kscans

Chapter 31 - That Man is in the West

Shintaro was to depart with Saneyuki and Nana, and of course, Shion would be with them. Therefore, he decided to offer the farewell greeting that Saneyuki would have given.

"I will protect your daughter without fail, so please rest assured." His posture as he gave a slight bow, hands resting on his knees, was so dignified that it impressed the onlookers, who included Nanafushi, Miyake, Saneyuki, and Nana. Shintaro did not grovel just because he was addressing Shion's father, or the Emperor, but he respected decorum—a balance he expressed perfectly. The Emperor flicked open his fan and fanned himself lightly.

"Hmph, well, I am not worried. Saneyuki and Nana are with you. Nothing happened when you visited here, I presume. More importantly, be careful not to kill your opponents." The Emperor's words were a sarcastic jab at Shintaro's strength. Shintaro smiled wryly and bowed once more.

*

Several nights into their journey, Shintaro was having a drink with Saneyuki in a detached room at their inn and casually asked him a question. Shion and Nana had already gone to bed early in another room, so there was no fear of being overheard. Although he had thought he would never drink again, he found he couldn't abstain completely, which had led to this.

"I can't tell if I'm still being watched with suspicion or if I've been accepted. What do you think?" Saneyuki was taken aback for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh.

"Hahaha! If he were still suspicious, he would have sooner died than allowed Shion-sama to accompany you."

"You think so?"

"Of course. Why don't you have a little more confidence?"

"Easier said than done."

"Weren't you so imposing when you departed?"

"...Eh?" Seeing Shintaro frown, Saneyuki let out a deep sigh and ran his fingers through his hair, ruffling it. He was only now realizing that Shintaro's demeanor was completely natural.

"What a troublesome man you are. You are the strongest in the West—no, at this point, you're probably the strongest in the country. There's no problem with you acting confident, you know?"

"No way. There might be someone even stronger out there."

"Impossible. Until now, the one hailed as the strongest in the country was Miyake-sama. If you beat him, then you really are number one in the country." Shintaro's eyes widened.

"Is that so?"

"It is."

"But that was a draw."

"That's because you stopped midway. Miyake-sama admitted defeat, you know?" Shintaro averted his gaze and looked down, lost in thought. To get his attention, Saneyuki picked up the sake flask and gave it a gentle shake.

"Want some?"

"Ah, no, I'm good."

"Hmph, you're right. If we don't call it a night soon, something else unfortunate might happen." Shintaro shot Saneyuki a slow glare. The memory of getting drunk and climbing the Tower was still fresh.

"Is that sarcasm?" But Saneyuki just laughed and shrugged.

"Aimed at myself. I'll drink in moderation so I don't say anything unnecessary."

*

Meanwhile, while they were on their journey, a man came to visit the Masaki dojo. He wasn't the only one; in recent times, there had been no end to the number of people knocking on their gate, but this man, Ogura Shozaburo, was a little different. He was twenty-three years old. A young man of medium build with unremarkable features. He had come because he had heard a certain rumor. It was that "if you learn from the master of the Masaki dojo, you can polish your own unique sword style." The basic forms were the same at any dojo, after which different schools of thought existed, and it was common to faithfully inherit those. But the word was that at the Masaki dojo, they focused on an individual's nature and strengths, and taught a more practical way of fighting. He was hopeful. So much so that you could say he was betting his life on it. As a sign of his resolve, he had even quit the Hokura dojo, which he had attended for seven years.

Upon being led into the dojo, Shozaburo came face-to-face with the deputy master, Yagami Senkichi.

"The master is currently absent. I will speak with you in his stead." Shozaburo was slightly disappointed, but he sat formally on the floor and bowed his head.

"I wish to enroll. I humbly ask for your consideration."

"Now, now, don't be so hasty. According to the letter, the master should be back in about a week. You can observe until then and make your decision."

"Y-Yes, sir." Shozaburo raised his head, looked at Senkichi, and then around the dojo. He was nine-tenths certain that the master was the head of this place, a certain Masaki, but the information he had was so scarce that he was overcome with anxiety. So he decided to ask Senkichi some questions.

"When was the Masaki dojo established?"

"Ah. Let's see... I believe it was around the same time as the Tower's history. This is the gate opened by the master of the Western Tower, that is, the Iron Tower." Shozaburo's eyes widened, and he trembled with excitement. The Hokura dojo had also become the Tower's property after the daughter's marriage, but hearing that this place was originally founded by the Western Tower Master, he recognized the difference in status.

"Then the dojo master is the Tower Master himself?"

"No, that would be the next Tower Master, Saneyuki-sama." Then the master must be a man named Masaki Saneyuki, Shozaburo thought, engraving the name in his mind.

"What kind of person is the Master?"

"If you came here based on the rumors, you can assume they are true. With a lion-like gaze, he soars high into the heavens and attacks like a hawk. A swordsman like him will never appear again, before or since." Gazing at Senkichi, who declared this with confidence, Shozaburo's eyes shone. If he could learn the sword under such a wonderful person, he felt he would be willing to wager his entire fortune.

In fact, as Shozaburo toured the dojo at Senkichi's recommendation, he saw the disciples practicing with such vitality that he became envious. Moreover, they all had sharp sword strokes, no openings, and wielded a unique sword that no one else could imitate.

The master here must be an excellent teacher. If I could become like that, I would be able to put my all into my training.

Shozaburo thought, and let out a sigh of admiration.

"Speaking of skill, that man was also a good teacher." Shozaburo muttered, recalling the former deputy master of the dojo he had given up on. The Hokura dojo was also a fine establishment. It was one of the top five in the East. But when he tried to elevate his own swordsmanship, he hit a limit. Because the teachings and style of the master, Hokura Saimon, were absolute, it was impossible to create anything eccentric or new techniques. He understood that tradition was wonderful, but that alone was not enough for Shozaburo, who aimed for a life as a true swordsman.

"The master here must be the one who will guide me to the path of the sword I seek." The more Shozaburo observed the disciples, the stronger his conviction grew.

*

And a week later, the day Shozaburo had been waiting for arrived. He was to meet the master and be judged on whether he could pass through the gate or not. The Masaki dojo didn't just accept anyone who paid the fee. Only those whose talent was discovered in a simple sparring match were allowed to enter. That test was conducted by the master. Shozaburo was confident. He had been praised as one of the top ten swordsmen at the Hokura dojo, and he had secretly been honing his skills on his own. There was no doubt he could hold his own anywhere.

He sat formally in the center of the dojo, his back straight, and waited with dignity for the master to arrive. Soon, he sensed a presence near the entrance, and he straightened his posture even more, casting his gaze in that direction. A man stepped in, following the deputy master, Senkichi. It goes without saying that Shozaburo turned pale, as if he had encountered a ghost. The other man also looked at Shozaburo, unable to hide his surprise.

"...Ogura Shozaburo?" Shintaro said, and Senkichi turned around.

"Do you know him?"

"He was a disciple at Hokura's."

"Wh-What?!" Senkichi exclaimed, sweat breaking out all over his face.

"Wh-What shall we do?"

"What's there to do? If he wants to join, let him. If he wants to withdraw his application, let him withdraw it." At Shintaro's words, Senkichi turned to Shozaburo.

"It seems to be up to you. What will you do?" Shozaburo swallowed hard. He finally understood that the dojo master and the instructor here were two different people. The man hailed as the man in the West—the man who could jump ten meters high and leap from the top of the Tower without a second thought. It wasn't Masaki Saneyuki, but the man who had been humiliated by the Eastern Tower. Shozaburo's panic and confusion were beyond words. He desperately searched his memory, trying to recall how he had acted, and his heart pounded so violently he felt dizzy and out of breath. But no matter how hard he tried, the only image that came to mind was of himself, sneering along with his comrades. Shozaburo was filled with intense regret. The baseless rumor that had briefly circulated in the Eastern Capital, that "he's probably fallen on hard times somewhere, hating the Tower Master," was instantly blown from his mind. Far from fallen on hard times, he was thriving. Far from hating the Tower Master, he had conquered the Tower itself. Otherwise, even in the West, it would be impossible to perform a feat like standing on top of that Tower and jumping off. This man had righteously triumphed over the blow of betrayal. Even though he was driven from the East, he had turned everything around in the West, he thought.

Shozaburo steeled himself and raised his face. Reflected in Shintaro's clear eyes was the brilliance of a conviction that would not yield to adversity. How could I have overlooked this light? Shozaburo's arms trembled.

"...Is it possible for me... to be allowed to stay here?" His voice trembled too. He was prepared to receive any kind of sarcasm or abuse. But instead, Shintaro let out a soft sigh and said,

"Did you not understand when I said to do as you please?"

"Wha— No, but...!"

"You came to the West, which means you left the things of the East behind in the East, didn't you? In that case, it's fine." Shozaburo stared at Shintaro in astonishment and felt ashamed of himself. He remembered the old days when he was cherished as a disciple, and his vision blurred with tears.