Volume 4, Chapter 25 – Mieshiro Family (1)

Today is April 29th.

About a month has passed since we started staying at Tessai-san’s dojo and receiving his hospitality.

Today is the day of the weekly match between Tessai-san and Chris-san.

In the courtyard, Tessai-san and Chris-san are staring each other down.

“Fofofo. Now, Chris. Come at me.”

“Yes, Shishou!”

This is their fourth match.

Chris-san has lost to Tessai-san in all three previous matches, and counting the time she challenged him during her dojo-breaking spree, that makes four defeats in total.

Apparently, if Chris-san can win a match against him, she will be allowed to graduate.

Chris-san is in her usual Seigan stance, while Tessai-san is in a stance that reminds me of Shizuku-san.

“What is it? Are you not going to attack?”

Without answering, Chris-san watches Tessai-san with a serious expression.

Reαⅾ оո КαtReаⅾіոɡСαfе

In previous matches, Chris-san would always charge in only to be parried in a single blow, but this time, she is calmly maintaining her distance.

Seeing this, Tessai-san narrows his eyes.

He must be happy to see Chris-san’s growth.

The next moment, Tessai-san lunged forward.

He closed the distance with blinding speed and unleashed a strike from a quick-draw—I think. Probably.

The angle was bad, but he was so fast that I couldn’t quite follow the movement.

There was a sound of wooden swords clashing, and in the next instant, Chris-san had her wooden sword pressed against the side of Tessai-san’s neck.

Ohhh, she won! It happened in the blink of an eye, but Chris-san finally won.

“Hmm. Splendid. But do not let your guard down. Your bad habit is misjudging your opponent based on wrong assumptions, and being too quick to take the bait of a provocation. Had you not done those things, you would have beaten me the moment you first arrived here. Never, ever forget this.”

“Yes! Shishou!”

Yep, yep. Despite everything, I think they’ve developed a pretty great master-disciple relationship.

“Now then, about Mieshiro Shizuku . It’s not ideal to discuss this here. Let us talk after we change. Fiene-chan, could I have some tea?”

Rеаԁ on КαtReadiոɡСafе

“Yes!”

After finding out that I have zero talent for the sword, I learned only some basic self-defense and, since I had nothing else to do, I learned how to cook Japanese food.

Before I knew it, I had become responsible for all the housework in the dojo.

I don’t know if it’s because of that, but I feel like Tessai-san and all the disciples dote on me like a pet quite a bit.

I headed to the kitchen to brew the tea. Then, carrying the teapot, teacups, and some rice crackers, I made my way to the living room. Chris-san and Lu-chan were already there.

“Here you go.”

“Hmm, my thanks as always.”

Tessai-san took a sip of the tea with a loud slurp and slowly began to speak.

“Now, where should I begin? Hmm. First, you may have already realized, but Mieshiro Shizuku is my disciple. I began instructing Shizuku in swordsmanship when she was three, but that girl is a genius. She achieved Kaiden at such a young age. Having nothing left to do, Shizuku began a spree of dojo-breaking.”

Tessai-san looked off into the distance.

“Eventually, she ran out of dojos to break and finally set her sights on an Itten Style dojo. She cut down everyone in the dojo and obtained the Kirinagi. However, it looks bad in the eyes of society to have a family heirloom passed down through generations stolen during a dojo-breaking raid. Since I did not know what they might do to her, I sent her off on a journey of training.”

Rеαⅾ on КαtRеaԁіոɡCаfe

I see. So that’s why Shizuku-san went on her warrior’s pilgrimage.

Wait, but something feels off.

“Wait a moment. Shizuku-san said the Kirinagi was a family heirloom passed down through the Mieshiro family.”

“True. Also, Shishou, I broke an Itten Style dojo as well, but I was identifying myself as the Mitsurugi family, not the Mieshiro family.”

“Hmm. The Mitsurugi family is the main house of the Mieshiro family. Furthermore, Mitsurugi is a surname they started using thirty-five years ago; before that, they used Mieshiro. Therefore, it is correct to say it is a family heirloom passed down through the Mieshiro family.”

I see. So that’s how it is.

“Now, I shall continue. And then, about a month—no, perhaps half a month—before you all arrived, that Shizuku dropped by this dojo.”

“!? And where is Shizuku-san now?”

I leaned forward and blurted out my question.

“Now, calm down. I will tell you everything.”

“Yes.”

I sat back and took a sip of tea.

Rеαⅾ оո KαtReαԁіոɡСаfe

The pleasant aroma of green tea spread around me,  and I felt a bit more relaxed.

“So. Shizuku spoke of you all with such great joy. And she asked that if you ever came visiting, I should give Chris some training—and that I should tell you she had died, so that you would stop searching for her.”

“…Eh?”

No way. Was our pursuit such a nuisance to her?

“Do not make such a sad face. Shizuku is currently in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace. And tomorrow, at sunset, she is to be offered as a sacrifice to the Eight-Headed Dragon God by the Queen Suikyou.”

“””Huh?”””

We all froze for a moment.

“Eh? A sacrifice? Then, what about the ‘mission’ she said she had to fulfill?”

“Hmm. The women of the Mieshiro family are born into a clan where it is their duty to offer themselves as sacrifices.”

“…That… can’t be…”

I was so shocked that I couldn’t find any words.