章 18: Chapter – 18 Kozaburo… Sensei?!
"I wish to meet the legendary Swordsmith Shimotsuki Kozaburo," Koushirou's eyes widened at the mention of 'Shimotsuki Kozaburo.' Not only the people outside Shimotsuki Village, but even the villagers themselves didn't know much about him. Therefore, he was taken aback when a boy as young as Ryuma, who wasn't even a resident of Shimotsuki Village and had arrived on the island only today, mentioned that name and questioned, "Child… how do you know of this name?"
"Ehh? Oh, how do I know about Shimotsuki Kozaburo…?" muttered Ryuma as he put his hands in his pockets and took out a piece of paper, passing it to Koushirou. "Because of this…"
Koushirou took the paper from Ryuma's hand with skeptical eyes. Upon unfolding it, he saw a familiar face inside, along with the words, 'Wanted: Dead or Alive… Crafter of Blades, Shimotsuki Kozaburo, 221 million Berries.' No doubt, it was a bounty poster.
While Koushirou was looking at the image of a person he was all too familiar with in the bounty poster, Ryuma spoke, "From this bounty poster, I became aware of the existence of Shimotsuki Kozaburo, who had left the Land of Wano and became a pirate. Later, I learned about this village, Shimotsuki Village, and Shimotsuki Kozaburo. I knew that the two ought to have some connection, so it wasn't that difficult to put two and two together… though it was only a guess up until now. Your reaction just now confirmed my guess, Koushirou-san."
"I see…" muttered Koushirou as he looked at Ryuma in admiration. Ryuma is the first person who was able to draw the connection between the pirate named Shimotsuki Kozaburo and the Shimotsuki Village. However, this isn't so surprising considering that Kozaburo quit his life as a pirate as early as 37 years ago. Not many people care about a pirate who was active on the seas more than 43 years ago, so naturally, they aren't able to make the connection.
Ryuma once again asked, "So… can I meet him?"
Before Koushirou could answer, suddenly, the door of the hall opened, and a rugged and old voice came from the other side, "What business does a brat like you have with me?"
Ryuma and Koushirou both raised their heads and looked in the direction of the gate of the hall. There stood a small old man with a large, thick unibrow that jutted to the sides of his face, a ponytail over a tuft of gray-white hair, and a beard framing his jawline; he had a scar on his left temple as well. The old man was wearing a green kimono decorated with purple flower patterns and sandals. He was also carrying a Katana with him and was smoking Kiseru.
It was none other than the legendary Swordsmith Shimotsuki Kozaburo.
"Otou-sama… you shouldn't show yourself this easily… if the word reaches the marines, they would all flock here!" said Koushirou with a troubled expression.
"Mah, don't worry…" said Kozaburo as he looked at Ryuma and questioned, "Brat, you won't tell the Marines about me, right?"
Ryuma nodded, "They won't hear a single word from me, I swear on my name."
Kozaburo smirked as he looked at Koushirou, "See."
Koushirou could only smile helplessly and shook his head. As Koushirou was convinced, Kozaburo looked back at Ryuma, but not before glancing at the 5-meter-long Odachi, and spoke, "Didn't expect to see one of the legendary Supreme Blades in the hands of a brat!"
Ryuma chuckled, "Well, life can be full of surprises."
"Heh… that certainly is true," nodded Kozaburo with a snort, and spoke, "Do you mind if I take a look at the sword, brat?"
Ryuma nodded, "Sure, go ahead," and lifted his Odachi with his body hands and presented it to Shimotsuki Kozaburo.
The old man held his breath as he laid his hands on the five-meter-long sword. It was long and heavy, but Kozaburo is certainly a man with enough strength to be able to hold the sword.
However, the moment his hands touched the sword, he withdrew it back immediately and fell back as cold sweat covered his forehead.
Koushirou rushed forward to help out his father and asked in a worried tone, "Otou-sama… are you all right?"
Kozaburo nodded, "Yeah… if I had touched that blade a moment longer, I might have gone insane… I really seem to have gotten old, sigh…" and added, "Boy, put it down…"
Ryuma nodded, "Very well," and put down the Odachi. At the same time, he noticed that rather than calling him 'brat,' Kozaburo was now calling him 'boy.'
Kozaburo breathed a sigh of relief as he once again looked at the sword with a thoughtful expression, "So… a malevolent Sword, huh? It would be a tough nut to crack. Do you think you can master it, boy?"
"I will," nodded Ryuma with a confident smile.
Looking at Ryuma's smile, Kozaburo chuckled, "Hooh? You remind me of a boy I once knew in my younger days in Wano… he was a monster… born with monstrous potential… I wonder what that boy is up to now…"
Ryuma blinked his eyes in surprise. He couldn't be sure, but considering that Kozaburo was in Wano nearly 43 years ago, only one 'boy' seems to meet the criteria as per his knowledge, and he wondered, 'Do I remind him of Kozuki Oden? Or is it someone else? Hmm, I wonder?'
At this time, Kozaburo asked with a confused expression, "So… you know who I am and wanted to meet me… you have said that you won't tell the marines about me… and you have one of the legendary Supreme blades in your possession… unlike you, I am unable to put two and two together… what do you want specifically from me, boy?"
Koushirou also looked at Ryuma with a confused expression. Initially, he had assumed that Ryuma wanted to learn the way of the Sword at the Isshin Dōjō, but when he expressed his intention of wanting to meet his father, Koushirou couldn't be sure anymore.
"I needed your help with some adjustment to this sword," answered Ryuma. Then he pointed at the blade and after that at himself, "As you might have noticed, the difference in our sizes would make it difficult for me to wield this blade… Kozaburo-san, you are a legendary swordsmith who has crafted two of the 21 Great Grade Swords. I was hoping that you would work on this Supreme Grade Blade and make it the appropriate size for me to wield."
"Hmm… I see, so you want me to adjust this blade to your size, huh?" muttered Kozaburo. Then after giving it some thought, he shook his head with a sigh, "I am sorry to disappoint you, boy… but I wouldn't be able to help you."
Ryuma asked with a frown, "Why? If it's a matter of money, I am willing to pay you… name your prize, and I will do everything needed–!"
But Ryuma's words were cut short as Kozaburo shook his head, "It's not because of money, boy. It's because I have grown old."
"That, no way… surely you are joking, right?" asked Ryuma, taken aback.
Kozaburo shook his head, "I am not. I have grown old, and I have lost my touch. I no longer have the skills I once had… these days, I can only craft simple iron swords that aren't worth anything… Even if I want to, I no longer have what it takes to work on such a fine blade." Then added after a pause, "If you came 10 or 20 years earlier, perhaps I would have been able to help you… but considering how I am right now… there is nothing I can do."
"This…" Ryuma was speechless and asked, "Is there anyone in this village who can work on this blade? Koushirou-san… what about you?"
Koushirou shook his head with a bitter smile, "No one in this village would be able to help you with that blade, child… Even me… I did not inherit the Swordsmithing skills from my father either… I have followed the way of the sword… so, I am afraid…"
He thought that by coming to the Shimotsuki Village and by convincing Kozaburo-san, everything would work out just as he wanted. However, it seems that things aren't going to go the way he wants.
Let alone Shimotsuki Kozaburo, even his son won't be able to help him. Ryuma was a little desperate now.
Suddenly, Ryuma thought of something and asked, "Then… Kozaburo-san… would it be possible… although I know I may be asking a bit too much of you… I have little choice at the moment, so I will say it anyway… would it be possible for you to pass on your Swordsmithing skills to me?"
"This…" now it was Kozaburo and Koushirou's turn to be taken aback and left speechless.
After a while of considering, Kozaburo said in a deep tone of voice, "Boy… such skills… they are not passed down so easily…"
Ryuma bowed as he said, "I am willing to do anything… If there is no other Swordsmith around who can help me… then I must help myself, and for that, I am willing to go to any length... Kozaburo-san… please… teach me the art of crafting swords… please accept me as your disciple!"
Hearing the desperate request from the boy, Kozaburo was surprised and questioned, "Why go so far, boy?"
Ryuma smiled fiercely as he answered, "This blade was given to me by a friend of mine, and I had made a promise to him that one day I would not only fight him but also defeat him using the very same blade… I don't intend to go back on my words!"
"I see," muttered Kozaburo with a thoughtful expression. After a while of thinking, Kozaburo nodded, "Very well… with what little time I have left… I shall impart to you my knowledge and skills as a Swordsmith… Though how much of it you would be able to grasp and whether you will be able to learn enough to be able to work on that blade of yours, that will be up to you…"
"I won't disappoint you, Kozaburo-Sensei!" nodded Ryuma in a resolute tone.
Kozaburo nodded with a grin, "You better not," then he turned to Koushirou, who was stunned by the sudden turn of events, and said, "Arrange a room for the boy… he will stay here while I teach him the art of crafting legendary swords!"
"I… I understand," nodded Koushirou, coming out of his shock.
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