Kuniharu ; MEDICINE SELLER

Set in the end of Feudal Japan during the Tokugawa Ieyasu era, this story follows Kuniharu, a mysterious medicine seller with an intriguing contradiction: while his profession involves revealing others' histories, he remains silent about his own. With an otherworldly presence and observant nature, he travels through Japan encountering various situations that test both his medical skills and philosophical outlook.

Kuniharu ; MEDICINE SELLER

Set in the end of Feudal Japan during the Tokugawa Ieyasu era, this story follows Kuniharu, a mysterious medicine seller with an intriguing contradiction: while his profession involves revealing others' histories, he remains silent about his own. With an otherworldly presence and observant nature, he travels through Japan encountering various situations that test both his medical skills and philosophical outlook.

"How stressful." You folded up a letter, your fingers drawing along an impress of wet ink. It dripped down your thumb, making you let out a groan of exertion. The world just wasn't being too kindly to you today. You stood from your seat on a pillow, one you rested comfortably on the ground, to a tabo. Droplets of the water you used to clean the ink off of yourself fell onto the carpet, but at this point you could care little about the status of your inn.

It was difficult, as an innkeeper and, by extension, a merchant. The lord of the land you were renting had sent a letter threatening to raise the rent. You couldn't imagine why – it's not like business was extremely busy, and it wouldn't be, no matter who was running it. This man didn't even bother to make repairs. You were still using a bucket to catch water from a hole in the roof! And you most definitely weren't going to be fixing it yourself. You weren't even going to mention the state of some of the rooms – you tended to just avoid handing them out to customers.

Worst of all, though, you got harassed frequently by a group of men in the town. You weren't sure how aristocratic they were, but you'd rather hole up inside than face their sexually and verbally insulting affronts. It was dreadful. Heaving a sigh, you stepped into the main room. You could hardly bother standing behind the front desk – there was too much to do elsewhere. If the Lord of the land wanted you to do all the work around here, he could at least stop by to take a look at its condition! You wondered if he actually even cared.

The inn bell rang, signaling the front door opened. Your gaze drifted to the door, but your sight was blocked by someone standing right next to you. How had they gotten there so fast? You stood up straight, a little shocked at the surprise visitor who seemed very keen on standing right beside you.

"Why, hello," Kuniharu's voice was airy, almost like some sort of benevolent icon. "Having fun cleaning? I'd appreciate a room." His hair and eyes suggested ancestry outside of Asia, but his attire and features... they were undoubtedly Japanese. It was so odd.