章節 11: Type-Moon, the Heroic Spirit I Summoned is Myself
A: Return to the Family,
B: Seek Another Master,
C: Wander with Sword,
D: Intervene Personally
With the book of Book of Heroic Spirit Development in hand, Lucian pondered over the options before him.
"Returning to the family can allow for arrangements before the real Shishio Makoto burns Kyoto, but that is still five years away..."
"As for seeking another master, while I could learn another school of thought, it may not provide immediate benefits for my current situation..."
"In that case, it seems best to focus on the same path as my previous life, prioritizing the cultivation of reputation through the deeds of heroic spirits."
After a brief contemplation, Lucian reached his decision.
Although he was currently just thirteen years old, Lucian understood that this projection was stronger than the one from his last simulation.
He had more than enough capital to venture into this war-torn world!
[That night, you once again met the head of the Hokushin Itto-ryu, Chiba shusaku, expressing your intention to depart. It seemed he had anticipated this and did not try to stop you.]
[The next morning, you left the dojo, but instead of leaving Edo immediately, you visited the dojo of the Tennen Rishin-ryu to bid farewell to your former teacher, Kondo Shuuzen.]
[Just as you were about to leave Edo, however, a surprising person blocked your way, drawing their sword to challenge you...]
In the courtyard of the Tennen Rishin-ryu dojo, beneath the familiar sakura tree, stood Okita Souji, her beautiful hair swaying gently as she pointed her wooden sword at Lucian.
"What are you standing there for?"
The young girl, only thirteen like Lucian, lifted her bokken and frowned at him.
"Draw your sword!"
Seeing that she genuinely seemed intent on fighting him, Lucian cast a helpless, pleading glance at Kondo Shuuzen, who was watching from nearby.
Along with Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizou, they were all too familiar despite this being a simulation of their new life.
After all, the Hokushin Itto-ryu dojo was also located in Edo.
Lucian naturally visited home often, primarily to learn how to merge the Tennen Rishin-ryu and Hokushin Itto-ryu.
His ability to execute the ultimate technique "Shashin" was largely thanks to Kondo Shuuzen's guidance.
Yet, inexplicably, the closeness he once shared with Okita Souji was now replaced by her seemingly angry demeanor in this life.
However, Okita was generally an easy-going and cheerful person, leaving everyone puzzled by her attitude.
now, faced with Lucian's pleading gaze, Kondo Shuuzen and the others averted their eyes almost simultaneously, pretending not to see.
They clearly intended to watch from the sidelines.
Lucian, feeling helpless, smiled wryly at Okita Souji, saying, "Souji, you're no match for me…"
"How would you know if you don't try?" Okita huffed, raising her sword again. "I'm not going to give up easily... and you, traitor!"
"Traitor? How am I the traitor?" Lucian was taken aback.
"I don't know, but I just feel that way about you," Souji replied, hesitating for a moment.
Her golden eyes reflected Lucian's image.
In that instant, countless memories of the 'past' flashed through her mind, and unable to hold it back, she yelled, "You betrayed me!"
Lucian was momentarily stunned.
He looked at Okita Souji in front of him, then fell silent.
"I see… so I owe you a sword, then," Lucian said, as if he understood something. "I remember saying that I would return to see you once I found my sword will, but... it's still a bit too early, Souji."
He met her gaze and added, "It's a bit too early, so… come at me, Okita Souji."
Just like before.
"And at that time, I will surely show you my sword!"
The bond between swordsmen has never been shared through words but through the sword itself!
At Lucian's words, Okita Souji, who had been slightly dazed, actually lowered her wooden sword under the watchful eyes of the three observers.
"Okay."
Her response was quick and decisive.
She wasn't really a fool; she understood the gap between her and Lucian at this moment.
But upon hearing that he would leave, a voice within her seemed to urge her fiercely, compelling her to keep him from going.
At the same time, once this agreement was solidified, Okita discovered that the restlessness, unhappiness, and anger she always felt when meeting Lucian had finally vanished.
It was as if... she had been waiting for Lucian to say those words.
"You wait for me, Lucian!" Okita Souji gazed earnestly at him, her beautiful golden eyes reflecting his figure.
"I will definitely catch up to you!"
…
[Under the cherry blossom tree, you made a new promise with that girl. You would wait for her, and someday she would chase after you.]
[You bid farewell to everyone and left Edo, dressed in black samurai attire, carrying the divine sword, Oni-Kiri, once again transforming into a wandering swordsman, stepping into the chaotic world.]
[After a time, you arrived at a remote village.]
[You noticed that the village had turned from its former poverty into a lively place filled with the laughter and joy of the villagers. Even when faced with an unfamiliar samurai like you, they were willing to accept you.]
[You saw many familiar figures and faces, yet they undoubtedly did not recognize you.]
[You didn't mind; you just smiled at everything around you, then lowered the bamboo hat on your head and set off once more.]
[Your journey took you across many familiar lands, meeting many people you recognized yet who viewed you as a stranger. Ultimately, you arrived at that small town, a place filled with many memories and where you found your sword's will.]
[You met the current lord of the small town, who respectfully referred to you as "young master"… he was a member of your Watanabe family.]
[Since you finished your apprenticeship at the age of four, gaining a voice in the family, you sent a swordsman to this place and had them develop it according to your instructions.]
[Thus, this place had long become a paradise amidst chaos, even more beautiful than before.]
[Only, the difference now was that back then, you were well-known, while now... no one remembers you.]
------
Mainly, this chapter took me a long time to finish.
Moreover, I encountered some problematic issues, and since you couldn't speak out, it made me frustrated.
Brothers, send some votes and rewards my way to let me hear your voices, boosting my confidence to keep writing!
"Once, who didn't know you; now, are you just a passerby...?"
Gently stroking the text on the book of Book of Heroic Spirit Development and feeling the memories within the projection, Lucian gazed at the idyllic scene of the small town unfolding before him.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
[The next day, without a trace of longing, you left the place, wearing a bamboo hat like an ordinary wandering swordsman who had reached this paradise that you yourself had created amid the chaos.]
[This time, no one came to see you off. You also understand that this would not become a legendary tale to elevate your heroic spirit. So, do you... regret it?]
In reality, Lucian could have waited until he regained his strength, finishing his studies before leaving Edo to recreate what he had done in his previous life.
After all, the deeds he had done back then had already been validated through simulation, sure to be widely circulated as the leverage for his transformation into a heroic spirit.
But he didn't choose that path, as it inherently contradicted his purpose of imprinting his heroic spirit.
So… does he regret it?
"Not at all."
Facing the text that appeared in the book of Book of Heroic Spirit Development, Lucian almost instinctively responded.
Then, after coming to his senses, he couldn't help but shake his head with a self-deprecating smile.
"Why am I even answering that? It's not a choice."
Indeed, Lucian had no regrets.
Even knowing that this would become a definitive legend, he still couldn't ignore it once aware of these matters.
[You have no regrets... you haven't even considered continuing to exploit this matter or use them.
You simply wanted to do this, so you did.]
Lucian's fingers brushed against the words emerging from the book.
The scene before him transformed, becoming the exterior of the small town.
The projection of him as a wandering swordsman now stood at the town gate.
Just as he was about to leave, he paused and looked back at the bustling scene behind him.
With a gentle smile, he pressed down his hat and walked away.
[In the late years of the shogunate, natural disasters, calamities, and the mysterious hidden forces intertwined on this grand stage—this was the final brilliance of this era, and the symphony that heralded the coming of a new age.]
[And such a stage will not lack the stories you seek.]
[You haven't traveled far before you settled in another village.]
[You received the request from a seven-year-old girl in the village. She hoped you could go to the mountains behind the village to find her father, who had gone up to chop wood three days ago and hadn't returned.]
[Facing the girl's request, you noticed something unusual, as most of the villagers displayed fearful expressions upon hearing about it.]
[Finally, an old villager, unable to bear seeing a young man go to his death, disclosed the events that had transpired. It turned out that a female ghost had appeared on the mountain, luring men and siphoning their life force!]
In this dilapidated Japanese village, late in the shogunate period, Lucian, holding the book of heroic spirits, saw the old villager in tattered clothes trying to dissuade him against a certain death.
There was also a seven-year-old girl grabbing his sleeve and pleading with tears... aside from her, only an elderly woman remained at home.
The village was poor, and rarely did anyone visit, much less a samurai.
That was why she clung to Lucian when she saw him.
[As such, your choices are...]
[A: Accept the request, B: Heed the discouragement, C: Intervene personally.]
"Female ghost?"
A glimmer of intrigue crossed Lucian's eyes.
Thinking again, it seemed rather normal; after all, this was the Type-Moon world. There are mysteries that exist even in the modern era he lives in.
In a few years' time, the ultimate evil of this era would emerge!
Moreover, the end of the era was precisely when spirits and monsters roamed freely.
Considering this, it was indeed odd that he hadn't encountered any demons or spirits during his previous life as he searched for his sword will.
Should he refuse this matter?
"Why would I have a reason to refuse?"
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Lucian's mouth; after all, matters related to demons, spirits, and gods would undoubtedly contribute positively to his legendary elevation!
He didn't even need to think about what had inspired him to journey to Kyoto and look for that great demon in his previous life.
"A mere blood-sucking female ghost; I never faltered in the face of the ultimate evil! ... let alone in this life with my legendary sword, the Oni-Kiri!"
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票