Secrets in the Village Alleys / Bandit Scouts Arrive

"Everyone, we've been here for almost a week now, and we've gotten to know the villagers' character a little better. Aichi and the others have always eaten only dry, hard millet porridge, while we've been given white rice. At least they're not the kind of ungrateful scoundrels."

"Well, there's always a reason why someone is pitiful. Humans have both good and evil sides. They can hire samurai, or they can kill a samurai in distress. Maybe they're just pretending to be pitiful so that we'll work for them."

"I've been hunting in the woods these past few days, and I even saw their private fields, which they're secretly cultivating in a secluded spot on the mountain. They don't seem as poor as they appear. Who knows, they might even be secretly eating some good food at home," the black-haired, red-eyed girl said with a mischievous grin.

"No! That's not how it is! I've tasted the barnyard millet they eat. It's so tough, you can't even bite into it, it's really hard to swallow. That's animal feed. People wouldn't eat it unless they were forced to. And..." Yukino stood up and retorted, seemingly wanting to say something more, but then stopped herself.

Shirou looked at the girl and said, "Yukino, lead the way. You have something you want us to see, right?"

"Master? You already knew?!" Yukino exclaimed in surprise. She thought she had kept it a secret very well.

"You haven't been eating properly these past few days, and you've been running around outside. There must be a reason," Shirou said, looking at the girl.

"Hmm... I couldn't hide it from Master after all." Yukino smiled wryly and nodded.

"Yukino, if there's anything you want to say, just say it," Soji said, looking at the little girl who seemed like his younger sister.

"Yes, then! Everyone, please come with me. Seeing it in person is much clearer than talking about it." Yukino bowed slightly to the crowd and then walked out the door.

Shirou and Soji exchanged a glance, then Shirou took the lead and followed.

"Hmph..." The black-haired, red-eyed girl at the back pouted and followed.

They were ultimately just outsiders to this village, like the equipment of those fallen warriors. There were still many secrets about this village that these outsiders did not know.

Chapter 229 The Secret of the Village Alley

Yukino led the group through the village's alleyways to a dilapidated thatched hut. Several parts of the hut were broken, and the door was open, suggesting that it had been uninhabited for a long time.

When they went inside, they saw an old woman with tattered clothes, gray hair, and sparse, disheveled hair sitting inside.

"Is... who has come?" The old woman opened her mouth, but because she had almost no one to talk to, her voice was initially hoarse and somewhat indistinct.

"It's me, old lady, Yukino!" Yukino stepped forward and called out loudly.

"Oh, it's Yukino... You're a good child." The old woman was speaking, but her eyes were terribly swollen and red, and her eyeballs were barely visible.

"What's going on with this old woman? Does she live here all by herself?" Shirou looked around at the dusty furniture and stove; everything looked like it hadn't been used in a long time.

"The old woman's whole family was killed by bandits. She cried until she was half blind and lost all her teeth, so I shared half of my rice with her," Yukino explained.

Behind the lonely old man was a tattered, dirty quilt. He sat there motionless during the day and slept there under the quilt at night.

She used to cry when she thought of sad things, until her eyes were ruined and her tears dried up, and then she could only spend the whole day in a daze.

"Yukino, who are you talking to?" the old woman asked, her eyesight failing.

"Grandma, I've come with my master and the samurai," Yukino replied.

"Samurai... Samurai! Have you come to avenge my son?" The old woman's eyes widened, and her pupils, which had turned gray from being washed by tears, now gleamed with a sharp light.

"Yes, old woman, we're here to help the village defeat the bandits," Shirou replied softly.

The old woman said in a hoarse voice, "Really? Thank you so much. This is the greatest comfort I can give you before I die. I've always believed that as long as people are happy, that's enough. Even if we're poor, as long as our family is together, that's happiness enough."

"But... now I'm all alone at home, and I can't do anything by myself. It's so painful... so painful that I want to die. But I've heard that the afterlife is just as painful, and I'm so scared. I don't know what to do, so I haven't died yet. But how long can this half-dead state last?"

The elderly man, who has lost all his teeth, is unable to eat hard food. His eyes are swollen and red, and he walks with difficulty, making it impossible for him to do farm work. Now he can only rely on the villagers for occasional assistance, sometimes hungry and sometimes full, barely surviving.

Houzoin Inshun knelt down and said to the old woman, "Grandma, please rest assured. Buddha will protect you. After death, one goes to the Western Pure Land, where there will be no more suffering."

The old man's face didn't show a smile, but he seemed to have found a last glimmer of hope, repeatedly muttering, "Is that so? Is that so, Venerable Monk? That's wonderful! I've been a vegetarian my whole life and have never killed any living being? Does that mean I won't have to suffer like this after I die?"

Houzoin Inshun earnestly agreed, "Yes, I am a monk and I do not lie. I assure you, as long as you do not do evil and persevere in living, you will surely find liberation on the day you die..."

Afterwards, everyone silently left the dilapidated house.

"Grandma, Yukino will bring you food later." Yukino said goodbye to the old woman and followed the others towards their house.

An elderly man, left all alone after his entire family was slaughtered by bandits;

The fellow warrior killed by the villagers, and four sets of equipment belonging to fallen samurai;

Neither of these things is something to be faced with a smile. But this can't go on; morale will plummet, fighting spirit will dissipate, and this atmosphere must be changed.

Shirou said to the girl, "Yukino, starting today, you have to eat your lunch properly. You're a child, so you need to eat your fill at lunchtime. I'll give you half of my portion to take to that old man."

"No! How can we let Master go hungry! At least let me pay half! I don't have a big appetite," Yukino said.

"Listen to your master! If a child doesn't eat properly, he won't grow tall!" Shirou commanded in a stern tone that left no room for argument.

"Yes..." This time, Yukino didn't dare to disobey again. She pouted and muttered, "I don't need to eat that much."

Shirou, who also heard the second half of the sentence, sighed helplessly, "This really is..."

It's often said that picky eaters are simply due to housewives' lack of culinary skills and poor cooking. Only children who eat truly delicious food every day will grow taller and faster. The level of care parents give their children will be reflected in their behavior.

Bright eyes, healthy skin, thick and shiny hair, a vibrant spirit, and abundant physical strength are all closely related to parental care.

Looking at the girl who had recognized him as her master, Shirou thought to himself, 'If we weren't in such a barren world, I really would want to make sure she eats well, cook her lots of delicious food, and make sure she has two bowls of rice every day to feel satisfied.'

"Then I'll pay for dinner tonight. When I was training in the mountains, I got used to a simple life, so eating less rice won't bother me," Kojiro said.

"Please let me share some of the burden. As a monk, I cannot turn a blind eye to such a thing," said Houzoin Inshun.

"Shirou, me too!" Soji also raised his hand and said.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing!" At this moment, Tawara Toda interrupted everyone, took out his rice bag, and said to Shirou, "General! Take this. We still have to fight, so we must eat our rice properly. Use the rice here for the old man's needs. When cooking rice, just cook extra."

Houzoin Inshun said with a smile, "Your Highness Teng Tai... thank you for your generosity. I believe Buddha will remember your merit."

"Stop talking, I worship the Dragon God." Tawara Toda scratched the back of his head, somewhat annoyed. "Honestly, if I could use my Noble Phantasm, I could throw a feast for the whole village every day."

"Yes, if there were enough rice, I could try to cook some delicious dishes for everyone to try." Shirou took the rice bag from Tawara Toda and said with some regret.

"Eh? Shirou, you can cook? Cook?" Houzoin Inshun asked in surprise. Although the monks in charge of cooking in temples are all big-shouldered, thick-waisted, and round-bellied, which is considered a good job, it's not what they aspire to.

With a gleam in his eyes Tawara Toda said, "Delicious food, that's just perfect! Any depressed mood will be swept away by that feeling of fulfillment and happiness. All I need is good food and good wine, that's enough for me."

"Well, that's one of my hobbies, but in this chaotic world, one can't expect such pleasures," Shirou said. Muramasa, due to her talent and training in forging, had a better grasp of the heat than Shirou. However, because of the limitations of this war-torn era, being able to eat white rice was already considered a great blessing.

"Yes, yes! Shirou's cooking is national treasure level! And he's a master chef who's proficient in cuisines from all over the world." Soji, standing to the side, nodded repeatedly, praising him without reservation. "His specialty is Japanese Chinese Cuisine and Western cuisines are also world-class, although I haven't tasted them myself..."

"Hmph... What are you talking about? If we're talking about gourmet food, I'm the one who's tasted the most delicacies here. I've even tasted dishes made by chefs brought by missionaries from Spain and Portugal." The black-haired, red-eyed girl couldn't help but retort.

Soji shook his finger and retorted smugly, "No, no, although I've never eaten it, one of my previous Master grew up eating Shirou's cooking every day. I saw some of her memories when I possessed her."

She's a girl who can enjoy the world's finest cuisine from the comfort of her home, growing up in blissful happiness! Of course, only a girl like that could become Miss Okita, my Master. A perfect match is only a matter of time."

"Oh, that's really interesting, the Admiral's cooking." Tawara Toda laughed heartily, giving Shirou a knowing look.

"This humble monk is also very interested in those dishes," Houzoin Inshun, casting a glance at them.

"Master~!" Yukino looked at him with Gil eyes.

"I understand, I understand. I'll try my best to at least cook a decent meal," Shirou replied.

At this moment, only the black-haired, red-eyed girl focused her attention on another word. Her blood-red, gem-like eyes gleamed with an unusual light as she muttered, "Possession summoning? Is that the special summoning method that Okita mentioned before, the one that allows you to go to another world? Is Shirou in that world too?"

Yukino said, "But that's great, it seems everyone's anger has subsided now. It's true that the villagers here have their own cunning and selfish sides, but they also have their good points."

"I initiated this battle, so it's impossible for me to give up halfway. Everyone's willingness to stay is a great help." Shirou smiled and bowed to everyone, expressing his gratitude.

"Don't say that, Shirou," Houzoin Inshun said devoutly, his hands clasped together. "Of course I will stay. Buddha said to save all beings. The bandits on the mountain are being saved, and so are the villagers below. I cannot stand by and watch them cry for help and do nothing."

"That's right, General! There's no reason for you to bow down here." Tawara Toda spread his hands and said with a smile, "Well, I'm only angry at those guys who carried all this equipment. I said from the beginning that I didn't join to help the farmers, but because I admire your character and wanted to become your comrade-in-arms."

"Well, all of this has nothing to do with me. I'm just here to slay the powerful Demon King." Sasaki Kojiro raised his nodachi and said calmly. Compared to these tangled issues, he was only interested in improving his swordsmanship and dueling with powerful opponents.

"!!" The black-haired, red-eyed girl shuddered, her back seemingly stiffening.

"Let's go back and continue the meeting. Aichi is probably going crazy by now," Shirou suggested to everyone.

"Haha, that's true. He's been hiding outside and hasn't come in at all," Soji said, laughing as he recalled how Aichi had escaped.

"That was because you scared him, Tawara Toda Omoteto! Your expression looked like you were about to kill someone," Houzoin Inshun joked.

"Huh? I think I'm pretty approachable," Tawara Toda said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

The girl was still looking into the house, seemingly worried about the old man inside.

"I'm off! Yukino. Bring the rice over when it's cooked." Shirou was walking ahead, turned around and called out to his kind disciple.

"Yes," Yukino replied, quickly following after him.

When the girl ran to his side, Shirou patted her head and praised her, "Well done! Yukino, you helped everyone resolve their inner conflicts. You've really done a great job. This is a truly commendable achievement."

"Yes!" Yukino accepted her master's pat on the head, revealing a slightly smug and happy smile.

Shirou stroked his disciple's head, he fell into deep thought.

Perhaps these circumstances are one of the reasons why this chaotic world has lingered for so long.

In this era, samurai and villagers were inherently different social classes. One side looked down on the other, while the other was frequently exploited. This unfair system inevitably led to hostility.

This time, the villagers were forced into a corner by the bandits, which is why they wanted to hire samurai to protect them. Otherwise, they probably would never have wanted to deal with Shirou and his group in their entire lives.

On one side, people are sacrificing time to earn money for survival; on the other side, they are using their intellect, resources, and technology to pocket the public's money. Both sides are making sacrifices and efforts, and as long as it's legal, there's no reason for them to complain.

But I still can't help but wonder, we're all human, so why is there such a huge difference? We're all human, yet the things we enjoy are so vastly different. I can't help but feel resentful, but all of this is maintained in balance by the rules and laws that are like theorems.

According to the rules of this era, the grain grown by farmers was used to feed the warriors and nobles, and the warriors, in turn, received their stipends to fight for higher-ranking lords and capture cities.

However, even if these lords fought to the end and gained the submission of all the daimyo, they relied on nothing more than military suppression. Once this hegemonic power weakened, the local lords would become restless again. Even if it did not weaken, sooner or later, various problems such as division and loss of control would arise.

Once collapses, chaotic wars will begin again. In fact, even during periods of stability, even without the turmoil of war, only a portion of the population can live a happy and peaceful life.

The owner of the body Shirou possessed was constantly pondering a question.

"How can we possibly free everyone from this fate...?"

Chapter 230 The Mountain Bandit Scouts Arrive

The group of seven samurai walked silently toward their dwelling.

Meanwhile, the black-haired, red-eyed girl in military uniform looked at Shirou, seemingly sensing his thoughts, her eyes showing disapproval. However, when her gaze focused on the man, it revealed admiration.

"Shirou, are you worrying about those meaningless things again? There's no way to change them; they're facts that will be created as long as humanity exists. In fact, only a limited number of people are talented and can contribute value to society, and even among these people, there are those who can bring good influence and those who can bring bad influence."

If you want to change this era or realize your own ideas, you have to guide those people. Yes, a man like you is not suitable to be their role model.

But it can serve as their spiritual anchor, an ideal they yearn for. You can set the moral standards and subtly guide them forward."The black-haired, red-eyed girl walked up to Shirou and said with a smile.

"No, I'm not the type to guide others, let alone become their spiritual support," Shirou denied, the lingering Muramasa consciousness within him seemingly reviving, protesting the girl's words. He had never intended to change anyone's mind or tell them what was right. Ultimately, he couldn't do that; all he could do was protect the world we all inhabited.

The black-haired, red-eyed girl continued, "No, the key is whether you're willing to do it. In fact, most people can't see their own future, can't feel the motivation to work hard in reality, can't perceive their own talents, and certainly won't cultivate or discover them. So, people who can persevere in striving for a goal are truly remarkable. If that goal is great enough, then the person pursuing it will also appear very dazzling."

Yes! I can say this with absolute certainty, Shirou! You shine brightly with such ideals!

Shirou was somewhat surprised by the girl's words, his face flushed slightly, and he scratched his cheek with his fingers, saying, "Thank you. Until now, everyone around me just thinks I'm a nuisance."

"Yes, it really is troublesome... Shirou, your dedication is just too strong; you easily overlook your own interests for the sake of others." The black-haired, red-eyed girl drawled out her words with a smile, but what she was thinking was, 'That's why I'm not planning to let you continue. The dazzling jewels will just stay here and admire them; I'm not going to let you go out again...'

Shirou retorted, "I've already reflected on this issue. But some things, if I don't do them, others will give up on doing them, and that's why I have to do them."

"Everyone has their own reasons for this battle, but even if it were unconditional, you would still stay to help the people here, even if you're the only one," the black-haired, red-eyed girl said incisively.

"That's why I've been trying to find partners. This time, I'm acting together with everyone, isn't that right?" Shirou retorted.

The girl clapped her hands and suggested, "Yes, that's the same principle. Shirou, you could try a different approach to solving problems in the future! Instead of trying to achieve it alone, you could form a team, recruit members, and get everyone working together to realize your ideal. That way, your ideal might just come true."

"No, we can't just drag people into something so unknown and difficult. Besides, everyone has their own life they want to live." Shirou shook his head.

"No, most ordinary people, without leaders to guide and inspire them, will simply drift along aimlessly, clinging to outdated and corrupt ideas."

Without thinking and without seeking change, focusing only on maintaining the status quo will only make things worse. Even if the war ends and peace is achieved, people who are content with the status quo will not find true happiness in their lives.

Farmers will always be farmers, samurai will always be samurai, and their descendants will too. Issei lives, predetermined fates, will only lead to stagnant pools, devoid of any excitement. Such lives are utterly boring; it's better to die!

The black-haired, red-eyed girl spread her arms wide and declared with great authority, "Whether it's plunder or invasion, it's not sacrifice, but an essential path to sublimation! Survival of the fittest—only those who emerge victorious from fierce competition, those who can withstand setbacks and blows, can become powerful figures who wield influence and have a voice in this world."

"No, Nobu, I don't want to do that kind of thing. Besides, it's not enough. A castle built by one person will collapse when that person leaves. We have to change things from the root." Shirou shook his head and said.

"But! It's okay, even though it's meaningless. But worrying like this is Shirou's style, isn't it?" The black-haired, red-eyed girl spoke with a slightly dazzling light, her tone 'gentle'. No, it was more like the doting tone one would use towards their own possession.

However, Shirou was deep in thought and did not notice any of this.

As the group walked out of the alley, across the village road, and onto the straight road leading to their lodgings, they saw Aichi talking to two farmers holding woodcutting axes, looking quite nervous.

Aichi spotted Shirou and the others in the distance and ran over in a panic, shouting, "The bandits are here!"

"What? Where did you see them? How many people came?" Shirou asked quickly.

Aichi said, "It was the people who went up the mountain to chop wood who saw it. There were three horses in the woods behind the mountain. They weren't familiar with this place, so they must have come from the other side of the main gate by taking the main road! They'll be here soon!"