! I’ve brought a new ronin seeking allegiance!"