114 5.3 What Do You Want To Be, Himura?

We walked along the beaten path, not meeting another soul or beasts along the way. The sun was already high in the sky before we decided to take a short break for lunch. It was the humble onigiri and a piece of roasted fish that they had caught the night before.

As we were walking the stream, we had a constant supply of fresh water. With the spare wood on the back on one of the pony, we made a fire quickly and boiled some water that was collected from the stream.

We had hot green tea afterwards. Several patches of snow had started to melt on some parts of the land, drips of clear water were seen cascading off from the tall grasses near the stream. It seems the end of winter is coming soon and welcoming the new season in a month or two.

After we had our fill, we broke camp again and this time I decided to ride along with Hiko-sama as I was feeling a bit tired walking on my two rather short legs for quite a distance. In fact, we had covered almost 20 or more kilometres since we had left during the break of dawn.

"So you had decided to ride with me then? You made friends already with Kami-sama and Hide-sama?"

Hiko-sama laughed at me while I just plainly nodded. I was wondering how the 2 samurai that I had talked to was on foot. Maybe they prefer to be on foot or simply had lost their mounts somewhere. However it is, it is good to know that these samurai were friendly enough and not like those mysterious Shinobi or Ninjas who were forever masked with an aura of murderous intent.

Yup, Ninjas that don't have a name or identity, moving in the shadows and ready to strike at a moments notice. Deadly at long or short range but with little or no armour at all. Stealth and surprise attack was their main forte. However, a Samurai was sort of an all-rounder which I soon felt that learning from these martial artists would prove to be beneficial in the long run.

I wished to take up a kind of residency or shelter in the village that was pointed earlier by Hiko-sama, and with the skill sets that I had attained in the past Leaps, as well as the skills that had been bestowed in this body of mine right now, I hope I would be of service in the next village.

"Hiko-sama, could you tell me more about your village in detail? Is there an orphanage for children like me?" I asked him as I looked back and glanced at his masked face.

"Ah, my village is a small one. The total population was around 10,000 people and comprises a ratio of 35:35:25:5 of men, women, children and babies. You understand about ratio, right?"

"Yes Hiko-sama, I learnt about ratio and understand them well. So what is the main occupation and trade over in your village?"

Hiko-sama looked at me and started to wonder if he was conversing with an 11-year-old kid or a 21-year-old young man. Through his mask, he was wondering deep within the back of his mind about me.

"The occupations over there were as follow farming, foraging, blacksmithing, logging, woodcutter, livestock herding, rock mining, coal mining, metal ore, copper and tin mining, hunting, fishery, weaving, pottery, stonemason, herbal shop, tannery and a clothes shop. I think there's more but you can find out about it in the business or trade district. We have several districts divided in the village, as mentioned the trade district, business district, housing district as well as governmental District."

"Wow, a small populated village with an enormous array of trades available. I would be able to get a job there easily or I could open up a trade when the time comes. Even though its a mouthful to chew right now with the information given, at least I have a rough idea of this village. With the current population, it should be called a town instead." I thought to myself as I listen to Hiko-sama narrates about his village.

"There are a few temples there for worshipping, three junior schools and a high school. Everyone had compulsory education there to learn how to read and write and do simple calculations. A governmental office stands in the middle of the village."

"Could I attend school there and is there any entrance fee or exams to determine one's knowledge?"

"Education is free there. And maybe there is an examination to test one's capability and to suit which class they should be in upon admission. Are you interested to go to school? You are self-taught at home, right?"

"Yes, I am self-taught at home. And yes, I am interested to go to school and mix with the rest of my peers. But Hiko-sama, I am a nobody and I don't even have a copper coin with me. This Mr Director is stingy and did not even supply me with some coins to start my life anew."

"Don't worry about money, I am sure you could survive without any at this moment. Why do you need coins for?"

"I am used to have money with me, Hiko-sama. With money, it gives one a sense of security and without money, it just despairs me a lot."

"Hmm, you talk as if I am talking to an adult instead of an 11-year-old kid. I have decided to take you into my household before this. I am a single man and even if I have a girlfriend right now, my duty to the Emperor take the first priority. You understand that, right?"

"I am 11 years old kid, but I have vast experiences as any of you. I can't reveal much right now because no one will believe me. But as soon as time passes by, I am sure one day you'd understand. Thank you for having the kind thoughts of taking me in your household. Don't worry, I would make the best of it, I promise."

I replied as I smiled broadly at his masked face. At least now I have a shelter and the next thing would be survival as well as making use of my time to cultivate as much as I could in this era and this especially young and active body.

The sun was almost reaching the horizon and we decided to make camp. I noticed there are some trees in the distance which bears fruit even in the winter. With its barren branches and clumps of fruits hanging from them, I knew that I would not mistake them as I searched my memories.

I asked permission from Hiko-sama to venture out since there's some daylight left and promised to promptly return. He waved me off and I jumped off his mount and scurried away to the trees in the distance. Using my Third Eye, I sensed there was no enemies or wild beasts around me. As soon as I reached the trees that I saw in a distant, my lips smacked in ecstasy.

Orange in colour and shaped slightly off round, these fruits were native in Japan. They're Japanese Persimmons or simply called Kaki. It's a wonder to find these hanging on barren branches as these trees bear fruits throughout autumn and winter. Eaten raw, these fruits can be eaten whole and had little hard flat seeds in them. The skin was hard to protect the juicy and sweet insides.

I made several twines and stretched them along with two pieces of wood. Then I made another few more twines and interlaced them to make some sort of netting. I climbed the tree and took those fruits that were dark orange in colour which means that it was ripe for the picking.

After gathering about a dozen or more fruits I jumped from the tree, gathered up the fallen fruits and placed them into my makeshift basket and lugged them over to the group of samurai.

By this time, they had made a small fire and heated some water. As I walking near the group, they noticed that I had picked Kaki, a fruit that would quench both thirst and hunger. I placed the fruits before them and invited them to take a few.

"You really have an eye for things, kid. You really can survive in the wild for sure." Kami-sama who was cold towards me since the night before spoke up and was a little soft on his attitude towards me. It seemed that anything good I'd do for the Samurai, they'd return it 10 times to me. However, if I were to do bad 1 time to them, definitely the returns would be 10 times more!

"You do have an eye for things like this, kid. I like it very much. Survivability in the wild means you are able to forage for food and make use of its environment effectively. If only you could wield a weapon then it would be greater and join the ranks of the samurai when you come out of age."

The man who spoke this was Miroku-sama. I simply smiled and nodded towards him for I knew I would not be a samurai like them in years to come but a lone swordsman instead.

I took 3 persimmons and gave 2 to Hiko-sama, which he took it after running it with his unarmoured part of his uniform and took a bite. The Sweet and luscious fruit within made him smile as he too rarely enjoys such simple pleasures during his expeditions and mainly relies on his rations instead.

"Is your house sitting on a plot of land, Hiko-sama?" I asked since I knew every samurai would bestow a piece of land where he could build his house on it.

"Yes, it's a 100 metres square foot of land. I have not much of it right now and it's gathering grass as we speak. Why? You intend to cultivate the small piece of land?"

He asked while looking at me with a twinkle in his eyes. He knew that piece of land even those it's barren at the moment, would be able to yield some vegetables if it is being tended well.

"Yes, Hiko-sama, if you won't mind I'd like to see how large the land is and cultivate to good use. I see what is common and uncommon in the village and gather up some seeds from the vendor if they carry any."

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"Sure, there's a farming section and I am sure they carry all kinds of seeds there. If they require money to purchase I'd gladly pass you some to start with. However, we'll wait till we reach there, ok? I don't want you to be so worked up and then feel disappointed when you look at the piece of land behind the house, later. "

"OK, should not be an issue for me." I smiled as I bit into the skin of the persimmons.

With so many trades and professions in the village up ahead, there would be limitless opportunities to make money, even though it may need to be earned through sweat and tears. Definitely not blood as it would be the essence of one's vitality. Even though the reap would be small, I am sure it would amount to quite a considerable amount to those who were paying. Nevertheless, its a start of something new so I don't think I would fret over it, especially in the body of an 11-year-old kid.

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"You have been thinking of how to earn money as soon as you set foot in the village right? Don't worry, there's a lot of opportunities for you. If you have a strong body and full of boundless energy, I am sure you would be able to multitask!"

"Hiko-sama, you seemed to understand what I have in mind and of course I would like to share with you with whatever I have. Furthermore, you brought up about me being an experienced person way ahead of my age, there will be a time when I let you on a secret."

"Haa...haa...haa...you speak as though I am speaking to a young man and not to a kid anymore. You have deep insights and I know you would go far in your life no matter how you sculpt it."

"Thank you Hiko-sama, I am truly honored of you to think highly of me even though you had known a bit of me during these 3 days. I am sure we could learn from each other in the near future."

"Sure...sure... Why not. Knowledge comes from all kinds of people with all kinds of exposure. I wouldn't mind to learn a thing or two from you, just let me know what you need in the future, ok?"

"Thank you again, Hiko-sama. I truly appreciate it. By the way, is that the village you were talking about?"

"Hmm.. Hmm.. That's right, it's my village and soon it will become yours too."