Solitary Cloud,

Shadow in the Setting Sun

Stirs the Drifter's Heart.

(The Next Day: 3rd Person)

In the Imperial year of 1024, there are two travelers on a rocky road, one steering a horse with a cart on it, and one walking besides the horse. Suddenly, the ground begins to rumble and shake.

Horse rider: "Hm?"

Out from the ground, an earth dragon appears, bursting through the ground, causing the horse to stop suddenly, kicking its front legs in the air.

Other person: "Earth Dragon!! I didn't know they came out on highways like these! Run!"

The two horseback riders start to run away, the earth dragon hot on their tails.

Both: "Gyaaaa! It's coming closer!"

Suddenly, a voice rings out.

???: "Saving people and getting myself known, seems like I'm able to do both!"

Suddenly, from behind the monster, a brown haired boy slashes the back of the dragon, causing it to bleed. The horse riders take notice of the boy that lands in front of them before he speaks.

???: "First class risk species, earth dragon, huh... Nothing lacking of an opponent..."

The dragon screeches into the air before looking at the boy.

???: "I see you're angry."

The beast punches the ground the boy it's standing on, before it realizes that the boy is now running on its arm. The boy then jumps up from the dragons shoulder.

???: "It's over!"

After drawing his blade, he slices the dragon in multiple diagonal slashes, creating large x's on the dragon's skin, killing it.

Horse rider: "A-amazing... THAT WAS AMAZING YOUNG BOY!! YOU ACTUALLY DEFEATED A RISK SPECIES SINGLE-HANDEDLY!"

The two run up to the boy, before the coffee-haired male speaks.

???: "Heh."

The boy then looks up with a comically large grin and creepy eyes before pointing at himself with his thumb.

???: "Well obviously! For me, something like that's a piece of cake!!"

The two travelers then lose their smiling expressions, frowning at the teen's gloating.

Tatsumi: "My name's Tatsumi, by the way! This is the name of the man who'll become famous in the capital, so it'd behoove you to remember it!!"

The two men start to look at Tatsumi, both with serious expressions on their faces.

Traveler 1: "So you want to make it big in the capital, too?"

Tatsumi: "Yeah! Get successful in the capital! That's a country boy's fantasy!"

The two men look at each other, their faces turning from confusion, to shock, then to reluctancy.

Tatsumi: "What's up?"

Traveler 2: "The imperial capital is not the dreamy place you think it is. It's lively, but there are a lot of monsters more vicious than this earth dragon."

Tatsumi: "What's with that? Are you saying risk species appears in town or something?"

Traveler 1: "People... they're people, but their hearts are monsters. It's full of guys like that."

Tatsumi: "i'm grateful for the words of advice, but I can't be turning back now. I will, no, we will make money at the capital and save our village!"

(Timeskip)

Tatsumi is now shown standing in front of the capital gates.

Tatsumi: "Wooow! Awesome! So this is the capital!"

He looks around at the shops, the hustle of the city, and the people.

Tatsumi: "If I get successful here, I could even buy the village. I've gotta get to the barracks right away."

However, sitting at a table next to the boy, two people, one with silver hair with a red streak going down on the right side, and a yellow haired lioness sit, listening to the boy's ranting, the latter drinking out of a cup.

Kazuha: "Such a naive child, honestly... like rain season in July, they just don't stop coming. Are you sure you're going to just take his money like that, Leone?"

Leone, now looking at Kazuha with a blush and ear-to-ear grin, scratches the back of her head cheekily.

Leone: "Hey, it's their fault for getting into the whole capital shmuck in the first place. Might as well make a buck offa it, eh?"

Kazuha sighs.

Kazuha: "How often do you do this, again?"

Leone: "Not that oftennn~ Just a couple of times a day if I don't get caught~"

Kazuha then sighs again before leaning back in the chair and putting his hands behind his head.

Kazuha: 'I could go for some sake later this night if the weather loosens up.'

(Back with Tatsumi)

Tatsumi is at the front of the line in an extremely long line of people at the admissions office. He gets to the desk.

Tatsumi: "Hey! I'd like to enroll in the military!"

Applications Man: "Oh, you're an applicant too, huh? Then fill out this form and bring it back to me."

Tatsumi reads the paper.

Tatsumi: "..."

Tatsumi: "Does this mean I start as a foot soldier?"

AM: "That's obvious, isn't it? And they're mostly sent to remote regions."

Tatsumi, now enraged, slams his fist on the table.

Tatsumi: "LIKE I HAVE THE TIME FOR THAT!!"

Tatsumi then pulls out his sword and spins it in flashy ways.

(I go off the manga, not the anime. So idk if anything is different or what. Also, THE MANGA IS BETTER.)

Tatsumi: "TAKE A LOOK AT MY SKILL!! IF I SEEM PROMISING, PUT ME IN SERVICE AT AROUND CAPTAIN CLASS!!"

Now the Admissions Man is angry, and throws Tatsumi out of the building before walking to the door. Tatsumi lands with a roll and thuds against the wall.

Tatsumi gets up, furious with a tick mark on his forehead.

Tatsumi: "WHAT?!? YOU CAN AT LEAST TEST ME!!"

AM: "STOP MESSIN' AROUND! YOU NEED TO WIN A RAFFLE BEFORE EVEN BECOMING A FOOT SOLDIER!!"

AM: "APPLICANTS ARE ALREADY FLOODING IN BECAUSE OF THIS RECESSION!! WE CAN'T BE LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE ONE!"

The man starts to turn red due to his blood rushing to his head, or rather, ego.

AM: "THERE'S ALSO A LIMIT TO HOW MANY WE CAN HIRE!!"

Tatsumi is dumb (founded).

Tatsumi: "Wait, really?"

AM: "IF YOU GOT IT, SCRAM, YOU FUCKING BRAT!"

The AM then leaves Tatsumi, who is now sitting criss cross on the streets.

Tatsumi: 'Then should I cause a ruckus and make a name for myself? But I might get caught..'

Then, from behind him, Kazuha and Leone walk to him, the latter in the front.

Leone then takes the initiative by talking to Tatsumi, Kazuha simply crossing his arms and inspecting their conversation.

Leone: "Hey there~ You look troubled young lad."

Tatsumi then notices the voice speaking to him, and looks back to see Leone.

Kazuha: 'She does this sort of thing daily? How odd. It seems like he's already charmed by her looks.'

Leone: "Should this Onee-san here lend you a hand?"

Tatsumi then looks flabbergasted, as if his soul was sucked out due to Leone's "charms."

Tatsumi: 'So this is the capital..!!!'

Kazuha, judging by the boys reactions, naturally assumes the boy is a pervert for staring so heavily. It also begs the question, why is nobody looking at the pair?

Ah. He gets it now. Leone does it daily to the point where they, the citizens don't even care. Either that, or they don't take kindly to outsiders.

Tatsumi now stands up, still looking at Leone's tits.

Leone notices this.

Leone: "..?"

Leone: "What's wrong?"

She finally notices and smiles mischievously before raising a finger gun in the air.

Leone: "Lad, you must be one of those coming to the capital from the country seeking adventure, right?"

Tatsumi: "HOW DO YOU KNOW!?!"

Kazuha then facepalms, his bandaged hand hitting his forehead. It was painfully obvious the reason why Leone know he's a country boy was because he had both the clothes and the speech of one. Still, Kazuha waited for his moment to "be in the conversation", as Leone put it.

Leone: "If you live in the capital long enough, you could tell outsiders apart in a heartbeat."

Tatsumi is shocked at this news.

Leone: "So, I know a quick way to get commissioned."

And now Tatsumi is excited.

Tatsumi: 'This is my one chance! It could be my only chance! I have to take it!'

Leone: 'This idiot is soooo screwed later. Hopefully Kazuha can deal with the rest once I call him over at the tavern.'

Kazuha: 'This is both torture and amusing.'

Tatsumi: "SERIOUSLY!?!"

Leone: "You wanna know?"

Leone: "Then treat both Onee-san and Onii-san over there to a meal~"

Leone points over to Kazuha, and Tatsumi looks at that direction she's pointing at.

Kazuha offers a soft smile.

Kazuha: 'Why did I agree to this?'

Tatsumi: "The guy with the white hair? How long has he been there!?!"

Leone: "Let's just take this conversation to the tavern~"