Bab 263: Gompachi

"What's a young tamer like you doing alone in this place? You're quite far from the capital," the innkeeper remarked, prying into Yoichi's identity and the reason which had led him to move.

"I'm looking for someone. He was Emperor Tatsui's best blacksmith. His name is Shusaku," Yoichi affirmed, without mentioning the village of Oakenfair. In that way, the young tamer wanted to compare Takamori's version with that of those unknown people, should they ever have known the blacksmith.

"The Emperor's blacksmith is no longer in the capital? Well, that's odd," one of the men at the counter replied. Giggling with one of his companions, he swallowed another sip of cold beer.

"Emperor Shinzo exiled him after his father died. Many were Tatsui's men exiled from Goldhaven when his son inherited the Empire," Yoichi explained. "By the way. I had never seen a statue depicting the current Emperor's father with his Oracle. I thought they were all destroyed," he continued.