JW793 Forgetting the Comb

[Pacification of the Provinces Arc] Episode 6: Forgetting the Comb

During the reign of the 12th Emperor, Emperor Keiko.

Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (hereafter, Takeru) and his party landed on Iyo no Futana-shima (present-day Shikoku) with a mission to exterminate an evil fish.

Takeru (17): "So, where exactly on Iyo no Futana-shima have we arrived?"

Nakka: "It's Awa Province. That's the northern part of Tokushima Prefecture two thousand years from now."

Takeru (17): "Hmm? Why have you come along as well?"

Nakka: "What's wrong with that! I've joined as a kashiwade (chef)!"

Takeru: "A kashiwade?"

Nakka: "It means a cook."

Takeru (17): "An army cannot fight on an empty stomach, but..."

Yocchan: "And so, where is this evil fish?"

Hayate: "Moo!"

Tago: "Hmm. It says the evil fish is rampaging in Sanuki Province (present-day Kagawa Prefecture)."

Chijio: "Then why are we in Awa Province?"

Takeru (17): "Perhaps I have lost my way and ended up here..."

Nakka: "That might be the case."

Hayate: "Moo!"

Tago: "Hmm. He says that we should have brought someone from the kitchen who is familiar with the sea..."

Nakka: "My bad!"

Otohiko: "In any case, let us recover from the fatigue of the sea voyage."

Nasoroku: "Indeed... I am feeling a bit seasick..."

Takeru (17): "Then, let us rest for a while."

Thus, after the party took a rest, they headed for Sanuki, but...

Nakka: "Huh? You forgot something!"

Takeru (17): "Hmm? What did I forget?"

Nakka: "The great comb box!"

Yocchan: "You mean the vanity case?"

Nakka: "That's right."

Takeru (17): "What are you saying? I am a man. I do not wear makeup."

Chijio: "Prince? Even men use combs to groom their hair, you know?"

Takeru (17): "Is that so?!"

Otohiko: "And so, you forgot the box containing the comb?"

Nakka: "That is the case."

Hayate: "Mooo!"

Tago: "Hmm. It is said that this event gave rise to the legend of the Katsuma Well, located at Kannon-ji in Kokufu-cho, Tokushima City."

Takeru (17): "The Katsuma Well?"

Nasoroku: "It is said that after we departed, the local people dug a well in the place we had forgotten, and left the place name 'Katsuma' there."

Takeru (17): "I don't quite understand why they would think to build a well, but what I'm more curious about is 'Katsuma.' How on earth does one get 'Katsuma' from that?"

Hayate: "Mooo!"

Tago: "Hmm. It is said that in the local dialect of this region, a comb was called 'katsuma'..."

Takeru (17): "So, in the language of Yamato, does that mean... 'Comb Well'?"

Tago: "Indeed."

Nasoroku: "There are also those who say the name was given because one would reflect their face in the mirror-like water surface and groom their hair with a comb..."

In any case, the party continued their march and reached the Province of Sanuki.

And they were welcomed by Kamukushi-no-Miko (hereinafter referred to as Mukk), the Kuni-no-Miyatsuko of Sanuki.

Mukk: "You have done well to come, Lord Takeru."

Takeru (17): "Brother-in-law... please, stop with the 'Lord.' 'Takeru' is fine."

Mukk: "Is that so? If you say that is fine, then I shall do so."

Takeru (17): "And, Brother-in-law? Who are these people?"

Mukk: "Yes. These are 'Carlos' and 'Jose,' residents of Sanuki."

Carlos: "It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time."

Jose: "We haven't appeared since episode 724!"

Takeru (17): "Are these people going to join the battle as well?"

Mukku: "They worked for us during the previous extermination, so..."

Carlos: "Please, leave it to us."

Will they be able to exterminate them safely?

To be continued in the next episode