Chapter 511 – It'll Be Fine
"Clack!!"
The clash of wooden swords only grew fiercer as time went on, each strike louder than the last. In one powerful exchange, Kaiser and Genjuro Kurama's bodies swept past each other, trading places before wheeling around at lightning speed to unleash another slash.
The sharp rhythm of strikes rang out without pause. Their duel burned hotter and hotter, their positions swapping again and again—crossing, spinning, surging forward, pulling back—each movement faster than the last. Every cut tore the air with a shrill whistle, the wooden blades leaving afterimages trailing through the yard.
A single step forward or backward was enough to launch their entire bodies in a blur, making it look less like swordsmanship and more like constant charges and sudden teleportation.
"Haa!!"
Genjuro fought with reckless aggression, every shout shaking the air itself. That voice carried power, each cry stoking his momentum until his offense became downright terrifying.
Kaiser, on the other hand, remained steady and cold-eyed. His gaze burned sharp as a blade, but his composure never wavered. To the eye, it looked like Genjuro's pressure had the upper hand, yet Kaiser's sword thirst blazed just as strong, refusing to yield an inch.
Both men shut out every stray thought, every distraction. They gave themselves wholly to the fight until the yard rang only with the crash of their swords and the blur of their figures.
"A-Amazing…!"
Yoshino Tomotake was completely spellbound.
She knew Kaiser was strong—but watching him now, his eyes gleaming as he drove forward again and again, his sword trailing relentless arcs of light—she realized she had underestimated him.
Genjuro, too, was proving just how formidable he remained. A lifelong swordsman, a true master of the blade, and even at his age, his booming cries and blistering offense were nothing short of overwhelming. Even against Kaiser, he didn't falter.
Compared to these two, the Tatari-gami that had once seemed so dangerous now felt… trivial.
Their duel had reached a point beyond the human, Yoshino's eyes unable to keep up with their movements. She couldn't even follow their sword strokes—they vanished too quickly to see. All she could perceive were the countless wooden blades colliding, the two warriors chasing and colliding like stormwinds before her eyes.
Of course, reality wasn't a movie or a novel. No one could fight at that pace for an entire day and night.
As time dragged on, the ferocity of the match began to weigh on their stamina. At last, their tempo slowed.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
After yet another violent clash that sent their swords bouncing apart, both Kaiser and Genjuro retreated a step, holding their blades ready as they panted for breath.
Genjuro's breathing was heavier, his back drenched in sweat until his clothes stuck to him. Kaiser, though breathing hard, bore no such signs—his stamina was holding up better.
Clearly, in this arena, Kaiser now had the edge.
"…Hoo."
Genjuro steadied his breath, exhaled, then gave a wry smile.
"As I thought… I've gotten old."
In the past, fatigue would never have overtaken him this quickly.
"You're still as incredible as ever, Grandpa."
Kaiser's breathing was already under control. Watching Genjuro's weary smile, he could only admit it. Among all the old men Kaiser had ever known, his grandfather was nothing short of a monster. What other elder could fight at this intensity for so long before tiring?
In both strength and body, Genjuro had nothing of an old man about him. He could still outlast many strong young men.
It made no sense—and yet here he was.
"Well, I've kept training all along. Just like you."
As he looked across at his grandson, Genjuro suddenly saw not the tall young man before him, but the boy from years ago—barely taller than his chest. The images overlapped, filling his heart with warmth and pride.
His grandson had grown up.
"I can't keep up with you anymore," Genjuro said, both moved and delighted. "Back then, you still lacked in stamina and physique. But now—you've closed that gap completely."
It was only natural. Kaiser had long since absorbed everything Genjuro ever taught him. His swordsmanship might have even surpassed Genjuro's years ago. All he had ever lacked was the body to match his skill.
Now that he had it, the outcome was inevitable. Genjuro could no longer stand as his opponent.
"You've grown, and you've become strong, Aze."
His gaze held not just the affection of a grandfather, but the pride of a master toward his disciple.
"What, giving up already?" Kaiser asked with a lingering hunger. "If it's you, Grandpa, shouldn't you still be able to fight me for another hundred rounds?"
"There's no need," Genjuro answered calmly. "Neither I, nor this—can last that long."
He lifted his wooden sword. Yoshino gasped, covering her mouth.
The blade was ruined, its edge chewed with gaps, the body split with cracks.
It was already beyond its limit. A few more strikes and it would shatter.
Kaiser blinked in surprise and looked down—his own wooden sword was in just as sorry a state.
"You got so absorbed you didn't even notice the state of your weapon." Genjuro's tone turned strict, the way it had been when he first trained Kaiser. "Focusing on your opponent isn't wrong, but letting it blind you is."
"A real swordsman must always leave room to observe—not just the fight, but the weapon in your own hands, and everything around you."
Kaiser winced, a little embarrassed. He knew Genjuro was right. Losing awareness of his own sword's condition was unacceptable—especially for him. Weapons had always been an extension of his body, something he could wield with perfect control. For him not to notice a sword about to fall apart… it was unthinkable.
"I just… wanted to beat you too badly," he admitted.
Because Genjuro had always been strong. Because Kaiser had never once defeated him in the past. He had gotten carried away, burning with the need to prove that he was no longer a child. That he had truly grown.
In his fixation, he had lost sight of everything else.
"I'm not an enemy you need to defeat," Genjuro said gently. "I'm just a wall you were always destined to surpass."
Then his tone firmed again.
"Don't let obsession blind you. Don't chain yourself to the life you've lived until now."
"From the moment you drew Murasame-maru and entered the Tomotake Family's home, your path became something else entirely."
"Never forget the true enemies you must face. And never forget the ones at your side who need your protection."
His words stirred Kaiser's memory—the writhing filth in the night, and the stubborn yet resolute figure who faced it.
Almost involuntarily, his gaze shifted.
At the same moment, Yoshino turned her head too, drawn by Genjuro's words.
Their eyes met. A strange, powerful thrum shook both their hearts.
Kaiser quickly looked away, flustered. Yoshino's face turned red with confusion.
Watching them, Genjuro couldn't help but smile knowingly.
(I thought Yasuharu was too reckless, but maybe… maybe these two really could end up together.)
That thought warmed him, but he still had more to say.
"The world you've stepped into is one I can't follow you into. I can't offer you any help there." Genjuro's voice carried absolute sincerity. "But I believe in you. You'll be fine."
It wasn't just faith—it was recognition of the strength Kaiser had shown, of all the effort he had poured in.
Curse?
None of that could bind his grandson. Genjuro believed that with every fiber of his being.
"I know." Kaiser lowered his ruined sword and nodded. "Thank you, Grandpa."
Genjuro returned the nod, then turned to Yoshino.
"I entrust my grandson to your care, Lady Miko."
He bowed deeply, more solemnly than when he had first greeted her.
"…It's I who trouble him," Yoshino murmured, lowering her eyes before answering with heartfelt resolve. "But I'll do everything I can to keep Kaiser-san safe."
"That's enough." Genjuro lifted his head and smiled.
After a little more conversation, they parted ways. Genjuro left with both battered wooden swords in hand. He wouldn't throw them away. To him, they were proof—proof his grandson had graduated, had surpassed him.
Every time he saw them, he would remember this day with pride.
Kaiser and Yoshino watched him go until his figure disappeared from view. Only then did they speak.
"Genjuro-san's a really good grandfather," Yoshino said softly.
"Yasuharu-san's a really good father," Kaiser replied with a knowing smile.
Ever since learning the true reason behind Yasuharu Tomotake's insistence on their engagement, Kaiser had understood it.
"…I feel like we've made them worry too much," Yoshino admitted.
"That's how it is for adults. No matter how much we grow, we'll always be children in their eyes," Kaiser said. "If we don't want them worrying, then we've got to change ourselves."
"Change myself…" Yoshino echoed under her breath.
"Come on," Kaiser urged after giving her a moment. "It's about time we headed back."
If they delayed, they'd miss school.
"Right."
She nodded, and together they set off at a jog toward the Tomotake estate.
This time, they took the shortcut. No more ten-kilometer detours.
…
Ten minutes later, they arrived.
Mako Hitachi had breakfast ready, and Yasuharu Tomotake had finished his morning duties, reaching home before them.
Seeing the two walk in wearing sportswear, looking fresh from a workout, both were surprised. When they learned Yoshino would be training alongside Kaiser from now on, they were even more stunned—then overjoyed.
"This is wonderful," Yasuharu said, his face lighting up.
Not because his daughter wanted to train—but because she was choosing to stand beside Kaiser. Watching them together, side by side, he felt no sense of loss at all. Instead, he smiled with the contentment of a proud father.
"I'll start preparing more meals that are light and easy to digest," Mako said with a warm smile of her own.
If Lady Miko could open her heart like this, maybe she wouldn't wear that heavy expression so often.
Glancing at Kaiser, standing there calm and steady, Mako silently cheered him on.
Chapter 512 – Rumors About the Fiancée
The next few days, Kaiser's life settled back into its usual rhythm. His morning training with Yoshino Tomotake continued smoothly, and school went just as he'd hoped. Classes weren't long, free time was plentiful, and the workload was surprisingly light. Aside from a few Japan-specific courses he found difficult to adapt to, everything else was well within his comfort zone.
His classmates were friendly too. There was no bullying, no exclusion. If anything, curiosity about a foreigner—and fascination with the boy who drew the Divine Blade—made people eager to talk with him. Especially the girls. Much to Rentaro Kurama's endless frustration.
"This can't be happening! How could I lose to you, of all people, you antisocial freak?! Where did it all go wrong?!"
After yet another failed attempt to flirt—and being ignored by the girls—Rentaro clutched his head like the world was ending.
Honestly, Kaiser didn't understand it either. Sure, Rentaro's personality was questionable, but his looks weren't bad. Even if he struck out with tourists, there was no reason for every girl in class to brush him off. Guys way more obnoxious still managed to get girlfriends.
But no—the girls were united in their distaste. Aside from Yoshino and Mako Hitachi, every girl wore the same look of disgust whenever Rentaro opened his mouth. Like he was something filthy.
Kaiser finally asked Mako what was going on.
She gave him the truth.
"Well… Rentaro-san did have a girlfriend once. She's in our class. But they broke up almost immediately. And then, the very next day, he announced he was dating another girl in class."
That was all Kaiser needed to hear.
So this idiot dug his own grave with his shameless behavior, and now the whole class despised him?
Mako explained further—how the two girls, each with their own circles of friends, nearly split the class apart with their rivalry. And how, after Rentaro broke up again and moved on like nothing had happened, the two girls suddenly bonded over their shared misery, turned friends, and rallied every girl in class against him. Even the boys avoided him, wary of the fallout.
In short—
"He deserved it."
That was Koharu Kurama's blunt verdict when she dropped by during break, leaving Kaiser twitching at the corner of his mouth. He decided he wasn't going to bother intervening.
At first, he'd assumed Rentaro was being unfairly treated and had half a mind to stand up for him. But now? Yeah. Koharu was right. He asked for it. Best to stay out of it.
Of course, Kaiser didn't go as far as to shun his cousin like the others. He treated Rentaro the same as always.
Surprisingly, the class respected that.
"Well, they're cousins. We can't make things hard for Kaiser-kun."
"He's from a big country. He probably doesn't sweat this kind of petty drama."
"Still, I hope that idiot doesn't rub off on him. Kaiser-kun's the one who drew the Divine Blade—and he goes to and from school with Lady Miko herself."
"Exactly. If he crosses a line and annoys Lady Miko, he's finished. He won't be able to stay in Hoori."
The discussions never went deeper than that. Everyone treated Kaiser warmly, with patience and respect. His bond with Yoshino was a huge part of it.
Even at school, Yoshino commanded a unique status. Students of Hoori held her in almost reverent esteem. Disrespect toward Lady Miko wasn't just frowned upon—kids went home and got chewed out by their parents. Some even got beaten for it.
She was practically treated like royalty.
And yet Kaiser walked beside her every day. Rumors naturally followed.
Especially since people had seen him going home with her, not to the Kurama estate or Shinato-sou, but to the Tomotake residence itself. That gave the whispers even more weight.
So Kaiser's presence at Ukayama Academy grew more and more unusual—his name spreading, his reputation climbing.
Eventually, someone couldn't hold back any longer.
"You're really not Lady Miko's fiancé, are you?"
A boy who usually hung around Kaiser and Rentaro crept to his desk, whispering like he was sharing a great secret.
And this wasn't the first. Kaiser had already been asked the same thing several times.
"You guys are way too nosy," Rentaro muttered, scowling. "Who just walks up and asks stuff like that? It's private."
"Sorry, but it's Lady Miko. Everyone in Hoori would be curious," the boy said sheepishly.
"Then don't pester him. Maybe it's not decided yet, and he doesn't want to talk about it. You're just making things harder on my cousin!" Rentaro waved him off irritably.
"Yeah, fair point. Sorry." The boy scratched his head, then added with a smirk, "Though you, of all people, lecturing anyone about causing trouble? After all the messes you've made?"
That got a round of laughter from the classmates eavesdropping nearby.
"Shut up! Get lost already!" Rentaro snapped, shoving him back toward his seat. Then he turned to Kaiser, sulking. "Seriously, these people have no manners."
Kaiser rolled his eyes.
"Look who's talking. In Koharu's words—you brought this on yourself."
"Tch. You too? Don't tell me you're siding with her now."
You're the last person qualified to complain about that.
"So how many is that today?" Rentaro jerked his chin toward a nearby group still chatting about the exchange. "With rumors this bad, why not just come clean already?"
"Not my call." Kaiser sipped his water with a shrug. "She's the one who wants it kept quiet for now."
Sure enough, across the room, a group of girls were hovering near Yoshino and Mako, cautiously prodding them with questions. Mako was smiling awkwardly. Yoshino, on the other hand, looked completely lost.
For Kaiser, the engagement wasn't something he took too seriously. He could brush off the questions easily.
But Yoshino… she didn't have that luxury.
He could guess she was agonizing over it right now. Should she tell the truth? Keep denying it as long as possible?
She had always rejected the engagement, seeing it as nothing more than a temporary measure—something that would vanish once she found a way to free Kaiser from her family's troubles.
But reality had flipped on her. Instead of freeing him, she was relying on him—asking him to purify Tatari-gami, to train her, to support her. She was sinking deeper into dependence.
At this rate, the engagement wasn't going anywhere.
And if it wasn't ending anytime soon, was it really wise to make it public?
The thought tied her in knots.
"This is such a pain," Rentaro grumbled. "If this keeps up, it's just gonna get worse."
"You people have way too much free time," Kaiser said dryly, glancing around at the noisy classroom. "Why care so much about whether the new transfer student has a fiancée?"
"Come on, we're high schoolers," Rentaro sighed. "Even normal couples get people talking. But a marriage contract? That almost never happens these days. And besides—do you know who your fiancée is?"
"That's Lady Miko. The princess of Hoori, heir of the family that used to rule this land."
"Her marriage is under watch from everyone. Even the adults can't stop talking about it. The old folks especially—they're terrified the Tomotake Family and Mitake Shrine won't have anyone to carry on."
Kaiser stayed quiet, finishing his water.
Maybe the elders' fears were tied to the curse. Maybe not. But given what he knew now, he figured they'd worry either way.
The Tomotake Family was still the heart of Hoori. The people relied on them.
Families like the Hitachis, protectors of the miko, or the Komakawas, doctors serving the Tomotake line for generations—these weren't rare exceptions. Many clans in Hoori still followed old traditions, tied to the Tomotake Family's will. Some even held land granted to them by the Tomotake Family itself.
So of course those families, steeped in history and obligation, watched Yoshino with hawk-like attention.
The old saying went: the emperor's not worried, but the eunuchs are. As the sole heir of the Tomotake Family, Yoshino's marriage contract would haunt them until it was finalized.
Now that rumors were swirling, it was only natural the elders were abuzz.
Kaiser had even seen plenty of them visiting the Tomotake estate or Mitake Shrine in recent days, always pulling Yasuharu Tomotake aside for hushed conversations. They were clearly fishing for confirmation.
"…Feels like this engagement mess is only getting bigger," Kaiser thought aloud.
Was this going to spiral until they had no choice but to marry for real?
The signs weren't good.
But in the end, he let it go.
"It's not my problem."
It was Yoshino who wore the troubled look.
"…Seriously, what am I supposed to do, Dad?"
Her unspoken complaint echoed silently in her heart.
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