Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 35

Among the vast capital, residences of middle-class commoners are concentrated in the eastern and southern parts of the capital... the areas called Tōkyō and Nankin.

Well, to be more precise, the residences and warehouses of court nobles, feudal lords, and wealthy merchants, as well as government-related facilities were concentrated in the north, and the industrial area with many craftsmen's cities and workshops was concentrated in the west. The fact that the southern and eastern parts of the country are geographically difficult to defend is also a factor. After all, many temples and shrines were built in the south and east of the capital to serve as fortresses in case of emergencies.

...Oh no, I'm getting a little off-topic here. In other words, for Tachibana Kayo, whom I am escorting here, she has visited the northern parts of the Capital many times, And because the western parts of the Capital have a strong craftsman city flavor, such a place is not suitable as a playing place for a woman. Therefore, the place she will visit this time is either east or south of the capital. In other words...

"Ha~a... Although having passed by the place several times by oxcart, it has a different atmosphere when walking directly there, doesn't it?"

Kayo mutters in admiration as she peeks out through the gap in her bamboo hat.

Of the markets authorized by the Imperial Court in the east, west, south, north, and west, East Market is the most spacious, chaotic, and lively. It is no wonder since it is intended to meet the demands of the common people who make up the majority of the capital's inhabitants.

In the blocks arranged like a grid, there are grain shops, grocery shops, fish shops, clothing stores, bookstores, barbers, pharmacists, bathhouses, florists, restaurants, taverns, general stores, street stalls, etc... A variety of goods, from daily necessities to luxury goods and foreign and imported delicacies, are lined up in rows of stores. Along the city streets, vendors paraded around touting their goods in hand. Despite the large number of people, the city is safe and secure, since the official from Kenhiishi responsible for the security of the city makes periodic patrols.

However, this is still the standard for the commoners of the capital, which is not a good place to play around, especially for the court nobles, feudal lords, exorcists, and wealthy merchants who are concentrated in the northern part of the Capital. Therefore, although Kayo had been passing by in an ox cart, it seemed that this was the first time for her to walk directly along the street and see the sights. Well, when an ox cart is used, the moment people see her family crest, passers-by open the street and become silent.

"Where should we look around first, Yuzu?"

"Didn't you know that? Since you declared it yourself, you should at least lead the way."

I ask, and the girl orders in a tone of voice so grim that I can tell even from under her shades. Well, well, well... I can't argue with her.

(Though I can't argue with that...)

I think about my schedule again, considering her expectations, and also those of the watchdogs.

For her... Tachibana Kayo, this trip out is probably something she has been looking forward to, expecting a lot of things. This is not in a romantic sense but in a purely recreational sense.

Born into a wealthy merchant family, she does not have the official status of a feudal lord or a noble family. Even so, she would have been treated practically the same way.

And her father was overprotective... She may have played among the lower class (although living in the capital, she was above the middle class for a person of this country) in disguise. However, her position and responsibilities probably did not allow her to play so freely. In the words of the old maid, she didn't have the freedom to do what she wanted, probably to the displeasure of her father, the chairman of the trading company. And so, it would have been a harmless sight-seeing.