After a brief hesitation, Budō finally went inside and shut the door behind him.
"Well… I just wanted to ask, old man, you know, if there are still some jobs that need doing. The usual?" he asked hopefully.
"Aren't you already well-off now?" the old man grunted. "You already have two children in the Clan, right?"
"And haven't I been paying you well enough for sharing your knowledge on farming?" the old man added with another grunt.
Three years ago, the village had been in an uproar. For some reason, the Furutsu farm's dying fields had suddenly become vibrant and alive, while the surrounding fields remained mostly the same.
The superstitious types immediately cried persecution, claiming the family had cast some spell to siphon vitality from neighboring lands. Naturally, the blame fell on the child with black hair and black eyes.
Oya had been village chief for a long time. He wasn't about to start a witch hunt based on hearsay.
Villagers badmouthing one another was borderline acceptable, after all, they weren't his children. They can go fight all they want. But inciting riots was a different matter entirely.
Fortunately, he'd reached the Furutsu household and spoken to Budō before the idiots did, demanding an explanation.
Luckily, he had formed a bond with Budō, as he was the only one who would help in procuring medicine for his wife, and lately she even looks like she became younger!
...Maybe I should take some just incase something good happens to me too.
Thankfully, The family had shared their newfound farming techniques with the village. With a little nudge from the village chief, the other field owners followed their example.
After careful implementation, the results were undeniable. The very next year, the village became one of the food hubs along the outer ring of Sekigahara.
This was a big deal.
More food meant more trade.
More trade meant more people.
More people meant more martial artists guarding the land.
And more martial artists meant a safer environment.
So if anything, Oya owed Budō a great great deal. But he was just far too much of a tsundere to ever say it out loud.
"Well… you never know what the future will bring," Budō said, puffing up slightly. "Besides, I don't do much at home. Helping the village gives me purpose." He hesitated. "Also… the knowledge didn't really come from me."
"Hmmm. Right. A wandering trader sold you advanced farming knowledge," Oya said dryly.
"Ehem… yes. What a mysterious soul," Budō laughed nervously.
"Mysterious indeed!" Toyotomi suddenly chimed in with delight.
"What did this mysterious trader sell? Were there other mystical items? Secret techniques?" he asked, eyes sparkling like a dog begging for a treat.
The overwhelmed Budō smiled weakly. "Ah… well… it was only farming."
"I see…" Toyotomi said, visibly disappointed. Then he brightened. "Ah! My mistake—I haven't introduced myself."
He held out his hand. "I am Hideyoshi Toyotomi."
The flustered man shook it immediately. "Ah—Budō. Budō Furutsu."
At the sound of his name, Toyotomi's expression faltered for the briefest moment, so brief that no one seemed to notice.
Suddenly, Oya had an idea.
"Ah! Since you know each other now, Budō, why don't you guide Lord Toyotomi around the village while we prepare a feast in his honor?"
He glanced at the lord meaningfully. "You're also of marriageable age, my lord. Perhaps this is a good chance to meet Budō's last daughter still at home?"
Toyotomi laughed. "What? No, no. My purpose here is quite different," he assured Budō.
"I'm on a quest to find someone important to me."
"I understand," Budō said with a nod. "Come, let me show you around the village. I'll also invite you to our humble home later."
"That sounds nice."
Budō guided the young lord through the village.
There wasn't much to see, really, and the attention only made the villagers wary. Lately, more outsiders had been passing through... and not all of them were pleasant.
Speaking of unpleasant.
"Please let go of me, it hurts!" a woman cried out.
"Calm down. I'm not hurting you, peasant," a man replied, gripping her wrist and lifting her chin. "I just want to know your name."
He was average-looking, with a long axe on his back, clad in a gold-embroidered dougi and wearing a small crown, as if to loudly announce: I'm a noble.
"Fuck. Another bastard," Budō muttered. "He's from Kinzoku too…"
Suddenly, Budō froze.
It felt as if a powerful predator had appeared beside him.
He turned slowly and saw Lord Toyotomi, his face dark with fury, exuding a terrifying killing intent. Even Budō experience as a high-grade Martial Apprentice couldn't dull the fear crawling up his spine.
But before Toyotomi could even unwrap his weapon—
The noble's head snapped back violently. He froze, unconscious, releasing the woman as he fell.
"Stop rizzing my friend!" Mikan growled, landing another brutal uppercut with blinding speed that sent the noble flying into the rice fields.
"Sister… I told you that's not how you use that word..," Merun sighed, catching the shaken girl. "Well technically that's right? but the cringe pains me so much..."
"You okay, Yōfuku?" he asked gently.
The girl turned bright red, squealed, and ran away without a word.
…
"You have zero rizz," Mikan laughed.
Budō felt like his heart had been ripped straight out of his chest.
His jaw hung open.
OH MY MARTIAL SAGE.
MY DAUGHTER JUST ASSAULTED A NOBLE.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE! YES...
As Budō spiraled through every possible disastrous outcome—
"…Budō," Toyotomi said softly. "Are you familiar with that person?"
Budō snapped out of it. "Ah?! Y-yes, my lord. That was my daughter… Mikan."
After calming down, he froze again.
Toyotomi's handsome face was lit up with the biggest smile Budō had ever seen. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes practically shimmered with hearts.
…There's no way. Right?
"Uh… Lord Toyotomi?"
"Yes, father-in-law?" Toyotomi replied cheerfully.
"…"