In Japan, the term "kuni" (province or country) is actually a rather underwhelming designation.
After all, Japan as a whole is only so big. Before full unification, this small region was always divided into numerous tiny areas called "kuni"—for example, Shimousa Province, which spanned northern Chiba Prefecture, southwestern Ibaraki Prefecture, eastern Saitama Prefecture, and eastern Tokyo in the future.
Clearly, it wasn't large.
And now, Naoki and Musashi had left the capital of Shimousa Province and arrived at a grassland outside the city. Aside from the capital, most of Shimousa Province consisted of fields, forests, and scattered large and small villages. This was actually true worldwide.
"Hey, Naoki, do we really have to go out when it's already this dark?" Musashi asked, walking behind Naoki.
"It's not safe to go out at night."
"Why? Scared of running into something weird in the dark?" Naoki turned and laughed. "The famous swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi is afraid of something? Bugs? Or ghosts?"
It was night, not day. Ghosts and spirits that wouldn't appear under sunlight would emerge at night with strong yin energy. It wasn't impossible to encounter ghosts at this hour.
Laughing awkwardly, Musashi gave a bitter smile: "Well… sort of. It's not that I'm really scared—it's just that ghosts are a pain because you can't cut them with a sword."
"As long as it's something that can be killed with a blade, I'm not too afraid. But the opposite—things that can't be cut…"
Ghosts were formless existences. Even if sliced with a sword, they'd just reform and regenerate. Though Musashi had activated her Heaven Eye and her combat skills rivaled a Servant's, she still struggled with this.
Despite wandering through so many worlds, it was surprising she hadn't figured out a way to kill ghosts.
"It's just that your swords aren't good enough." Naoki said. "I'm not a blacksmith or a master swordsman. I won't comment on the craftsmanship of your blades—but from a Magecraft… uh, or Jutsu perspective, those swords are scrap metal."
The two swords Musashi had been using were at least up to standard in terms of forging. Killing humans or cutting physical objects was easy.
But that was something any sword could do. They were just very ordinary blades, with no Mystery whatsoever.
"If you want to kill ghosts, I'll reinforce your swords later and add some Magecraft that can harm spiritual entities."
"Eh? Magecraft? So Naoki, you're a Magus?"
Musashi was slightly surprised.
They'd been traveling together for over a month. During that time, no battles had occurred. Even if there were, both could resolve them quickly. Naoki hadn't needed to use supernatural power at all. Thus, Musashi had no idea about his various abilities.
"Hiding it from me this whole time is really unfair."
"I didn't mean to hide it. It just didn't come up. If there's a situation later where I need Magecraft, I'll use it."
Musashi grinned: "Hmm~~~ By the way, what kind of Jutsu do you know, Naoki? Shikigami? Or chanting Kyūkyū Nyoritsuryō with talismans to summon water and fire?"
"Have you met an Onmyōji before?"
"Uh, I'm not sure if it was an Onmyōji—I just met someone who did stuff like that."
"I can do everything you mentioned, though the method's different." Naoki said, using Summoning Magecraft to ignite a flame in his hand. "Fairies… and for now, Star Spirits too, I guess? These are Shikigami I can command. And besides summoning water and fire, I can conjure all sorts of things from thin air, fly through the sky, and teleport instantly from one place to another."
As he spoke, Naoki was already floating three or four meters in the air. In Musashi's eyes, he vanished from the air—then reappeared behind her, blowing on her neck.
"KYAA~~~~~"
Musashi quickly covered her neck, face red, and jumped several steps forward: "Ugh… You really startled me, Naoki! You know so many Jutsu—by the way, if you can fly, can't you just carry me and fly us straight to our destination?"
"If it was just me, of course I'd fly there. I'd even hide myself so no one sees. But the problem is you." Naoki pointed at Musashi's stomach. "You eat so much and still refuse to move. Do you want to turn into a pig?"
"GUK—"
That one sentence shut down all of Musashi's thoughts.
True, Musashi wasn't a Servant—she was a living human, and a girl who cared deeply about her figure. If she got fat…
"T-that can't be helped! Who told you to cook so well! Isn't it a waste not to finish it?"
"That's your excuse for eating most of the food and leaving me barely any?" Naoki raised his fist and bonked Musashi's head hard. "From now on, you're limited to two bowls of rice per meal."
"O-okay…"
Fearing Naoki's fist, Musashi could only relent and nod for now. But she wasn't actually worried about being restricted to two bowls in the future. In one month, she'd more or less figured Naoki out—he couldn't say no to women's requests. As long as she begged nicely, he'd definitely give in!
(Just act cute later, and I can keep eating happily! Musashi is a genius! Hehehe~~~ Naoki's cooking, Naoki's cooking…)
Musashi truly looked like her stomach had been captured by Naoki—becoming a prisoner of someone's culinary skill.
And as she thought this—
A slightly cold wind suddenly blew from ahead, carrying the scent of burnt things.
The laughter on both Naoki and Musashi's faces vanished instantly. After exchanging a glance, they quickened their pace and followed the smell to its source.
"This…!"
Seeing the scene before her, Musashi froze in place.
What lay ahead was a completely burned grassland. Though not clearly visible in the dark of night, with faint moonlight, they could still make it out.
The area before them—this should have been a village, now completely incinerated.