If a person sacrifices their own reputation and dignity for the benefit of everyone, doing something advantageous for all, what wrong have they committed?
Watanabe Zeshan stood tall with his chest puffed out, convinced he had done nothing wrong. Even if there was any fault, it was merely the kind of mistake every man is prone to make!
His heart and actions were as clear as a mirror, all his deeds righteous.
This outcome was for everyone’s sake. Once he obtained the secret, he would share it with his fellow disciples, ensuring everyone’s happiness. At worst, those three senior brothers would only suffer a beating.
“Very well.” Luke patted Watanabe Zeshan’s shoulder. “You can hide here for now. I’m going to properly thank those three senior brothers.”
Seeing Luke about to leave, Watanabe Zeshan mustered his courage and resolutely blocked his path, his gaze firm.
“What is the secret?”
Luke sidestepped Watanabe Zeshan and walked out with a nuclear-friendly smile, his voice echoing in the room.
“The secret is to be reborn into a better life. If you were a giant race, a hundred meters tall, you could have not just loofahs but even buildings.”
He had been deceived.
Watanabe Zeshan collapsed to the floor, his eyes vacant, sobbing uncontrollably.
He knew he should never have made a deal with the devil!
…
Luke’s reckoning plan ultimately fell through.
When he went to find those three dear senior brothers, others informed him that the trio had voluntarily requested to leave the island for supply procurement and had departed half a day earlier. They wouldn’t return for three days.
Naturally, Luke wasn’t so petty as to insist on waiting for their return just to beat them up before leaving.
He simply wanted to spend three more days with everyone at the dojo—nothing more.
Unfortunately, Koshiro didn’t believe his nonsense and personally escorted him to the ship early the next morning with all the disciples.
“I truly can’t bear to part with everyone.”
As he boarded the ship, tears glistened in Luke’s eyes, radiating profound reluctance.
The senior brothers’ eyes also brimmed with tears, their farewell words growing increasingly touching.
“Junior Brother Luke, I can’t bear to see you go either. You must regularly update us on your safety.”
“Junior Brother, visit often. I’ll keep your room clean for you always.”
“I’ll preserve the bucket you ate from carefully, ready to serve you extra portions when you return!”
“Junior Brother Luke, take me with you! How can I live without you?”
Luke felt warmth in his heart.
What was this? It turned out he was quite popular after all.
Woo~ Woo~
The passenger ship’s departure whistle sounded. As the vessel gradually distanced itself from the shore, the well-wishers on land began murmuring among themselves.
“He’s too far to reach us now, right?”
“I think so. Does that mean we can…?”
“Let the insults fly.”
“Heh heh heh heh heh…”
Just as Luke was marveling at his personal charm, the farewells from the shore abruptly shifted in tone.
“Luke, you mutt, don’t ever come back after leaving! Wander abroad for the rest of your life!”
“That bucket of yours? I’m going to use it as a toilet, heh heh!”
“Your room? It’s just a storage closet! There’s no place for you here anymore!”
Seeing that Luke could no longer lay a hand on them, the dojo brothers unleashed their pent-up grievances all at once.
Hum!
A terrifying, massive sword aura suddenly shot forth from the distant passenger ship, its sharp, unstoppable momentum instantly silencing the voices on the shore.
Everyone’s expressions drastically changed, their bodies instinctively sending signals to dodge, but that terrifying sword aura gave a feeling of nowhere to escape. Just one glance created the illusion that one’s head had already been separated from their body, making them involuntarily show despair on their faces.
…
Holy shit!
Luke, who maintained his sword-swinging posture, suddenly panicked. He had just been moved by the genuine camaraderie between him and his senior brothers when he suddenly heard those bastards change their tune.
Enraged to the point of dizziness, he felt as if he had broken through something. Then his blood, spirit, and the sword in his hand merged into one. Falcon seemed to become an extension of his arm, and he couldn’t help but unleash that strike.
Flying Slash – this was a skill only a Sword Master was qualified to comprehend and use.
But Luke had no time to rejoice in his breakthrough. The Flying Slash was terrifyingly fast, and coupled with his momentary daze, there was simply no time to stop it.
Damn it!
Even though his senior brothers had foul mouths, Luke knew they were just joking around and didn’t truly mean it.
A layer of golden light enveloped his feet, while faint lightning flickered between his legs.
Golden Light Charm + Lightning Style Chakra enhancement.
Even if it was too late to stop it, he had to try. Luke gritted his teeth – he didn’t want his first strike as a Sword Master to wipe out all his senior brothers.
Just as he was about to move, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd.
Koshiro calmly adjusted his glasses, then drew an ordinary-looking sword from his waist with his clean, slender right hand that seemed like it would break with the slightest force.
He raised his arm and swung down.
Swish!
A cherry-colored sword aura, more condensed and sharper than the previous massive one, erupted from the sword. The two seemingly world-destroying sword auras collided midway.
Boom!
The previously calm sea surface was wildly sliced apart by the chaotic sword auras, the terrifying impact sending countless water columns soaring into the sky.
Koshiro sheathed his sword, a flash of amazement passing through his eyes. “To become a Sword Master without even experiencing a single proper battle.”
What a terrifying talent.
He wondered what kind of brilliance this disciple of his would display in this turbulent era.
“I’M SORRY!”
“I DIDN’T MEAN TO!”
Luke, who had already become a small black dot on the ship, waved apologetically with some guilt. Even for someone of Luke’s race, he felt somewhat embarrassed.
The senior brothers shakily stood up, then shouted at the top of their lungs.
“Pretty impressive, Lu-dog! Worthy of being from our dojo!”
“Hmph, not even comparable to a fraction of the master’s skill! You still need more training!”
“You think this is enough to hurt us? Do you think our decades of training as senior brothers were for nothing!”
Finally, everyone exchanged glances and shouted in unison.
“Stay safe out there! Come back if you can’t win! Shimotsuki Dojo will always have a place for you!”
The ship grew smaller and smaller amid the farewell cheers of the Shimotsuki Dojo members, until it finally disappeared from sight.
Only then did the low spirits gradually spread.
“Wonder if that kid will get bullied outside. What if he doesn’t get enough to eat?”
“You’re worried about him? Didn’t you notice earlier? Not counting the master, he could take us all out with one strike.”
“No matter how grown up, a child is still a child. I’ve always treated him like a younger brother.”
“Well, I’ve treated him like a son.”
“Then I’ve treated him like a grandson!”
“Ha, dare to say that to his face!”
“Now that he’s gone, I don’t even know what to do with the leftover meals every day.”
Koshiro let his disciples vent their emotions before clapping his hands. “Alright, no more dwelling on it now that he’s left. I believe Luke’s name will soon echo across the Four Seas.”
“Let’s head back. Today’s training isn’t finished yet. To celebrate Luke’s graduation, each of you will perform ten thousand sword swings today.”
“Aww—”
A chorus of groans erupted from the group.
“Um, Master.”
Watanabe Zeshan quietly stepped forward, handing a small box to Koshiro.
“What’s this?” Koshiro opened the box to find an exquisite key inside. He picked it up and examined it, noting that it seemed to be crafted in the style of Alabasta.
“Junior Brother Luke hid a chest under his floorboards containing all his savings—73 million Berries in total. This is the key to open it. He said it’s to cover this year’s expenses and the cost of buying Falcon.”
Where did he get so much money?
Koshiro accepted the key with a complicated expression and sighed. “This kid, really…”
The market price for Great Grade Swords ranged from just ten to thirty million Berries.
If only I’d known, I would have given him the old man’s “that.”
Koshiro sighed again. Well, it’s done. I’ll give it to him whenever he returns.
Watanabe Zeshan scratched his head. “He also asked me to pass on a message to you.”
“What is it?”
“He said he will surpass Hawkeye, become the world’s greatest Sword Master, and spread the fame of Shimotsuki Dojo across the entire Red Line.”
“What an ambitious dream, though he still has a long way to go.” Koshiro smiled, a hint of nostalgia flickering in his eyes. “The world’s greatest…”
Once upon a time, his daughter had said the same thing. And Zoro—he’d said it too.
“Sigh, I hope Zoro won’t be too disheartened by this.”