Yoshikawa, the Village of Catfish

[Outside the East Gate, Atop the Terrace on the Left (East) Bank of the Shibakawa River]

Meanwhile, coming from the opposite direction, from the east, was a catfish-beastfolk in shabby clothes. He was a merman of sorts, but since he belonged to the Beast Realm, in this world such folk are all lumped together as beastfolk.

"My name is Yoshikawa."

It was not Yoshikawa.

"Welcome to the Library-City Dungeon. I'm Anne. What is your business?"

It was Anne, who had been overseeing the sowing on the eastern side, who attended to him.

"We, the Yoshikawa clan, long ago dwelt in a wetland dungeon called the 'Nigōhanryō Marshland,' which lay some fifty ri east of here. But at some point the dungeon dried up, and we were persecuted by the Tsukuba clan, who blamed us for the earthquakes; every time a quake struck, we were burned at the stake or boiled in cauldrons. Now that the Tsukuba clan has been struck down, and word has it a dungeon rich in water has arisen here in the west, we have come in search of a place where our clan might dwell in peace."

"I'll introduce you to Marie-san, ah, our dungeon's representative for external affairs, so please continue straight on down this road."

"Thank you kindly."

Once the catfish-man had departed westward toward the dungeon proper, Anne immediately got in touch with Marie.

"A catfish-merman calling himself Yoshikawa has headed for the east gate. He says he seeks to have his clan taken in."

"Understood. West and east, it never lets up. Maybe I should take up horseback riding. I'll have Mint arrange lodging, so tell him to stay the night."

"Marie-san, apparently a horse-beastfolk is easier to ride than an actual horse; just to ride one, no special training is needed."

Nakagawa Hisakiyo, lord of the Oka domain, famed for having climbed mountains mounted on a sturdy man rather than a horse-beastfolk, did no special equestrian training either. Though some say he was merely being carried.

"That just makes me want an automobile, but that would be difficult, wouldn't it."

"Even Mint-san couldn't quite handle that. It would break down in no time."

[Tier-Group 4 Reception Room]

"Shiso, Director of Books, at your service. You're Yoshikawa, the ayu-catfish, I take it. I've heard your circumstances."

"Yes. The Nigōhanryō Marshland has all but dried up, and our clan suffers from hunger."

"'All but,' meaning a little still remains, I take it."

"But before long it will dry up completely."

"Then we'll make a pond down in the valley below here, and move every species of the surviving flora and fauna over to it."

Marie thought for a while, studying a map.

"Nigōhanryō is on the way to Oda Castle, isn't it. We've been told we may do as we please with the towns along the route. Now then, Yoshikawa-san."

"Yes."

"The day may come when you return to your homeland. If this dungeon grows further still, it will become possible to draw water and make a lake there. But right now we lack the power to draw water all the way out to fifty ri distant. Twenty ri at best, perhaps. There's a risk we wouldn't make it in time before Nigōhanryō dries up, so I'm afraid we'll have to have you relocate here. That said, the pond will also serve as a dragon's exercise ground, so do get along with the dragon."

"Thank you. Though the Tsukuba may have lost their power, at this rate we'd have ended up dried catfish."

"Once the rice-planting is done, we'll dispatch adventurers to the Nigōhanryō Marshland to root up the flora and fauna and bring them here. Until they multiply on this end, for a while… what shall we have you eat? Dried fish bought in from Sō, perhaps."

"Our favorites are frogs, fish, and crustaceans, but turtle will do just as well, and if it'll fit in our mouths we won't be choosy about birds or rats either."

"For the time being, dried fish, if you please. It seems we can't summon African clawed frogs, and breeding up goldfish or carp will take time."