In the distance, Tatsumi, carrying a pack, waved at everyone with a smile as he quickly ran back.
To bring supplies and money to the people in his hometown, he had returned there.
However, he had not stayed long before quickly coming back.
"Bastard!"
"I thought you weren't coming back."
Ieyasu slammed his fist into Tatsumi's body. This was their unique way of greeting each other.
From Tatsumi's grimacing expression, it was clear that Ieyasu had not held back.
"Couldn't you go a little easier?"
"It's been over half a month, and you're still as reckless as ever."
Tatsumi threw a punch back, no lighter than Ieyasu's. He patted the pack on his back and looked respectfully at Yorii Tsugikuni beside him. "I even brought some hometown specialties for Master."
"Of course, Sayo and Ran have some too."
Seeing Tatsumi return safely, Yorii Tsugikuni's worries vanished.
After all, the Empire was in chaos everywhere now.
"How is things back home?"
As they slowly walked back, she looked impatiently at Tatsumi and asked. She had always been worried about their hometown.
"The situation there really is worse than when we left."
"A lot of people in the village starved to death, but I got back in time and bought quite a bit of food for them."
When he mentioned his hometown, sorrow quickly crept across Tatsumi's previously smiling face.
He began telling them about what he had seen upon returning.
"I wonder when this drought will end."
"If it does, maybe things will get a little better."
Feeling the blazing heat of the sun overhead, Ieyasu sighed.
Their hometown was actually a very poor mountain region.
There had been little farmland suitable for cultivation to begin with. Under the drought, there had been no harvest at all, and people had started