LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 495: Duel on the boat
Sukuna Bikona continues its safe boat trip. As I was brushing Koihi, Sojirou came over to talk to me.
"That katana..."
"This is mine. Hephaestus-san made it for me"
Koihi is very proud of it.
"May I take a look at it? I have a thing for katanas"
"Takuto-oniichan, may I?"
"Fine"
"Then, go ahead"
Sojirou pulls out her katana and checks it out.
"This person has...not made many katanas, has he? So this perfection...he must be a man who loves forging. Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you"
"No, I'm just surprised. I had hardly ever actually made a katana before. I forced him to make it for me"
"Then, Takuto-dono for this child?"
"Yes, but part of me wanted to have a katana myself"
Sojirou laughed.
"I knew it"
"Do you understand?"
"Yes. I was concerned about my katana"
"Gunu...I am not sure if he sensed the moment when I was looking at him.
"Thank you very much…if Takuto-dono also has a katana, would you like to duel me?"
"...Is it okay?"
"I'd love to. I have a thing for strong swordsmen"
If I could fight Souji Okita, I would not wish it. So we decided to duel on the deck of Sukuna Bikona.
Duel
Victory: Critical hit, total loss of vitality
Opponent: Takuto, Sojirou
Referee: Ion
After consultation with Sojirou, a critical hit was added to the victory or defeat condition. This should make the rules almost the same as Kendo. Well, a foul attack is also a critical hit. Whether we do that or not is up to us, but I don't think I have the luxury of doing that.
We draw our swords on each other. That's Okita Souji's favorite sword, 『Kiku Ichimonji Norimune』...that's cool~.
"Are you ready?"
"Y, Yes..."
No way...I have to concentrate.
"Huhu"
Sojirou laughed at me. Suu...huu....
"...Good"
"!!?"
Sojirou's attention also changes with the change in my attention.
"E...Emm...then, let's begin!"
Without saying a word to each other, we probe, moving the tip of our katanas. We move in circles, sometimes stepping in to check each other.
""...""
After all, Okita Souji...is not moving at all and I don't see any opening. It can't be helped...let's go out for a fight.
My existence is already empty.
"!!?"
Sojirou catches my katana. Can he stop me...he's the quintessential Okita Souji. I bounced off and he slashed back, but I duck and try to slash at him again, but he catches me. We then engage in a sword fight.
"Haaaaa!"
"Ku...haaaa!"
I knew he was fast...and good. He is a genius swordsman. Each movement is minimal, fast and sharp. I'm barely coping with it.
There is inevitably a difference in status...and Sojirou senses that difference and comes at me forcefully. Damn!
I back off and Sojirou backs off too and his stance becomes a thrust. Oh no!?
Sojirou shrinks back and disappears.
I stop the thrust aimed at my heart. Instantly, my neck and face are pierced.
"Sandan-Tsuki"
Too fast...is this the 『Sandan-Tsuki』 synonymous with Okita Souji?
"That's enough! Winner, Sojirou-san! Takuto-san, are you all right!?"
"Ah... it's a duel, I'll be fine..."
I've completely lost...I've really lost all my duels with famous NPCs. The difference in status can't be helped. Then I have to do something about it elsewhere. I have to do something.
"Are you all right?"
"Ah...I lost"
"No...you were wonderfully skilled. I was surprised at your first move"
I lost because I couldn't decide with that one, but he noticed the first attack with the sight, etc., right?
"Iya~, I feel like I saw a great match"
"As I thought, famous NPCs are very strong~"
"Sandan-Tsuki...that was cool"
It was indeed cool, but it was unbearable to be hit...it would have been fine if the attack was still in a straight line, but the angle of the thrust was slightly different, and it was terrible. I have no idea how to defend myself.
Then Ix reacted.
"Master, there's a reaction on the radar. It's in front of us"
It's an enemy...the currents were unnaturally rough as we moved in.
"This is...right here! My ship was ruined!"
Everyone readied their weapons. Then the enemy appeared.
"Goronyan!"
『...Yes?』
What appeared was a huge beckoning cat.
Sea Cat?
? ? ?
Everyone froze. What is it? What is this beckoning cat? Is it okay to fight?
"Nya...nyan..."
The sea cat returns to the sea in a beckoning cat pose. W, What was that?
"E...Emm...good to send it home?"
"Should I have knocked it over?"
"Not good! I'm against attacking such a cute little cat!"
Akatsuki was confirmed to be an animal lover.
"Would I have almost died after being attacked by that thing?"
"I suppose that's what it would have been...perhaps because it's gone, the currents have returned to normal. Let's move on"
I didn't want to go out of my way to kill it. The reason is that I want to get to the Japanese country of Sakura sooner than that. After that, I followed Sojirou's instructions and proceeded without any problems until an island came into view.
"I can see it! That's Sakura, the Japanese country!"
Finally, we were in Sakura, the country of harmony.