Volume 4, Chapter 20 – In Search of Shizuku (3)

◆ Christina POV ◆

I left the Itten Style dojo in Sanjo Mikura and made my way to Kujo Miyashiro.

Along the way, I conducted earnest inquiries—not “dojo breaking,” mind you—at several swordsmanship dojos I encountered, but I failed to uncover any noteworthy information.

Unfortunately, I also failed to encounter any powerhouse on the level of Shizuku-dono.

It seems certain, then, that Shizuku-dono was exceptionally strong.

After all, if there were others of her caliber within the same country, there would be no need to travel abroad for warrior training in the first place.

Now, before me stood a small, dilapidated building that didn’t even compare to the dojos I had visited during my inquiries.

Unlike the others, its sign was a palm-sized nameplate that read “Shin’ei Style Swordsmanship Dojo” in equally tiny letters.

Could a place like this truly be a swordsmanship dojo?

I felt a flicker of uncertainty. I could hear no sounds of practice from within, nor could I sense the presence of anyone inside.

“I request an audience!”

Steeling my resolve, I knocked on the dojo gate. However, there was no answer from within.

“Excuse me. Is anyone there?”

Passing through the gate, I slid open the front door and called out into the building. The sun had begun to dip, but it wasn’t an hour where the place should have been empty.

“Coming—”

A man’s voice drifted from the back of the building, and after a short wait, a middle-aged man appeared.

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“Oh, a foreigner, I see. Do you have some business here?”

“I heard this was the Shin’ei Style dojo—”

“Hm, a dojo breaker, are you?”

“Yes. I have come because there is something I wish to ask.”

“In that case, before you face the master, allow this mere disciple to be your opponent.”

“Interesting.”

And so, I prepared for a sparring match—I’ve lost track of how many I’ve had today.

◇ ◇ ◇

Led into the dojo’s courtyard, I listened to his introduction.

“Shin’ei Style Chuden, Tomioka Ittetsu.”

“My name is Christina, Holy Knight of the White Moon Kingdom and shield to Saint Fiene Argentata-sama. Now, let us decide this!”

I drew Sesrumnir and took a middle-guard stance.

“Here I come!”

Ittetsu-dono took a stance with his sword still sheathed, exactly like Shizuku-dono.

This! This stance is exactly like Shizuku-dono’s!

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I carefully managed my distance, bracing myself for a god-speed strike from a draw, just as Shizuku-dono had performed.

Once I confirmed I was outside his effective range, I focused my consciousness into Sesrumnir and swung it down with all my might from above.

Of course, since I launched this strike from outside our mutual range, it was never meant to hit, but it should be perfect for gauging Ittetsu-dono’s skill.

Simply making the opponent feel as though they are facing a cannon creates immense pressure.

Furthermore, if his skill is significantly inferior to mine, this single strike alone should make him feel as if his body has been sliced in two.

I saw no panic on Ittetsu-dono’s face, but he did seem to heighten his guard upon seeing my strike.

Even if one knows that such a wide swing is easily avoided, humans are creatures who cannot help but be wary.

Indeed, Ittetsu-dono was pushed onto the defensive.

We exchanged blows—one, two, three.

And then, I realized. Ittetsu-dono is nowhere near Shizuku-dono’s level.

I unleashed a horizontal slash; Ittetsu-dono blocked it with his blade.

Using that momentum, I flicked his sword upward.

That alone was enough to throw off his posture.

I swiftly pressed the tip of Sesrumnir against his throat.

“Kuh. I yield.”

Since Ittetsu-dono admitted defeat, I sheathed Sesrumnir.

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“It was a good match, but you have a long way to go. We are looking for a woman named Mieshiro Shizuku who uses swordsmanship similar to yours. Do you know of her?”

“…My apologies. As I am not the master, I cannot answer your questions. Would you be willing to wait here until the master returns?”

“Ittetsu-dono, I have won. Why will you not answer? At other dojos, they told me what I wanted to know once I won.”

“My apologies, but as a disciple, my duty is to verify if a person is worthy of being permitted to fight the master.”

“I see…”

It was disappointing, but it seemed I had no choice but to wait for the master of this dojo to return.

About thirty minutes passed. As I sat on the veranda sipping tea, I sensed the presence of several people in the back.

“Hm, this presence… the master has likely returned. I shall go call him.”

Ittetsu-dono disappeared into the depths of the dojo, and shortly thereafter, a white-haired old man arrived.

“Ho ho ho. Are you the young lady who came to storm my dojo? What a welcome guest. Now, what is it you desire?”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, elder. I am Christina. I am searching for the whereabouts of Mieshiro Shizuku-dono, a friend of ours who uses swordsmanship similar to your Shin’ei Style. If you know of her, I ask that you tell me.”

“Ho ho ho. Is that so? Hmm. Very well. If you can defeat me, I shall tell you. However, if you lose… let’s see, I think I shall have you train here at this dojo.”

“What?”

I was bewildered by this inexplicable demand. But the old man spoke as if to push me into a corner.

“Hmm, if you dislike the terms, there shall be no match. I ask that you leave.”

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“…Fine. I accept those conditions.”

Even if he was just a disciple, a middle-aged man who had surely trained for years had only that level of skill. There was no way I would lose to his teacher.

“My name is Christina, Holy Knight of the White Moon Kingdom and shield to Saint Fiene Argentata-sama. Now, let us decide this!”

I announced my name to the old man.

“Hmm, I am the Shin’ei Style master, Minemaki Tessai. Come, attack me from wherever you wish.”

The elder, Tessai-dono, introduced himself, but he was holding a wooden sword.

“Tessai-dono? Why are you holding a wooden sword?”

“Ho ho ho. Because this is more than enough.”

“What did you say!?”

I lunged toward Tessai-dono and swung Sesrumnir down from an overhead position.

In the next instant, without even understanding what had happened, I found myself lying flat on my back on the ground, with Tessai-dono’s wooden sword pressed against my throat.

“Ho ho ho. The match is over.”

Tessai-dono’s carefree voice drifted down from above me.

Translator Note

Chris training arc!!!