Return to the Past without Ruining the World -60-
060.
Though Itohyuk, who had experience handling various weapons, had mastered many, the ones he would consider most skilled would be the sword and the knife.
In truth, he didn’t see much significance in distinguishing between the two… or at least that’s what Itohyuk thought.
Like Western bastard swords, Joseon-style Hwando, as well as Japanese and Qing swords, have evolved to incorporate both sword and saber techniques.
Swish─!
The opponent’s Japanese sword was no different.
A versatile adversary proficient in both slashing and thrusting techniques.
Initially, he was just considered a seasoned gamer with some skill in swordsmanship.
Clang!
The resounding clash of the opponent’s blade and Idohyuk’s fist.
Had his fist extended a bit slower, his shoulder would have been pierced.
A sharp thrust indeed.
“Hmm···”
Normally, when masters clash just once, they can gauge each other’s skill level.
Of course, it doesn’t necessarily mean the opponent is a master.
As with masters’ clashes, if a master and a novice confront each other, the master can often gauge the novice’s level after just a few exchanges.
Thud-!
Just like now.
Idohyuk slightly twisted his body to dodge the opponent’s horizontal slash.
Simultaneously, he delivered a strike.
Thud!
Kenshin’s blade bent as it was blocked.
An instant, a pronounced effect.
A successful parry within the Iron Fist signaling system.
-Oh hahahahaha
-You blocked that?
-Hey, the Golden Dan Oni kids are quite something
-Kenshin? He’s occasionally seen in the Celestial Realm, quite famous
-Yeah, speculated to be one of the pro players in Japan
‘···Impressive.’
The hand gripping the sword, the stance taken, the extending blade, and more.
Different from the opponents encountered before.
The strong ones like Anatol, Beyond, Tsuki, and Gomden.
They rely on their innate talents and hone their techniques through countless battles risking their lives (not really) hundreds, even thousands of times a day.
But the current opponent is somewhat different.
It seems more about technique than talent.
Seems to be mastering something systematically refined.
Perhaps he was already skilled with a sword before starting Full Dive.
“This.. this skill..!”
Kenshin, Shinjiro’s face contorted.
‘Playing with.. me?’
Continued dodges and counterattacks.
The attack did not extend, only showing consistent defense and evasion.
From Shinjiro’s perspective, he could only see the opponent mocking him.
Naturally, anger followed.
No matter how hard he tried to conceal his identity and not reveal his swordsmanship, facing an opponent who belittled him to this extent was unbearable.
“Arrogant…!”
That was the moment.
[-Shinjiro, you are being too impulsive.]
Suddenly, someone’s words came to mind.
How many times had he heard such words?
Shinjiro’s wavering gaze regained its composure.
“Yes.”
This was just reconnaissance for now.
What mattered was the duel at the tournament that would follow.
He had no intention of displaying his full strength here and now.
But if things continued like this, he wouldn’t be able to figure out the opponent’s playstyle as planned.
In that case, even if he didn’t reveal everything…
-Clang!
From that moment on, Shinjiro’s sword trajectory began to change.
Swift sword strikes.
Ido Hyuk immediately stepped back to avoid them.
Swish! Clang!
How many more exchanges of attacks followed?
It didn’t take long for Ido Hyuk to sense discomfort.
The movements of the Japanese sword coming towards him.
The sharpened strikes felt strangely familiar.
“Hmm?”
“Is this…?”
Then, something brushed by in his memory.
A swordsmanship he had seen somewhere.
Was it called Kenshin?
Meaning “sword god” in Japanese.
He remembered one of the Japanese hunters he knew, who was referred to similarly.
Although not exactly the same, that opponent seemed to be drawing a similar path with the sword.
“He wasn’t a sword god.”
Sword Saint.
He wondered why they were given such a name, but the opponent truly lived up to it.
One of the nine heroes, indeed.
Shing!
However.
“Hmm…”
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Round 2, ‘Hmm’
-Another ‘Hmm’ following the initial ‘Hmm’…
-Hmm, the god of ‘Hmm’ has appeared.
Ido Hyuk with a subtle expression.
Something, something wasn’t quite satisfying.
Was it because the opponent wasn’t giving their all? No, that wasn’t it.
With Ido Hyuk’s level, he could gauge the opponent’s skill even if they held back.
Vicious!
Once again, Shinjiro’s sword strike.
A pretty decent trajectory.
That was precisely where it got caught.
Pretty decent, huh?
That sword of determination?
Swoosh – Thud!
“Ugh…?!”
And, it’s that easy to be disarmed?
The blade of Shinjiro, which was drawing a semicircle.
Instead, Ido Hyuk lunged forward, striking the opponent’s wrist holding the weapon, disarming them.
-hehehe
-Here it is, ‘that’
-Your sword? Ah, is this it?
The chat box buzzing with that sight.
“···!!”
The opponent also looked greatly flustered.
As if demanding it back, reaching out their arm.
Of course, it wasn’t just a simple gesture.
They were momentarily taken aback when the sword was taken, but quickly regained composure and charged forward.
Even the fist they extended was quite readable.
This, too, overlapped with the swordsmanship Ido Hyuk remembered.
The art of not drawing the sword was the ultimate swordsmanship, as they said, and in close combat, that level was comparable to the sword he remembered.
Perhaps it was called Mutodori (無刀取り).
Thud! Thump!
However, close combat was the same.
Decent, yet still inexperienced compared to the swordsmanship Ido Hyuk recalled.
‘Is it too… old-fashioned?’
The first time he faced Swordsmaster, one of the Nine Heroes, was 16 years ago from now.
Considering that as hunters age, their magical power grows stronger, their prime years become fixed, Swordsmaster’s age was unknown.
Although he was quite close as a comrade, they hadn’t shared many personal conversations.
In the first place, Swordsmaster’s personality wasn’t that approachable.
Shiing-!
In that moment, the sword drawn out long by Jong.
Shinjiro involuntarily pulled his body back.
Thud!
The distance between them widened.
“Let’s see once···”
Ido Hyuk took a stance with the sword in hand.
Starting posture.
Normally, Ido Hyuk tends to omit such formalities when handling a sword, but this time, there was something to check.
“···?!?!”
What did Ido Hyuk feel in that stance he took.
Shinjiro’s eyes shook intensely.
A posture that couldn’t be overlooked.
Was it really a coincidence?
No, it must be a coincidence.
It had to be that way. That was the only way.
That was the moment Shinjiro thought so.
Swish!
The sword swiftly swung.
It was a similar sword to the one Shinjiro had drawn before, but not exactly the same.
Rather······
Zzweong! Zzweoeong!
“Ugh!”
Shinjiro reflexively blocked the sword strike.
It was a subtle sword strike aimed at his weakness, but the surprise was not because of that.
Was it a mistake?
Was it yet another coincidence following the previous one just now?
But at that moment, something so familiar yet still out of reach unfolded through the opponent’s hands for Shinjiro.
No, perhaps something beyond that.
Swish─!
“Ho···”
‘How?’
Doubt.. Followed by astonishment.
This can’t be happening.
Shinjiro’s eyes began to waver.
His hands moved quickly.
But Shinjiro had already lost his composure.
Especially when each strike from the opponent’s sword was aiming precisely at his vulnerabilities.
Crackle-
In the end, he was defeated.
“···Ah.”
Shinjiro let out a small sigh.
[YOU LOSE]
It wasn’t because of the notification that appeared in front of him.
Shinjiro, hastily dismissing the notification, asked, “So, who the heck are you?”
– Lololol
– Well, I am the Heir of the Divine Sword, you see?
– Ahh… Another sacrifice like this…
– Judging by your lips, you must be Japanese.
– hahahaha, but you handle the sword really well.
– I told you, hahahaha, Teacher Dohyuk is really skilled with the sword.
– Shouldn’t we give him the title of Sword Master?
“······”
Upon Shinjiro’s inquiry, Dohyuk didn’t respond immediately.
From Noble mtl dot com
It wasn’t because the chat window was rapidly filling up.
Rather, it was because of one thing he learned upon hearing Shinjiro’s voice.
‘It wasn’t him.’
It wasn’t the swordsman he knew.
At times, he thought it might be a misconception when he heard sounds the opponent made.
Could one change their voice within a Full Dive?
That might be possible, but considering what the opponent showed during the match, the conclusion was clear.
The opponent was not his former comrade.
‘Surely… he must have stolen and learned our family’s Vision Swordsmanship and caused such fiery rage.’
Normally, he didn’t show a single emotion outwardly.
But at that moment, his face tensed slightly with a hint of fear as he rushed to attack.
Well, after saving his life once, he was forgiven(?).
‘It’s a relief they didn’t catch on to me copying his unique ability.’
If that had been revealed, he would have faced a heap of trouble.
The unique ability of the swordsman was not just a skill but rather a divine talent called Sword God, different from the abilities of ordinary hunters.
Regarding swords, it bestowed a transcendent talent.
Of course, as Dohyuk, who copied various hunters’ abilities, he speculated that those born with such talents might receive those abilities, but… anyway.
Thanks to that, Dohyuk also received his share of benefits.
“Hmm?”
At that moment, a sudden memory from the past surfaced.
Why, despite inheriting such a unique ability, and more so, being able to see the Sword God as a higher title than the Swordsman.
[Why is your nickname “Swordsman” instead of “Sword God”? Isn’t that a Japanese term?]
[It’s not that. It’s just… there’s already an owner for the title “Sword God.”]
[Hmm, there’s someone better at wielding a sword than you?]
[…Although that wasn’t the case, there was a child who enjoyed being called that.]
It was something heard when asked about that.
At that time, it was clearly some kind of evasive answer.
“Who are you! You!”
Now, looking at it, it felt like some puzzle was falling into place.
One speculation.
“As for who I am, that’s settled. But you…”
In the end, Yido-hyuk had no choice but to ask.
“Do you… have a sister, by any chance?”
“?!”
-?
-???
-?
-Ehahahahaha
-What the, a sister??
-Ehahahahaha, that’s a thing you say when good-looking newbies come to the military
-???
-Huh
-Sir…?
Although Yido-hyuk’s question caused a huge ruckus in the chat window, it was.
Ding-
[‘Master Do-hyuk’ has donated 1,000 won.]
-Hmm… Maybe if it’s correct, it’s like bringing a sister along like you bring a brother?
-Damn?
-Oh
-Master Do doesn’t discriminate between genders
-Oh okay
-So that’s what it was
-hahahaha, it’s not that, hahahaha
-hahahaha, if you’re unhappy because it’s correct, bring an adult along, hahahaha
“The era of ‘You have talent’ is over! From now on, you have a sister!”
**
“aaah!”
Pop-!
Shinjiro, screaming as he came out of the capsule.
If we were to describe him within the context of a full-dive, he could be referred to as the hope of the Japanese gaming world, following in the footsteps of Tsuki, a prince of swordsmanship genius…
Then, how could we describe him in reality?
In truth, not many words were needed.
The youngest son of a prestigious swordsmanship family.
“Where’s my sister?! Where’s my sister?!”
That was Shinji.
Descendant of Chiba Shusaku, revered as the master of both the sword and the spirit.
The youngest son of the Chiba family, inheritor of the Hokujin Ito-ryu, known as the origin of modern kendo.
Of course, he wasn’t the successor.
The one to carry on the Chiba name would be his elder brother, Chiba Kazuma.
And… he wasn’t the strongest either.
Not Shinji, nor his elder brother Kazuma, were the strongest within the family.
It was their elder sister.
Undoubtedly, in terms of raw power, she might even surpass Kazuma and certainly not fall short to Shinji herself, but when it came to actual combat, a skilled practitioner who couldn’t be touched even by a flick of her clothing.
Damn!
His opponent just now.
It was unmistakably Shinji who could catch a glimpse of his sister’s skills in that sword.
Could it be that the one he was facing until a moment ago was his sister?
With such doubts, as soon as he left the capsule, he hurried to find his sister.
“What’s the matter?”
However, her figure swinging a wooden sword alone in the training ground.
He looked around, but there was no hiding place for a large capsule.
In that case, it meant that the person he faced earlier wasn’t his sister.
“Well, more like someone who knows my sister.”
The opponent who asked if he had a female sibling.
Maybe they were acquainted with his sister.
In that case… could it be?
“She leaked the family’s secret swordsmanship to an outsider?”
His sister?
No, even if that were the case, there were still things that didn’t make sense.
How could an outsider, someone who wasn’t even part of the family, be on par with his sister, who was considered superior to anyone in the lineage in terms of swordsmanship alone?
For now…
“Sister, come with me. There’s something you need to see.”
It was time for an explanation.