[In this instant, you seemed to have finally grasped that previously ethereal sword intent, found a reason to swing your sword, and thus became a Swordmaster!]
[You decided that after this trip to Kyoto ended, you would return to Edo to receive the final menkyo kaiden certificate from your teacher, Kondo Shusuke.]
[Ten days later, you arrived in Kyoto.]
[However, what you didn’t expect was to be greeted by a great fire—a fire that burned the entirety of Kyoto!]
The unstoppable demon fire burned in Kyoto for two full days and nights, making the darkness as bright as day.
It wasn’t until the morning of the third day that the sky over Kyoto could no longer endure it, and the rain descended.
The drizzling rain fell, extinguishing the remaining flames in the city, and the disaster finally came to a halt.
And it was at this time that Mitsuyuki arrived in Kyoto.
The rain did not stop as he returned alone to the gates of his family home.
What met his eyes was the ruined Watanabe family estate after the fire, and the survivors of the clan holding each other and weeping bitterly.
He learned that his parents were dead…
though Mitsuyuki didn’t actually have a very deep impression of them.
He also learned that the Old Swordmaster—the one who had taught him, led him to dominantly slay those elites in that small city, and supported him by bearing the pressure of the clan—was also dead.
And he had not died in the fire, but under someone else’s blade.
Mitsuyuki stood there, silent for a long time.
The light rain after the great fire soaked all of Kyoto, mixed with the sound of low sobbing, making the streets of this disaster-stricken Kyoto appear somewhat hazy.
At the same time, it fell upon Mitsuyuki, who held no umbrella.
Drenching him completely.
[The rain kept falling, but it could not extinguish the anger in your heart.
Then, Hijikata Toshizo found you; his eyes were filled with unmistakable exhaustion, and he seemed to know some inside information, but he did not tell you immediately.]
[Because he said it was extremely dangerous.
Even though he sensed you had entered the realm of a Swordmaster, he still said this was absolutely not something you could solve.
He didn’t want to see you go to your death in vain.
To this, your choice is…]
[A: Investigate the cause, B: Rebuild the clan, C: Personally intervene.]
Mitsuyuki chose to investigate the cause without the slightest hesitation.
After all, the fire of anger burning in his heart right now was something even the Heroic Spirit Training Manual could feel.
If this were reality, Mitsuyuki might have chosen to be rational.
Because from their ten-plus years together in the Dojo, Mitsuyuki naturally knew how steady a person Hijikata Toshizo was.
If he said Mitsuyuki was no match for the culprit, then Mitsuyuki most likely didn’t have the strength yet.
But even so, what of it?
[You declined Hijikata Toshizo’s kindness and insisted on pursuing the matter.]
“Senior Brother Hijikata, I must swing my sword for this.”
Facing Hijikata Toshizo’s hesitation, Mitsuyuki spoke slowly: “Because I have already decided that the sword of my life shall be swung for others!”
Yes, this was the sword intent you had found.
“Furthermore, he destroyed my clansmen, my parents, and the benefactor who helped me…
This sword, I cannot fail to swing!”
Even guessing that this choice might destroy all his efforts up to now, Mitsuyuki still chose to charge forward!
[Upon hearing this and sensing your determination, Hijikata Toshizo stopped dissuading you.
With the help of the Shinsengumi and the remaining connections of your clan, you quickly obtained the information you wanted.]
[And what surprised you even more was that the Great Yokai mentioned in the letter Okita Souji gave you…
was exactly him!]
“That guy isn’t human.”
Inside the Shinsengumi, within a dilapidated house following the disaster, Hijikata Toshizo, who had finally finished his investigation after several days, invited Mitsuyuki there.
He hadn’t closed his eyes for several days.
“Most of your clansmen were killed by him…
They were honorable samurai, worthy of your ancestor’s name!”
Hearing this, Mitsuyuki suddenly remembered his family background.
The Watanabe family,
That’s right, it was the Watanabe no Tsuna from the legendary Heian period, one of the Four Heavenly Kings who had cut off the arm of the demon god Ibaraki-dōji!
Speaking of which, that Holy Relic Onikiri was still in Mitsuyuki’s home in reality.
“And according to the members of the Onmyoji families who survived in Kyoto, that Great Yokai, which absolutely should not have been born in this era, should be the collection of all the evils in this world!
Thus, he attempts to destroy Edo, both as revenge against the Meiji Government that betrayed him and for his own ambitions.”
“He is a man who crawled up from hell; his name is—Shishio Makoto!”
“And he is currently leading an army of the dead gathered from this fire toward Edo!”
Edo—this name might be slightly unfamiliar.
Then let’s use a name more widely known to later generations—Tokyo!
Without a doubt, Edo was the heart of Japan!
“Do you still choose to go, Junior Brother Mitsuyuki?”
Hijikata Toshizo’s gaze toward Mitsuyuki became slightly complex as he said, “You must know that this person is undoubtedly the strongest person in the world right now!
Only a Great Swordmaster like our teacher…
no, perhaps only a Sword Saint could slay him!”
[You learned everything from Hijikata Toshizo.
Although you felt some shock in your heart, you still chose to return to Edo overnight without any hesitation.]
[And along this journey, as Edo drew nearer, your heart grew heavier…
For some reason, a very bad premonition surged into your heart.]
[In the dark, you seemed to have sensed something, which made your speed faster and faster.]
[Finally, you returned to Edo.
Although the great battle didn’t seem to have broken out yet and Edo appeared very peaceful on the surface, when you arrived non-stop at the Dojo that had raised you for over ten years—]
[What you saw was a Dojo stained red with blood.]
[In the Dojo, you saw Shishio Makoto, and your teacher Kondo Shusuke, whose heart had already been pierced by him.]
[Your teacher saw you.
In his final moments, he desperately held onto Shishio Makoto and told you to run quickly.
To this, you choose…]
[A: A desperate struggle, B: A pathetic escape, C: Personally intervene.]
Anger…
An irrepressible anger made even Mitsuyuki’s eyes—as the ‘Observer’ rather than the projection—turn blood-red.
His hand rested on this final sentence that had emerged in the Heroic Spirit Training Manual.
What appeared before his eyes was the blood-stained Dojo, and his teacher, spitting blood, his body pierced by a sword burning with flames, yet using the last of his strength upon Mitsuyuki’s arrival to grab Shishio Makoto and tell him to leave quickly.
Mitsuyuki stared deathly at the scene, and at this Shishio Makoto, who wore a deep green-black robe, was wrapped in white bandages, and showed only black hair, red eyes, and that pair of conspicuous demon horns on his head.
The ultimate evil…
of this era.
Mitsuyuki moved his hand away from the text and took several deep breaths.
Then, his gaze became resolute.
“Heroic Spirit Book, take all my remaining power to intervene and bestow it upon me…
Sorry, Teacher, I’m going to have to fail your kindness.”
As the words fell, Mitsuyuki resolutely chose to personally intervene!
…
…
Shortly after,
In reality, inside Emiya Shirou’s room.
Mitsuyuki suddenly snapped his eyes open, sat up instantly, and scanned his surroundings with wide eyes.
As his mind gradually cleared, Mitsuyuki, having regained his senses, almost subconsciously touched his neck.
Realizing it was still there, he finally let out a long sigh of relief.
“I knew I shouldn’t have personally intervened…
Knowing defeat was certain, why was I so impulsive?
.”
Having just danced back and forth with death, Mitsuyuki couldn’t help but shake his head gently.
But having said that, if time were wound back, Mitsuyuki’s choice would likely still be that same one.
And it was a total defeat.
However, this was normal.
After all, although Mitsuyuki had used both remaining charges of the Heroic Spirit Training Manual’s power at the time,
At most, it only reached the peak strength of a Swordmaster, and even that was a bit of a stretch.
How could Mitsuyuki possibly defeat the ultimate collection of evil of that era?
In fact, Mitsuyuki knew this from the start.
But through the Heroic Spirit Training Manual, Mitsuyuki had lived in that Dojo for over ten years via projection.
During that time, Teacher Kondo Shusuke had played a role akin to a father.
Therefore, retreat was out of the question!
Furthermore…
“heroic hero Spirit Manual.”
With a thought, the black-covered Heroic Spirit Training Manual appeared in Mitsuyuki’s hand.
Opening the book, he saw the original marks on the pages faintly fading, as black ink reformed into brand new words.
[First Simulation Ended.]
[Experience Summary:]
[You were born into a prestigious family of swordsmen and showed talent beyond ordinary people from a young age.
Consequently, you entered the tutelage of a famous master at the age of five and were hailed as a genius swordsman.]
[You mastered all the swordsmanship techniques of the Tennen Rishin-ryū school.]
[Seeking the intent of the sword, you ventured into a chaotic world.
Amidst the chaos, you created a sanctuary admired by the world.
Before your departure, they showed you the highest respect.
Moved by this, you decided that the sword of this life would be swung for their sake!]
[You sensed a crisis in Kyoto.
Upon rushing back to Edo, you witnessed your teacher’s death.
Blinded by rage, you threw away your own life…]
[Age at Death: 18]
[System scanning…
System scan complete.]
[heroic hero Spirit Engraving criteria met.
Quality: Obscure]
[Proceed with heroic hero Spirit Engraving?]
[System Note: You have two simulation attempts remaining.
Once heroic hero Spirit Engraving is performed, you will no longer be able to continue heroic hero Spirit Simulations.]
“No.”
Mitsuyuki chose to refuse without the slightest hesitation.
To be honest, reaching the level of heroic hero Spirit Engraving was already somewhat beyond Mitsuyuki’s expectations.
He likely benefited from his association with Okita Souji and Hijikata Toshizo, as well as the sublimation of the events in that small city.
As for the quality of the heroic hero Spirit, it would be evaluated based on the era Mitsuyuki simulated and his corresponding actions.
The ranks were Obscure, heroic hero, and finally, Legendary.
Shishio Makoto.
To put it simply, it was the difference between R, SR, and SSR cards!
Therefore, with only Obscure quality, Mitsuyuki naturally wouldn’t perform the heroic hero Spirit Engraving immediately, especially since he still had two more simulation attempts.
Moreover…
at this moment, Mitsuyuki looked at the two remaining simulation attempts in the book and narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Shishio Makoto, the ultimate evil of this world, right?”
He smiled faintly and said, “Didn’t expect it, did you?
This grandpa…
can still come back!”