“Once, everyone knew me; now, I’m just a Luren…”
Mitsuyuki gently stroked the words on the Heroic Spirit Training Manual, feeling the projection’s memories, and gazing at the projected scene of the secluded paradise-like small town before him.
A faint smile appeared on Mitsuyuki’s face.
“The next day, with no lingering attachment in your heart, you, wearing a straw hat like a truly ordinary wandering ronin who had stumbled upon this place, left.
You left this secluded paradise in a chaotic world, which you had built with your own hands.”
“This time, no one saw you off.
You also understood that this event would not become a legendary deed, nor would it be used for the sublimation of a heroic spirit.
So… do you regret it?”
In reality, Mitsuyuki could have waited until he recovered his strength and completed his studies before leaving Edo, then replicated what he had done in his previous life.
Because the events of that day had already been verified by a simulation, they would inevitably spread widely and become a bargaining chip for Mitsuyuki to become a heroic spirit.
But he did not do so, and this naturally went against Mitsuyuki’s goal of imprinting a heroic spirit.
So… did he regret it?
“No regrets.”
Facing the words that appeared on the Heroic Spirit Training Manual, Mitsuyuki almost instinctively responded.
Then, after coming to his senses, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a self-deprecating smile.
“Why did I answer?
This isn’t an option.”
Yes, Mitsuyuki had no regrets.
Even knowing that it would become an undeniable legend, he still couldn’t choose to ignore it when he knew these things were happening.
“You have no regrets… You didn’t even think about continuing to use this matter, or using them.
You just wanted to do it, so you did it.”
Mitsuyuki’s hand touched the words that appeared on the book.
Then the scene before him shifted, changing to outside the small town gate.
The projection, now a wandering ronin, stood at the city gate.
And just before leaving, he paused slightly, then looked back at the bustling scene within the city.
Then he smiled faintly, turned, and pressed down on his straw hat.
And walked away.
“In the late shogunate era, natural disasters, man-made calamities, and the reclusive mysteries all intertwined on this grand stage.
This was the final glory of this era, and also the symphony before the arrival of a new age.”
“And such a stage would not lack the stories you sought.”
“You didn’t travel for too long before settling down in a village.”
“You received a request from a seven-year-old girl in the village.
She hoped you could go to the mountain behind the village to find her father, who had gone up to cut firewood three days ago and hadn’t returned.”
“Finally, an old man in the village, seeing that you were still young, couldn’t bear to see you die, so he told you the whole story.
It turned out that a female demon, specializing in luring men and sucking their blood essence, had appeared on the mountain behind!”
In a dilapidated Japanese village in the late shogunate era.
Mitsuyuki, holding the Heroic Spirit Book, saw through the projection an old man in tattered clothes, urging him not to go to his death.
And a child, only seven years old, tugging at his clothes, crying and pleading… Besides her, there was only an elderly woman left in the family.
The village was poor, and hardly anyone came here on normal days, let alone a samurai.
It was precisely because of this that she grabbed Mitsuyuki and wouldn’t let go when she saw him.
“For this, your choice is…”
“A: Accept the request, B: Heed the warning, C: Intervene personally.”
“Female demon?”
A strange glint flashed in Mitsuyuki’s eyes.
But thinking about it carefully, it seemed quite normal, after all, this was the Type-Moon world, and even the modern era he lived in had mysteries appearing.
In a few more years, an ultimate evil demon of this world would even appear!
Moreover, the end of an era was precisely when Ghosts and monsters appeared.
Thinking this way, it was rather strange that he hadn’t encountered any demons when he became a wandering swordsman to seek sword intent in his previous life.
So, should he refuse this matter?
“How could there be any reason to refuse?”
Mitsuyuki’s lips curved slightly.
He knew that anything related to demons, ghosts, and gods was a definite bonus for legendary sublimation!
He didn’t even think about why Mitsuyuki decided to go to Kyoto to find that great demon in his previous life.
“Just an unknown female demon that sucks blood essence.
I didn’t even flinch when facing the ultimate evil demon of this world… Not to mention that my sword in this life is Onikiri!”
[You accepted the child’s request, even feeling a slight thrill of excitement.
As if sensing what was about to happen, your sword, onikiri, pulsed with a sense of joy.]
[However, your choice left most of the villagers feeling regretful, as they felt your actions were no different from seeking death.]
[Just as you were preparing to head up the mountain, to your surprise, the young girl plucked up her courage and followed you to lead the way.]
[You initially found it troublesome and wanted to refuse, but you were ultimately moved by her determination to find her father and brought her along.]
[You searched the back mountain for a long time until the sun was about to set and the evening glow hung in the sky, yet you still couldn’t find the girl’s father.]
[You understood in your heart that her father had likely met his end, but you said nothing and continued to search with her.
Surprisingly sensible, despite her immense reluctance, the girl eventually took the initiative to pull you back down the mountain.]
[Unexpectedly, just as you were about to descend, your sword onikiri trembled slightly, issuing a warning.]
[At the same time, your keen intuition and sixth sense for avoiding danger (Mind’s Eye (Fake)) allowed you to perceive the threat and instantly draw your blade, severing the female ghost’s hair as it struck from behind.] This story is hosted at novelping . com.
[You turned around, and under the sunset glow, you finally saw the true face of the female ghost.]
“Huh.”
Holding the Book of Heroic Spirits, Mitsuyuki blinked slightly as he watched the image of his first encounter with the female ghost manifest before him with a thought.
He was surprised to find that this female ghost in red was unexpectedly quite beautiful.
[Seeing that her strike failed to kill you, the female ghost let out a piercing shriek and immediately retreated.
Your choice is…]
[A: Pursue the ghost; B: Take the girl down the mountain; C: Intervene personally]
Mitsuyuki hesitated for a moment.
It wasn’t because he was afraid, but because he felt he shouldn’t take such a young child into danger.
But after some thought, Mitsuyuki ultimately chose to pursue the female ghost.
He was confident he could protect the child!
[You quickly caught up and were surprised to find that she seemed very afraid of you.]
“Afraid of me?”
Reading the text, Mitsuyuki tilted his head subconsciously, but soon realized the reason.
“She’s afraid of onikiri.”
[Your guess was correct.
As you chased the female ghost and sensed her aura, the onikiri in your hand underwent a startling change!]
[The flames originally engraved on the blade seemed to ignite, flickering upon the steel and guiding you toward the ghost.]
[With onikiri’s help, you finally cornered her at a remote, overgrown graveyard.
You discovered this was her lair; piles of tattered men’s clothing lay on the ground, including some belonging to ronin samurai.]
[Seeing no escape, the female ghost used her charm arts to try and seduce you.
However, the onikiri in your hand suddenly erupted with scorching fire lotuses, breaking her phantom arts…]
Mitsuyuki placed his finger on the text.
Through the projection, he not only saw onikiri’s purifying flames but also felt a sense of disdain from the sword…
After all, even the ghost-god Ibaraki-dōji couldn’t withstand it; where did a minor female ghost get such courage?
[The ghost’s greatest reliance was useless.
While she was dazed by this, you seized the moment and used the pinnacle of your current martial arts—Shunkan!]
Under the night sky, at the graveyard.
Mitsuyuki, dressed in a black samurai outfit, swung onikiri at the slightly stunned ghost whose eyes were widening inch by inch.
He struck with that instantaneous sword.
In a flash, cold light scattered in all directions.
Where onikiri passed, only a lingering trail of blazing flames remained.
The female ghost didn’t even have time to scream before being sliced in two.
Not only that, after being severed by onikiri, her body ignited with the sword’s residual embers, which incinerated her halved form until nothing remained!