Soon, the group reaches the shore.
"We are finally on the land!" The sailors frantically dash towards the shore and kiss the sand with tears in their eyes.
Hoshi and Kei also take a deep breath.
"The land sure smells refreshing after spending a long time in the sea." Kei stretches his sore muscles. He turns towards the rest of the sailors.
"All right boys, get back to the work. We have lots of things to do." He points towards the gigantic corpse of the sea monster.
"Yes, boss!" The crew members turn to the remains of the sea monster with sparkling eyes.
"Hehe… after this, I can marry my childhood friend." One of the sailors sharpens his butcher knife.
"Oi Asuga, what's with that pervy smile? Are you still fantasizing about that girl whose father beat you to a pull for uselessness?" Another sailor mocks him with a smirk.
"Tch… Mitsu, at least I have a girl, but what about you? You are still a virgin at your age." Asuga retorts.
Pffft… Haha…
The rest of the sailor bursts out in laughter. Mitsu's face turns red in embarrassment.
"I am not a virgin, not anymore!" He proudly declares.
"Oh, so you made love with some old hag in your dreams?" Another sailor burst his fantasy bubble.
"You… you guys!" Mitsu points towards his friends with trembling fingers.
Ahem…
Kei clears his throat.
"Don't waste your time by idle chit-chat. We still have lots of work to do." He rebukes them.
"Yes… yes, captain!" The sailors quickly disperse and engage in their work.
"Tha… thank you, captain, for your help!" Mitsu thanks Kei with heartfelt gratitude.
"Umm… don't mind it. You are a part of my crew. Also, if you need with your… umm… I mean, if you are still looking for a girl, then I can arrange one for you. Though she might be slightly older in age." Kei attempts to console Mitsu.
"Not you too, Captain!" Tears flow from Mitsu's eyes.
"Alright… alright! I was pulling your leg." Kei wipes a fake tear from his eye.
"Still, you can consider my earlier offer."
"Grr… I hate you, Captain!"
Haha…
Kei leaves him alone.
Meanwhile, Hoshi escorts Izuna to the town.
There is a festive atmosphere in the town. The townsmen are decorating the streets with vim and vigor. Many kids are roaming the streets with various fish masks. The essence of the festive mood permeates the air.
Many hawkers and vendors are selling goods related to the Sea Lord. Some of them are selling colorful sea shells, others are selling wooden carvings of the sea fishes. There are a few shady ones who are selling fake charms.
The joyous mood of the people alleviates some tension in Izuna's heart.
'Perhaps it wasn't a bad idea to relax and enjoy this festive gathering.'
Izuna takes a stroll across the streets of the coastal town while enjoying several local delicacies.
"Mmm… not bad. The food is quite appetizing, with a unique flavor. Even their cooking method and spices are different from the shinobi world. This sure is a pleasant culinary experience." He savors the taste of various seafood unique to Redaku.
"Everyone gather at the town square; the sea lord play is about to start."
This announcement sends an adrenaline rush through the entire townsfolk. All of them leave their current work and swiftly rush towards the town square.
At the town square, a group of performers gathers on a stage to perform a play.
"It's time for that event again!" Hoshi stares at the group of people rushing toward the town square.
"What event?!" Izuna curiously enquires.
"Every year the Shirodo (Sea Lord) Festival is held during the Minazuki period. The festival will last for seven days and each day there will be a play depicting the entire story of the brave hero and the Sea Lord. On the seventh and the final day, a parade of illuminated boats will be held to commemorate the ending of the festival." Hoshi explains with enthusiasm.
"Lord Izuna, I am sure you will like it." He gestures towards the town square.
"That sounds interesting. Maybe I will also take a look at their performance." Izuna curiously stares at the outfits of the performers from a distance.
'Some of their clothes are from the Warring Era period.'
Soon, almost the entire town gathers at the square. With the beatings of a Taiko drum and the plucking of a Koto string, the play starts.
[In the far corners of the northern land, once there…]
The vibrant and magical acting and the melody of the instruments stirred the emotions of the audience. The delightful performance captivates the souls of the spectators. Like a fleeting moment, the ephemeral play finally came to an end.
The performers silently left the square, leaving behind a spellbound audience immersed in the narrative of the play.
A few moments later, hustle-bustle returned to the town square as the people fanatically discussed the story with enthusiasm.
"The quality of the play was much better than the previous year. I couldn't even take my eyes off the stage for a moment."
"Yes, the music was so enchanting and soothing that for a moment I felt like I shattered all my shackles as I stepped out of my cage and soared into the sky."
"How was it, Lord Izuna?!" Hoshi slowly opens his eyes and turns to Izuna.
"It was a very fascinating play. I really enjoyed it a lot." Izuna replies as he glances at the retreating figures of the performers.
"Now, I can't wait for the next day." An erratic smile emerges on his face.
"Yes, Izuna-sama!" Hoshi agrees with him.
"So, are there any inns nearby?" Izuna enquires.
"Of course! Of course! I will lead you to the best inn in the town. The owner is an old friend of mine, so there won't be any problems." Hoshi smiles as he leads the way.
A few minutes later,
"Ah!"
Izuna's face twitches slightly as he stares at the entrance of the inn Hoshi introduced to him.
"Lord Izuna, despite its looks and surroundings, this place is the best inn in the town and boasts a premium customer experience."
"I can attest to their services." Kei, the ship's captain, walks out of the inn. He waves at the group with a wide smile on his face.
"Best service, my ass! Isn't this place a love hotel, and this place is the red-light district of the town? Or do you think I am as blind as a bat and can't see the so-called classiness of this place?" Izuna retorts with an angry expression.
"You better take me to a different place or else…" Izuna turns around to leave.
"Please wait, Lord Izuna!" Hoshi hastily stops him.
"Love hotel is just a small part of our business. The needs and preferences of the customers are always our priority. We aim to serve our customers in all aspects." A middle-aged lady walks out of the hotel.
The newcomer has shoulder-length red hair and brown eyes. She is clad in a purple kimono with floral patterns and wears traditional footwear.
"So, you are the owner?" Izuna inspects the lady with an intriguing look.
'Hmm… things are getting pretty interesting.' A faint smile on Izuna's face.
'What was that?' The middle-aged lady looks around in confusion.
"It has been a while, Lady Himari." Hoshi politely bows to her. He points towards Izuna and introduces him.
"Lady Himari, this young man is Lord Izuna. He is our savior and a shinobi from legends. He fought against a giant sea eel monster and disposed of it with ease."
"Oh?" Lady Himari raises an eyebrow and takes a second glance at Izuna.
'So, that feeling earlier it must be him. Did he find out my secret?' A smile appears on Lady Himari's face as she welcomes Izuna, while numerous thoughts rush across her head.
'It would be bad if he finds out our secret. I have to keep a close eye on him.'
"You don't have to worry, Lord Izuna. Besides, the love hotel; we are also a properly functioning inn with all necessary facilities." She assures him with a smile.
"So, how long does Lord Izuna plan to stay in the town?" She enquires.
"I am not sure of the duration, but at the very least I plan to attend the Shirodo festival," Izuna replies to her with a smile.
'I can't read him at all.' Himari has a wry smile on her face.
'Even if he is a shinobi, I don't want him to mess up our plans. The appearance of one at such a time spells nothing but trouble for us.' Himari leads him inside the hotel.
She hands over the keys to one of the most luxurious rooms to Izuna.
"We have prepared one of our finest rooms for your service. I hope sir 'Shinobi' will enjoy his stay in our humble place."
Izuna rolls his eyes.
'Isn't I because you want to monitor me since you seem to be hiding some secrets? Anyway, I will entertain you folks. This place seems to be more amusing than I initially assumed it to be.'
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A/N:- My new Naruto fan-fic, 'The Rogue Demon of the Shinobi World' is out.
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