"Today is the day!"
In 3 days, Yoichi did the same thing over and over. Sleep, Wake Up, Go Inside, Sleep, Thrown Out, Hunt Food, Sleep. Typical days of an unemployed.
"Nobara-san! Good morning!" Yoichi greeted the usual silhouette of a beautiful lady dressed in a white kimono with intricate designs.
"Yoichi, I am so sorry for being late!" Nobara's particular dress made her look so attractive, running with her wooden sandals in a hurry.
"No, it's perfectly fine. Shall we go now?" Yoichi held her hand and gently helped her stand up properly.
"Mhm!" Nobara hummed and smiled at him, holding his hand even more tightly.
She didn't dislike his touch and his golden eyes made him so stunning in her mind. However, his clothes were not that great but she didn't mind it.
"Nobara-san, I will be reminding you that I will not be with you inside of the carriage..." Walking with her dainty hands, Yoichi looked at her side profile.
"!!!—Can ask you why?" Nobara's reluctant stare at him.
"Because I have another curse regarding transportation... I know you will worry about me but don't worry, I have you." Suddenly stopped, Yoichi cupped her cheeks and looked at her eyes.
"What do you mean by 'I have you'?" Nobara turned away and hid her blushing face.
'You—you are too smooth when you talk, Yoichi-san!'
"Of course, I have your help. Ooohhh, Nobara-san misunderstood what I was saying..." Yoichi smirked, deliberately dropping his love.
After that, Nobara ran away with Yoichi into the middle of the street. He shook his head and followed her while Nobara's reddened face gradually steadied down and giggled at the issue.
Arrived at the designated place, Yoichi and Nobara scanned the bustling situation. Many elite guards and warriors were constantly looking for any possible threat while the merchants and other art connoisseurs went in their lavish carriages.
"Hey, what is this brat doing here?" a commanding voice rang inside the carriage, a cold and frowning face glared at Yoichi and Nobara holding hands.
"Oi Yasuhiro! Do you think you can order me like that? HUH?!" A thuggish voice from Nobara made Yoichi look at her with blinking eyes.
'So her behavior when in love was just like with me but Nobara's attitude inside her clan was a bit...daunting if you ask my opinion.'
"You, get back inside the carriage! We will have some serious talks! Yoichi-san, please wait for a bit alright?" Nobara's temperament became the polar opposite when smiling at Yoichi and a fierce glare from the now shivering man inside.
Yoichi chose to shut up and nod.
Nobara's smiling face became demonic once she came inside the carriage as the comedic show of the shaking and booming carriage made the audience feel the chill and go their way to the jobs.
"Pssst, young man! I admire your bravery in courting the "Two-faced Princess" of the Kugisaki Clan!" a samurai not far away from him gave Yoichi a thumbs up.
"Hehehe... I am sorry, sir. But I am just friends with her and I am very grateful for her huge help!" Yoichi humbly replied and awkwardly scratched his head.
To understand the world, understand the people. Yoichi's motto in life didn't fail him a single bit. Although he was a cosmic entity, a bit of admiration breeds respect. If someone disrespected him, then the story goes backward.
"Come on, young man. I have through my life and you holding hands with her was admiring from the start! Keep it up, young man!" the soldier hung his arm around his shoulder and patted him, leaving Yoichi in a good mood.
'What a good man. Well then, I will protect you in this escort mission with my focus.'
"Thank you, sir!" Yoichi bowed in respect while the soldier waved his hands and went on his way to his respective post.
"Attention, everyone! My name is Hatsumasa Ryuuji and I am the assigned leader for the escort mission. For those who are new here, there are certain rules we need to enforce here. Those who violate the said rules will be punished or worse, thrown off the middle of nowhere!" The leader Ryuuji loudly declared.
The merchants and artists ignored his commands and enjoyed the carriage with women and wine in their hands. The other people including Yoichi nodded their heads, understanding the situation.
"Patrol guards! Go with your respective position! We will now begin our march!" Ryuuji's stern voice chimed as the carriages with horses slowly began to move.
After a few minutes, Sentomaru Town was out of sight but the opportunities for adventure and thrill made Yoichi brimming with joy.
The march was pretty fast due to countless carriages and transport vehicles behind them. One disturbance would leave a huge amount of traffic.
The patrol guards frequently alerted, darting for any disruptors nearby.
Yoichi slowly timed the rhythm with Nobara's carriage near the side of the paved road.
"Yoichi-san, are you alright?" Nobara's head peeked outside the window and worriedly asked him.
"I am fine with this. Remember, I am strong!" Yoichi puffed his chest upward, confident about his endurance.
"Pfft! Hahaha, you are such a joker!" Nobara giggled at his childish action.
"Go back inside now, the blazing sunlight will destroy your beautiful skin," Yoichi smirked with care and love in his eyes.
"Mmhhm, I will talk later!" Blushing, Nobara went back inside and sat down with her heart beating so fast.
After 4 hours of marching, the group stopped for an early lunch and made some food for their patrol guards. Now, the group was inside a vast forest near the river. With plenty of resources nearby, Yoichi hunted 2 big rabbits to cook, a nature's blessing for Nobara and the bullied man.
"Nobara-san, let's eat! The grilled meat of this rabbit is gonna be delicious." Yoichi sat down and called her, serving the food with leaves as a plate.
"Go on, introduce yourself." Nobara forcibly patted the man's back, stepping forward with her force.
"Nice to meet you, Yoichi-san. My name is Yasuhiro Nobara and I am a cousin of this gor—girl!" The man almost blurted 'gorilla' right in front of her.
'Looks like this kid needs some tweaking!'
"What did you say, huh? Can you please continue the second sentence?" Nobara's fierce glare was like a beast playing with her prey.
"Please sit down, Yasuhiro-san. Nobara-saaan~ you are frowning again! Please, stop furrowing your eyebrows in the future, okay?" Yoichi stood up and massaged her forehead with concern.
"Mhm." Nobara's heart furiously beat faster and peeked at Yoichi's worried expression as the massage was soothing, nourishing the pores.
'What the hell? This—this gorilla has an expression like that?!'
At a close distance, Yasuhiro was completely stunned at the sight of them. The affection between the two simmered than the grilled rabbits.
"Come on, sit down. Don't frown always, okay? At least try to be conscious." Yoichi kissed her forehead and sat down with Nobara, who was rubbing her forehead with a blissful expression.
"I will try my best, Yoichi." Nobara gently smiled at him, utterly fallen in his affectionate gaze.
'Pleasantries were out of the way!'
"Please take your portion, Nobara... And also Yasuhiro-san, here!" Yoichi gave the part of the grilled meat and munched the food in relish.
"Thank you so much, Yoichi. Oi! Wake up, you want to lose your food?" Nobara nudged the mind-blown Yasuhiro, who gradually regained his sanity and oddly looked at Nobara.
The popped-out veins of Nobara in her forehead almost make her go sicko mode but Yoichi patted her hand and gently smiled at her.
"Wow, so delicious!" In a fit of anger, Nobara ate the food as a euphoric sensation swept away her negative thoughts into eating the divine blessings.
'He can also cook? Yoichi was so capable! If he was the one who was sent by the heavens, I will take him!'
Nobara surrendered to her fate. Life is short and there will never be like him for eternity. If there are many people capable, and handsome like Yoichi, then they all fade away back to heaven.
And becoming an arranged wife for somebody else was not Nobara's thing. Sure, Yoichi was poor but due to his curse, these delusional artists and the son of the rich merchant don't hold a candle to Yoichi's formidable aura.
So why not take the blessing and be his sugar mommy?
'If Maki-senpai is here, she will be proud!'
After eating, the escort group went to leave the forest since it was commonly used as a place for ambushing and kidnapping reasons. The patrols grew even more focused than earlier while Yoichi was walking in the line as Nobara peeked through the windows and looked at him with love.
'There are enemies nearby, approximately 100 unknown people with malice in the northeast and southwest... No innocent people here, let me create an overall impression.'
"Everyone, be alert! There are 50 enemies in the northeast, right there in the mounds! 50 enemies are also in the southwest downstream of the river!"
His strength and authority in each word rang as the guards became tense while unknown assailants gritted their teeth and charged for the carriages.
"ATTACK!"
"LEADER, ENEMIES INCOMING!"