The meeting ended in a delicate atmosphere.
Leaving the mansion shrouded in the scent of medicine and wisteria flowers, Ryosuke and Shota bid farewell to Moriyama Akira.
Shota finally couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Hey! Ryosuke! What was that attitude you had in front of Oyakata-sama just now?!"
He recalled Ryosuke's plain and almost rude answer with lingering fear.
Ryosuke didn't look at him, stretching lazily.
"Just told the truth."
"Tch!"
Shota dismissed it.
Returning to Momoyama (Peach Mountain), Rika, who was training, saw the two of them and immediately ran over.
"Brother!"
Shota joyfully opened his arms, ready to welcome his sister's embrace.
But Rika completely ignored him and threw herself headfirst into Ryosuke's arms.
Shota: (゜д゜)
Shota was shocked into a sketch drawing on the spot.
Bad!
When the hell was my home base stolen?!
Rika looked up, smiling at Ryosuke.
"Ryosuke-nii, welcome back."
"Mhm."
Ryosuke nodded and rubbed the top of her head.
Actually, as early as half a year ago, Rika had been the one tasked with delivering medicine to Ryosuke.
Since the three of them had been training and growing up together, the thick-skulled Shota hadn't noticed a thing.
Seeing this scene now, Shota exploded instantly!
"Hey! You little girl! I'm your brother! Your biological brother!"
"Hmph! Ryosuke-nii is in much worse health than you, Brother. Isn't it natural to welcome him back first?"
The little girl said, turning up her nose.
"Alright then! Watch how I deal with you!"
Shota said as he moved to chase Rika.
"I hate you, Brother!"
Rika hurriedly circled around Ryosuke to dodge him.
In the distance, Jigoro walked over leisurely.
Ryosuke stepped forward and bowed.
"Grandpa."
"It is good that you are back."
Jigoro patted Ryosuke on the shoulder.
The following days were mundane and trivial; aside from recuperating from injuries, there was only training.
Only...
Whenever Rika used a towel to wipe Ryosuke's sweat, Shota would be in a dark corner, gnashing his teeth and scratching his head in frustration.
He started to compete with Ryosuke, intentionally or unintentionally.
If Ryosuke ran fifty laps, he ran sixty.
If Ryosuke swung his sword a hundred times, he swung it two hundred times!
As a good youth of the 21st century, Ryosuke adhered to the excellent quality of never engaging in the rat race (involution).
Of course, except for that first year when he studied Breathing Styles and sword techniques desperately to survive.
Now that he finally had a chance to rest, Ryosuke naturally ignored Shota.
Let him race if he wants. Is there anything wrong with me slacking off a little?
At the same time, Ryosuke checked the system interface immediately.
With one year of lifespan, surely he could add some points happily, right?
But not looking was fine; looking at it was a huge blow.
To max out Thunderclap and Flash, it required nearly 22 years of lifespan!
Among that, the advanced Sixfold required 5 years, and unlocking Godspeed required a whopping 10 years!
Then what were the remaining almost seven years of lifespan for?!
System taking kickbacks!
Holy—sht?!*
"Dog System! Get the hell out here!"
[Dog Host, why are you screaming like a cat in heat early in the morning!]
"You... explain to me. Why does maxing out Thunderclap and Flash require an extra fragmented seven years at the end?"
[You have the nerve to ask!]
[You went all-in on the first point allocation, adding bits and pieces everywhere, just increasing my workload.]
[The final seven years are because the Seventh Form · Flaming Thunder God requires Thunderclap and Flash as a foundation. Once maxed out, you will instantly comprehend it.]
"Oh?"
Ryosuke's angry face gradually turned into one of joy.
[Bark! Keep barking at me!]
"Ahem... I admit, I was a bit loud just now."
...
It wasn't until the thirteenth day that someone from the Swordsmith Village arrived.
The person delivering the swords was a swordsmith wearing a Hyottoko mask.
He was tall, and his bamboo hat was hung with wind chimes and jars of unclear significance.
Haganezuka Hotaru!
The moment he saw Ryosuke, the spout-like mouth on his Hyottoko mask suddenly sprayed steam, and he went berserk, practically teleporting in front of Ryosuke with a burst of speed!
That speed rivaled Thunderclap and Flash!
"You! It's you! How the hell did you use the sword!"
"It actually broke! It broke! Do you know that?!"
Haganezuka roared while poking Ryosuke in the head with his finger.
His finger moved so fast it left afterimages.
Ryosuke's mouth twitched.
He was essentially experiencing the same treatment as the protagonist Tanzi... Tanjiro.
Shota snickered on the side, and Rika quickly stepped forward to pull Haganezuka away.
"Hmph!"
Haganezuka huffed coldly and followed Jigoro into the house, placing the two swords he brought on the table.
Shota couldn't wait any longer and pulled out his own Nichirin Sword.
The blade was plain, feeling slightly heavy in his hand.
He took a deep breath, pressed his thumb against the guard, and exerted force suddenly!
The blade changed, turning into a lightning-like golden yellow, the light pure and piercing.
"Good! Good! Good color!"
Haganezuka's eyes widened instantly under the mask, and two streams of white steam sprayed from the spout mouth.
He was incredibly excited, pounding his fist on Jigoro's shoulder.
"See that! See that! This color is too beautiful! My sword! The sword I forged!"
Jigoro swayed slightly from the pounding, glaring at Haganezuka, though a trace of relief also flashed in his eyes.
That brat Shota really had inherited his legacy.
Shota was ecstatic, unable to resist swinging it a few times on the spot.
"Ryosuke-nii! Quick! Your sword! Pull it out and let's see!"
Rika nudged Ryosuke beside her, her big eyes full of anticipation.
Ryosuke lowered his eyes, gripped the hilt, and slowly drew it out.
Hum—
A low, deep sword hum rang out. Unlike the clear ring of Shota's blade, this sound was thicker, as if coming from the bottom of a deep pool.
There was no expected golden light of thunder.
As the blade changed, the color gradually settled, turning into Jade-White.
That white wasn't the biting cold of snow, nor the chill of moonlight, but a warmth like jade, quietly covering the entire blade.
"...White?"
Haganezuka spoke with confusion and disbelief.
He took a step forward, leaning in close to Ryosuke.
"Strange! Too strange! I've been forging swords for so long, and I've never seen such a pure white!"
His voice was full of fanatical inquiry, and a trace of bewilderment.
A Thunder Breathing swordsman... how could his Nichirin Sword be white?
Ryosuke also fell silent.
He stared at the Nichirin Sword in his hands, his fingertips slowly brushing over the spine of the blade.
Within the cold touch, there was a strange resonance.
Yes, this was his sword.
Not violent thunder, not raging flames, not clear flowing water...
It was a jade-white manifested from struggling on the edge of life and death, burning one's own self.
"It's beautiful. I like it very much."
Ryosuke finally spoke, sheathing the sword. "Thank you, Mr. Haganezuka."
"Beautiful? Like?"
Haganezuka seemed to choke on these two words.
He suddenly lunged forward, his Hyottoko mask almost smashing into Ryosuke's face, the hot steam he sprayed carrying the scent of iron.
"What do you know about beautiful! What do you know about liking!"
His two hands were like iron pincers, ruthlessly grabbing the backs of Ryosuke's and Shota's necks.
"You two brats listen to me! The sword is your partner! It is your second life! It is the only thing you can rely on against demons! Especially you!"
Haganezuka looked at Ryosuke.
"If you dare to let my sword break! Crack! Or chip like you did on Mt. Fujikasane again! I will stuff both of you into the furnace! Do you hear me!"
Shota broke out in a cold sweat from the yelling. "H-heard you! Mr. Haganezuka! Absolutely not! I swear!"
Ryosuke nodded calmly.
Haganezuka huffed coldly and turned to leave.
Rika trotted over to Ryosuke, her eyes sparkling.
"Ryosuke-nii's white sword looks just like jade. It's so pretty! It looks much better than Brother's flashy gold one!"
Her innocent words stabbed precisely into Shota's petty jealousy.
"Hey! Rika! What nonsense are you spouting!"
Shota retorted immediately.
"Hmph, it's true!"
Rika made a face at him.
Just then, a dark blue shadow swept past, and a cry rang out.
"Caw! Yasui Ryosuke, Rank-Mizunoto order! Man-eating demons have appeared on Mount Hinode in Tokyo Prefecture!"