Chapter 76: Enma Iron! Koushirou's Fighting Spirit!
Five days later.
The Revolutionary Army moved fast. After settling the details of the cooperation, Lindbergh and Sabo left first.
Lindbergh returned to the West Blue to manage the situation there.
Sabo returned to the Revolutionary Army headquarters, Baltigo, to report the negotiation results and inform Dragon about his newly discovered past. He had decided to visit the Goa Kingdom soon to try and recover his lost memories.
Belo Betty began mobilizing the Revolutionary Army in the East Blue to contact Headquarters and prepare the materials and deposit for the first transaction with The Zodiac.
Until today...
"The 10 billion Berry deposit is ready. The materials will take two more days... To avoid Government detection, we will store the supplies in batches in a cave on the west side of this island. You can collect them in five days."
Belo Betty handed a note to Inoshishi and left decisively.
The coordinates on the note pointed to a deserted island in the East Blue.
"As expected of the Revolutionary Army. Meticulous," Inoshishi murmured, looking at the note.
There was a reason they had survived and grown under the World Government's relentless pursuit.
A transaction of this scale would leave traces, so they would never bring it directly to Shimotsuki Village.
It wasn't hard to imagine—every time the Revolutionaries stayed here in the past, they likely used similar methods, keeping personnel and supplies completely separate.
That must be why Shimotsuki Village had remained undiscovered for so long.
While marveling at their caution, Inoshishi looked at the screen in his vision.
[Roy Amos (Slice-Clone - 'Inoshishi')]
[Equipped: Munch-Munch Fruit LV4, Slice-Slice Fruit LV3...]
[Remaining Berries: 3,919,040,000]
Yes.
Previously, after killing Caramelo III and Snack on Candied Fruit Island, Nezumi had rightfully looted Caramelo's treasury. After all, the king had practically led Snack to the vault for him.
As mentioned, Candied Fruit Island was wealthy. Caramelo III had spent lavishly but also earned a lot through his connection with BIG MOM.
The small island nation's treasury held nearly 15 billion Berries.
Roy didn't hesitate. He spent heavily, upgrading several fruits, most notably getting the Munch-Munch Fruit to LV4 and the Slice-Slice Fruit to LV3 for Inoshishi.
The massive expenditure had made his heart ache for days.
Fortunately, Nezumi's hard work had brought in significant income, and the deal with the Revolutionary Army was about to bring in another 10 billion. Roy was satisfied.
"With these Berries, I can upgrade the Daibutsu Fruit and the Quetzalcoatlus Fruit to LV4 before the Tri-Force Demonstration."
Roy calculated his budget.
His goal remained simple: rank high in the Demonstration, get promoted to Vice Admiral, and gain command of the Detention Unit.
That would make everything easier.
"My current strength is probably enough, but the scale and rules of this Demonstration are uncertain. To ensure nothing goes wrong..."
Roy's gaze shifted toward the dojo.
"I definitely need to get that thing."
Thinking this, Inoshishi walked to the dojo's training grounds.
Zoro and Koushirou were practicing kendo as usual.
"Mr. Inoshishi?"
Seeing Inoshishi arrive, Koushirou paused.
Zoro looked at him with a hint of battle intent—after being looked down upon by Koushirou a few days ago, he was eager to prove himself.
But Inoshishi ignored Zoro.
He looked at Koushirou and removed his top hat. "Mr. Koushirou, my negotiations with my business partners are complete. I will likely leave Shimotsuki Village in a few days."
"Before I go, I have a presumptuous request."
His tone remained elegant.
"Please speak." Koushirou smiled and nodded.
"I have heard stories about your father, Shimotsuki Kozaburo."
Inoshishi smiled, getting straight to the point. "He was a legendary smith from Wano, who forged two of the 21 Great Grade Swords—one being the 'Wado Ichimonji'."
He glanced meaningfully at the sword on Zoro's waist.
Hearing this, Koushirou's gentle expression turned slightly serious.
"I did not expect Mr. Inoshishi to know so much about my father's life."
Clearly, he was surprised.
Their family, a branch of the Shimotsuki Clan, had left Wano fifty years ago. While they didn't deliberately hide their identity, Wano's isolation meant very few people knew of them.
Zoro looked shocked.
"That old geezer was..."
He vaguely knew the old man was a swordsmith and Kuina's grandfather, but he didn't know he forged the Wado Ichimonji.
Before Zoro could ask, Inoshishi continued. "As I said, I am also a smith of sorts. Naturally, I know of legendary smiths like your father."
He steered the conversation to the main topic. "Of course, I have little interest in the Wado Ichimonji."
"What I wish to ask about is the other Great Grade Sword your father forged—'Enma'!"
Hearing the name, Koushirou narrowed his eyes. "Enma?"
"Correct. The 'Cursed Blade' named after the King of Hell, which autonomously absorbs Haki to unleash 'Ryou' and threatens the life of its wielder."
Inoshishi said deeply. "I wish to know... how was that effect achieved?"
He smiled. "Incidentally, I heard by chance that Mr. Kozaburo left some belongings behind, including records of his forging... If you do not know the secret of Enma, I hope to borrow or purchase those records."
"I am willing to pay a price in exchange."
His words were sincere.
Zoro was surprised at first. Enma—sounds like a sharp sword. But what is Haki? What is Ryou?
But before he could react, Inoshishi's next words made him panic.
Yes—Zoro was the one who told Inoshishi about the legacy.
And he knew about it from Kuina—they used to sneak peeks at the forging manuals together.
"This guy just blurted it out!"
Zoro felt incredibly guilty.
"..."
As expected, hearing this, Koushirou glanced at Zoro, clearly guessing the culprit.
But...
After a deep look at Zoro, Koushirou seemed to make a decision.
He looked back at Inoshishi.
"Mr. Inoshishi, those manuals only contain my father's general thoughts on forging. There are no records regarding 'Enma'."
"Per his last wishes, they remain in the dojo's library, available for any student to read. If you are interested, feel free to look."
Then, his tone shifted. "However... regarding 'Enma', I do know something... Please, follow me."
He turned and walked deeper into the dojo.
Halfway there, he turned back to Zoro. "Zoro, you come too."
"...Yes!"
Zoro answered quickly, then glared at Inoshishi. "Hey! You didn't tell me you were asking about this stuff for..."
He was clearly annoyed.
"Don't worry, young Zoro."
Inoshishi chuckled. "Mr. Koushirou isn't angry, is he?"
He said this, but his eyes under the mask showed surprise.
He had prepared for Koushirou to refuse, planning to use the Revolutionary Army to pressure him if necessary.
But things were going smoother than expected.
"Hm?"
As Inoshishi followed Koushirou, he suddenly paused.
Koushirou had stopped.
Before them was a bamboo grove. Deep within it stood a simple wooden hut with an altar in front. They were standing before the altar.
But the problem was...
"..."
Looking at the circular clearing surrounded by bamboo, and the armor and weapons displayed nearby...
Inoshishi realized what this place was.
It was an outdoor kendo training ground.
"This was my father's residence."
Koushirou's voice broke the silence.
The gentle master picked up a box from the altar. "I can tell you that Enma's uniqueness comes from a mineral my father forged."
He opened the box, revealing a strange, pitch-black object inside.
It looked like metal, yet like stone.
"It autonomously devours the Haki of any living being it touches, converting it into Ryou."
"Whether smith or swordsman, one must be a powerhouse capable of controlling this power, or face certain death—thus, my father named it 'Ryou Stone', or 'Enma Iron'."
"After forging Enma, because this material was too dangerous, my father destroyed the method of creating it, leaving only this final piece..."
Koushirou stroked the last piece of 'Enma Iron' in the world.
The moment he touched the black object, his hand turned pale, and black Haki began to flow across the iron.
But Koushirou didn't mind.
He seemed to remember his father.
He once asked why, if he decided to destroy the method, he kept this piece.
His father didn't answer.
But today, Koushirou understood.
As a craftsman who forged a peerless metal and sword, only to destroy it due to its danger... that unwillingness was the reason.
Perhaps he hoped that one day, a true powerhouse or smith would take this Enma Iron and use it to make his name echo across the seas.
So...
"I must verify this, Mr. Inoshishi."
Under Zoro's solemn gaze...
Koushirou slowly removed his glasses and placed them on the altar.
Then...
SHING!
He drew the katana at his waist and turned, pointing it at Inoshishi.
"Defeat me, and prove to me—that you are qualified to take it."
His eyes, usually so gentle, were now filled with unprecedented sharpness and blazing battle intent.
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you