>>356140
>The war ended with the Republic and the Order both suffering great losses.
>Then the Mamono marched on the Republic.
>And you found yourself fighting again.
> Again the Republic prevailed, and drove the sex loving beasts to the coast where they retreated to the island of Zipangu.
>The mere thought of the island and the results of the war made you scowl.
>It was then that they mounted a desperate counter attack to retake the coast.
>It failed but only due to a even more desperate counter operation.
>One you were in.
>In a daring charge into the costal capital with support from a ragtag naval force, the city was set ablaze.
>You can still remember the flames licking the skies and the city's great light house almost burning.
>How the fires reflected in the water and how beautiful it would have if not for the battle.
>Now here you are.
>Wandering into Mamono territory without a care in the world.
>Even though you probably shouldn’t.
>If those wanted posters with your face on them was any indication.
>You should probably be sealing yourself in a bunker on some distant island for your own safety.
>But you weren’t
>And you aren't going to.
>No matter how many Kitsune General’s and Zipanguese politician’s careers you fucked up by raiding their caravans or leading some contingent of soldiers on a wild goose chase.
>Or how many bounty hunters, capture squads, or “ambassadors“ the Mamono would send.
>You always prevailed.
>Somehow.
>You don’t want really anything to do with war anymore.
>You just want to wander.
>See the world.
>So here you are, a knapsack with your kit from your army days, a musket, and a rough idea of where you're going.
>Not really the best way to live life but you like it all the same.
>But self preservation took a backseat to discovery and exploration long ago.
> You have the scars to prove it.
> You’re thinking about how this winding road never really seems to end when you hear the snap of a twig.
> Slowly you unsling your musket and look around.
> Your mind flashes back to your time as a soldier and patrolling the borders of the new nation.
> How you were ambushed by Kunoichi.
> How you and some other Republic troops fought back to back in a dark forest until being rescued by another patrol.
>The screams of the men dragging up into the trees, never to be seem again.
>Damn sneaky cunts.
>Wouldn't be the first time they tried to get you after that.
>Or maybe they’ll send Salamanders again.
>Or a Raiju.
>You smirk as you carefully watch the trees.
>They haven't been so eager since you nearly took the head off a Kejourou that offered to give you a free shave and tried to tie you up with her hair.
>Wasn't her fault completely, you should have known they would keep trying to bring you in.
>You scan the trees for anything, but can’t find anything.
>This unnerves you even more but you try to push down the feeling of paranoia and continue moving.
>You walk briskly down the road, eyes darting around.
>You come to a stop at a fork in the road, one path looks like it goes deeper into the woods, with the trees becoming more dense and less light streaming through the canopy and the other looks as though you are approaching a clearing of some sort.
What do you do?