Chapter 589: First sword
What could he say in this situation?
Shishio didn’t want to show off, but even he must admit that his act was like showing off. After all, he came with many of his girlfriends.
Still, he also felt that this woman’s mood wasn’t good somehow, making him wonder whether he had seduced her.
Still, did he have an interest in her?
Shishio wasn’t sure since he knew how workaholic this woman was. It wouldn’t be weird for her to only have a holiday for one or two days a month.
Yet if she jumped into him, why should he reject her?
However, he wasn’t that narcissistic and knew that this woman was different from the others.
She is a tough woman.
“Whatever, come in.”
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Togo turned as if she didn’t care much and walked to her villa.
“Come on.”
Shishio also gestured for his girlfriends to follow.
Still, his girlfriends looked around curiously.
While it was summer, this place was quite cool since it was located near the mountain. It also had a nice, fresh lake nearby, which made them want to swim there.
“If you want, you can swim there,” Togo said after she glanced at their reaction.
“You’re so kind, Tomari-san,” Shishio said with a smile.
“Stupid! I am not kind!” Togo retorted loudly and said, “Just hurry up and get your sword inside!”
Shishio looked at Togo’s back, and for some reason, he thought she could become a good mother.
However, everyone who heard Togo’s words was happy since they didn’t expect that they could play in this place.
“Cough! Cough!” Shishio coughed to remind them. “We can play later.”
They quickly nodded and tried to act as politely as possible, like a groomed lady. Yet, even so, their act was quite messy, especially when they saw a group of maids inside the villa.
“…..”
Shishio glanced at the row of beautiful maids inside the villa with a speechless expression. If he didn’t know much about Togo, he thought this woman might be a lesbian.
Togo walked toward the living room before she pointed at the katana, which was placed on the beautiful, fierce katanakake (katana display) with an intricate tiger carving.
While he was interested in the katana, he wondered why Togo carved the katanakake with a tiger carving.
Did she want to remind him of something?
Yet he decided to observe the katana first.
The katana was around the standard size.
‘Should the blade be around 75 to 80 cm?’
The sheath was black with a round tsuba (handguard), which resembled the wheel of the wagon.
Togo took the katana and frowned slightly before she gave it to Shishio.
“It’s quite heavy. Take it first.”
“Thanks.”
Shishio took the katana and opened the blade slightly, showing the sharp metallic blade. Still, he only did it for a moment since he didn’t want to scare them, yet it seemed his girlfriends were more excited than he was.
“Shishio, let me see it.”
“Yeah, it’s not fair for you to be the one who looks at it.”
“…Guys?” Shishio was speechless since they had lost her nervousness and started to act like this place was their home. However, it might be because they could see that Togo was gentle. Under her rough and crazily-like appearance, she was good at taking care of someone.
“It’s dangerous to take it out here.” Shishio looked at Togo and asked, “Is there a place where I can try this sword?”
“You can try it outside. It’s all forest, after all.” Togo smiled and said, “I also want to see how strong you are with that sword.” There must be a reason why Shishio wanted a sword, and considering how strong he was, she had a feeling that he must be skillful with it.
“Let’s go! Let’s go!” 2x
Momo and Nana pushed his back to go outside.
The rest also followed since they were curious.
Shishio was speechless, but he must admit it was his first time using a sword. The only sword that he used was a wooden sword that was kept on the Sakurasou to knock down someone who entered the woman’s area. He used it to test “Thunder Breathing,” which was the first martial art that he got from the system.
Yet even if he had used the step technique and the breathing technique, it was his first time incorporating this technique with a real katana.
Even though this was a sword technique.
‘Let’s try it.’
He would be lying if he wasn’t excited, so he walked toward the free space before he took the blade.
His move was so soft and smooth, as if he had done this countless times.
It might have been his first time with “Enhanced Memory,” and his mastery over “Thunder Breathing” made him capable of doing this.
Yet, in that single movement, they could feel the aura around him start to change.
His figure was sharp, as if he had become one with the sword.
However, it was only for a moment before they quickly said, “Don’t get too close. If you want to observe it, do it from my side and maintain some distance since it is sharp.”
“Oh-oh!”
They agreed and observed the katana from the side.
While they observed the blade, he also did the same. He had gotten the “Blacksmith Mastery” before, and he thought of making his own katana, but as expected, it would take a while to make it, and it was troublesome.
It was also impossible to make it in the middle of the city since the smoke from the smithy process would be too intense.
If he wanted to make it, he had to do it in the countryside where there weren’t many people.
However, he was so busy.
He had to take care of school matters, business, his women, and many other things.
Still, it was normal since if one wanted to get a lot of things, one had to pay the price.
Anyway, this wasn’t the time for him to think about the complicated matter. Instead, he focussed more on the sword since he must admit the quality of the katana was so good!
Shishio could tell that Togo asked someone to make the sword from a rare metal and a long process along with a high-tech machine.
The combination of a long experience, good materials, and the highest technology was able to create this sword.
In other words, this sword was awesome!
Shishio glanced at Togo and thought that she was going to make a half-assed sword, but it seemed he had to say sorry to her.
“Aren’t you going to swing it?” Togo asked when she saw Shishio sheathed the blade on its sheath.
“My sword style is different.”
“Oh? Is it “Iaijutsu?”
“Iaijutsu?”
Everyone was confused.
Iaijutsu is a combative quick-draw sword technique.
Unlike others that have a unique or strong swing, Iaijutsu was fast.
Speed was the main point of this technique.
He knew, but they didn’t know, so he explained it to his girlfriends.
Listening to his words, Shiina asked, “Shishio, can you show it?”
“Sure.”
“Do you need a tatami mat to show it?” Togo asked.
Many people might not know, but many swordsmen in this country usually show how well they swing their swords by cutting a rolling tatami mat.
However, Shishio didn’t answer Togo’s question. Instead, he walked to the nearby tree and put his hand on its trunk.
“What are you doing?” Saki asked in confusion.
“Give me some space. I will try my sword first.”
“Oh-oh!”
They weren’t sure what he was going to do, but they listened to him.
Togo was also curious and didn’t say anything.
When they distanced themselves from him, he bumped the tree in a controlled manner, causing one leaf to fall.
The leaf fell slowly, swayed right to left, ambiguous.
While Togo was dumbfounded, it was only for a moment, but she saw a gleam of silver flash.
The flash happened several times, and it was hard not to ignore it, especially Shiina, who got the best eyes out of everyone.
When the leaf fell to the ground, Shishio nodded in satisfaction.
“Shishio, can we get close now?”
They wanted to get closer, but they thought it was better to ask his opinion first.
“Sure.”
Hearing his confirmation, they quickly moved closer and were dumbfounded when they saw the leaf.
The leaf was cut three times.
Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal.
While the vertical and horizontal were understandable, the diagonal made them speechless.
Futaba picked the leaf, and no words came out of her mouth for a while.
“…Is this humanly possible?”
This was the question that came out of her mouth.
“The evidence is right in front of us. However, this can only be done by him.”
Togo was also speechless.
His swordsmanship was too good, right?
According to her memory, she didn’t think that anyone could be as good as him in the sword technique.
On the other hand, Shiina took the leaf and asked, “Can I bring it back?”
“Why not? But you don’t need to take it if you want it since I can cut the leaf anytime now.” Shishio had a sword now, so he cut the leaf all the time, especially when there were many trees on the Sakurasou.
“No, I want this.” Shiina shook her head while holding the leaf with a smile.
“……”
Shishio rubbed Shiina’s head and wondered how this girl could be so cute.
‘It seems I have to say sorry to her for tonight.’
After all, he might be rough later.
Still, he felt this wasn’t enough, so he said, “Tomari-san, can I ask something?”
“What’s wrong?” Togo didn’t look at him and observed the leaf curiously.
“This tree. Can I cut it down?”
Shishio knocked the trunk of the tree several times.
“…….”
“…Seriously?” Momo was dumbfounded.
Togo blinked her eyes but smiled. “If you can, then do it.”
“Then, keep your distance a bit. It might be quite rough.”
They nodded and distanced themselves from him.
“You’re still too close. Move a little far away. Okay, that’s enough.”
While the pine tree was thick and tall.
The reality wasn’t a manga where it was humanly possible for a swordsman to cut down a thick tree or even a large stone.
Yet was it ignorance or the rebellious period of the boy?
Or was it because he wanted to return to his Chuunibyou state like before?
Togo wasn’t sure, but she just stared at him curiously.
Shishio took a deep breath and used his breathing technique.
“First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.”
His figure disappeared as if he had teleported right to the opposite side of the tree.
*Click!*
The sound of his blade sheathed sounded.
Shishio then returned to everyone, but as he walked, the tree swayed slightly before it fell.
*BOOOOOOM!!*
“……” Everyone.
“Shall we play on the lake?” Shishio asked with a smile, and his mood was so good now.
Chapter 581: Fragile relationship
Before the test of courage started, every high school student that took part in this camp went to the room to try on the costumes for tonight’s test of courage.
“What’s with these cheap costumes?” Yumiko was speechless.
Everyone was the same since even if the school had prepared the costumes for the test of courage, those costumes weren’t good. They were all ugly and old and weren’t intended to be used to scare people at all.
Still, somehow he also understood that the target they had to scare was an elementary school student. They were a group of children, and if they scared them too much, this group of children might cry and complain, which might cause a big problem.
Hearing his explanation, they nodded and felt it was reasonable before they started to check all the costumes on the box.
Shishio didn’t join. Instead, he looked at Ebina, who took the combination of shrine maiden and magical girl costume in a daze. He wasn’t sure what to say, but he could see her looking at him with a smile.
“Do you want to see me with this costume?” Ebina asked.
Shishio was honest, so he nodded.
“Then, wait for a moment~! I will change!” Ebina ran to the changing room.
The rest of the girls were also the same, and they also started to pick their costumes one by one.
“You’re not going to wear a costume?” Hikigaya asked.
Shishio looked at Hikigaya and said, “No, but your costume suits you well, Senpai. The zombie make-up is Hollywood-tier.”
“…Sometimes, I want to beat you.”
“Thanks.”
“…That’s not a compliment.” Hikigaya let out a long sigh.
“Oga-kun, can we talk?”
When the girls came out of the changing room, Hayama suddenly took the initiative to talk with him.
Shishio wanted to appreciate the girls in different types of costumes, but he knew this matter had to come first. “Sure. Is it about Rumi-chan?”
“Yes.” Hayama nodded. “I think Rumi-chan might need to discuss this problem with everyone.”
“…….” Everyone was speechless.
Shishio didn’t even need to refute Hayama, but the other girls took the initiative to refute Hayama.
“But she’ll get bashed by everyone if she does that.”
“Then, how about talking to them one by one?” Hayama was slightly flustered when he asked this question.
“That wouldn’t make a difference.” Ebina looked at Hayama and said, “They might play nice on the stop, but behind her back, nothing will change. Girls are much scarier than you think, Hayato-kun.”
“…….” Hayama.
“For real?! That’s super scary!” Yumiko was surprised.
“…….” Shishio looked at Yumiko in silence, then said, “Hayama-senpai, if you don’t want to do this plan, then I won’t force you.” He thought Hayama didn’t want to participate in this plan, so he didn’t force him.
“No, I will do it.” Hayama somehow became stubborn.
“Really?” Shishio stared at Hayama in doubt.
“Yes, please allow me to take on this role.” Hayama knew he didn’t have any choices, so he tried to do it by himself. He glanced at Yukinoshita for a moment before he looked away, and somehow he understood why they were so close.
“Is that so? But we will need three people, so Tobe-senpai, Yumiko-senpai, can you help too?” Shishio looked at Tobe and Yumiko.
“Sure, leave this to me!” Tobe answered readily. After all, he still remembered Shishio’s words last night, and punishing the evil for good was like what a hero did, which made him feel excited.
“We-Well, I don’t really mind…” Yumiko muttered while swirling the end of her hair.
“Thank you.” Shishio nodded, then looked at Hayama again. “I have to thank you too, Senpai.”
“No, it’s okay.” Hayama felt conflicted, then said, “But I still believe that they’re good girls inside.”
“That’s good.” Shishio merely smiled when he saw Hayama’s naivety. He didn’t care about Hayama, nor did he care about it. However, if this guy wanted to take the first seat to see how fragile a human relationship was, he would give it to him without hesitation.
Shishio didn’t look at Hayama again and told them the details of how they were going to implement this plan.
Their plan had been set, and everything would start at the test of courage at night.
Still, he looked at Yui, who seemed serious while wearing skimpy clothes, feeling she might resemble her mother.
“Hmm?” Yui titled her head.
Shishio stopped, looking in Yui’s direction, and thought that Rumi might curse him after he did this.
—
Night.
As the sunset and the moon rose, everyone started the test of courage.
Few groups had started the test of courage and screamed happily instead of in fear.
Unlike the others, Komachi had the job of welcoming everyone to enter the route of the test of courage. She stood at the entrance while looking at the group of children.
“All right. The next team to leave will be this one!”
“Kyaaa~!”
A group of little girls screamed in high tension.
The members of this group were Rumi and the girls who had isolated her. When Komachi told them it was their turn to enter, they entered without hesitation.
Unlike Rumi, who kept her mouth shut and maintained a slight distance from everyone, the other girls huddled together while looking around curiously. They walked for a moment before they saw Totsuka, who was dressed as a sorcerer.
“Once you be-begin, go get a talisman from the shrine deep in the forest.”
Totsuka was in charge of telling everyone the rules of this test of courage.
After they listened to his instruction, they started to walk. They were the last group, and unlike them, the rest had returned.
Shishio, Hikigaya, and Yukinoshita hid behind the tree, waiting for Rumi’s group to come.
“Is it time?” Yukinoshita asked.
Shishio looked at his phone, and he received a message from Hayama. “It’s time.”
“Shh… they’re coming.” Hikigaya reminded the two of them.
They shut their mouths and maintained a quiet atmosphere.
Shishio could see Tobe and Yumiko, who stood next to each other in the dark before he saw Rumi and her group walking in their direction.
The light slowly approached, and Rumi’s group met Tobe and Yumiko.
“Oh, it’s just these guys!”
They were slightly nervous before, but they sighed in relief when they saw two familiar people.
“They’re dressed normally!”
“Lame!”
“This isn’t scary at all!”
“You’re so dumb even though you’re in high school!”
They didn’t feel fear. Instead, they felt superior to Yumiko and Tobe and even started to make fun of them.
However…
“Huh?!” Tobe looked at the group angrily. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?!”
“Eh?!”
The group of little girls was startled by this sudden change.
“Hey, don’t you think you’re acting too cocky?” Yumiko also glared at them. “We’re not your friends, you know?”
They even became scared when they saw how serious Yumiko was.
Yumiko approached them without hesitation and asked, “I could have sworn that you called us retarded or something. Which one of you was it?”
They didn’t dare to look at Yumiko and lowered their heads.
“Sorry.”
This was the only word that came out from one of them.
*Crack!*
Yumiko slammed the trunk of the tree with her heel. “I said I want the smartass to fess up!”
“……” Shishio stared at Yumiko for a moment before he lowered his head since her g-string panties were showing up. He sighed, wondering how this virgin could be so bold. Still, her legs were smooth and slender, which was nice to gaze at.
“You think this is a game?!” Tobe also approached them and glared at them, ready to teach them a lesson anytime.
Yumiko and Tobe stood at the front and behind the group of girls, cutting their escaping route.
“Do it! Do it! It’s our job to teach them some basic courtesy!” Yumiko was excited.
“…….” Shishio.
“Yo Hayama-san, I can beat them, right?” Tobe asked loudly.
Hayama, who had been stand-by on the side, also started to appear. Unlike his usual sunny smile, he was so cold and emotionless, causing the group of girls to be even more nervous. “Let’s do this. Half of you can leave. Half of you will stay.”
“Huh?”
They were startled by his words.
“You are all going to decide who is going to stay.”
They even became scared and nervous.
“We’re sorry!”
One of them started to apologize.
“We don’t want your apologies. I said half of you will have to stay here. Choose.” Hayama was as cold as ever.
“Hey, did you not hear it? Or do you think you can ignore him?” Yumiko asked with a pretentious voice.
“Hurry up and choose it! We don’t have a lot of time! Who is going to stay?!” Tobe shouted while cracking his fists. “Is it you?!” He looked at one of the girls and asked loudly.
The girl closed her eyes, feeling scared before she looked at Rumi. “Tsurumi. You stay back.”
“Ye-Yeah.”
Rumi looked at everyone in silence and could only clench her little fists. However, she followed and stayed on the side.
In the hiding place, Shishio, Yukinoshita, Hikigaya, and Yui watched this scene silently.
“This is what you want, right?” Hikigaya asked while looking at Shishio.
“Yeah, it’s a good punishment, right?”
“…Devil.”
“I can’t deny that.” Shishio sighed and said, “We are a high school. Our age is different. If we enter her fight, it will do nothing but only make it worse. Besides comfort or support, I can’t give her much, especially with this limited time. The only thing I can do is mess up the human relationship between those girls, so her problem will disappear since, after this, she isn’t going to be the only loner in her school now.”
“Well, I agree with you. This is the only way to solve their problem.” Hikigaya felt that instead of Shishio, he should be the one to take on this role since, unlike him, he didn’t have anyone around him.
“You don’t have to look at me like that since I have initiated this plan. I will bear the price,” Shishio said calmly.
“…Bastard, don’t say something so cool in this situation.” Hikigaya felt his lines had been taken somehow.
Shishio only laughed and didn’t say anything.
However, Yukinoshita and Yui stared at Shishio’s back for a moment, but neither of them said anything, yet they moved closer to him.
“Come on.”
On the other hand, Hayama didn’t stop and stared at the rest of the girls besides Rumi.
“One down, two to go. Hurry up.”
The four girls looked at each other, and they were filled with fear.
Rumi looked at the four of them and was silent without saying anything.
As for what she was thinking, no one knew.
