kscans

Chapter 276 - Kindred Spirits

It took a considerable amount of time, but Hayato finished crafting enough Meitou Yatagarasu for every member.

His bad habit had likely surfaced. When he focused on production, he lost all sense of time. By the time he noticed, a significant amount of time had passed, and the system menu’s clock showed it was evening.

That meant he had missed his shift at the cafe.

It’s my fault, I know, but I won’t feel better until the Ten Holy Demonic Swords get a thorough beating.

A slightly darker side of Hayato was showing, but it was understandable. Anyone would know that reality should take precedence over a virtual world, but this game had its own set of problems. Many things moved in real time, and time did not stop when one logged out.

Hayato hoped that Esha and the others had opened the cafe or had covered for him.

"You seem to be a proper craftsman," one of the Ten Holy Demonic Swords said to the dejected Hayato.

It was the same armored warrior who had been doing all the talking to Hayato. Considering he was also giving orders to the other armored warriors and ninjas, he was probably the leader.

That aside, Hayato did not quite understand what he was being told.

"What do you mean, a proper craftsman?"

"It’s not limited to craftsmen, but in the sense that you follow through on what you say you’ll do, I said ‘proper.’ You could have chosen to do nothing the moment your knife was returned to you."

"Those are kind words, but coming from you, I can’t say I’m pleased."

"It seems I am disliked. Even though you and I are kindred spirits."

"We’re nothing alike."

Hayato answered in an instant.

Their thoughts, actions, methods, they were not similar in the slightest. More than that, he disliked being put in the same category as them.

"Is that so? You seek to master production skills, while we seek to master strength. Our goals may be different, but I believe the essence is the same."

"I’ll say it again, we’re nothing alike. I don’t betray or sacrifice others to master my path. I can’t even begin to imagine on what grounds you’d say we’re kindred spirits. Are your eyes just for show?"

At Hayato’s words, the armored warrior laughed.

"Are you sure you haven’t betrayed anyone, or that you can say with certainty you haven’t sacrificed anyone? Did you do everything yourself to bring your production skills to 100? Didn’t you have someone gather materials for you?"

"Well, that’s—"

"You’re just deluding yourself into thinking you haven’t sacrificed anyone based on your own convenient interpretation, aren’t you? Is it because they’re your companions that it’s not a problem? Or is it a give-and-take relationship because they benefit from your skills? You’re just unaware of it, which makes you worse than us."

Hayato had to admit there was some truth to that.

The knife he had gotten back. He had gathered materials with his companions many times to make it. It was not entirely without compensation, but there was no doubt he had used up a considerable amount of their time.

That was precisely why he had wanted it back. It was not because of its performance. He had wanted it back because it held memories of his friends.

"You may be right. But I’m grateful to my companions. Do you feel any gratitude?"

"None. But what of it? Should I say I’m grateful to them for being my stepping stones? Or should I pay them? We have decided that we do not care who is sacrificed in our pursuit of strength. That is what it means to master a path, is it not?"

"I can’t understand that."

"I am not asking for your understanding. But it is a shame. I thought you were one of us, but you were just a boring craftsman with no resolve. It seems my eyes were indeed just for show."

"What are you saying while using a sword made by that boring craftsman with no resolve?"

The armored warrior laughed even harder at that.

"You got me there. That is true. But the path of production must be a boring one if someone like you can create the strongest sword. To reach a ceiling at this level."

"What did you say?"

"I said that a path where someone of your level can create the strongest sword is boring. In that respect, the path to strength is far, far away. So far that even if one obtained the strongest sword, it would be arrogant to call oneself the strongest. But that is what makes it a path worth betting one’s life on."

Even in a virtual reality, Hayato recoiled from the armored warrior before him. His way of thinking was insane.

Was he really just a samurai fanatic? I get a much more sinister and unpleasant feeling from him.

"Well, that is all for our chat. Hayato, I shall give you a reward. Take it."

"I don’t want anything from you."

"Now, now, don’t say that. Think of it as my gratitude. The reward is that I will spare you from being taken hostage."

"What?"

The moment Hayato said that, for some reason, the strength drained from his body and he collapsed from his feet up.

W-what...? Whoa, my HP is at 0? Was I cut!?

He had been aware that the armored warrior had his hand on the hilt of his Yatagarasu, but he had no perception of being attacked. But his HP was at 0 and he was down. As a result, there was no doubt he had been attacked.

Was that it? The thing they call Iai-giri? But to be so fast that I couldn’t even perceive the moment of attack...

The armored warrior looked at Hayato for a moment, then turned to face the other Ten Holy Demonic Swords and ninjas.

"Now, we have what we came for. We have no more reason to be in this country. Head to ‘Onigashima’ from the eastern port. We will obtain new power there."

"But what should we do? The Demon Lord’s Army was certainly unexpected. They don’t seem to be attacking for now, but we appear to be surrounded. Can we break through and reach the port?"

"I will draw their attention at this castle. You all go on ahead."

"Are you sure?"

"It’s fine. Go quickly."

After that exchange, they all left the workshop.

Do they not know about the feature that lets you hear conversations even when you’re down? All their information is leaking out.

Thinking that, Hayato pressed the "Resurrect" button.

Hayato revived in his room at the mansion.

He had retrieved his knife and provided everyone with a highest-quality Yatagarasu. So far, according to plan. And now, for the counterattack. With that in mind, Hayato moved to the mansion’s great hall.

Everyone except the Demon Lord’s Army was there.

Hayato explained the events that had transpired.

"I see. In that case, we can go on a rampage now. Master, please stay here and cook today’s feast. We will go and teach those samurai what strength is."

At Esha’s words, everyone’s face turned fearsome. Hayato found it reassuring, but he had forgotten to explain about the Yatagarasu, so he did so properly and asked them to be careful.

But Esha just smirked.

"No matter how strong a weapon is, it is meaningless if it cannot hit. In terms of pure strength, ranged weapons are superior to melee weapons. To defeat an opponent without them noticing. I will teach them that that is the strongest."

There was room for debate, but she was not wrong. It was unclear what the Ten Holy Demonic Swords considered to be the strongest anyway, so even if they sought strength, it was not clear what that entailed.

Hayato still did not quite understand the thinking of those armored warriors.

As everyone was leaving the mansion, only Simon remained, her arms crossed as she pondered something.

Benitsuru tilted her head at her actions.

"Simon, what’s wrong?"

"...Princess, if you do something strange again, I will leave this country."

"I-I know, I’ll be good. I’ll study, and I won’t be selfish!"

"Then go with Hayato’s companions and capture all of the Ten Swords. You can do it without me, can’t you?"

"Huh? Simon, you’re not coming?"

"There is something on my mind. It would be a problem if the Princess did not appear at that place, so go and make yourself conspicuous."

"What does that mean?"

"Just act separately from me. Well, if you do not trust me, that is fine too."

At those words, Benitsuru’s face turned panicked.

"I-I trust you, Simon. Then I’ll go capture the members of the Ten Swords! Everyone! Let’s go, let’s go! You’re under arrest, you’re under arrest!"

"And secure the resurrection point of the Ten Swords as well. Taking back the castle is the first priority."

"Roger that, kind of!"

Benitsuru said that and headed towards the castle with her samurai retinue. And so, Hayato and Simon were left in the mansion.

"Um? What’s on your mind?"

"You were given too much information, Hayato. In other words, I suspect it is false information."

"Huh? So, the information about going to the eastern port is wrong?"

"No, it is likely correct. However, it is a diversion."

"A diversion?"

"He is probably using the Ten Swords and the ninjas as decoys, while he alone escapes from the western port. He is so small-minded it makes me want to cry."

"Huh? He’s escaping by himself?"

"That is right. He intends to betray his companions. Well, I do not know if he ever thought of them as companions in the first place."

"Could it be that the leader sent the other Ten Swords to the eastern port so he could escape alone? And he let me hear it on purpose? After all that talk about being obsessed with strength?"

"That was all part of his strategy to deceive you, Hayato. He does those kinds of small-minded things. Therefore, I am going to the western port. I have no intention of letting him escape."

"But, by yourself?"

"If we go in a large group, he will notice. If that happens, he might come up with another plan. A small number is less likely to be noticed."

As Simon said this, she turned her back to Hayato, and with a fluid motion, tied a tasuki, securing her sleeves. Then, she pulled off the white ribbon tying her hair at the back with her right hand, and this time, tied it like a headband.

Watching her preparations, Hayato spoke.

"I’ll go with you. I think if I wear the clothes of the Eastern Country, I won’t be noticed."

At Hayato’s words, Simon stopped. Then she slowly turned and looked at Hayato.

Simon, who usually had a dignified air about her, felt even more so with her hair down and wearing a headband.

That Simon was looking at Hayato with a serious expression.

"Can you not trust me as the Princess does? Even if that man has the Yatagarasu, I will absolutely not lose. Besides, if he does not come to the western port after I have said all this, it will be quite embarrassing."

"It’s already embarrassing if he doesn’t come, now that I’ve heard it. Besides, I was cut down by that Iai-like attack. And I went through a lot of horrible things because of him, so I want to see the moment you cut him down. For stress relief."

He did not really think that. It was not that he did not trust Simon. He could not fight, but he just wanted to provide support in case something happened.

"If you are taken hostage, I will cut you down along with him, you know?"

"Be my guest. I’ll just resurrect here anyway. As long as you can defeat him, you can cut me as many times as you like."

Simon looked a little exasperated at Hayato’s carefree attitude, but in the next moment, she smiled.

"To be honest, I was a little nervous. If you come with me, Hayato, it will be like having the strength of a hundred men."

"That’s an overstatement. I can’t fight, so I don’t even have the strength of one man, but I’ll support you with production items. I’ll get them ready right away, so wait for me."

Hayato immediately headed to the storehouse and threw the necessary items into his item bag.