summerpeanut

Godspeed Sword Saint

Added 2023-08-02 13:27:35 +0000 UTC

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Before Ferad and Elrika’s visit to Leonardo town.

"Ughiyy..."

"That old man is drunk again."

"Yeah. Seems like he's been like that even before my old man was born."

In the back alleys, a group of men gossip as they catch a glimpse of an old man, Sazaki, lying down with an empty wine bottle in hand. This old man is a sort of famous person in Leonardo, known to have been a wandering drunkard with a wine bottle in hand even before most of the current residents were born.

The residents of Leonardo are good at handling their alcohol, so it's quite rare to see someone leading such an unruly life without even having a home due to their addiction to drinking.

"I wonder where he gets the money for the alcohol?"

"Yeah, that's curious."

The mystery remains as to how Sazaki, the vagabond, manages to afford his drinks, leaving the locals intrigued and puzzled.

"Anyway, let's go."

"Yeah."

They took a last look at Sazaki and left. A vagabond addicted to alcohol can be in danger in certain places, as there's a risk of being murdered in cold. However, fortunately for Sazaki, his image of lying with a wine bottle is such a common sight in the town that most people don't pay much attention to it.

However, there are exceptions.

"Ugh, it reeks of alcohol!!"

A deliquent-like red-haired boy, around twelve years old, with a wooden sword hanging at his waist, gives a clear look of disdain at Sazaki.

"Hic. Oh, it's the kid, Carl, was it?"

Sazaki, looking drowsy, lifts his eyelids lazily in response to Carl's voice, and his black eyes reflect the light.

"I've been wondering for a while now, which is more important to you, the sword or the alcohol?"

"Hic. Of course, it's the alcohol."

"Hey gramps, if you carry a sword at your waist, then you must be a swordsman, right!?"

"When you're my age, even a stick will do. Hic."

Carl is one of the few people who talk to Sazaki, but the combination of a sensible boy and an alcohol-dependent vagabond seems quite unbalanced.

"If a stick will do, why don't you sell that sword and live a better life? Are you just lazy?"

"Hahahaha! No one would buy this cursed weapon that will make the neck of an owner who doesn't suit it fly!"

"Isn’t that magic sword then!"

“Hiccup. Remember this kid. This is a weapon from the east known as katana. So this is not a magic sword but rather a spirit sword.”

"In the end, it's still dangerous right!"

"Pretty sharp, huh?"

"You're making fun of me, aren't you!?"

"Hahahahaha!"

Carl saw the unusual weapon at Sazaki's waist, a sword, which is different from the usual ones, and suggested that he could make a little better living by selling it. In response to the dangers Sazaki spoke of, he did not believe him at all and yelled back at him. It is a given that the end of the owner of such a cursed weapon is death driven by madness, which is far from the image of a vagabond lying on the ground with a bottle of sake in his hand.

"Why do you even have something like that?"

"It's like a memento from a formidable enemy or an archenemy that became a friend in the end. I said alcohol is important, but somehow, I can't part with this one. But, in the end, alcohol is the most important."

"We were having a nice talk, and then you just had to add alcohol to it, old man!"

"I'm telling you, I'm not escaping into alcohol because I hate life. I've loved alcohol since I was young."

"I didn't ask, and that's just worse!"

Despite the scolding, Carl, being a kind-hearted boy, went along with Sazaki's words, but his blood pressure was rising due to the old man's stubbornness.

"Alright, enough about alcohol. Take a look at my sword! Fuh! Fuh!"

"Impressive."

"Look properly, you old mannnnnn!"

Carl, thinking nothing can be done for that old man, picks up his wooden sword and concentrates, repeatedly swinging it down and up.

Sazaki's response is brief and indifferent, further frustrating Carl.

Actually this young man attitude towards this old man, that could be said famous in certain sense, was that since he’s so free he could help him out. Before anyone knew it, the young man provoked the other saying that if he’s really a swordsman then he should teach him swordplay.

"Well, stop there. How do you know if this old man is focusing on your sword tip when you’re facing towards the other side?"

"Huh? Well…one way or another?"

“At your age, to be able to swing that much on top of paying attention to your surroundings is more than enough.”

“Is, that so?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Carl was fooled into thinking he was being praised by Sazaki who was struggling to sip the drop from the bottom of the bottle.

"Tell me again why do you want to be able to swing the sword properly."

"Seriously, again?"

"Just tell me."

"Alright. I want to become a reliable older brother for my younger siblings. Is that good enough? I've said it many times already."

"Don't forget that purpose."

"Of course not. To achieve that, I have to join the Clovis school!"

"Well, give it your all."

Since meeting Sazaki, Carl has been asked about the purpose of wielding a sword every time, and he answers while recalling the faces of his younger brother and sister.

With determination, he plans to knock on the gates of the prestigious Clovis school, one of the most renowned swordsmanship schools in the world and also highly respected in this city.

"By the way, it seems you haven't neglected the basics and the training."

"If I slack off, I won't become stronger."

"Hmph. If only other youngsters were as diligent as you."

"...wait, are you actually praising me?"

"Is that how it seems to you?"

"You old man!"

"Gahaha!"

Though Sazaki judged Carl hadn't slacked off on his running, practice swings, and stance holdings imposed by him, he still taunted him.

"Well, I'll stick around a bit longer today."

"Really!? Then teach me some special moves!"

"Don't talk nonsense. When you swing a sword, every strike is a special move."

"I-I see!"

The noisy and peculiar voices of this strange master-disciple duo echoed in the alleyway for a while.

◆

"Goodbye, old man! Don't die!"

"I might die without alcohol."

"Bark more!"

After a while, Carl leaves the scene, still shouting and exasperated.

"Oh my, you’d think the sun rose from the west, the word impressive came out of your mouth."

As Carl departs, an elderly man in his 60s emerges from the shadows of the alley. Despite his age, he is muscular and, when combined with the sword at his waist, gives off the impression of a seasoned warrior.

"Compared to my younger days, he’s like an ant."

"Well, considering your starting point, that's quite harsh."

The respectable old man approaches Sazaki with a wry smile.

"Your future seems bright too. If you keep doing what you're doing, you might become someone who can attract attention and bring disciples to your school."

"Do you mean yourself?"

"If I had another 20 years, that might have been the case, but with just over ten years left, it would be half-baked."

"I understand. By the way, your disciples might have some complaints about this."

"I said your place is good, so it's fine. Well, the basics are all from the Sazaki-style, though."

"I see. Then, I'll take care of your last disciple."

"Alright."

"By the way, on a different topic, it seems there's someone looking for medicine… He might come to the town soon. His name is Michael, a user of a special assassination sword."

"Huh? Looking for medicine at this time and age? Hasn’t it been about 20 years?"

"Likely."

"I appreciate your efforts. Well, I think he's hidden somewhere, and I can't be certain, but the alchemists at the time thoroughly erased their records, and nothing has been found since then."

"That's true. Please be careful."

"Sure thing. Oh, by the way..."

"Well, I'll take my leave now, Master."

"Tsk. I haven't even said the last word yet.”

The strange meeting went unnoticed.

◆

"Listen, old mannnnn!"

“You’re too loudddddd!”

One day, as usual, Sazaki was lying down in the back alley when he suddenly jumped up at Carl's frantic shout.

"Yesterday, someone from the Clovis school invited me to visit their school!"

"That's great. I was running out of things to teach you anyway."

"Huh? Really?"

Excited about the opportunity to visit one of the most renowned schools, Carl was almost moved, thinking that Sazaki had taught him everything.

"I misspoke. To be honest, I was just tired of teaching you."

"Return me my feeling!"

Then, Sazaki corrected himself in a deliberately provocative manner, causing Carl's face to turn bright red.

"Well, it's still good news."

"R-right!"

"Did you go for the visit?"

"I did! And they even asked if I'd like to join the school if I'm interested. So, I'm going again tomorrow to officially enroll!"

"Then give it your all. It's a crowded place, so don't get lost in the crowd. And, hey, learn to cooperate with others."

"Sure thing!"

Despite the strange celebrations and encouragement, Carl nodded to Sazaki.

As much as the Clovis school is famous, there are also as many new students, and the door is wide open. However, after all, there were only a handful of people in the top, so if you aim for the top, you need to make a reasonable effort.

“And, well, you know. When I was swinging at the school, I was praised for my good muscles. Thanks.”

"Hmm. Well, you know. I'll give you a full score on the fundamentals."

"I've never heard of a full score in the fundamentals, but thanks! See you later!"

"Yeah."

After thanking his strange mentor, Carl became embarrassed and left with a few words of dismissal.

◆

At night with bars everywhere, Leonardo is a lively place.

However, there are also bad rumors in this lively town.

There is a rumor that an enhancement drug that was used temporarily during the war and eventually eliminated still exists, and that an improved version of the drug may be hidden somewhere.

It is only a rumor, but the troubling part is that these kinds of rumors never disappear, and if someone denies them, it is human nature to be even more suspicious.

And those who seek strength are sometimes prone to go astray and seek out extraneous methods.

(If there is medicine, won’t it be in the lord's castle?)

The skinny man who sneaked into the city under the cover of darkness is one of those who have gone astray.

A man who is just desperately seeking strength and would have been classified as someone strong, especially if he is to wield a sword, even ten ordinary soldiers would not be able to stand up to him.

However, despite being so strong, he could not stand himself reaching the limit of his strength and was seeking a way to breakthrough, namely, the medicine rumored to be in Leonardo.

(I need to be careful with the Clovis guys.)

One of the grounds for this man to believe that the medicine is real in Leonardo is that one of the big school of the Clovis school is here. However, he believed the order is wrong: the Clovis school is not protecting the medicine and Leonardo, rather the Clovis school is full of people like him and thus the reason they are protecting the city.

(I don't think I'll fall behind the senior disciples. But on the off-chance that the highest-ranking guys or Clovis himself are here...)

The man is aware of his own limitations and can evaluate his strength objectively.

The top ranks of the Clovis school are all monsters, and Clovis himself is one of the best known in the martial arts world.

This is proven by the corpse of the dragon he has cut down, which is supposed to be the top species, and he won’t win even if the other party is doing a handstand in a duel with him.

(That’s a vagabond, huh? Typical of a drinking city I suppose.)

As the man walked into a back alley, he saw an old hobo lying there with a bottle of liquor in his hand. The man, however, did not care about him, so he ignored him and tried to pass by.

"Tomorrow, well, it's the start of my apprentice's life. I don't want too much commotion."

The man paid no attention to the vagabond's mutterings.

"You've slain twenty men in what isn't even a fight, haven’t you?"

This could not be ignored and the footsteps changed for a moment. The man is certainly killing innocents in the process of his quest for strength.

But in the end, he ignored it and tried to leave the place as quickly as he could.

"Well, I heard there's a man seeking medicine. His name is Michael."

It was a complete coincidence, but Michael, the man whose purpose and name had been guessed, could not escape.

He unsheathed his dark-colored magic sword and tried to kill the vagabond with a single sword stroke.

It was an attempt.

"You pulled it, didn't you?"

The vagabond, Sazaki, stood up in an instant, though he was wavering, as if he was entering the gap in Michael's consciousness.

A sword draw.