"Are you two travelers?"
The girl seemed very polite. Carrying her younger brother on her back, she looked at Musashi and Ritsuka with curiosity.
"Ah, yes. I'm a swordsman traveling around. Well, I'm not really sure where I came from, but as for my hometown, it's Ohara in Mimasaka Province. There's a temple there called Kenmitsu Temple. Sorry, I got off track again."
Musashi looked rather cheerful as she scratched her head sheepishly.
Was that a flaw of hers, or a virtue? In any case, her thoughts were always liable to jump all over the place.
"I came from Chaldea. Ah, if we're talking about where I'm from, then it's Tokyo. Though it should still be called Edo right now?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka tilted his head and scratched his chin.
"My surname is Miyamoto, and my given name is Musashi. My full formal name is a little longer, but for now, just calling me that is fine."
"As for me, Fujimaru Ritsuka will do."
Facing this little girl, who did not seem particularly shy around strangers, both of them showed her plenty of goodwill.
"Is this your little brother? He's so cute."
Musashi's attention shifted quickly.
"Wow, you're a female warrior!? And you're so pretty too!"
The girl looked thoroughly astonished.
Warriors were rare to begin with, let alone female warriors, and beautiful female warriors at that.
"Did you two come from Edo?"
Musashi was clearly someone who could not handle praise. The moment the girl called her pretty, she immediately blushed and began grinning foolishly.
"Hehehe, you think I'm pretty? You really know how to sweet-talk someone. Ritsuka, did you hear that? She said I'm pretty!"
"Miss Musashi, please mind yourself. You're practically drooling."
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked rather helpless.
"I'm just a little embarrassed, that's all. Anyway, thank you for