Thinking about it more, the most logical choice would be to join. I said "Fine. But I don't play games. You are going to put your clan crest on my headband as soon as I get there." Charlie nodded. "Sure. That only adds to my numbers." I walked with him as his train was arriving. I did not say anything to the members of Kirume Clan. I did all I could for them. Once they got back my final task would be complete. Missing out on marrying my fiancé was a downside, but he could probably make one for me just as good if not better. I got on the train. It was much less crowded. "The southeast is experiencing a tough famine. My village was dying out from starvation when I got there. Once my demons were up and running, not only did the soil improve, but the farmers stats increased, making them more productive." Charlie explained. "Don't get me wrong, the ground is still shit. They just have enough to eat for themselves, so they won't die." he added when I praised him for that. That was still pretty nice of him to do. He could have just let the humans there die and took all their stuff for themselves.
By the time the Kirume Clan realized I was gone, it was too late. The doors were closed and the train was leaving the station. They ran after the train for a bit, but it was useless. Even they could not outrun a train and full speed for an hour straight. We got off scott-free and I could relax. A through E-san were looking out of the window. I did as well. Because of the crowd, I was not able to see the scenery go by. It was a mix of modern and medieval. A tall skyscraper in a major city's gates would be surrounded for miles and miles by empty space lined with dirt roads and simple thatch roofed houses in the hills. I heard about it but seeing the various fields barren and derelict farmhouses was a sad sight. When we got off it was in another city. "Follow us, it's not too far off from here." Charlie said. It took a day by going at ninja pace. All the fields around had something growing in them. That was a big relief. We entered Onishiri Village. Charlie took me over to the clan meeting building. It was his design because the architecture was so unlike anything in this region. It was a Romanesque Hall.
meeting hall
Charlie's additional houses
The house at that he created typified the nature of the few stone houses remaining of the period. The main living quarters were found on the first floor, elevated above a basement or "undercroft". Those living quarters accessed by an external stone staircase. I thought at it was cool. From what Charlie told me, the houses had another feature also seen in England. An external chimney breast projects from the upper story directly above a doorway. I could see it if a focused on the wooden balcony and craned my neck. These were for the demons to live. Each one had their own house to their self. I counted 40 of them lined up in 5 rows of 8 with paved streets between them that stretched out 20 yards past the last house on either side. All of the roads gathered at the ends and formed a circle around the village. The villagers only had thatched roofed long houses. He showed me around the village, and I saw the humans were humble people. A bit scared of the literal demons walking about, but way too desperate for food and safety to care too much. They had their priorities in line for now.
