Chapter 3


"I feel like this could go horribly wrong," I said as we walked slowly towards the gate with our hands raised so the locals could see we meant no harm.

At my side, Okunami chuckled, her voice a deep rumble. "Things hardly tend to go as we first envision them, worrying about it won't change the outcome."

The massive wooden flip-up gate of Irontown loomed before us, its surface weathered and scarred from all the time it likely spent standing sentinel between the inhabitants and the world outside the walls.

"Halt, who goes there!" One of the men on watch on top of the palisade yelled down at us.

"My name is Okunami, and this is my traveling companion," she called back, her booming voice easily carrying to the guards above. "We seek shelter and perhaps work!"

I kept my eyes forward, trying to appear non-threatening while still taking in every detail. The walls were impressive—constructed from massive timber logs sharpened at the top and bound together with iron bands. Even in the dim pre-dawn light, I could see the craftsmanship.

"An oni?" the guard's voice carried a note of surprise. "And who is the man who stands beside you?"

Nakki pressed against my leg, doing his best to be supportive as I looked up at the guard.

"I am Mikko! I'm a man of many talents, I can read and write, but I mainly apply my trade as a huntsman these days!" I introduced myself with what I hoped was just enough information to get their interest but not too much so as to not seem boastful or overwhelm them with information.

The guard leaned forward, squinting down at us with obvious suspicion. I couldn't blame him—dawn was barely breaking, and we made for an unusual sight: a man in odd clothing, an oni woman, and a dog that looked almost, but not quite, like the local Shiba Inus.

"A huntsman, you say?" The guard's voice carried a mixture of interest and doubt. "What manner of huntsman travels with an oni?"

"The kind who values skilled companions," I replied evenly, keeping my rifle carefully angled downward. "We've traveled far through the mountains and are tired from the journey. Please, let us in so we can rest."

There was a moment of tense silence. Nakki's ears twitched forward, sensing my unease. I could feel his warmth against my leg, a small comfort in this strange standoff.

"Wait there," the guard finally called down. I heard muffled voices as he conferred with someone else on the walkway.

Okunami shifted her weight, the straw hat tilted to better hide her horns. "They don't say it out loud, but they're clearly just as curious about you as me," she whispered, her grin audible in her voice. "Not many foreigners who come from as far away as you do."

"I'm more worried about what they think of you given the picture you've given me about your kind's reputation and treatment by the population at large." I replied with tension clear in my tone.

"Worry not about what you can't control, whatever happens next is out of our hands. All we can do is deal with the consequences." She said, echoing her earlier sentiment.

I couldn't argue with Okunami's philosophy, though it did little to calm my nerves.


After what felt like an eternity, the front gate slowly swung upwards.

On the other side stood a woman dressed in clothing similar to Okunami but clearly of higher quality materials. The fabric seems to be pleated or folded in some way near the waist, giving it an elegant and structured look. It's not exactly like modern clothing—it has this traditional, almost ceremonial vibe to it. The color is really striking too; deep, rich, and kind of regal, like a bold wine red that's decorated with yellow fan patterns. I can imagine someone wearing it while performing something formal or artistic—maybe during a dance or ritual funny enough.

She is flanked by a bald brute of a man and surrounded by guards carrying a mixture of polearms and what looked to be early firearms.

"I've been told that at least one of you is a learned individual." She spoke to us in a calm manner.

I studied the woman carefully, noting her authoritative stance. The fine clothing she wore marked her as someone of importance, and the way the guards positioned themselves around her spoke volumes about her status.

There was a similar feeling of familiarity when I looked at her as to when Okunami had mentioned the name of Irontown. It was kind of unsettling, but now was not the time to ponder on the matter, she expected an answer.

"I am," I replied, keeping my voice steady despite the tension coiling in my gut. "I was a teacher before I became a huntsman, I know my way around letters and numbers as well as a variety of different subjects."

"Truly?" The woman's eyebrows arched with interest. "Regular poachers are a dime a dozen, but a huntsman that is skilled in his craft and also educated is a rare find indeed in these parts." She stepped forward, appraising me with keen eyes that missed nothing. "I am Lady Eboshi, mistress of Irontown. And you are?"

"Okunami, Eboshi-sama." Okunami said while bowing.

"Mikko Korhonen." I said, offering my hand for a shake, only for Eboshi to arch an eyebrow curiously at the gesture and everyone else to look at me with confusion, which caused me to be confused as well.

Did… people not greet by handshake here?

I quickly withdrew my hand, feeling my face grow warm with embarrassment.

"My apologies," I said, following Okunami's example and inclining my head in what I hoped was a respectful manner. "The customs of my homeland are a bit different, it is what I default to."

Lady Eboshi regarded me with renewed interest, her sharp eyes taking in every detail of my appearance. "Indeed. And where might this homeland be, Mikko-san? I must admit that your naming style and manner of speech are unfamiliar to me."

I hesitated, weighing my response carefully.

"Quite far away, I'm afraid. Certainly farther than anyone in Nihon has been to."

"From across the western sea, perhaps?" Lady Eboshi's gaze was penetrating, as if she could extract the truth through sheer force of will. "We occasionally see traders from the mainland, though none with your... particular features."

"Even further," I replied vaguely, unwilling to elaborate on geography that likely wouldn't make sense to anyone here. "It is a land of pine forests, lakes and tundra far to the north-west of here."

Nakki pressed against my leg, seeming to sense my discomfort. His presence was reassuring—at least one thing in this world remained constant and familiar.

Eboshi's attention shifted to Okunami next.

"And what about you, oni? What do you seek to find in Irontown, and what can you offer to it in return?"

Okunami straightened to her full impressive height, though she kept her posture just short of threatening. "I… merely seek food and shelter, and I offer strong arms and a stronger back in return, Eboshi-sama. I can carry what ten men struggle with and work tirelessly."

Lady Eboshi's expression remained carefully neutral, but I noticed a flicker of interest in her eyes before she nodded. "The forges can always use more capable hands, consider me interested."

The bald man at her side leaned in to whisper something, his voice low enough that I didn't quite catch what he said to Eboshi.

Eboshi nodded slightly at whatever her companion had whispered, then turned back to us.

"Hmm… Gonza advises caution," She said, her eyes never leaving us. "He reminds me that oni, similar to other beasts are known for their trickery and that foreigners often bring foreign troubles with them."

My heart sank for a moment, thinking that this was the moment she'd tell us to turn around and go back the way we came.

"However, I believe in judging a person by their words and actions rather than who or what they are." She said before gesturing toward the interior of Irontown. "Come, dawn approaches, and this conversation is better continued inside our walls rather than out here."

I sighed in relief, and both Okunami and I fell in behind Eboshi and her bodyguard, everyone else seemingly returning to their regular duties.

As we passed through the massive gate, I felt the weight of dozens of curious stares. The people of Irontown were already stirring despite the early hour, preparing for the day's labor. Women with covered heads moved purposefully between buildings, while men hauled materials toward what I assumed were the forges.

Every face turned to observe our group as we went further into the town. I couldn't blame them for their curiosity—we must have made for quite the spectacle. The whispers followed us like ripples in a pond, hushed voices speculating about the foreigner in strange clothes, the towering oni woman, and the smaller dog that walked with the dignified bearing of a much larger creature.

"Who is that?"

"I don't know, but he looks handsome."

"He even has a cute dog with him."

"Is that an oni?"

"What is Lady Eboshi thinking, bringing them inside our walls?"

"Yeah, we already have enough mouths to feed as is."

The whispers swirled around us like autumn leaves caught in a breeze. I kept my expression neutral, though my heart hammered against my ribs. This wasn't the first time I'd been the center of unwanted attention, but the stakes felt immeasurably higher here.

I kept my eyes forward, trying not to meet the curious stares of the townspeople. The scent of iron was overwhelming now—metallic and primal, mingling with woodsmoke and the earthy smell of coal. The sounds of industry filled the air: hammers striking metal, bellows pumping, and the constant murmur of voices calling instructions across the compound.

"Your town is impressive," I said to Lady Eboshi, genuine admiration in my voice. "I've never seen ironworks of this scale in person."

She glanced back at me, something like pride flickering across her features. "In person?"

"Well, I've heard and seen depictions of complexes the size of a city district that are completely dedicated to the refinement of iron into a variety of end products." I elaborated, thinking back on some of the material on the industrial revolution that I had to teach in class.

Lady Eboshi's eyebrows rose slightly. "Your homeland must have remarkable craftsmen indeed." Her voice carried a note of genuine interest now. "Perhaps we will speak more of this subject later once you two have settled in."

The path through Irontown revealed a settlement that was equal parts industrial center and fortified refuge. Women worked the bellows in a steady, regimented rhythm, their movements synchronized like dancers in a performance I couldn't quite comprehend. Men hauled charcoal and ore in woven baskets, their backs bent but their expressions determined despite the early hours.

I couldn't help but notice the unique social dynamic as we proceeded deeper into Irontown. The women seemed to hold positions I wouldn't have expected in what appeared to be a medieval Japanese setting. They operated complex machinery with practiced efficiency, called out orders, and moved with a confidence that spoke of autonomy rather than subservience.

"Your women work the forges?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

Lady Eboshi's lips curved into a subtle smile. "They do more than that. They run them." Pride colored her voice as she continued. "Many were rescued from brothels and worse. Here, everyone has a chance to make something of themselves."

I looked at the women as we walked, their faces illuminated by the glow of fiery furnaces. Each one seemed to embody a certain spirit of resilience, their hands steady and skilled as they shaped metal into tools and weapons with a deftness that spoke of long hours spent mastering their craft.

"I see." I said neutrally, it was interesting and certainly unusual for the time period that I estimated I was stuck in, but not exactly earth-shattering information.

I noticed something else about the women working the bellows—many had bandaged arms or hands, evidence of some injury or affliction. It was impossible to miss the distinctive scarring on those whose bandages had slipped, revealing skin that looked like it had suffered severe burns. I kept my observations to myself for now, filing away questions for a more appropriate time.

As we approached what must have been Lady Eboshi's residence—a structure larger and more ornate than the surrounding buildings—I felt Okunami shift nervously beside me. For all her bravado, this was likely the first time she'd been welcomed into a human settlement without immediate open hostility.

"Eboshi-sama," a woman called out, hurrying toward us with papers clutched in her hands. "The ledgers you requested for the morning council."

"Thank you, Toki." Lady Eboshi accepted the documents with a nod. "Have rooms prepared for our guests. The foreigner and his dog in the visitor's quarters, and..." She paused, glancing at Okunami with a thoughtful expression. "And arrange suitable accommodations for our oni guest near the eastern forge."

Toki's eyes widened slightly as she took in our unusual group, lingering on me for an uncomfortably long time before her gaze return back to Eboshi and she nodded.

"Of course, Lady Eboshi."

I sensed Okunami's relief at not being relegated to the stables or somewhere equally undignified. She bowed deeply to Lady Eboshi, her massive frame folding with surprising grace.

"My sincere gratitude, Eboshi-sama. I will work twice as hard to repay your kindness."

Lady Eboshi acknowledged her with a slight nod before turning to me. "You and your companion must be tired from your journey. Rest for now, we will discuss what skills you might contribute to Irontown later in the evening." Her gaze dropped to my rifle, which I'd been careful to not draw attention to so far. The look she gave it was unmistakably one of intense curiosity, even if she didn't voice her thoughts out loud.

I looked towards Okunami, who simply nodded back after a while, her expression betraying nothing about her inner thoughts.

"We thank you, for your gracious hospitality." I responded.


After Okunami and I were provided with our resting space, I'll admit that I slept like a log for a good while, and so did Nakki who had curled up next to me.

I woke to the sound of knocking and for a moment, I lay perfectly still on the thin futon, disoriented. Nakki pressed against my side, his warm body rising and falling with each breath.

Soon after, the door slid open and in stepped Eboshi's bodyguard, Gonza I think she called him?

"Lady Eboshi wishes to see you, now." He said in a tone that made it clear that this was a summons moreso than a request.

"Alright…" I said as I got up from the futon and put my coat and boots back on. "Lead the way then."

And so he did, constantly keeping an eye on me as he led me through the hallways until we eventually reached a secluded doorway. He knocked twice on the frame.

"Enter," came Eboshi's voice from within.

Gonza slid the door open and fixed me with a final suspicious glare before stepping aside. I walked past him into a spacious room that seemed to serve as both an office and private quarters. Lady Eboshi sat behind a low table, papers spread before her in neat rows. The room was sparse but elegant, with a few tasteful scrolls hanging on the walls and a simple arrangement of seasonal flowers in one corner.

"Thank you for coming, Mikko-san," she said, gesturing for me to sit across from her. "I hope your stay so far has been pleasant?"

"As pleasant as can be expected," I replied, settling across from her with my legs crossed. I'd never been good at the formal kneeling position I'd seen depicted in media, and I wasn't about to try it now. "Though I admit I haven't been here long enough to form a proper opinion."

"Understandable." Eboshi said as she began to study me with those penetrating eyes. Unlike many of the other townspeople, she showed no discomfort meeting my gaze directly. Behind her, Gonza remained standing at attention, his hand never straying far from his sword.

"I'll be direct," she said after a while. "Your weapon interests me greatly."

"My weapon?" I asked, pointing at the rifle I still had on my back. I had been reluctant to go anywhere without it even after we got into Irontown simply because I was paranoid about misplacing it or someone taking it while I wasn't keeping an eye on it. Both it and the ammunition it used were after all now the only ones of their kind, which made them extremely valuable.

"Yes," Lady Eboshi replied, her eyes sharp with interest. "I've never seen a firearm quite like it before. The craftsmanship appears... unusual compared to what our armory has available."

I hesitated, weighing my options carefully. I'd have to show it off eventually simply because people would be curious about it, so having to show it to her in this kind of private manner was probably the best case scenario. "It's a bit different than what you're probably used to," I finally said, unstrapping it from my back with slow, deliberate movements so as not to alarm Gonza.

Eboshi's eyes scanned over its form with the gaze of someone who seemed to know what they were looking for.

"May I?" She asked, her hand already reaching forward.

I had already put the safety on so I didn't see any issue in denying her. "Go ahead." I said and carefully pushed the rifle to her side of the table, watching as she balanced it in her hands with surprising competence.

"It's lighter than it looks," she observed, running her fingers along the shortened barrel. "And this material... what is it?"

"The stock is a treated wood," I explained, keeping my explanation simple. "The barrel and other parts are made of… let's say specially treated iron that's been mixed with other metals."

She turned it over in her hands, examining every detail with the eye of someone who clearly understood weaponry. Her fingers traced the telescopic sight with particular interest.

"And this?" she asked, pointing to the scope.

"It is an… observation device, it helps with aiming the weapon at the target and getting off a more accurate shot at longer ranges." I tried my best to explain it in terms she'd understand.

She studied it for a moment longer, then raised the rifle to her shoulder with practiced ease, peering through the scope. I noticed how naturally she handled the weapon, despite its unfamiliar design. This was clearly not her first time holding a firearm.

"Remarkable," she murmured, lowering the rifle. "The clarity is exceptional. With such a device, one could strike targets at distances previously thought impossible."

I nodded, watching her carefully. "That's the idea. It extends the effective range significantly."

Lady Eboshi handed the rifle back to me, her expression thoughtful. "And how far exactly are we talking about?"

"Let's just say that it can hit a target accurately farther than probably any of your current weapons, key word here being accurately. I can demonstrate it for you properly sometime if you wish."

Eboshi's smile broadened, a calculating glint in her eyes. "A demonstration would be most enlightening. We have a great interest in refining our own firearms here."

"And if this is something you want for Irontown," I added cautiously, "I'll need access to materials and tools I'm familiar with. It won't be a simple task."

Obviously I couldn't recreate the thing fully, modern smokeless powder and primers were impossible to recreate without a dedicated chemical industry, the steel alloy used for the barrel and other metal parts required certain materials, tools and techniques that they simply didn't have.

But even so, there were some innovations I could help with, and I suspected she knew that.

"We are more resourceful than you might imagine," Eboshi said smoothly, as if reading my mind. "We can provide many of the raw materials, and we have skilled workers eager to learn. Tell me what you need, and I will see that you get it."

I nodded, choosing my words with care. "I'll need time to assess what you have and what can be done. I'm not sure how much you've managed to achieve already."

Her expression shifted slightly, a hint of curiosity tempered by caution. "And in return? What do you hope to gain, Mikko-san?"

"A place to stay for now," I replied honestly. "Some stability while I figure out my place in the world." It was a gamble being this straightforward, but something told me Lady Eboshi would respect candor over evasiveness.

She considered this for a moment, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. "A fair proposal. We can both benefit from such an arrangement."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Things were moving quickly, but they were moving in the right direction. "And Okunami?" I asked, not wanting to leave my companion out of the equation. "Is there work for her as well?"

Eboshi tilted her head, her smile never wavering. "With her strength? She will be invaluable, especially near the forges and in construction. I suspect she will prove herself to the rest of the townsfolk quite easily."

I nodded, reassured. Okunami might be brash, unconventional and carefree a lot of the time, but I got the sense that she was a hard worker under the right conditions and someone who was very much determined to make her way here.

"Very well," I said, trying to match Eboshi's confidence with my own. "I think we have an understanding."

She inclined her head slightly. "Then we shall see what you can do tomorrow." Eboshi said before motioning to Gonza. "I look forward to what you'll be able to produce with the proper tools."

Gonza stepped forward, his broad frame blocking the door as he gestured for me to follow. "I'll show you back to your quarters," he said gruffly, though not unkindly and I followed after him.

As Gonza led me through the bustling corridors of the large building, I couldn't shake off the sense of anticipation that had settled in my chest. The weight of responsibility that awaited me tomorrow mixed with a glimmer of hope for what the future held in this new role.

As we reached the door of my quarters again, Gonza stopped and turned to me, his gaze seemed to judge me for a moment without saying anything before he stepped aside and let me past him and into my room, I couldn't help but feel like I had passed some sort of unspoken test that he had for me.

Nakki immediately woke up upon my return and ran over to me, greeting me with his usual enthusiasm. His warm presence was a comfort in this unfamiliar place.

"Hey, boy," I whispered, scratching behind his ears. "Looks like we might have found ourselves a place to stay for a while."

Nakki tilted his head, those intelligent eyes fixed on mine as if he understood every word. Maybe he did—he'd always been unnaturally perceptive, even before we'd stumbled into this weird-ass version of Japan.

I sat down on the futon as I began to gently scratch him, the action having an almost calming and therapeutic effect on both of us.

"Regardless of what happens from here on out, at least I still have you with me buddy."


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Pub: 09 Oct 2025 00:31 UTC

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