???: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
???: "You're damn right you are! I told you not to contact me! Ever! I'm not going back, and your begging won't change my mind!"
Who's yelling over there? The second voice sounds like Irumina… but who's the other one?
Running back to the cart, Tatsu and Kori stumbled upon an odd situation.
Irumina: "Just leave already, you're making a scene."
???: "But the palace! We really need you back! His highness is incredibly worried! Can't you at least stop by for a moment, sister?"
Palace… his highness… worried… that's nice and all, but the real question is this person. she says she's Irumina's…
Tatsu: "Sister?"
Irumina: "Tatsu. You've returned"
Irumina nodded at Kori: "it's nice to see you've decided to continue traveling with us, Kori."
Kori: "Heh. You'd all fail spectacularly without me, so how could I just leave you? More importantly, who's the girl groveling in front of you? She looks like she's on the brink of tears."
Irumina sighed: "This is the crowned princess of the Ankoku empire. Meet Tamina Ankoku. Oh and, she also happens to be my sister."
Tatsu, Kori, and Jim all wore the same, confused expression.
Jim: "if she's your sister, and she's a princess, that'd make you… royalty! But nothing about you screams 'elegant' and you certainly don't speak like a noble-- Gak!"
Abruptly kicked in the side by Irumina, Jim crumpled to the floor and was removed from the conversation.
Tamina: "Though he spoke rather impolitely, he is right about Irumina being royalty. Did she not tell you?"
Tatsu shook his head: "no, she didn't even mention it once. Come to think of it, she's never said much about her family."
Tamina: "I see… pardon my asking, but are you… the mark on your face… is it--?"
Tatsu: "I'm an adventurer, this is a scar I got during training a while back. It looks like a thief class marking, I know, it's something I deal with a lot."
Tamina: "I understand. My deepest apologies."
Tatsu: "no sweat."
Tamina: "by the way, your name is quite unusual. Does it mean anything? Perhaps in another language or culture?"
That's a first. Up until now, no one had inquired about my name. Back when we were reviewing my old life, Zuriel said that some people had a name that they would go by for eternity, in other words, through every one of their lives, they had the same first name. In my previous life, I was named after my great grandfather, whose name meant "dragon-- something". I kinda forgot the exact meaning. But in this life, my name was like this for a somewhat peculiar reason.
Tamina: "So, you got your name from a sneeze?"
Tatsu: "yep."
One year after a child is born, their parents are required to have given the child a name. But an unfortunate accident had happened on the day of which my name was to be determined.
△▼△▼△▼△▼△
Nurse: "so, as required by law, I am here to register the name of your child for his national identification. On a personal note, make it quick I've got a date in half an hour"
Tatsu's Mother lazily held out the young child in her arms: "Dear, I don't wanna name it, would you do it for me?"
Tatsu's father: "Huh? Oh right. Umm…"
What to name the child? Should I give him my name? Nah, I don't want him worrying about measuring up to me when he gets older. Oh, that's it! I'll name him after his grandfather instead! He was a fairly easy going individual, so it shouldn't cause any issues. Yes, his name will be Tategaya Gildaroux!
Tatsu's father: "Alright, I've decided. My son's name shall be ta-- a-- ATCHOO!"
The nurse frantically scribbled something down: "understood, your son's name will be officially registered as 'Tatsu'. 'Good day', 'happy future' and all that crap. I'm leaving now."
Tatsu's father: "Wait, I misspoke! Could I--"
Though he said, but the nurse was out of the room before he could finish his sentence.
Later, Tatsu's father had stopped by the government office, but by then, the name had already been registered with the national records.
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Irumina: "bah-hah-hah-hah! That's the greatest damn story I've heard in a while!"
Tamina: "I'll admit, it is quite unusual."
Tatsu turned away, beet red from Irumina's reaction.
Kori: "so, back to the earlier discussion, Irumina. Royalty. To the giant castle full of riches?"
Tamina: "Your demi-human friend is right, Irumina. I didn't want to play this card, but…"
Pulling out a piece of parchment, Tamina's demeanor changed entirely.
Tamina: "Irumina Ankoku and company. By order of his majesty the king, I command that you make way to the central castle of the western capital of gallich. His majesty is waiting eagerly for your arrival, second princess."
Irumina: "I- you can't!- Very well, as you command, first princess."